The Art of War

So what if you’re feeling lousy? So what?

Are you going to give up? Are you going to quit? Are you going to surrender to the damn Devil? Hell, no! Show him you haven’t even begun to fight yet! What did John Paul Jones do? His arm was nearly shot off, his men were being killed, his ship was wrecked, and when the enemy asked if he wanted to surrender, what did he say? “Okay, i’ve had enough; sure, come on over, boys” No! He said, “Hell no! No! No! No! No, i’m not going to surrender! No, I’m not going to give up!” He was willing to go down with the ship, he was so sure he was on the winning side.

You’re on the winning side! Don’t give up now! Show the Enemy you’re not going to surrender. Show him you’re willing to go down with the ship. Keep fighting! Are you supposed to quit when you’re hardest hit? No! You’re supposed to keep fighting! You want to learn to love the fight? Well, then fight! Fight! Fight with everything within you! Fight until your last breath. God loves a fighter.

You’re like the guy in that song where it says, “So you’re caught in the midst of a battle saying, ‘I must’ve done sme awful sin!’” Well, brother, if you didn’t expect to go to was, why did you join the army? You joined because you were willing to live and die for Jesus! That’s what Christian soldiers do. They live for the Lord and they die for the Lord. Whatever they do they do it all for the Lord! So to hell with the Devil and his attacks. So what? Keep going! Keep doing your best. Keep serving Jesus. If the Enemy whacks off your arm, you still have another arm and two legs, right? Look at it that way!

You’re a live one! Can’t you see that? You’re a live one – one who wants to grow in the Lord, one who loves the Lord. So if you want to grow, you have to be willing to be trained, willing to learn what you need to know to do the job He’s called you to do. It’s all part of the job description. “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trials wich is to try you” (1Pet. 4:12).

When you pray and ask the Lord to do something in your life, you shouldn’t be too surpised when the trials start coming in like a flood afterwards. So what did you recently pray? To be a better fighter, to love the fight, right? Well, welcome to the battleground! You’ve prayed and told the Lord you want to make more progress, that you want a solid victory, that you believe He can totally deliver you from some of these things. Why are you surprised that the Enemy is coming in like a flood? If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen! If you aren’t willing to pay the price and go all the way, don’t start the building. If you go, go all the way!

If you’re doing it right, the devil will fight! He’s fighting you! He’s fighting you! Give him a swift kick where it hurts! Show a little “umph” if you want to triumph. You can do it! Amen? Amen! I love you! Keep fighting!