Don’t Miss This! :: Deeper Devotion

Ephesians 1:22, 23
And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Defeated. How often this one word could easily describe the Spirit of a Christian. The sins of your flesh are at constant war against the convictions of your Spirit. The Apostle Paul says it best. “For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate” (Rom. 7:15). When you close your eyes, can you picture it? There is an entire kingdom of darkness dressed for battle. You stand alone on the battlefield and hopelessly watch them descend on you with death in their eyes. There are more of them than you can count and they are all eager to kill. You stand defeated before the first rock, sword or spear even hits your body.

Christian, if this is the picture of your life, be encouraged that it’s not as bad as you see it. In fact, your view of the situation is only contributing to your downfall. The source of your defeat does not rest on the horizon, but in your position on the battlefield. You could stand in the battlefield of life from now to eternity and the army of Satan would never cease to advance on your position. I challenge you to divert your attention away from the army of Satan and to look once again to your position on the battlefield. You will discover an amazing truth that transforms oncoming defeat into instant victory.

Ephesians 1:23 offers amazing insight into the believer’s relationship with Christ. Pay close attention to its content. The church is Christ’s body, of which He is the head. Believer, you and I are the church. This verse is not speaking of buildings, but of every individual that has come to trust in Jesus as their Lord. We are the fullness of Him. You and I are like two individuals on a packed ship. Around us there are more people than we can count. We have filled the body of Christ. Upon salvation, your spirit has joined the rest of the church, packing full the Spirit of Jesus Christ. You are both in Him and of Him. Furthermore, Ephesians tells us that we are the fullness of Him who fills all. You are in Christ, and He is in you (John 15:4)! Not only does your Spirit join the church in filling the Spirit of Christ, but His Spirit goes out into every being of the church and permeates them with His presence; this includes you. Within your spirit is the Spirit of the living Christ, empowering you with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3).

What does this mean? Verse 22 proclaims that God has placed all things in subjection under Christ’s feet! Verse 21 leaves no doubt to the power of Jesus being far above every other power. Look again to your lonely figure on the battlefield. Has the word of God changed your perception any? You are not alone. You are with another million believers, all within the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Even greater is the fact that within you is His Spirit! Look to the advancing army again. “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Is it making sense! Do you not see what your identity in Christ uncovers! Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world! Defeat? Defeat is only an option to those who draw their strength from self, forsaking the Spirit of the Living Christ. Open your eyes and claim your victory. Sin is not something you cannot control. It’s something you do not control.

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