Victory is a word that each one of us needs to focus on. For every day everyone faces battles and challenges that we need to conquer. Some of these battles may involve our physical and mental health. Other battles may involve finances or family problems. And of course, we can be caught up in cultural, social, political and even military conflicts.
The Bible is very clear that this world is a battleground between the kingdoms of Darkness and Light. But it also prepares us for how we can not only survive but live lives of victory when we can overcome all the problems and pressures that we face (John 16:33; 1 John 5:4-5).
The apostle Paul, who experienced intense opposition, trials and hardships, wrote in Romans 8:37 that in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. And in his letter to the church in the great city of Ephesus he outlined how we can live a life of victory in Ephesians 6: 10-13:
We must recognise the realities of spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 10:10)
We need to understand the enemy we face (Ephesians 6:12; Matthew 5:44)
We can stand strong with God’s help (Ephesians 6:10,13; 1 John 3:8; Colossians 2:15; Matthew 16:18)
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We must recognise the realities of spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:11). Now the very idea of there actually being a devil who is always plotting evil is often ridiculed. However such mockery is spectacularly misplaced. For evil is seen in countless way all around us. Many Hollywood films for example recognize this in good versus evil movies like Star Wars, Transformers, The Avengers and Lord of the Rings. Sometimes evil in the world is very obvious such as in the Holocaust or currently in the Ukraine and elsewhere. But many times, it hides beneath an image of social respectability and sophistication. To be a Christian then is not to have an escapist mentality but to have a totally realistic view of the world. And that worldview is a spiritual warfare worldview. Satan is said to be the “god” of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) which means that everything the world promotes with all its focus on sex, power and money has its origin in Satan. Whether we like it or not, in one way or another, we all live in a theatre of war. We must be fully awake to that reality for us to be able to live a life of victory (John 10:10). You need to realise that there is an ongoing battle for the good not only of your souls, but for your families and for every area of your life. You must not ignore this or ever be relaxed about this.
We need to understand the enemy we face (Ephesians 6:12). Knowing your enemy is one of the critical elements in military warfare strategy. And it is the same with spiritual warfare. Now we need to note what it says here: those who we imagine are our human enemies are not in fact our real enemies. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood. Ultimately your enemies are not those individuals who oppose you but spiritual powers. Of course, people are responsible for their actions but hurtful as they may be, we must not hate our enemies. Rather as Jesus said in Matthew 5:44‘love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ For at work in our enemies and behind them are what are called here the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. In other words, we have against us the kingdom of darkness that is a well organised hierarchy of demons and demonic powers who conspire together to stop the kingdom of God (see also CS Lewis ‘The Screwtape Letters’). For sure, there are individuals who are clearly demonised and who need to be delivered. But also, there are spiritual strongholds that exercise malign influence in different locations and areas of society whether it is in politics, business, education or religion, racism, violence and sexual exploitation.
We can stand strong with God’s help (Ephesians 6:10,13). The good news is that because Jesus Christ has overcome Satan and all his hosts through His death and resurrection, we too can resist and overcome the Devil (1 John 3:8; Colossians 2:15). All through history Christians have learnt that no matter what comes against them, they can stand strong (Matthew 16:18). Today we too can stand firm and resilient both as individuals and as the Christian community, both locally and globally. We don’t do so by our own resources but by discovering as it says in verse 10 to ‘be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Our God is indeed a mighty and powerful God. He is:
- the God who created the heavens and the earth
- the God who raises up and destroys empires
- the God who works miracles
- the God who can open the Sea and shut the mouth of lions
- the God who raised Christ from the dead to defeat death for all time
- the God whose kingdom is an everlasting, indestructible Kingdom
- the God who will one day finally overthrow Satan and all his evil works.
That day is nearer than we may imagine. Meanwhile we need to avail ourselves of the power of the blood of Jesus and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. And as we will learn in the coming weeks that we must, as verse 13 says: ‘put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.’
You may be down right now, but you are not out. You are going to get up and stand up in the strength God has for you. The light of Christ that is in you will overcome the darkness that is against you. Today and every day be determined to live a life of victory.
