It is important to know that we do not fight against people. We fight against the forces that try to move, lie to, manipulate and destroy them and us, mainly by attacking our minds and relationships through circumstances, misconceptions and reasoning.
They are the forces behind fear, pride, self pity, lust, greed, desires, motives and reasoning that do not align with God. Anything that exalts itself above God. Anything that steals our faith, causes strife, doubt, depression, stress, anxiety, deceptive mindsets, movements that cater to some fraction of soulish desire, pain, rebellion against what is good. Anything that is not trusting God, that keeps us from putting our faith in him or acts as surrogate thereof.
There are many different kinds of forces (demonic attachments to individual soul wounds, reasoning, ideologies, pride, fear, greed, envy etc) and principalities (that govern groups, gatherings, regions, nations, ideologies, religious mindsets and so on).
When Jesus saves us, he first brings us into experiencing our own inner healing, at least in part. We remain a work in progress and there always seems to be more to heal from, to learn and be trained in, even to be delivered from. Once we have experienced this for a while, if we show interest in it, we can start praying for others, we can lay hands on them and in Jesus name they will, sometimes, be healed. We can cast demons out of people too. There are various ways to do this and we need to trust that the Holy Spirit will lead us in how we should go about it.
Some will be very direct, set in place for those who need deliverance in that way. Casting out demons by the word of God and their authority in Christ, used like a battle axe. Others will minister to people in sessions or in relationship and experience ongoing healing, deliverance and growth in Christ. I personally have experienced a lot of deliverance through prayer counseling, where Jesus has turned up, for me it is usually in visions, to express what he wants to do and then I watch as his will unfolds before me. As I come into agreement with what I am seeing he is healing me and setting me free in a very kind and gentle way.
For those of us with a seer anointing, we tend to see and receive through visions. Some can discern through other senses, like smelling freshly baked bread when Jesus is healing or a foul smell when a demonic of say fear rises in someone.
Holy Spirit is our teacher. He is the one who trains us in all things. At some point, if we have given ourselves to Him, live our lives in unity with him, not interested in worldly things, except to further His Kingdom, then he will begin to train us to go deeper into warfare. First it starts with prayer. Usually a list of please I really need this or that. Later gratefulness enters the list. At some point our prayers develop into conversation, though often a monologue of us talking to God. Then, once we start to listen for what is on His heart, that is when the journey starts. We start to enjoy being with him. We love being with him and everything else gets dimmer, less attractive. That is where we need to be, if we want to go into spiritual places to do exploits for the Kingdom of God. It is vital that we do anything out of our intimacy with Him.
Once there, if you are gifted in spiritual warfare, then God will start to train you up in the way you should go. We start to fight for others, in prayer, intercession and understanding. However Holy Spirit leads. There will be times of intense attacks that we have to pray through, for ourselves or on behalf of others. This is essential training. Though it can be very tough, especially once we start adopting a fasted lifestyle. Prayer and fasting is the LIFESTYLE of these kinds of warriors. But not in religious obligation. We do this from a place of being at peace and in love with God. Where we fully trust Him to provide for all our needs as we go and do whatever He has pressed on our hearts. It is all about knowing Him and understanding what step he wants us to take.
Once someone who is gifted with a seer anointing starts discerning the spirits, it can become overwhelming, until we learn to deal with it. Often God will reveal to us the schemes of the enemy (often in dreams) so that when we wake up we can ask Holy Spirit what His will is in it. Then we can watch and pray into whatever he reveals to us. Rendering the plans of the enemy useless, nill and void, in Jesus Name.
If you are someone who sees in the spirit, please understand that what you see is in order for you to align it with the Kingdom of God. It is a likeness to explain what is going on in a way that you can understand. It is important to try not to interpret anything by reasoning. Instead ask Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to you and he will give you wisdom and understanding.
If you are someone who sees demons in places for instance
You will know if you are supposed to pray, declare, proclaim (fight) against them or not. Sometimes we see forces just so that we take not that they are there. But they may have legal ground to be there and if God has not led you to fight with them, walk on by. Do not engage with them. Holy Spirit will give you the understanding to know what to do. You will be trained and equipped to deal with any attack and later to go in on the offensive side. But not right away. You need to deal with your own healing first. For more on this go to the getting set free page.
It can take years before the Lord is able to use you in active, offensive combat, mainly because our own level of healing and understanding is not at a point of being able to fight right and alignment with God yet. It is a training and we are all on different levels and each level is valuable and will bring you to the next. The first hurdle we need to overcome is fear.
The word of God reminds us so often “do not fear”. We should only fear God! No one and nothing else. Spiritual warfare is about tearing down strongholds and setting captives free. It is about speaking truth and killing the lies that have infiltrated our minds and caused us to divert away from the purpose that God has for us and others. And it is warfare. War – fare! It is not a playground! It is a battleground! It is intense, exciting and can be so much fun because the joy of the lord is our strength and our battle cry is worship and our fighting is like a dance!
It is standing in the gap for someone, sometimes for weeks, every day until the burden is lifted off you. It is intense and people who engage in spiritual warfare go through intense training. And periods of rest to recover. It is important as intercessors to have a covering of others who pray for you too. It is fighting battle after battle, lead by the Holy Spirit – NEVER EVER go into battle against anything that God has not lead you to! Do not heed your reasoning. Wait on the Lord until you will be empowered from on High. You will know when he is leading you.
Spiritual warfare is about living in the victory that is Jesus Christ. It is surrendering all that you are and all that you have to him, fully. Because going into battle means that the enemy will try to take you out! You and everyone and everything you hold dear. You can only succeed and persevere in spiritual warfare if you are fully surrendered to God and fully trust Him to bring you through. You need to surrender everything you value to God and trust Him. We learn to let go of everything, because the enemy can not steal, kill or destroy what we don’t have.
If you have died to self – your own selfish desires that cater to the yearnings of the soul – this does not mean the soul should starve, it means that every good blessing is a gift from God and surrendered to him with thanksgiving. Everything you are and everything you have is out of a motivation and for the purpose of giving Him all the glory! He is our protector, our provider, our defense, our hiding place, our strong tower in times of need, our very present help. He never leaves nor forsakes us. He has our lives and the lives of those we love in His hands and as we trust Him, even when it gets really difficult, for some of us unto death, He will bring us through. With Him death is not the end it is the finish line to victory!
Spiritual warfare is not a game. The enemy is not asleep. There is a very well organized network of deception, manipulation and witchcraft infiltrating the body of Christ, constantly. Waves of demonic fear are set on the people of the nations. Perversion infiltrates what should be pure and holy. They target the weakest because they know they have no way of reaching a true born again believer who knows how to deal with them. They try but God uses it all to bring us through His training, as stepping stones for us to be humbled and equipped to rise higher into Him, into becoming a true reflection of Him, from glory to glory.
We need to understand their tactics and their strategical cunning. Their seductive maneuvers that pounce on you at the first sign of weakness. As Holy Spirit trains us, we also learn to recognize their weaknesses. Pieter Kirstein wrote that God gave Satan enough rope in order to hang himself with it. If we back the enemy into a corner they get so desperate that they disregard all masquerades of light and bluntly threaten us. Or they become so sure of themselves, so prideful in their apparent ‘victory’ over us, that they blurt out who they are.
You need to trust God. There is no other way. To learn about spiritual warfare seek Holy Spirits guidance. He can teach you through those who are more experienced and sharing what Holy Spirit has taught them so far. But He is your first teacher.
And remember:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 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. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Ephesians 6:10-20 NKJV
The Holy Bible
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