Answer

Answer 6 ) 7 ) They live in a city or village which is part of a nation. That nation is a kingdom of the worldWithin the natural and spiritual realms of which we are speaking there exists separate kingdoms which are ruled by natural and spiritual leaders. NATURAL KINGDOMS. 8 ) The invisible spiritual war is a battle which involves all men and women. Because the Kingdom of Satan is a spiritual kingdom... ...we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12) Spiritual warfare is not a natural battle between flesh and blood. It is not a battle of man against man. It is not a visible battle. It is an invisible struggle in the spirit world. It is a battle within and around man. It is not a visible war because spirits are involved and we learn in Luke 24:39 that a spirit does not have flesh and bones. Spiritual warfare is "multidimensional," which means it is fought in different dimensions. It is: 1. A social battle between the believer and the world: John 15:18-27. 2. A personal battle between the flesh and the spirit: Galatians 5:16-26. 3. A supernatural battle between the believer and evil supernatural powers: Ephesians 6:10-27. 4. A physical battle, with Satan launching attacks of sickness against your body: Job 1-2. Every person alive is engaged in this battle, whether he realizes it or not. There is no neutral ground. Unbelievers are in bondage to evil and have been taken captive by the enemy forces. They are victims of the war. Believers have been freed from the enemy through Jesus Christ and are victors, but they are still engaged as soldiers in the war. Ephesians 6:12 indicates that we (all believers) wrestle against evil spiritual forces. Wrestling involves close personal contact. No one is exempt from this battle. No one can view it from a distance. You are in the midst of conflict whether you acknowledge it or not. If you believe it will get better, you are wrong. The Christian warfare never ceases. This invisible war is being waged on earth: The thief (Satan) cometh (on earth) 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) Satan fights to maintain control of the kingdoms of the world. He does not want them to come under God's authority. The battle also rages within the hearts, minds, and souls of men and women. Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers and attacks believers in the areas of worship, the Word, their daily walk, and their work for God. The battle also rages in your physical body which Satan attacks through sickness and disease 9 ) Man was originally created in the image of God and for the glory of God (Genesis chapter 2). The invisible war against man started with the first temptation in the garden of Eden (Genesis chapter 3) where Satan tempted Adam and Eve to sin. This resulted in all men inheriting the basic sin nature and committing individual acts of sin due to this nature: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. (Romans 5:12) It also resulted in the invisible war between man and the forces of evil: And I will put enmity between thee (Satan) and the woman (mankind), and between thy seed (the forces of evil) and her seed (the forces of good represented by the Lord Jesus Christ)... (Genesis 3:15) Because of sin, man was separated from God and condemned to death. This death was the spiritual death of separation from God. It was also physical death, for when man sinned Satan entered the genetic system with the curses of sickness and disease. But God loved man so much that He made a special plan to save him from sin: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17) Through belief in Jesus, confession and repentance from sin, men and women can be released from the power of the enemy. The death and resurrection of Jesus not only resulted in salvation from sin, it also defeated the enemy, Satan: ... For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (I John 3:8) But if Satan is defeated, why does the war still rage? Why do we still see evil in the world around us? Why are we tempted by sin and attacked by sickness? In the natural world, following any war there are always pockets of enemy resistance. These are rebellious troops that will not give up until forced to do so. Although Jesus defeated Satan, we are living in territory which is still occupied by enemy resistance forces. Understanding spiritual warfare strategies gives us the ability to deal with these evil powers. Satan is trying to keep men captive in sin. Through deceptive methods he is enticing men and women to sinful living. He aims for the affections of the soul and spirit which rightfully belong to God. He also targets the body to destroy it with sickness and disease: 10 ) Spiritual warfare is the analysis of and an active participation in the invisible spiritual war. It includes study of the opposing forces of good and evil, the strategies of Satan, and spiritual strategies for overcoming the enemy. Spiritual warfare is more than a mere analysis of spiritual principles. It includes active participation in warfare by application of these strategies in life and ministry. One of the most effective strategies of Satan is to keep believers ignorant of his devices. Paul said it is important to know Satan's strategies... Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (II Corinthians 2:11) We should learn all we can about Satan's strategies of attack. We must also understand the Scriptural basis of victory over Satan and the forces of evil. We are called to intelligent combat. Basic to the understanding of spiritual warfare is this key principle: You must recognize that all battles of life, whether physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, financial or with human personalities are only outward manifestations of a spiritual cause. Although in the natural world problems may seem to occur through the circumstances of life, the basis of these natural battles is in the spirit world. Read the story of Job which confirms this principle (Job chapters 1-2). We have tried to correct the evils of this world through medicine, education, legislation, and improved environment. It has not worked because the visible evils of the world are the results of an underlying spiritual cause. They cannot be corrected by natural means. 