Taking Ground - A Time 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 

One morning in Sunday service I heard our pastor talk about covering and protection.  He requested that we cover them in prayer and defend them, and also that we defend and protect each other.  But then he challenged us.  He said, "Sometimes you gotta fight - 'cause that's how you take ground." 

I thought about how much this can be applied to so many different areas of our lives.  For instance, in the workplace:  We want to be promoted or we want to excel in what it is we're doing.  In order to do this, it requires we give more attention and focus that the average person. We learn new things.  We develop a "fighter" spirit within us, doing the best we can with passion, excellence, and a dedicated will.  Sometimes it's not enough to do our work well - sometimes the battle requires that we do all that is necessary to excel - come in early, stay late - and finish the project before it's due.  

Maybe it's a dream that needs fighting for.  Perhaps there is something on the inside of our heart that needs to be birthed into reality.  In order for this to happen, it calls for prayer, support, encouragement, and the dedication needed to bring the dream to pass.  Each and every time something great is born there will be resistance, such as those who doubt us or our dream, or our own uncertainty and fear.  But we must overcome this resistance if we want to see our dreams come to fruition.  

Relationships also need fighting for, and perhaps most especially.  If someone offends us, the Bible says we are to go to that person and talk with them about it. If the person listens to you, you have gained a brother (or sister!) (Matt 18:15)  Maybe we need to call someone we haven't seen in awhile to check in on them.  Perhaps we need to set healthy boundaries with those who tend to take advantage.  Or maybe we need to defend AND fight for someone who we know is doing right.  

There is a right way to fight and a wrong way to fight.  We shouldn't fight with manipulation or underhandedly using procrastination or deceit (our flesh).   We have to keep in mind that we're not fighting against people - we're fighting against the principalities of darkness in ourselves and in others.  The person isn't the issue - it's the issue that's the issue. "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)

Are there things you need to fight for?  Make it a priority to fight for those things that are really important in your life today. 

The Prerequisites of God's Blessing

"But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today." -Deut 8:18

What do we have to do to receive God's blessing? Is God's blessing ensured for 'special' people? What does God's blessing look like, and how can we set ourselves up to receive His blessings?

 In Exodus and Deuteronomy, God describes a series of "do's" and "don'ts" that the Israelites are to follow. They relate back to the 10 Commandments, from Exodus 20:1-17, in which God gave the Israelites boundaries to abide by for their protection. Many governmental systems today are based on the 10 Commandments (see "X", pg. 11 by J. John). They are, 1) not to have any gods before our one true God, 2) not to make any graven image to worship, 3) not to take God's name in vain, 4) to remember the Sabbath, and to rest on that day, 5) to honor our parents, 6) not to murder, 7) not to commit adultery, 8) not to steal, 9) not to lie, 10) and not to covet (be jealous of) other people's things.

God set up these boundaries for the Israelites for their protection. God knew that we humans need specific guidelines so that we would not get ourselves into trouble! He knew we needed Him to be #1 in our lives. (Matt 22:37) But, even though these commandments are what we should follow, God is most concerned about the state of our hearts. Our actions are often the fruit of what's in our hearts. But, God wants to have our hearts and for us to know His love - not be separated from Him by religious ritual!

Going to church every single Sunday won't ensure God's blessing on our lives. But, it will provide accountability for the boundaries above. In tithing, we shouldn't give with a motivation to get, but it is a good indicator of whether or not we put God first in our hearts. "Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." (Malachi 3:10)

Are you creating a fertile ground in your heart for God's blessing in your life? Ask Him if there are any areas you may need to work on. God wants to bless His children with blessings so great "that there will not be room enough to store it"!

True Financial Freedom

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."  -1 Timothy 6:10

Have you seen anyone destroyed by money? I have.  Have you ever seen someone use money wisely? I've seen that too.  It's difficult to live life without money, but sometimes its presence makes life hard.  How can we make money work for us, instead of us working for it? What are God's purposes for money?

Notice that the above verse doesn’t say that money itself is evil; the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.  The fruit of someone's heart is often revealed by how and where they spend their money.  Are we spending our money on kingdom building initiatives?  Or are we spending it unwisely?  Are we investing money to grow it?  Or are we throwing it away on bad investments because we lack skill? Are we trusting God with our tithe & giving to the poor?  Or are we hoarding money like the wicked & lazy servant Jesus described?  (Matt 25:26)

God desires that we prosper.  The Bible says it is He who gives us the ability to create wealth.  (Deut 8:18)  When we put God first, the rest of our lives fall into place.  It doesn't mean we don't need skill to make and keep money - we absolutely do.  But how we earn that money, and what we do with that money once we earn it is very important in the eyes of our God. 

Most people are in debt.  Debt has become a cultural norm.  In order to be a people financially free and set apart, we have to think differently about money than most people. In order for us to get out of debt, we need to do different things than people who are in debt! Most people don't understand what money is.  Money is not just the ability to buy things; it is a tool to be used.  Money is not just a way to our wants and desires; it is "seed" for our future, and the future of others. 

Do you want to set yourself apart in the area of money?  Good training in this area is crucial so that God's purposes can be accomplished in our lives, and in the world around us.  Pray that God would make you wise in the area of money.

