How To Know Something Is Worth Fighting For

Last week, in the message, Is It Time To Flee?, we discussed how the Bible gives precise instructions on when we are to FIGHT and when we are to FLEE.

But you, O man of God, FLEE these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. FIGHT the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called, and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. - 1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NKJV)

Sometimes there is a need to get involved in a fight on behalf of our faith, but we can not enter that battle haphazardly or casually -- we must move forward with intentionality. And a significant part of choosing to fight spiritual battles with intentionality is choosing to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10 NKJV)

No one can put on the armor of God for you; it’s something you must do yourself.

Memorize the armor elements and pray through their placement in your life daily, the helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, loins girded with Truth, the sword of the Spirit, and feet Shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. God has called and commissioned you to fight the GOOD FIGHT of faith, and you must be equipped for battle, “Fight the GOOD FIGHT of faith…” (1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV)

There are two kinds of spiritual fights that exist, one is the good fight, and one is the bad fight. Let’s examine examples of the differences between the two.

BAD FIGHT vs. GOOD FIGHT

PERSONAL RECOGNITION vs. GOD’S GLORY

PERSONAL OPINION vs. GOD’S TRUTH

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE vs. GOD’S PLAN

PERSONAL PREFERENCE vs. GOD’S PRESENCE

PROVE A POINT vs. BLESS OTHERS

TEAR DOWN vs. BUILD-UP

HURT OTHERS vs. HELPS OTHERS

POLITICAL IDEOLOGY vs. SOUND DOCTRINE

We best sum this up by saying that a GOOD FIGHT happens when we fight for others, not against them.

• Hell’s PLOT: We fight each other.

• God’s PLAN: We fight for each other.

It is not God’s plan for us to be fighting each other; we are to be fighting for each other! Why? Because we do not wrestle against FLESH and BLOOD, we wrestle against powers and principalities! Yes, you may be dealing with a personality, but that personality is hosting spiritual darkness. Never lose sight of that truth. It will help you to keep the fight from becoming personal.

When the enemy uses people to come against us, hard conversations become unavoidable. But, unfortunately, those conversations can often feel like a fight. So, how do you have the necessary discussions and maintain a good fight, not a bad fight?

When HARD CONVERSATIONS must take place, follow this strategy:

1. CONVERSE PRIVATELY FIRST

Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. - Matthew 18:15 (NKJV)

2. SPEAK TRUTH IN LOVE

...no longer be children… carried about with every wind of doctrine...but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in Christ-

-Ephesians 4:14-15 (NKJV)

3. FILL YOUR SPEECH WITH GRACE

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. -Colossians 4:6 (NKJV)

4. OFFER BLESSING, NOT CURSING

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse…” If your enemy is...thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” -Romans 12:12, 20 (NKJV)

At the best you can do, there will still be moments when you recognize a SPIRITUAL fight is becoming increasingly PERSONAL. I borrow Paul’s recommendations for suggesting your next step, “Now I urge you, brethren, NOTE those who cause divisions and offenses...and AVOID them. (Romans 16:17 NKJV)

The takeaway of that verse is that sometimes, when dealing with challenging personalities, we have to take good notes (if you’ve ever been through a legal battle, you know what I’m talking about!), and on occasions, altogether avoid them.

Another way of saying it is that sometimes we have to understand that there will be personality conflicts with people. However, we can still love and bless them while simultaneously setting healthy boundaries, so that offense and bitterness do not take root within our hearts.

It’s essential to align our battle strategies with God’s instructions because the result will be something we can celebrate, “I want you to be wise in what is GOOD… And the God of peace will CRUSH Satan under your feet shortly.” (Romans 16:17-18 NKJV)

Give God praise! This approach is how you will win! It’s amazing what happens when you stop trying to fight your way -- the bad fight -- and fight God’s way -- the good fight!

“Fight the GOOD FIGHT of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called…” (1 Timothy 6:12). In this letter, Paul is telling Timothy to fight the GOOD FIGHT. Years later, Paul writes another letter stating, “I have fought the GOOD FIGHT, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV)

• I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH!

Don’t you want that proclamation to be your testimony?

Your kids are worth fighting for... your family is worth fighting for... your calling is worth fighting for… God’s church and God’s truth -- sound doctrine is worth fighting for... Don’t stop fighting! Fight the GOOD FIGHT, it won’t come cheap, and you may have to sacrifice your pride, personal recognition, and even personal preference at times. But, I challenge you to realize that there is no more remarkable testimony than to say, “I have kept the faith, I have fought the GOOD FIGHT, God CRUSHED the enemy under my feet!

You can view the message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/smWkQi0Gu9o

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE | MESSAGE NOTES

Three Questions That Will Help You Identify The Idols In Your Life

Did you know the Bible gives some precise instructions on when we are to FIGHT and when we are to FLEE?

