A Soldier’s Courage

Imagine standing on a battlefield where the clash of good versus evil echoes around you. According to Paul, this invisible war rages daily: light against darkness, hope against despair, God’s Kingdom against Satan’s (Ephesians 6:12-14). Jesus stepped into this conflict, disarming rulers and authorities at the cross and destroying the devil’s works (Colossians 2:14-15; 1 John 3:8). He handed us His victory and commissioned us to advance His Kingdom through the Word and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:16-20). Like soldiers, we’re called to stand firm, wield Christ’s authority, and maintain His triumph. After fasting forty days, Jesus launched His ministry by declaring Isaiah 61’s mission: preaching redemption, healing, and renewal to the crushed, shattered, and forsaken (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38). He went everywhere: cities, villages, synagogues, mountains, seashores, boats, graveyards, homes, seeking and saving the lost (Matthew 9:35; Luke 19:10; John 20:21). We’re sent to do the same, confronting evil with courage. The church stands on the gates of hell, prevailing as Jesus promised (Matthew 16:18). We face three foes: the devil, the flesh, and the world. Let’s expose them, remain unshaken, and develop a soldier’s courage.

Satan prowls like a lion, seeking to devour (1 Peter 5:8-9). Stay balanced, sober, vigilant, cautious, and firm in faith, established, determined, immovable (Psalm 112). Don’t indulge anything that compromises resistance. The devil targets your faith, tempting denial of Christ. First, submit to God, coming under His care, power, and Word (James 4:7). Both “submit” and “resist” are urgent military commands. Grace flows from God through us, making the devil flee. R.A. Torrey said, “The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came.” Live submitted daily. This week, memorize James 4:7 and pray it each morning. How does submitting to God strengthen your resistance?

Your sinful nature opposes the Spirit, waging a tug-of-war for control (Galatians 5:16-17). The flesh yearns, pulls, desires, grasps, craves, listing sins like immorality and idolatry (Galatians 5:19-21). It wars against your soul (1 Peter 2:11). Victory isn’t self-powered but Spirit-empowered (Romans 8:13). Walk in the Spirit, regulating life after Christ’s pattern. Like a tug-of-war, the Spirit, the strongest on your side, pulls toward righteousness (Philippians 4:13). God’s grace teaches denial of ungodliness (Titus 2:11-12). This week, identify one fleshly desire, like anger or envy, and replace it with a Spirit-led action, such as blessing someone. How does walking in the Spirit overcome fleshly pressures?

The world’s values, tribulation, lies, immorality, addictions, challenge faith (John 16:33; 1 John 5:4). Don’t conform but renew your mind (Romans 12:2). A.W. Tozer wrote, “The world is a foe to be resisted... its values are not God’s values.” Like a soldier guarding or a runner enduring fatigue, faith overcomes. Jesus delivered us from darkness into His Kingdom, paying sin’s penalty, breaking its power, destroying its bondage (Colossians 1:13-14; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Victory is won but not fully enforced until His return. Like a judge’s ruling upheld by law, we enforce it through action. Jesus gave authority to cast out demons and heal (Matthew 10:1, 7-8; Luke 10:17, 19).

Move from relief to victory, setback to comeback, bystander to laborer (Matthew 11:12). Francis Frangipane said, “Instead of praying for victory, we settle for temporary relief... the Lord is telling us to pursue our enemies and scatter them like dust.” Possess what you pursue and pray for. Commit to pray, pursue, possess (2 Chronicles 7:14). Say goodbye to:

• Unhealthy Relationships Hindering your walk (1 Corinthians 15:33).
• Unhealthy Lifestyles Compromising faith (Romans 6:12-14).
• Unhealthy Patterns Draining focus (Ephesians 4:22-24).

This week, pray for one area, home, work, community, and act boldly. How can you enforce Christ’s victory today?

We’re at war, but Christ’s victory is ours. Against the devil, submit and resist, standing firm. Against the flesh, walk in the Spirit, overcoming desires. Against the world, renew your mind, pursuing God’s promises. These equip us to remain unshaken, advancing His Kingdom with courage. Identify one unhealthy element this week, pray for strength, and replace it with a God-honoring practice. Trust the Spirit to guide you into complete victory.

Action Step

This week, identify one unhealthy relationship, lifestyle, or pattern hindering your walk with God. Pray daily for strength to say goodbye to it, and take one concrete step to replace it with a God-honoring practice, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Memory Verse

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

For more on this topic, listen to our message Unshaken, Part 1 - A Soldier’s Courage: