Fighting All Wrong pt. 2

Romans 1:11–12 NKJV

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

The last three weeks we have been talking about gathering. What does Christian gathering look like and why is it important? Last week we started a talk that I want to continue today in which God was showing us we tend to fight all wrong!

So often we view the people in our lives (who we know are created in the image of the God we devote our lives to) as our enemies. We fight against one another instead of for one another.

Galatians 5:13–18;22-26 (CSB)

13 For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself., 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law…

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

We talked about staying hungry for the things of God. One of the ways we do this is by developing the fear of God in our lives.

What is it?

FEAR OF GOD

Stay God Conscious

To be mindful of the word of God at all times. To be God conscious is to be consumed with a desire for His presence every moment of everyday.

An understanding that without Him I am nothing

Stay God Aware

Always aware that even if you can’t feel Him He always present.

Developing an awareness of His presence apart from our feelings

Stay God Honoring

Being mindful of His word and aware of His presence leads to actions that are God honoring

Making decisions that are prayerful and faith filled - honoring God even when the world doesn’t understand

I want to continue on this by giving you another key component to not fighting one another but actually fighting for one another.

Adjust the Focus

Matthew 6:33–34 (CSB)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Psalm 34:9–10 (NKJV)

9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. 10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

Famous or faithful

• We need to focus our F’s in life

• To be faithful is to be famous… in the Kingdom of God

What’s the focus to be on?

The kingdom of God. We are on mission to live for, invite to, and live with expectation for the Kingdom of God.

THIS IS OUR SINGULAR FOCUS!

How do we do it? How do we keep the focus adjusted?

Fix our Mind

Colossians 3:2–3 (CSB)

2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

To be focused is to be fixed. An unwillingness to be moved away from the thing that has grabbed your heart.

George Mueller an Evangelist in the 1800’s said this:

“There was a day when I died, utterly died, died to George Mueller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will—died to the world, its approval or censure—died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends—and since then I have only to show myself approved to God.”

Proper fellowship with one another flows from a constant, fixed, and proper relationship with the Father

Run our Race

Hebrews 12:1–2 (CSB)

12 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

When we are running our race together - we cheer one another on instead of tearing one another down

Run everyday for Jesus. Run with passion for Jesus. Run with a fixed mindset that we are here to WIN THE LOST! See your job as a mission field. Live full of the love of God that transformed you - looking for every opportunity pour it out on those around you who need it. LIVE TO BUILD THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND NOT YOUR OWN.