A Word through Steve Shultz Email: steve@elijahlist.com

I am most ponderous on the Words of God in my waking-up hours and my going-to-sleep hours. That is often when God will highlight an aspect of the Scriptures that have not recently -- if ever -- really stuck in my spirit.

This morning, "THE GOOD FIGHT" is what came to me--and this is the essence of it. May it be a simple encouragement to you, as I share a few words that the Lord gave to me...

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THIS IS A GOOD FIGHT

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We are in a fight--and often times, we beat ourselves up because of it. I know, it doesn't make any sense. That's because we can involve ourselves in different--even wrong kinds of fights. The fight we need to retreat from is when we fight the wrong fight. The wrong fight is picking up the bat against ourselves. As I've shared before, the devil often does not even need to beat us up. He simply says, "Excuse me, you seem to have dropped your bat." Then he hands us the bat and we proceed with our daily activity--to beat ourselves up.

This fight is not of God. Because in this fight, we are both the victim AND our own perpetrators. Retreat from this fight whenever you can. You CANNOT win this kind of fight.

But we are ALL in a better fight. The GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH. Paul addressed this fight in his letter to Timothy,

"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Tim 6:11-12

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OH MAN AND WOMAN OF GOD . . .

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Paul was clear when he addressed YOU and ME, in this passage. He starts out, "But you oh man (and woman) of God . . .fight the good fight of faith!" This message is to you, OH MAN GOD! You are instructed to fight to lay hold of the eternal things of God, because you ARE ALREADY a man or woman of God.

Do you struggle at times to believe in the promises of God? This struggle is a fight. What you are doing is Good. Fight on.

Do you try hard to believe? Do you one day ride on the crest of the wave of Belief and faith-- and the very next day you find yourself questioning EVERYTHING, including your own faith? What you are doing is Good. Fight on. This fight is good.

Are you flying high right now, sailing along in unprecedented faith? Have you been here before and wonder when the Devil will once again pull the rug out from under you? Do you feel guilty for not believing ALL THE TIME, when you believe so much right now? What you are fighting is GOOD. Fight on. The devil is losing.

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STAND AND FIGHT ON

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If you struggle with faith from time to time, oh man or woman of God-- do not lose heart. God would never have called it "a fight" and he would not have called it a "struggle" if it was not an ongoing FIGHT. Do not expect this fight to end soon.

Keep fighting. What you are doing is good. Stand and fight on!

God is pleased, that having done all to stand and fight, you continue to fight, nevertheless.

Did you lose a battle recently? No worries, mate! Get up, unsheathe your sword and Fight on.

Your fighting IS intercession, did you know that? Your struggle IS warfare. Your battling IS prayer and a sweet smelling aroma before the Lord. Some of the greatest warfare ever fought looks like this . . . "Resist the devil and he will flee from you!"

No longer be discouraged that your fight seems to never end. THIS IS A GOOD FIGHT!

And God loves a "GOOD FIGHT!"

Blessings in Christ!

Steve Shultz, THE ELIJAH LIST