What Is Your Fight Song? Series

Slugfest

Pt. 2 - What's Your Fight Song?

I. Introduction

People show up to the fights to see the contenders stand in the ring and throw bombs at each other in a test of strength and strategy. However, there is a part of the fight that begins before the fighters ever step foot inside the squared circle. It begins with the lights dimmed. Surrounded by their training partners and coaches the fighters exit the tunnels that lead from the bowels of the colosseums and make their way to the ring. The crowd's yells swell as the fighters enter to "walk out" music. It is the fighter's song of choice. The fighter often bobs and weaves to the beat. His eyes focus into a straight ahead stare. It is his fight song. It is intended to motivate. It is used to intimidate. Mahammad Ali is the one who recognized the power of the song to set the scene for the battle. Late in his career, The Greatest broke new ground by entering the ring to face Earnie Shavers to the majestic sound of the theme from Star Wars. Others realized the importance of this tool. In 1988 Mike Spinks, stood in the ring as the undisputed heavyweight champion with a record of 31-0. His opponent, a young boxer by the name of Mike Tyson, walked out to a nightmarish experimental music composition. It was a song filled noise and chains rattling. As the song plays you can literally see Spinks start to tremble in his shorts and 91 seconds later Spinks wakes up from a forced nap! Perhaps the best example of the impact of a song connected to boxing is of course this (START theme song of Rocky - Eye of the Tiger) . . . Just the first few bars and you are ready to strap on gloves and jump in a ring. However, real warriors have knew long before Ali or any modern boxer that music matters. All you have to do is backtrack to today's text and you discover that God is the One who instituted the fight song. It really isn't the first account (you would have to back up to Miriam’s composition following the Red Sea escape to find an earlier version) nor is the last (Paul and Silas in Acts) however, it is perhaps the one account that best outlines the importance and necessity of using praise in a fight.

Text: 2 Chronicles 20:1-3 (MSG)

Some time later the Moabites and Ammonites, accompanied by Meunites, joined forces to make war on Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat received this intelligence report: “A huge force is on its way from beyond the Dead Sea to fight you. There’s no time to waste—they’re already at Hazazon Tamar, the oasis of En Gedi.”

Shaken, Jehoshaphat prayed. He went to God for help and ordered a nationwide fast.

After prayer and fasting a prophetic word comes to the people that God will fight for them and they won't have to lift a hand.

20:21-23

After talking it over with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed a choir for God; dressed in holy robes, they were to march ahead of the troops, singing, Give thanks to God, His love never quits. (Your love never fails, It never gives up, It never runs out on me) As soon as they started shouting and praising, God set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir as they were attacking Judah, and they all ended up dead. The Ammonites and Moabites mistakenly attacked those from Mount Seir and massacred them. Then, further confused, they went at each other, and all ended up killed.

Before we get into the part of this account that addresses a fight song. Let me first mention that the king gets word that the enemy is close. 91 miles away from his capital city of Jerusalem. The enemy is inside the boundaries of the kingdom. How many of us are unaware or perhaps we are aware, and we allow the enemy to take up positions inside our territory? Not quite overtaken. Not quite in control but just on the outlying edges. Before they ever get to the capital the king is informed and concerned! Don't become satisfied with giving up an inch. Don't grow comfortable with forfeiting any area in your life. Don't ever come to the conclusion that that area is just one you will have to live with! No, prepare for battle. Fight for what is yours.

I also want you to notice the combined forces of enemy. Not one enemy but multiple are coming for the tribe of Judah. They are ganging up on them. Ever felt like this. Not an attack on one front. Multiple attacks. Multiple enemies. Now perhaps more than ever before multiple affronts. The enemy is an old dog with very few new tricks. He continues to use the same tactics to this day. He will gang up on you. He won't just bring sickness. He will bring sickness coupled with a big bill and an upset family member. He will combine a virus, with social unrest, with political upheaval. Wake up. This isn't new. He is just combining forces in hopes that we will tuck tail and run. Notice the effect . . . the leader, the appointed one, the mighty one is afraid. Notice the effect today? People trained for a day like this. People of faith. People of promise. People of power. And yet all I hear is we are afraid. We are scared. We are uncertain. The intended effect is the same. But also notice what the trembling king got right! He prays. He fasts. I wonder if the reason some of us continue in defeat is because instead of increasing prayer and fasting we increase Facebook? I wonder if some of us would get back to prayer and fasting if we might also be able to get back in the fight? Listen these accounts are just for fun reading they are strategic manuals. These are war manuals that still work today. I recognize the armies are amassed against us. Follow the manual! Remember we aren't fighting for victory but from victory. It will work.