Weapons of Spiritual Warfare
Compiled by Stephen Black
“For the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God” (2 Cor. 10:3-5)
USE THE WEAPONS OF THIS SPIRITUAL WAR THROUGH GOD’S POWER IN YOU!
seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, (do not ignore him) steadfast in the faith,
knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)
THE WORD OF GOD, Use the Scriptures, just like our Lord Jesus Christ did to overcome temptation in the wilderness. Jesus overcame the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life – (Matthew 4:1-11, 1 John 2:15-17), Know/Memorize the Scriptures and hide the Word of God in your heart to be ready for Satan’s attacks. – READ Psa. 119 to grow in-love with God’s Word.
REVELATIONS 12:11
- THE BLOOD OF JESUS – acknowledging the blood of Jesus and His absolute atoning sacrifice in cleansing you from all sin. Jesus' Blood destroyed the work and kingdom of Satan. Jesus Blood now gives you overcoming power to resist sin and causes the devil to flee from you. (1 Cor. 15:57-"Thanks be to God, who gives us the VICTORY through our Lord jesus Christ”) Rev. 7:14.
- THE WEAPON OF THE TESTIMONY (Psa. 19:7), Using your own testimony of how God’s grace works in your own life gives you a clear conscience and empowers your own faith in Christ. Use your own testimony of how God has forgiven you and cleansed you from all sin. He will empower you more and this will cause you to be evangelistic. This will cause others to come to Christ and which will bring defeat to Satan and his kingdom of darkness. “The testimony of the Lord makes wise the simple.”
- LOVING NOT THE FLESH LIFE OR YOUR LIFE, EVEN UNTO DEATH – Your life is but a vapor, (James 4:14). Put the value of your life into God’s hands and don’t put all your value in a temporary existence, but put all your value and faith in the eternal position of living with Christ forever. Comfort yourself with God’s faithfulness to complete this work in you. Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
PRAYER IS A MIGHTY WEAPON
Prayer is our invitation to access the very presence of God, to go to His presence to find freedom, His Kingdom, His Life flow, and deliverance from sin and temptation. God will even tell us secrets in the quite place. He desires for us to draw near to Him in prayer/conversation to have intimacy with Him. We take our needs to our heavenly Father, who is a GREAT Father, who is VERY FAITHFUL to meet all our needs. James 4:8 – “Draw near to God and HE WILL draw near to you” (See Hebrews 4:14-16). Christ Jesus is a faithful high priest who sympathizes with all our weaknesses. He has given us a model prayer in which we are to war with, Matthew 6: 9-13 "In this manner - (this is the way) therefore, pray: (LIKE THIS:)
(Spending time to meditate on each following phrase, you will have no difficulty praying for an hour.)
- Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
(Think of all His Names and Worship HIM).
- Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
(Praying God’s Word & HIS Will – Make a Scripture promise list and pray the promises. Praying for others first before praying for yourself).
- Give us this day our daily bread.
(Asking SPECIFICALLY for your needs and desires).
- And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
(Be an ambassador of reconciliation –we must forgive to have our prayers answered). Spend time forgiving EVERY offender of your life.
- And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
(Praying for deliverance out of all temptation and every evil circumstance; we are giving all our troubles to the Father in heaven). (1 Peter 5:7). Praying for the hedge of protection - see Hosea 2:6 – he prayed a hedge of protection.
- For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
(Again closing in worshipping God and thanking Him for answers to your prayers!
- AMEN – SO LET IT BE DONE!
THE NAME OF JESUS
Mark 16:17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons . . .” (Luke 10:20) (Matthew 18:20 – using Christ name, HE WILL BE PRESENT WITH YOU!)
John 14:13-14 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
LIVING BY FAITH
Hebrews 11:6 – Those who please God, (bring joy to His Heart) live by faith.
1 John 5:4 – this is our deliverance, our victory that overcomes the world, our FAITH. Our faith is upon the Word of God, HIS PROMISES to us – Romans 10:17 “faith comes by hearing and the hearing (of faith) by the Word of God.” “. . Fear Not, Only Believe. . .” Luke 8:50 “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7. Faith/Hope In God is the opposite of the root of all sin which is unbelief. The Shield Of Faith is the weapon by which you take every thought captive and extinguish the firey darts of Satan’s lies in your mind. The Anchor Of Our Soul – HOPE! Hope in God, HE is the one who centers our life in His powerful grace!
PRAISE AND WORSHIP – IS A MIGHTY WEAPON!
“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples.” Proclaim! Exalt! Adore! Magnify! “Praise the Lord” = MANY expressions of “Praise the Lord” in the Hebrew Words please study each ‘praise the Lord’ in Psalms and put to practice in your own life. You will find this is an amazing weapon! Psa. 149:6.
FELLOWSHIP OF THE SAINTS = CONFESSION AND HUMILITY = ACCOUNTABILITY
James 5:16 “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed (set free). The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15
Fellowship gives a natural way to be edified and built up in the body of Christ. We need encouragement! We must be freed to fight the enemy! We must be able to receive strength from one another. (See 1 Cor. 12:12-26).
