Spiritual Warfare Insights

[Meg]

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Colossians 2:15

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

One of the most confusing things a Christian can undertake is the attempt to resist satan and win. Everything we know about self defense, confrontation, contention, and brute force, are pretty well useless when we are up against an enemy who has no flesh to bruise and no respect for anyone or anything. All too often, we resist temptation, accusation and feelings of helplessness with the best arguments we can cook up, including Scripture, and as much stubbornness as we can muster, only to have the same problems, at best go away for a while, at worst, not go away at all. I don't know about anybody else, but I know what my late night prayers can be like, and there has been a great deal of "What am I doing WRONG????" Sound familiar?

Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I met a genuine servant of Jesus Christ who has spent several years in deliverance ministry. We had a very interesting conversation. She stated on no uncertain terms, from direct experience, that "out of hundreds of people, there are only one or two who are not delivered through forgiveness."

Let that sink in for a minute. Thats not the answer we might have expected.

"Out of hundreds of people, there are only one or two who are not delivered through forgiveness."

When she said that, I was surprised, relieved, and very much reassured. First, what she said matches what I have directly experienced. Every time the Lord got me to forgive other people and forgive myself, the Holy Spirit strengthened in me. Whether through directly forgiving someone or myself, or learning not to be bitter against family members, for example, the less resentment I harbored in my heart, the closer I drew to the Lord. So why does that work that way?

Matthew 6:14-15

14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

You can't beat the devil by being like him. That goes against everything familiar in any type of conflict, but you still can't beat the devil by being like him. Let me put it this way, the last thing thew devil is going to tell anyone is how to win against him. So the ONLY safe place to look for answers is in the Bible, over which the devil has no control. Yes people, the devil has no control over Scripture, which is why he would prefer we ignore our Bibles, doubt our Bibles, or just plain have a lot of trouble understanding our Bibles.

OK, so forgiveness is the key. That is not exactly an easy answer, but it is a sane one. It is also a safe answer. No matter how hard this might be for some to accept, nothing is hidden from the Lord. If it were possible to hide something from Jesus Christ, neither Heaven nor hell would be safe, and Judgement couldn't possibly be just. Jesus Christ not only knows exactly who did what to who, He also knows why, and furthermore, He knows what it did to you. He understands perfectly, understands with such an elegant perfection, it is amazing when He demonstrates that to you. Just stunning. Absolutely nothing compares to perfection in compassion, as well as perfection in comprehension.

Say you were wrong and you know it. Jesus Christ does not stand there frowning, about to slam you with a ball of fire. He might tell you why you were wrong, but the next thing He'll tell you is how to handle things differently, then He'll show you His faithfulness by making it possible for you to actually do it.

So, this is how Spiritual Warfare is really done. You don't yell at demons. You don't intimidate them either. You refuse to be like them. Thats how its really done.

I am sure of this, because I have tried it, and seen it work.

[Meg]

A couple of more points to add in all this:

John 9:27-33

26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?”

28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

Acts 19:13-16

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 [One day] the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

[mattfivefour]

I do not disagree with the woman you met. But I would like to add something. When we resist the devil we usually spend our time engaged with what he is doing too us and our resistance of him. Our focus becomes him. And/or us. Standing looking at the devil to resist him is focusing on him instead of Christ and what He has accomplished for us and given to us. Our focus needs to be Christ. When we look at Christ and focus on the faithfulness of His Word and speak our trust in Him to Him and ourselves, we resist Satan. It is no idle statement Christ made when he commanded "Get thee behind me, Satan!" He knew that it is important not to even look at the one tempting and attacking us. We are to look at Christ, just as He looked always to the Father. Satan is just a block to that gaze.

[jesuschangesall]

I do not disagree with the woman you met. But I would like to add something. When we resist the devil we usually spend our time engaged with what he is doing too us and our resistance of him. Our focus becomes him. And/or us. Standing looking at the devil to resist him is focusing on him instead of Christ and what He has accomplished for us and given to us. Our focus needs to be Christ. When we look at Christ and focus on the faithfulness of His Word and speak our trust in Him to Him and ourselves, we resist Satan. It is no idle statement Christ made when he commanded "Get thee behind me, Satan!" He knew that it is important not to even look at the one tempting and attacking us. We are to look at Christ, just as He looked always to the Father. Satan is just a block to that gaze.

