I went with my mentor to pray and learn as he was going on a pastoral visit.
As he began to deal with the individual, things became strange…the man went into a trance like state, and he began to speak in another voice, and my mentor addressed not the man but demons who were apparently manifesting themselves through him.
My jaw dropped open, I stopped praying and started spectating…my mentor looked over at me and said, “Terry, you are here to pray.”
Later in the car he said, “Never be amazed by the enemy, amazement is a step from worship…the enemy is not amazing…he is evil.”
A couple of years later I was praying for a WSU student and a friend when he suddenly roared in a strange voice and rushed towards me, I cried out, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” and put out my hand…he fell back against the wall…and then slumped to the ground.
I looked around, my heart beating fast…and several friends who were with me were hiding behind the couch…can’t say I blame them.
Christy, was there…she had fallen to her knees and was praying out loud…you can ask her about it.
CS Lewis said:
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about demons. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.”
I have, of course, read all that Scripture has to say about the devil (if you read through the Bible last year, you did as well)…I will call him simply, the enemy from now on…this will include his demon minions.
There is not that much in Scripture, relatively speaking…that is…obviously intentional.
God wants us to be aware of the enemy…but not overly interested in him.
I have also read probably a dozen or so books on the enemy…not horror books…horror books and movies are dabbling in amazement and fear and can move to the worship of evil…I never do that.
These books are theological and they come from Scripture…some, unfortunately, try to say much more than the Bible does about the enemy.
There is some disagreement among Christians regarding the role of the enemy in the unbeliever and the believer’s life.
Today, as we read our passage in 1 Tim. we will stick closely with the content and the context of the passage, but it is important, I think, to reassert those twin mistakes.
1. To dismiss or think nothing of the enemy…this makes us more vulnerable to his strategies.
2. To become fearful or overly interested in the enemy…this makes us more vulnerable to his strategies.
Let me speak, briefly to those who may have been overly influenced by scientism or naturalism (an “ism” is a belief system, a faith.)
So, clearly I believe in nature, but naturalism…is the belief that the natural, and not the supernatural…is all that exists.
Science is about human discovery in the world that God has made.
Scientism is the un-scientific belief that science can tell us everything about reality, that there is no spiritual because science can’t discover it…so no God, no devil or demons.
Science and scientism are often conflated as if they are the same…they are not.
Be sure of this…plenty of scientists believe in God and the enemy.
And of this…science has nothing to say about the existence of demons…and if someone says, “Science has disproven spiritual realities…therefore there are no demons or angels.”
That is not a scientifically accurate statement…that is a statement of faith
So, if you see a bumper sticker that says, “I believe in Science”…it usually means they have made a certain kind of science into a kind of belief system…a faith.
Or this one…”Science…it doesn’t care what you believe” is both true and naive.
-Science is a description of a process, how could it care?
But scientists, are humans and they all have worldviews, beliefs…and they all believe something about what think their science is saying.
Of course, we believe in the ability of humans to discover things about the created world… but scientists can and do disagree with each other about those findings.
To say, “I believe in Science” and to follow that with, “therefore I disbelief in God and demons” shows that they are not acting as scientists but as “believers” of a certain kind
So…in the real world there is gravity, and quantum mechanics, and CAR-T cancer therapy and demons.
We know some of that from discovery (human reason, a gift from God), we know some of that from revelation (the Bible, also a gift from God).
And we know some things by experience…but experience must be checked by revelation…because what we think we are experiencing is not always in line with what is real.
Now, to our passage…I Timothy 1:18-20.
Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, having faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme. (Blasfeme)
Paul is writing to a fairly new pastor, and a protegee, Timothy
Timothy has tendencies towards timidity…and he is facing a lot of opposition from inside and outside the church.
As I read this passage three questions jump out to me.
1. What is Paul talking about in regard to the prophecies made about Timothy?
2. What does Paul mean by “the good fight”?
3. What is this “delivering over to Satan” all about?
Let’s work through those and make some applications as we go.
1. Paul said he is giving instructions in line with the prophecies made about Timothy, in order that…by recalling them Timothy will fight the good fight.
It’s important to take note of “why” Paul says he is bringing up those past prophecies…it was so that Timothy would be faithful in the present…he would fight the good fight.
What exactly were those prophecies and “can I get some of those for myself?”
