Fighting the Good fight

Im just here here preach the second sermon the real sermon was in the life she lived

2 Timothy 4 6-11

6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

7th verse I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith

I remember growing up, I would always be at my auntie pee wee and uncle Ronnie’s house on the weekends, and even on some days throughout the week. Uncle Ronnie would

Come pick us up from football practice in the blue truck with the stripes on it.

I would go over and many people don’t know this but me and Ron Ron thought we were R&B singers back then. We would write songs and Zee Zee and Tanoka had the cassette recorder in their room, so , we used to beg them to go in their room to record our Songs, eventually they let us.

Zee Zee would give us the approval if what we had was hit or not.

I know most about everyone in here can agree with me that Zee Zee was the sweetest person that you could ever meet. I couldn’t find anything bad to say about Zee Zee. I don’t believe anybody else in her can say anything about Zee Zee, “if you do know anything you better not tell me. “

There will never be another Izetta Dixon.

I guess I’ll share a little secret we had, whenever her and Auntie pee wee cooked some pies growing up. Zee didn’t forget about me. She would

Call and

Say Frankie we got Some Pies over you better stop over her and pick you up one I put you one to the side.

As we grew older she begin her backing making business Then I started to like red red velvet,l cupcakes she would always call and say I Frankie I got Some red velvet over

Here.

I’m talking about my experiences with the Lane family.

In mid family I’d you where cousins it was almost as if you Weber brothers and sisters.

Another memory that I had and I don’t know if they remember this but I can remember, me and my cousins Ron Ron and I believe Rodrick was there.

We were out playing football in the road, I believe on was on 33rd street. We used to call it throw ‘‘em up bust ‘‘em up, and I’m not sure if somebody hit me too hard or somebody hit him to hard, but before I knew it we were all all fighting.

One thing about our family back in those days was when one fought, back in the day we all fought.

And I one thing I can honestly say I can’t ever remember Zee Zee being in a physical Fight.

But I can honestly say she was warrior in the spirit, She fought this cancer from start.

Not only did she fight it but we all came together and fought it with her prayed with her, did our best to encourage her.

“Because like we said one thing about family when one fight we all fight”

Not only did she fight it but I want to let you know she didn’t lose the fight to cancer, she won. Not only did she win it but she received a reward far greater than any reward she can receive on this earth she received a heavenly reward, a heavenly crown.

As I pondered on what scripture I could speak in today I was lead to 2 Timothy 4:7–8 in this particular scripture the author wrote this letter while he was in prison he understood that understood his time was approaching. He writes a letter to Timothy offering three statements as a short review of his life

He summed up his life in one verse.

He fought a good fight, He finished his course, He kept the faith.

I believe z z would say the same . She fought a good fight, she finished her course. She kept the faith.

She fought a good fight-

As she did I would like to encourage you and those of us who are here today to Fight the good fight of faith-

My brothers and sisters believe it or not we all have to fight this fight the same as Paul did, the same as Zee Zee did

My brothers and sisters this is not a fight with our fists and not a fight with pushing and shoving, this is not a physical fight but a spiritual battle against Satan.

This is why the bible say we must “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day.

My Brothers and sisters we are in a spiritual Battle, We are in a spiritual fight.

My brothers and sisters it does not matter who we are, It does not matter what kind of job we have, It does not matter if we come from a great family, how strong we are, how tougher are . We are all going to have to fight something in our lives As a matter of fact most even now are fighting through something we can’t fight this battle on our own. We must use Gods strength and his word to get us through

We are Fighting through the tears.

But we just remember what his word said weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh I’m the morning.

We are Fighting through the pain

We must remember his word says

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

We are Fighting through the difficult moments that we may have.

However, his word let’s us know in

1 Peter 5:10

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

My brothers and sisters, The Good news about this fight is when we are fighting on the right side. We are in a win win situation..

Not only did she fight the fight but she Finished her course

Paul in this text was using the word course comparing life to a race or a lap. Paul compared his life not only to a good fight but a finished race. My brothers and sister life can be compared to a Relay race. A race that we all have a race to run,

Its not a sprint. its a marathon. truth be told sometimes in this life we will face bumps along this marathon, We will get tired on this marathon, We will get weary in this marathon, However, the bible says be not weary in well doing in due season we shall reap if we faint not. My brothers and sisters we have to finish the course.

(Weights analogy?)

1 Co 9:24–25 speaks to is when it says

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

I remember growing up we had a relay race. One person will be at one stop sign, another will be at the (reference Ron Ron and Gsare and Tanoka) the other will be at another. . After you Ron yours. After you finished your course you will tag the other person to run their race.

-Zee Zee ran her race she finished her course.

Now she’s tag you now it’s time for you to run your race.

She has tagged you she have tagged us, now it’s time for us to run our race.

Mississippi Mass choir have a song that said I’ve been running for Jesus a long time, I’m not tired yet.

