How do we fight our battles and win victories over our sins of the flesh and spiritual enemies?
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4
Power (the Holy Spirit)
“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;” Acts 1: 8a
“but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you… the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.” John 14: 17b, 26
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” John 16:13
“No, in all these things (attacks by the world ruled by Satan) we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
Prayer
“And (Jesus) said to them, “This kind (of demon) cannot come out by anything except prayer.” Mark 9:29
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
The Word of God
“For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
“All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1 John 5:4
Victory Over Death
The Resurrection of Christ, the Messiah, Savior and Lord
“Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain…and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ only in this life, we are of all people most to be pitied.” 1 Corinthians 15: 12-18
The world is saying, “Look at those pitiful Christians—they worship a DEAD MAN!”
Prophesied by Isaiah more than 700 years before Paul quoted his words:
“(Jesus) will swallow up death in victory; And the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; And the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: For the Lord hath spoken it.” Isaiah 25: 8
“Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15: 51-55, 57
Encouragement for Christians. Love, believe, and be patient.
“By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” John 13: 35
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. After a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live.” John 14: 15-19
Invitation to the Holdouts. What are you waiting for? You too can experience absolute victory. There is only one two-part requirement. I refer to it as Recognize and Repent. First we recognize based on an honest examination of our lives – in light of what God said in His Word – that we are sinners, just as guilty as anyone else from Adam and Eve to this day. How do you know that? Jesus said so, but He came to provide the only cure.
“Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4: 17
“…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20: 28
I pray today you will count yourself one of the many and experience absolute victory over life, in life, and most importantly, over death.
For Christ’s sake,
