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Fight Your Warfare
Second Timothy 3:16-17 says; “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly [correct spelling, KJV] furnished unto all good works.” I reference this passage weekly at our Bible studies at the shelter, because it’s our lack of honoring God that so often gets us into trouble and it’s honoring God that keeps us or gets us out of trouble. It’s not some Scripture or most Scripture, it’s all Scripture that is profitable.
So I say to our guests, study your struggle, fight your warfare. Apply the Scripture that is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” God’s Word is God’s wisdom and heart, and the more we dwell in it, the more we are changed by His transforming power.
Just as Jesus rebuked the evil one with Truth, we should do the same. Not just by word, but with faith and action. Study and pray over your struggle, and turn your weakness into power and strength. Obey and believe until it becomes who you are. Battles are not fought without wounds, and wars are not won over night, but our Lord is pleased with our fighting the good fight. He’s not expecting perfection, but faith requires action and proof of belief, so we must engage the enemy.
What is your greatest struggle? Study it relentlessly and thoroughly until it becomes your strength and testimony. Be determined to put into action that which you learn. Read biographies of those who overcame the same struggle. Pay attention to those you meet as the Lord will place in your path those who can help you, and those to whom you can minister. Our Lord is at constant work on our behalf and we must seek to do the same.
Years ago, I counselled a gal who was struggling with anxiety attacks. I told her to find an accountability partner and we began to meet. I shared with her that the Lord tells us to be anxious for nothing (Phil 4:6-7), so we would pursue that goal. I asked her to name the top five things in her life that caused her anxiety. Her number one, self-inflicted financial struggles, was well above the others, so we went right after it. I told her to expect one to two years to bring this problem under control and to a place where it would no longer bring anxiety. She had more determination and faithfulness than I had originally expected, and the Lord moved in such grace to her efforts, that she was out of debt pressure within six months. Foolish me for not expecting the Lord to move in power! She became a different woman, by the power of God and faithfulness to His Word.
Second Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” We, as children of the Creator of the universe, the Most High, should not be surprised by His grace, mercy and power. I went into that counselling fully expecting to see change if she was committed, and yet while I was focused on the power of His Truth, I forgot about His supernatural powers. He can make us wonder and marvel, and we need to remember that. He loves to move His hand on the part of the humble repentant sinner.
Jas 4:6-10 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” He does give more grace, He will draw near to us and He will lift us up, if we are willing to fight our warfare. Yes, we put on the armor of God, but we must go to war against those sins that so easily beset us. We must fight, not against flesh and blood, but “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
We obtain victory through salvation, and yet if we don’t fight our warfare, with our God and His Truth, we can expect greater bondage in our lives. Our Lord is glorified, not only through our salvation, but also through our victory over sin. On top of that, we are blessed with the freedom we so desire. In July, I was meeting with one of our guests to discuss his baptism, and I asked him what prompted him to turn to the Lord. His reply was that he wanted freedom. I gave him a resounding, Amen!
Fighting our warfare is our path to freedom, but we must not lose sight of why our Father wants us to be free. He wants us to be free to serve and glorify Him and not ourselves. Second Timothy 2:4 says; “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
I’m inspired and motivated to know that I might please my Lord. It seems I can do that far more easily for Him than I can even do for myself. He is so worthy! So let’s Fight our Warfare!
Amen? Amen!
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