September 8, 2012
Thought that I would share the most commonly searched topics on my blog.
| Topic | Views |
|---|---|
| Spiritual warfare | 172 |
| God | 171 |
| Strongholds | 158 |
| Truth | 156 |
| The Flood, The Flood | 156 |
| How to rebuke demons, casting out demons | 155 |
| What caused the flood? | 153 |
| Spirituality | 148 |
| Theology | 147 |
Source: WordPress Stats. (2012).
December 17, 2007
We’ve established that a demonic stronghold is a term that can be broadly used to describe demonic control or domination of places, people (like the man possessed with the legion of devils) or things. It relates to any sphere of control or opposition of demons to the truth that is held by God or against God Himself.
The Bible is filled with examples, some of which I had never seen in that light before. Here they are:
* Adam and Eve – the stronghold was disobedience to the word of God, His authority. They overcame by the blood of the lamb (symbolized by the shedding of animals) and the prophetic word promising redemption through the seed that would crush the devil’s head.
* Moses – fought against a stronghold of bondage (slavery) and idolatry/witchcraft symbolized by the power (limited) of the magicians. He overcame by the prophetic word and the demonstration of a greater power, revealing God as terrible man of war (Ex 15: 3) . The demonstration of the power of God will always overcome demonic strongholds.
* Shadrach, Mesach and Abednego also opposed idolatry, arrogance and the antichrist spirit which were represented by the ” high thing” that Nebuchadnezzar built and commanded the leaders to worship. They overcame by testifying about God’s ability to deliver and by the revelation of Jesus in the fire.
I believe that the demon behind the idol was an antichrist spirit, causing Jesus Himself to come forth to mock it. This led to Nebuchadnezzar commanding all of his subjects to serve God.
* Joshua (Jehovah is salvation) opposed the demons of Canaan by taking possession of their territory in aggressive warfare, making a mockery of their kings and princes. He was led into battle by the Lord Himself, Captain of the Host of the Lord, as revealed in Josh 5: 13-15 and Rev 19: 11-14. He is a forerunner showing us how merciless the saints should be to the demons against which we fight.
We will need to pull down some strongholds by taking possession of some enemy territory e.g cities, arts, entertainment etc. I’ve written extensively on the topic of spiritual warfare under the catogeries spiritual warfare, Jesus the Son of God, roles in the early church and invite you to take a look.
* Esther and Mordecai– they opposed the stronghold of hate/ethnic cleansing and pride that operated through Haman (whose name means magnificent). They overcame through prayer, fasting and a strategic manoeuvre by Esther the Queen in which Haman was exposed.
When I come back, I will share a few other examples. Remember that these saints’ testimonies are written for our examples. We too are more than conquerors. Blessings!
December 17, 2007
I was led to write more about the devil and his angels and specifically about “pulling down their strongholds”, as taught by Apostle Paul. A stronghold is a castle, a fortress or place from which an army launches its attack. For example, Rev 18: 2 described Babylon as a demonic strong hold, calling it “… the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”
Here are some biblical terms that describe demonic strongholds:
* power of darkness – Col 1: 13
* dominion of iniquity, sin, death – Ps 119: 33; Rom 6: 14; Rom 6: 9
* works of the flesh – Gal 5: 19-21
* works of unrighteousness – Rom 1: 29
* idolatry which is equated with demon worship in scriptures – Ps 106: 33-37; Zech 10: 2; Deut 32: 17; 1 Cor 10: 19-20
* fear of death – Heb 1: 14, 15
* power of the air – Eph 2: 2 (satan has a stronghold here as we learnt from Daniel).
* spirit of disobedience/obey not the gospel – Col 3: 6; 1 Thes 1: 8.
* forms of godliness with no power of God/religious spirits – 2 Tim 3: 5
* imaginations – 2 Cor 10: 5. These are reasonings which are hostile to the Christian faith and would include ideologies and philosophical teachings such as evolution, communism, Islam etc.
* every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God – 2 Cor 10: 5. The root word in the Greek refers to something that is lifted up or exalted in opposition to God.
I believe that this could refer to any spirit that opposes the knowledge of God in any form. This was the plight of Lucifer before he fell. His heart was lifted up in pride because of his beauty and he felt that he was God.
Another example is found in Paul’s discourse in Romans 1: – where he taught about high things that exalted themselves against the knowledge of God. Anything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God will be reflected in ideologies and lifestyles in which people:
* refuse to acknowledge the truth of God (Rom 1: 18-20);
* refuse to glorify God (Rom 1: 21)
* refuse to be thankful (Rom 1: 21)
* become vain/foolish/empty in their imaginations (Rom 1: 21)
* practice idolatry and (Rom 1: 23)
* engage in sexual perversion such as homosexuality (Rom 1: 26-27).
* practice unrighteousness which is contrary to God (Rom 1: 29-32)
In the upcoming post I will show examples of real strongholds from biblical examples and how the saints opposed and overcame them. Until!
December 17, 2007
I’ve been speaking about some of the mysteries of the faith that were taught by the apostles. Spiritual warfare is another important mystery and I will speak about it from another perspective.
The question is, “How do we rebuke the devil and his angels?” Here are some keys:
1. BIND THEM
Jesus taught us that “whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Mt 16: 19).
