When a soldier fights, if they only fight to protect themselves, they will struggle. A soldier must fight to protect others, to protect their country, their family. They must fight to protect freedom. Those who fight with a purpose will be able to continually fight.

If you only fight for yourself, you will struggle. A powerful Christian will fight for their church, their pastor, their family, and their nation.

John 18:37
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Jesus fought the good fight to save the whole world, not just Himself. He fought the battle for us.

We must fight to win. To win over what? What do we need to overcome?
#1 Self

If you fight and win over yourself, you will have a mighty victory.

Paul was a mighty servant of the Lord, a mighty preacher. He wrote multiple books in the New Testament and many were saved through him. But what did he say? “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” He knew that he needed to overcome himself.

Romans 7:24
24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

#2 Satan

We need to overcome Satan.

Ephesians 6:11
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The enemy is also watching out for you to be vulnerable. We must close every open door and guard against every weakness.

A church that isn’t standing against the devil is a church that has lost the flavor of salt. It’s a church that is no longer living as the light.

Satan will use everything in his power to cause the church to fall, to lose the flavor or salt, to stop being the light. If we stop being light and salt, we are useless.

Many people go to church early on Sunday so they can “get it out of the way and not waste their whole day.” Watch out. Do not let serve God in a way that’s convenient for you. Give God the sacrifice of your life. Serve Him in a way that’s pleasing to Him. It’s OK to go to a service early in the morning but what is your motivation. Are you just trying to get it out of the way? Are you afraid you’ll waste your whole day on church? That’s a terrible motivation. If you go early because you can’t wait to get to church and hear the Word of God and fellowship with other believers, that is wonderful. Where is your heart? That is the key.

#3 Sin

Sin is a destroyer.

Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Are you still dealing with the same sin you’ve been dealing with for the last 10 years? The last 20 years? The last 5 years? You must overcome. How? Through the Word of God. Why are you so weak to overcome? You don’t have the Word of God living in you.

The Holy Spirit wants to overcome through you. God sent His Holy Spirit to help you overcome.

We must fight to overcome ourselves and live our lives for God and others. When you fight and overcome, a crown is waiting for you in heaven.

Fight to good fight: don’t fight for yourself, to have a good and happy life in this world. Fight for God’s kingdom.

In the Old Testament, when Jacob wrestled with the angel, he fought with himself and his desire to run away. He fought to be obedient to God.

Many people fight for the wrong things. They fight to get their own way. They fight to destroy the children of God. They fight to cause problems. They gossip and accuse others.

As Christians, as men and women of God, we must fight to die to our flesh. Fight to give up our own hope and dream. Fight to carry the cross. Fight to resurrect in the Lord.

Don’t live like you are in a casket. Don’t live like you are in a sick bed. Don’t live like you are in the ER. What does this mean? You give up yourself but don’t believe in the promises of God. You sacrifice your own desires but live a life of bitterness and regret, longing for the things that you can’t have. You give up your sin, but aren’t happy about it. You don’t trust the love of God so you are left in a state of discontent.

God wants us to walk in resurrection power. To resurrect, we must die.

God bless you,
Pastor Sun East

More in this series:
Fight the good fight