Our Spiritual Soldier Series continues to mine the depths of spiritual warfare battlefield training. I want you to be successful in every battle you face so you can experience the victory Jesus paid for. And that’s just what we’re going to talk about in this battlefield training.
Jesus is our Commander in Chief. If you read the end of the Book you’ll find out Jesus wins in the end and we saints along with Him. But how does Jesus win? He’s actually won the biggest battles on the biggest battlefields already. Let’s dive in!
- Jesus won the victory at the Cross.
Satan thought he had finally beaten Jesus. He used religious leaders and governing rulers to work Jesus into a corner. Then he went in for the kill, blasphemy against God. Nevermind the fact that Jesus is God. Satan thought he was so smart using the truth against Jesus.
He had no problem with Jesus becoming the sin offering for those who trust in His name. But that’s just it. That’s the victory Jesus won at the Cross. He opened the doors of heaven to those who believe in Him.
Satan should have known how covenants work. The old covenant with Moses and Israel is sealed with the blood of animal sacrifices in place of the sinner. Jesus’ blood inaugurated the new covenant. By hanging on the Cross He began the covenant that doesn’t have to repeat blood sacrifices. His once for all sacrifice was more than enough (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 10:10).
Satan had to have realized the moment Jesus died on the Cross that what he thought was victory was his ultimate defeat. Not only did he lose the war in heaven and get cast down to earth (Revelation 12:7-12) but now all the hostages God created could be set free and have relationship with God.
When you fight spiritual battles against temptation and your former fleshly desires know that you fight from a place of victory. Jesus’ sacrifice gives you freedom from sin. If you sin, you do so as a choice against Him and His sacrifice for you.
As a Spiritual Soldier for Christ, carry the light of His gospel everywhere you go. Conquer the darkness with the light of Jesus. Although Satan is the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2) he is still stuck on earth. His power is limited by the all-powerful Jesus.
- Jesus sits on the throne.
After Jesus conquered the evil forces with His death on the Cross the Bible tells us He sat down at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Mark 16:19; Acts 2:33; Ephesians 1:20-23; 1 Peter 3:22).
At His inauguration as King of Kings and Lord of Lords He has already defeated and placed under His feet all of the evil spiritual powers and everything else in all of creation (Ephesians 1:21-23; Colossians 1:16). He sits as King over all.
Jesus’ unchallenged power and authority means that nothing you encounter is more powerful than He is. Since you fight on Jesus’ side you experience victory after victory against evil spiritual forces of all kinds. It doesn’t matter if it is Satan himself, his demons, or some false god. You have the upper hand through the power Jesus gives you.
Paul gives us some of the best imagery of Jesus’ victory over these forces. He describes it in the Greco-Roman culture of his day. Jesus is like the conquering generals of Rome who brought the spoils of their victory in war, treasures and conquered enemies now in chains as slaves behind them in a processional triumphant celebration parade (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Through His victory on the Cross Jesus has captured all the evil spiritual forces and put them under His feet. He is in control of everything you face. Stand firm in the authority of Christ and take ground from the enemy.
- Jesus’ name is above all names.
When Jesus sat on His throne He received the most powerful name in the universe. The Bible says that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth (Philippians 2:9-11). Everything that has been named, and that’s everything in creation, must bow to Jesus.
We see the name of Jesus prominently displayed in the book of Acts. Twice the disciples are told not to preach and teach in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18; 5:40). Why did the Sanhedrin leaders not want them to preach in the name of Jesus? Because His name is powerful to break strongholds, heal the sick, and cast out demons.
The apostles refuse to cave in to their demands. They continue to preach and teach in the name of Jesus. When Paul began to preach after his encounter with Jesus in Acts 9 Barnabas’ testimony about him was the only thing that opened the doors of the Jerusalem churches.
They previously knew Paul as a murderer of Christians. Powerful preaching in the name of Jesus brings peace and builds up believers (Acts 9:31). It multiplies the Church and brings the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
The seven sons of Sceva used the name of Jesus like a formula to cast out demons (Acts 10:13-14). They saw Jesus’ power working through Paul so that even his clothing and the things he touched healed the sick and cast out demons (Acts 19:11-12).
But though the name of Jesus is a powerful weapon against evil spiritual forces and casts out demons we cannot use it like a formula. The power of Jesus’ name in spiritual warfare doesn’t come from the words we speak.
It comes from the connection in our relationship to Jesus. Demons don’t run from us because we speak the name of Jesus. They run because they know His power works through us.
- Jesus equips you to win spiritual battles.
Jesus not only has power over every spiritual force and everything in heaven and on earth but He empowers you to serve as His Spiritual Soldier. He arms you with armor that protects you and gives you offensive weapons to stand against the flaming arrows of the enemy.
All of the weapons Jesus gives you help you to stand firm (Ephesians 6:10-11, 13-14). These powerful weapons are enumerated by Paul in the armor of God. But he also talks about the weapons of our warfare being powerful to break down mental strongholds and every argument against God (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
But these weapons are not physical weapons to hurt people. Paul says that our warfare is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). They are not carnal weapons. Jesus prepares you to will these powerful weapons in the Spirit. As you grow in maturity in Christ and become more like him you gain spiritual power to stand against the evil in this world.
- Jesus fights for you.
One of the coolest images of God in the Bible is the Divine Warrior (Exodus 15:3; Romans 8:31). God is for us, and He comes to our rescue. A common name for the Lord especially in the Old Testament is the Lord of Hosts. “Hosts” refers to the armies of angels in heaven that God commands.
When the people of Israel are slaves in Egypt got comes and rescues them as a mighty warrior (Deuteronomy 5:15). Scholars have shown that every one of the ten plagues shows that God is greater then the gods of Egypt. It is a spiritual battle before His people go free.
The king of Assyria comes against Hezekiah and the city of Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:35-36). After tormenting them for many days the entire camp of the Syrians is destroyed by the Lord. God comes to the aid of His people in battle.
The Old Testament prophets speak of God as a warrior. Isaiah 59:16-19 depicts the Lord dressing like a warrior to bring justice and righteousness to Israel. Other passages in the prophets show God as a warrior as well (Isaiah 42:13; Joel 2:11).
In the New Testament, John describes Jesus as the Divine Warrior who leads the saints and angels into battle against the nations in the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21). He rides a white horse and wears on his thigh “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
God is our great defender in times of need. We can rely on him to defend us. He gives us the power to fight the battles before us. We must not be afraid but be strong and courageous. His presence is within us through the Holy Spirit.
Wrapping Up
Jesus is great, a mighty warrior. His name is above all names and He has authority over every evil spirit we face. There’s no question about Who wins against Satan and his evil forces in the end. There’s no contest.
So let us fight with the weapons of warfare Jesus has given us and remember that the Divine Warrior who goes before us. Stand strong and take the fight to the enemy. What have you learned about how the Bible describes Jesus in spiritual warfare?
Up Next
Now that we have talked about Jesus and his powerful ability to destroy enemies of darkness we will look at the power of Jesus’ blood and its ability to wage war against the enemy of our souls.
