Is
Spiritual Warfare Real?
Today's lesson is much scripture and some definitions and very little opinion how ever before I move into Principalities, powers, strongholds etc that there is actually a Biblical foundation for it.
QUESTION: IS
THERE SUCH A THING AS SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND IF SO WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE AND WHAT
IS OUR ROLE IN IT?
Please either use
a Strong’s Concordance or go to bible study tools as it has the link to all strong numbers: http://www.biblestudytools.com/kjv
Look up each of the following words to see a complete list of the scriptures we will look at many but there are so many that it is important that you do some research yourself
a Strong’s Concordance or go to bible study tools as it has the link to all strong numbers: http://www.biblestudytools.com/kjv
Look up each of the following words to see a complete list of the scriptures we will look at many but there are so many that it is important that you do some research yourself
Ephesians
6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
This scripture is maybe the foundation of New Testament
acknowledgement of Spiritual Warfare. We will go through this more later
on. In the Bible the more something is
talked about or repeated shows the importance to the topic. Almost every Book of the Bible talks about
war, enemies, refuge, fortresses or other war terminology so I think it is
important to know about warfare. The
next thing to show importance is the question is it found in the Old and New
Testament? Yes it is.
The
foundation of Positions in Spiritual Warfare
Words
in the Bible that refer to Spiritual warfare
“War”
is used 231x in the Bible the first in Genesis 14:2 and the last in Revelation
19:19
“Warfare”
is used 5x the first “the principles of warfare” in Deuteronomy
20:1 and the last also “the principles of warfare” in 2 Timothy 2:4
“Watchmen” occurs 9x and the word watchman 22x all in
the Old Testament the word watch occurs 58x beginning in the book of Exodus 14:24and the last in Revelation 3:3
“Gatekeeper” 36x all in the Old Testament
“Gate” 385x the first in Genesis 19:1
about the gates
in Sodom the
second it tells us about “possessing the gate of the enemies” in
Genesis 22:17
Blessing I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
Blessing I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
The
book of Exodus 27 shows us how he built the gates
Then
it talks about the gates of the city of Jerusalem,
The
last in Revelation
22:14 and ends with the gates in New
Jerusalem
“Fight” used 191x in the Bible first in Exodus 1:10
come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.”
come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.”
And last in
Revelation 2:16
Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
Other
reference to fight
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not
know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in
such a way that you may obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes for
the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run
thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight:
not as one who beats the air. 27
But I discipline my body and bring it
into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become
disqualified.
1 Timothy 6:
11 But you, O man
of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
patience, gentleness. 12 Fight
the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also
called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many
witnesses.
2 Timothy 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
“Doorkeeper” is used 11x first in 2 Kings 22:4 and last in John 10:3
“Weapon(s)” is used 36x first in Genesis 27:3
and the last in 2Corinthians
10:4
Armorbearer is used 14x all in the Old
Testament
Stronghold(s)
defined as: (Military / Fortifications) a defensible
place; fortress is used
47x. The first time in the book of
Numbers 13:19 and the only time in the New Testament is 2 Corinthians 10:4
For
the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
In
the Old Testament often it was just called the hold and was talking about jail
or a place like a fox hole in war
Discern: {defined as:
1. To perceive with the eyes or intellect; detect.
2. To recognize or comprehend mentally.
3. To perceive or recognize as being different or distinct ;} is used 29x starting in Genesis 41:33 and the last in Hebrews 5:14.
Refuge is used 67x the first in Numbers 35:6
the last is again the only mention in the New testament Hebrews 6:18 that by two immutable things,
in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who
have fled for refuge to lay
hold of the hope set before us.
Bondage: is used 41x first in the book of
Exodus 1:14 and the last in 2 Peter 2:19
.
Nehemiah
9:17
They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them, But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their bondage, but You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them.
They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them, But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their bondage, but You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them.
Curse: is used 160 times in the Bible the
first Genesis 3:14
So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.
So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.
I
am sure you are wondering if I am making a point, yes warfare was talked about
from the beginning to the end of the Bible so we must need to know something
about it.
In
the Old Testament we see book after book talk about war this was our training
manual and the New Testament puts it is the perspective of the Last days.
There were two books written in the
eighties that really opened up Christians to the possibilities that there was
spiritual warfare, they intrigued some and scared others. The two books are “This
Present Darkness” and “Piercing the Darkness” by Frank E.
Peritti. While they were works of
fiction they did much to make us realize that we need to fight our battles on a
different level then we were doing and we need to recognize that we do war
against principalities powers and spirits of Wickedness in High places. Viewing
our enemy as a spiritual enemy it makes it easier to have compassion and pray for
people that are being used to fulfill the spiritual enemy’s purposes. These
books talked about the strongman and the work of demons, angels and princes.
Strongman was used In the Bible in:
Mark 3:27 Luke 11:21
Mark 3:27 Luke 11:21
The
book was based on the scripture we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but
against principalities, powers and spirits of wickedness in High places.
Matthew
12:29Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man and then he will spoil his
Matthew
12:29
Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man and then he will spoil his
Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man and then he will spoil his
Bind: definition:
1. To tie or secure, as with a rope or cord.
2. To fasten or wrap by encircling, as with a belt or ribbon.
3. To bandage: bound up their wounds.
4. To hold or restrain with or as if with bonds.
5. To compel, obligate, or unite: bound by a deep sense of duty; bound by a common interest
in sports.
6. Law To place under
legal obligation by contract or oath.
7. To make certain or irrevocable: bind the deal with a down payment.
8. To apprentice or indenture: was bound out as a servant.
9. To cause to cohere or stick together in a mass: Bind the dry ingredients with milk and eggs.
10. To enclose and fasten (a book or other printed material)
between covers.
11. To furnish with an edge or border for protection,
reinforcement, or ornamentation.
12. To constipate.
13. Chemistry To combine with,
form a chemical bond with, or be taken up by, as an enzyme with its substrate.
2 Corinthians 4:1-3
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have
received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in
craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of
the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to
those who are perishing house.
Renounce: definition:
Renounce: definition:
1.to give up,
refuse, or resign usually by formal declaration
2: to refuse
to follow, obey, or recognize any further :
I include this word because it was used a lot in the 70’s-90’s although the actual word only is used once in the Bible that I can find.
So I have given you lots of scriptures about warfare and will leave it to you to decide.
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