VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Rolling River Rampage... Experience the Adventure with Classes for all Ages... including Adults!
The Fight of Your Life
We are in a fight. Every day, we are engaged on a battlefield. Every day we face an enemy who seeks to destroy us. I’m not writing about a physical fight or altercation. I’m writing about a war that is much more serious. It’s a battle for your soul and your relationship with God.
Paul warns us in Ephesians 6:12 that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Peter warns us in 1 Peter 5:8 that we should “be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Paul and Peter warn us, in no uncertain terms, that we are facing a spiritual battle against an enemy that seeks to destroy us. Yet, the battle does not stop there. This enemy also seeks to destroy our marriages, families and the other relationships that we cherish in our lives. If you have something good and worthy in your life, you can rest assured that the enemy seeks to destroy it.
This battle looks different for each of us. We all have different struggles and temptations. My battle will often look different than yours. Some of us wrestle with fear. We are afraid of the past, present and future. We are afraid of the known and unknown. We are paralyzed with fear and it hurts our trust in God. Some of us fight the battle with rejection. We have been hurt in past relationships. We’ve had our hearts broken and our spirits crushed. We don’t want to trust God or anyone else. Some of us battle anger. We lose our cool too often and too harshly. We have left a wake of hurt feelings and damaged, broken relationships. Our anger has cost us more than we care to admit. Others of us wrestle with complacency. We tend to be lazy and distracted. We settle for far less than we should and fail to strive to do our best for the glory of God. Others of us wrestle with addictions that have wrecked our lives and deepest relationships. We’ve sought peace at the end of an alcohol or pill bottle, comfort in the arms of another, satisfaction in front of a computer screen or some sense of validation at a gambling table. Nothing has satisfied us or quenched our thirst and we are trapped in a web of addiction. Still, others of us battle depression. This disease has attacked us on many fronts and we struggle to get up each day and do what we need to do. Life seems pointless and our spirits our low. Nothing seems to matter and we just want relief.
We are all facing some kind of battle in our lives. Rest assured, the person you are sitting next to in your pew and the faces you will see at lunch today, are fighting a fight against an opponent you may or may not know something about. They are in a spiritual fight for their life and their soul hangs in the balance.
Next Sunday, we will begin a sermon series at Fairlane, entitled “The Fight of Your Life”. We will talk about these battles we are fighting and how we can overcome these various opponents. We will discuss how God will give us the victory over the enemies we face. If you know someone, who is fighting a difficult battle (and we all know someone who is) I encourage you to invite them to worship with you (or at least get them the CD or have them listen on-line).
The battle is real. The enemy is fierce. But God will give us the victory. Join us, as we discuss “the fight of your life” at Fairlane.
Vacation Bible School
June 3rd – 5th
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday Evening
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Come join the fun! We will have classes for all ages including adults. Please make plans to join us for the amazing “rolling river rampage” to experience the ride of a lifetime with God! If you would like to teach a class or volunteer, please see Charlie Pope.
The Fairlane family was blessed to read the book of Luke, together, as part of the “Fairlane Family Bible Reading Challenge”. The words and actions of Jesus, as recorded in the book of Luke, inspired and encouraged us and, at times, challenged us as we read and meditated upon them.
Due to the positive feedback and response of many in the Fairlane family, we are extending the reading challenge to include the book of Acts. Acts is Luke’s follow up to his gospel and it shows us the actions, attitudes and lives of the first century church. It shows their triumphs, struggles and how God was glorified as they lived lives that honored and led others to Him.
Beginning, June 1st and running thru June 28th, we will read a chapter of Acts a day. By the end of June, we will have completed Acts and have a deeper appreciation and love for the church that was established by the Apostles and early followers of Christ. I look forward to our journey in Acts together!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving present your Requests to God Phil 4:6 (NIV)
Fairlane Family Prayer Challenge
5/29 Pray for our upcoming VBS
5/30 Pray for President Donald Trump
5/31 Pray for Senator Lamar Alexander
6/01 Pray for Senator Bob Corker
6/02 Pray for Governor Bill Haslam
6/03 Pray for our State Representative Pat Marsh
6/04 Pray for our local government leaders
6/05 Pray for the inmates in our local jails
6/06 Pray for the residents of our local nursing homes
6/07 Pray for the spiritual growth of your family
6/08 Pray for someone you know who needs a relationship with Christ
6/09 Pray for a neighbor or co-worker
6/10 Pray for someone with whom you have a difficult or estranged relationship
6/11 Pray for ____________________________ (personal prayer request)
