Spiritual Warfare - The Essence of Our Battle

Spiritual Warfare - The Essence of Our Battle....

Ephesians 6:11 - 12

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 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.

The Bible tells us to 'put on' the WHOLE armor.  It's something we need to do individually everyday.  The devil our enemy is a trickster; and our being armed is what will cause us to defeat him. The devil is not an idiot.  he is extremely wise and experienced.  Our battle is not against flesh and blood.  Our fight is not physical. It is not with people.  In the Kingdom of The Almighty God the angels, not people are the army of God. In the Kingdom of God the 'we' who wrestle represent the angels who wrestle on our behalf.  Hebrews 1 The angels are assigned to every believer. They represent us by fighting against four different entities.  Just as God had order and rank and file in heaven, so too when the devil was cast out of heaven he replicated God and created rank and file on earth.  In order to defeat our enemy it is important that we follow the strategy outlined by God.  We fight in tandem with God's commands.  God's strategy is that we:

* put on the armor - be hid in Christ St. John 15 Truth, peace, righteousness, salvation and the Holy Spirit are all through Jesus.  It is a lifestyle, a daily exercise, not just a one off event.

* make a 911 call through prayer.   Call on God when you need HIM and don't 'hangup the line.'  Be like Daniel, i.e. pray without ceasing - Stand!  Daniel 10 Daniel didn't stop praying, you shouldn't either.

We petition God, then HE sends HIS angels. The Kingdom of God has a totally different government system than the ones we are familiar with.  We have to be taught how to live and operate as citizens in this Kingdom.  Ephesians 2   Jesus told Pilate that HIS Kingdom was not of this world.  The Holy Spirit is our teacher that knows and understands God's system.  Jesus assigned HIM to us.  Luke 24  We have to study our enemy as well as know the habits and nature of our enemy, so that he can't deceive nor use us.  Jesus told Peter: "get thee behind me satan."  The fight is between kingdoms.  We are no match for the enemy in our own strength.  The wrestle/ fight is against four different entities:

1. Principalities -  These are demons who rule specific territories eg. communities, families, blocks, etc...  They are strongholds, not easy to overcome. These demons are ranked.  They are the generals in the army of the devil.  There are several root demonic forces: 

         a. moral impurity - immorality, improper sexual behaviour, homosexuality, adultery,lust, fornication, etc...             

         b. bitterness and unforgiveness

         c. temporal values - things that don't last

 

Psalms 68:35 

One of us can put a thousand to flight and two of us can set the legions free.   

 

It is important to be accountable to another saint.

 

2. Powers - Ability to delegate influence.  The devil has power, but he doesn't have all power.  he can do supernatural things too.   But only God is all powerful.  The power that God has given us is more powerful than all the powers of the devil and his minions.  2 Peter 1  The earth belongs to God, not the devil.  Do not fear the one who can kill the body.  Rather fear the one who  can kill both the body and soul.

 Romans 8:38-39

 
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

Even though principalities and powers are often 'buddies' together, neither of them has power enough to separate us from God's love.  God's love towards us includes HIS re-positioning us as rulers of the earth.  HE sent Jesus on that successful mission to re-introduce us to HIS government. Isaiah 9

 
Ephesians 1: 15-23 

 
 ....That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.  Jesus who lives inside of us is seated.   

 

Jesus who lives in side of me, whose power is resident inside of me, is seated far, far, far above ALL principalities and powers.  Hence I have absolutely no need to fear their powers because they also are way, way, way below me.  Greater is HE that is in me than he that is in the world.  We don't ever need to fear demons. Wherever the Kingdom of God exist, so does the power of God.  Where sin abounds, grace doth more abound.   Romans 5 Jesus said, The Kingdom of God is upon you, and it is in you. Luke 11 & 17  The same powers that Jesus exercised while HE was on earth, as a child of God and a citizen of the Kingdom I too have them. Ephesians 2  I'm also seated in the heavenly realms with God, so I too have the power to command or change what happens in the earth like Jesus did.  I have the power to cast mountains into the midst of the ocean based on my faith in God.

 
Ephesians 3: 8-12 

 
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 

12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.  

 

First we need to understand the truth about what God intended for us as humans in the earth.  Man was made to dominate the earth and worship God. It is God's great pleasure to give us the Kingdom.  Luke 12 There are so many rights and privileges in our citizenship. A primary role is to declare in the heavenly realms who we are and whose we are.  We are authorized by God to command principalities and powers boldly to flee, like Jesus did with the legions and the pigs. We are to remind them about what God has said about us HIS children and them HIS enemies.  Our power and authority is based on God's righteousness, not ours.  We need not fear for anything.  Our focus should be to learn and understand the wisdom of God through the teaching of the Holy Spirit.

 

Colossians 2:9-15 

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

 

1 Peter 3: 22

 

22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

 

We have superior power over principalities and powers of darkness.

