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The power of righteousness and holiness in spiritual battles

Every piece of God’s armor was specifically designed to fit a particular area in our spiritual warfare. This is why we are told to put on the whole armor so that we can be complete and stand strong on every side of the battle. Ephesians 6:13. Concerning righteousness, it is a defense to us against the arrows of the evil one. The Bible says, “And having on the breastplate of righteousness” {Ephesians 6:14c}. The breastplate there represents protection and defense. These scriptures below reveal how this is true, and remember that uprightness in those verses is another word for righteousness. It is talking about Job, the servant of the Highest God. God fortified him because of his righteousness.

“a perfect and an upright man, and one that feareth God and eschewed evil?” Job 1:8.

“Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?” Job 1:10

According to these scriptures, real Christians have divine protection and defense against the forces of darkness. The devil and his cohorts do not relent in their efforts to take many to Hell, especially in these end times. Undoubtedly, we are fighting every day against the unseen forces. A great battle is going on even right now in the spiritual realm. This is why the Bible says,’ ’For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” {Ephesians 6:12}.

To have a total victory, we must also put on the breastplate of righteousness and holiness. Though holiness is not mentioned in that verse, they are interrelated and so cannot be discussed in isolation {Luke 1:75, Eph. 4:24 & Romans 6:19}. Righteousness is having a right standing with God through Christ’s atoning death. We inherited our righteousness by faith, not by our own works. Holiness means setting ourselves aside for God’s use. It also means avoidance of filthiness of the spirit and body. 2 Corinthians 7:1. Holiness should be our daily practice because of its importance in our spiritual battles and heavenly journey.

As we have received righteousness by grace, we also ought to walk in the newness of life. Romans 6:1–4 This is where holiness comes in. We cannot say we are Christians and continue to commit sins because of the abundance of God’s grace. No, that would not exemplify us as true Christians. If we say we are true children of God, then we ought to live a holy life because God is holy. Holiness is the nature of God, and he has commanded us to be holy. Anything contrary to this is not his. 1 Peter 1:16.

For this reason, if we want His presence to continue to abide with us and to access his unlimited power in order to gain daily victories over our enemies, we must live a holy life because he has promised to be in us and with us. This is assurance of our daily victory. But how can this happen when we live a sinful life? If we do not have a pure heart and cleansed hands, how can we be defended or saved? Can a lawyer defend his guilty client? It may happen anyway by hook or crook, but God is ever righteous and just in all his judgment.

Holiness is power. It is what gives us the boldness as true children of God to withstand the devil, knowing very well that God is with us. He protects his own with the wall of fire, and whoever touches them touches the apple of his eye (Zechariah 2:5–8). When we doubt our salvation and authority in Christ because of sin, how can we command the devil? We have to be sure of our salvation and sonship in Christ through the witnesses of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. In other words, our consciences must be cleared before God and man. A professed Christian who sins cannot resist the devil with boldness because of his uncleared conscience.

What happened to the seven sons of Sceva was a question of sonship and authority. They did not truly believe in the Lord Jesus, yet they wanted to utilize his name against the devil as they saw Paul doing. But the demons did not know them, so they questioned their authority and beat them up. You see! Our faith and holy living should be able to convince the devil that we are true children of the Most High so that when we take authority against them, they will obey because of the fire of the Holy Spirit upon us.

The devil knows that true children of God are powerful through the fire of God upon them. They are unconquerable in battles. When they speak, they speak out fire, and every word they declare is established in the heavenly realm because God is not far from them. So, what he normally does is to cause them to commit sins in order to keep God away from them. When this happens, the fire will be reduced or quenched, and such Christians become powerless.

We are extremely blessed and protected when we are obediently in Christ, but when we live a sinful life, we become like a house with a broken fence to the forces of darkness. The Israelites were God’s people. On their way to the promised land, they were unconquerable because God’s presence was with them. But whenever there was sin among them, they were defeated by their enemies. When Balaam discovered this after he was called to curse Israel and it failed, he told Balak, who hired him, to introduce fornication and idol worship in the camp of the Israelites at Shittim (Numbers 22–25). This is how he got the people into sin, and God’s anger was great against them, resulting in their defeats and death. Jesus spoke against the doctrine of Balaam and the Jezebel woman who called herself a prophetess in Revelation 2:20.

Today, this is still one of the major tactics of the devil against the children of God. There are so many people whom the devil has been using to spread immoral doctrines and ungodly lifestyles. They use all the available means of communication and appear in public places just to spread their evil doctrines. Surprisingly, their evil doctrine is mostly accepted as good in many parts of the world. Moral values could no longer be recognized as good in our society but as archaic and impractical. It has gotten to the extent that immoral shows and practices are everywhere, especially on social media. It is like we are in the free world where everybody does what he or she likes.

