Spiritual Warfare Part 1
Passages on Spiritual Warfare
These verses teach us about the spiritual world & spiritual warfare.
Ephesians 5:15-21 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
18 Do not get drunk on wine (i.e. do not be impaired), which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (i.e. Work on Your Relationships as Unto the Lord.)
Genesis 1:27 God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
The Purpose of Spiritual Warfare is to Become Like Christ.
Definition: Spiritual Warfare is Taking Back What Satan has Stolen from Us and Others.
Genesis 1:3-4 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
In the Beginning God Said – The Light is Good & He Separated it from the Darkness.
Dictionary of Biblical Imagery: God’s first creative act is to produce light & separate it from darkness, with overtones of light’s conquering darkness. It took God to set a “boundary between light and darkness”
Job 26:10 He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness.
God Never Says – the Darkness is Good.
Satan is Allowed to Operate in Any Area of Darkness.
Darkness is the Absence of Light – Any Area Void of Christ & His Will.
Darkness is Willful Disobedience – The Rejection of Christ – Doubt – Fear – Confusion, etc.
However – Darkness is Necessary in order for Us to Have Freewill.
There Will Be No Darkness in Heaven because the Choice has Already Been Made.
Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
Psalm 18:11a He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him.
1 John 1:5b God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
Connect the Scripture: God is Not Darkness but He Uses Darkness.
Our Sin Hides God from Us – We Can Not See Him in the Fullness of His Glory without Dying.
Even When We Hide in Darkness – God Sees Our Sin.
Spiritual Warfare Requires Faith that is Provable – Not Demonic Faith:
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
A Demon’s Faith is Intellectual – It Doesn’t Cause Them to Live for Christ.
Casting Out Demons is the Removal of Sinful & Evil & Dark Influence.
If Sin has Not been Removed in Our Own Life – We’ll be Unable to Cast Out Demons.
Who is Satan – What are Demons?
Satan: A Fallen Angel Who Rebelled Against God. He is Ruler Over All Demons.
Demons: Fallen Angels Who are Weaker than Satan and Under Satan’s Control.
Satan is Called: Serpent – Devil – Dragon – Evil One – Apollyon – Abaddon – Belial – Lucifer – Beelzebub / Beelzebul – Prince of this World – Prince of the Power of the Air – Prince of Demons – God of this World – Angel of the Bottomless Pit – Angel of Light – Deceiver – Strong Man.
Satan / שָׂטָן (śā·ṭān) / Σατανᾶς: adversary, accuser, one who opposes, slanderer, tempter.
Idea: One Who Lies in Wait to Kill – Steel or Destroy. The Opposer of All That is Good.
God is Light & Satan / Demons are Darkness – Everything that’s Evil & Destructive.
God is Eternal – Satan is a Created Being.
God is Omnipresent – Satan Can Only be in One Place at a Time.
God is Omniscient – Satan Does Not Know Everything – Can’t Understand Everything.
God is All Powerful – Satan Can Only Do What God Allows Him to Do.
Verses that Tell Us Who Satan Is
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
1 John 3:8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
Revelation 12:7-9 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Some Demons are Imprisoned in the Abyss Until the End of History – Jude 6 The angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
Revelation 9:1-5, 11 I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. 3 And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.
4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5…the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes…11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).
Isaiah 14:12-15 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star (Lucifer), son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15 But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.
Ezekiel 28:13-17a You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you… on the day you were created they were prepared. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God…15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.
16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you…17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth.
Romans 1:18-32 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved (worthless, counterfeit) mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
The Progression of Sin and Evil in Romans 1:18-32:
1) Creation Itself proves that there is a Creator / God.
2) When people refuse to acknowledge God they suppress the truth.
3) Suppressing the truth opens the door to everything evil.
4) Evil keeps people from worshipping the Creator and giving Him thanks.
5) Failing to worship God causes people’s minds to stop thinking correctly.
6) Failing to think correctly (impaired thinking) darkens the heart and causes people to be driven by their emotions only.
7) Sin driven emotions causes people to worship created things instead of the Creator. People worship themselves (self-centered), other people, money, drugs, etc. This is where the worship of evil things and demonic activity become part of a person’s life. The worship of created things opens the door to depression, oppression and even demonic possession.
8) Demonic thinking leads to sexual confusion. People no longer understand who they are created to be. Instead of looking to God for our purpose, we have turned to created things such as demons and become formed into their image.
9) Allowing demons and evil to shape our minds leads to everything that is destructive for us as human beings. If we fail to embrace God, the only thing left to embrace is evil.
Most of What We Call Demonic Activity is Actually Our Sinful Nature & Our Freewill.
Most Spiritual Warfare is the Battle between Our Sinful Nature & Our Bad Choices.
