Topic: Brad Mullins

1. “Agoridzo” – tells us that Jesus Christ came to earth to locate us in our depravity and to personally inspect our slavery to Satan.
2. “Exagoridzo” – declares that Jesus not only came to inspect our condition but to permanently remove us from Satan’s power.
3. “Lutroo” – tells us that Jesus was so dedicated to delivering us from Satan’s dominion that He was willing to pay the ransom price of His own blood in order to break the devil’s ownership over us.
4. “Apolutrosis” – tells us that, in addition to permanently setting us from Satan’s hold, Jesus also restored us to the position of “sons of God”. Now we are fully restored and made joint-heirs with Jesus Christ Himself!

Through the Blood of Jesus, we have been utterly and completely set free from Satan’s control!

Therefore, Satan has no legal right to control us, our bodies, our families, our businesses, or our money. Although we once genuinely and legally belonged to him, we are no longer his to manipulate or dominate.

Why then, does the battle still rage on?

Freedom becomes a way of life only as we replace our wrong thinking and wrong believing with what the Word of God declares about our new condition.

The problem is that people were so abused in Satan’s slave market, they do not realize that they are no longer bound to him and his scars on their lives.

Renewing of the mind is really about removing these “residual areas” from the past so that those strongholds will not continue to exert power in believer’s lives.

The enemy probes our lives to find the “residual areas” that we don’t know to deal with or refuse to deal with so that we can be free.

Here are doors that he looks for to gain access to our lives:

• Wrong thinking
• Wrong believing
• Memories of terrible experiences that happened before we knew the Lord that we still allow to dominate our emotions
• Fears that were transferred to us from our parents, family members or friends
• Years of incorrect doctrine taught to us in our former churches that we must now “unlearn” and overcome

In all of these areas, your soul (your mind, will, emotions) is the strategic center where spiritual warfare takes place.

Before we are Born Again, the condition of our minds is hostile towards God and is bent on destruction.

Romans 8:7 NIV The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

Colossians 1:21 NIV Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

Ephesians 4:17-18 NLT With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. (18) Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against Him.

Very often it is through the unrenewed mind that the enemy is able to exert his foul influence over us.

That is why we are told over and over to give serious attention to the condition of our minds:

Romans 12:2 NLT Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Ephesians 4:22-24 NKJV that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, (23) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, (24) and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Colossians 3:10 NIV and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

1 Peter 1:13-14 NKJV Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (14) as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

In these scriptures, Peter paints the picture of a runner whose garments have fallen down and gotten angles up around his ankles. He was running a good race but got tripped up because of wrong thinking.

The consistent renewal of our minds with the Word of God will eradicate wrong thinking, wrong believing, scars from the past, and hurtful emotional memories that would exert influence on our new life in Christ.

In addition to taking authority over demonic powers, real spiritual warfare also entails taking authority over your mind.

This is a lifelong commitment!

The following are essential elements of genuine spiritual warfare:

• Renewing your mind
• Meditating on the Word of God until it gets in your heart and soul
• Learning to live a holy life
• Seeking to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ on a day-to-day basis
• Learning how to walk after the Holy Spirit

As you grow and your understanding of God’s Word begins to increase, you will probably have many opportunities to use your faith and to resist the devil.

Don’t be surprised by pre-emptive strikes.

Don’t be surprised when the attack comes and Satan whispers to your mind no one else has gone through the difficulties you are going through right now.

This is a trick to make you fix your eyes on yourself.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT (13) The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.

A fight nearly always follows illumination.

Mark 4:14-15 NKJV The sower sows the word. (15) And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Your knowledge of how and when Satan attacks will equip you to deal with these assaults more intelligently.

James 1:2 NKJV My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

Notice this verse says “when” and implies that these attacks will come. The Greek tense suggests:

• These attacks normally come when you least expect them.
• They usually come from a direction you would have never dreamed of in a million years.
• They are specifically designed to catch you off guard and to take you by surprise.

Remember, we said that it is possible to have a strategy for dealing with these attacks.

