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Spiritual Warfare - Part 1 of 7

by Paul George  
12/02/2008 / Bible Studies

Ephesians 6:10-12

Quotes from World English Bible unless noted otherwise

"Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."

The question "Is it possible for Satan, through his demonic forces to exercise full or partial control over an area or areas of the life of a professing Christian" is one of the most controversial questions we can ask. Writing to Christians the Apostle Paul claimed their struggle was not against flesh and blood but the demonic forces of Satan. In an enlightened, modern, sophisticated, educated, technological society as ours is it possible for Satan, through his demonic forces to exercise direct or partial control over an area or areas of the life of a Christian or non-Christian? If it were not possible, why would the Apostle Paul warn Timothy, "if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work. The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; (but if a man doesn't know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the assembly of God?) not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil" (1 Timothy 3:1-7). Does the age of a person have anything to do with the possibility of falling into the condemnation incurred by the devil or falling into reproach and the snare of the devil? By age, we are not referring to the physical age of a person.

If it is not possible for a Christian to "fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil" and "fall into the reproach and snare of the devil" why did the Apostle Peter warn the first century Christians, "Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings" (1 Peter 5:8-9). In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul wrote,
"Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes" (2 Corinthians 2:10-11).

The Apostles Paul and Peter understood something that has been ignored and sugar coated during the past hundred plus years, all men, including themselves, are susceptible to both deception and error. This knowledge was the source of their warnings to the first century Christians. Their warnings to the first century Christians apply also to the twenty-first century church. Although, well meaning, theologians, scholars, pastors, and teachers claim it is impossible for a Christian to fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil and into reproach and snare of the devil, they ignore what the Apostles Paul and Peter understood. They ignore the fact we are all susceptible to both deception and error. They ignore the dangers in being ignorant of the schemes of the devil. Anyone, who has accepted the belief that it is impossible to fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil, the reproach and snare of the devil believe what brings joy to Satan. Satan does not want the children of God to believe they can become victims of his schemes. He is happy when he sees the children of God living like his children. Satan is happy when he sees professing Christians living or tolerating the immoral lifestyles of this generation. Satan celebrates when he sees pastors, priests, and religious leaders in the Christian community abusing children and their spouses. Satan is pleased when a child of God believes God cannot see what they are doing because Jesus stands in the way and they can avoid the condemnation incurred by the devil. It fills the heart of Satan with joy when he sees professing Christians condoning abortion and same sex marriages.

Through the writings of the Apostles that have been handed down through the centuries we have been warned in the last days of the history of humanity there will be an outpouring of demonic activity such as the church and the world has not known since the beginning of time and the church era. We have entered that period. Through lying, deceitful spirits Satan is increasing his assault upon humanity and the church in particular; in these last days currents are being influenced by demonic forces.

Jesus, Paul and Peter predicted what is occurring in the world and church today. Theologians and Bible scholars have wrote about what is occurring in the world and church today for many years. Pastors, evangelists, and teachers have preached and taught and are preaching and teaching about what is happening in the world and church today for many years and the majority of the people ignored the warnings. They ignored the warning to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing. They ignore the warning to test the spirits to be sure they are from God. Just as thousands in the first century church ignored the warnings of Paul and Peter, thousands are ignoring not only the warnings of Paul and Peter, they are ignoring the true Shepherd of the church, Lord Jesus Christ, and follow after the false shepherds who are leading them into destruction. The warnings are ignored because they are not ear tickling. The subject spiritual warfare is not popular because it requires individuals to take a stand against the evil forces Satan uses in his attack upon the church.

From the first century to the present God's messengers have warned the church in the final days of history and the church era there will be an outpouring of demonic evil such as the church and the world has not known since the beginning of history and the church era. This outpouring of evil will be greater than it was in the days of Noah and in the days of Lot. This outpouring of evil will be greater than it was in the days of Stalin and Hitler. Evidence that we are entering the day of this great outpouring of demonic evil is the materialism that is eating away the foundation of Christianity. The evidence of this outpouring of evil is seen in the increased interest in the occult and Satanism. The evidence of this outpouring of evil is seen in the introduction of New Age doctrine in local churches. The increasing of the sexual abuse of children and tolerance of immoral behaviors and lifestyles in both the world and Christianity, the falling away from the faith, and this is only the surface of the evidence of outpouring of evil coming upon the world.