We Can’t Blame Satan When We Stand Before God – Because – As Christians – Satan Only has the Power Over Us that We Allow Him to Have.
Remember: SATAN CAN OPERATE – Have Influence – IN ANY AREA OF DARKNESS.
John 8:34-36 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it for ever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Romans 6:12-14 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
Romans 6:16, 18 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Acts 26:17b-18 Paul’s Commision: I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
Once we accept Christ and turn from the power of Satan, we are set free from the power of sin and death. We no longer have to obey our old sinful nature.
As Sinful Human Beings – We are Capable of Doing Evil without Satan’s Help.
Satan & Demons are Evil Influences & Tempters in Our Life.
Think of Satan / Demons as an Evil & Destructive Acquaintance or Friend.
Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Our Ability to Do Spiritual Warfare is Only as Strong as Our Ability to Hear God’s Voice.
Where Does Sin Live – Where Does Sin Exist?
Evil is in the Earth & Our Universe – We Live in an Observable Fallen Environment.
Death & Decay Entered the Physical Universe When Man Sinned.
Genesis 3:17c-19 Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.
Isaiah 24:5-6a The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt.
Romans 8:20-21 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
God Allowed the Decay of the Universe as Part of Adam’s / Humankind’s Punishment.
We are Both Physical Beings & Spiritual Beings.
We are Governed by Natural Laws (Gravity) & Spiritual Laws (Reap What We Sow).
Prior to Sin – The Spiritual Laws & Natural Laws Worked Together.
When Adam Sinned – His Disobedience Changed Everything in the Universe:
The Power of God’s Spiritual Laws were Released into Our Natural Environment.
The Release of Spiritual Laws (Sin & Death) Altered the Natural Laws.
2 Peter 3:7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
The Spiritual Laws of Sin & Death are Increasing at an Exponential Rate.
Mathematical Formulas & Scientific Methods Cannot be Applied to the Spiritual Laws of Sin & Decay & Death. This is Why We’ll Never Figure Out How Old the Universe is.
The Universe Appearing to be Billions of Years Old Does Not Prove Evolution.
Rather – It Proves the Destructive Power of Sin & Man’s Decision to Disobey God.
Evil is in Humans because We’re Born with a Sinful Nature. Sin has Infected Humankind Physically & Spiritually.
Psalm 51:5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Romans 8:8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
Galatians 5:17-18 The sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
Romans 8:5-7 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
James 1:13-15 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Double-Minded / δίψυχος: two-spirited, uncertain about what is true.
Idea: To Have 2 Minds – 2 Opinions – 2 Purposes in Life – Unwilling to Commit to God.
Idea 2: A House Divided – Confusion – Uncertainty – Indecisive.
Idea 3: You Can’t Serve God & Your Self – God & Man – God & Money – i.e. Having 2 Gods.
Our Sinful Nature & Our Lack of Wisdom from Not Seeking God Daily & Our Bad Decisions – Leads to a Lack of Peace – Divisions – Confusion – Depression – Anger – Frustration, etc.
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
One of Our Greatest Problems with Sin – is Our Own Self-Deception.
Failing to Spend Time with God – Being Double-Minded
Failing to Put Truth into Practice – Leads to Self-Deception.
Failing to Spend Time with God IS Giving Power & Nourishment to the Sinful Nature.
No Help from the Enemy is Necessary.
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Good News – Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision (no covenant with God) of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.
We Destroy Darkness by Being a Light – We Use Truth to Remove all Lies.
This is to Be Our Attitude in All Things – Especially Spiritual Warfare:
James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Being Led by the Flesh = Envy – Disorder – Boasting – Confusion – This is Demonic.
Being Led by the Spirit = Purity – Peace – Considerate – Submission – Mercy – Goodness.
We Always Move Out of the Place of Peace – Especially When Going to War. Peace Gives Us a Clear Mind & Protects Us from Fear & Doubt.
Satan’s Power vs. God’s Power
1 Thessalonians 2:18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us.
Satan Stopped Paul – For a While – However – Paul Still had the Promise of God.
Paul was Able to Get Timothy to the Thessalonians – Eventually – Paul Made it Too.
When We are Temporarily Stopped or Hindered by Satan, We Must Continue to Stand on the Promises of God.
Acts 26:17-18 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (Verse 18 Expands Our Definition of Spiritual Warfare.)
Paul Did Not Get Discouraged – OR – Quit – He Continued to Do God’s Will.
Paul Put Faith in the Lord of the Armies of Heaven – He Learned Patience & Endurance.
God Will Ultimately Get the Victory.
Spiritual Warfare is Taking Back What Satan has Taken from Us; It is Destroying the Works of the Devil by Turning People from the Power of Sin & Darkness to the Power of God’s Light & Truth, So We Can Receive Forgiveness, Faith & Holiness.
