So spiritual warfare exists. There are things working against us in the world - powers of darkness, forces of evil, scary sounding stuff. While there are battles that must be fought daily in prayer, the war against darkness was won over 2000 years ago when Jesus died on the cross and pulled a fast one on satan and rose from the dead three days later. It is a story of grace and love and mercy, and it is also an epic display of the might and power Christ possesses. His show of power doesn’t end there though. Jesus takes this whole resurrection power thing to the next level when He sends us the Holy Spirit so that we can have access to the exact same power that brought Him back from the grave.
Paul writes in Ephesians 1:18-21, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age, but also in the one to come.”
Paul’s cry is that we would live out of the truth that we are not powerless in the face of any trial that we face. We are not powerless to anxiety. We are not powerless to fear. We are not powerless to circumstances or trials. We have the same power that Jesus used to heal the sick, and calm the storm and bring Lazarus back from the dead. This is the power Christ died for you to have. No matter how desperate or dark a present circumstance, or how deeply entangled in a sin struggle you may be, the thought “you are powerless to fight this” is a lie straight out of the pit of hell. You may not have control over a situation, but Christ didn’t die for you to be in control, He died for you to have the power to fight back against the enemy. So fight like you’ve already won because your God has already declared you victorious.
Paul again references the power we have in Christ in Romans 8:37. He claims that “we more than conquerors through Him who loved us,” meaning that the enemy will do his level best to keep us from the fullness of God by trying to trap us in sin or destructive thought patterns or circumstances, but we don’t have to take it. We have Christ and His power dwelling in us, ready to be used as soon as we call out to it.
So amazing, we have this power in us, but why do we sometimes feel so powerless? Why do we feel defeated when we are supposed to be more than a conquerors, Paul?
I think Paul would say that our power is not determined by how powerful we feel. Our emotions do not dictate how powerful we are. We just are powerful because that is the identity we have as children of God. So when school is going poorly, or relationships are hard, or you lose someone close to you, take heart in the fact that you don’t have to feel powerful, you just have to exercise the power that has been given to you in faith.
So practically speaking, what does putting this power to use look like?
It means putting on the armor of God that Paul speaks about in Ephesians 6:13-17:
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground...stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
The way we fight back is to immerse ourselves in truth from the Word, stand boldly on his promises, and pray ceaselessly to our Father who will move in power in response to our cries.
So take heart. Hold fast. Be courageous. Exercise the authority and power Christ has given you.
Author | Katie Pilson
Paul writes in Ephesians 1:18-21, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age, but also in the one to come.”
Paul’s cry is that we would live out of the truth that we are not powerless in the face of any trial that we face. We are not powerless to anxiety. We are not powerless to fear. We are not powerless to circumstances or trials. We have the same power that Jesus used to heal the sick, and calm the storm and bring Lazarus back from the dead. This is the power Christ died for you to have. No matter how desperate or dark a present circumstance, or how deeply entangled in a sin struggle you may be, the thought “you are powerless to fight this” is a lie straight out of the pit of hell. You may not have control over a situation, but Christ didn’t die for you to be in control, He died for you to have the power to fight back against the enemy. So fight like you’ve already won because your God has already declared you victorious.
Paul again references the power we have in Christ in Romans 8:37. He claims that “we more than conquerors through Him who loved us,” meaning that the enemy will do his level best to keep us from the fullness of God by trying to trap us in sin or destructive thought patterns or circumstances, but we don’t have to take it. We have Christ and His power dwelling in us, ready to be used as soon as we call out to it.
So amazing, we have this power in us, but why do we sometimes feel so powerless? Why do we feel defeated when we are supposed to be more than a conquerors, Paul?
I think Paul would say that our power is not determined by how powerful we feel. Our emotions do not dictate how powerful we are. We just are powerful because that is the identity we have as children of God. So when school is going poorly, or relationships are hard, or you lose someone close to you, take heart in the fact that you don’t have to feel powerful, you just have to exercise the power that has been given to you in faith.
So practically speaking, what does putting this power to use look like?
It means putting on the armor of God that Paul speaks about in Ephesians 6:13-17:
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground...stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
The way we fight back is to immerse ourselves in truth from the Word, stand boldly on his promises, and pray ceaselessly to our Father who will move in power in response to our cries.
So take heart. Hold fast. Be courageous. Exercise the authority and power Christ has given you.
