First Lovers, Here are the notes of tonight’s teaching on spiritual warfare. Also remember that we are consecrating and food will not be served. Still, if your kids need to eat, PLEASE bring them something. We’ll even have snacks available if they get hungry.
Let’s roll!
Niral
For the believer, deliverance is an expression of mutual love between you and God.
- He answers when you set your love upon Him (Psalm 91:14).
The primary offensive weapon of war is the Word of God in your mouth.
- The sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).
The Word manifests itself through the Father.
- Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11:3)
- God spoke. God saw. It was good. (Genesis 1:3)
- His Word does not return void, but accomplishes what he pleases. (Isaiah 55:11)
The Word manifests itself in the Son.
- A two-edged sword in his mouth! (Revelation 1:12-16; Revelation 19:11-15, 21)
The Word manifests itself through the Holy Spirit in us.
- The sword of the Spirit…(Ephesians 6:17)
- The Word is compared to a sword, but sharper, and piercing…(Hebrews 4:12)
Demons, Fallen angels, principalities, powers, spiritual wickedness in high places…they are all real.
- But, we do not wrestle demons! We cast them out.
- Paul’s thorn was not a demon (2 Corinthians 12:7). It was an angelic messenger of Satan. Those are different. We’ll talk about that later. I want to stay practical for now.
Believers have POWER over demons (and all the rest of those things). We respond to them differently.
- Resisting principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places require that we stand strong and PREACH THE GOSPEL, using the sword of the Spirit.
- …And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19)
- Resisting demons is to cast them out…period. There is no wrestling. (Mark 16:17, Luke 9:1, Luke 10:19)
Exousia, Dunamis and Kratos
And what is the exceeding greatness of His power (DUNAMIS) to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power (KRATOS) which He wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above every principality, and power (Exousia)…
- Exousia: Authority; power of choice
- Luke 10 (Read to verse 19)
- Tread: To tread under foot; to trample upon; to treat with insult and contempt
- Dunamis: Ability to exert and put forth force
- Ephesians 1:19-21
- Kratos: Dominion ascribed to God
CONCLUSION: If Exousia pertains to the power of choice (which it does), then this scripture tells us that Jesus has given us FORECEFUL power over the demonic realm’s power of choice.
Why could we not cast him out? (Matthew 17:17-20)
The answer? UNBELIEF. (Talk about it next week)
Special note: To rebuke (Mt 17:18) means to admonish or charge SHARPLY. Y’all are too soft with your dealing with the adversary. Command like Jesus!