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Sermon Context

This sermon, delivered at a youth camp and prayer meeting, is a passionate call to spiritual vigilance. Drawing from 1 Timothy 6:12 ("Fight the good fight of faith"), the preacher warns against complacency, using Solomon’s tragic compromise as a sobering example. The message balances urgency with hope—exposing Satan’s schemes but affirming Christ’s victory for those who resist.

Hook: "Why Do Victorious Christians Sometimes Live Like Defeated Foes?"

Imagine an army with invincible weapons, yet its soldiers keep surrendering to a conquered enemy. That’s the paradox of many believers today. This sermon reveals:

• How Solomon wasted his "cream and flower"—the best years of his life—on sin.
• Why Satan, though already defeated, still "tastes victory" when we yield.
• The "good fight" isn’t about strength but surrender—to Christ’s leadership and armor.

You’re called to more than survival. You’re called to stand.

Meditation Question

"Where in my life am I allowing the ‘defeated foe’ (Satan) to claim ground—through distraction, compromise, or half-hearted faith? What step will I take today to ‘fight the good fight’ by relying on Christ’s victory?"

(Read the full sermon to discover how to reclaim your spiritual momentum.)

Why This Works

1. Context sets the tone (youth camp + urgency).
2. Hook uses a relatable analogy (army/surrender) and teases Solomon’s story.
3. Question prompts self-reflection and practical response.

Let me know if you'd like to tweak the tone (e.g., more confrontational/gentle)!

Table of Contents

Introduction

• Gratitude for the opportunity to preach
• Prayer for spiritual nourishment
• Key text: 1 Timothy 6:12 ("Fight the good fight of faith")

The Christian Life as a Battle

• The necessity of spiritual engagement
• Analogy: Building a life like a diligent carpenter
• Warning from Ecclesiastes 10:18 (decay through idleness)

The Enemy: Satan’s Tactics

• Ephesians 6:12: The reality of spiritual warfare
• Satan’s goals: To steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10)
• Targets: Youth and believers, diverting them from God’s purpose

Lessons from Solomon’s Failure

• Wisdom vs. worldly compromise
• Wasted years serving sin and idols
• Repentance in old age: "Vanity of vanities"

Victory in Christ

• 1 John 4:4: "Greater is He that is in you"
• Romans 8:37: "More than conquerors" through Christ
• The devil as a "defeated foe" (Colossians 2:15)

The Call to Faithfulness

• 1 Peter 5:8: Vigilance against the roaring lion
• Fleeing sin and pursuing God (2 Timothy 2:22)
• Eternal life as the ultimate prize (Philippians 3:13-14)

Examples of Faithful Warriors

• Job: Steadfast under trial
• Polycarp: Martyred with unwavering faith
• Paul: Pressing toward the mark

Conclusion & Exhortation

• Charge to "fight the good fight" with eternal perspective
• Personal testimony: God’s providence in trials
• Closing prayer for strength and faithfulness

Sermon Summary: "Fight the Good Fight of Faith" (1 Timothy 6:12)

This passionate sermon delivers a stirring call to spiritual vigilance, challenging believers to actively engage in the Christian life as a battle against Satan, the "defeated foe." Using Solomon's tragic compromise as a sobering example, the preacher warns against wasting the "cream and flower" of one's life on sin, only to repent in old age.

Key Themes:

1. The Battle is Real
• Christians cannot live passively; faith requires fighting (1 Timothy 6:12).
• Satan seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), especially targeting youth.
2. Lessons from Solomon’s Failure
• Despite his wisdom, Solomon squandered his best years on idols and worldly pleasure.
• His late repentance (Ecclesiastes) shows the cost of compromise.
3. Victory is Assured—But Must Be Lived Out
• Christ has already defeated Satan (1 John 4:4; Romans 8:37).
• Yet believers often "surrender" to the enemy through sin, distraction, or laziness.
4. How to Fight
• Put on God’s armor (Ephesians 6:10–17)—especially Scripture (the "sword of the Spirit").
• Flee sin and pursue eternal life (Philippians 3:13–14), not temporary pleasures.
• Follow faithful examples like Job, Polycarp, and Paul, who finished well.

