Ultimate Fighting Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might – Ephesians 6:10

The Reality of Spiritual Warfare

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare "Look upon my enemies, for they are many, And they hate me with violent (cruel) hatred." Psalm 25:19 For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal - A Mighty Fortress is our God Martin Luther

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses." (2 Corinthians 10:3-4)

Father SonSpirit Is not God Devil FleshWorld Is not Enemy Is not Body Soul Spirit Is not Man

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare Flesh Body World Soul Devil Spirit

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare BibleChurch Marriage/FamilyTruth Christ Israel You…Revival God Life Rebellious Mankind / Devil & Demons

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare Strategy: Eradicate or twist the existence of God so that man becomes the measure of all things. Man becomes God, the body becomes the soul, and time becomes eternity. “Humans have always wondered about the meaning of life...life has no higher purpose than to perpetuate the survival of DNA...life has no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference.” - Richard Dawkins

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare Strategy: Discredit God’s Word, elevate man’s philosophy, and leave no ultimate source of moral or salvivic authority that anyone can turn to. “What do I care what some Bronze Age text says about homosexuality?” - Christopher Hitchens

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare Strategy: Infiltrate the Church with heresy, pollute the gospel, undermine truth and doctrine, and create intellectually flabby and self-centered adherents “The Bible is still in the center for us”, Rob says, “but it’s a different kind of center. We want to embrace mystery, rather than conquer it.” “I grew up thinking that we’ve figured out the Bible,” Kristen says, “that we knew what it means. Now I have no idea what most of it means. And yet, I feel like life is big again – like life used to be black and white, and now it’s in color.”

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare Strategy: Convince the enemy that truth is relative, individualistic, and that absolute truth only exists in the realm of science and not religion or morals. “We believe that each man must find the truth that is right for him. Reality will adapt accordingly. The universe will readjust. History will alter. We believe that there is no absolute truth excepting the truth that there is no absolute truth.” - Steve Turner

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare Strategy: Twist the concept of marriage and the family as created by God to be something contrary to His nature and defined by society instead. "Sometimes what you hope and pray for actually happens, which is kind of overwhelming," Michael Thorne, 55, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, said after telling his 6-year-old son his parents could soon get married. Thorne and his partner of 25 years, James Theberge, have an Aug. 18 wedding planned in Provincetown, although the repeal will not take effect until 90 days after Patrick's signature. - Mass. House Votes to Let Gays ‘Marry’

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare Strategy: Persecute God’s chosen people through political strategies, intimidation, confiscation of their land, leading to - ultimately - physical extermination. “Those who think they can revive the stinking corpse of the usurping and fake Israeli regime by throwing a birthday party are seriously mistaken … Today, the reason for the Zionist regime’s existence is questioned, and this regime is on its way to annihilation.” - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare Strategy: Attack and destroy innocent human life with lies, red herrings, and other meaningless arguments, and assert that human life is no different than non-human life. “To keep you is no benefit. To destroy you is no loss.” - Khemer Rouge Cambodian Communist Party 1975

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare Strategy: Question the historicity and truth of Christ’s actual personhood so that He is either relegated to being just another ‘great teacher’ or, at worst, a mere myth. “The reality is, Jesus was the Solar Deity of the Gnostic Christian sect and like all other Pagan gods, he was a mythical figure. It was the political establishment that sought to historize the Jesus figure for social control. By 325 a.d. in Rome, emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicea. It was during this meeting that the politically motivated Christian Doctrines were established and thus began a long history of Christian bloodshed and spiritual fraud. “ - Zeitgeist Transcript

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare

Strategy: Squash any attempts at true revival with counterfeit events and/or heresy that end up showcasing false signs and end up being discredited. “Todd Bentley has also taken the decision to step down from the leadership of his organization, Fresh Fire Ministries, which stated on its website that the evangelist had “entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff.“… Critics have also questioned his claims of miraculous healing and raising people from the dead… "What is plain is that he is teaching false doctrine “ - Christian post, Aug 20, 2008

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare Strategy: Keep you as far away from Christ and God’s Word as possible; have you feed and act in the flesh; keep your soul from being saved or remove the joy of salvation. "“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart." (Matthew 13:19) "Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul." (1 Peter 2:11) "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You." (Psalm 51:12-13)

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare "Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." (2 Kings 6:15-17)

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare "Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.“ … “But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come." (Daniel 10:12- 13, 20)

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare "And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss. Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission. And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned." (Luke 8:30-33)

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare "It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment." (Acts 16:16-18)

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare "And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”) And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon." (Revelation 16:13- 16)

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare "so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes." (2 Corinthians 2:11) Study the Scriptures – the ultimate source of truth. Educate yourself on the core doctrines of the Christian faith. “How can you live out your faith if you don’t understand it?” – John Hannah Read the great Christian thinkers and those who understand spiritual warfare Become a student of other faiths so that you can understand where they are coming from and how/where Satan has taken them captive Become a student of philosophy to understand the influence Godly and ungodly minds have had on society and unbelievers

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare "But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." (Hebrews 5:14) Discipline yourself to be in constant study with God’s Word. " In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following." (1 Timothy 4:6) Discipline yourself to stay clear of sin and not give the enemy a place in your life. "and do not give the devil an opportunity." (Ephesians 4:27)

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." (Ephesians 6:10) "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:11-13) “The devil fears a soul united to God as he does God himself “ – John of the Cross

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel and excessive and unhealthy interest in them.“ - C. S. Lewis “The scriptural way to see things is to set the Lord always before us, put Christ in the center of our vision, and if Satan is lurking around he will appear on the margin only and be seen as but a shadow on the edge of the brightness. It is always wrong to reverse this – to set Satan in the focus of our vision and push God out to the margin. Nothing but tragedy can come of such inversion … The best way to keep the enemy out is to keep Christ in … It is not the praying sheep Satan fears, but the presence of the shepherd” – A. W. Tozer

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare “I don’t fear you – I fear the one inside you.“ – Demon to exorcist, during exorcism "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints," (Ephesians 6:18) "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16) "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit," (Ephesians 5:18)

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare Gospel “Good news of victory on the battlefield”

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare And though this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us The prince of darkness grim - – We tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, For lo! His doom is sure, One little word shall fell him - A Mighty Fortress is our God Martin Luther

- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare For Further Reading: Gabriele Amorth, An Exorcist tells his Story Donald Barnhouse, The Invisible War Mark Bubeck, The Adversary Mark Bubeck, Overcoming the Adversary Chip Ingram, The Invisible War Jesse Penn-Lewis, War on the Saints John MacArthur, Facing the Enemy Chuck Swindoll, Demonism Merril Unger, Demons in the World Today Merril Unger, What Demons can do to Saints

Ultimate Fighting Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might – Ephesians 6:10