 

3. Rulers of darkness - absence of truth/ light. The devil operates in areas of darkness and fills our heads with lies.  Secrets are his major weapon.  he pulls us away and influences us to keep things hidden.  But the truth is, we cannot be holy without the discipline and help of The Holy Spirit.  It is not by might, nor power by MY Spirit says The Lord. Zechariah 4  We don't need to try to do anything in our own strength.  In fact, it is a sin to do things in our own strength, because those that worship God must worship HIM in spirit and in truth.  St. John 4 Our sins separates us from God's light which is HIS presence.  Our responsibility is to stay in god's presence, even when we fall into sin.  We need to ask God's forgiveness and chase after HIM.  Sin is often a camouflage of the truth.  The devil thrives in ignorance and deception.  his aim is to keep you there - deceived. Light always dispels darkness. Seek the truth, that's where the light is.  Be guided by Jesus' commands and lifestyle.  Seek ye first the Kingdom of God.  And pray, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Luke 11

James 5:15-16 

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

4. Spiritual host of wickedness in high places - demonic plots, schemes and plans executed in high places with the goal of bringing you to a place of giving the devil credit.  High places is always in reference to a place of worship.  Our fight is no longer on a physical level for us.  God has revealed the secrets of the Kingdom which grants us access and authority to open and close doors of opportunity to triumph in every circumstance we will ever face.  Mark 4 God allows things to happen for our maturity.  We should worship the Lord especially when we're feeling like we're under attack.  The apostles in prison praised God. Desist from talking about the devil and talk about God instead.  Our situations are controllable.  

We have the power to calm every storm that rises up in front of us.  We have the power to part every Red Sea that we run into.  Not by might, nor power, but by HIS Spirit! God wants us to overcome the challenges so that HE can get the glory.  All the glory belongs to HIM!  Romans 8  Everything that we do should be with the intent to bring glory to The Almighty God.  The devil and his soldiers are no match for us and God's angels.  God's Kingdom can never be defeated! The battle serves to prove that The Almighty God is sovereign over all creation.

TESTIMONY: Exposing Satan's End Time Strategy | Mario Murillo | Something More

WORSHIP: This Is A Move

  

The Kingdom of God can never be defeated!

Spiritual Warfare - It’s WAR we’re fighting....

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SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Spiritual Warfare  -  It’s WAR we’re fighting....

"Spiritual Warfare …..It’s WAR we’re fighting"

Hosea 9: 14

Give them, LORD— what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that are dry.

The worst thing is to defeat or destroy a big problem and later have to deal with the same problem again. Once you’ve identified the problem as opposition it is important to destroy the root. That is why he prayed this prayer. No woman should continue to give birth nor nurture to what is created to destroy you. That is why God often commanded HIS people to destroy complete villages and their offspring whether livestock or humans. The important thing is to know whether or not a thing/ force/ a community is for or against you. Once you can affirm opposition especially to the will and purposes of God – show no mercy. They will not show you mercy.

St. John 10 : 10

The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly.

The problem is so many of us have been deceived. We don’t see the devil as our enemy. We are constantly trying to live at peace with him. he is only after our complete destruction.  He says,” Why should we humans benefit from a God that he no longer can benefit from? Who do we think we are?” he is not our friend. The sooner we understand how deviously wicked he is, the sooner we will understand why it is necessary to take up an ‘offensive’ position after him and his demons. The passage says he ‘comes’, meaning he’s constantly after you. You need to decide on a strategy to conquer his consistent attempts at your life and the ones and things dear to you. The scripture says that we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.

Romans 8: 37

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through HIM who loved us. 

We need to apply the strategies that Jesus has outlined for us with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That is the only way we will destroy the enemy.

Ephesians 6 : 12

12 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.

Who's fighting who?

Ephesians 5 - 6 It’s not a fight against those whom we love. It's not a fight against those whom we serve or serve with.  There's no middle ground. We're supposed to live in peace and harmony with those around us, our spouses, our children, our masters, our servants - each person with an attitude of reverence for God.  We're supposed to live in solidarity with each other, knowing that in whichever capacity we serve, we all are servants as unto God.  Therefore, based on Christ's example of how HE served the church, so too we should serve each other in the fear of The Almighty God.  When we do otherwise, it is in favor of  God's enemy the devil.  When God says you're either for me or against me, this is one of the places where it's applicable. i.e. if you're not building up what I'm building you're tearing it down.  It's a direct attack against God's Kingdom.  There are only two armies in the spirit realm, that of the devil or that of the Almighty God.  Whenever you take a stand it's always either for or against. Hence, your actions are juxtapositions. You're standing for or against God's Kingdom.  You're standing with or against God, when you live in wrong relationships with the ones HE'S placed in your life.  That's what that is.  Two kingdoms are at war, and you belong to one of them.  Your stance either represents the kingdom of this world which is ruled by the devil, or you represent the Kingdom of heaven which is ruled by the Almighty God. So pay attention, be wise, and be prepared.  Whenever and whatsoever the enemy challenges you with, you should not be caught off guard.  

