Chapter Two
What is Spiritual Warfare?
This is an important question because “spiritual warfare” means different things to different people. The term itself is not found in the scriptures, but the concept is taught.
Two of the most commonly associated passages were recorded in the epistle to the Ephesians. Hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches:
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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” (Eph.6:10-12).
The Greek word for “wrestle” in this passage means to sway or vibrate. Further, anyone who has been involved in a wrestling match with someone, knows it takes all of your stamina to win or attain victory.
We all have our own personal wrestling matches with the forces of evil. And our warfare is against not only the less powerful demons, but with the devil himself.
Obeying Jesus’ Commission
In an attempt to bring about a proper balance in the lives of Christians, our ministry stresses spiritual warfare. Many Believers have become passive and fearful. Some are satisfied just to believe the right things and attend church services and activities each week. This type of lifestyle is quite different from that which Jesus has called all of us to live.
According to the Gospel of Luke, the apostles (9:1,2) and the seventy (Luke 10) were told by Jesus to cast out unclean spirits, to cure diseases, to heal the sick, and to make the captives free. This same authority was given to every believer when Jesus prayed to the Father: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word” (John 17:20).
This authority is passed from Jesus to every believer to carry out the commission in Mark 16:15-18. Jesus said unto them:
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.
The new converts were to be disciples, and to do the same things that Christ’s disciples had been doing. They were taught what God wanted them to be doing. The promise was that Jesus would be with His people to the end of the age, doing His works through them as they were yielded to Him in faith.
Why do ministries like ours exist? Because many churches have failed to obey all of Christ’s commission to His people. Working in the power of Christ to do supernatural things in His name has been reasoned away by saying, “God does not work like that today.” Our ministry and others like ours are reminders that God continues to work the way He did with the first century church.
Actively Engaging the Enemy
Spiritual warfare is a pro-active approach to our faith. We actively resist the devil when his hosts harass us. We actively pursue spiritual disciplines that will make us stronger and better prepared. We actively engage the enemy when people are in spiritual bondage.
We utilize prayer as a weapon to penetrate strongholds that cannot be reached in any other way. Spiritual warfare is the putting aside of passive attitudes toward faith, which keep us from commitment and cause us to pursue only those things that will benefit us and our families.
Instead of seeking our own agenda, we submit our will to God the Father and accept the sacrifices He calls us to make, in Jesus name.
We do not want to imply that we are the only ones ministering the full gospel of Jesus Christ, but those who do not include deliverance are preaching “another gospel” (Gal. 1:8,9). This will open you and the Body of Christ to a curse and require more need for preaching deliverance. Curses open the door to demons.
The Alert Warrior
It has become common to attribute a natural or human explanation to our problems and leave it at that. Why? Because often there is no discerning of spirits to identify that some form of spiritual resistance is in place.
The alert warrior understands that no natural condition can find a solution without spiritual intervention by the Lord Jesus Christ. Most Christians will readily admit to their problems, but they refuse to acknowledge that their problems could be from a demonic source.
We must learn to test the situation, and to ascertain whether or not there is something more than natural influences involved. When symptoms of physical infirmities or problems come against our bodies, we challenge them with prayer and spiritual authority, and they disappear. There have been times when people come for ministry, they often develop headaches or overwhelming fear. A command of spiritual authority to “leave in Jesus’ name” immediately brings relief.
A spiritual warrior has an alertness to the activity of the enemy. This alertness is by no means fear or paranoia. He does not look for a demon under every life problem. A warrior doesn’t go out of his way to look for demonic activity; but when he encounters it, he confronts the demons and casts them out.
You — A King and Priest
Understanding spiritual warfare provides a new perspective to parenthood. Parents are entrusted with children by the Lord to nurture, cherish and protect. In the parent, the child needs to see a reflection of God’s attributes of unconditional love, faithfulness and holiness. The parent can exercise great authority in the Name of Jesus to resist the enemy and fight on behalf of the children. The born-again, Spirit filled father in every home has more authority over demonic power than anyone. God the Father, the Father of all fatherhood, watches over His word to accomplish that word in every family. Like Job, a parent is also the priest of the home, bringing the sins of the children to God the Father, so that the enemy cannot establish strongholds in their lives.
Further, Jesus has established every believer as a king and priest unto God and His Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Rev. 1:6). Note that Jesus “made” us kings and priests, past tense; it is already done. So step into your place at the right hand of the Father, “in Christ Jesus,” with power and authority over sin and Satan, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Yea! Every natural problem of life can be solved spiritually because of the mystery that has been hid from ages and generations, which is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:26,27). Yes, Christ in you! And Jesus has never lost a battle, or had a problem He did not solve. Remember, Jesus is alive in you.
Spiritual warfare can also be very effective in witnessing and evangelism. You can learn to recognize the barriers and strongholds in advance and prepare the way through prayer, spiritual authority, divine appointments and ministry.
A Prayer for Yourself and Your Family
Start praying for your family today. Read this prayer and then pray it:
Heavenly Father, I bow in worship and praise before you. I cover myself and my family with the blood of Jesus Christ as our protection. I surrender myself to you, completely and unreservedly, in every area of my life. I stand against all the work of Satan that would hinder me in my prayer life.
I address myself only to the true and living God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and I refuse any involvement of Satan in my prayers. Satan, I command you, and all your demons, to depart from me, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I bring the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ between us. I resist every effort of Satan and his wicked spirits to confuse and block me and my family from the will of God the Father.
I choose life and blessings and renounce death and curses. In Jesus Name, I pull down the strongholds of Satan over my life and my family in every area in which he would attempt to rob me of the provisions of God — whether in time, health, happiness, goods, or money.
I pull down your strongholds NOW, Satan, in the Name of Jesus. You are powerless to affect me or my family in any way today. Amen.
Seven Barriers to Freedom
Let’s look at the seven barriers the enemy uses to keep us from the fullness of our relationship with Christ. The barriers are:
1. Ignorance: If we do not know what to do? How can we do anything? (See Hosea 4:6; Isaiah 5:13.)
2. Unbelief: Simply put, if we believe wrong, we cannot do right. (See Heb. 3:12,13; 3:18,19.)
3. Unconfessed Sin: My sin and my ancestors, as far back as it goes, through all generations. (See Prov. 28:13; Lev. 26:40-45.)
4. Unforgiveness: We must not only forgive the person, but also the offence. (See Mk. 11:25,26; Mt. 18:32-35; James 2:13.)
5. Idolatry and the Occult: Putting anyone or anything, even ourselves, ahead of the lord is not wise. (See Ex. 23:24-26, 32-33; Deut. 18:9-16).
6. Curses: All of us are victims of this one, when you consider that the Word explains that all have committed iniquity. That includes us, and our ancestors. A curse that comes down four generations has the possibility of coming to us from a pool of thirty ancestors, considering both sides of our family (maternal and paternal). (See Ex. 20:5; Lev. 25:40; Isa. 53:5-6; Jer. 17:5,6; 32:17; Mal. 2:2; 3:9; 4:6; 1 Cor. 16:22; Gal. 1:8,9; James 3:5-10.Isaiah 53:5-6).
7. Demons: They cannot influence our born again spirit, but demons can play havoc with our bodies, emotions, and minds. As a result, they can affect how we act and what we do. (Lk. 4:40,41; 2 Tim. 2:23-26).