How the Holy Spirit Helps You Fight Spiritual Battles Now
Spiritual battles are real. It feels like the war between good and evil is becoming more evident every day.
I wrote this two days after Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
I’ve watched the news and scrolled social media. I’ve observed expressions of love and hate. I’ve seen people professing their faith and others mock that faith. Good versus evil has been on full display this week, and it breaks my heart.
A month later, you may have put it behind you, but these words written by John inspired me to write about it today…
You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.
1 John 4:4–6
Yes, there are moments when evil accomplishes its goal, and a godly man is taken far too soon. Times when a young woman has to stand at his graveside with their two young children and no answers.
Charlie gave people with whom he disagreed a platform to debate their views. And he professed his great love for his Savior, Jesus, his wife, children, and his country. I have been deeply moved by the number of people who called him their “friend.”
I only knew of him through news broadcasts and social media, but I joined countless others in grieving the death of this god-fearing young man.
Many have questioned why God would allow such unbearable pain.
Then someone like John reminds us that the Spirit who lives in us is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. The Spirit of TRUTH tells us that Charlie is safe and very much alive in the arms of Jesus.
The Spirit of TRUTH tells us that…
Although the devil may win some battles, Jesus won the war. When Jesus declared, “It is finished!” and gave up His spirit, it looked as though the devil had won. (John 19:30) But then He rose from the tomb three days later in resurrection victory.
The Spirit of Life lives in everyone who believes in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
So, for those who KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST Jesus and have His Spirit with and within them, death is not the end. It is the beginning of LIFE in the presence of the Lord. By God’s grace through faith, believers celebrate Jesus’ victory, knowing that when they join Him in heaven, they will be more alive than they have ever been.
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God Himself and not by human hands.
2 Corinthians 5:2
And for those who are grieving while continuing to face daily spiritual battles, God invites us to remember…
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.
Psalm 73:26
We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
Romans 8:28
I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
So, we will continue to pray for Charlie’s wife, Erika, his children, and everyone who will always love him.
And we will trust the Spirit, to help us fight our spiritual battles. He lives in everyone who has surrendered their life to God through faith in Jesus. With His help, we have what we need to speak the TRUTH to the enemy’s lies that express themselves as the “world’s viewpoint.”
Let’s pray…
A Prayer of Thanks for the Spirit’s Help
to Fight Spiritual Battles
Heavenly Father, I want to begin this prayer by thanking You for the way Your Spirit worked in and through Charlie Kirk to touch lives for You. The Spirit inspired that young man to proclaim Your TRUTH to a generation of young people.
Your Word tells us not to worry about what we will say when we are brought into situations where we are called to testify to our faith. Yet, many are still afraid. Charlie is proof that You keep Your promises. He touched people of all ages around the world with the TRUTH about Your love. He encouraged people to TRUST and OBEY You and SEEK You through Your Word and prayer.
Father, I ask You to comfort all who grieve him. Please fill us all with Your Spirit and give us everything we need to continue sharing Your TRUTH.
There are spiritual battles all around us. It feels like the enemy is louder, bolder, and more active. I know there is nothing new under the sun. I know he has always been a liar and a murderer. Although this isn’t new in history, it’s hard right now.
Please give us an outpouring of Your Spirit’s power. Please give us courage and strength. Prompt us to pray without ceasing and to SEEK You first. Help us identify and reject satan’s lies. Give us what we need to boldly counter them with Your TRUTH.
Thank you for Jesus’ sacrificial love and powerful victory. Thank you for blessing me with the gift of faith. Thank you for blessing me with Your Spirit.
May we, Your children, share Your love and may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
C. S. Lewis wrote…
“If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having.”
And oh, how love was demonstrated at Charlie’s memorial service. It was proclaimed not only for Charlie and his family, but for the Lord Jesus and His people.
This side of heaven, we will have trials and troubles. The battle between good and evil is real. The enemy is still working to pull people away from God. But it is also true that people do more SEEKing of the Kingdom of God and His TRUTH when they are confronted with trials and troubles.
God is working in us and around us. We are blessed. The Spirit who loves us is greater than the spirit who is in the world. And the Spirit who loves us is the power and strength we need to TRUST, OBEY, and live in God’s LOVE, through every battle.
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How grateful I am for this post. It has grieved me deeply for that sweet young family. I am like you, Deb, I only know of Charlie Kirk through the media and the way he demonstrated his love for the Lord Jesus, his family and this country. I have always heard “the good die young!” This was a senseless and hateful act. I grieve for his young widow and the children who will never get to know their daddy. I also grieve for our country and its loss. I am happy to see the many young people who he influenced and the example he gave for standing up for Jesus. And for our country. He had values and morals.
The spiritual battle is something we deal with on a daily basis. I love the way Paul put it in Romans. He spoke of how we know what to do that is right, but our sinful nature still urges us to do the wrong thing. I do struggle with this! My feelings aren’t always like they are supposed to be.
Thank you again for this post and may God bless you with safety and good health and a happy smile all week.
Sue
Thank you for your sweet encouragement, Sue. I am so blessed by you and your friendship! HUGS to you!
Charlie’s memorial service was one of the most moving and powerful event I’ve ever witnessed, Deb. To see so many come to Jesus and to hear the truth of the Gospel which Charlie believed with all his heart reduced me to tears. We will miss him here, and I am continuing to pray for Ericka and those two beautiful children they shared. Yes, it is a spiritual battle, but we know who already has the victory. Blessings, Deb!
AMEN! WE SURE DO!
I agree, Martha! I thought I would turn in at the beginning for the praise music and turn it off when the speakers started. I ended up watching all four hours. The messages of truth and faith were so very powerful. We do miss those we’ve lost here, but hold in our hearts the promise that we will see them again … forever! Blessings!
Hello, Deb,
I pray that all is well with you and loved ones.
Let’s remember what scripture tells us.
Jesus said in John 15:18, “ If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”
The Bible clearly reminds us that those who follow Christ will face hatred and persecution. We cannot be surprised by these times, and we must not allow our emotions to lead us into sin.
Instead we are called to stay calm and at peace, and to remain faithful in our witness.
Let God’s peace guard our hearts and mind, no matter what the day holds.
Deb, May your days be filled with God’s grace, and may your heart be light and joyous. Amen and Amen!
In His Kingdom,
Raquel G.
Only with the Lord’s help, Raquel. Amen! You’re right. We shouldn’t be surprised. The Lord said we would have trials and troubles and that we would be hated. I am so thankful for His presence, strength, and peace when we need it most. Blessings to you!
Indeed, it’s very true that the evil is fighting full force against believers. Especially those, who can reach and touch young lives. I only learned of Charlie’s deep faith after his death. And while the evil tried to silence him, through his death he drew more to Jesus than through his lifetime. The entire globe responded in an awakening. Churches suddenly overflown, people bought their first Bible. Countless young lives who never wanted to hear of Jesus suddenly were awakened. A perfect example of Jesus’s parable about the wheat seed. If it’s sown in the earth and dies then it will multiply.
I wish to have Charlie’s conviction, commitment to Jesus….surely I’d be able to clear my faith trials with fat more success….
Yes, Gaby! Praise God, He is using this tragic assassination for His glory. May many many more come to know and love our Lord and Savior in the days ahead. God bless you!