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Thursday, May 7,
2009
Fight For Life
1 Timothy 6:10-12 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. (KJV)
Now that you have fled youthful lusts,
dead end desires that were keeping you more in the dark than in the light
of the glorious gospel of Christ, you see Paul encouraging the people to
fight a good fight of faith. Now in order to fight effectively, we need to
know how to fight and exactly what we are fighting against. Many times
Christians, rather than fighting a good fight of faith (faith being their
ability to hear the word of God and then follow through with what He is
asking), like children, they end up swinging blindly at the opponent and
end up hitting each other.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27 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. (KJV)
You know, if you look at fighters in the
carnal realm, many times you see that the fat flabby ones are not able to
go the distance, but will tire out and falter. You see that those who are
crowned champions are those that have exercised themselves and kept their
bodies in shape, able to take a hit and deliver an effective blow in
return, many times in the form of a knockout. Paul clearly points out and
explains that he is not fighting with other people, but rather the battle
is keeping his own body in subjection to the Spirit, that being the Spirit
of Christ who was living and abiding in him. The reason for this mindset is
quite simple, the Spirit is willing and there is power in the Spiritual
realm, while the flesh is weak and will go down for the count. By the way,
besides being out of shape, another thing that tires out a fighter quickly
is to swing and miss, expelling a lot of energy and not accomplishing
anything.
Galatians 1:6-8 I marvel that ye are so
soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another
gospel: (7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and
would pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But though we, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached
unto you, let him be accursed. (KJV)
You Church, you are literally in a fight
for your life, your Spiritual life that is; and when Paul encountered this
group of Galatians he marveled at how easily they had given up without
putting up any kind of a fight; you know, fighting a good fight of faith.
In essence he was telling them what a bunch of easy pushovers they were,
because rather than take a stand for the Lord they fell for a cheap
imitation of His doctrine; basically they got sucker punched. How much of a
fight did you put up today, getting your body in subjection to the Spirit
so that the enemy wouldn’t hit you with some cheap shots that would put you
down on the mat? If someone tried to access your house and rob you, I
wonder if you would be as diligent to stop a spiritual thief and protect
your Spiritual treasure as much as the carnal treasures that many hold to.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk
in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of
strong holds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ; (6) And having in a readiness to
revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (KJV)
Notice where the battle ground is and
where the battle really is taking place? Yup, right inside of us, our
carnal minds that try to keep us in the realm of the flesh and not in the Spirit;
those imaginations that will run wild and jab at you until you go down for
the count and are knocked out of the realm of the Spirit if you don’t fight
back. You know folks, the Bible says, greater is He (that being Christ)
that is in us, than is anything or anyone else in this fallen realm. With
all the mighty Spiritual weapons you have access to in Christ, instead of you
being the one thrown down to the mat, why don’t you start fighting for your
life and letting the Lord deliver the knockout punch that will keep the
enemy subdued and not having any influence in your walk.
Ephesians 6:10-13 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. (KJV)
Last man standing wins; those that know
who they are in Christ and how to arm themselves with His might will be the
ones left standing and walking in the victory that is rightfully theirs for
the taking. If you notice above, the weapons and armor are defensive ones,
not offensive; after all, the Lord has already won the battle for our
salvation, and we win. Now it is just a matter of you protecting yourself
with the armor of God so that you can keep yourself reminded of the victory
that we have in Christ and that if God be for us who could be against us.
All that the enemy can try to do is to sneak some lies past your defense and
get you to doubt the victory we truly have in Christ.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 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. (KJV)
Paul knew how to fight the good fight of
faith; so that when it came time for his departure he knew where he was
going and the crown that awaited him. Do you know where you are going today;
are you fighting for your life, or are you getting sand kicked in your face
and giving up without resistance?
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