Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses, 1TI 6:12.

To understand the words of our text, we must understand that the Apostle is speaking of a real battle.

Paul warns in 1TH 5:6-8, "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." This 'fight of faith' is a life long struggle against the powers of sin and Satan.

This 'fight of faith' is a spiritual warfare within the soul. Scripture tells us in GAL 5:16-17, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."

We are admonished in EPH 6:11-12 to, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

This 'armour of God' includes, ". . . the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked," and, "the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," EPH 6:16-17.

Leave no unguarded place,
No weakness of the soul;
Take every virtue, every grace,
And fortify the whole.
 
To keep your armour bright,
Attend with constant care;
Still walking in your Captain's sight,
And watching unto prayer.
 
From strength to strength go on;
Wrestle, and fight, and pray;
Tread all the powers of darkness down,
and win the well-fought day.

The only posture in which we can prevail in this 'fight of faith' is on our knees with our eyes heavenward. As we, "take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," we must do it, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance," EPH 6:17-18.

It is through this perseverance in prayer that you are, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you," 1PE 5:7. Oh, beloved, see what an exhortation we have to be on guard against the devices of Satan!

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith," 1PE 5:8-9. Amen.