FAITH FIGHTS...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This has to be 2 part less or condense and skip some...
1 Tim. 6:12 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.
I. FAITH IS AN ACTION WORD... FAITH MUST BE MORE THAN A PASSIVE-EVASIVE
PLAN...
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
NIV
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
LB
Hebrews 11:1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.
MS
Hebrews 11:1 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we
can’t see.
A. FAITH:
NOW FAITH.... ?
Historical faith?
B. FIGHT:
Contend, confrontation, battle, combat, overcome strife...
Determined effort, oppose, wage, carry on, struggle, endure
C. What is not faith?
Fear, doubt, emotional games, seeking signs, doing things in the flesh...
D. A great obstacle to faith can be living always REACTING to the situations.
Those allowing the situation to dictate to our feelings and emotions.
FAITH IS MUCH MORE THAN REACTION... FAITH ACTS...
Sure many things will catch us off guard and knock us to our knees.
But these situations did not catch our God by surprise.
E. This battle, conflict, storm, trial or problem is a GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
Great test make great testimonies.
Big messes can make big messages...
II. THERE ARE THREE QUESTIONS OF CREDIBILITY WE ALWAYS ASK
REGARDING FAITH...
Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
A. Can God do this?
B. Can God do this for me?
C. When will God do this?
D. We must address these three questions before we can ever step up to let FAITH FIGHT...
E. If we establish our God can do this for me --- now we are prepared to take our FAITH AND GO TO BATTLE...
III. FAITH IS THE KEY TO LIFE... WITHOUT FAITH, OR BY LITTLE FAITH, SPIRITUAL DEATH IS SURE... WE MUST RELEASE OUR FAITH TOWARDS GOD AND LET THE FAITH FIGHT OUR BATTLES... WHERE THERE IS LITTLE FAITH THERE IS GREAT
FEAR... WHERE THERE IS GREAT FAITH THERE IS NO FEAR...
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
A. Fear and doubt are tattle tails...
Mark 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
B. Faith will take the fear out of the lions den...
Faith will keep you cool as you face the fiery furnace.
Faith will bring your only son to the altar...
Faith will cause you to press through the crowd and touch the hem of His garment.
IV. FAITH WILL NOT BE LIKE WATER AND ALWAYS TAKE THE COURSE OF LEAST
RESISTENCE!
Habakkuk 2:2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
A. I heard a story about a midwestern farmer 50 years ago.
The farmer went to the bank to borrow money to buy seed to plant his whole farm in corn.
He fired up the old tractor and plowed for many days. He disced the ground.
He spread fertilizer over the whole farm... and planted the corn.
The rains came and the corn grew. In one day millions of grasshoppers flew on to his property and his precious crop was being consumed by the grasshoppers.
One Sunday at prayer meeting the farmer cried out to God... Father, we will loose the whole farm, I owe money at the bank...
The farmer got up from prayer in GREAT FAITH... As he walked home, his heart kept saying, let the chickens out...
Now the farmer pondered: HOW WILL LETTING THE CHICKENS OUT HELP ME?
The next day the farmer was up at dawn, he opened the doors to the chicken house...
The chickens came out and ate the grasshoppers...
The chickens thrived... there were many baby chickens hatched. The eggs were plentiful.
The farmer started loading up the eggs and chickens and traveled the area selling the chickens...
No, the farmers faith never saved the crop, but GOD HAD A BETTER IDEA.
For several years the farmer made his living from the chickens that God blessed...
I want to tell you --- FAITH FIGHTS...
B. FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH...
C. We desire to live by sight, but we must submit to GOD’S PLAN...
GOD’S PLAN WILL TEST YOUR FAITH...
V. IT IS UP TO YOU... THE BATTLE OF FAITH IS AN INDIVIDUAL BATTLE...
Matthew 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
A. In Math there are laws that all math follows.
B. There is the IDENTITY LAW... Any number multiplied by one will always come up itself...
C. Then there is the LAW OF ZERO... Any number multiplied by zero will always be zero...
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
D. Faith must offer more than ONE or a ZERO... TO ALLOW FAITH TO FIGHT WE MUST REACH INTO A DEEPER POCKET THAN WE HAVE...