Closing Charge:

The sermon ends with a rallying cry: Don’t give the "defeated fool" (Satan) even a moment of victory. Fight—not in your strength, but in Christ’s. The best of your life belongs to Him.

Why This Matters Today

This message is a wake-up call for believers in any spiritual slump. It confronts cultural complacency with a fiery reminder: Christianity is not a spectator sport. The "good fight" demands daily surrender to Christ’s leadership, weaponized by prayer and Scripture.

For reflection: Are you building your life with eternal rewards in view—or letting the enemy claim ground through procrastination or compromise?

(The full sermon is rich with Scripture, personal testimony, and urgent application—worth reading for its convicting depth!)

Adaptable for:

• Preachers (as a model for topical-expository blending).
• Small groups (discussion on spiritual warfare).
• Personal study (self-audit on faithfulness).

Let me know if you'd like a condensed version (e.g., for a bulletin or devotional)!

Imagine a war already won—yet the defeated enemy still fights to steal what’s rightfully yours. This is the Christian’s reality. In 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul thunders, ‘Fight the good fight of faith,’ but how do we battle an enemy Christ has already crushed? Tonight, we confront a sobering truth: Satan cannot destroy you, but he will try to distract you—just as he derailed Solomon’s wisdom and David’s devotion. Yet through Job’s endurance, Polycarp’s courage, and Christ’s victory, Scripture shouts: You were made to win. Will you claim that promise, or let the Devil steal your ‘cream and flower’ years? Let’s fight—not in fear, but in certain triumph.

Sermon Transcript:

Good evening, everyone. I praise the Lord for giving me the grace, strength, and wisdom to preach His Word during the YPG camp, and for this additional opportunity to share His Word tonight. May He be with me and enable me to preach His Word so that all of us may be spiritually fed and nourished by His Word, and that our souls may be lifted up spiritually.

I. The Call to Spiritual Battle

Deacon James has just read our text for this evening from 1 Timothy 6:12: “Fight the good fight of faith.” We cannot live the Christian life without engaging in this battle. As we engage, it involves both fighting and yielding to the Lord. We must be like faithful, hardworking carpenters who build a house with great diligence, careful planning, and a strong desire to make it both strong and beautiful.

Even Solomon in his book of Ecclesiastes said (Ecclesiastes 10:18): “By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.” Aiming for quality work in building construction is the goal of every engineer, architect, and carpenter. This is what the owner wants it to be. Our Christian lives must be built with the same quality. The building up of one's Christian faith must be done in a quality and excellent manner according to the Bible and God's Word.

The neglect of Christian duty by failing to fight the good fight of faith will destroy one's Christian life and lead to a defeated existence. We must be utterly faithful in our service, engaging wholeheartedly in this war against our enemy, the Devil. It is abundantly clear that Jesus Christ promised an abundant life to everyone who believes in Him. Yet this abundant life promised by the Lord cannot be received casually or taken lightly. It requires labor, travail, and great devotion - it demands earnest effort empowered by God's grace, enabling us to truly fight the good fight of faith.

As we know from John 10:10: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” If a Christian grows careless and fails to exert vigorous effort against the enemy, he will face defeat and forfeit the blessed, abundant life promised by the Lord.

Indeed, the Lord has promised this abundant life as His gift to every Christian - that we may be forgiven, accepted as God's children, and inherit eternal life in His kingdom. But this is not given so we may relax our spiritual vigilance. Rather, it comes with a sacred invitation to fulfill our duty by fighting the good fight of faith.

II. The Enemy’s Tactics

For it is very clear in Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” The Devil, who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, is our enemy. He is the prince of this world, and he is utterly real. He is intensely real and actively working against us even at this very moment in our lives.

I praise the Lord for giving me the opportunity to minister to the youth with the message He gave me. I was tasked to preach to them on the topic: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Every Christian—young and old alike—is fiercely hated by the Devil. He doesn't want them active in the church. He seeks to kill and destroy them so they cannot experience abundant life. This is especially true for youth—the Devil wants the 'cream and flower' of their youth, the best years of their lives, given to him, leaving only leftovers for God.

