Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:12  to Fight the good fight,  Today alot of christians are angaged in different battles, Why?

Perhaps because it's the natural disposition of man to spoil for a fight - good or bad?

Faith isn't something you study and then gain the knowledge. Faith is a gift from God and there are those that were never given the gift and if they were given it they rejected it because they can't wrap their brain around a concept that they aren't the center of the universe.
We are in the middle of a battle its called good vs evil.

When you are engaged in a faith battle the subject of the contest is eternal life wchich was inputted to you by faith in the Son of God. That why apostle Paul admonishes that you must lay hold of eternal life no matter what.

There are good fights and there are bad ones. Fighting in the streets for free (when others make millions of dollars from fighting) is a bad fight.
The fight of faith is a good one with direct benefits here on earth and in eternity. In the fight of faith, we know the winner even before the fight begins. The fight will not end until we have won. Isnt that just cool?

Faith isnt a gift in the sense of some christans have it and some don't. Nope, it came with the gospel and is imparted to your spirit the moment u recieve the gospel of Christ and are born again. (Romans 12:3).
This however should not be confused with the gift of faith refered to by Paul in his letter to the corinthians. Just like many of us as christians can and do prohesy but there are some who have the gift of prophecy in operation in their lives. We all can lay hands on the sick in faith and have them recover but there are some with the gift of healing.

Thank you, donnie, for helping with that balance. And Cayon, I enjoyed your input as well.

However, just a few remarks I would like to make at this point on the following idea:

Faith isn't something you study and then gain the knowledge.

Actually, some people come to the Christian faith by a careful study of its core teachings. Although I can relate to what you might have intended to say, yet I can testify that it was partly and hugely by studying that I left my former religion and embraced the faith that is in Jesus Christ.

What makes people "study" the faith?

Simply because they have questions. You know, one of the most profound things that struck me when I began studying the Christian faith is the remarkable freedom in Christ that believers enjoy. In my former faith, we were not so free to ask questions; the belief was that you cannot question the things of god and therefore you simply "obey". However, not only did I come to enjoy that freedom, it was a thrill to see that there were sound answers to most of the questions that had stewed up in my heart.

Does intellectual exercise alone bring one to faith?

No, because that is where a lot of people arrive at diverse conclusions (most often extreme, incoherent and unhealthy). Intellectual study alone did not bring me to have faith in Jesus Christ. I was willing to be radically honest to deal with my prejudices formerly held against the Bible. Would the Bible deliver its promises if I obeyed what it taught? Well, I did - and also experienced the power it promised! That is beyond mere intellectual exercise.

So, how do we start to "fight" the good fight?

I recommend this: anyone who would enjoy the benefits of this kind of fight should be willing enough to radically defeat their own prejudices. That is where the fight begins - in your own heart. I'm persuaded that many people take a default stance against the Bible before they even read it - and that is where they lose the battle. Nothing can be as dangerously self-defeating as to be callously misrepresenting the convictions of other people. Let me elaborate.

When we engage in any spirited and deeply affecting issue, we should be willing to be as simple, cordial and honest. It doesn't matter whether we are dealing with people of other worldviews apart from our own - the point is this: conquer your own prejudices against other people first and foremost, then your struggles will be richly rewarded. Just think of all my wasted years arguing against Christians: how did it happen? Because I already hated them and was "delighted" to make many false assertions against the Biblical faith - afterall, everyone was doing it, and it was the easiest thing in the world to do! But what did I gain personally? Absolutely nothing other than a stupid pride and false sense of accomplishments!

But thank God who helped me overcome my own internal prejudices first! This is where the fight begins - to remove my own log first before trying to correct anyone else! Next step, was to seek to approach life (real life) with an honest heart (Luke 8:15 - "an honest and good heart". I cannot hope to benefit myself as long as my own false prejudices are treasured in my heart, otherwise it remains an "ugly fight".

The good fight is not a selfish engagement. It lays hold on eternal life, and as such is not interested in rationalizing contrary lifestyles. I believe the Bible teaches that the "good fight" is an intelligent one: it was not formulated to make zombies out of anyone. Christians are called to be intelligent people - but such intelligence is nothing without the help of the Spirit.

God bless.

@Pilgrim.1 « on: September 10, 2008, 09:22 PM »

Pauls tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:12 to Fight the good fight, Today alot of christians are angaged in different battles, Why?

I wonder if the above is coming directly from God to the "inspired Bible writers"? Is that from Paul, or is it from Jesus, or is part of the word of God Almighty, who is the Creator, alone? You see that your hyposthesis is merely a bad one. Yet you have precipitiously recorded it a proven and alway applicable theoretical formulae! What problem can this verse solve; 100% word of God or just desired statement from Paul, entered into the Bible? It shows some form of diltion if you always assumed everything in the Bible was from God and no one else!

The good fight should not involve blows and spears and guns and bunker busters. Christianity is "peace loving" religion. If they whack you on one cheek, then the other cheek you must turn for a bigger whacking!

olabowale:

@Pilgrim.1 « on: September 10, 2008, 09:22 PM »
I wonder if the above is coming directly from God to the "inspired Bible writers"? Is that from Paul, or is it from Jesus, or is part of the word of God Almighty, who is the Creator, alone? You see that your hyposthesis is merely a bad one. Yet you have precipitiously recorded it a proven and alway applicable theoretical formulae! What problem can this verse solve; 100% word of God or just desired statement from Paul, entered into the Bible? It shows some form of diltion if you always assumed everything in the Bible was from God and no one else!

