INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUAL WARFARE - Directory …cioconbld.fastmail.fm/SpiritualWarfare/Notes on Spiritual Warfare... · Satan is “the deceiver of the whole world.” ... Joy Praise,

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INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUAL WARFARE

BLD NEWARK DISTRICTTEACHING MINISTRY

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Introduction to Spiritual Warfare

OBJECTIVES

• Gain a fundamental understanding of spiritual warfare

• Continue the growth of the individual and the community in the ministry of “Intercessors & Prayer Warriors”

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COURSE OUTLINE

• Scripture Foundation• Spiritual Warfare- Old & New Testaments• Jesus Christ-The Model Spiritual Warrior• Pitfalls to Avoid• the enemy & his works• Preparing for Battle• Christian Weaponry• Armor of God• Workshop

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SCRIPTURE FOUNDATION

• Ephesians 6:12

“For our struggle is not with flesh and

blood but with the principalities, with

the powers, with the world rulers of this

present darkness, with the evil spirits in

the heavens.”

•Pope Benedict XVI:

•“Whatever the less discerning theologians may say, the devil, as far as Christian belief is concerned, is a puzzling but real, personal and not merely symbolical presence.”

•(CCC) VII. OUR FATHER PRAYER – “BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL”

•2851. In this petition, evil is not an abstraction, but refers to a person, Satan, the Evil One, the angel who opposes God. The devil (diabolos) is the one who “throws himself across” God’s plan and his work of salvation accomplished in Christ.

•2852. “A murderer from the beginning, . . . a liar and the father of lies,”Satan is “the deceiver of the whole world.” … We know that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the evil one.

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SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN THE OLD & NEW TESTAMENTS

• Isaiah 14:12-14 - The fall of Lucifer• Genesis 3:15 - Yahweh declares war• Revelation 12:7-9, 13, 17 - War in heaven• 2 Timothy 3:1-5 - War in man’s heart• 1 Peter 5:8 - The enemy is prowling

around

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JESUS CHRIST: THE MODEL SPIRITUAL WARRIOR

• Luke 4:1-13 - Tempted in the desert• Mark 1:21-27 - Power over evil spirits• Matthew 16:21-23 - Rebuked satan• Luke 22:31-32 - Prayed for Peter• Matthew 26:36-46 - Tempted in the garden• Matthew 26:46-56 - Tempted at His arrest • Matthew 27:40, 42-43 - Tempted at His

crucifixion• Mark 16:15-20 - Empowered disciples over

evil spirits

Additional Scriptures:

• Hebrews 2:18 - Tested thru suffering

• Hebrews 5:7 - Offered prayers & supplication

• Romans 8:34 - At God’s right hand interceding for us

• Hebrews 7:25 - Lives forever to intercede for us

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PITFALLS TO AVOID

• Denying the existence of evil spirits & satan and taking an unrealistic view of the world and man in it

• Attributing all spiritual experiences to God, including forbidden territory

• Attributing most, if not all, evil & sin to satan and demonic activity

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Angels

• Nine choirs of angels– Seraphim: consumed with the fire of God’s love Is 6:1-6– Cherubim: to defend God’s sanctuary Gen 3:24; Ez 1:1-26– Thrones: pure goodness with authority; to defend dioceses,

communities, “kingdoms”– Dominations: to help govern the world ; for conversion– Principalities: spiritual war leaders; to protect Church– Powers: help plan and direct battles of the Lord – Virtues: to work miracles– Archangels: seven but only three are named

• Michael – powerful like God• Gabriel – voice of God• Raphael – God heals

– Angels: guardian angels, ministering angels

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the enemy & his works

• Works of satan– witchcraft or sorcery– divination - Isaiah 8:19– cults– spiritualism

•Witchcraft or Sorcery

•Divination - Isaiah 8:19

•The seeking after knowledge of future or hidden thingsby inadequate means. The means being inadequate they must, therefore, be supplemented by some power which is represented all through history as coming from gods or evil spirits. (Catholic Encyclopedia)

•Methods (astrology, feng shui, necromancy, ouija board)

•CCC #2115, #2116, #2117

•Cults

•system of religious worship or ritual

•devoted attachment or extravagant admiration for a person or principle. some characteristics:

•charismatic leader who seeks to draw all attention to himself rather than to God

•deceitful practices & hidden agenda in recruitment

•discernment difficult due to rapid initiation process

•difficult to leave from group

•secrecy in the disposition of funds

•Spiritualism (or spiritism)

•the belief in the possibility of communication with disembodied spirits, and the various devices employed to realize this belief in practice (seances).

