THEATERS OF COMBAT

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The Heavenlies

"Fear not , Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia." Dan 10:12-13 "...and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince." Dan 10:20-21 The messenger sent to Daniel was Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. This angel is not referred to as an archangel. Only Michael carries that title in the Scripture. Gabriel, a powerful angelic majesty and servant of Almighty God is shown in these passages as being resisted by the prince of Persia and the prince of Grecia or Greece. Those resisting him are not men but powerful fallen angels under the command of Satan. This combat took place in the heavenlies.

In 2Cor 12:2 Paul states that he knows a man who was taken into the third heaven. This scripture passage tells us that there are three heavens; probably the physical heaven we can observe, a second heaven and the third heaven where God's throne is located. The combat taking place between Gabriel and the prince of Persia probably occurred in the second heaven, the main theater of battle between the angels of God and Satan's angels. It is also obvious from the scripture passages in Daniel that our prayers can trigger these angelic confrontations.

In Eph 6:12 we are told that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenlies."(Although the KJV shows this as "high places" the Greek word used is "epouraneous" which is translated as "heavenly places" in Eph 1:20 and Eph 2:6.) In Eph 1:21 four classes of angels are revealed: principalities, powers, mights and dominions which are probably the same four groups as are referenced in Eph 6:12 with different names applied to the last two classes.



Observations:

1. It would appear that the angelic rebellion occurred at the principality level.

2. Principalities rule over empires and major kingdoms, powers rule over nations of lesser power and influence, mights or rulers of darkness of this world rule over regions and dominions or spiritual forces of wickedness probably rule over cities.

The binding power was given to Christians by Jesus in Matt 18:18, and the reference to "binding the strongman" was made by Jesus in Matthew 12: 29. Before the gospel can be spread effectively in certain areas, the strongman must be bound through intercessory prayer and deliverance. This need is most notable in Haiti where there has been so much resistance to the gospel. In 1802 the shamans or "witch doctors" from each of the tribes in Haiti met in national accord to pray to Satan. At that time the shamans prayed that, if Satan would help them overthrow French colonial rule, they would give their country over to his dominion. The Haitians went on to victory over the French and into enslavement by Satan. For the gospel to make a powerful impact in Haiti, intercessory prayer groups called to spiritual warfare have to come against the principality that Satan has assigned to rule over this region.

The Human Soul


The theater of war most commonly used in deliverance is the human soul. Note the references to the strongholds and imaginations in 2 Cor 10:3-5: "For though we walk in the flesh we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds). Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ:" 2Cor 10: 3-5



The Believer's Authority & Protection



Jesus first sent his twelve Apostles out in groups of two to preach the good news and "When he had called unto him his 12 disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and power to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease" (Matt 10:1). After this Jesus dispatched His 70 disciples to perform the same service with the same authority. When these disciples returned to Him, they reported the results of this power over demon spirits. Jesus cautions them not to become focused on this power or to become prideful and recounts Satan's fall. He then tells them "Behold, I give unto you power (Greek: exousia) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power (Greek: dunamis from which we get our word "dynamite") of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Luke 10:19).
  • "There shall no evil befall thee neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
    For He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways." Psa 91:10-11
  • "The Lord shall protect you from evil; he shall preserve your soul." Psa 121:7
  • "But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you and keep you from evil." 2Thess 3:3

    A point of dispensational theology could be raised and claimed that these powers were intended only to accompany the Gospel of the Kingdom ("Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand" Matt 3:2, Matt 9:35).
    However, these same powers accompanied the preaching of the Gospel of Grace ("Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved" Acts 16:31):

  • Paul's confrontation with Elymas Acts 13:10-11

  • The spiritual confrontation in Philippi (Acts 16:18

  • the spiritual conflict at Ephesus - Acts 19:12-19

    Other Examples of the Kingdoms in Conflict:

