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Angels, Demons, and Spiritual WarfareMany of us sincerely desire to grow as followers of Jesus Christ. We strive to be the people that God has calledus to be. We listen to sermons, read our bibles, pray, go to conferences, attend small groups, and more, yetwe seem to make very little progress. What is missing?Could it be that we have lost sight of the warfare that is taking place in our lives? Could it be that we do notpay close enough and accurate enough attention to the spiritual war that rages around us and within us?This study will produce no easy answers. Warfare is never easy. It cannot be reduced to a number of steps orto simple plans. There are foundational truths in spiritual warfare, but it will never be easy, and it will oftenbe confusing.But there is reason for great hope, for our God is greater than our enemy and our own flesh. There is victoryto be had for those of us who intentionally engage the enemies of Satan and flesh with the power of God.There is progress, real progress, to be made in our lives as we follow Jesus.The aim of this course is not to simply impart information, but to arm believers for two purposes:First, that you will fight your own spiritual battles and grow in righteousness.Second, that you would assist others to fight their spiritual battles.May the grace of God stir in us the hearts of warriors!1
ANGELS, DEMONS, AND SPIRITUAL WARFAREWho We Are. A central question.* As the church, are we a troop carrier?* Or are we a l l ? Critical differences.* Our d will be different.* Our use of r will be different.* Our p will be different. A crucial decision* Will we i ourselves in the peaceful comforts of this world?* Or will we e ourselves in battle for peoples around the world?2
Where We're Going. Foundational Truths“A great deal of fiction, superstition, fantasy, nonsense, nuttiness, and downright heresyflourishes in the church under the guise of 'spiritual warfare' in our time. (David Powlison) Angels* Who are they?* How are they organized?* What do they do?* How do they relate to us? Demons* What are demons?* Who is Satan?* How do Satan and demons relate to God?* How do Satan and demons relate to us? Spiritual Warfare* The Old Testament and spiritual warfare* Christ and spiritual warfare* The Church and spiritual warfare* Christians and demonization Concluding Challenges3
8 FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHSFoundational Truth #1 - There is a s world.II Kings 6:8-21 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with hisservants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” But the man of God sent word to the king ofIsrael, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” And the king of Israelsent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself theremore than once or twice.And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servantsand said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said,“None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speakin your bedroom.” And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him,“Behold, he is in Dothan.” So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night andsurrounded the city.When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army withhorses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” Hesaid, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayedand said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man,and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when theSyrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Please strike this people withblindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them,“This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” Andhe led them to Samaria.As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they maysee.” So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. As soon asthe king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?”4
Three objections to consider.* Spiritual explanations are p .* Spiritual realities are not p .* Spiritual powers are not p in Scripture.Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORDGod had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree inthe garden’?”Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.Revelation 20:7-8 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from hisprison Two Errors to Avoid.“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is todisbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthyinterest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist ormagician with the same delight.” (C. S. Lewis)* Empty r .* Excessive f .5
Foundational Truth #2 - We are involved in a spiritual w .Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against theauthorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil inthe heavenly places.“I am more convinced now than ever that when we enter into the Christian life, we enter a battleground,not a playground. Just because everything appears peaceful does not mean that everything is peaceful. Irepeat, the war we fight is an invisible battle. We cannot witness the presence of the evil forces in theworld, but Scripture assures us that they are there. Don't be naive; the devil and his legions are activelyand continually resisting the things of God. That includes you. They are your enemies.” (CharlesSwindoll) Conflicting k .II Corinthians 4:4-6 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of theunbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is theimage of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves asyour servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone inour hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.* The kingdom of God.* The kingdom of Satan.John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world,my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But mykingdom is not from the world.”Ephesians 2:1-2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked,following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that isnow at work in the sons of disobedience—Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven,saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, andhe shall reign forever and ever.6
A continual struggle* A war against s .Hebrews 12:4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point ofshedding your blood.* A war within our s .I Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions ofthe flesh, which wage war against your soul.* A struggle for our f .Jude 3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, Ifound it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for alldelivered to the saints.* We struggle for the g .Philippians 1:27-30 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, sothat whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standingfirm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and notfrightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of theirdestruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you thatfor the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have* We fight the good f .I Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which youwere called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of manywitnesses.II Timothy 4:7faith.I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the7
