Spiritual Warfare Part 4

6.13.22

When Jesus Christ Came To This World:

The world had become a completely deplorable place. This beautiful Paradise and garden

God HAD CREATED in Eden was gone; not a trace of it remained. In its place, the world had

become a global slave market of sorts where satan, spiritual wickedness in high places,

and the rulers of the darkness of this world had a grip on the hearts of men and had filled

their natures with violence and darkness. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy; with

each generation that succeeded Adam's spiritual death compelled people of all nations, tribes,

and ethnic groups deeper and deeper into slavery and total depravity. The world Jesus Christ

was born into was of total captivity. Through the disobedience of Adam, this spiritual death had

found a door, an entry point to slither in and seize the nature of all mankind to be utilized for

wicked purposes never purposed by God. 

Romans 5:12 NKJV: 2 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus

death spread to all men, because all sinned—By using the word agoridzo in Greek, we know that when Jesus first came to this earth, He

came into a horrible, disgusting slave market where human beings lived their lives on this

earth as slaves to satan and his hierarchy of demons which we will get into in a moment.

Men were complete slaves to the negative effects of sin. 

Our bondage in that time was so great that Paul himself states we were “sold under sin”.

Romans 7:14 NKJV 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.

The word Sold comes from the Greek word piprasko and it describes a transfer of property.

So by using this word, Paul was clearly stating that mankind had been transferred from the

hands of God into the hands of a new owner.

It was actually man, not God, in the garden that chose to forfeit their dominion to the enemy

by disobeying what God told them to do to keep their dominion.

What Paul describes here really paints a picture of satan’s total ownership of us before Jesus

Christ came into our lives. Like slaves in a market, we stood helpless before the devil and his

demons as our lives were pushed and slapped around, abusing us in every possible way he

could because he hates man and hates what God created. Our slave owner, the devil,

attempted in every way to damage our self-image, kill our bodies through various sins and

temptations, and completely destroy us emotionally; when he was finished using one form of

bondage and taunt against us, he would place us back on the trading block to be auctioned off

again. Soon another form of bondage would enter and begin to destroy and make its mark on

our lives and so on.

You see, demons and the kingdom of darkness work in groups of similar interests and goals.

For example, fear, anxiety, and control all have a common interest in a goal so therefore, like a

pack of jackals, they work together, they hunt together, and they attack together.

The kingdom of darkness most definitely understands agreement, even if they begrudgingly do

so. Whether aware of it or not, this hellish ownership took us deeper down a path of captivity

for the evil spirits who operate do it with man in phases to get them to accept such. The Bible

says this was our condition before the grace of God touched our lives, and why in scripture we

are told we were previously the servants of sin, for we served their interests before Christ in

Romans Chapter 6.

The word Servant is taken from the Greek word duolos which describes slavery in the will of

one being totally swallowed up in another. In plain terms, prior to our salvation, we were

swallowed up in the will of satan. We intellectually thought and were tricked into believing that

we were in charge of our lives and we were the ones calling the shots. But in reality, we were

deplorable slaves to sin, and our destinies were being orchestrated by an unseen wicked spirit

that wanted to destroy us.

This is why, for example, Hillary Clinton used the word deplorable; she, in turn, was calling us

mere slaves because of what she and that order were planning to do, and calling us deplorable

is looking down on us in filth because we dare as their slaves interfere in their plan by rising up

in the 2016 election. You see, that was the kingdom of darkness attempting to exercise their

dominion and make it known that they think we are their slaves, and yes, that is true for the

ones who are truly not anchored in Christ; they have a point, and that we will get into. This

was just one example of the rulers of the darkness of this world making known what they think

man is.

In fact, our former slavery to the devil was so deep-seated that our nature became tied together

and bonded together with the seed of rebellion; rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, which is at

the very core of satan’s nature. This rebellion against God ran deep in our blood and became

steeped in our human nature. Eventually, the divide between God and us was so vast that,

according to Colossians 1:21, we became “alienated and enemies” in our minds through these

wicked works that the Kingdom of darkness enticed and compelled man to do. 

