The Real Soul War
"THE BATTLE FOR VICTORIOUS LIFE & RELATIONSHIPS"



"Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able
to stand against the methods of the devil.
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."
Ephesians 6:11-12

© Sid Galloway 1999 (Rough Draft)

WHY SHOULD WE STUDY "SPIRITUAL WARFARE"?:

1. To give practical answers to the major questions about life's struggles.

Why does God allow so much suffering in the world? Will it get worse?
Can Christians be demonized? Who or what is our greatest enemy? The World?
The Flesh? The Devil? Who are our allies? What are our weapons and armor?
Is our battle offensive or defensive? Is it physical or spiritual?
Can a Christian bind Satan? Etc.........

I. OUR ALLIES
  A. OUR GOD (& HIS ANGELS)
  B. OUR CHURCH FAMILY
  C. OUR NEW SELF

II. OUR ENEMIES
  A. THE DEVIL (& HIS DEMONS)
  B. THE WORLD SYSTEM
  C. THE FLESH

III. OUR WAR
  A. OUR BATTLE EQUIPMENT
    1. OUR ARMOR
    2. OUR WEAPONS
  B. OUR BATTLE STRATEGIES
    1. SPIRITUAL NOT CARNAL
    2. RESIST, STAND
    3. WALK, ETC.

IV. APPENDIX
        * REVIEW OF BOOKS & TAPES ON SPIRITUAL WARFARE

The following are selected verses relevant to the doctrine of the trinity. I chose to include this list, not to fill space, but to demonstrate the volume of biblical evidence for this foundational doctrine.

GEN 1:1 GEN 1:2 GEN 1:26 GEN 3:22 GEN 11:7 EXO 3:4; EXO 13:21 EXO 14:19 EXO 20:3 EXO 20:4 EXO 20:5 EXO 33:14; DEU 6:4 DEU 10:17 PSA 136:3 ISA 6:3 ISA 6:8 ISA 7:14; ISA 9:6 ISA 41:4 ISA 42:1 ISA 43:10 ISA 43:13 ISA 44:6; ISA 45:5 ISA 45:6 ISA 48:16 ISA 61:1 ISA 61:2 ISA 61:3; ISA 63:9 EZE 3:14 EZE 36:26 MIC 5:2 ZEC 12:10 MAT 1:18; MAT 1:20 MAT 1:23 MAT 2:1 MAT 2:2 MAT 3:11 MAT 12:28; MAT 28:17 MAT 28:19 LUK 1:35 LUK 3:22 LUK 4:1 LUK 4:14 JOH 1:1 JOH 1:2 JOH 1:3 JOH 1:8 JOH 1:32 JOH 1:33 JOH 3:34 JOH 3:35 JOH 5:18 JOH 7:39 JOH 8:12 JOH 8:58 JOH 9:38 JOH 10:30 JOH 14:9 JOH 14:16 JOH 14:17 JOH 14:26 JOH 15:26 JOH 16:7 JOH 16:13 JOH 16:14 JOH 16:15 JOH 20:22 JOH 20:28 ACT 1:2 ACT 1:3 ACT 1:4 ACT 1:5 ACT 2:33 ACT 5:3 ACT 5:4 ACT 10:25 ACT 10:36 ACT 10:37 ACT 10:38 ROM 1:3 ROM 1:4 ROM 8:9 ROM 8:10 ROM 8:11 ROM 8:26 ROM 8:27 ROM 11:36 1 CO 2:10 1 CO 2:11 1 CO 2:12 1 CO 4:5 1 CO 4:6 1 CO 6:19 1 CO 8:6 1 CO 12:3 1 CO 12:4 1 CO 12:5 1 CO 12:6 2 CO 1:21 2 CO 3:17 2 CO 13:14 GAL 4:4 GAL 4:6 EPH 4:5 EPH 4:6 PHI 1:19 COL 1:16 COL 2:2 COL 2:9 COL 2:18 2 TH 2:13 2 TH 2:14 2 TH 2:16 1 TI 3:16 1 TI 6:15 TIT 2:13 TIT 3:4 TIT 3:5 TIT 3:6 HEB 1:3 HEB 1:8 HEB 1:9 HEB 3:3 HEB 3:4 HEB 4:12 HEB 9:14 1 PE 1:2 1 PE 1:11 1 PE 3:18 1JO 1:5 1JO 5:6 REV 1:8 REV 1:16 REV 1:17 REV 2:8 REV 4:8 REV 5:8 REV 5:14 REV 17:14 REV 19:10 REV 19:16 REV 22:8 REV 22:13 

No corresponding Hebrew or Greek word for "trinity" is found in the Bible. Likewise, no explicit statement of the doctrine is made. And yet this doctrinal truth is everywhere implied and assumed by the authors of Scripture. A more accurate English term for the doctrine might be "tri-unity". God has revealed Himself through Scripture to be one God, yet three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The biblical references relative to this doctrine attribute the character, power and wisdom of God to all three persons of the God-head. For example, they are all referred to as the Creators of creation. All three are referred to in terms of worship, which is expressly forbidden toward anyone but the one true God. And all three are referred to as the source of resurrection life. This doctrine, like that of sovereignty and free moral agency, is not fully comprehensible to our finite and fallible reason. Yet, it is a fact revealed in His Word, for us to accept or reject.

Today we must be concerned not only about the heretical doctrines of Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses on this issue, but even certain teachers and preachers within "evangelical" Christianity. This is especially true of a number of televangelist.

Historical revelation of the tripersonal reality of God was progressive from the Old Testament to the New Testament. God progressively revealed Himself (His-Story) up to His full revelation in the person of Jesus Christ. I believe the biblical core around which Scripture develops this doctrine of the Trinity is:

1. The Bible's inflexible stance on monotheism (one God).

2. The Bible's repeated ascription of distinct personality to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Bible emphatically insists that there is only one God, of one nature and being. And yet throughout the Bible, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinguished as joint partakers of the nature and being of the one God. Throughout the history of the church the attempt to comprehend the logistical dynamics of how this can be true, has led to imbalanced and even heretical views. The Hebrew mind recognized the awesome gulf between the reality of God and the intellectual limitations of man. They were therefore not so concerned with how, but rather with the who, what and why of God.

GOD THE FATHER IS ON HIS THRONE, RULING OVER ALL THINGS. (Rom 8:28)

HE IS THE ONLY AUTHORITY FOR LIFE & RELATIONSHIPS. [PSA 33:10-11; PRO 3:5-6; ROM 11:33-12:3; PSA 119:9-12; 2 CO 1:3-4]

GOD THE SON IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER, SERVING AS OUR:

"REDEEMER" (Heb 9:26) by His Blood; "COUNSELOR" (Isa 9:6); "ADVOCATE" (1 John 2:1); & "INTERCESSOR" (Heb 7:25). [MARK 10:35-45; COL 2:8-10; JOH 1:1; 6:53-63; COL 1:13-20; HEB 1:3]

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS WITHIN US, SERVING AS OUR "HELPER" & "TEACHER" (John 14:26); THE POWER, LOVE, & WISDOM NEEDED TO OVERCOME THE TEMPTATIONS OF THE DEVIL, THE WORLD, AND THE FLESH (2 TI 1:7). HE IS THE "RESTRAINER" (2 THE. 2:7), WHO LIMITS LAWLESSNESS IN THE WORLD. AND THROUGH HIS INDWELLING PRESENCE, THE FULNESS OF THE TRINITY LIVES WITHIN BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS (John 14:23). [ACTS 1-3; JOH 14:16-26; 7:37-39; 15:26; 16:7-15]

THEREFORE, GOD IS THE SUPREME COUNSELOR, WHO ALONE IS WORTHY OF OUR TRUST AS THE AUTHORITY FOR VICTORIOUS LIFE & RELATIONSHIPS!

All of God's attributes relate to the issues of a believer's life and relationships. They all combine to reveal a God who is worthy of our total trust and obedience. The following are five of those attributes, which apply most directly to spiritual warfare. God is Immutable, Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Love.

IMMUTABLE: [Exo 3:14; Num 23:19-20; 1 Sa 15:29; Job 23:13; Ps 33:11; 119:89-91; Pro 19:21; Ec 3:14; 7:13; Isa 31:2; Mal 3:6; Heb 6:17-18; Heb 13:8; James 1:17]  In Exo 3:14, God reveals Himself to be, "I AM WHO I AM". This phrase can mean "I WILL ALWAYS BE WHO I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FOR YOU". It is closely associated with (if not derived from) the personal name of God in Hebrew: YHWH. God is trustworthy because He is not fickle. His attributes are unchangeable and we can therefore rest on the stable foundation rock of God's being. The fact that God is immutable infinitely enhances all of His other characteristics. He will not one day fail or change in His power, love or wisdom. He will always be there for us, just as He has always been for those who love Him.

OMNIPRESENT: [Gen 28:16; 1 ki 8:27; Act 7:48-49; Psalm 139; Heb 13:5]
The spread of "new age" doctrine within psychology has twisted God's omnipresence to the heretical extreme of pantheism and self-deification. All is not God and we are not a part of Him. God has created (bara) all of creation "ex nihlo" (out of nothing). Creation is therefore separate in nature from God. Yet, God is not removed from creation as in deism. He is intimately and infinitely present in respect to every part of creation. Only at the culmination of History will complete separation from God occur for those in hell (2 thess. 1:9).

For spiritual warfare, this attribute is very special. Not only can we trust him to always be the same, but He is the same right here, right now, for any and every person who will call on Him. The very prefix "omni-" refers to the infinite qualities of these attributes. God is not limited to space and time. He is an ever-present protector, provider, and authoritative guide.

OMNIPOTENT:  Nothing is impossible or too difficult for God (Luke 1:37). Not only can we trust Him to be consistent and available, but He has infinite power with which to meet our needs. He can transform us from self-centered, broken, sinners into Christ-centered, whole and mature reflections of His own image and character. In Christ (Philip 4:13) there is no room for excuses.

In addition, God has the power to sovereignly control every detail of every circumstance (Rom 8:28-29). Therefore, one of Satan's favorite darts: "what if..." and "why did..." can be extinguished by the acceptance of His purposeful and loving rule.

OMNISCIENT:  If God did not have infinite and perfect knowledge, His immutable, omnipresent and omnipotent attributes would not be very trustworthy. An unchangeable, powerful, available, and yet ignorant God would not be worthy of obedient faith.

However, Scripture and in fact creation itself, reveal the infinite perfection of God's wisdom. This attribute likewise undergirds His Word as the trustworthy, authoritative blueprint for overcoming the problems of life. This is especially true regarding the field of counseling. For, issues within this field are central to the "gospel" as it speaks to abundant life.

More specifically, Psalm 139 is an example of the intimate knowledge the Lord has for each individual. Not only is the Bible a text filled with general principles and specific commands, but the Holy Spirit is able to guide their personal application to the unique needs of each person (John 13-15).

AGAPE:  Perhaps the most profound statements in all of Scripture are that God is both love and light (1 John 1:5, 4:8). He is holy and He is agape. According to Vine and Kittel, the term agape means willful, unselfish, giving for the benefit of another. It is not so much a feeling as it is a committed decision. And in the case of God who is agape, it is more than just a decision, it is His very nature.

When you try to understand the concept of the Trinity, it is helpful to remember that God is agape love. Therefore it is logical that God before He created the universe must have existed in a plurality of persons, since His very nature is that of active giving. For all eternity past, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have existed with the nature of holy, agape love.

