ARE YOU FIGHTING? J. C. Ryle
The following mp4 Ryle sermon is from the YouTube site, Christian Sermons and Audiobooks. It is a wonderful site for hearing sermons by current preachers and greats of the past.
This sermon is about spiritual warfare. I am really struggling presently and prayed for help. I believe that prayer was answered.
Prior to the sermon, highlights are noted for those who may not want to spend 40 minutes on listening; or those who might want to review important points…. [Bracketed statements, underscoring and emboldening are mine.]
1 Timothy 6:11But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. [Bible Hub, ESV]
- Three points will be considered: Christianity as a fight; as a fight of faith; as a good fight
- Throughout history, there have been all kinds of wars and rationales for those
- The warfare of every Christian man and woman is of much greater importance – it is the fight which everyone who will be saved, must fight for his soul
- Many these days (Ryle lived from 1816—1900) know nothing of this warfare
- Spiritual warfare is as true and real as any other kind of war: it has its hand to hand combat, its wounds, its sieges, its assaults, its victories, defeats…
- However, in earthly wars, consequences might often be repaired; in spiritual warfare, consequences are eternal, unchangeable
- True Christianity is a fight; there is however, much Christianity out there that is not true, genuine…but counterfeit, unbiblical
- Many live their Christian lives in the absence of warfare
- In such lives, there is no watching and praying or waring
- True Christianity is a fight wherein adherents live like soldiers from the day of conversion until the day of their death
- Some preoccupations that keep a professed Christian from warfare: seeking security, religious ease, pleasure, comfort; laziness… [such things are preoccupations of professed Christians who are either backsliding or are not true Christians]
- WITH WHOM IS THE CHRISTIAN TO FIGHT? The world, the flesh and the Devil
- With a corrupt heart, a busy Devil, and a world full of snares, a Christian must fight or be lost
- Even after experiencing conversion, a Christian still has a nature that is prone to evil and a heart that is weak and unstable
- The apostle Paul said, 1 Corinthians 9: 26So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27But I discipline my body and keep it under control,blest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (Bible Hub)
- Romans 7: 23but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? …Romans 8: 13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
- Obstacles in the way of putting to death that which is of our earthly nature: love for the worlds good things; fear of the world’s laughter or blame; the secret desire to keep living a worldly life
- Such things are foes in our spiritual battle
- Whoever is of God overcomes the world; be not conformed to this world…
- Since the fall, the Devil has worked diligently to ruin God’s children – some of his strategies mentioned
- If some are thinking that the way to heaven cannot be that difficult, know that it is a serious mistake to underestimate one’s enemy [most who are converted have a sin or more sins that they have loved for many years – gossip, self-righteousness, slander, lusts of all sorts; porn, fornication, adultery, pleasure seeking…; it can be hard to see them as wrong when they bring one pleasure. But one must read the Bible to get an accurate perspective on these things, as well as an accurate perspective on righteousness and wickedness]
- Consider: Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life; endure hardness as a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ… such biblical statements teach that the Christian life is a struggle, a fight, a war
- Certainly, this warfare is a very serious matter; it is not a topic about which true Christians might have differing opinions [since scripture states these things]
- One cannot remain neutral or sit still regarding this conflict that concerns the soul
- Christians must fight or be lost
- By nature, our hearts are prideful, unbelieving, lazy, worldly, and sinful; AND we are living in a world full of pitfalls, and snares – our souls are in danger
- The fight is necessary and life-long; without breaks, weekends off…; it involves the private and public life; it includes little things like one’s temper and big things like the governing of kingdoms
- The Devil never sleeps
- Assess your personal religion to see that it is genuine – is your Christian life absent of conflict, e.g., that is a symptom that it might be counterfeit
- Do you have spiritual struggles in your soul?
