DESTINY TRAINING LEVEL 1 MODULE 1 CLASS 05 SPIRITUAL WARFARE Biblical Reference: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. (Psalm 23:4a) I. A NOTE TO THE STUDENT The Bible shares with us that God likens Himself as our shepherd (Isaiah 40:11). It also expresses that God has the characteristics of a shepherd and that we are His sheep. Jesus gave a discourse on shepherds in John 10:1-18. We need to keep in mind that the sheep will follow the shepherd and place their trust in him. However, it s the responsibility of the shepherd to protect, go after, secure, heal and provide for his sheep (Ezekiel 34:11-16). In the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, God reveals Himself to be our Shepherd and we need to see ourselves as His sheep. God never asked His sheep to protect and provide for themselves but to place their trust in Him, and to trust Him at His word and to depend upon His finished work at the cross. All provision and protection has already been provided for His sheep. God initiated it, and as sheep, we are the recipients of His grace. All we need to do is to follow Him. II. CLASS OBJECTIVES 1. To identify who the enemy is in our lives and the importance of spiritual warfare. 2. To realize that Satan was defeated at the Cross. 3. To understand that we have authority over the enemy. III. INTRODUCTION A. True Security Comes From God 1. Most people are deeply concerned about their security and safety. True security doesn t come from political leaders, our military or a huge bank account. True security can only come from God. 2. Just as God protected the Israelites from death when they had placed the blood of a lamb on the doorpost and lintel, He will protect you by the blood of His Son. 1 John 3:8 (NKJV) For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
IV. LESSON: SPIRITUAL WARFARE A. Who Is Our Enemy? 1. He is a spiritual being created by God. He is the one who used to lead worship in the heavenly kingdom and was respected because of his authority and holy life. He was the first being to allow pride in his heart and who, in his arrogance, wanted to overthrow God so that he could savagely take control of all things. His greatest frustration was that he was unable to do this; instead he lost all of his privileges, was cast out of the Kingdom of God, and so became a hidden enemy of all of God s work. God describes when the rebellion started in the spiritual kingdom. It s found in the book of Ezekiel. The prophet makes reference to the king of Tyre to relate the details of the rebellion. Ezekiel 28:12-19 (NKJV) 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God: 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. 16 By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. 17 Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. 18 You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. 19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; You have become a horror, And shall be no more forever. B. How Does He Behave? Satan was the first to arrive in the Garden of Eden where, in the form of a snake, he managed to seduce the woman to disobey the Lord. Therefore, the Lord decreed permanent war between Satan and the woman s offspring, warning him that man would crush his head, and he would strike man s heel (Genesis 3:14-15). Satan s purpose is to remove God from man s heart and to block God from man s mind so that the message of salvation will not be preached nor accepted in the world. Page 2 of 5
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NKJV) 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. Satan imposes a rule of terror and has the organization of a military strategist. Under the authority are rulers, authorities, powers and darkness and spiritual force of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). Satan is known for being: C. His Fall Crafty (Genesis 3:1) A liar (Genesis 3:1-3) The avenger (Psalm 8:2) The destroyer (Isaiah 54:16) The tempter (Matthew 4:7) The accuser (Revelation 12:10) The prince of demons (Matthew 12:24) The murderer (John 8:44) The father of lies (John 8:44) The ruler of the kingdom of the air (Ephesians 2:2) The dragon (Revelations 12:7-9) A roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8) As an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) When the disciples returned with joy from sharing the gospel, they shard how the demons submitted to them in the Name of Jesus, and the Lord replied, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven (Luke 10:18). Before dying on the Cross of Calvary, Jesus saw the fall of the adversary. Jesus knew that His death and resurrection would be a well-aimed blow to the enemy s head. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself (John 12:31-32). Colossians 2:14-15 (NKJV) 4 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. John 10:10 (NKJV) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Page 3 of 5
Jesus life tormented the demons. Mark 1:24-25 (NKJV) 24 saying, Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are the Holy One of God! 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be quiet, and come out of him! Matthew 12:28 (NKJV) But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. In order for the Kingdom of God to be established in any city or nation, it is paramount that the Church rise up in authority against demons and casts them out through fervent and persistent prayer. D. Use Your Authority to Bind the Strong Man Luke 11:21-22 (NKJV) 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. We need to live a life of integrity Matthew 12:33 (NKJV) Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. This passage compares our life with a tree. If you are a tree of Christ which has His life, the fruit that you give should be the fruit of integrity, righteousness and truth. Your words determine your fruit Matthew 12:34b-35 (NKJV) For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. What is in your heart is expressed in your words. When a persons complains, grumbles, speaks negatives, doubts, questions everything, boast of himself, the fruit is bad. When a person is full of God, their words are always full of faith and hope, the speak words of optimism that always lead to success and bring encouragement to those who have fallen; their words are not influenced by the circumstances, and are always in accordance with the Word of God. Page 4 of 5
E. Steps Toward Living In Freedom 1. Having a genuine desire to live in freedom. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). 2. Identify the causes of being in bondage. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24). 3. Repent and confess the sins committed. Unless you repent you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:3b). 4. Have faith. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). 5. Get to know the truth. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:31-31, 36) 6. Pray and fast. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21). V. CONCLUSION Cancel every argument against your life; do not allow the enemy to use it to attack you. With a sincere prayer, say, Lord, set me free from all demonic bondage. Give me full authority to rebuke demons in the Name of Jesus. Page 5 of 5