FACT #1 God has objectively defeated
Satan and his agenda. He has delivered us from sin's penalty and power and ultimately will deliver us from sin's
very presence. In the interim, we are involved in guerilla warfare with demonic forces.
FACT #2 As Believers, we have
been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of light with all the rights, privileges, and position
that being a child of God entails.
FACT #3 The spiritual battle we
fight involves a responsibility on our part to "put on" the spiritual protection that God has provided
for us. We can and will resist the enemy's attempts to "deceive," "accuse," and "cast
doubt" when we STAND FIRM against him by:
1. Being honest with God, ourselves and others as a prerequisite to all spiritual battle.
2. Responding to the truth that God shows us about His will for our lives - righteous living.
3. A clear understanding of and readily sharing the "Gospel message of grace without fear with others."
FACT #4 The great majority of
spiritual warfare need never go beyond the regular practice of living out our position "in Messiah" by
faith. Our practice of Rabbi Paul's metaphor of the spiritual armor protects us from Satan's ongoing attempts to
break our fellowship with Yeshua and, as a result, greatly minimizes any impact by the enemy. If you sin, run right
to God, and not away from God, confess and get right ASAP.
There are times however, when we must MOVE beyond "standing firm" and engage the enemy in actual combat:
When we're taking significant
steps of faith for spiritual growth.
When we're invading enemy
territory (i.e. evangelism).
When we're exposing him for
who he really is.
When we repent and make a
"clean break" with the world, a long-held sin pattern, or an unholy relationship.
When God is preparing us (individually
and/or corporately) for a "great work" for His glory.
The Question - Once you're wearing your spiritual armor and yet you feel
yourself bombarded by spiritual opposition, how do you engage and win battles?
The Answer:
Scripture gives us the answer: 16 in addition to all, taking UP the shield of FAITH with which you will be able
to extinguish all the flaming missiles (darts) of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword
of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. -- Ephesians 6:16-17 (NASB)
THE WORD OF GOD IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER, YESHUA QUOTED IT OUT
LOUD TO THE DEVIL, YOU ARE TO DO THE SAME THING, IT WORKS!
I say this when fear tries to hit me; I speak it out loud, into the AIR and I always use these words as my Sword:
"I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered
me, Barbara, from all my fears. Not some of my fears, but all of my fears. He said, Resist the devil Barbara and
he will flee from you. Why? Because God is with me in all that I do, not some of what I do. Beat it devil, be gone
in Yeshua's holy name."
These are all Scriptures He gave me as a "Sword" in the 80's that I am to quote out loud to the prince
of the power of the air. The enemy always leaves me alone after I quote this to him about 3 or 4 times. Been using
this for years now and I always have Victory over fear when I do it out loud.
How to Engage the Enemy and Win:
1. "Taking up the shield of faith" - Ephesians 6:16
Metaphor Explained
Definition = Faith in this
context is our "absolute confidence" in God, His promises, His power, and His plan and program for our
lives. Although rooted in the objective reality of the Gospel and our new standing with God (justification) through
Messiah's (saving faith), this faith refers to our "present faith in the Lord Yeshua for victory over SIN
and the host of demonic forces." -- Kenneth Weust
Its purpose - to quench all
the fiery missiles of the evil one.
"Fiery darts/missiles"
= The schemes, temptations, lies, deceptions, and attacks aimed at (us) God's people to get us to "shift our
trust" distrust something or someone other than God. (i.e. blasphemous thoughts, hateful thoughts, doubts,
burning desire to sin, questioning other's motives, waves of discouragement or depression that is not biological
in nature) - often these are rooted in lies about God's identity or our new identity in Messiah Yeshua.
Classic Examples - Genesis 3 and Matthew 4
Classic Methodology - Disguise,
doubt cast on God and His Word or on you and your worthiness. Then provides appealing, immediate alternatives rooted
in the pride of life, lust of the eyes or lust of the flesh. - 1 John 2:15-16
Application:
Darts of doubt and deception must be immediately met by the Shield of
Faith. (i.e. your active, present, application of truth to your personal situation as soon as you recognize a DART
has been received). How is the key?
1. By fully trusting in God's Character - God has my BEST in
mind. Psalm 84:11, Romans 8:32
2. By trusting in God's Promises and His Word - He will accomplish what concerns me. Numbers 23:19, 2 Peter 1:2-4
3. By trusting in God's Program and perfect Timing - His ways are not always easiest, but are always BEST for us.
Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 55:8-13
2. "And take the Helmet of Salvation" Ephesians 6:17
Metaphor Explained
Definition = 1) Obvious allusion
to the security we have as saved, justified believers, safe from Satan's attacks to cause us to die, can't happen
to a Believer in Messiah. We are to focus in and on our present deliverance from sin! 2) The Helmet of Salvation
is the certainty of deliverance from sin and the protection of our MINDS in the battle.
It's not something you can
do - "receive," but something you must ALLOW God to do in your mind.
How? Focus is God's renewing
of the Believers mind. Romans 12:2 2 Corinthians 10:5 = The battle is for the mind!!! Romans 8:5-8
Practically - Prayer, worship,
music, Scripture, teaching, "Scripture Memory," and most of all fellowship with other blood bought Believers.
Rabbi Paul calls the Helmet
our HOPE (our certainty) of God's deliverance. 1 Thessalonians 5:8
Application: Christians
who are not filling their minds with Scripture are like warriors going out to battle without a helmet.
3. "And take . . . the sword of the Spirit" Ephesians 6:17
Metaphor Explained
Definition = The sword of
the Spirit is the Word (rhema - spoken word, or words given to us by the Spirit of God) to do close, hand-to-hand
combat with the lies and deceptions of the enemy. The truth of God's Word quoted and applied to the specific lie
or deception of the enemy will allow you to take "every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."
Application: Yeshua models for
us the use of the sword of the Spirit. Matthew 4:1-11
Implications for us Psalm 119:105, Psalm 19:9, 11 Practical considerations - Note also the Sword is both a defensive
and an offensive weapon we use - Hebrews 4:12
Summary: First off, do not engage the Enemy unless you KNOW God wants you too, and if He does, then
engage the Enemy in Spiritual Warfare fully knowing who it is that is backing you up! NEVER
go it alone. 5 Keys to pay attention too:
Key 1.
Prerequisite is a healthy spiritual life.
Key 2. Understand your position in the Messiah (The Christ).
Key 3. Discern
when "demonic influence" may be the cause.
Key 4.
Claim God's promises "out loud." - 1 John 4:4, 1 John 5:4-5
Key 5.
Take your authority and position "in Messiah" to command demonic
forces to cease their activity and depart in Yeshua's holy name.
