Welcome Everyone, I trust these weekly overviews can shed some light on your walk with the Lord. Last week, we left off describing it’s a threefold war. Those categories were a sin war, a personal war, and a social war.
There are three levels of Spiritual Warfare:
There is the objective level, reaching the unbelievers with the gospel.
Subjective level, protecting ourselves and our families from succumbing to the demonic warfare directed toward us.
Christian level, helping to free demonized Christians from their demonization. (Part 3)
THE OBJECTIVE: OFFENSIVE LEVEL
The church is not only the community of the redeemed; it is the redeeming community! Therefore, we are compelled by the indwelling Holy Spirit to declare the message of God’s redeeming love, to all peoples. Take time to study Matthew 24:14, 28:18-20, Acts 1:8.
We face overwhelming logistical complexities, barriers, cross-cultural and language barriers to bring the Good News. But more so is that Satan has and holds nations in bondage and won’t easily let them go. Jesus repeatedly called Satan the ruler of this world. (John 12:31,14:30,16:11) Let's read Acts 26:18 (Missionary Commission)
The balance of the New Testament only expands this negative view of humanity’s plight. Let’s review the scriptures in 2 Corinthians 3:14, where Paul shares the unbelief of man:
“In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused, [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]. For until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ, it is made void and done away.”
“In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused, [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]. For until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ, it is made void and done away.”
Furthermore, Paul shows how the God of this world has blinded this world in 2 Corinthians 4:4. “For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers’ minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.”
Being resisted as we evangelize as in 1 Thessalonians 2:18, then he snatches away the word sown as indicated, also In Matthew 13:19. He sows tares among the wheat (Matthew 13:25,38-39) and hence they are the “sons of the evil one.”
So, all of whom we seek to bring to Christ are demonized to one degree or another, most only mildly, but some severely.
We aren’t talking about a demon-possessed people whereby they are taken over completely and controlled by demons, but strongholds for the most part and addictions is in that description.
We are talking about partial control over one or more areas of the life of a human being.
Regarding Christians, no demon owns a person since the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, not only unbelievers but Christians open doors to the powers of darkness. It can be the occult, porn, drugs, alcohol, and lying, the list goes on. These demons create a “stronghold in your body, mind, and emotions and have to be dealt with, through repentance and casting out, closing the doors they have opened.
4 FACTS TO KEEP IN MIND
While all unbelievers are living under demonic dominion, not all of them are under this attack.
Some non-believers are demonized and should be set free. (Salvation and Deliverance)
Demonization can be from mild to severe.
To set them free we need to know or learn how to bind demonic activity from the minds of demonized unbelievers. Demons cause confusion and resistance hindering unbelievers from understanding the gospel.
THE SUBJECTIVE PERSONAL LEVEL OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
Let’s understand and know that we should affirm two foundations of truth declared everywhere in the New Testament.
A. The Lord Jesus, once and for all defeated Satan and his entire kingdom of evil supernaturalism, period.
B. The Lord Jesus has delegated to all his disciple’s, full authority over this kingdom of Satan.
So, we are working with foes who are not only defeated by our Lord and been put into subjection to our shared authority with the Lord.
We are told to fear God, but never to fear Satan or his kingdom. Remember while Satan and his demonic hosts are defeated, they aren't dead. They continually promote evil wherever they can find willing hearts and ignorance of their schemes and deception.
Contrary to popular opinion, true believers are the primary object of Satan’s subtle deception. 2 Corinthians 4:3. The popular notion that if we just focus all our attention on the Lord Jesus, we can ignore the devil and his demons is contrary to the teachings of scripture. What adversary would not be delighted if those he seeks to decrease and deceive, choose entirely to ignore his tactics of deception?
So, if he leads believers to sin, or to commit any act which quenches the Holy Spirit to lessen their effectiveness in glorying God through both personal conduct and Christian service, then he desires to attach himself in any area of sin and cause that believer to be influenced to disobey God.
The failure to understand the demonic dimensions to the Christian’s sin problem is perhaps the weak point. We should heed Peter’s warning in 1 Peter 5:8. “Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times. For that enemy of yours, the devil roams around like a lion roaring (in fierce hunger), seeking someone to seize upon and devour.” If this is true, then it must be possible for a true Christian to be influenced and be overcome by the devil. Think about that!
““Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times. For that enemy of yours, the devil roams around like a lion roaring (in fierce hunger), seeking someone to seize upon and devour.””
Next week we will explore even more knowledge on this most vital subject. Read Ephesians chapter 6, for some homework.
John Cento
Overseer, Mission Wildfire International
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