Sunday, June 8, 2008

 

Announcements - Corrie McClarey
Teen Beach weekend sign-ups

 

Communion - Azania & Ronneil Herron
1 Peter 2:21-23; 4:19
Azania -- she sees a lot of retaliation in her life
she lets what happens around her determine her actions
Jesus didn't do that - he committed himself to God
She tries to mentally prepare herself - her pep talks don't get her to victory
God is the source - she recommits her heart
Ronneil - Jesus had the right to retaliate but he entrusted himself to God
entrust = to give over something to another for care, protection or performance; to give as a trust to someone
God is the ultimate judge

 

Ron Drabot         "Fight the Good Fight"

14 seniors graduating, 13 are going to school here in Charlotte   Erika & family are moving to the Baton Rough area
Campus will swell to 40-50
Ron's dream is 100 in campus and 100 in teens
We are working hard to be perfectly united with our brothers & sisters worldwide
1 Cor 1
Eph 4 making every effort to build up the unity
It's great to be part of the Charlotte Church

 

2 Tim 4:7 Paul charges Timothy
1Chr 12:8   a group of men described as brave warriors, ready for battle
lion can represent good or bad
1 Peter 5  Satan is like a roaring lion
1 Chr 12  - Israelite army like faces of lions
A Lion can run the length of a Basketball court in 1 second
A lion can run the 100 meter race in 4 seconds;  a human would run 30 meters in 4 seconds
a lion can run 65 mph
a lion can jump a hole 33 feet wide
a lion can turn over a mid-size car with his two front paws
a lion eats his prey alive, he will eat all of it, only a few bones will be left when he's done
in 1901, men from India went to Africa building a railroad, they had built a thorny fence around the camp.  A guard fell asleep, the lion came into the camp, within five feet of the sleeping guard, and stepped over two men in the tent, looking for a certain scent.   The lion devoured the third man.   Eight lions devoured 100 men in that camp. 
Satan doesn't want your possessions, your position, your power.   Satan wants to own your heart.   He wants you to compromise.   He wants to devour you alive. 
He wants less than a Godly life and he wants you to think everything's ok. 
Are you fighting the good fight?
We are in the fight of our lives.
Movie clip:   Braveheart -- William Wallace -- Braveheart Freedom Speech   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLrrBs8JBQo
"I am William Wallace, and I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?"

Veteran: (to William) "Fight against that? No, we will run, and we will live."

William: (in reply) "Aye, fight and you may die, run and you'll live. At least a while. (shouting to all) And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom?!"

Are you fighting the good fight
1)  to keep your fortitude?
2)  to fight for your family?
3)  to keep your faith?

 

1)  Are you fighting the good fight to keep your fortitude?
Fortitude is the strength of mind that enables you to bear suffering with courage
Are you standing up to it?
are you facing it with the courage of God?
1 Sam 22:2
distressed, in debt, discontented - these are the men who gathered to David
The Charlotte Church would qualify
Failures, in debt, negative and critical men
David took this group and molded them into the the mighty men of God
a long gap between David anointed as king & when he took the throne
Saul is throwing spears at him
David had to fight against the leader of Israel and stay righteous and humble
He had no home
We face our struggles and go home at night and turn on the air conditioning
He didn't go to Harris Teeter for food
They lived in caves and hunted for their food
David stayed spiritual and molded men
We have pain and adversity in our lives - are we fighting the good faith with fortitude?
They weren't always mighty men
We have lost opportunities, lost relationships that didn't quite work out
Life has a way of crushing dreams
Phil 3   forget what's behind
Ps 23  Let God comfort you
stop letting failures give you identity in life, let your father give you your identity

Are you listening to God or Satan?

Ron loves the book of Acts, 3000 baptized in one day, the church grew to 5000, so many churches were planted
But Corinthians is in there too, the letter full of issues in Corinth
1 Cor 1  you are sanctified
Galatia - legalistic problems but still chosen by God
you Charlotte Church have not quit
! Cor 1  we are sanctified
Rom 8  we are more than conquerors
1 Peter 2  gone from darkness to light
We are God's mighty men
let your identity come from God
Bad decisions, bad choices, they all happen
struggles should strengthen your fortitude - do they paralyze you or prepare you for your purpose?

 

2)  Fight for your family
1 Sam 30:3-8 
mighty men were not always mighty
families taken captive, possessions taken, the men weep and become fatigued
You don't always make good choices at this point - let's kill David
David prayed to God and God strengthened him
David inspired his men and went after their families
Now the men were happy
if we're going to win the world, take punches and still be standing
We need to stand our ground, fight for our families
One of the men - Shamah - his name meant waste
2 Sam 23  - defends a hill of beans
Josh Bathabeth - kills 800 men - his name meant shame
waste and shame were men David picked
2 Sam 23:24  Elhanan son of DoDo
they overcame their past
are we doing everything we can for our family?  our roommates?   our house church?   Do we go to midweek? 
Are you fighting for your family with everything you've got?
Ron will lay down his life for his wife and children
He will make sure his family sees him praying, reading the Bible, evangelizing, studying with others
Are you the encourager, do you lift up the family?
We have a great teen and middle school ministry
But he challenges us to fight for our family
Ron is joining the Prime  Timers next year
Arizona is 76 years old - she's spiritual
Classie Worthy -- her names says it all
Eileen - she's there, faithful to all
No matter what life has dealt us, we need to still have a dream

 

Clip:   Rocky Balboa - training for his come back     rocky balboa" (2006) training best quality
We are Rocky Balboas' in our old age.   We have to fight for our families because someone wants to take them to Hell.

 

3)  Fight for our faith
Superheroes:   The Incredibles / Superman / Spiderman / Ironman
Superman is the best because he is stronger than a locomotive, faster than a speeding bullet,  jumps tall buildings in a single bound, able to see through walls
He's tough
All of us can be Superman
We have the power
We have the super Spirit of God in us
my faith will only grow stronger as I trust God
Lev 26:7-9  promise for all of them, but only a few become mighty men and women of God
in the New Testament, every Christian indwelled by the Holy Spirit, but not every Christian was controlled by the Holy Spirit
It's time we let the Spirit move us
There's a price you have to pay
you have to get on your knees, pray some prayers, shed some tears
If you don't change the situation, God, change me
I don't want to simply endure, I want to enjoy this life
Rely on God's power.   Ron uses prayer, singing to God, fasting, praying through the directory for each one of us.   Fight for your faith.
Ron's college roommate, Dan, was working at Taco Tico, his car kept breaking down, he was determined to stay close to God.   He would stand and walk while praying so he wouldn't go to sleep.   Sometimes Dan would fall asleep standing against the wall - he was determined to spend time with God.
In Superman 2, Clark Kent gives up his powers to be with Lois Lane, the love of his life.  There is a bully in the diner, hits Clark from behind, elbows him, knocks him down.   Kryptonite was the only thing that could stop Superman -- but he could also stop himself.  
There's one thing that stops us from fighting - ourselves.  
Clip:   Superman 2   in the diner, Superman comes back after the bully
It's time to fight the fight of fortitude, the fight for our families, the fight of faith