Angels & Demons, Pt. 2 - “Demonic Warfare”

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Ephesians 6:10-12- “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

My good friend, Dr. Bob Peterson, told me of an experience in a NYC Subway that he believes was an encounter with demonic spirits. To quote Dr. Bob, “The truth is, we are always battling the forces of Satan.  Most of the time, we don’t know it. But for a brief moment I saw the invisible made visible.”

Do we have to see the Devil face to face to recognize his M-O?

-When a couple, even Christians, suddenly find themselves in constant conflict;

-When a child starts to drift into rebellion and disrespect;

-When a Christian is exposed for living a double life of impurity;

-When a church begins to experience division and conflict for no apparent good reason at all;

-When conservative, family values Politicians fall into sin;

-When leading T.V. Pastors and evangelists fall in immorality or financial improprieties, and damage the name of Christ.

-When a governmen seems almost evil in its actions.

When these things happen, why doesn’t the Church of Jesus Christ rise up and call on God to rebuke and bind Satan in the name and through the blood of Jesus Christ?  Isn’t that what the Bible teaches in Zechariah 4 & Jude 9?

Why don’t Christian parents cry out to God to put a hedge of protection around that rebellious child and bind the Devil? Why doesn’t an abused wife cry out to God for protection from a camouflaged demonic attack?

Are you getting what I am saying today?  Why are we so reluctant to identify Satan, not people, as the culprit behind such things?

Why do we fight, argue, bicker in marriage, family, even church?  James answers in James 4:1-8(MES)  “Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen?  They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have.. You want what isn’t yours…You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way. You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way.” Sounds like the Devil to me!

I want you to wake up to the reality of Satan’s attempts to destroy every Christian marriage, every Godly child, every powerful church and ministry. Listen, the Bible is clear about whom Satan is & what his demonic forces are out to accomplish.

The great Chinese military strategist, Sun Tzu wrote in his book, “The Art of War” – “The first rule of war is to know your enemy. Wars are lost because we have not identified the right enemy. And when we do, we misjudge his power.” I might add that it may be equally as important to know yourself and your need of strength to do battle with him.  This is spiritual warfare!

Who are these demonic spirits, and where did they come from?

Rev. 12:7 goes back to the beginning when it reports, “There was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

Luke 10:17-18- Jesus saw it all, “The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.”

In the flesh, we are no match for the Devil, and that’s what Paul was saying in our text, Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (MES) This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.”

I Peter 5:8 “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

(MES) “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.

The Bible calls him Satan-adversary; Devil-accuser; Serpent-deceitful; Beelzebub-lord of dung; Belial-worthless; Lucifer-light-bearer; Wicked-cruel; Tempter-inciter; Prince of this world- the one who controls people & nations.

Satan accomplishes his work through his demonic fallen angels.

(BKC) “A demon is an evil supernatural being or evil spirit. Mt 8.16-31 “They brought to him many who were demon possessed and he drove out many demons; the evil spirits begged him’. The Devil may be spoken of as ‘the chief of the demons,’ sometimes demons are called ‘the spirits of the Devil’ or ‘the servants of the Devil.” Different kinds of demons may be responsible for particular kinds of human behavior, for example, insanity, depression, sex perversion, and violent assault. Sometimes demons are classified as “those of the home or forest.” Mt 8.16 speaks of, “many possessed by demons.” The expression may be “the person possesses a demon” or “the demon commands the person.”  Some call it “demonized.”

We are warned about demonic activity in the last days in I Tim. 4: “The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits & doctrines of demons”

These demonic forces are most often invisible. This is a spiritual warfare, not against flesh and blood. Demons are continuously at work knowing their time is short (Jesus is coming soon) they operate from “unseen world” and I believe are assigned to specific locations, nations, churches, families, and individuals. They serve Satan.

(Let me suggest you read or reread “This Present Darkness” by Frank Peritti.

Well, what do we do to be “battle ready” for this warfare?

Listen, Paul warns us to get God’s armor before we do battle with the Devil and his demonic forces.  II Cor. 10:3-5 (1161) “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses (Satanic strongholds). We are destroying speculations (wrong reasoning’s, warped philosophies) and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, (barriers erected against the truth of God) and we are taking every thought (emotion and impulse) captive to the obedience of Christ (into a life-structure shaped by Christ)

The most strategic question to answer for this demonic warfare is simply, “Does Jesus live IN me by the power of the Holy Spirit?” If not, invite Him into your heart and life today!

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