perserverance – Champion Builders

In “Fighting 101″ we talked about how we are called to “fight the good fight of faith”. So if we are in a fight and we know the enemy, called the devil, does not play fair, then how are we to fight? What’s the strategy?

READ: Ephesians 6:10-13

The first thing to realize is that we are called to be strong IN THE LORD (v.10). It is God’s power and strength we are asking for and relying on. Beware of trying to fight or stand for God in anything without seeking Him first.

The next thing is through His strength, power and wisdom, you and I have “His armor” to battle with and protect ourselves (v.11). You see God has been fighting Satan a long time. But the good news is that the decisive battle has already been won! Picture it as though God has defeated Satan and chained him up on a long leash. Satan’s ultimate demise is soon. In the meantime, Satan is grasping out to anyone he can get his hands on and pull them down with him. So, God does not leave us without a defense strategy and some tools that help us fight back. You can read verses 14-18 to discover these (the next post, “Fighting 301″ will look at these in detail).

The biggest encouragement here in our fight is in verse 13:

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” -Ephesians 6:13

In other words don’t give up! Persevere! Keep STANDING! To withstand means to stand up against, to resist successfully, to be proof against or to oppose with firm determination. In other words, it is a confidence to know that after we have done everything we know to do…and even if we get knocked down…we can still get up and stand in faith that God has got our back.

Isn’t that great news to realize that we are not “standing” alone! We are “withstanding”. We are standing WITH God!

PRAY: God thank you that you offer so much to me on a daily basis. I know at times I have tried to fight and do things on my own without even considering You. I know You are actually behind all my gifts and abilities. There are numerous natural gifts you have given me, but may you by the power of Your Spirit give me more confidence, endurance and understanding of how You want to work through me to make those more impactful for You.

READ: ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:11-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/1ti.6.11-12.esv

Any kind of human relationship requires energy and effort. And our relationship with God is no different. In fact if we were to see the energy and love that God has spent forth on our behalf, it would be terribly lopsided in His favor. Oh my, how he has loved us!

So if it is our desire to reciprocate this love He has shown us, Paul tells us it will take some effort to do this. Look at the ACTION and EFFORT that is required of us:

➡️ FLEE these things- What things do we need to turn away from (repent) that are leading us astray?
➡️ PURSUE godly attributes- Are we putting ourself around people and places where we are going to grow in these areas today?
➡️ FIGHT the good fight of faith- Do you know you are under attack? Your enemy is your sinful nature as well as Satan. Most people don’t know they have been straight up or subversively attacked their whole life. We have to battle against doubt and unbelief which are the enemy’s old but deadly strategies.
➡️ TAKE HOLD of the eternal life- Are we persistent in “grasping” and remembering the good news of the Gospel? If we have have received Christ into our life, we must not forget “every good thing we have in Christ.” Our identity is in Him, about Him, and continually found in Him!

So as for you man of God, will you run after these things today?!