Christian Life: A Battleground, Not a Playground - Br Ranjit

 

Introduction: The Nature of the Christian Life

A godly man once said, "Christian life is not a playground but a battleground." From the moment we are born again until the end of our lives, God has called us to fight a spiritual battle against Satan. This ongoing fight is essential for our spiritual growth. We are called to continually and consistently resist the devil to grow in faith and overcome challenges.

Promises for Overcomers

The Bible offers many promises for those who overcome in this spiritual battle. In Revelation 2–3, Jesus speaks to the churches, giving specific promises to those who persevere:

• Revelation 3:21 (NASB): “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
  • Jesus Himself overcame and sat with His Father on His throne. He promises that those who overcome will share this privilege, sitting with Him on His throne.
• Revelation 3:5 (implied reference, NASB): “He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
  • Jesus assures that the names of overcomers will be written in the Book of Life, securing their eternal place with Him.

These promises highlight the rewards for those who persevere in the battle against spiritual forces.

What Did Jesus Overcome?

To understand how we are to overcome, we must look at what Jesus overcame. In John 16:33 (NASB), Jesus says: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

• Jesus acknowledges that we will face tribulations, trials, and temptations in our daily lives due to various circumstances and surroundings. However, He declares that He has already overcome the world.
• The “world” refers to the sinful systems and temptations described in 1 John 2:16 (NASB): “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
  • These three categories—lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life—encompass the temptations we face.

Our battle, as described in Ephesians 6:12 (NASB), is not against flesh and blood: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

• The rulers, authorities, and principalities of darkness operate through the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. Jesus overcame these, and He calls us to do the same.

How Did Jesus Overcome?

Jesus’ method of overcoming provides a model for us. In Hebrews 5:7 (NASB), we read: “In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.”

• Jesus did not fight against human beings. Instead, He took His battles—temptations, trials, and struggles—to God in prayer. He fought in the spiritual realm through prayers and supplications, often with intense emotion.

The Eagle and the Snake: A Spiritual Analogy

Consider the example of an eagle and a snake:

• An eagle never fights a snake on the ground, where the snake has strength, grip, and an advantage. Instead, the eagle lifts the snake into the air, where it is powerless and unable to fight effectively. The eagle then defeats the snake with ease.
• Similarly, Satan, described as a serpent in 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NASB)—“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ”—tries to pull us into fighting on his terms, at a worldly level.
• Satan tempts us to blame and fight against people—our spouse, neighbor, coworker, or even someone in traffic—claiming they are the source of our struggles. He wants us to fight on the “ground,” where he has the advantage.
• Like the eagle, we must follow Jesus’ example in Hebrews 5:7 and take our battles to the “heavenly places” through prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit. By doing so, we strip Satan of his power and fight where he is weak.

Fighting by the Power of the Holy Spirit

The Bible emphasizes that our strength comes not from human effort but from God’s Spirit. In Zechariah 4:6 (NASB), it says: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

• By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can resist the schemes and craftiness of the devil.
• Satan, described as the “ruler of the world” in John 14:30 (NASB)—“I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me”—has no hold over Jesus. Jesus declares that Satan has “nothing in Me,” meaning no foothold or power over Him.

The Greater Power Within Us

The good news is that we are not powerless. 1 John 4:4 (NASB) assures us: “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

• The Holy Spirit within us is greater than Satan, the ruler of the world. This gives us hope and confidence in the battle.

Jesus’ Mission to Defeat the Devil

1 John 3:8 (NASB) states: “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”

• Jesus came to destroy Satan’s works, and through His victory on the cross, Satan is already defeated. As believers, we can stand in this victory and declare to Satan that he has no authority over us, our families, or our lives.

Our Response: Fight the Right Battle

We must recognize that our true enemies are not people but the spiritual forces of darkness. Instead of fighting with flesh and blood—human beings—we are called to battle the devil, the powers of darkness, and our own sinful flesh. We can boldly declare to Satan:

• “You are defeated by my Savior on the cross, and soon you will be crushed under my feet” (referencing Romans 16:20, NASB: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”).
• “You have no authority over me, my children, or my family.”

By focusing on the spiritual battle and relying on the Holy Spirit, we can live a victorious and glorious life, following Jesus’ example.

Conclusion: A Call to Spiritual Warfare

May the Holy Spirit help us to pursue Jesus’ way of fighting—not against human beings but against the devil, the forces of darkness, and our own flesh. Let us commit to taking our struggles to God in prayer, trusting in His Spirit to empower us to overcome. May the Holy Spirit remind us of these truths and enable us to live a life that glorifies God. Amen.

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Bible References Cited

1. Revelation 2–3 (general reference to promises for overcomers)
2. Revelation 3:21 (NASB): Jesus promises that overcomers will sit with Him on His throne.
3. Revelation 3:5 (NASB, implied): Overcomers’ names will be written in the Book of Life.
4. John 16:33 (NASB): Jesus has overcome the world.
5. 1 John 2:16 (NASB): The world consists of the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life.
6. Ephesians 6:12 (NASB): Our battle is against spiritual forces, not flesh and blood.
7. Hebrews 5:7 (NASB): Jesus overcame through prayers and supplications.
8. 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NASB): The serpent’s craftiness deceived Eve.
9. Zechariah 4:6 (NASB): Victory comes by God’s Spirit, not human might or power.
10. John 14:30 (NASB): Satan, the ruler of the world, has no hold over Jesus.
11. 1 John 4:4 (NASB): The One in us is greater than the one in the world.
12. 1 John 3:8 (NASB): Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.
13. Romans 16:20 (NASB, implied): God will crush Satan under our feet.