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THE ARMOR OF GOD

By Bobby Grapenthin 1. THE HISTORY OF ARMOR Armor has always been an instrument and/or a body covering for defense and protection. When you think of armor, you think of an army wearing it for battle. Armies were always organized in different ways from as early as Genesis 14 by the patriarchs using servants and members of their household, to the first established professional army of Saul in 1 Samuel 13:2. 1 SAMUEL 13:2 2 Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. David hired foreign troops loyal to him as we see in 2 Samuel. 2 SAMUEL 15:17,18 17 And the king went forth, and all the peopie after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. 18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. Solomon enhanced his soldiers with chariots and calvary with various units having officers over each and a chain of command. 1 KING 10:26 26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem. Early weaponry consisted of bows and arrows, slingshots and spears. Bows were constructed with a single piece of wood with a chiseled pointed stone on the end. They evolved to more effective weapons constructed with glued layers of wood or horn and added bronze, tipped with metal V heads. The arrow was guided by feathers. It is interesting to note that the most effective feathers used were those from an Eagle. Other feathers found readily available included those from vultures and kites. A leather quiver could carry as many as 30 arrows at a time, and the ones strapped to chariots could top out at 50. The average range of this type of weapon was 300-400 yards. The sling shot was for long range, deadly use. Constructed of nothing more than a patch of cloth or leather with two braided leather cords on either end, it could catapult a smooth 2

stone at its target and bring a deadly blow. David showed how effective this weapon was when he brought down Goliath. 1 SAMUEL 17:40, 48-50 40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherds bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine, 48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. When it came to fighting the enemy at a shorter distance than a arrow or sling could be effective, javelins began to be developed. Usually made of wood or reed, it was powerful at short range combat. By attaching a counter weight or a cord, on the end of the shaft, the javelin would spin in mid air. At shorter distances, the javelin proved to be more powerful than an arrow at its target. 1 SAMUEL 18:10,11 10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Sauls hand. 11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice. All this goes to show the evolution of weaponry to combat an enemy from far off to midrange. To destroy an enemy from a distance required a different set of weapons than to destroy him close up. What would be powerful and effective for one type of combat, was a handicap in another. Notice that the size of the weapon to fight the enemy afar off, was smaller than when he was close up. It requires less to destroy Satan when he is forming his plan in the distance than when he gets close up. As hand-to-hand combat became more prevalent, the weapons had to change again. The thrust of a spear could be more effective and could be thrown, in front tine battle. Soldiers on the front lines were now equipped with rectangular shields and had their spears jut out beyond the shield as they pressed forward at the advancing enemy. Swords began to replace the heavy spear, which in some cases, the spear was heavier than the javelin.. Swords were made with single edges in the beginning, and then later on were double edged. Some were curved and others straight. Armor began to protect the soldier and helmets, his head, against advancing war clubs. Armor covered the bodys vulnerable

parts and armor bearers accompanied the military leaders to bring along extra weapons and defense equipment. Johnathan had an armor bearer that helped him fight his battles. Of all the different types of weaponry construction, very little attention was given to the protection of the legs and back. We will get into the reasons for that as we go on in these lessons. 1 SAMUEL 14:14 14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow. I do want to just give a side note here about the armor bearer. It has been taught that the armor bearer was a servant of the soldier. This may be true, but he did more than just carry the older armor. It was his job during the battle, to run the necessary supplies that the soldier needed to him in order for him stay in the battle. If the soldier ran low on arrows, the armor bearer was there to bring more arrows. If the soldier needed a spear, he was there to bring it to him. There were even times in the battle when the shield the soldier carried became too heavy for him to hold and he required the assistance of the armor bearer to hold up the shield while he continued the battle. In light of spiritual significance, the armor bearer was there to keep the soldier equipped with what ever he needed to stay in the battle until the battle was won. He provided the necessary weapons to keep the soldier equipped during the battle, even if it meant he had to hold up the soldiers shield to protect him so he could do the fighting. We know that armor bearers were skilled from what 1 Samuel 14:14 said about Jonathans armor bearer. However, armor bearers also had weapons of their own as well. The word tells us that they even carried their own swords. JUDGES 9:54 54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armorbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. The armor bearer was to keep the soldier equipped in the battle not talk him out of the battle and into defeat.. There are times in everyones life that they need an armor bearer who will hold up the shield of faith while they are going through a battle. There are times when we all need an armor bearer to hand us a sword (the Word of God) to help us keep fighting and to know that there is someone we can count on to not talk us out of the battle, but keep us equipped in the battle.

2. UNDERSTANDING THE BATTLE In Matthew Henrys Commentary, he states that our life is not without warfare. We are in warfare because of two reasons: 1. Fallen man has to deal with the calamities of life brought on by the fall. (The fact that Satan is active on planet Earth and not in the lake of fire, means we will have encounters with him.) 2. Our religion is against Satan. Because he is our enemy, we are in warfare with the powers of darkness. Lets look at Ephesians, EPHESIANS 6:10-12 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Those engaged in warfare need a great deal of courage. Ephesians 6:10 starts with the word, Finally. Finally pertains to the place in time where you are coming to the end or conclusion of thing you have been battling. Webster says finally means that you are at the final point or moment, you are at the end. This is the point where the decisive outcome occurs. Think about it. The greatest courage is required when the battle is at the end, not at the beginning. It requires zeal in the beginning and courage at the end. A runner saves his greatest strength for the end of the race, that he might run with the power to win. When you are at this point in the battle, you will have to exercise your greatest courage. This is where the greatest courage is needed.. Ephesians 6:10 goes on to say ... my brethren, be strong in the Lord,... If your heart lacks courage, your armor will be of little use to you. Think about that. You could have the most powerful armor and weaponry known to modem man, but if your heart lacks the courage to stick in the battle, your armor will do you no good. It will require two elements for a soldier to do the type of spiritual warfare necessary to defeat Satan. It will require: 1. Spiritual weaponry 2. Spiritual courage

Your strength and ability will not be able to get the job done. Ephesians 6:10 states to be strong in the Lord not be strong in yourself. To fight spiritual opposition will require spiritual authority and power. To the degree you draw your strength and are strong in the Lord, will be the degree you will defeat your enemy. To be strong means you have the ability to exert power. Being strong in the Lord therefore is being able to exert power in the Lord, not in yourself. But why be strong in the Lord? Because by focusing and drawing power and courage from Him, you are accessing the realm where the enemy is coming from. The Lord is in the realm of your enemy and to fight in that realm will require access to that realm. In the Lord we have access to that realm. Lets go on with the rest of this verse. and in the power of his might. The word power here means dominion. What was the first thing God gave Adam in the garden? First he gave man his (1) image ( physical form), then (2) likeness (quality, character, skills, abilities, talents etc) and then he gave him (3) dominion. Lets look at Genesis 1:26. GENESIS 1:26 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Webster defines dominion as the right and power to put into subjection a nation or an empire because you hold sovereign authority. Adam had sovereign authority over everything God put into his hand. Your dominion over the enemy is based on the sovereign authority of God and what he can put you in authority over. Now couple the whole phrase power of his might with what was stated earlier, and what you have can be stated this way.. The right and power to put into subjection the empire that has come against you, is based on the sovereign authority of God, who is able to use a forcefulness on Satan that he lacks and has no access to. It requires more courage to be strong in battle when the enemy is in your face than when he is afar off. When the enemy is in your face, just put the enemys face in Gods face and see how quickly he runs. Here is an example of what God can do when even the smallest amount of courage is demonstrated. It takes courage to go into the enemys camp when you think you wont 6

