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
- 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 trying to get the victory.
There are three different aspects to spiritual warfare:
- Taking control of our minds
- Crucifying the flesh
- Dealing with the enemy
- 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.
A correct view of redemption will clear up many wrong ideas about the devil and spiritual warfare.
RR – “It was into this stinking, deteriorating, sinking, death-permeated, demonically energized world where all of humankind was being auctioned off by the devil into various kinds of slavery and bondage, that Jesus Christ came 2000 years ago.
And 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!”
There are four Greek words that are used to denote “redemption” in the New Testament:
- “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,
- “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.
- “Lutroo” – captive set free by the payment of a ransom.
By using this word, Paul is telling us 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.
- “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.
- “Agoridzo” – tells us that Jesus Christ came to earth to locate us in our depravity and to personally inspect our slavery to Satan.
- “Exagoridzo” – declares that Jesus not only came to inspect our condition but to permanently remove us from Satan’s power.
- “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.
- “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 the 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 tangled 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