In our Battle Ready study, we have learned of four anchors that are foundational in all our spiritual battles. Let’s review those anchors.
Anchor #1: God is sovereign overall. Nothing happens in heaven or on earth without his direction or permission. The heart of every world leader is in his hand; he “turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1).
Anchor #2: We have an enemy. The world lies in his power (1 John 5:19). He “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Anchor #3: Jesus defeated the enemy at the cross. God put Satan to “open shame, by triumphing over [him]” through the work of Jesus on the cross (Colossians 2:15). Jesus came to “destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
Anchor #4: All believers share in Christ’s victory over Satan. Paul tells believers that God “has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).
Let’s wrap up our devotional series on the spiritual battle with this reminder: We are fighting from higher ground.
Ephesians 2:4-6
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus….
The “domain of darkness” was our home until Jesus came. We were spiritually dead. God made us alive together with Jesus. We have been “raised” up and seated with Jesus “in the heavenly places.”
The war has been won, but the battles continue. In this fallen world, we will be hurt by others. In our fallen nature, some wounds will be self-inflicted. The believer is not immune to difficult times. J. I. Packer says it is “cruel” to teach believers that they will not have trials. In fact, he explains what God does in challenging times.
[God] exposes [believers] to as much testing by the pressure of opposed and discouraging influences as they are able to bear…Thus he builds our character, strengthens our faith, and prepares us to help others. Thus he crystallized our sense of values. Thus he glorifies himself in our lives, making his strength perfect in our weaknesses.[1]
There is nothing unnatural when believers go through challenges. But always know this—we are fighting from higher ground! We have been “seated with Jesus in the heavenly places.” We are battle-tested and battle ready. In Christ, we always win.
The battle belongs to the Lord. He won! We win! We know that “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Father,
Thank you for delivering us from death and darkness and making us alive in Jesus. Remind us always that you are on our side, the battle belongs to you, and greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
[1] J. I. Packer, Knowing God (Downer Grove Ill: IVP Books, 1973), 246.
Thank you for being faithful to our Lord in daily delivering these outstanding Devo lessons. We must keep His Word in our streams of consciousness minute-by-minute. ✝️