I love the movie Cinderella Man. It is a movie based on the true story of Jame Braddock, and the inspirational life story of this champion fighter. Braddock, an Irish-American boxer from New Jersey, was formerly a light heavyweight. He was forced to give up boxing after breaking his hand in the ring. He goes to work, but can’t get enough work to keep them afloat and then his long time manager, Joe Gould, offers him a chance to fill in for just one night and earn cash. The fight is against the number two contender in the world, Corn Griffin. Braddock stuns the boxing experts with a third round knockout of his opponent. While his right hand was broken, he became better at using his left hand and it made him an even better boxer. He continues to box….and win. He is then given a shot at the heavyweight championship against the champ, Max Baer. He goes on to defeat Baer and thus becomes the Cinderella Man.
One thing about people who succeed, they are fighters. Never quit fighting!!! This is not a statement for Christians that causes us to believe WE have the strength to win victories. No, not us, but Jesus. Our battles are real and they include setbacks, but those setbacks will bring victory if we put our trust in the Lord. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says 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 of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” As a believer in Jesus Christ we don’t have the easiest of times, but God is faithful to help us fight our battles and He rewards us for our scars. True strength for the believer is found in God’s strength and the sooner we realize that truth, the sooner we realize all the victories God has in store for us. There are victories waiting to be realized if we will learn to trust God for the victory and fight the fight on our knees in prayer. Our battle is not against earthly forces, it is against the devil’s schemes. Here is what Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:10-17 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
In verse 18 Paul continues on with an encouraging word of instruction by saying 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. This shows that we aren’t the only ones with victory here, but also the church, or the group of believers who follow Jesus. But, we must learn to pray for each other and with each other to realize more and more victories. A church that prays together, stays together, and the end result is revival and victory after victory. I could stand some more victories right now and I believe God is poised and ready to give me some and spur me on to more and more of them. Be a fighter and fight the battles with God’s strength. 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the goodconfession in the presence of many witnesses.
Back to the Cinderella Man. When James Braddock fought Max Baer, he fought a man who was known to kill guys in the ring because of his ferocious power. Baer trusted in that power and lost to Braddock, the holder of great determination and will. When Baer lost that fight it demoralized him and he was never the same again. The devil knows that God is stronger than him and when we rely on God to defeat him in our lives, the devil will never be the same again in our lives. He won’t have a place anymore. When we replace the doubts, defeats, and shortcomings that the devil charges against us with the power of God this happens. John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I’m choosing God’s Way. How bout you?
The pilgrimage continues….
David Warren
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