When the Battle Rages

Today, the Lord has put a message on my heart for you. One of the most important truths to instil in yourself and others is understanding who you are in Christ. When you grasp this truth, you recognize your place and position in Him. We are seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), and this position comes with divine privileges.

Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV) says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

This concept can be hard to grasp, yet it’s truly amazing. What does it mean to be “seated in heavenly places with Christ”? Because we are in Christ, we walk in the benefits of His divine authority (Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:34-35). Think of it as having VIP access to the King’s table—a royal privilege to be enthroned with the Son of God. However, it’s crucial to remember that this position is not by our righteousness but by His (Ephesians 2:8; Ephesians 4:7; 2 Corinthians 3:5). We receive these benefits solely by His grace.

When we face spiritual battles, our Lord becomes our Great Defender, granting us authority in heavenly places to work through us. Often, our battles are distractions and fears that the enemy uses because he knows he is already defeated. Our role is to remain focused and trust the Lord. The enemy is under our feet, and our authority is in Christ.

When Satan fell from his position of glory, God removed all authority from him. Therefore, Satan can do nothing unless we open the door to him. When we know who we are in Christ, we understand that the battle was already won on the cross. Through Jesus’ resurrection, our inheritance and righteousness are secured in Him. We don’t fight for victory; we fight from a place of victory already won on our behalf.

You might wonder, Does God ever allow Satan to attack us?

In Luke 22:31–32, Jesus says, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Here, Satan sought God’s permission to test Peter and the other disciples. Jesus prayed for Peter so that his faith would not fail and that he could strengthen the others when the trial ended. While Jesus allowed the enemy to harass His disciples within limits, He had a higher purpose: strengthening their faith.

The Bible says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Jesus used the Word of God to put the enemy in his place, reminding him he had no authority. The Word of God is your sword; it’s all you need to defeat the enemy. When you face trials and must go to battle, remember that the victory was already won on the cross. Remain steadfast in your faith.