Lesson INIHOP

May2015

Spiritual warfare

EPHESIANS 6:12“WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD”- OUR ENEMY IS NOT

HUMAN BEINGS- WE BATTLE AGAINST

SPIRIT FORCES

PART 1: WHAT IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE?

The Christian has three major enemies:1. THE FLESH (or the sinful nature)2. THE WORLD (or the philosophy and lifestyle of the world opposed to the philosophy and lifestyle of Christ.)3. THE DEVIL AND HIS DEMONS.

• Broad Definition. The broad definition of spiritual warfare includes the three.

• Narrow and strict definition (Spiritual warfare proper). The narrow and strict definition of the term emphasizes the third and underscores its central role, although it involves the three.

I. WARFARE AGAINST THE FLESHChristians still have the sinful nature (also called the “old man”.) This nature opposes the Spirit in the Christian.

• “The SINFUL NATURE (FLESH – KJV) desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature, so that, you do not do what you want…”

• “The acts (or deeds) of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like…”

-Galatians 5:17, 19

FIRST ORDER OF BATTLE – WIN AGAINST THE FLESH!!!

1. A CHRISTIAN CANNOT GET INTO SPIRITUAL WARFARE PROPER (CANNOT HAVE AUTHORITY OVER DEMONS), IF HE HAS NOT WON THE WAR AGAINST THE FLESH.

“I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this WILL NOT INHERIT the KINGDOM OF GOD.”- Galatians 5:20

“But if I DRIVE OUT DEMONS BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME UPON YOU. - Matthew 12:28

• The term “Kingdom of God” refers among other things in the actual powers (for the actual exercise of the powers) of God.

• “To inherit” is a legal term, which means “to succeed”, “to step into the shoes of”. A Christian who is fleshly or carnal, although he may be considered to be in (or to have entered) the Kingdom of God cannot “step into the shoes of” God (or cannot do the things that God or Jesus Himself could do). He may be an insider but not an inheritor. Not having been entrusted with the powers of the Kingdom of God.

THE SPHERE OF OVERLAP BETWEENTHE FLESH, THE WORLD, AND THE DEVIL AND

HIS DEMONSOur first THEATER OF WAR is the flesh;IT IS OPERATING IN THE WORLD,Which is UNDER THE DEVIL’S SCHEMES AND SYSTEMS.Our imperative for “first victory” is against the flesh.

THE TWO DYNAMICS (OPERATIONAL PRINCIPLES) OF THE FLESH

1. DESIRES THAT ARE “CONTRARY2. DEEDS TO THE SPIRIT”

• Defined collectively, the “flesh” is any desire and deed occasioned or pursued by the self apart from the plans, purposes, precepts, principles and practices of God.

MAN AS ORIGINALLY CREATED:

DISTINCTION BETWEEN SOUL AND SPIRIT

• "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

(Hebrews 4:12)• "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you

entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

(1 Thessalonians 5:23)

BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT(Soma, Psyche, Pheuma)

1. THE FLESH (BODY) IS WHAT YOU SEE AND FEEL

2. THE SOUL IS WHAT YOU FEEL BUT CANNOT SEE

3. THE SPIRIT IS WHAT GOD FIRST SEES

Holy of Holies, Holy Place, Outer Court

THE INVISIBLE (SPIRITUAL) REALM AND THE VISIBLE (NATURAL) REALM:

UNDERSTANDING THE LEVELS OF WARFARE AGAINST THE FLESH:

1. DESIREJAMES 4:“1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

2. FOOTHOLDEPHESIANS 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 22 You were taught, with regard to your FORMER WAY OF LIFE, to put off your OLD SELF (“FLESH”) , WHICH IS BEING CORRUPTED BY ITS DECEITFUL DESIRES; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

Ephesians 4“27 and DO NOT GIVE THE DEVIL A FOOTHOLD. ”Note: 1. This was written to Christians 2. We can give the Devil a foothold in our lives!

“28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

ALL THESE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES, EMOTIONS, ETC. ARE A FOOTHOLD.

Then FROM FOOTHOLD TO 3. STRONGHOLD• 2 Corinthians 10:3-5“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish STRONGHOLDS.”We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

STRONGHOLDS ARE BELIEF SYSTEMS, ATTITUDES, WAY OF THINKING, VIEW, OPINION, SENTIMENT THAT ARE NOT OF GOD BUT OF THE ENEMY THAT WE HOLD ON AND THAT DEFINES OUR CONDUCT.

