FIGHT

In light of recent events and the current series, I wanted to share the following thoughts and send out a challenge beyond the walls of Atlee Church.

God is calling his church to fight!

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12

God is calling us to fight! But this is not your typical playground fight!

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

We're fighting against an enemy that we can't see, but is as real as life and death itself.

We're fighting against an enemy that wants to take from us the very thing that Jesus the Christ died to give us: eternal life.

Eternal life is not just a reference to time but to a quality of life as well.

Jesus said, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Jesus is calling out the spiritual warrior in each of us and he is calling us to take hold of the eternal life he died to give us. Life that we experience not only on the other side of the grave but a quality of life we can experience now as we live in obedience to him.

God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you: well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.

This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.

Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.

In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6:10-18 MSG

Today God is calling us to use our greatest weapons against the evil one: our faith, the Word of God and prayer!

So here's the challenge:

May the church of Jesus Christ fight the good fight of the faith! May we take hold of the eternal life to which we have been called! May we pray like never before!

For more thoughts and insights I invite you to check out our current series - Fight