VI. FAITH FIGHTS FEAR... FAITH FIGHTS DOUBTS... FAITH FIGHTS WORRY...
A. FEAR AND DOUBT ARE GREAT ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
B. Why does comfortable people sitting in the boat, talk about Peter sinking?
Matthew 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
[30] But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
[31] And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
VII. FAITH FIGHTS FEELINGS... FAITH FAITHS FIGHTS EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL GAMES...
A. SUFFERING SAINTS BECOME A GREAT THORN IN MOST BELIEVERS SIDES.
B. Could suffering be God’s GRADUATE SCHOOL, a place of higher education?
Luke 8:43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
C. Chronic problems and trials, chronic sicknesses can become a great obstacle of faith.
D. 12 long years? This suffering lady decided NOW... TODAY... I AM GOING TO TOUCH JESUS...
E. EVER THINK ABOUT A FAITH PRECEDENCE?
After this lady touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed, many others would come to touch the Master.
F. While this chronically ill lady found her FAITH RELEASED she overcame her tiredness and her sick feelings to find the DELIVERANCE SHE NEEDED...
VIII. FAITH FIGHTS FOR THE FAMILY... OUR ENEMY IS THROWING EVERY PIECE OF
GARBAGE HE CAN TOWARD THE FAMILY... WE NEED PEOPLE TO LET FAITH ARISE
AND RELEASE OUR FAITH TO FIGHT FOR THE FAMILY...
A. There has been a golden thread through the church through out the ages... the golden thread of a MOTHER’S LOVE and a MOTHER’S PRAYER...
1 Cor. 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
B. DON’T GIVE UP ON FAMILY MEMBERS... PRAY... PRAY HARD... PRAY HARDER...
1 Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
IX. FAITH FIGHTS FOES... WHEN PEOPLE RISE UP TO FRUSTRATE YOUR PURPOSE,
YOU MUST ALLOW GOD TO ARISE... FAITH WILL FIGHT...
A. HE WHO LIVES BY THE FIST WILL DIE BY THE FIST... He that lives by the sword will die by the sword... We can not fight in the flesh... our weapons are not carnal...
B. God directs Hezekiah to re-build, and DOG GONE --- if Sennacherib does not arise to hinder?
C. David delivers cheese and bread to his brothers and there is a terrible giant named Goliath?
D. Elijah was a might man of God and Jezebel pledged to stop the message and the messenger?
E. John the Baptist preached the truth and made Herodias mad? She was bitter and had the preacher’s head...
F. HAMAN HATED MORDECAI. Haman invested huge sums of money to wipe out the seed of Jesus. Haman’s hatred drove him... but in the end MORDECAI WITH PRAYER, FASTING,
AND FAITH... OVERCAME HIS FOES...
Esther 9:22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
G. FAITH FOUGHT, FAITH WON...
X. FAITH FIGHTS FACTS...
A. Are you from the SHOW ME STATE...
Psalm 68:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David.
Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
B. Hey did you happen to see HOW BIG THOSE WALLS ARE?
DID YOU SEE HOW PREPARED JERICHO WAS TO DO BATTLE...
C. For 40 years Jericho has been building BIGGER, BETTER WALLS...
Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
D. FACTS CAN MEAN LITTLE...
Gideon? The facts? 30,000, --- 10,000 --- 300 --- GOD...
The facts: 5 loaves and 2 fishes --- they fed 5,000 men, then the women and children and 12 baskets left over---
XI. FAITH FIGHTS FINANICAL PROBLEMS...
A. HAVE YOU EVER FACED APRIL 15?
Matthew 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
B. God’s word will stand the test... His invitation is to PROVE ME...
Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
XII. FAITH WILL FIGHT THE FUTURE FOR YOU...
A. We must live one day at a time...
I remember worry trying to destroy today as I was concerned about tomorrow...
B. I once made a hospital visit. A man was sitting near the elevators and he was quietly crying. He was holding a beautiful baby. I sat down next to him and asked could I help?
He said: I am thinking about my daughters wedding and I fear she is going to marry the wrong man? We talked and I inquired how old was his daughter?
He informed me that the little baby girl in his lap, 6 months old was his daughter? What?
