An Introduction to Spiritual Warfare

AN INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUAL WARFARE

And the nature of Evil

By

Ray Novosel

Introduction

.”My people are destroyed through lack of knowledge.” (Hos 4:6)

We are told many times in Scripture to be “sober and “alert,” to put on the “full armour” and not to be ignorant of the devil’s devices. Why this continuous admonition in Scripture to fight, to take courage, to gird up one’s loins and engage an enemy in battle, if this enemy was not for real and had a deadly purpose?

By far the most definitive work ever written on the subject of Spiritual Warfare would have to be “War on the Saints” by Jesse Pen-Lewis and Evan Roberts. This amazing book was written around the turn of the century when there was a much greater reverence for the Scriptures than exists today. This was also around the time of the great Welsh revival meetings where the Spirit moved a great abundance of godly men that would solidly preach for hours on-end. This resulted in hardened coal miners openly weeping and falling on their knees pleading with God for forgiveness through a heartfelt conviction of sin. Results such as these define a true revival, rather than the poor counterfeit that is claimed for revival these days.

Times have changed. Today any sermon over forty five minutes will have the congregation nervously looking at their watches and shifting uncomfortably in the pews. The power seems to be somehow missing, with the message just not getting through, why?

The very opening line to Jesse Pen-Lewis’s classic gives us a clue. .

“War on the Saints? Why most Christians don’t even know there is a war on.”

This failure to even acknowledge any kind of conflict, even the existence of demons is I believe, the primary reason for the flaccid condition of the Church today, and the number of bruised and broken believers that have made shipwreck of their faith.

This essay then, which represents just the tip of a Titanic sized Iceberg, is a meagre attempt using plain, non-theological terms to try to shine a measure of light on this unscriptural situation. And to educate the people of God into becoming aggressive Christian soldiers clad in armour from head to foot and fighting the good fight of faith. Let us be encouraged by that classic hymn where,

“Crowns and Thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane;

But the Church of Jesus, constant will remain;

Gates of hell can never ‘gainst that Church prevail;

We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.”

A little known booklet entitled, “The Authority of the Believer” by that wonderful saint J A Macmillan, comes this little gem . . .

” God throws upon man the responsibility for the continuance of the condition in which he finds himself. We though, feel this not aught to be. We realise they are the workings of the enemy. We cry to God to rebuke the enemy and to alter things. Through the teaching of the Word he replies: “My children, rebuke the enemy yourselves. The authority over him is yours. It is responsibility I have committed to YOU. I desire you to learn these things to prevail. I have purposed a high and holy ministry for you in the coming age. This is for you the time of testing and preparation. Be strong and of good courage and none shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life.”

A little further on he concludes . . .

“Every fully yielded heart that crowns Jesus Christ as King, increases the consternation of the panic stricken hosts. Conscious of their impending overthrow they are seeking by fierce attacks on every front to hold back the final issue. Now is no time for the Church of Christ to hold back. Let us meet attack with counter attack. Faith is needed, courage determination and sacrifice.

Men and Women are needed who will meet God in all that he offers . . .who then will take up the challenge by an aggressive warfare in the heavenlies?”

Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will face the foe?

In Mathew 16:18b we read. . “Upon this rock (Peter) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The really interesting thing about this verse when studied closely, is the implication that the gates are firmly shut and it is up to us believers to boldly use our authority to force them open, with the sure promise that we will be victorious.

Go to the book of Joshua and count the number of times that God encouraged Joshua to “take courage” to “be courageous”. Victory was assured on the proviso that Joshua himself took the fight to the enemy. God wasn’t going to do the fighting for him.

Do you realise the clear implications of this admonition?

Our Enemies – The Unholy Trinity

We are at war

these are our enemies:

The World

(I John :15-17)

The fallen world, represents present human affairs that consist of humanity as a whole that is alienated and hostile to the cause of Christ and destined for judgement.

