What Are You Fighting For? 5/24

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Transcript

unknown 0:05

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 0:06

I think it'd be fitting just if you know the person next to you, grab their hand or put your arm around them. Let's pray for our country right now. Can we do that? Pray for our military. Pray for our president. Pray for all the leaders and the politicians and those who are over law and government. Right now, Father, we just we intercede for our country right now, God. We intercede for every every state, God. We right now, God, we petition you, God. We know your word says. If we will just hear you, if we'll just turn from our wicked ways, God. You will hear from heaven, God. You will heal our land. Father, God, we believe in America still. We have not given up on it. And Father, we know you haven't yet either. And so, God, right now we just lift up our country, we lift up our government, the systems, and politicians and the president, every single person. We lift up our military, God, those who are serving, those who are active, God, those who are giving the ultimate gift and sacrifice of their life, of their time. And God, right now we just pray for revival. We pray that the times in your word says, in the last days you will pour out your spirit among all fliff flesh, God, that right now we would begin to see that. And God, our country and the people of the United States of America would begin to return to you during these last times, God. And God, I pray right now that you would use us. This is not just a prayer we're praying for a bigger entity, God, or a bigger thing that's bigger than us, but it starts with us. It starts with us being kind to one another, it starts with us learning how to live and bless our neighbors and serve one another. It starts with us searching your word and seeking your will. God, it starts with us. So, God, we pray that you'd start revival in our hearts and it would overflow into our families, into our coworkers, into our city, into our families, into our state, and so on and so on, Father. We come to you because we know nothing is too big to ask you of, God. Nothing is too small, nothing is too big because, God, you care about all the things. So, God, today, as last week, they rededicated America to you, God. And we're approaching our 250th anniversary as a country. God, we pray that our hearts would turn back to you, turn away from sin, repent, and turn to you. We ask it, we declare it, we believe it in Jesus' name. We pray. The name above all names, and the church said, Amen and amen. Give someone a handshake or a high five around you and tell them, God bless you as you find your seats. God is good. Amen.

SPEAKER_02 3:32

And all the time.

