Good Fight of Faith
It is a good fight because we are supposed to win; remember the Bible says that we
“are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Romans 8:37). Jesus gave
His disciples and the 70 elders power and when they went out they got great results
(Matthew 10:1,7-8) “and when He had called to Him, His disciples, He gave them
power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness
and all manner of disease. He said and as you go, preach, saying, the kingdom of
heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out
devils, freely you have received, freely give”.
In Luke 10:1,17 He sends the 70 elders out; it says “after these things the Lord
appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every
city and place, where He Himself would come. And the seventy returned again with
joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject to us through Your name”.
Peter and John used their power and authority given to them, to heal the lame man
at the gate Beautiful (Acts 3:1-9) “now Peter and John went up together into the
temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his
mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is
called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple. Who seeing Peter
and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter; fastening his eyes
upon him with John, said look on us. And he gave heed to them, expecting to
receive something of them. Then Peter said, silver and gold have I none; but such
as I have give I to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up; and immediately his feet and
ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered
with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the
people saw him walking and praising God”.
Jesus gave us power and authority (Luke 10:19) “behold, I give to you power to
tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing
shall by any means hurt you”.
Jesus defeated the devil and took his power (Colossians 2:15), which says “and
having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly,
triumphing over them in it”.
Jesus tells us in John 14:27 “peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as
the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid”. Receive His peace and fear will leave.
We have to stop giving worry and fear a place of dominion in your life (Ephesians 4:
27), says “give no place for the devil”. Fear draws you to the devil while faith draws
you to God. God didn’t give you the spirit of fear (Romans 8:15 and II Timothy 1:7),
says “for you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. For God has not
given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.
We have to take action; go on the offense. Jesus gave us the keys to the kingdom
(Matthew 16:19), “and I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and
whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you
shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”. Jesus taught us to speak to the
mountain (Mark 11:22-24).
Exekiel spoke to the dry bones as God told him and the dry bones came alive
(Ezekiel 37:3-10), which says “and He said to me, son of man, can these bones
live? And I answered, O Lord God, You know. Again He said to me, prophesy upon
these bones, and say to them, O you dry bones, hear the word of the Lord
Yahweh. Thus says the Lord God to these bones; behold, I will cause breath to
enter into you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up
flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live;
and you shall know that I am the Lord Yahweh. So I prophesied as I was
commanded; and a I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the
bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I behold, lo the sinews and skin
covered them above; but there was no breath in them. Then said He to me,
prophesy to the wind, prophesy son of man, and say to the wind. Thus says the
Lord God; come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that
they may live. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into
them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army”.
The Bible says “let the weak say I am strong” (Joel 3:10). And “Let the redeemed of
the Lord Yahweh say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy”
(Psalms 107:2). You enforce your authority by proclaiming what is yours.
Remember that the just takes it by force. The problem is that people are saying
what they see, and they continue to see what they say. But we are to speak the
word of God over our circumstances and see them change.
We have to control how we respond, we can either respond by faith or by fear.
Deuteronomy 30:19 says “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you,
that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose
life, that both you and your seed may live”. The choice is our and we release our
authority by words.
We overcome by our faith (I John 5:4) “for whosoever is born of God overcomes the
world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith”; (I Corinthians
15:57-58), says “but thanks be to God, which give us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be you steadfast, un-moveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is
not in vain in the Lord”.
Jesus defeated the devil when He was tried in the wilderness; the devil came against
Him 3 times asking Him questions, trying to put doubt in His heart, but Jesus
answered each time “it is written” (Luke 4:3-13), the first question says “and the
devil said to Him, if You be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made
bread. And Jesus answered him, saying it is written; that man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word of God”. the second question says “and the devil said to
Him, all this power will I give you, and the glory of them, for that is delivered to me,
and to whomsoever I will I will give it. if You therefore will worship me, all shall be
Yours. And Jesus answered and said to him, get you behind Me, satan for it is
written, you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve”. The
third question says “if You be the Son of God, cast Yourself down from here. for it
is written, He shall give His angels charge over You, to keep You. And in their
hands they shall bear You up, less at any time You dash your foot against a stone.
And Jesus answering said to him, it is said, you shall not tempt the Lord your God.
and when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a
season”.
James gives us good advice (James 4:7-8a), which says “submit yourselves
therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and
He will draw near to you”. Likewise Peter advises us in (I Peter 5:6-9) “humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due
time. Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he
bay devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions
are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world”.
Paul gives advise to Timothy, which says “fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on
eternal life, whereto you are also called, and have professed a good profession
before many witnesses” (I Timothy 6:12).
Paul says about himself (I Corinthians 9:24-27), which says “know you not that they
which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may
obtain. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now
they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run,
not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air. But I keep under my
body, and bring it into subjection; less that by any means, when I have preached to
others, I myself should be a cast away”. Also in II Timothy 4:5-8, he says “but watch
you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of
your ministry. For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at
hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Hereafter there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but to all them also
that love His appearing”.
Hebrews 11:1 says “now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen”. Whatsoever you are hoping for, find the promises of God that
provides it, and stand on the word of God (Ephesians 6:10-14a), which says “finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we
wrestle 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. Wherefore take to you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore”.
