“Every God-begotten person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world’s ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God.”
1 John 5:4-5 (MSG)
God created us to conquer. The mindset of conquest is in the fabric of our spiritual DNA. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection sealed that covenant reality. Jesus came to conquer, and He was victorious (1 John 3:8)! Even though every believer has been guaranteed, through the blood of Jesus, that all heaven will back them up in a time of battle, we must still persevere through faith and patience.
Life will offer many different types of battles, but not every battle is worth your time or attention. Not learning this lesson can result in a wasteful and meaningless use of time and resources…especially when it comes to your personal time, talent and treasure. Again, the best thing you can do in some situations is not to get engaged. They are just not worth your focus.
Now, I have discovered that there are four critical BATTLES EVERY MAN MUST KNOW ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
#1) The state of a MAN’S HEART.
#2) The quality of a MAN’S MARRIAGE.
#3) The spiritual health of a MAN’S FAMILY.
#4) The reality of a MAN’S call.
During this 21-day devotional study, we’ll continue to bring biblical understanding to these four critical battles men face. But, we can all start here with what Solomon spoke: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:4-5). Trusting God is simply an exercise of faith in His word. For all of His promises to us are yes and amen (1 Corinthians.1:20). Any and every battle we’ll ever engage in will succeed with these two characteristics: Faith in Him and His promises to stand on.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
God has bestowed upon every man the ability to conquer the worst mistakes, mishaps and past failures. All God needs from you is an open heart. One word from Him can change your world. It reminds me of a story I heard. More than a hundred years ago, a British revivalist issued a holy dare that would change a life, a city and a generation. That timeless challenge echoes across every generation. That revivalist said: “The world has yet to see what God will do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.”
A young man with an open heart to God showed up that night to hear this minister. As the Bible states, “He who has ears to hear let him hear.” That night that unknown young man heard something by the Spirit of God that would change his life forever. That “hearer” was none other than D. L. Moody. When those words hit his eardrums, they didn’t just fire across synapses and register in his auditory cortex. They shot straight to his soul. It was Moody’s all-in moment. He made himself available and the Lord spoke to him and generations have been impacted by the gospel.
I believe the same opportunity awaits you men, especially at our “Men of Conquest” event. All you have to do is make yourself available as D.L. Moody did. Come with an open heart, expecting God to minister in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Come expecting. I’ll see all you men there! (Pastor Art Sepulveda)
TODAY’S DECLARATION
“I was born to conquer! I will not let past failures rob me of my God-appointed future. I trust His Word and stand on His promises.
TODAY’S BIBLE READING
- Old Testament: Jeremiah 35-38; Ecclesiastes 11
- New Testament: John 4:43-54; 1 Peter 1:10-16
