Jesse Duplantis - The Battle of Life

The Battle of Life

I 've never met anyone who did not have a battle on their hands at some time or another. Most people are in a battle because the world is full of trouble. If the devil is attacking you, don't be alarmed. Jesus never taught that life would be problem-free. In fact, He said the opposite: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

As long as sin remains in the hearts of men, and as long as the devil is on the earth. there will be trouble! The Good News is that Jesus died on the cross to give you power over all the attacks of the devil. You don't have to have anxiety even if you're going through the worst battle of your life. You can find peace today in Jesus Christ. You can choose to believe Him and be of good cheer knowing that He overcame it all...and because of that, you can overcome it all too.

The Battle May Not Be Your Choice, But the Outcome Is!

Daniel was a man in the Old Testament who was attacked because of his faith and dedication to God.

He lived in an intolerant country, where even the king who liked him was manipulated into making a law that forbade praying to God. Daniel held onto his faith and was thrown into the lion's den for it. That battle wasn't Daniel's choice...but the outcome was.

Now, it seemed, at first, that Daniel wasn't being taken care of by God. After all, he had to spend the night with some hungry lions. But, in the morning when the king asked, "Is my servant Daniel still alive?" Daniel said, and this is my paraphrase, 'God saved me. Everything's fine.'

The battle was satan's choice. The outcome was determined by Daniel's choice. Daniel chose to believe in God's power to protect him, even when he was in the lion's den. Was it easy for him? No. But it worked! God shut the lions' mouths and Daniel was safe (Daniel 6).

Daniel wasn't like some people today who talk the talk but don't walk the walk. This is not something that you can pretend to believe and see results. If you're going through a battle today, your relationship with God must take priority in your life. The Word must become so real to you that you get beyond just "believing" it and start "knowing" it.

Do you know that Jesus died on the cross for your sins? Do you know that stripes were laid on His back for your healing? Do you know that He was chastised for your peace? Isaiah 53:5 is for you! Jesus Himself preached from Isaiah 61:1 saying, " The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound..."

There is hope for you in Jesus Christ no matter what is trying to mess up your life. Today, you may be held captive like Daniel with some problem. The devil may have attacked you simply because you're a person of faith. He's a serial killer and out to kill, steal and destroy anyone who is affiliated with God

especially those who are pleasing to God!

If you're attacked without just cause, remember that Daniel was too. But, he kept the faith and God saved him from harm. If you keep the faith, God will save you from harm too.

The Battle Starts In the Mind

The devil wants to cloud your mind with doubt.

His strategy is to get your eves off of what God said and onto the circumstances of the battleand to throw doubt in your mind about God. Don't let him play games in your mind. Refuse to let that idiot paralyze you with fear to such a degree that you forget that you've got power. Show the devil that you won't stand for his criminal attacks on your life anymore.

Remember, the devil is an enemy of God. He hates God and attacks His children out of spitejust to hurt the Father. But the devil is a liar! Jesus defeated him at the cross, but that doesn't mean he has stopped fighting people like you and me. The devil is a thief. Jesus called him that in John 10:10 when He said, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

The devil has no right to steal, but he will try to do it anyway because he's an outlaw. But, if you submit yourself to God and resist him, James 4:7 says that he will flee from you. You will overcome the attack. You have been given authority over the devil because of Jesus Christ's work on the cross. When you resist the devil and speak the Word of God instead of the problem you're facing, you're enforcing the devil's defeat.

He may not like it, but it's just his tough luck.

He's a loser. God's the winner, and you're the enforcer on this earth. If you speak the Word, then what you say goes. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof"

(Proverbs 18:21).

The Word Is Your Weapon

When the battles of life are waging a tough war, it's time to find scriptures that fit your situation and start speaking them to yourself each day. Doing this is going to start changing the way you think about things, which will cause you to act differently. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God"

(Romans 12:2).

When the Word is in you, you'll be able to fight off doubt easily. Instead of feeling hopeless and trying to believe God's Word, you'll start having real faith in God's power to change your circumstances and that will enable you to start proving the Word of God. You'll gain understanding of your authority in Christ and start knowing that God's Word is His willand it's good, acceptable and perfect for whipping the devil!

Some people say that God sends sickness to teach you something, but Jesus already told us in John 10:10 that He came to give life and the devil is the one who steals, kills and destroys. You may learn something during a battle, but that doesn't mean God sent it to you to teach you something. The Word is your source for teaching!

The more you transform your mind to the Word of God, the more you'll know and the bolder you'll become. You will get so bold in your faith that you will stand up when the attack comes and say,

"Nothing is going to kill, steal or destroy me! I'm not giving up. I will fight the good fight of faith! The battle may not have been my choice, but the outcome is!"

Faith in God, confidence in what He's done for you and boldness in speaking the Word of God will be your weapons for the battles of life.

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

Some people choose to fight against faith. If you want to overcome these problems, you're going to have to fight for faith.

1 Timothy 6:12 says, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."

The devil may be the one starting every troublesome battle in your life, but it's your faith in God that is going to finish each battle. The circumstances may not look good, but God says you're going to make ityou've got to say it too.

Profess a "good profession" like the scripture says, and do it "before many witnesses." Make the Word of God the final authority for each situation that you face.

Make sure that you line up your heart and your mouthso that you are in unity with yourself. If doubts arise, cast them off and reestablish what God says about your situation. When you commit to doing these things, you're fighting the good fight of faith.

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: