ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS OF A FIGHTING HEART

1 Samuel 17:17-32

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

David had a fighting heart. Moses had a fighting heart… Joshua… Gideon… Elijah… Daniel… John the Baptist… JESUS!

A fighting heart keeps one going: -when all else fails, -despite adverse circumstances, -when all seems lost

Having a fighting heart is more than being:  -submissive to God, -having compassion, -being fundamental in belief

There are certain ingredients to have a fighting heart:

 

I. A FIGHTING HEART MUST BE RIGHT WITH GOD [Jer. 24:7, Rm. 10:8-11, 1 Jn. 1:9]

- And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

- But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

II. A FIGHTING HEART MUST HAVE FAITH [Heb. 11:1-3, 6]

-NOW faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.            But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

All the way through. Faith must be a part of our lives. Faith must be fresh and vibrant. Faith helps in time of weakness. Faith encourages us in times of danger. Faith builds us up in time of sorrow.

 

III. A FIGHTING HEART MUST HAVE COURAGE [Josh. 1:7, Heb. 13:5-6]

Jesus often said “Fear not!” Fear not is found over 360 times in the Bible.

- Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

- Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

IV. A FIGHTING HEART MUST HAVE DETERMINATION [Phil. 3:13,14, 1 Cor. 9:26-27]

- Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

-I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

 

V. A FIGHTING HEART MUST HAVE DEVOTION [Jn. 21:15-17, Mt. 22:35-40]

- So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

- Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.