Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
- 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NKJV)
God is using 1 Peter 1:13-16, a New Testament verse that in part quotes the Old Testament, to help us understand that holiness is to be carried out generation after generation. What does it mean to be holy? In its most simple form, set apart. When God commands you, “Be holy, for I am holy,” He is commissioning you to be set apart from the world for His service.
In this message, How To Fight Your Battles, my goal is to relay what I believe Scripture teaches regarding the battlefront of the Christian life. Do you ever just think…I wish I weren’t this way…I wish I could change…I wish I could be different? If your answer is yes, you need to understand something; there is a war inside you.
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish. -Galatians 5:17 (NKJV)
This scripture proves that we have a war going on inside of us. Sometimes you wish for something different, yet you continue to handle and deal with things in the same way. This is because we all have spirit and flesh. These two inner realities are constantly fighting against each other—the Spirit wars against the flesh and the flesh wars against the spirit.
Your soul is made up of your mind, your will, and your emotions. The soul is a battleground. Your flesh wants to pull your soul into the things that lead to further destruction, but your spirit wants to pull your soul into a life-giving place. The one you feed the most is the one who wins. Paul said it this way, “Sow to the flesh and you will reap of the flesh, but sow to the Spirit, and you will reap the things of the Spirit” (Ref. Galatians 6:8).
Our flesh feeds on things of this world, but our spirit feeds on God’s Word.
The flesh’s appetite is described in 1 John 2:16: For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but of the world.
The flesh will always desire to feed in one of these three categories, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life; all sin stems from one of these areas.
The appetite of the Spirit is described in Luke 4:4: But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
Are you feeding your flesh, or are you feeding your spirit?
Your answer is essential because feeding the flesh can cause separation from God and create a feeling of “shame on you.” But when you feed the spirit, you are in the presence of God, and you experience great peace within your life, a “peace beyond yourself.”
Are you experiencing separation from God, or are you set apart for God?
You are in one of two places:
1) Set apart from the world by the Word
2) Separated from the Word by the world.
Often understanding is limited when it comes to recognizing what it means to be set apart for God. Yet, the Bible has some powerful verses regarding this exact thing:
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. -2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV
Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart (be set apart) from iniquity.” -2 Timothy 2:19 (NKJV)
How do you know if you are SET APART?
Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, -2 Timothy 2:22-25 (NKJV)
Are you AVOIDING:
Youthful lusts (v. 22)
Foolish disputes (v. 23)
Quarrels (v. 24)
Prideful correction of others (v. 25)
Are you PURSUING:
Faith, love, and peace with other believers (v. 22)
Gentleness (v. 24)
Patience (v. 25)
Humility (v. 25)
Paul is teaching us that there are some things you must run from, and there are other things that you must run towards! First, we must focus on feeding our spirit! Second, we must yield to the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to pursue holiness in our lives because sin act’s like an infection within the soul, and it will spread until it causes death.
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. -James 1:14–15 (NKJV)
Holiness doesn’t bind; it frees! It frees us from the decay and death of sin. And liberates us into the life and peace of Jesus.
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. -Romans 8:6 NKJV
If I could summarize this message in one sentence, it would be this statement, You are separated from God by the world or set apart for God by the Word, and everything God sets apart He surrounds.
And...that is how we fight our battles victoriously:
It may look like I'm surrounded
But I'm surrounded by You
It may look like I'm surrounded
But I'm surrounded by You
It may look like I'm surrounded
But I'm surrounded by You
It may look like I'm surrounded
But I'm surrounded by You
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
I invite you to view this message, How To Fight Your Battles, in its entirety at this link: https://fb.watch/7rsfWXQ4ry/