Brotheralechenu
Aug 6, 2021
What is spiritual warfare? How is it conducted ?
What is spiritual warfare? How is it conducted ?
Brother,
That is a good question, to start with here is a list of sermons on the topic of Spiritual Warfare: https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/scr_index.php?act=topicSermons&topic=Spiritual%20Warfare&page=0
Perhaps listening to a few of these will help you in your understanding for this area of christian life.
here is a short devotional by A.W. Tozer on this subject:
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Spiritual Warfare and Sin
To be entirely safe from the devil's snares the man of God must be completely obedient to the Word of the Lord. The driver on the highway is safe, not when he reads the signs but when he obeys them. That Incredible Christian, 51.
November 3
Spiritual Warfare and Sin: Satan's Strategy
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. --Ephesians 6:13
Now I do not think that Satan much cares to destroy us Christians physically. The soldier dead in battle who died performing some deed of heroism is not a great loss to the army but may rather be an object of pride to his country. On the other hand the soldier who cannot or will not fight but runs away at the sound of the first enemy gun is a shame to his family and a disgrace to his nation. So a Christian who dies in the faith represents no irreparable loss to the forces of righteousness on earth and certainly no victory for the devil. But when whole regiments of professed believers are too timid to fight and too smug to be ashamed, surely it must bring an astringent smile to the face of the enemy; and it should bring a blush to the cheeks of the whole Church of Christ.
The devil's master strategy for us Christians then is not to kill us physically (though there may be some special situations where physical death fits into his plan better), but to destroy our power to wage spiritual warfare. And how well he has succeeded. The average Christian these days is a harmless enough thing. Godknows.
He is a child wearing with considerable self-consciousness the harness of the warrior; he is a sick eaglet that can never mount up with wings; he is a spent pilgrim who has given up the journey and sits with a waxy smile trying to get what pleasure he can from sniffing the wilted flowers he has plucked by the way. That Incredible Christian, 72.
"Oh God, may I never be 'a harmless enough thing,' 'a child wearing...the harness of the warrior,' 'a sick eaglet,' 'a spent pilgrim.' Give me grace to fight valiently. Amen."
2 cor 10:3-6 is the foundation. It all begins in our thought life and if we allow our thought life to go uncheck it will lead to deeper things.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not [a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
John
Make yourself think better thoughts, and create for yourself a better life.~Ranal Currie
This is also spiritual warfare
Romans 12:2
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
So often segments of the church like to put more emphasis on demon possession and that devil is around every corner but spiritual warfare begins in the thoughtlife. Be apathetic on that front and you will sucummb to the things of the world including demonic oppression
Also:
2 Timothy 2:23-26 -
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Philippians 4:8 -
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.
Thank You!
:)
The basis of all spiritual warfare is that Christ has won the victory and has destroyed the works of the devil, and now we stand in His victory declaring the name of Jesus and the blood of the Lamb Against every attack from the evil one.
brother Paul,
Those are all profitable responses from mature brothers, my prayer is that they provide more light and that we all benefit from one another’s experienceðŸ™ðŸ»
4 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.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
So first off we have to purify our own hearts, preparing ourselves for service. Holy Spirit is who enlists is and He is our commanding officer, He is the one whom we seek to please -
If our hearts are still entangled in the world then our ability will be impaired or even disabled, due to being drawn away by the cares and concerns of this world. This makes us less likely to labor in prayer or even be likely to pray due to our being distracted.
When we do battle in the spirit it’s not against the person but against the lies that shackle them. When we’re worldly minded we tend to be self-focused and again, less likely to engage the enemy.
There are many other ways in which spiritual warfare takes place...
A good example is King Asa "taking down the high places” of idols.
God tends to bless this type of faith favorably.
So in a persons home for example, if there are idols that occupy the "high place” then the act of removing it from its place of prominence and influence would absolutely draw a response from the enemy and so would be a form of warfare. The same goes for a business or organization or team, etc...
Another example is information... the devil is the father of lies and wages war thru disinformation campaigns, which we pull down the strongholds created by a network of lies. The "pulling down” is in prayer and in teaching/preaching the truth to that person or group. By exposing that lie in the light of truth, ie; Gods presence in us.
In order to battle effectively we have to boldly come before the throne that we might obtain, so that we have something to give in the right time, like when Peter and John went to pray (Acts 3), note; Peter said "silver and gold have I none, but (((such as I have))) give I thee”. Which is to say that he, Peter, had not sown into the world and reaping the worlds treasures offering them as alms which only serves to strengthen the lie that bound this man... rather he, Peter, had sown into the kingdom and reaping the treasures of heaven, he offered out of his harvest a thing which was outside the jurisdiction of the influencing lie. The acceptance of which, freed the man from the bondage of his own lame body. Not only this but the whole chapter is a treaty on spiritual warfare- and to be honest the entire Bible is both a record of and equipping for spiritual warfare if we have eyes to see it as such.
Wether Moses, Daniel, Elijah, David, Esther, or any other story especially the prophets... they are all battling against wickedness in high places and so are soldiers in a spiritual war. To see the spiritual war as not separate from our ordinary life but inevitable, even essential to our life in Christ, seems to be a chief aim of the conforming to and abiding in Christ. Which is to say that we, being in the world are to receive, preserve, and present one who is greater than the world to the world - this too is spiritual warfare.
In a way, it’s as simple as turning the porch light on... those in darkness will naturally be drawn but not all are coming for the comfort so we have to armor up so in bearing the light of Christ, having done all else, are able to stand.
Ultimately we’re all in the war... wether hot or cold or lukewarm -
These are all helpful posts.
It is also important to know what we are dealing with. The flesh must be crucified, a demon must be cast out, and chastisement must be received as from a loving Heavenly Father.
We can’t cast out the flesh or crucify a demon, and we should not resist correction from God.
I am sure you heard of Gbile Akanni from your own country
04,THE MINISTER'S CALL TO A WARFARE BY GBILE AKANNI
https://youtu.be/fzsc_Vi40Xw
03,TAKING THE BATTLE TO THE GATES BY GBILE AKANNI ...
https://youtu.be/4EOW41zVwYI
The late William Carrol taught an outstanding series on this topic;
https://sermons.tsc.nyc/series/undeniable-prayers-part-3-spiritual-warfare/
In Christ
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