Contending in the Faith

Not too long ago a reality TV show called "the contender" was on. Per wikipedia, here is a summary of that show: "The Contender is a reality television series that follows a group of boxers as they compete with one another in an elimination-style competition, while their lives and relationships with each other and their families are depicted. Produced by Mark Burnett, the show is hosted by Sugar Ray Leonard, who shared hosting duties in the first season with actor Sylvester Stallone. Leonard also serves as a trainer on the show, along with Tommy Gallagher. During the first season, boxing manager Jackie Kallen also served as counsel to the boxers...The show takes the format of a game show, with the boxers divided into two teams based on their place of residence in the United States: East Coast or West Coast (or simply “East” and “West”). These teams live together in group living quarters, in Pasadena, California in the historic Royal Laundry Building on Raymond Avenue, and compete for the right to choose which of their team members fights that week, and who he fights against. Most of the second half of the hour-long episodes are devoted to that fight: the loser is eliminated."

You may not be on TV, but if you are a believer, you have a "contender" every day f your life. And every day that you follow Christ, the devil will decide to challenge you. Read Acts 19:15, "But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” (NLT)

• Does the Devil even know who you are? I often tell our Apex students that I want to be known in Hell. Usually that statement can raise a few eyebrows! But, simply put, there are two ways you can be known in Hell: 1)You are living like you are going there or 2)You are a threat to Satan's Kingdom. You see, I want to be known in Hell because I am a threat to Satan. As you read this, ask your self, "Am I that threat? Does Satan know who I am?"

• I know that this topic can sometimes be uncomfortable for people to talk about. However, we must NOT water down the Gospel! You have to realize that 2/3 of Jesus' ministry before dying on the cross dealt with Satan or his Kingdom. Jeanne Mayo puts it this way, "The whole topic of spiritual warfare is a really big deal."

 Ephesians 6:11-13 says, "Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm." (NLT)

In reading this passage of Scripture, note that Paul wrote that the  "strategies" of Hell are coming. It is not a question of if, but when. To be able to endure the attack, you MUST put on the armour of God! And what is the armour of God? Ephesians 6:14-17 says, "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (NLT)

It is amazing to me, as a pastor, how many people try and fail all on their own thinking they don't need help. What if the United Sates deployed a unit into an enemy country and did not try and outfit that unit with any weapons, supplies, etc...This would be non-sense! But, how many times do we think, as believers, that we can do it all on our own?


There are two pieces of armour that I would like to highlight.

1. The Breastplate of Righteousness. 

The breastplate was a central part of the Roman soldier's armor—it provided protection for the torso, which contains vital organs like the heart, lungs, etc... Without a breastplate, a soldier would be asking for death, as any attack would instantly prove fatal. With a breastplate, those very same attacks could become ineffective and useless, as attacks bounce off this piece of armour. 

To be righteous simply means to do what is right in God's eyes...to obey His commands. People want to teach that all ministers always teach the "do's and don'ts" of Christianity. But, to be righteous means that you have to follow God's law. It's a shame that some preachers get labeled as "legalists" simply because they preach righteousness. Yet, those same people are teaching their kids to obey the "laws of land." I wonder, sometimes, how Noah must have felt. 2 Peter 2:5 states that Noah was a "preacher of righteousness." If I was a betting man (which is a completely different blog post), my money would be that if the people Noah preached to could do it all over again, they would listen to him. 


Christian, live righteous! Love what God loves. And to love what God loves means obeying His commandments.


    2. The Sword of the Spirit.


The "Sword of the Spirit", as everyone knows, is the Word of God. What kind of an effect would you have on the battlefield if you had the armour but not a weapon. You could defend yourself, but you would not be able to attack! The only weapon that our Lord offers to us is His Word! Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword..." (NLT)


The only way to attack and defeat is through the Word! But, if I may venture, to defeat is more than just quoting the Word, it must be by living the Word. Satan is not impressed with how much Scripture you know, but by how you live out the Scripture is what pushes back the darkness.


Christian, know AND live the Word! Make it a habit to read and apply the Word of God!


For you have a "contender" who is ready for a fight. Are you?