Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Duncan Campbell
Fighting From Victory
Notice that the title doesn’t say that we battle for victory. I intentionally called this devotional “4 Ways We Battle to Victory.” Why do I say that? It is because Christ has conquered death and the enemy at the cross, so we fight from victory, not for victory. Yes, there are still battles left in our life, but it’s like a mop-up campaign where we’ve had victory in Christ and now there are just a few skirmishes left. We never again have to worry about defeat, which is why we should say “thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).
Battling the Darkside
The Christian certainly doesn’t fight against flesh and blood but against invisible wicked spirits. Paul wrote that “our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). This certainly means that there will be no easy way to victory over an enemy that we can’t even see. That’s why Paul commands us to “put on the whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:10) because we’re going to need it.
Fighting False Gospels
As a pastor, I have to deal with a lot of issues in our church where they have encountered teachings of others, to whom they listen. Sometimes they let these false teachers put unbiblical ideas in their heads, and then they are hearing another gospel and are more at risk to err. Did you know that Satan has his own gospel and his own ministers? This shouldn’t surprise us because “even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14), “So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11:15). The best way to fight false gospels is to know the true Gospel, which is done by abiding in the Word on a daily basis. So “if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted” (2 Cor. 11:4), you’ll know the Bible well enough to know it’s a lie straight from the devil.
Fighting Persecution
Paul wrote to Timothy that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). This means that if you have never been persecuted before, then you are either not actively sharing your faith, you are not living like a Christian, you are an underground Christian, or you are not a Christian at all. Paul fought the severest of persecution of anyone next to Christ, and he wrote that he was “persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:9).
Conclusion
The Christian must keep in mind that they are fighting from victory, not for victory; that they are battling an invisible foe, Satan and his demons; that they are contending for the faith once delivered, as there are all sorts of false gospels floating around out there; and that they are going to face persecution, for all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Truly, there is no easy way to victory; however, the highest values in life must be fought for and won.
