Following are notes from a lesson taught by Pastor Jones on Spiritual Warfare.
We are in an invisible war.
Ephesians 6:10-12
We are to prepare ourselves for battle.
Ephesians 6:13-15
When we resist the enemy, he will flee from us.
Ephesians 6:16-17
Intercessory prayer is pivotal and essential for corporate and individual deliverance.
Ephesians 6:18-20
Summary of Ephesians 6:18-20
The means by which believers are to withstand and overcome the attacks of the enemy in spiritual warfare is by consistent, intense, strategic prayer for one another in conjunction with the personal application of the armor of God.
- I. Intercessory Prayer is Our Most Powerful and Strategic Corporate Weapon in Spiritual Warfare.
- Prayer has a direct impact on spiritual warfare. Mark 9:29
- Prayer provides / assists in the deliverance of others who are undergoing
- spiritual attack. Luke 22:31-32
- Power falls where prayer prevails. Acts 1:14, 2:42, 3:1, 4:24-35, 6:4-8, 8:14-16, 9:40-42, 10:1-4, Church history is replete with examples
- What Kind of Prayer Brings God’s Deliverance and Power in the Midst of Spiritual Attack?
- Consistent Prayer – v. 18a
- “with all prayer and petition” = all kinds of prayer
- “pray at all times” = prayer on all occasions
- “pray in the spirit” = in communion with and directed by the agency and power of the Holy Spirit Romans 8:26-27 and 1 Corinthians 14:15
- Intense Prayer – v. 18b
- “be on the alert” = literally without sleep, vigilant
- “with all perseverance” = enduring, not giving up
- Strategic Prayer – v. 18c – 20
- “for all the saints” = that God’s messengers will be bold
- “utterance may be given” = God’s message will be clear and have opportunity
Summary
The Missing Ingredient in most Christian’s lives and in most churches is the commitment and regular practice of intercessory prayer. Scripture indicates that (individual and corporate) consistent, intense, and strategic intercessory prayer will in fact “deliver us from the evil one.”
The great people of the earth today are the people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor yet those who can explain about prayer; but I mean those people who take time and pray. They have not time. It must be taken from something else. This something else is important. Very important, and pressing, but still less important and less pressing than prayer.
S. D. Gordon - Consistent Prayer – v. 18a
- The Ministry of Deliverance
- Its Validity
- Jesus regularly exercised this ministry. Mark 1:27, 39
- The apostles regularly exercised this ministry. Luke 10
- The early church regularly exercised this ministry. Acts 16
- The New Testament writers provide clear direction concerning this ministry. James 4:1-10
- Its Problems
- Extremism and fanaticism tend to negatively color this ministry.
- Confusion concerning demon possession versus oppression of believers cloud this ministry’s validity among Christians.
- Fear and ignorance have caused many to simply ignore this ministry.
- Those who engage in this ministry are often tempted by pride or become so singularly focused they fall into theological error.
- Assigning blame of all one’s problems to demonic influence versus assuming personal responsibility and using Biblical common sense call this ministry into question.
- The Cause(s) of Demonic Influence
- Yielding to sin – John 8:34
- Spiritual rebellion – 1 Samuel 15:23
- Participating in the occult – Deuteronomy 18:10-11
- Attempting to contact the dead – Deuteronomy 18:11
- Unresolved anger and bitterness – Ephesians 4:26-27
- Association with those involved in Satanic activity – 2 Corinthians 6:14-16
- New Testament Evidences of Demonic Influence
- Severe sickness – Matthew 12:22
- Divination (telling the future) – Acts 16:16
- Unusual physical strength – Mark 5:3
- Fits of rage – Mark 5:4
- Split personality – Mark 5:6-7
- Resistance to spiritual help – Mark 5:7
- Other voices from within – Mark 5:9
- Occult powers – Deuteronomy 18:10-11
- The Cure for Demonic Influence
- Allow Christ to be the Lord of your life – John 1:12
- Confess sins – 1 John 1:9
- Renounce works of the devil – 2 Corinthians 4:2
- Destroy occult objects – Acts 19:17-20 (see also 2 Chronicles 14:2, 23:17)
- Break friendship with occultists – 2 Corinthians 6:14-16
- Rest in Christ’s deliverance – Colossians 1:13
- Resist the devil – James 4:7
- Meditate on and apply the Word of God – Ephesians 6:17, Matthew 4:4, 7, 10
- Engage in corporate prayer – Ephesians 6:18, Matthew 18:19
- If necessary, have spirit cast out in the name of Jesus Christ by a spirit filled believer – Mark 16:17, Acts 16:16-18
- Its Validity