Fighting from Victory...

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13)

When Paul uses the word “ We wrestle not…”, it’s a term describing life and death hand-to-hand combat. There is a war going on in the heavenlies, just as there is a war going on for your soul.

The devil directs a well-organized, highly effective army of fallen angels to do his “dirty work.” Paul says we wrestle against“ principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

There are a number of Bible passages that refer to Satan and his minions:

• “Beelzebub ,the prince of the demons….”(Matthew 12:24)
• “The devil and his angels….” (Matthew 25:41)
• “The dragon…and his angels….” (Revelation 12:7,9)

The purpose of demons seems to be twofold. They seek to hinder the purposes of God and to extend the power of Satan. We see this illustrated in Scripture. Consider this snippet from Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica: “ For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again— but Satan stopped us” (1 Thessalonians 2:18).

Paul also mentioned his own personal struggles that were brought on by demons, but allowed by God. Because of the great blessings and revelations that God had brought into his life, considerable hardship and suffering were allowed in his life as well.

In his second letter to the Corinthians, he reveals this highly personal account of his struggles: “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

The word “buffet” in this passage means to “strike with the fist.” Though it’s true we as believers can be hassled like Paul was, and tempted and oppressed and harassed by Satan, the devil cannot control us! The apostle said, “We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going” (2 Corinthians 4:9).

Even in the midst of spiritual warfare, however, we need not fear, since "the very reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8).

Prior to His crucifixion on the Cross, Jesus said, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out”(John 12:31). Referring to this same event on Calvary, Jesus said, “the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:11).

Through His death on the Cross Jesus destroyed “him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).

On the cross, just before He yielded up His spirit, Jesus cried out the words “It is finished!” What was finished? The work the Father had given Him to do. Because of Jesus' victory, Satan’s death grip on humanity is finished, too.

Colossians 2:13-14 says: “When you were dead in your transgressions…He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

So we fight and engage in spiritual warfare, yes. But we are not fighting to obtain victory. (Oh, how the devil hates you to hear this!) We are resting in the victory our Lord Jesus has already obtained! We don’t fight FOR victory (“Oh Lord, give me victory in this!”); we fight FROM victory (Lord, I thank You that You won’t give me more then I can handle!).

But I must emphasize that this great truth only applies to those who belong to Jesus Christ. If you have not yet asked Jesus to come into your life, you are a “sitting duck,” defenseless against the fierce enemy of your soul.

Paul speaks of those outside of Christ, urging his young disciple to teach the truth so that “ they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants” (2 Timothy 2:26).

Back in the very first days of His ministry, the Lord Jesus declared why He had come and what He was all about. Quoting from the prophet Isaiah, He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18).

Satan would like nothing better than to break the hearts of men and women, take them captive, blind them to beauty and truth and hope, and lock them up in chains of addiction and oppression.

But that’s why Jesus came. He brings Good News of salvation, hope, release, and a fresh, clean life. He spreads His balm of healing over broken hearts, tortured minds, and bruised souls. He touches the eyes of those who have been spiritually blind, so that they can see the truth and find the path of life. And He opens the prison doors, allowing those who have been held captive by Satan for most of their lives to walk free, out into the sunshine and fresh wind of His love.