SPEAKER_00 3:38

Can we show appreciation for our worship team up here today? They've done such a great job. We appreciate them so much. It's so good to see everyone today, and we pray that you enjoyed the church breakfast. If you missed it, then you missed out. But it was a great time of fellowship, and and God just kind of spoke into my heart. Hey, we need to do this a little more often. And so we're gonna do that. So fellowship is so important to the body of Christ. And so uh we'll be doing some more of those in the future, probably when we have times like this where it's kind of a different uh kind of a Sunday. Maybe the crowds are lower because of 4th of July or Labor Day or something like that. So we'll have to keep that in mind. But we hope that you were blessed this morning. Today I'm attempting to bring in some patriotic themes. I'm hoping you see that. I hope you see the flags out there in front of the church and different things going on. Uh, the video, the song that we just sang. And so um, we are we are moving in a direction I felt like God was calling us to today. And, you know, I know that today is also Pentecost Sunday. I don't know if you realize that or not. And and uh, but God put on my heart to speak this message today, and um I had already and I had told some of the worship team and different ones, but I had told them that next Sunday I was already planning on speaking a message on the Holy Spirit. And so I want you to know we're not putting that on the back burner, it is important, okay? And we are going to be talking about that, but today um God kind of led us in a more patriotic um kind of a theme. And next Sunday, we're going to be teaching on the Holy Spirit. So I want to invite you to be back next week for that. Invite somebody. If you see somebody that's not here today, contact them this week and say, Hey, I would love to see you at church next Sunday with us. Come sit with me, and it's gonna be just an awesome service next week as well. How many of you know freedom isn't free? Amen. Someone has fought or is fighting for that freedom. Someone is always paying the price for freedom physically, spiritually, emotionally, eternally. And it's safe to say that freedom is one of the most expensive things in all of creation. And so, today's message, we're going to be um talking about what are you fighting for? Look at your neighbor and say, What are you fighting for? And so let's just open up in a quick word of prayer. Can we do that? And then we're going to get right into this message. Father, I thank you for your word that does not return void. I pray as I speak it, God, it would minister to those who need to hear it. And Father, it would challenge us because we don't want to be content. God, we don't want to be lukewarm. God, we want to follow after you and your will for our lives. And so, God, help us ask that question of ourselves. What are we fighting for, God? As a church, as an individual, as a head of a family, God. Speak to us. We ask it all in Jesus' name, and the church said, Amen. So today's theme verse is found in 1 Timothy chapter 6, verse 12. You might have heard it before, it's pretty popular, but this is what it says Fight the good fight for the true faith. Amen. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you. This Memorial Day weekend, I hope that America pauses, not just because of a three-day weekend, amen. But to remember the men and the women who laid down their lives for our freedom. Not everyone who wears a uniform dies in battle, but every soldier understands what it takes to sacrifice, and they're, I believe that they're ready to lay down their life. Because freedom is not free. Someone pays the price. Today, as a church, we honor fallen soldiers, we honor veterans, we honor those who have and are currently serving. We honor families who have sacrificed. In the same sense, if we're believers, if we're true followers of Christ, it must stir within us and urge us to honor and remember the greatest sacrifice ever made, which is Jesus Christ giving his life for the freedom of humanity. Can we put our hands together just thankful for Jesus Christ today? Amen. Now, this morning I snagged this before I headed to the church, and hopefully I can set it up here so you can see it. And what you see here, I brought with me is um my dad's flag. And it was presented to my mom when my dad had full military honors when he was laid to rest in 2012. You might say, Well, why do you have it? Because my mom passed away in 2021, and so uh it was left to me. And uh this is special to me, and uh it represents my dad in a lot of ways. I don't have a lot of things in my life that remind him, remind me of him, but I have one. This is one of the things that I have, and it represents something he devoted his life to. This flag represents freedom, but freedom that comes with a cost. Sometimes that cost is life, sometimes that cost us time, sacrifice of effort and and work, and and maybe a cost of being away from family and friends and loved ones. And and and I think of Austin as he was here today, and he's seeing family before he's deployed to Poland and to serve and to continue to pay that cost for all of us and that cost of freedom. And Austin, we are so thankful for you, man. We're so thankful for what you do and serve. Amen. And I and I hope you know you not only have a lot of biological family, but a church family that's praying for you and supports you and appreciates you. Now, this flag, that's kind of what it represents, you know. Um, I'll mention it here later, but my my dad served in Vietnam and Korea during the Korean War as well. And but that's what this represents now. I'm gonna hold up my Bible today. This book is also special to me, and I hope you have one. It represents my heavenly father, it reminds us that our spiritual freedom also came with a cost, amen. Over 2,000 years ago. And looking at my dad's flag, looking at the word of God, one may cost blood on a battlefield or a war zone, the other cost blood on a cross. So as we get into this message today, the question is, what are you fighting for? And our first point that I want to bring to us is this we are all in a fight. Ephesians 6 12 says this, for we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Whether you recognize it or not, we are in a spiritual battle. There is a battle between good and evil happening, truth and deception, hope and despair, life and death, and faith and fear and positivity over negativity. I can't even go to Walmart or the gas station without fighting that battle. Can I get an amen? The enemy is fighting against our marriages and against our students and their purity and against truth. And if you've been paying attention or not, there is a fight for identity happening in our culture. And don't take this lightly. You can rest assured there is a fight going on for churches and families and future generations. And it's not every once in a while hear this, it's every day. This might offend somebody, and maybe it needs to offend somebody, but the church has been sitting on the sidelines for far too long, worried about hurting people's feelings, not standing up for the word of God, what it says, and we wonder how did we get here as a country? How did we get here as a culture? I'm