Introduction to Spiritual Warfare Faith

This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.

In the previous post, we looked at the last of the examples of Jesus speaking Spiritual Warfare.

Last week was a powerful week on the blog. We looked at the examples of people speaking Spiritual Warfare. We found the key to successful Spiritual Warfare is:

1. The participant makes a Statement in which the object of the Spiritual Warfare is the subject of the Statement.

2. The participant states a will for something that is unable to state a will or act apart from its nature.

3. The effectiveness of the Statement depends on the faith (understanding and experience) of the person making the Statement.

All of this seems pretty easy until we looked at The Contrastive Example of Spiritual Warfare.

In The Book of Acts, the sons of Sceva do unsuccessful Spiritual Warfare. It doesn't look any different than what Jesus, the disciples, and Paul did, UNTIL we compare it to the three points above...then the differences are obvious and alarming:

1. The participant is the object of the Statement.

2. The participant states their own will.

3. The participant makes a Statement by someone else's faith (understanding and experience).

Throughout this Series, we have emphasized that Spiritual Warfare is made up of WORDS and SENTENCES. Readers have understood this to the point that they no longer need any more examples of #1 and #2. After reading last week's posts, I think each of the readers is more than capable of doing #1 and #2 of Spiritual Warfare effectively. However, the questions have been rolling in concerning #3...

How do we grow in our faith enough to successfully participate in Spiritual Warfare?

The rest of this month will be spent answering this critical question. Today's post will serve as an introduction for the rest of the month...

Let's review the critical passage on Spiritual Warfare:

2 Corinthians 10
"1 Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you:
2 yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),
5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.
7 Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also are we."

We covered this passage in-depth in "Spiritual Warfare". The conclusion:

Spiritual Warfare involves casting down strongholds which are made up of imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity.

Imaginations, knowledge, and thoughts are NOT Physical.

Imaginations, knowledge, and thoughts are made up of WORDS.

Spiritual Warfare is COMPLETELY made up of WORDS!

Throughout this mini-series on Spiritual Warfare, we will consistently see that the individual's ability to succeed in Spiritual Warfare COMPLETELY depends upon their skillfulness with, and mastery of, WORDS.


Notice, the end of this critical passage deals with faith (obedience made full, trusting in ourself that we are Christ's, etc.).


SUMMARY
The overview for the rest of this Series is that God wants our brain to have Profitable Thought Processes. The enemy and our flesh wants our brain to have Unprofitable Thought Processes. What gets planted in our hearts is an effect of our Thought Processes...

Last August we began a two month Series on The Brain. The conclusion of that Series is that our mind either makes a choice to:

1. use our brain Profitably (an intentional effort to do the opposite of our nature)

OR

2. not use our brain Profitably, which means we think according to our nature (flesh) which is the same as how an animal thinks.

The battlefield is NOT our mind.

The battlefield is our brain (physical)...and is proven in our heart.

The combatants are made up of two teams: The Holy Spirit (God) and our mind vs. the enemy (unclean spirits) and our fleshly nature.

In order to understand how we OUGHT to build our faith AND how the enemy and our flesh fights our ability to do this, we need to become masters at understanding our Thought Processes...which are made up of WORDS and SENTENCES.

This week, we will be preparing for this by reviewing Thought Processes...

Spiritual Warfare: Jesus' Healings

This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.

In the previous post, we looked at the disciples' examples of Spiritual Warfare:

We have consistently seen that Spiritual Warfare involves casting out unclean spirits and healing people. In every successful instance, we have seen the participant in Spiritual Warfare makes a Statement that is a statement of the will for someone or something that can't state a will OR for someone who has faith and is in agreement.

Again, Spiritual Warfare consists of WORDS and SENTENCES.

Today, we will conclude this look at casting out unclean spirits and healing people by looking at Jesus...


SPIRITUAL WARFARE: JESUS' HEALINGS
This week we have looked at examples of Spiritual Warfare from Jesus, the sons of Sceva, the disciples, and Paul. In each example, we saw SPECIFICALLY what was spoken. We have seen that the method for casting out unclean spirits, affecting the weather, and healing people is the same. The previous post on Jesus' examples dealt mostly with casting out unclean spirits. Today we will conclude the Biblical examples of Spiritual Warfare with the examples were Jesus spoke in order to heal people.

