The Ultimate Goal of Spiritual Warfare
Many Christians engage in spiritual battles with the hope of finding relief from their current struggles or achieving a sense of normalcy. However, the true purpose of spirituality, including warfare, is to transform us into the image of Christ. Nothing, not even worship or deliverance, can be fully attained if we miss this singular objective.
From Deliverance to Transformation
When God delivered the ancient Hebrews from Egypt, it was not just to free them from slavery, but to bring them into the Promised Land. Similarly, our salvation is not just about being delivered from sin, but about being conformed to Christ. If we fail to understand this, we may find ourselves entangled in the same sins that once oppressed us.
The Father’s Ultimate Goal
God’s purpose in our salvation goes beyond simply removing our burdens. He is working to conform us to the image of His Son, making Jesus the “first-born among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). To achieve God’s ultimate victory, we must strive for complete transformation into the likeness of Christ.
The Power of Cooperation
When we are born again, the presence of the Lord Jesus enters our lives through the Holy Spirit. As we cooperate with God’s will, His glory advances within us. Jesus likened our salvation to the lighting of a lamp, which produces an indestructible defense against evil.
Walking in Immunity
As we walk in the excellence of God’s ways, we enter a realm of immunity from satanic attacks. The fullness of Christ within us increases, fulfilling the scripture, “As He is, so also are we in this world” and “He who was born of God keeps [us], and the evil one does not touch [us]” (1 John 4:17; 1 John 5:18).
The Devil’s Defeat
It is not Satan who defeats us, but our openness to him. To perfectly subdue the devil, we must walk in the “shelter of the Most High” (Psalm 91:1). Satan is tolerated for one purpose: to thrust us into Christlikeness, where the nature of Christ becomes our only place of rest and security.
Appropriating the Nature of Christ
Once we realize that God’s goal is not just to save us but to transform us, we will find that God has one answer to all our spiritual problems: appropriating the nature of His Son! Whether troubled by fear, doubt, or sin, we must submit to God, repent, and yield ourselves to Christ’s faith and purity within us. As we do, the enemy will withdraw, and we will find victory in the name and nature of Jesus.
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