"The Good Fight"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"The Good Fight"

    

   The Bible proclaims a salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ that provides superabundant enabling.

   "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness… God hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ" (II Peter 1:3; Ephesians 1:3).

    Despite such magnitude of gracious provision "in all things," born again believers sometimes become discouraged.  Ignorance, forgetfulness, and even willful refusal to believe the promises of God can lead us to a less than abundant accessing of His presence, power, and persistent working.  We play a role in our walk with the Lord as we trust and submit to Him in the realities of life.  If discouraged, we must therefore seek our Lord's searching to determine culpability on our part.  However, we must also realize that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood," particularly regarding temptations to discouragement (Ephesians 6:12).  The spiritual enemies who cannot rob us of our redemption instead seek to hinder our realization and response to "so great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3).  Discouragement results not only from human factors.  Satan, his demonic entities, and the world system in which we now live also play a significant role.  "There are many adversaries" (I Corinthians 16:9).

    This should get our spiritual dander up in times of discouragement.  Outside influences seek to hinder our walk in Christ and the joy of our hearts.  Somebody is trying to hurt us, to discourage us.  "The thief cometh but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy" (John 10:10).  If we fail to grasp this plainly stated Biblical truth, we erroneously perceive the challenge as completely internal.  Again, there is a place for willingness to accept responsibility for failure to trust our Heavenly Father and the discouragement that results from unbelief.  However, a Biblical diagnosis of the challenge also identifies devilish and worldly influences as significant factors.  "Fight the good fight of faith" commanded the Apostle Paul (I Timothy 6:12).  We must heed Paul when tempted to discouragement by engaging in the Biblical reconnaissance that correctly identifies our enemies.  "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8).  The recognition will motivate our response to God by availing ourselves of His presence and truth.  Thereby "so great salvation" replaces discouragement with hope and expectation.  Again, discouragement is not merely a human mental, emotional, or physical experience.  Malevolent influences seek our harm.  This should fill us with righteous indignation, leading us to unsheathe "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God," raise the shield of faith, and engage in the good fight of faith whereby we overcome discouragement by trusting the "exceeding great and precious promises" of our risen Lord (II Peter 1:4).  

"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."

(I Samuel 30:6)

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit."

(Ephesians 6:13-18)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen."

(I Timothy 6:17)