Transcript Document
THREE BATTLEGROUNDS OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Avery T. Willis, Jr.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:3-5
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE HOLY FORCES OF GOD AND THE UNHOLY FORCES OF SATAN. THE GOAL IS FOR THE CHRISTIAN TO BE VICTORIOUS IN CHRIST.
THREE BATTLEGROUNDS
1.
THE WORLD
2.
THE FLESH
3.
THE DEVIL
KINDS OF STRONGHOLDS
• PERSONAL STRONGHOLDS – THE FLESH • IDEALOGICAL STRONGHOLDS THE WORLD • COSMIC STRONGHOLDS – THE DEVIL
1. THE FLESH
• • • • • • BITTERNESS - Matt. 5:21-26 LUST - Matt. 5:27-30 SPEECH – Matt. 5:33-37 RITUAL RELIGION -Matt. 6:1-4 GREED - Matt. 6:19-34 PRIDE - Matt. 7:1-6
CHANNELS OF TEMPTATION LUST OF FLESH LUST OF EYES CHALLENGES WILL OF GOD DESTROYS DEPENDANCE ON GOD Jo 15:5 Genesis 3:1 Duet. 8:3 DENYS THE WORD OF GOD UNDERCUTS CONFIDENCE IN GOD Jo 15:7 Genesis 3:4 Duet. 6:16 PRIDE OF LIFE VS WORSHIP OF GOD REPLACES OBEDIENCE TO GOD Jo 15:8-1O Genesis 3:5 Duet. 6:13
2. THE WORLD
• • • • • PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEMS VALUE SYSTEMS POLITICAL SYSTEMS ECONOMIC SYSTEMS CULTURAL NORMS
2. IDEOL0GICAL STRONGHOLDS “Whatever a society agrees upon and establishes through consent, compromise and constant use will ultimately define reality to them.” Francis Frangipane
3. THE DEVIL AND
•
DEMONS
• • • RULERS AUTHORITIES POWERS OF DARK WORLD SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLIES
TWO-TIERED WORLD VIEW
• Transcendental World of RELIGION, God and Spiritual Forces EXCLUDED MIDDLE • Empirical World of the SCIENCE – Physical Senses
BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW
• Transcendental World of RELIGION, God and Spiritual Forces
THE SPIRIT WORLD
• Empirical World of the SCIENCE and the Senses
SPIRITUAL
•
WARFARE
“The essence of spiritual warfare is who shall define reality: the Word of God or the illusions of this present age.” Francis Frangipane
3. SATAN
Wicked one
Deceiver
Destroyer
Adversary
Enemy of our souls
God of this world
Prince of the power of the air
JESUS ON DEMONS LUKE 11:24-26
1. Demons exist outside or inside humans.
2. Demons are able to travel at will.
3. Demons can communicate.
4. Demons have separate identities.
5. Demons can remember and make plans.
6. Demons can evaluate and make decisions.
7. Demons can combine forces.
8. Demons vary in degrees of wickedness.
DEALING WITH THE DEMONIC 1. DECEIVING SPIRITS - ACTS 8: 9-25 2. RULING SPIRITS - ACTS 13: 4-12 3. DIVINING SPIRITS - ACTS 16: 16-40 4. IDOLATROUS SPIRITS - ACTS 19:11-20
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
• • • • • • • WHEN YOU RESIST TEMPTATION WHEN YOU ENDURE TRIALS WHEN YOU FACE PERSECUTION WHEN YOU WITNESS WHEN YOU PROCLAIM TRUTH WHEN YOU SEEK TO BECOME MORE CHRISTLIKE WHEN YOU GET ON MISSION WITH GOD
IN SATAN’S GRASP
THE LOST ARE CAPTIVES OF SATAN’S AND ARE UNDER HIS POWER.
THEY CANNOT ESCAPE HIS STRONGHOLD WITHOUT HELP.
IN SATAN’S STRONGHOLD
Under Satan’s Power “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and
from the power of Satan to God
, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins.” Acts 26:18
IN SATAN’S STRONGHOLD
Children of the Devil “You
belong to your father, the devil,
and you want to carry out your father’s desire.” John 8:44
IN SATAN’S STRONGHOLD
Held in Satan’s Grasp “The whole world is
under the control of the evil one
.” 1 John 5:19
IN SATAN’S STRONGHOLD Imprisoned in the Strong Man’s House “No one can enter
a strong man’s house
and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man.” Mark 3:27
IN SATAN’S STRONGHOLD
Blinded to the Gospel “The god of this age has
blinded he minds of unbelievers
, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” 2 Cor. 4:4
IN SATAN’S STRONGHOLD
Energized by Satan “…When you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,
the spirit who is now at work [energeo] in those who are disobedient
.” Eph. 2:2
SPIRITUAL
•
STRONGHOLDS
Spiritual strongholds are fleshly thought patterns that were programmed into your mind when you learned to live your life independently of God. Neil Anderson
SPIRITUAL STRONGHOLDS
“A demonic stronghold is any type of thinking that exalts itself above the knowledge of God, thereby giving the devil a secure place of influence in an individual’s thought-life.” Francis Frangipane
SPIRITUAL
•
STRONGHOLDS
“A stronghold can be a source of defense for the devil, where demonic or sinful activity is actually defended within us by our sympathetic thoughts toward evil.