MATT,you are SPOT ON RIGHT....
we are TO FOCUS on OUR GREAT COMMANDER IN CHIEF,JESUS...
of course we are also commanded TO RESIST THE DEVIL and....he will FLEE from us...BUT
in the same verse it says: "SUBMIT TO GOD,RESIST the devil and he will flee from you......and the BEST way to do that is START PRAISING GOD and EXALT HIS NAME...WOW..the devil hates that,he cannot stand it...and he goes away...
BUT THE LORD IS OUR FOCUS....AMEN!

[king'sbloomingrose]

Wow, Meg! That's exactly what I've found out too. I know when I was younger I used to have a horrible time with cursing. I would do it and do it and do it in my head even though I knew it was wrong but I just couldn't seem to stop the habit. Even when I'd run to scripture or pinch my hands so hard, they almost bruised, the thoughts just wouldn't go away. Finally, I talked to a Christian friend about it and they point blank asked me if I had someone in my life I had a grudge against ... and they named the person! There was no way they could've known but for God. So, when I forgave that person, all the problems I had just disappeared. It wasn't as much of a struggle anymore and then it went away.

Speaking of this topic, I came across an interesting Bible verse this morning in 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

[Meg]

I do not disagree with the woman you met. But I would like to add something. When we resist the devil we usually spend our time engaged with what he is doing too us and our resistance of him. Our focus becomes him. And/or us. Standing looking at the devil to resist him is focusing on him instead of Christ and what He has accomplished for us and given to us. Our focus needs to be Christ. When we look at Christ and focus on the faithfulness of His Word and speak our trust in Him to Him and ourselves, we resist Satan. It is no idle statement Christ made when he commanded "Get thee behind me, Satan!" He knew that it is important not to even look at the one tempting and attacking us. We are to look at Christ, just as He looked always to the Father. Satan is just a block to that gaze.

Actually, you've got an excellent point. But I have noticed that the devil seems to be something of an attention hog. If you're trying to shut him out, he'll start trying to force you to have to deal with him. This does wonders for my prayer life... *dry, very dry*

[Meg]

Wow, Meg! That's exactly what I've found out too. I know when I was younger I used to have a horrible time with cursing. I would do it and do it and do it in my head even though I knew it was wrong but I just couldn't seem to stop the habit. Even when I'd run to scripture or pinch my hands so hard, they almost bruised, the thoughts just wouldn't go away. Finally, I talked to a Christian friend about it and they point blank asked me if I had someone in my life I had a grudge against ... and they named the person! There was no way they could've known but for God. So, when I forgave that person, all the problems I had just disappeared. It wasn't as much of a struggle anymore and then it went away.

Speaking of this topic, I came across an interesting Bible verse this morning in 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Honestly, Holly, many major turning points in my own walk with Christ hinged on forgiveness. It wasn't what I thought the answer would be, but if I really think about it, many many Spiritual breakthroughs I have had either began with Jesus asking forgiveness of me or ended with Jesus asking forgiveness of me, so to hear that confirmed mattered a lot to both of us. When she first said that, I replied "That matches my own experience perfectly." I asked her about the more serious types, and she still said forgiveness had always proven the key. She said it wasn't necessarily easy, in fact often it was very hard, but that forgiveness was nearly always the key. This is, in fact, verified by Scripture too.

[ChristianMomma]

Forgiveness is something that I stuggle with a lot in my life. Most of it I spent ignoring the problem, which on the outside seemed like I was ok, but my head was a mess and my issues came out in my dreams. I would sink in and out of depression, I knew why but I had no clue how to fix it. Once I dealt with the person, which may have been the hardest thing in my life I have ever done, I felt relief. However I still struggle, though not as much and not as hard as I would. Praise God that I have not fell into any sort of depression anymore, but I still space out and remember the past and have anger (and sometimes hate) in my heart towards this person. I do not know if I will ever be at peace in this llife.

I am normally quick to forgive in all other matters in life, this person's actions are just particularly difficult to get over.

I am hoping with time it will get better. It is seems like as time passes I think on it less and it is easier to talk about. Sorry to go on and on, I guess my bottom line is that I think that you are right in saying that forgiveness is key to overcoming and freeing yourself from anything that is keeping your from keeping your eye on Christ. I myself am tired of falling in the water.

[seank6]

Honestly, Holly, many major turning points in my own walk with Christ hinged on forgiveness. It wasn't what I thought the answer would be, but if I really think about it, many many Spiritual breakthroughs I have had either began with Jesus asking forgiveness of me or ended with Jesus asking forgiveness of me, so to hear that confirmed mattered a lot to both of us. When she first said that, I replied "That matches my own experience perfectly." I asked her about the more serious types, and she still said forgiveness had always proven the key. She said it wasn't necessarily easy, in fact often it was very hard, but that forgiveness was nearly always the key. This is, in fact, verified by Scripture too.

whats funny is i can forgive others all day long..but i still cant figure out how to forgive myself for all that ive done..

