faith

The Fight of Your Life


I do not fight like a boxer who hits nothing but air.
(I Cor. 9:26)

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You are fighting a real opponent! It doesn’t matter if you are a teen or an adult! (In a sense, the battle starts in the womb and continues on until we become old and breathe our last breath!) Your opponent cares nothing about the fact that you may be weak, female, or elderly. Satan’s powers at work fight to destroy impoverished people as well as the rich. No one is exempt from fighting. If we don’t fight we become defeated! But, so many people are ill-prepared for spiritual war (Eph. 6:11-18)! They haven’t learned how to fight spiritually. They don’t have a working knowledge of the scriptures and they don’t have an intimate relationship with the Lord. Millions who do not pray are left defenseless! So many have not exercised themselves in spiritual warfare, and as a result, they are left vulnerable to an enemy who fights to destroy families, kill dreams, and suggests defeat, as well as suicide as a way of an escape.

We can use the apostle Paul as an example of overcoming and fighting until the end. Here are his words: “I have fought a good fight…I have kept the faith” (II Tim. 4:7).

The scriptures below can be used for spiritual warfare:

  1. “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
  2. “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
  3. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” 1 Pet. 5:8-9
  4. “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord.” Is. 54:17
  5. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph. 6:11-17
  6. “In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Rom. 8:37
  7. So be careful. When you think you are standing firm, you might fall. You are tempted in the same way all other human beings are. God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted any more than you can take. But when you are tempted, God will give you a way out. Then you will be able to deal with it. I Cor. 10:12-13
  8. “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:57
  9. “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thess. 3:3
  10. “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” Rom. 12:21
  11. “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.” 1 Tim. 6:12
  12. “,,,On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:18
  13. “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Is. 40:31
  14. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” Rom. 8:31
  15. “You are tempted in the same way all other human beings are. God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted any more than you can take. But when you are tempted, God will give you a way out. Then you will be able to deal with it. I Cor. 10:13.
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Cares!


Casting all your care upon Him; for he cares for you.
 (I Peter 5:7)

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Those who have feelings of anxiety often feel like there is no hope and no one understands — and there is no one to help them come out of what they are experiencing in that moment. People with anxiety can often feel overwhelmed with thoughts of what other people’s opinions are about them.  Those with anxiety may even be worried about the future or something else that is unfolding in their lives.

GOD IS THE ANSWER TO ANXIETY! David had feelings of anxiety, but he learned how to overcome his fears. He said in Psalms 61:2-3, “From the most remote place of the earth, I will call to you, when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy” (NHEB). The enemy is expert at trapping unsuspecting souls, but it is written: “Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Ps. 124:7-8).

There are solutions to life that we don’t have and questions about life that we can’t answer. God is there to give solutions and to answer questions. He will amaze you with His problem-solving and answers! He has the ability to take the most complex situation in our lives and turn it around for our good! What a mighty God we serve! He will never leave or forsake us; He proves Himself time and time again!

Can’t you hear Jesus’ words to Martha: “But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things” (Luke 10:41 – ESV).  Like Martha’s sister, Mary, there are times when we are to put away the details and come sit at Jesus’ feet! We are to cast all our cares on Him. He cares for us! This day has enough to deal with, so don’t give undue thought about tomorrow, but seek God’s kingdom (Matt. 6:33-34). We are not to be anxious about anything, but our cares should be given over to Jesus as we pray (Phil. 4:6-7).

He that has ears to hear, let him hear!

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John: Forsaking All to Follow Him!


Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Mark 10:28

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There’s more than one John in the Bible. When we hear the name John, we often think about “the Baptist”, who was the blazing forerunner of the Lord Jesus. The other John was initially somewhat lesser known during the gospel times. The author of the Bible would associated him with either his brother or father. He was called the brother of James and appeared to be the lesser son of Zebedee. This John was also the John who had an ambitious mother. She wanted Jesus to grant that both her sons would have a secured and exalted place in His kingdom. We are not sure if this John had the same fleshly ambition, but time and circumstances caused him to take on the role of a loving servant rather than seek glory for himself (Luke 22:24)!

Both of these men were, in a sense, servants. One prepared the way for the Messiah to come, and testified that he (as a servant) was not worthy to untie His Lord’s sandal straps. The other John also served. These men, along with the other disciples and Peter, were led in ways that proved them all to be servants. Jesus told Peter that when he had fully matured, he would be a servant of the Master until his tragic death (John 21:18-19). This John, the son of Zebedee, was (no doubt) witness to this conversation Jesus had with Peter (vs. 20-21). He himself was also left in doubt as to his fate. At that point, he could have forsaken Jesus and chose to no longer serve him, as some did. (John 6:66).

These are examples of how people mature and become servants. They have no agenda other than to serve the One who initiates every call to being a disciple. Nothing else matters and all things pale in comparison to being a servant of Jesus Christ. They have been captured and arrested as slaves to those words of our Lord: “follow me”. Initially — those words bring the joyous light of the gospel to every believer, as it did with John and the other followers (Mt. 4:21-22). His call brings excitement and the ultimate salvation of our souls (Song Sol. 3:2-4)! But, His words, “follow me…”, take on new meanings as we mature in the Lord. Following Him has certainly taken us above mountain peaks, but following Him will also lead us through dark and uncertain places. His perpetual voice leads us to many valleys, and yet, we still follow!

