Just the other day, I received a great question from a Take Back Your Temple program member:
I am trying to understand what it means to fight from victory rather than for it. It seems that if we have the victory in Jesus, we shouldn’t have to fight, but then there is Ephesians 6:13-18, which clearly states we do...I love how you explain and help us apply the Word to this journey of health. Would you mind breaking it down some on how the victory helps us fight the food addiction, overeating, gluttony, or another sin?"
The following is the answer I wrote back to her, which can help you too stay strong in any battle you are fighting right now.
Fighting from Victory
"Great question! Jesus gives us a victory statement in John 16:33:
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Because Jesus has overcome the world, believers in Him are Overcomers too. In the end, we win!
However, Jesus did not promise us a trouble-free life, nor did He say that we would not have battles to fight.
But His promise is that we would emerge victorious over the challenges we face each day with God's help. Plus, a crown of life is waiting for us!
Consider a football game in which you already know the outcome.
If you knew your team was going to win 49 to 21, would you become fearful, anxious, and discouraged if that winning team was behind at half-time? No, because you would know that a turnaround was coming, and it would be exciting to watch!
No matter how the game appeared while it was in progress, you would keep reminding yourself of the winning outcome, which was already assured.
"For we walk by faith, not by sight."
- 2 Corinthians 5:7
We are on a journey to be transformed into Christ-likeness by the Holy Spirit:
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
The battle stems from the fact that, although our spirit is renewed when we accepted Jesus as our Savior, our minds were not renewed.
So the enemy uses our old, mental programming and destructive habits to keep us in bondage. He is always seeking to devour those who do not know that he is a defeated foe and the truth of the victory we have in Jesus!
Think about that football game again: Imagine someone who does not know or believe the outcome of the game.
They become so fearful, discouraged, and anxious when their team is behind that they tell themselves, "I can't watch this anymore," go out and get drunk because they are convinced that their team is going to lose!
They acted according to a lie.
We cannot experience victory in the Christian life without renewing our minds to God's word and walking in the power of His Spirit day-by-day.
We do not have what it takes to overcome in our flesh. The enemy knows that, which is why he wants to drag us down to living by the flesh.
He wants to drag us down to his level - the lowest level of living.
The enemy has no power over us in the Spirit, which is why the Bible says that when we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh (see Galatians 5:16).
I highly recommend studying Romans, Chapters 6, 7, and 8 in your favorite Bible version. It will show you the nature of the battle clearly and why we have the victory through God's Spirit.
I pray the Lord gives you fresh revelation in the important matter. Love to hear your thoughts!"