Can this be done? Yes, binding fastens something in chains, according to the Greek translation. It cripples the activity of demons even as they crippled the woman who was bound for 18 years (Lk 13: 16). Here is what Rev 20: 1-3 teaches for our example:
Rev 20: 1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
2. CAST THEM OUT
Jesus did so in His ministry on earth. Demons would cry out in fear at His appearance, saying that He would torment them. Here is the account of Luke 8:
Luk 8:27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
Luk 8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
Luk 8:29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
Luk 8:30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
Luk 8:31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep
The deep is not the sea, but ä’-büs-sos – the bottomless pit or the abode of demons, also described in Rev 20: 3. When casting a devil out, don’t let it wander up and down to enter into other people, but bind it in chains and cast it back to the bottomless pit. Jude says that they are “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (Jude 1: 6).
3. PULL DOWN THEIR STRONGHOLDS
Demons inhabit strongholds or places from which they launch attacks. Paul taught the believers that they must use spiritual weapons to pull down demonic strongholds. These include:
* the blood of the lamb and the word of His testimony (Rev 12: 11). The word of Jesus’ testimony is the prophetic word. When we plead the blood and use the prophetic word – the scriptures or any personal prophecy, we oppose and stop demonic activity (1 Tim 1: 18; Rev 19: 10)
* Praise and worship as in Paul and Silas’ testimony in Acts 16 and David’s in Psalm 149 in which he said that our high praises will bind kings and execute judgement on the heathen.
* Jesus made an open show of the devil in His death (Col 2: 15). Remind the devil about Jesus’ victory at Calvary. That embarrasses him. This is the strategy that lawyers use when they cite previous cases in which judgement was made on legal matters.
4. REBUKE THEM IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
When a rebuke is uttered in the name of the Lord, it ceases the activity of the thing or person being rebuked. For example, the winds and waves ceased when Jesus rebuked them and satan had to release Moses’ body to Prince Michael. This is confirmed in the scriptures:
Isa 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Blessings!
June 26, 2007
Greetings to the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Angels and Saints in Christ. As I read about the spiritual warfare between the saints and the forces of darkness, I have come to the conclusion that our victory is already assured because all power and authority belong to Almighty God. In fact, God calmly says this in His word and always demonstrates His power and authority over the forces of evil. Here are some scriptures that will help to encourage you in the battle against evil:
– 1Cr 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
– 2Cr 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place
– Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen
– Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
– Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen
– Phl 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.
– Isa 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
God rules and reigns. Blessings!
June 21, 2007
Greetings to the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, angels and saints in Christ. Yesterday I wrote extensively about Daniels’ visions and their implications, since God revealed to him and to us that demonic strongholds do reign over nations. Deliverance comes with prayer and fasting which releases angelic hlp from the heavenlies.
THE DEMONIC STRONGHOLD IN DANIEL’S VISION EXERTED CONTROL IN THE EARTH THROUGH HUMAN VESSELS
As I meditated on Daniel’s visions, the Lord progressively revealed several truths to me. Firstly, demons exert their power through people on earth. The demonic stronghold of the Kings of Mede and Persia, represented by the ram, exerted their power on earth through Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian. The prince of Grecia, who could represent the antichrist and false prophet who Daniel repeatedly sees in the visions. It may sound strange, but there is a demonic transfer of power and death in the earth through human vessels. I remember some years ago, a reggae artiste proclaiming gun violence held a concert in St. Vincent. There was an outbreak of gun crimes after his departure. How did this happen? Demons were released from his mouth as he sang. Where is the biblical evidence? One example is found in 1 Kings 22: 1 – 37. In this event, Ahab, the wicked king of Israel wanted to go to war. He held a conference with his false prophets in order to enquire what to do. In order to confound him and cause his reign to end by his death, God gave permission to a lying spirit to go out and tell him to go to war. Prophet Micaiah warned him about what the Lord had done to him, but Ahab refused to listen because he hated God. Therefore he died. There is another example in the book of Revelation 16: 13,14 in which John said that he “saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty”. In other words, they spoke words which released demonic spirits with the power to work miracles. We cannot underestimate the power of satan to work miracles through lying spirits in the lives of humans. There is much more to be said, but I will end this segment here.
THE DEMONIC STRONGHOLD INCREASES ITS POWER BASE TO OPPOSE OUR INTERCESSION
Yesterday I spoke of how the prince of Persia increased resistance to the Lord’s messenger by collaborating with other demons in the stronghold called the kings of Persia. I want to show us an interesting truth about the response of demons to our intercession. This was revealed initially in Daniel 9: 21. This was the first documented evidence of Daniel’s intercession for the deliverance of the Jews from captivity. As he interceded, Gabriel flew swiftly to help him. There was no interference to the angel’s mission. As Daniel stepped up his intercession with extended prayer and fasting, the demonic opposition to the angel’s mission became ferocious. An examination of the book of Daniel will reveal that Daniel and his friends had always experienced some degree of opposition under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar and outright disrespect of the Lord God under the reign of Belshazzar who did not learn from his father’s errors. However, while the principalities were working against them, they became extremely aggravated when Daniel began to intercede for the return of the Jews to their nation and ultimately the worship of the true and living God. They were the only nation in the earth that worshipped God, so the aim of the strongholds of Mede and Persia was to totally quell the worship of the Lord God in the earth. However, we need not despair, because the Lord has mighty angels that help us to win the warfare in the heavenlies when we pray and fast.
Blessings until!
Power of Prayer, Praise and the Word of God Blogging Tutorials | Don Spohn on The River Pison – Where… |
Power of Prayer, Praise and the Word of God 