TRILOGY ON SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Biblical Deliverance Ministries

    A. BATTLE STATIONS - Standing on Holy Ground

    The concept of standing on holy ground is mentioned in at least four instances in Scripture where men are being prepared for warfare in the realm of the Spirit.

    1. ISAIAH Isaiah ch6. If we are to be used by God, there is no place for sin, iniquities or any unrighteousness. This passage speaks of the necessary CLEANSING of Isaiah, when a live coal was placed on his mouth, symbolising both God's wrath and His process of purification.

    1 John ch1 v7. For us, 'the blood of Jesus, God's son, purifies us from all sin.'

    2. SAUL/PAUL Acts Ch9. On the Damascus road, Saul not only met Jesus as Saviour but recognised Him as Lord. From being a rabid persecutor of the followers of Jesus Christ, he became a worshipper, God TRANSFORMING his life and future.

    3. MOSES Exodus Ch3. (Probably the best known example). Moses is confronted by God at the burning bush. After rushing in to try and 'deliver' Israel in his own way and strength (see Exodus Ch2 v11-12), now Moses is recognising God as sovereign - not acting on his own initiative with his own methods or timing, but God's. Chapter 3 verse 8, God says, "I have come to deliver." v10, "Go and deliver." Now under God's ANOINTING and EMPOWERING, with His power Moses, as a channel, would deliver Israel.

    4. JOSHUA Joshua Ch5 v13. Joshua stood by Jericho and enquired of the Angel of the Lord, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" "Neither," is the reply. God is the Commander. It is His strategy. He is the one to do the DIRECTING. (See also David, when he enquired of the Lord, was given on two occasions two different strategies. 2 Samuel Ch5 v19 on and v23 on)

    Both Moses and Joshua were told to remove their shoes in the presence of God. Hebrews Ch12 v1b, "Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles... " 2 Timothy Ch2 v3-4. It is not only sin but all the entanglements of this life we need to fight our way clear of.

    Victory in spiritual warfare will only be possible when our battle station is holy ground - where we have a personal encounter with God, and in the revelation of who He is and what we are, acknowledge that He is the One who CLEANSES, TRANSFORMS, EMPOWERS and DIRECTS, if we are to be victorious in the battle.

   B. A ROD IN THE HAND - Exodus Ch17 v 9-13

    The rod was not just any stick of wood. To Moses, Aaron and the people of Israel it was a symbol of all that God had been to them and the promise of all He yet could be. It was also a sign to forces in the spiritual world. When the rod was lifted up, Israel prevailed against Amalek. When the rod was lowered, Amalek prevailed.

    1. GOD'S POWER Exodus Ch4 v 2-4, v17-21 Moses was appointed by God to deliver Israel out of Egypt. His shepherd's stick, the Rod, became the instrument, in his hand, to demonstrate God's POWER. God transformed the rod into a snake. Ch7 v8-12 this snake devoured the snakes of the magicians. Luke Ch10 v 19 " ...power to overcome all the power of the enemy" 1John ch4 v4 "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." Exodus Ch7 v 17 He turned the sacred river Nile, the object of Egyptian worship, to blood - declaring GOD IS THE LORD and there is none other.

    2. GOD'S FAITHFULNESS Exodus Ch14 v 16 on By dividing the Red Sea, God opened a path through the impossible in order to bring the Israelites out. In so doing He demonstrated His FAITHFULNESS. God was able to do what He had promised, Romans Ch4 v 21. Nehemiah Ch9 v 8 "You have kept Your promise because You are righteous" 2 Timothy Ch2 v 13 "He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself."

    3. GOD'S LOVE and provision for His people are shown as God released the water from the rock in the desert Exodus Ch17 v1-7 Once more the rod was used at God's command. Jeremiah Ch31 v 3 "The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love.' "

    4. GOD'S WISDOM dictates that the rod be used at His direction. In Numbers Ch20 v 7-12 Moses was told to take the rod and speak to the rock. His disobedience cost him entry to the Promised Land and revealed anger at the people and a temptation to usurp authority that was God's. Verse 10 "Must we bring you water out of this rock?"

