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Spiritual Warfare - Part 2


We are at War

There is a spiritual war going on.  There are battles in the heavens over your country, state, city, and neighborhood.  That the devil has specific (familiar) demons and plans assigned to you for your defeat. 
2 Cor 10:3
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

Eph 6:12-18
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.

2 Tim 2:3-4
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
When I used to be in the martial arts, our attitude was "today is the day that you will meet the enemy that will (try to) kill you".  The intent was... Are you ready?  Are you in top shape?  Have you trained your best?  Have you done everything that you could have done to be ready for this single-most-important life-altering event that is going to take place NOW?

Well, child of God, today is the day that the enemy that wants to kill you is seeking you!  Are you ready?  When you get wounded (e.g., sick), will you roll over and be sick, or will you rise to the occasion and fight thru.  I have two scriptures for you:
Prov 24:10
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

2 Sam 23:9-10
And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
The men of Israel were gone away, that is, they ran away, leaving Eleazar alone.  This one man rose in faith to the occasion, bringing victory to many, who return afterwards for the blessings.  It only takes one to bring the victory and spoil for others.  Have you strengthened yourself and exercised yourself in the Word of God to your very best to bring victory to others?  Then praise God and lets move forward and take the land, in the name of Jesus.


What our Weapons and Tactics are

The good news is that Jesus has won the victory for us.
Col 2:13-15
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting 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; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

1 Peter 3:22
Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
The meaning of the greek words and writing of this section convey that Jesus not only won, but that he took captive the devil and his forces, and in Roman style, stripped them naked, removing all their weapons / armor / clothes, and made a show / parade of them for all to see that they were defeated and humiliated. 

Jesus has made us more than conquerors by giving us His victory and His weapons to enforce the victory. 
Hebrews   10:12-13
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
 
Victory thru the Blood, the Word, and Laying Down our Lives
We overcome the devil thru using the blood of the Lamb, the word of faith confession (testimony), and not loving our fleshly self-centered life.
Rev 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
The Blood
First, we overcome by the blood of the Lamb.  As discussed in the Blood Covenant section, the "zoe" life of God in the blood of Jesus meet the moral standards of God, for the penalty for sin, and paid the redeeming price forever.  That "zoe" life in the blood is what prevents Satan and his forces from crossing it, when you plead it over yourself and your family.  Satan dares not touch the blood lest it consume him!  Praise God forever more!

When you "plead" the blood of Jesus over your life and ministry, over the work of your hands, and over your relationships, and your health and finances, in Jesus' name,

(1) you make a legal plea (of innocent or pardoned) in the High Court of Heaven, putting the devil in remembrance that you are blood bought and blood washed by the blood of Jesus, with the right judgment having been declared, and are thereby free from all curses,
Job 16:21
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

Ps 35:1
Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

Ps 119:154
Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

Isa 3:13
The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.
(2) you activate faith in the blood:
Rom 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
(3) you apply the blood over yourself (as the Israelis did their doors in Egypt) and God will not let the devil (destroyer) touch you. 

The Word
Second, we overcome by the word of our testimony.  This is not getting up a church to "testify" that God saved you, woke you up this morning, gave you breath today... though God did all that, but that is giving Him thanksgiving.  The word of our testimony is our faith confession, our faith declaration (SHOUT IT OUT!)...
"Devil, you cannot touch me for I am blood bought and blood washed, me and all my household are saved (Acts 11:14), and delivered from the power of darkness (authority of darkness) (Col 1:13, 2 Tim 1:7), and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, Jesus Christ, in Jesus' name (Col 1:13), no curse can land without cause (Prov 26:2), and I shall not be visited with evil (Isa 54:14), for no evil shall befall me (Ps 91:10), in Jesus' name."
God said in Isa 55:11 that His Word would not return void, but accomplish and prosper that which He please.  God's Word returns to Him when it comes out of your mouth, when you give it Life / Breath.  That paper and ink book you have in your hand that you call a Bible is not sharper than a two-edged sword, the Word is sharper than a two-edged sword when it comes out of your mouth!  It is not your word (e.g., "Oh, I don't feel so good today."), but His Word in your mouth (e.g., "with whose stripes you were healed... be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man", in Jesus' name). 
Rom 10:8
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

2 Cor 4:13
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

Rev 2:16
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
The two witnesses in Revelation could not be killed until they finished their testimony (Rev 11:7) including doing signs and wonders.  How did they do signs and wonders? How did people hear their testimony?  By the words of their mouth. 

