1 00:00:02,700 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:13,379 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com. You're listening 3 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: to Daily Devotions with Pastor John. I'm John Stonge, and 4 00:00:18,250 --> 00:00:23,330 Speaker 1: today's devotion is inspired by 2 Corinthians 10, verses 3 5 00:00:23,329 --> 00:00:27,290 Speaker 1: and 4, which says, For though we walk in the flesh, 6 00:00:27,530 --> 00:00:41,500 Speaker 1: we are not waging war according to the flesh. Scripture 7 00:00:41,540 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: makes it very clear to us that there is a 8 00:00:43,650 --> 00:00:47,729 Speaker 1: battle taking place all around us. We don't always notice 9 00:00:47,770 --> 00:00:51,190 Speaker 1: the battle at first, but we can definitely see its effects. 10 00:00:52,229 --> 00:00:54,950 Speaker 1: There is a spiritual battle taking place for the hearts 11 00:00:55,010 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: and minds of mankind. Christ invites us to believe his gospel. 12 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:05,060 Speaker 1: and live it out. Satan tempts us to reject Christ's 13 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:09,220 Speaker 1: gospel and walk according to the flesh, to make decisions 14 00:01:09,300 --> 00:01:14,110 Speaker 1: based on worldly calculations, to idolize ambitions that have little 15 00:01:14,150 --> 00:01:17,090 Speaker 1: to do with God's glory and much to do with 16 00:01:17,209 --> 00:01:21,530 Speaker 1: our own. The spiritual battle taking place around us is 17 00:01:21,610 --> 00:01:25,190 Speaker 1: a real thing, but by God's grace we haven't been 18 00:01:25,270 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: left powerless. As believers in Jesus Christ, We've been blessed 19 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 1: with His indwelling power. We have His strength to access 20 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,620 Speaker 1: as He lives within us. We can stand against our 21 00:01:39,740 --> 00:01:44,250 Speaker 1: spiritual enemy and his schemes because we are protected by 22 00:01:44,350 --> 00:01:50,130 Speaker 1: God's armor. When we're waging spiritual battles and seeking spiritual victories, 23 00:01:50,630 --> 00:01:53,830 Speaker 1: we need to recognize where our true power is found. 24 00:01:54,550 --> 00:01:59,210 Speaker 1: It's found in Jesus Christ. Death could not defeat Him. 25 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: Sin could not overtake Him. Satan could not stop Him. 26 00:02:05,380 --> 00:02:10,260 Speaker 1: By grace, through faith in Christ, His victory is genuinely 27 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,410 Speaker 1: shared with us as well. His power is what we 28 00:02:14,490 --> 00:02:22,090 Speaker 1: truly need. Let's pray. Lord, we thank You for Your Word. 29 00:02:22,570 --> 00:02:24,290 Speaker 1: And we thank You for the privilege that it is 30 00:02:24,330 --> 00:02:26,550 Speaker 1: to be able to read this portion of Scripture today 31 00:02:26,630 --> 00:02:29,620 Speaker 1: from the book of 2 Corinthians. And Lord, as we 32 00:02:29,660 --> 00:02:32,310 Speaker 1: look at this portion of your word, we're grateful for 33 00:02:32,340 --> 00:02:34,690 Speaker 1: the fact that you teach us that even though we're 34 00:02:34,790 --> 00:02:37,290 Speaker 1: in the midst of a battle, we don't need to 35 00:02:37,330 --> 00:02:41,290 Speaker 1: be confused about who our real enemy is. You haven't 36 00:02:41,330 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: called us to do battle with flesh and blood. And 37 00:02:44,570 --> 00:02:48,700 Speaker 1: the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly. Rather, we're 38 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:53,460 Speaker 1: in the midst of a spiritual battle. Our adversary is spiritual. 39 00:02:54,310 --> 00:02:56,750 Speaker 1: And we need to recognize that so we don't find 40 00:02:56,830 --> 00:03:01,250 Speaker 1: ourselves inadvertently fighting against one another. Lord, thank you for 41 00:03:01,290 --> 00:03:05,370 Speaker 1: making that clear to us. And thank you for revealing 42 00:03:05,470 --> 00:03:08,869 Speaker 1: to us that you are the source of strength that 43 00:03:08,950 --> 00:03:12,660 Speaker 1: we need. You supply all that we need so that 44 00:03:12,750 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: we can live in and share your victory. Lord, we're 45 00:03:17,540 --> 00:03:20,579 Speaker 1: grateful for the victory that you have secured on our behalf. 46 00:03:21,150 --> 00:03:23,030 Speaker 1: And we're grateful for the fact that we don't need 47 00:03:23,070 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: to remain in spiritual defeat. Your power is at work 48 00:03:27,620 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 1: within us. Your strength is real. And you're accomplishing for 49 00:03:32,620 --> 00:03:37,100 Speaker 1: us a greater victory than we can naturally imagine. So 50 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: thank you, Lord, for what you're accomplishing in our lives. 51 00:03:40,340 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: And again, we pray that we would always remember not 52 00:03:42,700 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: to wage war according to the flesh. Rather, we want 53 00:03:46,370 --> 00:03:50,890 Speaker 1: to rely on your strength to destroy spiritual strongholds. that 54 00:03:50,950 --> 00:03:55,130 Speaker 1: work against us. Thank you for these encouraging words today, 55 00:03:55,630 --> 00:03:59,740 Speaker 1: and we pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.