CLS Fight for Your Life 2 Cor 3_18 rev

Secular:

Calvin and Hobbes

Little boy
Sees offer on Cocoa Bombs
Spinner cap beanie
Eats 8 boxes
Shaking…. Fills out offer
Sends it away…
Waits… waits… waits…
Growing impatient
Arrives… breaks… disappointment
Fixed… doesn’t fly… disappointment
Didn’t live up to expectation….
What will we do for that exceeds ALL expectations?

Biblical:

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which He will bring about at the proper time-- He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honour and eternal dominion! Amen.

Personal:

Life…
Precious…

Josh with Gastro….

Late
Grey cold
Frustrated

We fight…
Behind enemy lines…

Hide…
Fight…
Resourceful

Facing Sickness…

Medications
Appointments
Tests
X-rays
Sleeplessness…. Anxiety…

In accidents….

Injury
Trauma
Fear
Healing… Pain…

Chop leg off… to save body
We want to live!!
Well… Live life to the Fullest…
Live the life we were created for!
John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Do you believe that?

Bridge:

Talking to Believers
About transformation and culmination…
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit…
See the glory now dimly… and hunger… ravenous hunger for the glory to be revealed
Wives in lingerie….
Take hold… fight… It’s Worth It
There is more to this God thing… than the whole thing looking nice… something static
It is the most wonderful and dynamic relationship!
It is going somewhere… not a lame date… exciting…
If we are missing the excitement we don’t understand the relationship!
John 14:1 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 "And you know the way where I am going."… John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Perfect Glory of God
Perfect Love of the Father
Worthy of our ALL!
Is this a “toe in” relationship?

It is time for the life YOU were designed for…
“Life Abundant!”

Take hold… Fight… It is worth it!

Body:

TAKE HOLD!!

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses

Take hold….
PBR… Bull Riders….

For money
Wrap hand…
Ride hard… short time…
Endure injuries…
Face fears…

Who is holding whom?

“take hold of the eternal life to which you were called”
1) Not works… no Galatians 6:14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Our own security in faith… no John 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

It is not us holding our salvation… its God

The Elect - Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
We are called to hold on to the relationship… God has called… the most loveable… the glorious… the most holy God… said “Love Me”

At the end Paul… was able to say…
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
Was He holding on… strapped in…?
Did Paul fear for his Salvation… no
Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He didn’t fight for his salvation…
He fought to live out his relationship with God in light of the gloriousness of the beloved!

Be intentional…

No waiting…
Active

Strength training… work it… get ride of spiritual flab….

Encouragement
Support – one-another
Not about over-the-line and back….

It isn’t a line we jump back across…
If we are His… live it….
Relish the glory
Even in the face of trouble…
Even in our unworthiness…

Don’t wait…
We don’t get to be perfect… long wait!

Romans 5:3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;… Take hold
If this get are great get close…

Snuggle in
Close enough you can feel the warm breath of God…. Balm for the soul
Word
Worship
Fellowship
Quiet time

If times are bad….

Hold the bull rope tighter
Feel the powerful arms of God around his child
Feel His strength…

Hear his Voice…

Read the Word

Pray
Find Fellowship

What we are fighting for is our relationship!

Take hold… Give Glory… Relish Him

Take hold… fight… It’s Worth It

REALLY FIGHT!!

13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Rocky Theme….
Worthy to fight for!

In the presence of God… Creator… Sustainer
This is NO trite or toy God!
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him.
REALLY FIGHT!
Jesus did…

For the Father’s Glory

That good confession!

Before Pilate
Beaten
Crucified!
All it entailed!
FIGHT!

Galatians 6:14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
And we must…

Emasculated men of Polytechnique in Montreal… when Mark LePine ordered the men out… 16 or 18… left 14 women with a gunmen
We have been acculturated to believe we matter first…

No pain…
No lack of comfort…

Are you kidding!
We fight for what is valuable!

We will be persecuted… ridiculed…. Chastised… for loving Jesus Christ
Does that mean we should love Him less or quietly….
NO WAY!
It is time to turn our back on the world’s idea of pleasure… and choose to be Christian Hedonists!
It is time to Savour the Saviour!!
Live lives in relationship to Christ… in his righteousness for his glory…
Nothing better… WE WERE MADE FOR THIS!
Take hold… fight… It’s Worth It

IT’S WORTH IT!!

15 which He will bring about at the proper time-- He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honour and eternal dominion! Amen.

We have salvation as the free gift of grace in God…
And It is worth it to be a child of God…
He will bring it to pass…
And that relationship will be culminated… beautifully and gloriously in his eternal presence…
In God who is eternal… all-powerful…
We need to live like it is worth it…

Husbands… you know
Wives you know
Students you know
Parents… children…

CHILDREN OF GOD…. YOU KNOW!
Take hold… fight… It’s Worth It

Conclusion:

Take hold…

Like your life depends on it!

Fight…

Not quick fix
Nothing Good comes easy

It’s Worth It

Presence and glory of God