Spiritual War and Warfare

Spiritual Warfare – Spiritual War and Battle in the Spirit

Table of Contents

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  – Ephesians 6.12

The Bible teaches that we, as God’s children, fight against spiritual beings and their evil plots in spiritual warfare and how to fight spiritual warfare. As we engage in spiritual warfare, it is not our primary goal to fight against flesh and blood, namely other people, rather it is our duty as Christians to fight for:

Souls

1. The souls of the unsaved to bring them to salvation. The unsaved people of the world are the very souls we are seeking to save, that is why they are not the enemy, but are rather enslaved to the enemy.

… he that is wise wins souls.  – Proverbs 11.30

Strongholds

2. Against the kingdom of Darkness & their Stronghold. We are to break down spiritual strongholds the devil builds us, and to win spiritual ground against the kingdom of the devil for the glory of God.

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds  – 2 Corinthians 10.4

Bondages

3.The enemy (devil & demons) very well knows that whatsoever a person practices becomes a snare (trap) to them, and whatever overcomes a person, they are a slave to it. When someone continues to practice an act, they will eventually become bound or in bondage to it.

They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.  – 2 Peter 2.19

Only through the authority in Christ are we able to loosen the bonds of the enemy.

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”   – Matthew 16.19

Primary Warfare

We find continuous terms throughout the New Testament most of the times when referring the issue of spiritual warfare, revealing not only is our enemy not those of flesh and blood, but that our war is primarily against the lies that attempt to fight against the gospel and the truths of God’s word.

Our battle is not primarily some sword and shield against spiritual being, for those who are believers already have victory and have already won the battle in Christ. Believers are completely free in Christ and have already won against the devil, the world and the flesh. It is up to the believer to believe in and walk in this truth, which the devil continually attempts to distort, distract or destroy.

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6. being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. – 2 Corin 10.3-6

I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2. For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. – 2 Corin 11.1-3

POSITION IN CHRIST

We have a privileged position in Christ, and it is in this privileged position that we have access to God our heavenly Father, whom equips us for every good work, and for every battle against our enemies. Whom we come to, to make our requests.

in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.  – Ephesians 3.12

he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;  – Ephesians 3.16

In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  – Philippians 4.6

Children of God

Those that are saved have literally become the children of God. The Bible tells us we literally have the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit living inside of us. The Spirit of the Living God is with us and inside of us and empowers us for every good deed according to the will of God. We know that when God is with us, there is nothing that can come against us.

having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will  – Ephersians 1.5

For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16.  The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God  – Romans 8.15-16

God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  – Galatians 4.6

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?  – Romans 8.31

This means that we have a heavenly inheritance in Christ.

in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will;  – Ephesians 1.11

Soldiers of Christ

In Christ we are soldiers for His kingdom. We live our lives in service for the kingdom of heaven with an eternal purpose. It is our duty as God children to fight against our enemies and be victorious for God’s kingdom. Everything that matters is a spiritual fight, as we must war in the spirit.

Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4.  No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.  – 2 Timothy 2.3-4

Legal Rights of God’s Elect

As God’s children in Christ we have heavenly legal rights. We are not bound to any sin, nor does the devil have any claim at all over any part of our lives, rather every part of lives belongs to Jesus Christ. Jesus has given authority to his disciples to overcome every evil spirit, and they are subject to us. In Jesus name we command them to flee and to be removed from areas, and they must obey as we are God’s children. It is important to understand the spiritual battle verses.

Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.  – Luke 10.19

Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.  – Luke 10.20

FIGHTING SPIRITUAL BATTLES

Understanding Evil

It is important to understand the reasons for spiritual warfare, how the spiritual world works, that we may understand how to combat the enemy.

The Bible says we should be simple in understanding the things that are evil, simply stated we don’t have to (nor should we) read the satanic Bible to learn the devils ways in order to defeat him.

[Not that that idea would work, since it is full of deceit designed to twist the minds of men.]

However, we should not be ignorant of his devices either, in the sense we should read everything good that God has to tell us in the Bible about understanding the spiritual world and spiritual battles. This will allow us to properly conduct spiritual warfare today.

I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil.  – Romans 16.19

That no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices.  – 2 Corinthians 2.11

THE ENEMY

What are the three levels of spiritual warfare? What are the three enemies that the Bible explicitly details that we must fight:

It is important to know and identify our enemies, to understand they way they work and how they attack us so that we will be able to understand their strategy and how we defeat them.

THE FLESH

We are born as sinful creatures and are by nature children of wrath:

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.  – Psalms 51.5

among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:  – Eph 2.3

We are born into this world with a physical body, and ‘alive’ to the nature of our own flesh, but we are born spiritually dead. God who is life brings restoration to our souls and causes us to be born-again spiritually, when we believe in Him.

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  – John 3.5-6

When we become ‘spiritually alive’ we gain the nature of the spirit, which is in direct contrast to the selfish nature of the flesh. Our flesh because it is corrupt, lusts after its own selfish desires without regard to the missing part of its existence (the spirit, or spiritual nature). The flesh was originally meant to be subject to the spirit, which, when the spirit is alive, knows how to commune with God and find satisfaction and fulfillment in Him.