here to tell you this morning it's because when you give the enemy an inch, he'll take a mile. When you compromise, when you give in to what you know is right, when you think it's no big deal, I'll pick and choose my battles. The next thing you know, we live in a community or a state or a country that made all these excuses for all types of sin, and now we're struggling to make a difference in a culture that is used to the church being silent. People say, Well, the church doesn't have as much power as it used to in today's culture. It's because we've been silent. So sometimes these battles they happen on the outside, but sometimes they're happening on the inside. Internal battles are at an all-time high, people not knowing where to turn and what to do. And Romans 7 23 says this, but there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Paul talked about a war happening within him. Sometimes there is a battle happening in our hearts and in our minds. Maybe you heard of these battles before. They call them depression, they call them anxiety, they call them insecurity, grief. And there's things that go on and on we could get into, but there are battles that are going on within us. 1 Peter 5:8 says this, and I need you to hear it. I need you to listen to it. Apply the word of God today. Stay alert, watch out for your great enemy, the devil, because he prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. A lot of these battles are invisible. You might say, Well, what are you talking about? Think about this today. You cannot see radio waves, you cannot see Wi-Fi, you cannot see oxygen, but you know they exist because of their effects in the same way. Spiritual warfare is real, even when it is invisible at times. Sometimes we fail to recognize those spiritual battles. What young people are looking at on their phone. Come on, somebody. Sometimes these battles they can look like maybe a bad attitude or an unexpected bill that comes up or an overdrawn bank account. If you've ever been there before, you know what I'm talking about. Sometimes they look like a trial or a storm in your life. Sometimes those spiritual battles can be with people or kids or teenagers or toddlers. Can I get a witness right there? Come on, somebody. It's important that we identify those things because sometimes it's not personal. Listen to me. Sometimes it's spiritual. Sometimes they are like a wildfire, and this small little thing ignites this flame and it causes so much strife and turmoil. Come on, married couples, you know what I'm talking about. Sometimes the smallest disagreement, and the next thing you know, it's an argument or this spiritual battle. It's important we realize that we are in a fight. A fight for our families, a fight for our sanity, a fight for our faith. We are in a fight every day. The enemy is waiting for the right moment to try to bring chaos into our lives. So that leads us right into the next point. Point number two is this some things are worth fighting for. Amen. Can I speak to those who have felt like they've been in the battle for a while? Just speaking with some individuals before church this morning, speaking with some individuals this week who their family is going through struggle and having surgery or different things, sickness and stuff. Maybe you're here today and you're fighting for yourself, or you're fighting for your own sanity, you're fighting for your own life, you're fighting for your own faith. I also want to speak to you and remind you that you are worth fighting for. Maybe no one else is telling you that, and you feel like giving up the fight, but you are worth fighting for. For the parents that are here, for the grandparents that are here. Maybe some of them are watching online today. Maybe you're raising grandkids. Can I remind you that the fight is worth fighting for? Don't give up. Don't give in. Keep going. You may not see the harvest right now, but can I tell you the harvest is coming? Don't give up, it's on the way. John 15, 13 says this there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friend. Some of you, parents, grandparents, you are literally using every bit of your life and energy and power and strength. You are laying it down for the people around you, for your family. You're making all the sacrifices, just like a fallen soldier who's remembering, who we're remembering and we're honoring today. Can I tell you something, church? We also need to remember our parents and grandparents who have stepped up to lead and to take care of a generation, to take care of children, to teach them the gospel, to be a positive influence in their life, because they are also fighting a battle that's just as important. Can I get an amen right there? They are loving like Jesus, they are giving everything they have. And I just want to take a moment to honor our parents and our grandparents. God sees you. We see you. It's not in vain. You are sharing the gospel. You are the love of Christ in your family's life. Don't give up. You're making a difference. You are changing the world. It might not seem like it right now, but one day at a time, you are helping change the world. Can we give God some praise right there? So this weekend, we honor people who believe freedom was worth fighting for, worth giving their life for. Today we remember those who never made it home. We acknowledge fallen soldiers, gold star families. If you don't know what that is, that's immediate family members of someone who died in combat, veterans who have now passed away, those who dedicated and gave their life and service for our country. I want you to know that I'm not just up here kind of going through the motions as a pastor and trying to make sure I cover all these different topics and areas or whatever. It is important to me as well. Military service runs deep in my family. About 80% of the men in both my mom and my dad's side of our families have served our nation, along with several women. My grandpa Keller served during World War I. He was injured by a grenade blast and had to be sent home because he had a severe skull fracture and barely lived through it. My own father, as this flag up here is representing him, served during the Korean and Vietnam War eras. I grew up around patriots and veterans who believed in this nation that its freedoms were worth fighting for. I have an uncle who was shot 12 times in Vietnam, had to be sent home. I have a great uncle who was killed in World War II. I have so many family members and even a brother-in-law who served in Iraq, and I have cousins who are in the military right now. So please know that I'm not just filling the pulpit this morning. I'm not just going through some motions because it's Memorial Day weekend. It is important to me as well. Some want to get into a debate with politics and opinions and why there must be war. None of us have the perfect answer for that. But here's what scripture says in Ecclesiastes chapter 3. We're gonna read verse 1 and we're gonna read verse 8. It says, For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. And verse 8 says this a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. The question today is, what are you fighting for? Here's some things worth fighting for if you don't know this morning. Freedom is