We are clearly told in Scripture:

• To love not the world. (I Jn 2:15)
• It’s wisdom is foolishness. (I Cor 3:19)
• We are its light. (M’t 5:14)
• Satan is its god. (II Cor 4;4)
• The whole world lies in wickedness. (I Jn 5:19)
• To be a friend of the world is to be an enemy of God. (Jas 4:4)
• The world hates us and tries to press us into its mould. (I Jn 3:13)
• Those born of God can overcome the world. (I Jn 5:4; Ro 12:2))

The Flesh

(Gal 5;16-25)

The flesh, sometimes called the sin, or carnal nature consists of the pleasures of the outward senses, or that disposition in man which is prone to sin.

We are clearly told in Scripture:

• The flesh lusts against the Spirit. (Gal 5:17)
• To have no confidence in it and to not fulfil its lusts. (Ph’p 3:3; Gal 5:16)
• Flesh cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. (I Cor 15:20)

The Devil or Satan

(I Pet 5:8)

The Devil is a personal superhuman, evil, created being, a fallen angel without corporeal material form. Though it is unpopular today to believe in the personality of the devil, the Scriptures teach both his reality and his personality. The Bible credits Satan with the attributes, works and names of a personal being. He is neither omniscient nor omnipresent and depends upon his well-disciplined army of evil spirits (demons) who are subject to him, to be his agents.

He is already judged by God and awaits his doom at the final judgement.

• Satan is the ruler of the fallen spirits. (Mt 12:24)
• Satan can only operate by divine permission. (Job 1:12 ;cf I Cor 10:13)
• He dominates all kingdoms of mankind, seeking their alienation from God and eventual destruction. (Lk 4:6; I Pet 5:8)

Satan is alive and well

Pre-History

The book of Job is by far the oldest book in the Bible; it was in fact written around 2000 BC. Although the theme of suffering and its cause is dominant throughout the book, it serves a wider purpose in the mind of the author to show that the certainty of faith lies not in outward circumstances, nor in speculative explanations from the well meaning, but in a close encounter of faith with an omniscient, omnipotent and HOLY God.

In a nutshell it’s about a man by the name of Job, a tribal chieftain of outstanding piety and integrity and a respected member of the ancient community in which he lived. Although God described Job as a blameless and upright man that feared Him, He also knew that Job had a few spiritual weaknesses that needed to be brought to his attention, weaknesses of which Job was blissfully unaware.

God reveals these to his servant by allowing Satan to be His instrument of testing. Notice how Satan went about this test clearly under the auspices of God, to hit Job where it hurt the most; his wealth and his health. Although Satan clearly saw this as an opportunity to destroy Job, God clearly allowed it so as to strengthen and mature his walk with Him. As soon as things began to pile up on Job, he began to do what all of us do, he began to question God’s judgement.

After a lengthy period of frustrating silence from God, He then asks Job some pointed questions designed to show him that he, as a mere mortal, clearly lacked the wisdom to sit in judgement on HIM. Consequently, his loving heavenly father reveals some fascinating information to Job about the creation of the world.

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding, who set its measurement since you know? Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:4-7)

Here we are introduced to some interesting descriptions: “Morning Stars” and “Sons of God.” A careful study of these titles reveals that in the Old Testament they are only used in regard to angels. Angels are higher than man; they have greater intelligence and more power than man does.

They also have a personal audience with God.

When God created the universe, these spirit beings, these spirit personalities, “shouted for joy” at the demonstration of God’s tremendous power. What a wonderful picture!

At this time they weren’t fighting or arguing about their positions in God’s kingdom. This passage clearly says that they all shouted for joy, indicating a complete harmony among the angels. Obviously no rebellion had taken place at this time.

Lucifer the Perfect

The highest and most exalted position of this spirit realm was held by Lucifer, a created creature that the Bible says was perfect in his ways from the day he was created. The way we are introduced to him is important in itself.

In Ezekiel 28:1-2 a ruler is introduced as the prince of Tyre. He is described as a man who became so vain about all of his riches and intelligence that he claimed to be God. In Ezekiel 28:12 however, we are introduced to someone who, according to the description, is a different person. He is called the king of Tyre.

The king of Tyre is the real power behind the prince of Tyre.

“Again the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “You had 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 ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were the anointed cherub who covers; and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you” (Ezekiel 28:11-15).

God truly mourned over this person; he is described as having the “seal of perfection” which in the original Hebrew means a pattern of perfection. He is even described as having been “Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” the most beautiful and wise of all God’s creation.

