In 1987, Nintendo released a game called Mike Tyson's Punch-Out. I was 9 years old when this game came out, and I still can't beat Mike Tyson at the end of the game. Now, I know I don't play that game everyday, but even if I did I know I could never beat him. If I couldn't beat him when I was 9 or 10, I know I couldn't beat him now because Nintendo was my life back then.
The video above is some clips of just how great the young Iron Mike Tyson was in the mid-1980's. He knocked out the majority of his opponents. He had won close to 40 fights all by KO or TKO before his first loss to Buster Douglas in 1990.
1 Timothy 6:12
"Fight the good fight of faith..."
Paul tells young Pastor Timothy to fight the good fight of faith. We are in a fight for our faith everyday. Let me ask you a question. Have you ever been knocked out by life? Has somthing or some circumstance come at you out of no where, and gave you a punch to the gut that took your breath or faith away?
Whether you win a fight, or lose a fight you're probably going to get hit. Some hits knock you down, others knock you out. It's how we respond to these hits by life that make us stronger. I want to share a couple of verses that God has shown me over the past couple of days.
1 Peter 1:6-7
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuiness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
2 Cor. 4:16-17
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
James 1:2-4
"My bretheren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have it's perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing."
It is so hard to think that I should count it joy when I get hit in the face by life's punches. How am I supposed to do that? The only thing I know to do is get my face in His word, and search out answers to my situation. I'm going to let God's word speak for itself, and let you into what He has shown me that past couple of days.
1 Peter 2:4-5
"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house..."
Even though we may be rejected by men we are chosen by God for His purpose. The world rejected Jesus, so we shouldn't be surprised when it rejects us.
1 Peter 2:9-10
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness, and into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."
1 Peter 2:19-20
"For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God."
All through these verses, I keep coming across the words: Patience, Faith, Joy, Chosen. God has chosen us to be apart of His team. He is more interested in developing His character in our lives than giving us what we want and desire. Proverbs 16: 9 says, "A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs His steps." If something hasn't gone the way you have thought it should have turned out, and you are following the LORD God remember that He is in Control, and you can trust that He knows what He is doing. Roll all your cares, worries, and burdens onto Him. This is so hard to do ecspecially when you are in the middle of the battle, but you can do it and you must.
1 Peter 1:5a
"who are kept by the power of God through faith..."
The word kept in greek (phroureo) is a military term picturing a sentry standing guard as protection against the enemy. We are in spiritual combat, but God's power and peace are our sentinels and protectors.
Prov. 3:5-6
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
Sometimes we don't understand in our own understanding, but we can trust the LORD with all our heart. He is faithful to bring us through and help pick us up when we've been knocked down. Just as Jesus Christ rose from the dead, we too can rise from the ashes to victory through Jesus!
