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Discipling 12
Lesson 17
Spiritual Warfare
Concept:
"For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This
is the victory that overcomes the world, even our
faith" (I John 5:4). We can overcome the world; that
is some statement. But what world is John talking
about? We know there is a natural world, a spiritual
world, and a people world. I am sure that the verse
alludes to all three but the emphasis is certainly
pointing to the spiritual world. We need to
understand that the Spirit World existed long before
there was a natural world and long before people were
placed on this earth. The Spiritual World is going to
take precedence and dominion over the other two. We
are going to have to understand it's working before
we can have victory in the natural and human realm.
Ephesians 6:12, informs us that our struggle or fight
isn't against flesh and blood, but it is against
spiritual forces. Once again, reminding us that there
is an unseen realm that is exerting pressure in the
physical realm. That is why scripture makes statements
such as, be strong in the Lord's power, Ephesians 6:10
and we are reminded in Zechariah 4:6 that we win the
battles of life with the Lord's Spiritual muscles and
not ours. Scripture continues to bring revelation to
us that it is through Christ that victory is assured.
We see that, it is through Christ that we have the
victory because He has already defeated the enemy
that we are fighting (Colossians 2:15). We are to
rest in the awareness that no plan of God will be
stopped (Job 42:2) and no action of the Ancient of
Days can be reversed (Isaiah 43:13). We are to
imitate the Lord (Ephesians 5:1), which means that
I should also walk as a victor in the spiritual and
naturalness of my life. I must be persuaded that the
Commander, Lord of Hosts is with me (Isaiah 41:10)
and He will give me strength for the battle
(Isaiah 40:31). We can easily see that the enemies
weapon and strategies is specifically designed to
take over and destroy the influence of the church,
of which, we all are a vital part. We through the
Lord will prevail. We are confident in I Corinthians
15:57, which states, that we are being lead into
victory and not defeat as a body or as an individual
member of that body.
We, as Christians, need to have awareness that the
Lord has given us the authority and power to resist
the devil and all of his works. We are presented
with the example of Moses, Aaron, and Hur using
spiritual authority in Exodus 17, which allowed
Joshua to fight a physical battle and experience
a victory. We read of a choir that went out
praising the Lord in front of an army and the
enemy going into confusion and fleeing before any
combat took place (II Chronicles 20). We are told
in II Kings 6, of a prophet, who spoke the Word of
the Lord and a whole raiding party was blinded and
taken captive without any physical exchange. All
through scripture, we see the Spirit of God change
natural battles and natural circumstances by
initiating different acts of faith through His
people. God is always reminding us that His word
is what is holding all things together and His
spoken word that contains faith will change any
and all circumstances (Hebrews 1:3).
As we study scripture together, we will see that
we must fight in the Spirit World with our weapons
that are mighty through God. We need to identify
the enemy and then apply the wisdom of God to
enforce the victory that the Lord has already
established. The Lord has demonstrated a violent
Gospel that we need to be comfortable using (Luke
16:16, Matthew 12:29). We are to overcome by the
blood of the Lamb and a testimony that is filled
with the Word of God. The prince of this world
has been judged (John 12:30-32) and we need to
remind the powers of darkness that we are the
victorious ones and we will not settle for
defeat in any part of our lives.
Definitions:
Principalities: Archas. Hold highest power in
Satan's organization. Probably held since the
fall of Lucifer. Beginning, highest, chief
rulers, and ones' holding the highest rank.
Powers: Exousia. Delegated authority, received
from Satan to do whatever they want to do, carry
out all manner of evil and wickedness. Privilege,
competency, freedom, mastery, get there power
from the chief rulers.
Rulers of darkness of this world: Kosmokrator.
Raw power that has been harnessed and put into
some kind of order. Military word that shows
taking young men of raw power and potential and
making them into a submitted, disciplined,
orderly, and perfectly arranged foot soldier.
Disciplined, organized, and committed
Spiritual wickedness in high places: Pneumatikos.
Something bad, vile, vicious, and malignant
Thrones: thronos. A stately seat, power or a
potentate, a place of rulership.
Dominions: Kuriotes. Rulers, government,
controller, and master.
Devices: noemata. Mind games; fill mind with
confusions, devil wants our minds to be the
storehouse of his ideas and suggestions.
Spirits of Darkness:
Deceiving spirits: I Timothy 4:1
Perverse spirit: Isaiah 19:14
Distressing of evil spirit: I Samuel 16:23
Unclean spirit: Mark 7:25
Dumb spirit: Mark 9:17
Spirit of Infirmity: Luke 13:11
John 5:5
Spirit of Jealousy: Song of Solomon 8:6
Romans 10:19
Romans 11:11
Numbers 5:14
Proverbs 6:34
Spirit of Lying: I Kings 22:23
Jeremiah 23:26
Ezekiel 21:29
Spirit of Fear: II Timothy 1:7
Isaiah 41:10,11
Job 3:25
Spirit of Witchcraft: Acts 16:16
Deuteronomy 8:10
Micah 5:12
Galatians 5:20
Spirit of Harlotry: Hosea 4:12
Hosea 1:2
Hosea 5:4
Spirit of the Antichrist: I John 4:3
I John 2:18
Revelation 13:1-18
Revelation 17:14
Revelation 19:19,20
Character of the Devil:
Revelation 9:11
Revelation 12:10
I Peter 5:8
II Corinthians 11:14
Matthew 10:25
II Corinthians 6:15
Ephesians 6:11
Revelation 12:9
Matthew 6:13
John 8:44
John 12:31
Matthew 9:34
Ephesians 2:2
Luke 10:18
Scriptures:
Ephesians 1:21
Colossians 1:16
II Peter 2:10
Jude 1:8
Ephesians 6:12
Ephesians 3:10
I Corinthians 15:24
Romans 8:38,39
Colossians 2:10,15
Ephesians 6:10-18
Exodus 17:8-15
Daniel 9:1-14
Luke 16:16
Matthew 12:29
Matthew 16:16-19
Matthew 17:17-22
Mark 4:35-41
Mark 5:21-43
Luke 22:31-35
Luke 22:39-46
Luke 13:10-17
Acts 4: 23-31
Acts 12:1-17
Acts 16:25-28
Acts 19:13-16
Hebrews 7:23-25
Romans 8:26,27
Isaiah 59:12-21
Nahum 1:9
II Kings 19:14-35
I Chronicles 14
II Chronicles 14:11-15
Summary:
As we have studied the spiritual realm, I hope
that Lord has opened your eyes to where the real
battle is fought. We see, time after time, where
the Israelites were victorious by simply
following the advice of the Lord. Sometimes, this
advice was not naturally meaningful, but it was
always spiritually sound, which always brought
natural success. We have to be alert to what the
Spirit is saying to us, so that we can follow His
direction that will guarantee success. The
watchmen on the wall could always see trouble
coming so the city could get prepared. The Lord
wants to show us trouble that is coming and then
give us the strategy and weapons to insure a
defeat of the enemy. Let's not get consumed with
the physical battles and miss the strategy the
Lord is giving to insure a spiritual victory. That
is where the lasting victory is located and where
the true battle is located. Psalms 20:7 states,
that some trust in man's weapons but we trust in
the Name of the Lord. Proverbs 21:31 declares,
that we get ready for battle but he Lord gives
the victory. Allow the Lord's method be your
method of battle.
Action:
Examine the battle that you are in right now
and ask the Lord to identify the controlling
spirits and then ask for the strategy. Use
your authority and the Lord's weapons and
watch the enemy run. Establish the bloodline
around your household and then remind the
enemy that according to Nahum 1:9 he cannot
return again.
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