    Misuse of the rod of the testimony of God's Power, Faithfulness, Love and Wisdom.

    (A) We are not to use our "experience of God" to judge others or to highlight their failures

                    or

    (B) exalt ourselves - for our own glory

                    but

    (a) to challenge and encourage others to release faith for God's intervention in their situation

    (b) to glorify God and build up our trust in Him - whatever...

    (c) to ignore the scoffing of those to whom it is foolishness (1st Corinthians Ch1 v 13on)

    (d) to declare to forces in the spiritual world that our God is the LORD of POWER, FAITHFULNESS, LOVE and WISDOM and He is able...

    Prerequisites for the Use of the Rod - the Word of our testimony by which we overcome Revelation Ch12 v11

    (a) Dependence on God - as the source of our testimony, in the timing and direction of the use of His wisdom

    (b) A Pure Heart - right motives - faith, obedience, humility

    (c) Divine Determination to see the enemy routed, people set free and God glorified

    (d) Fellowship with others who will help consistently to hold up the Rod till the battle is won

    The Rod - our experience of all God is to us in His Power, Faithfulness, Love and Wisdom, declared before armies of satan and before men; holding up that which Exodus Ch17 v14 proclaims is the whole character of God embodied in His Name, "Jehovah Nissi," "Jehovah our Banner."

   C. WHOSE STRONG RIGHT ARM?

    When we come against the enemy in spiritual warfare, we need more than a good right hook. As the hymn says:

    "The arm of flesh will fail you, you dare not trust your own"

    I. Don't put your trust in yourself (or others!), that is, in man. Jeremiah Ch17 v5 advises, "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord."

    Proverbs Ch28 v26 "He who trusts in himself is a fool"

    1 Corinthians Ch10 v12 "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!"

    Job Ch 40 v9 and 14 "Do you have an arm like God's?..... Then I myself will admit to you that you own right hand can save you."

    2. Don't put your trust in princes - perhaps leaders, even Christian leaders! Psalm Ch118 v8-9 "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes." It is better to trust in the Lord (and His Word) who can be, and often is, revealed through faithful ministers, but don't look to the men themselves. Zechariah Ch4 v6b " ' Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty"

    3. Don't put your trust in "horses and chariots" - the world's methods. Isaiah Ch31 v1b ".... (they) do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord."

    (a) Principles of psychology

    (b) Business strategies

    (c) Media techniques

    (d) Wealth and what it can buy (equipment etc.), and achieve. Though God may use these above methods, He certainly will not use

    (e) Occult practices, in their many disguises.

    "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds" 2 Corinthians Ch10 v4

    Some methods may be used under His direction but they are not our source.

    4. Don't put your trust in "the mountains of Samaria" - Amos Ch6 v1d. A shrine and later the temple (a rival of that in Jerusalem) was established on Mount Gerizim and the 'pure' religion of Moses, as the Samaritans claimed, was lost in superior rituals. ('Only we have the right formula!' Avoid an attitude of pride!)

    A formula is not equal to spiritual success. See the sons of Sceva in Acts Ch19 v3 on. Don't try to move in this area without

    (a) a personal relationship with the Lord

    (b) a cleansed life

    (c) a knowledge of His Word

    (d) a sensitivity to the Spirit to receive the wisdom and instruction for individual cases - James Ch1 v5

    Otherwise defeat will cause more harm to all concerned.

    Depend on "His glorious arm of power" that was at Moses' right hand Isaiah Ch63 v12 "...wait in hope for My arm" Isaiah Ch51 v5b "Your arm is endued with power; Your hand is strong, Your right hand exalted." Psalm 89 v13

    "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ"

    1st Corinthians Ch15 v57 "Sing unto the Lord....His right hand and His holy arm hath gotten Him the victory." Psalm 98 v1 (KJV)