worth fighting for, family is worth fighting for, faith is worth fighting for, truth is worth fighting for, purity is worth fighting for, future generations are worth fighting for, the unborn is worth fighting for, the church is worth fighting for, and the word of God and eternal things are worth fighting for. Amen. If we don't fight for what matters, listen to this culture will decide what matters for us. And it has in many ways. So this leads us to point number three. Freedom isn't free. I know we've already said that, but it's something that we've taken for granted. Where we are in life and as a as a nation in 2026, spiritually and physically, it wasn't just handed to us, and we have to remember that. It was fought for. And they looked into the future and they seen us. And they declared they're worth fighting for. Jesus did that on the cross as well. He looked into the future and he's seen the generations to come and the things that he wanted to do on this earth. And he said, they are worth fighting for, they are worth giving my life for. Galatians chapter 5, verse 1 says, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. So it makes me wonder right now, church, if we could just take a minute to think and ponder in our own minds and in our hearts. If we could look ahead five, 10 years. If we could look ahead 10, 20 years, if we could maybe look ahead even 30 years from now, we can see a new generation who might be sitting in this church in these seats. And if we can see young people and new families and young families, maybe people who are not even born yet. And we can say, you know what? They are gonna need a church at 701 South 2nd Street in Versailles, Missouri, that will be there for them, that will help them find freedom in Christ. Because can I tell you something this morning? They're worth fighting for. If you want to get into using the word abuse, we could, but there's some different things there that kind of helped me realize hey, you have to learn how to take a punch. But there's still some things that bothered me in life, and and I just learned to walk away. I learned to turn the other cheek. I learned to just not let things bother me because once that anger festered up in my mind and in my heart, it was not a good thing. But we're talking about something worth fighting for. Let me tell you this: when I fell in love with my wife, I didn't care if it was a female or male, if you hurt her feelings, I was ready to go to war for her. And then it got worse when I became a father. When I became a dad and I held that baby girl in my hands, man, I didn't care what was coming up in the future, if someone was gonna mess with her, I was gonna go to a whole nother level to fight for her. Can I get an amen right there? And can I tell you right now, even though she's only six years old, if it's a kid on the playground, if it's a kid at church, if it's later in life when some of these young boys come sniffing around, I will be ready to go to war for her. Because she's worth fighting for. I told my wife I was gonna share this. She goes, I'm I'm I'm probably not coming just because you're gonna tell that joke. I didn't make it up, I took it from somebody. But I but I seen this joke. So let me introduce you to my friends, Des and Troy. And together they'll destroy. But listen, we're talking about something worth fighting for. Getting off the trail a little bit here, so let's get back to the point. Because I have we have something worth fighting for, amen. Here's the question: what are you fighting for? Maybe you need to give it a name. Look at your spouse, look at your children, your grandchildren. They are worth fighting for. Can I tell you something? Jesus could see you and me while he was on the cross, and he knew we were worth fighting for and worth dying for. Freedom isn't free. Political freedom costs something, spiritual freedom cost Jesus everything. Jesus didn't just come to love us, he came to fight for us. Jesus fought the good fight for us. I want to read this to you. Colossians chapter 2, verses 14 through 15. It says, He canceled the record of the charges against us. Hallelujah. And took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities, and he shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. Come on, let's give him some praise right there. Jesus fought sin, death, hell, and the grave. And he won. Think about our fallen soldiers and the places they had to fight and the beaches and the boats they had to get out of and climbing hills and mountains and all the different terrain and harsh conditions, the courage and the heart it takes to do those things. Then I think about Jesus and all that he went through. Jesus left heaven and stepped into enemy territory for you and for me. He entered our pain and our brokenness and our suffering and our death sentence. Not because he had to, but because love compelled him to fight for us. Romans chapter 5, verse 8 says, While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Isaiah 53, verse 5, when he was pierced for our transgressions. John 8, 36, whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Amen. So here's the big question for the day. It's the main idea, it's what we're talking about. What are you fighting for? Think about Nehemiah. I love the scripture. Chapter 4, verse 14 says, fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes. Enemy fights hard because listen to this: your purpose matters. And we have to fight for our marriage. We have to fight for our children. We have to fight for integrity. We have to fight for prayer, for the word of God. We have to fight for church. We have to fight for our calling. Make no mistake about it. The enemy fights hardest where God wants to move the strongest. A friend of mine was telling me here recently how they feel so called to do something special for God. And ever since that conversation, a lot of things in their life started going wrong and getting harder and trials, storms. It's because when we realize our calling in God, we become a target for the enemy. He doesn't want us to make the impact that God wants us to make. That God created us to make. Moving up the ladder in our job or our business. We could talk about all these things, but can I tell you their place is right here? Temporary things. Your bank account. Temporary. Your house. Man, I was so proud of that. Can I tell you? Temporary. And we could look at the other side of things. Our Bibles, the Word of God. The cost of freedom. Cross. Family photo. Eternal things. Investing into missions and giving and ministry and doing ministry, serving, all these things, eternal things. One day everything temporary is gonna fade away. Can't take it with you. But souls and people and godly things, heavenly things are eternal. So that leads us right into point number five. Don't give up. Don't give in. Don't quit the fight. Second Timothy chapter 4, verse 7. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. The greatest tragedy is not losing a battle, it's quitting the fight. The enemy wants tired believers and silent churches and passive Christians and distracted families. Can I be honest with you right now? There's a lot of churches who are not even in the fight. There's a lot of believers who are not even in the fight.

