We are hearing a lot about war right now. Did you know you have a personal war to fight? Each of us has a baser nature—the self-indulgent, lazy, lustful, materialistic part of ourselves. And if we don’t battle it, it will win. You need to identify, target and obliterate your sin.
The wages of sin is death, God’s Word says (Romans 6:23). God aims to free us from the bondage of sin so we can live. The Bible continuously speaks of our struggle with sin as life-and-death combat, spiritual war (e.g. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; 1 Timothy 1:18).
The Trump administration’s prosecution of the Iran war has yielded some valuable spiritual lessons. It launched bold initial strikes, yet it keeps changing the definition of victory, extending deadlines, making empty threats, and trying to negotiate with an unwilling partner. Beyond that, the American people are opposed to the war, which constrains the president. For these reasons and more, this war will not be won. Events and Bible prophecy both indicate that, in the end, the mighty America will withdraw, and Iran’s radical regime will remain in place, further radicalized.
We can encounter the same pitfalls when we attack our sinful thoughts and habits. With an unclear goal and a muddled approach, halfhearted or conflicted motivation, or insufficient willingness to take drastic enough measures to achieve full victory, our adversary, sin, battles right back, every time.
Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry said that America should have attacked Iran, the “head of the terrorist snake,” right after Sept. 11, 2001. But we did not. Twenty-five years later, Iran is far stronger. The regime is more entrenched, sophisticated and resilient. What was a vulnerable theocracy at the time is now a hardened security state. Likewise, when we leave sin unchecked in our lives, it spreads, deepens and strengthens.
How does God wage war? How does your Commander in Chief order you to wage your personal war on the sin within yourself?
Read Genesis 19 to see how God judged the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Read Exodus 14 to see what He did to the Egyptian army, which typified the way of sin. Read Joshua 6 to see what He did to the wicked people of Jericho. He does not war halfway: He utterly destroys His enemies, buries them in the depths, burns them to the ground.
This is how we must wage our personal war on sin. Each of us must use God’s battle plan: total victory by unrelenting, overwhelming force.
The Apostle Paul was a mighty spiritual warrior. He wrote in Romans 12:9, “… Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” Paul didn’t say, “Understand that which is evil,” or “Negotiate or try to reason with evil.” Abhor means to detest utterly. You cannot prevail in warfare if you are lukewarm about your enemy. You will never conquer sin until you clearly recognize your “desperately wicked” heart (Jeremiah 17:9) and abhor it.
Abhor that which is evil, and obliterate it. Cleave to that which is good, and fight for it.
If you think you have tried this and yet failed, there is good reason: You lack force supremacy. But you can get it. How? Just like those Israelites, you need God fighting your battles.
As much as Americans want to believe otherwise, we do not have God on our side. In fact, God is actually cursing America because of our sins. The pride of our power—the will to achieve total victory—has been broken (Leviticus 26:19). We spend our strength in vain (verse 20). So even in literal modern warfare, the decisive factor in victory or defeat is Americans winning or losing the war against sin.
Reversing these curses, and seeing God truly bless our war efforts, requires repentance—meaning first directing our wrath against our own sins! Yet President Trump isn’t trying to lead people to repent and purge sin; he says the opposite, that the nation is already righteous.
What happens when you try to wage spiritual battles on your own power? How much success will you have in combating your sins? When we fail to humbly obey our Commander and rely on Him, we fail to conquer.
As much of a fighter as Paul was, he knew he lacked the power to conquer sin. Read Romans 7, where he describes his futile personal battle. Then read Romans 8, where he describes the Holy Spirit—literally God’s power—enabling us to achieve victory over sin.
Proverbs 28:1 says, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Wickedness makes you fearful. Sin weakens you. Sin is a curse to an individual or a nation trying to fight a war. But righteousness makes you bold!
Think about the strength of your own will to fight—the strength of your determination to battle sin and evil. The closer you are to God, the stronger your determination will be. But when you are weakened by sin, you give in and are willing to live with evil.
These are challenging times, and they are getting worse. You need God behind you, giving you spiritual strength, faith, courage and confidence. You need boldness. You need righteousness.
Fight the sin that weakens you, your family, your nation. Get God’s power and build the righteousness that makes you bold! Follow God’s battle plan. Believe, obey, fight and win your spiritual battles!
Learn more about this spiritual warfare by requesting a free copy of Gerald Flurry’s booklet How to Be an Overcomer.