The Prize Fight of Faith.

Are you a competitive person? Do you hate to lose? What makes a winner? Is being competitive a godly character trait? Does your own attitude knock you out of the ring before the fight begins? These are some of the questions raised today in Pastor Nathan’s message entitled, “The Prize Fight of Faith.”

In the days of John the Baptist, Jesus made an intriguing statement. John, from prison, had sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah. Jesus answered in this way in Matthew 11: 5, “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” But then Jesus went on to make this profound statement in verse 12, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” In this verse, Jesus was referring to our spiritual warfare. As the Kingdom of Heaven advances to the world it will provoke much opposition by Satan. However, at the same time, it will produce a holy zeal and a powerful persuasion within the hearts of believers that will press through and take hold of its redemption like a great prize!

If you have ever played a competitive sport, there are two sides. Those who have the ball are called the offense. Their goal is to score. The team without the ball is the defense. Their goal is to stop the opposing team and prevent them from scoring. We understand these basic principles, but when it comes to the Kingdom of God, many of us do not realize we are in a fight, the prize fight, the main event, and there is a prize to be won.

In the realm of the Spirit, there are also two opposing teams. When you were born again, you joined the fight, but there is good news! Jesus bought and paid for your freedom with His own blood. He came to win back what was stolen from mankind in the Garden of Eden. Jesus came to give us back the victory! Unfortunately, many Christians don’t know there is a fight. They take what life brings and hope they will make it to Heaven one day, but this is not what God had in mind! If you are in God’s Kingdom, you have the ball. You are part of the offense. Your job is to score. The devil does not have the ball, but he is hoping you will fumble the ball. We must ask ourselves this question. Does the devil want the win more than us? He desires to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants to steal our inheritance again. (John 10:10) He fights against God’s Kingdom. He takes the game very seriously. He pushes us. He tries to knock us back. He wants to keep us discouraged and make us quit. (I Peter 5:8)

As Christians, we must recognize that people are not the enemy (Ephesians 6:12). We are in a competition with the unseen realm. In I Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul compared our spiritual conflict to that of a race. He encouraged us to run our race to win an incorruptible or imperishable crown. He charged us to fight the good fight of faith and take hold of the eternal realities of life in Christ (1 Timothy 6:12). He commissioned us to use the resources God has provided, the full armor of God. (Ephesians 6:11-17) And, yes, there is a prize to be won. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 3:13-14) The souls of men are that prize for which we run! When our life here on earth is done, may we echo the words of Paul, “ 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.” (II Timothy 4:7-8)

As the Church of Jesus Christ, we should not continually be on the defense. We are the offense. We should be advancing against the enemy. We should be the ones pushing back the realm of darkness with all of Heaven cheering us on! So, when the devil pushes you, push back! When you go down, come up fighting! Make up your mind that you will win no matter what! Your life is not meant to be something you just get through, for Jesus Christ died to give you the victory! You are on the winning team!! So, what are you waiting for? Pick up the ball and run for the prize!