Sermon || Pastor Sifiso Twala || Fight the Good Fight of faith

Devotional

Day 1: Fight the Good Fight of Faith

The Christian journey is not passive; it requires an active, ongoing fight to hold onto faith, even when circumstances are difficult or unclear. To "fight the good fight" means to contend with adversity, to struggle for the prize of eternal life, and to persevere in belief despite obstacles. This fight is not about physical strength but about spiritual endurance and a willingness to trust God through every season. The call is to keep believing, to keep striving, and to depend on God for victory, knowing that faith is what moves Him. [22:45]

1 Timothy 6:12 (ESV)
"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel tempted to give up on faith? How can you actively choose to "fight" for belief in that area today?

Day 2: Faith Gives Us Access to God’s Power

Faith is not just a feeling or a belief; it is the key that unlocks the finished work of Jesus and the limitless power of God in our lives. Through faith, we are made right with God and receive according to our belief, not merely according to God’s power. Jesus Himself said, "According to your faith, let it be done to you," reminding us that faith is the hand that receives from God. Therefore, nurturing and growing your faith is essential to experiencing the fullness of what God has for you. [33:44]

Romans 5:1 (ESV)
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection: In what specific situation do you need to trust God’s power today, and how can you express your faith in action rather than just words?

Day 3: God’s Revelation Is Progressive

What you know about God today is not all there is to know; His revelation is progressive, and as you walk with Him, He reveals more of Himself. The Israelites first knew God as the One who fought for them, but as their journey continued, they learned new aspects of His character and ways. This means that your understanding of God should grow deeper and broader over time, and you should remain open to learning more about Him through His Word and your experiences. [36:22]

Exodus 14:14 (ESV)
"The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."

Reflection: How has your understanding of God changed or deepened in the past year, and what new aspect of His character is He inviting you to discover now?

Day 4: The Necessity of Spiritual Struggle

God sometimes allows challenges and battles in our lives not to harm us, but to teach us how to fight and to strengthen our faith. Just as the Lord left nations in Canaan to test and teach the Israelites, He uses our struggles to develop spiritual maturity and resilience. These battles are opportunities to learn dependence on God, to grow in character, and to experience His faithfulness in new ways. [19:50]

Judges 3:1-2 (ESV)
"Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before."

Reflection: Think of a current struggle you are facing—how might God be using this to teach you something new or to strengthen your faith?

Day 5: The Power of Praise and Community

Praising God together and honoring one another in the community of faith creates an atmosphere where God’s presence is welcomed and miracles can happen. The repeated call to praise God’s name and to honor visitors and leaders reminds us that worship and love for one another are foundational to spiritual breakthrough. When we gather in unity, give thanks, and lift up God’s name, we open the door for answered prayers, transformation, and blessing in our midst. [03:19]

Psalm 100:4 (ESV)
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!"

Reflection: How can you intentionally encourage someone in your church community today and join with others in heartfelt praise to God?

Sermon Summary

Worship rises from grateful hearts, and today we have lifted up the name of the Lord together, declaring His worthiness and power. In the presence of God, we are reminded that our prayers are not about eloquence or length, but about our revelation of who God is. The depth of our relationship with Him determines the effectiveness of our prayers and the breakthroughs we experience. Before we can truly pray, we must first engage with the Word, allowing it to shape our understanding of God and His ways.

Reflecting on the journey of Israel into Canaan, we see that God intentionally left certain nations in the land to test and teach His people to fight. This was not to harm them, but to develop their strength and dependence on Him. In the same way, our spiritual journey is not free from battles. We are called to “fight the good fight of faith,” as Paul exhorted Timothy. This fight is not against people, but against anything that would hinder our faith and our pursuit of God’s promises.

To fight, in the biblical sense, means to contend, to struggle, and to strive for the prize of eternal life. It is a call to perseverance, to not give up when faced with adversity, and to keep believing even when circumstances seem contrary. Faith is the key that gives us access to the finished work of Christ and the limitless power of God. It is not enough to have a passive faith; we must actively fight to maintain our trust in God, especially when we do not see immediate results.

The revelation of God is progressive. What we know of Him today is not all there is to know. Israel first knew God as the One who fought for them, but as they journeyed further, they learned that sometimes God calls them to fight alongside Him. Our walk with God deepens as we experience Him in new ways, learning to trust Him whether He is fighting for us or calling us to take up the fight ourselves. Through every season, He remains faithful, and our faith is strengthened as we continue to press on, declaring, “I will fight.”

Key Takeaways

1. The effectiveness of prayer is rooted in our revelation of God, not in the length or eloquence of our words. The more deeply we know God, the more powerfully we can pray and see His hand move in our lives. Our prayers become transformative when they flow from a heart that truly understands who God is. [19:14]
2. God allows challenges and battles in our lives not to defeat us, but to teach us to fight and to depend on Him. Just as Israel had to learn warfare in Canaan, we too must learn spiritual resilience. These battles are opportunities for growth and deeper trust in God’s faithfulness. [21:57]
3. Fighting the good fight of faith means contending for what God has promised, persevering through adversity, and refusing to let go of our hope. It is an active, ongoing struggle that requires both courage and reliance on God’s strength. Victory is not guaranteed by our effort alone, but by our willingness to keep fighting in faith. [28:35]
4. Faith is the access point to God’s finished work and His limitless power. We do not receive according to God’s power alone, but according to our faith. Maintaining faith, especially in difficult times, is essential for experiencing the fullness of what God has provided for us in Christ. [34:22]
5. The revelation of God is progressive; as we walk with Him, He reveals Himself in new and deeper ways. Sometimes He fights for us, and other times He calls us to fight. Our journey with God is marked by continual growth in understanding, and each season brings a fresh revelation of His character and faithfulness. [38:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:53] - Opening Praise
[09:08] - Prayer for Transformation
[11:28] - Declaration of Breakthrough
[12:19] - Honoring Visitors and Leadership
[14:14] - Welcoming First-Time Guests
[16:31] - Special Acknowledgments
[18:00] - The Power of Prayer and Revelation
[19:14] - Introduction to Judges 3
[20:33] - The Purpose of Canaan’s Battles
[22:35] - The Call to Fight the Good Fight
[24:04] - Timothy’s Pastoral Charge
[26:56] - Order and Conduct in the Church
[28:35] - The Necessity of Spiritual Battle
[31:07] - What It Means to Fight
[33:14] - The Importance of Faith
[35:49] - Progressive Revelation of God
[38:58] - Growing in Faith Through Every Season

