What About Spiritual Warfare?

What about Spiritual Warfare

When a person’s eyes are opened to the impact that spiritual powers have had on their quality of life, it is not uncommon to want to explore other avenues of spiritual breakthrough. This may introduce the curious believer to another practice commonly known as “Spiritual Warfare”.

Where deliverance ministry focuses on helping the individual with their personal needs; warfare seeks to stand in the gap for others who have succumbed to the effects of territorial spirits; known to rule over people, groups, towns, states countries etc.

You may ask, “Can we ever move these powers off of their perspective perch or depose them from their territorial position?” The answer requires a little more explanation.

We know that the Devil and his minions have been released on the earth for a period of time before they are finally sent to their place of judgment. Yahweh God could have moved all these powers out of the way right from the start, yet He didn’t. Why? I believe the reason is tied to man’s own authority and search for a substitute savior. Because Adam initially encouraged a spiritual interaction with the Devil, the door remains open and even today mankind’s choices keep him in bondage.

Now personally, I retain authority in Christ to rid my body, soul and spirit of territorial influences I can even expect them to leave my house when I declare the Name of Jesus (Yeshua). However as we move out into society we can see that the freewill of mankind is still serving worldly interests. He is not thinking about separating from these spiritual influences, but rather he makes room for them in his daily activities. A visual example may help here.

If a large boulder falls upon a well traveled path, few would give thought to moving it out of the way. Rather than getting together and moving the stone they will expend more energy walking around it time after time, day after day.

The spiritual realm is much like the boulder. It has been set in the path of men and they simply make room for it in their day to day travels. So in retrospect the world doesn’t think to be free of spiritual intrusion, even though God moved the stone out of the way two thousand years ago.

In light of society’s choice to be subject to spiritual influences, a Christian’s assignment will more than likely be to restrain or limit a spiritual power (binding and losing) rather than trying to move that power out of town.

Binding and Loosing

Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Binding and loosing rests on the authority each believer has in Jesus. In its simplest form it is a choice to move towards God and His ability to save or it can be a choice to trust in our fallen nature. The first is an easy yoke and a light burden. However the second is bondage and subjection to a dark world.

Now my perception is that the simplest way to live is to trust Jesus with the journey, but the average Christian is often motivated to add complexity to his steps. For example; if a man believes he must stand on his head to facilitate effective prayer, then heaven will honor this man’s choice. But if a man wants to return to a simple way in faith then heaven will also honor his request.

This basic understanding of binding and losing can also be used in association with spiritual issues. Instead of trying to send a territorial power away we have the authority to interrupt a spirits work wherever it hinders the lives of God’s people.

Now our hope is to provide a simple understanding for anyone seeking to stand in the gap for others. In light of this goal it may be easier to just list some healthy alternatives to what is commonly perceived as spiritual warfare.

Please consider the following;

• Spiritual victory is based not on what we do, but who we know. If authority comes from God then we must first base all our endeavors upon a relationship with Jesus (Yeshua). In this way when we declare the Name of Jesus (Yeshua) we are declaring that we are a part of His household and carry His authority to overcome spiritual foes.

• Every engagement in spiritual warfare should be based on an assignment from God. This is where the grace of God invites us to participate in His master plan, rather than seeking to promote our own.

• Though there are exceptions to the rule, it is to our advantage to personally be free of a spiritual matter before we venture out and attempt to intercede on behalf of others. Proper Spiritual warfare encourages us to give up our own bad contracts with the world, religion and the Devil before we intercede.

• Spiritual warfare is a battle that has already been won. What Jesus (Yeshua) did on the Cross two thousand years ago brought victory over every demon power that we might confront today. We are not intending to help God along in cleaning up the world, instead we are merely agreeing with how His Kingdom has been established and how it has already gained the victory for ourselves and for others.

• Spiritual victory is only available based on our verbal agreement with God. We are agreeing that He has freed the oppressed and it is now the authority of Jesus (Yeshua) which separates all of us from spiritual defeat and obligation.

