Fight the Battle to the End

Introduction: Resistance and Spiritual Warfare

We have talked about the existing War involving Iran, Israel, and the USA. Something that I find surprising, yet prophesied in the Bible, is Iran's resistance; it is powerful despite not being a superpower like the US. However, supposedly the war will end with the United States asking for an agreement because they were unable to overcome them, and this is where the word will be fulfilled: "the United States will eventually cease to exist," and the final war will be between Iran, China, Turkey against Israel. The United States surrendered, and this made me meditate on how spiritual life is the same situation. You cannot grant the enemy a truce, agreements, or a white flag of peace because his only goal is to eliminate his adversaries. You cannot forget that you are in a War, and this battle is constant. You must defeat the enemy to the end.

1. Spiritual Warfare: A Battle Not Won Due to Lack of Faith (2 Kings 13:14-19)

a. The King lacked faith; he only struck three times. He should have struck until he finished off his enemies. This problem continues literally today, as Israel fights against Damascus.

• Satan is not given just one blow; every time you decide to worship, praise, and serve, you strike him because this fight is against the spiritual realm.
• (Ephesians 6:10) explains what the battle is and how it is won—praying at all times, as the world is full of Principalities.
• Natural people only see what their eyes can see, but a spiritual person knows there is a continuous battle. Against oneself, against Satan.
• The King's problem was a lack of Perseverance. Some give up easily in the face of battles because they are weak-minded, defeatists, or conformists; they do not fight the battle to the end.

2. This Battle is Won with "JOY"

a. As human beings, we have a word that will define our life: "HAPPINESS," but the Bible does not speak of this. Happiness: is a word of Hedonism, "worship of pleasure." This is why it comes from the Latin word "felicitas," which means: • Fertile, fortunate, prosperous, favorable. • Happiness is related to the brain's rewards: dopamine (pleasure and reward), endorphins (well-being), serotonin (mood)—all of this is human nature. • Happiness is activated when we receive good news, eat, or feel loved by a partner, but this depends on circumstances; it is fluctuating, emotional, and if it is lost, everything changes and depression sets in. • Many are defeated because they do not have this Happiness, so they stop battling, stop fighting, and simply surrender to the enemy. • (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3) This is how Solomon describes it.

b. JOY is not human (Galatians 5:22: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness") Joy in Greek, "Chará," is not the worship of pleasure; it is something deeper. • Deep gladness, inner delight, rejoicing; its root comes from the word "Grace," which does not depend on circumstances but on a relationship with God. • Joy comes as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. What does this make us think? • Whoever thinks they were born to be happy, to be adored, pampered, spoiled, and for everything to go well, is a person living addicted to self-pleasure, thinking their goal is happiness. • Whoever knows Christ knows that not everything in life is easy, that it is a battle, that there are difficulties, trials, and sicknesses, and that all this must be lived with "JOY." • Whoever lives subject to Happiness lives dominated by CIRCUMSTANCES, but whoever fights with JOY fights to the end, even if circumstances fail.

3. Joy Does Not Eliminate the Battle (Hebreos 12:2)

"looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

• Christ did not eliminate the Cross; He endured it with Joy. Joy gave Him the strength to endure it. a. Many live defeated by thinking about their Happiness, but they do not understand the connection to the spiritual realm. They demand perfection, they seek what is human in marriage, but no one can give what they do not have.
• Many marry in search of HAPPINESS, and how do they measure it? By words, by actions, etc. But they are defeated when they encounter the difficulties that life offers.
• For example, a baby is beautiful, but caring for one requires certain Gifts that people today do not have: "love, patience, perseverance."
• Today people live in search of their Pleasure, but not of Battles or struggles. If you have understood God's Purpose, you know that you are in a War, and it requires you to seek God and seek His Joy, so as not to be defeated.

b. Paul fought his battle the way he PREACHED it

• (Philippians 4:4-7: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.")
• How can he say "REJOICE!" when he was in prison, being condemned to Death?
• And there are Christians today saying, "I can't go on" just because of some circumstance of defeat, but they eat, drink, have clothes, and are not in PRISON.
• There are defeated people because their Pleasure is a Cellphone, or materialism, and because of this they stop fighting. They give up.
• Without Joy, we are defeated. (Psalm 51:12: "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation"). Have you had the Joy of your salvation?
• Satan does not need to take away your salvation to stop you. Taking away your joy is enough for him.

c. Neuroscience has discovered that people with purpose, hope, and meaning endure pain and adversity better.

• Modern neuroscience has discovered that people who possess purpose, meaning, and hope resist suffering better. The brain withstands pain better when it knows there is a purpose behind it.
• This explains why two people can go through the same trial: one collapses, the other perseveres.
• The Bible taught this thousands of years ago. Joy does not mean the absence of tears. It means having a reason to keep moving forward.

CONCLUSION:

(James 1:2: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials"). Joy is not the reward after the battle; it is the gift God gives us to overcome it. This depends on the presence of God; our goal in life should not be to accumulate materialism for Pleasure, it should be His Presence, and the rest is added. Do not give up, this is a daily, constant, and resounding battle. (Acts 20:24: "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.") (Nehemiah 8:10: "Then he said to them, 'Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.'")