FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT: PURPOSE

Happy New Year!  We hope your year is off to a fantastic start!  Most people will make a New Year’s resolution, but only 8 to 10 percent of people will keep their resolution for the year. The second Friday of January (9th) is often called “Quitters” day because over 60% of people will have quit their resolution.  We are fragile creatures!  Don’t despair, God knows the “weakness of our frame,” and he wants to inspire and empower our hearts and spirits!  We begin 2026 with the series Fight the Good Fight!  The first sermon in this series is Purpose, and it is based on 1 Timothy 6:10-19, which contains the title in verse 12.   What are we fighting for?  Why are we here?  What is the meaning of life?  We are all searching for a deeper purpose in our lives.  A defining purpose can continue to inspire us, strengthen us, and guide us to a deeper contentment.  In the letter to Timothy, Paul is writing to guide and encourage this young pastor, but the power of the Holy Spirit applies these words to every believer.  This guidance to Timothy is more needed than ever because we exist without a defining purpose, and without purpose, our lives drift into selfishness and self-indulgence rather than service to our Lord and Savior!   As we start 2026, we want you to be empowered and energized to fight for God truth, for God’s hope, and for God’s goodness.  In the midst of the fight, we will find the power of the living God sharing with us the abundant life which he promised to his children!  We pray you will find this purpose, this power, and this presence filling you to overflowing with a spring of living water as you read 1 Timothy 6:10-19. 

1 Timothy 6:10-19 (NIV)

¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. ¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you ¹⁴ to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which God will bring about in his own time —God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. ¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.