Run, Fight, Endure, & Be Established

Believers must learn to continue in the faith amidst hindrances, trials and temptations. Though not exhaustive, the scriptures presented provide encouragement and instruction to run, fight, endure, and be established.

Run the Race

The mindset of someone who is running a race is striving with all their might to accomplish reaching an end goal. Scripture encourages believers to run in relation to subjecting oneself. The meaning of subjection in 1 Corinthians 9:27, is to control ones flesh as a slave; to make it perform in a different manner than it would prefer. This requires a believer to willingly sacrifice and give up the desires of the flesh; whether it is sin, self-benefiting liberties, or any distractions that slows or stalls a believer from reaching the reward and end goal.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 KJV - "24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

Romans 12:1-2 KJV - "1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV - "1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

2 Timothy 4:6-8 KJV - "6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

Fight the Good Fight

Believers are given a commandment to fight the good fight of faith, which is to fight against the desires of the flesh by bringing the body into subjection and following after godly virtues.

1 Timothy 6:10-14 KJV - "10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 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. 13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:"

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 KJV - "26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

2 Timothy 4:6-8 KJV - "6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

Endure

Believers are called to endure afflictions, persecutions, tribulations, chastening, and sound doctrine; and promises rewards and blessings for doing so.

Mark 13:13 KJV - "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (also Matthew 24:13)

Acts 14:22 KJV - "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."

Hebrews 10:32-35 KJV - "32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward."

Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV - "1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

2 Thessalonians 1:4 KJV - "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:"

2 Timothy 2:3, 10 KJV - "3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ... 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory."

2 Timothy 4:5 KJV - "But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

Hebrews 12:7 KJV - "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?"

James 5:11 KJV - "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."

1 Peter 2:19 KJV - "For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully."

1 Peter 3:14 KJV - "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;"

Believers who do not endure in the faith become apostate and never truly had faith. It was prophesied, and is presently known, that there are believers who reject hearing the hard truths of scripture and make both enjoyment of and excuses for sin; believing that certain truths are lies: thinking evil is good and good is evil. A day will come where the so called believers will be punished with the unbelievers.

Mark 4:16-17 KJV - "16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended."

2 Timothy 4:3-4 KJV - "3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

Hebrews 12:19-20 KJV - "19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:"

1 John 2:18-21 KJV - "18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth."

Psalm 38:20 KJV - "They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is."

Malachi 2:17 KJV - "Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?"

Isaiah 5:20-24 KJV - "20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: 23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! 24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel."

Matthew 7:21-27 KJV - "21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."

Luke 12:45-46 KJV - "45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers." (also Matthew 24:48-51)

2 Thessalonians 2:8, 10 KJV - "8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: ... 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."

Be Established

Encouragement is given to believers to become established in faith, the truth, and the good works thereof.

Colossians 2:6-7 KJV - "6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

2 Thessalonians 2:17 KJV - "Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work."

James 5:8 KJV - "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."

Romans 1:11 KJV - "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;"

1 Thessalonians 3:2 KJV - "And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:"

Hebrews 13:9 KJV - "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein."

2 Peter 1:12 KJV - "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth."

The definition for stablish and established is the same as "stand" in scripture. An established believer will be able to stand against the wiles (deception and trickery) of the devil; for they will be able to endure the more as they abound in their faith and spiritual growth.

Ephesians 6:10-20 KJV - "10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

2 Corinthians 1:24 KJV - "Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand."

Colossians 4:12 KJV - "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."