Let us go out as the disciples in the early church, speaking in the name of Jesus
and seeing His power work. Jesus tells us in Mark 16:17-18 “and these signs shall
follow them that believe, in My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with
new tongues. they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: April 28, 2009
It is a good fight because we are supposed to win; remember the Bible says that we
“are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Romans 8:37). Jesus gave
His disciples and the 70 elders power and when they went out they got great results
(Matthew 10:1,7-8) “and when He had called to Him, His disciples, He gave them
power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness
and all manner of disease. He said and as you go, preach, saying, the kingdom of
heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out
devils, freely you have received, freely give”.
In Luke 10:1,17 He sends the 70 elders out; it says “after these things the Lord
appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every
city and place, where He Himself would come. And the seventy returned again with
joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject to us through Your name”.
Peter and John used their power and authority given to them, to heal the lame man
at the gate Beautiful (Acts 3:1-9) “now Peter and John went up together into the
temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his
mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is
called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple. Who seeing Peter
and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter; fastening his eyes
upon him with John, said look on us. And he gave heed to them, expecting to
receive something of them. Then Peter said, silver and gold have I none; but such
as I have give I to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up; and immediately his feet and
ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered
with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the
people saw him walking and praising God”.
Jesus gave us power and authority (Luke 10:19) “behold, I give to you power to
tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing
shall by any means hurt you”.
Jesus defeated the devil and took his power (Colossians 2:15), which says “and
having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly,
triumphing over them in it”.
Jesus tells us in John 14:27 “peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as
the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid”. Receive His peace and fear will leave.
We have to stop giving worry and fear a place of dominion in your life (Ephesians 4:
27), says “give no place for the devil”. Fear draws you to the devil while faith draws
you to God. God didn’t give you the spirit of fear (Romans 8:15 and II Timothy 1:7),
says “for you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. For God has not
given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.
We have to take action; go on the offense. Jesus gave us the keys to the kingdom
(Matthew 16:19), “and I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and
whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you
shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”. Jesus taught us to speak to the
mountain (Mark 11:22-24).
Exekiel spoke to the dry bones as God told him and the dry bones came alive
(Ezekiel 37:3-10), which says “and He said to me, son of man, can these bones
live? And I answered, O Lord God, You know. Again He said to me, prophesy upon
these bones, and say to them, O you dry bones, hear the word of the Lord
Yahweh. Thus says the Lord God to these bones; behold, I will cause breath to
enter into you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up
flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live;
and you shall know that I am the Lord Yahweh. So I prophesied as I was
commanded; and a I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the
bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I behold, lo the sinews and skin
covered them above; but there was no breath in them. Then said He to me,
prophesy to the wind, prophesy son of man, and say to the wind. Thus says the
Lord God; come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that
they may live. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into
them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army”.
The Bible says “let the weak say I am strong” (Joel 3:10). And “Let the redeemed of
the Lord Yahweh say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy”
(Psalms 107:2). You enforce your authority by proclaiming what is yours.
Remember that the just takes it by force. The problem is that people are saying
what they see, and they continue to see what they say. But we are to speak the
word of God over our circumstances and see them change.
We have to control how we respond, we can either respond by faith or by fear.
Deuteronomy 30:19 says “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you,
that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose
life, that both you and your seed may live”. The choice is our and we release our
authority by words.
We overcome by our faith (I John 5:4) “for whosoever is born of God overcomes the
world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith”; (I Corinthians
15:57-58), says “but thanks be to God, which give us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be you steadfast, un-moveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is
not in vain in the Lord”.
Jesus defeated the devil when He was tried in the wilderness; the devil came against
Him 3 times asking Him questions, trying to put doubt in His heart, but Jesus
answered each time “it is written” (Luke 4:3-13), the first question says “and the
devil said to Him, if You be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made
bread. And Jesus answered him, saying it is written; that man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word of God”. the second question says “and the devil said to
Him, all this power will I give you, and the glory of them, for that is delivered to me,
and to whomsoever I will I will give it. if You therefore will worship me, all shall be
Yours. And Jesus answered and said to him, get you behind Me, satan for it is
written, you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve”. The
third question says “if You be the Son of God, cast Yourself down from here. for it
is written, He shall give His angels charge over You, to keep You. And in their
hands they shall bear You up, less at any time You dash your foot against a stone.
And Jesus answering said to him, it is said, you shall not tempt the Lord your God.
and when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a
season”.
James gives us good advice (James 4:7-8a), which says “submit yourselves
therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and
He will draw near to you”. Likewise Peter advises us in (I Peter 5:6-9) “humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due
time. Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he
bay devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions
are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world”.
Paul gives advise to Timothy, which says “fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on
eternal life, whereto you are also called, and have professed a good profession
before many witnesses” (I Timothy 6:12).
Paul says about himself (I Corinthians 9:24-27), which says “know you not that they
which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may
obtain. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now
they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run,
not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air. But I keep under my
body, and bring it into subjection; less that by any means, when I have preached to
others, I myself should be a cast away”. Also in II Timothy 4:5-8, he says “but watch
you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of
your ministry. For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at
hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Hereafter there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but to all them also
that love His appearing”.
Hebrews 11:1 says “now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen”. Whatsoever you are hoping for, find the promises of God that
provides it, and stand on the word of God (Ephesians 6:10-14a), which says “finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we
wrestle 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. Wherefore take to you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore”.
Let us go out as the disciples in the early church, speaking in the name of Jesus
and seeing His power work. Jesus tells us in Mark 16:17-18 “and these signs shall
follow them that believe, in My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with
new tongues. they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: April 28, 2009
