A Battle of Faith
Basilea Schlink teaches that through persistent, faith-filled prayer and reliance on Jesus' sacrifice, believers can overcome sin and experience true spiritual victory.
In this devotional sermon, Basilea Schlink explores the spiritual battle every believer faces against sin and how victory is possible through faith-filled prayer and the power of Jesus’ sacrifice. She emphasizes the necessity of persistent struggle in prayer, likening it to Jacob’s wrestling until he received a blessing. Drawing from personal testimony and biblical truths, Schlink encourages believers to trust in Christ’s redeeming blood and assures them of ultimate triumph over all spiritual adversaries.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today. He is a victorious, conquering God, and through Him we too may be conquerors over the bondages of our sins. Today's meditation by Basilea Schlink called A Battle of Faith will show us how.
How can I become free from my sins and bondages? Jesus Christ has the answer. He speaks to the miserable sinner who lies imprisoned in his chains of sin and doesn't know how to be released from them. He calls to Him, if I make you free, you shall be truly free.
Yes, Jesus' sacrifice is complete so that the power of Satan and sin must flee from it. We have been redeemed so that we can reflect His image. Through His blood we have been made completely free.
But how do we find the way to this victory? How can we claim His salvation for our lives so that we actually become free from these bondages and sins? Through prayer. But not just a quick prayer when you feel in the mood to pray. No, it must be a prayer that is a struggle in faith, that battles as Jacob battled with the angel until he received the blessing.
For sin is a poison that not only infects the entire body, but the soul and spirit as well. That's why our prayer against our sins can be nothing else but a real battle prayer. I recall a time in my life when I had to work and live with a person who was especially difficult for me to get along with.
All of my outward efforts to be friendly and to do everything with love failed to bring about any change in my heart. Then I discovered something. The power of the name and blood of Jesus.
I started to fight daily against this bitterness and lack of love in my heart by using the name of Jesus and calling upon the power of His blood. What happened? After a period of time, a little bit of love was born in my heart for this person. And a little while later, the person also began to change.
However, this change came only through a battle, a battle of faith against my bitterness and my unloving heart. Today I can testify that Jesus makes us free, yes, really free from our sins and bondages. However, we have to be willing to battle for this victory.
Even if our battles of faith last a long time, we may depend upon this fact. Not Satan and all the powers of evil, not anger and worry, nor our passions or whatever it might be, will triumph in the end. No, there is one who is greater.
There is one more powerful, our Lord Jesus Christ. He gives us the victory. Jesus Christ, the victor's name, every knee shall bend before you.
Seated on the heavenly throne, all creation shall adore you. For your name such power wields, only triumph victory yields. Thank you.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Reality of Spiritual Bondage
- Sin as a binding poison affecting soul and spirit
- The need for true freedom beyond outward efforts
- Jesus as the source of liberation
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II. The Power of Jesus’ Sacrifice
- Complete redemption through Jesus’ blood
- The defeat of Satan and sin’s power
- Reflection of God’s image through freedom
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III. The Battle of Faith in Prayer
- Prayer as a persistent struggle like Jacob’s wrestling
- Using the name and blood of Jesus in spiritual warfare
- Personal testimony of victory through faith battles
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IV. Assurance of Victory
- Endurance in faith despite long battles
- Jesus Christ as the ultimate conqueror
- All creation’s submission to the victorious Lord
Key Quotes
“Jesus Christ has the answer. He speaks to the miserable sinner who lies imprisoned in his chains of sin and doesn't know how to be released from them.” — Basilea Schlink
“Our prayer against our sins can be nothing else but a real battle prayer.” — Basilea Schlink
“Not Satan and all the powers of evil, not anger and worry, nor our passions or whatever it might be, will triumph in the end.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- Commit to persistent and faith-filled prayer as a means to overcome sin in your life.
- Rely daily on the power of Jesus’ name and blood to fight bitterness and unloving attitudes.
- Trust in Jesus’ ultimate victory to sustain you through long spiritual battles.