III. Spiritual Warfare
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There is an on-going cosmic war between God’s kingdom and satan’s defeated kingdom. You are in this war whether you realize it or not, and whether you want to be or not....The reason this is vital is because it gets your eyes and mind on a bigger picture than what you perceive is going on around you.[1]
Rev 12 (v. 12) Therefore rejoice, Oh heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.
One of the things the devil doesn’t want the believer to know is that the victory was already won at the Cross of Jesus Christ. All we have to do is reinforce that victory. It is sad to say that many of us, because we get caught up in looking at the circumstances of the battle in the natural, lose focus on that victory Jesus Christ has already won.…You have a choice in this life.…If we are not moving forward with God, taking territory for His Kingdom, then we have already made the choice to serve the one whom Scripture calls the enemy.[2]
Matt 12 (v. 30) He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
Satan tries to take the authority away from a believer, by getting him to offer himself up to sin.…We need to learn more about demons, so that we can stand against them effectively. Whether you are a believer or an unbeliever, demons have strategies for keeping you out of God’s will.[3]
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Many people laugh and say that the devil is not real. Here is a quote from a medical doctor in his search for the truth. He wondered if the devil was real.
Five years ago when I began work on this book I could no longer avoid the issue of the demonic....Having come over the years to a belief in the reality of benign spirit, or God, and a belief in the reality of human evil, I was left facing an obvious intellectual question: Is there such a thing as evil spirit? Namely, the devil? I thought not. In common with 99 percent of psychiatrists and the majority of clergy, I did not think the devil existed.[4]
This belief is quite common, not only in the medical and science fields, but also among most of the population, whether religious or not!!
There is a growing tendency to disbelief in the existence of evil spirits, while the holy angels that "minister for them...." (Hebrews 1:14) are regarded by many as spirits of the dead. But the Scriptures not only teach the existence of angels, both good and evil, but present unquestionable proof that these are not disembodied spirits of dead men.[5]
Heb 1 (v. 13) But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool?” (v. 14) Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
I would love to help many of my brothers and sisters who are not aware of spiritual warfare prayers. They depend on general prayers in their life to defeat the onslaught and the weapons of mass destruction that the devil has unleashed against the Church of Jesus Christ. General prayers don’t work. The devil doesn’t mind that we pray general prayers against the hellacious personal attacks in our lives. As a matter of fact, he loves it because they are ineffective.[6]
Spiritual warfare prayers are delivered from the perspective of your “Identity in Christ.” (click link to find out)
Gal 2 (v. 20) I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I am now living is Christ’s life.
.…a believer has authority over satan and his demons through Jesus Christ, (not of your own authority).…Therefore, the believer has the right, or delegated authority, to act over all of the enemy’s might and power through the name of Jesus Christ!...Our position in Christ as joint-heirs and adopted children gives us the right to use the kingdom authority delegated to us as believers.[7]
Knowing who you are in Christ, is an important platform to exercising your inherited authority in the spiritual realm. (click link to find out)
Rom 8 (v. 15) For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba Father.” (v. 16) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (v. 17) and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.…
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The lost people of the world, as well as the majority of Christians today, are ignorant of the reality of evil spirits (demons). Most believers would prefer that they were not talked about or even mentioned. They want to ignore this part of God’s Word, because they are afraid of things that they were misled into thinking. The result of living in such ignorance of the spiritual realm is that multitudes of believers and unbelievers live in needless torment and defeat.[8]
Read it for yourself what a medical doctor discovered about demons, after spending 15 years as a psychiatrist!!
I had been vaguely open to the possibility and still had not seen a case....So I decided to go out and look for a case....The third case turned out to be the real thing. Since then I have also been deeply involved with another case of genuine possession. In both cases I was privileged to be present at their successful exorcisms....These two were highly unusual in that both were cases of satanic possession. I now know satan is real. I have met it.[9]
Eph 6 (v. 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. [ KJV ]
The Christian's warfare is not a warfare waged against flesh and blood; but against principalities, against powers, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The Christian must contend with supernatural forces, but he is not to be left alone to engage in the conflict. The Saviour is the captain of his salvation, and with Him man may be more than conqueror.[10]
Phil 4 (v. 13) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (v. 19) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
The authority of the name of Christ alone drives out demons. It is never about us or our own authority, but about the authority that resides in us since we are partakers with Christ.[11]
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What Dr. Peck personally saw and heard when the first demon possessed person spoke:
When the demonic finally spoke clearly in one case, an expression appeared on the patient’s face that could be described only as satanic. It was an incredibly contemptuous grin of utter hostile malevolence. I have spent many hours before a mirror trying to imitate it without the slightest success....in response to a comment that the spirit must really hate Jesus, the patient....said in a silky, oily voice, “We don’t hate Jesus; we just test him.” [12]
I Jn 4 (v. 1) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
The satanic army’s main purpose is to cause the believer to live a defeated Christian life and thereby rob God of His glory. They seek to render the believer useless to do the will of the Lord, and even to enslave the believer to do the will of satan.[13]
II Tim 2 (v. 24) And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all…. (v. 25) in humility correcting those who are in opposition…. (v. 26) and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
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Spiritual warfare is vital in our Christian walk.…We need to move in our authority of the Holy Spirit day in and day out. One thing the enemy knows and recognizes.…is the authority of Jesus Christ. One of the most blessed scriptures is found in Acts 19:[14]
Acts 19 (v. 15) And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
The demons understand the authority of God. We need to examine ourselves as believers and ask ourselves the million-dollar question: Do we know that we carry that authority? Does the enemy’s kingdom know that about us? If not, you are no threat to it.[14]
Mark 8 (v. 34) And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."
