Week #4

Week #4
Well we had a small mix up in scheduling and instead of The Love of The Father we are having Dean Sherman via Dvd talking on Spiritual warfare. Dean started with the statement that everyone is involved in spiritual warfare. Thee main reference is Eph 6: starting at verse 10. He gave 2 prerequisites for meeting the first part of verse 10. 1. Knowing who you are in Christ. 2 Knowing your responsibility and living responsibly.
Deans second statement was that spiritual warfare is a battle. It is not a natural battle with guns etc it is a supernatural battle fought in the spiritual realm.
We as humans tend to fight each other rather than fight against Satan.
2 quotes I liked very much "God built humans to need to see justice done and good triumph over evil" because of this "I am a fighter by nature and if I don't fight the devil I will end up fighting people" also Fighting people has a negative effect on the spiritual world"
Deans 3rd statement is The devil has strategies. Spiritual warfare involves learning to recognize the devils strategies,refusing to co-operate with him, and aggressively cutting off the strategy.
Every strategy of the enemy leads to deception and bondage and ultimately to destruction.
There are a number of qustions to ask and ways to determine the strategies of the devil.
1. Aks what would I do to me if I was the devil.
2. Learn about the nature of the devil. He comes to kill, steal and destroy.
3. Determine the statistics and conditions of the situation.
4. Ask the Lord. Probably should be first thing. Prayer...

We are ready to battle in the spiritual realm. We have weapons and armor.
Dean made a point of saying that Ephesians was written partly because of so much Occultism. Paul wrote ephesians to let them know thwt now since they were Christians they were covered with armor.
1tim:2 Faith and a clean conscious will cause you fight a good fight.
We have armor but we must also put armor on. Putting on of armor equals the following.
1. Acknowledging all the good things that are within us.
2. Checking the guages. Just like when we start a car we notice the temp and oil pressure etc.

An important element of spiritual warfare is being in the "Spirit" not that we have to speak in tongues but we should invite the spirit to participte at every level and to speak boldly by the spirit and keep being filled by the spirit. We should also employ any spiritual gifts we have been given. Following ar e4 ways we accomplish this.
1. Remove any hinderences. Confess repent.
2. Yeild to the Holy Spirit. Give in to, allow,open up to.
3. Be led by the Holy Spirit.
4. Allow the Holy Spirit to energize or empower you.

This is all for this post> I will continue with this next post.
God bless all
Bob