Author | Katie Pilson
Posted in Spiritual Warfare, Armor of God, Holy Spirit, God\\\\\\\'s Power, Identity, Authority, Katie Pilson
Recent
Archive
2023
2022
April
August
September
November
2021
January
February
March
What if Death Could Actually Lead to Resurrection?How My Squad Pulled UpThe Friend He IsStarlight and Wonder: Sensing His Voice and His SpiritEvery Tribe, Every Tongue, Every NationMy Oldest FriendA Loving VoicePursuing PerspectiveFalling at His FeetBoldness in BreakthroughMental Health and GodPeaceWhat is Love?
April
June
September
Categories
no categories
Tags
1 Corinthians
1 Kings
1 Peter
2 Corinthians
2 Peter
Aaron Vickroy
Abba
Abiding
Abigail Bradley
Abundance
Accountability
Actions
Adam Salway
Addiction
Adoration
Adventure
Alafia Adeleke
Alex Hinton
Alignment
Andrew Elder
Andrew Smith
Anger
Anna DiCosty
Anna Goellner
Anointing
Ansley Davenport
Anxiety
Armor of God
Ashlyn Williams
Ashton Brantley
Asian American and Pacific Islander Month
Aubrey Gold
Authority
Autumn Pressley
Awakening
Bailey Meyne
Balance
Beauty
Becca Johnstone
Becca Morgan
Being Uncomfortable
Being mortal
Beloved
Ben Gill
Benji Johnston
Bentley Clark
Bethel
Black History Month
Blessing
Body Image
Body of Christ
Boldness
Boundaries
Brad Schiebel
Bravery
Breakthrough
Brittany Futch
Brokenness
Brooke DeLoach
Brooklyn Holloway
COVID-19
Caitlin Cooper
Calling
Calvary
Cam Pace
Caroline Barnes
Caroline Beasley
Caroline Newton
Carolyn McLain
Celebration
Change
Charlie Knox
Child-like
Chloe Glass
Chosen
Christina Hensley
Christlikeness
Christmas Survival Guide
Christmas
Claire Jordan
Clarity
Colorado
Comfort
Commitment
Communion
Community
Comparison
Compassion
Complacency
Confidence
Connection
Consistency
Contentment
Control
Conviction
Correction
Counseling
Courage
Covenants
Creativity
Cristina Rosiles
Dating
Decisions
Dependency
Depth
Desperation
Devon Radford
Disappointment
Discernment
Discipleship Leadership Blog
Discipleship
Discipline
Distraction
Diversity
Division
Doubt
Dreams
Dutch Williams
Easter
Eat the Book
El Roi
El Shaddai
Elders
Elijah
Elizabeth Sprinkle
Ellie Knight
Ellyzsa Valencia
Emily Baker
Emily Goldin
Emily Helton
Emily Summers
Emma Kate Shelton
Emma Whitmer
Emmanuel Fortuchang
Emotions
Empathy
Emptiness
Encountering God
Encounter
Encouragement Rooms
Endurance
Enough
Environment
Envy
Erin Gilleland
Eternity
Evan Correa
Evangelism
Exodus
Expectation
Faithfulness
Faith
Family
Fear of the Lord
Fear
Feeling Lost
Feeling Safe
Fernanda Lima
Forgiveness
Fredom
Freedom
Freely Given
Freshley
Friendship
Fruits of the Spirit
Fun
Future
Garner Gay
Generosity
Genesis
Gentleness
Gift Giving
Giving
Glory of God
Goals
God as a Father
God is Smart
God is with us
God's Character
God's Heart
God's Names
God's Plans
God's Plan
God's Power
God's Presence
God's Promises
God's Timing
God's Voice
God's Will
God\'s Character
God\'s Heart
God\'s Names
God\'s Plans
God\'s Plan
God\'s Power
God\'s Presence
God\'s Promises
God\'s Timing
God\'s Voice
God\'s Will
God\\\'s Character
God\\\'s Heart
God\\\'s Names
God\\\'s Plans
God\\\'s Plan
God\\\'s Power
God\\\'s Presence
God\\\'s Promises
God\\\'s Voice
God\\\'s Will
God\\\\\\\'s Character
God\\\\\\\'s Presence
God\\\\\\\'s Voice
Government
Grace
Gratitude
Guatemala
Guidance
Haley Blanchard
Haley Hall
Hallie Turner
