Last time we looked at the devil and reminded ourselves of four truths:
The devil is a liar
The devil is a slanderer
The devil has power but no authority
The devil is completely defeated at the cross.
We mentioned last time that the battles we now fight are those which centre around mopping up operations, although the victory over sin and death has been one.
This foundation will take us a little further this morning.
1. What is the Battle For?
Over the years I have heard much said about spiritual warfare and the plan of the enemy to rob from Christians. I have heard that the enemy wants to trick you out of your happiness, possessions, relationships and so on. Then we leap into 'spiritual warfare',' binding and loosing unseen spirits who somehow want to destroy our way of life.
Whilst there are times that the battle seems intensely personal (which we will come to) the reason for spiritual warfare is not personal comfort. Not primarily.
In the West we have made the battle about affluence not influence, contentment not conquest, material gain not Kingdom growth.
One of the passages that is often quoted around spiritual warfare is this:
Daniel 10: 10:-14 (1-14 for context):
A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. [11] He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. [12] Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. [13] But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. [14] Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."
Daniel is in prayer. He is in prayer for his nation and he, remember, along with them is exiled captivity in Babylon.
He has a vision of Jesus (verses 1-9) that has him trembling on hands and knees. He then has an angel deliver a message to him.
The prince of Persia is only mentioned in Daniel 10, a highly apocalyptic (and therefore at least partially symbolic) section of the book of Daniel. The prince of Persia is a reference to an evil spiritual entity that wielded authority over the ancient kingdom of Persia.
The prophet Daniel had received a troubling vision concerning a great war (Daniel 10:1). He went into a three-week period of mourning, fasting, and prayer.
In response to Daniel’s prayer, God sent a heavenly messenger to explain the vision. However, the messenger was delayed for those same three weeks.
Later, the angel speaking to Daniel predicts further fighting: “Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince)” (verses 20–21).
Taking this passage at face value, it seems that the prince of Persia is a fallen angel who in some sense had authority or influence over the physical kingdom of Persia. In Daniel 10, the prophet is praying about the future of his people and their exile in Persia. A heavenly angel is dispatched with the answer, but a demonic “prince of Persia” obstructs the messenger. This action would make sense, as the divine answer involves the overthrow of the Persian Empire.
The angelic messenger finally gets some help from the archangel Michael, who is apparently the prince (or one of the princes) of Israel in the angelic realm (Daniel 10:13, 21).
Then the angelic messenger says he will face even more spiritual warfare, returning to fight against the prince of Persia. After that, he will face another spiritual enemy, the prince of Greece (Daniel 10:20).
We know from history (and as was prophesied in Daniel) that Greece would be the next world power after Persia, and that Greece would dominate Israel for a time.
In this passage, three spiritual entities are mentioned in relation to three earthly nations: the prince of Persia, the prince of Greece, and the prince of Israel (Michael). This is alluded to in the New Testament, which we shall come to later As the New Testament reminds us, (Ephesians 6:12).
It seems that, as events play out on earth, there is corresponding activity in the spiritual realm.
Whether or not this spiritual prince of Persia’s fate was tied to that of the physical Persian Empire is unknown. We do know that, if his job was to keep the Persian Empire in a place of dominance over the nation of Israel, he failed.
Then Daniel hears the voice of Jesus. He gets the answer for the vision for his nation.
Here's a couple of things I want to mention. I don't have the time to develop the apocalyptic themes here, but there are some basic things we need to understand.
Daniel is engaged in spiritual warfare but not for himself, for his nation! The emphasis of this prayerful prophet's life is to intercede for his nation. He is not concerned for his own comfort and safety. He has been thrown to the lions in the past, yet God protected him, but he was still thrown in.
An angel is resisted by the devil's hoards for 21 one days. So why does it take 21 days to get past this opposition?
A: at that theme is it pre-Cross; the enemy is still in authority over the earth in a way we may not fully understand -- but the Fall in Eden has brought consequences.
B: in describing this resistance the angel sent to Daniel refers to the Prince of the Persian Kingdom (13). This is a title of a principality or power at that time that was fully operational.
C: there appears to be angelic beings who preside over the affairs of the nations and influence the decisions of State, (Zechariah 6:1-4) and Cyrus is being manipulated by these against Israel's people.
D: there is a delay to the answer of 21 days because of what is happening in the spiritual realm. This should reassure us. The enemy may have the power to delay a destiny but he does not have the authority to destroy it.
E: the prayer was heard the moment it was prayed; heaven is open to the prayers of God's people.
F: now the enemy is disarmed (Colossians 2:15). Delays now may not always be to do with what is happening in the spiritual world.
G: when the answer comes to the prophet the answer is not for his comfort but for the nation.
The battle then is for nations, nations made of souls, the unsaved. This is why the battle is always the most intense around the salvation of people.
We also need to remind ourselves that there is more with us than there are against us. Yes, there are things unseen in the spiritual realm, but sometimes God will give us glimpse of these.
