V. SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND POWER ENCOUNTER

1. V. SPIRITUAL WARFAREANDPOWER ENCOUNTER

2. A. The Arena of Ministry • Kingdom of God vs Kingdom of Darkness • God’s Eternal Kingdom – recognize God’s undiminished sovereignty • Counterfeit Kingdom of Darkness • At his fall, Lucifer’s name changed to Satan (adversary) • Formed his own kingdom (actually a domain)

3. God is Sovereign • God did not create kingdom of darkness—He allowed it • God is able to make His enemies serve Him. • God’s ultimate plan will not be thwarted. • Satan’s kingdom lures men as they exercise moral freedom. • God wants man to relate to Him by choice.

4. Conclusion • Understanding two kingdoms shows the spiritual nature of mission – necessity of spiritual warfare. • Mission must be done in light of God’s purpose, the two opposing kingdoms, the authority of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

5. Unseen Hierarchy of Spirits • The two kingdoms are in conflict • God’s angels vs Satan’s fallen angels • Satan’s representatives are positioned over geographic regions, ruling “illegally” • People who are unaware fall prey • Eph. 6:12 teaches about a possible hierarchy of ruling spirits

6. Many authors see the hierarchy in descending order in Eph. 6:12 • “Rulers/principalities” – high-level satanic princes over nations and regions • “Authorities” – supernatural forces behind human government structures • “Powers” operate within countries and cultures to influence certain aspects of life • “Spiritual forces of evil” – many types of evil spirits that commonly afflict people

7. Biblical examples: • The prince of Persia used Nebuchadnezzar to force demonic worship • The same prince tricked Darius and tried to kill Daniel in the lions’ den • Prince of Persia withstood Daniel for 21 days, then Michael came to help Daniel. (10:13) • Acts 19:27 – the spirit of Diana in Ephesus stirred up the silversmiths

8. Evil spirits do not have sole dominion over • God’s angels are on assignments over nations as well

9. Jacobs: “We are in a holy war for souls of men, wrestling in heavenly places against the enemy who wants to pervert God’s design for the nations. • One of his greatest weapons is passivity of believers.”

10. 2 Cor. 10:3-4 “…the weapons of our warfare…are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” • Eph. 3:10 “…the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.”

11. Paul Billheimer: “The [praying] church holds the balance of power in world affairs.”

12. Very controversial issue in our circles • My own experiences have tempered my thinking to some extent • Ship on way to Philippines • Greece • Experiences at IBC • Iloilo – conflict & fighting; church at standstill for years • Apartment in Bellevue • Vision of missiles of fire in Brussels

13. Definitions • Power Encounter – any clash between kingdoms of God and Satan • Three enemies of our faith: world, flesh, and devil (Eph. 2:1-3) • Spiritual warfare – daily struggle against evil influences that come from philosophies of the world, desires of flesh, and the devil

14. Strategy for Warfare • Jesus’ Strategy – His Temptation • He humbled Himself by submitting to baptism (James 4:6) • He fasted so he was spiritually ready • He was “full” of the Word • He addressed the enemy, ending the battle with great authority, “Away with you, Satan!” (Matt. 4:10)

15. We minister in arena of spirit world • Not trying to defeat the devil • But enforcing the victory of the cross • Non-Christians convinced by a power greater than their gods

16. Power Encounter Evangelism • Evangelism is spiritual warfare • Matthew 11:12 • Satan deploys agents to counteract evangelism • Satan uses supernatural signs & wonders • Jesus’ mission = to defeat Satan (1 Jn 3:8) • Assurance of victory for believers (1 Jn 4:4) • Holy Spirit baptism with supernatural phenomena for evangelism (Acts 2:21,38-9) • Apostles had encounters with satanic powers & were mightily used of God in evangelism

17. Great Weakness: Fail to recognize supernatural dimension of ministry • Satan’s strategy = distract church from primary mission of evangelism • John Stott: “One might say that the Church is better equipped for every other task than…making known the gospel of Christ and winning others to Him.”

18. Jesus sent the 12 (Matt 10:1-14) and the 70 (Luke 10:1-20) with clear instructions to preach the Kingdom of Heaven—to heal, cleanse lepers, raise dead, cast out demons (demonstrations of the Kingdom they proclaimed).

19. Jesus had encounters with powers of Satan – always to an evangelistic end • Territorial demonism • Political and social injustices • Religious blindness & bigotry • Spiritual & moral depravity • Physical, mental, & relational sickness • Demonization of individuals

20. Truths about Great Commission • Imperative, not optional • To be done by every believer • To be done in power of Spirit • To be done through preaching/teaching • To produce supernatural results

21. Methods of Power Encounter Evangelism • Prayer, Fasting, Exorcism • Daniel 9, 10 • Jesus’ teaching – Matt. 17:17-21 • Early church fasted – Acts 4:23-31 NOTE: Power encounters were not a specialty ministry, but were normal as needed in the course of daily ministry.