STRONGHOLDS – are commanding, controlling, defining fortifications, heavily defended.

Usually they are in “high places” (the mind) that command everything “below” (body).

EXAMPLES OF STRONGHOLDS:1. I am a woman in a man’s body…2. Poverty is my family’s fate and I will always be poor…3. I am a good person and I am saved by my goodness…4. I am saved by grace I can live my life whatever way I want…5. A mean-spirit (always hurting people with words and

actions because of a traumatized childhood…)6. Religious belief systems – Christ is okay but not sufficient;

he must be “helped” by other personalities…7. The Church has replaced Israel8. The “torah” is useless and obsolete because we are “under

grace” (so so-called “Christians” live such unholy lives)

VERY POSSIBLE, AND IT OFTEN HAPPENS:

That a person has ALREADY BECOME A CHRISTIAN (received Christ as his Lord and Personal Saviour), BUT STILL HAS STRONGHOLDS IN HIS SOUL (MIND, EMOTION, AND WILL) WHICH INFLUENCES HIS BODY (HABITS, ADDICTIONS, BEHAVIOUR, ETC…)THE EFFECT: THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS CONNECTED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, IS QUENCHED, OR OVERCOME BY THE “SOULISH MAN” AND THE FLESHLY (BODILY) HABITS….This is the expression “LIVING BY THE FLESH”…

Determining presence of strongholds:

Usually strongholds manifest by habit patterns.They are “tracked” or “monitored” by check-lists…

ANATOMY OF ITS DEVELOPMENT: EXAMPLE – RESENTMENT in marriage

Your spouse does something which hurt you…

If the resentment is not resolved, it becomes a stronghold. Strongholds then produce idols…

IDOL means “another”. Or something that replaces God. The stronghold is a SUBTLE REPLACEMENT OF GOD IN OUR LIVES, BECAUSE INSTEAD OF GOD CONTROLLING US, IT IS THE STRONGHOLD THAT CONTROLS US.

Examples of strongholds producing idols:

1. If you believe that you are a “woman trapped in a man’s body” (or vice-versa) (stronghold), your idol may be Vice Ganda or Ellen (or Aiza)

2. If poverty is your stronghold – your idol may be Manny Paquiao (or Floyd Mayweather) because they are so wealthy

3. If anti-Israel is your stronghold, your idol may be your denomination (you will follow and believe everything your denomination says)

4. If materialism is your stronghold – your idol may be your business or work5. If pleasure is your stronghold – your idol may be sexy bodies (everything

has to submit to developing a sexy body)6. If politics is your stronghold – your idol is political victory at all cost (even if

you have to buy votes)7. If resentment is your stronghold – your idol is vengeance (so you like

movies where victims of injustice get even through their own hands)8. If your stronghold is good looks and popularity – your idol are the movie

starsSO ON AND SO FORTH. STRONGHOLDS OFTEN PRODUCE IDOLS.

In warfare against the flesh, the objective is to demolish strongholds:

DEHABITUATE: HABITUATE:

SPIRIT INFLUENCE OVER THE FLESH, or PROBLEMS OF

THE FLESH CAUSED BY IMPARTATION OF SPIRITS:Genesis 38:

Judah had a son named Er. Er married Tamar.Er died (was killed by the Lord for being wicked).Onan the younger brother was told to marry Tamar but would spill his seed on the ground, so God killed him too.Judah tells Tamar to wait for the third son (Shelah) to grow up. Shela grows up but Judah did not give to Tamar (v. 14)Meanwhile, Judah’s wife Shua died. And he went looking around for a girl. He goes to Timnah (looking for a temple prostitute, see v. 21).There was a woman there who was veiled. He thought it was a prostitute. He did not know that it was his daughter-in-law Tamar.He impregnates her.She conceives and bears twins : PEREZ and ZERAH.

NOTICE THE WORKINGS OF AT LEAST THREE SPIRITS in this story:

1. spirit of SEXUAL IMMORALITY2. spirit of IDOLATRY (Judah was looking for a

temple prostitute; this was just a THOUGHT OR INTENTION at that time – Gen. 38)

3. Spirit of DEATH – Judah did not give Shelah to Tamar (according to law/tradition of their time to perpetuate the line of Er), thus cutting off (“killing”) the line of Er

WHAT THE LAW PROVIDED:

Deuteronomy 23:2“No one born of a forbidden union may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD.”