SPEAKER_02 34:32

We have something to fight for. Why aren't you fighting? Why aren't we participating in this battle?

SPEAKER_00 34:45

Faith isn't supposed to be passive, faith fights. The war rages for the soul of our country, the souls of our families, for our eternal home. We need to get in the fight. God is wanting to raise up fighters, not angry fighters, not religious fighters, not loud politicians, faith-filled fighters.

SPEAKER_02 35:13

So the question is, what are you fighting for?

SPEAKER_00 35:15

Are you fighting for your family? Or did you give up? I know there's prodigals, maybe even black sheep in every family, but they're not, they're worth fighting for. Those prodigals are gonna come home. Don't give up. Are you fighting for purity? Are you fighting for your future, for your children, for your family? Are you fighting for your faith?

SPEAKER_02 35:47

Are you fighting for your relationship with God? Or have you surrendered ground to the enemy?

SPEAKER_00 35:56

Romans chapter 10, verse 9 says this if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

SPEAKER_02 36:09

Jesus fought for you. Now it's time to surrender our lives to Him.

SPEAKER_00 36:19

Don't waste your life fighting for temporary things and neglecting eternal things. You might think, okay, I've made up my mind. I need to be more active, I need to fight for all these things. You're stirring my heart. How do I spiritually fight for these things? By knowing the word of God, hiding it in your heart so you can quote it. By rejecting lies from this world and anything that is not of God's word and not from God.

SPEAKER_02 36:57

Staying honest and humble before God.

