Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. —1 Timothy 6:12

If you were a championship boxer…a fighter… you would be fit, in shape, healthy…

So, if you are going to fight the “good fight” you need to be spiritually fit, spiritually in shape, spiritually healthy.

This can only be obtained with effort.

1 Timothy 4:7. … On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8. for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Hebrews 6: 11. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, 12. so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Titus 3:8. This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.

Philippians 4:8. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

If you were a championship boxer you would protect yourself where you were the most vulnerable…

For a believer, vulnerability lies in; temptation, false teachings, persecution

Temptation

James 1:2. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3. knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

False teachings

Matthew 7:15. “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Persecution

Hebrews 12:3. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

Do not be ashamed of your faith…

Romans 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

2 Corinthians 12:10. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Galatians 6:9. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.