Adolf Hitler was consistent, far reaching, powerful, and socially brilliant. Yet without agape, he was far from being worthy of trust and obedience. He was consistently selfish, evil, and used his power and intellect to abuse others. If agape were absent from the attributes of God, He too would not be worthy of trust and obedience. That is why I believe this particular attribute to be central among the rest. God's holy unselfish nature stands in opposition to all that is self-centered. Here is the goal toward which we are to grow. It is the summation of the law lived out in a person's life. In fact, one of the most repeated didactic statements in the Bible is the summation of God's law into the concept of agape; love for God and neighbor. [Matt 5:43-48; 22:36-40; John 13:34-35; Rom 13:8-10; 1 Cor. 12:31-14:1; Gal 5:14; Jam 2:8; 1 John, etc.) And to this absolute and perfect law, we are accountable.

God is the standard, and His law is merely a verbal expression of who He is. The good news is that God has made it possible for people to receive Him, surrender to Him in humble co-operation, and allow His character to be reflected through their thoughts, words, and actions (Gal 2:20- 3:3).

JOH 14:17 "even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and WILL BE IN YOU."

Failure to let God rule and thus live His love through one's life is sin. Whether by ignorance or rebellion, this falling short of God's Way of holy love is the central problem of mankind. Adam chose to go his own separate way (that of self-love) and this is now the root source of all problems of life.

Our psychologized society recoils at the Bible's focus on the problem of sin. They only see sin as an arbitrary set of relative rules. They are blind to what it truly is: the failure to manifest the holy, unselfish character of their Creator. People's focus is on the hurts and offenses they have experienced from people in the world, or on the Devil and his demons, but not on their responsibility to respond to such pressures God's Way. They choose "the way that seems right...but...is the way of death" (Prov 14:12).

Isaiah 6:1,5 "In the year that King Uziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. ...Then I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

Job 42:3-6 You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.' "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

Rev 1:17 "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last."

TO SEE GOD, 
DESTROYS ALL SELF-ESTEEM
AND REPLACES IT WITH CHRIST-ESTEEM

GOD'S HOLY ANGELS

It is fascinating that while the Bible reveals that angels are mighty allies in our spiritual battles, very little details are given about how?

As with God's revelation of the Devil, demons, and the flesh, Our Father has given only information which is necessary for victory.

SPECIAL NOTE: The NT term angel (Gk = angelos) literally means "messenger". 160 times in the NT it refers to heavenly, spirit, beings. However, a few times it refers to human messengers of God or Satan (see Mat 11:10; Luk 7:24,27; 9:52; Jam 2:25). So, Heb 13:2 may refer to human messengers of God. Heb 13:2 "... some have unwittingly entertained angels." In every Scripture example of a person meeting an angel, the person was awestruck and knew it was an angel. They did not "unwittingly" meet a heavenly being. Even Lot in Gen 19 "bowed himself with his face toward the ground".

The following is a summary of a few of the generally accepted facts about God's holy angels:

CREATED BEINGS: (John 1:3; Neh 9:6; Col 1:16)

MINISTERING SPIRITS: (1 Ki 19:5; Psa 68:17; 104:4; Luk 16:22; Act 12:7-11; 27:23; Heb 1:7,14)

COMMUNICATE THE WILL OF GOD: (Dan 8:16,17; 9:21-23; Mat 2:13, 20; Act 5:20; 8:26; 10:5; Rev 1:1)

OBEY GOD'S WILL: (Psa 103:20; Mat 6:10)

MANIFEST THEMSELVES VISIBLY: (Gen 18, etc)

FIGHT AGAINST THE FALLEN ANGELS: (Dan 10:13,20; Rev 12:7-9)

ADMINISTER GOD'S JUDGMENT: (2 Sam. 24:16; 2 1 ki 19:35; Act 12:23; Rev 16:1)

WORSHIP & CELEBRATE GOD: (Job 38:7; Psa 148:2; Isa 6:3; Rev 5:11)

KNOW & REJOICE IN THE GOSPEL: (Eph 3:9-10; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 Pet. 1:12)

PRAYER OBTAINS THEIR MINISTRATION: (Mat 26:53; Act 12:5-7)

REJOICE OVER A SINNERS REPENTANCE: (Luke 15:7-10)

ARE OF DIFFERENT ORDERS: (Isa 6:2; 1Th 4:16; 1 pe 3:22: Jude 9; Rev 12:7)

UNLIKE SATAN, THEY DO NOT DESIRE SELF-ESTEEM (Col 2:18; Rev 19:10; 22:9)

ARE WISE & HOLY: (2 Sam 14:20; Mat 25:31)

THEY ARE ELECT: (Psa 103:20)

THEY ARE INNUMERABLE: (Job 25:3; Heb 12:22)

SOME ARE ASSIGNED TO SPECIFIC TASKS: (Dan 10:21)

WHAT OTHER ANGELIC FACTS DOES SCRIPTURE REVEAL?
[THE FOLLOWING LIST OF SCRIPTURES MAY HELP YOU:]
TOPICAL REFERENCES ABOUT ANGELS

GEN 2:1 GEN 3:24 GEN 16:7 GEN 19:1 GEN 19:13 GEN 24:7

GEN 32:2 EXO 3:2 EXO 14:19 EXO 23:20 EXO 23:23 EXO 32:34

NUM 20:16 NUM 22:22 NUM 22:23 NUM 22:24 NUM 22:25 NUM 22:26

NUM 22:27 NUM 22:35 DEU 33:2 JOS 5:14 JDG 2:1 JDG 13:1

JDG 13:6 2SA 14:17 2SA 14:20 2SA 19:27 2SA 24:16 2SA 24:17

1 KI 19:5 1 KI 19:7 2 KI 1:15 2 KI 6:17 2 KI 19:35 1CH 12:22

1CH 21:15 1CH 21:16 2CH 18:18 2CH 32:21 NEH 9:6 JOB 4:15

JOB 4:18 JOB 25:3 JOB 38:7 PSA 33:6 PSA 34:7 PSA 35:5

PSA 35:6 PSA 68:17 PSA 78:49 PSA 91:11 PSA 91:12 PSA 103:20

PSA 103:21 PSA 104:4 PSA 148:2 ECC 5:6 ISA 6:2 ISA 6:6

ISA 6:7 ISA 63:9 EZE 1:13 EZE 1:14 EZE 1:24 DAN 4:13

DAN 4:14 DAN 4:15 DAN 4:16 DAN 4:17 DAN 6:22 DAN 7:10

DAN 8:13 DAN 8:19 DAN 9:21 DAN 9:22 DAN 9:23 DAN 9:24

DAN 9:25 DAN 9:26 DAN 9:27 DAN 10:6 DAN 10:10 DAN 10:11

DAN 10:12 DAN 10:13 DAN 10:14 DAN 10:15 DAN 10:16 DAN 10:17

DAN 10:18 DAN 10:19 DAN 10:20 ZEC 1:9 ZEC 1:10 ZEC 1:11

ZEC 1:12 ZEC 1:13 ZEC 1:14 ZEC 6:5 MAT 1:20 MAT 1:21

MAT 1:24 MAT 2:13 MAT 2:19 MAT 4:6 MAT 4:11 MAT 6:10

MAT 13:39 MAT 13:41 MAT 13:49 MAT 16:27 MAT 18:10 MAT 22:30

MAT 24:31 MAT 24:36 MAT 25:31 MAT 26:53 MAT 28:2 MAT 28:3

MAT 28:4 MAT 28:5 MAT 28:6 MAR 1:13 MAR 8:38 MAR 12:25

MAR 13:27 LUK 1:11 LUK 1:12 LUK 1:13 LUK 1:14 LUK 1:15

LUK 1:16 LUK 1:17 LUK 1:18 LUK 1:19 LUK 1:20 LUK 1:28

LUK 1:29 LUK 1:30 LUK 1:31 LUK 1:32 LUK 1:33 LUK 1:34

LUK 1:35 LUK 1:36 LUK 1:37 LUK 1:38 LUK 2:7 LUK 2:8

LUK 2:9 LUK 2:10 LUK 2:11 LUK 2:12 LUK 2:13 LUK 2:14

LUK 2:15 LUK 4:10 LUK 11:2 LUK 12:8 LUK 12:9 LUK 15:7

LUK 15:10 LUK 16:22 LUK 20:35 LUK 20:36 LUK 22:43 JOH 1:51

JOH 5:4 ACT 1:11 ACT 5:19 ACT 7:30 ACT 7:35 ACT 7:53

ACT 8:26 ACT 10:3 ACT 12:7 ACT 12:9 ACT 12:23 ACT 27:23

1 CO 6:3 GAL 3:19 EPH 3:10 PHI 2:9 PHI 2:10 PHI 2:11

COL 1:16 COL 2:18 1TH 4:16 2 TH 1:7 1 TI 3:16 1 TI 5:21

HEB 1:4 HEB 1:5 HEB 1:6 HEB 1:7 HEB 1:13 HEB 1:14

HEB 2:2 HEB 2:7 HEB 2:16 HEB 12:22 HEB 13:2 1 PE 1:12

1 PE 3:22 2PE 2:11 JUD 1:6 JUD 1:9 JUD 1:14 JUD 1:15

REV 1:1 REV 5:2 REV 5:3 REV 5:4 REV 5:5 REV 5:6

REV 5:7 REV 5:8 REV 5:9 REV 5:10 REV 5:11 REV 5:12

REV 5:13 REV 5:14 REV 7:1 REV 7:2 REV 7:3 REV 7:11

REV 7:12 REV 7:13 REV 7:14 REV 7:15 REV 7:16 REV 7:17

REV 8:2 REV 8:3 REV 8:4 REV 8:5 REV 8:6 REV 8:7

REV 8:8 REV 8:9 REV 8:10 REV 8:11 REV 8:12 REV 8:13

REV 9:15 REV 10:1 REV 12:7 REV 14:10 REV 15:1 REV 18:1

REV 19:10 REV 22:6 REV 22:8 REV 22:9 REV 22:16

B. OUR CHURCH FAMILY

The Body of Christ includes all those who have been born of God's Spirit

(John 1:12-13). Many have said that the "church" is not an organization, but a living organism. This is a true statement about the positional nature of Christ's Body of believers. But it is rarely true of the practical life of local churches. Many local churches function as worldly business organizations run by fleshly executives. As a result, Satan is alive and well inside the church. Today we see an emphasis on quantity, not quality. Church growth conferences abound. But what questions do they ask to judge the success of a church? They focus on how many people show up on Sunday, how big the building and the budget are. They should focus on how mature and Christ-like are the members!

Except for our personal relationship with God thru Jesus Christ, we have no greater ally than our family of fellow believers. Please read the following passages carefully:

EPHESIANS 3:14-21 "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, From whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

EPHESIANS 4:11-16 "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, Till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive, But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."

Remember that we were created as dependent beings. We are not self-sufficient loners. We need one another. For proof, just look up all the verses in the NT that use the phrase "one another". You will find that we as believers must be intimately connected in regular fellowship with other believers in order to successfully fight this raging war around us.

John 15:1-5,11-12 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." ""These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."'

I am convinced that abiding in Christ ("the vine") is not some fuzzy mystical saying merely referring to our inner relationship with Christ. It is a statement of our vital, practical dependence on the Body of Christ for victorious life and relationships. Genuine soul to soul relationships involving ACCOUNTABILITY, iron sharpening, encouraging, exhorting, teaching, correcting, training, comforting, disciplining, etc., are what constitute true fellowship. Failure to build and maintain such an intimate linkage to the family of God always results in one becoming a war casualty:

1Peter 5:8 "... your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

Did you ever wonder why Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, and never alone? We must stand together, and walk humbly accepting our dependence on one another.