Since we have covered the technique in-depth this week, I will keep the comments to a minimum. All of these are well-known stories, so there is no need to expound on every verse. For our purposes, please focus on two areas:
1. The demonstration of FAITH (Who has it and how is it shown?)
2. The statement of a will (Who makes the statement and whose will is being stated?)


Mark 2
"1 And when he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was noised that he was in the house.
2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, no, not even about the door: and he spake the word unto them.
3 And they come, bringing unto him a man sick of the palsy, borne of four.
4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay.
5 And Jesus seeing their faith saith unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins are forgiven."

Demonstration of faith: sick man and friends via letting him down through the roof.

"6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
7 Why doth this man thus speak? he blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but one, even God?
8 And straightway Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, saith unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
9 Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy),
11 I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thy house.
12 And he arose, and straightway took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion."

Statement of a will: by Jesus for the sick man.


Matthew 12
"9 And he departed thence, and went into their synagogue:
10 and behold, a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day.
13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, as the other.
14 But the Pharisees went out, and took counsel against him, how they might destroy him."

Demonstration of faith: man stretches forth his hand

Statement of a will: by Jesus for the sick man.

(Notice, the Mark 2 healing caused people to glorify God. This healing caused the Pharisees to strategize on how to destroy Jesus. Jesus did NOT personally benefit from either of these healings...)


Matthew 8
"1 And when he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
2 And behold, there came to him a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."

Demonstration of faith: by the leper conditionally. (See Statement of a will.)

"3 And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway his leprosy was cleansed."

Statement of a will: by Jesus for the leper. (Notice, the leper made an IF/THEN Statement! The IF was whether Jesus willed. Jesus' addressing the IF first actually served as a way to increase the faith of the leper. The leper is essentially saying that he has the faith to be healed IF Jesus wills it. THEN Jesus makes the Statement of a will after He fulfills the leper's "faith requirement".)

"4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
5 And when he was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6 and saying, Lord, my servant lieth in the house sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 And he saith unto him, I will come and heal him."

(Notice, Jesus is making a Statement of His Will. Again, this is serving as fulfilling the centurion's IF. There is a reason why this story occurs immediately after the previous story.)

"8 And the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed."

The centurion said, "Lord...only say the word..." The centurion GOT Spiritual Warfare. he knew it was made up of WORDS and SENTENCES! We have covered this story in a much older post on faith because the next part is the demonstration of faith by the centurion:

"9 For I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 And when Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."

Demonstration of faith: by the centurion (to the extent that it caused Jesus to MARVEL!).

"11 And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven:
12 but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast forth into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth."

The demonstration of faith was great enough to cause Jesus to prophesy!

"13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And the servant was healed in that hour."

Statement of a will: by Jesus for the centurion.

Notice, this statement of a will is NOT directly for the person being healed. The centurion had the faith (in fact, it was an example of faith that made Jesus marvel.) Jesus stated a will FOR the centurion: the centurion is the subject of the Statement. Looking back on ALL of the healing Spiritual Warfare examples we have covered that involve people speaking, the will is spoken for the person that is PRESENT...that demonstrates faith.

Inanimate objects and unclean spirits don't have faith, so in all the examples of Spiritual Warfare we saw that involved inanimate objects and unclean spirits, the will is spoken for them AGAINST what they are doing...even when they request something against what they are doing (e.g., Legion asking Jesus to send them into the swine).

In fact, the following passage comes immediately after the story about jesus casting Legion into the swine. We covered it in the post titled, "Spiritual Warfare: Offense Examples".


Mark 5
"21 And when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat unto the other side, a great multitude was gathered unto him; and he was by the sea.
22 And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he falleth at his feet,
23 and beseecheth him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death: I pray thee, that thou come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live."

Demonstration of faith (#1): by Jarius via stating Jesus' laying hands on her would heal her.

"24 And he went with him; and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him.
25 And a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years,
26 and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 having heard the things concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment.
28 For she said, If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole."

Demonstration of faith (#2): by woman via an IF/THEN Statement.

Statement of a will (#2): by woman touching Jesus garment.

"29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague.
30 And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding from him had gone forth, turned him about in the crowd, and said, Who touched my garments?
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?"

This is one of those verses in the Bible that most of people do not appreciate...not only for the doctrine, but for the "real life" experience. I have kept my comments to a minimum, so suffer me a mini-rant. (IF you don't want to hear this, just skip over these paragraphs and go to verse 32.)