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev 19:10).  Prophecy is something in the future, that the Word either (1) revealed or (2) is causing to come to pass.  Therefore, you take the Word in your mouth and speak to the circumstances and cause what you want to come to pass.  Remember according to Proverbs 18:21, death and life are in the power of your tongue.  How did you get born again? By believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth.

Not Loving Our Lives unto Death
Second, we must lay down our lives, what we think we are or should be (pride of life), and what we think we want (lust of the eyes & lust of the flesh).  If a person stays in their live, that is, live of sin, they will go to hell.  Or if a person wants to do something their way, rather that The Way, it will fail.  Jesus said:
Luke 9:23-26
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
And Paul:
1 Cor 15:31
I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

2 Cor 11:28
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Victory thru Knowing the Word

The only thing that is going to keep you is the Word of God. It's the Word, It's the Word, It's the Word... 

God said His people are destroyed because of a lack of knowledge... of Him and His Word.
Hos 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, Jesus quoted the Word in answer to him (Matt 4:4, 7, 10) "... it is written...".  You have to use the Word of God too as a weapon of warfare against the devil and his forces.  God's Word is the sword of the Spirit that we are to wield against the devil.
Eph 6:17-18
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, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Heb 4:12-13
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Why?  Because God hastens to perform His Word.
Jer 1:12
Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

Isa 55:12
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.

Ps 147:15
He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
How do you know if you are getting the good thing from God, or a bad thing?  By knowing the Word.  If it is a bad thing, it is a curse, which you are redeemed from.  You must know the Word, believe the Word, pray the Word (when you have a need, find the covenant promise in the Word, and pray it), speak the Word...


Victory thru the Name of Jesus

(See "Prayer - Part 2" on speaking to the circumstances.)

You have authority in the name of Jesus, over demons, over sickness and disease, over every curse.  Jesus inherited all power and authority in Heaven and on earth after His resurrection, and has given that authority to us, as delegated kings and ambassadors on the earth.  But we must take it and use it.  We must go looking for the enemy, to destroy his works and set the captives free. 
Luke       9:1-2
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Psalms    91:13
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under foot.

Luke      10:17-19
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:  and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Mark      16:15-18
And he 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 devils; 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.

Acts 3:6
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Acts 3:16
16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Sometimes, you just need a witty idea of how to use the name of Jesus in your situation.  For example,  you can speak to your mind, will, or emotions and command them to change in the name of Jesus.  You don't have to be depressed.  You don't have to be lead around by your fleshy or soulish desires.  You can take authority over them, in the name of Jesus.  I tell people to do spiritual experiments to prove the Word.  For example, the next time you get hungry for a particular type of food, speak to your soulish will (i.e., the will is in the soul) and demand in the name of Jesus for it to desire some other type of food.  Your desire (and the taste in your mouth) should instantly change.  If not, keep practicing it till it does.  This is how you develop yourself in faith in the name of Jesus, by using it.  (This is also how you enforce being spirit-led (the Holy Spirit leading your spirit) to rule over your soul (verse soul-lead) and flesh (verse flesh-lead).  We will address this in much more detail in the School of the Spirit.) 

Most everyone who knows me knows my "roach" story.  I have a friend named Stephen, who has a friend who was reading Mark 11:23 ("whosoever shall say.. not doubt... shall have...").  As he read, he saw a roach crawling on the wall.  He got up and went over to the roach and started commanding it to die and fall off the wall.  He stood there and commanded it, in the name of Jesus, over 500 times.  And it fell off the wall, dead.  Stephen says he has seen this friend walk up to a roach on the wall and speak to it, ONE TIME, and it fall dead off the wall.  Why? Because he has developed his faith in the name.  I said "this is great" as I don't like roaches.  So when I got home, I started looking for a roach.  The next time I saw one, I started speaking to it.  Ten times, fifteen times, twenty times, twenty-five times, twenty-eight times... man, this is work (Yes, developing faith is work)... So I stopped at twenty-eight times.  BUT since that time, I find roaches at the door or window edge, dead.  There was an authority and anointing that was developed and resided there.  On extremely rare occasions, I will see a live one late at night.  I will speak once to it, go to bed, and in the morning there it is, legs up, dead. 

