What battle are you fighting?  What promise of God are you contending for; healing, financial provision, deliverance from false accusations, deliverance from tormentors, restoration of that which has been stolen, fulfillment of promises, .......  We have gone through some challenging times over this last 1.5 years and most recently, the last two weeks have seemed to be the hardest.  So, I'm going to share with you what the Lord just said to me.  I heard Him say to my heart, "fight the good fight of faith."  So, I looked that up in the Word and let me tell you what I found.  It says:

1 Timothy 6:12  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.

This reminded me of one of King David's mighty men, Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite.

2 Samuel 23:9-10  And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. 10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder. 

Eleazar's name means "strong help" and his father's name means "love token like a father's love or an uncle."  They are from the family of Ahohites which can be translated as the "brotherhood."  So, "strong help" from the "father's love" on behalf of the "brotherhood" fought long and hard with all of the army.  But when the army had retreated he arose and attacked the enemy until his hand stuck to his sword.  

In other words, he could not let go of the sword.  His hand was stuck.  I can tell you from my experience in sports and the military that fighting that hard is painful.  His hand would not let go.  His muscles were not functioning properly.   It got to a point where his ability to fight went beyond his muscles natural ability.  When that occurred he switched from his natural ability to what we used to refer to in sports as "heart."  

It takes heart to stand in the midst of apparent defeat.  It takes heart to stand when it seems as if everyone else has retreated. Ephesians 6:13 says "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."  Eleazar had heart that motivated him to take a stand. It was:

The father's love working through him on behalf of the brotherhood made him take a personal stand that benefited all.  

Jesus began His ministry with "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  The Bible says in Hebrews 4:12 that the Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword.  In 2 Timothy 2:3 the apostle Paul tells Timothy to endure hardness as a good solider of Jesus Christ.  In Matthew 11:12 Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force.

I (we) need to appropriate the kingdom of God in every area for which we I (we) have responsibility.  That means I  have to apply the Word of God in each situation to see His purpose fulfilled.  To accomplish this I have to find out what the Word of God says and aggressively appropriate that Word in every situation as led by the Holy Spirit.   

Fight the Good Fight

Why?  Because fighting the good fight involves laying hold of that which we were called to and requires a good confession.

1 Timothy 6:12  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.

The Bible or the Word of God is divided into two covenants, the old and the new covenant.  Covenant, confession, and witnesses are all terms used in courtrooms.  In 1 John 2:1 we see Jesus is our Advocate or Counselor and in Psalms 35:1 it says:

Psalm 35:1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.

It also says in Daniel 7 where the Ancient of Days comes in and a court is seated.  Then it says that:

Daniel 7:21-22  "I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.

There was an enemy waging war against the saints and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days rendered a judgment in favor of the saints and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.

Psalm 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 

What Does the Word Say!

So this is what I've been led to do based upon these scriptures.

I find out what the Word of God says about any situation I have.  Do I or anyone I am responsible for need healing?  Then I find out what the covenant says about healing and I do what the Word says to  do (ie. lay hands on the sick) as I am led by the Holy Spirit.  Do I or anyone else I am responsible for have a financial need?  Then I find out what the covenant says about finances and I do what the Word says to do as led by the Holy Spirit.  Do I have a weakness in my character, then I find out what the Word says I should display, do what the word says do (repent or ask forgiveness of an individual) as led by the Holy Spirit.  

If I do that, then this is what the Word of God says:

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 

Submit to God

Hence, as I submit my life to God's Word and appropriate His Word as led by the Holy Spirit, then I can expect the devil to flee.  We have to fight the good fight like Jesus did.  In John 14:30 Jesus said that the ruler of this world is coming and he had nothing in him.  Ephesians 4:27 says don't let the son go down on your wrath and give a foothold to the enemy.  In other  words, don't let sin give the enemy any legal right to function in your life.

In the kingdom of God words are powerful.  Hebrews 11:3 that by faith, the worlds were framed (joined, prepared, mended) by the Word of God.  Isaiah 55:11 says that God's Word won't return void but  it shall go forth and accomplish all that it was sent to do.  Proverbs 18:21 says that life and death are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Attitude of a Warrior

I want to be like Eleazar, son of Dodo the Ahohite.  I've fought and I've determined I'll not retreat another step.  I don't care what anyone else does, I'll not retreat another step.  God's Word is going to cling to my tongue and I'll apply it in every situation for which I have responsibility for.  I don't care what I see for I don't walk by sight but I walk by faith.  Let God's Word be true and every other man a liar.

But What if I Fail?

Then you get back up.  You are only defeated if you stay down.  This is also the attitude of a warrior.  

 

Micah 7:8-10

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;
When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness,
The LORD will be a light to me. 
9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD,
Because I have sinned against Him,
Until He pleads my case 
And executes justice for me.
He will bring me forth to the light;
I will see His righteousness. 
10 Then she who is my enemy will see,
And shame will cover her who said to me,
"Where is the LORD your God?"
My eyes will see her;
Now she will be trampled down 
Like mud in the streets. 

If we sin, the Bible says:

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

So  then, get back up.  Discover what the Word of God says about healing, finances, protection, character and begin to declare what God's Word says about your situation.  Fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of eternal life.  

Teamwork

Don't think that the stand you take is insignificant.  In the military teamwork is paramount.  It says in Ephesians 4:16 that the body of Christ matures as "each part does its share."  The stand you take benefits more than just you.

If you were an enemy where would you want to attack a fort?  Would you want to attack the strongest point or the weakest?  A smart enemy attacks at the weakest point.  For, if the enemy can get a breakthrough at the weakest point, then he can gain access to the rest of the army in the fort.  Consider Nehemiah 3-4 for example.  They rebuilt the walls putting families in the gaps to repair and defend the wall until the breaks were repaired.

You are part of the body of Christ.  1 Corinthians 12:26 says that when one part suffers we all suffer.  Ephesians 4:16 says " from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. 

You are important.  The stand you take is important.  I need you to mature so that you fulfill your  purpose in Christ so that the body of Christ will grow.

We know that standing alone is not as good as standing with others.  Leviticus 26:8 says five shall chase one hundred and Deuteronomy 32:30 says that if one puts a thousand to flight two will put ten thousand to flight.  In Nehemiah 3-4 we see where Nehemiah rebuilt the walls by placing families along the wall to rebuild it and defend it.  That meant that each family worked by two others.  That was wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 

Know that even if you are all alone, if you appropriate the Word of God to your life, the Lord stands with you.  However, it is much better if you have friends who'll stand with you and contend for the Word of God.  Friends like that are priceless.

The Lord gave me a strategy we employ in CONECT that encourages teamwork like this and leaves no one unaccounted for.  It ensures that everyone in your church has at least two others who'll be praying for them and with them.  If you'd like to learn more about how CONECT can serve your church, ministry or city then click here.