The Fight
Good Morning,
A battle is raging. Do we ever wonder why the battles come? Of course we do, yet God said we are "soldiers" and that we are to "war a good warfare." Satan has no use for churches that continue to train folks to live for the Lord.
2 Timothy 2:3 "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
vs. 4 "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."
2 Corinthians 10:4 "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"
1 Timothy 1:18 "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;"
If we read our Bibles, we ought to expect a fight. Paul spoke of our "wrestling" in spiritual battle as well.
Ephesians 6:12 "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."
We fight because we live in a troubled world, just as every other human being, saved or lost. We all face sickness, car accidents, family struggles, and much more. As Christians, we have spiritual wickedness in high places to face. The demonic evil will always fight against us; especially if we daily seek the will of God. We should also remember that we are flesh, and that we live in a fleshly house that is prone to wrong. Our old body would rather eat than fast, sleep than read the Bible, or relax than teach a Sunday school class. Our enemies are the world, the flesh, and the devil.
1 John 2:16 "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
Although none of us like it, we should accept the reality that we will fight, will wrestle, and will have enemies that will try to keep us from doing the will of God. The fight is normal; just do not give up the fight.
Pastor