Revelation 17:14 “They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings–and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Opposition to Christ and His kingdom is a given, and should surprise no one. However, good people often are surprised, because they have tasted the goodness of God and can’t understand why anyone would be in opposition to it. The answer to that essentially lies in deception; the devil has used their innate pride and lusts (1 John 2:16) to blind them to the truth and convince them of his lies. Whatever the cause, the fact is that we are in the middle of a tremendous war, and this verse contains a sustaining truth we should never forget: we win! We may lose some skirmishes, or even some battles, but the final outcome will absolutely be victory for our Lord, and for us because we are in Him. The Japanese translation of this verse has a twist that is lacking in the NIV, which is that one of the reasons for Christ’s victory is the fact that His followers are called, chosen, and faithful. That’s something to think about! Our faithful obedience to Him is a major factor in His will being done in the earth. That’s why the first part of the Lord’s prayer – Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done – is actually a very active prayer. If we are praying that from our hearts, we are offering ourselves as God’s instruments for establishing His kingdom and doing His will. The better we understand that our doing this contributes to eventual victory, the more joyfully we will serve Him.

I can’t remember spiritual warfare being a topic of conversation in our home when I was growing up, but I think I was aware that there was opposition. I don’t remember when I was first taught about it, but certainly since experiencing the baptism in the Holy Spirit I have learned a great deal, from Scripture, from teaching, and from my own experience. As a pastor, one of my heartaches is those believers who don’t understand the battle or take it seriously, and so fall into one ambush after another, because they aren’t wearing God’s armor. (Ephesians 6:13-18) I can’t preach on it constantly, and I have gotten some kickback from what I do teach, from believers who think I am using spiritual warfare as an excuse for what they see as my failures. Also, I have frequently gotten resentment when I have pointed out to people how they have lost particular skirmishes. They don’t want to hear that! All I can do is be faithful to speak the truth in love, praying that their eyes would be opened to see the spiritual reality around them, so that they may appropriate all that God has provided for them to walk in the victory of Christ.

Father, this is an immensely important subject, yet there is so much other truth You want communicated as well. Help me hear You clearly and follow You completely in what to say when, and how, so that Your truth may penetrate hearts and minds, cutting through the chains and dispelling the fog, setting people free to walk in all that You intend for them, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!