We will be able to understand how perfect is perfect (which is in no way a relative term when God is describing Lucifer) by some of the descriptions applied to him. He is called “the anointed cherub who covers.” A cherub is an angelic being of high rank, associated with God’s holy presence and His glory. Cherubs are celestial beings who proclaim the righteousness of God.

He is called “the anointed” one, which indicated supreme favour from God. “Anointed” is the same word that is used of the Messiah, God’s anointed king. This person was the ruler and leader of the angelic beings and apparently led them in their praise of God and shouts of joy.

The Hebrew word translated “who covers” in Ezekiel 28:14 and 16 literally means, “who leads.”

All the fabulous jewels were given to him, further indicating his exalted rank. He has been in “Eden, the garden of God” and “on the holy mountain of God.” He had walked “in the midst of the stones of fire,” which is a symbol often used of God’s holy presence. Such a description could not be applied to a mere human.

This passage is speaking of the greatest being God ever created, one who had unequalled strength, wisdom, beauty, privilege, and authority. This is the one who according to Isaiah was named “Lucifer” and “the Son of the Morning.” His name literally means “the shining one” and is a word for great beauty.

The crisis point of the universe is described in Ezekiel 28:15 where it says, “You were blameless (literally perfect) in your ways from the day you were created ……”

Could this have been an ordinary man? No! First of all, man is not created; (since Adam) he is born. Second, no man is born perfect. The blameless, perfect Lucifer was created without any form of evil, which is something which could not have applied to any man after Adam.

What happened to Lucifer?

THE BIG “UNTIL”

Lucifer was perfect in his ways until “unrighteousness was found in him.” This marked the fall of Lucifer and the birth of Satan. What this unrighteousness or evil was, is described more fully in Isaiah 14:12-14.

It is important to note that God addresses Satan through the person of the prince of Tyre. Satan is the unseen source of this prince’s arrogance and self-deification. There are other instances of God indirectly addressing Satan through a man or another creature: when God addressed the serpent in the garden in Genesis 3:14; when Jesus spoke to Satan through Peter in Matthew 16:23. The vision is not of Satan in his own person, but of Satan fulfilling himself in and through an earthly vessel, in this instance a King who arrogates to himself divine honours

FIVE “I WILLS”

In Ezekiel we have the key to the origin of evil. In Isaiah 14:12-14 there is a description of the same supernatural being who introduced all the suffering into the universe. When this passage was written in the original Hebrew, it was a song of sorrow. God was mourning over this creature whom He had created and loved.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will be like the Most High (Isaiah 14:12-14).

He was described first as Lucifer, the “shining one.” He was so beautiful he literally shone and he was no stranger to holiness because apparently he was created with the very glory of God. However, when the verse in Isaiah begins “For thou hast said in thine heart,” this is the real description of evil. This is where sin originates – in the heart.

Five times he said in his heart, “I will!”

Lucifer said, “I will ascend to heaven.” In other words, “Move over, God, I’m going to be in charge here.” He said, “I will make myself like the Most High.”

He wanted to be God!

GOD DOESN’T MANUFACTURE ROBOTS

When God created the angelic realm (and apparently Lucifer was the leader of all the angels), He took a calculated risk. He created Lucifer with the greatest intelligence of any created being, endowing him and the other angelic beings with self-determination. God did not want robots; He wanted creatures that could respond to His love and have spontaneous fellowship with Him.

God believed it was worth the risk to create these beings with the ability to act independently of His will and have the choice of rejecting or obeying Him. Lucifer, realising how beautiful he was, inflated with power and pride, rebelled against God. He broke his relationship with Him when he said, “I will be like the Most High.”

Apparently a great rebellion erupted throughout the universe at that time. Lucifer led a revolution among the angels. We are told in Revelation 12 that one third of the angelic realm followed Lucifer in this revolt. After Lucifer rebelled and became the first sinful creature, he lost none of his great intellect, beauty or power. He used this to entice many angels to join his ranks. However, he lost the one trait which would make him fully function, and that was a personal and intimate relationship with God.