2 Corinthians 10:4 NKJV (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

If you are mentally prepared and alert to how the enemy operates and to the potential of attack, you have already eliminated half of the battle.

Having a strategy and being mentally prepared eliminates the element of surprise. This will always give you the upper hand against the enemy.

As long as we do nothing for God, we can be confident that we will face no challenge from the enemy.

However, when we do begin to do what God has called us to do and start experiencing a measure of success in it, we must stay mentally alert and aware.

Luke 4:13 NKJV Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

But we can know, when the attack comes, we can overcome in every situation and God has a way to make the plans and attacks of the enemy backfire on him.

Romans 8:35-39 NKJV Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written: “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.” (37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (38) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“More than a conqueror…” comes from the compound Greek word: “hupernikos”.

“Huper” is where we get our word “super”. This word means over, above, beyond, way beyond measure. It conveys the idea of superiority, higher, better, more than a match for. It means to be first-rate, top-notch, un-surpassed, un-equaled, and un-rivaled by any person or thing.

Putting these two words together means that we are: greater conquerors, superior conquerors, more than any match for any foe. We are utmost conquerors, paramount conquerors, first-rate conquerors, top-notch conquerors, un-surpasses conquerors, un-equaled and un-rivaled conquerors.

In other words, we win!

There are many cases in the Scriptures where the attacks of the enemy backfired on him.

Example of Paul in prison in Rome and pens the Epistles of the New Testament that have laid the foundation for the Church.

As a point of reference, we will be referring to content from the following books:

[one_third]

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[/one_third][one_third_last]

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In this series, we are going to deal with the subject of spiritual warfare and bring correct, biblical teaching to this often-misunderstood subject.

There are three different aspects to spiritual warfare:

• Taking control of our minds
• Crucifying the flesh
• Dealing with the enemy

We must always remember that the real battle with Satan was won at the Cross and the resurrection by Jesus Christ.

We must approach spiritual warfare from a place of already obtained victory (by Jesus) instead of us trying to get the victory.

1 John 5:4 NKJV For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.

No evil force has ever prevailed over the power of God or the people of God, and never will!

How Real Warfare Begins

Most believers who have fallen in recent times would not have fallen if they had not given the devil some kind of foothold in their mind.

Demon spirits have absolutely no power to bring about destruction unless they can find an open door into a person’s mind.

The Holy Spirit is faithful to convict us of any areas in our lives that leave us vulnerable for attack.

He will urge us to repent and change before the devils builds strongholds in our thinking. However, it is still up to us to see that these opened doors are slammed shut and forever closed.

Demon spirits cannot destroy without an open door into a person’s soul – and such an entrance can only be given by way of permission.

The one thing that the Lord will not let the enemy do is override someone’s will.

Most battles are fought and won because we are faithful to heed the Holy Spirit’s warnings to deal with some area of our lives before it got out of control.

Spiritual warfare is not a momentary gust of emotion to temporarily frighten away the devil. Quite the opposite!

Real spiritual warfare is a specific condition of the mind that involves a lifelong commitment.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV (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 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,

In verse 5, the word “warfare” is translated from the Greek word “stratos” and is a huge key in defeating the attacks of the enemy. It is where we get the word “strategy”.

Notice that the verse tells is that the weapons are weapons of strategy.

In order for spiritual weapons to work effectively, they must be accompanied with a divine strategy on how to use them.

God has given believers everything they need to defeat the enemy, but they don’t have a strategy on how to use their weapons or what to do when the attack comes.

Weapons absolutely will not be successful if there is no strategy behind them.

We can have a plan for when attacks come from the enemy. We can know what to do when troubles come as they will.

But in these scriptures, Paul is addressing a stronghold that is built up in our minds that becomes a playground for the enemy.

Not every stronghold is the same. Each one will require its own strategy to be overcome.

This mandates that you spend time praying in the Spirit, reading the Word and seeking the mind of God.

In your own strength and wisdom, you will never conceive a plan that will deliver you.

When strongholds become deeply rooted in the mind, only the Holy Spirit can give you a strategy on how to pull them down.

