Day 7: Faith is the victory
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4).
Oh Lord God our Father, You have established Your throne in heaven, and Your kingdom rules over all (Psalm 103:19). You alone are God— Your power and sovereignty are beyond challenge, beyond dispute.
But You have shown us that in the spiritual heavenly realms there are rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world, and spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). We know that through the sin of humans they were permitted access to the world, but that the Lord Jesus triumphed over them on the cross (Colossians 2:15). And we know that You have set a time according to Your flawless will and purpose for their final destruction (Revelation 20:7-10).
You have not chosen to reveal to us all of the details of the spiritual realm, but You have used the language of warfare to show us the reality and the gravity of spiritual battle. Scripture makes it clear that our struggle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12)— that the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world (2 Corinthians 10:4)— and that faith is the victory that has overcome the world. (1 John 5:4).
You have shown us that in our human strength we have no defense against the cosmic powers in the darkness around us (Ephesians 6:12 - ISV). But You Yourself have provided us an impenetrable shield, a mighty fortress.
For by Your mighty power... You raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come (Ephesians 1:19-21). Not only so, but You raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).
All this You made possible through faith— Through [Jesus] we have gained access by faith into [Your] grace (Romans 5:2).
It is through faith that we begin a relationship with You — without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists, and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
It is through faith that we become Your children— Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1 John 5:1).
And it is through faith that we overcome the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12 - ESV)— for everyone born of God overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).
O Lord, we are no match for the world. The powers of darkness are equally at home in evil enticements as in angelic disguise. We are not clever enough, strong enough, quick enough, savvy enough, to battle on our own.
But through faith in Jesus, we can overcome the world and its evil— Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5:5).
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