Unfortunately, many believers have embraced this doctrine of Balaam that makes them live an immoral life. They are following the world system and have forgotten that they are the main target of the devil. As said, the devil is still using this doctrine of Balaam through his human agents to bring down many Christians from their heavenly places.

In conclusion, we have to be vigilant and continue to wear our garments of holiness and righteousness until Christ comes. Holiness is power, and as the Bible says, who is he that will harm you if you are followers of that which is good? Do you not know that the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears open unto their prayers? Remember that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16, 1 Peter2: 13). Therefore, you are more than a conqueror. Go in this your might, and your daily victory over your enemy is sure!

The level of your understanding defines how you live and your height in life. This means that what you misunderstand can confine you to swimming perpetually in the ocean of misconduct and poverty. In other words, every stand we take or choice we make in life depends mostly on our mindset or mentality about such a situation, which will eventually have either  a positive or  negative impact on our lives.

Having said that, understanding is very important, especially what the Bible says as Christians. Now, in the area concerning money, it should not be left untouched because of its importance in our everyday struggles. The Bible says, ’For the LOVE of money is the root of all evil” {1 Timothy 6:10 KJV}. Many have little or no understanding about this verse, especially in these end times. As a result of this, they keep limiting the grace of God in their lives. According to this verse, the Bible did not say, ’Money is evil, nor did it say, Money is the root of all evil.

However, many people misunderstood and misinterpreted this verse wrongly to the detriment of their lives and the lives of others because they have not always looked into the Bible to get what the Bible says. Consequently, they live with this misconception or mentality throughout their lifetime.

When anyone believes that money is the root of all evil without studying the Bible to understand what the Bible says and what it really means, such a person will be carrying about a mentality that to pursue money is a sin. Because of this, his or her attitude toward money changed, leading to poverty. This is the terrain in which many have found themselves, even committed Christians.

Money is good; it is not evil because the Bible also says money answers all things and it is a defence to those who have it {Eccl. 7:12, 10:19 }. This means that the lack of it makes the prayer points of some people lengthy and repetitive. This may sound strange, but it is the truth that cannot be hidden. We ought to understand what the Bible says and key into it. In the above verse, many have omitted the important part of what the Bible says: ’the LOVE of money. And even in this, it is still complex because everybody loves money. However, what the Bible really means in this verse is about covetousness, as it says later, ’which while some coveted after.” This word has given us more understanding that it is not just about a mere love for money but coveting it. As I said, everybody loves money, but coveting it is what the Bible warns us against. The Bible is very clear about this, and it has provided us with examples.

And these are those who coveted money in the Bible and missed their salvation:

Achan Joshua 7:21

Judas Iscariot, Matt. 26:15; 27:5–6

Demas, 2 Timothy 4:10, etc.

Covetousness is a strong desire for something, especially something that belongs to someone else. The opposite of covetousness is contentment, which we have seen in the previous verses (1 Timothy 6:6–8). It is synonymous with greediness and envy. James 3:16; Proverbs 15:27. This is just to get more light on what the Bible is talking about in the verse under discussion {1 Timothy 6:10}. According to the definition of covetousness above, the most active word there is this adjective, ‘’strong desire.’’ Many people are moved by this strong desire to get it by all means, especially when they see others making it, and in an attempt to satisfy their longings, they fall into all kinds of evil activities. This is where the problem is, not money itself, and this is where contentment comes in. Contentment is the key solution. But this does not mean we should be satisfied with our present situations. No, it is limiting the grace of God in our lives. All we need to do is to move forward but with the spirit of contentment and complete focus on the things of the kingdom.

Apostle Paul wrote to Brother Timothy, revealing the predicament in which some brethren have found themselves as a result of covetousness, and warned him against inordinate love for money and its consequences. He said this because there were some brethren like Demas who have been pursuing money at the expense of their salvation; some have the money but not enough for them, while some do not have it but desire to have it by all means.

In the later verses, Paul told Timothy to flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, etc. 1 Timothy 6:11&12. When he said this, he did not mean Timothy should run away from money because he talked about it. No! By the way, how will he or the ministry be sustained without money? He was talking about covetousness, not money itself, as we have said. We ought to pursue money by looking for something good and doing it. Then, we can get the money. God even said it in his words in 2 Thess. 3:10. As said, money forms the basic part of our sustenance, and I do not think we can do without it in our practical life.

