The Axis Powers
During World War II, Germany fought with a strength and tenacity that overwhelmed at every turn. However, Hitler’s alliance with the Axis powers made his force one of the most formidable in all of history, engaging in a true global conquest. We, too, face an enemy alliance that seeks to overthrow our life in Christ—Satan, the world, and the false self.
Satan and Spiritual Forces
It is pretty easy to recognize the main bad guy in God’s story. He is the serpent in Genesis, the dragon in Revelation, and every spiritual force of evil in between. Against him, we can resist, we can rebuke, we can cast out, and stand our ground because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross and through the supernatural assistance of the Holy Spirit within us. (Jam. 4:7, Eph. 6:10-20)
The World
The world often takes good things, things that God created for our enjoyment and benefit, and uses them to grab and hold our attention and draw us into an unholy worship. We hold on so tightly that we fear losing what has come to mean so much to us. Worry, anxiety, and depression follow because the things of this world can never satisfy. It is on this front that we suffer most in the battle for our mind and heart. We have victory as we take captive every thought and set our hearts on the things above. (2 Cor. 10:5, Col. 3:1-3)
The False Self
We could also call this enemy our flesh or sin nature. I use the term false self because it often convinces us that it is who we are and represents our truest desires. Our false self is born from the natural selfishness which we inherited from Adam, and we gain victory through the work of Christ as we are crucified with him and raised to walk in a totally new, redeemed life. (Gal. 2:20, Rom. 6:1-11, 2 Cor. 5:17)
Satan and Spiritual Forces
It is pretty easy to recognize the main bad guy in God’s story. He is the serpent in Genesis, the dragon in Revelation, and every spiritual force of evil in between. Against him, we can resist, we can rebuke, we can cast out, and stand our ground because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross and through the supernatural assistance of the Holy Spirit within us. (Jam. 4:7, Eph. 6:10-20)
The World
The world often takes good things, things that God created for our enjoyment and benefit, and uses them to grab and hold our attention and draw us into an unholy worship. We hold on so tightly that we fear losing what has come to mean so much to us. Worry, anxiety, and depression follow because the things of this world can never satisfy. It is on this front that we suffer most in the battle for our mind and heart. We have victory as we take captive every thought and set our hearts on the things above. (2 Cor. 10:5, Col. 3:1-3)
The False Self
We could also call this enemy our flesh or sin nature. I use the term false self because it often convinces us that it is who we are and represents our truest desires. Our false self is born from the natural selfishness which we inherited from Adam, and we gain victory through the work of Christ as we are crucified with him and raised to walk in a totally new, redeemed life. (Gal. 2:20, Rom. 6:1-11, 2 Cor. 5:17)
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