  • Moses confrontation with Jannes and Jombres -Exodus 7:10-12
  • Jesus' Confrontation with Satan -Matthew 4
  • Jesus preaching in the synagogue -Mark 1:23-28
  • The Gadarene demoniac -Mark 5:1-20
  • After the Transfiguration, the confrontation at the foot of the mountain Mark 9:14-29

    When the Gospel is preached in power and the Holy Spirit is using an active Church in ministering to the unsaved and backslidden, we shouldn't wonder why a demonic manifestation occurs in a service. When this never happens, we have scriptural grounds to ask why not. These were normal occurrences in the early Church, in great revivals of this century and will happen here when we walk in revival.
    Some wonder why would Jesus entrust deliverance into the hands of his disciples. The greater wonder is that He would entrust the preaching of the Gospel to His disciples. One answer might be that Almighty God seems pleased to defeat His enemies in His weakness. Jesus defeated Satan in His weakness at the cross. This pattern in the spiritual conflict continues today as God defeats His enemies through His weakness - us. The Lord uses His enemies to accomplish His purposes with His people. When He is through, He shows in the Old Testament how He will destroy the enemies of His people. At the end of this age Jesus will destroy Satan in the brightness of His coming. (Rev 19:11-20 and 2Thess 2:8).



    SPEAKING ABOUT ANGELIC MAJESTIES




    "Likewise also these filthy dreamers (false teachers) defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet, Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said 'the Lord rebuke thee'". Jude 8-9
    "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord." 2Peter 2:10-11

    It should be clear that we are not to speak railing accusations or with derision against fallen angelic majesties.



    SATAN'S AVENUES OF ENTRY:



  • sin - 1John 3:8-10
  • a passive mind -To be covered under the helmet of salvation and actively meditating on God's Word
  • resentment/bitterness -Matt 18: 21-35
  • fear -Job 1:10, Ecc 10:8, Job 3:25 (read together)
  • occult -Deut 18:10-14
  • occult objects, astrological signs or similar things in the home - DEUT 7:25-26
  • generational transmission -Exodus 20:4-5
  • continual sin and disobedience- Judges 2:11-14
    Therefore Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Jas 4:7)



    The Defensive Armor:



    In Ephesians 6:12-18 the Christian's defensive armor and the main offensive weapon is identified. "Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Take ye the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (Greek: methodeia; to follow-up by method, using deceit, craft and trickery) of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities (Greek: archas; a series of rulers and magistrates), against powers (Greek "exousia" meaning power with authority), against the rulers of darkness of this age (Greek: kosmokratoras; "princes of this age"), against spiritual forces of wickedness (Greek: "pneumatikos poneria" meaning spirits greater than man but less than God who are depravity, iniquity, wickedness) in the heavenlies (Greek: "Epouraneous" means "heavenlies" not "high place" and is translated correctly in the KJV in Eph 1:20, Eph 2:6). Wherefore take unto you the whole armor (Greek: "panoplia": from which we get our word "panoply" meaning a wide-ranging and impressive display) of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand, stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all take the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all of the fiery darts (Greek: "belos" meaning dart, javelin or arrow) of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit."

  • Belt of Truth (Greek: "Aletheia" meaning objective truth and truth as a personal excellence, that candor of mind that is free from affection, pretense, simulation, falsehood and deceit). This is the truth of God's Word and the truth about ourselves in the innermost being described in Psalm 51:6.

  • Breastplate of Righteousness - protection for the heart.

  • Boots; shod with Preparation of the Gospel of Peace - ready to witness the good news - compared to soldiers in a state of combat readiness sleeping with their boots on.

  • Shield of Faith - Roman shield covered the entire torso.
    Without faith in the Word of God and in the Person of Jesus Christ, we cannot withstand the enemies' "fiery darts" or "belos" (fiery arrows) of temptation. The Greek word for "faith" is "pistis" meaning belief in the truth (God's Word) and fidelity or faithfulness, a person who can be relied upon because of the diligent, unwavering character of that person.

  • Helmet of salvation: 1Thess 5:8 is the hope of salvation Also protecting the thought life. Phil 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

    Another way we protect our thought life is to avoid a passive mind. This is an inactive mind that is most common in one who views television excessively. This is not a message directing everyone to turn off the TV sets. It is just an example of a passive mind that is the easiest to understand.

