All posts tagged: spiritual warfare in the bible

The growing reality of spiritual warfare

We live in interesting times. While, Christians witnessed an outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Asbury college in Kentucky, CBN reported on an unusual counter event that will be taking place in Boston at the end of April. Called ‘SatanCon 2023,’ the event is being hosted by The Satanic Temple (TST) based in Salem, Massachusetts and is billed as “a weekend of blasphemy and remembrance in Boston.” According to TST’s website, the event has already been sold out and promises to be the largest satanic gathering in history. This will be the second convention sponsored by TST and this year’s event will mark the group’s tenth anniversary. The event, which will run from April 28-30, will coincide with an ancient German holiday called Hexennacht or ‘witches night’ a two-day event that typically runs from April 30 to May 1. During this festival, witches across Germany gathered at Mount Brocken to revel with the devil. Mount Brocken has been associated with the demonic since the Middle Ages and the popularity of the celebration is growing among …

The Lord of Hosts

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. (2 Corinthians 10:3-4) We are involved in a spiritual battle, and sometimes it is easy to forget this important fact. Yet, when we look at the Bible, warfare is perhaps its central message and that comes through in one of the names of God, the Lord of Hosts, Yahweh–Sabaoth, which literally means the Lord of armies. God is referred to by this name 290 times in the Bible, more than the total of all other names of God combined. These include the names we are more familiar with such as, Yahweh-Rapha, the Lord is my healer or Yahweh-Jirah, the Lord is my provider. Even the name, Yahweh-Nissi, the Lord is my banner, had military implications as flags or standards were also used to rally troops. The name showed up in Exodus 17:15-16, when Moses used it to describe the altar …

The spirit of Leviathan

Don Nicely

Has someone ever twisted the truth into a lie about you? Maybe someone saw something that you were doing and misread your intentions. Has a talebearer ever distorted what you said or did? Have you ever been told something which you allowed the enemy to twist your mind until it was no longer the truth when you retold it?

The Real Battle is Spiritual

By C. Peter Wagner    Warfare prayer, as I have been describing it, is a new concept to the great majority of American Christians. Many are beginning to ask whether given their traditions and training it could ever be integrated into their ministry. But Americans are not alone. Even Argentine pastors struggle with some of the same theological practical issues. Learning the Lesson I greatly enjoyed talking to Pastor Alberto Prokopchuk of the Los Olivos Baptist Church in the city of La Plata, Argentina, because I could identify so closely with his background. His traditional Baptist ministerial training had not included a course in Spiritual Warfare 101. His ministry at Los Olivos Baptist was not much different from what we observe in so many typical churches in our American cities: good, solid Bible teaching ministry; a relatively high moral standard; the fruit of the spirit manifested to a reasonable degree and church members who pray, tithe, attend service, and witness to their neighbors when the opportunity presents itself. All this, and no growth! Under Alberto’s …

Does forgiveness have a role in spiritual warfare?

Premier Christian News reports that in the letter that Rev Vlasenko, head of the Russian Evangelical Alliance, wrote to the World Council of Churches, he specifically apologized for the actions of the Russian government and asked for forgiveness: “Today, as a citizen and as General Secretary of the Russian Evangelical Alliance, I apologize to all those who have suffered, lost loved ones and relatives, or lost their place of residence as a result of this military conflict.”[…] My prayer is that you will find strength from the Lord to extend your hand of solidarity and forgiveness, so we can live as the people of God to our world.” It’s an interesting request that may have broader implications when it comes to spiritual warfare. The role of forgiveness in spiritual warfare In the Book of Daniel, we see definite indicators of spiritual warfare in Persia. Israel had been taken into captivity by Babylon and after it was in turn defeated by Persia, Daniel sensed a time of change was coming that would involve a great conflict …

