#1 - The Fight is Real. 2 Tim. 4:7-8 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Paul said this. It was His epitaph for all to see, know and strive for. These words highlighted His fight, His race and His faith. They tell us the story of the life that He lived. They speak to us today. They give us focus. They give us aim. They give us clarity. They inspire and encourage us to press on. To be people who not only fight as mere humans, but rather as Men & Women of God…..we fight not dependent on our own abilities but rather we’re leaning into Him. 1. ’For _________ of us’: There is a fight to fight, a race to run and a faith to keep.  a. There was a fight ‘______________________.’ b. There is a fight ‘_______________________.’ c. There is a fight ‘around us.’ d. There is a fight for God’s purpose ‘___________________.’ Fight Defined: to enter a contest: to contend with adversaries, fight: to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers: to endeavor with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something Joshua 10:25 / 1 Sam. 17:32 / Neh. 4:14 / Eph. 6:10-12 / 1 Tim. 6:11-12 / Jude 3  2. ‘The fight is real.’a.  It’s a fight that’s not fought by ____________________. John 18:36b.  It’s a fight that ________ discipline and self-control. 1 Cor. 9:24-27/James 4:6c.  It’s a fight that is often fought on the battlefield of ___________. Col. 4:12d.  It’s a fight that requires _____ labor and God’s _______. Col. 1:29 / 2 Tim. 2:1-4 3. What’s at _____________________? Neh. 4:14 / Matt. 6:9-13

What is…. a ​promise that you make to yourself to ​start doing something good or ​stop doing something ​bad on the first ​day of the ​year? Phil. 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 1. Question: What is your ________________thing? Rom. 5:8 / Rom. 8:32 / Isa. 49:13-16 2. What is a “one thing” in the scriptures? John 13:34-35 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another *. a. Jesus has ______________________ us to “Live the Life of Love”. 1 Cor. 14:1 amp. EAGERLY PURSUE {and} seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire {and} cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy (interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching). b. Is that even _________________________? Rom. 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  c. He is the _________ of this love - we find it in Him, from Him and through Him. Phil. 1:9-11 3. Practically - what does it ___________________ like? I Cor. 12:31-14:1amp. This kind of Love gives _________________ to everything. Agape is a sacrificial love that voluntarily suffers inconvenience, discomfort, and even death for the benefit of another without expecting anything in return. Homework this week: Read 1 Cor. 13:1-13 everyday this week. 

Give no place. Eph. 4:27 nor give place to the devil. Paul spoke this to believers - It is possible to give place - a door, an opening - he takes what we give him - it’s also just as possible to ______ give place to the devil. Jesus said…..John 8:12Paul wrote of it…Col. 1:13John wrote of it….1 John 2:8-11Peter wrote of it….1 Peter 2:9Jesus, Paul, John & Peter speak of ______________________________. The real message of ‘give no place’ is simply this: _________________________. Eph. 6:10-20 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. God calls us to _____________________________.Dan. 11:32/Isa. 40:28-31 - ___________________ comes from pressing into Him.  Why ‘be strong’? 2.     The Devil is _______________________ in his approach toward believers.Eph. 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  What are his schemes?  3.     There is a real ________________________.Eph. 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  What’s the Adversaries goal? Eph. 6:10-14To get us to “_______________________” - a suspension and relaxation from an alert state or a state of readiness - when we stand down we get pushed around. 4. God’s Armor is to be put on - ___________________. Eph. 6:13-18 Put on - implies something _____________ do. Rom. 13:14

what language do you speak? Biblically - things are lost in people, in families, in generations and in the church through non use.  Rev. 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent …. 1. Languages are ______________________ passed down. Gen. 4:20-21 / II Kings 21:19-22 / I Cor. 4:15 Psalm 145:4One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. 2. Some God breathed languages ____________ in the church. This is not God’s doing but rather it is man’s. Judges 2: 6-14In the midst of a great vision, an incredible promise fulfilled before their eyes – something was missed… A generation was missed - a language was forgotten!  Rom. 12:2 / II Tim. 1:5-8 3. “the language of ________________.” Heb. 13:15 / Psalm 34:1-3 1 Thess. 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.Psalm 47 Clap your hands all you people, shout unto God with a voice of Triumph.  I Choose ____________. I choose to speak the language of _________! Acts. 16:12-34 In our days we must be _____________ to: II Tim. 3:1-3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good. Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my Cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth – even praise to our God. In the midst of our challenges, in the midst of our pit, in the midst of our pain,  in the midst of our battle - _________________ your voice - Psalm 47 Speak the language of Praise!