The genealogy of MATTHEW 1• 1 A record of the genealogy of Jesus

Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:

• 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

• 3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,

• 4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,

• 5Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

• 6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,

Count:1. JUDAH2. PEREZ AND ZERAH3. HEZRON4. RAM5. AMINADAB6. NASHON7. SALMON8. BOAZ9. OBED10. JESSETEN GENERATIONS.Followed by David and Solomon

WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM OF DAVID AND SOLOMON?

1. SEXUAL IMMORALITY (David and Bathseba; Solomon’s numerous wives and concubines)2. IDOLATRY (Solomon’s problem)3. MURDER (David’s problem), THE SAME SPIRITS THAT ATTENDED THE SIN OF JUDAH WITH TAMAR.

POINT: A SPIRIT OR SPIRITS WERE IMPARTED IN THE SPIRIT OF CHILDREN OF JUDAH AND TAMAR THAT WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE GENERATIONS.In David and Solomon’s time, it became the problem of their FLESH.

SO “WARFARE AGAINST THE FLESH” HAS TO BE FOUGHT AGAINST:

1. SPIRIT INFLUENCES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IMPARTED :A. THROUGH THE GENERATIONAL LINESB. OR AT CONCEPTION

(THESE INFLUENCES BECOME PART OF THE GENETIC INFORMATION DEFINING OUR PERSONALITY and influences our bodily/”fleshly” behaviour or conduct.Then they influence our:2. DESIRES3. Which give way to FOOTHOLD4. Which result to STRONGHOLDS5. Which produce HABITS, and create IDOLS

Note: EPHESIAN 6:12 says “We WRESTLE not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers…”

WRESTLING IS A CONTACT SPORT – YOU HAVE TO TAKE HOLD OF THE ENEMY, GRAPPLE WITH IT, AND DEFEAT IT TO SUBMISSION…

WINNING THE WAR AGAINST THE FLESH REQUIRES that:

WE CLEAN UP OUR SPIRITUAL ANCESTRAL LINE.THE AREAS OF SPIRIT-INFLUENCE OVER OUR FLESH (DNA):1. THE ANCESTRAL LINE2. OUR CONCEPTION LIFE

MAPPING THE ANCESTRAL LINE(or conducting SPIRITUAL BIOPSY):

1. Look at GATES, COVENANTS, ALTARS:

A. GATES: Entry points of WORKS OF CERTAIN SPIRITS in the family tree.

Examples:1. murders?2. Sorcery, witchcraft?3. Idolatry?4. Land-grabbing?

WHY CHECK THESE THINGS?WHAT IS THE RELEVANCE OF THESE TO US?1. Because of the CONCEPT OF “VISITATION OF SINS”

EXODUS 20:1And God spoke all these words:2"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.3"You shall have no other gods before [1] me.4"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,6but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

This is sometimes called GENERATIONAL CURSE.

Confessing the sin of the fathers (Leviticus 26)

• 26:1 “‘Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God.

• 2 “‘Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD.• 14 “‘But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15 and if you

reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16 then I will do this to you: I will bring on you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and sap your strength. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. 17 I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.

• 18 “‘If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over.

• 40 “‘BUT IF THEY WILL CONFESS THEIR SINS AND THE SINS OF THEIR ANCESTORS—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, 41 which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, 42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land

So CHECK THE “GATES”

Look at the “symptons” in your life and check the family tree:Example:1. Poverty – sins involving money (gambling, etc.),

laziness, unfaithfulness in stewardship (also possible: anti-Israelism)2. Violence, tempers, murder, death – there may have been violence and murder committed in the family tree3. Difficulty to offer one’s life to the Lord – rooted

idolatry in the family tree4. BROKEN MARRIAGES/RELATIONSHIP, inability to enter into and maintain relationship – there may be unfaithfulness in marital vows in the family tree…. Etc.

SPIRITS ARE KNOWN BY THEIR WORKS

• Luke 13:11,16, "And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself... And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?”

• Other spirits:Uncleanness, stupor, anger, idolatry, rebellion, etc.

