Equipped to Be Fearless

When you walk faithfully with Jesus and live for Him, being filled with the Spirit, the enemy doesn't like it. The forces of darkness begin to attack you at every turn. What you experience is often referred to as spiritual warfare. Note the description of the enemy of every believer in Ephesians 6:12,  "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." The enemy is fierce; but we are quipped to be fearless.

In warfare, it is always of first importance to understand the enemy—who he is, what are his strengths and weaknesses, and how does he operate, or what are his tactics? "God, who made the world and everything in it" (Acts 17:24a), created the angels (Psalm 104:4). Lucifer was an angel described by Ezekiel as having "the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty" (Ezek. 28:12b) and "perfect in your ways from the day you were created" (v. 15).

Then Lucifer rebelled against God. We read in Isaiah: "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit" (Is. 14:12-15).

The scene in heaven, of Satan being cast out of heaven, is described like this: "And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Rev. 12:7-9).

The angel Lucifer rebelled against God in heaven. He tried to usurp the throne of God, making himself out to be above even God. He led a whole host of angels with him in this rebellion and he lost. As a result, Lucifer, known as Satan or the Devil, was cast out of heaven along with all the angels who joined him in the rebellion. They were cast down to the earth where Satan is now known as "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31). He will do anything to pull you away from God. "He is a liar and the Father lies" (John 8:44b, NASB). Satan "transforms himself into an angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14b), all in an attempt to deceive as many people as he possibly can. That is the enemy; who he is, his strengths and weaknesses, how he operates, and what his tactics are.

Knowing the enemy, Paul instructs us, saying, "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" (Eph. 6:10-11). Remember, Satan was described as having "powers" (v. 12), but he is not omnipotent or all-powerful; God is! Satan knows a great deal, but he is not omniscient or all-knowing; God is! Satan gets around on this earth, but he is not omnipresent or present everywhere; God is! So when Paul says, "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (v. 10), remember that the Lord's might is far mightier than anything the enemy can muster. We simply must stand firm on God’s truth at all times. When you "know the truth… the truth will set you free" (John 8:32, NIV). Amen.

The Importance of Prayer

The Scriptures, the Bible, God's Word helps us to know Christ and to walk with Him daily. That is a good description of living the Spirit-filled life. But to be successful, to continue to live the righteous life in Christ on a regular basis, everything must be engulfed in prayer. A good prayer life is the key.

Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." You can approach God boldly in prayer because He wants you to bring your needs to Him. He answers your prayers in "mercy" and He brings "grace to help" in your "time of need." As Paul said, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7).

Paul told Timothy, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men" (1 Tim. 2:1). And again, Paul said, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1  Thess. 5:16-18).

The bottom line is this: prayer is so important that you are to be in an attitude of prayer every waking moment of every day. That doesn't mean you constantly have your hands folded, head bowed, and eyes closed in prayer, but that you are always mindful of the power of prayer and you are always ready to shoot up that arrow of prayer to God whenever the need arises. And there is power in prayer.

James 5:16 says, "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." Here we are encouraged to fellowship together as believers, holding each other accountable and praying for one another. When we are faithful in prayer and passionate for what or whom we are praying for, God will answer. In fact, our "effective, fervent prayer… avails much" or "has great power as it is working" (ESV).

Jesus understood the importance and power of prayer. That is why He set aside time every day to get alone with the Father and pray. Luke 5:16 says, "So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed." Mark 1:35 also says, "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed." He did what I believe He wants us to do: He set aside time every day to consider the Word and to pray.

All of this taken together describes a life that is holy or righteous. It is the Spirit-filled life. It is a life that abides in Christ. Jesus said, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me" (John 15:4). The key to the Christian life is to learn to abide in Christ. Remember how we described the Christian as being "in Christ"? Abiding in Christ is just that: remaining in Him and getting to know Him better each day. Victorious Christian living comes from abiding in Christ day by day; living in Him and letting Him live through you. Amen.