FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT

Time with Jesus - Monday, 05 March 2012

Hi all,

Christianity or being a follower of Christ is not for wimps. This is another of those things we aren't told when we decide to follow Him. Maybe it’s just as well. I suspect that if we could have seen the future at that time, we would have wondered if we could possibly cope.

As a child in primary school I remember singing “Onward Christian Soldiers, Marching as to war; with the cross of Jesus going on before”. An easy song to sing with easily remembered lyrics. I had no idea how accurately the hymn depicted our walk in Jesus!

Paul told Timothy to fight the good fight of faith. Paul knew what he was talking about. He’d been there! All of his life after his dramatic conversion to Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road was one succession of confrontations after the other. “Fight the good fight of faith is what he wrote to Timothy.

But Paul also indicated that God has equipped everyone to fight this fight. In his letter to the Ephesians he wrote: ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Eph 6:13-18 ESV

There’s little doubt in my mind that Paul was sharing with the people of Ephesus his own experience and method in prayer. As far as he was concerned, this was warfare. These “Prayer tips” may not be in 21^st century language. But guess what? They are more up to date than tomorrow’s newspaper. This is his recipe for fruitful Christianity.

Today’s meditation looks at fighting the good fight in more detail.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Fight the Good Fight

The moment you’re a Christian, you’re fighting in a war.

You cannot see the enemy, and you’re a little raw.

You haven’t had experience in battling this way.

But there’s no way of quitting no matter what folk say.

The opposition’s sneaky; they operate through friends!

They listen to your comments and focus on your trends.

Their purpose is to stop you from what you may achieve.

If you continue standing in the faith which you believe.

Their tactics are deception, to push you to the side,

Where they can make you stumble into any form of pride.

Their army looks intimidating, powerful and huge.

But it is just a method of evil subterfuge.

They usually begin them by attacking from the front.

They threaten they are powerful and call on every stunt,

To keep you from resisting and make you fall away.

Anything that they can do to keep the Lord at bay!

Their techniques are so tricky; they’ll fight you from the rear.

Anything that they can do to fill your heart with fear.

They know that if you’re terrified, you’ll turn around and run;

Then all of your resistance will be surely overcome.

But you have a weapon that cannot be dismissed.

The Word of God to fight with and they cannot resist,

Its double edged action as it sweeps them all away.

You also have a helmet to wear into the fray.

A breastplate of God’s righteousness the enemy can’t pierce.

A shield of faith to stop the barbs that seem to be so fierce.

A belt of truth to recognise the devil’s wicked lies;

With sandals on your feet resisting your demise.

We have all of this armour. At first we do not know.

But as you gain experience, your confidence will grow.

For you have one more weapon to keep away despair.

That weapon is invincible and it’s the power of prayer.

Even if you’re naked and all your armour’s gone,

It’s prayer that gives ability to keep on keeping on.

You have the blood of Jesus. It’s God’s atomic power.

To bring His people victory each day and any hour.

So Christian, take courage. Defeat will not take place.

Not while you are looking into the Master’s face.

Ask for just a little glimpse of how the chips are stacked.

There’s many more with Jesus and Satan’s seat is smacked.

You can’t be defeated and you must surely win,

Against the devil’s army and the crushing power of sin.

Jim Strickland – Written 05 March 2012