PRO 18:1 "A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment."
ECC 4:12 "Though one may be overpowered... two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

WHY DOES THE LORD'S PRAYER USE ONLY PLURAL PRONOUNS (OUR, US)?
WHY DID JESUS SAY THAT HE WOULD BE PRESENT WHERE 2 OR 3 ARE GATHERED?
WHY ARE WE WARNED NOT TO FORSAKE THE ASSEMBLING OF THE BRETHREN?
HOW DO WE STAND & FIGHT TOGETHER? WHAT STRATEGIES ARE BIBLICAL?
HAVE THE DEVIL & THE WORLD CONNED THE CHURCH INTO FALSE BELIEFS & PRACTICES?
WHAT DO THE END TIME PROPHECIES SAY ABOUT THE CHURCH & A GROWING DECEPTION?
ARE THERE TRADITIONS IN THE CHURCH THAT ARE NOT FROM GOD?
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON WAYS THAT THE FLESH GAINS CONTROL OVER A CHURCH?

These are just a few of the questions WE need to answer biblically, in order to cooperate with the Lord to protect, correct, and equip your church family. Remember, this is war not a vacation. And the church is not a social club. It is a military academy, an army hospital, and a refuge!

C. OUR NEW SELF
As with the "flesh", our "new self" has to do with biblical anthropology. And an accurate understanding of who we are in Christ is central to living victoriously. But remember not to go beyond what is clearly written in God's Word.

HOW DOES SOMEONE RECEIVE A "NEW SELF"?

The penalty for sin is death (Rom 6:23). No good works of man can earn or pay for justification before an infinitely holy God. Only the humble, faithful, acceptance of the work of Christ on the cross can justify. As the Israelites faithfully accepted God's provision of a bronze serpent on a cross (John 3:14-16), so we too by believing (trusting) in Christ's substitutionary death are justified before God by faith, alone.

ROM 3:28 "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law."

Good works (Eph 2:8-10) are the fruit to be produced after salvation, with the motive of loving gratitude. They are useless prior to salvation, for only the death of Christ brings righteousness (Gal 2:20-21). Good works are the evidence other HUMANS can SEE that show that we are saved:

JAM 2:24 "You SEE then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only."
1 SA 16:7 "... For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

When someone puts their faith in Christ, alone, the Holy Spirit comes into that person's spirit, and they are born-again (John 3). This is the process by which the Holy Spirit creates our new self. This is the only way of salvation.

1 CO 6:11 "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."
2 CO 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Sanctification means being set apart to God, or being made holy. The term holy is meaningless unless it has a standard to which it refers. Biblical holiness refers to the standard of God's character and nature. The Bible describes 3 states of salvation:

PAST - I WAS SAVED = JUSTIFICATION
PRESENT - I AM BEING SAVED = SANCTIFICATION
FUTURE - I WILL BE SAVED = GLORIFICATION

When a person is saved he is immediately, legally, literally, and positionally sanctified before God (1 Cor. 6:11; Eph 2; 2Cor 5:17). Therefore, every Christian can say he or she was (PAST TENSE) sanctified. This refers to one's justification, which is by faith alone.

Also there is an on going process of salvation (PRESENT TENSE). That is the most common usage of the term sanctification. We are being made whole (sozo); continually being made holy or sanctified. This process is also by faith alone (Gal 3). However, the emphasis here is on our faithful, active, obedience (Philip 2:12-13). We are to work out the fruit of salvation that God has worked in us. This is the Christian's spiritual warfare.

The FUTURE TENSE of sanctification involves our glorification at the second coming of Christ. We will receive a glorified (1 Cor. 15) body and will be perfectly able to reflect Him (1 John 3:1-2). When you accepted Christ, you gave Him permission to come in and be Lord of your life. As Lord, He promises that He will complete the work necessary for you to enter His heaven (Philip 1:6; 2 ti 1:12). Its not dependent on our good works. Our salvation is sure and secure because of Him, not us!

SO WHAT "PART" OF US IS "NEW"?

The Bible uses many terms and phrases to describe the change that takes place when a person is born-again. All together, they refer to each of these 3 states of God's work in sanctifying us, and our part in co-operating with Him. Unfortunately, some sincere servants of the Lord have formulated questionable doctrines about the "new self" by failing to take all related passages into account. As a result, some even teach the heresy that we are little gods. The following passages will help you to see the broad spectrum of statements made in Scripture about our new self.

- THE OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED (Rom 6:6)
- THE OLD SELF GROWS CORRUPT (Eph 4:22)
- THE OLD SELF HAS BEEN PUT OFF (Col 3:9)
- THE OLD SELF MUST CONTINUALLY BE PUT OFF (Eph 4:22)
- THE NEW SELF HAS BEEN PUT ON (Col 3:10)
- THE NEW SELF WAS CREATED IN GOD'S IMAGE (Eph 4:24)
- THE NEW SELF IS RENEWED IN KNOWLEDGE (Col 3:10)
- THE NEW SELF MUST BE CONTINUALLY RENEWED (Eph 4:24)
- THE NEW SELF MUST BE CONTINUALLY PUT ON (Eph 4:24)
- I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST (Gal 2:20)
- YET I STILL LIVE, BY FAITH (Gal 2:20)
- I AM ONE WITH CHRIST IN SPIRIT (1 Cor. 6:17)
- I AM A NEW CREATION (2 Cor 5:17)
- OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY (2 Cor 5:17)
- ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW (2 Cor 5:17)
- YET MY MIND & BODY MUST STILL BECOME NEW (Rom 12:1-2)

SO, MY SELF WAS MADE NEW, IS BECOMING NEW, & WILL BE TOTALLY NEW IN HEAVEN.
THE SIMPLE POINT IS THAT NOW I CAN WALK THE VICTORY GOD HAS ACHIEVED!

WHAT ABOUT THE "EXCHANGED LIFE" VS LEGALISM?

There are many references in Scripture which could give rise to the phrase, "exchanged life" (Gal 2:20; 1 Cor. 6:11; John 15-17; Col 1; etc). While many interpreters have gravitated to the extreme of PASSIVE MYSTICISM on this issue, others have polarized against it in a position of ACTIVE LEGALISM. Neither extreme is warranted. I believe this is another example of our attempt to fully comprehend a revealed truth. The result of such an attempt is always impractical confusion. I believe the best and most useful way to view this truth is as CO-operation (Gal 2:20). A friend describes it this way:
"WE ARE WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST, BECAUSE HE IS WHO HE IS IN US"

JOH 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
1 CO 13:2 "And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, ... but have not love, I am nothing."

Yet, because I am in Christ and He is in me, I can now do all things He expects of me (Philip 4:13). And as a child-like, dumb, sheep, I don't have to fully comprehend WHAT has changed in me, or HOW He did it! I simply "reckon" (Rom 6:11) myself to now be able to deny the world, the flesh, and the Devil, and walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit. The next step is simply to learn the warfare strategies (biblical counseling - discipleship) & submissively follow them. [That is, to personally declare war against our enemies, especially our own "flesh".]

The profoundly practical outworking of this truth is simply conscious, dependent, obedience. Never will we be independently able to manifest the nature of God and thus fulfill the law, even in Heaven. Only as one has "Christ in you" (Col 1; 1 John 5:10ff) is there any hope of experiencing and expressing the glory of God. As a born of God's Spirit Christian, one must still submit moment by moment in order for the light of Christ to be visible and useful (1 John 1-4; John 13:34-35). And submission means active obedience in thought, word and deed. It means working out, by faith, the salvation He worked in me. AND BIBLICAL FAITH IS FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE (Heb 3:19 & 4:6). Heb 3:19 "...did not enter because of disbelief." Heb 4:6 "...did not enter because of disobedience."

FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE IS: WILLFUL, SUBMISSIVE, ACTIVE, DEPENDENT, AND MOTIVATED BY LOVE & REVERENCE FOR GOD.

II. OUR ENEMIES

Whether you like it or not, you are in a real battle. You can not avoid it. So remember, this is war, not a vacation. And by the way, the enemy is not your spouse or your kids or your boss. We are to fight FOR them not AGAINST them. The Bible, God's Word, uses three categories to describe the enemies of the Christian: THE DEVIL, THE WORLD, & THE FLESH. Each category is different, yet all three are inter-related. In fact, some attacks can involve all three fighting together against you. In this study, we will examine these three in the order of the devil (demons), the world, and then the flesh, because of the dynamics involved between them.

Keep in mind, that this study is for the Christian (a born-again child of God). The non-Christian has another, awesome enemy: God! COL 1:21 "And you, who once were alienated and enemies". Or more accurately stated, unbelievers have made themselves the enemy of God, the One who loves them. JAM 4:4 "... makes himself an enemy of God". But as we will see as we study the Christian's allies, Christians are no longer at enmity with God.

A. THE DEVIL (& THE DEMONS)
  1. A FEW DIRECT BIBLE PASSAGES

LEV 17:7 DEU 32:17 1CH 21:1 2CH 11:15 NEH 2:13 JOB 1:6

JOB 1:7 JOB 1:8 JOB 1:9 JOB 1:12 JOB 2:1 JOB 2:2

JOB 2:3 JOB 2:4 JOB 2:6 JOB 2:7 PSA 91:13 PSA 106:37

PSA 109:6 ISA 14:12 ISA 27:1 ISA 51:9 JER 51:34 EZE 29:3

ZEC 3:1 ZEC 3:2 MAT 4:1 MAT 4:5 MAT 4:8 MAT 4:10

MAT 4:11 MAT 4:24 MAT 7:22 MAT 8:16 MAT 8:28 MAT 8:31

MAT 8:33 MAT 9:32 MAT 9:33 MAT 9:34 MAT 10:8 MAT 10:25

MAT 11:18 MAT 12:22 MAT 12:24 MAT 12:26 MAT 12:27 MAT 12:28

MAT 13:39 MAT 15:22 MAT 16:23 MAT 17:18 MAT 25:41 MAR 1:13

MAR 1:32 MAR 1:34 MAR 1:39 MAR 3:15 MAR 3:22 MAR 3:23

MAR 3:26 MAR 4:15 MAR 5:12 MAR 5:15 MAR 5:16 MAR 5:18

MAR 6:13 MAR 7:26 MAR 7:29 MAR 7:30 MAR 8:33 MAR 9:38

MAR 16:9 MAR 16:17 LUK 4:2 LUK 4:3 LUK 4:5 LUK 4:6

LUK 4:8 LUK 4:13 LUK 4:33 LUK 4:35 LUK 4:41 LUK 7:33

LUK 8:2 LUK 8:12 LUK 8:27 LUK 8:29 LUK 8:30 LUK 8:33

LUK 8:35 LUK 8:36 LUK 8:38 LUK 9:1 LUK 9:42 LUK 9:49

LUK 10:17 LUK 10:18 LUK 11:14 LUK 11:15 LUK 11:18 LUK 11:19

LUK 11:20 LUK 13:16 LUK 13:32 LUK 22:3 LUK 22:31 JOH 6:70

JOH 7:20 JOH 8:44 JOH 8:48 JOH 8:49 JOH 8:52 JOH 10:20

JOH 10:21 JOH 13:2 JOH 13:27 ACT 5:3 ACT 10:38 ACT 13:10

ACT 26:18 ROM 16:20 1 CO 5:5 1 CO 7:5 1 CO 10:20 1 CO 10:21

2 CO 2:11 2 CO 11:14 2 CO 12:7 EPH 4:27 EPH 6:11 1TH 2:18

2 TH 2:9 1 TI 1:20 1 TI 3:6 1 TI 3:7 1 TI 4:1 1 TI 5:15

2 TI 2:26 HEB 2:14 JAM 2:19 JAM 3:15 JAM 4:7 1 PE 5:8

1JO 3:8 1JO 3:10 JUD 1:9 REV 2:9 REV 2:10 REV 2:13

REV 2:24 REV 3:9 REV 9:20 REV 12:3 REV 12:4 REV 12:7

REV 12:9 REV 12:12 REV 12:13 REV 12:16 REV 12:17 REV 13:2

REV 13:4 REV 13:11 REV 16:13 REV 16:14 REV 18:2 REV 20:2

REV 20:7 REV 20:10

2. THE DEVIL (SATAN)

SATAN'S DESCRIPTIONS:

OT Hebrew for "Satan" means "an adversary". When used with the definite article (the), it becomes a proper name: the Satan (Job 1,2; Zech 3:1-2, etc.).

