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THE FIGHT OF YOUR LIFE!
The fight of your life is to keep your faith from being reduced to religious status quo.
The fight of your life is to keep your expectations of the Lord high despite some setbacks in life (that invariably happen to EVERY Christian living on this sin-fallen planet).
The fight of your life is to stay excited about God instead of just going through some religious motions each week that placate your conscience and lull you into spiritual slumber.
The fight of your life is THE LONG DISTANCE RUN with God, not the quickie SPRINT.
STAYING THE COURSE is the challenge more than just winning a single victory!
The fight of your life is to KEEP YOUR ORIGINAL FIRE!
Romans 12:11 (AMP)
Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.
Try to see the EVENTUAL AND CERTAIN REWARDS for staying in the battle the next time you find yourself in what feels like hand-to-hand combat with the enemy of your soul!
James 5:11 (KJV)
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Hebrews 11:26 (MSG)
He valued suffering in the Messiah's camp far greater than Egyptian wealth because he was looking ahead, anticipating the payoff.
Hebrews 11:26 (NET)
He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward.
Hebrews 11:26 (NLT)
He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of the Messiah than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the great reward that God would give him.
The fight of your life is to KEEP YOUR FIRST LOVE and to keep doing YOUR FIRST WORKS.
Revelation 2:4-5 (AMP)
But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.
There are NO SHORTCUTS around time spent reading God's Word and talking to the Father regularly in prayer. These two day disciplines (that eventually become a daily delight and a delicious way of life) are the believer's UMBILICAL CORD of nourishment in the warm safety of God's womb!
Revelation 3:15-22 (AMP)
I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot!
So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!
For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. [Ho 12:8.]
Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see.
Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. [Pr 3:12.]
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me.
He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne.
He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).
It's easy to let yourself backslide. It takes some concerted effort on your part to keep honing and sharpening your walk with God.
Your Father UNDERSTANDS the difficulties you encounter daily that try to DILLUTE your PASSION FOR GOD. He knows what it feels like. He knows that it is often a battle to KEEP YOUR FIRE, so He promises seasons of refreshing and renewal. Jesus walked in your shoes. One scripture in Hebrews says that Jesus prayed to God on many occasions with strong crying and tears for The Father to deliver him from all the temptations and hardships he encountered. He knows it takes a lot of grace to WIN and OVERCOME in this life, so He is standing right beside you in the perfect person of the Holy Spirit to help you and usher you into the Father's presence at the mention of Jesus name on your lips!
Say it boldly right now, ALOUD: "OVERCOMER I AM! A winner I am in my Lord Jesus Christ!"
I'm a WINNER, not a LOSER!
I'm an OVERCOMER, not an UNDERGOER!
I'm above only, and never beneath!
I'm THE HEAD and NOT the tail!
I'm BLESSED, NOT cursed!
I'm LOVED!
I'm WANTED by my Father!
I'm CELEBRATED!
I'm CARED FOR!
I BELONG!
I'm IMPORTANT!
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