Sermon Central
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Conflict Within The Spirit World
Contributed by Richard Cook on Aug 18, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: This sermon illustrates from the book of Daniel that a spiritual battleground exists beyond the normal plane of existence.
1In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. 2In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. 3I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled…..
12Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia……
20Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. 21But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
Daniel 10:1-3,12-13,20-21
The book of Daniel outlines a spiritual battleground that exists beyond the normal plane of existence. One of the biggest coups of the kingdom of darkness has won, is to have convinced many in this world that either Satan and his demon horde does not exist at all except in the fancy of the imagination, or that they are more powerful than they really are. I heard a woman state the other day that most sicknesses are caused by spiritual problems and demons.
I believe that is an misstatement or a misunderstanding of the facts.
The biblical fact is that while Adam and Eve were in the garden sickness did not exist. They did not get the flu, cancer, aids, heart disease or any of the other sicknesses and diseases we have today. It was because of sin that sickness and disease and death was introduced into Adamic society.
All sickness is a result of sin, but not our sin
All disease is a result of sin, but not our sin
All death is a result of sin, but not our sin
Sickness disease and death are a natural occurrence because of the curse that was brought upon mankind because of the sin of Adam and Eve.
30For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
1 Corinthians 11:30 speaks of many being sickly and dying, but the reason here was the judgment brought on because they dishonored the Lord Supper or Communion.
Some sickness, disease, and death are brought on by personal or group spiritual issues but as far as I see in the New Testament it is an existing but small issue. And by attributing more than is reality to demons and spiritual issues we find things happening like happened just a little while back.
An 8 year old autistic boy died at the hands of a pastor in Detroit trying to exorcise the demons that caused him to be sick, yet never really existed. Sick because of the introduction of sin in the fall, YES!
Sick because of demon forces that needed to be cast out. NO!
This sadly falls under the category of Satan being more powerful than he really is!
Can children be possessed by Demons and need to be cast out? YES!
38Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. 39And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. 40So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”
41Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.
Children were demon possessed and in need of deliverance during Jesus earthly ministry, and all Jesus did was rebuke the spirit, because he had authority over spirits
He didn’t have to work up a sweat
He didn’t have to say Jesus 47x real fast
He had true discernment and spiritual authority
As a result of this disaster in Detroit, there could be people that will never come to God because of the misapplication of spiritual warfare.
