The Warfare Test
God has plans, purpose, and places for your life but those must be apprehended by faith and by fight. A primary ingredient in the life of a champion is the choice to be a champion. Spiritual warfare is written in the script for every believer but you can identify as a victor and not a victim! You have to have the will to win!
Winning the battle
Get ready to fight
- 1 Timothy 1:18 “This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight” (Here fight is “strateou” which means strategy)
- If there’s no fight in you, you won’t go very far in advancing the kingdom of God or fulfilling your destiny
- 1 Timothy 6:12 “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 (Here fight is “agonizimai” and means to contend, fight or struggle)
- Fight to take hold of life (don’t just fight against death but fight to take hold of life)
- Take hold of the Lord, your relationship with him, his promises
It’s not what you fight against that gives you victory, it’s what you fight to take hold of.
- Part of winning the fight is not quitting; once you’ve quit, you’ve certainly lost
- If you won’t quit, God is committed to making it work out for your good
- There is a fight to pull you away from Jesus, the narrow door; if you don’t know what to do, strive to stay connected to Jesus
- We don’t fight against people; our fighting is in another realm
- You won’t drift into righteousness or into destiny and you won’t get there on your own, either; you strive with God’s power at work in you
Get a sword in your mouth
- Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword.”
- “Distoma” means “two-mouthed”
- The sword of the Spirit is the Rhema word of God; the word God is speaking to you is your sword to fight with
- A prophetic strategy for fighting the good fight of faith is to keep track of the now-words God is speaking to you; they are part of the weaponry to fight your fight: identification, encouragement, strength
Hold on to your faith
- There are lots of things to hold on to: your pain, offense, questions, fear, failures
- Instead, keep the faith in the midst of the fight
Facilitating Discussion
- Why is the decision to be a victor so important in winning battles in your life?
- What word from heaven do you have in your mouth for this season?