Jesus felt power proceed from Him. Jesus felt a draw THROUGH Him. This woman was drawing on God THROUGH Jesus...and Jesus felt this draw. This is possible today in MANY applications. Here is just one...

Pastors are put into our life for us to hear from God. While we can hear from God directly, we are also supposed to hear from God THROUGH our pastor. When people don't hear from God THROUGH their pastor, they say they aren't "getting fed". Let's look at this more closely...

If the believer is NOT actively drawing on God THROUGH their pastor, then it is the fault of the believer. Actively drawing on God would involve desiring to hear something from God so much that you actively search through the pastor's WORDS and SENTENCES for ANYTHING that could have remotely come from God...and then apply those WORDS and SENTENCES to your life. It would even involve telling the pastor how those WORDS and SENTENCES from God THROUGH the pastor benefited YOU.

Realize, most pastors desperately DESIRE God to flow THROUGH them to the believers. However, they have been taught that grace is "unmerited favor" instead of "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life". They don't have an objective way to tell what is from God because most aren't aware that God ACTIVELY and CONSTANTLY influences our heart in order to flow THROUGH us (reflect in our life). Pointing out the WORDS and SENTENCES that came from God THROUGH the pastor will help the pastor "tune in" to God flowing THROUGH him.

However, IF you are drawing on God THROUGH your pastor and nothing is getting to you, THEN you are not getting fed and it may be time to ask God for a pastor that He flows through.

Unfortunately, most believers think that God ought to flow THROUGH a pastor with something specific for the believer WITHOUT the believer having to draw on God...WITHOUT the believe having to state their will and demonstrate their faith. I have even heard some believers state that it is the pastor's job to feed them...meaning that the believer pays the pastor so that is the end of their responsibility. This is NOT Biblical.

In fact according to Paul's letter to the Ephesians, Jesus gave five gifts to the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Remember, one of the PROOFS of a person having a gift is that it does NOT benefit the person with the gift...it benefits a group of people.

Likewise, the ability of each of these gifts to benefit a group of people depends on people DRAWING on God THROUGH the person. The gift does have a will and God wants to flow THROUGH the gift, so there is some benefit that comes THROUGH these people WITHOUT anyone drawing. However, the benefit equal to God's Will for the group of people can ONLY occur when people state their will and demonstrate their faith by drawing on God THROUGH the person with the gift.

Let's take this one more step...

You can draw on God THROUGH your believing friends! Everything that has been stated in this mini-rant can also apply to you and your friends. Your friends have a gift from God. You can benefit if you draw on God THROUGH your friends. We have seen the Bible calls this "Fellowship".

Now, how silly would it be to say to your friends that it is their job to feed you?

How silly would it look to tell others you are no longer a person's friend because they didn't speak for God to you?

Yet, when you are desiring to draw on God THROUGH a person and that person is destructive or hinders their sharing with you despite all your efforts to remain positive, then it is time to end that friendship.

Jesus was THE Apostle, THE Prophet, THE Evangelist, THE Pastor, and THE Teacher. He stated His Will that He was available for people to draw on God THROUGH Him. There was a THRONG of people. This means A LOT of people were touching Jesus. However, ONLY ONE person was drawing on God THROUGH Jesus! How sad...

The "real life" experience part of this story has to do with that fact. Jesus asks, "Who touched me?"

Can't you see the disciples looking at each other? Perhaps they were wondering if Jesus was losing it..."Who touched you?" The answer is EVERYONE is touching you. A better question may be "Who isn't touching you?"

As much as the disciples loved and worshiped Jesus, they still Questioned Jesus. Their Questioning of Jesus by using their reasoning mind ACTUALLY led to them increasing THEIR faith. However, this verse shows these disciples were real people who used their mind. They didn't blindly follow Jesus. They were Open, Honest, and Vulnerable with Jesus. They didn't try to hide their thoughts and feelings.

Why do we think we can hide our thoughts and feelings from God? Why do we try to hide our thoughts and feelings from people that we ought to be in Fellowship with?...From people that we ought to draw on God THROUGH?...From people that we ought to let draw on God THROUGH us?

Jesus looked for the person who drew on God THROUGH Him...

"32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth."

