Overcoming the World, the Flesh and the Devil

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on  Sept 7th  2025 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here. 

Overcoming the  World, the Flesh and the Devil through Giving, Prayer and Fasting.

The Berean Example

Acts 17:11 tells us about the Bereans, who eagerly received the Word and examined the Scriptures daily. They were hungry yet discerning. Colin reminds us that every believer is called to live this way: to receive teaching with openness but to test everything against the Word of God.

Don’t just attend church—bring your Bible, take notes, study at home. God transforms us when we engage His Word with humility and expectation.

More Than Blessings: The Call to Be Soldiers

Colin compared the Christian life to joining the Indian Army. Many join for the benefits—pensions, medical care, privileges—but the true purpose of the army is to train soldiers for battle.

In the same way, Christians often focus on the benefits of faith—peace, joy, and answered prayer—while forgetting that we are enlisted as soldiers of Christ (2 Timothy 2:3–4). The Christian life is not about comfort; it’s about commitment, obedience, and pleasing our Commander.

The Reality of Spiritual Battle

From Genesis to Revelation, Satan has resisted God’s people.  But here is the good news: Satan is already defeated.

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our struggle is not against people, but against spiritual forces of darkness. We are not fighting for victory—we are fighting from victory, secured in Christ.

Our Spiritual Weapons

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10:3 5 that our weapons are not worldly, but spiritual—powerful to demolish strongholds. Colin highlighted three weapons Jesus Himself taught in Matthew 6: giving, prayer, and fasting.

1. Giving: Breaking the Grip of Mammon

The world says, “Chase money, chase wealth, chase pleasure.” But every time we give, we declare that money does not rule us.

• Tithing (10%) is not giving—it is returning what already belongs to God (Leviticus 27:30).
• Giving begins where tithing ends: voluntary, cheerful, generous, and sacrificial.

Generosity reflects God’s heart—“For God so loved the world that He gave…” (John 3:16). Whether blessing a friend with a meal, supporting the poor, or giving extravagantly, generosity is spiritual warfare. It pushes back against greed and reveals the Father’s love.

2. Prayer: Aligning with God’s Heart

Jesus taught us to pray in secret, not for show. Prayer is not about big words or repetition but intimacy with the Father (Matthew 6:5–8).

Throughout Scripture, prayer is central—Moses, Elijah, Hannah, Daniel, and Jesus Himself. Prayer protects us from temptation, aligns our desires with God’s will, and brings breakthrough.

Colin shared the story of “Praying Hyde,” whose relentless intercession led thousands to Christ. A praying church is a powerful church.

3. Fasting: Weakening the Flesh, Strengthening the Spirit

Fasting removes the flesh from the driver’s seat and puts the Spirit in control. Jesus assumed His followers would fast (Matthew 6:16–18).

From Nineveh to wicked King Ahab, Scripture shows that fasting moves the heart of God. It brings clarity, humility, and breakthrough. Fasting makes us sensitive to God’s voice and strengthens us for the battles we face.

 Final Call

The Christian life is not passive. It is a call to be alert, disciplined, and faithful soldiers of Christ. Our weapons are giving, prayer, and fasting—they are powerful to bring transformation in our lives, our churches, and our nation.

The blessings are real, but the battle is the reason we’ve been called.

Reflection Questions

1. Do I approach Scripture with eagerness and discernment, like the Bereans?
2. Where is money trying to control my heart, and how can generosity break its grip?
3. Is my prayer life marked by intimacy with God or just requests for blessings?
4. Am I willing to practice fasting as a discipline that aligns me with God’s Spirit?

Spiritual warfare is real, but so is our victory in Christ. Let’s be a people who give generously, pray fervently, and fast faithfully—for the glory of God and the advance of His kingdom.

  Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.