No Open Doors

By Rick Renner Neither give place to the devil. — Ephesians 4:27 Have you ever felt like you were under spiritual attack or that the devil was trying to wage a vicious warfare against your very existence? Today I want to talk to you about doing all you can to keep every door shut to the enemy so he is unable to find easy access into your life. I can personally testify to many attacks that have come against our ministry and family as we have pressed forward to take new territory for the Kingdom of God over the years. I have learned that the enemy is always looking for ways to sabotage anything that is of significance to the overall plan of God. Therefore, we have had to stand our ground and fight many times. Part of a long-term protection plan against the enemy’s attacks has been making sure that we left no open doors for the enemy to find easy access to us or our ministry. Believe me when I tell you that …

78 | What the Septuagint Bible tells us about fallen angels and spiritual warfare

We are living in perilous times as governments of all political stripes seem intent on restricting people’s liberties and freedoms, either under the guise of protecting us from COVID or banning speech that some consider offensive, because it disagrees with their beliefs. In this podcast, I discuss the Septuagint’s odd translation of a Bible verse in Deuteronomy that may help explain why this is happening.

Worship warfare?

As America seems to be descending into darkness and chaos through nightly riots, I wonder if God is raising up a standard against this onslaught. Worship leader Sean Feucht has taken to the streets of many cities hit by recent riots to hold outdoor worship services proclaiming God’s goodness and hope. This past weekend, Sean ended up in America’s northeast and held services in New Jersey, New York City and Boston. According to several reports there was a genuine move of God at all three locations with large crowds showing up even despite the rain. In New York City several people were saved and according to Dr Charles Karuka, who pastors NYC’s International Outreach Church, 29 people were water baptized in a fountain located in Washington Square Park. CBN writes: “This place is filled with people about to get baptized in the fountains of Washington Square Park,” Feucht said. “Some of them just got saved…some are rededicating.” In a video shared on Facebook, Dr. Karuku described the occasion as a “move of God” after 29 …

Is there a spiritual battle raging over Seattle and America?

Last night (Monday, Aug. 10, 2020), worship leader Sean Feucht went to Seattle’s former CHAZ/CHOP zone, an area taken over by left-wing extremists a few weeks back, to hold a worship service. Feucht has been holding outdoor services across America during the lockdown. While hundreds of Seattle believers turned up for the service, according to Feucht they were met by “violent protestors” some who were carrying signs hailing Satan. Sean Feucht reported on Instagram: Violent protestors showed up flashing knives! We had an entire satanic cult march through the worshippers the entire time yelling “Hail Satan!” We had white Antifa yelling & threatening black local pastors! They yelled obscenities and cursed at my wife and kids all night long! Yes, those brave left-wing extremists tried to scare and intimidate women and children. Though, Feucht had wisely brought along bodyguards, the violent agitators were able to damage some musical equipment, and as well unplug generators used for the service. But Feucht noted that the believers in attendance were not intimidated by the protesters. And during the …

Moloch set up in front of Roman Colosseum: A sign of a growing spiritual conflict?

At the end of September, people visiting the Colosseum in Rome were greeted by one of the most hideous idols of the ancient world — Moloch. The full-sized replica of the idol was the one used in the 1914 silent movie Cabira. The idol was installed as part of an exhibit on Carthage’s history called Carthago: The immortal myth. The idol, that was set up on September 27, 2019, will be displayed at the entrance of the Colosseum until March 29, 2020. The idol was particularly hideous because its was used to sacrifice live children. Life Site News, a Catholic-based news site, reported that the setting up of the idol at the entrance to the Colosseum was particularly disturbing because in 1749 Pope Benedict the XIV declared the Colosseum a sacred site to remember the thousands of Christians that the Romans slaughtered in the Colosseum. One Catholic family visiting the Colosseum were shocked to be greeted by Moloch. Alexandra Clark told Life Site News: “We were so excited the day we decided to go to …

Spiritual warfare in Washington, DC?