People are subjects in a kingdom, not soldiers.  Angels are soldiers. People are citizens.  Jesus said, Baelzibub cannot drive out Baelzibub. That would mean that a kingdom is imploding.  In order for the Kingdom of heaven to stand strong on earth, the children of God need to be properly prepared in the armor of God. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and the Holy Spirit are all apart of the armor - weapons or keys which Jesus brought as a re-introduction to the Kingdom of (heaven) God on earth.  

^{Luke 17: 20-21}

²⁰ And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

²¹ Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

 1. Jesus brought grace and truth St. John 1:17 - grace is God's mercy towards HIS children, where HE doesn't punish us as we deserve.  Truth is the sincerity of God's character of love towards us.  HE'S not trying to punish us for our wrong, rather to teach us why we shouldn't desire it in the first place because it's to our detriment, and we need to trust HIM at HIS word.  HE really does have our best interest at heart.  HIS laws are for our own, best good.

2. Righteousness - because of Adam's sin, no matter how hard we try, we in our own strength and of of ourselves cannot measure up to God's standard of holiness.  We need(ed) something from God himself to add to our lives, that's why Christ came.  1 Corinthians 1: 30

3. Peace - Jesus is the Prince i.e. source of true peace.  Without HIM there's none.  Isaiah 9:6 The devil will always have access to us in the absence of Christ.

4. Faith - is based on evidence.  Hebrews 11:1 Your belief in God is based on a history, not a reality.  You take God at HIS word based on HIS character, not on what you're expecting. It is trusting without guile. 

5. Salvation - when Jesus died and rose again from the grave HE guaranteed our salvation and restoration of our correct relationship with God.  Mark 10:45

6. Holy Spirit - In order to secure and sustain HIS work of reconciliation, Jesus gave us The Counselor to guide our path.  St. John 14

The enemy attacks us through our loved ones.  he uses us against each other.  If we're not smart enough, he'll use his demons to do it in all forms.  It is not an imaginary fight. The fight is real. The truth is, it first happens in the spiritual realm before it can manifest itself in the physical realm for us to see it. We win or lose in the spiritual realm that is why we need to be wearing the full armor of God. Ephesians 6 : 10 – 18. The fight is between the army of The Almighty God and the army of the devil.  Humans are no match for spirits.  The angels of the Lord fight on our behalf as Christians.  Like they did for Daniel and Elijah.  Prayer is our 911 call to God, and access to HIS resources. That is why it is so important to pray. We win best in the spiritual realm when we fight using the most powerful weapon - the WORD OF GOD. The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword.  It is very important that we study the scriptures for ourselves. When Jesus rose again from the dead HE gave us the power to resurrect anything and everything that the enemy and his demons tries to kill in our lives and the lives of those around us.  This includes relationships and good habits.  It also means that we can kill anything in and around us that is not in subjection to the Kingdom of God.  

The power of The Word....

According to the government of the Kingdom of heaven, life and death is in the power of the tongue.  This is how we overcome in the Kingdom.  It's what Jesus did.  HE spoke to the tree and it died.  HE spoke to the storm and it stopped.  HE told Lazarus to come forth, the lame man to get up and little girl to rise up.  It is the only thing on earth that is more powerful than death.  It is eternal. In order for you to use the WORD OF GOD you need to know it by heart. You need to understand it and you need to apply it properly. When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness he used the word as well. Imagine that, the devil used the WORD OF GOD against Jesus, THE WORD OF GOD. Jesus is the living word according to St. John 1 :1 Though we 'wrestle' we need to understand that at all times and in every situation we have the greater army, weapons, and God on our side. The only way we can lose is if we try to fight in our own strength with physical weapons. The WORD OF GOD, the blood of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, the power of the angels is what guarantees our constant victory. We have authority to command changes, and power to demolish demons because of our affiliation with The Kingdom of The God Almighty. We are children of the MOST HIGH GOD.

Romans 8 : 15 – 21

15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry,  “Abba,  Father.”  16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Where we sit....

As heirs in God's Kingdom we are now seated with God in a place which gives us authority to dominate any and every power beneath us which includes the devil and his demons.  Every command is first fulfilled in the spirit realm before it manifests itself in the physical realm.  We don't need to focus on the physical ever. Jesus commanded us to love our physical enemies because of our 'new power.'  We can change anything, just like HE did.  The angels exists to do our bidding in the Kingdom of God on earth. The devil might rule the earth, but it doesn't belong to him.  The earth belongs to God, and HE has given us the power to take back the dominion HE had given to us originally. When we declare death it is never to be aimed at our fellow citizens, but at the enemy of our Kingdom, the strongman.  Matthew 5 If we overcome him and his influence, he can no longer manipulate other humans to behave contrary to the will of God in the earth.  We now have all the power and authority we need.  All we need to do is stand in concert with what God has ordained.  It's like marching for a rally, you don't fight, you just stand with your placard - THE WORD!  Let the angels do their job, just stand!

TESTIMONY: 25-year-old Shares Testimony Of Heaven And Hell

WORSHIP: Victory belongs to Jesus

And after you've done all STAND...!