come out alive, but with even the smallest amount of courage, God will back you up with His sovereignty to make the enemy run and leave you with the spoils. The Syrians had all the necessary equipment to conquer the king of Israel, but when their courage was taken from them, they ran and left everything they had behind. Now if God will allow the courage of natural men to be taken from them by allowing them to hear a supernatural sound, how much more does Satan loose his courage when he sees what made that supernatural sound. 2 KINGS 7:4-9 4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. 5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. 6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. 7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. 8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it. 9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the kings household.. A lot can be said about the purpose of the battle in verse 9, but we will get back to that later on in the teaching. The battle is not between us and Satan, the battle is between God and Satan. The battles have always been between God and Satan. Satan hates God and wants to destroy what God loves. David understood this when confronted with Goliath. God loved Israel and Satan moved upon a man called Goliath to destroy what God loved, but David had a different perspective about this battle. Goliath had come against the God of the armies of Israel. David realized it was not his battle but the Lords and if it is the Lords battle, then the Lord planned to win. 1 SAMUEL 17:45-47 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand: and I will smite thee. and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lords, and he will give you into our hands. Changing our perspective as to just what this battle is all about is a major step to releasing our courage to stick in there until we win. The enemy strives to assault the things God loves. In doing so, he has attacked God. When an army goes from one nation to fight a battle on foreign soil, the inhabitants of the foreign soil are not just attacking the army that has come there, but the nation they represent. The invading army has the backing and support of their nation all the way up to the President or Ruler even though he may be miles away. If that invading army requires additional assistance, the President or Ruler will dispatch the reinforcements necessary to secure the victory. Now if natural man will do that during a carnal battle, how much more will our God do that for us in a supernatural battle. When Jahaziel encouraged the people of Judah and Jerusalem, the first thing he targeted was their courage. He had to get their perspective right so the courage would be there to step forward. They had to take their eyes off of fear, terror and discouragement concerning what they saw in the natural and see spiritually what this battle was really about.. If you do not see what the battle is all about, it can be guaranteed that you will loose. Before we even want to discuss the purpose for the armor of God, we must understand the purpose for the battle. 2 CHRONICLES 20:15-17 15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but Gods. 16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, 0 Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. You have to realize, and I truly want you to catch this, the attacks on you ultimately are not so that Satan can just hurt you, but so that he can hurt God. The whole purpose of his attack is so that he can attack God. It is vital that we get the right perspective on this. We will be able to hold on to our courage if we grasp just who is at war here.

David grasped that concept and it not only gave him the courage to declare the victory but the courage to attack the enemy and defeat him. As we get deeper into this study we will see that the armor of God is not just defensive as it has always been presented, but offensive as well. When our spirits receive the revelation of the truth of the battle, then we will be able to speak with the same boldness that Winston Churchill gave the troops in heat of the battle during World War II when he said, NEVER NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER! GIVE UP.

PART 2 THE PURPOSE AND GOAL OF THE BATTLE 3. PUTTING ON THE ARMOR In Part One, we studied the evolution of armor and the purpose for the battle. If you dont understand the objective of the battle then you wont use the correct weapons to fight it. We also discussed how it requires less to take out Satan when he is forming his plan in the distance, than once he is in your face. In review, we also discussed Ephesians 6:10 showing that the word finally meant, now that you have reached the end, the place where the decisive outcome will occur.. . It did not mean, now let me summarize what I said or this is my last point. Lets continue with Ephesians EPHESIANS 6:11 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Here the writer is telling us that we have to put on the armor. It is not done for us but we have to choose to do it. We put it on. We clothe ourselves, we array ourselves, not someone else. The responsibility is 100% in your control to put it on or reject it. Dont blame others for what you wear. Do we put some parts on and leave other parts off? No. We are told to put on the whole thing. Not pick some to put on now, and leave others for another date. We are to put on the complete, undivided, entire armor of God. When looking back at the Greek word for armor and then tracing its root words, one of the root words means To be busy about, to use an implement, utensil or tool especially for offensive war. To arm yourself with weapons always, daily, thoroughly and as many as are available, all the forms of.

What catches my attention here is the word offensive. Armor has always been thought of as a defensive protection against an attack but the Greek word here references and offensive weapon. Here is the difference between offensive and defensive. A. Defensive - resistant to attacks, protective, fortification of something. B. Offensive - to attack or assault aggressively, to invade.. Although the armor of God is defensive, it is intended to be offensive as well. It is not only meant to protect us against Satan, but then to cause us to invade and assault him aggressively. This armor has two sides! And so does its use. As there is an inside and outside to the armor, there is an offensive as well as defensive purpose in wearing it! One side is protecting you against an attack, and the other side is to protect you so you can attack your enemy. You dont take it off when it seems like there is no need for defensive protection. You just use the other side and begin an offensive attack. When studying the history of armor through the ages, I discovered that when soldiers were not engaged in battle, they would take their leisure time and begin to decorate their armor with silver and gold decorations and inlay them with jewels. Their focus began to be turned from keeping their skills exercised to seeing who could decorate his armor the best. Who could draw attention to having the most spectacular armor. Great time, care and money were put into making themselves look good and away from being good soldiers. The word never tells us to decorate the armor of God, it tells us to put it on the way it is. The soldiers began to loose sight of the battle, loose sight of the enemy and began to focus on the glamour of their armor. It didnt take long before they lost the sharpness of their skills. This is why armor must not only be defensive, but offensive. When fighting the battle to defend yourself, you have to be ready to aggressively go after the enemy as well. 2 CORINTHIANS 10:4 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Here is where understanding what the battle is all about, changes the use of the weapon. This is an offensive use of the weapons and armor of God.. It is to pull down the strong holds. You are not being attacked, but doing the attacking. You are doing the demolition and destruction of the strong hold, not being attacked by it. You are the aggressor. That Greek word that was translated strong holds also meant castle. A castle is the headquarters for a kingdom. It is where the ruler lives, and his closest, most powerful officers. It is also the place where he kept his captives. This is where you would find dungeons. When using the armor offensively, you go into the kingdom of Satan, demolish and destroy his residence, and release captives out of his dungeon (prison).

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The deliverance ministry is greatly needed in the church for releasing captives from their captivity. It can tear down strongholds in people a psychologist could never free them from. We should be just as quick to be offensive to Satan as we are to defend ourselves against him. Just as side note to the word warfare as used in 2 Corinthians 10:4, this word means, military service, the apostolic career. Want apostolic manifestations? Then you will have to take on the apostolic career of military service to God. We have to become the barrier and boundary breakers. Now back to Ephesians 6:11. This armor belongs to God. Body shapes and sized may differ, but Gods armor always fits everyone. Since God is the Supreme Magistrate, then his armor is anything that is available to serve as protection. Armor wasnt just a covering that someone made one day and that was what was used from that time on. Armor changed in size and shape according to the attack. As we said in the previous lesson, what was effective in one type of battle was a handicap in another. GOD HAS GIVEN, TO YOU, WHAT EVER YOU NEED THAT WILL SERVE TO PROTECT YOU. THERE ARE NO LIMITS TO GODS ARMAMENTS. We put limits on what we can use, not God. The armor of God makes us able to stand in the face of adversity. He tells us in Ephesians 6:11 that ye may be able to stand, not fall down, run and hide, or cower back, but stand. In that phrase God wants us to not only have the ability but the power to continue and hold up in the decisive moments of battle. When you are at the most critical moments of battle, this armor is going to help you to continue to hold up under what appears to be the worst part of the battle until you win. And this armor will include every thing God has available for you to use. He will hold nothing back from you. Not his Word, not his angels, not the power of the Blood. Nothing will be held back. As we go on with this scripture, the next segment starts with the word against. The truth about this word in the Greek is that is does not mean stand there while someone tries to beat you up and push you down. Again, this really is an offensive word. It actually means while you are near to your enemy AND moving and ascending on him! It is your turn to come against him. We have been convinced that we wear this armor to defend ourselves while standing there being beaten up by him, when the truth is that we wear it as we are moving and beating him up! Since we havent surrendered our courage, then we take the armor of God (everything that will serve to protect us) and our weapons (everything that will defeat

