Spiritual Warfare is Simple

Notes from the Pastor's Desk

Don’t be fooled by the title of this post. Spiritual warfare is not something to take lightly. There are forces of evil operating in ways we can’t see, but they affect us. In the sermon “Foundations of Spiritual Warfare,” which I preached just yesterday, I explain what I mean by “simple.” 


The best way to win spiritual battles is to believe in the basics of Christianity and to get stubborn about it. Jesus is king! 


Here is a video I have put together as a training tool for other ministers. It explains a simple method I use to help people win spiritual battles. Click here for my Four Questions Deliverance/Inner-Healing video.


Fasting

Fasting and Prayer are significant parts of spiritual warfare. During the sermon, I invited everyone to join our Wednesday morning prayer time (8-9:30 a.m.) and our Wednesday night prayer (6-7 p.m.) in the Worship Center. I forgot to mention that we would also be fasting on Wednesdays. Please consider joining in the fast however you choose. 


You can set the terms of your own fast. Commit to it before God, and then do it. I usually do either a two-meal fast, skipping breakfast and lunch, and then eating dinner. Sometimes, I’ll do a sunup to sundown fast, which means I’ll eat before sunrise and then wait to eat again until after sunset. 


Some people have medical issues like medication that requires eating, diabetic issues, or the big one, pregnancy! If you would still like to fast with a condition of these sorts, it’s still possible. You can choose certain foods to abstain from. You could consider eating only vegetables that day or only bread and water. The idea is that you are buffeting your body and spending time in prayer. 


Follow-up from October 6


You can see the video of Joe’s update last week during the 9 a.m. service. For simplicity’s sake, we’ll call it the “Wellspring Campus Update” video. It has also been added to the website’s home page.


Video: Wellspring Campus Update


Notes from the Sermon



Sermon Title: "Foundation of Spiritual Warfare"
Sermon Video: Foundation of Spiritual Warfare
Scriptures: 2 Timothy 2:3-4 | Isaiah 59:17 | Psalm 23:5 | Ephesians 6:11-12 |Colossians 2:13-15 | Luke 10:19


What we Believe

  • Spiritual warfare is simple.
  • The devil has schemes to stand against us. To stand against his schemes, we have to put on the armor of God.
  • To put on the armor of God means to live as a Christian. The armor of God is directly tied to our salvation. Each piece of the armor (righteousness, truth, faith, readiness from the Gospel, etc.) represents basic aspects of our faith walk.

Steps of Spiritual Warfare

  • Be a Christian
  • Understand the spiritual battle—Jesus has all authority over all spiritual enemies and gave His disciples His power over darkness. 
  • Fight the spiritual battle as Scripture commands - resist the enemy through righteousness and command him to go by the power of Jesus.
  • Pray blessings for the people who curse you. 
  • The Christian battle is against the spiritual forces of evil.
  • Responding to spiritual darkness does not have to be complicated. It is as simple as speaking the truth found in the Bible. 

How to Obey

  • Remain surrounded by the armor of God. Don’t take off righteousness, truth, or peace to accomplish what you think is right. Only God decides what is right. Walk according to His Word and remain in a position to walk in accordance with the traits of the armor of God.
  • When it comes to those cursing the Church - First, we bless them. “If you are cursing us, we do not curse you back. We bless you in the name of Jesus. Bless them with the ultimate blessing that anyone can receive, which is the conviction of sin and forgiveness.” - Pastor Dustin.

How to Respond to Spiritual Warfare

    • Confess sin. (Unconfessed sin is anything you’re doing you know is wrong, but you don’t want to stop and/or things you don’t want others to know you’ve done.)
    • Forgive everyone who has wronged you. 
    • Ask God to break curses. (We don’t have to figure out curses for God to break them. Simply pray and ask God for His help to break curses.)
    • Command evil spirits to leave in the name of Jesus. 

How to Walk Intimately with God

  • Submit to Christ as your authority. He is Lord over all things. This relationship of submission does not have to be a cold relationship. He loves you, cares for you, and has all authority and Lordship over all life. Submit to the One who loves you. His Lordship over your life means protection and security. 
  • When you face spiritual warfare, you do not have to be a victim. God is on the throne. Come to God with confidence. Trust Him with your needs. He is the God who delivers!
  • Do not rejoice that the demons tremble before you; rejoice that your name is written in the Book of Life. 
  • Spiritual warfare is an overflow of our identity as children of God and living as His children. 

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