SPIRITUAL WARFARE
October 9, 2022
Guest Pastor Harry Thomas this morning referenced Matthew 16: 18 “…and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. He prophesied to this body saying, “and upon this rock I will build Jubilee”.
- This scripture has special meaning for those of us who are fortunate enough to be connected to this city. There is a destiny for “the church” in this city that is above and beyond what may be seen in other places.
- We have the inheritance of the name, Little ROCK, and the upcoming move of God will have deep roots and special anointings for the church here which will have far-reaching effects.
We must, therefore, take notice of the remainder of that scripture, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”.
- The usual purpose for gates is to keep things out, and to allow entry only to those who are accepted.
- So, if “the gates of hell shall not prevail”, then the only way that happens is if the church is coming against the “gates of hell”.
- Gates don’t move….we do.
This calls for us to be engaged in spiritual warfare, but before we embark on such a mission, there are things to be considered.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Unlike worldly military tactics:
- We do NOT initiate a fight with the enemy.
- We do NOT go to battle when the enemy tries to engage us.
- We ONLY fight when God calls us to battle.
If we give in to 1. or 2. then the enemy will take every opportunity to keep our attention on him, to disrupt our rest and peace, and to steal our sleep at night. If the enemy comes against us, a simple rebuke will suffice.
James 4: 7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
One of my favorite stories is about Lester Sumrall, who awakened one night to demons moving his bed across the room. He simply said, “Put it back”, and laid back down to sleep. He had the wisdom to know that God had not called this battle and the enemy was trying to rob him of rest and sleep. Let us be so wise.
When God calls the battle, THEN it’s time to storm the gates of hell.
PREPARATION
We don’t know when God may call us to battle, so like the Boy Scout motto, we must always “Be Prepared”.
Ephesians 6: 11, 13-18 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil… Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for the saints;”
- Put on the armor of God daily. Immerse yourself in Jesus.
- Gird your loins with truth.
John 1: 17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
- Put on the breastplate of righteousness.
Romans 5: 21 “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
- Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 2: 14 “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;”
- Take the shield of faith.
Galatians 2: 16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
- Put on the helmet of salvation.
I Thessalonians 5: 9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Take the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.
John 1: 14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
2. Stand. What does this mean, and how do we do it? Here are some examples. I’m sure you can find more if you search the Scriptures.
- Walk.
Jeremiah 6: 16 “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls…”
- Speak.
Acts 5: 20 “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
- Pray.
Mark 11: 25 “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
- Rejoice.
Romans 5: 2 “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
- Remember.
I Corinthians 15: 1-2 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.”
- Watch.
I Corinthians 16: 13 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
“quit you like men” translated from the Greek means “to act like a man”.
3. Pray and watch for the answers to your prayers.
- Pray with understanding.
John 15: 7 “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
I John 5: 15 “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
- Pray in the spirit.
I Corinthians 14: 2 “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”
- Pray for protection for yourself, your family, your home, your church, your city, and your nation.
Isaiah 54: 17 “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”
Proverbs 18: 10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
Additionally, Harry Thomas prophesied, “There is authority here. There is dominion here. There is glory here”.
- Definitions of authority.
- Power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior
Mark 1: 27 “And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him’.”
- Freedom granted by one in authority
Luke 9: 1 “And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases.
- Convincing force
Luke 10: 19 “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”
- An individual cited or appealed to as an expert
John 16: 13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
2. Definitions of dominion.
- Supreme authority
Ephesians 1: 20-21 “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.”
- Absolute ownership
Colossians 1: 16 “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him.”
- The land that belongs to a ruler
Daniel 7: 14 “And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”
3. Definitions of glory.
- Praise, honor, or distinction extended by common consent
II Corinthians 3: 18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
John 17: 22 “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.”
- A state of great gratification or exaltation
Hebrews 1: 3 (ESV) “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of this nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
- A height of prosperity or achievement
I Corinthians 2: 7 “ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.”
- A ring or spot of light
Isaiah 60: 1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”
- Something marked by beauty or resplendence
Revelation 21: 11 “Having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.”
What powerful words to have spoken over us. Lord, grant us wisdom in utilizing the authority and dominion that you have placed here, and as Harry Thomas encouraged us, let us pursue and grab hold of your glory as it passes through our midst.
