How to be Victorious in Spiritual Warfare

Verse of the Day 

How to be Victorious in Spiritual Warfare

by Charles G. Moore

Ephesians 6:12 is a Bible verse from the New Testament where Paul is teaching us who our real enemy is, and that is Satan. 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.

Satan has two jobs:

1. To keep you lost if you’re not saved.
2. Make your life a living hell if you are.

1 Timothy 4:1 says, “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…”

I believe a saved person cannot be demon possessed.

Colossians 1:13-14 says, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

I do believe the saved can be demon oppressed. The definition of “oppressed” is: to burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints; to lie heavily upon (the mind, a person, etc.): to put down; subdue or suppress; to press upon or against; crush). The devil is a master at this.

How can a Christian become demon oppressed?

The Flesh

We give in to the weakness of our flesh. The devil knows our weakness better than we do, and that’s where he hits us.

Genesis 3: 1-5

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

The lie sounded so appealing to Eve, she wanted to believe it, so she disobeyed God. Adam, who was with her, did not stop her.

God says to Satan in Ezekiel 28:13, “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 (timbrels) and sockets (flutes), On the day that you were created They were prepared. 14 “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.

God had given Lucifer a mighty job–the worship minister of heaven. But instead of being grateful, it wasn’t enough. He wanted more.

Isaiah 14:12-14 says, “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! ¹³ “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. ¹⁴ ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

It’s interesting that Satan tempted Eve with exactly what caused his own downfall…to be like God or make himself like the Most High.

Breaking Free from the Lies

In John 8:44 Jesus is speaking to men when He says, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

We are susceptible to his deception, and we fall into incorrect thinking as a result of believing them.

Strongholds – incorrect thinking pattern based on LIES that a person has received as truth.

This results in feelings of guilt, unworthiness and feeling condemned or ashamed. Satan continually brings up our past and establishes a stronghold by constantly reminding us how badly we have messed up.

False Teachings – 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 says, For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

The only way to discern the truth from a lie…   Click to continue