Have you ever thought about the difference between a battle and war? A war is a series of battles. A battle is an encounter with opposing forces. Both terms describe hostile military forces engaging one another. Now think about yourself--body, soul and spirit. Our body (physical) will perish one day. Our soul is dead without Christ Jesus. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. Colossians 2:13 Our spirit--Christ Jesus gives us life in the spirit. Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. How amazing: our physical bodies will perish, our souls have been made alive in Christ and our spirit will live on with Christ.
Understanding body, soul and spirit let's get back to the battle vs. the war. At the moment you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of you. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;"
There is a famous quote "You may have one the battle, but not the war." The moment that Christ gave up His last breath and said, "It is finished" (John 19:30) we were given victory over death. 1 Corinthians 15:54 says, "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
Although the war for our soul has already been won through the blood of Christ there are battles we must fight daily. We must be willing to engage in battle with the enemy. Paul describes it perfectly in Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Although we now have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us we still have a sinful nature. This is where the battle begins--within each of us. Sometimes I feel completely defeated for not doing the things that I want to do. I must remember that victory is mine through Christ Jesus and I must persevere. Romans 5:3-5 says, Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
When we allow God to fight our battles for us we can be confident we will gain new strength. Isaiah 40:31 says, "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." I have felt defeated, tired and weary over the last few months. It took me a while to see that I was trying to fight my battles in my own strength and not allowing God to fight them on my behalf. Join the battle for your soul today but make sure you go forward in the strength of God--not your own and claim victory in Jesus' name daily.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 says, May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
