Spiritual Warfare

Part 2
The Nature of the Battle
• 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the
power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual
hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may
be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all,
to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,
having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and
having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel
of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with
which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
• Law of use. Once important, twice—
listen!
• 3 times—stop what your doing, but here
6 times!
• Two Greek words:
– ANTI—against
• PROS- different from anti. It describes an
intimate position. Means to be face to face. It
describes the battle we have in close, face to
face battle with satan. The battle is real, the
fight is up close and personal. The foe is
arranged in a ordered and disciplined manner
for attack.
• Principalities—”arche” seats of power
or rank —the highest rank—generals
• Powers—”exousia”—delegated
authority, license to act-- as a colonel
• Rulers of the darkness—”kosmokrator”-
- ruler of the whole world. Comes from
two words . Kosmo—ordered
arrangement. Krator-- raw power.
Combined used for military training.
Boot camp
• Spiritual wickedness in high
places – “epouranios” translated
high or air. Some have interpreted
it to mean upper atmosphere. But
it means your atmosphere—where
you live, the air you breathe.
Wickedness is the word malice or
ill will, or strife. Your battle comes
in the form of strife—devised in
hell but hidden in those with whom
you live, love, work, and worship.
• Acts 10:38 how God anointed
Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Spirit and with power,
who went about doing good
and healing all who were
oppressed by the devil, for
God was with Him
• Oppressed—katadunasteuo
kata—down; dunastes—a
potentate; dunamai—to have
power. It is used as a participle so
it represents not just a one time
act but the very nature of satan. It
means it is a power that comes
down hard with the idea of
dominating, manipulating, or
controlling
• Devil---this is a proper name but also
describes his nature and his work.
Diabolos.
• Compound word—Dia—the idea of
penetration, in other places it is used as
the word through. The second part is
bolos—to throw like a rock or a ball. The
name he wears describes how he comes
to us and just hurls at us to hit us, again
and again and keeps throwing UNTIL he
gets THROUGH and penetrates your
mind, your life with one of these thoughts,
lies or deceptions.
• 1.Oppression—Acts 10:38
• 2.Wiles—Ep.6:11
• 3. Devices—2 Cor. 2:11
• 4. Deception—Used
throughout the NT
• 5. Strongholds—2 Cor. 10:4
• WILES: Put on the whole
armor of God, that you may
be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil.(Ep.6:11)
• Methodia—Meta: with
• Odos—a road or a way.
WITH A ROAD.
• Satan has only one road he
travels, only one method
• 2 Cor 2: 11 lest Satan should take
advantage of us; for we are not
ignorant of his devices.
• NOEMATA: noeo—understanding, or
the mind(nous) your reason, your
intelligence. Your thinking process
• Scheming of the mind, or mind
games. Where is the devils road
headed? The mind. To throw one
thought after another and try to beat
you down and wear down your
resistance and penetrate your soul.
• Deception: dolioos the word
used in reference to fisherman.
To bait a hook in order to get the
fish to bite. To lure into a trap.
What is the lure? Some
deception, some lie, some
seduction which is there to
entrap us. It has to come in the
form of a thought or a belief of
some sort.
• Strongholds: For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal but mighty in God
for pulling down strongholds 2 Cor. 10:4
• In this chapter you find no reference to the
devil, nor do find a direct reference his
work. But what you DO find here is the
word stronghold with direct reference to
your mind or your thoughts.
• The idea here is that we need to take
charge of your mind—not the devil. He
comes to strike your mind, because he
knows if he can sieze your mind he can
control you.
• Ochuroma—to make firm, a fortified
dwelling used as a place of protection.
• These fortresses exist in the thought
patterns and ideas in our minds
• Note how we “protect” the enemy—he
hides and is protected when we
defend our RIGHT to feel a certain
way, to act..,
• To think..even though we know…
• Pr.23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so
is he.
• But I fear, lest somehow, as the
serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness,
so your minds may be corrupted from
the simplicity that is in Christ. 2
Cor.11:3
• Our soul is made up of mind, will, and
emotion—but even more it is made up
of EVENTS and HOW we REACTED to
them. They are words spoken over us,
actions that hurt us, and thought
processes we use to protect us.