2Timothy 2:24-26 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

1. The greatest captivity is bondage to Satan.

Those in opposition to the ministry of the gospel and the word of God in Ephesus need freedom. Paul makes it clear that when someone is in opposition to God and the ministry of the gospel, they are in slavery to evil. Timothy should care greatly about this. Notice that Paul's whole point to Timothy is about how he should conduct himself as he talks to his opposition so that God might work through him to bring them out of their bondage to Satan.

Unfortunately, many Christians are quick to look at those who oppose us and have a quiet comfort that opposition will be judged. It's not wrong for a Christian to desire that evil be overcome, and that God's enemies are brought to justice. If, however, along the way we are not overwhelmed with compassion for those opponents who can be forgiven and saved while they still have breath, we are dismissing the very heart of Christ for the lost. God does not want our outrage; he wants us on mission.

The freedom that Paul is most concerned with is not Timothy's freedom but his opposition's freedom. Timothy should greatly desire that God might work through him to bring his opposition to his senses and be turned from slaves of Satan to servants of Christ.

2. The fight is not for Timothy to dominate and win.

When Timothy realizes that freeing his opposition from Satan is above his power and pay grade, he will no longer have to worry about being right, or winning the day. All Timothy needs to do is to be the man God wants him to be and to act and speak in obedience to Christlikeness. If pleasing God is Timothy's most important concern, then his actions and speech toward his opposition will not be about winning the war but about being the man God wants him most to be. If Timothy is this way, he can have peace in knowing that any deliverance of his opposition from Satan's power will be God's work alone.

To honor God in the fight, Paul tells Timothy to teach and correct with kindness, patience, and gentleness. Not force. Not debate. Not any means necessary to win the day. Timothy is to reflect the character of God in Christlike grace - much the same way God gently brought us into his grace when we truly saw the glory of Christ in the gospel.

How do we fight? We fight as representatives of God who reflect his character and speak the truth in love.

What are we fighting for? Not ourselves, but for those who oppose us to be freed from the bondage of sin. It's not a fight for our freedom (we already have it), it's theirs.

John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.