Due to the fall of man everything became backwards and corrupt and with the flesh lusting after its own desires, our mind becomes twisted we are able to convince ourselves that the natural self and its selfish desires can lead to fulfillment. The spirit knows that true life is being connected to God, and that He is the source of all life.

Þ    see Systematic Theology – Sin

The Flesh – Our Heart

As a part of our flesh, the heart when referred to in the Bible (kardia in Greek) means literally both our thoughts and imagination. The human heart is evil and desperately wicked above all things. People often give bad advice to others saying they should follow their heart. These people forget to realize that it was the choice to ‘follow one’s own heart’ that gets us into trouble in the first place (we should be following God):

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?  – Jeremiah 17.9

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:  – Matthew 15.18-19

Our heart is constantly feeding our mind with different images (imagination) of fantasies and desires. Depending on the things that we secretly keep lusting after, and allow ourselves to constantly think about, we eventually find ourselves following after the lusts we continually conjure up in our hearts.

It is by our own free will that we decide what we will allow to become a part of us or what we will discard from our heart and mind.

It is by our conscious, free will that we allow something to become a part of the treasure of knowledge and desires in our own heart!

And Jesus said, That which proceedeth out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness: all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man.  – Mark 7.20-23

The Flesh – Hard Heart

Due to the hurtful actions of others, how we have been treated or just plain lack of empathy towards what is good, people easily find themselves become hard- hearted. A hard heart is a personal attribute of someone who is unable to be effected by words or emotions, or is not moved from their current emotional position of understand or concern. It is like a stone wall, unwilling to move for anything or anyone, even for God.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  – Matthew 24.12

I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes – Ezekiel 36.26-27

The Flesh – Corrupt Heart

A corrupt heart is one that takes pleasure in what is evil and strives to become more adapt to it. A corrupt heart runs to evil and delights in it. It finds its own selfish pleasures and will do anything to satisfy itself. All men are guilty of corruption, it is a part of our nature.

The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  – Psalams 14.2-3

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  – Luke 6.43

Overcoming The Flesh

We know that the in our flesh, we are prone to desire to do and act according to our sinful nature, to sin and do things ‘according to our desires.’ So what is he cure to defeating the flesh? The Bible tells us plainly:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  – Gal 5.16

We are to walk in the Spirit, not trusting in ourselves but in God alone, putting our faith in Him no matter what happens. God is faithful to always provide for us a way to escape every sin we face, we must willfully choose what is good and choose God’s path to escape from sin.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.  – 1 Corin 10.13

There are however; 2 sins the Bible tells us we cannot handle in combat, and that we are to flee from no matter what; everything else we are to stand firm and fight against:

1. Sexual Lust – 1 Corin 6.18
2. Idolitry – 1 Corin 10.14

THE WORLD

The world, as described in the Bible, is mankind’s social system that promotes the ideas and desires of the people. The world, in reference to any of mankind’s social systems, represents the fallen group of humanity as a whole.

It is specifically an agent of evil because it always results in motions that tend away from Gods principles; continually appealing to the selfish human ambition to centralize some sort of ideology of humanism, typically resulting as secular idolatry. Every social public system that mankind sets up always, eventually become corrupt because it is based on the following 3 principles:

1. The lust of the flesh
2. The lust of the eyes
3. The pride of life

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.  – 1 John 2.15-17

The World – The Lust of the flesh

The flesh says ‘if it feels, good do it,’ and society want to promote that! As previously discussed with our flesh, the world system always appeals to mankind’s lusts and desires. The lust of the flesh appeals directly to sensuality and indulgence. Well known are many of the selfish desires we have for money, sex and power, and the world continually pulls on these selfish categories to appeal to public interests.

Society continually tries to ‘redefine’ good morals to help benefit their own selfish desires to alleviate guilt. They tend to revolt and try to make other people give up their own morals.

The World – The Lust of the Eyes

Giving in to the lusts that feed whatever the eye sees and desires! The things that inspire the imagination to contribute to the lusts of the public. Society pushes others to create inspiration to feed others selfish desires, and lead others down the path of corruption.

The World – The Pride of Life

Mankind continually sets up itself on the pedestal of idolatry. Society takes great pleasure putting on pedestals the men of great honor and make them into gods, and others coming to aspire to be like them. Like children whom love to look like their favorite rock star, aspiring to be just like them: Men idolize other men in aspiration of one another, becoming more corrupt models of corruption.

Overcoming the World

The Bible tells us we overcome the world by our faith. All the influence and tactics the world attempts to us against its people to keep them in bondage, do not work on the believer. This is because believers do NOT conform to the world, nor put their trust in the things of the world, but rather put their faith in Jesus. Believers are rather transformed by the renewing of their minds

For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith. 5.  And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?  – 1 John 5.4-5

And let not your behaviour be like that of this world, but be changed and made new in mind, so that by experience you may have knowledge of the good and pleasing and complete purpose of God.  – Romans 12.2

Keep Yourself Clean from Worldliness

Do not let yourself become defiled by the things of the world, but rather let yourself be cleanses by the washing of the word of God. It is easy to become filthy by the things of the worlds influence on your life because we are exposed to it daily.

