Let's Fight!

I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. Ezekiel 22:30

God is looking for someone to stand up! Someone willing to fight! You don't think your God is a Warrior? Here's a few scriptures to set that straight!

The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name. Exodus 15:3

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34

Read Rev 19:11-13, 15-16, here you can read more about this Great Warrior!

We are created with a warrior heart. We just sometimes fight for all the wrong reasons!

If we don't have a good reason to fight, we'll create one. Like with our spouse, kids, job, etc...

So we need to have a cause to fight for and then we'll be able to be the great warriors that Christ  is looking for.

Nehemiah gave a few reasons - Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes. Nehemiah 4:14

What are you willing to fight for?

For some it better be your marriage! You need to start fighting for her and not with her!

If you don't pick a GOOD cause, you will surely pick the wrong cause!

But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Acts 8:3 This surely doesn't sound like a good cause.

Name your cause, speak to your spouse, name it together and when fighting...

Sometimes you throw a punch! I know some will get their theology messed with in that one, but the Bible says there’s a time for peace and a time to fight!

When it’s time to fight, fight!

Ladies, don’t take away a man’s will to fight! Just give him the right cause!

Remember what Jesus said

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34

Oh and remember the tables in the temple, that was a good cause!

Read through Revelations and see the Warrior Christ!

Sometimes you fight through Prayer. You pray hard!

Sometimes you fight by asking forgiveness. Even though you think you're right!

There have been many men who have died for this cause called Jesus.

I know that there are men reading this who are ready to fight! Willing to go out of their way to reach the lost! Save their marriages, mend the relationships with their children, have purpose in their jobs, etc... Ready to be the leaders that God has called!

Today is the day for us to be Warriors, it's our right to fight!

I QUIT COMPARING

Things we compare

Possessions (car, house, clothes, salary)

Appearance (hair, body shape, eyes, biceps)

Performance (Job, wife, husband, mom, dad)

Circumstances (kids no kids, married, not married, loved one sick/died)

Something inside of us wants to know am I good enough, pretty enough, smart enough… We have an insatiable desire to be told we are…..accepted and loved!  Thus we compare!!!

WHY DOES GOD HATE IT WHEN WE COMPARE?

• COMPARISON IS THE DEATH OF CONTENTMENT!

 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

2 Corinthians 10:12

DARE! It kills joy, robs meaning, destroys marriages,

Success in life is not a matter of being inferior or superior it is simply being who God wants you to be not who you wish you were. Read that again! I mean it! Read it again!

• COMPARISON MAKES US PRIDEFUL

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—(make connections)robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ Luke 18: 11-12

In Walmart, my kids would never act like that! Our kids our better than that!

Smoking, I can’t believe they’re smoking, Yea, I’ll have that triple burger with double cheese! lol

C.S. Lewis said it this way: “We say that people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or cleverer, or better looking than others. If everyone else became equally rich, or clever, or good-looking, there would be nothing to be proud about.”

• 2. COMPARISON MAKES US RESENTFUL

When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. As they danced, they sang:

   “Saul has slain his thousands,

   and David his tens of thousands.”

 Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 1 Samuel 18:6-9

WE RESENT GOD’S GOODNESS IN OTHERS LIVES AND IGNORE GOD’S BLESSING IN OUR OWN LIFE!

We become resentful! When do I get a break? We're to focused on what everyone else has!

SO WHAT DO WE DO?

1.       Know what you have

(From Prison) I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

Sometimes we look at our lives and think what could have been instead of what we have! We actually miss out on the life we have! House, Car, Clothes, Kids, Intellect, etc…

2.     Know who you are

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do Ephesians 2:10

What does it all mean? It means you are God’s workmanship! You belong to Him!

Quote by George MacDonald, the man C.S. Lewis called his mentor: "I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in God's thought, and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest, and most precious thing in all thinking."

Samuel Johnson “People need to be reminded a lot more than they need to be instructed”

Let me REMIND you who you are:

I am loved 1John 3:3

I am accepted Ephesians 1:6

I am a child of God John 1:12

I am a joint heir with Christ, Romans 8:17

I am a member of Christ's body. 1 Corinthians 12:27

I am a Saint Ephesians 1:1

I am redeemed and forgiven Colossians 1:14

I am complete in Jesus Christ Colossians 2:10

I am free from condemnation Romans 8:1

I am a new creation because I am in Christ 2Corinthians 5:17

I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved Colossians 3:12

I am God’s workmanship Ephesians 2:10

My daughter and her best friend have a Princess Day every so often. Pastor Jason and I met up with the ladies later in the day for lunch. My wife said our daughter Liberty played the part well! She is a Princess!

Today I pray you learn who you are because in knowing who you are

you know what you don’t have to be! Repeat that a few times!