What is God’s will for you on the spiritual battlefield? I believe it’s for you to win all the time, all day, every day. Jesus came to destroy all the works of the enemy. Scripture says, “The one who practices sin [separating himself from God, and offending Him by acts of disobedience, indifference, or rebellion] is of the devil [and takes his inner character and moral values from him, not God]; for the devil has sinned and violated God’s law from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
The Son intended for His entire body (the church) to have abundant life (John 10:10). That is part of why Jesus spilled His blood. It breaks the satanic powers of darkness, stops the destroyer in his tracks, and enables us to recover everything the devil steals related to our purpose and destiny. God is the restorer of everything the locust has eaten (See Joel 2:25). His blood settled the score so we could be champions in Him.
To be victorious in spiritual warfare and experience breakthroughs in our lives, we need to understand three key principles or rules.
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Develop the Characteristics of a True Champion in Christ
A champion in Christ understands spiritual discernment, has spiritual awareness and sensitivity, has the language of heaven, has heaven’s arsenals on standby, understands the authority that God gave him or her, carries an anointing, and walks with the presence of God. A champion walks with the truth of Jesus Christ wrapped around his or her heart. John 8:32 tells us, “You will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”
Walking as a champion for Jesus requires total repentance because every unconfessed sin gives legal grounds for Satan to operate in your life. You could say he owns real estate in your walk with God. True repentance does not mean you cry and fall on your face. It means you turn away from your sin—from the world’s ways, from compromise, from all mixture and lukewarmness—and never go back, spiritually or naturally. You break the powers of darkness completely and fully.
Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
Be filled with the Holy Spirit, from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet. That is the mark of a champion.
I believe it is the biggest honor that any believer can receive. When someone who doesn’t know you or your testimony or how long you’ve been serving the Lord turns and says they see Jesus Christ in you, it says so much. I believe that the mark of a true champion is not in your flesh or your achievements but in Christ and Christ alone. It is about everything He has done for you. It is the mark of a person who has been with Jesus. I believe that Paul says it in such an elegant and unique way (my paraphrase): “Don’t
mess with me; I bear the marks of Jesus on my body” (See Gal. 6:17).
Let that be your story. Be a champion for Jesus.
Persevere
Another true mark of a champion in Christ is perseverance. The devil works diligently to carry out his demonic plans against you and me. He assigns demons that will try to steal, kill, and destroy. He sets up bondages, strongholds, and struggles as entrapments and pitfalls. He arranges diabolical attacks to hinder you. Those demons don’t flinch or take timeouts. Like cobras waiting for the perfect moment to strike, demons wait for the opportunity that best suits Satan’s agenda for you.
Those who have been with Jesus—who know Him, partner with Him, and commit to Him—will persevere. It’s not about knowing of Him because you attend church occasionally or even every Sunday. It’s about knowing Jesus and being with Him. When that is your testimony, who can curse you? If Jesus Christ has blessed you, who can unbless you?
The true mark of believers who fight the good fight is that they know they are in Him and He is in them. No matter what comes their way, they stand. They have seen too much in Jesus Christ to quit. When I look back on my walk with Him, the only footprints I see on the sand are His. I did not walk because He carried me through.
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Evangelist John Ramirez used to fight on the enemy’s side, so he understands from an insider’s point of view how the enemy works. He now fights for Jesus Christ and uses the experience and knowledge he has to teach believers how to fight and win. He is an internationally known evangelist, author and speaker who teaches believers how to defeat the enemy. His powerful testimony of being miraculously saved as a high‐ranking satanic priest has been shared on It’s Supernatural! and The 700 Club. His first book, Fire Prayers (Charisma House), debuts this month.