We all know Solomon's story. We know how wise he was, for God gave him wisdom. Yet we also know how he failed to fight the good fight of faith. We saw him fall into sin, surrendering years of his life to the enemy by yielding to temptation and willfully rebelling against God's will.

He married women who were not Israelites, and these women turned his heart to worship idols—not just for one year, but for many years. We all know that Ecclesiastes was written only in his old age, during those final years when he finally realized: "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" (Ecclesiastes 1:2).

We cannot deny that most of the prime of his life—the ‘cream and flower’—was spent not for God’s glory, but for the enemy, the Devil. The moment he indulged in sin, he failed to glorify God. He yielded completely to the enemy, surrendering himself to sin. The life that should have glorified God instead brought shame to the name of the Lord he claimed to love and worship.

This is exactly what the Devil wants for us—especially for young people. He wants the best years of your life, when you have all your energy and strength—the "cream and flower" of your youth—to be given to him. Solomon realized too late that if given another chance, he would have devoted his youth entirely to serving the Lord God Almighty, giving his very best—the flower and cream of his life—for God’s glory alone.

But we all know the ‘cream and flower’ of his life was given to the Devil. Only the leftovers were reserved for the LORD. He repented only in his old age—when he could no longer walk properly, when his eyes grew dim. No matter how fervently he desired to serve God, while his heart was willing, his body had grown weak. This strong body we have today—yours and mine—must be devoted to God’s glory. Solomon’s life teaches us this tragic lesson: when the best of his years were given to the enemy, only the remnants remained for God in his old age.

Yet the LORD, in His grace, forgave Solomon—even when repentance came so late, on his deathbed. We cannot comprehend such magnificent grace! But let no one say, ‘Since Solomon was forgiven, we can indulge in worldly pleasures.’ Absolutely not! God’s mercy is no license for sin.

Solomon stands not as our example but as our warning. We dare not use his failure to excuse our own sin—"God forbid!" (Romans 6:1-2). Rather, let his life teach us this: if Solomon (even the wisest man) failed, how much more do we need God’s power to remain victorious? Therefore, the ‘cream and flower’ of my life—my best years, my strongest days—must be consecrated to His name alone, for His glory alone.

May the church of God flourish abundantly! If each of us would strive earnestly to serve God and fight the good fight of faith, His grace and His Holy Spirit are powerful enough to deliver us from sin's pitfalls—just as Solomon eventually experienced. Therefore, we must always remember that we face a wicked enemy, and we must never allow ourselves to become idle. As Solomon said, idle and slothful construction workers will never build a good and strong structure. (Ecclesiastes 10:18)

III. The Victory In Christ

Your life must be built on a strong foundation—the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word—and we must never take this for granted. By God's grace and mercy, we must diligently work to build ourselves up in Christ. As Peter warns in 1 Peter 5:8: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Consider Solomon—though he was the wisest man apart from Christ (1 Kings 3:12; 4:29-31; Matthew 12:42)—he still fell into sin and endured a life of misery. The truth is clear: our enemy, the Devil, is indeed that roaring lion. But we are called to fight!

The LORD has not given us a spirit of weakness, but a spirit of victory in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why we must fight—what Scripture calls "the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). What a sacred battle we are engaged in! Christians—you and I—are called by the Lord to this noble struggle—fight the good fight of faith.

Even Peter, in exhorting believers, declared in 1 Peter 1:8: "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." This truth should shape our Christian walk—that though we don't see Him, we believe He is present with us.

Consider Solomon: when the visible beauty of the world captivated him and God's presence grew dim through his disobedience, he embraced worldly pleasures. We know how his life crumbled as a result. He failed to cherish the greater beauty of the invisible God.

God speaks to us through His creation. As the Westminster Standards declare (Chapter 4.1): where there is creation, there must be a Creator; where there is design, there must be a Designer. God Himself - through both Scripture and the Lord Jesus Christ - assures us profoundly of His presence. He is in this world and actively present in our lives. To fight the good fight of faith for His glory is our sacred privilege.

