Even when people preach the gospel out of spite or for whatever reason, people may still get blessed.
By the grace of God and His Spirit I bring a word to you.
This might be the solution to a problem that you have been having.
If I can help you solve one problem that will help your Christian faith, it would make me very glad.
For many years, I thought you had to fight the devil.
Nollywood certainly encouraged such beliefs in me.
Maybe you have watched a movie or seen other believers talking about fighting the devil via prayer and fasting.
Fight the devil.
A devil that has existed for at least 6000 years. He is skilled at guile, deception, and creating confusion amongst humans. And you think fighting the devil works?
Do you remember that you are at most 120 years and most likely under that age, heck, probably under 70 years old.
What do I mean?
Many propagate the idea that you should be fighting the devil spiritually. Even church propagate this thought.
As someone who has fought and overcome many challenges, I bring to you a possible answer.
It is a fallacy.
Here are four truths that can help you live a more victorious Christian life daily.
1. You are never to fight the devil in any way:
You do not fight the devil physically. You fight the good fight of faith by choosing God’s way. The first thing you do is seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Do this against all odds.
The bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:4 that:
“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but are mighty in God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down every imagination and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thing captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Your weapon is not carnal.
Your weapon is walking with God in a world that is used to working by its physical senses.
It is depending on the leading of the Spirit of God in a world that is used to dealing according to the systems of this world and its corrupt practices.
The best way to be in opposition to the enemy is to be in alignment to the kingdom of God.
Find practical ways to be in alignment to God’s kingdom in your words, thoughts, and actions and start practising them daily.
2. You are to fight the good fight of faith:
Choose to fight the good fight of faith daily.
1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
This is how to get enlisted in God’s army.
Once you are enlisted in the army of God, unless you deny Christ, you will always be a part of His army.
God is interested in you and in your family. He wants you in His kingdom joyfully and willingly.
God is so interested in you that He wants you to serve Him rightly and joyfully. This is acceptable service before the Lord: service that is joyfully and willingly given.
More than putting up an act before everyone and God, the content of your heart matters so much to the Lord.
Authenticity with the Lord is the quickest way to get His attention. If you are hurt, tell him, “Dear Lord, I am hurting, heal my heart O Lord.”
Or if you have struggles and problems, tell Him.
"Dear Lord, I am struggling with lust, porn, and covetousness, help me, Lord"
He will usually find a way to get the resources you need to you.
“Dear Lord, help me get rid of this pain/ill health, your word says, you have borne my infirmities and carried my sicknesses. If you have borne them and carried them, then they are no longer mine.”
“Dear Lord, I have been in the same place for two years, can you help me navigate a path forward, show me the way Lord, show me what to do, where to go and how to move forward in Jesus name, amen.”
Be vocal with God.
The end part of Mark 11:23 says that you will have what you say.
Mark 11:23
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Start talking in alignment with God because you have the mind of Christ. The bible says in the scripture above that you will have what you say.
Stay in alignment with God’s mind and His will.
3. You are to stand in the victory that Christ has already won for you.
I have certainly had bouts with the devil in the past where I was very violent and speaking in tongues. Afterwards I would be so tired, weary, and if I am honest not very confident.
Why was I not confident?
I was not confident because I knew I was no match for the devil on my own. But when I partnered with Christ Jesus, I knew I did not have to throw even one punch because my partner was with me always and helping me.
Is he helping you by fighting physically?
No. Jesus did all the fighting needed by dying on the cross and resurrecting. Before he resurrected he took the keys of death and hell.
Colossians 1:13-14 says he made a show of the devils by triumphing over them.
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Paul was talking to the Christians in Colosse.
He said God qualified them (you and I too when we make Jesus the Lord of our life) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
He said God had delivered them from the kingdom of darkness and transported them into the kingdom of His dear Son, Jesus.
He said that in Christ Jesus, we have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins.
You have been redeemed and forgiven. Refuse to live like a criminal who is condemned.
Drop the guilt, and shame associated with sin and live in the finished works of Christ.
Ever heard about the finished works of Christ?
This thing that he did is called the finished works of Christ. This finished works of Christ ensures that you never have to fight the devil again. You just need to stand in Christ.
Christ has won the victory. When you stand in Christ and pray in Jesus name, you get to experience the victory that He won for you at the cross.
Christ died on the cross because He loves you. He will never be angry that you accepted salvation and are not qualified to enjoy His goodness.
Never let guilt, shame, and condemnation hold you back from what Christ has for you. I pray that by the Holy Spirit, you take hold of the courage needed to receive and enjoy every good thing in God.
4. When did Christ win the victory?
On the cross at Calvary.
What happened at the cross?
An innocent man was beaten to a pulp, judged, hung and nailed to the cross. He was crucified and kept on the cross till he died.
In our time, we would call that an injustice.
God demanded a judgment for sin. Man was guilty of sin by association with Adam. So man was punished by separation from God.
In order to get back fellowship with man, blood had to be shed. God sent Jesus to shed His blood for the whole world so that man could be reconciled to Him.
Jesus agreed to do the Father’s will to ransom back man back to God.
When you become born again and make Jesus Lord of your life, you change ownership. You no longer belong to yourself, you now belong to God.
1 Corinthians 5:21
He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God.
When he died the death on the cross, He paid for your sin and mine. Then he gave us righteousness as a gift.
When he died, he descending into hell for three days.
After three days, because death could not hold Him for He was sinless, he resurrected by the power of Holy Spirit.
It is all about legalities.
Hell cannot hold a sinless man.
Romans 3:21
The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.
The Jews crucified Him wrongfully. But he had not sinned and so legally could not remain in hell.
What did he do in hell when he descended into hell?
He went to get the keys of death and Hades.
When he resurrected, he gave the believer authority in His name to trample on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the wicked one and ensured that nothing would harm the believer.
As a believer in Christ Jesus, you have authority in Christ. This authority is yours to use on earth to live the victorious Christian life.
So what do you do?
So you do not fight the devil.
You simply reaffirm the defeat he suffered when Christ resurrected from the dead by the power of Holy Spirit.
Calvary is your joker.
It is the place where you were reconciled to God because Christ died your death. You now have rights in Christ Jesus and the heritage of the sons.
You have an inheritance with Christ Jesus, one that was paid with His blood.
From today, never see yourself as separate from God.
Romans 8:36
Nothing will ever separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
God is in you.
God is on you.
God is for you.
You are accepted in the beloved.
God loves you unconditionally.
He will always show up when you call.
All of the above is for believers in Christ Jesus.
In the fight of faith, you need to put on the whole armour of God every single day.
What is the armour of God?
Ephesians 6:14-17
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put 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;
Let's create a simple summary:
- Gird your waist with truth: This is the truth of the word of God.
- Put on the breastplate of righteousness: The gift of righteousness protects your heart from malice, anger, fear and other negative emotions.
- Feet shod with the gospel of peace: The gospel when you preach it is power.
- Shield of faith: This is when you speak with the faith of Jesus Christ, not your own faith. The one God has given you as a gift. This is for quenching fiery darts.
- Helmet of salvation: Salvation is a protection for your mind
- Sword of the Spirit: This is the word of God. When you know the word of God, you can cut down the lies of the enemy. Study your word daily for a victorious Christian life.
NB:
Ephesians 6:18
...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...
I advice you to always pray in the Holy Ghost and prayer is a way to watch. Persevere and pray for the saints of God and for your family and friends daily,
If you would love to make Jesus Lord of your life, say this prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
Help me.
I cannot lead myself.
I ask you to be the Lord of my life.
Come and lead and direct and instruct me all the days of my life in Jesus name, amen.
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