The Victory of Jesus

 As a kid who grew up in the church, I was taught Christians were in a "spiritual battle."  The range of views and degrees of emphasis placed upon this battle by different people was a source of confusion for me.  Some people acted like that battle could only be won by the intense efforts of people to "put on the armour of God" and to be "prayer warriors" delving into "spheres of influence."  Others who were also well-grounded in the truth of God's word seemed to give "spiritual warfare" far less publicity.  Some often felt "under attack by the enemy" when difficulties arose, prayed for God to mobilise angels on their behalf and for a "hedge of protection."  Some saw the battle as out there in the world with an unseen enemy, others saw this conflict more as personal and internal; others felt they were on the front lines whilst others said without a care, "The battle is the LORD's."

One of the great challenges of doctrine around spiritual warfare is terminology often used to explain aspects of it are not found verbatim in scripture.  Over the years believers have developed words linked to doctrinal truth which mean different things to different people and involve a range of subjective applications.  Many doctrines can be extended to a point of being extreme and drift away from the truth of God's word, and thus we must always be vigilant to be grounded in the Bible.  It is imperative believers hold to the sovereignty of God and His infinite power, that before Him the greatest powers of evil must flee as light before darkness.  Jehu called out to the eunuchs, "Who is on my side?" and the only way we can be victorious is when we are on God's side by faith in Jesus Christ.

I have lately been thinking about the prayers of Jesus and believers in God throughout scripture and I must confess many prayers I heard in my youth--and prayers I have repeated because I followed their example--are foreign to biblical examples.  For instance, I cannot find a time anyone prayed for God to send angels, His ministering spirits who do His bidding.  We can find many examples of God sending angels in scriptures, and there is certainly no prohibition to do so.  Personally my convictions do not allow me to do so, for it is akin to telling God how to handle His business as the Almighty.  Who am I to tell Him what He should do or how He ought to do it?  Besides, I would rather have the protection of God Himself than His servants, the One who graciously sets a hedge of protection rather than the hedge itself.  We might be content to know God's plans, but better to know the God who plans and whose will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Isn't the Giver better than the gift?

As I was contemplating the nature of the spiritual battle we face as believers who have an adversary who is compared to a roaring lion and seeks whom he may devour, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 came to mind:  "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."  It is true there is an enemy of our souls, but he does not cast a shadow on the Lover of our souls Jesus Christ.  While the Bible has parallels of soldiers with followers of Jesus, Paul told believers in Corinth they should not imagine the spiritual battle should be fought according to the flesh.  Therefore the basis of the warfare is not what their efforts but on who Jesus is and what He has done.  Paul addressed a group of believers and they were to address sinful aspects of their fellowship which were contrary to Jesus and the Gospel.  They needed to be obedient to God themselves before they could rightly administer church discipline.

This exhortation given to the corporate church is also appropriate to take to heart personally.  They are not glamorous or flashy but our weapons are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds that exist in our own minds.  Though God has taken up residence in our hearts, there are arguments and contradictory thoughts we are called to take captive to the obedience of Christ.  "But aren't we to put on the whole armor of God?" some might ask.  Of course, but remember Paul's use of the armour was for illustrative purposes and revealed the wide range of protection afforded us by the Holy Spirit.  When we put on Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, we are protected as we walk in the Spirit.  God protects us physically and spiritually even when He allows a messenger of Satan to buffet us as in Paul's case.  If we lose the inner battle of faith in Jesus all is lost, and we resemble people starving in the keep of the castle behind thick walls.  When we exalt God and His knowledge in obeying Him, we walk in the victory Christ has won.  How awesome is this!