The Holy Spirit will show you how to use your God-given weapons, and He will instruct you on when and what to attack.

2 Corinthians 10:4 NKJV (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

Spiritual weapons have absolutely nothing to do with the flesh or activity of the flesh.

Regardless of how good the flesh looks or how loud the flesh roars, it is never intended to fight a spiritual foe.

Many believers try to use outward, physical, fleshly techniques in their attempt to defeat the enemy and call it “spiritual warfare.”

The danger of fleshly weapons is that they produce guilt, condemnation, and legalism because they do not provide the victory many need. These attempts will never “be enough.”

Galatians 5:1 NKJV Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Some “fleshly” warfare techniques include:

Christians needing to be delivered from demons and so they should work themselves up and make themselves vomit in order for demons to come out.

Warring tongues – volume does not scare the devil. Have you heard some of the head banging punk rock music that was out years ago?

It is the authority that Jesus has given you and that resides in your spirit that causes the devil to obey.

Sometimes you have to be loud in prayer and in tongues to overcome the loud voice of your own flesh and mind.

These things become religious in nature and fleshly and are really saying:

• “Let me do something to earn my freedom!”
• “Christ’s work alone surely cannot be enough!”
• “Let me scream from my freedom!”
• “Let me purge myself of demon spirits!”

Remember, we always approach spiritual warfare from a place of victory already obtained for me by Jesus Christ and His finished work.

We can add absolutely nothing to what Jesus did for us at the Cross!

Our goal in life is not to fight for our freedom and deliverance; rather, it is to freely accept our deliverance and freedom that has been procured for us.

We have been given divinely empowered weapons to resist the enemy’s attacks and MAINTAIN the blessings of our salvation that are ours.

A correct view of redemption will clear up many wrong ideas about the devil and spiritual warfare.

There are four Greek words that are used to denote “redemption” in the New Testament:

1. “Agoridzo” – slave marketplace

These were grossly inhuman place where people were treated in a disgusting way. They were paraded in front of potential buyers where the “merchandise” could be beat upon, slapped, spat upon to see if the slaves could take it. Slaves had no personal worth; viewed no better than animals.

Because of sin, the world had sunk to a place where the world was a global slave market, where Satan had gripped the hearts of men and filled their natures with violence and destruction.

The world Jesus was born into was a world of complete captivity.

Romans 5:12 NKJV Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Romans 7:14 NKJV For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. (transfer of property)

Because we were the “merchandise” of the slave market, Satan would slap, kick, beat, spit upon us and abuse us in every way that he could.

Once that treatment was over, he would place us back on the auction block and sell us again to some other form of bondage.

God sent His Son into the enemy’s “slave market” with one purpose in mind: so Jesus could secure man’s deliverance from Satan’s bondage once and for all.

1 Corinthians 6:20 NKJV (20) For you were bought at a price (agoridzo); therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 7:23 NKJV (23) You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

Revelation 5:9 NKJV And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

2. “Exagoridzo” – one who has come to purchase a slave OUT OF the slave market.

This word signifies the purchase of a slave in order to permanently set that slave FREE from that heinous place, NEVER to be put on the trading block of slavery again.

Galatians 3:13 NKJV Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”),

Paul is saying to us that not only did Jesus’ sacrificial death not only paid the penalty for our sin, but His death also removed us from living under the curse forever.

Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (5) to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Slaves did not come cheaply. If the auctioneer knew that a buyer really wanted a particular slave, he could demand unbelievably high prices. We must therefore ask, “What price did Jesus pay for our freedom from Satan’s power.

3. “Lutroo” – captive set free by the payment of a ransom.

By using this word, Paul is telling is that our salvation is not free. On the contrary, our freedom from Satan’s power was extremely expensive.

What was the ransom that Jesus paid to procure our freedom from Satan’s bondage and ownership? His own blood!

In fact, the price Jesus paid for us was the highest price ever paid for a slave in the history of mankind.

Ephesians 1:7 NKJV In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV (13) He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, (14) in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:20 NKJV and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Hebrews 9:12 NKJV Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

4. “Apolutrosis” – to ransom or redeem and return us to the condition we were in before our captivity began.

