site logo
  • About Us
    • Our Staff
    • Our History
    • News
  • Contact Us
  • FREE!
    • FREE Digital Mag
    • Weekly Downloads
    • Resources
  • Print Subscriptions
  • NEW! CC Churchlink
Homepage > 4 Box > Week 24 Application |
Worrier or Warrior?
June 15, 2019  |  By David Faust

Week 24 Application |
Worrier or Warrior?

Print

In the battle for truth, are you in or out? Will you faint, or will you fight? When the Lord calls you to action, will you dive in or bail out?

The apostle Paul told Timothy, “Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). Are you a worrier or a warrior? If you expect the Christian life to be easy, you haven’t read the New Testament. Near the end of his life, Paul wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). He had battle scars, but no regrets. 

He urged, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood . . .” (Ephesians 6:10-12). The daily news focuses on “flesh and blood” stories about the economy, Hollywood celebrities, and political squabbles. Do we recognize that on a deeper level there’s spiritual warfare going on as Satan schemes to deceive God’s people and destroy God’s work?

Fight the Right Way, for the Right Things

We must choose our weapons wisely. “We do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with [like prayer, fasting, and the Word of God] are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3, 4).

We must choose our battles wisely. We don’t have time for “quarreling about words,” “godless chatter,” and “foolish and stupid arguments” that merely produce quarrels (2 Timothy 2:14, 16, 23). But make no mistake about it. When it comes to the things that really matter, we will engage in the battle.

We will fight for our children and grandchildren. We will never stop praying for them, loving them, and guiding them in the ways of the Lord.

We will fight for people who are far from God. We will never become complacent about sharing the good news of Christ. 

We will fight for justice. We will protect the unborn and the fatherless, care for widows and the elderly, and serve the hungry, oppressed, and overlooked.

We will defend our faith graciously and persuasively, communicating what we believe (and why) with gentleness and respect.

We will fight for biblical truth. Amid the shifting sands of culture, God and his Word remain our bedrock, constant and unchanging.

We will fight for church unity. We will not allow Satan to divide us or distract us from our mission of helping people take their next steps with Jesus.

We will fight for hope. We won’t give in to cynicism and pessimism. Our hope is secured by the living Christ who rose from the dead and who has gone to prepare a place for us. 

If the battle looks overwhelming, take heart. A prophet told God’s people long ago, “This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s’” (2 Chronicles 20:15). 

There’s a lot to be concerned about in today’s world. Will you be a worrier, wringing your hands? Or with God’s help, will you be a warrior and join in the fight for what is right? 

David Faust serves as the Associate Minister at East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Lesson study ©2018, Christian Standard Media. Print and digital subscribers are permitted to make one print copy per week of lesson material for personal use. Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, ©2011, unless otherwise indicated.

Previous StoryWeek 24 Mission |
How to Resist Temptation
Next StoryWeek 24
Study Questions

Comments: no replies

Join in: leave your comment Cancel Reply

(will not be shared)

Search

Helpful Resources

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get the latest news, plus links to new posts at LookoutMag.com directly to your inbox every month.





Christian Standard Media

We provide true-to-the-Bible resources that inspire, educate, and motivate people to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. For 150 years we have been serving the Christian community with products that have but one purpose: bringing the Bible to life.

Contact

16965 Pine Lane, Suite 202
Parker, CO 80134
800-543-1353
Lookout@christianstandardmedia.com

[contact-form-7 id=”24009″ title=”Subscribe for Free!_copy”]

Magazine WordPress Theme made by ThemeFuse