IDENTITY AS WARRIORS

[Albert Finch]

"For everyone born of God has overcome the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." - 1 John 1:4,5

As followers of Jesus, each one of us is called and commissioned by the Spirit of God to become mighty warriors of God. What is a warrior? One who has experienced many battles and has defeated every enemy. One who succeeds without fail! Warriors demonstrate nobility and honor, bravery and fearlessness, and, above all, radical devotion to their Leader. Warriors will die for their king!

CHRIST -- OUR WARRIOR WITHIN

Our identity as warriors of God is only possible because we, in ourselves, are now dead! We have been crucified with Christ. We no longer live: our lives have been bought by His Blood at Calvary. Christ now lives as God's Warrior in and through us!
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

During perilous or dark days we can be fearless champions because Christ, living within and through us, has already "overcome the world" (see also Joshua 1:7). We don't have to overcome; Christ already has. He is the mighty Lion of Judah! He is the King of kings! Remember His promise: "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). The apostle Paul reminds us that we are NOW more than conquerors in and through Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37).

Believing and acting on this precious truth Christ the King within us will empower us to stand boldly before all, fearless in the face of any difficult circumstance and confident in the Lord's presence – no matter what personal loss, family disappointment, sickness or poverty threatens our lives, the lives of our loved ones, or the lives of those who cross our path. We are called to carry His Kingdom of love everywhere we go, defeating His enemies every step of the way!

WARRIORS BELIEVE THE WORD

How exactly do we allow Christ the King to fight our daily battles?

It's very simple! As His warriors, we simply choose not to look at "the things which are seen" but to fix our heart and mind on the greater, unseen reality of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God and the Spirit of God living and reigning within us. Through Christ our King we are unstoppable and invincible. He promises that no weapon formed against us will work (Isaiah 54:17): no sickness, no depression, no confusion, no fear, and no lack!

If all of this is indeed true, you may be wondering, then why is it that most Believers don't feel victorious warriors? The reason is very clear: it is a mistake to walk by our own thoughts, emotions and perceptions of "reality." If we pay attention to this natural realm, we will fight the enemy in our flesh and soul, not by God's Spirit and Word and thus lose every battle. We must walk by faith standing on His Word and living WITH OUR SPIRIT IN COMMUNION WITH HIS SPIRIT and expect the Lord to "make good" on His promises.
We fix our eyes on Jesus, call on His Name, stand on His Word, and every battle is won!

WARRIORS DENY THEMSELVES

This shift from living through our soul (our own will, carnal mind and natural emotions) to living by His Spirit and Word is the necessary path and true cost of discipleship: each one of us must die to ourselves and live for Christ. We must choose to yield to His Spirit and Word (renew our mind), deny ourselves and declare His truth over ourselves and our circumstances: "Let the weak say, 'I am strong'" (Joel 3:10). In the Psalms, we hear mighty words of victory:

"Through You we will push down our enemies. Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us." Psalm 44:5

Our call is not to give ourselves over to fear, doubt and unbelief, but to His righteousness, peace and joy within us. We are called to be upright in all we do, rejoicing always, and be bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1). Of course this is the call of God's grace.

We cannot change ourselves, but we must have confidence in the grace and power of Christ working within and through us. He is the One who will transform us from carnal Christians who live by the flesh, who give credence to their carnal minds and unsanctified emotions, to WARRIORS who "live and move and have our being" in Christ as dread champions of God's unconditional, matchless love and warriors for His Truth, who stand without compromise.

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