Reports are circulating again of how a group of self-proclaimed internet witches are planning to put a hex on President Donald Trump and his supporters. This involves an internet driven witch group with approximately 13,000 followers around the world. According to Michael Snyder, members of this group will join together at 11:59 on October 25, 2019, to put a spell on Trump and his followers. Apparently that day was chosen because of its tie to a “waning crescent moon.” Snyder says this “binding spell” is intended to influence Trump. Also referred to as defixiones, they are designed to stop Trump from doing certain things that the witches believe will hurt America. According to the Washington Examiner, the witches have been specifically instructed to conjure up “demons” to carry out this spell: “The ritual calls for the use of an unflattering photo of Trump, a tarot card, a stub of an orange candle, a pin, and a feather. Participants then call on the ‘heavenly hosts, demons of the infernal realms, and spirits of the ancestors” to …

The White House Credit: Adam Fagen/Flickr/Creative Commons

Is the White House haunted?

In an interview on The Today Show in mid October, Jenna Bush Hager, 36, the daughter of former US President George W Bush, claims that the American White House may be haunted. Jenna spoke of the time when she and her twin sister were awakened in the middle of the night by a phone call and suddenly started hearing “1920s piano music, as clear as day, coming out of the fireplace.” Frightened she jumped into bed with her sister who also heard the music. The next week they heard opera music. Jenna’s sister Barbara confirmed the story was true in a 2017 interview with People and E! News stating that the incident was “the wildest thing that ever happened to us living in the White House.” Barbara added that the two thought of running to their parent’s room but talked themselves out of it. If it is not their imagination, could this be signs of demonic activity in the White House? One of the stranger stories in the Old Testament involved a spiritual battle to …

An Israeli sunset Credit: Israel Nature Photographers/Flickr/Creative Commons

Does an ancient archaeological discovery tell us something about ‘spiritual warfare’?

There is a strange story in the Old Testament talking about a battle that took place between Israel and Moab. Found in 2 Kings 3, we are told that Israel had the kingdom of Moab in subjection. As a vassal, the Moabites paid an annual tax to Israel of 100,000 lambs and the wool from 100,000 sheep. The reason was obvious, we are told that Mesha, the King of Moab, was a breeder of sheep (verse 3) and had obviously developed a unique breed that was in demand. By this time, Israel had split apart into two nations, Samaria (Israel) and Judah. King Ahab of Israel had just died and King Mesha decided this was an opportune time to break free from Israel’s domination. Undoubtedly, Israel became aware of the problem when Mesha refused to pay the tribute. So Jehoram, the new King of Israel contacted King Jehoshaphat of Judah and an unnamed King of Edom to help Jehoram bring Moab back into submission. Obviously, it was in everyone’s best interest to keep Moab under …

“I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning." Jesus (Luke 10:18) Photo: Matt/Flickr/Creative Commons

The real story behind the first Christmas

Español: La verdadera historia detrás de la primera Navidad Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright… When Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr of Austria penned the famous Christmas carol Silent Night in 1818, they painted a calm, idyllic image of Christmas. It along with many Christmas carols portrayed the birth of Jesus as we see it in Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 1:18-2:23 — Shepherds in the field, Angels singing, a baby in swaddling clothes,  a manger, bleating sheep and lowing oxen. Peaceful, serene… yet is this what really happened at the birth of Jesus? There is a third version of the Christmas story, found in the Book of Revelation, that isn’t often read this time of year: The Woman, Israel 12 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was with child; and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. The Red Dragon, Satan 3 Then another sign …

How the spiritual realm interacts with our physical world

Español: Cómo interactúa el reino espiritual con nuestro mundo físico I was mowing the lawn in our backyard, when a memory popped into my mind of a stupid thing I had done years earlier. I had previously asked God to forgive me, but here it was alive and well condemning me. Where do these thoughts come from? For a clearer insight, we need to study an incident that occurred along the banks of the Tigris River in the ancient realm of Persia around 600 BC. How the spiritual world interacts with the physical world The book of Daniel provides a captivating insight on the interaction between the spiritual and physical realm. In chapter 10, an Angel of God was dispatched to Daniel in response to a prayer he had made in verses 1 – 3. When the angel arrived, Daniel along with some other Israelis was relaxing along the banks of the Tigris river. The angelic visit sparked a vision through which Daniel physically saw God’s messenger. During such visions, I believe God pulls back the …