THE CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL WARFARE

We were created to be actively involved in the ultimate conflict or battle between GOOD and EVIL; and that basically says between Heaven and Hell, or GOD and SATAN.

God expects us to be jointly involved in this battle together with him. [WE INDEED ARE JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST]

In this battle we are FIGHTING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS: “FOR The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in Holy Ghost”

Satan is God’s contender against RIGHTEOUSNESS. He is the author and promoter of UNBELIEF, INIQUITY; PRIDE; REBELION: DESTRUCTION BY WARS; HURICANES; TYPHOONS; THUNDERSTORMS; SICKNESS, DISEASES; PESTILENCES and all the sufferings of mankind.

GO.WAKE.JESUS_ TUCSON.AZ SUNDAY_ 63-1103

E-56   "Search the Scriptures," He said. "They are They that testify of Me." They should've known that He was God that created the winds and the waves. See? God created the wind. Yes. That's air. God created the water. Yes. That's the H2O; He created that. But you see what it is, the devil got into that wind, and then the devil come to something else and got into it. And that caused the storm.

And that's the way it is with believers sometimes. They let down the bars to unbelief, and then Satan comes in, in a whirlwind (See?), causes fusses, stews, and arguments and everything. That is the devil getting among people. Devil gets amongst the--the air and whirls it up, causes death, gets amongst the water, whirls it up. See? God created it, but they permitted the devil to come in. The devil got into it, the prince of the power of the air. Notice, he got into it, and there come the winds and the waves.

He sets man at odd against God by inspiring him to LIE; TO DO EVIL and WICKEDNESS; to live a life filled with various forms of LUSTS; ENVY; LASCIVOUSNESS; WORLDLY PLEASURE; HATRED; JEALOUSY; WITCHCRAFT; FORNICATION; ADULTERY; etc.

The devil got into Ahab’s 400 prophets who did not agree with Micaiah, and became lying spirit in them.

[I KINGS 22:20-24]

1. Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
2. there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
3. wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade [him], and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

The Devil had to enter the Serpent first before he came to beguile Eve. He had to enter Judas first before he went to betray Jesus:

[LUKE 22:2-5]

1. the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
2. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
3. he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
4. they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

Satan is not an illusion as many are made to think. He is a reality who works behind the scene. God is a Spirit and invisible. But he makes Himself visible by His manifestations.

So is Satan. He is invisible too. But he is known by his evil manifestations.

We are meant to be actively involved in the elimination of those things which hinder, or corrupt the Kingdom of God. “JESUS WAS MANIFESTED THAT HE MAY DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL”

We are involved in pushing back the powers of darkness “YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD” Look! The more you shine the light on his activities, the more his work is hindered. Light always overcomes darkness. When The Sunrises, darkness retreats! You cannot be exempted nor take neutrality in this warfare. You will either be trampled, or be victorious, winning or losing, bringing a positive change or being overcome.

We will either be placed on the defence [AS GIDEON WAS IN HIS DAY] or be out after him on the offensive, AS JOSHUA DID IN POSSESSING THE PROMISED LAND.

SATAN is already a defeated enemy. And he is only waiting for sentencing time into hell, and into the lake of fire. But he is relentlessly fighting until his dooms day. He already knows God’s verdict on him. You too must have this understanding, that he is done!

Therefore, conduct yourself as that slave boy who knew his father was king of his tribe in Africa. Oh, although Satan still treats you as slaves over here in his Eden, you are Sons and daughters of The most High King over there in heaven. As of now he is a bluff, and a squatter on this earth.

You are joint heir with Jesus Christ concerning this earth.

His delegates here on earth are looking for another Planet, to migrate to, because they know for sure they have messed it up so much that they know what is awaiting them. This is how God has foretold, how they will cry on that day:

[REVELATION 6:12-17]

12. there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

13. the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

14. the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 

15. the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16. Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

All those who think and presume they are brave, bold, strong, and courageous will be given their final show down. They will be humbled and humiliated before they are punished for their pride, high-mindedness and arrogance.

WHY MUST WE BE TAUGHT ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE:

1. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW AND TO USE THE EFFECTIVE WEAPON GOD HAS GIVEN every Word Believer. IF WE NEGLECT TO USE IT:

A). It makes Evangelism weak and ineffective

B). We will not be able to live as victorious as we ought to be.

C). We will not inflicting as much damage on Satan & his kingdom as we should

2. CHRISTIANS IN GENERAL TEND TO ALLOW A DEFEATED ENEMY TO STEAL THE VICTORY CHRIST WON FOR US ON THE CROSS. SATAN is a thief; He comes to steal; to kill and to destroy. That ought to keep you sober, alert and awake all the time.

3. IT IS A WARFARE THAT GOD HAS EMPHASIZED THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

A). God wants his children to bring his righteous and holy influence into the world.

B). He also wants his children to be able to drive back the powers of evil and darkness from humanity.

4. GOD WANTS ALL OF HIS CHILDREN TO KNOW THAT SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS NOT A SPECIAL GIFT OR CALLING FOR A SMALL SEGMENT OF CHRISTIANS. It is a war for all.

A). When you get born again, you automatically start being involved in war with him, Satan.

B).When you put on Christ as your armour, you automatically become his target.