    Satan works with a passive mind through imaginations and fantasies not centered on Jesus Christ and His Word. There is a classical work on spritual warfare written by Jessie Penn-Lewis with the help of Evan Roberts, the great evangelist in the Welsh Visitation of 1905. It is called War on the Saints and represents some deep insights into Satan's counterfeits found within this holy sovereign move of God. My comments on the passive mind are derived from this source and from my experience with a similar move within the Charismatic Renewal of the '70s referred to as "contemplative prayer". We are instructed in the Word of God to meditate on His Word:
    Jos 1:8 " This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
    1Ti 4:15 "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; ..."
    Ps 1:2 "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
    Ps 63:6 " When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
    Ps 77:12 " I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings."
    Ps 49:3 " My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding."
    Psa 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
    We are not to meditate with blank or passive minds. This passive mind is a pre-requisite in practicing transcendental meditation and yoga.
    The concept of "contemplative prayer" was introduced by Thomas Merton, a Catholic Trappist monk, who had fellowship with Tibetan monks and "christianized" a pagan prayer practice. This dangerous prayer method was erroneously introduced into the Charismatic Renewal in the 1970's.

  • The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God
  • Praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.

    WEAPONS:

    1. Sword of the Spirit - The Word of God
    The use of the Word of God in combat is best illustrated by Matthew 4 where Satan tries to tempt Jesus.. Jesus responds to Satan using the Word of God. In the second temptation we see that Satan quotes Scripture (Psalm 91:11), taking the Word of God out of context, to try to tempt Jesus Who responds by quoting from Deut 6:16 "... thou shalt not tempt the Lord your God". This tells us two things:
    a. Satan knows the Scriptures and will misuse them for his own evil purposes generally by taking scripture out of context.
    b. We must know the Word of God and continually strive to know it better. Jesus said, in response to the first temptation, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Deut 8:3, Matt 4:4). The Scriptures also teach us how to discern the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of error 1Cor 12:3, 1John 4:2, 15. Word of God defines our authority, directs us on how to use it, and provides the necessary Scriptures aimed at a particular problem.

    2. The Name of Jesus - 1 Cor 12:3, Mark 16:17, John 14:13, John 16:26

    3. The Blood of the Lamb Rev 12:11

    4. Prayer, praise and testimony "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" Eph6:18, Rev. 12:11

    5. the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit: Discerning of Spirits
    Note Paul's use of this gift in determining the difference between the restraining of the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6 and the hindering of Satan (1Thess 2:18)



    David picked up 5 stones to confront Goliath with a slingshot and slew Goliath with the first one (1Sam 17:40-49. The other 4 were symbolically prophetic because David did slay four other giants later in combat. (2Sam 21:22).
    Using the authority and the provision given to us by Jesus through the power of His Holy Spirit, most deliverance sessions are subdued, peaceful resembling healing prayer from a distance. The person seeking deliverance need not be in the condition of the Gadarene demoniac to ask for prayer. We have had many examples over the years of beautiful Christian people who ask for this type of prayer to overcome some area of their lives where they have not been walking in the victorious abundant life that Jesus promises us in John 10:10 "The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" and John 8:36 "If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Deliverance sessions are held in the utmost confidence by deliverance ministers. One sure way for a deliverance team member to open an avenue in his or her life to the enemy is to betray a trust and to gossip. We minister deliverance in Jesus' Name by His authority only. The only candidates qualifying for deliverance are those seeking Jesus and Believers seeking to be released from a bondage in an area of their lives.