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three levels of spirits

• ministering spirits – reside in people’s emotions and come and go easily

• cardinal spirits – compare to cardinal sins; attached to will, not emotion

• Satanic – satan himself with his high powered cohorts, the occult spirits

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controlling spiritsanger

blasphemy

confusion

deceit

discouragement

delusions of grandeur

fear of fears

hatred

infirmity

intellectual pride

lust

mockery

nether

occult

paranoia

ritual

self-deceit

self-destruction

sloth

turbulence

unbelief

weariness

atheism

blockage

conflict

despair

defilement

division

fear

games

hostility

insanity

jealousy

lies

nonsense

pride

rebellion

repression

self-denial

self-hatred

spiritual deceit

terror

vice

withdrawal

anti-christ

condemnation

compulsion

destruction

disobedience

fear of rejection

gluttony

idolatry

indecision

judgment

larceny

murder

never

nervousness

perversion

resentment

schizophrenia

lack of self-esteem

self-pity

trivia

torment

violence

witchcraft

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5 Points where spirits attach themselves to a person

• Mind/Memory• Emotions• Intellect• Will• Imagination

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PREPARING FOR BATTLE

• 1 Timothy 6:12 - Compete well for the faith• James 4:7 - Submit to God, resist the devil• 1 Peter 5:9 - Steadfast in faith• Mark 16:17 - Power in Jesus’ Name

– Acts 8:5-7 - Example: Philip in Samaria– Acts 19:14-16 - Prayer warrior must be in Jesus

• Ephesians 6:10 - Draw strength from Lord• Ephesians 3:14-16 - Power through Holy Spirit• Ephesians 1:18-19 - Power for believers• Luke 24:49 - Wait on the Lord

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CHRISTIAN WEAPONRY

• The Name of Jesus - Colossians 3:17; Philippians 2:9

• The Word of God - Hebrews 4:12• Praying in the Spirit - Ephesians 6:18• Fasting & Prayer - Mark 9:18-29• Sacraments of Eucharist and

Reconciliation• Eucharistic Adoration• The Blessed Mother’s intercession -

Genesis 3:15

Additional weapons:

•Spiritual Gifts- 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

•Righteousness- Philippians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:6-7

•Rosary

•Chaplet of Divine Mercy

•Prayer to St. Michael:

“Saint Michael the Archangel, Defend us in Battle; be our Protection against the Wickedness and Snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we Humbly Pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Power of God, Thrust into Hell Satan and all the other Evil Spirits who wander throughout the World seeking the Ruin of Souls.

Amen”

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ARMOR OF GOD

• Our Protection - Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil..”

• Armor of God - Ephesians 6:13-17– Belt of Truth– Breastplate of Righteousness– Footgear for Gospel of Peace– Shield of Faith– Helmet of Salvation– Sword of the Spirit

•1 John 4:4 - The One who is in You is greater

•Galatians 3:27 - Clothed in Christ

•Mark 9:24 - Clothed with power from on High

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THE BELT OF TRUTH• Ephesians 6:14 - “Stand fast with your loins girded in

truth.”• What is truth?

– God can not lie - 1 Peter 2:22– The Lord is trustworthy - Psalm 145:13– Jesus is the truth - John 14:6– Truth - God is who He says He is

• Attacks: lies, deception, accusation• Discernment needed to remain in truth

– Know difference between light & darkness, truth & deception, love & fear, good and evil

– 1 Corinthians 2:10 - Ask the Holy Spirit, who scrutinizes everything

– Acts 16:6-7 - Follow the direction of the Holy Spirit

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THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

• Ephesians 6:14 - “Clothed with righteousness as our breastplate.”

• Breastplate covers extremely important area: the heart– Matthew 5:8 - “Blessed are the clean of heart…”– Ephesians 1:4 - Chosen to be holy & without blemish

• When we speak of hearts, we think of love– John 3:30 - “He must increase, I must decrease”– Our desire must be to have our heart right with God– 1 John 4: 10 - Jesus is our righteousness with God– Go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation often - Matthew 5:6

“Blessed are they who hunger & thirst for righteousness…”– Romans 16:19-20 - Righteous person assured of victory

• Attacks: evil & sinful desires, pride, self-righteousness, false or showy piety

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THE FOOTGEAR OF PEACE

• Ephesians 6:15 “And your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace”

• 2 Timothy 4:2 - “Proclaim the word, be persistent...”• Romans 1:16 - “For I am not ashamed of the gospel.

It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”

• Isaiah 61:1-2 - “The Spirit of the Lord is now upon me..”

