Many Christians have given up their fight or rather battle to receive their healing, on living upright lives, some are struggling to stay faithful to their partners, and to follow God’s plan, and to obtain financial stability. Others find themselves giving up on situations where family members may be abusive, where they see no way out of a difficult situation, or even just pure peer pressure among the youth.
When we compete in something we win because we trained hard, or if we accomplish honors or a degree, we studied hard – right? When we face times of trouble and overcome and experience victory it is because we persevered. When we lose it is because we gave up...we quit.
If you have given up, it’s time to get back into the battle, it is not too late to win your fight. You have God on your side – submit to Him!
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
So how do we stay in the battlefield to do things God’s way? If we have already quit, how do we get back up?
1 Timothy 6:11-12 “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of witnesses.”
There are three key words here in this verse: FLEE PURSUE FIGHT
Our success depends on our learning these three things mentioned.
FLEE from the things of the devil. 1 Timothy 6:9 tells us “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires and pleasure that plunge people into ruin and destruction”
Money isn’t evil but the love of money is. When we put too great a value on money, is when the things in life that hold the greatest value may be lost.
Remember that the devil will always set a trap and he knows your weak points all too well. We avoid his traps by fleeing and pursuing. James 4:7-8 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
PURSUE the things of God. Pursue means to follow or chase, to strive to gain, to follow close upon. A very strong word – and God wants us to pursue Him. Again it is our choice, God will not force us to pursue Him.
Make sure God’s Word is priority. God’s Word has the ability to heal, restore, deliver, save, change a situation and more. For the Word to work it must be en-grafted, it must become a part of us. For the Word to become en-grafted we must meditate on the Word and delight ourselves in it. We need to soak it in and allow it to penetrate our spirit, mind and body.
Once God’s promise, the Word is en-grafted in us, has become one with us - the devil does not stand a chance. He cannot defeat us anymore as he cannot defeat the Word of God. Psalm 119:89 “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven.
Jeremiah 1:12b God says :for I am ready to perform My Word”
If we are willing to make God’s Word a priority then God will make it a to take care of us- to perform His Word in our lives.
FIGHT the good fight of faith. This is the only fight we are called to fight – the fight of good faith. Faith does not make things easy – faith makes things possible. Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might”
We have to believe with our heart and say it with our mouth what the Word of God says."
Romans 10:10 “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Justified means declared or made righteous in the sight of the Lord.
We have got the Word of God and the Name of Jesus. Fight to declare God’s Word over your circumstances and your situation will be turned around.
We need to stay right where God has placed us, even when circumstances, people, and situations are against you. When you are in the center of God’s will, His provisions, protections and deliverance will always be there for you.
You are God’s child therefore He will help you to fight your battles and solve your problems but we need to have faith in Him and trust Him. We need to make Him our priority. He tells us time and again in His Word “Do not be afraid” and “Do not be discouraged.” When we face a seemingly impossible situation, don’t be afraid and don’t be discouraged – God has never lost a battle.
God tells Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:17 “...take your positions, stand firm, and watch the Lord’s victory..”
To stand firm means to have a mental attitude of quiet confidence. You stand firm on two things: God’s character – He is faithful and His Word – the truth.
In the end it is all up to us. We can flee, we can pursue and we can fight. It is not up to God – it is up to you!
Alta Smith
If you have given up, it’s time to get back into the battle, it is not too late to win your fight. You have God on your side – submit to Him!
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
So how do we stay in the battlefield to do things God’s way? If we have already quit, how do we get back up?
1 Timothy 6:11-12 “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of witnesses.”
There are three key words here in this verse: FLEE PURSUE FIGHT
Our success depends on our learning these three things mentioned.
FLEE from the things of the devil. 1 Timothy 6:9 tells us “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires and pleasure that plunge people into ruin and destruction”
Money isn’t evil but the love of money is. When we put too great a value on money, is when the things in life that hold the greatest value may be lost.
Remember that the devil will always set a trap and he knows your weak points all too well. We avoid his traps by fleeing and pursuing. James 4:7-8 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
PURSUE the things of God. Pursue means to follow or chase, to strive to gain, to follow close upon. A very strong word – and God wants us to pursue Him. Again it is our choice, God will not force us to pursue Him.
Make sure God’s Word is priority. God’s Word has the ability to heal, restore, deliver, save, change a situation and more. For the Word to work it must be en-grafted, it must become a part of us. For the Word to become en-grafted we must meditate on the Word and delight ourselves in it. We need to soak it in and allow it to penetrate our spirit, mind and body.
Once God’s promise, the Word is en-grafted in us, has become one with us - the devil does not stand a chance. He cannot defeat us anymore as he cannot defeat the Word of God. Psalm 119:89 “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven.
Jeremiah 1:12b God says :for I am ready to perform My Word”
If we are willing to make God’s Word a priority then God will make it a to take care of us- to perform His Word in our lives.
FIGHT the good fight of faith. This is the only fight we are called to fight – the fight of good faith. Faith does not make things easy – faith makes things possible. Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might”
We have to believe with our heart and say it with our mouth what the Word of God says."
Romans 10:10 “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Justified means declared or made righteous in the sight of the Lord.
We have got the Word of God and the Name of Jesus. Fight to declare God’s Word over your circumstances and your situation will be turned around.
We need to stay right where God has placed us, even when circumstances, people, and situations are against you. When you are in the center of God’s will, His provisions, protections and deliverance will always be there for you.
You are God’s child therefore He will help you to fight your battles and solve your problems but we need to have faith in Him and trust Him. We need to make Him our priority. He tells us time and again in His Word “Do not be afraid” and “Do not be discouraged.” When we face a seemingly impossible situation, don’t be afraid and don’t be discouraged – God has never lost a battle.
God tells Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:17 “...take your positions, stand firm, and watch the Lord’s victory..”
To stand firm means to have a mental attitude of quiet confidence. You stand firm on two things: God’s character – He is faithful and His Word – the truth.
In the end it is all up to us. We can flee, we can pursue and we can fight. It is not up to God – it is up to you!
Alta Smith