Jesus paid the price to permanently free and restore us to the full status of sons!

Ephesians 1:7 NKJV In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

In using the word here for “redemption” Paul declares that we were forever delivered from Satan’s power – we were forever removed from that dreadful place of slavery – and now we have been fully restored by the blood of Jesus Christ and placed back into a right-standing with God.

We are fully restored and fully set free from Satan’s former grip over us!

Galatians 4:7 NKJV Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Romans 8:16-17 NKJV The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (17) and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

1. “Agoridzo” – tells us that Jesus Christ came to earth to locate us in our depravity and to personally inspect our slavery to Satan.
2. “Exagoridzo” – declares that Jesus not only came to inspect our condition but to permanently remove us from Satan’s power.
3. “Lutroo” – tells us that Jesus was so dedicated to delivering us from Satan’s dominion that He was willing to pay the ransom price of His own blood in order to break the devil’s ownership over us.
4. “Apolutrosis” – tells us that, in addition to permanently setting us from Satan’s hold, Jesus also restored us to the position of “sons of God”. Now we are fully restored and made joint-heirs with Jesus Christ Himself!

As a point of reference, we will be referring to content from the following books:

[one_third]

[/one_third][one_third]

[/one_third][one_third_last]

[/one_third_last]

In this series, we are going to deal with the subject of spiritual warfare and bring correct, biblical teaching to this often-misunderstood subject.

• The Scripture instructs us to deal with the unseen, invisible forces that have been marshaled against us.

There are actually three different aspects to spiritual warfare:

• Taking control of our minds
• Crucifying the flesh
• Dealing with the enemy

We must always remember that the real battle with Satan was won at the Cross and the resurrection by Jesus Christ.

We must approach spiritual warfare from a place of already obtained victory (by Jesus) instead of us trying to get the victory.

1 John 5:4 NKJV For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.

No evil force has ever prevailed over the power of God or the people of God, and never will!

The words “war” and “warfare” are only used 5 times in all of the new testament. Not once were they used in the Gospels during Jesus ministry.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV (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 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,

In these verses, the devil is not mentioned one time.

1 Timothy 1:18 NKJV This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

In this verse, Paul is telling Timothy to remain loyal the call of God and fight the fight of faith. The devil is not mentioned here either.

2 Timothy 2:4 NKJV No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Paul is telling Timothy to keep his life free of clutter and stay single minded as a soldier would.

James 4:1 NKJV Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

Battling the flesh can be a war.

In light of this, it is abundantly clear that the New Testament usage of the words “war” and “warfare” primarily has to do with conquering the flesh and taking charge of our minds.

Yes, the devil may attack the mind, and he may attempt to energize the flesh to work against us. However, if we will keep our minds and our flesh under the control of the Holy Spirit, most of the spiritual warfare we encounter in life will have already been settled.

How Real Warfare Begins

Most believers who have fallen in recent times would not have fallen if they had not given the devil some kind of foothold in their mind.

• Demon spirits have absolutely no power to bring about destruction unless they can find an open door into a person’s mind.

The Holy Spirit is faithful to convict us of any areas in our lives that leave us vulnerable for attack.

He will urge us to repent and change before the devils builds strongholds in our thinking. However, it is still up to us to see that these opened doors are slammed shut and forever closed.

• Demon spirits cannot destroy without an open door into a person’s soul – and such an entrance can only be given by way of permission.

The one thing that the Lord will not let the enemy do is override someone’s will.

• Regardless of how many demon spirits have been assigned to destroy a believer, that person must cooperate with the enemy’s suggestions before temptation can overtake him and ruin his witness.

Ultimately you and I are responsible for our own failure or success in obeying God in this life. We cannot shift the blame for our failure to demonic attack.