Again, when Spiritual Warfare happens when Jesus is around, people experience such great power they are in fear. She told him ALL the truth. She was completely Open, Honest, and Vulnerable with Him. Again...Why do we think we can hide our thoughts and feelings....

"34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."

Jesus gives us the explanation for Demonstration of faith (#2) and Statement of a will (#2): HER faith made HER whole. Jesus' Statement is AWESOME: Go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. Not only is He Stating His agreement to what she did, He stated a will for her to go in peace. I wonder what she felt like when she left. I wonder if ANYONE has ever felt that level of peace...

"35 While he yet spake, they come from the ruler of the synagogue's house saying, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Teacher any further?"

We are back to Demonstration of faith (#1). The daughter is now dead. She cannot state a will. She cannot show faith. If anything, this latest Statement by people from the associated with the father is a Demonstration of Unbelief.

"36 But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not, only believe."

However, the Demonstration of faith (#1) was an IF/THEN stated by the father...so Jesus spoke to the father NOT to fear AND to keep having faith.

"37 And he suffered no man to follow with him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
38 And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagogue; and he beholdeth a tumult, and many weeping and wailing greatly.
39 And when he was entered in, he saith unto them, Why make ye a tumult, and weep? the child is not dead, but sleepeth.
40 And they laughed him to scorn. But he, having put them all forth, taketh the father of the child and her mother and them that were with him, and goeth in where the child was."

These people laughed Jesus to scorn! In the story with the women who touched Jesus' garments, the disciples thought Jesus asked a ridiculous Question. Again, two stories (this time "nested) bear a similar theme: people thinking Jesus is losing it. Notice, he puts all these unbelievers out...He only brings the people who have faith: Peter, James, John, and the parents. Faith is vital to Spiritual Warfare.

"41 And taking the child by the hand, he saith unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise."

Statement of a will (#1): by Jesus for the girl. (In fact, we get the EXACT WORDS in its original language that Jesus spoke! WORDS and SENTENCES are crucial to Spiritual Warfare.)

"42 And straightway the damsel rose up, and walked; for she was twelve years old. And they were amazed straightway with a great amazement.
43 And he charged them much that no man should know this: and he commanded that something should be given her to eat."


SUMMARY
Spiritual Warfare is made up of WORDS and SENTENCES.

These WORDS and SENTENCES are a Statement of a will.

This Statement of a will depends on faith (understanding and experience).

An expert in Spiritual Warfare realizes how to correctly handle the demonstration of faith and the statement of a will.

Next week, we will look at the battle that is going on in our brain, NOT our mind....

Next Post

Spiritual Warfare: Paul

This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.

In the previous post, we looked at the disciples' examples of Spiritual Warfare:

We have seen several accounts of Jesus participating in Spiritual Warfare. In each instance, Jesus makes a Statement. He states a will for something that is unable to state a will or act apart from its nature.

In today's example, the disciples follow Jesus' example. However, in these examples we get a greater understanding of the role of FAITH...the understanding and experience that leads to actions.

Remember, Spiritual Warfare depends on a person's ability to use WORDS and SENTENCES...AND the person's understanding and experience with the WORDS and SENTENCES that are stated are also critical.

Today, we will look at examples involving Paul...


SPIRITUAL WARFARE: PAUL
Paul is one of the few successful participants of Spiritual Warfare that had Spiritual Warfare successfully applied TO him!

The Book of Acts documents that Saul persecuted the church. In chapter 9, Paul's "Damascus Road" experience is presented. Jesus appeared to Saul and spoke. Saul was blinded and led into Damascus to wait.


Acts 9
"10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth;
12 and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight."

Notice that Saul is praying. Also, Saul has seen a man named Ananias lay hands on him that he might receive his sight. Saul's faith is being built. Ananias' faith is being built. However...

"13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14 and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake."

Ananias expresses his concerns. The Lord helps build Ananias' faith by referencing Justice. Saul has done evil things and now he will suffer many things...

"17 And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

This Statement is a faith building statement. This Statement helps Saul have more faith that Ananias is sent to restore Saul's sight. This Statement is NOT the Spiritual Warfare statement for someone else's will. Yesterday, we saw that healings would occur when this faith building Statement was made first, followed by a Spiritual Warfare Statement.

"18 And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;
19 and he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus.
20 And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God."

Saul was healed and the story follows the pattern we have seen throughout this Series. However, we are missing the Spiritual Warfare Statement. Was it not recorded? Did Ananias say it?

