Discerning of Spirits- The Nature of the Enemy
Continue series on Discerning of Spirits.
1st week- The Gift of Discernment
Last week- Eliminating False Discernment
This week- The Nature of the Enemy
Discerning the Nature of the Enemy
Bible- names of people/places have significance and communicate something about that person/place.
What are some names for people/places/meaning?
*Gen 22:14 Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide (Jehovah Jireh)
* Gen 35:15 So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel. (house of God)
*Jacob- supplanter
*Esau->Edom- red- sold birthright for red stew
You can see this more clearly- look at names of God.
What are some names for God/meaning?
*Elohim- the Creator
*El Shaddai- the all Sufficient One
*Adonai- Lord, Master
*Jehovah Rapha- the Lord that heals
*Jehovah Shalom- the Lord is Peace
*Jehovah Raah- the Lord is My Shepherd
*Jehovah Jireh- the Lord will provide
*Jehovah- Nissi- the Lord is My Banner
*Jehovah Tsidkenu-the Lord our Righteousness
*Jehovah Shammah- the Lord is there
In the spiritual realm- good/evil spiritual entities.
Eph 6:12-13
In the spirit realm- the name of an entity also often corresponds to its nature/activity.
Many people seem bent on giving names to angels, demons, spiritual powers.
I have no doubts, from the Bible, that they have names- their name alone is not what is significant.
What is significant is the nature of the spiritual entity.
Once we uncover their nature- no longer a need for a name- because we know what we are dealing with.
In the Bible we find reference to unclean spirits.
Unclean spirits- general name that distinguishes demonic from angelic spirits.
To defend ourselves against- unclean spirit- helpful to understand its specific nature- spirit of lust/greed.
Mark 5:6-9
As we better understand the nature/tactics of our enemy, we can better defend ourselves.
How do we defeat the enemy?
Our victory always begins with the name that is above all names, and that is Jesus Christ.
Phil 2:9-11
Understanding the nature/significance of the crucified Christ is key to freedom from demonic oppression.
We asked ourselves- How do we defeat the enemy?
1. FOLLOW the LAMB!
Who is the lamb??
Rev 5:11-12
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne …
12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." NASU
We must understand the order of things before we run out and attack spiritual powers/principalities.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. NASU
The armies of heaven always- FOLLOWED the lamb.
We must be followers of Christ, understanding who we are in Christ and what He is doing in our lives.
2. Understand God’s Highest Purpose
What is the purpose of spiritual warfare?
Many times we approach spiritual warfare simply to relieve something that is stressing/oppressing us.
However, the purpose of all aspects of spirituality, warfare included, is to bring us into the image of Christ. (Francis Frangipane)
Objective of our faith is that you and I would be conformed into the image/likeness of Jesus Christ.
God delivered the Jewish nation out of bondage in Egypt so they could enter the Promised Land.
We are delivered out of sin, not so we can live for ourselves, but so we might become Christ like.
In a spiritual battle, if our nature does not change, we will find ourselves back in the same problem
that caused our difficulties in the first place.
Many areas where we struggle spiritually will not change until we allow the character of Christ
to be formed in our hearts.
God wants us free from demonic oppression- why?
Rom 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; NASU
Jesus was to be the first of many brethren with a character like His.
Lk 11:34-36
Allowing the light of God to shine in every area of our lives frees us from many satanic attacks.
1 Jn 5:18 We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. NASU
Francis Frangipane …
We must realize that it is not Satan who defeats us; it is our openness to him.
To subdue the devil we must …
Psa 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. NASU
The battle the church is in w/the enemy is not just to get victory over- enemy, but to become like Christ.
Ja 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. NASU
A big part of submitting to God is repenting of unbelief and yielding to faith.
If we struggle with lust or greed- we must …
repent of that area of the old nature and
draw on God’s forgiveness and
his power to purify our hearts.
The enemy will withdraw when he realizes his attacks are driving you closer to Christ and Christlikeness.
Our triumph is consummated by the transformation of our nature, where Christ Himself dwells as Lord in our hearts. (Francis Frangipane)
3. The Goal is Christlikeness, not Warfare
There is a time for us as individuals/church to engage in pulling down spiritual strongholds.
2 Cor 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. NASU
There is also a time when pursuing spiritual warfare is a distraction from- obedience God is calling us to.
Where and when did Jesus finally defeat Satan?
Jesus defeated Satan at- cross w/o directly confronting Satan but by fulfilling the destiny He was called to.
The greatest battle that was ever won was accomplished by the apparent death of the victor, without even a word of rebuke to His adversary. Francis Frangipane
As Jesus surrendered His life to the purposes of the Father- prince of the world was judged/disarmed.
There is a demon whose purpose is to focus one’s mind on hell. If you are continually “seeing” evil spirits in people or in the material world around you, this spirit may be attempting to lure your attention away from the Lord. Francis Frangipane
The work of the devil is always to draw us away from Jesus- Satan is a master of distraction.
A picture of a proper balance in spiritual warfare …
2 Ki 6:11-17
In spiritual warfare the battle is never simply between us and the enemy.
2 Ki 6:16 … "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." NASU
Conclusion
Yes there are demonic spirits, but there is a vast multitude of angels loyal to God.
Godly character is a greater weapon against the attacks of the enemy then praying against
demonic powers and principalities in our lives.
As we yield ourselves to Christ, surrendering ourselves to Him by faith, we will build
a stronghold of His presence around us.
Victory begins with the name of Jesus on our lips. It is consummated by the nature of Jesus in our hearts. (Francis Frangipane)
Additional Verses
Romans 8:31-32
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? NASU
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NASU