We see the example of John as he proceeded to follow the Lord directly to Jesus’ death. He was led to Calvary and crucified, and yet John continued to follow. John endangered his own life, while many of the other disciples had already fled. We see John, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and a few others. They were now positioned directly under the cross of the suffering Christ. As our Lord suffered on the cross, His last words to John were, “Behold thy mother!” His words seemed to suggest that Jesus had all confidence in this selfless servant to move into the position of not only providing for His mother but treating her as Jesus would Himself. There was no questioning on John’s part, but he did what any slave would do and that was to obey his Master. As far as we can tell, he always followed the leading of our Lord!

Years later, we see John in scripture as he was banished on the isle of Patmos. He was there for being a servant of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:1, 9). No one knows how he must have suffered as a result of his determination to serve the Lord. One thing we do know is it appeared that no other disciple had the favor that John had. He was called the disciple that Jesus loved! Also, John was that disciple that had such a relationship with Christ that he was comfortable leaning on His bussom. No man that ever lived probably received more revelation than John. He was allowed to write the things he saw from the book of Revelation and experience the One who sat on the throne! He beheld things that we can barely comprehend. Oh, the fellowship that John, as a servant, had with our Lord!

Servants like John are often led in ways that can be lonely, but Christ’s promise has always been that He would not leave those who follow Him! He will continue to lead them through changing seasons in their lives and they will experience great fellowship as they walk with the Master (II Tim. 4:16-17)!

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John: Forsaking All to Follow Him!


Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Mark 10:28

man-bowing-low-1.png

There’s more than one John in the Bible. When we hear the name John, we often think about “the Baptist”, who was the blazing forerunner of the Lord Jesus. The other John was initially somewhat lesser known during the gospel times. The author of the Bible would associated him with either his brother or father. He was called the brother of James and appeared to be the lesser son of Zebedee. This John was also the John who had an ambitious mother. She wanted Jesus to grant that both her sons would have a secured and exalted place in His kingdom. We are not sure if this John had the same fleshly ambition, but time and circumstances caused him to take on the role of a loving servant rather than seek glory for himself (Luke 22:24)!

Both of these men were, in a sense, servants. One prepared the way for the Messiah to come, and testified that he (as a servant) was not worthy to untie His Lord’s sandal straps. The other John also served. These men, along with the other disciples and Peter, were led in ways that proved them all to be servants. Jesus told Peter that when he had fully matured, he would be a servant of the Master until his tragic death (John 21:18-19). This John, the son of Zebedee, was (no doubt) witness to this conversation Jesus had with Peter (vs. 20-21). He himself was also left in doubt as to his fate. At that point, he could have forsaken Jesus and chose to no longer serve him, as some did. (John 6:66).

These are examples of how people mature and become servants. They have no agenda other than to serve the One who initiates every call to being a disciple. Nothing else matters and all things pale in comparison to being a servant of Jesus Christ. They have been captured and arrested as slaves to those words of our Lord: “follow me”. Initially — those words bring the joyous light of the gospel to every believer, as it did with John and the other followers (Mt. 4:21-22). His call brings excitement and the ultimate salvation of our souls (Song Sol. 3:2-4)! But, His words, “follow me…”, take on new meanings as we mature in the Lord. Following Him has certainly taken us above mountain peaks, but following Him will also lead us through dark and uncertain places. His perpetual voice leads us to many valleys, and yet, we still follow!

We see the example of John as he proceeded to follow the Lord directly to Jesus’ death. He was led to Calvary and crucified, and yet John continued to follow. John endangered his own life, while many of the other disciples had already fled. We see John, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and a few others. They were now positioned directly under the cross of the suffering Christ. As our Lord suffered on the cross, His last words to John were, “Behold thy mother!” His words seemed to suggest that Jesus had all confidence in this selfless servant to move into the position of not only providing for His mother but treating her as Jesus would Himself. There was no questioning on John’s part, but he did what any slave would do and that was to obey his Master. As far as we can tell, he always followed the leading of our Lord!

Years later, we see John in scripture as he was banished on the isle of Patmos. He was there for being a servant of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:1, 9). No one knows how he must have suffered as a result of his determination to serve the Lord. One thing we do know is it appeared that no other disciple had the favor that John had. He was called the disciple that Jesus loved! Also, John was that disciple that had such a relationship with Christ that he was comfortable leaning on His bussom. No man that ever lived probably received more revelation than John. He was allowed to write the things he saw from the book of Revelation and experience the One who sat on the throne! He beheld things that we can barely comprehend. Oh, the fellowship that John, as a servant, had with our Lord!

Servants like John are often led in ways that can be lonely, but Christ’s promise has always been that He would not leave those who follow Him! He will continue to lead them through changing seasons in their lives and they will experience great fellowship as they walk with the Master (II Tim. 4:16-17)!

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