SPEAKER_00 37:01

We can fight with prayer. Amen. James chapter 5, verse 16 says, the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Spiritually fighting, can I tell you this something? It's done on your knees. You can spiritually fight with worship. I think about my mom growing up. She had a prayer closet. Anyone have a prayer closet? A place they just someone, maybe it was your mom, your grandma, maybe you have one, a place that they can just go get alone with God, and no one will bother them. I remember my mom sometimes disappearing and we didn't know where she was. She was literally in her closet in my mom and dad's bedroom with the closet door shut on her hands and knees, praying for her family, praying for her kids, praying for her husband. See, spiritually fighting, sometimes it's done on our knees. Sometimes it's done through worship. Worship reminds our soul who God is when fear is trying to take over. Here's the thing today. If you are here and you're a believer in Christ, maybe you're young in your faith, or if you're mature in your faith, you need to know this. Listen to this. The back of the book is important. The back of the book tells us what's going to happen. Come on, somebody. Can I tell you, not only did Jesus defeat the enemy on the cross when He was when He died and when He was buried and when He was resurrected, but guess what happens at the end of the book? God wins. And if He wins, we win. We are on His team. If we are on His side, He wins. That means we win. Your fighting is not in vain. If we win, we don't have to fear. If we're gonna win, we don't have to be afraid.

SPEAKER_02 39:28

We can live in victory. Such a powerful concept.

SPEAKER_00 39:35

How are you living your life? Are you living in victory? Knowing the battle has already been fought and already been won. And one day, we know this because of the word of God and because of the back of the book, He is going to put a finishing blow on the devil. And it's all gonna be over with. There's not gonna be any more tears or sickness or hurting, gnashing of teeth, any of these things. Because in heaven, in the end, God takes away all the sin, He takes away everything, and God wins.

SPEAKER_02 40:20

Are we living in defeat? Or are we living in victory?

