02
Whether you are a ‘new recruit’ as a follower of Jesus, or if you’ve been walking as His disciple for some time, it is important to continually be trained for battle as a believer.
Jesus says in John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Part of our walk as Christians is appropriating the victory of Jesus into our lives. Our assignment as believers is to advance the Kingdom of God, which is the rule and reign of King Jesus, on earth. To do this, we must be trained and ready to obey every leading of our commander-in-chief, King Jesus.
The difference between being in the army of an earthly kingdom and being in the army of the King of kings is that Jesus has already won the war, defeated the enemy and has won absolute, total victory for all time.
The Gospel of Luke shows us that Jesus went through a process as He entered the work He was sent to do on earth. “When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon, Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22. “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness being tempted for forty days by the devil. And the devil said, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Luke 4:1,3
These passages show us that the devil questioned God’s word to Jesus. If the devil will challenge Jesus with the truth of God’s Word to His Son, he will challenge you with God’s word to you.
Jesus replied, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” Luke 4:4. God’s Word is our training manual to live a life of victory and to fulfil our purpose.
The apostle Luke tells us in Chapter 4:14, that Jesus returned from His wilderness experience in the power of the Spirit. When you are going through a wilderness, or testing time, press into the Word of God which will equip you to withstand the trial and temptation you are facing, as you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you through to the other side.
I invite you to pray this prayer
Father, I thank you that in Christ, I have peace during any tribulation and that you have prepared me for this time. I thank you that your perfect love casts out all fear, and I take my place in the army of God. I am teachable to learn how to be the disciple you’ve called me to be.
If you’re a “new recruit,” are you ready for battle against the enemy?
If you’ve been walking with Jesus for some time, have you been fighting as if the battle has already been won?