I have another friend who used to shoot flies out of the air with the name of Jesus.  You say, now that is getting weird, what good is that.  Well, get up and start shooting the spirit flies (demons) from the Lord of the Flies (the devil) out of your air space (priesthood) and enforce your victory, in the name of Jesus!

The name of Jesus works!


Victory thru Binding and Loosing

(See "Prayer - Part 2" on Binding and Loosing)
Matthew   12:29
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.

Mark       3:27
No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Matthew   16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Matthew   18:18
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.
Raise up early every morning and seek God's presence.  Praise Him for who He is, Thank Him for what He has done, intercede for others, and ask for what you have need of - believing you receive it when you ask. 

Then go on the offense and seek Satan!  Bind his forces that afflict and oppress you and your family.  Bind depression, bind anger, bind poverty and sickness!  Bind strife and rebellion in your children!  Loose peace, loose the apage love of God!  Loose the Holy Spirit you move on your behalf, in the name of Jesus.  Loose unity in your house.  Loose your children from Satan's hold.  Loose your finances.  Command your blessings to be loosed and to come forth and be manifested, in the name of Jesus!


Victory thru Praise

When it seems that the battle is too great for you, then enter into Praise.
Ps 50:23
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation
aright will I shew the salvation of God.
The word "glorifieth" in the Hebrew literally means to make heavy or weighty.  God's anointing and His glory (His manifested presence) can have a weight that is sometimes felt to them.  The anointing at times will feel like a mantle or blanket throw over you, at other times the anointing will feel like oil running down your forehead, at other times it can fell like hot oil poured or brushed own your body somewhere. 

The main point is, that as you praise God, even in the middle of a battle that seems to strong for you, He will manifest Himself to bring (show) His deliverance (salvation) to you. 

In the Hebrew words for salvation and deliverance are the same.  When Jesus came to save you, He delivered you from all evil. 
Luke 1:74
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

Col 1:13
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Remember Israel was delivered from an army to great for them:
2 Chron 20:14-22
Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
Think of Paul in prison in Philippi:
Acts 16:25-26
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.   And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
And begin to Praise and Worship your God, the God of Hosts, Who is greater than all, and He will begin to fight for you, for you are His, and He will bring forth and show His salvation unto you!
2 Cor      2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.
Now it is time for you to take the weapons of our warfare, and go forth and prove them by using them until you become effective and victorious with them.  As Romans 12:2 says, that you must prove... You must produce the results, the victories, by taking God's Word and weapons forward into the battle.



Offensive Warfare

As an overcomer, you need to do more than just sit around waiting for the devil to attach you or your family.  You need to fight offensive warfare by
(1) maintaining and protecting your ground, and
(2) going after the enemy's ground. 
Remember that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (Acts 10:38, 1 John 3:8), and we are to carry that fight forward (Matt 10:7-8, Mark 16:15-18).  Jesus said that the gates of Hell would not prevail (Matt 16:18), remember gates are only good for keeping someone out, not for advancing an army or conquering territory, that is, the devil is trying desperately to keep what he has stolen, but Jesus said the gates would not prevail, but that we take it from the devil by force (Matt 11:12) thru the Word of God. 

One way to maintain and protect your ground is thru daily confession of the Word.  Christianity in the 1st century was called the Great Confession.  Remember that the way you got born-again was through believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth (Rom 10:9-10), so believing was not enough, but you received the miracle of being born-again through confession of your mouth.  Below is an example of a daily confession that you could use.  Note that most of this is simply quoting/confession the Word, which are your weapons of warfare against the devil.
   