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him) and start pushing him back. With those two items we destroy and demolish his kingdom and set captives free. Wiles of the devil is how this passage ends. Most people dont look up words in the dictionary to see what they mean because they think they have a pretty good idea as to their meaning. We really dont. When you read the word wile what comes to your mind? Before you go any further, write down what you think that word means, then look it up and compare it to what Webster says. See how close you come. Wiles according to Webster is a strategy meant to fool, trap or entice you; deceptions and maneuvers. The Greek confirms this as it gives the definition of methods of trickery. It is the vehicle Satan is going to use to attack you. For example, if what you struggle with is lust, then Satan will use attractive, sensual people as the vehicle he will bring in your path to get you to fall. Since Satan can not win this battle, he has to trick you into surrendering. He has to fool you into believing you lost. He has to entice you into believing defeat will happen, and without understanding his maneuvers, he will probably trick you out of your victory. Thats why the Greek word here used for Satan was not like the other Greek words used to describe Satan. This name Satan interprets one who speaks a false outcome. Think about that! The name Satan interprets ONE WHO SPEAKS A FALSE OUTCOME. It proves there is another outcome! Gods armor allows us to stand our ground not withstand our ground. Here is the summary about what this verse says: It is your responsibility to clothe yourself, so put on the complete, undivided implements, utensils, weapons and tools, especially for offensive war and arm yourself with weapons always, daily and as many as are available, all the forms of, given to you by God, the Supreme Magistrate, who has not limited what he will supply you with, during the time that your enemy is near to you and you are moving and ascending upon him, so that you will not be deceived into surrendering to Satan because he has tricked you by speaking a false outcome to you, for the real truth is you will win. Post that statement on your bathroom mirror! 12. 4. TWO GOALS OF THE WILES OF THE DEVIL You may be thinking Why are we going into the goals? Isnt it enough just to know that Satan is against us? No it isnt. Just as it is vital to know what the battle is all about it is also vital to know the battle plan and the goal of the enemy. Knowing the goal can help to prevent its success. A. Satans First Goal - The Immediate Goal - Destroy What Is Valuable To You The word says that Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy. God comes to give us an abundant life.

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JOHN 10:10 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. If a robber came and stole a dirty plastic fork that I had sitting in the trash, I would probably not give it a second thought (other than how did he get into the house in the first place). That dirty plastic fork in the trash has no value to me. Let that same thief take my sterling silver flatware my favorite grandmother gave me, and I would have a different reaction. Now he has taken something of value to me. It had worth, it had value, and it may even have had an identity with my heritage. To me it was valuable. The wiles of the devil, the plan of Satan, is to take from you what is valuable to you. He doesnt stop with the silverware. Satan wants to take your life, your reputation, your identity, your self-esteem, your confidence, your job, your children, your marriage, your home, your ministry, your relationships, and the list can go on. His first goal is the immediate. His first goal comes with an immediate wound. Taking that dirty fork would not wound me. Taking my great-grandmothers silverware that was passed down to me for two generations would. What you place value on is what he is targeting. This holds true in such a large arena and is different with every person. However, ultimately he wants to destroy your relationship with God, which is THE MOST VALUABLE thing you have. God is the most valuable thing a person could ever have a relationship with. Satan hates God and will try to to steal, and to kill, and to destroy that relationship. If he can wound that relationship, the final goal (which we will address shortly) has begun to be reached. This is the root of the thing Satan targets in the wiles of the devil. This is his plan, this is what is behind the scheme. When he can wound your relationship with God, breakdown begins. Let me give an example of how a wound can begin the breakdown. This situation is hypothetical, yet quite possible. No names used are part of a real situation. Ann is a worshipper. She likes to praise God, sing to Him, dance before Him and express her love for Him. She doesnt have the best voice and when she tries to play the piano and sing, she sometimes hits the wrong notes. One day Ann overhears the choir director mentioning to another choir member that he heard Ann out there howling like a coyote before practice. Her first thought is, If it sounds that bad to him, imagine how bad it sounds to God. Ann just became wounded in the thing she deemed valuable to her, the way she expressed to God how she loved Him. Her own self-worth to give God praise from her heart began to degenerate. One day Ann comes into the choir director and resigns from the choir, stating that previous obligations were piling up on her and required more of her time.

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Although she did have other obligations, they were never a problem in the past. Ann is too embarrassed to confront the choir director with the situation and although he should never have spoken those words (these were words of a curse, not a blessing) and had no idea Ann overheard them, they created a wound on two things that she felt were valuable. Number one, his opinion of her abilities because she respected his gifting, and number two, her sacrifice of praise to the Lord. Eventually she forgives him for what he said, but never releases the wound. (Please read carefully the part of canceling the assignment of Satan. This is so necessary when forgiving someone) Years pass and Ann gets married and has children. She has never worshipped again like she used to. The phone rings while she is in the middle of cooking dinner and a pot of water is boiling over. Her 4 year old at the same time goes over to the piano and begins to play random notes and sing to Jesus, totally off key. In her frustration she yells to the child, Get away from that piano, you sound like a howling coyote!. The child climbs off the piano bench, wounded by trying to worship Jesus the best he could. Although Ann has forgiven the choir director, inside of her still remains an unresolved conflict. She liked the choir director, she did what the word said to do and forgave him but still, there is something that will not go away. I call that the unresolved conflict. She can not put her finger on it, but that something isnt right feeling is inside her. The root of the wound it still alive. So far Satan has managed to keep alive the goal. Even in his absence, the goals of his organization are running themselves without his direct input. If not dealt with, Ann will pass this wound to the next generation. Goal number one of immediate destruction, is not only successful in the original victim, but is now passed down to the next generation.. Now it is time to see how the scheme, the wiles of the devil has accomplished the second and final goal. Goal #2 Satans Secpmd Long Term Goal - Destroy Immediate And Future Destiny Now that Ann received the wound and has not dealt with the assignment of Satan (his scheme or plan) by default she will pass it on to the next generation, not knowing that she not only altered her destiny, but will now alter the destiny of her children and her childrens children. Ann did not know that God had been dealing with that choir director to give Ann private voice lessons but he was afraid he would insult her if he offered. He had seen her heart and overlooked that a worshipper like her could really go some where in life with a little fine tuning. He saw her love and commitment, and the lack of formal training. Many times he was prompted by God to approach her, but drew back. Unfortunately, Ann never knew that side of the story.