But you, O man of God, FLEE these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. FIGHT the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called, and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. - 1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NKJV)

The first verse instructs us to FLEE, and the very next verse commands us to FIGHT. So, which is it, fight or flight? Both. Sometimes, God intends for us to get in the ring and fight. Other times, he intends for us to run in the opposite direction. Over the next few weeks, we will evaluate God’s expectations of us in these regards.

Looking at it again, Paul said, “FLEE these things….” What things? If you choose to read it, you will discover the list is quite specific in 1Timothy 6, but Paul also gets very direct in some of his other writings regarding what we are expected to flee. Idolatry is one of the things that he speaks of specifically to the church at Corinth, “Therefore, my beloved, FLEE from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:14 NKJV) Don’t stick around. Don’t put on your boxing gloves and fight with it, just get moving. Get out of there! Flee from it!

In our day, hearing this term, IDOLATRY, we might think that Paul’s exhortation doesn’t apply to us in this modern world, but that's because we lack context.

First, let’s look at it in a New Testament setting and then our present day. As revealed in the New Testament’s Book of Acts, at the time Paul was preaching and teaching, there was a great deal of pagan idolatry in the world. Each city worshipped its favorite god or goddess and built shrines around its idols for worship. So, for instance, when Paul went to the philosophical epic center of the ancient world, Athens, he observed that it was overly inundated with idolatry.

The idolatry of ancient societies was facilitated through worship that sought a pathway to receive such things as beauty, power, and money. When you evaluate that list of things to pursue, it becomes evident that modern society is not fundamentally different from ancient cultures. Today, we still bow perpetually to BEAUTY, POWER, and WEALTH.

A great lesson in learning to flee idolatry is that we must realize, one doesn’t have to visit a paganistic shrine or burn incense to a false god to become an idolater. God speaking through Ezekiel informs us, “Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts.” (Ezekiel 14:3 NLT) Based on this statement by God, Tim Keller provides the commentary, “The Bible teaches us that the human heart is an idol factory.” This principle is why so many people will sacrifice so much to obtain beauty, power, and wealth.

Grasping the truth that Idolatry can manifest in anyone’s life, each of us must evaluate our lives to see if it is time for us to flee personally. Thankfully, Keller’s book, Counterfeit Gods (which influenced many of my thoughts on this subject as a whole), provides an excellent survey for understanding, “What is an idol?” So, we can better know when it is time to flee!

An idol is:

1. Anything more important to you than God

2. Anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God

3. Anything you seek to give you what only God can give

Keller, Timothy. Counterfeit Gods . Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Idols can rise in your life in the form of a relationship or anything that rules your thought life and overly consumes your imagination or creative energy. An idol can be almost anything that is elevated to an improper status in our hearts! Even an addiction can be a form of idolatry. One clear example of a potential idol from the Bible’s teachings is money as it can also take on divine attributes in our lives, “...Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.” (Colossians 3:5 NLT) According to this verse, a greedy person is no different than someone who worships false gods! So, we learn, God views idolatry as something more than that which we associate with statues, shrines, and incense.

As we referenced before, Paul further exhorts, “But you, O man of God, FLEE these things and PURSUE righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:10-11 NKJV)

Notice in those verses, we are told to FLEE one thing and PURSUE another. Run from idolatry to God! We are to FLEE from idolatry and PURSUE the things of God.

The reason we can fall in love with pursuing Jesus passionately is that He first loved us. He loved us so much He gave His life for us! But too often, we take His love for granted and become complacent in our relationship with God. To maintain spiritual success, it is imperative that we always put God first and never lose our first love. This approach helps tremendously with overcoming the temptation to elevate idolatrous behaviors in our hearts.

I find it helpful to think of it this way:

F IRST

L OVE ____________over

E VERYTHING

E LSE

FLEE from idolatry by NEVER putting anything above your FIRST LOVE! According to his own word, only God is entitled to own that spot; your First Love (Ref. Revelation 2:4).

As you run from idolatry and towards God, remember this point of worship, it is impossible to topple the idols in your life without denying yourself. You will always have to lay some things down in order to flee the idols in your life. But, don’t get discouraged -- it’s an ongoing process because there will always be another thing to lay down! We are human and the world has a way of reeling us in unexpectedly. You will constantly need to make sure that you are putting your First Love first by giving Him your whole heart, mind, and soul.

Paul took idolatry so seriously that he went as far as to encourage us to take a spiritual inventory every time we partake of the Lord’s Supper, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:14–16 NKJV)

It’s impossible to experience a “common-union” with God and simultaneously bow to the idols that tend to take an elevated position in the desires of our hearts. So right now, stop what you’re doing. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you examine your heart. Is there any idol that needs to be toppled over? If so, don’t delay. Knock that idol down and flee! Arrive at the throne of God’s presence and go all in, once and for all!

There is so much more that I have to share on this subject that I believe can be helpful to you in your pathway to being an all-in follower of Jesus Christ. You can find those insights in this message, Is It Time to Flee?

