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The Spiritual Battle
6: 10-18

The faithful believer’s life is a battle; it is warfare on a grand scale – because when ADONAI begins to bless, the Adversary begins to attack. The Bible tells us to take your stand against the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). If we are walking worthy of our calling, in humility rather than pride, in unity rather than divisiveness, in the new self rather than the old, in love rather than in lust, in light rather than in darkness, in wisdom rather than foolishness, in the fullness of the Spirit rather than in the drunkenness of wine, and in mutual submission rather than self-serving independence, then we can be absolutely certain that we will have opposition and conflict.

Yeshua’s ministry began in a great battle with the Adversary that lasted forty days (Luke 4:2). As Messiah’s ministry ended, Satan attacked Him again in the Garden of Gethsemane with such force that He sweated great drops of blood (22:44). Among many other instructive truths, those two accounts teach us that the battle may not become easier as we grow in obedience to ADONAI. If anything, the Evil One will intensify his efforts against those who continue to effectively serve the Lord. As believers grow strong, so do the dragon’s attacks.

The believer who continually seeks to grow in his knowledge and obedience to the Word and to serve the Lord more faithfully will not find ministry becoming easier. As the Lord gives mastery over certain temptations and weaknesses, the Tempter will attack elsewhere. Faithful witnessing, preaching, teaching, visiting, and every other service for the Lord will not only bring victories, but will also bring their own special difficulties and opposition. A believer who no longer has to struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil (Ephesians 2:2-3a) is a believer who has either fallen into sin or into complacency. A believer who has no conflict is a believer who has retreated from the front lines of service.

However, in the ultimate sense, the Church’s battles with the Old Serpent are already won. In His crucifixion and resurrection Yeshua destroyed the Father of Lies and his power of sin and death (Romans 5:18-21; First Corinthians 15:56-57; Hebrews 2:14). Trust in Yeshua Messiah sets that victory in motion. Not only is our salvation guaranteed (see the commentary on The Life of Christ, to see link click Ms – The Eternal Security of the Believer), but to the extent that we are strong in the Lord, our victory over the worst that the Ruler of this world has to offer is also guaranteed. Availing ourselves of that strength comes by means of grace, prayer, knowledge of and obedience to the Word, and faith in the promises of God.249