[king'sbloomingrose]

Sean, I'm not sure if this is any help or not, but I found this cartoon sometime back online and it was a big help to me.



Colossians 2:13-15

13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

The first time I ever saw that I had to act out the last two verses on it, and then it help me realize so much more clearly than ever what God has done and forgiven all of us of.

Remember, Psalm 103:11-12 says,

11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

I once heard someone say that if you go east and keep on going east, you'll never start going west or even get to west. But if God had said north or south in that verse, then if you go far enough north, you'll get to south.

[Meg]

Forgiveness is something that I stuggle with a lot in my life. Most of it I spent ignoring the problem, which on the outside seemed like I was ok, but my head was a mess and my issues came out in my dreams. I would sink in and out of depression, I knew why but I had no clue how to fix it. Once I dealt with the person, which may have been the hardest thing in my life I have ever done, I felt relief. However I still struggle, though not as much and not as hard as I would. Praise God that I have not fell into any sort of depression anymore, but I still space out and remember the past and have anger (and sometimes hate) in my heart towards this person. I do not know if I will ever be at peace in this llife.

I am normally quick to forgive in all other matters in life, this person's actions are just particularly difficult to get over.

I am hoping with time it will get better. It is seems like as time passes I think on it less and it is easier to talk about. Sorry to go on and on, I guess my bottom line is that I think that you are right in saying that forgiveness is key to overcoming and freeing yourself from anything that is keeping your from keeping your eye on Christ. I myself am tired of falling in the water.

In this case, there s a very different approach you can try. You can ask the lord to take the issue for you. Go into very candid and private prayer and confess your feelings, and why you're struggling. Be honest, pour out your heart. Confess the whys and wherefores of why you can't forgive, then ask the Lord to take it for you. Ask Him to just take this one, then let Him, and see if you can just stop thinking about it and feel cleaner. It can't hurt to try, and if it works, you just won a victory in Christ.


In Christ, Meg

[Hannah]

Actually the Bibles tells us the following:-

JAS 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

The Bible certainly gives us all the instructions we need to live our lives as Christians.

So here the first step is submitting to the Lord.

The next things is to resist the Devil and we are told that "the devil will flee".


" Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded"

We need to not be double minded and to stop playing around with sin, our hearts need to be pure. This is part of Submitting to God. Of course one of the most vital things we need to do when we submit is to humble ourselves before Him as it says in verse 10. So many of us have self pride even in our own Christianity. However when we are fully submitted we give up that pride and God then is truly our King and He will lift us up.

The Devil doesn't have a chance where a person is fully Submitted to God.

[Elijah's Mantle]

this is a marvelous thread
very helpful
I exspecially like the cartoon
it has great truth
Forgiveness is key
like obedience is
they must hold hands
often we are like peter
and Jesus must shield us
from the hatred of ourselves
all the times we meant to be so strong
but weakness prevailed.
Jesus forgave peter
yet peter still hated himself for his sin
so also Paul had that problem too
we have to know in those times
Jesus said
behold I make all things new
now THAT IS MIRACULOUS

[GlennO]

Post #1 begins citing Eph 6:12. I want to draw our attention to the Full Armor of God (Eph 6:13-18). There is no defect in the full armor that we as His followers have been instructed to avail ourselves of!

Shall we complain if our foot is bruised as we walk the disciple’s broken road He has prepared for us, when WE FAIL to shod our feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace?

If we are wounded by the enemy's fiery darts, not having donned the Breastplate of Righteousness or we have left behind the Shield of Faith, has our Redeemer failed us?

If we fail to properly fasten the Belt of Truth, we will be tripped-up when it falls around our ankles, showing us to be an unskilled soldier, unable to master the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (a workman rightly dividing His word – 2Tim 2:15).

Finally, it is a poor soldier that forgets his helmet, the Helmet of Salvation! (How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation (Heb 2:3a).

In the teachings I have absorbed concerning the Full Armor of God as well as many hard knocks, I have found that concerning Spiritual Warfare: What is too frequently labeled “spiritual warfare” is really the CONSEQUENCES we have sown!



Our Peace that Passes ALL understanding is derived from the most prominent word use in John Chapter 15 - - - “ABIDE”!

To Abide is to Obey. Obedience is probably the most distasteful word in the Bible because most of us are proud little gods in our own minds….maybe you’ve all got it, but I am nowhere near passing Obedience 101.