Much later in the Book of Acts, Paul (formerly known as Saul) retells the story...


Acts 22
"12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there,
13 came unto me, and standing by me said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour I looked up on him."

THERE is the Spiritual Warfare Statement: Brother Saul, receive thy sight.

Saul is the subject of the Statement. Ananias speaks a will for Saul.

Again, Saul became known as Paul. Here is an example of Paul doing Spiritual Warfare...


Acts 14
"8 And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked.
9 The same heard Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,
10 said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped up and walked.
11 And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men."

This story is very similar to the Peter and John story from yesterday's post.

1. Paul fastened his eyes on the man.

2. Paul saw that the man had faith to be healed.

3. Paul stated a will for the man.

4. The man was healed

5. The multitude benefited from the healing and had an emotional response.

Let's look again at the example we have been referencing all last month:


Acts 16
"16 And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maid having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.
17 The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim unto you the way of salvation.
18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, being sore troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour."

"charge" is Strong's #3853 paraggello - "to transmit a message"

(In yesterday's comments we saw that a command/charge is the statement of an action...NOT the statement of a will)

Paul begins by saying "I have a message for you in the name of Jesus Christ".

The message is a statement of the will for the unclean spirit: "come out of her". (The command/action was the statement of a will.)

Again, Paul spoke a will over the unclean spirit in the name of Jesus Christ.

To some, this may look like the sons of Sceva, but they tried to hold an unclean spirit to a sacred oath...NOT transmit a message.


SUMMARY
We have consistently seen that Spiritual Warfare involves casting out unclean spirits and healing people. In every successful instance, we have seen the participant in Spiritual Warfare makes a Statement that is a statement of the will for someone or something that can't state a will OR for someone who has faith and is in agreement.

Again, Spiritual Warfare consists of WORDS and SENTENCES.

Tomorrow, we will conclude this look at casting out unclean spirits and healing people by looking at Jesus...

Next Post

Spiritual Warfare: Disciples' Examples

This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.

In the previous post, we looked at the Enemy's Method of Spiritual Warfare:

Spiritual Warfare is COMPLETELY made up of WORDS and SENTENCES.

A person's ability to successfully participate in Spiritual Warfare COMPLETELY depends on their FAITH (understanding and experience) with the WORDS and SENTENCES they use.

Today, we will look at more examples of people participating in Spiritual Warfare.


SPIRITUAL WARFARE: DISCIPLES' EXAMPLES
When people speak of the disciples, not much is usually stated about Philip. In the chapter where Philip witnesses to the Ethiopian, we see the following:


Acts 8
"5 And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.
6 And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did.
7 For from many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was much joy in that city."

While the SPECIFIC words that Philip used aren't stated, we see the same general pattern: Philip SPEAKS, they hear, signs are manifested (both unclean spirits and diseases are dealt with), and there is an emotional response (joy or fear).

In the next chapter of Acts, we see how Peter participated in Spiritual Warfare.


Acts 9
"36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
37 And it came to pass in those days, that she fell sick, and died: and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber.
38 And as Lydda was nigh unto Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men unto him, entreating him, Delay not to come on unto us.
39 And Peter arose and went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them."

Peter is called in to raise from the dead a woman whose works benefited many. It looks like Peter's faith is being built through understanding and experience. Peter is being convinced this is a worthy endeavor...

"40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up."

Peter said "Tabitha arise". Simple and to the point. Peter stated a will for someone that couldn't state a will (because she was dead). Tabitha is the subject of the Statement. Notice also, this came after praying...which also requires faith.

"41 And he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42 And it became known throughout all Joppa: and many believed on the Lord."

Again, the story ends with the Lord being magnified...the benefit is NOT to Peter. This story is consistent with everything we saw Jesus do. However, it seems we are learning more about the role of faith.

There is a story earlier in Acts that involves Peter and John.


Acts 3
"1 Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man that was lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms."

The man stated his will for alms. He has faith he will receive something.

"4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us."

This Statement gets lost in most explanations of this passage. Peter and John FASTEN their eyes upon the man...they are focused. Then they say, "Look on us." They make a Statement for the man...which sets up the key verse:

"5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them."

The man is showing FAITH. He expects to receive SOMETHING and his actions follow...he looks on them. Notice, Peter and John are "qualifying" the man for the healing...they are determining if he has enough faith to be healed.