When Elisha and his servant Gehazi were surrounded by the Arameans, because Elisha had been warning the king of Israel of their intentions, we read this interesting incident:
2 Kings 6: 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. 16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Yes there may be spiritual activity of the enemy. But there’s more with us than there are with them! We need to remind ourselves that He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)
So what is the victory that has been one for us? We use the word victory as a catch-all phrase, but actually the victory for us is over sin, over death, over an eternal destruction, and in their place we have a relationship with Jesus and God and the Spirit, we have the promise of eternal life and the privilege of living and ruling with Christ in a new heaven and a new earth. Because that victory is distant in our minds we have made the battle about earthly, temporary things - it is not.
2. Where’s the Battle Fought?
The battle is being fought in three realms. Earth. Spiritual. Mind.
Ephesians 6:12: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Earthly battles:
Have you ever noticed that problems and conflicts often come wrapped in flesh and blood! We are not wrestling against flesh and blood. People are not the enemy!
Paul reminds us that the way a battle presents itself is not always going to be the way that the battle is won.
Now we need to be careful here - not everyone who disagrees with you, has an opinion, or argues with you is under the influence of the demonic or some principality. People are allowed to disagree with you! That does not mean that they are resisting the Lord's anointed (1 Samuel 24:6).
How do we know when the battle is spiritual and not just relational?
- the conflict is out of their character, they just seem to have flipped.
- the conflict is unexpected, nothing has been brewing behind the scenes.
- the conflict is around salvation, theirs or another family members.
- the conflict after prayer dissipates; your personal prayer.
We also need to recognise that their minds and spiritual insight has been clouded, even blinded, by the enemy:
2 Corinthians 4:4: The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
We are not told who the god of this age is, perhaps another principality or power, but we are told what the affects are: blindness.
How to you lead a blind man? Not by shouting, disagreeing of inferring lack of intelligence. You lead them by gently guiding, without anger, into the truth of Jesus’ love for them (1 Peter 3:15-16).
Spiritual battles:
The battle is fought on earth but there are spiritual implications.
We also need to realise the power of binding and loosing. This idea is based upon Jesus’ words found in Matthew’s gospel to Peter at the revelation that Jesus is indeed the Christ:
Matthew 16: 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Binding and loosing is also mentioned in the issues surrounding relationship breakdown and dealing with unrepentant people in Matthew 18:18. There is the power of agreement over issues that mean these issues can never usurp the agenda of a church again (Matthew 18:19).
In Matthew 16 Jesus promises Peter and the Church Keys of the Kingdom that will bind on earth and bind in heaven, that will loose on earth and loose in heaven.
This is where there is the responsibility of the the salt and light in the earth (Matthew 5: 13-16) to show its influence. Not just in joining pressure groups or doing social action, although these are vital too (Micah 6:8). We need to be exercising spiritual authority of the Keys of the Kingdom in prayer!
Remember I pointed out that Daniel's prayer was heard the day he prayed it. He did not know this. He kept praying until the answer came, adding fuel to the battle.
Also note this: heaven was open to his prayer; God sent the answer. The language that says the heavens above us are closed because there are principalities and powers is wrong. The prayers of the saints override anything the enemy wants to achieve! It's loosed on earth, it's loosed in heaven! That's a governmental authority that is given to the Church.
Just because the UK may be artificially governed by a principality (which has power) does not mean the prayers we pray for our nation, for our loved ones, for revival, are not heard for the principality has no authority over those prayers!
We do not need to "punch through' the barrier in the heavenly realm - God's angel armies do that according to Daniel 10!
Remember the enemy might delay your destiny but he cannot destroy it! That is why he uses lies, slander and conniving trickery to try and get you to give up on it! Don't, angels have been dispatched. The Holy Spirit is present with you!
You're winning even when it looks like your'e loosing!
Mind battles:
I think the battle is won or lost in the mind before the fight has begun sometimes. We have made faith all about the heart but it is about the mind too!
We will return to the armour of God next time but I have to mention this today:
Ephesians 6:17: Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The helmet of salvation speaks of the protection God gives to the mind. In the NT analogy here we need to understand that an earthly enemy might be swinging a broadsword, which was about 3-4 feet long, double edged, and would be used by horseback riders (like cavalrymen) to split the skull or even decapitate. The helmet in the natural would deflect that blow.
This helmet belongs to those who are already saved! It is not for the unsaved or means just get saved. It is for the believer who takes up the fight.
The attack on the mind in this way is often for the enemy to cause the believer to question their assurance of salvation or to doubt God's word. The two edges to the enemy's attack on the mind are always discouragement and doubt.
Another way the Bible describes protecting the mind is to gird it up:
1 Peter 1:13 (NKJV): Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The NIV says "prepare your minds for action."
The idea here is one of getting read for a race. Athletes would hook their tunics up between their legs and tuck them into their belt. Soldiers would do the same too. It was to help protect the sensitive reproductive areas.
The mind is a reproductive area of thought, creativity and vision. It needs to be protected, renewed, transformed in Christ Jesus (Romans 12:2). Allowing our minds to be filled with rubbish, aimless thinking, to dwell on sinful desires, makes us unfit for battle.
Wrapping this up:
So prayer in spiritual warfare is vital. Not shouty, I-need-the-devil-to-hear-me-prayer, for prayers are said to God, not to the enemy.
We have a governmental authority, which when the church is in agreement, releases blessings over the nation and on us (Ps.133).
Our battles can be fought in different realms, but they should always be bathed in love and with the desire to see salvation come to our friends and nation.
Next time: presumptuousness, binding strong man, the armour of God.
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