Additionally, our position as Believers is amplified in the most prominent two words found between Colossians Chapter 1:15 – 2:15 - - - “IN HIM”

[mattfivefour]

Excellent post, Glenn. Sound doctrine. Good and Godly advice.

[Elijah's Mantle]

To Abide is to Obey. Obedience is probably the most distasteful word in the Bible because most of us are proud little gods in our own minds….maybe you’ve all got it, but I am nowhere near passing Obedience 101.

Additionally, our position as Believers is amplified in the most prominent two words found between Colossians Chapter 1:15 – 2:15 - - - “IN HIM”

Ive learned when my flesh arises up the sin nature and desires of it to FLEE FOR MY LIFE
right to Jesus
Im not stronger
JESUS IS

that 101 class you got company brother Glenn

[tklarts]

I do not disagree with the woman you met. But I would like to add something. When we resist the devil we usually spend our time engaged with what he is doing too us and our resistance of him. Our focus becomes him. And/or us. Standing looking at the devil to resist him is focusing on him instead of Christ and what He has accomplished for us and given to us. Our focus needs to be Christ. When we look at Christ and focus on the faithfulness of His Word and speak our trust in Him to Him and ourselves, we resist Satan. It is no idle statement Christ made when he commanded "Get thee behind me, Satan!" He knew that it is important not to even look at the one tempting and attacking us. We are to look at Christ, just as He looked always to the Father. Satan is just a block to that gaze.

That is so simple, and in your face it would be easy to not know it! This is a big eye opener, and something my son has been struggling with. I've told him to ignore him in the name of Jesus, but the way you put it conveys it much better.

[mikhen7]

Post #1 begins citing Eph 6:12. I want to draw our attention to the Full Armor of God (Eph 6:13-18). There is no defect in the full armor that we as His followers have been instructed to avail ourselves of!

Shall we complain if our foot is bruised as we walk the disciple’s broken road He has prepared for us, when WE FAIL to shod our feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace?

If we are wounded by the enemy's fiery darts, not having donned the Breastplate of Righteousness or we have left behind the Shield of Faith, has our Redeemer failed us?

If we fail to properly fasten the Belt of Truth, we will be tripped-up when it falls around our ankles, showing us to be an unskilled soldier, unable to master the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (a workman rightly dividing His word – 2Tim 2:15).

Finally, it is a poor soldier that forgets his helmet, the Helmet of Salvation! (How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation (Heb 2:3a).

In the teachings I have absorbed concerning the Full Armor of God as well as many hard knocks, I have found that concerning Spiritual Warfare: What is too frequently labeled “spiritual warfare” is really the CONSEQUENCES we have sown!



Our Peace that Passes ALL understanding is derived from the most prominent word use in John Chapter 15 - - - “ABIDE”!

To Abide is to Obey. Obedience is probably the most distasteful word in the Bible because most of us are proud little gods in our own minds….maybe you’ve all got it, but I am nowhere near passing Obedience 101.

Additionally, our position as Believers is amplified in the most prominent two words found between Colossians Chapter 1:15 – 2:15 - - - “IN HIM”

Outstanding Glenn. I myself am amazed at how the word 'obey" is tossed aside as well. You are so correct. To abide is indeed to obey. Obedience carries with it the stigma of a list of laws. But in reality the obedience taught in the Scripture through Christ is simply becoming what Christ has ordained for us in our lives. his call is to be like Him. We cannot do that without drawing to Him and listening to the still small voice of God. I struggled a lot at times in my early Christian life. It was not until I decided to fully throw myself at His feet in complete surrender that I began to grow. Heb 6:3 becomes more and more meaningful to me everyday. I learned a long time back that if I would just listen to Him and say yes that my trials and troubles, along with all those stinging doubts would begin to fade. Now I just say ok Lord, I will. And I do it.

Father definitely knows best.

Living because of Christ.

[mikhen7]

One last thing, Meg, forgiveness goes a long way when it comes to letting burdens fall away. Jesus said in Mt. 11:28 ff,

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Have you ever pondered on what Jesus was truly saying? Hint, "The true gospel of grace" its emancipating! Its the only true message that can dispel all worries, cares, doubts, and fears. It is perfect!! Liberating!! It was the yoke Christ came to bear. He was so bent on bringing it to the world in obedience to the Father that He knew it would cost Him His life.

Heb. 10,

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:


“ Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’”

8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them ” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.


Wow! That passage speaks volumes to me and even brings tears.

God bless!

[Robert]

Thanks for all the info here folks.



I often wonder that all the trouble I have isn't so much "spiritual warfare" but my own idiocy come back to haunt me...