HAPPY NEW YEAR

GICF 2016 RETREAT FIGHTING FIT Venue: The Fountains Date: Saturday, 9 th January :00 am – 4:30 pm Shuttle bus: Baiyun Dadao Bei EXIT A 8:00am & 8:40 am COST : FREE LUNCH: 40 RMB per person (5 and under are free) PAY AT REGISTRATION TODAY!

EVENTS 1.Praise & Worship 2.Theme Message – Fighting the Good Fight 3.Games & Fellowship 4.Children’s Activities 5.Workshops: – What next after graduation? – Called to Serve – Sunday School – Balancing work & ministry – Keys to Financial Freedom – How to give a gospel presentation

1. What is the good fight? 2 Timothy 4: … the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. PERSEVERANCE

2. How should we fight? A.Spiritual & Mental Preparation (Faith) B.Action (Good conscience) I Timothy 1:18-19 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

I Timothy 6:6-10 (6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish & harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.)

I Timothy 6: But you, O man of God, flee these things (foolish & harmful lusts, the love of money, greediness) and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing. (foolish & harmful lusts, the love of money, greediness)

A.Preparation (Faith, Discipleship & Training I Tim 4 etc) B.Action (Good conscience & perseverance) in the power of the Holy Spirit 1)Flee (these things - lusts) 2)Pursue (deny yourself, take up your cross, follow Him) 3)Fight (Prayer, worship, armour of God, thought life, disobedience) 4)Lay hold (on eternal life & eternal things Col 3:2) 5)Keep the commandment (2 Cor 10:4, John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.) 2. How should we fight? 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Cor 10:4

3. Against whom / what are we supposed to fight? SATAN SYSTEM of the world SELF Etc

Mortification: Taking up the Cross Every day, sin beats us or is beaten, prevails or is prevailed on; therefore sin must always be mortified - PUT TO DEATH. This is the FIGHT against self. Not to be daily dying to sin, is to sin against the goodness, kindness, wisdom, grace, and love of God, who has provided us with a principle of doing it. Mortification must be done by the Spirit. Mortification from self-strength for self- righteousness, is false religion. John Owen

Last Year’s Theme GROWING TOGETHER How did you do? 1.Grow in the knowledge of the truth (know) 2. Grow in Christ likeness (be) 3. Growing in the body (do)

CONCLUSION Growing up means being prepared to fight Are you ready to …? 1)Learn to Flee, Pursue, Fight 2)Fight self, sin and the world system by building! Persevere! 3)Take the step of faith to be born again