A. It seems that Paul was there when this event happened:
“I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear (timidity), but one of power,, love, and sound judgment. “2 Timothy 1:6, 7
So there again, in 2 Tim. Paul’s point in reminding Tim of God’s calling/gifting was to encourage him to not be fearful or timid…but rather to live in God’s strength.
B. We know that Timothy showed promise early on, we see this in Acts and in verse five of this chapter…but his ministry was going to prove to be very challenging.
He showed promise, he had the affirmation of others…but calling can be doubted when times get hard.
One of my favorite sayings, I can’t remember where I first read it…”Don’t doubt in the dark what God has spoken clearly in the light.”
I would say most if not all of us…can instantly connect a personal experience with that saying…some of you can connect with it right now.
We don’t know much about what happened when Timothy was given these prophecies…but we do know Paul’s point in bringing them up.
*So that by recalling, remembering them Timothy would fight the good fight…with faith and a good conscience.
Faith: Is Not “the faith” here…as the content of the gospel…but his personal walk with Jesus.
Paul sometimes refers to “the faith”…Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will return…the content of the Gospel.
Sometimes he refers to “faith” as our own walk with Jesus.
Here Paul wants Tim to remember God’s call on his life so he will walk faithfully in personal relationship with Christ no matter what he experiences.
Good conscience: An authentic walk with Jesus is always revealed in character, especially in how we deal with others.
So, someone who claims to know Christ…but is mean, vindictive, prideful, deceitful, self-serving…well, you must believe what they show you not what they tell you.
A good conscience is the opposite of what Scripture calls a “seared” or “scarred” conscience.
A good conscience is open to the direction and correction of God’s people, God’s word, and God’s Spirit.
Some have seared their own conscience…they have become hard, proud, and self-serving…and prey for the enemy.
We will talk about two of these guys soon.
The prophecies that Timothy is to be reminded of represent God’s promises and assurance to Timid Timothy.
Paul knows that confidence in God’s calling of Tim will be necessary in the fog and friction of war.
The Prussian military theorist, Carl von Clausewitz coined the oft used phrase, “The fog and friction of war.”
By that he meant that the actual combat experience will always be more confusing (fog) and more difficult (friction) than what we can plan for ahead of time.
Paul knew that Timothy must prepare for the coming fight by remembering God’s call on his life.
You might be thinking…
“Great, how can I get me some of those prophecies…so I can be prepared myself.”
You don’t need a personalized prophecy…you have what Timothy did not…God’s finished word.
You may get a special experience of some kind; God can do that…but if you get a “prophecy” from someone that is not aligned with God’s word…disregard it…its false.
And again, you do have all of God’s word.
So I will speak a word of confidence for you this morning…you can bank on it…it can prepare you to be fully confident in the coming fog and friction of battle…no matter what that battle looks like.
Are you ready…this is for you, “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6
There you go…you can take that to the bank…it’s for you.
There is more, Jesus said…for you…”All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt. 28:19,20
There is lot more for you…look for them as you read the NT… you don’t need a special kind of prophetic word for your life in order to stay encouraged and faithful.
You may get one, but you don’t need it…
You have your confidence (God will complete what he started in you) and you have your calling (Go make disciples) straight from the Word of God…what more do you need?
Let’s move on to the question of what does Paul mean by the “good fight”?
2. What is the Good fight
This is an important because Paul said that Timothy was to be confident in God’s calling in order that he would fight this good fight…so what is it?
First this is called “A fight” and second…it is qualified by the need to fight it in “good” or right way.
The implication is you can fight in a bad or wrong way.
Paul talks a lot about warfare, weapons…this is no game, it is a war…with casualties and enemies and victories.
You don’t play at war, not real war…and we don’t play at church, we don’t play at life…this is real.
For me, the first and most important implication of living in a war or fight…is that we must live in a state of continual readiness.
That phrase is actually redundant…readiness is by definition…continual.
Readiness is a term that used in a lot in the military.
AF units have what is called a called Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS), it is the backbone of a military unit, ensuring personnel and equipment are ready for deployment at all times.
Readiness must be built into warfare…that’s the whole point…ready to fight and win wars.
The motto of the Coast Guard, tasked with defending our coastline is “Semper Paratus”…”ray”…it means…always ready.
Imagine being on a sinking ship in trouble off the cold Atlantic coast…and over the radio you hear…”This the US Coastguard, Hang in there, we are going to watch a few YouTube videos to get up to speed on water rescue, then we need to run to store and buy some cold weather gear, then as soon as we gas up the boats…we will be right there.”