* We are s .II Timothy 2:3-4 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier getsentangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.* We have w .II Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but havedivine power to destroy strongholds.II Corinthians 6:4-10 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: bygreat endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots,labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit,genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons ofrighteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, throughslander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yetwell known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful,yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessingeverything.* War is r in the heavenlies.Daniel 10:12-15 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you setyour heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have beenheard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persiawithstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, forI was left there with the kings of Persia, and came to make you understand what is tohappen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”* We are in w time, not p time.Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put onthe whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against theauthorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritualforces of evil in the heavenly places.8
Foundational Truth #3 - The basis for our understanding of this spiritual war is b . What will be our authority?* Fiction.or f ?* Experience.or exegesis?* Intuition.or i ? Where will we find answers?* Remember.the Bible doesn't answer every question we may ask.* Relax.the Bible does answer every question we n answered to live to the gloryof God. How will we approach the text?* Observation – We e the text.- L to the text.Listen thoughtfully.Listen repeatedly.Listen patiently.Listen imaginatively.Listen purposefully.- L at the text.Look for what the Word emphasized.Look for what the Word repeats.Look for what the Word connects.Look for what the Word communicates.9
Interpretation – We e the context.* Consider the l context* Consider the historical-cultural context.* Consider the t context.* Principles to remember.- We are examining the author's original intent.- A biblical text can never mean what it never m .- Context shapes meaning.- The rule of context: C R ! Application – We i the text.* Identify the timeless truths.* R the timeless truths to today.* Practice the timeless truths.10
Foundational Truth #4 - The enemy in this spiritual war is f . Why even think about the enemy?II Corinthians 2:10-11 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if Ihave forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not beoutwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.* We need to open our e .* We need to get on our k .* We must know w he is.* We must know h he works. Satan's two primary objectives.* To d God's people.* To d God's glory.Psalm 96:1-4 Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to theLORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among thenations,his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to bepraised; he is to be feared above all gods.11
Foundational Truth #5 - The scope of this spiritual war is u . Every l . Every people. Every nation. Every tribe. Every l .Foundational Truth #6 - Involvement in this spiritual war is i . The battle is continual. The battle is fierce. Spiritual retreat only leads to spiritual d .Foundational Truth #7 - The stakes in this spiritual war are e . The God over this world wants people to be s .II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patienttoward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. The god of this world wants people to b in h .Revelation 20:14-15 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the seconddeath, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he wasthrown into the lake of fire.12
Foundational Truth #8 - The outcome of this spiritual war is i . Satan has been d .Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and heroffspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”Colossians 2:15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, bytriumphing over them in him. Satan will be d .Revelation 20:10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfurwhere the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever andever. Therefore, we do not fight this war f victory; we fight f victory.I John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you isgreater than he who is in the worldJohn 5:4-5 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victorythat has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one whobelieves that Jesus is the Son of God?13
ANGELSWhat are angels? Angels are s beings without p bodies. Angels are mentioned many times.* times in the Old Testament.* times in the New Testament. Angels have many n .Psalm 104:4 he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves beforethe LORD, and Satan also came among them.Psalm 89:5-7 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in theassembly of the holy ones!Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of thosewho are to inherit salvation?Daniel 4:13 “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, aholy one, came down from heaven.Daniel 4:17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holyones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and givesit to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’Daniel 4:23 And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven andsaying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, boundwith a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew ofheaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass overhim,’14
Angels are s beings.Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of thosewho are to inherit salvation? Angels are c spiritual beings.Psalm 148:1-5 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens;praise him in the heights!Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, allyou shining stars!Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Letthem praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created Angels are p spiritual beings.* They have m capacities.II Peter 2:4 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a heraldof righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world ofthe ungodly;* They have i capacities.I Peter 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in thethings that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good newsto you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.* They have e capacities.Job 38:6-7 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when themorning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?Luke 15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner whorepents.”15
Angels are p spiritual beings.Psalm 103:20 Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying thevoice of his word! Angels are l spiritual beings.* They are limited in s .Luke 1:26-27 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galileenamed Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house ofDavid. And the virgin's name was Mary.* They are limited in k .Mark 13:32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels inheaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Angels are s (unmarried) spiritual beings.Matthew 22:29-32 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither theScriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given inmarriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you notread what was said to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and theGod of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” Angels are i spiritual beings.Luke 20:34-36 And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage,but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the deadneither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal toangels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.16
