Are you avoiding wars that you should be fighting?

As I was reading my Bible reading plan (Life Journal Reading Plan), I came across an iconic story in 2 Samuel 11. It’s a sad story but powerful for us to lean into. It’s the story about when David commits the horrific crime of adultery and murder. And there’s so much we can pull out of this story to help all of us but what I want to focus on is what led him to get so off track. Notice what it says in the first first of 2 Samuel 11.

“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.” — 2 Samuel 11:1

What you’ll notice is that “in the time when Kings go off to war”, the king David “stayed home.” It was when David go off assignment that he got off track. When David avoided the battles he was meant to fight, he positioned his life for destruction.

Some of us in different areas of our lives are avoiding battles that we should be fighting! And if we continue to avoid these wars that we’re meant to be engaged in, there could be more lost than we realize. When we don’t take our place we end up giving up that space to the enemy.

So, with that in mind, let’s talk about 3 Battles We All Need To Fight, so we don’t give up ground to the devil!

1. Fight For Faith
Many Followers of Jesus are getting beat down and discouraged through all kinds of disappointments and struggles. But often that’s because we’ve forgotten that there’s an enemy that’s attempting to take us out and slowing attempting to get us to second guess the goodness of God. Which is why we must keep using our shield that God gave us which is Faith. In Ephesians 6, its says that we use the shield of faith to put out the attack of the enemy. So, one of the battles we have to keep fighting is the fight to stay focused on Jesus and stay in faith—no matter your current situation, you can trust God! If he said in His word and by His Holy Spirit than you can trust that He will do it!

2. Fight For Family
When I say family, I’m referring to our immediate family and our relationships in general. This is a fight that many of us have avoided because it requires forgiveness. Most of us lose the battle of relationships in the area of offenses. in 1 Corinthians 13, we see that love believes the best and keeps no record of wrongs. But, when we feel hurt and offended, it takes an intentional fight to push past those offenses and forgive. Keep fighting to keep the relationships that matter. This applies in our friendships, marriages, parenting and church family as well. Don’t lose relationships to offense!

3. Fight For Your Future
We can unintentionally assume that our future as a Christian is supposed to happen easily and without a fight. But, we see all throughout the word of God that while God has declared victory for us and given us the victory in Jesus, we still have to fight the battle and take the territory that God has for us! In the time of Moses, God told him to lead the people to the promises Land that He had for them! Then ultimately Joshua takes them into the promises land with the legendary battle of Jericho. But, after they take that initial city, they got complacent and weren’t taking ALL the land he had promised them, and Joshua ask them, “How long will you wait to take possession of the Land God gave you?!” If we’re not careful, we’ll get complacent and settle short of the future that God has for us! Fight for ALL that God promised you!

Samuel, Katie, and their beautiful daughters, Mercedes and Kenzie, travel full time as itinerate ministers based out of C3 Church San Diego, with their pastors, and friends, Jurgen & Leanne Matthesius.

They responded to the ministry call from a young age and launched into full time ministry in 2003 after Samuel graduated from Champions Centre College and Katie from Hillsong College. They’ve served and lead as youth and young adult pastors, directed Champions Centre College, lead community outreach efforts, and now travel full time encouraging and strengthening the Church.

Samuel strengthens and encourages The Church with a prophetic edge. Calling the Church to know and follow Jesus passionately, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and bring the hope of the gospel to every corner of the earth!