Using Epaphras as an example, let us labor fervently in prayer so that all who are willing and obedient will stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. This is how we need to intercede (Isaiah 1:18–19; Colossians 4:12; Isaiah 59:16). Too many believers pray from their soul [their mind, will, emotions, imaginations, reasoning, or even their intellect] and not from their spirit. This is a grievous error. When we wrestle against principalities and powers, our flesh is not strong enough to be in charge, but it is Christ-in-us-the-hope-of-glory (Colossians 1:27) who is the real challenger from within. The enemy will suggest to us that it’s too tedious to use this hyphenated phrase to think of engaging the enemies we face. Why would the enemy try to make us think that this is ludicrous? It is because the devil knows that a spiritual understanding of this mystery has been revealed and given to us to dismantle his works in high places as well as at ground level. If we can only allow ourselves to decrease and let Christ increase, as John the Baptist did, the Holy Spirit will give us even greater insight into these scriptures.
(I Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:21).
Christ is our victory banner. When we face our opponents, it is “Christ in us” who comes to the forefront. He manifests himself as our champion through the power of divine wisdom, sanctification, righteousness, and redemption. All of which far exceed the power, might, and dominion of all divisions of evil. We should not see ourselves as ‘neck and neck’ with the enemy. Greater is Jesus that is within us than the enemy that’s in the world (I John 4:4). Let’s declare and decree that our boast is not in ourselves but in the mighty one that’s inside of us (Jeremiah 9:23–24). It’s time to release our prayers—not those that run neck and neck, but those that soar ‘backed’ backed by the power of Christ!
