We've talked about the personalities of God, and who we are in the multidimensional reality. This next lesson focuses on the spiritual - or created - beings. Who are they? Where does their allegiance? Who is the enemy? And how do we protect ourselves? Paul tells us about the forces of the enemy and the Spiritual Armor we are given in Ephesians 6:10-18.
https://youtu.be/_4dP6K321OI
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Kick Off Videos
Bible Project, Spiritual Beings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBxOZqtGTXE
How I climbed a 3,000-foot vertical cliff -- without ropes | Alex Honnold
From 8:42 - 9:28 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iM6M_7wBMc
Understanding the Fight
Our multidimensional self. How this SHOWS God’s design (Father, Son, Spirit)
We talked about spiritual beings, and where the battle takes place.
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A12&version=ESV
Spirit Beings
Created beings were organized by God in a hierarchy - think military
Lower spirits report up to higher spirits.
God created angels - so angels are created spiritual beings
1st Sphere: Seraphim >> Cherubim >> Thrones
These are the Heavenly servants of God and the Son
2nd Sphere: Dominions (or Lordships) >> Virtues (or Strongholds) >> Powers of Authorities
Heavenly governors of the creation by subjecting matter and guiding and ruling the spirits
3rd Sphere: Principalities (or Rulers) >> Archangels >> Angels
Function as heavenly guides, protectors, and messengers to human beings.
Lucifer was cast out, and ⅓ of the angels “fell” (were humbled) with him
Lucifer deceived them into believing they would have better status in his kingdom.
We should understand this deception - Adam & Eve fell to the same deception
Who Is Lucifer?
The structure of Satan’s ranks are similar
Lucifer is a created being as an angel.
Ezekiel 28:13-14 English Standard Version (ESV)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+28%3A13-14&version=ESV
Lucifer is a high ranking angel.
He had positional power
He fell to pride, became the deceiver, we know as Satan
He deceived the angels under him
Fell (or was cast) to Earth, this represents a humbling
Jesus said he saw Satan fall like lightning in Luke 10:18
This is true for us too, as Jesus says in Luke 14:11, “He who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Satan's Ranks
Under Satan are similar ranks of fallen angels that all report up to him.
This is his false kingdom.
Many spirits of the enemy are simple. They do one thing.
Quick Review
Our soul is our Mind, Will, and Emotion.
Types of “Sin”
Sin is “missing the mark.”
This is where the enemy tempts us.
This is where we need to repent
Transgression is “to choose to sin.”
The enemy can still tempt us, but we are partnering with the enemy.
Iniquity is “premeditated choice, continuing without repentance.”
When we are sick with iniquity, the enemy has developed a home within us
The Antithesis of Love:
Sin, transgression, and iniquity hurt others
They also hurt ourselves
Mostly they hurt God (think of a child being disobedient to a parent)
And also, they validate Lucifer, who desires to be “like God” but can’t
Applying This To Ourselves
Download the handout for this week: Our Multidimensional Reality
In Ephesians 6:16 we learn about the “flaming darts of the evil one.”
The enemy attacks each one of these areas with different kinds of sin.
Scriptures that Support the Chart:
Galatians 5:19-21 (ESV) - Works of the Flesh
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galations+5%3A19-21&version=ESV
1 Timothy 1:18-20 (ESV) - Wage Good Warfare
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+1%3A18-20&version=ESV
1 Timothy 4:1-2 (ESV) - Some Will Depart from the Faith
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+4%3A1-2&version=ESV
Matthew 12:45 (ESV) - Demons Return With Seven More
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A45&version=ESV
Jesus in Action
Jesus is an example OF US - a model to reach.
Consider Mark 5, the story of Jesus casting out Legion.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+5%3A9&version=MSG
9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
Jesus KNEW its name because He was God. But here we see the demons having to respond to the Name of Jesus.
We are capable of of this as children of God, through Jesus, in the Name of Jesus.
But we need to know:
What and where the battle takes place
How to develop our skills in the fight
Seek God with all our Heart
Why? Because we are BEING DEVELOPED for something greater.
Understanding Our Weapons
The Name of Jesus
The Name of Jesus is important BECAUSE it has authority.