The more you spend time in God’s word, the more you will clearly contrast the things that are worldly from the things that are Godly, and will clearly be able to choose to do the things that are good.

Those who believe in Christ are already clean, but as we travel in the world, our ways (feet) will become dirty, this is why we need Jesus’ word to keep us clean daily.

True religion is this … keep oneself unspotted from the world  – James 1.27

(Jesus Said) If I do not make you clean you have no part with me. 10.He who is bathed has need only to have his feet washed and then he is clean all over: and you, my disciples, are clean  – John 13.8-10

So that he (Jesus) might make it (the church) holy, having made it clean with the washing of water by the word.  – Ephesians 5.26

Friendship with the world is enmity towards God, simply because you cannot serve and partake of both the worlds treasures and God’s treasures. This is because they are in direct opposition with each other (good vs. evil).

know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.  – James 4.4

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  – 1 John 2.15

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.  – 1 Corin 10.21

Although this is true, we still live in the world and have to put up with the evils of the world, but we do not belong to it, we belong to a heavenly country. In other words if you are taking time to make friends with the things of the world, its lusts, its pride, and begin to partake of it; then you are causing enmity between you and God. This is why we are to keep clean from the things that are worldly. Test your heart, are you allowing your heart to lust after money, or are you seeking to delight in God above everything else?

I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15.  I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one. 16.  They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. – John 17.14-16

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11.  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  – 1 Tim 6.10-11

The People of the World

The people that are ‘worldly’ or worldly minded are enemies of God, and the people of God must be aware and on guard of this. We are called to reach out to the lost, and be their friends, as Jesus was even the friend of sinner. But we MUST set a barrier and guard in our hearts from their ways of worldly living and worldly thinking so we can remain faithful to our husband Christ, and keep from committing adultery with the idols of the world.

The people of the world are the very people Christians are called to reach out to so they may be set free; they are enemies of God without even knowing it. They are the devils captives, who do his will; and can at anytime be used by the devil, or simply by their own fleshly nature to tempt and/or persecute Christians.

[about unbelievers] and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.  – 1 Timothy 2.26

THE DEVIL

The ultimate spiritual agent of sin and evil. It is the devils goal to pull down as many people to hell as he can. He wants to push as many people into sin as he can, for he knows that it is sin that destroys the lives of all people. The Devil constantly moves throughout the entire earth seeking whomever he can to destroy and devour.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.  – Job 1.7

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  – 1 Peter 5.8

The devil is able to use every lie and deceit to his advantage drawing many people in by making things look desirable to our flesh nature, or to make things confusing to deceive the nations. He makes evil temptations seem very delightful, he even is able to deceive people into thinking his ways are a good and even moral choice, but in the end it is corrupt and evil:

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.  – 2 Corinthians 11.13-15

The Ruler of the World

The Devil is ruler of the present age and of the world. Theologically he gained the rights as the ruler of the planet when Adam sinned against God (Luke 4.6), although Christ snatched the legal rights and deeds out of the Devils hand when He died on the cross, and became heir of all things (Col 1). Jesus is the rightful king of all the earth, but He will not come to claim His rule until during the tribulation time on earth.

the god of this world has made blind the minds of those who have not faith, so that the light of the good news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, might not be shining on them.  – 2 Corin 2.2

Here we can see the primary reason why the world is so corrupt isn’t just because of mans sinful nature, but because there is a prime demonic force that manipulates and pushed Godless propaganda and leadership to go out over the entire earth.

Father of Lies

Every lies comes from the father of lies, the devil. There is NO truth in him, nor is he able to tell the truth, because God alone is truth. The devil will use every type of lie to get people to believe him and trust in anything other then in God. If the devil is able to get a person to believe a lie, no matter how small, he has a won a part of that persons heart and mind and will be able to lead them with that lie.

because there is no truth in him (the devil). When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. – John 8.44

This is how we know the truth:

But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth. 15. This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16. For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.  – James 3.14-16

The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy.   – James 3.16-17

Overcoming the Devil

The Bible tells us that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us.

Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  – James 4.7        

Respect All Spiritual Authorities

Even though we are to fight our spiritual enemies, overcome them and take over their strongholds; we are soldiers of God and should always remain humble, knowing where our power comes from, and respect our enemies. The Bible STRICKLY warns us about either making fun of our enemies or speaking in disrespect against any spiritual authority:

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you… 4.  For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; … 10.  (these men) Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,

11.  whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. 12.  But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction,  – 2 Peter 2.1-12

(These people) relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9.  But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10.  But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.  – Jude 8-10

We already have the victory in Christ, we are not to gloat or be prideful, but rather rejoice that our names are written in heaven. (Luke 10.20; Pr 24.18). The Devil wants us to be prideful so he can have a piece of the battle.

THE ARMOR OF GOD

As Gods children we have access to the most powerful protection in all creation, God’s armor. We are to put on the whole armor of God and stand against everything evil and Godless thing. It is when one of our enemies is able to compromise one of our piece of armor, as a soldier, that they are able to defeat or wound us.

