Spiritual Warfare

Lesson 1

Introduction

Luke 11:1-3
11 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray...

It is interesting that of all the things that the disciples could have asked Jesus...they asked Him to teach them to pray. Why? Because they saw that no matter what Jesus did...he always separated himself from them and prayed first. And that was an impact on the disciples that this is something they needed to know how to do...if they wanted to be successful in everything they did.

We need to go from only praying in a crisis situation, to living a prayer life, and walking in a life of Spiritual Warfare!

Ephesians 6:10-18
The Passion Translation
Spiritual Warfare
10 Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you. 11 Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! 12 Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. 13 Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious. 14 Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. 15 Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace. 16 In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the evil one! 17–18 Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken word of God. Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers.

We are in a battle, a war, against the enemy of our soul. This is no ordinary enemy of flesh and blood. This is an enemy that fights in the Spirit realm. We can't defeat him with man made weapons. We have to use Spiritual weapons to win! We need to train and be disciplined the Word of God, if we want to defeat our enemy.

2 Timothy 2:1-5
The Passion Translation
Grace to Overcome
2 Timothy, my dear son, live your life empowered by God’s free-flowing grace, which is your true strength, found in the anointing of Jesus and your union with him! 2 And all that you’ve learned from me, confirmed by the integrity of my life, deposit into faithful leaders who are competent to teach the congregations the same revelation. 3 Overcome every form of evil as a victorious soldier of Jesus the Anointed One. 4 For every soldier called to active duty must divorce himself from the distractions of this world so that he may fully satisfy the one who chose him. 5 An athlete who doesn’t play by the rules will never receive the trophy, so remain faithful to God!

Many Christians don't even know that there is a battle to be fought. They let the devil walk all over them, feeding them lies of defeat, sickness and poverty. They say things like...if God wants me well, he will heal me. If he wants me to have money, he will give it to me. They don't even know that it is already done, they just have to receive it. They have not been taught, or were taught by someone that wasn't taught properly...or haven't studied the Word to find out what it says.

Luke 6:39-40
The Passion Translation
39 Jesus also quoted these proverbs: “What happens when a blind man pretends to guide another blind man? They both stumble into a ditch! 40 And how could the apprentice know more than his master, for only after he is fully qualified will he be at that level.

1 Peter 5:8
The Passion Translation
8 Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour.

John 10:7-10
The Passion Translation
7 So Jesus went over it again, “I speak to you eternal truth: I am the Gate for the flock. 8 All those who broke in before me are thieves who came to steal, but the sheep never listened to them. 9 I am the Gateway. To enter through me is to experience life, freedom, and satisfaction. 10 A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!

But it is not just going to fall into your lap, you have to believe for it. Do spiritual warfare to get it out of the clutches of the enemy. He will do everything he can to keep from you what Jesus died and rose again to pay for. If it kills, steals or destroys, it is the devil! He is out to steal the Word from you, so that you are defenseless.

Read Mark 4 especially these verses

Mark 4:13-20
The Passion Translation
13 Then he said to them, “If you don’t understand this parable, how will you understand any parable? 14 Let me explain: The farmer sows the message of the kingdom. 15 What falls on the beaten path represents those who hear the message, but immediately Satan appears and snatches it from their hearts. 16 And what is sown on gravel represents those who hear the message and receive it joyfully, 17 but because their hearts fail to sink a deep root, they don’t endure for long. For when trouble or persecution comes on account of the message, they immediately wilt and fall away. 18 And what is sown among thorns represents those who hear the message, 19 but they allow the cares of this life and the seduction of wealth and the desires for other things to crowd out and choke the message so that it produces nothing. 20 “But what is sown on good soil represents those who open their hearts to receive the message and their lives bear good fruit—some yield a harvest of thirty, sixty, even a hundredfold!”

