Spiritual Warfare – Principalities #4

Who is the Enemy?

C.        Our world–Business

Luke 12:15…And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

The second stronghold is in business where greed is the basis of most business decisions. Money is the focus, and actions are judged by their dollar value…How do we wage warfare in the business world? When we see greed we need to rebuke the spirits that provoke it. Stand against covetousness, deceit and other sources that you believe cause greed. Plead the blood of Jesus in the particular situation and speak the truth of God’s Word over it.

1 Timothy 6:9-10…But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Anything we cannot release is an idol. We lose things and people because we won’t loose them… Mark 10:28-31. Read Proverbs 15:27, 22:16; Ecclesiastes 5:10-11; Matthew 6:19-21.

D.        Our world–Politics

John 19:12-16…And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gab-batha. And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

To please the people and keep their offices, politicians will sacrifice the truth.

The devil has set up principalities and powers which allow spiritual wickedness to operate in world governments. When we see ungodliness in the political system, we are to love the people involved but rebuke satan in Jesus’ name. We are to plead the blood of Jesus over nations and speak the truth of God’s Word. Don’t just watch or read the news–pray to change the news!

Acts 24:26…He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

Case History: The church I worked with in Nepal grew from a house church with 15 members to a church of 500 members (with up to 5,000 attending) in just a few years. None of this happened until great political persecution came…first the Hindu government who made it illegal to convert Hindus to Christianity; then the Communists who broke into the church, killed the pastor, beat all the members, and burned all the bibles.

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Spiritual Warfare – Principalities #3

Who is the Enemy?

3.         The flesh–our world

Philippians 3:18…For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Read 1 Corinthians 16:9 and Colossians 1:21.

James 4:4…Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

1 John 2:15-17…Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

A.        Our world–Family

God’s order for the family and home. Read 1 Corinthians 7; Esther 1; Hebrews 13:4.

1 Corinthians 11:11-12…Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God...2 Corinthians 6:14…Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? Solomon’s downfall!

Christian home out of order.

Christians marrying the unsaved.

B.        Our world–School

1 Timothy 4:1-2…Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.

What happened on June 17, 1963? If you do not know, check out prayer in school.

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Spiritual Warfare – Principalities #2

Who is the Enemy?

1.         The flesh–ourselves…

James 1:13-15…Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Not the devil, us! The devil didn’t make me do it.

Romans 7:5…For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

Matthew 26:41…Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

1 John 3:7-8…Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Read Romans 8 and Mark 14:38.

Case History: I was once asked to help with a deliverance session for a young man who was constantly sick and in trouble. His family, very devout Spirit-filled Christians and their cell group were convinced he was demon “oppressed” but were not certain what spirits were attached to him. As I began to pray, I realized his problem wasn’t evil spirits, rather he was unsaved!

2.         The flesh–our ancestors

Exodus 34:6-7…And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation… Read Exodus 20:5; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9.

Generational curses . . . We will be teaching on generational curses in another post. For now please understand they are real. If you cannot seem to free yourself from demonization, perhaps it stems from your ancestors.

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Spiritual Warfare – Principalities #1

Defined as high level satanic princes set over nations and regions of the earth.

Ephesians 6:12…For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Earthly kingdoms…Jeremiah 13:18…Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.

Earthly kingdoms and our flesh…Colossians 2:10-15…And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

All created by God…Colossians 1:16…For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.

Who spoiled it?

Why are these high level satanic princes set over the earth? What are they doing? Who are they dealing with?

In seven more postings we will discuss spiritual warfare and principalities. We are merely scratching the surface of this very important topic. If you desire detailed teaching, or even deliverance for you and your family, friends, or church . . .

Contact Apostle Will Zook at drwillzook@excellenceandurgency.com

Visit our website at http://www.excellenceandurgency.com/

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Grow Up – Love

As I coach and mentor men and women around the world, I often deal with someone who I want to shout at “GROW UP!” Do you run into that at work or school or church? People, including you and me, run into all kinds of problems, many of them spiritual in nature, and we do so because we are acting like children. Fortunately for us, the Apostle Peter wrote an excellent guide to growing up.

2 Peter 1:3-9 (NIV)…His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self‑control; and to self‑control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

We have followed the steps to freedom. God entered in, fought the battle and delivered us. We received the victory — freedom. Now we must hold onto our freedom and, of course, God supplies the way. Through an increasing knowledge of Him as revealed in His Word, we receive His Promises and participate in the Divine Nature, thereby escaping the corruption of evil desires that will lead us back into bondage. Within the teaching of Peter we find eight steps that we might follow to reside in freedom and not open ourselves to another trap. The final step is:

LOVE: Caps it all bringing us to excellence; not just the love for our brothers, but a love for all men… Tithing (Finances, Family, Feelings)…

1 John 4:7-21…Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Peter says if we possess these in increasing measure we will not live ineffective, unproductive lives. And in his words, “you will never fail.” I might say, “you will never fall.”

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Grow Up – Brotherly Kindness

As I coach and mentor men and women around the world, I often deal with someone who I want to shout at “GROW UP!” Do you run into that at work or school or church? People, including you and me, run into all kinds of problems, many of them spiritual in nature, and we do so because we are acting like children. Fortunately for us, the Apostle Peter wrote an excellent guide to growing up.

2 Peter 1:3-9 (NIV)…His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self‑control; and to self‑control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

We have followed the steps to freedom. God entered in, fought the battle and delivered us. We received the victory — freedom. Now we must hold onto our freedom and, of course, God supplies the way. Through an increasing knowledge of Him as revealed in His Word, we receive His Promises and participate in the Divine Nature, thereby escaping the corruption of evil desires that will lead us back into bondage. Within the teaching of Peter we find eight steps that we might follow to reside in freedom and not open ourselves to another trap. The next step is:

BROTHERLY KINDNESS: Must be added. For what good are the others, if we cannot show kindness to our brothers?…Church Attendance…

Hebrews 10:25…Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another‑‑and all the more as you see the Day approaching…Psalms 100:4… Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name…Romans 12:4-5…Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others…Philippians 1:5…because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

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Grow Up – Godliness

As I coach and mentor men and women around the world, I often deal with someone who I want to shout at “GROW UP!” Do you run into that at work or school or church? People, including you and me, run into all kinds of problems, many of them spiritual in nature, and we do so because we are acting like children. Fortunately for us, the Apostle Peter wrote an excellent guide to growing up.

2 Peter 1:3-9 (NIV)…His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self‑control; and to self‑control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

We have followed the steps to freedom. God entered in, fought the battle and delivered us. We received the victory — freedom. Now we must hold onto our freedom and, of course, God supplies the way. Through an increasing knowledge of Him as revealed in His Word, we receive His Promises and participate in the Divine Nature, thereby escaping the corruption of evil desires that will lead us back into bondage. Within the teaching of Peter we find eight steps that we might follow to reside in freedom and not open ourselves to another trap. The next step is:

GODLINESS: Brings the mind of Christ to us. With our mind disciplined to the things of God in light, we give no room to darkness…Actions…

James 4:7…Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you…Ephesians 4:27…and do not give the devil a foothold.

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