More than a Conqueror: Pursuing Your Enemy

Are you feeling closed in, or that problems are coming at you from every side?

Are you tired of feeling defeated?

Keep reading. I’m pretty sure this will be well worth your time.

Your enemy, Satan—the ultimate bully—wants to keep you feeling defeated.

Whether you are in situations that are no fault of your own, or problems that you brought on yourself, the enemy wants to keep you feeling defeated. And he does this easily—by simply invading your personal space.

He gets all up in your face, talking trash and threatening you—bringing intimidation and fear. He gives you a wallop, knocking you down—then kicks you with blame, and shame.

And if you stay down, he kicks you over and over.

Times like this are so hard. It’s all you can do to fight him off every day. Until you have no fight left in you anymore.

I have found myself down on the ground in the recent past. And after I ran out of tears and self pity, I realized my biggest mistake.

I knew that I had the victory in Christ, but it took a lot of concentrated spiritual warfare to get the devil to leave me alone. And it was such a heavy attack, that it took a lot of prayer, worship and bible reading for me to get my mind straight again.

I realized that my strategy against the devil was all wrong.

I neglected to use my power. I didn’t fully understand what it means to be “more than a conqueror.”

Know Your Power

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:35,37)

“More than a conqueror.” That’s what I am, and that’s what you are, through Christ Jesus.

What does it mean to be “more than a conqueror?” In the original Greek, “more than a conqueror” is one word that means to be overwhelmingly victorious, and to completely prevail. It is different than the Greek word that means “to conquer,” which means, “to overcome,” which implies winning a battle. “More than a conqueror” means to go beyond conquering.

Beyond conquering. When I think about this, I can’t help but think about Superman, or some other superhero character that flies around, looking for evildoers to beat up. I don’t feel like that kind of person.

But the scripture says that we are “more than conquerors” through Christ Jesus, who “loved us”.

Let that really sink in for a minute. Where and when did Christ Jesus love us, more than any humanly possible love?

When He was at His weakest and lowest place—on the cross.

Lots of people reject Jesus as Savior, because they expect the Messiah to be more like a superhero. But they completely miss Part B of what He actually did—He rose from the grave! And at that moment, He utterly vanquished death, hell and everything associated with it.

This is power unspeakable, supernatural and inconceivable to the human mind. And, according to Romans 8:37, this is the kind of power we have, through Him!

We are “more than conquerors.” We are to go beyond just conquering the enemy in battle. What I get from this is that we don’t wait for the enemy to come to us—we are to be on the offense, and pursue him!

Take note of another crucial truth this verse declares: “in all these things.” At the time, the Apostle Paul was talking about some very intense persecution on the newly birthed Christian church. For many in the Body of Christ, the persecution is just the same as then, or worse. For those of us not facing persecution, we could be enduring any kind of suffering—spiritual, circumstantial, physical, or emotional.

It doesn’t matter what you are going through—if you are in Christ, then nothing can separate you from His love—the love that made you “more than a conqueror.”

Don’t wait for the enemy to come to you. Pursue him! Survey your land—what you see, hear, do and think about—daily. And if you see the enemy—even from very afar off—go after that devil! Overtake him, and don’t let up until he is completely consumed—utterly vanquished in the resurrection power of Christ Jesus.

“I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.” (Psalm 18:37)

We need a strategy, that makes us able to pursue and overtake the enemy with confidence and boldness. Let’s review it.

-A Strategy to Pursue and Overtake the Enemy-

1) Recognize Your Enemy

It is crucial that you are able to identify your enemy.

It’s easy to recognize your enemy when he is on the attack—when he uses circumstances to attempt to harm you tangibly. Satan can’t do anything without God’s permission, and God does sometimes allow circumstances to happen in your life—with the ultimate goal of bringing you closer to Him.

But the enemy will use these same circumstances, hoping to completely defeat you, spiritually. Remember that. No matter what he does to ruin your life, those are just the tools he uses for his goals. Satan’s ultimate goals are spiritual.

And this often means that he won’t make himself too obvious to you. Rather than going, “Ta-da!” and appearing in the middle of the mess, the devil steps away. He hangs out in the background, and works from there.

Weakening you. Breaking you down. Ensuring you are even weaker for the next battle. He hides in the shadows, hoping you won’t recognize him.

But I am going to expose your enemy to you right now. Here are some characteristics of Satan, also known as the devil (who is represented by—and operates through—the influence of his demonic minions.)

• Your Enemy the Liar:

Jesus said the devil is “the father” of lies:

“He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44b)

If you are hearing anything—in the media, or from another person, or even in your own head—and any part of it opposes the truth of the Bible, it is a lie. Period.

And if anything causes you confusion, it is most likely because something is opposing the truth of the Bible. Confusion is just another avenue in which the devil can lie to you.

All lies originate from the devil himself—the “father of lies.” Lies can be sneaky, because they often contain a kernel of truth in an attempt to deceive you. Very often, a lie can be disguised as something you may think is good, or something you think you need.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

In our current culture, the Bible is no longer upheld as the standard in determining what is right and good. Without this expectation in society, people are left to using their own moral compass to judge what is right.