DEMON SPIRITS OFTEN WORK IN GROUPS

• Demons work together• Luke 11:24,26, "When the unclean spirit is

gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.... Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

WHAT TO DO:1. CONFESS THE SINS OF THE FAMILY, FOREFATHERS2. ASK THE LORD TO BREAK THE CONSEQUENCES IN YOUR

GENERATION AND IN YOUR LIFE NOW

Biblical basis: A. I JOHN 1-10 (CONFESS YOUR SINS… he is faithful and just to forgive..

And to CLEANSE…)B. COLLOSIANS 2:13-16

(HE NAILED THE CURSE OF THE LAW TO THE CROSS, AND DISARMED THE RULERS AND PRINCIPALITIESC. The PRAYER OF JABEZ -- I CHRONICLES 4:10

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be FREE FROM PAIN." And God granted his request.

D. REDEDICATE YOUR LIFE TO THE LORD – (Matthew 12:29, Mark 3:27)when the “strongman” is bound, have the house inhabited by the STRONGER MAN – JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT

NOTE: ANCESTRAL SINS IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR OUR PRESENT SINS

• “Ancestral sins” cannot be used as an excuse for present sins

• (Jer. 31:27-30, 29 "In those days people will no longer say, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'

• 30 Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes--his own teeth will be set on edge.

• Lam. 5:7, Ezek.18:1-20.• In other words, YOU STILL ANSWER FOR YOUR SINS, YOU

DO NOT BLAME YOUR FATHERS OR ANCESTORS WHY YOU ARE THAT WAY

Then CHECK COVENANTS… Ex. reference passage: I Corinthians 10

• 1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.

• 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

• 3 They all ate the same spiritual food • 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from

the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

• 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them;

I CORINTHIANS 10• 15 I speak to sensible people; JUDGE FOR YOURSELVES WHAT I

SAY. • 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation

in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?

• 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

• 18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

• 19 DO I MEAN THEN THAT A SACRIFICE OFFERED TO AN IDOL IS ANYTHING, OR THAT AN IDOL IS ANYTHING?

• 20 NO, BUT THE SACRIFICES OF PAGANS ARE OFFERED TO DEMONS, NOT TO GOD, AND I DO NOT WANT YOU TO BE PARTICIPANTS (fellowship KJV) WITH DEMONS.

• 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons.

• 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?”

CHECK also: SPIRIT/S RELEASED OR IMPARTED DURING CONCEPTION

Idea of spirit imparted in conception:LUKE 1:10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him (Zechariah), standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and HE WILL BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT EVEN FROM BIRTH.”

WHAT WAS THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF YOUR MOM WHEN

YOU WERE CONCEIVED?

The FRUIT of the (HOLY) SPIRIT) – love, joy, peace, patience, self-control, goodness, meekness, …IF AT THE TIME OF CONCEPTION, THERE WAS WORRY, AGITATION, UNHAPPINESS, HURT, ANGER, TRAUMA, FEAR, REJECTION, REGRET, UNGRATEFULNESS – THE SPIRIT MAY HAVE BEEN IMPARTED TO THE CHILD (coded in the DNA – “programmed”…)This forms of your personality…

IF THE SPIRIT MANIFESTS IN THE FLESH…

Example: spirit of anger, resentment, rejection, worry fear (when we were conceived and we become like this also in our personality development) AND IT BECOMES A LIFESTYLE OR HABIT…THEN IT BECOMES PART OF THE WARFARE AGAINST OUR FLESH TO UNDO THESE THINGS.(cut off the spirit connection, “re-program” your DNA…)

What do we do?1. IDENTIFY THESE SPIRIT INFLUENCES AT CONCEPTION2. PRAY TO THE LORD FOR DELIVERANCE FROM THESE

SPIRIT INFLUENCES3. ASK THE LORD FOR THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

TO BE MORE MANIFEST IN OUR LIVES4. STRIVE TO GROW MORE IN THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD5. BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT6. “DEVOUR” THE WORD OF GOD7. CONSCIOUSLY RESIST AND REJECT THESE OLD HABITS

AND “PROGRAMS”

OUR AUTHORITY AND WEAPONS• The believer’s authority are:

His salvation - 1 John 5:13His eternal security - Rom. 8:36-39His position in Christ - seated with Christ in the heavenlies, far above all rule and authority… not only in this world, but in the world to come – Eph. 1:17-23Expressed declaration of authority over demonic powers – Luke 10 (Matt. 17:20, 21:22, Mk. 4:23, 11:22-24, 16:15-20, Jn. 14:12)

NOTE: GOD GAVE US AUTHORITY IN CHRIST, BUT WE NEED TO EXERCISE IT TO CONVERT IT TO POWER!!!