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  – Ephesians 6.11

Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.  – Ephesians 6.13

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.  – Ephesians 4.7

PIECES OF THE ARMOR OF GOD

Belt of Truth

This piece of armor was in reference to an armored belt, used to protect a soldiers lower bowels and hips. This was the piece of armor typically that all other piece would attach to. So it is in the Christian faith, that everything we do must be centered on truth. God is truth, and it is to Him we must cling to! The Belt of truth is the first piece of God armor we are to gird ourselves with. It is only God’s truth that we will be able to use in order to discern between truth and error.

Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth – Eph 6.14.

For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel – Jer 13.11

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins. – Isa 11.5

Jesus saith unto him, I am the .. truth,.. – John 14.6

Breastplate of Righteousness

This piece of armor was used to protect the soldiers heart and most vital organs within the torso. In a similar fashion, righteousness will protect our heart as it is the most vulnerable and susceptible to the desires and lusts of the flesh. As soldiers, we must protect our hearts with the righteousness of God to keep up the good fight.

Our deeds and attitude in life are known by all those around us, family friends, co-workers, etc. and when we live a life of righteousness, it shines upon our chest as a testimony to others. Additionally, The details about God’s righteousness, which we are to carry in our hearts, is shown as faith & love, because against these there is no evil. By faith we are united to God, and by love God and our brothers, and we are to use this as our advantage against our enemy.

and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, – Eph 6.14.

be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; – 1 Thess 5.8

Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe – Romans 3.22

Grieves of the Gospel

This shows how integrated -being a witness for Christ- is to be in the life of a believer. The good news of peace is one of the piece of protection (armor) for our lives. Our lives should reflect the gospel by the way that we act and by the things that we do, as well as being the message that we should be verbally sharing with others.

The gospel itself protects our ways and our actions because as we adhere to it as the teachings of Jesus, it keeps us from being stained by the world, because it keeps us from living a life of worldly influence. As shown earlier, After being cleaned by Christ, it is our feet that can become stained by the things and ways of the world, it is the gospel that protect this part of our lives, our paths and actions in life (represented here by the feet).

and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  – Eph 6.15 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!  – Isaiah 52.7

For he is our peace  – Ephesians 2.14

True religion is this … keep oneself unspotted from the world  – James 1.27

(Jesus Said) If I do not make you clean you have no part with me. 10.He who is bathed has need only to have his feet washed and then he is clean all over: and you, my disciples, are clean  – John 13.8-10

So that he (Jesus) might make it (the church) holy, having made it clean with the washing of water by the word.  – Ephesians 5.26

Shield of Faith

Each of the pieces of God’s armor is designed to protect us from something specific, but only our shield it mentioned in direct reference to the fight against Satan. In ancient times, the Roman armor, which is often used as the pictorial for the armor described here, shows the soldiers with 2 different types of shields.

The Greek word here is ‘thureos’ which was a direct reference to the ‘towering’ shield that the soldiers used. This shield was usually as tall as the soldier and was usually utilized for large battle assaults when the opposing army would use arrows and spears.

Two soldiers would team up, one using his shield for frontal defense against the spears, and the one behind him using his shield to cover attacks from the arrows above. This shows how we are Christians need the fellowship of faith and to protect one another. Faith is more powerful than any man can imagine, because it is the power behind our faith that can do all things (God). It is by faith that we are able to please God and receive our reward from Him!

withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. – Eph 6.16.

Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. 6. and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him  – Hebrews 11.1-6

Helmet of Salvation

The protection for our mind and our will, is the salvation of God. Our thoughts are very important as they drive a man into his actions. A man’s thoughts are the very cause for every action that he will perform. Ever deed good or evil begins as a though, and it is here the enemy strikes to pervert a person’s life. The Devil knows that ever evil deed begins in a man’s imagination.

This is why it is so important to take every though and make it captive to Christ. It is easy to think evil thoughts, but it is what we do with those thought that truly matters. God’s children are called to make their thoughts into prisoner, capture them before they get out of hand and put them in the prison of your mind. Muster up the courage to do what is right, meditate on God’s will and let loose every good deed from your mind into action.

And take the helmet of salvation  – Eph 6.17. 

casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;  – 2 Corinthians 10.5

The Christians are to train their mind to capture every thought; meaning we are supposed to cognitively think [think about what you are thinking] and do what is right with every thought.

WEAPONS OF WARFARE

The Bible elaborately describes the weapons of our warfare in heaven and on the earth. We need to remember that we fight specifically against the evil powers in the spiritual realm, that directly influence all the people and mediums on the earth, in a battle for rule over the world.

Sword of the Spirit

God’s word is a sword! It is a literal weapon that we are to equip ourselves to combat all forms of evil. God’s word is able to:

1. Divide right from wrong, and revel every evil intentions of every heart.
2. It is able to unveil the darkness behind the spiritual powers that control governments and leaders or any person or place.
3. It is able to completely destroy every sinful work and evil device.

God’s word always accomplishes every task in every place that God intended when He sent it out, unhindered.

… and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  – Eph 6:17 

For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.  – Heb 4.12

so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.  – Isaiah 55.11

When the Lord Jesus comes back, He has as His name “the Word of God,” and out of his mouth comes the sharp two-edged sword.