NT Greek for Satan is used 36 times. It is always used with the definite article except for (Mat 4:10; 16:23; Mar 3:23; 8:33; Luk 22:3;

Joh 6:70; and 2Cor 12:7). NT Greek for the devil (diabolos) is used for him 33 times. It means the Slanderer. Many other terms and descriptions are ascribed to Satan. The following are examples:

- ABADDON & APOLLYON (Rev 9:11) = "destroyer"
- ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN (Rev 12:10)
- ADVERSARY (antidikos) (1 Pet. 5:8)
- BEELZEBUL (Mat 12:24) = "Lord of the flies"
- BELIAL (2Cor 6:15) = "without profit"
- DECEIVER OF THE WHOLE WORLD (Rev 12:9)
- GREAT DRAGON (Rev 12:9)
- AN ENEMY (Mat 13:28, 39)
- EVIL ONE (Mat 13:19, 38)
- FATHER OF LIES (John 8:44)
- GOD OF THIS WORLD (2Cor 4:4)
- A LIAR (John 8:44)
- A MURDERER (John 8:44)
- PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR (Eph 2:2)
- RULER OF THIS WORLD (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11;
         Note Mat 4:1-11 Jesus did not dispute Satan's rule over the world.
- THE ANCIENT SERPENT (Rev 12:9; 2Cor 11:3)
- THE TEMPTER (Mat 4:3; 1Thes 3:5)
- LUCIFER (Isa 14:12-14; c.f. Eze 28:12-15)
- ANGEL OF LIGHT (2Cor 11:13-15)

SATAN'S ORIGIN: Who is he? Where did he come from? Why is he "evil"?

Very little is revealed in the OT about Satan. Progressive revelation of truth by God, culminated in Jesus and the completed cannon of Scripture. That is why so much more is revealed in the NT. However, many conservative scholars believe that Isa 14:12-14 & Eze 28:12-15 refer to Satan as the (behind the scenes) spiritual being who controlled the human rulers of these nations. These passages appear to reveal Satan's original role, position, and his fall from grace. Note: God often addressed Satan indirectly through the one he was influencing (Gen 3; Mat 16:22-23, etc.)

EZE 28:12-17 "Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord God: "You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. "You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you.

ISA 14:12-15 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.

Gen 3:1-5 "Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; "but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' " And the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Rev 12:9 "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

In an ultimate sense, all sin is rooted in the fall of Satan. From this original rebellion, the world and the flesh have now been infected with the disease of sin (Rom 8:18-22). The dynamics of this infection will be covered in the sections on the world and the flesh.

The Lord God has chosen to limit the amount of information He could reveal about Satan's origin. Therefore, we should be extremely careful not to exceed God's Word, as we study. (Memorize Prov 30:5-6; 1 Cor. 4:6)

SATAN'S APPEARANCE: Who cares what he looks like?

Far from being the ugly creature of the movies, he is actually brilliant in his blazing beauty. He radiated the light of God's glory through his attractiveness. And he continues today as an angel of light (2Cor 11:13-15), seducing the world and the church through temptations that are attractive to the flesh. Because people think of "satanic" as ugly and repulsive, they often fail to recognize demonic involvement when it is there.

SATAN'S POSITION: Who is he now? Why does it matter?

Satan's original position as the "anointed cherub who covers", was highly exalted. His position was one of authority, dignity, and honor. The NT says Satan is now the god of this world, the prince of the power of the air. He still maintains a ruling position in the spiritual realm, which controls the ungodly, physical kingdoms of the world.

As David respectfully responded to sinful King Saul (God's anointed), humility before God demands recognition of Satan's position (Job 1-2; Jude 1:9; ...). This does not mean obedience to Satan's desire. But it does means that to joke, mock, or ridicule Satan is unbiblical. Our own pride is deceptive, and leads to destruction (Prov 14:12; Jude 1:8).

SATAN'S POWER: How superhuman is he?

Satan's power is great, beyond our comprehension. Gen 3; Job 1-2; Dan 10; 1 Pet. 5:8; reveal that he is able to control and manipulate much of the physical and spiritual creation.

SATAN'S INTELLIGENCE: What does he know?

Satan's IQ is clearly awesome. Certainly his knowledge of the Scripture is great (Mat 4:1-11). He knows his time is short (Mat 8:29). And Gen 3:1 reveals that he is a master of mind control (2Cor 11:3). This fact is central to the understanding of true spiritual warfare, and crucial to our experience of a victorious life.

SATAN'S CHARACTER: What is the nature of his heart? Why?
His deepest desire is to be worshiped as God. In Isa 14; Eze 28; Mat 4; 1 John 3:8 God clearly reveals the central source of sin at the heart of Satan. He chose to love himself more than God and his neighbor. His chosen desire is to be highly esteemed. This is the root of all sin, which produces the tangled web of sins that have crippled creation (Philip 2:3; Rom 12:3; 2Tim 3-4). 1 Tim. 3:6 "...lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil."

SATAN'S LIMITATIONS: Is he equal but opposite from God?
Now the good news. He is NOT omnipotent. Nor is he omnipresent. "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). He is also not omniscient. He makes many mistakes. Scripture reveals that Satan's pride deceives him into assumptions and presumptions. From his temptation of Adam and Eve, to Jesus in the wilderness, to his efforts to form a one-world government/religion in these last days, he has and will fail.

SATAN'S ACTIVITY: What does he do? Why?
Job 1:7 says, "And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." Satan actively seeks to undermine the plan of God in this world (1 Pet. 5:8). He controls a vast network of angelic and human followers (Dan 10:13; Eph 2:2; 6:12; Rev 12:4,7,9). He manipulates & orchestrates a vast kingdom, which the Bible calls the "world".

Satan's primary activity is to tempt, not force. He is the puppet-master of the world system, but not of the Christian. We'll see why when we examine the Christian's battle strategies.

SATAN'S DEFEAT: When will this spiritual war be won?
The first prophecy of God's victory in this spiritual conflict is found in Gen 3:15, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall crush your head, and you shall crush His heel." One born of a virgin ("her Seed") would one day crush the head (destroy) the serpent. Jesus was the one. He became flesh and was born the God/man (John 1:14). He lived a sinless life and withstood the full temptation of Satan (Mat 4:1-11). He entered the strong man's house and overcame him (Mark 3:27). And His death and resurrection finished the war (1 John 3:8; John 12:31; 16:11; Col 2:14-15; Heb 2:14-15).

"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, And release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham." Heb 2:14-16

Now, the war is actually a matter of mopping up. The ultimate victory is already accomplished. But these last days of mopping up are still very dangerous. The devil, the world, and the flesh are still very active.

SATAN'S DESTINY: What will be the final result?
Matt 25:41 "...into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels...." Soon, the Lord will completely remove Satan and his destructive activity. Rom 16:20 "And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly."

WHY DOES SUFFERING EXIST?

The Bible's historical record of a real Devil, Adam & Eve, and the reality of sinful rebellion is the only answer consistent with logic and science. None of man's philosophies that reject these facts have been able to answer this foundational question. So, boldly proclaim God's answer!

3. THE DEMONS
Satan himself has probably never directly attacked either you or me.

Since Satan is not "omni" anything, he must depend upon the help of demons & humans to tempt, manipulate, and orchestrate the world system.
The OT used no term equivalent to "demon". As with Satan, God chose not to reveal much about demons until Christ's advent and the NT period. This is interesting, because the ancient world was filled with complex stories and theories about demons that ruled the world from behind the scenes. They were the "gods" which pagan religions feared and tried to appease through horrible rituals like child-sacrifice (for example, Molech, Lev 18:21).

Gen 6:1-5 is seen by many scholars as a reference to fallen angels, who produced offspring through human women. These offspring were infamous for their size ("giants") and for their wickedness. However, this theory about Gen 6 is unsure, because the passage is difficult to interpret.
In the Greek LXX translation of Deut 32:17, "daimonia" is used for "foreign gods" (also Psa 106:37). In Lev 17:7, the Hebrew phrase used is "hairy ones", referring to pagan demon spirits.
In Mat 25:41 Scripture refers to, ..."the devil and his angels". The word angel literally means messenger. In 2Cor 12, Paul's thorn in the flesh was caused by "a messenger (angel) of Satan". In Luke 8:27-29, "unclean spirits" is used interchangeably with "devils".\

And in Rev 12:4-11 Scripture says:
"His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. ...And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, But they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."

And in Mat 12:26-29, Jesus explicitly states that demons are the spirit messengers who do the bidding of Satan:
""And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? ...But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. "Or else how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house."

So, demons are the angelic beings who rebelled against God with Satan. They are spirit beings, who were created by God. One-third of them followed Satan (Rev 12:4).

THEY FUNCTION TOGETHER IN A HIGHLY ORGANIZED,
"MILITARISTIC" KINGDOM.

Eph 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"

THEY ARE NOT IDENTICAL.
SOME ARE MORE WICKED THAN OTHERS:

LUK 11:26 "Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

Some are more powerful and/or intelligent than others.  Notice what the angel says in the following passage:

DAN 10:13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me,...."

CAN THEY FORCE SOMEONE TO THINK, SAY, OR DO ANYTHING?
CAN THEY CONTROL SOMEONE PHYSICALLY?
CAN THEY CAUSE DISEASE?
WHAT CONTROL CAN THEY HAVE OVER AN UNBELIEVER?
ARE THEY LIMITED IN THEIR CONTROL OVER BELIEVERS?
ARE NT BELIEVERS MORE PROTECTED THAN OT BELIEVERS?
CAN THEY READ A PERSON'S MIND?
CAN THEY PUT THOUGHTS INTO SOMEONE'S MIND?
CAN THEY DRIVE SOMEONE "CRAZY"?
CAN THEY DESTROY SOMEONE'S ABUNDANT LIFE & RELATIONSHIPS?
ARE WE TO FIGHT OFFENSIVELY OR DEFENSIVELY?

Before we can adequately understand the abilities, limitations, and strategies of Satan and his demons, we must also have a biblical understanding of our other two enemies: the world and the flesh.

B. THE WORLD

1. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE CONCEPT OF THE "WORLD"?

JOH 8:23-24 And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

The NT Greek term "kosmos" is perhaps the most significant in understanding the concept of the "world", as the enemy of the Christian. The term is used over 180 times in the NT. It primarily refers to the created universe in its fallen state of rebellion against God.

JAM 4:4 Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

It refers to the fallen angels, fallen mankind, the fallen physical universe, etc. It is the mind-set, the world-view, the philosophy of life, that drives this anti-God system. It is a system that reflects the character of selfishness, violence, survival of the fittest, death and decay. It is 180^o opposite from the character of the Creator.

JOH 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

JOH 17:9 "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.

In spite of the world's rebellion against God, He loves the souls who live in the world. He desires that all would be saved. Yet, He allows each one to chose whom he will serve.

2. HOW AND WHEN DID THE WORLD BECOME GOD'S ENEMY?

The rebellion of Lucifer and that of Adam, caused a separation between God and His created World (Isaiah 14:12-15; Gen 1-3; Rom 8:18-21). God is the only source of sufficient power, love, and wisdom necessary to hold the creation together in physical and spiritual harmony (Gen 1:30-31). Rather than perfect harmony, entropy is now the governing law of this universe (Gen 3:17-19; 9:3). Even relationships are subject to this law of entropy (Gen 2:24-25; 3:7, 12, 13, 4:1-8). This principle of entropy states that any system left to its own will decay into chaos, unless some sufficient, external source of intelligent power keeps the system together.

