Over the last few months the devil has been working overtime here in SC. But, that is to be expected if you decide to win “Souls for Jesus!” If that’s your battle cry then get ready for the assault…he will not let up one minute of the day if you don’t use the Lord’s battle plan for “Victory in Jesus”!
He knows exactly where and when to attack based upon his observations of your life during the time since you have decided to follow Jesus and put your life on the line for lost souls…just like He did…want to be like Jesus? Then give your all to win souls…and in the process be an intercessor for those who are saved!
Those are the two areas that get the devil’s attention. When he sees a fire lit by the Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of a believer then it becomes his priority to put it out…immediately if not sooner! Now, he is not omni-anything, but he knows you like a book from his observations…check out his knowledge of Job…’nuff said!
Therefore, in order to walk in victory you must apply the Biblical principles to your life that have worked since the beginning of time itself. The battle plan is simple! Digest the living, all powerful Word of God! Feed the Holy Spirit of God the only diet that will quench His thirst and satisfy His hunger!
This is not a deep, dark secret of some kind of super-spirituality, no, this has been the answer since the beginning. Notice what Moses wrote to the children of Israel. Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9. His successor Joshua continued the same instruction when he wrote Joshua 1:8! You want spiritual success meditate on the Word!
David understood where the power from God was located when he wrote on numerous occasions about the answer to the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. It is found in memorizing and meditating on the Word of God. Psalm1:3, and in Psalm 119 on seven occasions meditation is found. His son Solomon also in the Proverbs gave at least seven exhortations to memorize/meditate on the Word.
The prophet Jeremiah supplies additional Scripture showing us his practice: “Thy Words were found and I did eat them, and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by Thy Name O Lord God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16).
John, (I John 2:13,14), Paul (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 6:17), James 1:21, and the Lord Jesus Himself (John 6:63, 15:7, 17:17) gave instruction showing that “Victory in Jesus” is only found through digesting the pure Word of God!! This list is not exhaustive but serves to prove that the Word of God is the key to victory!
This is what happens when you memorize and meditate on the Word. Supernatural faith is produced within your soul. You begin to believe the truths found in the Word. The seemingly impossible becomes possible as your faith is strengthened. Where your mind spends it’s time is where you live, beloved!
Victory over wrong thinking or any other attack of the devil is provided by the Lord Jesus through faith. Remember, “the just shall live by faith”…and “without faith it is impossible to please God”…when you please Him, He delivers you from seemingly impossible situations by His great power which is only found in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ…Who is The Ever-living Supernatural WORD of God!! Makes sense to me! Amen?
It is not by struggling in the flesh to overcome the battle of wrong thinking or any other battle you are facing, no, the supernatural power of God is applied by faith…that is what puts Him into action…”Victory in Jesus”…pure and simple!! Resting in Him, expecting Him to deliver you is faith in action…He loves it!!
“I heard an old, old story, how the Savior came from glory. How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me. I heard about His groaning, His precious Blood atoning, and I repented of my sin, and won the Victory. Oh, “Victory in Jesus”, my Savior forever, He sought me and He bought me with His redeeming Blood!!!”
Although it may seem to be an incredible task to memorize and meditate on the Word of God, please remember, there is great simplicity in Christ Jesus. The moment you decide to obey His Word and “arm yourselves likewise with the same mind” (I Peter 4:1) like Jesus, it is at that moment that you can attain victory by faith!
You, in essence become armed immediately, at the moment you decide to obey. You extend your faith in Jesus by expecting Him to supply the victory. However, it is definintely necessary to begin a discipled practice of memorizing His Word followed by meditating upon the same.
When Paul gave the formula for victory over the “wiles of the devil” he gave five defensive pieces of armor and two offensive pieces. “And take…the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17) The word utilized to describe the Sword of the Spirit is a small sword/knife with a short blade designed for close hand to hand in fighting.
This indicates that short phrases like “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world” are the keys for battling the devil and his demons when they assault the mind of the born-again believer. There is another word for sword in the New Testament that indicates a long bladed weapon utilized to fight when mounted upon a horse in the heat of the conflict when the enemy is further away on the battlefield. But, Paul chose the short sword knowing that in times of heated conflict the victory comes with short precise thrusts of the Word!
The devil cringes at the very mention of the Word of God. However, there are other weapons mentioned in a key end-times passage of Scripture. At this point in history the devil will be cast down to the earth and he will know that he has but a short time to persecute the born-again believers in that day: “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:10, 11)
Notice, the first weapon they utilized is the precious Blood of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ! It is by and through the Blood of Jesus that victory is certain! His Blood is able to defeat the strongest attacks of the devil, however, the second weapon most necessary in concert with the Blood is an impeccable testimony!
The most important thing you own is your testimony…without a clean and blameless life the born-again believer can not be above reproach and will fall victim to the “wiles of the devil” every time unless there is nothing between their soul and the Savior!!
Then, there is the third ingredient mentioned here that is vital for victory, and that is the fully surrendered life to the Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated by their loving not their own life unto the martyrs death, what ever that may mean…regardless of what is necessary for the Lord Jesus…whatever it takes…you are ready to give all!!
According to Revelation 20:4 there will be martyrs beheaded in that day…just as it has already begun in our day…more believers died for the faith in the 20th Century than in all the previous nineteen centuries combined! The most unreported story of the 20th Century is the great increase of Christian persecution worldwide.
In conclusion the Apostle John in I John 2:13, 14 underscores the necessity of the indwelling Word of God for overcoming the wicked one: “I write unto you young men, because you have overcome the wicked one…I have written unto you young men because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”