• 1 John 1:3 - “What we have seen and heard, we proclaim in turn to you”

• Matthew 28:19 - “Go therefore to all the nations…”

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THE SHIELD OF FAITH• Ephesians 6:16 - “In all circumstances, hold faith up

before you as your shield”• Faith is the full shield to cover the entire person

– Received supernatural gifts of faith, hope & charity in Baptism

• “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1– Trust God- “walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7– Trusting in God’s strength & goodness other than our own

• Attacks: doubt, uncertainty, fear, anxiety, disobedience

• Pray for faith: “Lord, increase my faith” Luke 17:5 or “Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief” Luke 9:24– Trials in life provide opportunity to grow in faith– Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave you or abandon you.”

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THE HELMET OF SALVATION

• Ephesians 6:17 - “Take the helmet of salvation”• The battlefield is our mind

– Thoughts decisions actions James 1:14-15

• Have the mind of Christ 1 Corinthians 2:16– Acts 15:28 - Invite the Holy Spirit into our thoughts &

decisions– John 15:5 - Apart from Christ, we can do nothing– Romans 12:2 - “Do not conform yourselves to this age, but

be e transformed by the renewal of your mind…”– John 5:19 - Be totally dependent on the Father

• Attacks: fear, despair, discouragement, depression, unforgiveness, calamity, accident– 2 Corinthians 11:24-27 - satan hinders Paul’s work

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THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT• Ephesians 6:17 - “Take the Sword of the Spirit, the

Word of God”• Jesus is the Word of God

– John 1:1-2 - “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….”

• Scripture is the Word of God– Hebrews 4:12 - Through Holy Spirit, the Word in Scripture

becomes alive, active, dynamic & effective– 2 Timothy 3:16 - “All Scripture is inspired by God and is

useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

– Isaiah 55:10-11 - “So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth. It shall not return to Me void but shall do My will, achieving the end for which I sent it.”

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ATTITUDE OF A PRAYER WARRIOR

• 1 Samuel 17:33, 36-37 - zeal• 1 Samuel 17:38-40 - 5 smooth stones

– Worship– Word– Work– Witness– Warfare

• 1 Samuel 18:45, 47 -

The battle is the Lord’s!

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Plan for VictoryWeapon Training Warfare Victory

Love Faith, Trust Envy, Fear, Covetousness Unselfishness

Joy Praise, Worship Depression, Heaviness, Grief Strength

Peace Mind on Jesus, not on prohlem

Worry, Nervousness, Dread Freedom

Long Suffering Prayer, Thanksgiving,

Rejoicing

Anger, Resentment, Impatience Patience

Gentleness Accepting Others’Imperfections

Irritation, Criticalness, Judgment Refined

Goodness Service to Other Rejection, Defeat, Unworthy Servant Attitude

Faith Trust in God’s Word

Doubt, Unbelief, Deception Righteousness

Meekness Submit to God’s Will

Pride, Rebellion, Disobedience Brokenness

Temperance Disciplining of Body & Soul

Lust, Emotions, Mind Self-Control

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Binding

• Mt 12:29 Bind the strong man – Bind for protection: “In the name of Jesus, I bind all powers and

forces of the air…”– Bind from: the spirit from the person’s woundedness and hurts;

own emotions, physical being, mind, desire, will, etc– Bind each aspect or attribute

• Aspect: makeup/personality of spirit (deceit, defiance, etc) and the effect or hold it has on the person

• Attribute: special qualities of some spirits (intelligence, power)– Process: Name, Isolate/Binding, Aspects, Healing, Deliverance

• In the name of Jesus, I bind you, spirit of _____, that you no longer exercise dominion over this person

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Loosing Prayer

• In the name of Jesus, by the power of His precious blood shed on the cross, I take the sword of the Spirit and cut you free from the bondage of ________

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Casting Out

• In the name of Jesus, I command you, evil spirit of ______, to come out of this person, never to enter him again. I command you to go where the Lord Jesus Christ sends you, never to return to this person. I place you under the authority of Christ, who is “far above all principalities, powers, virtue and domination.”

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WORKSHOP• Form circles of three• Share areas in your life which you believe is

subject to spiritual warfare• Pray for one another

– Prayer to take authority– Cleansing through Act of Contrition– Ask for Holy Spirit’s guidance– Bind, loose or cast out– Direct bound spirit to go directly to the foot of the

cross– Praise & thank God for His victory

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Notes

http://cioconbld.fastmail.fm/SpiritualWarfare

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INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUAL WARFARE - Directory …cioconbld.fastmail.fm/SpiritualWarfare/Notes on Spiritual Warfare... · Satan is “the deceiver of the whole world.” ... Joy Praise,