DEUTERONOMY 3:21-22 – And I commanded Joshua at that time, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. So will the Lord do to all the kingdoms into which you are crossing. You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.’
THEME OF THE DAY: OUR VICTORIOUS LORD. The 19th century giant of the faith, Jonathan Edwards, is recognized as America’s most important and influential theologian and philosopher. He also penned what might very well be the best book, apart from the Bible, on the topic of Religious Affections under that title. Of the Christian life, Edwards once said, “God has appointed this whole life to be all as a race or battle; the state of rest, wherein we shall be out of danger as to have no need of watching and fighting, is for another world.” And a well-known Christian author and pastor of our generation, Warren Wiersbe, commenting on the life of the Christian in this world, “The Christian life is not a playground; it is a battleground.”
Every true Christian knows this war Edwards and Wiersbe described. It is very intense and comprehensive. The Apostle Paul would refer to the battles raging not just around us but in us; the battle in the heart – For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within (2 Corinthians 7:5). And the foes are powerful, crafty, and organized – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12). To be successful in this war, we need not only the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), but to understand we are fighting from a position of victory already achieved (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). Let me explain.
The cosmic battle being fought between God and Satan is not a war with the outcome uncertain. Jesus has defeated Satan. What was prophesied in the Old Testament book of Genesis came into reality on the cross of Christ and was affirmed by His resurrection – I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel (Genesis 3:15). Tying this into today’s scripture, the daily skirmishes we have with our spiritual foes are to be fought standing behind the Lord who fights for us through the Gospel.
Each time an attack from any of our spiritual foes occurs, we are not to engage in the strength of self. We will lose each time. We are to look to our position in Christ, and by faith, fight the good fight under the banner of the Captain of our salvation – For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the Captain of their salvation perfect through suffering (Hebrews 2:10). But we might be wondering, “How do we practically live this out?” Here is one example. Each time the attack of some fleshly temptation comes upon us, don’t try to slay or avoid in the strength of self. To do so will take the temptation to sin and make it actual sin. Instead take our position in Christ and apply it – I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). We speak down to defeat temptation by saying to it, “I don’t have to give in to you. I have been crucified with Jesus so I am dead to the sin you want me to commit. And I was raised with Him in His resurrection so that He now lives within me. I have His resurrection power to defeat you.” If we consistently apply the already achieved victory by our Lord, allowing Him to fight for us, we will know more and more daily victories in a war already won by Him!
PRAYER: “Father, thank You for the Captain of my salvation, Your Son, leading me to victory over all my spiritual foes.”
QUOTE: “Even though we will lose spiritual battles in this world, we will triumph at the end.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim