When Jesus died, he didn't buy just a piece of you. He bought all of you. In his suffering, he had his eye on your complete transformation—spirit, soul, and body. He meant to rule as King over every part of you, with no rivals tolerated.

And that new nature God planted in you when you were born again? Its whole purpose is to enforce the rights of King Jesus. Listen to me, child of God: you must conquer every unconquered territory still left in your soul. You must bring every power, every passion, every impulse under the silver scepter of Christ's gracious reign. Never be satisfied until the One who became King by purchase also becomes King by gracious coronation, reigning supreme in every corner of your being.

Since sin has no legal right to any part of you, this is a just and holy war we're waging when we seek to drive it out in God's name.

O my body! You are a member of Christ. How can I tolerate your subjection to the prince of darkness? O my soul! Christ suffered for your sins. He redeemed you with his most precious blood. How can I suffer your memory to become a storehouse of evil? How can I let your passions become firebrands of iniquity? Shall I surrender my judgment to be perverted by error? Shall I let my will be led in fetters of iniquity?

No! My soul, you are Christ's, and sin has no right to you!

Take courage in this, O Christian! Don't lose heart, thinking your spiritual enemies are invincible. You can defeat them. Not in your own strength—the weakest of them would crush you if you tried that. But you can and you will overcome through the blood of the Lamb.

Stop asking, "How can I drive them out when they're stronger than me?" Instead, go to the Strong One for strength. Wait humbly upon God. The mighty God of Jacob will surely come to your rescue, and you will sing songs of victory through his grace.