Quick note: We are still consecrating. Yes, even tomorrow. If you need to feed your children and must have dinner yourself, please do so before you come to church tomorrow, as there will be no food prepared this week. Our consecration continues with intercession, prayer and worship, early. We’ll start after 7 and pray together as a family group! Then, we will dive into the Word of God around…Victory in Spiritual Warfare.
From Prayer, Fasting and Spiritual Warfare by George Akalonu:
Spiritual warfare is the act of standing on the finished work of Calvary to war, in the Name of Yeshua and at the prompting Holy Spirit against the devil and his evil forces and by doing so enforce the ordinances and purposes of Yahweh on planet earth (land, waters, first and second heavens). Take note that it is not against human beings, even when they are his willing or unconscious human agents.
“12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” Ephesians 6:12
Distortions of Spiritual Warfare by two opposing camps
Denominations divide the Body of Yeshua by clinging to limited insights they receive in the word and making dogma out of them. The problem with dogma is that it may not necessarily reflect the whole truth but can deceive by shutting off other truths. For this reason, those who cling to dogma do great damage to their souls as they lack the full counsel of Yahweh. Half knowledge can indeed be dangerous! Nowhere is this danger more evident than in the two major camps that dominate discussions on Spiritual Warfare. For sake of clarity, let us call them the ‘First World’ and ‘Third World’ camps.
The First World Camp
These are ministers from the advanced economies. After years of prosperity with all basic provisions generally met, they seem to have come to the conclusion that the
issue of Satan and evil spirits is a kind of fable reserved for ‘jungle’ societies. Consequently, they do not seem to experience direct encounters with the powers of darkness (or so they believe). They are not able to make a connection between the massive break down of the moral compass of Judeo Christian values and the attendant deviant behaviour at all levels in their countries with the war of attrition Satan and his assigned cohorts are waging.
These brethren love Yeshua, read and teach from the Bible but are clearly blind, leading blind followers who adore them into ditches. By not believing or teaching certain realities because they seem to have it all, they expose saints to the worst of spiritual and social sins: ignorance which leads to destruction as Hosea 4:6 says. Scripture is to be taught in fidelity to what Yahweh says, not subject to our personal opinions or experiences.
The Third Word Camp
These are ministers who have experienced the activities of Satan and his demons first hand or know many who have suffered uncountable torment, pain and even destruction of lives and properties. For them, this is no academic exercise: Satan and evil spirits are real. Consequently, they invest considerable time and effort to study the subject matter of Spiritual warfare, pray more about it, teach it often and conduct deliverance services both inside congregational settings, on special days, in homes and offices. While this camp knows about the subject matter, the attendant risk and danger is that they inadvertently promote Satan and Satan consciousness.
In some ministries, many saints have been ‘programmed’ to utter the name of Satan and evil spirits more than they pronounce the Name that is above all names, Yeshua Ha Mashiach, Jesus the Messiah. This anomaly has bred a degree of Satan- consciousness which brings through the back door, a new form of spiritual and mental enslavement to religion of works! In so doing, saints are led down the path of danger as they bring railing accusations against Satan concerning difficulties they face even when he is not even present! As they work themselves into a frenzy to
‘attack’ Satan and hang on him their burdens, such saints may pause to consider this word of caution:
“8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves” Jude 1:8-10.
Saints have been conditioned to forget that Yahweh is the fountain of Grace and Mercy. People become so legalistic that they attribute some of their present problems to what they did as children and unsaved youth though these may be things that have repented of and renounced! To compound this reality, they literarily worship the deliverance ministers and gladly pay outrageous fees to receive ‘deliverance’ that never really happens. Some are enslaved to several bouts of fasting (7, 21, 40, 50, 70, 100 days) that are continuous with ‘goal posts’ of deliverance continually shifted. They are extorted of huge sums of money from their preachers who feed fat by pumping fear into their hearts. Poorly printed ‘prayer books’ and ‘anointing oil’ are sold at outrageous prices and people have no choice than to buy.
Every one they know is supposed to be an enemy responsible for their woes. In such assemblies, people do not allow others (same congregants) to touch their children neither do they eat and drink together. This situation is not the intent of our King.
This is legalism in disguise and cannot make their practitioners perfect in Yeshua. The palpable spirit of fear and apprehension that is self-evident in such ministries prove without doubt that bondage, rather than liberty is their defining feature.
“18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?” Colossians 2:18-22
The balanced approach
There is a third way which has a balanced approach to the subject matter. It is that of systematic exposition of the Holy Scriptures under the guidance of Holy Spirit who was given to teach us all truth. It is also an approach which is hinged on the Words of King Yeshua and His apostles as well as their practical demonstration of Spiritual Warfare. To understand this subject in its fuller dimension, we need to also grasp the realities of another book we will offer titled ‘Critical Adversaries’.
Basic realities in the subject matter of Spiritual Warfare.