(Jesus) His name is called The Word of God.  – Revelation 19.13

(Jesus) He had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.  – Revelation 1.16

It is our duty to arm ourselves with God’s word, the meditate and keep it in our hearts. To know what God word says about every situation, and to daily take it up by reading our Bibles. If the enemy wants to take a soldier down, it will have no problem targeting and taking down those soldiers that are not equipped to fight back. It is with God word that we fight against the devil himself (Matt 7 – Jesus continually fought the devil with God’s word), and how we are able to keep our lives inline with the will of God.

Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.  – James 1.21

Prayer of Supplication

Pray is exceedingly powerful. Why? because of the power of the one we come to! Unto the Lord belongs all power forever! The prayers of the righteous man accomplishes many thing, and is heard by God. Jesus tells us that whatever we ask for in His name, as long as it is according to God’s will, will be done by our Father in heaven.

with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints  – Eph 6:18 

Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.  – James 5.16

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14. If ye shall ask anything in my name, that will I do.  – John 14.13-14

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures.  – James 4.3

God hath spoken once, Twice have I heard this, That power belongeth unto God.  – Psalms 62.11

Access to God

As God’s children we have been given a special privilege and special access to God. It is from the prayers of the saints that much good is accomplished, and the will of God is done on earth. It is by faith that we have access to God our Father and our Lord Jesus, and confidence in Him. It is by faith and trusting in God to accomplish what we ask that also pleases God. Throughout the Bible we find that those who pray to God and are heard are those whom:

1. humble themselves,
2. set their hearts on seeking God,
3. seek to do His will and
4. to understanding Him;
5. who trust in Him no matter what
6. put their confidence in Him
7. and worship God.

Christ Jesus our Lord:12. in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.  – Eph 3:12 

Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.  – Hebrews 4.16

and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.  – Hebrews 11.6

We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and do his will, him he heareth.  – John 9.31

from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard:  – Daniel 10.12

The Holy Spirit

After Jesus ascended into heaven He sent the Holy Spirit to come and live with and inside all believers. The Holy Spirit is our strength, and our Helper to draw close to God and overcome all sin by faith. God Himself dwells with us, inside of us and we are His temple.

We are His temple – Are you not conscious that your body is a house for the Holy Spirit which is in you, and which has been given to you by God? and you are not the owners of yourselves;  – 1 Corin 6.19

The Holy Spirit inhabits the praises of His people –  But thou art holy, O thou that inhabit the praises of Israel  – Psalms 22.3

Strength & Power of the LORD –  Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might –  – Ephesians 6.10

Because by his power he has given us everything necessary for life and righteousness, through the knowledge of him who has been our guide by his glory and virtue; – 2 Peter 1.3

The Spirit dwells in our bodies and our hearts –  And it is he who has put his stamp on us, even the Spirit, as the sign in our hearts of the coming glory.  – 2 Corin 1.22

For more on the study of the Holy Spirit:

Þ    see Pneumatology – study of the Holy Spirit

STRONGHOLDS & BONDAGE

The Bible teaches us that the spiritual world is directly related to the physical world, and it is the duty of every spiritual being to work for a cause. This world is in constant division between all the is good and holy vs. all that opposes. The spiritual world is not limited by space or physical location, however the spiritual being of that world seek to ‘gain ground’ in similar fashion to that of kings battling for land to prosper his kingdom.

Stages of Yielding

In order for an evil spirit to gain spiritual ground in a person’s life, it typically will follow a similar pattern to develop within a person, or for a person, a system or pathway in order to lead them into sin:

1. Begin with Curiosity – Most people (majority of the human population) are somewhat apprehensive of just diving head first into sins. Most people have a basic sense of morality that keeps their conscience in check and restrains them from running into and looking for just plain evil things to do. This is why people refer to the old saying “people are basically good.” They are referencing the basic principle that people desire to do what is right, and want to stay away from doing wrong.

Demons know this, that man has a basic sense of good that they desire to adhere to, so they will begin to draw at a person’s mind into sinful thoughts and imaginations. They poke at people with simple curiosity. Making things seem harmless, after all its ‘ok’ to just have a little ‘innocent’ curiosity.. right?

2. Leading into Compulsion – Over time little curiosities lead into more frequent thoughts and often practices. What was once a small thought in the back of your mind, now becomes a much more frequent thought or desire that you enjoy playing with (physically or in your imagination). You will find this particular desire to begin more and more becoming a part of your thoughts, and eventually your life.
3. Ending into an Obsession – Now after seriously allowing something continually come into your mind you develop a taste for it, and may have even perform the action that you keep thinking about. This forms an obsession in your heart and mind, and the devil now has pushed you into physically doing the sin you once only thought about. After this point and after doing something a few times, it become more difficult to quit as you have already created a pattern in your mind and heart for it.

It may not always be an evil spirit that directly influences a person, it may be the actions of a person demonically influenced that, in turn, directly influences others into performing some sort of sin. In a sense, that person becomes a ‘dark evangelist’ for sin and evil deeds. It is in these certain people that the devil trains up to go out and influence other to sin, further corrupting a group of people. All it takes is for an appeal to made for your flesh, and if not controlled, the flesh becomes addicted over time very easily to sinful desires.

