Fighting and Winning the Spiritual Battle

Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:12b, 15, 17; 1 Peter 1:7; Genesis 3:8, 11; 1 John 1:8; Romans 7:15; Psalm 1; John 8:36; James 4:7-8; Luke 15:10
by: Alexander Rico

I once heard a story about a man who was headed to a Halloween party dressed in a costume of the Devil. On his way it began to rain, so he darted into a church where a revival meeting happened to be in progress. At the sight of this devil’s costume, people began to scatter through windows and doors. One lady got her coat sleeve caught on the arm of one of the seats. As the man drew closer, she pleaded, “Satan, I’ve been a member of this church for 20 years, but I I’ve really been on your side all the time!”

In order for us to be able to win our spiritual battles against our sinful nature, we need to know who we are fighting against, unlike this women in the story. In wars, you never see the army shooting at an unknown adversary. They already know full well who they are fighting and why. Same is true for us as Christians today, how can we fight a battle without knowing who we’re up against? See, our adversary is Lucifer. According to Isaiah in the Old Testament (OT), he was a man that had been called literally, “Day Star,” an angel (Isaiah 14:12). Ezekiel 28:12b tells us, “You were the perfect seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.” He was the most beautiful angel ever created, “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.” (Ezekiel 28:15, NKJV). However, as we read in Ezekiel he was banished from heaven to earth; but, why? Why did all of a sudden this perfect angel become the enemy he is now? Well, because he wanted to be higher than God. He wanted to be the Most High. “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you.” (Ezekiel 28:17, NKJV) Now, he has become the ruler over this world, and head of this kingdom. He walks about it like a roaring lion, awaiting who he may devour (1 Peter 5:7). Lying to us, and causing us to doubt the one who came to set us free from the bondage of sin.

What is sin, and where did it originate? Well, Sin is, at least according to Berlitz Dictionary of American English as, “an act against religious beliefs” or better said, “An act against God.” A minister back east told his congregation that there were 739 different types of sins. He immediately, after the service, received 80 requests for the list. We may not be able to have a list in front of us today; but, we do know from the Bible that sin does exist, and its origins can be located and traced back to the beginning of the earth, when God created Adam and Eve.

See, before sin entered the world, Adam and Eve had the ability to communicate with God on an intimate and personal level. The Bible tells us in Genesis 3:8 that God walked in the midst of the garden in the cool of the day. Think about this picture, Adam had the ability to call up God and invite him over for fellowship and a glass of “fruit punch” at their tree house in the garden.

However, our adversary, the serpent (Satan) came to Eve one day, we’re told, and questioned God’s commandment. He tempted her to eat from a tree that God had put off limits. How many of us today have ever been tempted like this? We see a pile of cookies in the kitchen, and despite the fact that we had been told not to eat them, or even touch them, we still do. I know from personal experience I have. I am easily tempted, especially with food. Out and about on the town, one could easily be tempted to, when at a store or at the theaters, take a handicap parking space in order that they may get a nearby parking space close to the front of the store. Despite the fact that we know that parking space is specifically reserved for handicap people, and if we are caught there we could get a HUGE ticket. For those of you who do take these parking spaces, allow me to share what I heard from a wise man, or it might have been my fortune cookie. It said, “The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places.”

Whatever the item you’ve been tempted with, we have all been tempted, and know what it’s like. So, for this second, put yourself in Eve’s shoes. Here she is, a snake before her telling her to eat this delicious looking fruit, and her husband somewhere off away. What would you do? Would you yourself eat of that tree?

Well, if you said you wouldn’t, you were a lot stronger than Eve. She fell into the snakes temptation and in fact ate from the tree of Good and Evil; then, once her husband came along she offered him some, and who could turn down an offering made by a women? So, he also ate. We pick up in Genesis 3:11 where Adam and Eve told God that they were naked and hiding because of their nakedness. God then knew that his precious children had disobeyed his order and ate of the tree; therefore, he banished them from the garden, however, not before giving them clothing by killing a lamb to cover their bodies, their sins (This being the first sacrifice made for sins). I guess you could say that Adam and Eve were the first persons to eat themselves out of house and home, literally.

