Fighting The Battle And Winning

If you are a born-again believer, you are in a battle for your soul and for your family and loved ones.  We all start out with a lot of baggage in our lives. Some have more than others but we all have some. Some of us have lived as non believers much longer than others and have been tainted by the things of the world for a greater period of time.  Some have lived sheltered lives and have not wallowed in sin as deep as others but none of us are exempt from baggage and sin in our lives. The Bible says, “all have sinned and fell short of the glory of God, there is none righteous no not one, our sins are as filthy rags!”

When we receive Jesus through brokenness and deep repentance confessing that we are sinners, the Lord forgives us and cleanses us with his precious blood. Then He covers us with His righteousness and then Jesus enters our lives in the form of the Holy Spirit and our body becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit.

So we, as Christians, start out with a clean slate forgiven and justified before God!  Now the battle starts and if we are not careful we start accumulating more baggage because of sin.

We have many enemies and the devil controls them all. They are everywhere, even in our churches.  Many times they don’t even know that they are controlled by the devil. They may look and talk and even act like Christians while they are attending services but that doesn’t make them a Christian. Think of this, if you find a mouse in a cookie jar it doesn’t make him a cookie. Jesus said to a man named Nicodemus, a very religious man and a teacher of Israel, that to even see the kingdom of God you must be born-again.  Jesus spoke about the Pharisees, the teachers of the law in Luke 11: 37 – 44 as well as other places in his Word, check it out. 

We have five senses and temptation can come through all of them. Temptation can come through

Seeing – what we see.

Hearing – what we hear.

Touching – what we feel or touch.

Tasting – things we eat.

Smelling – things that lure us into temptation by how they smell.

 

We all start out with the power of the Holy Spirit within us but we also have the sin nature in us that fights against the Spirit.  As long as we walk in the Holy Spirit we won’t desire the things of the flesh but if we walk in the flesh then temptation will overtake us and we will more than likely be overcome by sin, the choice is ours.

So how do we win the battle and overcome the devil and the temptations that come our way?

The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 6: 10 – 18, “Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole Armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the cunning devices of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,  but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole Armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having overcome all to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness: And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the Helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.  Watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

“And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”  Check out Ephesians 4: 30 – 32.       

How do we win and overcome?  The Bible says in Revelation 12:11, “And they overcame him (the evil one) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony: and they loved not their lives unto death.”

Now you know what to do, so never give up or give in, no, never.  Fear and honor God and walk in faith and you will win the battle.  “For greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”   Praise God!