Let us take note of these basic realities that are grounded in the Holy Scriptures:
- Knowledge of who Satan is. Satan is a created being who once as Lucifer the archangel worked very close to God as worship leader that served at the centre of the Throne of Grace. Filled with wisdom and beauty, he was wired to produce music. Pride and vaulting ambition caused him to err and seek to seize the throne of God, leading to his transmutation from Lucifer to the Devil. Because he was an arch angel, he had access to much of the mysteries of life and in his fallen state has twisted them for dark purposes to make men switch loyalty from God to himself. Isaiah 14: 12- 17 tells us the origin of the fall of Lucifer while Ezekiel 28: 11 – 19 goes further to describe how Lucifer was when he was created and assigned as Chief worship leader of the heavenly choir. Satan tries to suggest otherwise but he does not have the immutable attributes of God. He is not Omni Potent, Omnipresent or Omniscient . However, because he is the master of deception and lies, he has organised his dark kingdom in such a way that his agents represent him at all strata of life so effectively that the unwary are led to believe that he is everywhere. It is critically important to Satan that the saints have a distorted view of who he actually is and the true extent of his power and operations. Once you underestimate Satan, you are set up for him to deal with you. If you over rate him to the degree of ascribing to him qualities that belong to God alone, you open a door of oppression for yourself. For this reason, we must pray for revelation to have a proper understanding of this enemy of God and of our souls. The truth is that Satan is not everywhere at the same time, a quality ascribable to God alone! He rather wanders throughout the whole earth. Job 2: 1-2. He also walks about like a roaring Lion seeking who to devour. 1 Peter 5:8. Like a thief, he is constantly seeking who and what to steal, kill and destroy. John 10:10
- Understand how Satan seems to be every where wrecking havoc. Satan achieves his seeming ubiquity of presence with the presence of his vast army of cohorts spread across the world.
“12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” Ephesians 6:12.
On the day of his fall, Satan was able to deceive multitude of angels to follow him in his rebellion. It is estimated that as much as one third of the angels were part of that rebellion. Revelations 12: 3,4. Satan has organized them into a powerful, well knit kingdom of darkness with each disciplined officer holding down a specific territory and representing him as his agent. Some demons(name of fallen angels) have specific assignment over individuals while others are assigned to families, communities as well as specific cultural heights s of society (Family, Schools, Arts/Literature, Culture, Media, Government/Politics, Business/the Professions, The Military) to supervise their activities and lead them to flow according to his pattern and will. We will examine his evil hierarchy in detail further on in this book.
- Saints need to hide in Yeshua! To live in victory, saints need to walk in full understanding that we have an enemy and a host of evil forces intent on undoing what God has done for us. Saints should desire discernment to understand the nature and mode of operation of demonic spirits functioning in their spheres of influence and know that those who are redeemed by the Blood that Yeshua shed, who abide in Him and allow His word to abide in them have passed from death to live; are transited from victims to victors as long as they set their affections on things above and seek first the Kingdom of Yahweh. This gives them double protection insurance that Satan cannot touch!
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” Colossians 3:1-4.
Understanding the basics of the evil kingdom of Satan
Of the things Abba shared with us so far, the following can be deduced:
- Satan is real as are demons who are fallen angels subject to him in a total sense.
- To ignore the reality of the existence of Satan is to live in denial. Since ignorance is not a virtue, the one who denies this reality is, from a spiritual point of view, blind.
- On the other hand, exaggerating the person and powers of Satan to the degree of counting him to be equal and opposite of Elohim, his creator is to succumb to his lies. This can open up the saint who believes the lie to greater realms of oppression and possible possession!
The first thing we need to understand is that from the day of his fall, Satan the Devil did not just go to fold his hands in hell which became his headquarters, living an inactive life. Some scriptures show us how he and his agents spend time.
Kingdom of darkness: Levels of authority and circumference of operation.
We now proceed to learn a little more about satan, his companions and agents and how they are structured to give the impression of ubiquity. In other words, some of the things saints glibly attribute to Satan are in fact direct activities of these officers in the kingdom where he is chief. Discernment of spirits will enable us to know exactly what we are up against so that instead of praying generally, we can deal with the hindering or opposing spirits by name, just as Yeshua and his disciples did. In one single verse, the hierarchical structure of the Kingdom of darkness is outlined for our benefit.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” Ephesians 6:12
We learn that while Satan is at the Apex of the Kingdom of darkness, there are other levels of authorities who work with him to steal, kill and destroy. Let us gain more insight into what those spirit beings are.
Principalities: These are ruling territorial demons which have charge over large areas and vast number of people. Principalities are assigned to enforce the ordinances and plans of Satan in their spheres of influence. They are also assigned to ensure that people in those areas have a distorted view of God and to see no need for Him in their affairs. Just as there was a Prince of Persia trying to hinder the prayers of Daniel, there are Princes of nations and territories today. Daniel 10: 1-21.It
is interesting that the Prince of Greece was also mentioned in that scripture (Daniel 10 Verse 20).
Powers: These are ruling demons that exercise influence over all thrones from which human ruler ship is exercised. Assigned to every throne on planet earth is a demon which seeks to cause the human rulers to forget that they are ministers of God. With this deception, such human rulers go into delusions of grandeur and forget that
they are created beings, until it is too late when sickness, rebellion, overthrow by coup, loss of elections or death cuts them down. Have you not known some people closely and could vouch for them but within a few months or years of being in political office, you can hardly approach, counsel or vouch for them again? Now you know what is at work! Rather than complain and moan, deal with this demonic power and you can recover the affection of your friend or relative.
