Poll: Spiritual Warfare

SheEagle--this is your cousin, Blackbird!

The poll counter(as of this post) calculated no one participating in the poll---which to my amazement--has miscalculated---but you know where your distant relative stands--

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers and principlalities and rulers of the darkness---"---so we must not take armour off, should we!!

I'm in the foxhole(spiritually) next to yours!! Waiting on the command of the Captain of God's Hosts to charge!!

Your Southern Baptist preachin' buddy,
Blackbird

 

I with you guys! Putting on the whole armour and learning more and more scripture (sword of the Spirit).

Diane

 

Do you believe there is such a thing as Real "Spiritual Warfare?"

Yes, most definitely.

Spiritual Warfare is fought over the Eternal Destiny of my Family & Friends.

Yes, most definitely.

Spiritual Warfare is being fought in our Government & Court System.

Yes, most definitely.

Spiritual Warfare is being fought in our Churches & Seminaries.

Yes, most definitely. Too many churches and individuals are being turned away from a living faith in Christ to empty rationalistic theological constructs. The fundamental/conservative churches are just as bad as classically liberal churches in this regard.

Spiritual Warfare is being fought in our Educational System.

Yes, most definitely. That's why we need to uphold the biblical ideal of religious liberty and the Baptist heritage and doctrine of separation of church and state. Otherwise we have no credibility.

Spiritual Warfare is being fought for Control of Nations.

Yes, most definitely.

Spiritual Warfare is being fought for Control of Entire Populations of People.

Yes, most definitely.

Spiritual Warfare has increased in the past 25 years.

Probably not. The battle has always been intense.

How is Spiritual Warfare best fought?

Unfortunately, the only choices given were:

"Prayer, Fasting, Reading Bible." -- Certainly important, but not enough. We must confront evil spiritually and we must confront evil personally.

“Attending church.” – can be helpful if you are a member of a healthy church. Unfortunately, most American churches are not healthy. (That definitely includes most fundamental and “conservative” churches.)

“Trying to live a good life.” – Nothing wrong with a good life, but if that’s your goal you’ve failed. Instead of trying to be “good” you should try to live by faith.

“Through the Military.” – The military is useless in spiritual warfare.

“Political Demonstrations & Rallies.” – Certainly Christians should be concerned about truth and fairness for all, but politics and laws will not change the human heart nor win the battle.

I believe we are in the End Times & must Stand True to God's Infallible Word.

We have been in the "End Times" since the ascension of Jesus. We must be true to God's written word, but we must also be true to our calling from Jesus and model truth and the power of God in our lives. We cannot tolerate lies, corruption and dishonesty in the church.

 

Sharpening the Sword, and standing with my Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

Yes to all and an Amen to the poll.


A servant of Christ,
Drew

 

Yes, spiritual warefare exists, but the real question is to what extent? Some people see a demon hiding behind every tree and rock, and want to perform an exorcism on you just because you have the sniffles.

 

BrianT said:

I once knew a young Christian woman who had a severe ear infection and she was determined it was a demon in her ear. She ended up really sick with a middle ear infection before she'd agree to see a doctor.

Diane

 

Hello,
Many people don't know the truth about Satan's defeat. In fact, many Christians are the very instrument the devil is using to foster the deception that he is still a powerful foe. "Spiritual warfare" is one of the hottest topics in the church today. People are expending great amounts of energy battling the devil constantly in ways contrary to Scripture, but in reality, Satan has already been defeated. We don't need to defeat him again.

We need to believe that Satan has already been completely destroyed (Heb. 2:14) and simply enforce his defeat. The only power he has is the power to deceive. Our battle should be against the wiles (trickery) of the devil (Eph. 6:11), not the devil himself. Any other approach is actually giving the devil authority and power which he doesn't have, and he uses that to intimidate us. The only weapon Satan has is the power we give him when we believe his lies.

Warfare only takes place between two undefeated foes. Once an enemy has been conquered, the war is over. Satan is a defeated foe.

Colossians 2:15 says, "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." The archaic meaning of the word "spoiled" here is "to plunder; despoil" (American Heritage Dictionary). This means that after Jesus defeated Satan, He stripped him of everything he had, specifically the keys of death and hell (Rev. 1:18). Satan has no power to imprison anyone.

The Greek word that was translated "shew" in this verse is "DEIGMATIZO" which means "to exhibit" (Strong). This comes from the root word "DEIGMA" which means "a specimen (as shown)" (ibid.). Satan is like one of those bugs we had to capture for biology class. You caught it and then impaled it on a board with a little pin to exhibit it. You need to picture the devil nailed to the cross of Jesus like a bug on display. Hallelujah! Take that, Mr. Devil!

The Greek word that was translated "triumphing over" in Colossians 2:15 is especially significant. It means "to make an acclamatory procession" (ibid.). This is specifically referring to the way the Romans had a "triumphant procession" after they had defeated their enemies.

Upon conquering an enemy, the Romans would hold a parade. They would take the conquered king, strip him naked, and drag him through the crowd behind the conquering king or commander for all their subjects to see. He would be humiliated and insulted, but that's not all. They would also cut off the thumbs of his hands and the big toes of both feet. This was to assure the subjects this enemy would never be a threat to any of them again. He could not hold a sword and he would never be able to run again. There was no need to fear him any more. Any rumor about him ever challenging Rome again would be scoffed at because the citizens had seen him in the parade.

The same thing happened to the devil. That's what this verse is referring to. Jesus not only beat the devil, but He had a triumphant procession to display the devil to the universe as a totally conquered foe. Satan should never terrify us again. Unfortunately, many Christians have missed the parade. They haven't seen God's triumphant procession that was pictured in God's Word where Satan was displayed as a totally defeated foe. They are circulating rumors that Satan is a powerful foe to be reckoned with. That's not so.

Satan is still alive and we do have to reckon with him, but only because he has so many lies circulating about his power against us. These are all lies, and therein lies Satan's power. If we believe his lies, he then uses our own authority, which our fear grants him, to work his destruction in our lives. He has no power of his own. He's using the power and authority that our misdirected faith gives him
Hope this answers some of your questions! love ya, Jubilant