Why Fight?

Jeff and I are active participants (chaperones, confidantes, etc.) for our youth at Meadow Grove Baptist Church.  (http://www.meadowgrove.org/) On Wednesday nights we hear Jamie Walley speak.  This particular message touched me in such a way that I wanted to share it with you.  (Please remember that these are the notes I took during Jamie's message; the outline itself came directly from Jamie - and he got it from God.) 

Why Fight? 
As presented by Jamie Walley at MGBC to the youth on 2/17/2010

You have to have a strategy in a fight!  1 John 3:7-8 says, "Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."  (NIV)  Christ came to earth to do battle; Christianity is a battle - daily! 

James 1:14-15 says, "but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."  (NIV)    Matthew 26:41 says, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."  (NIV)

For me, it was an eye-opening evening straight from God.  I'm evil by nature and I need help to be righteous.  Even though I really want to do the right thing all the time, my human nature is not strong enough to back up my spirit.  That's where Jesus rescues us.  Jesus is my salvation; He is righteous! 

The Outline:

I. THE BATTLEFIELD - Christianity is one movement with two parts; moving away from something (the things that keep us from God) and moving toward something (intimacy with God).  2 Timothy 2:22 reads, "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."  (NIV) The battlefield is in our heart and in our minds.  We have to remove the thoughts and the desires that move us away from God and we have to embrace and reach out with faith, love and peace, with a pure heart! 

II. OUR ENEMY - What are we up against? 
     A. Satan has tools.  (The flesh - lust, envy, etc.)
     B. Satan knows the target.  (He knows how we're wired and what are weaknesses are.)
     C. Satan knows the terrain.
     D. Satan knows his own tactics. (Temptation)

We (Christians) fight because our lives are on the line!!  REMOVE TEMPTATION:  "What we think about is what we care about.  And what we care about, we chase."  (Unknown, but Jamie brought it to my attention.)

What are you thinking about?  If your thoughts don't come from God, then we are allowing the devil - OUR ENEMY - to defeat us!

III. THE STRATEGY
     A. Read the Bible daily!
     B. Prayer
     C. Listen to the right kind of music.
     D. Friends - surround yourself with friends that hold you accountable for your actions.
     E. Scripture memorization.  When faced with a temptation, have scripture readily available for recall!

I am a sinner!  I did not pursue righteousness like I should have.  Jesus Christ bridged the gap (created by my sin) between God and I when He died on the cross in my place.  I don't just believe that, I try daily to live it.  And I fail miserably all the time.  But I hope that my relationship with Him continues to grow as I learn more and more. 

The MGBC Youth are being armed with weapons from the Holy Spirit every time they come to worship services, Bible drill, Bible study, etc.  Jamie and Stephanie don't apologize for their faith in Christ and their belief in the Word of God.  The Bible is taught and the Holy Spirit speaks through Jamie every time he gets up to teach the youth.  Thank you, Jamie, for allowing God to use you and your family to further His ministry - and for equipping our youth to go out and fight.