This truth demands our careful consideration: not everyone will value this spiritual battle. Unbelievers cannot comprehend it, nor perceive the beauty of this noble struggle in which we're engaged. Only truly born-again Christians, who see the Lord Jesus Christ through eyes of faith, will embrace this conflict. Do you possess this spiritual conviction? Solomon abandoned it. He failed. He was defeated, and his life became tragic.

Tonight, let us all remember: we could become like Solomon if we neglect our duty to fight the good fight of faith. This is indeed a good fight because we serve under the perfect Leader - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself.

The Word of God declares in 1 John 4:4: "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." Solomon failed to grasp this truth. Perhaps he knew it intellectually, but through carelessness, idleness, and his eager pursuit of worldly pleasures, he failed to recognize that though God is invisible, He is ever-present and mightier than our enemy, the Devil. "Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." While the prince of this world is indeed powerful, He who dwells within us—the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit—is infinitely greater.

We must understand that victory is our birthright—not merely a hopeful dream, but a present reality. The Lord Jesus Christ confirmed this promise through the Apostle Paul's testimony in Romans 8:37: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

Yet I've witnessed many friends in the House of Hope, Helping Hand, and care ministry who failed to walk in victory. Countless Christians worldwide share this struggle, not because victory is unavailable, but because they lack commitment to this spiritual battle. Their disinterest blinds them to the beauty of this fight and causes them to underestimate the supreme power of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle John declares in 1 John 4:4: "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." This truth should become our daily reality - each morning when we wake, each day as we go to our work. Remember, our enemy the Devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking to deceive and control us. He may appear overwhelmingly powerful, making us feel helpless.

Yet we only become powerless when we yield to him. But when we submit to the Lord and walk in the Spirit - as Scripture commands in James 4:8, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you" - then we truly see the beauty of God's promise: "Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). There's no place for defeat in our lives, for we serve under:

• The perfect Captain (Hebrews 2:10)
• The faithful Leader
• The good Shepherd who "gave his life for the sheep" (John 10:11)
• The mighty Victor who "was manifested to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8)

Therefore, the Christian life involves this good fight - a fight made victorious because we follow our divine Leader, the Shepherd and Savior of our souls, our glorious Redeemer.

IV. The Call To Faithfulness

This is indeed a good fight because we possess powerful weapons. As Ephesians 6:10-11 reminds us, we have been given ‘the whole armour of God.’ The Bible we hold in our hands represents this divine armor - our essential weapon for victory against our enemy, the Devil. This armor is available to us daily, and we must actively use it every day to secure our victory.

Ours is truly a good fight because we follow the perfect Commander - our faithful Leader and holy Redeemer leads us all the way. He has equipped us with the most powerful weapon: His Word. As Ephesians 6:17 clearly states: "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." There exists no more potent weapon against our spiritual enemies.

Consider this comparison: It would be absurd to imagine America losing to the Philippines in a matter of minutes. Whether America or China were to attack the Philippines, there would be no conceivable way for the Philippines to emerge victorious overnight. Such an outcome would be completely impossible.

This serves as a simple illustration. We all know China possesses formidable military strength, while the Philippines maintains only about ten outdated jet fighters. Humanly speaking, the Philippines could never defeat China, as their military capabilities are vastly superior.

Yet the devil is utterly powerless compared to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When Christ died on the cross, He secured our victory, making Satan a defeated foe. Though our enemy, the Devil, stands eternally vanquished, it remains tragically ironic when this conquered foe gains temporary victories.

Consider David's failure: when he committed adultery and impregnated Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:2-5) and arranged her husband Uriah's death (2 Samuel 11:14-17), the defeated Devil appeared victorious. Though David was ultimately restored through the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 12:9) and received God's forgiveness, we cannot ignore that moment when the vanquished enemy seemed to triumph.

If that happens, we are bringing shame to the name of the good Shepherd, the good Commander, the great Commander in our lives who has given us good weapons. It would be like China losing to the Philippines in just a few hours of war—how absurd! When David yielded and when Solomon rebelled against the Lord, they abandoned the good Commander. They forsook the good Leader in their lives, the One who promised them victory.

