No Neutral Ground

He that committeth sin is of the Devil; for the Devil sinneth from the beginning. 

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, 

that He might destroy the works of the Devil.

1 John 3:8

Spiritual warfare is a strategy resting upon understanding the purposes of our warfare and based upon communication with our Commander-in-Chief by prayer, fasting, and the written Word of God.

When we do not understand God's purpose and plan, we may be tempted to become discouraged in the conflicts of life. This is why many Christian soldiers fail in warfare: They do not understand the divine purpose behind the battle.

And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone : for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.   Acts 5:38-39

From the beginning of time, every natural battle that has been fought always had a purpose for which it was waged.  It is important to understand the purpose of spiritual warfare. This involves understanding the purposes of God the Father.  

It is God's purpose that. . .

. . .in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven, and which are on earth. . .  Ephesians 1:10

From the beginning of time, Satan has battled against the fulfillment of this purpose. Your own warfare in the spirit world is related to this purpose of God. Satan battles to bring your heart, mind, spirit, and soul into allegiance to him instead of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God works in us to accomplish His purpose:

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.  Philippians 2:13

God also works through our life to accomplish His purposes:

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.   Romans 6:13

When we yield our self to become "instruments of righteousness unto God," it means we bring our life and ministry in harmony with His purpose and plans. By doing this, we become a target for God's enemy, Satan.

Do you not know, beloved, that Jesus' purpose in the earth was not to manage the works of the enemy but to destroy it.  And for this very reason, we cannot allow ourselves to be friends with nor to tolerate something that our savior was sent here to destroy!

Jesus said:

He that committeth sin is of the Devil; for the Devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil.  1 John 3:8

The reason Jesus came into the world was to destroy the works of Satan. This immediately set Him in opposition to the enemy:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.              John 10:10

From the beginning of His earthly ministry, Jesus set about destroying the works of Satan:
> He revealed the bondage of sin (John 8:34).
> He forgave sins (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12,17; Luke 4:17-32).
> He stressed the heart condition rather than the deception of outward appearance (Matthew 15:16-20; Mark 7:20-23; Luke 6:45; 11:39).
> He healed the sick (Matthew 11:5).
> He raised people from the dead (Mark 5:35-43; Luke 8:49- 56; John 11).
> He released people from demonic powers (Matthew 8:16).

In summary, He destroyed the works of Satan in the hearts, souls, minds, and bodies of men and women:

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.  Matthew 11:5

Jesus not only destroyed the works of Satan, He also exposed the devious strategies of the enemy:

      ¨     He taught on the deception of Satan which would increase during the last days on earth (Matthew 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 17:22-37; 21:8-36; Matthew 24-25).

      ¨     He warned of Satan's intimidation through man.  (Matthew 10:28).

      ¨     He spoke of the necessity of binding the strong man (Satan) before spoiling his goods (Matthew 12:26-30; Mark 3:23-27; Luke 11:17-24).

      ¨     He revealed how Satan tries to prevent the Word of God from being effective in the hearts of men and women (Matthew 13:38; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12).

      ¨     He exposed those who were not right with God as being of their "father, the devil" (John 8:44-47).

      ¨     He revealed Satan as the "prince of the world" (John 14:30).

Although Jesus came to bring the peace of God (John 14:27; Philippians 4:7), and peace with God (Romans 5:1), His coming also brought division:

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.   Matthew 10:34-36

Jesus divided all men into two battle camps. It is not possible to be neutral:

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  Matthew 6:24

                                                         

He that is not with me is against me. . . (Luke 11:23) 

Jesus spoke of this great division in an account about two paths, one which was straight and narrow and one which was broad. He warned of the deception of Satan's broad path which many took (Matthew 7:13-14). Through the account of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), Jesus removed the veil between life and death. He let men see the end result of choosing the wrong way.

Because He exposed and destroyed the works of Satan, Jesus was under assault throughout His earthly life. The enemy constantly tried to destroy Him or prevent Him from fulfilling the mission for which He had come. The moment He was born, an attempt was made on His life. During His public ministry there were several plots on His life and at least one attempt which was aborted. He met the opposition of demonic powers, religious leaders, His own followers, and Satan.

When you align yourself with the plan and purposes of Jesus by accepting Him as your Savior according to the word of God, you become part of the army that wars against Satan. The purposes of Jesus become your purposes and this sets you in a tactical position of direct opposition to the enemy.

   

There are many different Scriptural strategies that can be used in spiritual warfare, but the basic battle plan for believers is revealed by observing how Jesus dealt with the enemy. The basic battle plan for spiritual warfare is based on six major points. These are:

     Ö     The Word Of God:                                 Matthew 4:1-ll, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13

     Ö     Delegated Power And Authority:        Luke 9:1

      Ö     Prayer:                                                      Matthew 6:10

     Ö     Fasting:                                                     Isaiah 58:6                              

    Ö     Keys Of The Kingdom:                           Matthew 16:19

     Ö     The Name Of Jesus:                               Ephesians 1:21

Employing these six major points rather than relying on self ensures victory over the enemy:

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying , This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.  Zechariah 4:6

(Biblical Studies)

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