By Pastor Michael Frisbee
This article is an adaptation of a sermon I did several months ago, and it was based on a sermon that Pastor Jerry Vines presented some 20 years ago, back when the leaders of our churches were occasionally still preaching about spiritual warfare. We need a restoration of this area of preaching and instruction from the pulpit.
Whether you know it or not, if you are a born again Christian, you are in a spiritual war. More than likely, you have been kept in the dark about this war, since many churches have fallen away from teaching and preaching this gospel truth. However, if you spend any time reading the New Testament, studying Christ’s teachings and ministry, as well as the teachings and ministry of the Apostle Paul, you can’t but help know and understand that the war is real.
The moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, give Him and the Holy Spirit the throne in our spirit and heart, we paint a target on our back that Satan and his demonic minions seek out, with possible fatal results. Such knowledge is scary, even horrifying is it not? Do not fear, do not fret, for there is an awesome Truth that goes with it, and that is when Christ died on that Cross to pay for our sins, He rose again three days later. When He did that, HE HAD THE ULTIMATE VICTORY OVER SATAN AND ALL WHO FOLLOW HIM!
Jesus Christ has the ULTIMATE authority over all things of Heaven and Earth – God, Our Heavenly Father, gave Him that authority. That includes Satan and His minions. He had that Authority before He went to the Cross, and was evident in the multitude of times He cast out the demonic from people. He even passed this authority to His disciples and apostles, and ultimately to us – the people that made that conscious choice to accept Him as the Son of God, believe He died for our sins, and accepted His gift of Salvation.
However, Christians are still struggling, facing demonic oppression, obsession, falling for their lies whispered in their ears, deceiving Christians through New Age and Occult doctrines. The Scriptures teach that the war has already been won. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ has already won the victory for us. We have to wrap our minds and faith around that and never let it be forgotten. The demonic will try to not take it away, but try to make us forget that fact.
Turn to Romans 8 and I want to read these verses to remind ourselves that the victory has already been won in Jesus Christ. This great concluding passage in Romans 8 and when you look at the 37th verse it says: "Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Him (Jesus) that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." We are more than conquerors. We are super conquerors through Him. That means we have the victory in Jesus Christ over the principalities and the powers. In your mind connect that with Ephesians 6 where it tells us very specifically that we are wrestling not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers.
Take a look at Revelation 12 and read another verse about this matter of the victory already being won and how we claim that victory in the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 10 and 11-"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ. For the accuser of our brethren (Satan) is cast down which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death."
Now look up Matthew 12 - they accuse Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons. Replying to the accusation that he was a demon possessed individual, Jesus responds in verse 24 and 25 - "every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation." Jesus is saying the accusation is illogical. "If satan casts out satan he is divided against himself. How then shall his kingdom stand?" Verse 29 - look at the little parable Jesus gives. "How can one enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods except he first bind the strong man and then he will spoil his house." If you will just connect this in your mind. The one entering into the house is Jesus.
The strong man's house is the Satan and his kingdom. So, Jesus is saying, “What I'm going to do is I am going to enter the strong man's house. I'm going to invade the kingdom of Satan. I'll bind the strong man, I'll spoil his house.” When did Jesus invade Satan on his own turf and get the victory? Colossians 2:15 - "And having spoiled principalities and powers he made a show of those principalities and powers openly triumphing over them in it." (referring to the cross). When Jesus died on the cross, Jesus Christ entered the strong man's house. Before Jesus went to the cross, Jesus said this is your hour and the power of darkness. The Satan thought he had Jesus. So, when Jesus died on that cross and shed His precious blood, not only did Jesus pay for our sins, but the Bible also says He won the victory over the powers of evil. The victory has already been won. The invasion has already taken place. We are just involved in a few skirmishes along the way now and it won't be long until we will have V Day and the victory will be totally realized. "They overcame him by the blood of the lamb."
So, when we come to Ephesians 6 -- this passage on spiritual warfare, there are 3 pieces in the puzzle that show us how to win the war. First of all you have to analyze the enemy. We've done that in Ephesians 6:10, 11, and 12. Then you have to utilize the weapon. Vs 13, 14 through 17. Analyze your enemy. Learn everything you can about how Satan operates. Daily utilize that army weaponry.
Every day of our life we ought to by faith put on the whole armor of God. Every day we ought to equip ourselves with everything God has provided for us spiritually to do war with the forces of Satan. We analyze our enemy. We utilize our weaponry, we realize our victory. I think the key is in verse 18 - "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit." You know how we get the victory against the spiritual forces that come up against us day by day. The victory is won in prayer. That's where you get the victory.
Prayer is communication. You can't win a battle without communication. Communication is vital to victory, to success. Same thing is true in war. If you can cut off an army's communication system you will cripple that army. The same thing is true in the realm of the Spirit. If Satan can keep us from praying he'll always get the victory. If Satan can get us involved in a lot of other things and get us to neglect prayer then Satan is going to win. Rev Mark and I are involved in a ministry called Spiritual Warriors Network. Within it is our team of prayer warriors. Some of you have committed yourself to be a prayer warrior. The selection of that particular name for the ministry was not accidental. Understand that prayer is the weapon of victory that enables us to win over the principalities and the powers. I think this is why, having gone through all of those pieces of armor, Paul now comes to the climax of the whole matter and shows us that we realize victory over Satan by the ministry of prayer.
The above is just the beginning of the sermon – the rest of it covers the many applications and such of prayer and the four “alls” that Paul writes of. If you are interested – you can read the rest at: http://paranormalchristian.blogspot.com/2012/04/winning-invisible-war-ephesians-610-24.html
This will be my final article here at Eye on the Paranormal. My leaving does not involve any issues between Kirby and I. I support Kirby and his work, wish him every possible success in all his endeavors. My leaving has to do with my faith, and that I feel the message I need to present is watered down when included among the articles presented by non Christians. I launched a blog to parallel my show, The Paranormal Christian. It will have my articles, as well as articles from my co-host, Reverend Mark Hunnemann, and occasional contributions by fellow Christian guest contributors.
God bless each and every one of you.
