Ephesians 5:15-20: Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Be Filled With the Spirit-Part VI
This week again I want to focus on the statement, Instead, be filled with the Spirit, and examine the ninth advantage of the Holy Spirit listed below.
1. The Holy Spirit will be with you forever.
2. The Holy Spirit will be in you.
3. The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.
4. The Holy Spirit will remind you of what Jesus said.
5. The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth.
6. The Holy Spirit will tell you what is yet to come.
7. The Holy Spirit will convict the world.
8. The Holy Spirit will give you power and boldness to witness.
9. The Holy Spirit will give you victory over your enemies.
Spiritual warfare is a reality. However, Jesus defeated the powers of darkness through his death, burial, and resurrection. Paul said in Colossians 2:15 speaking of Jesus, And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
The Bible contains numerous references to the victory that the church possesses in Jesus Christ. Look at the following verses from the New Testament.
Hebrews 2:14: Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil.
In John 16:33, Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
I Corinthians 15:57: But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Also, see Romans 8:37, II Corinthians 2:14 and I John 5:4-5.)
In this life there are struggles. There are battles, trials, and tribulations. The powers of darkness long to frustrate you and to defeat you as you pursue God. But God has ordained your victory in Jesus Christ.
As Jesus departed this earth, he sent the Holy Spirit to help the church succeed in this life. The Holy Spirit will guide us into victory. The Holy Spirit will empower us to walk in victory.
I want to share two Old Testament examples of the Holy Spirit guiding and empowering his people to victory over their enemies.
The first example is found in Joshua 6 as the children of Israel defeat and destroy the city of Jericho. The Jewish nation is possessing the land that God promised to them. As they come to Jericho, they find that the city is tightly shut up. No one is coming or going. The walls are strong and the gates are secure.
Then the word of the Lord comes to Joshua in verses two through five. Read what God says to Joshua. "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in."
God gave Joshua specific instructions on how to defeat this city. When Joshua and the people of Israel obeyed, the wall of the city fell down by the power of the Spirit of God.
Today, as we face enemies and problems and difficulties, we have the Holy Spirit in us, who will gladly give to us direction on how to win the victory. He desires to manifest his power on our behalf as we obey him.
To hear the Holy Spirit, and then to obey the Holy Spirit, will always yield success in your life.
Secondly, I want to examine II Chronicles 20. Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, and he received a report that an army of Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites was approaching Judah to make war against Judah. He was alarmed when he heard the report because the army of Judah was too small to defeat this army. However, Jehoshaphat purposed to inquire of God, so he called a fast, and from all over Judah people came together to seek God.
As they sought God and prayed, the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the Levites, and the Holy Spirit spoke to Jehoshaphat and to the people of Judah: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them.....You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the the Lord will be with you."
The people received this word from the Spirit of God, and they began to worship God. This nation truly believed the word. The next morning, as the army prepared to take their positions, Jehoshaphat consulted with the people. They decided to appoint men to sing and to praise the Lord. Jehoshaphat placed these men in front of the army. Now that is faith! A praise team leads the army out to face the enemy.
As these men began to sing praises, the Lord set ambushes against the opposing army. When the army of Judah reached their positions, they found that the entire enemy army was dead. There was no one left to fight. The Holy Spirit spoke the word, and then his power brought the word to pass. The battle did belong to the Lord. Judah did not have to fight; the Lord did.
Judah took the next three days to collect all the spoils of victory. They gathered in the valley on the fourth day to praise God once again.
What enemy are you facing today? What is your struggle? If you are born again of the Spirit of God, he lives inside of you, and he is available to help you walk in the victory that Jesus Christ purchased for you at Calvary.
Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then listen and obey, and his power will come to your aid to defeat the enemies in your life.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org