Praise the Lord Saints of the most high God! Praise the Lord everybody! Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is always a wonderful feeling to be in the house of the Lord. It is always a blessing to be with the children of the Lord. It is always a thrill to be in the presence of the Lord, to feel His presence, His anointing, His peace that passes all understanding.

There is nothing that I enjoy more than dwelling in the presence of the Lord. In taking the opportunity to join in fellowship with the saints, to partake in the offering of joint praise and worship to our Lord. That is exactly what we will be doing in heaven saints! That is exactly what we will be doing for eternity. If you don’t like praising God down here, you aren’t going to like heaven!

So let us take a few moments to pray before we get started on this message. Let us take a few moments to ask the Lord to anoint me as I attempt to bring forth His word. Let us take a few moments to ask the Lord to anoint our ears to hear the word and help us to apply it to our lives. Let us pray!

Pray for as long as the Lord leads:

As always, it is an honor and a privilege to stand behind this anointed desk which we call a pulpit. I dare not take lightly the God given responsibility to bring forth the word of the Lord accurately, and to deliver the message which God wants the congregation to hear. So as we continue, and for those who may care, the name of my sermon today is The Boxer.

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2Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Introduction

Just as a boxer fights for a reward, we also fight for a reward. They fight for a crown or a belt. They fight for worldly fame and fortune. To be recognized as the biggest, the baddest, the best, the absolute greatest, or as the world puts it: THE MAN!

We as Christians fight to save souls; we fight for the eternal souls of our families and our friends. We fight the enemy of our souls:

· That bad guy

· The father of all lies

· That hater of our soul

· The accuser of our brethren.

· The enemy of God

· You all know who I’m talking about? That’s right the devil!

I'm telling you today saints of God, we’re not the only ones to fight Satan. We’re not the first, and unless the Lord comes quickly we won’t be the last. But as we submit our lives to God in fear and reverence to his name; and to the wondrous power that he possesses and desires to share with us. We’ll be the greatest devil chasers the world has ever seen.

We will kick more devil tail than the devil has tails to kick. He’ll get kicked from one side and while he’s turning to see who did it, Whack, he gets it from somebody else. We’ll kick and kick and kick until the Devil’s finally been kicked all the way into the lake of fire by the Lord God himself! Praise God!

Be advised though, it takes a lot of growth before we can get to that stage of attainment. We don’t instantly scare the devil the moment we get saved. We have to learn about our weapons with which we wage war before we can defeat the devil with them. In the mean time we may even get our backside kicked just a little bit.

You see the devil’s a professional at his job. He’s been fighting against God’s children for thousands of years. We have to learn to fight back, and to fight back hard! Now, anyone with good sense hates to fight! You can get hurt even if you win. To be perfectly honest, there isn’t a whole lot of things in this world worth fighting for to begin with. But if we’re forced to fight, we'd better fight to win!

People don’t go to sporting events just to watch their team have a lot of fun, people go to watch them win. If we have to fight, let’s fight to win. This is too important of a fight not to win. If you lose, you go to hell. And frankly I’m not very interested in going there, not even for a visit! And just in case you haven’t noticed, we’re in a tough fight!

We’re fighting the devil everyday and he’s fighting to win. He’s fighting with all that he’s got because he hates us with all he’s got. We’ve got to win this battle because the only alternative is hell and you already know my feelings about going there! Praise God!!! (Pause, end of section)

Now when it comes to boxing, there are two basic types of fighters: A one punch fighter, and a fighter with an arsenal of punches. Let me try explaining the differences to you.

1. Analogy of a one punch fighter vs. a fighter with an arsenal.

A. The first type is a one punch boxer

The one punch boxer has only one punch that can do damage to his enemy. He may have to struggle for a long time before an opening comes that allows him to deliver that blow. A one punch fighter may have to take a lot of punishment until that opening comes. When that opening comes, he's got to take full advantage of it or he may have to take a lot more punishment until it comes again.