ROM 8:20-22 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

So then, the World (& that which is "worldly") is the creation functioning apart from (independent from) God. The term "kosmos" was originally used in the Greek culture to refer at times to beautiful decorations. The Holy Spirit may have used this term because the world's ideas, philosophies, etc., are often very attractive and insidiously seductive. They are the deceptions of Satan, the god of this world. He deceives as an angel of light.

COL 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Modern polls show that Carl Sagan is considered by most Americans to be the smartest man today. Sagan created and hosted a television show called, "COSMOS", in which he mocked Christianity and exalted the false religion of pantheistic evolution. Now, he is one of the world leaders in the rapidly growing "new age" movement of pantheism. Is it coincidence that his internationally acclaimed show was entitled, "COSMOS"? Remember, this is the NT Greek term for "world" used by the Holy Spirit to describe Satan's kingdom.

The World sets up substitute religions of moral and philosophical principles, on which governmental, educational, and psychological systems of living are built. Like the Tower of Babel (Gen 11), the world is always trying to become one, and create peace, apart from God.

The United Nations, the European Community, and various ecumenical "Christian" groups are examples of such humanistic efforts. But peace cannot come until the "Prince of Peace" returns to establish His Kingdom.

2 TI 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 TI 3:2 For men will be lovers of themselves... 2 TI 3:4 ... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 2 TI 3:5 Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 2 TI 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 2 TI 4:4 And they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Scripture warns that, in the last days, the world will seduce the majority in the church to support false teachers. These false teachers will encourage people to be "lovers of themselves, ...lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God."

Pride, independence, rebellion, selfishness, self-glorification, self-actualization, self-esteem (worth), self-love, and self-pleasing characterize the attitude of the world. This is the heart of Satan and sin. Modern television shows & movies reflect some of the sharpest images of this satanic system.

Long ago, great servants of the Lord warned of these worldly deceptions.

CHARLES SPURGEON in SPURGEON'S EXPOSITORY ENCYCLOPEDIA Vol I p. 458, equated the beatitude of "poor in spirit" to be "... an absence of self-esteem".
MATTHEW HENRY in MATTHEW HENRY'S COMMENTARY IN ONE VOLUME p. 1220, says that poor in spirit means "To be humble and lowly in our own eyes. ...to think meanly of ourselves....It is to be willing to make ourselves cheap [of little worth]...."
RICHARD BAXTER in the classic SAINT'S EVERLASTING REST p. 315 says, "A proud mind is high in conceit, self-esteem, and carnal aspiring; a humble mind is high indeed in God's esteem, and in holy aspiring".
A.W. PINK in AN EXPOSITION OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT p. 424 says, "Man must be humbled into the dust before he will, as a beggar, betake himself to the Redeemer,....be emptied of self-righteousness, self-esteem...."
THOMAS a KEMPIS in IMITATION OF CHRIST, wrote "I will speak unto my Lord who am but dust and ashes (Job 42). If I count myself more, behold Thou standest against me, and my iniquities bear true testimony.... But if I ...shrink from all self-esteem...thy grace will be favourable unto me...and all self-esteem, how little soever it be, shall be swallowed up in the depths of my nothingness. ...I am all weakness; but if suddenly Thou look upon me, immediately I am made strong, and filled with new joy."
STEPHEN CHARNOCK in THE WORKS OF STEPHEN CHARNOCK p. 21, wrote, "Self-esteem, self-dependence, self-willedness, is denying affection and subjection to God." And he says, "Well it has been said, 'To dispossess a man, then of his self-esteem and self-sufficiency, to make room for God in the heart where there was none but for sin...is not to be ascribed to any but to an outstretched arm wielding the sword of the Spirit". (Quoted by Arthur Pink in PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY p. 42.)
WATCHMAN NEE in THE RELEASE OF THE SPIRIT p. 16 says, "...another great hindrance to the work of breaking the outer man is self-love. We must ask God to take away the heart of self-love." "...Let us remember that the one reason for all misunderstanding, all fretfulness, all discontent, is that we secretly love ourselves."
OSWALD CHAMBERS in, MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST p. 12 says, "As long as we are not quite sure that we are unworthy, God will keep narrowing us...." And on p. 162, "..you ask amiss, i.e., you ask from a desire of self-realization." And p. 164, "A disciple ...self-interest & pride & self-sufficiency .... erased."
ANDREW MURRAY in, HUMILITY p. 6: "...nothing is more natural and beautiful and blessed than to be nothing, so that God may be all". And on p. 56: "pride...can be recognized...simply in the absence of that deep self-abasement which is mark of the soul that has seen the glory of God (Job 42:5-6; Isaiah 6:5)". And p. 10: "...It was when the now fallen angels began to look upon themselves with self-satisfaction that they were led to disobedience...." And p. 97: "Thus, this is the great end Of God raising a new creation out of a fallen kingdom of angels. For this reason, it (the world) stands in its state of war between the fire and pride of fallen angels, and the humility of the Lamb of God".

3. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE WORLD?

Just as Satan's future destiny of destruction is certain, the anti-Christ world system will also be judged by the Lord.

PSA 9:8-9 He shall judge the world in righteousness, And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.
MAT 25:46 "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
1JO 2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
2PE 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

Until that day, Scripture gives specific battle strategies for dealing with Satan's world system. The following are a few examples. We will look at these and other strategies in more detail later.

2PE 3:11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
1 JOHN 2:15-17 "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."
ROM 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...."

HOW CAN WE BE IN, BUT NOT OF THE WORLD?
HOW DO WE KEEP FROM GETTING ENTANGLED IN WORLDLY THINGS?
DO WE FIGHT THE WORLD THE SAME WAY WE FIGHT SATAN?
IS POLITICAL ACTION THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO BATTLE THE WORLD?
HOW DID THE EARLY CHURCH SO POWERFULLY CHANGE THEIR WORLD?
HOW DO THE DEVIL & THE WORLD SYSTEM USE OUR "FLESH" AGAINST US?
ARE ALL OF OUR CHURCH TRADITIONS TRULY BIBLICAL?

C. THE FLESH

Who and what man is - can be viewed from many different perspectives, since man in his complexity is "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139). Regardless of the different angles from which man is viewed, this entire issue is inseparable from our understanding of God's purpose and goal for man.

ROM 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ROM 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Scripture reveals that man is a personal creature, created by a personal God (Gen 1-2). In fact, God created man in His own image and likeness. As a finite, created being, man was, is, and always will be dependent. Man cannot be sufficient unto himself. That is why Rom 6 says we will always be a servant to something, either to God or to the flesh.

Not only was man personally, socially, morally, and occupationally created to exist in a dependent relationship with God, but man is also now influenced by his relationship with Satan and the fallen angels (demons).

1. WHAT DOES THE CONCEPT OF "FLESH" MEAN?

2 CO 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

GAL 5:16-17 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

1 CO 3:3 For you are still fleshly. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not fleshly and behaving like mere men?

The concept of "the flesh" as one of the enemies of God's people was not fully revealed in the OT. Jer 17:9; Eze 36:26-32 and Psa 78:39 are about as close as the OT gets to this truth. Primarily, the OT revealed the flesh to be weak, with only a glimpse of its association with a totally depraved fallen nature.

In the NT, the term "flesh" (Greek = sarx) can refer simply to the physical body, or it can refer to everything in man that stands against God as Lord. The Holy Spirit, through the NT, often used "flesh" in this broad way, to include both the physical and non-physical dimensions of sin in man.

But why did the Holy Spirit use a physical term for this important subject? The answer is because our soul is physically bound to sin.

ROM 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--
ROM 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. ROM 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. ROM 7:17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. ROM 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. ROM 7:21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. ROM 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
ROM 8:7-9 Because the fleshly mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

People are enslaved to sin in two physical ways. The technical dynamics of these processes (how they work) are not fully revealed in Scripture. God has simply revealed the fact that they exist. And most importantly, God has revealed our responsibility to deal biblically with the problem.

1. GENETICALLY - Adam's decision to rebel against God caused a separation from God. This caused entropy in the fallen physical world, that included the inherited character of his children. All of his offspring were conceived with fallen seed, that produces children with a nature of sin. (Psalm 51:5) The only exception of course was Jesus, who was born of a virgin. He was born, sinless, without a sin nature (Gen 3:15; Isa 7:14; 2Cor 5:21).

2. NEUROLOGICALLY - The physical brain stores the information, patterns, and habits learned and practiced by the soul. Since the soul is born sinful, these learned patterns of thinking, speaking, and acting, are distorted by sin. They are the natural habits of the "old man" (Eph 4:22). They must be replaced by the supernatural habits of the "new man", the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-24).

Why doesn't the Bible give every detail about Satan, the world, and especially the mystery of the flesh? The answer is simply that it is not necessary to know every detail.

The analogy of a viral infection helps to understand why God has chosen to limit our knowledge of these things. What information do I need from a physical doctor (physician), in order to fight a virus infection? Do I need to know and fully understand exactly what a virus is and how it invades my cells and manipulates the DNA? Of course not. All I need to know is what to do to cooperate with the doctor's plan to fight the infection. The doctor's job is to know the details. My job is simply to humbly obey his directions.

2. SO WHAT IS THE NATURE OF MAN?
What about dichotomy vs trichotomy? (Dichotomy = 2 parts: physical & non-physical) (Trichotomy = 3 parts: Body, Soul, Spirit) And, does a Christian have a good nature plus a sinful nature? Or does a Christian only have one, new nature? How does the concept of "flesh" fit in with these other questions? DO THESE QUESTIONS REALLY MATTER?

Second only to the subject of God Himself, perhaps no other topic in our battle for abundant life & relationships is more crucial than the identity and nature of man (biblical anthropology). But remember, we need to take care not to exceed the Bible's operational simplicity (1 Cor. 4:6).

For ages our curious (often arrogant) minds have sought to comprehend WHAT makes up our being. Many have debated these issues as if understanding them was crucial to abundant life and relationships. Yet, historically, many godly, bible-believing servants have disagreed on this issue. And whenever a particular issue creates such consistent disagreement among inerrantists, a profoundly simple question begs to be answered. Could it be that God did not deem it necessary for these questions to be definitively settled - did not provide the biblical evidence required to answer them - and therefore does not expect us to waste practical time debating them?

I believe the profoundly simple principles for abundant life by-pass these interesting but fruitless debates. The Way of Jesus was given for everyone, especially the child-like, the simple. When Christian teaching starts to take on the character of lofty philosophical debate, there is great potential for error. Gnosticism is very attractive to the pride of life.

D.M. LAKE, in THE ZONDERVAN PICTORIAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE BIBLE puts it well, (p.496) "...Biblical realism is concerned to describe man's life in relationship to Yahweh not to provide esoteric speculation about the intrinsic nature of man and the world."

However, the Lord has clearly revealed some basic facts about man's being. These facts are generally accepted by the majority of inerrantists, and are helpful in understanding how to fight the war and live victoriously.

SPIRIT - SOUL

The first biblical statement as to man's nature is found in

GEN 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. With certainty it can be said that God created man of at least two dimensions: material and immaterial. However, the bulk of biblical evidence (beginning with this verse) clearly presents man as a unit. Man became and is a "living soul". This fact of man's oneness in essence negates the practical usefulness of the "-chotomy" (divisible parts) idea. Yet, a definite distinction can be made between the material and immaterial aspects of man, as is seen when physical death occurs (Ecc 12:7). But even in the case of death, the person is seen as incomplete without a body. With these statements I do not mean to promote a classical dichotomous understanding of man.