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God has a plan too. He has a destiny for all of us and we were put here to accomplish that destiny. Jeremiah 29:11 encourages us that we are not here by mistake. JEREMIAH 29:11 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. God has an expected end for all of us. It is our destiny. It is the purpose of our even being here. It is also part of the larger picture of things so that He can raise up future generations that will do great exploits for him. DANIEL 11:32 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. People have such a limited understanding of their destiny and the destiny of their future generation. Their limited understanding of how the wiles of the devil have hindered and in some cases, prevented their destiny from coming to pass, prevents them from seeing the big picture. In the case of Ann, maybe it was Gods intention to have her child one day be the psalmist that led the greatest revival culminating in the return of Jesus Christ. Or to be the musician that wrote great worship songs for crusades. Or maybe the child would one day write a song that future generations would be so inspired by, that it would cause many to receive salvation, or influence that generation to do great exploits for God. See, God has a plan for you and for your family. It includes doing exploits. It includes evangelism. It includes healing the sick. It includes raising the dead. It includes signs, wonders and miracles. It includes every blessing ever mentioned in his Word. And it includes passing it down to future generations. Good or bad, you will pass a destiny down. Through default or ignorance you will pass something down to the next generation. Satan not only wants to distort what you think Gods opinion of you is, he also wants to replace it with the identity he wants to give you. He wants to drive you away from your destiny and take away the inheritance you are to pass to future generations. By Ann reacting to her child as she did, she has altered the childs destiny and call of God on the life of the child and the lives of future offspring. This is the FINAL GOAL and the long term goal. Now the wiles of the devil, the scheme and plan are going to perpetuate themselves until someone stops the ball from rolling. It doesnt come without a fight. This is why the armor of God is so important. It is so vital that we train future generations how to use it. How could Ann have stopped the final long term goal?

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(1) First of all, she did not identify the real enemy. The unresolved conflict I spoke of earlier fits right here. God knew she had the wrong source in her conflict and she did not have the whole truth on the situation. This is where the unresolved conflict came in. God knew Ann had blamed the wrong source behind the situation. He knew she did not have all the facts and He wanted to reveal them to her. She couldnt get peace as long as the conflict remained unresolved. By not seeking the truth in the situation, the unresolved conflict remained. Ann was able to suppress it, but it was still there. She wrestled with flesh and blood. She put the focus on the choir director. Ephesians 6:12(a) said 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,. Ann identified her attacker as the choir director. She should have gone to God and asked him for the truth in the situation. Then she would have identified that this was a set up by Satan to steal, and to kill, and to destroy not only from her but from future generations. Knowing the truth of the situation causes the wound to heal quicker, if not immediately. (2) Should the wound be identified years later, like when it surfaced with Anns child playing the piano that evening, Ann should have sought God and asked where the root was to that response. He would have exposed it, no matter how insignificant it appeared to be at that time. If you ask God, he will tell you where it came in. It may not seem very important to you what the root is, but be ready to accept what God shows you, no matter how small it appears AND even if you did forgive the person. Forgiving the person was only half of the step. Identifying that this was a set up, a scheme of the devil to throw you off course with what God has for you, is the other half. The problem is not flesh and blood. The problem is Satan. It is at this point that I: (A) recommend you not only forgive (release from the punishment that other person deserves, regardless of who is right and who is wrong) the other person again, but you (B) cancel Satans assignment, his scheme, his plan. (Do this by addressing Satan with words like: Satan I now cancel this assignment to rob me and my family of their God given destiny and I put this assignment against us under the blood of Jesus for all eternity. I cancel your assignment in the name of Jesus.) After doing that, (C) go back to those that you can and ask them to forgive you where you have used your wound to wound them. (PLEASE DO NOT REHASH OR GO INTO LONG LENTHY DETAILS ABOUT HOW YOU GOT WOUNDED BY THE ORIGINAL PERSON. If you have not retaliated against them, this is not necessary.) This is especially, especially vital if you have children. This is where breakdown in the family began. This is why daughters run away from home and get pregnant. This is why children turn to drugs. This

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is why families fall apart. The breakdown began with a wound. Children value what their parents think of them. When you wound your child, you are communicating to them by their means of logic, that they are not valuable to you. Pride will prevent you from doing step C. IF YOU CANNOT DO STEP C THEN YOU DO HAVE A PRIDE PROBLEM. (D) Forgive yourself and ask God to restore all that was stolen from you, your children and those you influenced by the wound. Ask God to take away the wound and begin to speak blessings upon those who hurt you and those you hurt. (E) Break every ungodly emotional soul tie to the event. You may have to break every ungodly visual soul tie too if you saw something that you cant erase from your mind. By default you are passing on the wiles of the devil, you are passing on his goal to destroy your family and yourself by not identifying the root plan of Satans attack. This is why Hosea 4:6 says: HOSEA 4:6 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. You are not alone in passing down wounds and altering the destiny of your children. Perhaps Rahabs parents were wounded and passed down their wounds to her. You dont become a harlot just because everything is okay. But God can turn things around and accomplish the destiny He has for your and for your children. If Rahab had not hearkened to the prompting she must have received for the Lord, where would her children be today? Regardless of how she had messed up her life, she was able to turn around the destiny of her children. JOSHUA 2:1-4 1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlots house, named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country. 3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country 4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: JOSHUA 6:25 25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her fathers household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

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JAMES 2:25 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? MATTHEW 1:5,6 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; Here is Matthew 1:5,6 from another translation: MATTHEW 1:5 5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David. Rahab not only changed her destiny back to what God intended, but by her obedience (James 2:25) she brought the destiny of her children back in line with Gods plan. It does not matter what your past is all about. Get over it. It doesnt matter who wounded you. Deal with the wiles of the devil. Deal with his scheme, get your armor back on and accomplish your destiny. 5. THE OPPONENT IN BATTLE EPHESIANS 6:12 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. To be ignorant of what the battle is all about will cause us to fight incorrectly. One of the worst tragedies to occur during a war is friendly fire. One of the most disastrous events of a battle is when troops fire upon and kill their own troops because of incorrect information. God want us to know from the very beginning that what we are to fight IS NOT flesh and blood. If you feel a tendency or desire to go after flesh and blood, you immediately have the wrong enemy. If you want to fight something that is made from flesh and blood, God says you picked the wrong thing to fight. He specifically says, this is NOT who you are to fight. Regardless of what name or face seems to have come up against you, this is NOT the source of the battle. There is no man, woman, or child that is your enemy. They are flesh and blood and God says that flesh and blood are not the problem. Spirits controlling them are the problem.

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David understood this principle when he was face to face with Goliath. Goliath was flesh and blood. Goliath had been throwing out all the threats against Israel and its army that he could for forty days and nights. Goliath spoke fear packed words toward Israel and from a natural evaluation of the situation, Goliath did appear to be the enemy. David did not look at this situation from a carnal perspective; he looked at it from a covenant perspective. He knew his covenant with God went beyond what he was seeing as flesh and blood. He looked at this event from what he was given as covenant rights from God to win the battle, and what Goliath was using to get the Israelites to surrender. The first thing the enemy wants to attack is your courage. What he looks for is a vehicle that will serve his purpose and it generally comes in the form of flesh and blood. He then uses that person of flesh and blood to intimate you. Thats what Goliath was doing. The most common method of trickery to destroy your courage is INTIMIDATION. Goliath was pretty intimidating. Look what the word says about this piece of flesh and blood. I SAMUEL 17:3-7 3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. 4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. 6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. 7 And the staff of his spear was like a weavers beam; and his spears head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. I. Look at all the visual effects of intimidation: A. Height - extremely tall, probably taller than anyone in Israel (1 14 in height) B. Helmet of brass - An expensive, strong alloy for their time. C. Coat of mail - Developed in Rome out of tiny rings linked together. This type of armor didnt even reach the Middle East until 1300, so his armor was the most advanced thing ever to be seen by Israel. Not only was this weighty but the value was extraordinary. D. Greaves of brass - This is a knee to ankle protective covering. No one in Israel owned that type of protection, all their legs were exposed. Since he was so tall, then this would have been the place a normal man could attack him. 19

E. Target of brass - the small piece of armor that protected the throat. This plate probably had a muscular embossing on it to make him look even more intimidating. It was not a shield. F. Staff of his spear - most men could not lift a weavers beam, much less carry one with one arm. His physical strength was unchallenged. And then add to it an iron spear head, just added more to his physical strength intimidation. G. Shield bearer - One of Goliaths stature and armor had little need for a shield bearer. What this does make a statement about is the fact that Goliath had control over others. He really didnt need them, but chose to control them anyway and make a display of the fact that he could and did control them. II. Then there is the verbal intimidation to the armies of Israel. 1 SAMUEL 17:8 8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. Here are the mocking words of Goliath against the army that was trying to organize themselves against the Philistine. Do you see where flesh and blood are trying to organize against flesh and blood? When Goliath was stating that he was a Philistine, and the armies of Israel a servant to Saul, what he was stating was that he had heard that Saul was given the task by God to destroy the Philistines and since he was a Philistine, wasnt Saul supposed to defeat him? More is being said in this mockery that what we have perceived. Prior to this event, the Ark of the Covenant was captured in 1 Samuel 4, by Goliath and he had killed Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli. The loss of this spiritual and national treasure, which carried the covenant and presence of god, created a root which took the courage from the soldiers. They were defeated emotionally before they were ever defeated in reality. Satan tries to intimidate us by having us look at the past accomplishment of those who have come up against us so we will take our eyes off the past accomplishments of God in our lives. Goliath knew he had destroyed Sauls courage. For forty days, he now works on destroying the courage of the army of Israel. (See how this correlates with Jesus forty day fast in the wilderness?) Goliath felt that since he had mentally defeated Saul, all he had to do was convince Sauls army that they were defeated too and the victory would be his for the taking. What Goliath did not count on was that there was a David in the background that was about to make his appearance into this battle.

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III. Then there is the intimidation of Satan through family members. 1 SAMUEL 17:28 28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliabs anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. Intimidation and discouragement can come from those in your own family that think they know more about the battle than you do. It is like they almost wish your opponent would win over you, than you prove them wrong. David had an opportunity to act or re-act to what his brothers were saying. He could, at this point, decide to wrestle with flesh and blood, but he ignored their comments and pressed on. We need to learn how to ignore flesh and blood comments that take our eyes off of our covenant rights and covenant keeping God. IV. The Intimidation Through Authority Figures. Even in the face of his family trying to discourage him, David did not surrender his courage or his confession. Even in the face of King Saul, who stated he would fail because of his age (you are but a youth) he kept his focus on (1) what the battle was all about and (2) who was the source of the victory. Even those who hold the position of authority will try to discourage you when they have the wrong perspective of the battle. I SAMUEL 17:33 33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. Saul did not see David as a qualified warrior. Saul focused his attention on comparing David to his own life and qualifications. It is like casting out devils. Ive heard theologians who have never cast out a devil in their life say to those lay people who are casting out devils, You cant cast out devils, you havent been to Bible school. After all, if anyone can, its me, Ive been to Bible school. V. Proclaiming Who The Real Enemy Is. David continued to stand and not change his focus. He did not look at Goliaths past accomplishments but the accomplishments of God in his own life. He accounted that if he had a victory over a lion and a bear, then this was only one more opportunity for God to have another victory.

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This is why David never came against family, friend, or the authority, even when they came up against him. They were not the source of the battle, they were a distraction. 1 SAMUEL 17:36,37 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. He did not look at the size of the man who was against him, he did not look at the armor of the man against him, nor did he heed the words that were against him from friends, family or authority. He keeps his eyes on God. He knows that the success depends upon God. He gives God glory for the past victories and puts the battle in the correct perspective. He is not wrestling with flesh and blood. He realizes this is a battle between God and Satan, not flesh and blood. When all other attempts fail to take away your courage, then Satan fires his best shot at you to take you out of the battle. He comes face to face with a verbal deceptive maneuver to trick you into surrendering. This is what is known as wiles of the devil. A strategy meant to convince you to surrender by speaking a false outcome. 1 SAMUEL 17:43,44 43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Goliath spoke of a false outcome. David spoke of a God Outcome. 1 SAMUEL 17:45-47 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lords, and he will give you into our hands. David did not wrestle with flesh and blood, although Goliath was the physical opponent in this battle, but he continued to proclaim that the battle was against the God of the Armies of Israel and therefore the God of Israel would win.

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The world saw a battle between David and Goliath, God saw a battle between him and Satan. The world saw a victory by David over Goliath, God saw a victory won against the wiles of the devil. Although David prevailed over flesh and blood, he wrestled not with flesh and blood. A covenant person will always defeat a false outcome if they keep focused on their covenant keeping Lord and Savior. 1 SAMUEL 17:48-50 48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Vi. The Opponent Called Principalities. As we approach the hierarchy of the spirit world which is against God, the first one on the list that Ephesians talks about is principalities. Satans kingdom is a kingdom of darkness whereby Christs is a kingdom of light. The greatest danger comes from us assaulting flesh and blood rather than the unseen enemy. The word, Principalities begins to describe the chain of command in the kingdom of darkness. Webster agrees that there is spiritual significance to the word principality. Even breaking off the root word we find the word prince behind the scene. Satan himself has been addressed in the Word as a prince. MATTHEW 9:34 34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. JOHN 14:30 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and bath nothing in me. The word used as prince in Matthew and John, is NOT the same word used in the following scriptures. That Greek word used in Matthew and John (archon) was defined as The Chief Ruler. As it appears in Ezekiel and Daniel, it is the Hebrew word sar which means a head person of any rank or class, chiefly a captain. In Daniel 10:2 1 Michael is put under this same category with the Hebrew word sar. We know he is not The Chief Ruler but a high ranking angelic officer. Gabriel describes him to Daniel as Michael, your prince. This let Daniel know he and Michael were on the same team. He confirms this again in Daniel 12:1. DANIEL 10:13 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days:

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but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. DANIEL 10:20,21 20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. 21 But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. DANIEL 12:1 1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. Michael, being a prince, must have a king. He works for King Jesus. In a kingdom, the king rules over all the territory. A prince only rules over a part of a territory. Since a part of a territory is smaller than the entire territory, then what a prince is able to rule over is a much smaller territory than what a king rules. Therefore, Satans kingdom, because he is addressed as a prince, is much smaller than Gods kingdom. John also gives us the limitations of Satans kingdom when Jesus said he was the prince of this world. His influence is limited to this world. Gods kingdom is unlimited. Ephesians 6:12 gives us the rank of spirits. Therefore, the first thing we wrestle with is principalities. These are the high ranking workers of the prince, the spiritual captains of the prince of darkness. These principalities rule in the heathen nations which are in darkness. There always seems to be a predominant theme over a nation that does not serve God and does not have Jesus as its savior. You can almost name the principality by the influence you see it have on the nation. They fight on the highest level against the highest level of Gods angelic host. Vii. The Opponent Called Powers. In Ephesians 6:12, the second rank given in our warfare is powers. This is the Greek word exousia, which part of the meaning includes that these powers are superhuman, they are a token of control (but not the total control), they have been given a delegated influence and authority, jurisdiction over a limited area, liberty, power, the right to be and do, and strength. Does this mean we are helpless against them? No. But they are part of the battle that we acknowledge are there and can defeat. Powers, as Websters Dictionary defines it which gives us a better understanding, are authorities. They have the ability and capability of doing and accomplishing something. Notice, I said something. Something is some thing. They can only accomplish a specified thing.