All the same, I fully embrace it. That verse (to fight the good fight) does not sound like Jihad, or the restlessness you have always exhibited. It was one of the verses that helped me to overcome my hatred and prejudice against Christians and Jews - and that was what led me to know that the Quran has no justification to hate them. I would rather love the Jews and Christians than be unhealthily prejudiced against them. What you gain by your constant meaningless rants against them is left to you.

God bless you. . . in Jesus Name.

olabowale:

The good fight should not involve blows and spears and guns and bunker busters. Christianity is "peace loving" religion. If they whack you on one cheek, then the other cheek you must turn for a bigger whacking!

I can understand why you're always seeking to "whack" people. Please continue to show why you're restless, and may God give you the peace you desperately need.

Olabowale, is the islamic section so boring? Why arent you there exhorting your brethren during this fasting period?

mazaje:

olawabole

Hehehoho. . . abeg make we just dey watch alhaji dey hyperventilate.

Y'all are going off topic.

All discussions regarding islam go to Islam for Muslims section.

Olabowale Said "I wonder if the above is coming directly from God to the "inspired Bible writers"? Is that from Paul, or is it from Jesus, or is part of the word of God Almighty, who is the Creator, alone? You see that your hyposthesis is merely a bad one."

The bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16 - 17 that "All scripture is given by inspiration of GOD, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for intstruction in rightrousness: That the man (Child) of God may be throughly furnished unto all good works."[b][/b]
So my dear friend, it doesnt matter whose lips it comes from, God said it!

@All, But despite the vast knowledge of faith by some believers, they still engage in spiritual warfares with 'spiritual amornitions', I've read from the cover of my bible to the back I've not seen any portion that says "Fight the Devil", Do we call these activities by christians ignorance?

Africankel:

I've read from the cover of my bible to the back I've not seen any portion that says "Fight the Devil", Do we call these activities by christians ignorance?

It all depends on what is meant by "fight the devil". Just as some people look for doctored statements in the Bible to pepper some ideas, so the case could be made that no portion of the Scripture explicitly states the opposite such as "Do not fight the devil'.

We may understand, however, that in Christian warfare, the call is made to do the following:

[list][list][li]we are to "resist the devil" - and he will "flee" - James 4:7 [/li][/list][/list]
[list][list][li]we are not to give place to the devil - Eph. 4:27[/li][/list][/list]
[list][list][li]we are stand againt the wiles of the devil - Eph. 6:11[/li][/list][/list]
[list][list][li]we are to be vigilant and steadfastly resist the devil - 1 Peter 5:8-9[/li][/list][/list]
[list][list][li]we are to overcome the devil by the Blood - Rev. 12:11[/li][/list][/list]

It should be clear to us that the highlighted portions are descriptive of the type of spiritual warfare Christians are called to betake themselves to.

pilgrim.1:

[list][list][li]we are to "resist the devil" - and he will "flee" - James 4:7 [/li][/list][/list]
[list][list][li]we are not to give place to the devil - Eph. 4:27[/li][/list][/list]
[list][list][li]we are stand againt the wiles of the devil - Eph. 6:11[/li][/list][/list]
[list][list][li]we are to be vigilant and steadfastly resist the devil - 1 Peter 5:8-9[/li][/list][/list]
[list][list][li]we are to overcome the devil by the Blood - Rev. 12:11[/li][/list][/list]

Interestingly most of these put us on the offense, not the defense.

Jesus has spoilt principalities and powers!!

Pilgrim said:
we are to "resist the devil" - and he will "flee" - James 4:7
we are not to give place to the devil - Eph. 4:27
we are stand againt the wiles of the devil - Eph. 6:11
we are to be vigilant and steadfastly resist the devil - 1 Peter 5:8-9
we are to overcome the devil by the Blood - Rev. 12:11

All these are not fights, or means of fighting.
We are "NOT TO OVERCOME THE DEVIL", (This is the mentality alot of christians), thats why they still engage in "spiritual warfare". They quote Eph.6:12, (This portion does not mean we are in a spiritual battle of swords and spares with the devil)

@Africankel,

Africankel:

We are "NOT TO OVERCOME THE DEVIL", (This is the mentality alot of christians), thats why they still engage in "spiritual warfare".

Should we take that reaction as meaning that your idea of the Christian life does not include spiritual warfare?

Africankel:

They quote Eph.6:12, (This portion does not mean we are in a spiritual battle of swords and spares with the devil)

I don't think anyone has said what you're implying, though.

@Africankel: #14 on: September 14, 2008, 08:32 PM »

Olabowale Said "I wonder if the above is coming directly from God to the "inspired Bible writers"? Is that from Paul, or is it from Jesus, or is part of the word of God Almighty, who is the Creator, alone? You see that your hyposthesis is merely a bad one."

The bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16 - 17 that "All scripture is given by inspiration of GOD, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for intstruction in rightrousness: That the man (Child) of God may be throughly furnished unto all good works."[b][/b]
So my dear friend, it doesnt matter whose lips it comes from, God said it!

Now, blame it on the Biblical God! Thats a bad presidence. The good, the bad and the ugly. All of them, you are now ascribing to God! Na wa oh. No wonder you do not want take responsibility your your own deeds.