My own position on this issue is somewhat between the two views. While a distinction seems to be made in Scripture between "spirit" and "soul" (1 Cor. 2:14; 15:45;

Heb 4:12), both terms are used to describe the non-physical realm of mind, will, and emotions (Job 20:3; 21:4; Psa 51:12; 77:6, etc.). And both terms are apparently used interchangeably (Job 7:11; 1Sam 1:15; Isa 26:9). The primary point here is that both spirit and soul are used in the Bible to refer to thinking, willing, feeling, acting, and relating. And, never are any of these issues described as the exclusive domain of the pneuma/ruach (spirit), or exclusively of the psuche/nephesh (soul). Therefore, all non-organic counseling issues are by nature under the job description of a person trained in God's Word, not the psychological philosophies and theories of the World System as some claim.

HEART

The primary biblical perspective is that of man as a unified whole, not as two or three parts. The term "heart" is clearly the most dominant description of the whole immaterial aspect. (Job 12:24; 36:13; Jer 17:9,10; 23:20; Eze 11:5; Hos 7:11; Mat 5:28; 13:15; 15:8,18ff; Mar 7:19-23; 11:23; Luk 5:22; Ac 5:4; 2Cor 9:7; Heb 4:12; 10:22; 1Jn 3:19-21). Without trying to go into detail with the specific functional descriptions of leb and kardia, a primary principle can be stated with certainty about the immaterial dimension of man. When it comes to practical issues of victorious life (mental, emotional, behavioral, & relational problems) the Word of God deals with them primarily within this concept of heart. And please remember, the biblical use of "heart" does NOT refer to feelings. The Bible uses "heart" to refer to the center of willful choice. "Bowels" refer to the feelings (gut emotions). WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT? BECAUSE....

The will is the most important factor in man's role in spiritual warfare. NOT WILL-POWER, BUT A SUBMISSIVE WILL. It is more often implicitly described, rather than explicitly defined. This is true in most languages, including English. The individual identity, "I", is always held responsible to choose the proper attitudes and actions in response to God. Man's central most significant component (as far as the battle for victorious life and relationships is concerned) is his capacity to choose whom he will serve (Jos 24:15;Rom 1-8; Eph 3-4; Jn 15; Ps 1).

IS IT TRUE THAT UNCONSCIOUS DESIRES DRIVE US?

What about the modern idea of a person being driven by unconscious inner drives. The entire immaterial aspect of man is associated with the cognitive process. All knowledge must come through our mental processes, formulating attitudes and actions (Rom 12:1-3; 1 Cor. 14). In the New Testament, there are basically two groups of descriptive terms for mind, the phren group and the broader and more inclusive nous group. Both groups refer to the cognitive, intellectual side of our nature and are virtually synonymous. Therefore those who attempt to claim evidence for a Freudian concept of the unconscious by setting these two word groups in contrast to one another, must force this idea upon Scripture. Neither group refers to an unconscious realm of mind. In fact, both terms are applied to God in the Scriptures, and God certainly has no area of His mind of which He is not consciously aware. We perform subconscious habitual patterns of thinking and acting, but Christians never have the excuse that they were forced to act by deep unconscious drives.

However, the Bible does describe the entire being of man as gravely and depravely affected (Jer 17:9). Not only is the body in a progressive state of death and decay, but so is the immaterial dimension of man (Eph 4:22). The image of God in man is now distorted. There is a problem. The symptom of the problem is that man reflects the character of selfishness, impatience, divisiveness, depression, anxiety, and a lack of self-control. The cause of the problem is sin (Gen 3; Isa 59:2; Rom 3:23; 5:12). As a result of Adam's separation from God, man is now naturally bent toward sin by physical birth. This natural tendency toward sin is our enemy, the "flesh" & it's desires (Gal 5:24). These desires are conscious desires, NOT unconscious drives!

And as a result of sin, man's cognitive processes are not only blinded to much of the truth, but twisted so that his perception of reality is likewise perverted. So, the "flesh" is a powerful source of temptation. In fact, the non-Christian is helpless and incapable of saying no to the full temptation of the flesh. He or she must sin, if the temptation is great enough (Rom 8:5-9). But more will be said about this latter.

The "flesh" is one of the main reasons we need God's Word. We cannot philosophically formulate or even logically deduce the truths of God. Man's best efforts to discover the way to wholeness have merely produced a maze of conflicting opinions.

"Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth"

2 TIMOTHY 3:7

Before we move on to a discussion of our allies, one other truth about the flesh should be considered. Since man is essentially a material/immaterial unity, then it is also true that any non-organic issue will influence the organic (body) and vice versa. Thus, there is a psycho-somatic dimension to many counseling problems. When people walk in the "flesh", rather than the Spirit, they are affected physically.

"It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones"

PROVERBS 3:8

Medical doctors recognize that many physical diseases are the end result of non-physical problems like guilt, bitterness, anxiety, etc. So again, the practical or vocational conclusion to this biblical fact is that there are really only two areas of specialized expertise for the treatment of man's personal being. One is that of the medical physician to treat the body, and the other is that of the Christian minister (both lay and professional). And often, the two must work together.

HUMANISM'S #1 LIE SAYS THAT MAN'S NATURE IS GOOD? WHY IS THIS SO DANGEROUS?
THE WORLD SAYS WE NEED MORE SELF-LOVE & SELF-ESTEEM? DO WE REALLY?
HOW DOES BELIEVING THIS LIE DESTROY THE HOPE OF VICTORIOUS LIVING?
SHOULD WE USE THE SAME METHOD TO FIGHT THE FLESH AS WE FIGHT THE DEVIL?

When we study our battle equipment and strategies, we will see much more about our enemies. We'll examine the "...the schemes (Greek = methodia) of the devil" (Eph 6:11), as he manipulates the world and the flesh against us.

III. OUR WAR - A PSYCHOLOGICAL WAR OF WORDS -  
GOD'S WORD VS. ANYTHING LESS 
[Remember "psyche" is N.T. GREEK FOR SOUL]

This is where we'll see God's biblical answers to many of your practical questions. The previous survey of OUR ALLIES and OUR ENEMIES merely set the stage for the main focus of this study. We have not tried to figure out how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Our goal is to discern practical principles necessary for victorious life and relationships.

First we'll look at our battle equipment. This will give us a clear picture of the type of war we are to wage. Then we'll look at our battle strategies, to discern God's plan and methods for overcoming. (i.e., how to use our battle equipment)

A. OUR BATTLE EQUIPMENT

1. OUR ARMOR

Probably the best known Bible passage on spiritual warfare is found in Ephesians 6. Because it speaks so directly to the question of armor, let's begin there.

FIRST: WHAT DOES "PUT ON" MEAN?

Note the phrase in v.11 that says we are to "PUT ON" the full armor of God. The phrase "put on" is used many times in the NT. For example:

* Rom 13:12 "put on the armor of light"
* Rom 13:14 "put on Christ" (Gal 3:27 also)
* Eph 4:24 "put on the new self"
* Col 3:12-14 "put on tender mercy...above all put on love"

What these verses tell us is that our armor is not mere pieces of equipment, but actually the very person of Jesus Christ. He alone is able to stand against the enemies. Please keep this truth in mind as we look at each of the 6 parts of the armor of God. You'll see that each describes an aspect of our relationship with Christ, AS LORD.

WHY THE TERM ARMOR?

The Greek term used for armor in Eph 6 is actually a word that can mean armor or weapon. The context of the passage determines the meaning. Note that the term "armor" refers to equipment, designed for defensive protection. We'll also see that the pieces of armor (except possibly the sword/Word) in Eph 6 are to be used PRIMARILY in a defensive stance against our enemies.

[Please note that only a tiny fraction of God's truths about His armor will be covered here. So, you take the initiative to keep on digging for more treasure on your own.]

1) BELT OF TRUTH

(Physical Picture) The Roman soldier used this belt to pull in any loose ends of his robe. It also served as added support to strengthen his back, so he could stand straight and strong. The enemies goal was to get him to bend and fall.

(Spiritual Reality) Our belt of "truth" is Jesus (JOH 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."). He is truth. And through His Spirit & Word, we appropriate His truth (John 14:7 "...even the Spirit of truth..." John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.") Our belt of truth refers to knowing Him, knowing the truth so that we will be able to stand straight and strong against error. Just as FBI agents learn to discern counterfeit money by knowing well the true thing, we must know the Word well. And, to know Him we must humbly surrender to His rule over our thoughts, words, and actions.

2) BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

(Physical Picture) The Roman soldier used a breastplate made of leather or metal to protect his vital organs (especially the heart).

(Spiritual Reality) Our breastplate is righteousness. Christ Jesus is our righteousness. ROM 3:22 "Even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe." (See also Rom 1:17; 1 Cor. 1:30). Our spiritual heart can only be made pure and righteous by the blood of Christ. In Mat 5:8, Jesus said that the pure in heart can see God. Remember that the biblical terms for heart refer to our will and reason, not the feelings. And James 4:7-8 says, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." So, our breastplate is the righteousness of Christ, as we submit to Him as master over our mind and will. We are protected when we follow what God says is right, not when we follow our subjective and fickle emotions.

3) SHOES OF THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE

(Physical Picture) The Roman soldier wore heavy leather sandals with metal spikes sticking out of the sole. These spikes helped him to have a firm grip on the ground.

(Spiritual Reality) We must be firmly grounded and prepared (ready) to share the good news of our Lord and master. First, we must know that our peace with God is secure and unconditional (Rom 5:1; John 14:27). Then, we must know that our purpose is to proclaim the good news of the Prince of peace (Isa 9:6). 1Peter 3:15 (NIV) "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness & respect...."

4) SHIELD OF FAITH

(Physical Picture) The Roman soldier had two shields. One was a small combat shield, and the other was a huge body shield. The term used here is for the full body shield, behind which the soldier took refuge when the enemy rained down with arrows.

(Spiritual Reality) 1 PE 5:7-9 "Cast all your anxieties on Him (God) because he cares for you. ...Your adversary, the Devil. ...Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." Faith (trust) is the opposite of worry. Our shield is choosing to trust & obey God, even when the battle is intense and we are wounded and hurting. We must faithfully obey Him, even when His orders & teachings are hard to understand.

5) HELMET OF SALVATION

(Physical Picture) The soldier's helmet was made of leather and metal. It served to protect him from arrows, clubs, swords, etc.

(Spiritual Picture) Our helmet involves our knowledge that our salvation is sure and secure. Remember our earlier discussion of the three tenses of salvation (past, present, & future). We were saved (justification). We are being saved (sanctification). And, we will be saved (glorification). This helmet is especially needed when the accuser of the brethren, Satan, seeks to undermine the assurance and security of our relationship with God.

6) SWORD (WORD) OF THE SPIRIT

(Physical Picture) The term for sword used here is for the short sword used in precise ways in hand to hand combat. It was the last line of personal defense, unlike the huge broadsword used for offensive attack.

(Spiritual Picture) The term for "word" of God is not the general "logos", but "rhema". Rhema is a term referring to a specific word. In spiritual warfare it is not enough to have a mere general knowledge of God's Word. It is necessary to have wisdom, which is the ability to specifically apply biblical principles to the needs of your personal life and relationships.

** ARMOR OF LIGHT

ROM 13:12-14 "The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."

Eph 6:10ff can never be accurately understood until it is seen in the context of all other passages that speak directly and indirectly to spiritual warfare. The above passage is a prime example. Our armor is the radiant image of Christ's character. It is the Word of His truth ruling as Lord over our thoughts, words, and actions, through the power of His Holy Spirit.