"6 But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

Peter made two Statements. The first Statement was a statement of his will. Peter is the subject and he's stating his will that he is going to give to the man something that is NOT Physical. This Statement is a statement of FAITH (understanding and experience). The second Statement is the Spiritual Warfare: stating a will for the man.

"7 And he took him by the right hand, and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received strength.
8 And leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; and he entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God."

The disciple demonstrated his faith by raising up the man. Also, Peter and John were on their way to prayer. The man who gets healed goes into the temple leaping and praising God!

"9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 and they took knowledge of him, that it was he that sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him."

People are filled with wonder and amazement...


SUMMARY
We have seen several accounts of Jesus participating in Spiritual Warfare. In each instance, Jesus makes a Statement. He states a will for something that is unable to state a will or act apart from its nature.

In today's examples, the disciples follow Jesus' example with what is said. However, in these examples we get a greater understanding of the role of FAITH...the understanding and experience that leads to actions.

Remember, Spiritual Warfare depends on a person's ability to use WORDS and SENTENCES...AND the person's understanding and experience with the WORDS and SENTENCES that are stated are also critical.

Tomorrow, we will look at examples involving Paul...

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Spiritual Warfare: Enemy's Method

This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.

In the previous post, we contrasted the sons of Sceva's method of Spiritual Warfare with Jesus SPECIFIC instances where what He spoke during Spiritual Warfare:

We have seen several accounts of Jesus participating in Spiritual Warfare. In each instance, Jesus makes a Statement. He states a will for something that is unable to state a will or act apart from its nature.

In today's example, the Spiritual Warfare participants make a Statement of their OWN will by someone else's faith (understanding and experience). EVERY WORD in the SENTENCE shows the participant in Spiritual Warfare has NO authority...they don't know their doctrine...they don't know the HOW/WHY for the WHAT they are stating.

AGAIN, Spiritual Warfare depends on a person's ability to use WORDS and SENTENCES. It also looks like the person's understanding and experience with the WORDS and SENTENCES that are stated are critical.

Jesus was a MASTER at using WORDS and SENTENCES...the sons of Sceva are the contrastive example of Spiritual Warfare.


SPIRITUAL WARFARE: ENEMY'S METHOD
We looked at Acts 19 yesterday. The end of that passage is:

"16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified."

This event became known to ALL and fear fell upon them ALL...and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

HOW/WHY did this event magnify the name of the Lord Jesus?

Today, we are going to answer this question and look at what happens next. (Do you know what happens next?)

If the benefit is ONLY that more people knew the name of Jesus, then this would mean the comment by the evil spirit was profitable...it was based on an evil spirit. Also, how is the name of the Jesus being known more a benefit in and of itself? There must be something more that happened...something extremely profitable.

Acts 19
"18 Many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds."

The cause is that people believed. The effect is that they confessed and declared their deeds. These people are growing in their belief.

"19 And not a few of them that practised magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver."

Wow! NOT A FEW of them that practised magical arts brought their books and burned them.

"20 So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed."

People admitting confessing their deeds and repenting of their deeds was the reason the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

However, notice an extremely subtle point that has been in front of our eyes for decades...

What method did those who practiced magical arts use to do Spiritual Warfare for the enemy?

They used BOOKS...which are made up of SENTENCES...which are made up of WORDS.

We ALL know that those who do Spiritual Warfare for the enemy use WORDS and SENTENCES.

WHY do we think that Spiritual Warfare for God would be physical?

WHY do I have to spend so much time hammering the point that Spiritual Warfare is COMPLETELY made up of WORDS and SENTENCES when we ALL know the enemy practices Spiritual Warfare with WORDS and SENTENCES?

I need to do this because next month as we get into practical examples of Spiritual Warfare that we encounter every day, we are going to see it involves WORDS and SENTENCES...and most people don't consider the examples I will present as Spiritual Warfare BECAUSE it ONLY consists of WORDS and SENTENCES!


SUMMARY
Spiritual Warfare is COMPLETELY made up of WORDS and SENTENCES.

A person's ability to successfully participate in Spiritual Warfare COMPLETELY depends on their FAITH (understanding and experience) with the WORDS and SENTENCES they use.

Tomorrow, we will look at more examples of people participating in Spiritual Warfare.

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