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UNDERSTANDING & MAKING SPIRITUAL WARFARE AGAINST SATAN’S KINGDOM REAL AND THE VICTORY REAL
BELIEVERS IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE TWO THOUSAND YEARS AFTER CHRIST :
SATAN IS STILL AN ENEMY OF GOD AND OF BELIEVERS OF JESUS CHRIST, AS THE LORD EXPLAINED:
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10
WHEN WE BELIEVED, WE WERE SAVED FROM THE KINGDOM OF
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.
Colossians 1:13
THE ENEMY HAS AN ARMY WHICH HE USES TO DO EXACTLY THAT — STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY THOSE WHO WERE TAKEN FROM HIS KINGDOM:
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12
HOW CAN BELIEVERS DEFEND AGAINST SUCH FORMIDABLE POWERS OF EVIL? Paul explains:
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
THE LORD HAS ALREADY PROVIDED US WITH HIS ARMOR:
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT—THE WORD OF GOD
THE SHIELD OF FAITH
THE HELMET OF SALVATION
OUR FEET SHOD WITH THE GOSPEL OF TRUTH
BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS — CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
BELT OF TRUTH
ALL COVERED WITH MUCH PRAYERS
IN JESUS’ NAME WE CAST OUT DEMONS
Jesus said: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In
My name
they will cast out demons” Mark 16:17 NKJV
The disciples told Jesus: Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in
Your name
.” Luke 10:17 NKJV
Paul spoke to a demon-possessed woman: But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you
in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her
.” And he came out that very hour. Acts 16:18 NKJV
THE LORD HAS PROVIDED US WITH ANGELIC PROTECTION
Psalm 91:11— “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
Psalm 34:7— “The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
Hebrews 1:14—of the angels it says, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”
THE SPIRIT HELPS US TO PRAY FOR HELP:
Paul said, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication
in the Spirit
, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18 NKJV
Jesus said, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” Matthew 26:41 NKJV
HOW THE ENEMY COMES TO ATTACK AND HOW WE CAN DEFEND:
HE ATTACKS US PHYSICALLY
HE ATTACKS US IN OUR MIND AND EMOTIONS
HE ATTACKS US IN OUR FAITH
FATHER GOD HAS ALREADY EQUIPPED HIS CHILDREN FOR THE BATTLE:
→ WHEN THE ENEMY COMES AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION SEEKING WHOM HE CAN DEVOUR:
DO NOT ACCEPT HIS LIES AND DECEPTION — PUT UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH
USE GOD’S WORD AGAINST HIS ATTACKS — THE SWORD OF THE WORD
USE GOD’S PROMISES IN THE BIBLE AND BELIEVE GOD GAVE THEM TO HIS CHILDREN
STAND, REBUKE, AND SEND THE ENEMY AWAY
THE ENEMY WILL FLEE
DO NOT BE DEFEATED, BUT HAVE VICTORY OVER THE ENEMY’S ATTACKS:
In the Garden of Eden, the serpent/Satan/the devil came to tempt Eve to accept his lies and deception. She listened to the enemy and believed his lies. He brought doubt about God’s commandment and she believed the devil. She was seduced by the enemy into eating the forbidden fruit and she gave to her husband who also ate it—their eyes were opened. Because they were rebellious to the commandment, God sent them out of the Garden to live a life of hardship and problems. The enemy came to steal, kill, and destroy and Adam and Eve were defeated.[Genesis 3]
The enemy also came to tempt Jesus, but the devil was not able to get Jesus to accept the many temptations he offered the Lord. Every time the devil tried to seduce Jesus with his lies and deceptions, Jesus used the Word of God—the Sword of the Spirit. Jesus kept repeating, “It is written,” and the enemy had to finally give up and leave Jesus alone. Jesus was not defeated by the enemy, instead He had victory over the devil. Jesus teaches us that by using the Sword of the Word of God, we can also have victory over the devil’s temptations and attacks. [Luke 4:1-13]
CHRIST’S DISCIPLES ALSO RECEIVED THE ATTACKS OF DEVIL AND THEY WARNED THE CHURCH OF THEIR TIME, AND TODAY’S CHURCH, TO BE PREPARED FOR THE BATTLE AND TO USE THE ARMOR JESUS GAVE BELIEVERS IN ORDER TO DEFEND AGAINST THE POWERS OF DARKNESS:
JAMES
:
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
” James 4:6-7
PETER:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
1 Peter 5:8-9
[Peter brings an important piece of equipment that Jesus has given believers — FAITH. We must resist the devil’s many attacks with the FAITH the Spirit gives believers to know who we are in Christ [children of God greatly loved by the Father]; to know the authority He has given us to stand against the attacks of the enemy [Luke 10:19-20]; and to know that He has given us His angelic protection to assist us in the battle [Psalm 91:11-13; 34:7].
PAUL
: Warned about the snare of the devil or the trap the devil prepares for the children of God to fall into and be destroyed:
If God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 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.
2 Tim. 2:25-6
This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work…Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside,
lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil
.
1 Timothy 3:1, 7
But those who desire to be rich
fall into temptation and a snare
, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
1 Timothy 6:9-10
THE FORCES OF DARKNESS TRY TO STOP THE WORK OF BRINGING SALVATION TO THE LOST:
The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luke 8:11-12
And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
Luke 22.31-32
Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Co. 2:11
Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 7.5
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
2 Corinthians 12.7
Therefore we wanted to come to you — even I, Paul, time and again — but Satan hindered us.
1 Th. 2.18
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2 Th. 2:9-10
* All biblical references are from New King James Version
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