Angels are v spiritual beings.* They can appear in a p way.Luke 1:11-13 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right sideof the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell uponhim. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has beenheard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.* They can appear in d and v .Matthew 1:20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appearedto him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife,for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.* They can appear in other forms.Daniel 10:5-6 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with abelt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like theappearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam ofburnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.Matthew 28:2-4 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lorddescended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearancewas like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guardstrembled and became like dead men.Revelation 4:6-8 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes infront and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox,the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like aneagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyesall around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is theLord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”17
When were angels created? Definitely before the s day of creation.Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Probably on the f day of creation.Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was withoutform and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hoveringover the face of the waters.Job 38:6-7 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning starssang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?18
How many angels are there? M .Luke 2:13-15 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praisingGod and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he ispleased!” Legions.Matthew 26:53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send memore than twelve legions of angels? Myriads.Revelation 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and theelders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, A lot.Daniel 7:10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousandsserved him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment,andthe books were opened. As numerous as the stars?Revelation 12:3-4 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with sevenheads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars ofheaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about togive birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. G angels for every on of us?Matthew 18:10-11 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that inheaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.Psalm 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.19
How are angels organized? Cherubim.* The h order or rank of angels.* Protecting and proclaiming the glory of God.Genesis 3:24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed thecherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.Exodus 25:21-22 And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shallput the testimony that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat,from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you aboutall that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.Psalm 18:10 He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. Seraphim.* Literally “a ” with adoration for God.* Continually w the Lord.Isaiah 6:2-4 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face,and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundationsof the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. Living Creatures* Mighty r of God's creation.Revelation 4:6-8 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And aroundthe throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: thefirst living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with theface of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, eachof them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease tosay, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever theliving creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives foreverand ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship himwho lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, ourLord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,for you created all things,and by your will theyexisted and were created.”20
The Archangel MDaniel 10:13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael,one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,Jude 1:9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about thebody of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lordrebuke you.”Revelation 12:7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against thedragon. And the dragon and his angels fought backI Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry ofcommand, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. Andthe dead in Christ will rise first. G , God's messenger.Daniel 8:16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, “Gabriel,make this man understand the vision.”Luke 1:26-27 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee namedNazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And thevirgin's name was Mary. H angels.Mark 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinfulgeneration, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Fatherwith the holy angels.”I Timothy 5:21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge youto keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.21
E angels.Luke 8:1-2 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing thegood news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who hadbeen healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demonshad gone out, What about the angel of the LGenesis 16:9-14 The angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.”The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannotbe numbered for multitude.” And the angel of the LORD said to her, “Behold, you are pregnantand shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael,because the LORD has listened to youraffliction. He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's handagainst him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.” So she called the name of theLORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen himwho looks after me.” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh andBered.* Sometimes i as the Lord.Genesis 31:10-13 In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in adream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. Thenthe angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ And he said,‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, andmottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel, where youanointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return tothe land of your kindred.’”* Sometimes d from the Lord.II Samuel 24:15-16 So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until theappointed time. And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men. Andwhen the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relentedfrom the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people,“It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.22
What do angels do? Angels g God.Psalm 148:2 Praise him, all his angels;praise him, all his hosts!* They glorify God
Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare Many of us sincerely desire to grow as followers of Jesus Christ. We strive to be the people that God has called us to be. We listen to sermons, read our bibles, pr