The believer’s tools and weapons:1. The Word of God in its effective use – Eph. 6:172. Prayer – Eph. 6:183. Fasting – Mattthew 17:21 (“This kind goeth not out but by

prayer and fasting”. Note: the spirit here was a lunatic spirit, violent with epileptic fits)

3. The name of Jesus (YESHUA) – Acts 19:134. The blood of the Lamb – Rev. 12:115. The word of their testimony – Rev. 12:116. The armor of God – Eph. 67. The torah lifestyle – (“God’s word” understood firstly to be torah…) – Rev. 12:17 (read the contxt)8. Worship/songs – Psalm 1499. A life of prayer and the Word – Psalm 110. Praying in the spirit/praying in tongues – Eph. 6:18

ALL THESE WEAPONS ARE SUPERIOR!

WE HAVE SPECIAL HELPS!!!

SPECIAL HELP 1:The INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT

1 Corinthians 3:16• Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the

Spirit of God dwells in you?1 Corinthians 6:19• Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy

Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

Ezekiel 36:27• "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My

statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.Romans 8:11• But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells

in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

With the HOLY SPIRIT in us, we need now to:

COLOSSIANS 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 PUT TO DEATH, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now YOU MUST RID YOURSELVES OF ALL SUCH things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

SPECIAL HELP 2: GIFTS AND WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

I CORINTHIANS 12:• 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes

them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

• 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is GIVEN FOR THE COMMON GOOD.8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of WISDOM, to another a message of KNOWLEDGE by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another FAITH by the same Spirit, to another gifts of HEALING by that one Spirit, 10 to another MIRACULOUS POWERS, to another PROPHECY, to another DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN SPIRITS, to another speaking in different kinds of TONGUES,[a] and to still another the INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

SPECIAL HELP 3: ANGELS

• (Hebrews 1:14 – angels are ministering spirits sent to assist the inheritors of salvation)

MAINTAIN POSITION OF STRENGTH BY THE CENTRALITY OF CHRIST IN OUR LIFE

ARMOR OF GOD?

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS IF WE DO NOT WIN THE WAR AGAINST THE FLESH AND WE FIGHT SPIRITS?

1. The DANGER OF OPEN GATES

Example: “What I FEARED has come upon me; what I DREADED has happened to me”. (Job 3:25)

What was it that he feared and dreaded?JOB 1:1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. 4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.

Second danger: RETALIATION

Luke 11:24 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.26 Then IT GOES AND TAKES SEVEN OTHER SPIRITS MORE WICKED THAN ITSELF, AND THEY GO IN AND LIVE THERE. AND THE FINAL CONDITION OF THAT MAN IS WORSE THAN THE FIRST."

IS A COMPLETELY SUCCESFUL MODEL OF VICTORY POSSIBLE?

ROMANS 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a]2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

ONE CONCRETE CASE (illustrating spiritual warfare principles):

Joshua 1:6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

What did they do with these instructions?

1. The CONSECRATED THEMSELVES TO THE LORD (Joshua 3:3)

2. They CIRCUMCISED THEMSELVES AT GILGAL (they removed the old life, all the ancestral and generational bagages) – Joshua 5

3. They DESTROYED ALL IDOLS – Joshua 7 (case of Achan) – they addressed all gates, altars and covenants that were not aligned to the Lord

4. They ATTACKED THE ENEMY – Joshua 8THE SAME PRINCIPLES WE OBSERVE IN VICTORY OVER THE FLESH.

INCREDIBLE CONCLUSION:

JOSHUA 21:43 So the LORD GAVE Israel ALL THE LAND he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44The LORD gave them REST on EVERY SIDE, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed ALL THEIR ENEMIES over to them. 45 Not one of ALL THE LORD'S GOOD PROMISES to the house of Israel failed; every one was FULFILLED.

GOD’S PROMISE:

• Philippians 4:13

I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength!!!