When the perfect Lucifer, the one who had authority over all of God’s creation who walked in unity with God, became inflated with pride and fell from his high position, God’s perfect universe became impure. Pollution entered in such a rush that God brought the greatest polluter of all time to trial and pronounced judgement upon him and all those angels who had revolted and sided with him.

SATAN WAS BORN!

Evidently when God judged the crimes of Lucifer, He changed his name to Satan, the Devil, the Evil One. “Satan” means “the resister, accuser or adversary”; the name “Devil” means “the accuser and slanderer.”

Satan was sentenced to eternal banishment. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says that hell was created for the Devil and his angels.

After God pronounced Satan’s judgement, His first act was to clear off one of the planets of the universe, beautify it, and call it “earth.” This little planet was to become the arena of the mightiest contest of all time: a contest where the Son of the Most High Himself would be wounded in a life-and-death struggle with the powers of darkness. God had a plan, a method to resolve this pre-history rebellion led by Satan, which involved the creation of another creature with whom all of you are familiar; mankind.

We all know what happened in the fall. Genesis chapter 3 details the whole scenario very clearly. Rather than confronting Adam, Satan in the form of a serpent approached Eve. Not being the federal head of the race and having received the command of God only indirectly, she would be less likely to assume a sense of responsibility. Satan knew that God would hold Adam ultimately responsible for the transgression of Eve and He did.

The sin thus transmitted to the human race is called original sin. It is thus named because:

• It is derived from the original root of mankind
• It is present in each individual from the time of his birth.
• It is this inward root of all actual sins thus committed that defile the life of man.

As a result of this original sin, man is both a guilty and a polluted creature needing redemption.

Satan and his Demons

The Scripture clearly teaches that Satan was cast out, taking one third of the angelic realm with him. These beings volitionally aligned themselves with their master at the time of their rebellion and are subsequently referred to as demons or devils. Demons are unquestionably real beings capable of independent thought that have an intricate knowledge of God and also possess an uncanny understanding of the weaknesses of fallen man. Their present domain is in the spirit realm or supernatural sphere (Eph 6:12), but they desire to be embodied in living human or animal beings. Demons are able to invade or influence the minds of human teachers in order to suggest false doctrines (I Tim 4:1; I Jn 4 1-6; Jas 3:15). They actually commune with the souls of men in the case of mediums who yield to them.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:12)

In the OT, evil or lying spirits possessed a certain freedom of action to tempt and thus test men as in the case of Job. Yet they remained under God’s ultimate control that uses or permits their activity to punish people for their sins. (I Sam 16:14-16,23; 18:10; 19:9; I Kgs 22:21-23)

Demons were the reality behind Canaanite gods or idols which many Israelites were tempted to worship (Deut 32:17; Ps 106:37; cf I Cor 10:20,21; Rev 9:20). A specific form of such worship was the slaying of sacrifices for “devils” or goat idols (Lev17:7; II Chr 11:15).

In the NT demons are frequently said to take possession of men, where Christ cast them out (Mt 4:24; 8:16; 9:32; 15:22). At times more than one demon may possess one person, as in the case of the Gadarene demoniac (Mk 5:1-7; Lk 8:30-33,36) and of Mary Magdalene (Lk 8:2). All demons produce a measure of uncleanness, whether ritual, moral or spiritual (Lk 4:33-36; 6:18; 8:27-29; 9:42; 11:24-26).

The disciples were empowered and commissioned to heal all manner of diseases and cast out demons (Mt 10:8; Lk 9:1; 10:17-20). They had grave difficulty however with certain demons and were told by Christ that these would only come out through prayer and fasting (Mk 9:14-29). The Apostles effected deliverance for the victims of demonic oppression by the use of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts16:16-18; 19: 12-17).

Overseas missionaries especially testify to demon possession among many peoples of the world today, from primitive heathen tribes with animistic beliefs to highly educated New-agers amongst the principally white, So called Christian nations. In numerous cases to which I can personally testify, those who commit suicide, mass murder and other heinous crimes are in most cases compelled (something came over me ??) by evil spirits. It is urgent that Christian workers take seriously this doctrine and learn to exercise the authority given to us as believers to set free those who have been invaded by demons.

