Bringing Down Strongholds - 3

            We've been talking about Bringing Down Generational Strongholds. 

Our challenge is to identify iniquity (crooked behavior) and / or unhealthy patterns that have been passed on from one generation to the next. 

We look backward and forward to see if anything has been perpetuated upon us and/or through us.  Do we find within our families patterns of abuse, addiction, alcoholism, sexual issues, lies, financial problems, crime, anger, paganism, satanic or occult spirituality … whatever  - we are looking for patterns that need broken so that we and our families and churches can experience victory and freedom.  

So understand, we’re getting into the realm of spiritual warfare.  Over the last two weeks I mentioned that

Spiritual warfare begins with confession and repentance.  The heart of confession is to agree with God about whatever God says to be true. 

Not only do we confess sin and shortcomings, but we confess who God is – Father, Son, Spirit.  We confess our identity Jesus Christ.  We confess the promises and truths of God as revealed in His Word.

Confession is not only confessing sin – it’s confessing and believing truth.

If you don't know God's truth - His Word - you're easy prey for the enemy ….  This is one reason we need each other - we speak truth into one another .…

            The term spiritual warfare elicits all kinds of questions and reactions. Before we get into bringing down strongholds, I want to ensure we’re on the same page.  We could go super deep and spend months on this, but I'll do my best to keep it practical and applicable to us as a Body. 

            So this morning, I want to give us an overview of spiritual warfare. I’m asking, what do we need to know so that we can arrive where God wants us – which is freedom in Jesus Christ. This morning I’m not opening Scripture, but understand that what I say comes from a lot of Biblical study and/or experience.  So don’t tune out because a lot of what is said today will be pertinent later on.

1.  Know Thy Enemy.  

When I say, “the enemy,” I am referring to

All spiritual beings who oppose the LORD Most High and seek humanity’s present and eternal destruction. 

All goes back to Genesis 3.  The enemy includes Satan (the devil), Watchers (rebellious sons of God / Divine Council), fallen angels, demons, unclean spirits and a host of other spiritual beings.  Now, most of us will never face Satan, or a Watcher, or what Paul calls cosmic powers, or rulers, which are vastly different than demons in power, authority, and purpose.  It’s a whole other level if a person is involved in the occult.  As Gandalf said in Lord of the Rings,

“There are older and fouler things than orcs [demons] in the deep places of the world.”  Gandalf, Lord of the Rings.

So, “the enemy” is a broad term – but that’s who and what I am referring to.  More detail later.

We need to understand that

A) All spiritual enemies are legalists, liars, and opportunists. 

This will be important later as we look at bringing down strongholds. The enemy will scrutinize our lives looking for the slightest incriminating evidence to use against us.  They look for any legal “loophole” that gives them access to our lives and our families.  So much of spiritual warfare is about legalities and lies that twist the truths of God.  This is one reason the enemy is called the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10).  So, it’s important for each of us to look at our lives and our families to see if any opportunities have been given to the enemy.

            Also understand this -

B) Not all spiritual warfare involves the enemy. 

We can make a mess of our lives; we can beat ourselves up; we can sin just fine without the enemy’s help. There is not a demon behind every tree.  Sometimes the tree is just a tree.  My point – I can experience emotional, physical and spiritual issues without any assistance or involvement of the enemy.  

            I would like us to

2. Avoid Extremes. 

The Church is all over the place regarding spiritual warfare.  This makes it difficult to know who’s right, who’s wrong, who’s wacked.  So we have these extremes – from the enemy is just a metaphor to everything bad that happens is demonic and everyone needs deliverance.  Some would say when speaking with a demon you need to get it’s Social Security Number and name and favorite food before casting it out; others would say you never talk to a demon - you just claim the authority of Jesus and tell it to go.  The Church is all over the place – and the enemy loves that.  Who's right?

So, here’s my perspective.  No denomination, Catholic or Protestant, no preacher, teacher or ministry has this all figured out.  We’re all probably a little wrong and a little right. And so at least for KNAZ, let us avoid extremes. We learn what we can, keep it in alignment with God's Word, we don’t glorify the enemy, we don’t ignore the supernatural,

We keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and our “Spidey-senses” alert. 

            In avoiding extremes, let’s take a

3. Holistic Approach.

to spiritual warfare. 

We are emotional, physical, and spiritual beings. 

We should not compartmentalize our lives, even though many do – including Christians.  There is no such thing as a spiritual life over there, and a work life over here, and a family life over there, and hobbies, and church, and …. 

A compartmentalized faith is a fallacy.  Our lives are to be fully integrated.

– emotional, physical, spiritual.  It’s all connected.  Compartmentalizing can be a major problem in spiritual warfare. 

            Furthermore, spiritual warfare is not a Pentecostal or Charismatic thing.  Spiritual warfare is not only about heavy-duty prayer and confronting demons and big spiritual battles.  Spiritual warfare is just as relevant to the small, subtle, almost imperceptible little lies.  Most often that's where the battle begins - a little deceptive thought; a little offense; just one little ....  In war, one covert secret agent behind the scenes can do more damage than an entire army.  Remember, the enemy is looking for the slightest opportunity.  Here's the reality, to be human is to be in spiritual warfare - like it or not.  The question is not if you’ll engage, but how.

The war for the human soul is real. 

The enemy wants to deceive, disrupt, distract, destroy, discourage, divide, accuse, control, condemn, suppress, oppress, possess, enslave, ensnare … and they are masters at it.  But Jesus wants us free and whole and victorious. We're not alone in this war!

            So, what is spiritual warfare?  According to 1st Chad chapter 12,

Spiritual warfare is engaging spiritual means and practices to center ourselves in Jesus Christ’s love, power, truth and authority to fight whatever battle is before us (1 Chad 12). 

Sometimes that means confronting the enemy head-on (demonic presence). But at other times it means fighting my own human temptations and issues – which can be more difficult than fighting the demonic.  I really can be my own worst enemy.

            Three more things here about spiritual warfare that we'll talk more about later, but we need to be asking ourselves some questions now.  Understand …

 4) Spiritual warfare is a battle of alignment and allegiance.

Question - With whom or what am I aligned with and loyal to?  Who or what is the love or center of your life?  Attending church or listening to K-LOVE or even praying does not make a person aligned with or loyal to Jesus. 

5) Spiritual warfare is a battle of access or permission. 

Question - Who or what has access to my mind, heart, and soul (holistic).  To whom or what have I given permission to speak into and influence my interior life?   Be careful little eyes what you see, hear, feet, heart, mind ….  Giving the enemy access usually began with “just.” “It was just a little ….”

6) Spiritual warfare is a battle of authority. 

Who or what has authority in and over my life.  Whose authority do I stand upon? This is a big part of spiritual warfare.  Who as the authority in our lives?  Fear?  Doubt?  Addictions? Shame? 

            Before we go, perhaps the most important thing we need to know about spiritual warfare is this -

Philippians 2:9–11 ESV

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

            Even though we are dealing with an active enemy, the enemy is defeated.  Jesus is stronger than the strongholds in your life. 

            What do you need to do today?