Confrontational Faith

1 John 5:4 says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.” Note, only the man or woman who is born of God really overcomes the world, because by faith he is able to rise above the temptations of the world system and to see things in their true perspective. So the one who overcomes the world is not the scientist or philosopher or psychologist, but the humble believer exercising his faith.

To overcome is - [1] “to win a victory over,” [2] “to succeed in subduing,” [3] “to prevail in.” The over comer is one who has conquered and become master of his own circumstances. But notice, the over comer [by definition] must have had something to overcome. He’s been in battle or facing hostility, and he triumphed!

In a believer’s life here are two main battles raging. The one is in the natural realm that is against the instruments of the enemy. That is, the world system and those people who satan uses to do his will and accomplish his aims. But in this battle we are given just one weapon - “love.” Love is the only way you can defeat these instruments of enemy, for with people “love never fails.”

The other battle is in the spiritual realm and this is where you are expected to overcome and be triumphant. This is where the real confrontation takes place. This is where you rule and reign!

What you achieve in the spirit realm has eternal qualities and therefore, every victory positively effects and alters the natural realm. For we do not wrestle with flesh and blood, but against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places [Ephesians 6:12]. And, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual, mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds [2 Corinthians 10:4]. Note, you have mighty spiritual weapons.

The battle in the spirit realm requires a militant and determined attitude, and it often means confronting the enemy head on! Many of you are timid. You have never truly exercised your authority or stood your ground when the battle is raging. You are always responding out of fear and never employing faith. You must learn to be confrontational with spiritual matters such as these, for God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of manifest mighty power and of love and of a sound mind [2 Timothy 1:7].

The only way a believer can have real confidence when confronting the enemy is through revelation of God’s word. What has God promised you with regards your situation? In Exodus 23:22 God says, “…I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you.” Another translation says, “…I will be an adversary to your adversaries.” Here, God promises to send an Angel [the Lord Himself] to keep you on course and ensure that you fulfil your destiny - reach you promised land! But He also undertakes to destroy any opposition you have along the way. This assures you victory over all your enemies [the world, the flesh and the devil], but He expects you to fight the good fight of faith.

But how exactly does God say He will do this? Another word for oppose is confront, therefore, God is saying that He will confront our enemies. God is not opposed to confrontation! And whom He confronts He has to power to destroy. However, the Lord promises a lot more in scripture - God promises to:

* Confine those who confine or restrain you.

* Bind up those you have you bound.

* Besiege those who have besieged you.

* Distress those who’ve caused you distress.

* Envelope those who have surrounded you.

* Constrain those who have jugged you.

* Restrict those who have restricted you.

Now, it’s easy to comprehend how the Lord prepares a table before you in the presence of all your enemies [Psalm 23:5].

Another interesting thing to note is it this. The word satan literally means “the one who opposes.” In the New Testament he is called “our adversary the devil” - the one who is actually opposing the church. Therefore, if satan is our adversary, then surely he is behind all those things that attempt to confine, restrict, restrain, constrain, besiege, distress, envelop and imprison God’s people.

The devil wants to have you bound by circumstances and totally limited by your fear, doubt and unbelief. But God has a different plan! In God’s plan you rule and reign; you are masters and kings. God says that He will be an enemy [hostile] to your enemies [the devil, the rulers of darkness and spiritual forces of wickedness]. He will oppose, confine and restrain those who try to oppose, confine and restrain you. The battle is the Lord’s! Exodus 15:3 says, “The Lord is a man of war,” and here we see God revealing Himself as a mighty man or war. When necessary, God is confrontational and He will seek vengeance! He is still the God of Elijah.

In Exodus 23:27 the Lord says, “I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every enemy you encounter. I will make your attackers turn their backs and flee from you in fear.”

Today, God’s enemies are those evil forces who seek to attack and destroy His children, and He has not forgotten His wrath or lost His battle plan. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Revelation 6:2 states, “I looked and there before me was a white horse. It’s rider held a bow and He was given a crown, and He rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” Until God’s enemies have all been thrown into the lake of fire, the Lord is bent on conquest [against the enemies of His children].
You must understand this, all Christians are living in a combat zone, but you are more than conquerors!

Chris Demetriou, 18/02/2007