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”

(I Pet 5:8,9)

DEMON WORKS

The Scriptures are full of references to evil spirits (demons) that have particular purposes and are generally named for such. In each instance they tend to relate to particular works of the flesh. Every spirit is not to be believed and must be authenticated by being put to the test in accordance with I John 4:1-3.

Demon Names:

• Spirit of Jealousy (Nu 5:14,30)
• Spirit of Infirmity (Lk 13:11)
• Spirit of the Beast (Ecc 3:21)
• Spirit of the World (I Cor 2:12)
• Spirit of whoredoms (Hos 4:12)
• Spirit of an unclean devil (Lk 4:33)
• Spirit of Bondage (Rom 8:15)
• Spirit of Slumber (Stupor) (Rom 11:8)
• Spirit of Divination (Act 16:16)
• Spirit of Fear (II Tim 1:7)
• Spirit of Judgement & Burning (Isa 4:4)
• Sorrowful Spirit (I Sam 1:15)
• Lying Spirit (I Kin 22:22,23)
• Haughty Spirit (Pro 16:18)
• Deaf and Dumb Spirit (Mar 9:25)
• Familiar Spirit (I Sam 28:7)
• Unclean Spirit (Lk 8:29)
• Foul Spirit (Rev 18:2)

There are literally hundreds of references to “Spirit” in Strong’s concordance, the above which is but a representative sample. There are also many interesting examples where God Himself sent an evil spirit to accomplish His purposes (Jud 9:23; I Sam 16:14-23 to 19:9

Demon Afflictions:

• They can cause DUMBNESS (Mat 9:32-33)
• They can cause BLINDNESS (Mat 12:22)
• They can cause their host to commit SUICIDE (Mk (9:22)
• They can cause self inflicted INJURIES (Mk 5:5)
• They can cause DEFORMITIES (Lk 13:11-17)

Demons also have the ability to cure illnesses (usually created by them) to suit their own deceptive purposes. They are rife in the Charismatic/Pentecostal Churches.

Demon Abilities:

• They have a WILL (Mat 12:44)
• They have EMOTIONS (Jas 2:19)
• They have KNOWLEDGE (Mk 1:24)
• They have SELF-AWARENESS (Mk 5:7-12)
• They can SPEAK (Mk 1:24; 5:7-12)
• They ENTICE (Jas 1:14)
• They DECEIVE (I Tim 4:1-2)
• They ENSLAVE (Rom 8:15)
• They TORMENT (Mk 5:5)
• They DRIVE & COMPEL (Lk 8:29)
• They DEFILE (Tit 1:15)

Their great distinguishing trait is RESTLESSNESS. The exact opposite of the peace and rest offered by our Lord Jesus.

Can Christians be demonised?

Most churches avoid the subject of the possibility of the demonisation of believers like the plague, because of the highly controversial nature of the subject. Like “Tongues” and other controversial issues, it has been known to split fellowships and tear churches apart simply through fear, church politics and or denominational biases that are usually set in concrete.

Regarding this subject, I have witnessed good men of God choose the desire for the honour of man far sooner than that of God. As a result, the Church, the body of Christ as a whole, ends up the ultimate loser. In fact over many years of casual observation, the most vocal critics of this issue have been found to be the very ones in most need of help.

The dire need of the Evangelical church today, is to Scipturally recognise and appropriate our God given authority over the dominion of Satan’s realm and to that of setting the captives free and applying this initially to ourselves.

SUMMARY

That Satan is useful to God in the spiritual development of the Christian is quite clearly seen in the case of Job. Satan would bring testings against the child of God in order to cause him to fail. God, on the other hand allows such testings, not that the Christian might fail, but that he might grow stronger and more Christ-Like. Though Satan intends such testing for evil, God works them together for good. This can be clearly seen in Scripture when the Lord warned Peter that Satan had indeed desired to sift him like wheat. The Lord then went on to lovingly assure his disciple that He had prayed for him, and that when he had passed through his trials he would be of greater service than ever.

There is nothing in this universe, be it principalities or powers that are NOT subject to God. He is Sovereign in His own universe.

Though we may not be able to give a reason for everything in life that comes our way, we do know that just as this world and the entire universe were designed to fit in the plan of God, so are even the minutest details of our lives when we volitionally submit to God’s leadership.