Psalm 27:1 A Psalm of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, In this I will be confident…. What is fear? ___________________________________________ What's the word say? 2 Tim. 1:7 / Isa. 41:10 / Joshua 1:9 We must _________________________ our faith & walk on.  Numbers 13:1-3 / 13:30-14:10 These 12 leaders: _____________ something. ____ Something. ___ Something Perseverance is a necessary ingredient in the life of faith. 1 Cor. 15:57-58 Joshua 1:1-9, 16-18 This people is gonna have the opportunity to be afraid. Be strong and courageous for the _________________ sake - Josh. 1:6 Every step of obedience has purpose connected to it that we may or may not see. 2.    Be strong and courageous for _________________ sake. Josh 1:7-8 3.    Be strong and courageous, Fear not for the __________ sake. Josh. 1:9  4.    Be strong and courageous, Fear not for the _________________ sake. God calls us to overcome, that means we will ________ have many opportunities to overcome.  1 John 5:4-5 Every step of obedience is a step of victory. God has called us to live a LIFE of faith.  Feed your faith. Starve your fears.

The ‘IT’ Message: This ‘it’ can transform our lives, give meaning to menial task, ignite spiritual passion again, put love at the forefront of our marriages, give us as the church greater influence.  What _________________________ to ‘it’? -  Gal. 5:13 Love does. Mark 10:32-45 Jesus shares His heart. What is ‘IT’?Mark 10:42 So Jesus called them together and said, "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. 43 But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. 45 For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." 3 ___________ words: __________________- one who executes the commands of another __________________ - one who gives himself up to another's will, devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests a servant, attendant __________________ – to serve, wait upon; to distribute the things necessary to sustain life;  Servant defined: one who does what needs to be done until it is done – engaging his heart with enthusiasm, joy and perseverance that’s not based on the circumstance, convenience or need John 13:1-5 1. Jesus _________________________ from the meal. 2. He _________________________ his outer clothing. Matt. 23:12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Prov. 27:2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips 3. He _______________________________ around his waist.

Church Basics - Who are we? Why do we do what we do? The purpose of the church is to gather, building up believers and then to scatter - reaching out to the lost. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Col. 1:17-18  Church Basics - Messy Church - 1 Cor 11:23-32 1. Be ______________________________.1 Cor. 11:29 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.  Discerning - “To recognize or understand as being distinct”; “ to recognize or perceive clearly” 2. __________________________One Another.John 13:34-35 Who did He say this too? What is love? What does love do? 1 Peter 4:7-10 Eph. 4:29No rotten talk should come from your mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone in need, in order to give grace to those who hear. 3. Our mouths were __________________________ for this. Prov. 18:21 4. _______________________ - who can I build up, add too, impart grace too? The church family is a _________________________________ family.  We forgive, we repent, we encourage, we speak words of grace, we help one another. This is church.

Recharge defined: : to refill : to regain your energy and strength :  to regain energy or spirit : to inspire or invigorate afresh : to refresh or restore; revitalize :  to revive or restore energy, stamina, enthusiasm  Matt. 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. The goal of our series to keep the real source the main thing - to __________________________________a bit more fuel and fire on a daily basis Romans 12:11 (MSG) Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master..  Big Idea: This isn’t always convenient. This isn’t always easy. Life isn’t always designed for this. When life __________________, what will we do?  There’s a great picture given to us through the life of David as an example for “times like these.” 1 Sam. 30:1-6How do you respond to ___________________________situations?  Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. (I Samuel 30:4). 2. What did David ________? 1 Sam. 30:6 Psalm 20:7-9 David remembered the Lord. a. He said___________________________________________________. Psalm 27:1 b. David __________________ His heart, His soul, by saying. Psalm 42:5 How did David encourage Himself in the Lord?

Recharge defined: to regain your energy and strength :  to regain spirit : to inspire or invigorate afresh : to refresh or restore; revitalize :  to revive stamina, enthusiasm : to put more power into a battery Matt. 11:28-30 Jesus said, “Come to Me.” Paul said it this way…. Romans 12:11 (MSG) Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master,  (RSV) Never lag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. (NIV) Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Big Idea: This isn’t always convenient. This isn’t always easy. Life isn’t always designed for this.  Life happens to all of us. Life has a tendency to present us with these things. 1. What’s a lid? _____________________________________________________________ 2. What kind of lids do we deal with? __________________________________________ Question: What do these things do to us? through us? 3. What are we to do with our lids? ___________________________________________ James 4:5-10 / 1 Peter 5:5-7 Be quick to _________________________.Be quick to _________________________.  Question: What happens when we humble ourselves through repentance and extending forgiveness? Psalm 107:8 / Isa. 55:1-3 / John 4:13 / John 6:35 / John 7:37-39 / Isa. 12:1-6 c. And ____________________________.  1. Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.  2. Eph. 5:18 Be (being) filled with the Spirit.

1 John 4:1-54 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. Question: Have you ever been a part of a team or as an individual were considered the underdog? Have you felt less than, not enough, inadequate, insufficient, defective, deficient… 1. Underdog defined: _______________________________________ Question: What do people normally expect of one? _____________ Underdogs: inspire us, challenge us, motivate us 2. What does God ________________ of underdogs?  God loves to ___________underdogs in _____________ situations. I Sam. 22:1-2 / II Sam. 23:8-22 / Acts 14:19-20 3. That’s awesome, but….. Prov. 24:16 For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity. Micah 7:8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me.  One of the greatest things we can do in life is _________________________. Psalm 20:7-9 / 2 Cor. 4:7 / Col 1:27 / I John 4:4