Seeing The Real War
by James Robison
"Finally be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the
full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of
the devil. 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." (Eph. 6: 10-12)
The unseen realm of war is the stage on which the real drama of our lives is carried out. It is where our conflicts originate—conflicts that spill over into the visible, physical, temporal world. War is being waged in the realm of the spirit and in the very heart and soul of every person. This real conflict is between the kingdom of God, controlled by the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and powers of darkness--the kingdom controlled by satan.
There are legions of angelic beings, heavenly hosts and demonic spirits, which are in continual conflict. We have the glorious right and privilege of dispatching angels, defending holy territory, protecting our lives and our families, and assaulting the gates of hell. We must fight because we can win.
We find victory when we set our mind and emotions on the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice for your sins. Allowing the power of Jesus to change our thoughts, habits and character is the key to overcoming the evil one. We must deal head on with the sin that holds us back from fulfilling God’s purposes in the world.
Paul warns the Corinthian church about a deceiver who works on the mind of believers in order draw them away from purity of devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15) Unhealthy patterns of thinking and feeling lead to sinful behavior and can take the body and soul of a Christian captive. (Romans 7:23) The sinful area that is held captive spreads it’s poison, oppressing the influence of our reborn spirit, which is one with Christ.
Paul described the choice we face: “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit for the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God: for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so: and those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans. 8:5-8)
We can rejoice in the fact that Satan is a created being with limited power. Jesus says satan is a liar (John 8:42-47); a thief and a robber who tries to steal and molest the sheep (John 10:1-18). He calls him a murderer in John 8:44, and Revelation 12:10 describe Satan as the accuser of the brethren.
Those who are truly born again, who are in Christ, present a dangerous threat to the enemy. In Luke 10: Jesus sent the seventy-two messengers out like sheep amidst wolves with the authority of His name to declare the Kingdom of God. They returned reporting in amazement how demons had to obey them when they ministered in Jesus’ name.
Satan and his demons are no match for the Spirit of God when a Christian is submitted to the Lordship of Jesus. Paul leads the charge for believers in II Corinthians 10:5. “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”
Victory begins by knowing Christ and as Savior and knowing the Scriptures. You can take your thoughts to Him, and He will point out those that didn’t come from Him. The Holy Spirit’s empowers us recognize thoughts that don’t match Christ’s nature or the way He operates.
This Week
Examine the patterns of thought that dominate you. Be alert to the deceiver’s strategy to move you away from the purity and devotion to Christ. Bring your thoughts captive under the blood of Jesus Christ. Resist the devil and He will flee from you. (James 4:6-7)
Prayer
"I pray in the authority of Jesus’ name that my thoughts and feelings will be brought captive to the obedience of Christ. Holy Spirit, fill me and keep my mind and soul purely devoted to you."