• The Christian never has an assignment based on natural or religious authority. Assignment is realized by our association with the Son and the Name which is above every name. The use of such authority is orchestrated by the direction of the Holy Spirit and not by men.

• Other people’s assignment in spiritual warfare is not our assignment. Each individual must go to God to find their own place in the will of God. In this way God is able to move each individual into effective service.

• Spiritual warfare is never based on an attempt to pick a fight. We should approach spiritual warfare separate from having a forceful or violent posture. This is not about our aggression or making it our mission to pull down spiritual powers; instead it is about receiving an assignment that comes from the throne of God. If it comes from God you could whisper and still be effective.

• Spiritual warfare is only for those that have died; without a clear understanding of our death with Christ, we run the risk of entering a physical tug-of-war with a spirit and that is the equivalent of throwing pebbles at leviathan and possibly becoming the next casualty.

• Spiritual warfare is not about entertaining ourselves or seeking to gain a spiritual experience; instead we glory greatly and marvel in the victory that Christ provides. To expect anything more or less is a self inflicted stronghold and not true ministry.

• We should never leave the kingdom of God (His will, His victory and His assignment) to conduct ourselves in spiritual warfare.

• Spiritual warfare is not about talking to demons (though there are some exceptions). It’s about talking to God and proclaiming the victory of how He has set us free.

• Spiritual warfare is not a fleshly battle EVER. Every assignment should be free of the anticipation that our flesh (body, soul, and spirit) will accomplish something of importance for God. This means we should come to the conclusion that standing on a mountain top to defeat a territorial power offers no greater advantage then if we remain at home in our prayer closet. We must always simply stand in Christ’s Spirit which knows no earthly bounds or natural limitations.

This last point is something we have seen in conjunction with an Old Testament religious mindset.

Old Testament Style Spiritual Warfare

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Our fascination with Israel’s history includes issues of warfare. Where the Old Testament taught mankind to war against the flesh and with fleshly weapons, the New Covenant is teaching us that Christ’s Spiritual victory is complete. However If the believer tries to adopt an Old Testament model then they will be prone to adding complexity in their steps. To add to this madness they will want to go up against spiritual forces while wielding physical props. This is where we see a proliferation of superstitious ministry trying to save the day. Walking the land for God, circling a building, blowing the Shofar, anointing a house or entering into worship with a sword or flag in hand are just a few examples.

The New Covenant is clear that the ministry of Jesus (Yeshua) at the Cross broke every binding contract with the Devil; unless of course we seek to reinstate such ownership. However when we pour ourselves into symbolic and fleshly acts in order to move a spiritual realm, we are setting aside that complete work to claim spiritual victory for ourselves. This also requires maintaining an aggress stance. Many of these added concepts support an underlying belief that the kingdom of God still advances through violent means. Naturally those that still believe in taking up the battle in fleshly ways believe that their natural strength, dominance and bellowing will somehow continue to win against the enemy. Yet, if we believe such actions somehow have won the battle then we must continually be on guard in order to remain free. Basically if we own the ministry then we have to take care of it by the sweat of our brow. Yes we still have the authority of the Name of Jesus (Yeshua) at our disposal, yet we wrongly have put ourselves in the position of deliverer. Subsequently the day we take a break from holding up our defenses, is the day we are once again thrown back into the battle. That doesn’t sound like the peace and rest of God to me. This type of warfare activity requires a certain amount of aggression or paranoia, which is often mistaken as “zeal” for God.

Subsequently;

Those that are zealous for action will often get more action than their zeal can defend.

The believer can inappropriately spend more of their time in a defensive posture than resting in God’s arms.

Crazy for God

When our thinking becomes religious our imaginations also run rampant in how we choose our spiritual battles. I’m humored by one such concept that has come out of the Charismatic Renewal Movement and is currently making the rounds.

