Contending For The Cause Of Christ

The greatest gift God can give you is not money.  It is actually the gift of man.  To get things done on earth.  Never trivialize the ministry of men.  It takes men to get things done on earth.  The church is a place of learning and inspirational intelligence. 

Leadership is picking up a piece of paper on the ground.  

Proverbs 4.7

The way we should deal with issues is to respond with wisdom.  The cause of Christ is where our faith meets the road.

Contend - to wrestle with, to struggle with, to agitate.

Matthew 10.34

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief]. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

There are two opposing forces.  Jesus must be first in our lives.  When we carry our cross, we will die.  If we are not willing to carry our cross, we will not be worthy of the kingdom.  Those who give up their lives will gain true life.  

The kingdom must be inside of us.  We are the way for God’s will to be done on earth.

The Kingdom of God is where the God of heaven is allowed to rule in mankind.  Wherever we go, the kingdom goes.  We made a call to go and spread the message of the Kingdom.  

There are three levels of power or anointing

Power over things.  (Ex. money)

Power over people. Encourage people to come into the kingdom.

Power over nations.

Will there be difficulties?  Yes.  When you contend, you are saying the buck stops here.  There’s the great commission, which is for all believers to go out into the world and share the gospel message.  (Matthew 28:18-20))

The Character of the Contender

Be clever, mild, and gentle

Have discernment

The Confidence of the Contender

God will give contenders the words to say in the moment they are needed.  Matthew 10:19-20 

The contender has the comfort of the Comforter (the Holy Spirit). There is a divine partnership.  Those who receive you receive God.

Contend with hope.  We can move forward because of hope.

The Requirements of the Contender

Obedience is the proof of faith.  The quality of instructions determines the quality of your obedience.  The level of your obedience determines your reward effort.  The number 1 act of spiritual warfare is obedience.

Demands endurance

The Holy Spirit

Being a soldier takes courage.