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It could be: (1) an action (2) event (3) a deed or (4) performance. And the attack comes from: (1) a thought (2) an idea (3) a word (4) a statement (5) or the presentation of a subject. What the powers present, will have value or consequence only if we act upon it.. Since their assignment is one that is delegated or given to them, they are issued commands and punished for violations. They are usually an authority on the subject they have been assigned against you and have done this before. Think about a power called poverty. It may have some understanding about how pride works, so it can follow pride once pride gets the legal right to work in a persons life. The Bible says that pride come before the fall. Poverty can influence that fall financially to destroy a person, but it can not operate in pride. Poverty can only do poverty things. The good news is powers are limited to their subject. They are limited to their assignment. And they are limited by their legal right. Think of it as a Dermatologist. He is limited to the subject of dermatology. He is not a Neurosurgeon. He may have some understanding of the nerves in the skin, but would not be allowed to do brain surgery. He is limited to his expertise. Satan is the author of rebellion. Because he is in rebellion, then so are those who are under him. Even in their assignment against us they are rebelling against their assignment. If Satan is the father of confusion and lies, then they are in confusion and lie to him. Everything we find Satan doing to us, his own authorities are doing to him. No wonder he can be so easily defeated when we know how to use the weapons of our warfare. Powers have the ability to act or do something, but they do not have the authority or ability to control unless they have a legal right. If there is no legal right, there is no way they can enforce what they are trying to accomplish. They must have the legal right to exercise legal authority. They can not sustain their attack without the legal right to influence.

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A foreign government, even if he was the ruler of a nation, can not control our country because he has no legal right to it. He can scream, holler, shake his fist, yell orders and commands and no one in our government will back him up. Powers can act like that too. They can scream, holler, shake their fist, yell orders and commands to other spirits, but no one will back them up. Our own ruler, on the other hand, does have the legal right and can call on what ever assistance he needs to back him up if necessary on a direction or action he decides to take. Without the legal right, there is no way to enforce an action. When a power is attacking us and they have no legal right, we can call on our ruler Jesus and he will give us what ever assistance we need to stop the actions of the power coming against us. Think about that. This is why in John 14, Satan was unable to get the legal right to destroy Jesus. Did he try? Absolutely. In the wilderness experience Satan tried to get the legal right to destroy the Son of God but was unable to obtain it. Jesus focused on the Word of God, rather than the performance of Satan. Satan had to draw back and regroup. He realized that this man Jesus was much harder to get the legal right to than Adam was. Maybe we need to realize our accusers do not control our destiny. LUKE 4:13 13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. JOHN 14:29,30 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. All through the life of Jesus, Satan was trying to get the legal right to destroy him and was unable to do it. That is why it is so important that we do not pick up offenses or walk in unforgiveness. That is why it is very necessary that the attributes of Satan, such as allowing pride, lies, or unrighteousness, do not operate in our lives. That is why it is so important that when we sin we immediately repent. Not hours or days later, but immediately. Every minute we do not repent of sin, allows Satan to pollute us and take control of our lives and possessions. Matthew 18 gives us the story of the unforgiving master and how he was turned over to the tormenters because of his decision not to pass on the forgiveness he received to others that needed forgiveness. This is the only sin mentioned in the New Testament that shows immediate punishment. The others reference an immediate punishment, as in the case of Miriam, and Ananias and Sapphira, but this one shows who is doing the immediate punishment when unforgiveness is involved. It is a spirit of torment. Unforgiveness gives torment a legal right to afflict you with:

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(1) bodily or mental suffering (2) pain and afflictions (3) worry (4) agony (5) misery (6) sufferings (sickness or disease) (7) trouble (8) harassment (9) loss These are just the different definitions found in the dictionary of the word torment! How many of you have seen people suffer from one or several of the above. Trace it back and you will find unforgiveness somewhere in their lives against someone. MATTHEW 18:27-35 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, 0 thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. Viii. The Opponent Called Rulers Of Darkness Rulers of darkness has been a vague category and is usually associated with fallen angelic host, but this is not the Greek word used here. This may amaze many of those who think this way, but the actual Greek word, kosmokrator, is directly defined as world-ruler, an epithet of Satan:- A ruler of darkness is a world ruler. It is a man or woman. But not just an ordinary man or woman. This is a man or woman that is an epithet of Satan.

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What is an epithet? An epithet as used here is any person, male or female, that has actual or attributed qualities or characteristics that resemble someone else. In this use of the word, it could be phrased as: A ruler of darknessis a world ruler, male or female that has the actual, attributed qualities or characteristics that resemble and are accredited to Satan. Behind every ruler of darkness is the personality and/or direct influence of Satan. We know this from the teachings we find in Ezekiel 28. Notice the distinct differences on who is being addressed here. EZEKIEL 28:1,2, 6-10 28:1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: AND 6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; 7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. 8 They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas. 9 Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee. 10 Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. Reviewing verse two of Ezekiel 28, we see a man saying the same words of rebellion that Satan spoke when he said in Isaiah 14:14 1 will... . Look at how many times Lucifer said, will. . . in Isaiah 14. ISAIAH 14:12-14 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. In Ezekiel 28:2-9, God is speaking about a man that has said, I will... In this passage, it is not Satan speaking, this is a man speaking that is operating in qualities and characteristics that Satan operats in, speaking. Isaiahs passage has Satan directly being the one doing the speaking.

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Now look at Ezekiel EZEKIEL 28: 12-19 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, 0 covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. This does not sound like God is speaking to a man, or about a man.. Man was never a covering cherub (verse sixteen). If this was a natural man, he would be disqualified as being a ruler of darkness simply because only one natural man was ever in the Garden of Eden (verse 13). Natural man has never walked on the mountain of God (verse 14) , he was never covered in precious stones (verse 13) and natural man has never walked in the midst of the stones of fire (verse 14). Therefore the rulers of darkness have to be just that. Rulers. World rulers. Any world organized, world approved, world recognized man or woman that is ruling is a world ruler. Does a judge in a court system qualify as a world ruler. Yes. Does a police chief qualify as a world ruler. Yes. Does the Board of Education qualify as world rulers. Yes. Are they evil. No. It is only when they become influenced, take on the characteristics and qualities of Satan do they become a ruler of darkness.

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Darkness refers to the absence of light. These are rulers that are so possessed with demons that they have the absent of light in their life. The light of God. Darkness is not darkness if there is light. Rulers of darkness are men or women that are ruling by total darkness, possessed with demons, and lack the light of God in their lives. We have a defense mechanism even against them, because we recognize that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the one who controls these rulers. That is the target of our battle. The one that is controlling the ruler of darkness. Dont get the two confused. IX. The Opponent Called Spiritual Wickedness In High Places. Interestingly the word spiritual in Ephesians 6:12 when referring to spiritual wickedness in high places, is the Greek word pneumatikos which means, a spirit, supernatural, religious:--spiritual. While it does not say fallen angel or evil angel, it appears that this is what we have here. The word wickedness means plots, sins:--iniquity, wickedness. Someone or something is plotting iniquity and wickedness. Since it is prefaced with a spirit then we know there is a spirit behind this plotting. Top that off with the word religious and we have a pretty good idea of what their function is. Taking this a little further as it says in Ephesians 6:12 that they are in high places, it gives us a clue to their location. The words high places refers to an area above the sky:--celestial, (in) heaven (-ly), high. They operate in a celestial location. Therefore we can conclude that they are celestial spirits. Now we have more proof that they are heavenly beings that are wicked or fallen, evil angelic beings, plotting sins, iniquities and wickedness. It is a good possibility these beings were not part of Satans hierarchy before he fell, but the workers under the heirachy before the fall. Can an angel be evil? Yes. Psalms 78:49 says there are evil angels. PSALMS 78:49 49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. If God has holy angels that work for him, then so does Satan have fallen angels working with him. 1 PETER 3:22 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. Were there fallen angels that once were in the presence of God? Yes, and we find that in 2 Peter and Jude.