• You can scream that the devil is after your money until you are blue in the face. But if you have failed to balance your checkbook or were irresponsible in paying your bills, you opened the door to that financial attack.
• You can declare that the enemy is attempting to afflict you with sickness. But if you abuse your body by not eating right or not getting rest, or exercising, you have opened the door for your body to be attacked.
• You can say that your marriage is under attack from the devil but if you speak harshly to your spouse, never spend any time with them, or have not made your marriage a priority in your life, you have thrown the door wide open for the enemy to attack and destroy your marriage.

Sometimes there are genuine attacks on our lives from the enemy that catch us off guard when we are doing everything that we know to do in obedience to the Lord.

We see that this happened in Jesus ministry:

Mark 4:35-41 NKJV On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” (36) Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. (37) And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. (38) But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (39) Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. (40) But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (41) And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

In verse 37, the phrase, “And a great windstorm arose…” comes from the Greek word “ginomai” which means “something that happens unexpectedly or something that catches one off guard.”

Acts 10:9,10 Peter falls into a trance…

Revelation 1:10 John wrote, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day…”

Jesus was on His way to Gadara where the Gadarene demoniac lived. The enemy wanted to stop Jesus from being able to deliver one of his prized possessions and thus perform a great miracle.

• This attack of the enemy came right before one of Jesus’ greatest triumphs in ministry.

So, what do you do when an attack like this arises?

Make sure that you have left no doors open for the attack by obeying the Spirit’s promptings in the various areas of your life.

Then, like the Lord Jesus, you must rise up to take authority over the wind and the waves.

There are also different reasons for the storm coming.

1. The storm of disobedience – Jonah and his disobedience.

The simple way out of the storm like that is to repent and your storm will throw you up on the beach and you can continue on with your life.

2. The storm that arises because you follow what the Lord as told you – obedience.

The disciples encountered a storm when they did as Jesus commanded and were going to the other side.

The command of faith stills the storm.

3. The storm of association arises because of the people you are with.

Paul encountered a storm and hardship because of the people he was with.

Simple repentance will not work and the command of faith will not work you need to simply endure.

Mark 4:39 NKJV Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

When everything was said and done, Jesus matched a great storm with a great calm.

Whatever the devil does, Jesus wants to match that attack with an even greater blessing and victory in your life!

Most battles are fought and won because we are faithful to heed the Holy Spirit’s warnings to deal with some area of our lives before it got out of control.

Spiritual warfare is not a momentary gust of emotion to temporarily frighten away the devil. Quite the opposite!

Real spiritual warfare is a specific condition of the mind that involves a lifelong commitment.

It is not so much an action as it is a determined and committed attitude of the mind.

In spite of all of the attacks that Apostle Paul withstood, he never failed morally or compromised in his ministry.

Paul’s personal consecration to the Lord was his greatest defense against the enemy.

Nothing in him cooperated with the devil’s devices and temptations. Paul’s personal holiness paralyzed the devil’s ability to make Paul fall morally.

• The thought of an instant cure is very alluring to the uncommitted and spiritually immature who are looking for a “quick fix” to change their deeply rooted, habitual, and often self-imposed problems.

This is the reason many have gotten off course where spiritual warfare is concerned.

There is no such thing as the instant cure. It is a process!

In this series, we are going to deal with the subject of spiritual warfare and bring correct, biblical teaching to this often-misunderstood subject.

As a point of reference, we will be referring to content from the following books:

Dressed to Kill by Pastor Rick Renner

The Triumphant Church by Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin

Armed and Dangerous by John Ramirez

 

It seems with almost any Bible subject, people can have the tendency to take it to the extreme and get off base and away from the Bible. Unfortunately, this often does great harm to the individual as well as the Body of Christ.

The Scripture instructs us to deal with the unseen, invisible forces that have been marshaled against us.

Mark 16:17 NKJV And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Setting people free from Satan’s power is a primary concern of Jesus Christ, and it should be a concern of ours as well.

1 John 3:8 NKJV … For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Acts 10:38 NKJV how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Spiritual Warfare actual has much more to it than just dealing with the devil.

There are actually three different aspects to spiritual warfare:

• Taking control of our minds
• Crucifying the flesh
• Dealing with the enemy

The truth is, the devil’s attacks against our lives would not work if our flesh did not cooperate.

