Spiritual Warfare and Territorial Spirits

[Pressing-On]

It is my opinion that we fight warfare at every level. "More than some and fewer than others." When it is your warfare it is, "More than some."

Anytime you are in a position with more authority you naturally are going to feel some pressure from that. I don't think it means you fight any harder in warfare than anyone else. How can that be to a saint fighting for their spiritual life and learning to have "discernment"?

I just believe that by association you are more involved and it can feel more intense, but I would never, IMO, take away from any one person's warfare. It is all intense!

[Malvaro]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

It is my opinion that we fight warfare at every level. "More than some and fewer than others." When it is your warfare it is, "More than some."

perhaps along the lines of, when I was a younger Christian I struggled with certain spiritual battles that as I grew in the Lord, overcame.... which then led to an entirely new set of spiritual battles as I worked in the Kindgom doing different things.... and around different people who fought different things....

also, are you suggesting that if i'm working with youth, I might fight different spiritual battles than if I were working with the young married.... because of the spirits and forces that may hinder or attempt to oppress them???

interesting perspective.... could you describe your thoughts in more detail with us???

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Malvaro

perhaps along the lines of, when I was a younger Christian I struggled with certain spiritual battles that as I grew in the Lord, overcame.... which then led to an entirely new set of spiritual battles as I worked in the Kindgom doing different things.... and around different people who fought different things....

also, are you suggesting that if i'm working with youth, I might fight different spiritual battles than if I were working with the young married.... because of the spirits and forces that may hinder or attempt to oppress them???

interesting perspective.... could you describe your thoughts in more detail with us???

I believe, first of all, that no weapon formed against us shall prosper and when we submit ourselves to God we are able to resist the devil.

Yes, you will fight whatever it is you are working with. If the youth are experiencing lust, you will possibly fight that feeling until you recognize what it is. That is discernment and you will be able to recognize that in a youth. Some are good at hiding what is in their hearts, but God is able to reveal things to us.

You could fight a feeling of depression and then meet someone in that state and be able to help them through it.

We cannot help people when we are unaware of the fight. God brings that fight to us and makes us a channel of deliverance for others.

When I was a new convert I felt a dark presence walking behind me when I would try to pray. I was kneeling at the window in my apartment and was gripping the windowsill. I said, "God, I see the wind in the trees. I know you are real. Why won't you help me!!"

He was helping through the battle. I just didn't realize it at the time or what is was about. A while later I was in a ladies prayer meeting and the leader, a retired minister, laid hands on me and God spoke to me through her - "I will give you strength to throw off the oppressor."

I understand what that feels like to be hampered down by the enemy and wouldn't have known that until I was delivered. Now, I worship and am not intimidated by spirits or man.

When I feel disorder come into the service, I immediately rise up against that in the spirit. I learned to say, "God, tell me what you want me to think, what you want me to know, what you want me to do in this situation."

God knows how to hone our skills to use us in his kingdom. My Lord, the power of God and his church!!!!!! What can compare?!!!

There is healing in His hands! We need to fight with our loins girt about with truth! That is the beginning of winning warfare!

[Amos]

Originally Posted by Felicity

I understand you're asking for scripture. I can't offer you a specific scripture at the moment that is a solid proof of what I said earlier. I just know through experience it's true. And I believe that Scripture bears witness to the fact of demonic/devilish attack and oppression when we're involved in spiritual warfare (which is constant and ongoing) and where oppression or bondage is great.

I also added (in part) when I offered earlier explanation of the *bigger level - bigger devil* comment. I don't have time now to go into it further and I find that whenever you start talking about this topic there is some cynicism. Some of us know of what I speak.

Sister Felicity,

You are right, and some of us do know what you are talking about.

It is probably a fruitless quest to try and convince the skeptics of that which they are unlikely to experience in their current frame of mind.

[Malvaro]

Originally Posted by Amos

It is probably a fruitless quest to try and convince the skeptics of that which they are unlikely to experience in their current frame of mind.

that may very well be true.... but there are people who are interested by this particular topic and others like it.... and actually have sincere intent....

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Amos

Sister Felicity,

You are right, and some of us do know what you are talking about.

It is probably a fruitless quest to try and convince the skeptics of that which they are unlikely to experience in their current frame of mind.

Thanks bro! I'm not out to convince anyone really but it's a topic I love to talk about to those who can understand. Not everyone is able of course.

God began to move me into intercession after I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. That came first - even before the gifts of the Spirit began to operate. I didn't know and wasn't really aware of what it was that was happening to me.

I had an insatiable thirst for the presence of God and my prayer life took off after I received the HG baptism. I spent hours and hours on my knees, generally always the last one up off my knees whether in my pew or at an altar. It was the same way at conventions and campmeeting and later in Bible School as well. Saints took note and preachers encouraged me and recognized that the hand of God was on my life in perhaps a little more unusual way than others.

Well .... God calls, and very often he calls those who seem insignificant to themselves and perhaps to others as well. It doesn't matter really. What matters is being that vessel that is useful in the kingdom of God and ohhhhh!! .... how Satan wants that for himself. How desirous he is to rip those those who he knows can do violence to his own kingdom out of the plan and purpose of God ........ and so the battle gets very very hot at times!

[LadyRev]

Originally Posted by Felicity

I find that whenever you start talking about this topic there is some cynicism. Some of us know of what I speak.

Isn't this the truth!

[Digging4Truth]

Well if requiring scripture for a doctrine such as this one is cynicism or doubting or even just being hard headed then sign me up.

I'm not against it... I'm not fighting against it...

I'm just asking for a scriptural basis

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Felicity

I understand you're asking for scripture. I can't offer you a specific scripture at the moment that is a solid proof of what I said earlier. I just know through experience it's true. And I believe that Scripture bears witness to the fact of demonic/devilish attack and oppression when we're involved in spiritual warfare (which is constant and ongoing) and where oppression or bondage is great.

I also added (in part) when I offered earlier explanation of the *bigger level - bigger devil* comment. I don't have time now to go into it further and I find that whenever you start talking about this topic there is some cynicism. Some of us know of what I speak.

I've never discussed this online so I don't know about the cynicism, but I do know what it is like to be attacked by the enemy, spiritually and physically as well.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

I've never discussed this online so I don't know about the cynicism, but I do know what it is like to be attacked by the enemy, spiritually and physically as well.

I believe you sis. We have an enemy to be sure and he makes his presence felt - particularly if you're living a consecrated sold out life. Sometimes I hear people wondering "why" things are so difficult, why they struggle with consistent persistent Bible reading and prayer. Why they feel lethargic and tired and worn out with little desire for spiritual things. Part of the reason is that Satan's strategy is to wear the saints down.

It's important to stay cognizant all the time of the fact that we are being opposed, but also to remember that we are more than conquerors, stand on the promises of God and claim the fact that he is under our feet.

The fact is ....... the victory is already ours. It's been given to us but we still have to fight battles. Jesus did. So why wouldn't we? Paul did. Peter did. So will we.

So on one hand we stand on the promises of God knowing that we're ultimately victorious but on the other hand we have to "fight the good fight". We have to cast down imagination, we have to invade territory that the devil has a stake in. We have to do violence to the kingdom of satan.

It's not all a Sunday School picnic although most live an awful lot of the time as if it is.