Why were they defeated? Because they surrendered to the enemy - a foe already defeated. Scripture makes this clear from the beginning: right after Adam's fall, God promised that the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15) - the Lord Jesus Christ - would crush the enemy (Galatians 4:4-5). This promise was fulfilled when Christ was crucified on the cross (Hebrews 2:14; Romans 5:18-19).

Christ lived a sinless life so that you and I might have complete salvation (2 Corinthians 5:21). He always did what pleased the Father (John 8:29), willingly died on the cross, was buried, and rose again after three days (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Then He ascended to heaven and sat down at the Father's right hand (Mark 16:19) - all to secure our victory over the Devil, who is already a defeated foe.

He is a defeated foe no matter what happens in this world. Yes, the sad reality is David was forgiven. And because David was forgiven, we can see the beauty of God’s victory. But this is not a license to sin. This is not permission to think, ‘Anyway, God will forgive us—it’s okay to allow ourselves to be defeated and let the devil enjoy a temporary victory, thinking the Lord will restore us.’ No!

One message I gave to the youth during the YPG camp was to invest in eternal rewards and heavenly treasures. No doubt David was forgiven. No doubt Solomon was forgiven. But there was a significant period in their lives when they failed to shine for God. They failed to glorify Him, and during that time, they hindered themselves from receiving rewards.

There were many days they could not invest in eternity. There were many days they failed to lay hold of heavenly blessings. That is why it was such a wasted life—because those lost moments, which should have glorified God, instead brought temporary glory to the enemy, the Devil, who remains a defeated foe.

In 1 John 3:8, the Apostle declares: "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." To have the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives is to be constantly reminded of our victory. Our enemy, the Devil, is a defeated foe. Yet our failure often lies here: the moment we yield to sin and act in ways displeasing to God, we grant temporary victory to this already-defeated enemy. This is his primary objective.

The Devil is not foolish—he possesses a twisted wisdom, one rooted in darkness. He is a deceiver, clever and utterly evil. Though his wisdom is not of the light (James 3:15), he is fully aware of his defeat. God’s plan is no mystery to him: he knows God has prepared the lake of fire for him (Revelation 20:10), and he understands his fate after Christ’s millennial reign is to be in the lake of fire together with the demons who followed him forever. Yet despite this certainty, he persists in rebellion.

As Christians, we too are aware—not of his power, but of our victory in Christ. Scripture repeatedly affirms this triumph (Romans 8:37; 1 Corinthians 15:57). Yet the tragic irony of our walk is this: though the Devil is defeated, we sometimes hand him victory voluntarily. We shame the name of the living God who saved, redeemed, and empowered us with victory (2 Corinthians 2:14)—yet we surrender. And the Devil delights in it.

We need to fight the good fight of faith. And remember, it is a good fight because we have the good captain, Saviour and leader. He gave us the good weapon—the Word of God. And it is a good fight because the enemy is already defeated. Be not deceived, but be wise. Use your life for the glory of God. Do not allow, do not give in to the Devil, but resist the Devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

We know this truth: How can we resist the Devil if we refuse to fight? Resisting and fighting him requires determination—not self-reliance, but a resolve fueled by God’s commands: "Flee youthful lusts" (2 Timothy 2:22), flee from worldly desires (1 John 2:15–16), and flee to the Lord (Matthew 11:28).

When we resist the Devil—when we engage in this good fight of faith—we actively flee from the world’s corruption and the enemy’s schemes. But we do not flee blindly; we run toward the Lord, our sure Refuge. We know Him as our Savior, Deliverer, Protector, and the One who guarantees our victory.

David failed to flee to the Lord - he did not flee. He felt the allure of the Devil's offer. The Devil's offer must be resisted, and we must flee immediately. Sometimes when the offer appears good, we consider it by contemplating it. As we dwell on it, the deception takes root in our hearts. The deception begins working, leading to yielding, and yielding becomes sin - and sin brings defeat into our lives.

Every day - today, tomorrow, even the moment we wake up - the Devil lurks nearby, waiting for you and me to yield to him. He wants us to forsake the Lord and experience defeat, though we are already victorious in Christ. This is the reality in House of Hope, care ministries, and churches. Even victorious Christians sometimes fail because the Devil constantly waits for them to surrender, hoping to claim temporary victory.

