THE CHRISTIAN CONFLICT

1 TIMOTHY 6:1

A. EXPERIENCE TEACHES THAT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A CONSTANT CONFLICT FROM WHICH NO ONE IS EXEMPT
  1. This conflict began in the Garden of Eden:
    1. Temptation and fall of our first parents - Gen. 3:1-6
    2. This conflict was to continue to the end of time - Gen. 3:15
  2. Satan will intensify this struggle against the children of the Lord as we near the end of the conflict:
    1. He goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour - 1 Pet. 5:8
    2. He has great wrath against God's children because he knows that his time is just about run out - Rev. 12:12
B. NATURE AND IMPLICATION OF THIS CONFLICT
  1. It is a conflict over our loyalty to Christ and His law:
    1. The seal of God and the mark of the beast are the two great issues in the conflict - Rev. 7:1-3; 13:1-17; 14:9-11
    2. Satan will declare war against the people that are loyal to the law of God - Rev. 12:17
  2. It will become more marked as we near the end of time:
    1. Daniel saw the climax of this conflict - Dan. 12:1
    2. Peter speaks of this conflict as, "the fiery trial" that shall befall the people of the Lord - 1 Pet. 4:12
    3. Paul says that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" - 2 Tim 3:12
    4. He says, further, "that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" - Acts 14:22
    5. But there is a promise for us, "as thy days, so shall thy strength be" - Deut. 33:25
    6. For our God will not allow us to be tempted above that which we can bear - 1 Cor. 10:13
C. GOD'S WONDERFUL ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS
  1. Our armor:
    1. Our Christ centered faith - 1 John 5:4, 5; Matt. 17:20; Luke 17:6
    2. The blood of Jesus Christ is a mighty weapon against Satan - Rev. 12:11
    3. The word of God - Eph. 6:17; Luke 4:1-8; Heb. 4:12
    4. The Holy Spirit - Isa. 59:19; Gen. 39:7-9
    5. Earnest prayer.
    6. Eternal vigilance - Mark 14:38
  2. We must keep in mind that our victory centers in our Captain, Christ our Lord:
    1. He won the victory for us - John 16:33; Rev. 17:14
    2. All we need is to resist the devil and he will flee from us - Jas. 4:7
  3. A rich reward awaits all who overcome in the conflict:
    1. The right to eat of the tree of life - Rev. 2:7
    2. We are saved from the second death - Rev. 2:11
    3. The crown of life awaits them - 2 Tim. 4:7, 8
    4. A royal welcome awaits them at the gates of heaven - Ps. 24:1-10
  4. The Christian conflict is based upon a just cause:
    1. Truth and righteousness are the banner of the saints of God.
    2. Justice and mercy are our goal in the struggle against the forces of evil.
    3. The eternal glory that comes to all that are faithful to the end will far exceed the trials we will have to pass through in this conflict.
    4. Let us consider these divinely inspired words, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us." Rom. 8:18


Design © John Bryant 2011