You're On the Winning Side!
I have a question for you: what are you fighting?
You and I live on an earth with a curse, and because the devil is the God of this world, sometimes we Christians might feel like we’re fighting him.
But I just want to remind you this month that THE DEVIL IS ALREADY DEFEATED! Why would you fight someone who is already beaten?? You're already on the winning side!
BELIEVING SOMETHING YOU CAN'T SEE YET
We know that 1 Timothy 6:12 says we are to “fight the good fight of faith,” but what does that mean? Well, it doesn't mean fighting the devil! He’s already defeated!
No, the fight of faith is: believing something you can’t see yet because God’s Word says it’s true. In other words, it’s a fight to believe what God says more than what you feel or see or hear. Those things are real, but they don't have the last word for those who choose to believe the truth of God's Word.
First, let's take a look at how defeated the devil really is. First John 3:8 says, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." And He did!
Colossians2:15 says that Jesus "spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." The Living Bible renders that verse: "he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross." I love that!
It’s so important to remember that the enemy of your soul – the devil, Satan – has already been defeated! This is a fixed fight! You are not fighting the devil! The fight is simply to believe God's Word more than what you see, feel, hear and touch.
HOW TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH
The FIGHT OF FAITH comes when all the reports in the natural say one thing, and God says another.
For example:
Maybe you feel sick, you look sick, and the doctor says you're sick. That's the natural report. It's real. But God says: by His stripes, you’re healed (1 Peter 2:24). It’s a fight to believe that!
Maybe you don’t have enough money – your wallet’s empty, your checking account's empty, and the bills are piling up. It's real. But God says He’ll supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). It's a fight to believe than, when all the evidence is contrary.
So what do we do? How do we fight this fight?
Well first of all, IT’S UP TO US TO ENFORCE HIS DEFEAT! The devil will do whatever he can get away with....just like people will!
In the natural, there policemen to ENFORCE the laws of the land -- to remind people what they legally can and cannot do. In the spirit realm, we must enforce Satan's defeat and remind him, according to the laws of God, what he can and cannot do in the life of a redeemed believer!
The only way I know to enforce the devil's defeat is to spend more time looking at what God says than what the circumstances say. You have to KNOW what’s in your covenant to remind Satan of his defeat.
I think what happens to most Christians is that they spend too little time soaking their spirits in what God has promised.
I say, do whatever it takes to enforce the devil's defeat -- do whatever it takes to take keep your faith strong enough to fight against believing circumstances. Keep your eyes and ears full of the Word of God!
Just remember, you’re on the winning side. This new year, spend more time looking at the victory that’s already been won, and you’ll win the fight of faith every time!
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SOMETHING NEW
I often wish that you and I could sit down face to face once in a while and share the things of God together!
But since time and distance stand in our way, I'm starting something new this year that I hope will feel sort of like a heart ot heart chat between us.
Every month, starting with this month, I am recording a new podcast where I just sit down at my kitchen table and share what God has put on my heart for you that month. It won't be from a message I've preached, or from any CD -- it will just be a special message from me to you.
I hope you'll check it out....just click here