The Devil knows he is defeated. He knows his eternal destiny is the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Yet he persists, seeking to defeat you - if only for a brief moment - so he might rejoice and bring shame to the name of the Lord God Almighty, our Savior.

As Christians, we are not called to idly relax and be careless. We must be like skilled architects and engineers - with the Holy Spirit as our foreman - diligently building our Christian lives according to God's Word. We must heed the command: "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life" (1 Timothy 6:12).

Eternal life is the crown set before us to encourage our battle against the Devil. As Matthew Henry comments on this verse, eternal life is at stake - not mere earthly possessions like houses in Melbourne's finest suburbs. The Lord concerns Himself with eternal matters: heavenly rewards of everlasting value.

The Devil knows this perfectly well. He understands how glorious heaven is, and his evil nature cannot bear to see Christians enjoying its promise. Just as wicked men delight in their enemies' suffering, Satan wants believers defeated, hopeless, and miserable - robbed of the joy and confidence that rightfully belongs to them in Christ.

That is why the Devil comes "to kill and to destroy" (John 10:10). This is his nature:

• He doesn’t want you to lay hold of eternal life.
• He wants you to forget about it.
• He wants you to dismiss it from your mind.

I once had a member who left the church long ago and criticized me for frequently mentioning eternal life. I even asked myself: Is there something wrong in constantly speaking about eternal life? Truthfully, we mention it far too little in our daily lives—we should remember it every moment.

This afternoon, I was with Pastor Paul—He’s a kind friend. I thank him for showing my family many places during this trip—As we reached a mountain summit, the vehicle’s wheel suddenly malfunctioned. We stopped on level ground, but just 20 meters ahead lay a steep downhill road with a visible ravine on the right. What if the wheel had failed then? How gracious the Lord is that I stand here now! In that moment, He whispered to my heart: ’I care for you.’

Pastor Reggor is contemplating eternal life. Like me—like Solomon and David—he is not a perfect man. He has weaknesses, yet during this season of his life, he shared with me about his preaching mission to the Philippines. I pray the Lord speaks clearly to him through this experience and draws him nearer.

During our anniversary service, Pastor Reggor consistently emphasized life after death—eternal life. We cannot presume tomorrow; we might not wake up, or the Lord might permit Pastor Paul and my family to plunge into that ravine. But praise God! He clearly told me: ’Not yet. You will speak tonight at the prayer meeting. You will speak this Sunday. You will return to the Philippines.’

Pastor Reggor now battles illness there. If the Lord takes him, Gethsemane will need more preachers. If my life had ended in that accident, the need would be greater still. Yet the Lord said: ’Not yet time.’ But I responded: ’Lord, even if You had allowed my death in Melbourne, it would have meant eternal life.’

Let me say it again. As Matthew Henry notes: ’Eternal life is the crown proposed to us for our encouragement to wage war with the devil and to fight the good fight of faith.’ Worldly people boldly fight for earthly causes - sometimes even for vain pursuits. Many strive relentlessly for temporal goals, especially worldly achievements.

But we Christians must "lay hold on eternal life" (1 Timothy 6:12). This is the divine blessing God has declared to you and me - a truth we must never cease contemplating. God calls us to eternal life, which demands we reject worldly attachments and diligently pursue this heavenly prize. Merely thinking about eternity isn't enough; we must actively engage.

IV. Examples of Faithful Warriors

We are called to spiritual warfare - to fight the good fight not by our power, but by the strength of the Lord. When Paul commands us to lay hold of eternal life, he forbids spiritual complacency. We must not pause or grow slack in our race, but press forward until we obtain the prize (Philippians 3:12-14). This, as Matthew Henry explains, requires constant vigilance. We cannot afford spiritual pauses. Solomon faltered this way. David stumbled here. Countless Christians have been distracted, failing to fight the good fight of faith when they stopped resisting the Devil and trusting the Lord.

We cannot afford even a moment's pause but must continually press forward, for our Christian life demands daily growth in faith. Each new day must find us more rooted in Christ, more aware of the spiritual conflict He has called us to wage. We must grow increasingly sensitive to God's purposes, ever mindful that our enemy constantly seeks to mock our Lord and Savior through our weaknesses.