Colossians 3:5 NKJV Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Romans 6:1-2 NKJV What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? (2) Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Living the crucified life is a critical part of spiritual warfare.

Rick Renner says:

“A person can scream at the devil all day long, but if that person has willfully permitted some area of his mind to go unchecked and unguarded – if he is aware of sin but has not been willing to deal with it – has opened the door for an attack on himself.

In that case, all his prayers against the devil will be to no avail because his real enemy is not the devil. Rather it is his own carnal mind and flesh which must be submitted to the control of the Holy Spirit in order to eradicate these attacks.

“If people only focus on the devil as they pursue the subject of spiritual warfare and fail to consider other equally as important areas, their emphasis on spiritual warfare can and will be very damaging to them.”

We must always remember that the real battle with Satan was won at the Cross and the resurrection by Jesus Christ.

This same victorious Christ who single handedly defeated the devil lives in us in the person of the Holy Spirit!

1 John 4:4 NKJV You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Colossians 2:11-12, 15 NKJV (11) In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, (12) buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (15) Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Greek translation: He completely stripped principalities and powers and left them utterly naked with nothing left at their disposal to retaliate. Jesus boldly, confidently, and loudly exposed and displayed this now defunct foe to Heaven’s hosts.

We must approach spiritual warfare from a place of already obtained victory (by Jesus) instead of trying to get the victory.

As we approach the subject of spiritual warfare, we must guard against superstitious, homemade remedies about spiritual warfare.

We must base our understanding on the sound teachings of the Bible.

Example – teachings that the best ways to deal with demonic forces in the heavenlies or the prince of the power of the air, we must climb to the highest floors of skyscrapers or rent an airplane so we can get where they are.

If this is necessary and how it is done, then Jesus never got the victory over the devil or used any authority because none of those things existed in His day.

Yet somehow, Jesus was able to fully carry out His earthly ministry and fulfill God’s will.

Ignorance of God’s Word always leaves the Christian and the Body of Christ vulnerable.

Hosea 4:6a NKJV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…

Sometimes we emphasize spiritual warfare and think that spiritual warfare is especially necessary now because things are so much darker now than they ever have been.

The challenges that we face spiritually today are really no different than or greater than those of preceding generations of believers.

If you study the pagan culture of the Greeks and Romans of the early Church day, they were by far more worse than the historians could tell us.

It is clear, Satan was out to destroy the early Church as much as he is out to destroy the modern-day Church.

Rather than be destroyed, the Early Church arose in the power of the Spirit to meet the challenge – just as we will arise in our own day to meet any challenge the enemy would bring before us!

The same armor of God that Paul wrote about in Ephesians 6 worked for the early Church just as it will work for us.

Satan tried to destroy the Church at its inception – and it is certain that he will try to attack and victimize the Church as we approach the coming of the Lord.

But just as the early church arose in the power of the Spirit to meet the challenge, so will we!

1 John 5:4 NKJV For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.

The reality is the harder the devil hit the early Church the more it thrived, grew and multiplied. The same will happen today!

No evil force has ever prevailed over the power of God or the people of God, and never will!

The words “war” and “warfare” are only used 5 times in all of the new testament. Not once were they used in the Gospels during Jesus ministry.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV (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 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,

In these verses, the devil is not mentioned one time.

1 Timothy 1:18 NKJV This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

In this verse, Paul is telling Timothy to remain loyal the call of God and fight the fight of faith. The devil is not mentioned here either.

2 Timothy 2:4 NKJV No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Paul is telling Timothy to keep his life free of clutter and stay single minded as a soldier would.

James 4:1 NKJV Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

Battling the flesh can be a war.

In light of this, it is abundantly clear that the New Testament usage of the words “war” and “warfare” primarily has to do with conquering the flesh and taking charge of our minds.

Yes, the devil may attack the mind, and he may attempt to energize the flesh to work against us. However, if we will keep our minds and our flesh under the control of the Holy Spirit, most of the spiritual warfare we encounter in life will have already been settled.