Choosing the Right Battles in Faith

Gratitude fills the heart as we gather, recognizing that God is at work among us—drawing us closer, reminding us of His love, and strengthening us with His joy even in hardship. We are called to remember that our strength is not found in circumstances, but in the presence of the Lord, who is both our comfort and our King. As we worship, we crown Him with praise, acknowledging His sovereignty over every battle and circumstance in our lives. Our community is invited to participate in the life of the church, from mission trips and youth retreats to supporting one another in prayer and practical needs. We celebrate answered prayers and continue to lift up those facing challenges, trusting God to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.

Turning to Scripture, we reflect on the importance of choosing our battles wisely. Drawing from both history and the Bible, the image of the battlefield and the high ground illustrates that not every hill is worth dying on. Just as generals must discern which positions are truly strategic, so must we as followers of Christ. Jesus Himself modeled this, refusing to be distracted by every demand or argument, keeping His focus on the ultimate mission. Paul’s charge to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:11-12 is to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness, and to fight the good fight of faith—not to be sidetracked by every controversy or quarrel.

Nehemiah’s story further teaches us the power of focus and discernment. Despite repeated attempts to distract, intimidate, or falsely accuse him, Nehemiah refused to leave the work God had given him. He did not waste energy defending himself against every rumor; instead, he prayed for strength and pressed on, completing the wall in record time. The lesson is clear: if we allow ourselves to be drawn into every minor battle, we risk losing sight of the mission and exhausting ourselves for little gain.

In our own lives, we are surrounded by opportunities for distraction—arguments online, cultural controversies, personal offenses. Yet, Scripture reminds us that our real enemy is not flesh and blood, but spiritual forces. People are not our enemies; they are the mission field. We are called to fight for what is eternal: our faith, our families, and the souls of those around us. The only hill truly worth dying on is Calvary, where Jesus already won the victory. Our task is to live in light of that victory, focusing our energy on what matters most, and bringing others to the foot of the cross.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Discern the Right Battles Not every conflict or controversy is worth your energy. Like Nehemiah, we must learn to distinguish between distractions and the true mission God has given us. When we focus on every minor offense or argument, we risk missing the greater work God is calling us to accomplish. [46:07]
• 2. Spiritual Warfare, Not Personal Warfare Our real struggle is not against people, but against spiritual forces that seek to divide and distract. When we mistake people for the enemy, we lose sight of our calling to love and reach them. Remembering the true nature of our battle helps us respond with grace and purpose, rather than anger or defensiveness. [52:49]
• 3. Faithful Endurance Over Outrage The Christian life requires endurance, gentleness, and love, not constant outrage or defensiveness. Paul’s exhortation to Timothy is to pursue virtues that build up rather than tear down. Endurance in the right battles produces lasting fruit, while constant engagement in every controversy only drains our strength. [54:33]
• 4. The Power of Focused Mission When we refuse to be sidetracked by every accusation or distraction, God can accomplish great things through us. Nehemiah’s unwavering focus led to the completion of the wall in just 52 days—a feat that would have been impossible if he had stopped to answer every critic. Our effectiveness for God’s kingdom increases when we keep our eyes on the mission. [49:31]
• 5. The Only Hill Worth Dying On Ultimately, the only battle that truly matters is the one Jesus fought and won at Calvary. All other hills pale in comparison to the eternal significance of the cross. Our calling is to bring others to Jesus, prioritizing what is eternal over what is temporary, and living in the victory He has secured for us. [67:26]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:36] - Opening Prayer and Thanksgiving
• [05:35] - Worship: The Joy of the Lord
• [15:32] - Crowning Christ as King
• [33:31] - The Battlefield and the High Ground
• [34:24] - Lessons from History: High Ground
• [37:27] - Pop Culture and the Right Hill
• [39:57] - Jesus’ Example: Focus on the Mission
• [41:42] - 1 Timothy 6: Fight the Good Fight
• [44:42] - Nehemiah: Distraction vs. Mission
• [46:07] - Nehemiah’s Response to Opposition
• [49:31] - The Wall Completed: Power of Focus
• [52:49] - Spiritual Warfare, Not Personal Warfare
• [55:58] - Outrage Culture and Choosing Battles
• [62:27] - Restlessness and True Peace
• [67:26] - The Only Hill Worth Dying On
• [74:16] - Communion Preparation and Abiding
• [80:09] - Final Exhortation: Abide and Fight the Good Fight
• [81:59] - Closing Blessing and Dismissal

Bible Reading

1 Timothy 6:11-12 (ESV) — > But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Nehemiah 6:1-9 (ESV) — > Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

Observation Questions

1. In 1 Timothy 6:11-12, what specific qualities does Paul urge Timothy to pursue, and what does he tell him to avoid?
2. According to Nehemiah 6:1-9, how did Nehemiah respond to repeated attempts to distract and intimidate him from his work?
3. The sermon mentioned that not every battle is worth fighting. What examples did the pastor give of “hills” that are not worth dying on? [[40:55]]
4. What was the result of Nehemiah’s focus and refusal to be distracted by his enemies? [[49:31]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul connects the “good fight of faith” with pursuing virtues like gentleness and endurance, instead of anger or defensiveness? [[54:33]]
2. What does Nehemiah’s response to his enemies teach us about handling criticism or false accusations in our own lives? [[46:52]]
3. The sermon says our real enemy is not people, but spiritual forces. How does this perspective change the way we respond to conflict or opposition? [[52:49]]
4. The pastor shared that Jesus didn’t get involved in every argument or demand. What does this reveal about choosing which battles to engage in? [[39:57]]

Application Questions

1. Think about a recent argument or controversy you were involved in (online or in person). Was it a “hill worth dying on,” or was it a distraction from what matters most? How can you tell the difference next time? [[40:55]]
2. Are there areas in your life where you are spending energy defending your reputation or responding to criticism, like Nehemiah’s enemies tried to get him to do? What would it look like to “stay on mission” instead? [[46:52]]
3. The sermon said, “People are not our enemies; they are the mission field.” Is there someone in your life you’ve been treating as an enemy? How could you shift your attitude or actions toward them this week? [[52:49]]
4. The pastor mentioned that outrage and constant controversy can drain our strength and distract us from God’s work. What is one practical step you can take to avoid getting caught up in outrage culture? [[55:58]]
5. Nehemiah prayed for strength instead of arguing with his critics. What is one area where you need to pray for God’s strength to stay focused on what He’s called you to do? [[46:52]]
6. The only hill truly worth dying on is Calvary, where Jesus won the victory. How can you live this week in light of Jesus’ victory, focusing on what is eternal rather than what is temporary? [[01:07:26]]
7. The sermon challenged parents to prioritize faith over temporary achievements for their children. If you’re a parent (or mentor), what is one way you can help the next generation focus on what matters most? [[01:06:16]]