Spiritual Warfare:

BuildingOur

Fortress

BuildingOur

FortressA DELIBERATELY MISLEADING TITLE

Ephesians 6:10-12 10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For 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.

• Spiritual warfare means war in the spirit realm.

• This is actually Satan trying to glorify himself as god, the temptation of Eve, and Satan’s effort ever since, to ruin God’s utmost creation: us, human being.

• This is actually Satan trying to glorify himself as god, the temptation of Eve, and Satan’s effort ever since, to ruin God’s utmost creation: us, human being.

1 John 5:4-5 4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

• It is important to note here, that this is a war, not battles, and that the war is already won. ***

• Some people say that your life is a continuous battles against sin. You are then suppose to win many battles everyday of your life.

• That is incorrect, and it will then be just like Pyrrhic victory like the war between Greek King Pyrrhus of Epirus against Romans – which born the idiom win the battle but lose the war, and actually means victory with such a devastating cost that it is tantamount to defeat.

*** Refers to “God’s Basics”

Ephesians 6:13 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

• Loins girt: truth

• Breastplate: righteousness• Feet shod: preparation of the

gospel of peace

• Shield: faith

• Helmet: salvation

• Sword (of the spirit): Word of God

Building your fortification:

• If you read carefully, you will notice that the title of this material is followed by a small “a deliberately misleading title.”

• In a war, you definitely need a fortress. But the Bible stated that your fortress is God Himself! The following page will show you all the verses.

• You already have a non-penetrable fortress in your spiritual war. But even in a fortress, you can still be hurt.

• God uses simple matters to bring you to understanding, and here He uses armour. An armoured soldier inside a fortress, is very difficult – if not impossible – to be hurt.

2 Samuel 22:2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalm 31:3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

Psalm 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Psalm 91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Psalm 144:2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

Jeremiah 16:19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.

• Now, you already have a never failing fortress, God. If you have loved ones, and you bring them inside your fortress, do you think they can get hurt?

• But at the same time, even your loved ones need to wear their full armour inside the Fortress. It is important that you CANNOT suit them up. They will have to wear it themselves.

• You can learn about each part of the whole armour from many sources. Why God use each part to illustrate a certain point. If you cannot find any materials, we will provide you a material which will go into this single subject.

• In relation with spiritual war, what you need to remember is that this is a war – not a battle. Remember, God already ensure the victory through Jesus.

• There would be many skirmishes, and the Bible never say that you are going to win every battle and every skirmishes.

• Your life will never be a 100% super success story. You will still have your failures, you will still be sad, you will still lose something, and many other things which in itself alone cannot be seen as a victory.

• However, God ensures that it is not going to be an uphill battle. (Matthew 11:30)

• The Bible was given to us during the medieval era. Back then, the common demographic arrange-ment is as in this picture.

• Generally there is a borough, where a gentry lives inside a castle surrounded by villages.

• The peasants tend their ground, raise their cattle and lives in the villages. They pay their tax to the gentry, and in return, the gentry who usually has a small army, protects them.

• If the threat is serious enough, the people will leave their village, and get inside the castle, and stay there until it is safe enough to return.

• The castle (which is also a fortress) represents protection, peace of mind, and assurance of life.

• Psalm 71:3 says, “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.”

• Do you think that the people who live in a strong borough have any care of any threats? You are not even live in the villages ... you live INSIDE the castle!

• Take a moment to fantasize a medieval life, living inside a strong castle, with strong towers, plentiful water and food, with a wise, just and kind gentry as a ruler.

Spiritual Warfare:

BuildingInsideOurFortress

BuildingInsideOurFortress

THE CORRECT TITLE

• Now that we knew that we are living inside a strong castle with total assurance of safety, peace and well-being, it is important to see at our activities.

• If you fantasize again about living in a medieval castle, do you think that the lord of the castle will be happy if you are being idle and unproductive?

• Just like in a construction work, we need to start laying all the building blocks. If you take a look at the background of this page, the building blocks needs to be arranged correctly and nicely.

• Acts 1:8 is the guide for the laying of building blocks. Of course you already understand the meaning of Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth.

• First of all, let’s take a look at the word “Jerusalem,” the first building block.

• From the word ש��ל�ים� �רו the first part of ,(Yerushaláyim) יthe name Jerusalem is ר�הי� (yara), which means throw, cast or shoot and also means stones are stacked. The second part is of course ם� (shalom), which is very ש��לוfamiliar to you.

• It is easy to comprehend, that building your family, or your Jerusalem, means laying the building blocks for your own peace.

• Your family does not necessarily means family per se, but your household. You and the people you consider as family.

End of Part 1