Now, this does not underscore the fact that our faith in Christ is the major thing in life, but we need to balance it with our pursuit of money. Remember that if we pursue money early enough with our salvation intact, a time will come when money will be pursuing after us as a result of our numerous investments. This is wisdom, and it is profitable to use.

Sadly enough, many professed Christians today misunderstand this verse {10} and carry poverty mentally about, thinking it is godliness to suffer in poverty. They do not want to talk about money openly as if money itself is evil, yet they are dying in poverty. If we do not dream money, talk money, how can we know where it is and do something to get it? Some of them even missed God’s given opportunities that would have made them rich because of their mentality about money. Afterward, as they became old, they kept regretting it and resorted to borrowing because of financial burdens. Will that give God the glory? We need to make our hay while the sun is shining and keep balancing it with our faith.

The story of the rich man and Lazarus and the parable of Christ about the rich man does not really mean that the rich will not enter the kingdom of God (Luke 16:19–31; Matt. 19:24). This is not so. It is just a warning for us to be careful about money because of its tendency to trap us. If so, why was Father Abraham found in Heaven, when the Bible testifies that he was a rich man on the earth (Genesis 13:2). If every Christian has this mindset, how will the works of God be supported? Remember Joseph of Arimathea and Lazarus and learn a lesson that will help you to be useful in God’s house and to the brethren (Matt. 28:57–61). They were rich men who performed the burial of Jesus with their expensive tomb and clothes and supported his ministry when he was alive as secret followers.

Conclusion

This is the mind of God for us:

“Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” Psalms 35:27.

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” [2 Corinthians 8:9].

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” {3 John 2}.

From these passages, we know that God wants us to prosper as the kingdom works are prospering in our hands. He has already empowered us through the grace of our Lord Jesus to make wealth, but because of the misunderstanding of his word, many chose to suffer in poverty for the sake of heaven. This mentality ought to be changed to help us live better during this time of economic downturn. We need to understand that money itself is not evil, and to pursue it too is not a sin, as we have seen in our discussions. But how we pursue money is what calls for a serious question. Let us always have eternity in view while pursuing money because it is God’s will for us to make good wealth so that his name will be glorified(Deut. 8:18). See you on top!

One of the greatest mistakes one could ever make in life is trading with his or her birthright like Esau. Though birthright is not transferable, Esau sold his birthright to his brother with an oath. Eventually, this came to pass in his life adversely. He made a very grave mistake, though ignorantly. Birthright can only be earned from birth. Because of this, it is a biological right or privilege that comes with being born as a son or daughter into a family. Culturally, this right is what can ascertain someone’s biological background and enables him or her to possess the portion of his or her inheritance in the family.

The portion he is entitled to depends on the position he or she holds among the siblings. It is known even from the Bible times that the first son is entitled to the biggest portion of the family properties after the death of their father. He also takes over the fatherly responsibilities and privileges. It was because of the privileges of being born as the first son that Jacob struggled from the womb in order to overtake his brother. Esau sold his birthright. Fortunately for Jacob, it happened one day that his brother came back from hunting and was very hungry. When he saw the red pottage that Jacob had prepared, he asked for it. However, his brother, who has been waiting for this opportunity, told him to sell his birthright to him before he could give him the meal. Esau said, ”I am at the point to die, and what profit shall this birthright do to me?”. Jacob told him to swear, and he did. Then the meal was given to him. This is how Esau despitefully sold his birthright (Genesis 25:29–34). He was very shortsighted to see any important thing in his birthright because of the hunger and the sweet aroma of the red pottage, which was just momentary compared to what he would lose. It was really very foolish of him.

The Consequences

The Bible says subsequently, he cried for it bitterly when it dawned on him but could not redeem it. Hebrews 12:17. He finally realized that he had lost what would have earned him the divine blessings and inheritance in the lineage of his forefathers; not only this, but that God’s abiding presence in his life and his heavenly dwelling is gone. Because of this, his name is not found among the people of God. Instead, he is called Edom, which means the red pottage. God says in the Bible, I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He does not say I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Esau. He got missing in the record of God’s people just because of one minute of enjoyment and satisfaction. This singular act of his plunged his entire descendants into paganism and perpetual conflict with Israel. According to history, Edom became a pagan nation and great enemy of Israel till today. We can say that Esau died a rich man, but he had missed what money cannot buy, which is his birthright!

