All posts filed under: Spiritual Warfare

Sprirtual Warfare 101

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Part 4 Cultures Dark with the Occult There are three important features of the occult worldview and its degraded existence. Demonological explanations for all events and actions—good or bad—predominated. Occult idolatry and practices were the norm. Nations that practiced the occult also pursued other generic addictions, such as gluttony, drunkenness, varied forms of immorality, greed, blood thirst, and power. All the contemporary “causes” are in place in the OT, but the Scriptures never identify or address spirit inhabitants as the problem nor cast them out as the solution. The OT, as a voice into these demon-filled cultures, exhibits two striking features. It minimizes Satan. The OT maximizes human responsibility. Lifting the Curtain Every so often in the OT God lifts the curtain to show the spirit realities at work behind the scenes. Six major passages: Genesis 3:1-15 1 Samuel 16:13-23 1 Samuel 28:3-25 1 Kings 22:6-28 Job 1:6-2:10 Zechariah 3 Reblog from Between Two Worlds

Spritual Warfare 101

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Part 3 What Is Spiritual Warfare? Three competing visions vie for our allegiance: Capitulation to the spirit of the age by radically reinterpreting the Bible’s “spirit” realities as mythical projections of psychological, sociological, political, and medical phenomena. (Inadequate for all serious followers of Christ.) The demon deliverance ministries The “classic” Christian mode of spiritual warfare The “Ekballistic Mode” [EMM] of Spiritual Warfare An invented term to describe the demon-deliverance movement that might seem awkward at first. It is a grassroots practical theology that finds varied expression both in pastoral ministry and in methods of personal growth. It envisions the warfare of Christians as a battle against invading demons, either to repel them at the gates or eject them after they have taken up residence. Obviously based on the key assumption that demons of sin reside within the human heart. The “Classic Mode” of Spiritual Warfare Evangelism, discipleship, and personal growth. Follows the pattern of Jesus facing Satan in the desert. The textbooks are the Psalms and Proverbs, the ways that Jesus addressed moral evil, and …

Spiritual Warfare 101

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Part 2 Powlison’s Intentions Truly all Christians believe in spiritual warfare; we all believe that Christ delivers us from evil. Powlison seeks to answer two crucial points of confrontation regarding spiritual warfare. The first question engages how we understand the Christian life. What are we fighting? How does the evil one actually work? How does he exert—or attempt to exert—his dominion? The second question engages our practice of the Christian life. How should we fight? What is the way God delivers us—and tells us to deliver ourselves and each other—from bondage to the devil? What is the mode of warfare? Our Common Ground The large majority of Christians give assent to four propositions, whatever our other differences. We are involved in spiritual warfare. Jesus Christ is the triumphant Deliverer and King. The modern age deadens people to the reality of spiritual warfare. Errors and excesses occur in deliverance ministries. If deadly rationalism saps spiritual vitality on the one hand, the exorcistic mentality spawns mutant spiritualities on the other. Both the disenchanted world of modern rationalism and …

Spiritual Warfare 101

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Part 1 Reblogged from Between Two Worlds Several years ago I read David Powlison’s book, Power Encounters: Reclaiming Spiritual Warfare. (Sadly, no longer in print—though I believe a second edition may be forthcoming.) I found it extremely helpful and persuasive. I took notes, and thought it might be worth posting them here. Reclaiming: Spiritual Warfare “A great deal of fiction, superstition, fantasy, nonsense, nuttiness, and downright heresy flourishes in the church under the guise of ‘spiritual warfare’ in our time…. But the warfare we need to wage engages and implicates our humanity, rather than bypassing it for a superspiritual, demonic realm.” Reasons for the Urgency We live in a society where the modern agenda has largely failed. We live in a society that has become increasingly pagan. Missions, anthropology, and modern communications make us aware of the practices and beliefs of animistic cultures. We live in a society of high-profile bondage to “addictions.” Bizarre or troubled behavior, often related to experiences of extreme abuse, seems to be appearing more frequently. Many people have sometimes experienced an …

The secret of the Scarecrow

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The Secret of the Scarecrow! I don’t know about you, but when I hear the word harvest it makes me happy. I don’t know much about farming but I am crazy about harvest – am crazy about the outcome of seed sowing. Don’t bore me to death about fertilizers, and watering and pruning and keeping out the weeds; just tell me when it’s time to pluck that peach, slice that mango or roast the corn. Just tell me about the harvest. In the bible I am aware though, that one has to work hard or invest time and energy to reap a harvest. The bible say that there is time for everything – a time to plant and a time to harvest (Ecclesiastes 3:2). That God makes everything beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). In other words it is in God’s plan to make you productive in every sphere of your life. For the pastor he wants effectiveness in his personal, spiritual, vocational life. For the business man/woman He has planned success and productivity. For the student He wants you …

What in the world does the devil want with me?

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He wants to “sift you as wheat.” What that means is that: – he wants to expose everything that could bring shame to you and the name of Jesus – and accuse you before God. A. Satan, the devil, wants to paralyze your life. Satan is the author of confusion and fear, and he will try to use both to keep you from living a victorious life. B. He wants us to be lukewarm concerning specific subjects — divorce, desecration of the Lord’s Day, drinking, gambling, fornication, homosexuality, etc. C. He tries to disrupt our convictions. The Devil wants to still your tongue in religious matters yet loosen it in other things. D. He gets angry when you are faithful to Christ. The Devil cannot throw your soul into hell unless you allow him to, but he can cause you trouble here if you do not combat him with the Word of God, our mighty sword. E. He wants you to stir up trouble with your pastor, in your church, and in your home. Satan does not …