If we’re only one punch boxers, we may have to suffer at the hands of the enemy until our opening comes. Then it's Bam! Upside the head and we’re victorious in the end.

The problem is that we may take too many shots to our own head first. We become punch drunk Christians, bobbing and weaving when the enemy’s nowhere in sight. Mohammed Ali is a great example of that. He tried to hang around too long and took too many shots to the head. Now he has Parkinson’s Disease and will suffer from it’s debilitating effects the rest of his life.

When we get punch drunk, we blame too many things on the devil. The Devil did this, and the devil did that. Phooey! Life happens, and sometimes it hurts. But the devil probably didn’t have a thing to do with it. God said in:

Matthew 5:45 that the sun rises on the just and the unjust, and the rain falls on the just and the unjust.

Some attacks are of the devil but most are just life. Quit worrying about life and save your energy for the real fight. As one man likes to put it “The devil wouldn’t get your goat so often if you didn’t tell him where it’s tied”. We need to keep our minds on Christ and everything else will work out in the end, Amen.

When we’re babes in Christ, and only have one punch we’ll still win a lot of battles. But, sometimes we’ll suffer unnecessary abuse at the hands of the wicked one. Not many boxers go very far as professionals if they only have one punch.

A smart opponent learns to avoid that punch and still press the attack. We fight bravely on, but still unless we get our lucky punch in, were doomed in the end to defeat. But when the battle is fierce and we’re weakening we need more weapons in our arsenal.

A smart boxer will learn as many new skills as he can. We need to do the same. If we'll do that, we can overcome the devil much more quickly, and before he can do us any harm. Now let's talk about a:

B. Boxer with an arsenal

At this point, I want to show you how we’re going to whip the Devil like nobody's business! I want to show you the Biblical description of a boxer with an arsenal. This is a description of the “Ultimate Warrior”!!!! This is how a man or woman of God should be equipped. This is how we’re going to whip the daylights out of the devil.

These are the primary weapons of our warfare. This is how the prepared Christian should be outfitted every morning. If you aren’t dressed in your armor first thing every morning, then you have no one to blame but yourself if you get defeated by the enemy.

Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

This war isn’t about physical warfare it’s about spiritual warfare. God uses the physical description of weapons to get us to discover the spiritual weapons of our warfare. We have what we need, but only if we’ll use the weapons that God himself has provided for us. Here’s what happens when you’re a boxer that has an arsenal:

It will make your opponent work harder to defend himself from attack; much less be able to attack you. It says in:

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

We need to be offensively minded. We’re supposed to attack hell, not let it attack us! Gates are a defensive item, not an offensive one. That must mean we’re supposed to attack the gates of hell and tear them down! We can be bold in Christ to do it because we already know that the gates of hell won’t prevail against the church! Why, because the scriptures said they wouldn’t, and God’s word is never wrong!

Keep in mind that very few counter punchers ever win a championship. You have to be aggressive to win a championship. No matter how good you are if you’re always backing up the judges won’t respect you.

We can’t be cowards about this; a coward won’t win the battle. In fact cowards have their own little place in hell. If you want the victory, you have to take it. Remember, we’re not behind walls to hide from the devil; he’s behind walls to hide from us! God’s word says it this way in:

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

We have to be prepared to do battle, because the devil sure is! God hates a coward just as much as He hates the lazy person. Just as much as He hates the sin that rules so many peoples lives. But we must not forget this is a spiritual battle. We fight this battle with spiritual weapons, and we must be forceful about it.

There are no terms for surrender in this fight. It’s do or die, Heaven or hell, praise God! What’s your decision today? What’s your choice? After all it is your choice! It’s a spiritual battle and we have spiritual weapons if only we’ll use them. It says in:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

This is spiritual warfare because we’re spiritual people. Either God’s spirit dwells in us or Satan’s spirit dwells in us. Who do you want living in your heart today? I don’t know about you, but I want Jesus in my heart!

· I want the God of all creation living in my heart.

· I want the champion of the ages living in my heart.