"But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today." -Deuteronomy 8:18

Spiritual Seasons

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build..." -Ecc 3:1-3

One night at our church discipleship group, our worship leader had something she felt needed to be shared during prayer.

"I feel like God wants some of you to know that everyone goes through spiritual seasons, much like we're in a season change right now. Some of you may be in spring, where you're excited about new ideas and new things happening in your life. Others of you may be in winter, where you don't see much going on. But I want you to know that being in a different spiritual season is all okay, and it is all a part of God's plan."

Life in God has spiritual seasons. Sometimes our lives may be in flux. We may not know quite where we are going, and that is okay. We might be shedding old thought patters and beliefs that we need to get rid of in order to take us to a new place. We need to trust God in these seasons. We may be in a harvest season, enjoying the fruit of our labors. We may find ourselves in a dry place, like winter, or we may find ourselves in a place where everything is blooming and we are seeing a lot of spiritual fruit, like summer.

Whatever the season, know that God has a purpose for the season that you are in right now. Like the trees outside, when we're firmly planted in Him, these season changes are a natural part of being a Christian. Sometimes we need to be pruned. Plants that aren't pruned aren't able to grow to their full potential. We need to remember to hold tight to Him and trust Him during these season changes so He can do the greater work in our lives, and so Christ's glory can be revealed in us.

What season are you in right now?

Fearless

"But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus." -Acts 9:27

What does it mean to be fearless? Does it mean we won't have fear when trying something? Does it mean that we aren't afraid of consequences? The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10) When we have a healthy fear of God, it is wise.

However, there are fears that can cripple us, rob our potential, or steal our joy. These are unhealthy fears. They are unproductive. They don't produce anything good in us. They keep us from producing fruit in our lives. And God wants nothing more than for His kids to be fruitful! (Genesis 9:7)

Becoming fearless is not the absence of fear, but it happens when we can say with surety that God is bigger than our circumstances, He is bigger than our giants, He is bigger than our fear. We choose to believe what God says, that He is greater. Nothing can get in our way with God by our side (nothing will be impossible for you)! We fear, respect & love Him more than our fear. And we decide we will step out in faith to make things happen.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." -John 15:13

Are you able to lay down your fear today?

The Bigness of God

"His Spirit made the heavens beautiful, and his power pierced the gliding serpent. These are just the beginning of all that he does, merely a whisper of his power. Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?" -Job 26:13-14  

Every time I go to the mountains I am enamored by God's creation. The sun, the sky, the rivers and lakes, the sunset and sunrise - it's all so amazing and awe-inspiring. I am amazed by the "bigness" of God.
 
The sun, for example, is 875,000 miles across. It is so big, in fact, that 64 million of our moon could fit inside it.* Wow. Our God created that sun. (See Genesis 1:3) Our God is that big!
 
We are not aware of this majesty most days, stuck in the grind of our daily routines. And yet, although we might think of ourselves as insignificant in the grand scheme of things, we can have the most awesome, intimate, and most fulfilling relationship with the God who created the universe.
 
I don't think we as a culture or even as a Christian sub-culture spend enough time focusing on how magnificent God really is. We make little idols out of problems in relationships, the things we have to get done for the day, and our adversities, or whatever it is we think takes us away from our adversity, if only for a moment. But our God is so much bigger! And we are His children, made in His image, saved by His grace.
 
Have you received this revelation of kinship to God and of His "bigness"?

"Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light." -Psalm 36:5-9

Why not focus on the bigness of God in your life today?

*Source: http://ds9.ssl.berkeley.edu/solarweek/DISCUSSION/howbig.html

Uproot the Root!

 

Source

"And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.'" -Exodus 34:6-7

Have you ever had a problem that you simply could not get rid of?  Have you ever had something, whether an emotion, a habit, or a particular thought pattern, no matter how hard you tried, you could rid yourself of it - even after confession and repentance? After we become a Christian and we are “born again” this doesn’t mean that our battle with sin is over.  It simply means that we have become “new in Christ.”  (2 Cor 5:17)  Freedom from sin is a journey, as God reveals what is hidden in our hearts, bringing them to light and into His cleaning power.  (1 John 1:7)

Sometimes we may struggle with something that we've "always" seemed to struggle with. This problem may have had an origin long ago – even before we were born.  We may notice that those in our family struggle with similar issues, or perhaps we never even noticed it was a sin before we became a Christian. But as we walk on our journey, and the Holy Spirit begins to reveal certain things to us that were once okay and are now not as okay anymore, we may realize that something has a hold on our life that shouldn’t.

Once I heard a man speak to a church group about his struggles with sexual sin.  He explained to the audience that infidelity and sexual thoughts were something that he had always struggled with, and he had never known life without these issues.  He kept on going through “sin management”, where he confessed and repented for his actions but would see the same issue rear its ugly head 6 to 8 weeks later.

Eventually, this man received a revelation from the Holy Spirit through reading the scripture that “confession” means to “discover the root” and repent of the root in order to get free.  Since he had no recollection of when the issue began, he realized he was not the one who opened this door to sin initially. Only when he confessed the “genesis” of these issues, where they began from his father and grandfather, was he able to become truly free of their influence.

Are there any issues in your life that you struggle with continuously?  Pray and ask God to show you where they may have their root.  He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us so we can have complete freedom in Him!

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."  -Ephesians 1:7