Hannah Cole
Healing
Heart Posture
Heaven
Hinds Feet on High Places
Hispanic Heritage Month
History of Prayer
History of Revival
History of Wesley
Holidays
Holiness
Holly Avera
Holy Spirit
Holy Week
Home
Honor
Hope
Hospitality
Humility
Hunger
Hunter MacInnis
I Am
Ian Burkes
Identity
Idols
Image of God
Imagination
Influence
Inheritance
Intention
Intercession
Interning
Intimacy
Isolation
Jake Stephens
Jamaica
Jamie Cherf
Jealousy
Jennifer Daniel
Jessie Thomas
Jesus
John Wesley
John
Joseph
Josh DeRamus
Journaling
Joy
Judgment
Julia Baughn
Justice
Justin Patton
Kalli Drake
Karla Sanchez Tavera
Katherine Burnette
Katie Courson
Katie Pilson
Katie Pitner
Katy Smith
Kelley Losinger
Kelly Losinger
Kelsey Parham
Kennedy Browning
Kimberly Klaer
Kindness
Kingdom
Knowing God
Knowledge
Known
Kourtney Axelberg
Kristen Fikse
Kyle Pickett
Language
Latinx Heritage Month
Lauren Forbes
Leadership
Legacy
Lia Herrera
Life
Light
Lindsey Conway
Listening
Living Water
Living with God
Logic
Loneliness
Longing
Los Angeles
Loss
Love Languages
Love
Luke
Luvlan Lee
Mackenzie Wells
Maddie Marsh
Madeline Current
Madelyn Livingston
Madison Davis
Madison McManners
Makinizi Hoover
Mariah Foote
Mariah Taylor
Marlena Sculac
Marriage
Martin Luther King Jr.
Matthew
Maturity
Melissa Merrick
Mental Health
Mercy
Meredith Ashburn
Messiah
Michael Weidner
Miracles
Missions
Morgan Attebery
Mourning
Names
Narnia
Nashville
Natalie Mata
Nathan DeYoung
New Covenant
New Year
Obedience
Old Covenant
Olivia Beals
Olivia Ellis
Openness
Outreach
Pain
Partnership
Passover
Past
Paul
Peace
Perfection
Perseverance
Perspective
Peter
Pharisees
Philippians
Power
Praise
Prayer Guide
Prayer Meetings
Prayer
Pride
Processing
Prophecy
Protection
Provision
Psalm 23
Psalms
Purity
Purpose
Rachel Dow
Rachel Erin Taylor
Rachel Henderson
Rachel Jones
Racial Healing
Racial Reconciliation
Rebecca Mejia
Recipes
Reconciliation
Red Rising
Redemption
Refinement
Reflection
Reform
Refreshing
Relationship
Remedy
Repentance
Resolutions
Resources
Responsibility
Restoration
Rest
Resurrection
Reverence
Revival
Rhythm
Righteousness
Riley Orr
Risk
Romance
Romans 8
Romans
Rosalie Vendrell
Ruth
Sabbath
Sacred Rhythms
Sacrifice
Salvation
Sam Adams
Sam Carroll
Sam Darby
Samantha Forbes
Samantha Richey
Sanctification
Sarah Savoie
Savannah Hill
Savannah Shaw
Savannah Ugan
Scripture
Seasons
Secrets of the Secret Place
Seeking God
Selah
Self-love
Sermon on the Mount
Serving
Shaking
Shame
Sidney Counsell
Simplicity
Singleness
Sin
Slowing
Solitude
Sorrow
Sovereignty
Spiritual Disciplines
Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual Health
Spiritual Themes
Spiritual Warfare
Status
Steadfastness
Stephanie Seda
Stephanie Stewart
Strength
Stress
Struggles
Suffering
Summer Survival Guide
Summer of Psalms
Summer
Surrender
Temple
Temptation
Tenderness
Tension
Testimony
Thankfulness
The Beatitudes
The Church
The Cross
The Gospel
The Law
The Lord's Prayer
The Lord\'s Prayer
The Lord\\\'s Prayer
The Prodigal Son
The Road to Life
The Secret Place
The Shack
The Ten Commandments
The Trinity
The Word of God
Therapy
Tori Kramer
Transformation
Transition
Trust
Truth
Uncertainty
Unity
Urgency
Values
Victory
Vision
Vulnerability
Wandering
Wednesday Night Recap
Who Am I
Wilderness
Wisdom
Wonder
Word for the Year
Words
Worship
Worth