FIGHT, TEAM, FIGHT!
by Peggy Fry
About 100 years ago (or at least it seems that long), I was a cheerleader for the “Tigers,” the football team for our local high school. Every time we got behind, we would chant, “FIGHT, TEAM, FIGHT!”
Team Believer, let us begin to cheer those words, “Fight, Team, fight” in our nation, in our churches, in our homes and in our families. We MUST arise, be men and women of God and begin to fight for our nation and the world in this perilous season!
For the past two decades, many of us in the Church have had our dancing slippers on and have simply been “enjoying Jesus.” Now it is time for us to arise and put on our combat boots!
2 Corinthians 10 tells us, “For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapons of flesh and blood). Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses” (v. 4, Amplified Version). But are we regularly prepared and ready to wield those instruments of power? In order to walk in the readiness that He calls us to, we must embrace some important truths:
• Perception: We see our warfare from God’s perspective.
• Promise: We know in our “knower” that what God says, He WILL do!
• Process: We must not give up, give in, or give over (surrender) to our flesh.
• Partnership: This is where our warfare against the powers of darkness really begins —
where we know that we can’t but HE can!
• Proclamation: We begin to proclaim. We begin to do war. We begin to declare His Word,
His power, His might and His will in battle!
Yet we cannot go into war against the enemy without preparation. And what is our preparation? The armor of God, of course! Let us pray and declare these truths from Ephesians, chapter 6:
Lord, I put on the armor of God, Your weapons of warfare.
I put on the helmet of salvation and bring my mind into the captivity of the Lord Jesus Christ. I submit my will to Your will and I pray for Your perfect will to be done in me.
I put the helmet down over my eyes so that I can see through the eyes of Jesus. I pull it down over my nose to partake of the fragrance of the Lord, that I may become pleasing to Him. I pull it over my ears to hear the voice of the Lord and to obey His voice. I pull it down over my mouth that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart may be one and acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Keep Your guard over my mouth.
I put the breastplate of righteousness over my heart, where faith and love alone reside. I thank You for this garment of righteousness, for I have none of my own. Cover me with Your precious blood. And create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
I put on the belt of truth, that I may stand secure in You. For righteousness shall be the sash around my waist, and faithfulness shall be the girdle of my loins. Strengthen me in my inner man — my soul— as well as in my spirit.
I put on the shoes of the Gospel of peace and wholeness, that I may stand and know that the battle is NOT mine but Yours!
I take up the shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy. You are my shield, my refuge, my high tower and the lifter of my head, my only true source of encouragement. To You alone will I run!
I take up the sword that the Spirit wields — the Word — which is sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing and discerning the intentions of my heart. Search me, O God and see if there be any devious way in me that I am not aware of. Help me to pray at all times, keeping alert and watching with strong purpose and perseverance.
Dear ones, I know you already know this, but fear (of the situation) comes into focus, and slowly, bit by bit, the open crack allows the attack!
So, as we perceive, we hear the promise, and we go through the process — the process of warring against the darkness. We partner with the power of the Holy Spirit and we continue to proclaim…Jesus is Lord!
His kingdom will come and His will shall be done! So let’s FIGHT, TEAM, FIGHT! And remember, beloved, our greatest weapon of warfare is love!
Blessings on you all!