Spiritual Warfare: The Enemy\'s Strongholds, Etc.

B

ButterflyLion

Driver In Training
Do any local churches ever teach anything about spiritual warfare? Does anyone know much about it?

I've lived in several other places, but none have been so hard to find a church in as here. I saw the thread were several mentioned being hurt by various behavior in churches they had been attending. It reminded me of something I had read online:

I've preached in many cities that have been strongholds for the Devil. The symptoms of this are many. Often the local churches suffer senseless conflicts or unexplained problems. The congregations experience little growth, and the preaching of the Word is not easily proclaimed or well received by the community. These are the symptoms, but behind the scene Satan is the culprit. In such cases, those spiritual strongholds must be dealt with and bound for the ministry to be effective.

http://www.victorious.org/strnghld.htm
 
We were attending a small church that received a new pastor. She turned into a tyrant who wanted to micro-manage everything. She talked about other members behind their backs and then would deny it. The district superintendent wouldn't get rid of her. Many of us left. There are now only five people who attend there and the same "reverend" is there.

My theory is Satan fed her ego and she liked that. Most likely she thinks God is praising her for getting rid of the "wicked" in the church. There was some serious spiritual warfare going on there. Those five who stayed wanted to be in charge of committees. Now they chair all the committees and I bet they are happy as heck about it. Satan fed their egos as well.
 
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 NASB)

The Bible teaches us that ALL our conflicts come from Satan. We often have responsibility in that as we allow our flesh to lead us rather than submitting to the Holy Spirit for guidance. If you find a church that teaches foundational Biblical principles, you will find a church that addresses spiritual warfare.

Have you ever read any of Frank Peretti's books? This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness are good ones to start with. They really allow you to look at the world in a different way.
 
I'm Floored said:
The Bible teaches us that ALL our conflicts come from Satan. We often have responsibility in that as we allow our flesh to lead us rather than submitting to the Holy Spirit for guidance. If you find a church that teaches foundational Biblical principles, you will find a church that addresses spiritual warfare.
Click to expand...

Well said, my dear!
 
I'm Floored said:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 NASB)

The Bible teaches us that ALL our conflicts come from Satan. We often have responsibility in that as we allow our flesh to lead us rather than submitting to the Holy Spirit for guidance. If you find a church that teaches foundational Biblical principles, you will find a church that addresses spiritual warfare.

Have you ever read any of Frank Peretti's books? This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness are good ones to start with. They really allow you to look at the world in a different way.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the replies.

I'm Floored, I'm familiar with that passage.

I wonder if I need to be doing something differently.

You mention that the books "allow you to look at the world in a different way." Do you do anything differently since reading the books?
 
Has anyone else read the books that I'm Floored mentioned?

Here's a description from Amazon.com/:

This Present Darkness takes place in the typical small town of Ashton where nothing much ever seems to happen. Until . . . a skeptical reporter and a prayerful pastor begin to compare notes. They suddenly find themselves fighting a hideous New Age plot to subjugate the townspeople, and eventually the entire human race.

The battle against evil continues in Piercing the Darkness, where a young loner fleeing for her life while trying to recall her dark past takes refuge in the tiny farming community of Bacon's Corner. There she finds herself caught up in the middle of bizarre events--from an attempted murder to a ruthless lawsuit against a struggling Christian school.

Across a vast panorama of heart-stopping action, these stories are a penetrating portrayal of our world, a reflection of its spiritual wanderings, and a vivid reminder of the redemptive power of the Cross.
 
ButterflyLion said:
I'm Floored said:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 NASB)

The Bible teaches us that ALL our conflicts come from Satan. We often have responsibility in that as we allow our flesh to lead us rather than submitting to the Holy Spirit for guidance. If you find a church that teaches foundational Biblical principles, you will find a church that addresses spiritual warfare.

Have you ever read any of Frank Peretti's books? This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness are good ones to start with. They really allow you to look at the world in a different way.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the replies.

I'm Floored, I'm familiar with that passage.

I wonder if I need to be doing something differently.
You mention that the books "allow you to look at the world in a different way." Do you do anything differently since reading the books?
Click to expand...

I think so. The fluff-ball sermons (if you want to call them that) are not working. Until the message returns to Heaven-High and Hell-Hot and Christ being the only way, they will remain a luke warm social clubs with a large portion of their members on a freight train to an uncertain eternity.
 
ButterflyLion said:
Has anyone else read the books that I'm Floored mentioned?
Click to expand...

I've read them. They're a fictional look "behind the scenes," as it were, like Elisha asked the Lord to show his servant when the servant thought they were outnumbered but in reality they were surrounded by the hosts of heaven.
 
I've read them. They only backed up what the Bible taught me. It is funny though, you'll view people different after reading the books. Not because it changes a doctrine but you can understand why we struggle so much with things that we don't understand. All of our problems are linked together some how and through spiritual warfare, you can see why. Very interesting books to say the least.
 
I saw where the 2 novels are available in one volume. I ordered a copy and look forward to reading both books.

For those of you that have already read them, do you do anything differently now; compared to before you read them?
 
I'm different from when I read them but I would have to give credit to reading and studying the Word of God and not someone's fictional novel. Books like that aren't meant to be gospel. I would look for it to draw you closer to God and to increase the desire to know more about the spirit realm and the principalities above us. The Bible should give you enough information for understanding God wants you to have. Don't let another book add something that may or may not be scriptural.
 
ButterflyLion said:
I saw where the 2 novels are available in one volume. I ordered a copy and look forward to reading both books.

For those of you that have already read them, do you do anything differently now; compared to before you read them?
Click to expand...

I think it just made me more aware of how active satan and his minions are in everyday activities, since his entire goal is to bring dishonor to God and those who love Him.

They're a good, easy read, but be forewarned...after the Prophet (another such book), Peretti sort of fell off the wagon, IMHO. His later stuff is TERRIBLE.
 
I have read the books. I would agree with I'm Floored.

ButterflyLion said:
Has anyone else read the books that I'm Floored mentioned?

Here's a description from Amazon.com/:

This Present Darkness takes place in the typical small town of Ashton where nothing much ever seems to happen. Until . . . a skeptical reporter and a prayerful pastor begin to compare notes. They suddenly find themselves fighting a hideous New Age plot to subjugate the townspeople, and eventually the entire human race.

The battle against evil continues in Piercing the Darkness, where a young loner fleeing for her life while trying to recall her dark past takes refuge in the tiny farming community of Bacon's Corner. There she finds herself caught up in the middle of bizarre events--from an attempted murder to a ruthless lawsuit against a struggling Christian school.

Across a vast panorama of heart-stopping action, these stories are a penetrating portrayal of our world, a reflection of its spiritual wanderings, and a vivid reminder of the redemptive power of the Cross.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top