LIFE IS A BATTLE

A. THE ENEMY
Mark 16:17-18 casting out demons in Jesus’ Name because there is a battle to fight
“If you know the enemy and you know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred
battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every gained you will also suffer a defeat.” –
Sun Tzu
He works through deception – going unnoticed while persuading people to see sin as something
insignificant or innocent, “game”, entangled and then trapped with no way out

Who is our enemy? Spiritual being created by God who used to be a cherub and highly
respected in heaven but allowed pride to enter his heart and in his arrogance wanted to
overthrow God so he could exercise control over everything. He lost all his privileges and
become a hidden enemy of God’s work and his primary goal is to remove God from the hearts of
men and obstruct their minds so that the message of salvation would not be preached nor
accepted in the world.

How does he act? When people sin, the enemy acquires a legal right over their lives so that he
can afflict them. Under his authority, there are rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world, and
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. It is important that believers understand that the
enemy fights with all his might to divert people from the right path. (John 10:10) FIGHT SIN!
Remember that it is through sin that the enemy obtains authority to torment our lives. Know
that Jesus came to the world to destroy the works of the devil. Given that sin had given the devil
authority over our lives, Jesus removed our sin so that He could set us free. (Colossians 2:14-15)
When we receive the forgiveness of our sins, the enemy stops having authority over our lives
and we are finally free from oppression.

The battle was not a close call; Jesus won an overwhelming and eternal victory. Jesus already
triumphed on the cross of Calvary.

B. A LIFE OF CONQUEST
Matthew 12:33

A life of integrity. When we are free from unrighteousness, God replaces our old life with a good
life; this good life is Jesus Christ. If you are a tree of Christ and your life is His, the fruit you bear
should be the fruit of integrity, righteousness and truth. You are either a tree of Christ or not. It
is by our fruit that we can determine what kind of tree we are. Going to church does not
guarantee our salvation, we attend church because we are new trees that bear good fruit – we
have been changed and now long to express heartfelt worship and gratitude toward God in His
house.

Your words determine your fruit. (Matthew 12:34-35) When a person complains, grumbles, uses
curse words, speak negatively, their fruit is bad. (vice versa – full of God, full of faith) Your life
needs to reflect Christ – not just in actions, but in every part of your life.
Every Christian should pay special attention to their lifestyle so that they can be conqueror. It is
essential that every believer lives a life of repentance, faith, prayer and fasting.

To be a conqueror, I need to be a tree that bears good fruit.

C. OUR SECRET WEAPON
Revelation 12:11
We as God’s children have the greatest secret weapon of redemption which helps us overcome
every situation: the blood of Jesus. (Ephesians 1:7a)
Redeem means ransom, liberate, free from bondage, captivity or punishment; to save by paying
a ransom. The only price that could pay for the redemption of humanity was the blood of Jesus.
When we confess what the blood of Jesus has done for us, it becomes evident to all that we
have accepted His goodness to us and we now belong to the kingdom of heaven.

THE BLOOD OF JESUS HAS REDEEMED US.

D. ALL MY SINS ARE FORGIVEN

Ezekiel 36:26

Most primarily come to Jesus to see what He can do to meet their needs but it is even more
important that each one of us receives forgiveness for our sins as this brings freedom in every
area.

There is only one way in which we can receive the forgiveness of our sins: by accepting the love
of Jesus expressed through His blood. Only the blood of Jesus would suffice because it is the
blood that had not been polluted by sin.

The blood of Jesus means there is no sin that God cannot forgive.

E. WHITER THAN SNOW

F. AS IF I HAVE NEVER SINNED
 THE BLOOD OF JESUS JUSTIFIES ME.
G. SET APART FOR GOD

I HAVE BEEN SET APART TO SERVE JESUS.