One of the questions asked by church members that is evidence the majority of the membership of the church do not understand or are aware of the increasing outpouring of demonic evil and schemes of the devil "Why does God permit evil to exist in the world?" A second source of the lack of knowledge concerning the increasing evil in the world and schemes of the devil is the decrease in effective ministry. While it is true there are churches whose numbers are increasing this is not evidence of effective ministry. Effective ministry in the present era of the church age demands a recovering of the knowledge of the spiritual world possessed by the first century church. Effective ministry in the present era of the church demands a relearning of the forgotten art of spiritual warfare. An obstacle to the recovering knowledge of the spiritual world possessed by the first century church and the relearning the forgotten art of spiritual warfare is the notion returning to the so-called "old ways of the church" is ineffective in this modern world because it does not meet the needs of the people. In the last twenty-plus years, the needs of the people have been redefined in order to meet the goals of pastors and church boards, increased numbers. The increase of numbers is necessary to meet the debt incurred in the building of churches that are pleasing to the eye and facilities intended to satisfy the physical comfort of those who find time to attend the services. What is lacking in the present emphasis on church growth is a Biblical world view that was not lacking in the first century church.

The human authors, inspired by the Holy Spirit, who wrote the books of the Bible and the letters to the first century church, had a Biblical world view. They had a common view of God and the spiritual world. Their view of God included His transcendence, and immense. He is the Creator and Sustainer. He is everywhere present and accessible to humanity. He knows all, has perfect emotions, loves with a perfect love and hates with a perfect hatred. His perfect love makes heaven possible and His perfect hatred makes hell a reality. He possesses a perfect will, chooses what He wills, and what He chooses will eventually happen. He exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He spoke at various times in the past to the fathers by the prophets, but in these last days, He has spoken through His Son, through whom He created the worlds and is the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person.

In this present age, what we know about God is not through human intuition common sense, or book knowledge, it is through divine revelation. What we know about God is because He has chosen to reveal Himself to humanity and His method of revealing Himself was the prophets, Jesus Christ, and the human authors of the books of the Bible. In this present age, God's method of revealing Himself to humanity is through the church. The focus of God's revelation of Himself to humanity is His activity to bring men and women back to Him. This was the primary purpose of the Creation account. This universe and all that exists is due to God's creativity act and not through chance. The problem in this present age is replacing of the Biblical world view with the speculation of men and women.

Effective ministry demands not only a Biblical supported world view but also a Biblical supported world view of spiritual warfare. The present world view of spiritual warfare falls into three categories; absolute dualism, a modified form of dualism, and Biblical dualism.

Absolute dualism claims that ultimate reality is eternally dualistic. According to this theory, good and evil has always existed and always will exist. According to this theory, good and evil existed prior to the creation of the heavens and earth.

The modified form of absolute dualism claims the kingdom of God or good and the kingdom of Satan or evil are engaged in a battle over control of the universe. Since both entitles of equal strength the outcome of the battle is uncertain.

Biblical dualism claims reality exists in a state of dualism, but this was not so prior to the creation of the heavens and earth, nor will it be so in the future. According to Biblical dualism prior to the creation of the heaves and earth, evil did not exist, no opposing forces, only God, and God is good. Then God created moral beings, the angels, and placed them in His kingdom. When God placed the angels in His kingdom there was no dualism because the angels obeyed the will of God. However, at some point, a rebellion occurred and dualism was born, evil entered the kingdom of God, dividing it into two kingdoms, the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan.

In order to explain the theory of Biblical dualism the advocates of the theory divides eternity that has no beginning or ending into three eras, eternity past, eternity present, and eternity future. According to the advocates of the Biblical dualism as we move from eternity past, through eternity present and enter eternity future dualism will end and only God and His perfect kingdom will exist in eternity future.

According to the Biblical dualism theory, eternity present began with the creation of the heavens and earth and the universe will exist in a state of cosmic, earthly conflict or spiritual warfare. Some people refer to this spiritual conflict as a conflict between good and evil. Others refer to this spiritual conflict as a conflict between right and wrong or light and darkness. There are those who refer to this spiritual conflict between the positive forces that seek to preserve life and order in the universe against the negative forces that tend to interrupt and even destroy life and order.

While we may be able to find some truth in these three theories the Apostle Paul has told us, our struggle is not against flesh and blood; it is against the demonic hosts of Satan, working through the terrorists of the twenty-first century, just as they did in the twentieth century dictators.

Retired pastor,Church of the Nazarene

Author of web site Exploring God's Word

www.thewordofgodonline.net

New American Standard Bible

King James Version

The World English Bible

Sermons and Bible studies preached and taught by author

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