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2 PETER 2:4 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; JUDE 1:6 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Their function is questionable as the Old Testament refers to them as sons of God. It appears that they perform a duty and leave. They have a body of their own, and therefore do not inhabit bodies. There is a belief that the angels that kept not their first estate, were angels that were sent to teach fallen mankind righteousness. They took on the form of man, the appearance of man, and unfortunately, with that came the emotions of natural man. Genesis 6:2 calls them sons of God and we know they were moved with desires toward the daughters of men. These beings married into mankind and produced the giants that later tormented Israel. A lot of controversy hovers around who these angels are and one of the best teachings I have heard on this subject is by Perry Stone in his teaching, The Mystery of Fallen Angels, Giants and Evil Spirits. GENESIS 6:2,4 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the Sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. Holy angels would never violate Gods creation, therefore these were either unholy angels or angels that fell while on assignment from God, that mixed with mankind that would cause a pollution the race of man and eventually prevent Jesus from coming through a pure bloodline. We see their influence caused evil. Holy angels would only promote the oracles of God and His Word. The goal of Satan was to destroy man, and was not for the good of man. GENESIS 6:5 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was oniy evil continually. Noah was selected to survive the flood for two reasons. (1) He was just. He was righteous and walked with God. He had a relationship with God.

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AND (2) He was perfect in his generations. In other words, he had an unpolluted, without blemish, undefiled bloodline in which there was no contamination with fallen angels (sons of God). Angels and spirits are not necessarily the same thing. Unclean spirits are also referred to as demons and Matthew 12:43 - 45 gives us a list of the things unclean spirits or demons do that we do not find angels doing. Just one example is that demons need rest and angels do not. MATTHEW 12:43 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. It is because of the source of our battle that it is necessary for us to put on the whole armor of God. Every category listed in Ephesians 6:12 is of spiritual origin. None of the categories are flesh and blood. As we said earlier in this teaching, if the battle comes in the form of flesh and blood then we have the wrong source. Our fight is not with flesh and blood but against: (1) principalities, (2) powers, (3) rulers of the darkness of this world, (4) against spiritual wickedness in high places. These are the 4 categories we wrestle against. In addition to what we call the sport of wrestling, this word means to contend with, to struggle with mastery over and to throw down. Just as in the natural arena there are amateur and professional wrestlers, so are there in Gods body of believers. How much more effective is it when we allow God to teach and train us to be professionals. ARMOR OF GOD PART 7- THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT EPHESIANS 6:17 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: The sword of the Spirit appears to be the end of the list of armor but is not the last thing we equip ourselves with. Notice that the Bible is calling it a sword and not a butter knife or dagger. As we have been studying, different armor is used according to the distance the enemy is from us. There were long range weapons and short range ones. The enemy at a distance required projectile type weapons which were not effective in hand to hand combat. Try to

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fight off your enemy with a bullet in your hand. Put a sword in your hand and we have a whole different outcome. 1. SHAPES OF THE SWORD A. The Single Edged Sword Various shapes were given to swords according to their purpose. There is the single edged sword, which is used as a chopping weapon. The single edged sword was used most effectively by swinging it around and hitting the enemy with it. It could be curved or straight. The single edged sword was most effective for chopping and hacking. In the category of a single edged sword we find the root word of sword is also the same root word found in Machete. This type of sword chopped and hacked at the plant life that had grown around the area. There are times in our lives and in the lives of others that we need to use a single edged sword to hack and chop away at the obstacles that have overgrown in our path, causing us to loose sight of where we are or where we are going. Two people can chop away the underbrush faster than one. And when you get more than two, it clears faster and mobility becomes easier for all. B. The Two Edged Sword The Bible has much to say about the two-edged sword. It is referenced several times in the Old Testament. The two-edged sword was used for piercing and thrusting. It was used for forward either one in the process. It was just as effective going in as it was coming out. (If you feel you have put in all the words that you possibly can, then try pulling out the desired results.) Just to interject a piece of history here, the main city that manufactured premium quality sword blades was Damascus. The city was notable also for the manufacture and transshipment of damascened steel sword blades, which were exceptionally hard and resilient. A whole sermon could be preached here about the function of this city. Look at how many events in the Bible happened on the road to this place. HEBREWS 4:12 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. PSALMS 149:6 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;

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REVELATION 1:16 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. Lets go back and look again at Psalms 149:1-6. There is a great understanding of the power of God when we re-examine this scripture. 2. THE ROLE OF THE SWORD IN HISTORY The following is an excerpt taken from the Encarta Encyclopedia about the sword.. The sword has always been a personal weapon, effective only in hand-to-hand combat; as such, it was associated with individual distinction. Thus, swords of political and military leaders, nobles, and exceptional warriors frequently were ornamented, with hilts elegantly decorated (and sometimes bejeweled) and blades inlaid with gold and silver or forged so as to produce a watered effect after the damascene fashion. Symbolic importance also was often attached to the sword. In mythology and literature swords possessing supernatural qualities abound. These belonged to or were acquired by heroes and superior warriors. Oaths of honor or fealty commonly were taken on the sword, and sovereigns still confer knighthood by tapping the shoulder with a sword. To surrender ones sword has always been a token of defeat or submission, and the breaking of it a ceremony of degradation. 3. THE FOUNDATION OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE PSALMS 149:1-9 1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbre! and harp. 4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD. There are three levels of warfare represented here, and the foundation is built on praise and singing. Notice the way there is a change over in this Psalm from the beginning statements of the word let being used, to showing the one doing the praising what his

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accomplishments will be. We find these accomplishments being identified in the phrases that start with the word to. Four of the verses begin with the instruction let and three start with to. These are identifying the results. 1. The Level of Praise This level includes the singing of a new song the singing in the congregation (verse one), praise with the dance, praising with instruments (timbrel and harp) (verse three), the display of joyfulness in glory, loud singing in their personal intimate place with God (verse five), and it is to be full of exaltation in their mouth (verse six). 2. Transition Verse 6 is a transition verse. It goes from praise to putting a two- edged sword in their hands and then the result appears. 3. The Results The results of the praising of step one brings God into the picture to avenge those who came against you and the situations you have encountered. Kings and nobles are put into chains. In other words, Satan and his workers are bound when you praise. In verse 9 the final blow to the enemy is that God can execute his written judgment against the enemy and the GOOD NEWS is that he has given this favor of His to ALL the saints! If all the saints just realized this, the church would be more powerful than it is now. So what makes those who carried the two-edged sword so important that David would mention them in this Psalm in a transition verse? 4. THE THIRD LEVEL OF WARFARE Those who carried the sword were in the third stage of warfare. During the time of the Assyrians and Persians, attacks were made in three stages. First went the spearmen who formed a square eight to ten men deep. They advanced on the enemy and formed a hedge of protection for the interior men who were equipped with slings, darts and arrows. They would come out from behind this group of spearmen in intervals so that the firing of projectiles was continuous. They were followed by the masses of infantry who were equipped with swords, spears and shields. This is where the collision with the enemy occurred. Their success depended on the continuation of being drilled and disciplined. It was through these two features, being drilled and maintaining discipline, the keystone of their military power was formed. Their military techniques had to always be kept highly developed. The success or failure was in the hands of this third rank of approaching militia. THEY WOULD BE IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY.

