"Spiritual warfare is for mature Christians, not someone who still struggles with basic sin."
How it sounds in your head: You scrolled Instagram for an hour this morning instead of reading your Bible. You snapped at your roommate yesterday. You're still dealing with that addiction, that thought pattern, that relationship toxicity. How can you take authority over demons when you can't even get your own life together? Spiritual warfare is for the prayer warriors who have their act together.
"But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption."
-- 1 Corinthians 1:30Source: Religion teaches you must achieve personal holiness before you can exercise spiritual authority, making warfare a reward for good behavior.
The spiritual warfare books and sermons seem written for people who pray for hours and fast regularly. You're just trying to make it through the week without falling apart. It feels hypocritical to command demons when you're still a mess.
Rahab was actively working as a prostitute when she hid the Israelite spies. She didn't clean up her life first, quit her job, go through a rehabilitation program, or prove she was worthy. She exercised faith in that moment, took a stand, and God saved her entire family and put her in the Messianic line. Her profession didn't disqualify her authority to act.
I REFUSE the lie that I must achieve personal perfection before I can exercise spiritual authority. IT IS WRITTEN that Christ became my righteousness, my sanctification, my redemption - not that I must become these things to access Him. I fight from the righteousness of Christ, not my own track record. The enemy was defeated by Jesus' blood, not by my behavior management. I am seated with Christ in heavenly places RIGHT NOW, even on my worst day, even in my ongoing struggles. IT IS WRITTEN that I have the blessing of Abraham through Christ - the same blessing that covered Jacob the deceiver, Judah who slept with his daughter-in-law, and Abraham who lied repeatedly. The BARAK doesn't wait for me to get my act together. It covers me because of covenant, not conduct.
Your Father didn't say 'clean yourself up and then come sit at My table.' He seated you at the table while you still had dirt under your fingernails and gave you full family authority in the middle of your mess. The ring, the robe, the sandals - all given before you proved anything. Your authority is positional, not behavioral.