COVENANT AUTHORITY – WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST!
We must study what God says about us. We must know what God has given us in Christ Jesus as: His Children, His Church – Bride, His Friends, and His Warriors. We must know our positional truth and protect ourselves for the devil’s scheme of shame and condemnation. (See ‘Who Am I In Christ’ handout).
SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY = PROTECTION - SUBMISSION = TRUST.
If you will trust God to use authority in your life, especially spiritual authority and parental authority – your life will be protected and blessed. Pray for those in authority over you so you can live a peaceful life. God will even make your enemies to be at peace with you. Honor Your Mother and Father that it may go WELL WITH YOU! Make sure you have done all within your ability to make peace with your parents. (Suggested Reading: “The Tribute and the Promise” by Dennis Rainey). Ex. 20:12, Rom. 13:1-6, Eph. 6:1-3.
Use the Armor of God Daily! - Eph. 6:14-18
Eph. 6: 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,
GIRD YOUR WAIST WITH TRUTH – Memorized Scriptures. The Scriptures are now a part of your daily living. The Word of God is a part of your thinking.having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
RECEIVE RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH IN CHRIST – SELF-ACCEPTANCE = POSITIONAL TRUTH – WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST! Your spiritual vitality is protected by wearing this breastplate. Telling yourself the truth of WHO you are indeed!15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
READY TO GIVE GOOD NEWS WHEREVER YOU ARE – Testify of God’s GOOD NEWS to those around you. You share your testimony! You share the truth of forgiveness!16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
BY FAITH TAKING ALL YOUR THOUGHTS CAPTIVE 2 Cor. 10:3-5.17 And take the helmet of salvation,
THE MIND OF CHRIST, THE HELMET OF SALVATION – YOU WILL LIVE FOREVER WITH JESUS, NO MORE FEAR OF DEATH! YOU ARE SAVED! You now walk in the victory of Jesus Christ knowing you are alive from the death of sin, you now take all your thoughts captive to Christ’s holy ways and to His holy word! The battle ground is in the MIND, however, the battle belongs to the Lord. Invite Christ into your thoughts.and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
USE THE WORD OF GOD LIKE THE SON OF GOD! IT IS A SWORD TO FIGHT WITH IN BATTLE OVER TEMPTATION. – Remember Jesus’ battle in the wilderness, He was in pain fasting for forty days and He overcame the devil giving us an example to live by.18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints----
PRAYER, Knowing how to PRAY, (LEARN to USE The Lord’s Prayer – See Above and practice as much as possible, be accountable with your prayer life). Pray in the Holy Spirit.
Other Powerful Arsenal In Spiritual Warfare
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD
This is a Bible Study in itself, however, I mention this as ‘Other Arsenal’ because it is vital to know and understand the power of the operation of the Holy Spirit in our lives to overcome Satan in greater battles. (See 1 Cor. 12:1-11 and 1 Cor. 12:27-31) and (See Grace Operational Gifts of the Body of Christ – Romans 12:3-8).
LOVE COVERS
You are a secret keeper, a safe person. You do not walk in judgment any longer. You have chosen to forsake the sowing of strife. You have chosen the higher road of LOVE, which desires to cover a person’s sin and take it to the cross of Christ. “He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.” Proverbs 17:9 “Hatred stirs up strife: but love covers all sins.” Proverbs 10:12 “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 (Study 1 Cor. 13:1-13).
JOY!
THE JOY OF THE LORD IN YOUR STRENGTH! The BIGGEST LIE of Satan is condemnation and his work of shame. This tactic of Satan paralyzes believers. Believers lose their confidence. Condemnation steals away the strength of God! Condemnation causes you to put your eyes on your sin. God’s joy gives you spiritual vitality! The Joy of our Lord’s salvation gives us the ability to shut the mouth of Satan and walk in confidence. Neh. 8:10. Rom. 8:1, Rev. 12:10.
FORGIVENESS IS A VERY POWERFUL WEAPON ~ The gospel message, the love story of Almighty God is the message of the preaching of the cross. This is where God completely forgives and reconciles man to Himself. Jesus Christ died on the cross to bring absolute and complete atonement – propitiation; this is when God, Himself became our sacrifice for complete forgiveness and cleansing from all sin. Forgiveness is a powerful spiritual weapon because God has forgiven you, so you now forgive in return which changes the spiritual atmosphere and the condition of your heart and the potential to change the heart of the one you release from the emotional debt. Matt. 6:14-15, Matt. 18:18-35, Matt. 20:28, Matt. 26:28, John 20:23, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14, 1 Peter 1:19-23, 1 John 1:9.
Stephen Black is an ordained minister and has been ministering to people leaving homosexuality since 1984. He served on staff with First Stone Ministries from August 1993 to July 2023. For twenty of those years, he served as Executive Director.
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