By Overseer Faith Bridges/Foreman

“But, I do not want to”! “I am tired of fighting, and I am tired of standing”! Do any of these statements sound familiar to you? Have you ever said them? If so, you are not alone. I believe most leaders come to this place at some point in their ministries (for various reasons), and if you haven’t, like my Grandmother used to say, “just keep living.”

Although there are times when it appears easier to “throw in the towel” and give up, there is still “something down in me telling me to go ahead”! Thank God for the Spirit of God who is our comforter, who teaches us, leads and guides us into all truth, and brings back to our remembrance everything that Jesus has said! (St. John 14:26) It is because of the Word of God that I am able to keep going, even in those times when I don’t want to.

Ephesians 6:13 is one of my favorite scriptures that reminds me that I must be prepared to stand. The Apostle Paul writes to the church at Ephesus (and to us) the following: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (KJV). This phrase, “having done all, to stand” is a military terminology which signifies an ongoing battle. After you have triumphed in one battle, stand ready for the next one. I believe the movies, “Troy” and “Gladiator” best present this military strategy. When the armies take the battlefield, they fight many men - one after another – and only after the opposing army has been completely conquered do they celebrate the victory! “Having done all, to stand”! So, when I take the battlefield, I must be prepared to stand. This is a fight to the finish. No matter how many forces come against me, I must be ready to stand until the victory is won! Then the Apostle Paul goes on to describe our armor and our weapons. (Ephesians 6:14-18)

What is interesting to me is that even though we have armor and weapons, the battle is really not ours – “the battle is the Lord’s.” (I Samuel 17:47) So then, what is really my part in all of this? To stand, for sure. But more than that, for me, the answer is in I Timothy 6:12 where Paul admonishes Timothy to “Fight the good fight of faith”! This is where the battle is won – it is by faith! And don’t get me started on Faith! Hallelujah! (No pun intended.)

Hebrews 11 makes it plain that the victory is in our Faith – regardless of the situation or how it appears, our Faith is what makes the difference! I am not talking about a “blind faith” that has no substance, reason or foundation. I am talking about a Faith based in “the mediator of a better covenant, established upon better promises”! (Heb. 8:6) A Faith that framed worlds! (Heb. 11:3) A Faith that subdued kingdoms! (Heb. 11:33) A Faith that conquers death and the grave! (I Corin. 15:54-57) A Faith that overcomes the world! (I John 5:4) Thank God that we have received the Faith of God!

In this GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, we stand!