Who does this and how? Enter the rulers of the darkness of this world, and what authority

do we have over this through Christ?

The Rulers of Darkness of this World

The rulers of the darkness of this world can be found in Ephesians 6:12. As explained in the

last teaching, they are the highest class of demons believers have to deal with on this earth.

They are exactly what the Word says, they are rulers, and they RULE OVER those in the

darkness.

Jesus explained to Pastor Kenneth Hagin that this particular class of demons attempt to

rule over believers who are not walking in the light of their redemption or who are not

exercising their rights and privileges through Christ.

Jesus then stated to him that believers are to take authority over the first three classes of

demons, principalities, powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world. He shared that

if believers would bind the operations of the first 3 classes of demons, in accordance with

His Word, that the Lord will deal with the fourth class of demons Himself, spiritual

Wickedness in High Places.

Matthew 18:18 NKJV validates and substantiates this:

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever

you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

We are to bind up evil spirits in their operation against us in the name of Jesus Christ. This is

based on the authority of God’s Word:

Luke 10:19 NKJV 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power

of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Philippians 2:9-10 NKJV

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every

name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those

on earth, and of those under the earth,

Isaiah 54:17 NKJV No weapon formed against you shall prosper,

And every tongue which rises against you in judgment

You shall condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

And their righteousness is from Me,”

Says the Lord.

It was then explained to Pastor Hagin that the rulers of the darkness of this world are the

most intelligent type of evil spirits believers have to contend with.

It was explained that it is always one of the rulers of the darkness of this world that possess

a person. They also rule over the other 2 classes of spirits on this earth and give them their

orders.

They rule over the powers and tell them what to do, and in turn, the powers rule over the

principalities and tell them what to do; this is their chain of command. Principalities have very

little authority of their own and do very little thinking on their own; they are told what to do.

Anyone who walks in darkness can be dominated by the rulers of the darkness of this world.

Even saved people can yield to these spirits and become dominated by them IF they

themselves are walking in darkness. If they have broken fellowship with God and are not

walking in the light of His Word.

Evil spirits will dominate believers IF they allow them to. Remember they need access and

permission. They either get this by consent, ignorance, or disobedience.

This is why people who commit acts of darkness say, “I don’t know what made me just do

that!” “I would never do anything like that,” and not too long from that, they do something even

worse.

This is the domination of the rulers of the darkness playing out in the natural. If they are

walking in darkness, they are being ruled over and motivated by rulers of darkness.

1 John 5:18-19 NKJV 18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has

been born of God keeps[a] [b]himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

Jesus told pastor Hagin that every unsaved person, regardless of who they are, is in the

Kingdom of darkness, and they are ruled or motivated by more or less by these evil spirits

and demons who are the rulers of the darkness of this world.

Whether they want to admit that or not, or we want to come to terms and admit this or not,

it is the absolute truth. Those who have not been born again and who have not come into

the body of Christ are still in the kingdom of darkness.

An example in scripture of one being ruled by the rulers of the darkness of this world was

Esau Jacobs's brother. Esau was motivated by everything ungodly, married Canaanite women,

which he was specifically told not to do, began taking part in their idolatry, and ultimately was

driven by the rulers of darkness to attempt to kill Jacob, his brother, because in Jacob was the

seed of Israel, in Jacob, was the line of that nation band the rulers of the darkness of this world

knew it.

So every person who is not in the Kingdom of light is still ruled or dominated to some extent

by those evil spirits in the kingdom of darkness; although they may know not, they are.

Ephesians 2:1-3 NKJV:  

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked

according to the[a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works

in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts

of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of

wrath, just as the others. 

Look at these shootings happening, look at the violence in Chicago, look at people killing

their own children and spouses who were living fine lives BUT not saved, who may have

been living broken lives unsaved, and those rulers of darkness had authority to overcome

them and make them cause harm.

This is why we must be very careful being around the unsaved in our family and how much

we allow them influence in our lives because they are being influenced by the ones who we

are at war with.

Believers do not need to be dominated by evil spirits because we have been delivered out of

the kingdom of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of light.