- Do you know the experience of your flesh lusting against your spirit? (Two principles contending for the top position)
- If you see warfare in your inward person, then thank and praise God [for giving you new life]
- The very fact that Satan assaults you should fill you with hope
- The child of God has two marks, inward warfare; inward peace
- True Christianity is the fight of faith: success depends entirely upon believing in God’s written word
- Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.2For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Bible Hub ESV)
- A religion without doctrine is appearing, but that is impossible, like a body without bones [that type of new religion has been around from the beginning to date]
- Faith is the backbone of a Christian’s spiritual existence: the Christian sees, by faith, an unseen Savior who loved him, gave Himself for him, paid his sin debts, bore his sins, carried his transgressions, rose again for him, appearing in heaven to intercede for him at the right hand of God the Father
- Trusting his Savior, he feels peace and hope and willingly enters into spiritual warfare
- He sees his many sins, his weak heart, a tempting world, and a busy Devil; because he also sees a mighty Savior who is his advocate with the Father; a Savior who is sympathetic, who knows what it is to be tempted and to fight a spiritual battle, he can enter into warfare
- Faith varies among Christians; it also may fluctuate in an individual believer
- The quality of one’s spiritual warfare and his degree of faith are proportional; that is, if one has strong faith then the yoke of spiritual warfare will be easier, as in Matthew 11: 28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Bible Hub, ESV)
- Men of Hebrews 11 noted and discussed, also men of more recent church history like Luther – their strength lay in their strong belief / faith; by that strong faith, they overcame
- Pray for greater faith, it is a gift from God: Ephesians 2: 8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
- Christian warfare is an aspect of the Christian life to be considered when counting the cost to know whether you would be a Christian
- Why is Christian warfare called good? Christians fight for the best Commander, the Lord Jesus Christ; He has perfect wisdom; infinite love; mighty power; He never fails; never makes useless movements or errors in judgment; His humblest servant is never forgotten
- The Christian fight is also fought with the best Helper, the indwelling Holy Spirit; that is, the Christian does not go into war by himself
- God, the Holy Spirit, daily teaches, leads, guides, directs; God the Father aids via His almighty power; and God the Son intercedes for the warring Christian every moment
- The Christian fight is fought with the best promises; made by Him who cannot lie, for example: sin shall not have dominion over you; the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly; He who began a good work in you will perform it unto the days of Jesus Christ…
- Although the Christian’s warfare will have enormous struggles, agonizing conflicts, wounds, bruises; and will require one to always be on guard, still every believer is more than a conqueror through Him that loved him
- Christian warfare is also good because it does good to the soul who fights – unlike all other types of warfare
- Christian warfare tends to promote humility and charity, and to focus one on things above
- The old, sick and dying are not known to be sorry over fighting the Christian battle against sin; they may regret not beginning sooner
- The end of the Christian’s warfare is glorious; who can estimate its rewards
- Presently, we only see the struggle but not the reward
- APPLICATION:
- You may possibly be working hard for the things of this world – money, home, power, pleasure…; if so, be warned you’re sowing a crop of bitter disappointment [read Ecclesiastes for Solomon’s account of his quest for meaning in life]
- 1000s have erred in that way [probably millions]
- Resolve today to join the Lord’s side; all who come to Christ by faith are admitted, armed, clothed, trained, and led on to complete victory. Fear not to begin today.
- The more thorough and whole-hearted a soldier you are, the more comfortable you will find your warfare
- Before you lay either everlasting liberty or captivity, choose liberty and fight to the end
- If you’re already a soldier, then stir up yourself through remembering – to fight successfully, we must put on the whole armor of God until death (study Ephesians 6)
- In heaven we will appear in robes of glory; but here, our armor is to be worn night and day – we must walk, work and sleep in it
- 2 Timothy 2: 3Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him. (Bible Hub)
- Remember that our Savior’s eye is on us night and day; He will never suffer us to be tempted beyond what we can bear
- Time is short, the Lord’s coming draws nigh, a few more struggles and we shall bid farewell to sin, sorrow and death, he who overcomes shall inherit all things
- Sermon closed with a quote from Pilgrim’s Progress
For other similar posts in this blog, see, CATEGORIES: Spiritual Warfare