Lastly, not only did she fight a good fight, not only did finish her course but, she kept the faith

even in her sickness she was not without faith, She kept the faith, I remember praying with my cousin a while back, she never had an attitude of fear, However, she always had an attitude of faith, She kept a smile on her face, She did not let what she was going through hinder her faith.

My brothers and sisters we have to do as

Zee Zee did throughout her life she kept the faith.

She fought the good fight, She have kept the faith, SHE have finished her course.

However, the last verse, verse states

8Henceforth, which means therefore, afterward or because of. Because She have fought a good fight, Because She have finished her course now, there there was a crown laid up for her. Waiting for arrival.

Now she wearing her crown.

There is a song that says I shall wear a crown, when it’s all over, I’m going to put on my robe, tell the story. How I made it over.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first after that we who are still alive and left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the lord in the air.

She fought this fight with cancer.

I know some y’all may think cancer won this battle, however let me remind you that even though we may think otherwise in the natural but in the spiritual she won this battle. In the spiritual She was healed from this desease,

I know how they celebrate when someone is healed in the natural by ringing a bell.

However, i can imagine Zee Zee, in the spirit ringing her bell🛎 of healing that she is cancer free, Saying I made it over, I’ve fought my fight, I’ve finished my course, I have kept the faith,

That’s the good news,

There is no more pain, No more suffering, No more tears, I heard that on that side there is always howdy and never goodbye, they tell me that the streets are paid with Gold and the angles in the heavenly choir are constantly singing holy, holy, holy.

Guess what this place is not locked up. However, we all have access, Paul said it like this, sthis crown is not just for me but for all those that love his appearing. To all who believe. You can have access to this crown.

To those who believe in Jesus.

We all have a place were our spiritual soul is destined ..

However, the only way to get to that place is trough death. Death is just a vehicle to get to our final destination.

Before Jesus went to the cross Death had an entrance but no there was no exit.

Death was undefeated,

However, Jesus had to fight a good fight as well. He fought the good fight with death.

Before this fight Death was unbeatable, Death had never lost a fight.

Before Jesus went to battle against death everyone that went against death was out for the count.

However, death met its match when it met Jesus.

Death walked in the ring for as the undefeated champion.

However Jesus came in the scheme in a small manger.

Death hit Jesus with a left when he took Jesus to the cross.

He hit Jesus with a right when they put a crown of thorns on his head.

Death thought Jesus was out of breath when he gave up the ghost.

DEATH thought he had Jesus after the first round..JESUS stayed in the tomb one night

DEATH thought it was over and done after

the second round Jesus stayed in the tomb two nights....

BUT early the third day morning JESUS GOT up and defeated death with All power  in his hands...

leaving a way of escape for the those in christ..now death have been stripped from its victory...

And those who die in Christ can live receive their crown.

The Bible says that tThe dead in christ shall rise.

Those of us who leave this mortal body in Christ have a future of hope in Christ Jesus.

We will leave these mortal bodies and temples and receive a new temple.

on the earthly temple there's tears and we may have sorrow but in the heavenly Temple there's joy and sunshine.

John 14:2 Reminds us that in our fathers house there are many mansions, I know we have our nice homes, beautiful furniture down this way, however in our father house we wont have any one bedroom 2 bedrrooms three baths, However there will be Mansions

We know Zee Zee liked to travel...

So she decided to call years ahead and make reservations for this big trip to a beautiful mansions not made by man.

Every act of kindness she did she was securing her reservations in that mansion.

As the the day approached for her big tripped she packed her bags and took flight

On Friday October 22nd 2021, The the time of her departure had come.

As she arrived to her destination it was. She was not disappointed.

It was as beautiful as ever. As she approached the welcome desk.

The CEO grabbed her and welcomed her.

As she took out her wallet to pay the remainder balance of her reservation.

Assured her that the Jesus had already paid it all on the cross.

I can imagine her unpacking her bags, I can see her pulling out her medication and Jesus telling her you can put that up you dont have to worry about that on this side.

No more sickness here.

No more bills here.

No more pain here

I dont know about you but I want to make my reservations secure in that heavenly mansion, they tell me up there that The streets are paved with Gold.

There will be three gates in the east...three gates in the west three gates in the north three gates in the south...

And last but not least you'll have a good welcome they tell me that Jesus will be there to say well done thy Good and faithful servant you've been faithful over a few things I’ll make you ruler over many!!!

If We are going to get there we must continue to fight the good fight, We must continue to finish our course, We must continue to keep the faith, don’t give up, fight on!! Don’t give in, fight on.

Auntie fight on Uncle Ronnie, Fight on, Ron Ron, Fight on, Rodrick fight on Tonoka Fight on, Lymus Fight on, Family and Friends of sis of Izetta Dixon Fight on.Don’t throw in the towel fight on.

Depending on the flow of the service-Prayer for those who will like to secure there reservation