WEEK SIX........."FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH"


The thrust of this week's study is to make you aware that a war is in progress. As soldiers in God's army we must always be on full alert to the attacks of our adversary.


36th Day:


1. You are well over a month into your life as a disciple of Christ. If you have been serious about it, this month should have been one in which you faced many things about yourself that may need to change. It also ought to be a time of joy because you know that God is for you, and Jesus is with you to help you become like Him.


2. Now let us look at Paul's words about joy found in Philippians 4:4-6. How often does it say we ought to “rejoice?” Compare this with 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18. When should we rejoice? Be thankful?

Philippians 4:4-6

4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!5Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18

16Rejoice always;17pray without ceasing;18in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus


3. If you have been guilty of complaining or being negative about your life, seek out another disciple or those you have hurt and let them know that you are sorry.


37th Day:


1. The image of a soldier or warfare is often employed in the New Testament. The reason is: we are at war. The ways of God and the ways of men (influenced by Satan) are totally opposed. Our culture is constantly bombarding us with a message about how we ought to live. We must not listen because God's message is different. One cannot survive in warfare unless he is equipped and knows how to battle. For the rest of the week we will look at the warfare metaphor.


2. Today we start with Ephesians 6:10-18. There is enough in this text for several days of study.

The Armor of God

 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.11Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.12For 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.13Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.14Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,15and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;16in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,


3. First of all in warfare, we need to clearly identify the enemy. Verses 10 and 11 in the text above make that very clear. Who is the enemy? What are some of the schemes that he is working on in your life to remove you out of God's light?


4. Please realize now and always that your boss is not the enemy, your parents aren't the enemies, your spouse is not the enemy. Flesh and blood people are not the enemies, and any time we identify them as the enemy we fall into Satan's scheme and become misguided. List some times recently when you may have done this or come close to being "wrong."


5. Set your mind against the "real" forces of darkness that Satan commands. Pray for strength and for God's mighty power to help you overcome.


38th Day:


1. Once again go back and read Ephesians 6:10-18 (above).


2. Satan's power is described in real terms. You will be vulnerable to him if you are not aware of his power. It is also true that we do not have to be afraid of the coming warfare.


3. We don't have to be fearful, but we do have to put on the full armor of God. Without the protection and the spiritual weapons He supplies, we will be overcome. Let's look at them one at a time.


a. The belt of truth__where do we find truth? (John 17:17).

 17"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

b. The breastplate of righteousness__(Philippians 3:8-9).

 8More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,9and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

c. The gospel of peace___(Ephesians 2:14-18)

14For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,15by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,16and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.17AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;18for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

d. The shield of faith___how does it put out the fiery darts of Satan?

e. The helmet of salvation__(Romans 8:1-2)

1Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

f. The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God___(Hebrews 4:12)

12For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

g. Pray in the Spirit on all occasions__how has your prayer life developed?


You know what the armor of God looks like, but please realize that, like any good soldier, you will have to put it on anew EACH DAY. One of Satan's schemes is to make you believe once will do the trick. Every day you need to be into God's truth, reaffirming the gospel, reclaiming your righteousness and salvation in Christ. Continue to renew your confidence in prayer and in the God who answers prayer.


39th Day:


1. Today we start by reading 2nd Timothy 2:1-7.

1You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

  2The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.3Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.4No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.5Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.6The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.7Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.


2. Focus in especially on verses 3-4. To be a Christian is not like going on a picnic. It is like enrolling in an army and like taking on spiritual weapons for the battle. If we are really walking with Jesus and waging His warfare, we will experience HARDSHIP. Examine 2nd Timothy 3:12.

12Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

What does this say about our life? What is it that we can be sure of?


3. Because of this passage we can say with confidence that the person who never experiences any persecution from the forces of evil is not walking with Jesus. If the attitude of the people of the world toward you is that you are a really great person and lots of fun, it may be time to examine ourselves. Look at what Jesus promised His disciples.

18"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.19"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.20"Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master ' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.21"But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.


4. Once again we return to 2nd Timothy 2:4.

No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

We see that the warfare is going to be so intense that the Christian soldier must not become tangled up in the "affairs of this life." There are a lot of things to do in the world that are not "wrong." But they are "wrong" for the Christian if they impede his/her progress and slow the battle. Are there some things in your life that need to be given up because they are merely the "affairs of life?"


4oth Day:


1. Your study guide ends today, but may your study never end. You are on your way to things too glorious and enriching to even describe. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, GIVE UP!!


2. As we conclude this study, please read the following verses.

1st Peter 2:1-2

 1Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,2like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

Hebrews 5:11-6:3

11Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.13For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.14But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil 1Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,2of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment3And this we will do, if God permits.

And Colossians 2:6-10

 6Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,7having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.9For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form 10and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;


3. Keep studying, keep confessing your sins to one another, and keep encouraging others. Please share your faith in whatever you do, in word and deed, and do all in the name of the “Lord Jesus.”