Fighting Shape Part 3

Round 3 is here! Check out the last part to my sermon "Staying in Fighting Shape" were we talk about another way we can fight against the lies this world tells us about Lust, Pornography & Fornication/Adultery.

Fighting Shape Part 2

The fight for purity continues! Check out this 2nd part to my sermon "Staying in Fighting Shape" were we talk about 3 ways we can fight against the lies this world tells us about Lust, Pornography & Fornication/Adultery. 

Fighting Shape Part 1

On one of my blog post we talked about the "3 Lies About Sex" (Lust, Pornography & Fornication & Adultery). In this video I talk about one way we can fight against those lies!

Why Wait on God?

The title of this post may raise a few eyebrows at first gaze. When the question of “why wait on God” is asked it can make us feel a little uncomfortable. The question, out of context, sounds like we are saying something like, “I don't need God” or “God is taking too long”, but that’s not what I am saying. Today I want to focus on why it is important for we as Christ followers to WAIT ON GOD.

In a culture where we get everything now we sometimes forget that God doesn't function like we do. We may pray for God to speed things up or make things happen now, but God knows the perfect plan He has for us and will not rush them. So what do we do as we wait on God?
In Genesis 38-41 we find a part of the story of Joseph. Joseph was a young man of God who had been shown a vision by God that we would one day be a great leader (Gen. 37:5-11), but due to jealousy, after hearing Joseph’s dreams, his brothers sold him into slavery. While being a slave he was lied on and thrown into prison, and only after all of the hardship he went through was he ready to be the great leader God showed him he was going to be. (Read chapters 37-41 for the full story.)

So what can we learn about waiting on God from Josephs story?

Expect Opposition

As Christ followers we have to understand that we will always face some type of opposition. We are the main targets for the Devil. He knows that God has a great plan for us, and he is going to try and do all that he can to stop it. Why? Because he knows that if we ever get to where God wants us to be that it will not be good for him. So while we wait on God we have to expect that the Devil will attack us, but we have to be ready.

Be Ready to Fight

Joseph had to fight while he waited. He went from being thrown into a hole by his brothers, to being sold into slavery, being lied on then thrown in jail. Joseph had to fight one of the greatest battles, the battle in his mind. The feeling of betrayal and the temptation to lose hope were all realities for Joseph, but he continued to fight and he never gave up. With the truth of the Word and our relationship with God we can fight against whatever the Devil brings our way. KEEP FIGHTING!

Trust your Placement

You may not like where you are right now; your job, marital status, sickness, family issues or whatever you may be facing, but you have to understand that God has you right were you need to be. I’m sure Joseph didn't like being at the bottom of a hole, a slave, being lied on, or being thrown in jail. But as we read the story we see that God placed him in each of those places in order for him to gain the wisdom, influence and muscle that he needed to one day lead in one of the most powerful places in that time. Don't fight your placement. Understand that God has you there for a purpose.

Work Hard Where You Are

While you are trusting that God has you where you are right now you have to work hard. Joseph did exactly that. Everywhere he went he was the hardest worker. He worked so hard as a slave and as a prisoner that he became a leader in both places (Gen. 38:2-6; Gen. 39:21-23). Yes you may hate your job, but be the hardest working person there. Yes you may hate that you are single, but work hard to become the woman or man of God that God is calling you to be. Yes you may not be the smartest person in your class, but let it be known through your actions that you will outwork everyone else. Its in those times where you will get all that you need to succeed at the next level and you will be an godly example for those watching you.

While we wait on God we have to understand that it’s so much bigger than us. Joseph went through all that he went through in order to save multiple nations (Gen. 41). God used what the Devil meant for Joseph’s bad and made it into Joseph’s great. Yes your pain is real and it hurts right now, but you have to keep going. Your family, city, state and generations to come are waiting on God to do something great through you. You cannot give up. Keep fighting and keep working hard. God has something great for you.