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Have you had enough of “spiritual warfare” books that don’t provide real answers? While well-intended, most of them present a strategy that is unbiblical and therefore, ineffective.
The Bible reveals only one strategy for spiritual warfare that is effective against the enemy of the church. It begins and ends with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the protective armor of the New Testament church. He is the armor of God. As revealed by the apostle, it is both descriptive of Christ and cooperative with Him. Although Satan was utterly defeated by the redemptive work of Christ, he continues to prowl “around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1Peter 5:8) Engaging in victorious spiritual warfare then not only demands putting on the armor, the Lord Jesus Christ but the clarification of a few things related to the prowling of the devil. |
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First, it is important to understand that “deliverance” ministries and exorcisms do not work. They are without biblical precedent. Therefore, while “deliverance” ministries and exorcisms might possibly allow for temporary relief, they do not address the underlying problem.
“Deliverance” ministries and exorcisms are performed by mankind independently from the authoritative presence and power of God. Without Him, the authority or power to force an influential evil spirit to leave is nonexistent. Instead, the spirit simply changes his strategy so that he can continue to work in a covert manner. Despite gaining temporary freedom from one point of attack, however, the victim is not delivered from demonic influence overall. Second, you should know that it might be incongruent with God’s eternal plan to deliver you when and how you want. His apparent slowness to respond might seem unloving. It is not. According to plan, He is graciously teaching you not to fight for Him but with Him by faith alone. Third, deliverance from satanic influence and harassment is not necessarily immediate or all at once. It is often designed to occur progressively over time. Paul encouraged the early church to, “… work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13) Fourth, remember God is in control. He provided for your deliverance before the foundation of the world. Fifth, the devil and his angels fear God alone. They were completely defeated by Him through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Consequently, the devil and his angels only fear you when you respond to them by faith in Christ and His redemptive work. Sixth, the only strategy of harassment the devil and his angels have left is to promote falsehood. Satan is the “father of lies.” His lies influence us to focus on the weakness of our flesh rather than the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. Seventh, know that Satan wants you to fear him. However, you are only to fear God. When you show God the reverence due Him it becomes obvious that you have nothing to fear from Satan. His significance noticeably decreases and it becomes clear that he is without the ability to cause lasting harm to the church. (1 John 5:18) Many different responses to spiritual opposition have been proposed, penned, presented and promoted during the history of the church. Without biblical precedent, however, they are deceptive and dangerous. “Real New Testament Spiritual Warfare” unveils the biblical response to devilish influence and harassment. Consequently, it addresses the origin of church warfare and Christ’s utter defeat of the devil and his angels. In addition, it unveils the church’s justification from sin, release from the power of sin, rescue from satanic authority and consequently, its legal advantage over the devil and his angels. Further, “Real New Testament Spiritual Warfare” explains the superiority of the church’s protective, living armor, how to appropriate it in fullness and much more. |
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This website discusses only the warfare of the New Testament church. If you want to learn more about returning the doctrine and practice of the church to New Testament standard, please follow this link to “From House to House: the Real New Testament Church.”
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