Colossians 1:13 NKJV 3 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and [a]conveyed

us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, Jesus Christ is the one who is to rule over us,

Almighty God is the one who we are to serve.

DO NOT let the rulers of the darkness of this world try to lull you to become a tool and weapon

for their mass destructions on this planet, we have the authority over them through Christ

Jesus, and we need to act and live like that! Christ is the head, and we are the body!

Satan is the head of those who are unsaved. If the unsaved people of this world really knew

the truth, I mean in its bare sobering reality, they would be desperate to be saved so they could

come out from under satans dominion.

The spirit world is even more real than the physical world and way faster; people need to

know and understand this. God is a Spirit, for we worship Him in Spirit and in truth and the

devil and the demons exist in this world. Angels also do exist in this world to serve the Lord

and fight for His Will.

Colossians 1:13 NKJV 3 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and [a]conveyed

us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, This is God's amazing plan of redemption.

Jesus came to deliver us from the power and authority of devils and evil spirits who rule in that

realm of darkness. 

The only place rulers of darkness cannot rule at all and have no power is where the light

has come. Because the light exposes all their dark deeds and plans. This is the Light of the

Gospel, the Word of God, and the light of Almighty God!

1 Thessalonians 5:5 NKJV 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

This is why it is so important to walk in the light! Walking in the light of God’s Word ensures

protection against all of satans evil hosts. Putting on the whole armor of God every day.

Ephesians 6:10-13 NKJV 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the

whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [b]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,

against powers, against the rulers of [c]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,

and having done all, to stand. What does it mean to stand against: to oppose someone or

something, especially in a brave or determined way. 

The phrase “whole armor” is taken from the Greek word panoplia and refers to a Roman

soldier who is fully dressed in armor from head to toe.

A roman soldier in new testament times had 7 pieces of armor, yes 7, which includes both

offensive and defensive armor. 

Paul uses this armor in the same verse as listing the hierarchy of the kingdom of darkness,

and there is a reason.

So here are the instructions in order in Ephesians 6 because order matters to God:

1. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might

2. Put on the whole armor of God

3. That you may stand against the wiles (schemings) of the devil

4. We are CLEARLY told who our opponent is: 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [c]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

5. Therefore take up the whole armor of God

6. That you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand

So In Ephesians 6 verse 10-13 there are 6 steps of instructions for believers.

1. First, how are we strong in the Lord?
   By being in His word EVERYDAY, BY staying in close communication with Him EVERYDAY, by allowing that WORD to solidly root us and Almighty God, the Potter, to mold and transform us through The Word and ordering our Steps. The armor works best when we are strong in the Lord.

By Doing this it gives us the authority to operate in the power of the might of God under the authority of Jesus Christ. So we must also be strong in operating in that power we were given by Almighty God through Jesus Christ to tread on serpents and scorpions and against ALL, not some, ALL the power of the enemy so nothing shall by ANY means hurt us.

2. Then we put on the whole armor of God EVERYDAY, you don’t go into battle or enemy territory without your armor and your weapons.

3. These two things help us in turn Stand- to courageously oppose the enemy because we are protected.

4. We then are told who our opponents are in order of ranking which is important because we need to know what we are dealing with to a degree.

5. We then are told to take up the whole armor of God again after the opponents are listed, because the armor protects against all rankings!

6. This in turn helps us to withstand:  To remain undamaged or unaffected by; resist.

The armor and the Word protects us from having the enemy do major deep-seeded damage because he would love to weaken and destroy that armor so the rulers of the darkness can have their way, remember this, keep your armor strong, its your choice.

James 4:7 NKJV 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

We as children of Almighty God may be in the world BUT we are NOT of the World. 

John 17:14-16 NKJV: 4 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Because of this, we do NOT have to be ruled by the devil it is only if we allow such permissions, knowingly or unknowingly, that the devil attempts to rule over us.

John 8:12 NKJV 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Romans 13:12 NKJV 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

As believers gain knowledge of God’s Word and become more deeply rooted in such light and liberty are the fruits and products of such a discipline. The knowledge of God's Word brings lights, and it is the knowledge of the truth that sets us free and gives us liberty which is a responsibility.

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