It has authority because because Jesus was given authority from the Father, as we learned in Isaiah 53:11-12 (MSG)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53%3A11-12&version=MSG
Therefore I’ll (the Father) reward Him (Jesus) extravagantly
- the best of everything, the highest honors
(Jesus given authority over everything)
- because He looked death in the face and didn’t flinch
(physical, spiritual, the first & second death, atonement for OUR sin!)
We can use it because Jesus gave it to us, as we learned in John 14:13
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son
But use of this name is NOT available to all...
Power in the Name of Jesus Demonstrated
Even (and especially) the forces of the enemy KNOW the power of this Name.
A great example of this is the story of the Seven Sons of Sceva in Acts 19:11-16 (ESV). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+19%3A11-20&version=ESV
14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all[a] of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Praying In The Name of Jesus
When we pray - In the Name of Jesus.
Is stronger than In His Name. Or in “Your Name.” And even, “In Jesus Name.”
It is about addressing the prayer very specifically. Placing it IN HIS NAME.
Desires of our heart
When we pray, pray in proper alignment.
Praying in our flesh: to win the lottery, for a sports team to win, to have power over others… these are not God’s desires.
Praying with Scripture: One way to include the God’s desires are to include Scripture in our prayer. If we are praying for what God wants for us….
Think about a kid wanting what their parent wants for them. The “Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6:9-13 gives us a model:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A9-13&version=ESV
May Your (our Heavenly Father) Kingdom Come
and Your (our Heavenly Father) Will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven
Spiritual Armor
Paul tells us WHO we are fighting, and the ARMOR from God that is provided. We should be knowledgeable of these things, train in these things, and be ready to respond in the fight.
Ephesians 6:10-18 (ESV) - The Whole Armor of God
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-18+&version=ESV
The Belt of Truth
Truth of God, in the Scriptures, vs the lies of Satan
Part of what we must believe:
That God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are Three in One
That the Bible is the true Word of God
That Jesus came and died for us, and is our only Salvation
Breastplate of Righteousness
This is the righteousness of JESUS, not us, our’s is filthy rags.
But His righteousness through us is how the Father sees us.
Allowing His righteousness to flow through us focuses us on His desires.
Readiness - (shoes for your feet)
Shoes of the Gospel, a readiness to share and evangelize
This is the great commission set forth by Jesus!
BUT ALSO, be READY to respond to attacks. How to pray, what to say, how to be ever vigilant!
Shield of Faith
When Satan attacks with “fiery darts” this protects us.
Doubt, temptations, lures that deceive us
We protect ourselves with faith, but it isn’t just our faith
Jesus Faith, WAY stronger than ours, flows through us, and provides protection
The Helmet of Salvation
Knowledge of who we are in Jesus
We are children of God, and if we repent of our sins, we are forgiven
Understanding blocks the lies of the enemy, because we discern them
The Sword of the Spirit
“Which is the Word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication”
When we pray for ourselves, intercede for others, and for the Kingdom
Why is prayer in the Spirit so important?
Because He prays PERFECTLY for what we know not what to pray!
Summing Up
We fight against spiritual forces and beings. These are all created by God.
Lucifer fell to pride and was cast out of heaven
He deceived 1/3 of the angels, and they fell with him. His goals are:
Self validation
To hurt God
Take whoever he can with him to destruction
When we say "sin" we miss the mark.
But when we choose to sin, that is transgression
Iniquity is when we are sick with sin, and premeditate disobedience
Love is the opposite or antithesis of sin. Why? Because God is Love!
Spiritual forces fight us in our soul (spirit world), but, they want to occupy a body, and manipulate it into defilement.
We Have Weapons In The War
To use them / have access to them we need to be saved by Jesus
Jesus gave us authority in His Name as children of God, co-heirs, etc.
We talked about how to Pray in the Name of Jesus.
We develop ourselves through:
Prayer, and prayer in the Spirit
Praise & Worship
Reading the Word of God
5. We have access to, and should be using our Spiritual Armor
Belt of Truth (knowledge of the truth of God)
Breastplate of Righteousness, (Jesus Righteousness)
Readiness (to share the Gospel - and defend ourselves vigilantly)
The Shield of Faith (to extinguish the fiery darts of the enemy)
The Helmet of Salvation (knowledge of who we are in Jesus)
The Sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God)
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