Spiritual Warfare
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4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
We are on a journey of faith -
When you take a journey, you are going someplace else…
New experiences
We are experiencing new things in God.
Different fight
I hesitate to bring this subject up today because of how it will be misunderstood...
I don’t not intend to tell you spiritual ghost stories - scare you - or “freak you out”
Time for somethings to be learned and I want the lesson coming from me not whatever YouTube preacher/TV preacher/Mother/Grandfather you listen to.
Some things we must be aware of.
We are in a spiritual battle and we MUST fight it with the spiritual insight that God has given us.
To many of us are in the dark…
For Example:
Life can be hard
More of life consists of spiritual warfare then we are aware of.
Many things that we are convienced are simple troubles - are spiritual issues that we dont recognize!
Spiritual World vs. Natural World
It’s the unseen dimension of life
These two dimension coexist.
Temporal (visible) vs. eternal (invisible)
STOP being uncomfortable!
The world believes in this but the original SPIRIT filled ones do not!
The world is about to celebrate the biggest celebration of darkness in the whole world!
How do you see into the spirit world?
Close off the physical!
Why you close your eyes when you pray...
Why you fast...
Why you do exercises into the spiritual like prayer and worship!
Close of the physical world!
Why coming to church is so important!
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
We look at this like these bodies have no affect on the other...
But each of these affect the other!
And when we are living right we bring the terrestrial body (physical) under the subjection of the celestial (heavenly).
Again, this is why coming to church is so important!
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Watch: When you feed your spirit (talked about this last week) only the things that are physical, practical, logical and measurable the things of God can become very foolish to you!
Here to let you know that there is a spiritual realm and what happens around you will impact every area of your life!
There are doors and opposition, and help that you cannot see with the natural eye - that we have to open our eyes to!
14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
My prayer: God open our eyes to see not just the problem but how you are with us to war on our behalf!
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
There is so much more than you know that God has for his ppl!
In this world that we know so little about…
Angels
In the invisible world there are angels - a host of them.
Angels are mentioned 192 times in the KJV
Why are we afraid to talk about one of the strongest doctrines in the bible?
Angel in NT = messenger, one who is sent. One who brings good tidings - pastor or one who is sent from God.
Angel in OT = messenger, one who is sent by God, an angelic being, prophet, teacher, priest, ambassador send before or on behalf of God.
Other terms for: sons of God, saints, holy one, watchers, stars
There are millions of them...
Demons
Devine being inferior to God.
The greatest demon of all time is satan - created as Lucifer and with him is 1/3 of the angels
Who fell from their first estate and have made their whole purpose to get back at their creator by destroying the apple of his eye… God’s favorite creation - mankind.
Simplify: Kingdom of Light vs. Kingdom of Darkness
War going on between these to powers.
Both have authority, power
In the Kingdom of Light - power directly from Jesus
In the Kingdom of Darkness - do not submit or recognize the authority of Jesus and so as God is light
But they don’t submit to that light
Then there is nothing but darkness and chaos
We are a ppl of the Light, truth
In the Kingdom of Light, there is vision, everything is exposed
We deal with reality, truth, knowledge direction and illumination
But in the Kingdom of Darkness
Deception, mystery, confusion
We want to be filled with the Light!
With this understanding comes the knowledge that this is how the visible begins to manifest itself in our lives.
The visible becomes visible...
The light shines on the corruption of my heart and exposes it and now we can work insert truth and righteousness into our lives!
In the Kingdom of Light: (what about angels)
Seraphims: exalted ones
Three pairs of wings
Attendants to the Lord of Host
Singers
Bring attention to the Holiness of God
When you begin to worship, these angels come close and began to war on our behalf
Cherubim:
Two pairs of wings
Four faces
Guardians of the Throne of God
Great authority and dominion
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
Cherubim in the place of authority and mercy
The two greatest angels we are aware of in the Kingdom of Light are: Micheal and Gabriel - Arc Angels
Micheal: waring angel
Like God
mentioned 5 times
Specific assignment - Guardian of Israel
I believe we have Guardian Angels - war and fight on our behalf
Many like and with him
Gabriel: messenger angel
Special announcements
Mary
JOseph
I believe angels can come and bring you messages, comfort, direction.
They can fight on your behalf and open doors for you and close doors for you and protect you without you being aware!
I believe that many if not most have seen angels, many not even knowing what was happening!
Ministering spirits:
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Unnamed spirits that come with healing and strength to minister to us.
Should happen in every service...
Should be in our homes...
With us on our jobs...
When we are intentionally living in the Kingdom of Light, they are attracted to us!
Walk with us and strengthen us throughout our day!
Geography of God:
We say things like...
God is moving
Drawing near to God
Getting close to God
BUT God is omnipresent so the truth of the matter is God can’t go anywhere… because he is already there!
We say God is here right now!
BUT he was before we felt him…
What happened is not that God moved - he manifested.
So you can’t get closer to God geographically.
Sinner or saint, we are the same distance from God!
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
God is right there for every one of us!
What we are really talking about is nature - our likeness to God.
The more we are like God, the more aware of Him we are!
So the whole purpose of Church, prayer, study of the Word it to be more like him - aware of him.
As we are aware of Him, we become aware of how and who and what he works with!
Battle is two fold:
The fight to bring my flesh under subjection
The fight to bring light to all - 2 Cor 4:4
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth Round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
There are angels all around us
In our homes, church, people of God.
In this time of fear and terrorism we do not have to fear the darkness!
The Angel of the Lord encamps around them that fear him!
I have often wondered, in this time of mass murder - why have we not lost anyone?
