But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth – Acts 2:8

As the disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost (Spirit), they were filled with the grace of the Spirit and were more than ever under His sanctifying influences. They were more than filled with the comfort of the Spirit, rejoiced more than ever in the love of Christ and the hope of heaven, and with the power of God abiding in their humanity.

For some reason, Christians today think the Holy Ghost (Spirit) was only for the disciples of Jesus Christ during the time He walked the earth. Before Jesus ascension, He gave gifts until men to edify the body of Christ (And he gave some, apostles, and some prophets; and some evangelist; and some, pastors and teachers for the perfecting [equipping ] of the saints, for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ – Ephesians 4:11). These gifts are accompanied with the filling of the Holy Spirit to enabled the office to minister effectively to the saints. However, these gifts were not only given to ministerial offices, but also to the saints of God, to minister to nonbelievers effectively through the power of God, as well as to empower them to fight and have victory over spiritual wickedness that attacks believers.

Whether Christians know it or not, we are in a spiritual war that can’t be seen with the natural eye (For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints – Ephesians 6:12-18). This fight we’re in is not with people, but demonic spirits that fight against us, as well as demonic spirits that use people to fight against us.

God has given every born-again Christian the Fruit of the Spirit (Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance). The Fruit of the Spirit releases the supernatural power of God in our lives twenty-four hours a day. Each Fruit of the Spirit enables the individual believer to better cope with the adverse situations that arise in his or her life. There is not a trial, any situation, or temptation that a born-again believer will face that one of these fruits of the Spirit will not overcome.

To tell the truth, a believer can’t be a successful overcomer if any one of the Fruit of the Spirit is missing in his or her life because that particular area will be the very one the devil and his co-host will concentrate on their attack. When we make Jesus the Lord of our life, we become “a new creature” (Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold, all things become new – 2nd Corinthians 5:17). Our spirit was reborn in the image of our Heavenly Father; we were made partaker of His divine nature. We have to cultivate the new nature through prayer, reading and studying the Word of God, meditating on the Word of God, and allowing the Word of God to lead and guide us in every area of our lives.

Having fast days to make our flesh come under the dominion of the Spirit of God that has embodied our human body. Instead, many Christians continue to yield to the fleshly habits they’ve developed over the years. They give in to the temptation that comes through the devil’s badgering, doing what their old sin-trained body wants to do rather than what the new creation wants to do.

If we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh (This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would – Galatians 5:16-17. How do we walk in the Spirit? Christians are to live with the Spirit’s help; the Christian must believe that the Spirit is with them, having been sent by God into their heart.

In every spiritual confrontation, the believer must yield to the Spirit, that is, submit their desires to those of the Spirit. The believer must depend on the Spirit for help, enabling him or her to live a God-pleasing life. We place God first in our lives; we do it by maintaining fellowship with Him through prayer and His Word. Reading, studying, and listening to the Word of God is vital to walking in the Spirit. The more we put the Word of God in our hearts and minds it opens the door to our hearts so the Fruit of the Spirit can flow out of it. Through the Spirit, we have been empowered to overcome every obstacle that will come in our lives. We must know who we are and live as sons of God.

Jesus instructed His disciples to watch and pray (Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak – Matthew 26:41). Sometimes, as Christians, we’re praying, but we’re not watchful. You can just be finished praying, bombarding heaven, and Satan will send someone to come and upset you to the point, you get out of the Spirit, and your flesh will want to defend your cause. Satan uses attacks by having small things happen one after another until he gets you aggravated and agitated.

Christians must be aware when they are under attack, when to pray, and when to go into warfare. There is a difference between praying and warfare prayers. We must know what to bind and what to lose.  Sadly, most Christians aren’t aware of binding and losing in prayer. Thoughts that come to your mind that are contrary to the Word of God are an influence of Satan. You can’t stop thoughts from coming into your mind, but you have the authority to dismiss them and not linger on the thought!

God has given every Christian weaponry, praying, fasting, His Word, and praise. When we use these weapons, heaven backs us. Stop allowing Satan and his host to keep you feeling down and out. Depressed, oppressed, and stressed. God is on your side, and when you live according to His Word, He and the heavenly angels will fight with you. You have the victory, Jesus has already conquered Satan at the Cross and His resurrection.