While Jesus was on this earth he exercised spiritual warfare every day. Satan was constantly trying to hinder him and keep him from fulfilling his ministry here on earth. And he has not changed. He wants to keep us from doing the work of the ministry today as well. He will throw road blocks in front of you constantly to keep you from doing what God wants you to do. Whether it be physical or mental illness, worry, lack of finances, people or whatever, he will try to stop you.

We need to be aware of him and his devices

2 Corinthians 2:10-11
The Passion Translation
10 If you freely forgive anyone for anything, then I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I did so for you before the face of Christ, 11 so that we would not be exploited by the adversary, Satan, for we know his clever schemes.

Satan’s primary weapon is deception. If he can get you to believe what you see in front of you he has half the battle won. He is a liar and the father of them.

John 8:44
The Passion Translation
44 “You are the offspring of your father, the devil, and you serve your father very well, passionately carrying out his desires. He’s been a murderer right from the start! He never stood with the truth, for he’s full of nothing but lies—lying is his native tongue. He is a master of deception and the father of lies!

While reading this over today for the study it came to mind that a prime example of this scripture is the politicians of today...at least the ones that lie all the time. We have to recognize that it is the devil that drives them and makes them deceptive and do the things they do, and they do it passionately and with anger. That is why it is so important to attack in the Spirit realm, not the physical realm for it to do any good. Attacking the physical realm will only bring frustration and anger. Attacking in the Spirit realm gets to the root of it and God can work there.

If we can learn to recognize Satan for what he is and how to detect him, we have the battle half won! How do we do that? Learn the word of God so that we will know that if it is contrary to the word of God, then it is a lie.

Romans 3:4 Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar.

So we know that the word of God is true no matter what the circumstances look like. If we can remember that, then we will have the victory.

What is spiritual warfare? It is a battle that is fought in the spirit realm with spiritual weapons.

2 Corinthians 10:2-6
The Passion Translation
2 Now I plead with you that when I come, don’t force me to take a hard line with you (which I’m willing to do) by daring to confront those who mistakenly believe that we are living by the standards of the world, not by the Spirit’s wisdom and power. 3 For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. 4 Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. 5 We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.6 Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish any trace of rebellion, as soon as you choose complete obedience.

One of the most important things to realize and possibly one of the hardest things to do, I think, is to realize or discover that we can control the natural realm from the spiritual realm. But we can! The two are tied together. We just need to trust God's Word and that is can tear down every work of the devil.

In the beginning God said "Let there be light! And it was so!" His words were spoken in the Spirit realm, because He is a spirit, but the results were in the flesh realm. He gave man dominion over the whole world. He gave Adam that right. Unfortunately, Adam gave it away! But when Jesus died and rose again, he got it back for us. So our spirit words will bring the same results as His...if we believe it and are bold enough to proclaim it.

Matthew 28:18-19
The Passion Translation
18 Then Jesus came close to them and said, “All authority of the universe has been given to me. 19 Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16:17-18
The Passion Translation
17 And these miracle signs will accompany those who believe: They will drive out demons in the power of my name. They will speak in tongues. 18 They will be supernaturally protected from snakes and from drinking anything poisonous. And they will lay hands on the sick and heal them.”

So our job is to discover how this works and how to make it work for us. God’s word is full of instruction on spiritual warfare. It is the "How to" book of books. We just have to tap into it and learn what to do. When we do that, the other half of the battle will be won.

The Bible has great examples of Spiritual warfare. The most clear account is found in Daniel.

Daniel 10 the whole chapter is the account of the story. I am going to pick out some key verses to look at but I suggest you read the whole account

Daniel 10:10-13
New King James Version
10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.

Daniel had set himself to fast and pray about a matter and for twenty one days had heard nothing. We see here the reason is because the angel with the message had been delayed in high places by demons. It wasn’t until Michael came and helped him that he was able to get through with the answer.

This was Old Covenant. It took 21 days for the answer to come. There is still battle going on in the heavenlies, but the difference now is that we have the name of Jesus. It is more powerful then anything that the devil tries to bring accross our path. But we have to enforce it and believe that it will do what the Word says it will do. We have to have Faith in God, and have the Faith of God. We have to be warriors in the army of God and fight our battles with Spiritual weapons.