Odessa Texas - 150K ppl
Large UPC church in city and several others in area - heard of no casualties.
9/11 Pentegon - Gary and Elaine Hogan standing in line waiting to tour - forgot something and had to leave. Missed being in the chaos by minutes.
Because the angels of the Lord camp around the ppl of God!
I pray that protection of the Lord on my family, kids, schools, church, you, city
The more intense the fight, the more we have to rely on God!
22 Sept 19
Kingdom of Darkness: Fallen angels
Lucifer being the most well known - worshiping angel.
Son of the Morning
Most Exalted Being
Great Prince
First Creation
Corrupted by pride - rejected by God
We call him Satan or The Devil - prominate spirit in the Kingdom of Darkness
The 1/3 of the angels that fell are the remaining demons
They are recruiting agents for the Kingdom of Darkness
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
The Dominic is strongest when it is hidden - Kingdom of Darkness
Deceives and tricks you.
When the Kingdom of Darkness is manifesting itself, it is at is weakest point!
The louder it gets the more desperate it is!
Why confession is so powerful!
It is shining light into the darkness of sin!
The Kingdom of Darkness must always submit to the Kingdom of Light!
When you issue a command in Jesus Name, it has to come to attention and obey.
One of two things will happen - resist - characterized by the traditional “devil possessed” persons response
Or fade away before it can be dealt with.
Greg Oliver - devil possessed
MUCH OF WHAT WE BLAME ON MENTAL DISEASE TODAY IN AMERICA IS ACTUALLY DEVIL POSSESSION!
We have allowed movies to shape our idea of the satanic...
Mark 5 - The Dominic of Gadara
Legions of devils could not keep him from Jesus!
Four Levels of Spiritual Darkness
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.
Principalities
Governmental rule
Powers
Control over geographical areas
Sheer force
Rulers of Darkness of this world
Shadow
Obscurity
Confusion
Spiritual ignorance
False doctrine
Witchcraft
Sorcery
New Age Philosophy
RULERS IN THE DARKNESS
Spiritual Wickedness in High Places
Malice
Iniquity
Chief spirits that rule
There has aways been war between the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness
We have been given weapons to fight the fight along side the angelic host
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Worship - one of our greatest weapons
Every-time you lift your hands in worship, if you could see what the enemy sees
Yet another reason to come to church!
When the enemy sees you respond like this, it scares him out of his mind!
We can talk about other weapons, but your greatest weapon to route the enemy is your worship.
You are literally doing spiritual warfare every time you worship!
So if every time you raise your hands in worship to God you are submitting to God
And every time you raise your voice in agreement in song or shout an aman to a preached word you are swinging a sword in the spirit...
Then my question is what happens when you don’t?
When I don’t raise my hands in worship...
Then I am not submitting to God...
Then who am I submitting to?
Only one other option!
To many seasoned saints seem to think they are beyond praising God...
Excuses: personality
It’s not personality, it’s out of control flesh!
This is why
The greatest warfare of all is the process of salvation!
The whole of the Word of God is about one thing - redeeming Man Kind back into covenant relationship with God
AND THE DEVIL TRYING TO STOP THAT PROCESS!
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.
This establishes the whole purpose of the church
To do warfare on behalf of the Kingdom of God...
For the Kingdom of Light to push back the Kingdom of Darkness.
How is that done?
With every person filled with the Holy Ghost
Another light shines into darkness - Less darkness in the world!
We’ve all been in candle light services...
One candle in a big room is not to affective
BUT 100 candles in the same room lights it up!
So every time someone else is saved there is a little more light in the world - a little less darkness!
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
This is why...
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Because they know why they fight!
Every bible study you teach is spiritual warfare!
Every Wednesday school class you teach is spiritual warfare!
Every time you invite someone to the House of God it is spiritual warfare!
This is the reason why some of you can’t remember the last time you
Were lost in the spirit...
Prayed consistently...
Taught a Home Bible Study...
Honored God in your finance...
Witnessed to the barista making your coffee...
Because the enemy thought is phycological warfare plan has convinced you that those things are not necessary!
They are not your personality!
Or most likely, he has got you living so strongly persuing to your fleshly desires that you no longer are even aware you are in war!
Just as long as you have the pleasures of this life, all is well!
I’ve come to wake you to the fact that it is time for you to get back into the fight!
Conclusion:
Adam was created with dominion.
Daily communication with God
Authority
Power
But when the spirit of Darkness came into the garden the result was their dominion was taken from them.
Because of this, a second Adam enters the scene… 1 Cor. 15
Through the birth, life, death, burial, resurrection and out pouring of his Spirit -Man kind was given dominion once again.
When the Roman soldier pierced his side, blood and water came out, indicating salvation for man.
Then on the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached about the sins of man - the innocent death of Jesus - ransom paid
The cried out “What shall we do”.
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
This is salvation for you and dominion to give others access!
Watch:
Repentance (death) = relationship - communion
Baptized in his name (burial) = In the name of… the authority of… - authority
Filled with the Holy Ghost (resurrection) = power
Dominion restored
What was Adam’s issue?
He did not use his dominion when he faced the serpent!
More
This is why so many of you are struggling after serving God for many yrs because you for whatever reason stopped walking in dominion...
Maybe you never recieved teaching?
Maybe you saw abuse?
It you are filled with the spirit it’s time you started walking in dominion!
Your home should be a spiritually fortified encampment of His army!
Angels of the Lord all around...
Peace through out...
If it’s not, it’s your fault!
Start pleading the blood of Jesus over your home, family and job!
Begin to worship in your home!
Pray and read the Word in your home!
Watch what happens in your home if you do!