11 ) HEALING PROMISE TO CLAIM: And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and He shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. (Exodus 23:25) There are many different terms used for the word healing: Psychic healing: This is a term used to describe mind over matter, spiritistic, witchcraft, shamanism, and occult healings which are not biblical. Supernatural healing: There are sources of supernatural healings which are not of God, so we will not use this term in our study. Satan can perform supernatural works (Exodus 7:8-13). Medical healing: This type of healing is aided by doctors, nurses, hospitals, and medicines. As we will learn, legitimate medical healing does not conflict with God's Word or divine healing, but is an extension of His goodness.Natural healing: Healing that occurs through natural body processes is actually God in action. Natural body processes display God's nature and His great handiwork in the human body. "Natural healing" also includes the use of natural methods such as proper diet, natural vitamins and minerals, adequate rest, etc. Faith healing: This term is often used to mean healing by God. We will not use it, however, because it tends to focus attention on the faith of the one ministering or the recipient of the ministry. Divine healing: The Word "divine" focuses attention on God, not the responses of faith by man. It also distinguishes it from occult practices of psychic and supernatural healing. "Divine" pertains to the one true God and His nature, as revealed in His Word, the Holy Bible. "Healing" means to cure or make whole. Healing can include relief from spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, and demonic conditions. It is not immunity from sickness. Our bodies are in the "process of decay" and open to Satanic attacks as long as we are in this world. In this study we will use the term "divine healing." Divine healing is when the one true God reveals His nature, fulfills His promises, and acts upon His provision in the atonement of Christ by curing a person and making him whole in body, soul, and spirit. Divine healing can be both instantaneous (miraculous) or gradual (a process). Although instantaneous healings more fully demonstrate the divine presence and power of God, divine healing which occurs as a process is no less a miraculous healing (see Mark 8:22-25). Medical and natural healings are in a sense divine also, because in reality it is God that causes the healing 12 ) Divine healing: The Word "divine" focuses attention on God, not the responses of faith by man. It also distinguishes it from occult practices of psychic and supernatural healing. "Divine" pertains to the one true God and His nature, as revealed in His Word, the Holy Bible. "Healing" means to cure or make whole. Healing can include relief from spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, and demonic conditions. It is not immunity from sickness. Our bodies are in the "process of decay" and open to Satanic attacks as long as we are in this world. In this study we will use the term "divine healing." Divine healing is when the one true God reveals His nature, fulfills His promises, and acts upon His provision in the atonement of Christ by curing a person and making him whole in body, soul, and spirit. Divine healing can be both instantaneous (miraculous) or gradual (a process). Although instantaneous healings more fully demonstrate the divine presence and power of God, divine healing which occurs as a process is no less a miraculous healing (see Mark 8:22-25). Medical and natural healings are in a sense divine also, because in reality it is God that causes the healing. 13 ) We will use the terms "healing" and "deliverance" interchangeably in this course. Healing ministers to physical, emotional, and mental sicknesses while deliverance deals with demonically caused mental and physical conditions. As you will learn later in this course, because man is body, soul, and spirit, a demonically caused mental condition may result in a physical sickness. A physical sickness may lead to demonic mental oppression. So although healing and deliverance are somewhat different, they are also related because of the triune nature of man. 14 ) healing and deliverance are somewhat different, they are also related because of the triune nature of man Healing (wholeness) is part of the Gospel of the Kingdom which we are commissioned to spread (Luke 16:15-18). Jesus called us to preach, teach, heal, and deliver. Healing and deliverance should not be left out, but neither should they be emphasized to the exclusion of teaching and preaching the Gospel. The Bible reveals that our churches are to be healing centers (Luke 14:16- 24). We are to see people healed rather than turned away: And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:13) As believers, it is sin if we do not share the good news of healing and deliverance with a lost and dying world. The Bible says: ...to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17) Applying this verse to healing means that to know we are commissioned to minister healing--and yet not do it--is sin. God gives some stern warnings to leaders who do not minister healing: ...Woe be to the shepherds...The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them...I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick... (Ezekiel 34:2,4,16) They live in a city or village which is part of a nation. That nation is a kingdom of the world. Aey live in a city or village which is part of a nation. That nation is a kingdom of the world.