To follow Christ is not freedom from conflict. It is not child's play. It is not spiritual idleness. All the enjoyment in Christ's service means sacred obligations in meeting oft stern conflicts. To follow Christ means stern battles, active labor, warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Our enjoyment is the victories gained for Christ in earnest, hard warfare. Think of this.[15]
Rom 12 (v. 1) I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (v. 2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The strategy of the devil: The first thing the enemy attacks is your mind. The enemy knows that the battle is in the mind, and he knows if he can capture the territory of your mind, your thoughts, and the way you operate, he’s got you in a stranglehold. The next move he makes will be to attack your soul. This includes your mind, will, and emotions. Once he’s got a person’s soul, he will paralyze that person and bring them down to nothing. He has done this for centuries.[16]
This is what Dr. Peck witnessed at the second exorcism:
....when the demonic finally revealed itself in the exorcism of this other patient, it was with a still more ghastly expression. The patient suddenly resembled a writhing snake of great strength, viciously attempting to bite the team members....The eyes were hooded with lazy reptilian torpor, except when the reptile darted out in attack, at which moment the eyes would open wide with blazing hatred....when asked whether the possession was by multiple spirits, the patient with hooded, serpentine eyes answered quietly, almost in a hiss, “They all belong to me.” [12]
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A constant warfare requires the wearing of our armor daily:
Eph 6 (v. 11) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Christian life a constant warfare: The Christian life is a constant warfare....Paul says, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against....the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." We must meet human beings of power and influence who are on Satan's side of the controversy; and we must also meet unseen agencies of evil. Let us be found in the right position.[17]
II Tim (v. 7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Satan is no indifferent spectator. He exults to see his temptations successful. He loves to see discord and want of harmonious action in the church. We forget so quickly that we are Christ's ambassadors to bear his message to the world. We forget that we are his soldiers, fighting his battles in our enemy's country, and unless we are upon guard, as faithful sentinels, we shall be entrapped by the enemy's stratagems. We must not be ignorant of his devices while we are obeying the orders of our captain, Jesus Christ. We are individually intrusted with the charge of the Lord's household. He has left the hour and moment of his return uncertain and indefinite, but he expects us to be always ready for his return, and has enjoined upon us to watch lest, coming suddenly, he find us sleeping.[18]
Ezek 36 (v. 20) When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name; when they said of them, “These are the people of the Lord,” and yet they have gone out of His land.
Now that you understand the deceptive tactics demons use against you, you can begin to recognize when, and how, they attack you. Whatever area in your life they attack around, apply God’s truth to it. Stand in the truth, and stay free.[19]
The battle is real....but Jesus has the power to break every chain of the enemy....
video ref. [20]
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References:
1. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.15-16, Real Deliverance Ministry.
2. John Ramirez, (2015). Unmasking the Devil, p.54, Destiny Image Publishers.
3. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.44 & 53, Real Deliverance Ministry.
4. Scott Peck, M.D. (1983). People of the Lie, p.182, Simon & Schuster.
5. The Great Controversy "Agency of Evil Spirits" p.511, par.1
6. John Ramirez, (2015). Unmasking the Devil, p.51, Destiny Image Publishers.
7. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.75-76, Real Deliverance Ministry.
8. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.53, Real Deliverance Ministry.
9. Scott Peck, M.D. (1983). People of the Lie, p.183, Simon & Schuster.
10. E.G. White, Faith and Works, p.92-93, par.3
11. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.77, Real Deliverance Ministry.
12. Scott Peck, M.D. (1983). People of the Lie, p.196 & 202, Simon & Schuster.
13. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.18, Real Deliverance Ministry.
14. John Ramirez, (2015). Unmasking the Devil, p.103, Destiny Image Publishers.
15. E.G. White, Manuscript Releases (vol.16), p.131, par.1
16. John Ramirez, (2015). Unmasking the Devil, p.20, Destiny Image Publishers.
17. "Peter's Counsel to Parents." Sermon at Petaluma, California, Campground, p.23-24, par.4
18. E.G. White, The Review and Herald (10 Jul 1888), par.5
19. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.60, Real Deliverance Ministry.
20. Tasha Cobbs (Lyrics) “Break Every Chain” Online video. YouTube, 23 Nov 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pD2zIuiC2g
Image #1: Eternity Is Forever, (2016). The devil is sneaky. Retrieved from https://eternityisforever.wordpress.com/tag/the-devil-is-sneaky/
Image #2: Jesus Norway, (2014). This war is real! Retrieved from https://jesusnorway.wordpress.com/category/spiritual-warfare/
Image #3: Kingdom Seekers Production, (2015). Be a warrior, not a worrier. Retrieved from http://kingdomseekersproduction.com/Truth/
Image #4: Freedom Fighters, (2016). The Christian warrior. Retrieved by https://freedomfightersblog.com/tag/christiandevotional-americaskeswick-freedomfighters-temptation-battleplan/
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