Rulers of the darkness of this world. These are demons whose principal assignments are to inflict all manner of pain, suffering and crises upon mankind. The idea is to
make people, in the heat of intense pain, to “curse God and die” as the wife of Job suggested in Job 2:9. There are such demons which instigate wars, release and spread diseases, Cause people to forget important appointments, occasion wrong speech, occasion misunderstanding of intent, rouse people into stubbornness and insubordination, make children headstrong, self willed and wild, cause people to tend to criminality and indeed all kinds of evil. The natural is engineered from the spiritual. For this reason, virtually every imaginable evil that can come upon mankind have their roots in the infernal hearts of Satan and his agents.
Spiritual wickedness in high places. 2 Corinthians 4: 3,4. These are religious demons whose chief assignments are to cause humans to worship false gods and to draw their hearts away from the only true Creator. They promote the myriads of false religions that litter the universe. They appear as angels of light to cause men to
receive extraordinary “light” from above which draw multitudes towards hell while believing they are serving Yahweh . Even within the Christian faith, these demons are responsible for all the falling always that have occurred since the days of Yeshua, Jesus when out of 500 that saw Him ascend bodily into heaven, only 120 heeded His instruction not to go forth until the Church was officially birthed at Pentecost.
Every false doctrine including that which in the name of ‘Grace’ causes Christians to live carelessly, oblivious of the imminence of the return of King Yeshua and tendencies to eat and drink and forget the Great Commission are instigated by spiritual wickedness in high places. These demons twisted divine prosperity out of context to promote covetousness as prosperity message with saints piling up treasure for generations to come while the Kingdom needs within their localities and other parts of the world went unmet.
Today, these demons have penetrated the Kingdom message movement to promote a false and toxic gospel which depreciates the person of Yeshua Ha Mashiach, Jesus the Messiah to be a mere (undefined) King and not Divine. At the same time, these demons have twisted scripture out of context to tell saints that they are of equal rank with Yeshua, Jesus since He is only our senior brother so that they will no longer have awe for give Him the glory that is due. The demons on assignment study the Scriptures and turn their essential meanings upside down in order blind the eyes of those they deceive. The most outstanding assignment of these demons is to cause men to walk in ignorance of who Yeshua Ha Maschiach, Jesus the Messiah is. As the pivot of the salvation of man, inability to grasp the reality of His Divinity implies rejection of the plan of salvation.
“Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” 1 Corinthians 12:3.
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. ” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4. By denying the only King that bought them, some of these folks have embraced a reprobate state
Human agents. In addition to these spirit beings, there are humans who are inclined to evil and thus lend their vessels to Satan to possess and use to think, say and do evil.
“And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith” 2 Thessalonians 3:2.
They do not have to plan evil. Their imaginations and actions are evil continually! In this, they simply demonstrate the reality of what is in control of their lives. That is why we are not to focus on the vessels but on their ‘bosses’. If we focus rightly, we can have compassion on the vessels and deal with the spirits at work through them. Better still, as Paul instructs, we can hand over the battle to Yahweh whose Spirit possesses us! He generally does a better job in Spiritual warfare!
These include:
- People who inter mingle with the occult in various forms.
- Those who consult with mediums and operate with magical powers.
- People who accept the spirit of witchcraft with capacity to cast spells on fellow human beings and lead them into evil as Witches (Feminine) and Wizards (Masculine).
- Preachers who are drained of the Holy Spirit but recourse to satanic powers with which to manipulate their followers to do their bidding.
Understanding the Statute of Limitation in Spiritual Warfare
The Statute of Limitation is the limitation placed upon Satan, as a created being whose activities will ultimately work together to manifestation of the Supreme will of Elohim. The Supreme Ruler of the Universe on whose buck all things stop is Elohim!
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ” Ephesians 1:10-12.
When Yeshua paid the Supreme Price for the redemption of humanity, He proclaimed ‘It is finished’. By that decree, the legal power of Satan to smite and
torment saints at will was taken away as they were translated from his grip into the Kingdom of Yahweh! By doing this, Yeshua was not founding a religious organisation but rather opening the life gate for those who would to become members of the Family of Yahweh on earth.
“12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church” Colossians 1:12-24
Even in the Old covenant, let us see the Statute of Limitation at work. Satan had to take permission from Yahweh before he could oppress Job! Even in granting that permission, Yahweh set a limit to what Satan could do: he was not permitted to kill Job (See Job 1 verse 12).
“6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly” Job 1:6-22
At the same time, no matter what Satan and his agents do to saints whose lives are hidden in Yeshua, it will ultimately work together for their good, though there may be some pain along the line.
Subsequent permission sought led him to inflict more pain but at the end of the day, here was the testimony of Job:
“10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.
12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.
15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.
16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.
17 So Job died, being old and full of days” Job 42:10-17
Saints, it is not over until Yahweh says so! In our days,