To the Victor Belongs the Spoils

The face of war is ugly. People die, cities are razed and left in ruins and wealth is transferred to the victor. We find such an example of the outcome of warfare in the accounting of one of the many battles that were fought by the Children of Abraham. In this war, the people of God were pitted against the Hagarites; with Jetur, Nephish and Nodab. The battle was tilted against the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gladites and the tribe of Manasseh. Together these three tribes were forty-five thousand warriors.

At the end of the battle, tens of thousands were dead, the People of God were victorious and the wealth of the enemy went to the victor. This battle was not won by the warrior’s skill alone but they “were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.” (1 Ch 5:20)

Fellow followers of Jesus, we are in a war. Not like this war of flesh and blood but a spiritual battle. The Apostle Paul said:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph 6:12)

We too are facing overwhelming forces in our spiritual battle. If we are to be victorious in this war against the powers of darkness, we too must cry out to God. The Apostle Paul, in the following verses in Ephesians, defines the spiritual weapons that are available to the spiritual warrior and concludes with the most powerful weapon in our arsenal… prayer. The Apostle said, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…” (Eph 6:18)

Prayer is the power of God that is available to you by simply calling out to Him. Jesus said:

 “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13)

In context, these words were spoken as empowerment to do the works of God. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12)

How to be Victorious

When we do the work of God, we are empowered by prayer to be victorious. Jesus’ promise of answering your prayer was not capricious or frivolous. To make sure His disciples understood the power of His promise, Jesus restates it in these words:

 “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:14)

We are in a war and are facing sure defeat unless we are empowered by God’s spirit. Facing the enemy of God requires the power of God to be victorious. How do the angels of God battle against Satan? They depend on the power of God:

 “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.” (Jude 1:9)

In the name of Jesus demons tremble, mountains are moved and souls are saved. Call on Jesus as you face the powers of darkness in the spiritual war that is waged against the People of God. You and Jesus are a team that cannot be defeated. Live your life as a Spirit-filled person, powered by the righteousness of God and equipped with the spiritual weapons of war and you will be a victor in Jesus.