Lessons on Spiritual Warfare - Part 2

How the Strong Man Battles the Serpent - in us - and Our Part in the Battle

After the rather sobering reality of the three ways that the devil gains the legal rights to enslave us, it is time for some good news.  Gratefully, we look to our Saviour - our Strong Man (Gibbor) -Who is able to deliver us from every demonic stronghold, no matter how debilitating, no matter how strong.  No chain of enslavement is too mighty for His power to break. No satanic prison, born of our own sinful failures, can contain one who would seek freedom in Christ Yahshua!

Having examined the three chains Satan employs to our destruction, we find not only the motivation to seek freedom in Christ, but also the knowledge needed to prevent future enslavement.  As Paul admonished, 

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). 

Most Christians have been taught that all freedom happened at the Cross. Yet, for those who claim Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice, often their own victory-less, enslaved existence belies this teaching.  The Cross is definitely the key to freedom in all three phases. But, simply mustering up belief in the fact that Christ died for our sins is not in itself enough to free anyone. True belief is not only metaphysical; it must be accompanied by actions.  In fact, “faith” without the accompanying actions is not faith at all.

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:17-20).  

The demons certainly believe the truth. They know the Heavenly Father is God. They know Yahshua is the Saviour. But, all  this belief and knowledge does not work to their salvation. Demons believe and are lost because their belief is not made living through a transformed life.

Christians have been taught that simple belief is sufficient to set them free from Satan's chains. But this belief alone renders them unable, in a practical sense, to live victoriously. As we study the three stages to  freedom, we must remember that never does it just drop in our spiritual laps while we sit back in our proverbial easy chairs. We have a part to play in every phase of becoming free. Thus, in this chapter we will study the three phases we pass through to find complete freedom, and our own role in each of these stages.

If a person is planning to undergo an operation, there are three phases he passes through to find wellness. The first stage is the pre-operative period. During this phase, the patient must go through the necessary preparation to ensure the surgery’s success. Next, the person experiences the operation itself. And finally, there is a post-operative stage needed to bring the patient to full health.

An analogy of the three phases of an operation can enhance our understanding of how we become whole, spiritually, as well. But before we address each stage, let’s first look at the overall picture. The formula for total healing is found in James 5:13-16. We will be referencing this text several times in this booklet as it is the key to the “operation” phase of our spiritual healing. The operation phase of our spiritual healing process is called an anointing.

“Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of Yahweh: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and Yahweh shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:13-16).

There are several promises of what is to be gained through experiencing a biblical anointing:

1. We find salvation for sin-sick souls (James 5:15).

2. We are raised up and our sins are forgiven (James 5:15).

3. We are healed (James 5:16).

The word “healed,” as found in James 5:16, is from the Greek word iaomai, which means to be literally and figuratively healed, cured, and made whole.

Thus, this word not only applies to physical healing, but it also applies to spiritual healing.  The deeper meaning of this word translated as “healed” in English, is found in Matthew 13:15. Here, Christ laments Israel’s rejection of the healing (iaomai) He wishes to bestow upon them.

       “For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal (iaomai) them” (Matthew 13:15).

There are numerous examples in Scripture to demonstrate that Heaven’s form of healing addresses the total needs of the recipient. The fact that the healing went far deeper than the physical body is plainly portrayed in Christ’s own words, 

“...Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee… Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house” (Matthew 9:2-6).

We also find the connection between physical and spiritual wholeness stated in 3 John 1:2:

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”  

Thus, we find that the promise of healing contained in the biblical prescription for an anointing is all-encompassing.

God’s promises regarding the fruit of the biblical anointing are tremendous and very desirable to anyone seeking freedom and victory in Christ. There are still more benefits to an anointing, however. Consider the additional blessings the Heavenly Father bestows through this vital and sacred service:

· After a biblical anointing, the Holy Spirit will be with you more mightily than ever before.

· You will have taken a powerful step on the path of sanctification.

· Satan’s strongholds in your life (in the listed areas) will be completely broken.

· You will be free and clean in Jesus and will belong wholly to GOD in all the prayed-over areas that used to be satanic strongholds.

· You will then be ready to begin a mighty work for the Lord.

At God’s command, every Heaven-commissioned priest was always anointed (Leviticus 16:32) before he was given his priestly office. The kings of Israel were also anointed before they could take the throne (1 Kings 1:34). It was through this anointing that the recipient became enabled to carry out this holy and responsible office with the blessing of Heaven (1 Samuel 16:13). Thus, the anointing was a vital part of being set apart for holy use in Old-Testament Bible times.

In the New Testament, we are told that every child of God is called to serve Him as a king and a priest.

“And Yahshua hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:6).

Considering that every baptized follower of Christ is called to be both a king and a priest in His holy service, Christians have a 200% reason to be anointed.  In fact, if all Christians could see the numerous blessings the Heavenly Father has promised to bestow upon them through this service, they would gladly seek an anointing.  For an anointing is not optional for Christians, rather it is a vital part of our being set free from past sins and set apart for Heavenly service. 

Finally, there is a wonderful promise of the Bible that serves well as a “blanket” promise, covering any category for which you cannot find a direct Scripture.  It is found in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 

“And He said unto me, My Grace is sufficient for thee: for My Strength is made perfect in weakness...” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

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