· I want the God of all Gods.

· The King of all Kings

· The Lord of all Lords.

· The Alpha and the Omega

· The Beginning and the End

· The First and the Last

· The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

· The Mighty Conqueror

· The Lord of Hosts

· The Lord God Almighty.

That's who I want living in my heart. I don't know about you saints, but I've read the back of the book and he wins! And if He wins, we win, so I want to be on His side and I want Him to be on my side. Amen! Now let’s get to the weapons:

Our first weapon is:

A. The left jab of Jesus name.

A great boxer is usually known for his jab even more so than his punching power. A jab distracts, it keeps your opponent at bay and off balance. It stings when he hits you in the nose with it, and it makes your eyes water. Your opponent can’t see to hit you if he has tears in his eyes or a fist blurring his vision. It says in:

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

When the Devil comes around and tries to make us think he’s bad stuff, we just pop him in the nose in Jesus name. The devil isn’t more powerful than Jesus and he knows it. We call upon the authority we have in Jesus and the Devil can’t resist it. He has to move backwards, and when he’s moving backwards he’s not moving in on our lives.

Whenever the enemy attacks us, we call on the name of Jesus first thing. When we call on the name of Jesus, we sting the enemy and get his attention really quick. It lets him know that we know what we're doing, and that he's got a real fight on his hands. One that he'll probably decide to quit right then and there!

Now one thing to consider is that while many people seem to think of the jab as just a defensive weapon. It's also an offensive weapon. It's used to keep the enemy off balance while we prepare to use one of our other weapons.

When the enemy's moving backwards and having trouble seeing. Then it's time to unload on him with another weapon! We must show no mercy! We must take no prisoners! Not when it comes to the devil anyways. But now to our next weapon:

B. The Right Cross of the Holy Ghost

This is a punch that will knock a person out cold. This punch will still keep your opponent at a distance, but because of the power of this punch even at long range it can take a person out. More people have been knocked out with this punch, than any other punch in boxing. Listen to:

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Holy Ghost will quicken your mind. He'll bring things back to you like the perfect scripture for your situation, or the perfect scripture to use in witnessing. The things that you’ve heard men of God preach, or that you’ve read in your bible.

These things scare the devil because he knows that if you continue to be faithful to church. If you continue to read your bible and study it from front to back. You'll be a devastating puncher that can rock his world!

John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

You can’t even be saved without the Holy Ghost! You're sanctified by the spirit. You have to worship God in spirit and in truth. How can you worship Him in spirit and truth if you aren’t filled with his spirit?

Romans 8:26 says that we don’t even know how to pray as we ought. But the spirit makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. We have to be full of the Holy Ghost in order to go to heaven, much less to take on the devil! But if we're full of the Holy Ghost look out devil, here we come!

So when the devil comes at you; and you use the left jab of Jesus name to get him off balance. Be prepared, because the devil's going to try to work around the name of Jesus. He'll try to get your mind on something besides Jesus. Get you to lose your concentration. But all of a sudden the Spirit kicks in and WHAM, it's upside the head with the Right Cross of the Holy Ghost!

· Just when the devil thought he had you.

· Just when he was closing in for the kill.

· Just when he could taste the victory of defeating a baby in Christ.

Then the Holy Ghost gets your attention back on Jesus.

Then the Holy Ghost brings a devil stompin' scripture to mind.

Then the Holy Ghost breaks forth in praise and worship.

And WHAM, You just rocked his world!

Now, on to our next weapon:

C. The Uppercut of Prayer and Fasting

This punch is one of the most devastating punches of all because an opponent almost never sees it coming. This is a close range punch. In those times when the devil is all over you and you don't know what else to do, unleash this punch.