The fall of man directly affected us. Our hearts and tendencies became wicked. We know this because we see it all around us. In today’s society, sin wreaks havoc on earth. Gay marriages, youth having sex before married, all types of perverse sexual sins popping up in every area of our lives, divorce rates sky rocketing, and alcohol and drugs becoming the source of all problem solving. 1 John 1:8 states, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” We have to come to understand that we are not perfect, we are not nor could we ever be. Though, do not get me wrong, we should still strive to be Christ-like. I heard it said, “As Christians we are not sinless, but should strive to sin less.”

Some of you may be saying, “Well Alex, I thought this was about how to win the spiritual fight?” It is. However, we need to understand that we are under sin, and there is nothing we can do under our own strength to win this battle… sure we may all wish to do what is right, but many times we cannot. Paul had this same problem. The things he wanted to do right, he didn’t (Romans 7:15-25). He, as well as us, have what is known as, “two natures,” a good and a bad nature (a spiritual tug-of-war that we are battling daily). What is this bad nature? Well, lust of the flesh. What do you do when you see a gorgeous person walk by? How do you react? Do you linger on the image of that person? As a guy, I can say, and admit that I have been tempted in this area before; and, despite the fact that I know it to be wrong (through the spirit); I continue to enter into that bad nature (the desires of the flesh). But, do not be troubled, for there is a way to find redemption. How?

Under our own power we can do nothing; but under the power of the cross, where Christ died for our sins 2,000 years ago, there is power to defeat these two nature battles. By accepting Jesus’ sacrifice, we are freed from the powers of sin and death, which was the outcome of Adam and Eve’s fall back in the Garden of Eden. Because Christ died on the cross for you, and me, we can be forgiven of all our sins: past, present, and future; and, have that hope of heaven. So, how can we win? Walk in the ways of the Lord, and we shall flourish and not come under the powers of sin (Psalm 1). “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36) That’s it. The best way to win the spiritual battle is to be in Christ, and draw near to Him. Why? Because by doing so, the enemy will flee! (James 4:7-8)

Maybe today, you’re reading this, and you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Perhaps, you have been attempting to bring your sinful nature under control under your own power, and have failed time and time again. If that is the case; then, why continue to try and fight it on your own? Why not surrender your life over to the Lord and watch him do the work? If you’d like to accept and commit your entire life over to the Lord; then, by all means please join me in this simple prayer accepting Christ into your life.

Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner, I take this time to confess all my sins to you, and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart, my mind, and my soul. Lord, take complete control, and be the LORD of my life. In your son’s precious holy name, AMEN.

If you prayed that prayer along with me, I’d like to announce that today, the moment you prayed that prayer accepting Christ into your life the Bible says, … there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner represents. (Luke 15:10)

Just like that, you are forgiven, and adopted into God’s family, no questions asked, no strings attached; although, there are several things that you should do to continue to grow in a relationship with the Lord.

Read the Bible This is God’s love letter to you. It also provides us with a foundation for relationships with others, and tells us about attitudes, motivation and truth. It is important to know, and enlist the principles in the Bible into your life; they keep you on the right way and allow us to make sound judgments concerning people and doctrine.
Pray In any relationship communication is important, priority factor. God desires to communicate with each of us. Prayer is not just a forum for requests. God wants to hear our feelings, hurts, ambitions and joys. Through this he is able to change and refine those parts of us that need it.
Have Fellowship Get plugged into a church or local group that studies the bible. As we begin to share with others what we have learned from the Bible and prayer, we encourage others to grow and ourselves. Fellowship as God planned it is not a clique or special club designed for gossip. We must be careful to keep our conversations with others honest. It’s best described as a fire. One coal alone dies down quickly, but a mound of coals burn white hot, just as one Christian alone will struggle to stay ‘on fire’, while a group together keeps each other hot.
Witness Go into the world and preach the good news to all creation. (Mark 16:15). Jesus gave this as a command, not an option. God has chosen all Christians to be agents of His gospel. We are either missionaries or mission fields. That does not mean that everyone should travel to different countries, but it does mean that no matter where go we should be prepared in life and in word to be ambassadors for Christ. Pray for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. (Ephesians 6:9)

May God continue to bless you now, as you grow in your new life with HIM!