October 7, 2026 - Fight the Good Fight
“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ”
2 Timothy 4:2-3 NIV
To be able to preach the word we need to know it. That is how we become prepared to respond at any time. Being prepared also helps us to recognize when things do not line up with scripture. When we see situations, words and actions in the lives of others that don't line up with the word, those who are prepared with the word, can and should "correct, rebuke and encourage -- with great patience and careful instruction." That does not mean criticize and condemn. It means that we must remember that we are all sinners. That way we humble ourselves first and get our hearts in the right place. If we are speaking to a believer as Paul is talking about, we can use the word of God to rebuke and encourage and if our hearts are right, we will do it with patience. Then we can take the scripture and teach them to apply it in careful instruction. The time has come that people do not put up with sound doctrine. Our churches are turning from biblical doctrine and preaching in heartbreaking numbers. You cannot judge a church by the number of people in the pews. Our culture has fallen so far away from Godly living and are so strongly influencing the hearts and minds of Christians who are not biblically grounded. Also, we have many people in churches who claim to be Christian but have never surrendered their lives to Jesus so they are living in under the influence of the world. That is why we see churches that have large congregations and, on the surface, and by the numbers look successful. They are preaching what the "itching ears want to hear". It is easy to fill the pews when we are telling people what they want to hear. Especially when they are already invested in the lies that the culture has been pounding into their heads for years.
“They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
2 Timothy 4:4-5 NIV
Paul is telling Timothy to not allow the lies to even enter his mind and to stand up for the truth. It won't be easy to stand up for truth and may cause some hardships, but he is called to be an evangelist and needs to do what he has been called to. We too can take these instructions to heart. Just because those around us are turning their ears away from the truth and listening to the lies, does not mean our ministry and calling should be hindered by it. We need to stand strong in truth regardless of the hardship that it might cause us and to do what we are called to do. What are we called to do? The same as Timothy. Ultimately, we are all called evangelism.
In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus has called all of us to....
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:6-8 NIV
We find ourselves in very much the same situations that Timothy finds himself in. Paul encourages him so that when he gets closer and approaches the end of his life as Paul is, that he too can say that he "fought the good fight", "finished the race", and "kept the faith". We all should live to do the same. I long for Jesus appearing and want to receive the "crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day".
Do you long for his appearing?
Does that compel you to be prepared to preach the word and discharge the work of an evangelist?
Are you willing to face harship to speak truth to correct and rebuke with great patience and careful instruction?
What does it look like to fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith?
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