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.
WORSHIP: This Is A Move
The Kingdom of God can never be defeated!
Gotta love that the image of Principality is from Shin Megami Tensei.
ReplyDeleteBrother, Principality is an angel of God, not a demon.
ReplyDelete