2. Fight The Good Fight Of Faith
1 Timothy 6:12

3. The Nature Of This Fight
Notice 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
We are in the flesh (sarx), but the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (sarkikos or that which pertains to the flesh)
The weapons are suited for the combat
If not carnal, then they are spiritual
Then the arena is spiritual also
Paul describes this in 2 Corinthians 10:5 as “…every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God…”

4. (Eph. 6:12) “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,

5. (Eph. 6:12) “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness,

6. (Eph. 6:12) “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”

7. The Battlefield Is The Mind
“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7a, NKJV).
One chooses in the mind whom he will serve (Rom. 6:16)
To capture the mind is to capture the soul (2 Cor. 10:5)
We must keep the goal firmly fixed in our mind (Col. 3:1-2)

8. Fight The Good Fight Of Faith
Some have lost sight of being in a fight (1 Tim. 6:12)
Christians are soldiers
Not called to be generals, but as foot soldiers (2 Tim. 2:3-4)
While there are many soldiers, there is but one leader (Heb. 2:10)

9. Soldiers are equipped & ready at all times
Every necessary piece of battle wear is provided (Eph. 6:10-17)
This armor is to be “put on” (Eph. 6:11). Nowhere is there an order to take it off!
A prepared soldier will be able to “…stand against the schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:11)
1 Peter 5:8 identifies the devil as our adversary
“Adversary” means “an opponent” [like in a lawsuit] (Vine, p. 36)
“Devil” is “an accuser, slanderer {from a word meaning} to accuse, to malign” (Vine, p. 308)

10. What are the schemes of the devil?
Sin presented as a virtue, or even as a religious act
The vileness of sin is disguised with excuses
The hypocrisy of church members is used to dismiss sin
Love and mercy stressed while obedience ignored
Never be strong enough to stand against sin
Christ saves us from sin’s consequences rather than from sin itself
Saints are few in number and misfits in society
We are lulled by the idea that we shall be accepted because of good deeds and offerings, and not because of our relationship to Christ