    Filling the House



    The ministry of deliverance is not a panacea for all of our problems or even for most of them. In some ways it is a negative ministry that uses the authority of Jesus to set believers free of bondages in their lives. The positive aspect is that of seeing Christians set free of compulsive, overwhelming desires and thoughts. The believer is free to make choices in the face of temptation. We will be tempted (Jas 1:2-4). Through a consistent, persevering denial of a temptation, we die to the flesh in that area of our former lives. In dealing with temptation, please refer to Topics - Exchanges at the Cross #7 and the pattern in appropriating God's promises.
    Demons will try to come back to what they believe to be their "house".
    Matt 12:43-45 "When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first..."
  • This scripture shows us that demon spirits are disembodied spirits unlike angels who have angelic bodies.

  • Demons must find a habitation, preferring a human body but settling for swine if necessary Mark 5:12). These, in my opinion, cannot be the same as the angelic majesties referred to in Jude 8-9 and 2 Peter 2: 10-11.

  • They will try to come back!
    "Filling the House" consists of surrendering the problem area and every other area of our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This is best described in Romans 12:1-2: "I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Verse 1 deals with our bodies, but note that, in verse 12:2 we are told "be ye transformed..." indicating that we must take the initiative to do this. Only God can cleanse our hearts but we can;
    1. seek His repentant grace when we are convicted of sin in our lives
    2. seek His face diligently in prayer asking Him to continue to renew us in His Spirit
    3. Use the Word of God for our minds so that they are washed "by the water of the word" Eph 5:26
    4. Defend our thought life as described in Phil 4:8
    5. Treat our persons as a city to be defended. The Word of God makes this comparison:
    "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he who ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city." Prov 16:32
    "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls." Prov 25:28



    BINDING, LOOSING & the STRONG MAN



    • "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matt 18:18
    "Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house." Matt 12:29
    The strong man is either a very powerful demonic force binding an individual or an evil angelic authority with power over an individual, a group, a city, a region or an entire nation. The deliverance ministry usually deals with the individuals who are bound. Intercessory prayer teams and possibly the deliverance ministry can be involved in this type of spiritual action whereby the evil authority is bound, the people involved are prayed for through intercession and the gospel is preached in power. This type of action requires periods of committed prayer at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit under Church authority. This action should not be engaged in lightly or as a half-hearted exercise.



    Example of the Pensacola Beach



    "Since the late 1960's Pensacola has been promoted in homosexual publications. Local citizens can remember homosexual conventions at the San Carlos Hotel (razed in 1993). The City Council was asked to declare Pensacola as "gay friendly" by homosexuals and several local businesses. Over the last few years, Pensacola was dubbed 'the gay riviera' in homosexual magazines. A seven-mile stretch of beach East of Pensacola Beach has been increasingly used by homosexuals especially around the Memorial Day holiday. As many as 50,000 "gays" were reported to have attended Gay Pride activities here in 1994. God will not be mocked!


    Some local area Christians anointed the beach area and prayed at that area after the activities of 1994 were completed. The writer (Vicky Conroy) was one of them. We prayed that God would repel the invasion from our city, and do whatever it took to bring those who went to the gay beach to repentance. In 1995 the eyes of Hurricanes Erin and Opal crossed that seven mile section of "gay" beach. Roads to the area were destroyed and for over a year the area was inaccessible. The paths of the storms that hit just six weeks apart crossed the "gay" beach and marked an X of destruction." (quoted from a flyer by Mike & Vickey Conroy, Legal Action for Women, a pro-life ministry in Pensacola, FL)

    In conclusion, we are all in a spritual war serving the Lord our God who is the Commander of the armies of heaven. Rev 19:11-16 "And I saw heaven opened and, behold, a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns, and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called the Word of God. And the armies that were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written , King of Kings and Lord of Lords."




    We can choose to ride with Jesus now and stand and fight. If we choose "later" or choose to ignore the war, our enemy will still try to attack your weak points. Ignoring the war won't make the enemy of your souls go away and leave you alone. "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert, for your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1Peter 5:8).



    • Isaiah 31:9


    LINKS

    Spiritual Warfare - Origin of Evil
    Scripture Topics
    Believer's Position "In Christ"
    Faith Statement
    RETURN TO WAR INDEX


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    JESUS IS LORD Ministries of Monroe
    March 1, 2000