Get up & Fight!

You know, there has been a misconception that has led people especially Christians into believing that once you get born-again automatically life happens at your pace and everything you need, hope, and want is at your fingertips by just a little prayer. We get into this walk believing that anything from then should be nothing but smooth sailing with a few bumpy rides which of course the Lord will quickly fix as soon as we cry out to the heavens. I mean after all, we do have beautiful verses like John 14:14 which promise that “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

This kind of mentality has not only robbed us of God’s blessings but has weakened our ability to believe and trust God in situations that may seem impossible – unable to endure any hardships that we may encounter along the way. Usually this kind of thinking is subliminally accompanied by withdrawal and unspoken words of anger, blame, discontentment towards God when the desired result is not achieved or life does not unfold the way we expect.

My mother shared a powerful scripture with me the other day, which actually inspired today’s topic. I was going through my own fair share of distress but when she shared this word it was like a burden being lifted off my shoulder. Deuteronomy 2:24 reads, “Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the Valley of the Armon. Behold I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it and contend with him in battle.” (This was God speaking to the children of Israel.) What we see in this verse is that: 1. God is calling the children of Israel to rise up, 2. God is calling the children of Israel to take their journey, 3. God has already given the children of Israel victory over their enemy, 4. God expects the children of Israel to fight, contend with their enemy and possess the land. Sounds like a lot of work doesn’t it? Couldn’t the children of Israel just pray to God asking Him to fight the Amorites on their behalf and only feature when it was time to gather the spoils? I mean God is all powerful; He could do that – send His Angels to smite the Amorites, finish them off without the Israelites having to do anything. But He did not.

What can be learned in this experience relating it to now – our everyday living, are fundamental principles in keeping the faith and keeping strong in the mist of turmoil, distress, challenges etc. Firstly, we are called to rise up. Meaning that on a day to day basis we have to live from a place of victory. A place from which we are intentional about what God has called us to be and where He has called us to be. Secondly, we are called to take up our journey. This signifying that we’re individually and corporately called to a journey; and this journey is living the life of obedience and sacrifice before God. Thirdly, God has already given us victory and has sufficiently provided for our needs. Fourthly (which is last) God has given us a mandate to fight, fight and contend with the enemy for our already guaranteed victory to possess what rightfully belongs to us.

“Fight and contend with the enemy to possess your land” is what I want to delve into. Doesn’t this contradict the mentality of “every battle has been won so I need not fight; I just receive from the Lord?” Which is what we normally do; sit and wait, praying for God to move on our behalf. And when we don’t see Him moving, we throw tantrums all over the place; “Why me?” “Lord but I prayed” “What did I do wrong?” From the scripture, it is deduced that to possess what God has for us and His blessings for us; we have to fight. We have to fight circumstances, situations, backgrounds, curses, negative words spoken over our lives, wrong thinking, principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places [Ephesians 6:12] that may be working as an enemy against God’s blessings and promises for us. Paul says in 1Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight…” and in 2Timothy 4:7 he relates, “I have fought a good fight…” Fight! Fight! Fight! We are in a relentless battle, but the good thing about the battle is that victory is guaranteed! That is what God meant to the Israelites when He said I have given into your hand Sihon, the Amorite and his land… He simply meant, you have already won this battle, but you still have to fight it - go with victory in mind.

The same applies to us. Christ has overcome; for us to be set free from all chains, embargos, hurdles, etc. but we still need to fight the good fight in order for us to possess our land/blessings. So whatever that you may be trusting God for, know that God has already given to you – it is there, You just have to FIGHT for it. By having to fight, it means there is resistance and opposition which may manifest itself as rejection, loss, failure, delay or denial. Now, the key in fighting is not necessarily the technique itself but it is persistence which is translated in the bible as perseverance. James 1:2-4 states, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” This fight requires perseverance in order for you to come out victorious. & truth is, as you fight; the failure, delay, loss, rejection or denial standing as opposition will wound you - that is guaranteed, but in the mist of, let perseverance take cause. PERSEVERE AND FIGHT TILL YOU SEE THE VICTORY!

If only we looked at life in this way, as a battle that has been won for us by Christ, which requires us to take our position as the armies of the Kingdom of heaven and fight to possess our blessings - then we would live more victoriously. Yes, we will be disappointed, hurt, wounded by the arrows being shot by the opposition (the devil & revolting life encounters) but we are designed to get back up and fight like soldiers who know and understand that victory is guaranteed. Fight in prayer, fight in speaking life over your situation, fight in taking steps of faith toward what you are trusting God for – do not just sit there and whine before God. Soldiers do not whine; they fight! Fight for your purpose, destiny, job, progress, family, wife, husband, marriage, academic pursuits, that university degree etc. God has already given it to you.

Rise up, take on your journey and fight the Amorites to possess your land; for God has already given Sihon over to you!!!

Much love, be blessed.