22. Witnessing & Counseling • Acts 4:26,47; 20:20 – house to house • Acts 8:26-38 – individuals • Acts 17:17 - marketplace

23. Preaching and Teaching • Most used by Jesus and early Church • Definite correlation between progress of Church and emphasis on preaching Gospel • Satan hates preaching & attacks it every way possible

24. Worship and Gifts of the Spirit • In worship meetings Church filled and refilled for supernatural enablement • Routed Satan and demons with praise • Attracted unbelievers • Motivated for evangelism (Acts 2:42-47) • Unbelievers convicted and convinced through tongues, interpretation, and prophecy • Gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and discerning of spirits exposed deceit of devil and contributed to success of evangelism

25. Power Encounter and Authority of Believer • John 14:12 “Whatever you ask in my name, that will I do…” • Unlimited power is available. • But omnipotence must be wielded only under guidance of omniscience. • We exercise this power as God’s sovereign discretion indicates. • The Name of Jesus is not a magic formula. • Using His name requires being in harmony with His character and His will (Jn 15:7).

26. Binding and Loosing • Matthew 16:19 KJV Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;…” • Better translated: “What you bind on earth will be what has been bound in heaven.”

27. Important difference between: • Guaranteeing divine alignment with believers’ actions – and • Promising that believers’ actions will be in alignment with the divine will • Rather than trying to dictate God’s will to Him, we must align our wills to His.

28. When people hear Gospel under dynamic of Spirit, they are “bound or loosed” depending on their response. • Thus, using the name of Jesus and the privilege of binding and loosing link the believer to the authority and omnipotence of God for evangelistic purposes.

29. Principles of Power Encounter Evangelism (early Church) • They were unlearned, despised, and under Rome • Doctrinal beliefs based on revelation—offensive to intelligentsia • Salvation by grace • Simple worship • Exclusive commitment to Lordship of Christ – almost a death sentence

30. Growth of Church only accounted for by supernatural ministry of Spirit • Did not compromise with cultures/religions but contrasted and contradicted them – all subsequent genuine growth has been accomplished in same way

31. Holy Spirit is “executive director” of evangelism • Spirit-prepared body of believers (Eph. 4:11-16) • Spirit-oriented worship (Acts 13:2-3) • Spirit-directed outreach (Acts 13:2-4 • Spirit-enabled ministry (Acts 13:5-12 and ff chapters) • Spirit-produced results (ch 13,14)—negative and positive

32. Healing as Power Encounter • Healing is a sign that Kingdom of God has come in power (Luke 7:22; 9:1,2; 10:9) • Power Encounter Evangelism demands that healing be a vital part of ministry • We must pray for the sick. • Don’t use “God’s sovereignty” as way out—pray and leave healing to God. • Easier to tell people about salvation after signs and wonders than without them.

33. Christ healed and cast out demons throughout the Gospels. • He depended on power/anointing of Spirit. • John 20:21 “As my Father has sent me, so send I you” – to a powerful ministry guided and anointed by Spirit.

34. Supernatural power displays are especially important in developing countries. • Western culture magnifies propositional truth. • Other people relate to deeds—signs and wonders—which prepare them to hear truth of Gospel.

35. Examples of Spiritual Warfare • Indonesia – presence of God on campus; footsteps and flying fruit • Malaysia – Carlos Anacondia meeting • Roman Catholics in Asia – syncretism with animistic beliefs • Guatemala – girl paralyzed and unable to speak because of curse by witch doctor • Philippines – “faith” healer by IBC, Cebu

36. Guidelines for Tearing Down Strongholds

37. Personal Level • Close up all holes in armor • Be free from known sin and relationship problems • Give up our “rights” which enemy uses against us: to be offended, to our time, to control possessions, to self-pity, to self-justification, to be understood, to criticize

38. Mental Level • A stronghold is a hopeless mindset that causes the believer to accept as unchangeable something that he knows is contrary to God’s will. • “This city can never be won for Christ.” • “That individual is too hardened to reach.”

39. Corporate Level • Pastor and believers must be in unity—no competition or comparison.

40. Corporate Level • Pastor and believers must be in unity—no competition or comparison. • Pray protection over each person/family.

41. Corporate Level • Pastor and believers must be in unity—no competition or comparison. • Pray protection over each person/family. • Take advantage of crisis times to tear down pride and self-satisfaction.

42. Corporate Level • Pastor and believers must be in unity—no competition or comparison. • Pray protection over each person/family. • Take advantage of crisis times to tear down pride and self-satisfaction. • Move in the opposite spirit (if needing to overcome greedy spirit, give).

43. Corporate Level • Pastor and believers must be in unity—no competition or comparison. • Pray protection over each person/family. • Take advantage of crisis times to tear down pride and self-satisfaction. • Move in the opposite spirit (if needing to overcome greedy spirit, give). • Seek for God’s time to move together to confront the enemy.

44. Fast and pray together; ask God to reveal strongholds over area or individual.

45. Fast and pray together; ask God to reveal strongholds over area or individual. • Fill the vacuum when evil spirits depart with lots of God’s Word.

46. Fast and pray together; ask God to reveal strongholds over area or individual. • Fill the vacuum when evil spirits depart with lots of God’s Word. • Speak restoration of individual or place to God’s will and original purpose.

47. How We Can BeVictorious

48. Know your Leader • Follow Him faithfully. • Keep eyes on Jesus

49. Know the enemy • Give him no ground.

50. Know the enemy • Give him no ground. • Study his ways.