The Bible describes the followers of Christ as being in a battle, a war, a race, and a walk. In over 4,000 years this world has known only 268 years of peace.
(1) Christianity Is A Fight
(A) Not a fight with one another: but against the powers of satan.
(2Cor.10:4) "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds."
(B) We must determine that we have something worth fighting for.
When David faced Goliath on the battlefield, he said, "Is there not a cause?"
(2) We Must Fight The Flesh
(Romans 7:23-24) "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?"
(A) We fight flesh by fasting and prayer.
Prayer unites man with Heaven and Fasting crucifies self.
(B) The Whole entire body of sin and corruption is flesh.
(a) It is called flesh because of it’s nearness to the soul, and because of it’s dearness to us.
(b) Sin is our Delilah, we lay our head in it’s lap.
It fills our thoughts,and engrosses our desires.
(C) The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
We pamper self, we feed self, we wash self, we admire self.
We must be led of the Spirit, we must walk in the Spirit, and we must live in the Spirit.
(2) We Must Fight The World. (see 1John 2:15).
(A) Love not the world: The love of God and love of this world are not compatible.
(3) We Must Fight The devil (see 1 Peter 5:8)
(A) "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour."
(a) This is a fight of absolute necessity: There is no neutral ground.
(b) This is a fight of universal necessity: Involving all Christians.
(4) It Is A Fight Of Faith;
(A) Faith in God’s Word
(B) "Let every devil be a liar, but God’s Word is true!
(C) Let us pray for faith.
Remember, nothing has ever been done without someone believing it could be done.
(5) True Christianity Is A Good Fight.
(A) War entails bloodshed, heartache, and suffering.
(a) But our fight is good because of the General we fight under.
(1) The say Gen. McArthur was a great military stategist but Jesus is greater.
(b) Our fight is good because of our helps.
(ILL.) If I were to be going into a fight and could choose someone to fight beside me, and my choice would be between Michael Jackson or Mike Tyson, with my eyes closed it would be hard to tell the differnce just by the sound of their voices. I’d have to worry about one wanting to nibble on my ear and the other wanting to bite it off. I’ve got someone more dependable than either of these two men! His Name IS Jesus!
(c) The Holy Ghost Indwells, Teaches, Leads, Guides, and Directs.
(d) God guards us with His mighty Power.
(e) The Son Intercedes. Jesus prays to the Father to send reinforcements.
Yes! We as the Church of God are in a battle, but praise God I’ve read the last chapter of the Book, I’ve found I am on the winning team. How about you?
