Every believer faces battles. Some come through temptation. Others arrive through fear, anxiety, discouragement or seasons that seem determined to wear faith down.
Pastor Mark Pettus believes the key to navigating those battles begins with understanding one life-changing truth.
“We do not fight for victory,” Pettus said during a recent sermon at Church of the Highlands. “We fight from victory.”
That simple distinction formed the foundation of a message that challenged believers to stop viewing spiritual warfare as a struggle to earn victory and start seeing it as an opportunity to stand in what Christ has already accomplished.
The Victory of Christ Changes Every Battle
Pettus began by reminding listeners that spiritual warfare is a reality for every believer.
“We truly have an enemy,” he said.
Scripture describes Satan as a liar, accuser, adversary, tempter, destroyer and deceiver. Yet Pettus emphasized that believers never face those attacks alone.
“Our God is almighty,” Pettus said. “Satan is not almighty.”
That confidence comes from understanding what Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection.
The pastor pointed to the reality that every spiritual battle is viewed through the lens of Christ’s finished work.
“Our God came to set us free from our sins, but our God came to give us victory in every area of our lives,” Pettus said.
Rather than living in fear of spiritual opposition, believers can live with confidence because Jesus has already secured the outcome.
“We now stand in that victory that was won for us on the cross of Calvary,” Pettus said.
The Cross Secured Everything Believers Need
At the center of Pettus’ message was a reminder of what happened at the cross.
“When you imagine Jesus on the cross, never imagine Him winning victory for Himself,” Pettus said. “Hey everybody, He did not need victory. He already had the victory.”
The cross was Christ’s victory won on behalf of His people.
“What did He do on the cross?” Pettus continued. “He won victory for all of us.”
Because of that victory, believers can walk in freedom, forgiveness, peace and confidence. They do not have to live defined by their past mistakes or failures.
Pettus addressed the accusations and shame many Christians carry long after Christ has forgiven them.
“If God has chosen not to remember your past, why are you?” he asked.
The gospel offers more than forgiveness. It provides a new identity rooted in Christ’s righteousness and secured by His grace.
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God Has Given Believers Everything They Need to Stand
Much of the sermon focused on the armor of God in Ephesians 6.
Pettus explained that every piece of armor represents God’s provision for His people.
The belt of truth anchors believers in God’s Word.
The breastplate of righteousness protects the heart through Christ’s finished work.
The shoes of peace help believers stand firm during temptation and pressure.
The shield of faith extinguishes attacks from the enemy.
The helmet of salvation guards the mind.
The sword of the Spirit equips believers with the power of God’s Word.
“He will lie to you. He will lie about you,” Pettus said of the enemy.
Yet God has already provided everything necessary to stand strong.
“You have armor. Let’s don’t leave it on the table. Let’s not leave it on the shelf,” Pettus said.
For Pettus, spiritual warfare begins with daily dependence on God through Scripture, prayer and putting on the armor He has provided.
Standing Firm in Christ Releases His Victory in Our Lives
One of the strongest themes of the message came from Paul’s repeated instruction in Ephesians 6.
Stand.
Again and again, believers are called to stand firm.
Pettus said that command reveals the true nature of spiritual warfare.
“Spiritual warfare is standing firm not in our own victory, but in the victory of Christ,” he said.
The Christian life is not lived through personal strength. It is lived through dependence on Christ’s strength.
“We will never win spiritual warfare,” Pettus said. “Jesus won spiritual warfare.”
That truth frees believers from striving and empowers them to trust God in every circumstance.
Whether facing temptation, anxiety, uncertainty or opposition, believers can stand with confidence because Christ has already secured the victory.
Pettus concluded by reminding listeners that every piece of armor ultimately points to Jesus Himself.
He is our truth.
He is our righteousness.
He is our peace.
He is our salvation.
“We do not fight for victory. We fight from victory,” Pettus said.
Through every trial and every battle, believers can stand firm knowing Christ has already won. The call is simple: Put on the full armor of God, stand firm and walk forward in the power of what He has already done.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