Like the Lord's Prayer (Mat 6:9-13), these pieces are categories of principles to be understood and applied. To merely "repeat" the Lord's Prayer or "claim" the pieces of armor is not biblical. That is actually the useless practice of "Christianized" magical incantations.


2. OUR WEAPONS

Before we study our battle strategies, we must first clarify a potential source of confusion about the term "weapons":

DO WE REALLY HAVE OFFENSIVE WEAPONS?

2 Cor 6:7 "... by the WEAPONS (NIV) of righteousness..."
2Cor 10:3-5 "... the WEAPONS of our warfare..." (NKJ VERSION)

The Greek words used above in 2Cor 6:7 and 2Cor 10:3-5 are roots of the same term used in Eph 6:11,13. They are tools used to defend the ground on which we stand, as well as the way upon which we walk. Whether the translation to English is "armor" or "weapons", Christ as Lord is the way to victory.

EXO 14:13 "And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.

So be careful not to add to His Words, or think beyond what is written when you think about our armor/weapons. The thing to remember is that GOD IS OUR ARMOR. GOD IS OUR WEAPON. This single biblical fact overarches everything in spiritual warfare. As we are submissive to Him and allow His Spirit and Word to rule over our thoughts, words, and actions, total victory is guaranteed.

DEU 1:30 'The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,

B. OUR BATTLE STRATEGIES

WHERE TO LOOK IN SCRIPTURE?
[FROM BEGINNING (ORIGINS) TO END (ESCHATOLOGY)]

* The following are a few examples *

I. PRE-EDEN (Eze 28; ISA 14) - SATAN DECLARES WAR
II. EDEN (GEN 1-3) - PEOPLE JOIN SATAN
III. DEVOLUTION TO BABEL (GEN 4-11) - CONSEQUENCES
IV. ISRAEL IN EGYPT (GEN 12-EXO 1) - PICTURE OF A SLAVERY TO SATAN
V. CROSS RED SEA (EXO 14:13) - PICTURE OF SALVATION (STAND & WATCH)
VI. WILDERNESS (EXO 15:22-Deu) - PICTURE OF IMMATURE CHRISTIAN
VII. PROMISED LAND (JOS 5:13-6:20) - PICTURE OF VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN
VIII. JUDGES (JUDGES) - PICTURE OF THE BELIEVER'S CYCLE OF SIN
IX. BABYLONIAN EXILE (PROPHETS) - PICTURE OF BELIEVER'S CONSEQUENCES
X. JESUS MINISTRY (GOSPELS) - THE PERFECT BELIEVER'S VICTORY
XI. APOSTLES MINISTRY (GOSPELS & ACTS) - SPECIAL EXTENSION OF JESUS
XII. TODAY (EPISTLES) - WHY NO REFERENCE TO EXORCISM?
XIII. END OF HISTORY (REVELATION & PROPHETS) - TOTAL DEFEAT OF ENEMIES
XIV. HEAVEN (REV 20-21) - NO ENEMIES, NO STRUGGLE, NO PAIN !

1. SPIRITUAL NOT CARNAL

2CORINTHIANS 10:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ"

EPH 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."

a) NOT OF THE "FLESH".
 - Our battle strategies are not according to the common, natural sense of man.
Prov 14:12 "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death"

b) NOT FOCUSED ON THE PHYSICAL.  
- The emphasis of our efforts is on the non-physical:
- This doesn't negate the fact that Satan and the World can attack us physically.
Disease, guns, financial manipulation, etc., certainly create real problems and real pain.
- The physical realm is real. The "New Age" lie says it is an unreal illusion (Hindu concept of "maya").
- Scripture also does not teach the dualistic error that matter is bad, while spirit is good. God's Word says (Gen 1:31) both were created good, yet both are now infected with the effects of sin.
- Therefore, it is biblical to try and change problems in the physical realm with physical means: (medicine, armies, work to earn money, political action, etc)
- BUT, the focus is on the spiritual being more important and more powerful than the physical. So we should emphasize prayer for healing, protection and freedom.  We should love our enemies and avoid fighting whenever possible (Rom 12:18, Mat 5:44). We must fight for not against other people.

c) PRAYER IS THEREFORE OUR #1 STRATEGY !

EPH 6:18-20 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

Eph 6 ends with this encouragement to pray. Prayer is one of our MOST EFFECTIVE elements in spiritual warfare. It can be used as a strategy, a defensive tool, and an offensive weapon.
MAT 6:13 "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." (NKJ)

BUT WHAT IS PRAYER?

What prayer is NOT:

- Not the manipulation of spiritual energy.
- Not the twisting of God's arm to get Him to do what we want.
- Not necessary to inform God about our needs and problems. He already knows.  
- Not always answered the way we want it to be answered.

What prayer IS:

- Is a Privilege and an awesome Responsibility. God has chosen to direct His Work according to the prayers of His children.
- Is an act of conscious submission to God's Will.
* Praying, "in the Spirit", "in faith", "in His name", and "according to His will", all primarily mean submission.
"Name" refers to His authority, His nature, His will.
"Faith" refers to our willful submission to His Word.
"In the Spirit" refers to submitting to the Spirit's guidance.
"Will" is the key. "Not my will but Thy will be done"
It is wrong to start thinking that some special formula of words causes prayer to be answered or not. The key is your attitude toward Jesus, not the use of some "magic" formula of words.
- Is effective against all 3 enemies: 

Devil (Dan 10) - God responded to Daniel's prayer and sent an angel, who fought against the demon prince of Persia.
World (Rom 13:2; Mat 5:44) - We are told to pray for world leaders who are unsaved. Even those who are clearly enemies of Christ.
Flesh (Mat 26:41) - Our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak. Prayer practices denying the flesh.  It also practices meditation on God's principles in order to renew the mind, and put off the old self.

WRONG WAYS OF PRAYING....

ROM 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

* Christians don't need to pray for God to give them love for others. He already gave His Holy Spirit to be all the love, joy, peace (Gal 5:22 ff) that we need. Therefore, we also do not need to pray for more of the Holy Spirit. He is a person, and a person is never divided. When you are born-again, you receive all of the Holy Spirit. To be filled with Him, refers to your need to surrender your will to His full control. So, we need to pray for wisdom (Jam 1:2 ff) to guide the application of His love as we submit to His rule over our thoughts, words, and actions.

* Praying once in the morning as a covering for the day is insufficient. Prayer is to be continual, conscious communication with the Lord moment to moment 1 Thes 5:17).
* It is unnecessary to dialogue with demons in prayer. They are untrustworthy liars, and are much smarter than we are. No passage of Scripture commands or teaches believers to talk to demons. The question of exorcizing demons will be dealt with when we look at "STAND-RESIST".
* It is wrong and destructive to focus your prayers on self.....

DR. MARTIN LLOYD-JONES
(Renowned biblical scholar and pastor):

"Before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War..., there were psychological clinics with large numbers of neurotics undergoing drug treatments and others attending regularly for psychoanalysis and such like. They had their personal problems, their worries, their anxieties, their temptations, having to go back week after week, month after month, to the clinics in order to be kept going. Then came the Civil War...and it virtually emptied the ....clinics. ...cured by a greater anxiety.... Do you want to be a healthy person? Then lose yourself in the things that matter - - the spiritual battles of other people. Lose yourself in consuming prayer for the kingdom of God and you won't have trouble with your petty anxieties.

"I think it's needful for us to learn that. One of the reasons people in our society are experiencing all kinds of psychologically-induced aches and pains is simple: We are totally self-centered. ...That is a manifestation of self-centeredness that is foreign to the Christian life. We should be so lost in the needs of others that self is not a big issue. Let your little anxieties give way to greater ones; the spiritual battles of others."

THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER: AN EXPOSITION OF EPHESIANS 6:10-20, BAKER, 1978.

[More about prayer later, when we look at healing, exorcism, etc....]

2. STAND - RESIST
When attacked, the Bible teaches believers to stand firm against our enemies. Note the key point here of "when attacked". When we are not under direct attack, our strategy is to "Walk" (but more about walking later). God's primary strategy for dealing with the attacks of the Devil, the World, and the Flesh is for us to stand firm. And during harsh persecution, many of our brethren have had to stand alone (relative to other Christians).

But we are never really alone, because God is with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The concept of standing against our enemies is described in many different terms and phrases in Scripture. Some teachers have seen these different descriptions as unique to each of the three enemies. Yet, I believe that the different phrases primarily refer to different applications of this profoundly simple concept of standing firm. In order to demonstrate this from Scripture, we'll examine each of our enemies separately and see what the Bible tells us to do when attacked by them.

a) THE DEVIL

WHAT ABOUT CASTING OUT DEMONS?
Can a Christian be internally possessed?
Does a possessed unbeliever need exorcism before he can accept Christ?

Exorcism is usually the first topic that comes to mind whenever spiritual warfare is mentioned. Why? I believe that it's such a popular topic because of our sinful interest in sensationalized issues. Never-the-less, since it so dominates most discussions about spiritual warfare, let's go ahead and deal with it now.

OLD TESTAMENT

There is no clear example of demon possession or exorcism in the OT. One possible example is Saul (1Sam 16:14-23 "But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him". c.f. 1Sam 18:10-11; 19:9-10) However, as we shall see later, Saul was not a "regenerated" believer. Also, this passage does not say that this spirit internally possessed Saul.

We'll say more about Saul when we answer the question about Christians and possession. Until then, our study of possession and exorcism must focus on the NT, since that is where the Lord chose to give us clear and direct information.

NEW TESTAMENT

The following is a chart listing the major NT teachings and historical examples directly related to "demonized" people. Please note that the epistles are silent regarding demon-possession.

MINISTRY TO THE "DEMONIZED" (POSSESSED)

[References listed with parallels in the other Gospels]
[Read each reference in context]

CATEGORY SCRIPTURE REFERENCES (Note: No references in epistles)

	MATTHEW	MARK	LUKE	JOHN	ACTS
Three general examples (Jesus)	8:16 4:24	1:29-34 3:11	4:38-41 6:18 7:21
Five specific examples (Jesus)	8:23-34 15:21-29 17:14-21 12:22	1:23-28 5: 1-20 7:25-30 9:17-29 16:9	4:33-37 8:26-40 9:37-43 8:2 11:14 13:10-21
Jesus accused of being possessed	9:32-34 12:43-45	3:22-30	8:48 10:20-21 11:14-26
Jesus gives the disciples power over demons	10:1-16	3:13-19 6:7, 13 9:38 16:17	9:1 10:1-20
Disciples fail in some exorcisms		9:18-29
Satan enters Judas			22:3	6:70 13:2, 27
Apostolic power over demons after Jesus ascension					5:16 8:7 16:16-18 19:12
Sceva's sons are beaten in failure to cast out demon					19:13-16

FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES RE: THE DEMONIZED -

"DEMONIZED" MEANS INTERNALLY POSSESSED:

There are some teachers today who are claiming a "new" doctrine that says "demonized" merely refers to varying degrees of demonic control. This new idea is based upon Scripture PLUS subjective experience. And it is also the basis for the "new" doctrine that Christians can be "demonized" and thus need deliverance from demons. However, these beliefs are wrong. They have arisen because of the common fallacy of defining a Greek or Hebrew word based mainly on its root meaning (etymology). The meaning of biblical terms must be determined by the way in which the Holy Spirit chose to use it in the context of the whole Bible, not just by a study of its root meaning.

The Bible always uses the terms for demonized to refer to a person who is internally inhabited by one or more demons. It is not a general term referring to varying degrees of control.

* The Greek term for "demonized" is daimonizomai. It is a participle form of the term daimonion, which means demon. Daimonizomai means to be possessed by a demon. It is used 13 times in the NT (all are in the gospels: Mat 4:24; 8:16, 28, 33; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22; Mark 1:32; 5:15, 16, 18; Luke 8:36; John 10:21).