Without Biblical truth, it is very easy for the enemy to use lies to affect the way people think. Eventually, the devil is able to enslave individuals—and even entire cultures—to lies, which keep them from the freedom of Christ Jesus.

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

Read the above verse again. If you know Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you know the Truth—and you are not subject to the lies of the enemy. And every time you read the Bible—the Word of God—your mind is powerfully filled with lie-deflecting truth.

Next thing to expose.

• Your Enemy, the Tempter:

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” (James 1:13-14)

If you feel tempted to do something the Lord Jesus would not want you to do, that is Satan, hoping to take advantage of your weakness. Many temptations are blatantly obvious, and easy to recognize. Most people recognize the Ten Commandments, and figure they are doing fine if they are not breaking any of those.

But very often, the devil will not lead a person to break a commandment right off the bat. Rather, he will lead a person in stages. It’s kind of like a game.

The game begins with distractions and enticements, to get you to neglect the spiritual disciplines of prayer, confession of sin to God, and Bible reading. This creates a feeling of distance from God, temporary amnesia for the truth, and a loss of spiritual strength.

Once this happens, it’s easy for the devil to lead the person along, little sin by little sin—weakening the person further as they go, until they finally get to the last square on the game board. It’s the big, ugly one.

The person wonders how they ended up here. After walking along for a span of time, without daily grounding in spiritual disciplines, the person has come to the place of a grievous sin—but it doesn’t seem so bad to them anymore.

Are you there, right now? Are you shocked at yourself?

Even now, if you would just turn to your Great High Priest, Christ Jesus—you would find an empathetic friend in Him.

  “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

Please accept this truth: temptation itself is not a sin! You should never feel ashamed of temptation—because Jesus, your Great High Priest, was tempted in every area in which you struggle. Yes, even that one.

Sometimes, it’s not what we have done that leads to trouble—it’s what we have neglected to do.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

The truth is that you can run to Jesus with every temptation, and ask Him for the power to overcome it. The devil has no choice but to flee from the Christian who resists him.

Next up. This is fun!

• Your Enemy, the Accuser:

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” (Revelation 12:10)

Satan tries to accuse you before God, but he also takes great pleasure in accusing you right to your face. He knows that if he can get you to believe that you are not forgiven, you will not walk in the peace and freedom Christ purchased for you.

If you have confessed your sin to God and have repented of it—and are still plagued with thoughts that accuse and condemn you—this is “the accuser of the brethren,” attempting to shackle you mentally.

The devil can be very crafty with accusation. If he sees that you are standing strong in Christ’s forgiveness, he will present certain thoughts into your mind, to keep you beaten down.

Do you ever find yourself cringing, with memories of regretful past actions? Do you relive feelings of embarrassment or shame of past sins and failures?

Have you ever played a little movie in your head, called “What If,” that fills you with fear and dread? Is your mind ever invaded by a horrendously sinful thought or picture, that is quickly followed by shame, and feeling unworthy of God’s love?

Satan uses all of these tactics to keep you feeling condemned—useless, unworthy or unaccepted before God.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)

This is the truth: the “accuser of the brethren” is cast down. If you are born again by believing in and depending on the saving work of Christ Jesus, then you are not under any condemnation—not for anything whatsoever. Past, present or future. Walk after the Spirit—ask God to help you, by His Holy Spirit.

And one more thing.

• Your Enemy, the Thief:

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:” (John 10:10a)

We won’t understand until Heaven why God sometimes allows circumstances to happen in our lives, which are painful and seem harmful.

But through the accounts of Job, Joseph and others, the Bible makes it abundantly clear that God does use circumstances to bring about His purposes, in the lives of His children.

Children who have a loving Father, know that they can trust Him.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

We are “the called,” and God uses our circumstances to make them work for His good purposes. But Satan would prefer that nothing good comes out of terrible circumstances. His end game is to steal, kill and destroy—not just from an earthly territory, but from a spiritual one.

When something bad happens to you, what do you do? I know that my initial, knee-jerk reaction is to complain, curse or verbalize negatively, become fearful, lose myself in anger, or become hateful.

I have learned that when I allow myself to react in these ways—rather than respond to the situation in Christ-like ways—I have allowed Satan to steal, kill and destroy.

I might still have my stuff, but he steals my faith. I may still be alive, but he kills my joy. My house can still be standing, but I am spiritually destroyed for a season.

To respond to all circumstances in Christ-like faith, praise and submission, is probably the greatest challenge of the Christian walk. And we need to rise to this challenge.

Even while everything is going well in life, the devil tries to keep us bound in constant fear—of loss, death and destruction—by using lies, temptation and accusations. But the Lord Jesus clearly proclaimed the freedom given to a born again believer in Him:

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10b)

You have life—abundant life—through Christ Jesus, which can never be taken away from you, no matter what circumstances come your way. That is the truth.

