The Three Battle Grounds Chp. 8

The Lord Whose Sword Is Drawn

Joshua 5:13–15 NIV

13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” 14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” 15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

If we’re going to operate in the spirit realm we must first be fit for Battle- Francis Frangipane

Francis Frangipane- Most of us have been pampered and undisciplined.

So if you’re ready answer the call to arms!!

THE CALL TO ARMS: In Old Testament times a trumpet was used to summons God's people to battle. Today, a spiritual summons is sounding throughout the nations of the world. It is a summons to the invisible war. It is a call to arms.

Ephesians 6:12 NIV

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Stop suiting up for fleshy fight!!!

There Are Two Realms THE NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL REALMS

We live in two worlds one Natural and one Spiritual.

1 Corinthians 15:40 NIV

40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.

SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT Because spiritual warfare is just that--spiritual--it must be understood with a spiritual mind. In our natural, sinful state, we cannot understand spiritual things:

1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV

14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

INDUCTION: All armies in the natural world have induction procedures. These are special things you are required to do in order to join the forces.

BASIC TRAINING: After induction into an army, a soldier always receives basic training. A soldier must be trained to identify Enemy territory and know how to execute God’s Battle plan strategy.

MOBILIZATION: Training is useless unless an army is mobilized. To "mobilize" means to "put in a state of readiness for active military service." We must know how to use Spiritual Weapons for offensive and defensive warfare.

INVASION: During an invasion in the natural world, an army enters the actual combat zone to conquer its foes and claim territory. Basic training is useless unless what is learned is put into action. Even a mobilized army equipped with weapons is not enough if it stands inactive on the sidelines. To be effective in warfare, we must actually enter the combat zone. In the "invasion" stage, you will enter the combat zone of the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE ADVANCED TRAINING: After gaining some experience in battle, soldiers usually receive advanced training in specific areas of warfare. "Spiritual Warfare Advanced Training," the initials of which spell "SWAT." In military action, a "SWAT" team is a specialized group of soldiers used for difficult missions. In God SWAT Team we learn how not to sell out another soldier, how to assist prisoners and casualties of war, and how to deal with demonic powers. You will also learn how to lose a battle and still win the war.

Joshua 5:14–15 NIV

14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” 15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.