For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.  – Galatians 5.13

Demons have won a victory if they can get someone to develop an evil or sinful habit in their life. It takes the power of God to overcome these strongholds that the devil builds in people’s lives.

Danger Zone – Anytime you find yourself being lead more than one time in a direction that you know you should not morally go, into any sort of sin, you know you need to begin putting up resistance against it; whether it is a demon, your flesh or the world trying to influence you.

i.e. If you feel a pull towards another woman when you are married, not matter how [you feel attracted (flesh), a friend or she is coxing you (world), or somehow ‘things’ just seem to keep happening in her direction (demon)] you know you need to begin right away putting up every sort of resistance: Never meet alone, don’t make contact without telling your wife every detail, and/or perhaps ask other girls to counsel her, always make sure someone else it with you when you meet, etc.

Abstain from every form of evil. – 1 Thess 5.22

Types of Bondage

Bondage means to be bound or in bondage to, or a slave to something. Here bondage is slavery someone has to a specific sin. A person becomes bound to a sin when they cannot escape the habitual performance of that sin, and it becomes a part of their lifestyle. Examples include:

Examples of sins of the Mind

1. Pride
2. Lies / Deceit
3. Selfishness

Examples of sins of the Heart

1. Bitterness/ Unforgiveness
2. Hatred/ Anger
3. Envy / Greed
4. Lust

Examples of sins of the Body

1. Sexual Bondage
2. Fornication

Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.  – 1 Corinthians 6.18

Examples of sins of the Spirit

1. Habitual Patterns
2. Perversity
3. Defilement
4. Wickedness

Snare of Sin

The enemy knows that sin is a snare for the soul, for both believers and non-believers. For the believer it doesn’t lead to spiritual death, but it will lead to bondage. This is why it is extremely important to escape form sin, to repent and stay away from it.

All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.  – 1 John 5.17

In the steps of an evil man there is a snare for him,  – Proverbs 29.6

Brothers, if a man is taken in any wrongdoing, you who are of the Spirit will put such a one right in a spirit of love; keeping watch on yourself, for fear that you yourself may be tested  – Galatians 6.1

Overcome Bondage

1. Humble yourself before God and thank Him for everything He has given and how He made you
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you, and reveal anything that is hidden in your heart to be fully exposed to God
3. Confess everything to God, repent and turn away from that sinful choice in your life; seek forgiveness; then go to that person (if someone else was involved) and ask for their forgiveness.
4. Ask God to breakdown the enemies strongholds and reclaim it for His purposes and glory.
5. Dedicate your body as a living sacrifice to God and your entire life for His kingdom.
6. Be vigilant and take every though captive for Christ.
7. Continually set your life against any possibility to go down that wrong path, and get accountability from a brother if you need to.

Battles & Strongholds

There are spiritual battles that take place for parts of people lives or for spiritual places, and there are strongholds that exist for those areas that have already been taken over.

But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. 21. When the strong man fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace: 22.  but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.  – Luke 11.21-22

The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and finding none, he saith, I will turn back unto my house whence I came out. 25.  And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26.  Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more evil than himself; and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first.  – Luke 11.24-26

In these verse Jesus reveals to us a few things about the spiritual battlefield. First it is by God’s finger that demons are cast out; and Jesus, in His name, has given us authority to do the same. Demons are stronger than men, they take their spiritual ownership and authority and rule where men once did. However, God is stronger than all. The believer through God, is able to cast out the demons and take all the he owns.

Warning: When a believer casts out demons, if he doesn’t setup God’s Spirit in that place, the end result actually becomes worse, as the demon find others to come and make the spiritual place worse.

As we see in the case of the man in Luke 11.26, even though the demons are cast out, if a person is not converted and receives the indwelling of the Spirit of God, then the demons can come back and reclaim that person spiritually. Demons also fight for parts of believers lives, through different kinds of sins and temptations, this is why it is so important to give up anything that could give the enemy any ‘spiritual ground.’

Human Strongholds

Just as God is the believers stronghold, and the Holy Spirit dwells inside us, the devil can easily take up any unbeliever and sinners heart is an open vessels for demonic spirits. The devil wants to drive every unbeliever to be a vessel of his works and than destroy their lives in the end.

Worldly Strongholds

The devil uses the media systems and other people to influence our lives. It is the devils goals to use the people of the world to make believers stumble and fall into sin to keep them from the purpose God has for their lives.

God – The Believers Fortress

Believers have an impenetrable strong tower, God! When we run to Him and put our trust in Him, the enemy cannot touch us.

God is the fortress of our lives and the strong tower we are to put our trust in. Until Jesus comes back we are on enemy territory, on the earth, or anytime we are not dwelling in God! It is an extremely dangerous and fearful thing to be walking around in the world without God as your fortress!

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the upright man running into it is safe. – Proverbs 18.10

For you have been my secret place, and my high tower from those who made war on me. – Psalms 61.3

The Lord is my Rock, my fortress, and my saviour; my God, my Rock, in him will I put my faith; my breastplate, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  – Psalms 18.2

To make God your fortress, you simply must trust in Him, and go to Him for everything in your life. Dwell with him in prayer and by reading His word. Call on Him and praise him always, in good times and in times of trouble.