You have victory when you stand on that, and ask the Lord to lead you through life’s circumstances.

2) Follow Your Leader

If you are a Christian, then Jesus is your leader—throughout your entire life—in every circumstance.

He left His throne in Heaven with the Father, and became just like us. He was tempted in every possible way. He suffered in every conceivable way. And He experienced the finality of death, just like every human being.

And then our Leader rose from the grave—the very First One to have victory over death.

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2:9-10)

Christ Jesus: the First, the Forerunner, and the Founder of eternal life. He is the Captain of our Salvation, bringing each one of us to glory, as we believe that He is the First One—and the Only One—who is Eternal Life.

The Captain of your salvation. And as His soldier, you are to follow Him. Trust your Leader, who gives you everything you need to overcome.

• Your Leader goes before you:

“And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

• Your Leader lights dark places:

“For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.” (Psalm 18:28)

• Your Leader teaches you to war:
  

“Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight” (Psalm 144:1)

• Your Leader clothes you in His strength:

“For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.” (Psalm 18:39)

• Your Leader surrounds you:

“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.” (Psalm 125:2)

• Your Leader shields you:

“LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.(Psalm 3:1b, 3:3)

• Your Leader gives you spiritual agility, and sets you in an advantageous position:

“For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.” (Psalm 18:29)
“He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.” (Psalm 18:33)
“Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.” (Psalm 18:36)

Follow your Leader by putting Him first, in every aspect of your life. By asking His will for your life, and submitting yourself to His purposes for you.

By reading and studying your instruction manual, the Holy Bible, and making it the guideline for your life. By walking behind Him, in His footsteps—going after what He goes after, and turning away from everything He turns from.

And every step you take, that turns you away from darkness, God is leading you in His steps, in the light.

3) Wear Your Armor & Use Your Weapons

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” (2 Corinthians 10:4)
“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.” (Ephesians 6:12)

While we live here on earth, in our physical bodies, we frequently lose sight of the fact that we are spiritual beings, with a spiritual nature.

And as born again Christians, we are citizens of heaven, and we walk in a spiritual realm—right now, right here on this earth. It’s really hard to wrap our minds around, and so we stop thinking about it. And so we forget.

And far too often, we succumb to fleshly instincts and reactions, for what are actually spiritual attacks.

Even though the earthly realm, with all of its people and problems, could very well be used in a spiritual attack—we need to remember that the devil’s ultimate goals are not earthly.

Remember what I mentioned earlier. His ultimate goals—as he uses circumstances to steal, kill and destroy—are spiritual.

So we need to remember to put on our spiritual armor, and use our spiritual weapons—that are not of our human nature, and not of this earthly realm, but are given to us by God. They are mighty, through Him.

Let’s look at some specifics of what the Bible says about our spiritual weapons and armor.

• Put on the full armor of God:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13)
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:12)

• Hold up your faith like a shield:
  

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (Ephesians 6:16)

• Stand in your armor of Truth and Righteousness:

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;” (Ephesians 6:14)

• Walk in Peace:

“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” (Ephesians 6:15)
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3)

• Invoke the all-powerful Name of the Lord:

“Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

• Declare the Word of God:

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God“ (Ephesians 6:17)

• Pray:

“ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,” (Ephesians 6:18a)

Here is the bottom line: you will not be able to overcome a spiritual enemy with your human efforts—whether physical or emotional. The devil knows that, and that is why he is quick to tempt you to resort to yourself whenever people or circumstances give you trouble.

Pray daily, and consciously “put on” your spiritual armor. Ask God to remind you to use your spiritual weapons.

When you do this, you can take much bigger steps.

4) Live Large

“He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.” (2 Samuel 22:20)
“I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.” (Psalm 118:5)

In the above verses, the Hebrew word for a “large place” means, “an open space.” The root word for this word means “to make wide,” essentially meaning something like, “Make room for this thing that is growing!”

God is going to grow you!

When you pursue your enemy, and God brings you into a “large place,” the enemy isn’t right up in your face, and you are not under immediate threat. You have room to breathe, and time to think. It’s a spacious, roomy buffer zone, where you are able to dream, make plans and grow.

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Psalm 23:2)

He leads you into peaceful, wide-open pastures, where you can lie down and rest—as you drink from the water of the Word, by His Holy Spirit. There, you will grow spiritually large and strong—making you even more mighty for the next inevitable battle.

And after you rest, you stand in strength—in the knowledge of the right standing you know you have in God, through Christ. You put on your armor, and pick up your weapons.

You walk, following your Leader, as you take larger and larger steps forward—gaining ground into territories you would have never been able to enter on your own.

You are now in new land—with new freedom, peace and opportunities you would have never stepped into—had you never pursued your enemy.

You are living large—walking in faith, and in the overcoming power Christ died to give you.

You are diligent to survey your land daily. And you recognize your enemy—the moment he steps onto the edge of it. You pursue him again.

And this time, he runs.

The devil knew all along that he is no match for you, an overcomer.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

 Fight on, in faith!