(Psalms 18:37-38) “I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. (38)  I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.”

In the previous devotion, David speaks of the results of the actions of God to him, listed in Psalms 18:32-36. Now we continue to look at these results David is experiencing:

Let every believer in Christ, sealed by the Holy Spirit, rest in the fact that no enemy of the Cross of Christ can, or will, finally overtake the child of God. It is time for every child of God to stop running from the enemies of Christ, as if they have no promise of victory. Because of the resurrection and ascension of Christ, let the child of God take heart in Christ’s Victory – for so is their victory over the enemy – for Christ’s victory over the devil is also the believer’s victory. This personal victory that is the believer’s, has been secured by Christ’s victory:

(Rom 8:31-33) “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  (32)  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  (33)  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”

Notice, David did not run away, but he “pursued” his enemies. That is, David had the promise of victory from God; he had the command to do so; he had the assurance and confidence in God delivering him as God had promised. So, it is today with every believer; he must have confidence in God that He will do what He has promised. This confidence comes not by word only; but, by an inward revelation by the Holy Spirit of God that He is Able and He will Perform His Promise. The believer’s confidence is founded upon the Written Word of God. Also, not only from the testimony of the men and women of the Bible that God promised and also performed His promise to them in their lives; but, also, the personal experience of God keeping His Word over and over again; and not once has God failed to keep His Promise to the believer.

The secret lies in the word “faith”; for the believer is to “live by the faith” or by Christ: (Gal 2:20) “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

The victory of the child of God is that Christ abides in the believer. The victory is Christ Himself, as He empowers the believer to overcome the enemy (1 Jn. 5:4-5; Phil. 4:13, 19). There is no devil, no demon, no doubt, no weakness of one’s flesh; not death, not the grave, and not hell has any power to match the Power of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:4; 1 Cor. 15:1-28).

Not only did David pursue the enemy; but, David said he had, “overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.” He had “overtaken them”; and he did not turn until “they were consumed”; for David had “wounded them,” and they “were not able to rise,” and they had “fallen” under his feet. David described his total victory over his enemy. David pursued them, caught them, and killed them. Not only did David have victory over the enemy; but, the victory was total and complete. David had defeated the enemies in a decisive manner; in that the victory could not be denied. The victory was not maybe, or partial; but it was final.

Believer in Christ, this should encourage you to wage war on the enemies of the Cross. But not with carnal weapons, (2 Cor. 10:3-5), “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

The Victory of the believer in Christ is not in the weapons of the flesh; but, in the weapons of the Spirit of God. This war, or battle, with the enemy of Christ is not with carnal weapons of mass destruction; but, in the spiritual arena. The enemy of the believer is within and without; but either one, the root, or seed, is sin. Within the believer is war with his own flesh (where sin dwells); the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life (1 Jn. 2:15-16). The battle without is the outworking of the same in the enemy of the Cross. The difference is in the believer, his flesh is not in control, but the Spirit is in control of the believer (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 7:22-25; 8:1-17).  But, in the un-saved man, his flesh is in control, because the Holy Spirit does not live within him.

However, the enemy is the same – it is sin. The victory over sin is, and has always been, the sinless Son of God, Jesus Christ. This victory was manifested in the Works of Christ in His Life; in the Atonement revealed on the Cross; in His death, burial and resurrection (Rom. 1:4; Heb. 2:14; 1 Cor. 15:1-28). When a sinner is regenerated and converted by the Holy Spirit, Christ takes up residency in the believer. Christ is the Power of the believer; Christ is his Shield, Buckler, Strength, and High Tower; his Place of Refuge; and his Victory. From the point of confession of Christ as the believer’s Sacrifice, Substitute, and Savior (Rom. 10 :9-10); the believer is free in experience of the law of sin and death, by the law of the Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2-4). The victory is, as God told Zerubbabel, (Zec 4:6) “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

Thank God, the Spirit-filled believer can say in the power of the Power of God about his enemies, “I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.” Hallelujah!

Hold your head high as a believer in Jesus Christ, as a soldier in the army of Jesus Christ; for the victory has been won in Christ; even before you do battle with the enemy. Christ defeated the devil on the Cross, proven by His resurrection. You cannot lose the battle against the enemy when you follow Christ’s instructions of warfare found in His Written Word (Eph. 6:10-18; 2 Cor. 10:3-5). If the battle you, as a believer, are in at the present seems to be hopeless – then, flee from your own strength; turn from all fears and doubts that God may have left you; and turn to prayer to God; and follow, (Pro 3:5-7) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  (7)  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD and depart from evil.”

Believer, you are not a loser; but, a winner in Christ. Let your voice be one of praise; let your countenance be one of rejoicing; and let your attitude be one of confidence and assurance. Amen and Amen!