Father, I ask You to forgive us individually and corporately (me and my household) of all sin. I receive and appropriate the Blood of Jesus that washes us clean from all sin, 1 John 1:9
in Jesus' name. John 14:13, 16:26
I plead the Blood of Jesus over us individually and corporately, and over all our lives and ministries, and the work of our hands, and over our relationships, and our health and finances, in Jesus' name.
Rev 12:11
I surround us with an impregnable hedge of protection and shield of faith, in Jesus' name. Job 1:10, Ps 3:3, 18:35, 115:9-11


And peace, peace, peace, Prov 16:7, Rom 14:17
And grace, grace, grace, Ester 2:7, Ps 84:11, Zech 4:7
And favor, favor, favor as a shield,
in Jesus' name.
Prov 3:3-4, Ps 5:12, Luke 2:52, Act 7:10


I shut and condemn every tongue risen in judgment against us,
in Jesus name.
Isa 54:17
And those that sent evil maliciously, I surround with a hedge to hedge up their way so that the demonic spirits that have been operating with them cannot visit them or operate with them anymore forever, in the name of Jesus. Hosea 2:6-7
Father God, I ask you in the name of Jesus, to bless them with salvation,
that You turn their hearts unto You, as rivers of water,
Prov 21:1
that You give them eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to receive Deut 29:4
the engrafted Word, which is able to save their souls. Jam 1:21


I negate every negative and evil word said, sent, or spoken against us,
I shut and condemn every tongue risen in judgment against us,
Isa 54:17
That not even the tongue of a dog shall rise against us, in Jesus' name.  Ex 11:7
I bind every demonic and/or evil force and/or spirit sent against us, Matt 16:19, 18:18
in Jesus' name,  
Mark 16:17
every principality, and power, and ruler of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in heavenly places sent against us, in Jesus' name,
Eph 6:12
And I cast them out away from us,
Mark 16:17
And into the abyss (bottomless pit, a prison), in Jesus name, Luke 8:31, Rev 9:1-3
And demand that they and their kind never return to us again, in Jesus' name. Mark 9:25


No weapon formed or fashioned shall prosper against us,
Isa 54:17
Though a thousand fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand, no sickness, no disease, no poverty, no lack, no witchcraft, no evil may come near me nor my family nor dwelling place; Ps 91:7
for me and all my household are saved; Acts 11:14
and delivered from the power of darkness (authority of darkness), Col 1:13, 2 Tim 1:7
And translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, Jesus Christ, in Jesus' name; Col 1:13
No curse can land without cause, 
Prov 26:2
And I shall not be visited with evil;  
Isa 54:14
for no evil shall befall me, in Jesus' name. Ps 91:10
I command wars to cease against me, Ps 46:9
For we are no longer under the dominion of sin, death, or darkness, Rom 6:9, 11, 7:1
but under the Spirit of Life and Liberty in Christ Jesus, in Jesus' name. Rom 8:2, Rev 11:11, 2 Cor 3:7, Luke 4:18, Gal 5:13


I am blessed, blessed, blessed, Deut 28:8
and cannot be cursed, in Jesus' name. Gal 3:13
I am the head and not the tail, Deut 28:13
I am above only and not beneath, in Jesus' name.
Deut 28:13
Blessings coming upon me, and overtaking me, in Jesus' name. Deut 28:2


I have Life and have it more abundantly, in Jesus' name. John 10:10
I loose the Spirit of God, and the Shekinah Glory of God,            
the anointings of God (which destroy every yoke and drives out every evil spirit),
Isa 10:27
and the presence and power of God to minister for us and to us and thru us, in Jesus' name. Isa 45:11
I demand that there be an open heaven above us now and continually, in Jesus' name. Deut 28:12 (compare to 28:23), Matt 3:16
I loose guarding, ministering, and warring angels to camp round about us,
to drive out and keep out every evil spirit,
Psalms 91:11
and to minister for us and to us as heirs of salvation, in Jesus' name. Heb 1:13-14
Father God,
I thank you that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world, 
1 John 4:4
and that there are more for me than against me, in Jesus' name. 2 King 6:16
                       
So fight the good (victorious) fight of faith, so at the end you can say, like Paul, that I have kept the faith. 
1 Tim 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

2 Tim 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

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