Fight or Flight by David and Vicki Elliott
7/3/2016
Intro:
July 4th , Independence Day, we celebrate our independence.
Declaration of Independence wasn’t independence.
It wasn’t recognized by anyone yet!
It was a declaration that they saw themselves as free – that all men are created equally.
It was a declaration that they were done accepting the current situation & they were willing to stake everything on changing it!
Probably won’t hear anything new today. But we probably need to hear it again.
That’s because we struggle to do it!
We need to develop muscle memory.
The way to develop that is through repetition (abc, 123, times tables…)
We've often been led to believe that if we follow God it’ll be easy because we are blessed.
Even in the middle of being blessed struggle, difficulty.
– relationally, emotionally, financially, mentally, physically,…….spiritually.
Mt. 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.
- biazo – to crowd oneself into; to be seized; press; suffer violence
A. Israel had to fight to POSSESS
1. Israel was blessed - God's covenant people and given His promises 2. Israel left Egypt – No longer imprisoned slaves – OR WERE THEY?
- Often heard that they were taken out of Egypt, but Egypt had to be taken out of them!
- They thought like slaves, felt like slaves (hopeless, helpless, in despair, needy), wanted to go back over and over, behaved like slaves.
In Ex. 13:17-18 God said that, 17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.
3. They looked like an army, but had to become one – had to get ready to fight.
a. They went through the desert to learn to fight.
b. Desert experience helped them learn many lessons but they were never meant to stay there.
c. IF THEY LEARNED THE LESSONS, THEY WOULD GET ALL HE HAD PROMISED – MOVE FROM SLAVES TO HOLY WARRIORS FIGHTING WITH GOD!
d. The Desert lasted longer than it needed to because they refused to learn to trust their God and so would not go after His promises
B. Joshua had to fight to POSSESS
1. After Moses died, Joshua is left to LEAD in taking the Promise.
Josh1:6-9 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
a. v. 6 Be strong/courageous – you have a place in My Promise, an inheritance
b. v. 7 Be strong/courageous – obey me completely
c. v. 8 Speak THE WORD all the time, meditate on the Word all the time, so you will do the Word
d. v. 9 Be strong/courageous- Don't be terrified (discouraged) - WHY? I am with you wherever you go!
C. We have to fight to POSSESS
1. He wants to take us through the desert trials, but He is preparing us for the Promised Land (which will involve a few wars).
- You won't get what God has for you without a war.
- God will fight with you & for you, but He requires that you learn to fight and to trust Him.
Mt. 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.
Paul uses similar words in Eph. 6:10 as God does in Joshua 1. A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
2. This Scripture tells us that we can CHOOSE our THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, CHOICES, BEHAVIORS, SPEECH!
a. Like Joshua choose strength and courage. How?
5 Quick components:
1) Renew your mind – Rom 12:1,2 word “renew’ = renovate
Eph. 5:26,… 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word
2) Remember your weapon -
2 Cor. 10:3-5 3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
- What destroys wrong thought which leads to wrong emotions, behaviors?
God’s Word
Eph. 6 The WORD is the only weapon mentioned.
How do I use the Word as a weapon?
- study the Word
- find Scriptures specifically in your area of struggle – Be sure to read the surrounding verses to see if there are specific commands to receive the promise (if, when, because, since...)
- memorize the Word or put Scriptures all around you
- meditate on the Word DAY AND NIGHT
- SPEAK THE WORD, not just your problem – Josh. 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth (depart = cease, to be removed)
When you are in battle, you have got to be adamant and persistent continually with the Word.
- HEAR the Word - read out loud, use Bible on tape – Faith is built through hearing the Word; even have friends remind you of the Word
Rom. 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Psychologically, there is a process of imprinting new thinking and behavior into your brain. God knew this!
Mt. 11:12 the violent,..take it by force
You have to be BIAZO – violent – you have to seize a new mind, seize different emotions,
You have to crowd yourself into,… the WORD because the demonic/ world system/ you old self wants to keep you crammed in the kingdom of darkness/ kingdom of slavery.
3) Regard the Word as your only course of action (the 1st action is always trusting God) Obedience opens doors; more important to God than any sacrifice.
Areas of disobedience open room for the Accuser (Satan’s name) to accuse you and wreak havoc in your life.
Conviction vs. condemnation
4) Resist TOTALLY discouragement/terror/fear- How?
Choose to focus on God – His faithfulness
Know Who He is – His miracles and wonders from the past –
- Praise is a great way to do this – fill your life with it – leave it on in your home -
- Get adamant in praise – for instance Heb. Word “clap’ closely related to word for impale, arrest, smite
- Know your God – a wrong view of God will add to your struggle
(PRECISELY WHERE SATAN ATTACKED EVE MAKING HER ? GOD’S NATURE)
- God is faithful, holy, prefers lovingkindness/mercy to judgment even though He will judge.
- After you know your God; know who He says you are (doesn’t work as well in reverse)
Remind yourself and the enemy OUT LOUD!!!
5) Require a specific Word from God for your battle.
The other 4 methods are always sure and true, but you must learn to hear God for His specific instructions for your current battle. Joshua sought the Lord for each battle except one in which they lost miserably. David sought the Lord continually for each battle – was more successful than any king.
Stand and fight!
God in the Old Testament was called the Lord of Hosts – the Lord of Angel Armies.
He can and will fight, but we must cooperate and fight with Him or we may leave Egypt but Egypt won’t leave us.
We must learn not to be slaves, we must learn to fight with God, utilizing His Word to see His purposes advance in our lives and in the lives of those around us.