He was missing today’s beauty while worrying about something two decades away?
Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
[31] Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
C. The God that helped us through yesterday... Will help us through today...
And He will be a very present help in a time of trouble... if that is what we face tomorrow...
XIII. FAITH FIGHTS FATIQUE... A SPIRIT OF TIREDNESS...
A. There is a terrible enemy every FAITH PERSON FACES... IT IS A SPIRIT OF TIREDNESS...
B. We keep busy schedules...
C. Everything in life tends to DRAIN US... How many hands demand of you... "GIVE ME!"
D. In tiredness we become weary in well doing...
E. Tiredness and fatique can affect our immune systems...
F. God knew this... and He made way for a provision OF FAITH to restore...
Jeremiah 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
G. PLEASE HEAR ME... WE CAN PUT OUR TRUST IN HEALTHY DIETS, IN SUPPLIMENTAL HEALTH PRODUCTS AND MAKE ALL HEALTH PROBLEMS TO LOOK EASY, IF I JUST TAKE THIS AND THAT I WILL BE WHOLE. IF I JUST EXERCISE ENOUGH...
SO WE BUY THESE PROGRAMS AND HEALTH BOOKS AND RELY ON THEM INSTEAD OF
TRUSTING THE LORD... PLEASE HEAR ME... HEAR ME WELL... SURE YOUR DIET HAS
THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR HEALTH... SURE YOU CAN INVEST TONS OF HOURS
IN MUCH STUDY AND SELF-DIAGNOSIS AND SOON FIND OUT YOU ARE BYPASSING
GOD’S FAITH PLAN OF HEALING...
OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE... SURE, DO ALL YOU CAN...
BUT DON’T LET WHAT YOU DO BYPASS GOD... DO ALL YOU CAN, BUT DON’T
SUBSTITUTE WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR WHAT GOD CAN DO...
I TAKE VITAMINS, I TAKE SOME OTHER THINGS, BUT I CAN NOT ALLOW THIS TO
TAKE THE PLACE OF MY FAITH.
THERE IS A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS OFTEN USING THE CHURCH TO PROMISE HEALTH AND BYPASS FAITH... I DO NOT WANT TO MAKE ANY ANGRY, I JUST WANT US TO KNOW GOD EXPECTS BALANCE...
James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
H. IN THE SAME BALANCE WE CAN INVEST ALL IN THE DOCTORS... AND COME UP SICK AND EMPTY... I REMEMBER GOD WARNING A KING THAT HE HAD PLACED HIS TRUST IN THE MEDICAL SYSTEM INSTEAD OF COMING AND SUBMITTING TO GOD...
PLEASE, ACCEPT THIS AS A WARNING TO STAY BALANCED AND ALLOW FAITH TO FIGHT...
I AM NOT SAYING THESE THINGS TO HURT BUT TO EXPOSE A TENDANCY THAT CAN
GROW WHERE WE THINK WE CAN DIAGNOSE OUR PROBLEMS.
DO WE NOT KNOW A GOOD DOCTOR NEVER DIAGNOSES HIMSELF...
FAITH FIGHTS IS DOING WHAT WE CAN, BUT THEN RELYING ON THE UNSEEN HANDS
THAT ALLOW FAITH TO OVERCOME... NOT EXTERNAL SOURCES BYPASSING THE
RELEASE OF FAITH... I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE WORDS CAN BE TWISTED,
BUT I MUST SPEAK... WE MUST TRUST THAT A GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH OVECOMES ALL.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
I. WE SEARCH FOR SOUNDNESS AND BALANCE...
Health has many elements... Physical, Emotional, Mental, Spiritual ...
We must come by faith to find and maintain a HEALTHY BALANCE IN ALL THESES AREAS...
2 Tim. 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
CONCLUSION:
FAITH FIGHTS... FEAR, FEELINGS, FOR THE FAMILY...
FAITH FIGHTS FOES, FACTS, FINANCES, FUTURE...
AND FAITH FIGHTS FATIQUE THAT BIRTHS HEALTH ISSUES AND SPIRITUAL ISSUES.
1 Tim. 6:12 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.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr... Kyfingers@aol.com
Pass it on?