SPEAKER_00 40:28

I want us to bow our heads and close our eyes. We're gonna ask the worship team to come up and begin to play something softly. And as we bow our heads and close our eyes, I'm gonna pray and then we're going to spend a short time in prayer. I want us just to wholeheartedly search our hearts. And I want us just to be real with God today. The Holy Spirit is here, and He's speaking to us, and God is urging us to get into the fight. He's saying to someone that's here this morning, it's not just your pastor's job to fight, it's not just the leadership at your church to fight, it's not just their job, it's not just the elders or the church board or those who serve, those who teach, or those who help and volunteer. It's not just their job. God is trying to show you that we are all called to be a part of this fight. What are you fighting for? Where do you stand today? Whose team are you on? Whose side are you on? Search your heart. Let's pray, Father. I just pray that as we've spoken your word, you would continue to be faithful. God, you would continue to challenge us. And as we search our hearts, we just get real with you right now, God, you would show us and reveal to us where we are in our relationship with you, where we are and the things you've called us to. Complacency and excuses would be laid aside today. And in Jesus' name, we'd take the baton that has been passed to us. We would take the calling that has been given to us, that we would charge ahead in the fight. Not just enlisting, not just saying, Oh, we're gonna do something, but we would actually join the fight. Move in our hearts, moving our lives. In Jesus' name, with every head bowed, every eye closed. If you're here today, God's speaking to you. Maybe you need to rededicate your life to Jesus Christ. You haven't been living for him, you haven't been doing the things that you're called to do. Maybe you're here this morning, you've never accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, and you need to do that. You're ready to get those sins out of your life, you're ready to confess and call upon the name of the Lord and be saved today. Maybe, maybe it's been a while and you just haven't you haven't prayed, you haven't been in relationship with the Father. Can I encourage you? There is no better moment than right now to make that right. Nobody looking around, no one shaming anyone, no one paying attention to who raises their hands. This is between you and God, if that's you and you want to respond, you need Jesus, you need to rededicate your life. Maybe you've never accepted him as your savior and you want to do that today. Nobody looking around. Just slip up your hand real quick and say, That's me, Pastor. God's speaking to my heart. God's asking me to get real with him. Thank you for those hands. God sees you. Thank you for those hands. God sees you this morning. Thank you for those hands. We appreciate you. God is moving in your life. Seek Him. Pray to him. Don't just go through the motions. Let it be real. Maybe you're here this morning and you could be honest. This is between you and God. No one else. So you know what? I've been complacent. I've been lukewarm. I have been sitting on the sidelines. I haven't been pursuing my calling. I haven't been doing the things I need to do. We're not asking you to go join a missionary and go put your life in danger in some foreign land where there's a war going on. We're asking you to believe in Christ, to be a witness to those around you and your family. God's calling you to live for him because he died for you. Maybe this morning you can honestly say, I haven't been fighting. I haven't been doing the things I need to do. I need to get myself together. I need to join the fight. I need to stand up. I need to be proud that I'm on Team Jesus. I need to join the fight. If that's you, God's talking to you. You're ready to step up. You're ready to be that light in the world of darkness. You're ready to be that city on a hill. Can you just acknowledge that God's speaking to you? Just slip up your hand and say, That's me. God's speaking to me. Thank you for those hands. Come on, is God speaking to you? There's more you can do, there's more you can fight for. There's things that God's revealing to you, there's something worth fighting for. Thank you for those hands. The last thing I want to challenge you is with this. If you'll make a seven-day challenge to pray for your family, pray for our church, and accept a seven-day challenge, one week challenge to fight the good fight by praying every day. If you'll do that, just raise your hand so God can see you. I'm going to pray for my church. I'm going to pray for my family. I'm going to pray for my friends. Hands going up all over the room. Thank you for that. God is speaking. Here's what I'm going to ask us to do. It's a little bit different than normal, but I'm going to ask if we could, those who are able to, could just, if we could just come up towards the front, showing God that we are in this together as a body of Christ. And we could sing this song, we could just kind of say a prayer together. Maybe we could join hands. Maybe we could form some groups and just pray for one another. But right now, if you are willing to join that fight, if you're willing to pray for our church, pray for our families, would you stand to your feet if you're able to? Would you come up here to the front and just spend a few moments as they sing this as we pray? As we declare, God, we're joining the fight. We're not going to be a silent church. We're not going to be a church that compromises the word of God. We're going to stand up. We're going to fight this fight because it is the end times, it is the last days. We don't want to be caught riding the fence. We don't want to be caught living a lukewarm lifestyle. God, we want to be on fire for you. As you grab the hand of the person next to you or you begin to lift your hands, whatever you want to do, just begin to seek the Lord for a few moments. Grab some people you know and huddle up with them. It doesn't matter what you do, just push in a little bit as they sing this. I want to say a prayer over us. I want to encourage you to join the fight. Father, I pray for our church right now. As we worship and as we pray, God, help us realize that we fight on our knees, we fight with prayer, we fight with worship, we fight with the word of God. Father, there is something worth fighting for. We can look around this church this morning and see kids and children and teenagers who represent the next generation. They are worth fighting for, just like someone fought for us. God, help us get up out of our seats, get off the sidelines of faith and pursue you, God, to fight this battle, to get in the game. Father God, help us, God, be passionate for you. Help us invite our friends and our neighbors and our families. Help us do whatever it takes. Because God, we're done investing in the temporary things. God, we're choosing to invest in the eternal things. God, help us as a church. Help us as families. Help us as parents and grandparents. Help us not give up, God. Even though we might been struggling lately, God, even though we don't know what's gonna happen next week or the weeks to come, God, we give it to you. God, we submit it to you today, God. We come humbly before you, God. We ask for you to lead us. We'll follow you into the fight. We'll follow you into the depths of hell to fight for souls, God. We'll do whatever it takes, wherever you call us, God, wherever you go, we want to go. See our hearts today, God. Holy Spirit, help us wake up to you when you're trying to talk to us. When we're driving down the road, when we're getting coffee, when we're when we're going to a restaurant, when we're around families, when we're grilling, when we're preparing dinner, God, help us remember. Help us heed what it is you're speaking to us, God.

SPEAKER_03 49:34

Move right now, Jesus.