Daniel 10:1-13 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.
The Revelation / Vision happened Tuesday, April , 536 B.C. This is important because it happened during the Passover season.
Passover occurred on April 14. Passover was a time to remembering how God freed them from slavery in Egypt.
Great War = Fall of Israel – Destruction of the Temple – Death of the Messiah.
2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, 5 I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold round his waist. 6 His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.
This is a Vision of Christ – The King of the Armies of Heaven.
7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.
9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.
Deep Sleep = A Type of Death – Like Adam before Giving Birth to Eve – Abraham before receiving the Covenant.
Idea: God Himself Initiates & Causes the Deep Sleep – to be cut off from the physical world.
Seeing Christ Encourages Death in order to Give Birth to Something Greater.
10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.
The Hand that Touched Daniel is the Angel Who was Delayed for 21 Days – Not Christ – Demons Can’t Stop Christ.
The Angel is about to Explain Why it Took 3 Weeks to Answer Daniel’s Prayer.
The 4 Primary Spiritual Characters / Angels / Demons in Daniel 10:
Angel = Probably Gabriel – Gabriel is Mentioned Before & After Chapter 10. In Scripture – Gabriel Delivered Important Messages to Israel.
Prince of Persia = A Very Powerful Demon – Probably Satan.
Michael (Who is Like God) = The Guardian Angel of Israel. SEE Daniel 12:1.
King of Persia = King is Plural in the Hebrew & Refers to a Multitude of Demons.
12-13 Then he (Gabriel) continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.
It’s Foolish to Think that We’re the Only Creatures Created to Worship & Serve God.
R.W. Dale, Pastor in England in 1854-1895: In the visible universe, and without looking away from the earth which is our own home, we see the ocean and the dry land, flowers and trees, the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, animals of great size and enormous strength, and insects so minute that myriads of them dwell together on a leaf.
Therefore, it is very natural and reasonable to suppose that there is variety in God’s spiritual universe. We could hardly believe that there is only a single race of creatures that adore the perfections of the Creator, and offer Him thanksgivings for His infinite love.
In the Old Testament and the New, there are many references to a glorious kingdom of spiritual beings, mighty in power, and perfect in happiness, who serve God day and night without ceasing.
There IS an Invisible – Spiritual Battle Happening Right Now – All Around Us:
This Spiritual Battle Involves a Multitude of Spiritual Beings as well as Human Beings.
This Battle is Taking Place in Both the Spiritual & Physical Realm.
Angels & Demons are Real – The Spiritual Realm is Very Real & Very Active.
Angels & Demons have Freewill & Can Choose to Obey or Disobey God.
Angels & Demons have Influence Over Human Governments & Nations. Control of Persia in Daniel’s Day Affected the World.
It is Prayer & Seeking God that Started the Chain of Events in the Spirit Realm:
- God Heard & Answered Daniel’s Prayer.
- Gabriel was Sent & Hindered by Satan / Demons. Hindered: to stand, to resist, to stop – i.e. Satan Stood His Ground against Gabriel.
- God Allowed the Battle between Gabriel & Satan to Continue for 21 Days.
- At the Proper Time – God Sends Michael to Overpower Satan for Gabriel.
- Gabriel Delivers the Answer Daniel.
A Spiritual Battle between Angels & Demons Occurred in order to Answer the Prayer.
The Answer to Daniel’s Prayer was Sent Immediately – But: Demons Temporarily Prevented the Prayer from Being Answered.
Even If Your Prayers are Not Answered Immediately – Keep on Praying.
God Sets Limits on What Satan & Demons Can Do to Test & Tempt Us:
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Daniel 10:20-21 He (Gabriel) said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; 21 …No-one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.”
Fight / לָחַם (lā·ḥǎm): launch an attack, to start or engage in a war.
Nuance: It is Used of God’s Involvement & Activity in the Protection of Israel.
Idea: God is Against Something or Someone Who is Evil & Immoral.
There is a Continuous Battle in the Spirit Realm that Accomplishes the Will of God.
This Story Reminds Us of Our Human Weakness & God’s Supernatural Power. Daniel was Strengthened 3 Times because The Glory of the Angel Weakened Him.
Spiritual Principle: It’s Not by Our Might or Power – But – By God’s Spirit.
If We Fail to Realize that there is More to Life than What We Can Physically See; Then We Will Misunderstand Life & Misinterpret the Scripture.
Every Spiritual Principle & Bible Promise Applies to the Area of Spiritual Warfare.
Michael Heiser: Evil is the perversion of God’s good gift of free will. What we choose to do is an important part of how things will turn out.