You can view the message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/3lPq1kmvYZQ

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE | MESSAGE NOTES

You Can’t Miss This One Thing That Will Bring Wholeness to Your Life...

Do you look like what you’ve been through?

Does your marriage, business, or bank account look like what it's been through?

Does your walk with God look like what it’s been through?

Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well (whole).” Luke 17:12-19 (NKJV)

Leprosy is a disease that causes horrible skin sores. One of the symptoms of the disease is reduced sensation of touch, leaving a feeling of numbness and a "pins and needles" sensation over the affected body part. Due to these sensations, it was typical for someone suffering from this horrible illness to rub and scratch at the sores until parts of their body fell off. A leper could lose his nose, ears, or fingers and toes, yet not even fully realize the loss until another body part was gone. The result of this wretched cycle left most lepers disfigured. (References drawn from medicalnewstoday.com).

Often when you see leprosy mentioned in Scripture, it is a type and a shadow of sin:

• The same way LEPROSY works in the physical, SIN works in the spiritual.

When sin begins to function in our souls, it has a way of numbing us to its consequences, and we stop feeling the actual repercussions. Sin can cause us to lose things in our lives without us realizing it. Leprosy tends to disfigure people, and so does sin. Sin will mar your life, relationships, and things that you value the most.

Are there parts of your life that are disfigured? If so, there is a possibility that you have allowed sin to run undiagnosed in your life, and any disfigurement you see could be a direct result.

Another important observation, leprosy is contagious, but sometimes it lays dormant within a body for many years before manifesting symptoms of the disease. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the disfiguring disease breaks out across one's body. This pattern is the same in sin. You can hang out in sinful environments for years before sin reveals EXTERNALLY what it has been doing INTERNALLY. The result is that the disfigurement may appear seemingly overnight, but it was on a path to manifestation many years before the damage was visible.

In the Scriptures above, we see that Jesus is the answer for leprosy. The lepers seek Him out for restoration and healing! JESUS gave these ten men clear commands to follow, and as they began to walk out His commands, they were healed. Through Jesus, the lepers were cleansed entirely of their disfiguring disease! But, only one out of ten came back to Jesus after receiving the cleansing.

One leper returned, worshiping and praising the name of Jesus. He gave Him all the praise and all the glory! His heart was full of gratitude for what Jesus had done for him, and that Word of God had a cleansing effect in his life. That which was once an issue was no longer an issue. The struggle was concluded!

Jesus looked at this one who had returned and said, “Arise...your faith has made you WHOLE!”

That’s an important statement from Jesus. Because during the first encounter with all ten lepers present, Jesus’ command facilitated a way for them to be CLEANSED. This time, engaging with the only leper that had returned to worship Him for His goodness and grace, Jesus states specifically that the man will be made WHOLE!

For a leper, there is a difference between being cleansed and being made whole. A leper that had been cleansed would no longer have an issue with leprosy, but anything he lost due to leprosy remained gone. However, if a leper were to be made whole, he would receive a restoration of everything he lost. For example, if leprosy cost him his nose, he would get his nose back. The same goes for any other physical extremity that he may have forfeited to the disease.

1. A CLEANSED leper would be set free from any struggle with his disease BUT remain disfigured. He would look like what he had been through.
   

2. A leper made WHOLE would be set free from his struggle AND no longer disfigured. He would NOT look like what he had been through!
   

Walk out the commands of God’s word and be CLEANSED but return to God daily with the revelation of worship if you want to be made WHOLE! You need your peace and joy restored. So return to the feet of Jesus and worship Him!

The revelation of worship can change your life. You can be made whole! You don’t have to look like what you’ve been through! Yet, evidently, very few people are willing to walk out the truth of the revelation of worship because -- of ten lepers who were cleansed -- only one was made whole. The reason...only one was willing to return and worship Jesus fully!

Will you BE THE ONE...The one in your family, church, small group, business relationships? Be the one who returns and lays at the feet of Jesus in worship with a heart of overflowing gratitude!

If you worship Him, you will experience God’s restoration ability! He will put you back together! He uses foolish things to confound the wise and weak things to confound the mighty! All you have to do is worship Him.

• It is great to walk out the Word of God and be cleansed as you go, but -- if you want to go to the next level with Jesus -- you first must fall on your face and worship Him.

Maybe, right now, you sense an unction to do just that; fall on your face and worship Jesus. Do it! Be the one! Choose to worship God without restraint or inhibition and watch as the things that were lost to the leprosy of sin are restored in ways that coincidence can not take the credit.

From a heart of repentance, thankfulness, and gratitude, speak this proclamation over your life:

The work of His grace and blood in my life are more than enough to overflow my heart with praise!

I do not look like what I’ve been through!

I’ve been made WHOLE through my worship.

JESUS CHRIST has completely restored me!

I invite you to view a message on this subject in its entirety, “You Don’t Look Like What You’ve Been Through”. Within it, I share some personal stories of God's restoration power that I believe can be a great encouragement to you.

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE | MESSAGE NOTES