{"id":19138,"date":"2021-07-08T05:33:55","date_gmt":"2021-07-08T12:33:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/?p=19138"},"modified":"2021-07-09T07:50:04","modified_gmt":"2021-07-09T14:50:04","slug":"spiritual-warfare-101and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/2021\/07\/08\/spiritual-warfare-101and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"Spiritual Warfare 101\u2026and Beyond!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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2 Corinthians 10:4<\/a>,<\/strong> The weapons of our warfare\u2026spiritual. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Redeemed Believers Authority Through Yeshua\u2014The Biblical Concept of Spiritual Warfare<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is the concept of spiritual warfare a biblical one?<\/strong> Perhaps no scripture of the Bible states the fact that it is more clearly than 2 Corinthians 10:3\u20135<\/a>. (Eph 6:10\u201318<\/a> would be a close second!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh<\/em>:(for the weapons of our<\/em> warfare<\/em><\/strong> are not carnal <\/em>[but, by implication are spiritual<\/em><\/strong>], but mighty through Elohim to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Messiah. (2 Cor 10:3\u20135<\/a>, emphasis mine)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Obviously, Paul understood and taught that redeemed believers are in an ongoing spiritual battle against something or someone, but what and who? James reveals that there are three possible sources of conflict for the redeemed believer: the world, the flesh and the devil (Jas 3:15<\/a>). The flesh (man\u2019s sin nature) is the greatest enemy that the saint faces. Paul discusses his struggles we face with the carnal man in Romans 7<\/a>. The world is also a formidable enemy of the redeemed righteous ones. In John 17<\/a>, Yeshua tells his disciples that though they are in<\/em> the world, they are not to be of<\/em> the world (John 17:11<\/a>,14<\/a>). He then goes on to describe the conflicts they would have with the world because they are his disciples. Finally, in Ephesians six, Paul describes the spiritual combat the saints face with Satan and his cohorts (Eph 6:10\u201318<\/a>). He is constantly seeking to destroy us (1 Pet 5:8<\/a>), and to find opportunistic inroads into our lives to establish a spiritual beachhead (Eph 6:16<\/a>; 1 Pet 5:8<\/a>). It is this latter subject which we will discuss in the following study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The foundation for waging effective spiritual warfare is to have a deep spiritual relationship with Yeshua \u2014 to be loving him by obeying is laws through him (Rom 7:25\u201326<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Legal Basis for the Believer\u2019s Spiritual Authority<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Taken from Destined for the Throne by Paul E. Billheimer, pp. 71\u201380<\/a> with additional comments by NL.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Universal Jurisprudence. <\/strong>It is vitally important for every redeemed believer to know the fullness and extent of the victory over sin, death and the devil that Yeshua secured for us at the cross. To fully understand this, we must comprehend the legal basis for that victory. Elohim is an El (God) of total justice. He established the universe to be governed by a legal system. As Supreme Judge of the universe, he must follow the laws of justice he established that keep order in the universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adam\u2019s Commission. <\/strong>It all started in the Garden of Eden where man was created in YHVH\u2019s image and was given authority and dominion over the entire earth and all thereon (Gen 1:26<\/a>; Ps 8:6<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adam\u2019s Failure and Fall.<\/strong> YHVH gave man legal authority to rule the earth. But then Adam \u201cfumbled the ball\u201d and submitted to Satan\u2019s authority by sinning, YHVH could not step in (though he had the authority to do so). To go over man\u2019s head and to forcibly repossess the title to this earth from Satan would have been to do so without due process of law. At that moment, Satan became the god of this world. Even Yeshua, when confronting the devil in Matthew 4:5<\/a> did not question Satan\u2019s authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Search for a Legal Challenger.<\/strong> Adam chose to obey Satan and to sin against Elohim, and thus became the devil\u2019s slave. Whatever we yield ourselves to we become the slave to (Rom 6:16<\/a>). Once a slave to Satan, man lost all his legal rights to his person and to his domain (the earth). If Satan\u2019s dominion was to be revoked, a way had to be found to redeem fallen man and recover his lost authority without violating universal principles of justice. YHVH had to abide by his own moral code of justice. He could not simply annul it and at the same time remain just and righteous. Only a member of Adam\u2019s family could enter into this universal court and wrest Adam\u2019s lost inheritance and dominion away from Satan, the usurper and slave master. The government of man was lost by man and had to be reclaimed by man. But where could such a man be found? All men had forfeited this right when they had sinned (Rom 3:23<\/a>) and become a slave to Satan, as their forefather Adam had done at the Tree of Knowledge. A slave has no legal standing and cannot enter a court or lawfully participate in litigation. Thus a member of the human race had to be found upon whom Satan had no legal claim\u2014one who had not endorsed Adam\u2019s rebellion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Problem Solved: The Incarnation.<\/strong> With man it was an impossible situation, but with YHVH, all things are possible (Matt 19:26<\/a>). \u201cBut when the fullness of the time was come, Elohim sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the [penalty of] the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons [of Elohim, as Adam and Eve were]\u201d (Gal 4:4\u20135<\/a>). YHVH solved this dilemma through the incarnation. Yeshua was conceived by the Spirit of Elohim, and YHVH\u2019s divine nature was present in him. Because he was sinless, Satan had no claim upon him, but because he was \u201cmade of a woman,\u201d he was an authentic human being and could therefore qualify as a bona-fide member of the human race to enter the legal fight to reclaim Adam\u2019s lost estate. This is why it was necessary for Yeshua to be born of a virgin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yeshua\u2019s Sinless Life.<\/strong> Satan\u2019s challenger not only had be a member of the human race, but he had to have lived a perfectly sinless life so that Satan could have no legal claim on him. If Yeshua were not the son of Elohim through Mary by virtue of supernatural conception, then he was merely the son of Adam. A mortal man, if he lived a sinless life, could redeem his own life only, but one man\u2019s life is not of sufficient worth to redeem the entire human race. Only the Creator of man can do that. Only if Yeshua was fully man, and fully divine and fully the Creator of man would he have the power to redeem man, since the life of the Creator is of greater worth than all that he created. Though tempted by Satan at every place in is life, Yeshua remained sinless. That is why, when he died, the power of death had no legal claim on him and the could not legally stay in the grave. Because of Yeshua\u2019s sinless life, his death resulted not only in defeating Satan\u2019s purpose to obtain a legal claim on him, but it also canceled all of Satan\u2019s legal claim on this earth and for those of the human race who put their trust in Yeshua for salvation and redemption (Heb 2:14<\/a>; Col 2:14\u201315<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though Yeshua has not yet enforced that legal claim over the physical earth and the kingdom\u2019s thereof (this will occur at his second coming when he defeats Babylon the Great, the devil, and becomes King of kings), he is establishing his spiritual kingdom in the lives of his redeemed one\u2019s \u2014 the saints or called out ones (the ecclesia<\/em>). As such, they have the power of Yeshua in them to begin to reclaim the world for Yeshua away from Satan. It is called \u201ckingdom authority.\u201d Yeshua gave his disciples that authority when he sent them forth to regather the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Luke 9:1<\/a>; 10:17<\/a>; Mark 16:15\u201318<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Identification With Messiah\u2019s Death and Resurrection. <\/strong>To access this victory of Yeshua over Satan and death, one has to identify spiritually with Yeshua from his death on the cross to his enthronement at the right hand of power in heaven. We are to be crucified with him, buried with him, raised with him, and exalted with him (Rom 6<\/a>; Eph 2<\/a>; 2 Cor 5:14<\/a>,17<\/a>; Gal 2:20<\/a>; 2 Tim 2:11<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Identify With Messiah\u2019s Exaltation and Enthronement.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of his victory at the cross, all things have been put under Yeshua\u2019s feet:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rom 16:20<\/a>,<\/strong> And the Elohim of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with you. Amen.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