I will send up my cry to the Lord, who is to be praised; so will I be made safe from those who are against me.  – Psalms 18.3

The next part of this chapter shows how important it is to be free from sin, as this was the reason for the psalmists salvation from his enemy. Those whose hands are clean before the Lord.

he was my saviour because he had delight in me. 20.  The Lord gives me the reward of my righteousness, because my hands are clean before him.  – Psalms 18.19-20

This is why it is exceedingly important to repent and turn away from sin and ask God for forgiveness when dealing with the enemy of our souls, because sometimes a snare of sinfulness is able to keep us from God’s help.

i.e. If someone is asking for God help from alcohol, yet they do not repent and seek God help to turn form it, they will get drunk again and suffer the consequences from it again.

Foothold – Gaining Spiritual Ground

A demon can only take something that they are given. If a person is willing to give up their families for a night of pleasure with a woman that isn’t their wife, they chose it and now the devil can come in and destroy their family. If a person gives up their families for a life of addiction to drugs, then by their choice, a demon can come in and take destroy their families.

Once a demon takes the family they are able to begin influencing their children, their spouse, and effecting the lives of all the people they know and love. If you let a porn DVD’s into your home, you allow demons to revel abhorred images to stain the minds of your children for the rest of their lives, and to being a pattern of lust to develop in their minds.

Any part of our lives not fully given to God is potential ground for the enemy. This means any part of lives we are not yielding to God, is ground that the devil is able to influence and exercise influence over.

This ‘spiritual ground’ that is referred to in the Bible is known as a foothold. A foothold in the Greek was a reference to any place, spot, location, home, room, position, local, region, or condition. It is in these weaknesses that the devil seeks to get us to compromise, and hand over to him.

neither give foothold to the devil.  – Ephesians 4.27

The enemy focus’s their attacks specifically on people from every group, for example:

Against Everyone

1. Individual People
2. Families
3. Cities
4. Nations

Against Believers

1. Individual Believers
2. Leaders
3. Churches

With the same goals for everyone, to steal, kill and destroy the lives of all people.

Freedom & Overcoming

If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.  – John 8.36

Obedience

Neither Sin nor Demons can completely dominate a believer. They can oppress believers that have yielded parts of their lives to them or that they have allowed the devil to influence them; but they cannot be totally dominated by the devil because they are not under sin, or the dominion of sin. This is because the believer is not under law, they are under grace, they do not legally belong to sin, they legally belong to Christ (Rom 6).

The Bible tells us we are the servant of the one whomever we choose to serve. If we serve sin, it becomes our master, if we serve God and despise sin, God is our master. To overcome sin, we must being to obey God and disobey the sinful nature and the devil. In obedience we are to offer our bodies to God as an instrument of righteousness.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof: 13.  neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 . For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace.  – Romans 6.12-14

Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  – Romans 6.16

No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  – Matthew 6.24

Faith

As we know by God’s word, it is by faith that we overcome every sort of evil. It is by trusting God that we are able to overcome all evil & sin in our lives.

The end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned  – 1 Timothy 1.5

Keep From Stumbling Others

As believers we are to refrain from actions that may cause others to stumble. If we are spending time with a friend that has an alcohol problem, even though you do not have an alcohol problem, it would probably not be best to be drinking your favorite small glass of wine that night. In similar fashion we should be conscious of other peoples conscience and keep ourselves holy and apart from all appearances of evil, so that we don’t cause others to lose heart, faith or mock our God.

And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ.  – 1 Corinthians 8.12

Abstain from every appearance of evil.  – 1 Thessalonians 5.22

Keeping Your Conscience Clear

It is important to keep our conscience clear from all sins. A doorway to defeat is guilt weighing down your conscience. This is why we must repent from doing sin and seek God’s forgiveness for everything wrong we have done. It is once we get back on Gods path for our lives that we are able to retain a clear conscience, by continually seeking God and doing His will and live your life in repentance from sin.

Forgiveness

This is one of the most important practices of the Christian life. We are commanded to forgive others just as our Heavenly Father has forgiven us. The devil knows he can get a foothold in a person’s life when someone keeps a root of bitterness cause by unforgiveness in their lives. A foothold of unforgiveness can cause any sort of problem in your heart concerning relationships to others and to God, and it MUST be weeded out by love and forgiveness for everyone you know.

For if you let men have forgiveness for their sins, you will have forgiveness from your Father in heaven. 15.  But if you do not let men have forgiveness for their sins, you will not have forgiveness from your Father for your sins.  – Matthew 6.14-15

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27.  neither give place to the devil.  – Ephesians 4.26-27

looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled  – Hebrews 12.15

God forgives us of all our sins, and we must trust God and believe that He has forgiven all our sins when we come to Him, He has completely cleansed us from all unrighteousness. If someone cannot accept God’s forgiveness, they commit the worst kind of disbelief; not only are they calling God a liar, but this gives full range for the enemy to takeover and destroy a person’s beliefs and draw them into sin.

As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us  – Ps 103.12

Letting Go of Every Hindrance

Once we are able to give up every sin that attempts to ensnare or entangle us, we have become free from all hindrances, or any snare of the enemy.

How do we do this?

The answer is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus! To look to Him, keep Him in the front of our hearts and minds at all times.

