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The Battle Within

by Anthony Osei Boateng  
12/25/2012 / Christian Living

Many Christians fail in their strive to attain perfection in holiness because they fail to realise the battle they are engaged in as Christians, and hence fail to arm themselves and battle accordingly. The first step to winning The Battle Within; is to realise that you are in battle as a Christian. But this kind of battle is different from conventional battle because it is within you, and the prize is your soul, which is extremely valuable to an extent that Jesus sacrificed His life for it. After finishing the hard part of the work for us, all that remains is for us to either choose Him (Jesus) or go in the way of the devil which
leads to destruction.

As soon as a person is born into this world, the battle within arises. To a very great extent, being born into a Christian family influences this battle. However, it is only won when we discover Jesus for ourselves and believe in Him not because our parents or family members believe in him, but because we have the conviction within us that He is the Son of God. This is the point whereby our true re-birth takes place. After we accept Jesus as our Lord and personal saviour become saved, that is not the end of the battle within. Galatians 5:17 states "for the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish" (NKJV).

Being saved does not mean that we should forget or ignore the threat posed by our flesh to us fulfilling the desire of the Spirit of God. Many Christians forget that they are made up of the body, soul and spirit. When our spirit is saturated and sharpened by the Spirit of God; our flesh which has still got the sinful nature with all its weaknesses is forced reluctantly to follow the leading of the Spirit of God. Paul said in 1Cor. 9:27 "but I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (NKJV). This is how Paul, who was an astute Christian, valued the battle within, and strived hard not to fall short after preaching God's Word to others. The main lesson to be learnt here is not to take our flesh and its ability to cause us to fall, for granted, when we become Christians.

Christians should never trust their flesh, but always trust the Spirit of God to lead them in the right direction. Gal. 5:16 states, "I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (NKJV). The battle within can be won always by keeping our sensitivity to the voice and directions of the Spirit very high. Walking in the Spirit means, moving in and with the Spirit, in the direction which God wants you to go. If you cannot hear or see where the Spirit of God wants you to go, or what God wants you to do, then the flesh would show you what he wants you to do instead and you shall gratify the desires of the flesh. This is the main reason why the flesh wins "the battle within"; in the lives of many Christians.
So how do we walk in the Spirit in order to avoid gratifying the desires of the flesh? The answer to this is the Word of God! Ps. 119: 104-105 states "through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (NKJV). We can avoid the false way of the flesh and win the battle within by studying and applying the Word of God daily. P

rayer is also a very important factor but remember that, after Jesus had fasted and prayed for forty days and forty nights, the devil still tempted Him, and He overcame the devil through the Word. Eph. 6:17-18 states; "and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" (NKJV). Hence it can be deduced that our Salvation and prayer are all very important but the Sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God) is what we use to conquer the sinful nature and temptation; just as Jesus did after His fasting and prayers. Ps. 119:11 states that "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (NKJV).

We can never reason with the devil, using our flesh because it already conforms to the sinful nature and will give in easily. However we can fight through the Spirit, using the Word of God. John. 6:63b states; "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (NKJV). The Spirit gives life because it saves our soul from eternal condemnation.

The battle within us is real, but can be won by us if we abide by the Word of God. May God bless us all, and help us never to fall for the schemes of the devil. Amen.

Anthony Osei Boateng is a PhD researcher, writer, pianist, singer, motivational speaker and teacher with publications on many websites and many magazines worldwide. His passion lies in e-evangelism.
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