FIGHT by FAITH
The ways of God are how we win the battles in our life.
Week 1:
Learn. Love. Live it out.
What did you learn from the main teaching this month? What was new to you? What were you reminded of?
James 1:22 tells us to be doers of the word. This means we live out what we learn. This is how we love God through great faith. Take a week to work on each aspect in choosing to make Christ our passion, priority and purpose as it relates to FIGHTING by FAITH.
In 2 Samuel 23:8-38 there is a list and stories of 'David's Mighty Men'. Thirty-seven men who fought with David to see him walk in the victories God had called him to. Who are you fighting with?
One of our forms of strength is PARTNERSHIP POWER. On top of knowing who you are fighting with, how are you fighting with them? Do they know your battles? Are you inviting and leaning on their strengths?
Week 2: Christ our PASSION
The Great Commandment tells us to 'love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength' (Mark 12:30). As we see and understand who God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit truly are, we will find our passion for him growing in all areas of our life.
This month we are focusing on how being aware of the battle around us impacts how we love the Lord.
What battles are you fighting in your heart? How does this affect how you love God?
What battles are you fighting in your soul (how you identify yourself)? How does this affect how you love God?
What battles are you fighting in your mind (thought life, world view, etc.)? How does this affect how you love God?
What battles are you fighting in your strength? How does this affect how you love God?
Week 3: Christ our PRIORITY
We want to be found by Christ with the type of faith that he sees as great (Matthew 8:10; Luke 7:9). This faith comes through surrendering everything to the priority of Christ in our life because we know his love. This surrender is practiced and exhibited through spiritual disciplines.
When it comes to the battle for the life Christ has created us for, the spiritual disciplines are key to being ready for the fight. How are you doing with the spiritual disciplines in the areas of your mind, heart, soul and strength?
In Ephesians 6, Paul uses the uniform pieces of a Roman soldier in his day to help us understand how we stand firm and ready for the battle.
Helmet of salvation.
Breastplate of righteousness.
Belt of truth.
Sword of the Spirit - the word of God.
Shield of faith.
Boots of readiness to proclaim the gospel.
Lovely imagery. How do you define each of these in practical ways? What does it mean to you to 'put on' (Ephesians 6:11) these pieces?
Week 4: Christ our PURPOSE
The things of God should be the central purposes of our life. And the main thing of God is that all would come to know him, grow in their relationship with him, and be transformed into who he has created them to be. We do this by making the Great Commission of 'go into all the world and proclaim the gospel' (Mark 16:15) and 'make disciples of all nations' (Matthew 28:18) our purpose. We fulfill this purpose in the power of his Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), loving our neighbors as ourself (Mark 12:31), and through the strategy of 'entrusting what we have learned with faithful men, who will be able to teach others also' (2 Timothy 2:2).
Who are you fighting for?
We fight for those we love (family, friends, etc.) and our neighbors (the communities God has put us a part of).
For those who know the Lord we fight for them to be all they were created to be in Christ.
For those who don't yet know the Lord, we fight for their salvation.
We fight in the Spirit of power, with the weapons of power - prayer and the word of God (see Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 2:4, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, and Ephesians 6:17-18).
Who are you fighting for?
There are two groups of people we should be intentionally fighting for.
Those who don't yet know God. Have a list of those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior and be committed to praying for them regularly.
Those who do know the Lord, and are growing in their relationship with him. How are you sharing with them what you are learning? Are you sharing God stories with them of how God is moving in your life?
Bible Reading Plan
This month we are reading in Exodus.
Read two chapters each day, Monday - Friday.
Start with Exodus 1 & 2 on November 26.
You will finish with Exodus 39 & 40 on December 23.
On Saturdays, read a Psalm.
On Sundays, read from Proverbs.