Battle of the Two Kingdoms
Speaker: Dustin Aguilar, Wellspring Lead Pastor
Scripture:
1 Peter 5:8-9
Colossians 2:15
Colossians 1:13-14
Ephesians 6:12
Romans 16:20a
Ephesians 4:26-27
James 5:16
Matthew 6:14-15
Matthew 28:18
What we Believe
Spiritual warfare is real! The Church needs to be equipped for fighting the spiritual battle. Since the Church is always pushing back the darkness, we need to be ready. Spiritual warfare is simple (but not easy or safe)!
The battle is dangerous, but necessary in the life of the Church. Demons are scoping people out to find vulnerabilities to take advantage of them.
The battle is also simple because Jesus is triumphant (Col 2:15)! Jesus has all authority (not demons). Evil spiritual forces are disarmed and have been triumphed over in Jesus. Jesus has delivered us from the Kingdom of Darkness to the Kingdom of Light (Col 1:13-14). The bigness of the enemy (principalities) does not change the simplicity of spiritual warfare. God will crush Satan under our feet (Ro 16:20a)! Romans 16:20 says “God will soon crush Satan under your feet”, implying that there is still crushing to be done.
How to Obey
Tools for Spiritual Warfare:
Ask: “Do you have any unconfessed sin?”
Anything we have done or are doing that we don’t want to admit to or stop is unconfessed sin. By not paying attention to unconfessed sin we remain vulnerable and leave doors open for spirits to afflict us. It’s possible for demons to leave if we have unconfessed sin but it can make deliverance harder and leave the door open for them to return later.
Confess your sins (James 5:16).
4 R’s: Repent, Renounce, Reject, Rebuke
Ask: “Do you hold anyone in unforgiveness?”
Forgive others who have wronged you. See next section for how to pray.
Forgiveness is different than minimizing their sin. It was a big deal!
It is not saying it no longer hurts. Jesus forgave in the midst of excruciating pain!
Acknowledge what they did was wrong, and that God is their Judge.
How to Walk Intimately with God
Take a prayerful inventory of your own heart, by humbly bringing yourself before the Lord and asking Him to search your heart before entering spiritual warfare:
Confession: Pray and ask God to reveal your sins. Leave no sin hidden, but confess all of your sins so that the Devil has no foothold in your life (Eph 4:27).
Forgiveness: Pray and ask God to reveal anyone you need to forgive. Then Pray:
Father what this person did was wrong, but I'm not going to be their judge anymore.
Father please forgive this person.
Father, I forgive this person.
Father, please bless this person with all the good things I want for myself.