The subject of Spiritual Warfare is relatively a 1 new field. It is only recently that close attention is being paid to it by missions, churches, and some few seminaries or Bible schools. We shall look at this subject in some detail so that we might grasp the truth and be blessed in order to be effective in the ministry.
1. JESUS ON THE OFFENSIVE
If Jesus Public ministry began with his baptism, his first act of public ministry involved the highest degree of strategic level spiritual warfare. “Jesus 3 was led up by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matt. 4.1)
The Old Testament does not have a parallel account of this type of activity. Jesus introduced something new to the history of salvation. Be engaging the enemy in the highest level power encounter, Jesus was serving notice to him and to the whole world that the battle was on. War has come The kingdom of God has come Mark 1:14 15: Matt 4:17
a. Before Jesus came Satan has enjoyed almost unlimited power here on earth.
The Bible described Satan in awesome ways (II Car 4.4 john 12:31. I John 5.19) If we think Satan has formidable power these days, we must realize he had even more power before Jesus same Jus proclaimed war when he stated that the kingdom of God was near (Mark 1.14-15)
b. He came to earth to destroy the devils work-1 John 3:8: Luke 4:18-19.
The devil was not happy that his territory is being invaded.
- Jesus through his life, ministry, death and resurrection defeated the devil and won decisive battle against his kingdom. He provokes the conflict (Col. 2:15) Jesus did not wait for the devil to attack him, he took the initiative, he was on the offensive. He provokes the conflict by healing. deliverance and rebuking and excising of demons
- In his life, Jesus BOUND Satan, Satan could gain no hold on Jesus (Mark. 3:23-27. John 14:30)
- In his ministry, Jesus began to PLUNDER Satan’s kingdom. Jesus rebuked demons and drove them out, healed the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead e.t.c. Luke 4: 18-20
- On the cross, Jesus BROKE Satan’s power. (Col. 2:15, John 19:30; Mark 10.45). Jesus cancelled the debt of sin and death. Jesus made available the forgiveness of sins, freedom form devil, escape from God wrath and reconciliation with God.
In his resurrection, Jesus DISARMED Satan Matt. 28:2-4 at his retum, Jesus will UTTERLY DESTROY Satan and his kingdom Rev. 20:10.
c. The Battle Rages On.
The battle still rages on today in the church, nations and minds.
- Jesus recruited and trained his followers to do what he did. He gave them power and authority to do the work of the kingdom, Matt. 101, 7-8, Luke 10:19, Mark 16:16-20.
- For our part we have been commissioned to enter the strong mans house and take back the goods. The war not over We ars to continue the battle 2 nal Jesus returns (Matt. 28.18-20). Unfortunately many Christians, even ministers do not realize today that we are on a battle field. They live, talk, eat and do ministries as if we are in a play ground-the reason for a party, coldness and lack of fruit in our churches.
2. THE REAL BATTLE IS SPIRITUAL
The basic lesson we need to learn and grasp very weil was that the real battle for effective evangelism is a spiritual battle. Research has shown that all the evangelistic technology in the world will have only a minimal effect unless the spintual battle is won.
Illustration:
In the late 80’s Churches mushroom and are mushrooming in every comer advertising on television and radio increases Crusades, seminars and conferences, were held frequently But it have been discovered that vital and fundamental Christianity have not really increased. Sin, theft, corruption and 419 Christians are only the outcome. A better job can be done if we will learn and apply this spiritual warfare
3. THREE LEVELS OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE
When all is said and done, there are probably many, many different discernable levels of spiritual warfare, but we shall consider three Even though they may overlap into one another in many are, yet we distinguish the following:
Recommended Reading
PRAYER & SPIRITUAL WARFARE: THE EFFECTIVE PRAYER WARRIOR
The Shield of Faith: Quenching the Fiery Darts of Doubt
Serving God In These Last Days:OBSTACLES TO SERVICE
1. Ground level spiritual warfare.
This is the ministry of casting out demons (Matt. 10:1. Luke 10:17 Acts 8:7) Ground level spiritual warfare is the most common variety we find in the New Testament, and it is most common variety practiced by Christians today Groups and individuals involved in deliverance ministries by and large are engaged in ground level warfare.
2. Occult level spiritual warfare
It seems evident that we see a kind of demonic power at work through shamans, magicians, herbalists, occult practitioners, and witches, fortune-tellers, satanic priests and the like. This is substantially different from the ordinary demon who may cause headaches, marital problems, drunkenness e.t.c example of this occutit level is in Acts 16 16-24, 8:9-13. Occult -level spiritual warfare is needed today as we see the increase of witches and increasing contact and influence of them in nations of the world and against the church
3. Strategic level spiritual warfare.
Here we contend with an even more ominous concentration of demonic power: Territorial spirits (Eph. 6:12-13, Rev. 12:7). In this level, nations, regions, cities, tribes, areas and neighborhoods are assigned to specific demons to control. They rule in absolute authority over these territories. These territories may have been covenanted out to demons by the founding fathers of such cities, towns and areas for one favour or the other from these evil forces
The devils will maintain strong hold on those nations, cities, towns, houses and places dedicated to them and will not relinquish them easily nor will they want the people to be free by the power of God and therefore will oppose and hinder the gospel penetrations there. Unless strategic level warfare prayer is engaged the gospel cannot prosper in such areas. This is the answer to many years of barrenness
This course will focus on strategic level warfare and the kind of prayer required to address it. Not that it can totally and cleanly be separated from the other two kinds of spiritual warfare. The three levels are closely interrelated and what happens on one level can and will affect what happens on their levels.