The Devil attempted to mock God through Job's life. Confident in his destructive power, Satan believed he could bring such devastation upon Job that it would shame God's name. This defeated foe was convinced Job would dishonor God, giving him temporary victory.

Yet the Devil was wrong. Praise the Lord! Job never slackened. He never paused, but progressed steadily - slowly yet surely - striving to grow in faith and complete dependence on God. Though suffering greatly, Job remained victorious. Through intense trials, he stood steadfast and faithful to the Lord because he laid hold of eternal life.

Judas laid hold of thirty pieces of silver, while John and the other disciples laid hold of eternal life. Peter—though he denied the Lord three times—ultimately declared: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68).

This truth should greatly encourage us. We can stand confident, for God has already given us victory. He has forgiven, cleansed, and adopted us as His children so we might fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of eternal life. Therefore, never slacken or pause, but by God’s grace, press forward daily.

As Paul writes in Philippians 3:13-14: "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Like Paul, we must press onward moment by moment toward Christ’s heavenly calling.

This is how we must live our Christian life: Pressing on. Never allow the enemy, the Devil, to defeat us. As Paul clearly instructed Timothy: "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses" (1 Timothy 6:12).

Reverend Tow, my lecturer, is now in heaven - fully aware that he has students named Paul Cheng, Hye Young, Reggor Galarpe, and Edsel Locot. Though he went ahead of us, he awaits our reunion with joyful expectation. Reverend Timothy Tow witnessed our calling. He knew us as former drug addicts saved by grace, then called to study God's Word. How he would rejoice to see us serving in ministry!

This morning, Pastor Paul and I reminisced about Mrs. Reverend Tow and our FEBC days. Not just Reverend Tow, but many faithful friends now dwell there. Our dear brother Domingo - whose earthly service overflowed with joy - is among them.

Life is full of miseries, but in heaven—no more tears, no more sin, no more sickness—only eternal life with the Lord. He eagerly awaits my arrival, just as He awaits Reverend Prauras Kus, who faithfully cared for his fellow servants in ministry. Domingo is already there, anticipating our heavenly reunion.

When John the Apostle died, he left behind many disciples, including Polycarp. As history records, Polycarp faced persecution under Roman rule. The emperor offered him a chance to renounce his faith, but by God's grace, Polycarp remained faithful unto death, fighting the good fight and resisting the Devil through divine strength.

To the Roman emperor and people, Polycarp declared: ’For eighty years the Lord has been good to me—how could I blaspheme Him now? The fire you prepare for my body cannot compare to the eternal fire God reserves for unbelievers.’ The Romans expected to see Polycarp die in screaming agony, but instead witnessed his courageous faith.

History confirms Polycarp died peacefully, his eyes lifted heavenward without a scream. I believe the Lord embraced him, as did his mentor John the Apostle, who witnessed his faith. The Lord surely said: ’Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter your rest and join your friend John.’

Many who have gone before us witnessed your faith. They saw your conversion and service in this church. Hold fast to eternal life that they have obtained. Don't be distracted—though the Devil tries—for those in heaven await your arrival to share its wonders.

Bethel BP Church, you've faithfully served as this community's light. Continue shining for God's glory. Fight the good fight of faith and hold on to eternal life, remembering Christ and all the saints await us. Don't disappoint them by surrendering to our defeated foe. But like Polycarp and the martyrs, stand victorious in the Lord's strength. Let us pray.

Lord, thank You for enabling me to preach in English tonight—though my English is imperfect—for Thy message has clearly reached Thy people. For it comes not from me, but from Thy holy Word. May Thy Word speak powerfully to us all, that we may carefully consider and apply it to our daily Christian walk.

Continue blessing Bethel BP Church in Melbourne. Use them as a light to glorify Thy name, that others may see their good works. Empower them to proclaim the gospel throughout this city, to Myanmar, and if God willing, to many more places.

Thank You for the privilege of ministering here with my family. I rejoice that Thy Word first ministered to me. Bless this church abundantly, and bless my missionary service. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.