There’s a War On—You May as Well FIGHT!

There’s a War On—You May as Well FIGHT!
Costa Mitchell

I. Introduction

I Timothy 6:11-16 (NIV) ¹¹But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹²Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you ¹⁴to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

What are you talking about?
The power of self-talk to change your reality.
We all do it (600 w.p.m.)
You take hold of “eternal life” by faith and confession.
The good confession is the one Jesus Christ made before Pontius Pilate …

The context: The arrest, “trial,” and torture of Christ.

A. The Good Confession is a Personal Confession.

John 18:33-38 (NIV)

³³Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” ³⁴“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

B. The Good Confession Connects Us to a Heavenly Kingdom.

³⁵“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” ³⁶Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

C. The Good Confession Aligns Our Souls with God’s Truth.

^37“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” ³⁸“What is truth?” retorted Pilate.

D. The Good Confession Puts Power into Perspective.

John 19:8-11 (NIV)

⁸“When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, ⁹and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” ¹¹Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore, the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

II. Conclusion

Job 22:21 (ESV) “Agree now with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.”

I Timothy 6:12 (NIV) Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Jesus made it.
Paul made it.
Timothy made it.
You?