You'll find that if you’ll practice this weapon on a regular basis you’ll find that the devil will be very wary of attacking you personally. He may try to get at you through your family and your friends. Making them suffer, or making them to be cruel to you. But he’ll stay away from attacking you personally. You see the devil is full of pride and he hates getting spanked. The scriptures tell us in:

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

You see, we have to train our bodies to fast and pray. It’s the only way to keep conformed to God instead of the world. You don’t just start off praying eight hours a day and fasting forty days at a time. You have to build up to it. Renewing your mind through the reading of God’s word; and by taking heed to what it says. Seeking spiritual guidance from the Holy Ghost through prayer.

Training is the area where most boxers fail, and it's the same area where most Christians fail as well. You have to do the roadwork if you want to be a successful boxer. We have to train our minds in order to be successful Christians as well. This world will brain wash you if you aren't careful. We need to pray and fast so that we’ll be able to understand spiritual warfare. If you want true power to go against the devil; you have to fast, and you have to pray.

Here are some examples of the power of fasting and praying.

Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Acts 11:5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:

Acts 13:2-3 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

· If you want to see visions

· If you want God to call you to a ministry

· If you want to heal the sick

· If you want to cast out demons

· If you want to work in the gifts of the spirit

· If you want to be a living witness for God

· Even if all you want to do is just be in the will of God, then you have to fast and pray. Now to our last weapon:

D. The Left Hook of Faith

This punch is also a powerful weapon. This too is a close range weapon. You have to get very close to the opponent to use it. Very few people have the skill to use this weapon properly. Very few of us take the full measure of faith available to us. It tells us in:

Hebrews 11:1, 6 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 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.

· If we'll only believe in Jesus.

· If we'll only believe that He’s in control.

· If we'll only believe that He can do all things whether great or small on our behalf.

· If we'll only believe that He can defeat the devil anytime He even thinks about it.

Then we'll be alright!

Then we'll defeat the devil!

Then we'll be victorious!

Then we'll have a devil stompin' party!

So for those times:

· When you’ve been fighting the devil all week, all month, all year.

· When you don’t have anything left in you to fight.

· When you’ve used all your weapons and you have no strength to carry on.

· When the devil has avoided the Left Jab Of Jesus Name because you were distracted from the will of God

· When he's slipped under the Right Cross of the Holy Ghost because you've been missing church. Because you've been slack about reading your bible. Because you've had your mind on things instead of on Jesus.

· When he's blocked the Upper Cut of Prayer and Fasting because you haven't been praying and you haven’t been fasting.

That’s when you have to use this punch.

· When all you have left is faith then God can move the mountains in your life.

· When all you have left is faith. Then God can work miracles.

· When all you have left is faith. That’s when God has the greatest opportunity to work in your life those things that he wants to accomplish in you.

· When all you have is faith; nothing shall be impossible. Nothing shall be victorious over you.

So when that devil comes against you and he's fighting hard.

When you're throwing everything at him that you have and it doesn't seem to be working.

When you're hitting him with the Left Jab of Jesus Name.

When you're throwing the Right Cross of the Holy Ghost.

When you're smacking him with the Uppercut of Prayer and Fasting.

When you've done all there is to stand; then Slam the devil upside the head with the Left Hook of Faith!

I guarantee you this one thing. There's not a devil in hell that's ever been able to overcome faith in Jesus Christ when it comes to a spiritual battle. When all else fails you. Keep the faith, Live in faith, Fight the good fight of faith and you'll never lose.

If everyone would stand at this time With every head bowed and every eye closed. I want to ask you a question today. I want to ask you are you a winner or a loser? I'm going to give you a short description of a winner versus a loser that can help you make that decision.

A loser says there is no way. A winner says lets find a way.

A loser says we've always done it this way. A winner says lets find a better way.

A loser says it's too hard. A winner says we can do it.

A loser says lets do it tomorrow. A winner says lets do it today.

A loser says I can't do it. A winner says I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

A loser says I won't. A winner says not my will, but thine be done Lord.

A loser says I quit. Jesus says "He that endureth to end shall be saved.

Whether you consider yourself to be a winner or a loser today, I would like each and every one of you to come down to this altar. We either need prayer, or we need to be praying for someone else. "Come and dine the master calleth, come and dine!"