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In the second century when the Romans began to enlist mercenaries (those who were hired to fight for money or other rewards), their power decreased and the Germanic people invaded their territories. They suffered great loss of lives and property because of the hirelings. Be careful of those who you enlist to help you in your battle. The Word has much to say about the hireling and how he runs from battles. God wants us to be warriors, not mercenaries. He wants us to fight with His weapons against the enemy because our heart is toward Him, not because we were paid to fill the position. The military vower of a nation was not in the hands of the archers or the spear throwers, but it was in the skill of the swordsmen. IF YOU ARE FIGHTING WITH THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, THEN YOU WILL BE FACE TO FACE WITH THE ENEMY. VICTORY OR DEFEAT DEPENDS ON YOUR ABILITY TO HANG ON TO AND NOT DROP THE SWORD (The Word). DONT CHANGE YOUR CONFESSION JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE FACE TO FACE WITH AN APPONENT. MAKE HIM CHANGE HIS! Many swords are mentioned in the Old and New Testament. These swords represented the strength of the individual or nations. There are multiple references to swords of men and of nations, but none is as powerful as the sword of the Spirit. JUDGES 7:18-20 18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 1 CHRONICLES 21: 28-30 28 At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshing floor of Oman the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. 29 For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon. 30 But David could not go before it to inquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD. EZEKIEL 32:11-12 11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee. 12 By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall, the terrible of the

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nations, all of them: and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed. 5. WHERE CAN I GET THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT? The sword of the Spirit is given by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives you this sword as He reveals the word of God to you, but you have to take the initiative to read the Word so He can reveal it. The word Spirit in this passage is defined in the Greek as a current of air, a blast of breath. Ephesians 6 says that the sword of the Spirit IS the word of God. The sword of the Spirit is the RHEMA OF GOD. it is the poured forth spoken revealed word of God. It is not the written word, but the word that is written spoken out, that is your sword. If you do not know you are winning, if you do not know what the written word says about you and your situation, you will not be able to fight with it. Knowing what God has said and putting breath behind it will cause it to be spoken out. You will begin to blast the enemy with the words you speak and win in the face of your enemy. What ever you do, do not drop this sword! Dropping your confession is certain doom. Compromising your confession is like a slow death. It is like holding the sword without a handle. Not only is it uncomfortable, but awkward in battle and painful in your hand. Your confession must be fully the Word of God. The revealed spoken Word of God will chop and hack away the thorns and obstacles in your path during the battle. When coupled with the strength of the unity of the Body of Christ, we become a spiritual brush hog and can clear the path faster and wider. We can get in the enemys face and send him running. No longer is he looking at infants holding a popgun in his face but he is now facing a cannon pointed at his head and the only thing on his mind will be how will I survive this one? Judgment is about to be executed and hes the target. No longer are you the victim, but he is. You have turned the tables on him with the Word of God. Now his doom is inevitable. Now your victory is secured. Youve been tested and found not to be a hireling, but a genuine warrior. Now you will understand what the Word means in a different light in the following passages. Is the word referring to warriors or hirelings? Hirelings lack dedication. JOHN 10 12,13 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.. 2 CORINTHIANS 10:3,4 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the

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weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) I TIMOTHY 1:18 18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; REVELATION 12:7-8 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 6. THE LOST HALF OF THE BATTLE In every battle there are either victories or defeats. You win or you loose. If you loose, then you are taken over by your opponent. But what do you do if you win? Many people are praying and getting victories over their situation when they dont give up. They pray, they bind, they loose, they dont change their confession no matter what they see and they have rejoiced when they see their victory. But they only got half of the victory. How can that be? you ask.. A person may have had cancer and suddenly the doctor declares them free of the disease. They have a victory over cancer, but that is all. Just getting free if cancer is a major victory, but what if I told you there was more, and you missed it. Would you be excited or angry with me? Heres what the Bible says in Luke. LUKE 11:20-23 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. 21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. In verse 20, casting out devils is being addressed. When Jesus was saying that casting out devils is proof that the kingdom of God is being demonstrated, he did not end with that statement as if to finish an event or thought. He continues in verse 21 with the same subject he addressed in verse 20, devils. In verse 21 he states that devils are like a strong man. He dwells in a place and keeps good there. (By the way, the goods he has in his palace are your goods, your parents goods, your grandparents goods, etc.)

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In verse 22, there is the introduction of someone called a stronger than he. That stronger than he is a believer that knows his rights, his authority and what he can and cannot do in Christ. When the stronger than he wins a victory over devils and overcomes him (for example, overcoming cancer), the word says, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. You took away Satans armor when you overcame him, exposed him as being the source of your sickness and defeated the evil report of sickness in your life, BUT you didnt get any spoils! You missed the most important thing God wanted you to have in the battle.. .the spoils! The taking of spoils is mentioned 204 times in the Bible and God never had a problem with any of it. NUMBERS 31:15 15 (For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.) Israel never overlooked the spoils when they went to battle. They not only defeated their enemies, but they took something from them too. Look at 2 Chronicles 14. 2 CHRONICLES 14:14,15 14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them. 15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem. They not only defeated their enemy, but they took something away from their enemy. You may have defeated Satan, but what did you take away from him? Anything? Did you take payment from him for all your medical bills he made you incur? Did you make him release any family members that may also be battling cancer? What about that car you had to put on hold because all your money was going to bills? Did you destroy the doctors report that your type of cancer is hereditary? WHAT SPOIL DID YOU TAKE? God is encouraging us to. TAKE SOMETHING! When Jesus died on the cross, he went to Sheol and TOOK SOMETHING! He took the keys of hell and of death. When he did that, souls were able to escape and graves opened up. Believe me, Satan would never have handed over those keys or souls if he had things his way. Jesus had to TAKE the keys. Why would Jesus even reference the keys if he didnt get them from his enemy? Look at the sequence. He was alive, then dead, then has the keys. Here is what the scriptures say in Matthew 27 and Revelation 1. MATTHEW 27:52,53 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

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53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. REVELATION 1:18 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. When Jesus won the battle at the cross, he then got the spoils. COLOSSIANS 2:14,15 14 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; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Even in our own court systems, when you win your court case, the judge always awards you with something that you have petitioned for. Judge Jesus wants to award you with spoils for winning your court case. You may have won a victory, but you lost half of it when you didnt take any spoils. Satan doesnt mind giving you a victory, but he does want to keep you ignorant of your ability to get spoils out of it. Let me tell you one more time, TAKE SOMETHING AWAY FROM HIM ONCE YOU WIN A BATTLE!! ! CONCLUSION In conclusion with this section, look at Revelation 17:14 again. Examine the statement they that are with him. If you are with him, he will overcome your enemy. If you are not going to be in it as a mercenary then he will call you called, chosen and faithful. What an honor to receive from God that he would call you to be with him when he makes war, because you have been found to be faithful. He didnt have to tell you, You stay home, I dont think you are the person for this battle. REVELATION 17:14 14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. DONT TRY TO OPERATE IN THIS REALM WITH BUTTER KNIFE WORD. THIS BATTLE IS NOT A PICNIC. ONCE YOU WIN, TAKE SOMETHING FROM YOUR ENEMY..

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