Wrestling with the Devil

This afternoon I would like to speak to you of the kind of spiritual warfare we as Christians are engaged in. The reason that we are going through this series of sermons is because I would like you to see that the forward progress of the gospel in our hearts, in the life of this church, in our communities, in our nation, and in the world, cannot take place without our winning spiritual battles in our warfare with the Devil and his forces of darkness. We do indeed have the ultimate victory over the Devil through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, as He was moving toward the cross, “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” (John 12: 31) The Devil was indeed cast out of his position of trying to take the place which rightfully belonged to Christ. Christ indeed will draw all of His Elect people unto Himself. The question then becomes – If he is a defeated and destroyed enemy, then why do we have to fight with him? The Bible declares that we have to fight him because the Lord would have each Christian to personally wrestle and to overcome the evil one whom He overcame at the cross. He ordains this in the life of every true Christian in order that they might know the reality of His victory which He died to purchase for them.