* Another term or phrase used synonymously with daimonizomai is "daimonion echein", which means "to have a demon". (See Mark 5:15, 16, 18 in parallel with Luk 8:27 for synonymous usage. Also see Mark 5:2, 8 "to have an unclean spirit"). This phrase "to have a demon" is used 8 times in the NT (Mat 11:8; Luk 7:33; 8:27; John 7:20; 8:48, 49, 52; 10:20).

* The concept of these terms/phrases always pictures internal habitation and control. They are never used to refer to external demonic activities such as temptation, accusation, persecution, deception, delusion, etc. Note in Mark 5:13; Luk 8:32, the language describing the demons "going out" and "entering in".

* Finally, Jesus' analogy of a house swept clean in Mat 12:28, 29, 43-45, is crystal clear. The Bible teaches a sharp distinction between internal demon possession, and external demonic temptation.

THIS FACT IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE:
IT DETERMINES HOW WE ARE TO FIGHT
AGAINST DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEMONIC ATTACKS, AND
HOW WE ARE TO MINISTER TO THOSE UNDER SUCH ATTACKS.

CAN A "CHRISTIAN" BE INTERNALLY POSSESSED & THUS NEED DELIVERANCE?

NO !

Recently, a new and rapidly growing deception has been spreading throughout the Body of Christ. It is the belief that Christians can be internally inhabited with demons and therefore are occasionally in need of exorcism (casting out the demon). None of the teachers who promote this fallacy have demonstrated the biblical evidence to justify it. Instead, they state that they rely upon subject and "clinical" experiences to arrive at such a conclusion. One leader in this new movement is Fred Dickason who says:

"We must allow the distinct probability that biblically guided investigation and counsel has shown in EXPERIENCE that some Christians have been demonized."

(DEMON POSSESSION AND THE CHRISTIAN: A NEW PERSPECTIVE. p. 186, MOODY PRESS, 1987) [Emphasis added]


BUT, TRUTH IS DETERMINED BY THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE, NOT EXPERIENCE. SO WHAT DOES GOD'S WORD SAY:

FIRST, we must understand that OT believers were "saved" by faith in the coming Messiah, but were not "born-again" of the Holy Spirit. Remember our previous mention of King Saul in the OT. Some teachers unknowingly make wrong assumptions in studying passages like these and then mistakenly arrive at some incorrect conclusions. The following will illustrate this danger of assumption:

WRONG ASSUMPTIONS

1. They assume Saul was "born-again", and that the Holy Spirit left him.
2. They assume Saul was internally possessed by the evil or distressing spirit that replaced the presence of the Holy Spirit.

WRONG CONCLUSIONS

1. They conclude Saul lost his salvation and that this proves that any believer can loose their salvation.
2. They conclude this is how some believers who loose their salvation can then become internally demon possessed and need exorcism.

BUT, READ CAREFULLY THE FOLLOWING VERSES:
John 7:39 "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out,... this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him WOULD RECEIVE; for the Holy Spirit WAS NOT YET GIVEN, because Jesus was NOT YET GLORIFIED."

Luke 24:26 "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to ENTER INTO HIS GLORY?"

John 14:17 "even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells WITH you and WILL BE IN you."

Jesus clearly describes a positionally and functionally different future relationship with the Holy Spirit. This new relationship was not available until after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension.

Prior to the glorification of Jesus, the Holy Spirit was with believers but not in and united to their spirit. Even though God's Spirit did occasionally come upon chosen individuals to anoint them for special service (Kings, Judges, Prophets, etc...).

Jesus was glorified and the new regenerating ministry of the Holy Spirit was not made available by the Father until His blood was presented at the altar after His ascension. In fact, OT believers who died did not even enter into the presence of the Lord. They went the section of Sheol called "paradise" (Luke 23:43), and awaited the resurrection and glorification of Jesus. Now believers are literally born of the Holy Spirit. He now indwells believers and regenerates them.

JOH 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

1 CO 6:11 "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."
1 CO 6:17 "But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him."
2 CO 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

- This is crucial to the question of whether a Christian can be internally possessed.
- The Bible gives no evidence of a such a born-again believer being possessed!
- The Epistles never teach the need to cast demons out of born-again believers!
- The Bible specifically teaches that a born-again believer cannot be internally possessed!

Remember Jesus' analogy of the demons who returned to the house swept clean, because the house was not occupied (Mat 12:43-45)? A born-again believer's body is the temple (house) of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), and is therefore occupied. Furthermore, 1John4:4 tells us that the Holy Spirit who indwells believers is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world. This clearly proclaims the freedom and protection all believers have, from any threat of demon possession.

Also in John 17:5, Jesus asks the Father to "keep them (born-again believers) from the evil one". And in 1 John 5:18, Scripture says that "the evil one does not touch him (who is born-again)". The key here is WHO protects the born-again believer, God or the believer? 2 thess. 3:3 says, "the Lord is faithful, ...and will protect you from the evil one".

Other misused examples like Ananias & Sapphira, the man in 1 Cor. 5, Judas, the woman ("daughter of Abraham) in Luke 13:16, etc. do not involve demon inhabited born-again believers:

* King Saul, Judas, and the "daughter of Abraham" were not regenerated.
* Ananias & Sapphira were not entered by any demon. Scripture simply says that "Satan filled your heart" to lie to the Holy Spirit. He is the father of lies and tempts us with the way of deception. Their hearts were filled with lies, not with Satan himself (c.f. 2Cor 10:3-5).

WHAT ABOUT DEMON POSSESSION & "BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT"?

Some sincere Christians mistakenly believe that there is a second blessing or baptism of the Holy Spirit that occurs after salvation. Unfortunately, this belief in a post-salvation reception of the Spirit can also lead to the inaccurate belief that a believer can be demon possessed before he or she has been baptized in the Spirit. However, neither of these beliefs are consistently supported by the evidence of Scripture. Because the Word teaches that the baptism in the Spirit occurs at the same time as salvation.

- Do you remember the important fact that there are no teachings in the epistles about demon possession or exorcism? There also is no command to be baptized in the Holy Spirit! Why? Think carefully. There is only one command to be filled (Eph 5:18), because all NT believers already have all of the Holy Spirit.

- Do you remember the significance of John 7:37-39 & 14:17 regarding regeneration by the Holy Spirit? 
(see p.41) Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be like a river of living (flowing) water within ALL believers.

- Then in ACTS 1:8, Jesus foretold the sequence of historical and geographical progression of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He said the gospel would be proclaimed first in Jerusalem, then in Judea, then to the rest of the earth (Gentiles).

* JERUSALEM = JEWS

In Acts 2:4, the disciples received the outpouring/baptism & filling of the Spirit. They had to initially wait in prayer for this experience ONLY because the Spirit was not yet given as the gift of regeneration (John 7:39; 14:17).

* JUDEA = HALF JEW - HALF GENTILES

In Acts 8:12, Philip's preaching led to belief by the SAMARITANS, but they had to wait for the apostles to lay hands on them (v14), before they received the Holy Spirit. The Samaritans were half Jew, half Gentile. This was the second stage in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

* ALL EARTH = GENTILES

In Acts 10:44, the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit, while listening to Peter's sermon. This was the final stage in the outpouring of the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:16-17). [This time, without the laying on of hands]

- After this historical stage was completed, there is no reference to any believer in Jesus receiving the Holy Spirit at some time after having believed (salvation). From this point forward, the gift of the Spirit was and is now given fully at the moment of saving belief. This is when all regenerated believers now are baptized into the Holy Spirit. There is no second blessing after salvation, in which a believer later receives the Spirit. The baptism in the Spirit is salvation. [Rom 5:5; Eph 1:13; 1 Cor. 12:13 F]

We'll discuss the "filling" of the Spirit when we talk about WALKING.

- The example in Acts 19:2 ff is an example of unsaved people getting saved for the first time. These people were "believers" NOT in Jesus but only in John the Baptist's teachings of repentance to prepare for the coming Messiah.

THEREFORE SINCE WE HAVE SEEN THAT:

1. A person indwelt by the Holy Spirit cannot be indwelt by a demon....
2. And that all post-Acts 19 believers (i.e. me & you) are indwelt by the Spirit at the time of salvation...
3. THEN, NO TRUE "BELIEVER" CAN BE INDWELT BY A DEMON!

SO CHRISTIANS CAN ONLY BE EXTERNALLY AFFECTED BY DEMONS

While there is a continuum of demonic influence or control, a qualitative shift of influence occurs when a NON-Christian is internally possessed or "demonized".

General attack Personal attack Demonized & temptation thru "oppression" "possessed" the World system

Chart to be converted to HTML and uploaded soon >.....

* EXTERNAL INFLUENCE = (Both NON-Christians & Christians):
- Temptations to believe and follow fallacy (twisted truths).  Even following "feelings" to say and do bizarre things.

- Physical attack by disease, guns, accidents, etc.

* INTERNAL INFLUENCE = (Only NON-Christians):

- Full, involuntary control of brain, body, mind, etc.

SO WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY WE ARE TO DO ABOUT DEMONS?
FIRST, HOW DO WE MINISTER TO NON-BELIEVERS?

(BY USING THE GOSPEL FOR EVANGELISM, TOWARD SALVATION)

ROM 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation..."
- Remember, at salvation the Holy Spirit enters in and occupies the person's body (temple/house) & the demons must flee (Jam 4:7).
- Note again that NONE of the epistles teaches exorcism as a method of evangelizing the lost toward salvation.
- Even in Acts 16:16, Paul cast out the demon from the slave girl, ONLY because it was interfering with his ministry in Philippi. He did not do it to lead her to salvation. In fact, there is no indication that she became a believer.

Acts 16:16-18 "Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her."

THEN SHOULD WE CAST DEMONS OUT OF UNBELIEVERS LIKE PAUL DID?

First we must note the timing of Paul's action:

Why did Paul NOT immediately cast out the demon? Why did he wait for many days to do this? The answer is very important and is found in Jesus description of what happens to a person whose body/house is cleared of demons, yet does not accept Christ (Mat 12:43 ff).

- The girl could have been worse off, if they don't let the Holy Spirit enter as Lord.
- Remember that Acts and the Epistles are after Jesus glorification and now the Holy Spirit is available for deliverance through regeneration.
- Therefore, the principle for this age of regeneration is to preach the gospel to the lost, not exorcize them from demons.

WHAT IF A DEMONIZED PERSON CAUSES TROUBLE AS IN THE SLAVE GIRL?  
THAT IS, WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY TO EXORCIZE WHEN NECESSARY?

ONLY JESUS!
AND HE DELEGATES HIS AUTHORITY AS HE WILLS

UNIQUELY DIFFERENT HISTORICAL PERIODS

Only Jesus and the apostles spoke to demons or Satan saying "I COMMAND YOU". Such personal, direct authority is never taught in the epistles. In fact, Scripture warns against imitating Jesus' authority in this way:

Jude 8-9 "Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, DARED NOT bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "THE LORD REBUKE YOU!"

The principle is clear. We in this church age are to exercise indirect authority, which is reflected in the prayer battle by such words as "The Lord rebuke you". We are not to imitate Jesus and the apostles with the attitude of direct authority like "I rebuke you".

WHY?

First it must be understood that God worked differently in different periods of history. Yet God, Himself, never changes (Heb 13:8).

I am not referring here to strict dispensationalism, but simply to the generally accepted principle that God has chosen to reveal His power and authority in different ways, through different people, and to different degrees at different times. The following are just a few of the major differences that are directly relevant to the topic of spiritual warfare:

* GOD GAVE UNIQUE AUTHORITY