Readiness means the ongoing capacity to fulfill all assigned missions.
To be “ready” means there is no time or training gap between right now and a mission being accomplished.
To live with the reality of a spiritual fight in view…means you walk daily in readiness through the resources of God…his Word, His Spirit (obedience), His people (connected community)
We train, left of the bang, for godliness…to be ready.
Because these are not peacetimes…this wartime.
Many times, I have dealt with people who were not ready for the fight because they had lived as if there were not one.
They were unprepared because they did not live and train as if the battle were real.
So, first, the fight requires a state of readiness.
Then, Paul qualifies the fight this way, “fight the good fight.”
This simply means that it has to be fought God’s way, with God’s resources and for God’s glory.
It also means, it can be fought the wrong way.
If you are young man, I speak to you in particular because young men tend to be drawn to fights…it’s why armies have always been made mostly of young men.
Sadly, when I was a young man…I got into some fist fights…seems really stupid now…but it made sense to me as a teenager…which proves my point…young men tend to like to fight…verbally and otherwise.
But it could also be true that you are a women, or an older man…who loves a fight.
God has called you to fight the good fight…and God’s word gives us intel on what that does and doesn’t look like.
Right now…in our cultural moment…many Christians have adopted the world’s way of fighting, taking their cue more from culture and cultural icons than from Scripture and the Lord Jesus.
This must not be true for you.
I won’t name names of these cultural and Christian sub-culture figures…there are too many and frankly I don’t want to give them any airtime in here.
Their approach is this: “We are in a fight, we must win at all costs…so whatever it takes, we will win.”
If they punch me in the gut, I will punch them in the face.
If they punch me in the face, I will nuke them…in the name of Jesus, of course.
There is simply too much Scripture that runs counter to this to mention here, I will give just one passage from Paul that summarizes the good fight.
We will get this passage in depth later this Spring, but I will read it now.
Listen carefully and compare this “good” fight with what is common both in the general culture and sadly among Christians as well.
2 Timothy 2:22-26
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
Those who oppose him he must gently instruct (Wait, I’m looking for where he says, “Then punch them in the face…gotta be in here somewhere…can’t find it…let’s go on)
In the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
That’s the good fight.
Humans who are far from God are ignorant pawns in the enemy’s hands…they may doubt his existence even as he uses them for his own purposes.
We need to see the enemy using humans…for his own purposes…they are culpable…and they are captives and they need to be set free…though they often don’t even know they do
Sometimes…through God’s severe mercy…they become aware of their status as prisoners of war…and cry out to God and he sets them free.
Their best hope is not to punch them in the face but to gently instruct them…to show them and tell them the gospel.
Look I’m no pacifist and I’m not naturally wired to “gently instruct”…but this is how the good fight is fought.
Our own “natural” wiring often isn’t good…Jesus is working to rewire us in many ways.
Let’s learn from Paul…not some angry, and foolish, online influencer.
**Now, just in case your natural wiring is to “shrink back” from a fight…passivity is not fighting the good fight either.
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin was not interested in religion…he called himself a “reverent agnostic”…his views on humanity were not shaped by Scripture but by his own mind…he trusted mostly in himself…this would prove to be costly.
He was an idealist in terms of how he viewed human nature…he did not believe in our sin nature…so people were essentially good and reasonable…but not so much.
In 1938 he signed the Munich Agreement, taking Hitler at his word…he returned to England and gave his infamous and ultimately tragic speech, “Peace in our Time”
Meanwhile Hitler was lying through his teeth and building a war machine that would lead to the worse war in history.
Chamberlin did not understand the nature of the fight before him…Hitler could NOT be pacified…our enemy, the devil cannot be either.
We must deal decisively with sin in our lives…we can’t be passive…and we must proactively help those who fallen into sin around us.
Warn them…Scripture says.
We cannot be afraid of what others might think of us if we call them to repentance…but we don’t do this as arrogant jerks…but with humility and love.
We must speak truth to lies…we must not care about whether biblical truth is currently seen to out of fashion…and attractive lies are in vogue…this has always been the case.
We must not be passive…and we must not fight in the flesh.
But we must fight this fight God’s way and for God’s glory…that is the good fight.
Fleshly anger and timid passivity are the same in that they don’t require holding to biblical tensions…they are both, in many ways, easy.
