Battlefield part 3 by Dayle Kinney
Scripture tells us we are called to spiritual warfare, but it is important to understand what and who we are fighting against.
We have weapons that are mighty to pull down strongholds (2 Cor 10:36) – enemies position
Ephesians 6:10-12 Our enemy is Satan and his army The bible talks about these being principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
One of the tactics of the enemy is to try and convince us that the spiritual realm does not exist. Colossians 2:8 teaches us to “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” .
Human philosophy is the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge and conduct. The problem can so often be with trying to reason and understand the world around us in only a rational way, where we believe only what our senses can discern is that it does not allow room for the spiritual realm. There is a battle going on in the heavenlies for the hearts and minds of men and women. If Satan can convince people to believe the lies he tells them that what is happening in the natural is affected by the spiritual realm they will not be seeking after God, and consequently will fail to love and serve God.
We need to ask the Holy Spirit for discernment concerning the nature and activity of spirits around us. To have our spiritual eyes opened and our hearts and minds enlightened with the truth.
We must also keep our hearts and minds focused on God so that we can be filled with the knowledge of God and His word so we are able to recognise the lies of Satan and reject him.
Territorial Spirits
Daniel 10: 12-11:1
Principalities, powers, authorities who exercise influence over cities, regions or nations. From the account in Daniel we learn that territorial demons exist.
Daniel was praying and fasting and God sent a messenger but he had been delayed for 21 days battling with territorial spirits.
These territorial spirits can influence every aspect of culture – much as soil types determine which crops can be grown in different regions.
Passage in Daniel teaches; It is God not us who deploys angels to do spiritual battle – the Messenger told Daniel he had come in response to Daniels prayers to the Father.
Jesus disarmed powers and principalities (Col 2: 14-15)
Angels
2 Kings 6: 13 – 17 describes how God cares and protects his people, and that there is a spiritual realm all around us which we need our spiritual eyes opened to see. It is important for us to understand that when God is for us who can be against us (Romans 8:31
There is numerous accounts of angels throughout the bible; Angel appearing to Mary (Luke 1:26-37), Jesus ministered to by angels (Matt 4:11) Peter released from jail (Acts 12:5-11) etc.
1 John 3:8 says that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and expose him as a fraud and deceiver. When we understand how our enemy operates we can live more victoriously and take back territory that the Satan has tried to steal from us personally and as a Church.
Use the weapons of our warfare- We are warriors!
• We have the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual revelation of who we are dealing with.
• We must take captive every thought which rises up against the knowledge of God and pull down strongholds in our minds which would try to make us powerless and defeated.
• We must put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6: 10-18). Use our sword of the spirit which is the word of God. That it would be both defensive and offensive.
• That we praise God- Psalm 8:2 “because God has ordained Praise to silence our enemy and the avenger”.
Talk About
Do you understand spiritual warfare?
What areas do you battle with in your mind?
What are your experiences of spiritual warfare where God has come through for you?
Which of the fruits of the Spirit do you find the hardest to live out? (Galatians 5: 22-23)
Take time as a group to pray for each other, and ask God for something to share with each other or the group. This could be an image, an impression, a Scripture verse, a word. The could be helpful in healing past occurrences.
Remember - Read through the NT starts 27th September. Take the challenge on as a group
