SPIRITUAL WARFARE By Ptra NORA QUETULIO

What is It? It’s God against Satan and God bringing about His holy purpose all the way along, being attacked by Satan. 

What is It? Spiritual warfare is a battle between invisible angelic forces that affect you and me. The cause of the war is something you and I can’t see. But the effects are very visible in the kind of problems that we face all the time.

Our struggle Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”(Eph 6:12).

Interests of Satan Satan is not specifically interested in you as an individual because of you.  He is – who he is after is God. 

Interests of Satan He would destroy us and defeat us, not because he hates us but because he hates God whom we serve and represent. 

SATAN’S METHODS OF ATTACK The battles of spiritual warfare are intense when a person decides to accept Jesus as their Savior.

SATAN’S GENERAL METHODS Enticement (curious arts) Acts 19:19-sorcery Leviticus 19:31-Seeking spirits Deuteronomy 18:10-11-interpret omens

SATAN’S GENERAL METHODS 2. Oppression (outside attack) Acts 10:38—under the power of sickness Isaiah 52:4—Muslims attacking Christians

SATAN’S GENERAL METHODS 3. Possession (mainly internal) a. Unbelievers (II Corinthians 4:4—Blinded their minds) b. Believers (Acts 5:1-11--Ananias and Sapphira),

SATAN’S SPECIFIC METHODS He uses surprise (Exodus 17:8)  2. He attacks at the point of our weakness (I John 2:16) 3. He attacks at the point of our strengths 4. He uses aggression (I Peter 5:8)

SATAN’S SPECIFIC METHODS 5. He steals the good seed of the Word (Matthew 13:19) 6. He sows tares or weeds (Matthew 13:38-39) 7. He inflicts disease (Job 2:7; Luke 13:16)

SATAN’S SPECIFIC METHODS 8. He initiates death and destruction (Job 1:12-19) 9. He brings accusations against believers (Revelation 12:10) 10. He induces mental and emotional disorders (Mark 5:1-6)

The Enemy's Armor Appearance -an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14 ). 2. Darkness (Luke 22:53) 3. Deception (Romans 3:13) 4. Intimidation (I Samuel 17:4-1)

The Enemy's Armor 5. Ignorance (Hosea 4:6) 6. Confusion (Acts 19:23-29) 7. Doubt (Genesis 3: 1)

HOW SATAN ATTACKS THE CHURCH False philosophies – (Col. 2:8) False religions – (1 Cor. 10:19) False ministers – (2 Cor. 11:14-15) False doctrine – (I John 2: 18)

Satan’s Power Is Limited *He is created, therefore not omniscient or infinite *He can be resisted by the Christian - James 4:7 *God places limitations on him - Job 1:12

As Believers In Christ We Do Not Fight For Victory We Fight From Victory In Christ’s Power We Are Invincible!

As Believers In Christ We fight a very real battle against a very real enemy, but we need to know without a doubt that our victory over him is assured (Colossians 2:14-15) .

As Believers In Christ 14 May pananagutan sana tayo sa Dios dahil hindi natin matupad ang kautusan. Pero inalis ito ng Dios sa pamamagitan ng pagkapako ni Cristo sa krus. Kaya hindi na tayo parurusahan.15 Doon din sa krus nilupig ng Dios ang mga espiritung namumuno at may kapangyarihan, at ipinakita sa lahat na ang mga tao ay bihag na Niya (Colosas 2:14-15)

The Bible Says: You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4: 4)

Your Victory and Defeat Reflect on God When you fail to be what God would have you to be, you become a tool by which Satan strikes a blow at God.  When you and I live as we ought to be, we defend God against that attack. 

We Need Help to Win This is important because if you are engaged in a spiritual battle and need help to win, the help you need is with God the Father, who is in the heavenly places.

Reference To Heavenly Places Ephesians 1:3 tells us: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

Reference To Heavenly Places He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 1:20)

Reference To Heavenly Places And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2: 6)

Reference To Heavenly Places For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God ( 1 John 5: 4-5)

The Bible Says: But even archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “ The Lord Rebuke you! (Jude 9)

The Armor of God The weapons of our warfare can be reduced to one thing-- Obedience.

THE ARMOR OF GOD Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.’ 16 ‘In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6: 14-17)

THE ARMOR OF GOD The Belt of Truth It protects us against the lies of Satan for they can destroy our faith. It gives us discernment so we can detect those lies and tell right from wrong.

Righteous living protects us from the fiery darts of temptation. THE ARMOR OF GOD 2. The Breastplate of Righteousness Righteous living protects us from the fiery darts of temptation.

THE ARMOR OF GOD 3. The Shoes of Readiness It enables us to go where God calls and keeps us ready to do the job He gives us.

THE ARMOR OF GOD 4. Shield of Faith-The devil doesn’t want you trusting Jesus. He wants you to trust in yourself, to trust in your own strength, to trust in your own wisdom and to trust in your own resources.

THE ARMOR OF GOD 5. Helmet of Salvation The Helmet of Salvation protects our minds. By wearing it, you prevent the devil from messing with your mind and leading you down a bumpy path into the fire of hell.

THE ARMOR OF GOD 6. Sword of the Spirit - The Sword of the Spirit is your faith in Jesus Christ. That sword will keep you from falling on the enemy’s sword of lies and corruption.

Prayer is important for Spiritual Warfare 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 ‘Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel… (Eph 6: 18-10)