1 Cor 15:25<\/a>,<\/strong> For he must re.g. till [Yeshua] hath put all enemies under his feet.<\/p>

1 Cor 15:27<\/a>,<\/strong> For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.<\/p>

Eph 1:22<\/a>,<\/strong> And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,<\/p>

Heb 2:8<\/a>,<\/strong> Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Yeshua is the head of the body of called out ones, and we are part of that body (Eph 1:22<\/a>). The body of Yeshua contains the fullness of him and has same the power and authority on earth. Yeshua is not full or complete without his body (that\u2019s you and me). The body cannot function without its Head, and likewise, the head needs the body to do that which the head directs. We are Yeshua\u2019s hands and feet on this earth. He has given us legal and spiritual power to accomplish the purposes that he, the head, directs. This is why we must follow the leading of his Spirit in all that we do, because he is the head. If we follow our soulish nature, then we are walking in disobedience against the head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Spiritual Warfare to Be Effective You Must Know Who You Are in Yeshua<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The redeemed believer in Yeshua must<\/em> know the rights and responsibilities that they have through being purchased by the blood of Yeshua and now being Yeshua\u2019s representative on earth. On the basis of who <\/em>we are because of whose <\/em>we are, we have legal power and authority over the powers of Satan based on the written Word of Elohim. Yeshua used that written Word to defeat Satan (Matt 4:4<\/a>,7<\/a>,10\u201311<\/a>). We must do the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To defeat the enemy, we must know the Word and be able to counter the enemy with it, just as Yeshua did. Read and internalize (and memorize) the following biblical verses to use against the evil one next time he attacks you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n