The Fight of Your Life

You are a unique individual, a bundle of body-soul-spirit, with all your God-given abilities, gifts, strengths,and potential strengths (OK, weaknesses too). You’ve entered the great adventure of life, an odyssey of learning, experience, and achievement to attain the lofty goal of loving God first by following in the steps of your Lord Jesus Christ.

So have I. Let’s fight!

No, I don’t mean let’s fight each other. What I do mean is that life is one big spiritual fight against an adversary more formidable and intent on violence and destruction than we can imagine.

I didn’t realize this as an impressionable young girl, raised in California when the hippies preached Peace and Love. Fresh out of high school, the demonstrations against the war inspired me to attend UC Berkeley where Peaceniks abounded. I thought by joining them I would be helping to bring peace on earth.

At the same time, the Jesus Movement was also in full swing. Many jumped on the bandwagon because Jesus represented the peace and love on earth that the generation was looking for. Some of these did not really understand his purpose. Several times Jesus had to explain to his own disciples the spiritual, not earthly fight.

The Real Fight

Luke 12:51 [New International Version]:
Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

Jesus’ teachings showed clearly the division between the two sides of the spiritual battle. He had come to bring peace on earth, but only to those who would believe in and accept the Son of God.

John 16:33 [NIV]:
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Today, the world is even more troubled because our adversary, Satan, is still god of this world (II Corinthians 4:4). But our heavenly Father has given us His peace and victory over death, having received eternal life when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

So then why are we still here on earth? The Apostle Paul, already in prison and facing accusations that could lead to his death, asked this same question and thankfully, gives us the answer.

Philippians 1:20-26 [NIV]:
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Our Partnership in the Gospel

Paul’s reason for remaining on earth was the same as ours today: that we may labor together for our mutual progress and joy in the faith. This is our great opportunity that I described in the opening paragraph: loving one another, living Christ together. Earlier in that same chapter shows Paul’s great heart for the Philippians that can be our heart for each other.

Philippians 1:3-11 [NIV]:
I thank my God every time I remember you.
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy
Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.
God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
So that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Still On Earth

Sounds like a wonderful relationship we could all live with right? But then we are reminded that we have an adversary fighting mercilessly against us. Paul encourages the believers in both word and deed to continue in the steadfast love of God that’s required to proclaim the gospel. Then he warns against those who preach Christ with the wrong motives.

Preaching Christ

Philippians 1:12-17: [NIV]
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.
As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.

It may be difficult for us to believe that any believer would use the preaching of Christ to exalt themselves, for their own selfish ambition, desiring to make trouble for the pure hearted brothers and sisters proclaiming the gospel in love. Now can we fight each other? Surely we can knock those down a notch, those brothers and sisters who think they are better than those of us who preach Christ in love? No! Look at what God had Paul write to the Philippians about that.

Philippians 1:18,19: [NIV]
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
For I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

We rejoice that Christ is preached, no matter the motives of those doing it. God’s Word is more powerful than the will of man. As we pray to our heavenly Father, He provides what we need spiritually to see deliverance in all of our lives.

Enduring the Fight Together

Standing together in prayer and preaching, we can endure the fight. Paul continues with this exhortation.

Philippians 1:27-30: [NIV]
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel
Without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.
This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer [endure] for him,
Since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

We each are responsible to stand firm as one spiritually, striving together for the faith of the gospel. When I am opposed, I could tend to become frightened. But it’s immeasurably encouraging to me to know that others stand in Christ with me on the Word of God.

The Apostle Paul was strengthened to hear that others were with him in the fight. In the body of Christ, whether we have strengths in prayer, preaching, proclaiming, or persevering, we all have our own unique ways that we help each other endure the same struggle Paul had.

II Timothy 4:7,8: [KJV]
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth 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 unto all them also that love his appearing.

Thanks for giving your all; we need each other. And we love Christ’s appearing, so let’s keep fighting the good fight together. A crown of righteousness awaits us as we stand firm in one spirit, striving together, keeping the faith of the good news of Jesus Christ.