Why Do We Fight? - Margo Woodward

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are always fighting. But why? Why do we fight?

1. We fight because the fight is much bigger than us.

As I’m growing in my understanding of salvation, I’m understanding that our salvation is a part of a much bigger picture than us. The spiritual realms are constantly warring, so when God saves us we are now apart of a battle that has been going on way before us (Isaiah 14:12-15).

We fight because the fight is much bigger than us.

2. We fight because Satan hates us.

Satan was once in heaven with God, but because of his pride and rebellion, was cast out and he now fights against God (Isaiah 28:14-17). He hates anything related to God, and once we’re saved we are God’s children, so he hates us. Satan sees the blessings that God bestows upon us and he hates it. The grace we receive, he hates it. Satan even knows about our eternal home in heaven with God and though he can’t take that from us, he fights to make our life a living hell on earth.

We fight because Satan hates us.

3. We fight because our very nature is sinful.

Do you ever think about why it’s so hard to do right? Why we have to work really hard to do right, but doing wrong comes quite natural? It’s because the very nature that we live in is sinful and in opposition to God. Without the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, directing us, and convicting us, all we would do is wrong- and we couldn’t even help it.

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I can not carry it out.”

– Romans 7:15-18

We fight because our very nature is sinful.

4. We fight because the power of God lives in us.

We keep fighting because the power of God is living in us. Without the power of God living in us we wouldn’t stand a chance. We would’ve been devoured long ago. For we know that the devil “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8). BUT, the power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us and continually gives us the power to keep on fighting (Romans 8:11).

We fight because the power of God lives in us.

5. We fight because we can see.

As we grow in God, He gives us glimpses of the spiritual realm. Surely we can’t handle seeing everything, but as we mature we are blessed to see and understand more of the spiritual realm. As we see and understand what’s really going on, we’re motivated to keep on fighting. We understand so we are equipped to fight.

We see that the battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the evil forces that are against us, so we fight (Ephesians 6:12). We fight against evil, and we fight to do what’s right because we know that the only way to overcome evil is with good (Romans 12:21).

We fight because we can see.

6. We fight because Christ fought.

We’re not doing anything that our Lord and Savior hasn’t already done. We’re not walking through anything that He hasn’t already walked through. This is why we have the victory. We are walking in the victory of the One who has gone before us.

We can be assured that He is now in heaven interceding to God on our behalf (Romans 8:34). He was tempted just as we are, yet He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). He understands. He understands how sinful and weak our flesh is, and on top of that we have an enemy that constantly sets traps for us. Christ sees and knows all.

He knows that we will stumble, He understands how we will stumble, and yet He promises to deliver us from it all (Psalm 34:19). Christ understands how pressing the fight can be. He cried out to the Father from the weight of His fight:

“And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, ‘O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

– Matthew 26:39

We fight because Christ fought.

7. We fight because God uses it for good.

Yesterday on the radio a preacher discussed Peter’s denial of Christ, and how God ultimately used Peter after his failure to encourage others in their time of failure and weakness. What a display of God’s love, forgiveness, and power. Our God doesn’t throw us away after we mess up. We don’t serve a God who is limited to only work with our good decisions, we serve a God who also uses our failures for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).

We fight because God uses everything for our good.

8. We fight because of the reward.

Not only are we secure in getting to heaven just based on our salvation, but as we fight the good fight of faith here on earth we are rewarded. Think about it on the other end. If we don’t fight for our faith and throw in the towel, we will feel those consequences. Therefore, we will also receive rewards because of our fight for what’s right. Look at Job. The Lord blessed the latter part of his life more than the first because he endured and fought his fight (Job 42:12).

We fight because of the reward.

9. We fight because it’s worth it.

Consider the saying: Whatever is worth having will not come easy. We face opposition because we have something worth fighting for. Things come against us aiming to prevent us from obtaining that which is worth having. Many things may be in reach for us, but we will only possess them by fighting.

We even have to fight to maintain our peace! If not, watch how easily it’ll be taken away. Bills, health, and life issues all have a way of trying to take our peace and joy. We have to fight for what’s ours in Christ. We know that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and to destroy (John 10:10).

I’ve found that many times the fight is on for me, right before a special blessing. As I look back, I see the trend. Satan has often tried to block my blessings. He tries to distract me, wear me down, all to prevent me from pressing on.

But we press on. We are not of those that draw back.

“But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.”

– Hebrews 10:39

We fight because it’s worth it.

10. We fight because we need the fight.

Our fights are tailor-made for us. How do I know that? Because God will never put more on us than we can handle (I Corinthians 10:13). Also, I know that God is not a God of happenstance. He is very strategic, and He is always in complete control. Chapter 2 of Job shows us that Satan had to get permission from God to even test Job.

Our fights help us. We all have different weaknesses and shortcomings that God is perfecting. Our fights humble us (II Corinthians 12:7). They grow us in love and compassion.

Everything that comes our way is ultimately for our good. Though it may not always feel good, it is always for our good and for God’s glory. To say that it’s not for our good is to say that God wants to harm us.

God never wants to harm us or hurt us, but to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).

We fight because we need the fight.