This weekend at Crossroads Cranberry we looked Joshua 1 and studied how Joshua faced the fight of his day. One of the things that God has been teaching me is that we all have three fights in our lives.
There are the fights we need fight:
· Spiritual Fights:
o Ephesians 6 “For our battles is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world.”
· Social Injustice:
o James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”
o Deuteronomy 24: 17-22 “Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this. When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this. “
· Personal Holiness:
o James 1:27: “to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
There are the fights we need to let Go:
· Pain, Revenge:
o Matthew 5:38-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”
There are the fights that we need to let the Lord Fight:
· Romans 12:16-19 “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[says the Lord.”
o Which fight are you fighting today?
o Are you fighting the right one?
o Are you holding on to something that you need to let go?
o Is there a struggle (fight) that you need to let the Lord fight for you?
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