Brothers, it is clear to me that I have not come to that knowledge; but one thing I do, letting go those things which are past, and stretching out to the things which are before,  – Philippians 3.13

putting off every weight, and the sin into which we come so readily, let us keep on running in the way which is marked out for us  – Hebrews 12.1

Having our eyes fixed on Jesus… 3. Give thought to Him… 5. Do not give up hope…  – Hebrews 12.2-5

CASTING OUT DEMONS

Jesus has given to His disciples the power to cast out demons and the devil from their strongholds or places of possession. By faith and in the Name of Jesus believers are able to cast out, or drive out demons.

Calling on the Name of the Lord

We find in scripture that calling upon the Lord in faith will cast down the powers of darkness, casting out demons and even stopping the devil himself. We see an example of this in Acts 19, when some Jews tried to do this without faith, as they were NOT believers, they got beat up by the demon.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  – John 14.13

But Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke thee  – Jude 1.9

But some of the Jews who went from place to place driving out evil spirits, took it on themselves to make use of the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, I give you orders, by Jesus, whom Paul is preaching.  – Acts 19.13

Even though the Jews in this historic account where not successful because they did not exorcise the demon based on faith in Christ, the demon reveals he knows about those whose names they are using in attempt to exorcise him. It could be that this verse is demonstrating that demons are able to recognize the individuals who ARE saved because their names are written in heaven, just as Jesus taught us when He gave his disciples authority:

Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  – Luke 10.20

Casting Out Demons – By Faith

It is by trusting in the One who has the power (Our Lord Jesus Christ) that we find the authority to cast out the devil. When we come to God we are to be in full assurance of God power and that He will not only protect us, but go in the offense of His children and take out the demon spirits.

(Jesus Said) Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done. 22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.  – Matthew 21.21-22

[in Christ Jesus our Lord] in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.  – Ephesians 3.12

Faith According to God’s Will

We are to seek God’s will in everything we do, and ask for everything according to God’s desires. We will not receive anything that we ask for in the flesh, but in faith and in the spirit, whatever we ask according to God’s will, the Bible says we will receive.

But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7.  For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord; James 1.6-7

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures.  – James 4.3

It is a dangerous thing to be in a place of disbelief, demons are not allowed to directly touch God’s people, but they will continually come after you, ESPECIALLY if they see you are weak in your faith, or doing something in your life for God.

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast it out? 20.  And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.  – Matthew 17.19-20

Casting Out Demons – Prayer & Fasting

Scripture reveals some demons are more powerful than others. More importantly, to cast them out they require not only prayer, but thorough fasting – which means to give up earthly delights (or delicacies) and focusing on God through intense prayer. This is necessary to overcome powerful works of the enemy, and  to cast out some types of demons.

But this kind goeth not out save by prayer and fasting.  – Matthew 17.21

Deliverance

• See Deliverance and Exorcisms

Deliverance is defined as the ability to rescue from bondage or danger. Deliverance is often a spiritual gift to believers – whom being able to, in the name of Jesus, cast out demons and deliver others from demonic possession and break down enemy strongholds. Deliverance from the enemies hands (control and grasp on their life) is something that all people need, and after coming clean we are received in to God’s hands.

God gives the gifting of deliverance to certain believers; often of whom may find themselves in continual situations in which they are called to help others by casting out demonic forces. Many times this may be because it is God’s will for that person to work as a minister of deliverance.

Lord, come out against him, make him low, with your sword be my savior from the evil-doer.  – Psalms 17.13

He made me free from my strong hater, and from those who were against me, because they were stronger than I.  – Psalms 18.17

Who has made us free from the power of evil and given us a place in the kingdom of the Son of his love;  – Colossians 1.13

Who gave himself for our sins, so that he might make us free from this present evil world, after the purpose of our God and Father: Galatians 1.4

Who was put to death for our evil-doing, and came to life again so that we might have righteousness.  – Romans 4.25

The Lord is able to keep the upright safe in the time of testing, and to keep evil-doers under punishment till the day of judging;  – 2 Peter 2.9

Once again we can see that we are to repent from the sins in our lives, turn away from the things we need to be delivered from, after we have identified them. Then trust in God and all that He has done, and that His power can and has delivered you from all your addictions and strongholds in life. That the purpose for everything in your life is to live for and to treasure and glorify God above all.

Casting Out Evil Spirit – By Music & Praise

The Bible gives us glimpses of just how powerful music and melody really is, the power of praising God. Whether it is the faith that is accompanied, or the emotionally dwelling that takes place, the Bible tells us that evil spirits have been cast out with music.

Any time the evil spirit from God came on Saul, David would take his harp and play it. The evil spirit would leave Saul and he would begin to feel better.  – 1Sa 16:23

There is a strong inference given later in scripture, that reveals that God Himself sits enthroned on the praises of His people.

But thou art holy, O thou (God) that inhabit the praises of Israel  – Psa 22:3 

This would seem to indicate when God’s people praise Him, his presence is there, and we know that no evil can stand in His sight when His presence is near.

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil  – Hab 1:13

References

Christianity.com – What is Spiritual Warfare

Desiring God – John Piper Spiritual Warfare Recommended Resources