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Judges 3:1-2 (ESV) — > Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before.

1 Timothy 6:11-12 (ESV) — > But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV) — > I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Observation Questions

According to Judges 3:1-2, why did God leave some nations in the land of Canaan after Israel entered? What was His purpose? ([19:14])
In 1 Timothy 6:11-12, what qualities does Paul tell Timothy to pursue, and what does he command Timothy to do regarding faith? ([22:35])
How does Paul describe his own journey of faith in 2 Timothy 4:7? What does this reveal about his attitude toward perseverance? ([23:09])
The sermon says, “The power of our prayers is tied to our revelation of the God that we pray to.” What does this mean in practical terms? ([18:00])

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean that God intentionally left challenges or “battles” in the lives of His people, not to harm them, but to teach them to fight and depend on Him? How might this change the way we view our own struggles? ([21:57])
The phrase “fight the good fight of faith” is repeated in both 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy. What does this “fight” look like in the life of a believer? Is it always about external circumstances, or is it sometimes internal? ([22:35])
The sermon mentions that “faith gives us access to the finished work” and “we do not receive according to God’s power alone, but according to our faith.” How does this shape our expectations when we pray or face difficulties? ([34:22])
The pastor said, “The revelation of God is progressive.” How does this idea help us when we feel like God is silent or not acting the way we expect? ([35:49])

Application Questions

The sermon teaches that the effectiveness of our prayers is rooted in how well we know God, not in how long or eloquent our prayers are. How would you describe your current understanding of who God is? What is one step you can take this week to deepen your knowledge of Him? ([18:00])
Think about a current challenge or “battle” in your life. In what ways might God be using this situation to teach you to depend on Him or to grow stronger in faith? ([21:57])
“Fighting the good fight of faith” means not giving up when things get tough. Can you share a time when you wanted to give up, but chose to keep trusting God? What helped you to persevere? ([28:35])
The sermon says, “We do not receive according to God’s power alone, but according to our faith.” Is there an area in your life where you need to actively trust God for breakthrough, rather than waiting passively? What would it look like to “fight” in faith in that area? ([34:22])
The pastor talked about how God sometimes fights for us, and other times calls us to fight alongside Him. Which season do you feel you are in right now? How can you respond to God’s call in this season? ([38:58])
The revelation of God is progressive—He reveals Himself in new ways as we walk with Him. What is something new you have learned about God in the past year? How has it changed your relationship with Him? ([35:49])
The sermon encourages us to declare, “I will fight.” What is one practical way you can “fight” for your faith this week—whether in prayer, in resisting temptation, or in holding onto hope? ([31:51])

Sermon Clips

The reason I am forcing you to pray is because the power of our prayers is tied to our revelation of the God that we pray to. It's not how long you pray, it's not how deep you pray, it's not even how deep a word you say in your prayers. But what determines if you reach certain things, certain levels in the spirit, is how much do you know the God that you are praying to. [00:18:06] (57 seconds) #PowerInKnowingGod

He says, fight the good fight of the faith. And then he says, take hold. So the person who tried to fight God. So the man who tried to fight God died. He who fought God until he died. He didn't. He fired a bullet at the man of God. The man of God did well. deliberating with him about the involved faith, and he gave this to God. [00:27:54] (28 seconds) #FightTheGoodFight

You will not be able to come to the Lord unless you are willing to fight. Paul is saying that eternal life, the power of the Lord, is there. You will not be able to come to the Lord unless you are willing to fight the good fight of faith. [00:28:35] (25 seconds) #WillingToFightForFaith

Let me stress this, You will not be able to come to the Lord unless you are willing to fight the good fight of faith. After the Lord has come, You will ask the Lord to welcome you to the house of God. You will not be able to come to the Lord unless you are willing to fight the good fight of faith. Because whether you like it or not, You will come to the Lord. [00:29:27] (24 seconds) #LearnToFightFaith

There are two theological attributes, but I am going to focus on one because I am rushing my time. The second one is that the revelation of God is progressive, I have taught this in this church, meaning what you know about God today is not all that is to know about God. [00:35:41] (24 seconds) #KnowMoreToGoFurther

Maybe let me take it a step further, what was enough for you to know about God, but if you want to go further with God, you need to know more about God because his revelation is progressive. [00:36:05] (17 seconds) #ExodusRevealsProgress

Nothing will cripple you and Pilate. You will see the revelation of God. If God wills it. When he decides not to. It is true. But it is also true. That sometimes you fail at truth. It does not change who is God. He is still God. He is still God when he is silent. Still God. You just have to know. Because the revelation of God is progressive. [00:38:07] (42 seconds) #RevelationIsProgressive

Because the longer you walk with God. The more you know him better. Whatever you do in your journey. Walk with God long enough. Until you are not silent. Until you are not silent. Until you are not silent. You will see the miracle. You will see the miracle. You will see the miracle. [00:39:11] (20 seconds) #WalkLongerKnowBetter

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