” Francis Frangipane
SPIRITUAL STRONGHOLDS
“A stronghold is a mind-set impregnated with hopelessness that causes the believer to accept as unchangeable something that he/she knows is contrary to the will of God.” Ed Silvoso
SPIRITUAL STRONGHOLDS
“A stronghold is a mind-set impregnated with hopelessness that causes the believer to accept as unchangeable something that he/she knows is contrary to the will of God.” Ed Silvoso
DANGERS OF DECEPTION • DECEIVING SPIRITS
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world
.
1 Jo. 4:1
• • • • •
DECEIVING SPIRITS
COUNTERFEIT TRUTH
Instead of… Divine Revelation • Clairvoyance Prophecy • Precognition Prayer • Telepathy God’s Miracles • Psychokinesis Divine Guidance • spirit guides
PROHIBITION AGAINST SPIRITISTS
• •
"`Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. Lev. 19:31 "`I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people...A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.'" Leviticus 20:6,27
PROHIBITIONS AGAINST SPRITISM
•
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Deuteronomy 18:10-11
SPIRITS: NO!
JESUS: YES!
The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so. The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. Deuteronomy 18:14-15
PROHIBITION AGAINST CHANNELING •
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Isaiah 8:19-20
STAGES OF DEMONIC ACTIVITY
• • • • DEPRESSION OPPRESSION OBSESSION POSSESSION
•
VICTORY IN CHRIST
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15
VICTORY IN CHRIST
•
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Col. 2:15
VICTORY IN CHRIST
•
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
•
Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:24-25
VICTORY IN CHRIST
•
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
PERSONAL ACTIVITY - 5 Minutes
• Get with with two other persons and discuss the demonic activity among your people group • Describe any demonic activity that you are aware of • Discuss how you can help your people deal with the demonic • Pray together
FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE PRAYING FOR THE LOST
PRAYING FOR THE LOST
Pray for the Lord to Sanctify Them “From the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel…” 2 Thes. 2:13-14
PRAYING FOR THE LOST
• • Ask God to Bless Them “Peace be to this house.” Lk. 10:5 “God’s kindness leads you toward repentance.” Rom. 2:4
•PRAYING FOR THE LOST
Pray for God to Send a Witness “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest.” Matt. 9:38
PRAYING FOR THE LOST
Pray for the Holy Spirit to Convict Them “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” Jo. 16:8
PRAYING FOR THE LOST
• • Pray for the Lord to Illuminate their Minds Ethiopian Eunuch: Acts 8:26-39 Cornelius: Acts 10
PRAYING FOR THE LOST
Pray for Witness Filled with Spirit “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses….” Acts 1:8
PRAYING FOR THE LOST
Pray That The Word Will Be Effective “Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.” 2 Thes. 3:1
PRAYING FOR THE LOST
Pray for Word to be Effective “ As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater; so is my Word…[it] will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isa. 55:10-11
PRAYING FOR THE LOST
Pray for Revival “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.” 2 Chron. 7:14
FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE
Matt. 16:24-27 1. DENY YOURSELF: Not self-denial but SELF-rule 2. TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY: IDENTITY with Christ and His death 3. FOLLOW ME: WILL 4. LOSE YOUR LIFE TO SAVE IT: NATURAL LIFE 5. GIVE UP THE WORLD 6. SACRIFICE THE PLEASURE OF THINGS TO GAIN THE PLEASURE OF LIFE - Heb. 11:24-25
SPIRITUAL
• •
WARFARE
“Victory begins with the name of Jesus on your lips; but it will not be consummated until the nature of Jesus is in your heart.” F. F.
“Before the Lord’s sword will come through your mouth, it first must pass through your heart.” Francis Frangipane
FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
1. The Promise of the Father - John 16:5-15 2. Wait for the Promise until you are clothed from on high with power. Luke 24:49 3. After you are filled, you are to be my witnesses to the uttermost - Acts 1:8 4. All were filled (Acts 2:2; 4:31) 5. God’s power works in Spirit- filled disciples. 6. We are all commanded to be filled Eph. 5:18
STEPS TO FREEDOM IN CHRIST
1. Renounce all past or present involvement with occult practices, cult teachings, and rituals, as well as with all other religions.
STEPS TO FREEDOM IN CHRIST
2 . Affirm the Word of God as the infallible Truth and your only authoritative guide in life and daily appropriate it into your life.
STEPS TO FREEDOM IN CHRIST
3. Claim the blood of Christ as sole basis for forgiveness, victory and eternal life. Renounce ancestral sin, abuse, accusations.
STEPS TO FREEDOM IN CHRIST
4. Commit yourself to absolute submission and immediate obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. Renounce all strongholds of Satan.
STEPS TO FREEDOM IN CHRIST
5. Forgive others in Christ and ask God to replace any roots of bitterness with love.
STEPS TO FREEDOM IN CHRIST
6. Walk in humility and follow Christ’s example. Dethrone pride in self.
STEPS TO FREEDOM IN CHRIST
7. Live in victory by daily repentance and continual filling of the Holy Spirit.
HOW TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
• CONFESS ALL SIN - 1 John 1:9 • PRESENT YOURSELF TO GOD - Rom. 12:1 • ASK IN FAITH - Luke 11:13; 1 John 5:14-15