Victory in Rest

We must avoid a false understanding of spiritual warfare that confuses resisting with striving. A flurry of activity and noise will not gain victory over to spiritual attack. We do not need to “babble on like the pagans” (Matt 6:7). Victory does not come from many words or noisy commands. These activities are reliance on human strength, which is sin.

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength (Is 35:10).

We must be careful not to get into striving against the enemy, because that makes us weak. Satan was defeated by Jesus on the cross, so all the “heavy lifting” is done. We resist the enemy by “standing” in what Jesus has finished. We will need to learn much more about resisting while resting in Jesus.

This becomes easier, if we understand the usually works by bluffing us into accepting his authority and power. We can resist his ideas by thinking or speaking the promises of God. This does not require a noisy activity. We resist sickness by declaring words of faith and inviting the Holy Spirit to force it out. The Holy Spirit does the physical work, so we do not need to strive or make a noise.