To shrink back in cowardly passivity or just let the aggression bullets fly…both are simple.
What is hard, what takes the resources of God and a continual reliance on him and on others…is to live with the tension of fighting the “good fight.”
Third and last question…
3. What did Paul mean by handing those guys over to Satan?
Again, let’s start with the revealed purpose of the action…rather than getting stuck on what that action might have looked like.
What do you see here, what does Paul say is the purpose?
“So that they may be taught not to blaspheme.”
The point was instructive and ultimately restorative…not vindictive and punitive.
Let’s ask what led to this seeming drastic action then what that action might have looked like.
Paul said they rejected faith and a good conscience…and in so doing, they shipwrecked their faith.
Not “The Faith”…this is impossible…they ran their own personal faith on the rocks of their own foolishness.
Their actions and attitudes were called “blaspheme” by Paul.
To blaspheme means to speak profanely (disrespectfully) of sacred things…to make the Holy mundane.
By the way, the Bible doesn’t tell us much about these guys…but Timothy was surely well acquainted with them…they were probably a source of pain for him.
They may have been teaching unbiblical things, or they may have blasphemed by their lifestyle…saying one thing and doing another.
In 1 Cor. 5:3-5 Paul wrote this:
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles—a man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Shouldn’t you be filled with grief and remove from your congregation the one who did this? 3 Even though I am absent in the body, I am present in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who has been doing such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 hand that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord
A couple of things we learn from that passage:
1. Paul was referring to those inside the church, but he said, even unbelievers don’t often act like this.
2. The goal was redemptive…it was a severe mercy
“Hand him over to Satan so that ultimately he would be saved.”
Our prayer should be something like this for those who are far from God, “Father, please be as gentle as you can be but as hard as you must be for the ultimate good of my friend.”
What did this look like in actual practice?
Most likely it was the practice of Church discipline…to treat someone as they are acting…if they are going to act like an unbeliever they should be treated like one.
Unbelievers cannot be church members.
It would mean to withdraw the covering of the church community from them…by telling them…”You are no longer a member of this church body, your actions are not in line with Biblical truth, and they bring dishonor on the name of Christ.”
In 2 Thess Paul writes about some people who are in line for church discipline…
If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don’t associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. Yet don’t consider him as an enemy but warn him as a brother.
*Don’t associate means to not treat them as healthy members of the church family.
It doesn’t mean to completely write them off…
Because he quickly follows with…”Don’t consider him an enemy but warn him as a brother.”
So this is about taking people’s actions not just their words, seriously…because so much is at stake.
What might this look like?
Years ago, I was in a church where we gathered to discuss a member who had left his family and was living an immoral life.
The man was approached several times, warned…he was removed from church membership and some folks gathered to pray for him and part of that prayer was this…
“Father, please remove any protection from this man, please do whatever it takes to bring him to repentance…”
I was in church about a year later when this very same man showed up…broken (literally in body and in other ways)…he asked for and was given forgiveness, and the process of restoration began.
So Paul’s instruction is about living in a state of active readiness…fighting the good fight.
This is about a real war with real casualties…a shipwrecked faith is a shipwrecked life…with devasting consequences.
It’s not about being unkind to those who walk away from the faith.
It is about true kindness…a desire for one’s ultimate good.
I heard a pastor from a church that doesn’t take Scripture seriously say recently that what she wanted was for all people to be able to do what would make them most happy.
In context it was about a man who wanted to be seen and treated as a female.
Let me answer this with an image: This is a picture of man rescuing two toddlers who had wandered out of their backyard.
-Their parents lost track of them and the kids were doing whatever ever they felt like doing…in this case wondering onto a busy street.
Look, there are plenty of things children want that they believe will make them happy…and the parent who allows any and all if it is far from a good parent.
It may seem like kindness, but it is ultimate cruelty…to affirm someone who believes a lie.
A lie that will lead to temporal if not eternal harm…well that is not kind.
Wounds of a friend, says Scripture, are faithful…that’s love.
What is good and who decides?
All that God says is good, all that God gives us in his word and in his will is good.
Eternal good, always trumps what we might think is temporal good.
Jesus said it like this…
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul. Matt 16:26
There is a lot packed into this short passage from 1 Timothy but here is the life framing point I will leave you with:
This is a real fight; we cannot be passive in it. But this fight must be fought in God’s way and for God’s glory. His way is the only way, and his glory is our ultimate good.