Fight to Win

By Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam

 

 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armour God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10-11).

 

In the Book of Ephesians Paul describes the church in many forms. He speaks of the church as an assembly of people, a family, a temple of God, the Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ. Then, he concludes by saying “finally” in verse ten of Chapter six, which has great significance. I believe it is the final picture of the brunch before the return of Christ.

 

“Finally” speaks of end-time picture of the church as God’s army. This is also true in the Book of Revelation that the church is God’s army sweeping victoriously through the land. Therefore, every Christian is a soldier and he is called to fight the good fight of faith.

 

Paul told young Timothy to “endure hardship like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer” (2 Timothy 2:3-4). We are at End-Time church – a militant church at war with sin and the devil. God has a programmes set before us and we are to obey His command. There is no time to waste on worldly affairs. We are engaged in spiritual warfare. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

 

God uses His people to carry out His work and does Satan. Satan is a thief, a destroyer and a murderer. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). He uses people to do His work. So, do not get angry or fight with people who oppose you or bring trouble to you. Remember that this is a spiritual warfare. Everyday, you live in a situation which can develop into a fight. You can end up fighting with your spouse, your children, your family or your neighbour. Satan could have been behind it all, and he will use whatever instruments or tools which are not yielded to God to create trouble. The problem may be physical, emotional, mental or even spiritual. Some of you are defeated by worries, fears, depression, uncontrolled anger, guilt, bitterness, inferiority complex, etc. You do not need to be defeated. You do not need to fight a losing battle or live as a failure. “No, in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). God has intended the church to be victorious, invincible, glorious, disciplined – a military army withstanding all the wily and tricky schemes of the devil. Fight to win! Jesus is Lord of Hosts, the Captain of our Salvation, the Lion of Judah, the Conqueror of death, hell and the grave; He is the Almighty, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he who is leading us. You are like Him – victorious; and the devil is a defeated foe.

 

We live in a very hostile world; when you decided to live for God, there is an enemy out there who will fight with you. “Just as it was the days of Noah, so also it will be in the Son of Man” (Luke 17:26). The Bible says, “Because of the increase wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). But we can fight every situation and be a winner for Jesus Christ! “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

 

Paul says, “Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were call when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12). The church cannot be cowardly, cold, careless, compromising or carnal in our spiritual warfare or in our works for the Lord. Our approval does not come from societies, governments, or from the majority but from God.

 

The church is not an institution for the world to ridicule, take pity on or mock. The church is not a sitting duck to be shot at but it is called to fight, the fight of faith. Our objective is to be a living testimony for Jesus! Fight to win! Our mission is to pull down the strongholds of sin, Satan and carnality in the power of Christ our Lord.

 

Paul at the conclusion of his, said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the fight the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). Jesus said, I have told you these things, so that in me you have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). So be a good soldier for the Lord. Can you say with Paul, when your time comes, that you have fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith? You can through Jesus Christ!

(All the quotations from the Bible are from the New International Version).

 

CALVARY NEWS

Issue 48, November – December 1997