But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV
I believe that it is important for us as believers in Jesus to understand that we are in a spiritual war and that there is a real enemy who wants to destroy God’s people. Jesus said:
The thief (the enemy) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10 NKJV
But, (praise God) we also have to understand that Jesus has already won the war – not just the battle, but the war. Jesus has overcome the world and He has triumphed over the enemy in complete victory. The word triumph means to win a great victory or achievement. In biblical times, a Roman military triumphal procession was a great celebration in honor of the victor. The victor was paraded in the streets wearing a laurel wreath on their forehead and holding a scepter in their left hand. The spoils of war (such as: gold, silver, weapons, etc.) were also openly displayed for all to see.
Our God is completely victorious over all the power of the enemy, and He shares His amazing victory with us. Knowing this fact, we can with confidence go into every battle because we know the outcome – victory! Thank You Lord Jesus.
Scripture also helps us understand that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8 NKJV
Therefore, we don’t have to fear the enemy or the schemes and devices of the enemy, because we know the outcome of each battle (provided we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit). I would like to go through the first point listed below, because I believe that knowing what Jesus did for us will help us walk in the victory He has promised us. (The other points will be discussed in follow-on blog posts)
- Jesus has already disarmed Satan
- Jesus has taken the keys of death and hades
- Jesus has put all things under His feet
- Jesus has given us all authority over the enemy
- He gave us His Holy Spirit
- We go into battle with a victor mentality vs. a victim mentality
- Jesus has already disarmed Satan
Satan always tried to mimic God, and just as God has given us weapons with which to fight the enemy, it makes sense that the enemy would also make weapons with which to attack God’s people. The good news however, is that Jesus has already disarmed the enemy from the weapons in which they previously trusted:
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Colossians 2:13-15 NKJV
I believe that the weapons the enemy tries to use against God’s people are things like guilt, shame and condemnation. We know that Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10) who accuses us before God day and night, in hope of invoking the judgment of God upon us. Before we were born again, we were slaves to sin and consequently we knew that we were guilty of transgressing God’s laws and commandments. We had a debt of sin against us which we could never pay.
However we thank our precious Lord Jesus that His precious blood has provided a covering for us. When we in faith accept what He did for us on the cross and turn away from sin in full repentance toward God, we understand that the precious blood of Jesus has then blotted out the handwriting of requirements (our debt / record of charges) which was against us. He took our guilt, shame and condemnation out of the way. We have been justified (declared righteous / regarded as innocent) by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Romans 5:9 NKJV
Having this understanding means that if Satan tries to attack us with guilt, shame and condemnation (provided we have repented and turned away from sin) – we can stand against him by declaring God’s truth that by the blood of Jesus we have been justified. Our sins have been blotted out by the blood of Jesus, we have been forgiven and God no longer remembers our sins. This is one way we can already walk in the victory Jesus has won for us.
Thank You precious Lord Jesus.
I would like to leave you with a word of encouragement:
If you feel like Satan has been attacking you with feelings of guilt, shame or condemnation – firstly know that not all feelings are your own. Pray and ask God if these feelings are yours, or from the enemy. God is faithful to reveal the truth to you.
Next, if they are from the enemy, declare the truth of God’s eternal Word over yourself. Repent of any known sin and hand it over to Jesus, knowing that His blood cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. Then stand in the victory that God gives us. Stand – knowing that we have been forgiven and we wear the righteousness of our Beloved Jesus.
Satan likes to remind us of our past, but thanks be to God, we can remind him of what the precious blood of Jesus does for us. We can walk in truth, righteousness and freedom because of our Beloved Savior – Jesus. Thank You Lord.
Blessings in Jesus name – until next time – goodbye.