打那美好真理的仗 Fight the good fight of truth

礼拜天在教会听到的信息 Sermon Heard in Church on Sunday

2011年7月10日 July 10, 2011

讲员：达里尔底德尔博士 Speaker: Dr. Daryl Diddle

经文： 提摩太前书1：18－2：15  First Timothy 1:18-2:15

提摩太前书1：18  First Timothy 1：18

我儿提摩太啊，我照从前指著你的预言，将这命令交托你，叫你因此可以打那美好的仗。 “This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight.”

(一) 保罗吩咐提摩太留在以佛所，要他打美好的仗。在希腊文，这是指非常强烈的争战， 对付那强大的敌人。他利用像许米乃和亚力山大的人 （提前1：20）传异教，荒渺无凭的话语和无穷的家谱与无聊的辩论。（提前1：3－4）

(二)  这仗是个真理的争战；是对付谎言与错误的异教。一个有趣的倒转是，从前保罗是在仗的另一方；在法利塞人的一方，他也是亵渎神的，逼迫人的，侮慢人的；然而他蒙了神的怜悯，现在在真理这方，打美好的仗。

(三)  保罗建议提摩太使用有效的兵器打美好仗。那就是祷告！所以在第二章，他对提摩太说，我劝你，第一要为万人恳求、祷告、代求、祝谢；为君王和一切在位的，也該如此。（提前2：1－4）当我们这样祷告，我们的世界会变成一个更好、更平安的居所。人民和谐与真诚的相处。我们也可以过着敬虔、端正、平安无事的度日。这是祷告的重要与潜能。

让我们打美好真理的仗！

1.    Paul asked Timothy to remain in Ephesus to fight the good fight. In the Greek, it was not just a fight but “waging war” against a powerful enemy who uses people such as Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Tim. 1:20) who taught strange doctrines, myths, endless genealogies and speculations. (1 Tim. 1:3-4)

2.     The fight is a fight of truth, against deception and erroneous doctrines. A strange turn of event was that Paul, in his earlier life, was fighting the wrong battle – on the side of the Pharisees against Jesus. He was a blasphemer, persecutor and violent aggressor; however, by the mercy of God, he is now on he truth side, fighting the good fight. (1 Tim. 1:13)

3.    Paul prescribed the weapon for Timothy to fight the good fight. It is none other than prayer! Thus, in chapter 2, he said to Timothy that prayers, petitions and thanksgiving be made for all men, and for those who are in authority. (1 Tim. 2:1-4) When we do that, our world will be a better and more peaceful place to live in, and people will live more harmoniously and truthfully with one another. We will live tranquil lives. This speaks of the importance and power of prayer.

Let us fight the good fight of truth!