This concept requires the believer to assemble a tactical kit containing a stick and a Bible verse. These two objects are intended to defend a property line from demonic intrusion. It is believed that if one affixes a Bible verse to the stake and then drives this stake into the ground, then their property is safe from spiritual trouble. This defensive tool is supposed to be placed on all four sides of the property; but wait there’s more! There is also the added bonus of a generous portion of anointing oil which is to be liberally applied to the general area.

When people attempt to save themselves from demons in this manner, there arises a few problems that have yet to be worked out;

• Does the stake need to be sticking out of the ground and visible for the demon to see it?

• What if the demon doesn’t see the stake and accidentally trips over it?

• What if the demon can’t read?

• What if the demon decides to walk around the stick?

• What if you affix the wrong Bible verse to the stick?

• Which way does the Bible verse face; inside or out?

• What if the verse washes off or fades?

• What if once the stakes are in place, the demons are trapped on the inside of the property line?!!!

I know, I’m poking fun at something men take very seriously, but it helps to put things in perspective. There has got to be a simpler solution. My own experience has been that the grace of God will seek to work with us despite our superstitious antics, but then again some of our ideas are just so far out there! This usually manifests when we think that the Kingdom of God needs our help, rather than our agreement.

Now I admit that I too have been crazy at times and have needed to leave behind many of the superstitious methods that were once taught to me; so let me tell on myself here. Paul’s dissertation on the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-12 goes like this;

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Paul’s words are nothing more than an analogy that seeks to show the believer how they have already been given all that they need for success in Christ. (He is the Salvation, Righteousness, Truth, Peace, Author of Faith and the Living Word). Yet I can say to my own impairment, I was at one time taught to imagine myself putting on this armor as a means of protection. I was encouraged to add an imaginary Belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, my feet shod with the gospel of peace, a shield of faith, a helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. I acted this out faithfully every morning imagining myself protected by this invisible set of armor. However such imaginations got my spiritual butt kicked!

So what constitutes a healthy assignment from God?

If we are called by God to affect the spiritual landscape it’s through assignment. Now not every assignment is ours and not every point of confrontation includes our agreement. In its simplest form our assignment is to wait upon God and agree with Jesus’ victory over a matter, when He says agree. This means we don’t have to stray far from a simple trust in Jesus being the power and authority that puts evil in its place.

So who determines the scope or reach of our assignment? More then anyone its God alone. Now I can try and save the world but I would do well to let God save and let Him insert me within His plans. Only then do I remain safe from the ravages of a spiritual torrent and the most effective at setting at bay any stronghold. To put it simply because of the limitations of my flesh, I would do better to let God to be the one that reaches far and wide in effecting spiritual worlds.

Just as an example; Paul the Apostle’s assignment from God was to write numerous letters which brought instruction and inspiration to the early Church, however to this day he is still being quoted and producing disciples for Christ. This could have only been accomplished through Jesus (Yeshua) who works all things according to the counsel of His will.

When we set spiritual results in God’s hands, Jesus (Yeshua) can extend our effectiveness in ways that we have never fathomed.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

This changes the rules about how we advance in ministry, prayer and especially spiritual warfare. So as I ask for God to personally apply His salvation to any matter pertaining to my own release, I can also expect that Yahweh God will hear my request and minister the same on behalf of others. That same personal breakthrough may be used to minister to one person or to million. It may also be a prayer that travels around the world a thousand times over or even minister to a generation that has yet to be born. We just don’t want to put limits on God’s reach.

So if you feel compelled to jump into a spiritual warfare assignment let Jesus be the one that wins the battle.

Gordon Brownlee is the founder of Shadow free Ministries which teaches the importance of the Cross in our daily lives, as well as our way to freedom from spiritual error. His latest book; “The Shadow of the Spiritual” teaches how to understand spiritual worlds and the Bibles marvelous way of escape. It’s available on Kindle, Nook or paper back from amazon.com. It is also free for the asking in PDF form.

Come visit us at shadow-free.com