What are we fighting for?

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Corinthians 9:26 The Living Bible

So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I fight to win. I’m not just shadow-boxing or playing around.

WHAT KIND OF A WAR ARE WE FIGHTING?

Ephesians 6:12 TEV

For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.

THIS WAR IS BETWEEN MY OLD NATURE AND MY NEW NATURE.

Romans 7:22–25 The Living Bible

I love to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God’s willing servant, but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin. So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free.

3 of Many Battles You Will Face this Year

THE FIRST BATTLE IS BETWEEN SELFISHNESS AND UNSELFISHNESS

This is a daily fight. Every day, we have to decide if we will live for God for ourselves.

Every time you win this battle... every time you choose selflessness, your life gets better.

EVERY TIME I CHOOSE SELFISHNESS, IT CREATES CONFLICT WITH OTHER PEOPLE

James 4:1–2 NCV

Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that war within you. You want things, but you do not have them. So you are ready to kill and are jealous of other people, but you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight. You do not get what you want, because you do not ask God.

WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO ACT UNSELFISHLY, YOUR LIFE BECOMES MORE PEACEFUL

Philippians 2:3–4 NLT

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

THE 2nd BATTLE IS BETWEEN FORGIVENESS AND BITTERNESS

BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A BROKEN WORLD, WE WILL BE HURT BY SOMEONE AND WILL HURT SOMEONE.

YOU CANNOT CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU, BUT YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR RESPONSE

HOW YOU CHOOSE TO DEAL WITH THAT HURT DETERMINES HOW LONG IT WILL LAST.

Hebrews 12:15 NLT

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH HURT IMMEDIATELY SO IT DOESN’T TURN TO BITTERNESS

Ephesians 4:26 NCV

When you are angry, do not sin, and be sure to stop being angry before the end of the day.

PRINCIPLE - WHAT GOES AROUND COME AROUND.

Matthew 7:2 NCV

You will be judged in the same way that you judge others, and the amount you give to others will be given to you.

LEARN TO FORGIVE INSTANTLY AND NOT HOLD ONTO IT.

Romans 8:37 NIV84

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

GOD ENABLES US TO BE MORE THAN.

God turns something bad in your life into spiritual growth.

What was intended to break you actually makes you

What was intended to hurt you actually ends up helping you.

What was intended to separate you from God’s love, brings you closer.

Sometimes though forgiveness, you turn an enemy into a friend.

3RD BATTLE IS BETWEEN WHAT’S EASY AND WHAT’S RIGHT

Galatians 5:17 GW

What your corrupt nature wants is contrary to what your spiritual nature wants, and what your spiritual nature wants is contrary to what your corrupt nature wants. They are opposed to each other. As a result, you don’t always do what you intend to do.

CAN ANYONE IDENTIFY WITH NOT ALWAYS DOING WHAT YOU INTENDED?

MOST OF YOUR PROBLEMS IN LIFE COME FROM THE INABILITY TO DELAY GRATIFICATION.

Galatians 6:9 The Living Bible

And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.

WHAT MATTERS IN YOUR LIFE SO MUCH THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO FIGHT FOR IT?

Better Health?

Closer walk with the Lord

Marriage

Strong kids

Your spiritual growth?

Getting out of debt?

Your time with God?

Hope over despair

Victory over fear?

WE CAN WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST OUR OLD NATURE BY USING THESE SECRET WEAPONS.

2 Corinthians 10:3–4 NCV

We do live in the world, but we do not fight in the same way the world fights. We fight with weapons that are different from those the world uses. Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments

1ST SECRET WEAPON: I GET FAITH FROM GOD’S WORD.

FAITH IS A DEFENSIVE WEAPON.

Ephesians 6:16 The Living Bible

In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.

HOW DO YOU BUILD YOUR FAITH?

Romans 10:17 NKJV

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

IF YOU WANT YOUR FAITH TO GROW, YOU HAVE TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD.

Ephesians 6:17 NLT

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

2nd SECRET WEAPON: I GET SUPPORT FROM GOD’S PEOPLE

GOD NEVER INTENDED YOU TO FIGHT YOUR BATTLES ON YOUR OWN.

Philippians 1:30 NLT

We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

Hebrews 10:25 NCV

You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the day coming.

WORSHIP IS NOURISHMENT FOR YOUR SOUL

WORSHIP REFRESHES YOUR MIND AND CLEANSES YOUR SPIRIT.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

3rd SECRET WEAPON: I GET POWER FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT.

YOU NEED A POWER GREATER THAN YOURSELF TO FIGHT THE BATTLES YOU WILL FACE THIS YEAR.

1 John 4:4 NLT

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

GOD WILL HELP US FIGHT OUR BATTLES.

Psalm 44:3 The Living Bible

They did not conquer by their own strength and skill, but by your mighty power and because you smiled upon them and favored them.

WE CONNECT WITH GOD’S POWER THROUGH PRAYER!

Ephesians 6:18 NLT

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

WE ARE TO USE ALL OF OUR WEAPONS SO WE WILL STAND FIRM

Ephesians 6:13 NLT

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

YOUR MOST IMPORTANT WEAPON IS YOUR SALVATION

Ephesians 6:17 NCV

Accept God’s salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

1 John 5:4–5 NLT

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

2 Timothy 4:7 NIV84

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

3 NY resolutions

1. Spend more time on God’s Word

2. Spend more time with God’s people

3. Spend more time trusting the Holy Spirit.

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