Important to know...there is no struggle between God and the devil...there never has been. God has always been and always will be more powerful then the devil. The battle is between the forces of darkness and the forces of light that fight for believers. There is a constant battle going on in the Spirit realm that we don't see. But it is only as we as believers stand on the Word of God...which is our only way to victory...that the battle's are won. That is why we can't give up...that we need to continue to pray to see the results.
God can and will only act on His Word. As much as he cares for us...even Jesus had to act on the Word of God while he was here on this earth. So if we sit around and whine about the circumstances in our lives and around our lives...we will never see victory. Faith filled words, based on the Word of God...are our weapon against the enemy. Is is essential to believe that we are fighting from a position of Victory, not a postion of defeat, before we even pray.

2 Kings 6:14-18
New King James Version
14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

Psalm 46:7
The Passion Translation
7 Here he comes! The Commander! The mighty Lord of Angel Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob fights for us!

Isaiah 10:33
The Passion Translation
33 Behold, the Sovereign Lord of Angel Armies is about to cut off the branches with terrifying power. He will cut down the exalted heights of the high, and all the lofty will be brought low.

Mark 16:17-18
The Passion Translation
17 And these miracle signs will accompany those who believe: They will drive out demons in the power of my name. They will speak in tongues. 18 They will be supernaturally protected from snakes and from drinking anything poisonous. And they will lay hands on the sick and heal them.”

John 14:13-14
The Passion Translation
13 For I will do whatever you ask me to do when you ask me in my name. And that is how the Son will show what the Father is really like and bring glory to him. 14 Ask me anything in my name, and I will do it for you!”

The Spirit realm is the battle ground. We cannot see what goes on there with our natural eye. We need our Spiritual eyes open to realize that it is a war zone and we need to take authority over the principalities and powers that are at work there.

Looking at Ephesians 6 again we see in verse 12
Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage.

The Spirit realm is a real place with real beings. Their mission is to stop you or even destroy you if possible. Our mission is to prevent them from doing either and helping others to do the same.

We are in a battle! But the Good News is...We have already won! The Victory is ours and the battle is the Lords!

1 Samuel 17:47
New King James Version
47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

1 Corinthians 15:57
The Passion Translation
57 But we thank God for giving us the victory as conquerors through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One

1 John 5:4-5
The Passion Translation
4 You see, every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world. 5 So who are the world conquerors, defeating its power? Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

A famous quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt. "We have nothing to fear but fear itself!"

We do not need to fear the devil. He is a defeated foe. But he is the enemy of our soul and will do anything he can to destroy you if he can. We do need to know how to keep him defeated in our lives. We cannot allow fear to be part of us. If we fear, we will be defeated. We are over-comers by the word of God!

Romans 12:21
The Passion Translation
21 Never let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.

2 Timothy 1:7
The Passion Translation
7 For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control.

Paul Prays for the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation
Ephesians 1:15-22
15 Because of this, since I first heard about your strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and your tender love toward all his devoted ones, 16 my heart is always full and overflowing with thanks to God for you as I constantly remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation to know him through your deepening intimacy with him. 18 I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling—that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones! 19 I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you! This is the mighty power 20 that was released when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted him to the place of highest honor and supreme authority in the heavenly realm! 21 And now he is exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence! He is gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised, not only in this age, but in the age that is coming! 22 And he alone is the leader and source of everything needed in the church. God has put everything beneath the authority of Jesus Christ and has given him the highest rank above all others.

Jesus is our champion. We need to believe that and trust him that as we speak His Word into our lives, we can live victoriously every day no matter what is thrown at us. Spiritual Warfare is the only way to defeat Satan.

Throughout the rest of these lessons TPT means The Passion Translation

By Judy Warren

Lesson 2

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