Published by Deborah Negron Child of God –
October 6, 2022
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4 NKJV
The war within is one recognized only by those who have been born again. When one is not in Christ, the propensity to sin does not cause conflict. It does not cause there to be an internal struggle. But when the Holy Spirit draws us, when the Spirit of God causes us to come to understand our need for God, the struggle begins.
The idea of sinning is not bothersome to the ones who do not serve the Lord. For deep inside they are dead in they trespasses. That is, they belong to their father the devil. They are not bothered by taking revenge. Nor are they bothered by saying a lie to get what they desire. They practice sin easily because they have not understood the end of those who sin continually is death.
However, the real struggle begins the day we come to know Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
That day, the enemy of our souls begins to make war against us. For that day we are born again. Our past is forgiven.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
II Corinthians 5:17-18 NKJV
We have been made right with God. Jesus removes the sin from our past record and the blood of Jesus daily cleanses us from sin.
This is the beginning of true living.
This is also the beginning of the three enemies that comes against us.
First, the internal enemy within is the flesh. Our own hearts and minds come up with memories of what was the norm before. Sin was not something that bothered us. But now having Christ, we feel a pull to do what feels good and what the flesh might want. Sexual immorality, consensual sex, drinking alcohol, taking a hit, stealing, cheating, gossiping, watching movies where sin is easily commited.
Being rebellious toward our parents. Enjoying the thrill of committing that which offends God without guilt. This was the norm, participating in things that drew us away from God. This was not strange before. This was the lifestyle.
Or for some, they felt they were good. They never stole, never cheated. They never participated in outward sins. But inside anger festered. They quietly desired to do whatever they felt, but somehow they did not. They had a level of self control.
No matter. Both were not aware of their sinful state. One felt self righteous and the other demonstrated his/ her sin outwardly. Both had the same problem. This sinful nature keeps us away from God. It keeps us dead to God.
But Christ Jesus has come that we might live. Not just the part where one breathes and moves. But rather a life with purpose and direction and alive in God. Knowing and understanding that,
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 8:23
All of us needed a Saviour. All of us were in need of redemption and to be made right with God.
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:1-10 NKJV
Our sins were nailed to the cross of Jesus.
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
I Peter 2:21-25 NKJV
The flesh is the part of us that pulls us to follow in our past thought process and forget the mercy snd love and forgiveness Christ has given for us.
Next the enemy of our souls is the one we war against.
For we have this new hope. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:3-11, 13-14, 17-23
And because we have this hope and this new life as birn again believers the was has begun with great intensity. The battle for our souls has started.
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. 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.
Ephesians 6:10-12
But hey!!! Listen!!! Know this too! That we are not alone! We have been given power in God.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:13
This armour is on3 we can put on every single day. We can be ready for battles we will face internally and externally. That is within ourselves and from those forces of the devil trying to trip us up. But we can rest assured that the armour we have been given will help support us in this war.
Hey, we got this. If we remember to put on this armour…
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”
You may wonder, hiw do I combat these two enemies. The flesh and the enemy?
We prepare for battle when we seek God early every morning. We can fight our battles when we have learned the strategies found in God’s Word.
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Ephesians 6:18
Yes, we pray to the Father. We pray to the one that has saved us. We read his Word and become familiar with it in such a way that it enables us to fight these two foes. The enemy within and the demons of hell that try to enter our thoughts and bring doubt and fear and anxiety and try to confuse our thoughts.
We can succeed at within daily battles when we bring our cares to God in prayer. When we communicate with the Lord every day.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
II Corinthians 10:3-6
These arguments inside our heads about what we can do and what we ought not to do are part of understanding that now, we are alive in God. The flesh opposes this and the devil too.
Then there is an enemy outside these two. This enemy is the world. The pull for the pleasures of the world. Peer pressure.
Wanting to fit in and be accepted This peer pressure that makes us feel as if we have to follow the crowd. This world is corrupt and the ones who pull on us are thise who are not able to see their condition. They are lost. They have their thinking clouded and are on their way to being lost.
The world may pull, but we can havr the victory in Christ.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
I John 2:15-17
The love of rhe Father in us makes us right with God. Coming to Jesus means we have these three enemies against us. But we have the power of rhe Holy Spirit to fight the good fight and win.
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
I John 2:3-12
We have to know the Word of God to be able to fight well.
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:31-32
We fight these three enemies by getting closer to God. By praying and seeking God’s will for us.
The battle within, with the flesh and the external battles, with the devil and the world are all part of our Christian experience.
We have the power to succeed and become strong in God when we apply the Word. When we put on the whole armour of God and when we communicate daily with the Lord in prayer.
Another way to combat rhe enemy is in gathering with the troops. Yes, in fellowship with those who are also walking in this faith in Jesus.
We are empowered in numbers. We are able to learn new strategies fo warfare. In gathering together our weapon of praise can be multiplied. We praise God together and feel the power of bring one in Christ. The connectedness and feeling of belonging is powerful and mighty to help us combat the flesh, the enemy and the world.
Being empowered by hearing God’s Word and learning of his Love equips us to know our identity in Christ. This gives us an edge for battle.
Scripture tells us,
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.
Isaiah 54:17
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
Psalms 91:1-2
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalms 27:1
You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
Psalms 32:7
Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
Psalms 3:1-3
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalms 23:4
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Psalms 23:6
We can be sure that we have enemies. But we can rest assured that our battle is already won.
for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’
Deuteronomy 20:4
Whatever the attack, we can be ready.
Whether to stand and resist or to run.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
I Corinthians 10:13
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:28, 31-33, 35, 37-39
You Got this! Jesus has overcome! We can do all tings through Christ who strengthens us. The Battle is in His capable hands.
So regardless of what may come, we know in whom we have believed in. God is able.
So Come On Let’s Fight The Good Fight.
Life and Faith By Deb 
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