Our birthright

In this dispensation, our salvation in Christ is our birthright. Once we became born again, automatically, we received our birthright as sons and daughters of God. John 1:12. We also have access to our heavenly inheritance. These inheritances are kept for us by the power of God if we hold on to faith till the end, meaning that once we draw back, everything will be taken away from us. 1 Peter 1:3–6; Romans 8:7 & Hebrews 10:35. However, many still do not believe that we can miss our salvation that we once received. They’d rather believe in eternal security — that once we are saved, we are saved forever. This is not really true because Jesus says, “But to them that endure till the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:4). Again, Jude also says, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 1:3

In today’s world, there are so many attractive opportunities and human inventions, like the red portage, targeting at pulling down our faith in God. And because of the fact that many Christians are living carelessly, they are easily caught by their luring power. Such Christians, like Esau, have not considered the importance of their birthright and heavenly inheritance because of the condition they have found themselves in. They just decided to trade their birthright with the flimsy things of this world without a second thought in order to get rid of their daunting situation. But at the end, they keep regretting it, going for fasting here and there to get a solution. This is very pathetic.

What seems like the red pottage today

The red portage is not just food or drink we are being offered. It can take different forms as follows.

Immoral Women

There are many Jezebel-like women today whose dressing and body make-up are uncalled for. Their interior purpose is to lure committed Christians away from God. Many men of God have suffered their hard blows and missed their divine unction. An example is David and Sampson. (2 Samuel 11:2; Judges 16; Rev. 2:20).

Money

This is one of the best examples of the red pottage today. It is very tempting and alluring in its nature, especially when it comes in huge amounts. Money is good, but the love of it is not recommended because it can easily replace God in someone’s life. Ballam and Judas Iscariot are examples. They forfeited their heavenly places because of their inordinate quest for money. Number 22 & Matthew 26:14–16

Finer things of life

These are eye-catching things that are reigning in the world, like new model luxurious cars, modern-day houses, outlandish clothes, jets, digital electronics, etc. These can easily catch the attention of people and subject them to perpetual craving. There are people who desire to have them by all means after seeing one from their friends or somewhere and eventually end up in the hands of the devil. Achan and Demas are examples. 2 Timothy 4:10. Joshua 7:21 & I John 2:15.

Cultism/demonic power

These are different kinds of satanic organizations or fraternities that exist in the world in the name of helping their members. They usually promise to give their members fame, power, money, and protection. It is like the red pottage to those who want to be rich without effort or who seek an immediate solution to their problems. The devil always wants to offer riches in exchange for men’s souls. Matthew 4:8–10.

Position

Position of authority, especially in politics, can be like the red pottage to many. In today’s politics, everybody knows that there is a massive gain in it. Because of this, high positions often attract many who want to do everything they can to be there. This can lead them out of the way of God. John 2:15–17.

Partying and entertainment

This is where one can gratify the flesh to its fullest as long as eating, drinking, sex, music, drugs, watching, gambling, etc. are concerned. Those that are addicted to this kind of life have done so at the expense of their spiritual life. They are only sown to the flesh, and they will also reap according to the flesh, for anyone that lives in pleasure is dead while living. 1 Timothy 5:6.

Social Media and Pornography

Social media handling and pornography are prevailing today, especially among the youths. Many have lost their souls because of the friends they have found on the internet and the platforms they belong to. There are many too who have become addicted to pornographic scenes. Indeed, evil company corrupts good manners. 1 Corinthians 15:33.

False teaching and false prophets

There are those who are not called by God. Because of this, they use every means, including flattering words and satanic powers, to draw a following. There are many of them today since we are in the end time. Satan sometimes disguises himself as the minister of light in order to grab men’s souls. Matthew 4:4 & Revelation 2:20 What should be our attitude as Christians? “Looking diligently lest any man fall from the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for the morsel of meat sold his birthright.” Hebrews 12:15–16.

From the text above, it is clear that Esau lost his birthright because of carelessness. In other words, he was not vigilant to the thing that mattered most in his life. He trivialized it with it ignorantly. In this regard, the Bible instructs us to be sober and vigilant because the devil always looks out for every little opportunity to steal, kill, and destroy. Our salvation is the most precious thing we could ever have on earth. For this reason, whichever way Satan comes to take it away from us, we ought to say no to him.1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10. Moreover, we ought to put our desires under control and be content with what we have, looking forward to eternal inheritance in heaven, which is far greater than what the world could offer us.

Conclusion

This story of Esau and the red pottage really serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of prioritizing our spiritual inheritance. As true Christians, we must be mindful of our daily temptations that seek to distract us from our faith and compromise our values. By keeping our eyes fixed on eternity and our hearts committed to God, we can avoid the pitfalls of the red pottage and inherit the eternal blessings that come with being children of God.