PERSEVERANT_ VICTORIA. BC SUNDAY_ 62-0729

E-63   Now, a lot of people think as soon as they see Jesus, it's all over. "Glory to God. I got the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Now, I'll just lay down and take it easy." You re no subject of the Holy Ghost yet. Listen, when you got the Holy Ghost, right then's when you hit your trouble. That's when trouble starts. Exactly. That then’s when you got to fight. That's what it's give to you for. It's a Sword. That's right. Then's when your fight starts.

-          The true believer must know the truth about The Devil, his tactics; and his strategies

-          He will not leave you alone just because you leave him alone.

-          Satan knows you have God’s authority over him.

-          He also knows the Christian impersonators who hide behind empty words:

[ACTS 19:15-16]

1. the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
2. the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

KNOWING YOUR ENEMY:

[EPHESIANS 6:12]

-          “ For we wrestle NOT against FLESHAND BLOOD,

-          but against PRINCIPALITIEs,

-          against POWERS,

-          against the RULERS OF THE DARKNESS of this world,

-          against SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS in high [places].”

 

[II CORINTHIANS 10:3-6]

1. we do not war after the flesh:
2. THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE [are] NOT CARNAL,

-          but mighty through God

-          to the pulling down of strong holds;)

-          Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,

-          and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

-          And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

 

-          Satan is a constant and relentless fighter, ready to thwart the work of God in you and through you.

-          He sees your down times as his opportunity and strikes with vile determination when you are weak. [May be because of loss of job; husband/wife; conflicts; tragedy occurrence; etc]

-          He has no sense of fair play and mercy. It is not in him at all.

-          He is full of hatred and thrives on torment.

-          “He is a thief who comes to steal, to kill and to destroy” [He robs you of your wealth, life span, productivity, relationship, joy, peace, faith]

Your stand is not to be ignorant of HIS MOST LETHAL DEVICES:

(a). He is very highly deceptive;

(b). He is an intelligent impersonator;

(C). He loves to operate behind the scene.

JESUS WARNED US : [LUKE 21:8]

“8   And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.”

THEUDAS & JUDAS OF GALILEE

A PHARISEE, named GAMALIEL, a doctor of the law, who had high reputation among all the people, advised that the apostles be give a little space of time;

[ACTS 5:36]

1. For before these days ROSE UP THEUDAS, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
2. After this man ROSE UP JUDAS OF GALILEE in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people AFTER HIM: he also perished; and all, [even] as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
3. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
4. But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

 

Those were men who were identified and they were named by their names as deceivers.

IN THE APOSTLE PAUL’S DAY:

MEN HAD ARISEN AND DRAWN AWAY MANY AS IN THE DAYS OF JESUS CHRIST:

(1). HYMENAEUS & ALEXANDER THE COPPER SMITH: [I TIMOTHY 1:18-20]

1. This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
2. Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
3. Of whom is HYMENAEUS and ALEXANDER; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

They were contemporaries of Paul, (1^st Church Age Messenger) Lived in the days of Paul, may have worked together too.

(2). HYMENAEUS & PHILETUS: [II TIMOTHY 2:15-19]

1. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2. But shun profane [and] vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
3. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is HYMENAEUS and PHILETUS;
4. Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
5. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ DEPART FROM INIQUITY.

Now compare such with LUCIFER. What caused LUCIFER to fall from his position in heaven?

[EZEKIEL 28:15]

“Thou [wast] perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till INIQUITY WAS FOUND IN THEE.”

HYMENAEUS “... denied the true doctrine of the resurrection.” That was his ERROR. THIS WAS THE INIQUITY HE WAS A WORKER OF.

[MATTHEW 7:21-23]

1. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
2. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
3. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.

(3). PHYGELLUS & HERMOGENES. [II TIMOTHY 1:15]

“This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

(4). DEMAS; CRESCENS; TITUS; ALL MEN. [II TIMOTHY 4:10-16]

1. For DEMAS hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; CRESCENS to Galatia, TITUS unto Dalmatia.
2. ONLY LUKE is with me. TAKE MARK, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
3. And TYCHICUS have I sent to Ephesus.
4. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring [with thee], and the books, [but] especially the parchments.
5. ALEXANDER THE COPPERSMITH did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
6. Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
7. At my first answer no man stood with me, but ALL [MEN] FORSOOK ME: [I pray God] that it may not be laid to their charge.

(5).FAVOURITE MINISTERS & CAMPS SPIRIT: [I CORINTHIANS 1:10-13]

1. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
2. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them [which are of the house] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
3. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I AM OF PAUL; and I OF APOLLOS; and I OF CEPHAS; and I OF CHRIST.
4. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

[I CORINTHIANS 3:3-10]

1. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
2. For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
3. Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
4. I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
5. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
6. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
7. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building.
8. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

DIFFERENT MINISTRIES ARE CUT, MADE, NATURED AND PLACED DIFFERENTLY

  POSITION IN CHRIST. 60-052-2M              

WHAT HAPPENED TO PAUL’S CONTEMPORARIES, HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO BRO. BRANHAM’S :

We have no established records for all that Paul ordained. But at least of Timothy, and a few others.

1. In Corinth, believers got divided along The 5-Fold Ministries of Fellow Ministers of Jesus Christ.
2. In Corinth also, several issue including the use of the nine Spiritual gifts; the resurrection of the Dead; the Lord’s supper and Paul’s Apostleship etc.
3. Marriage and divorce, Sacrifices made to idols, The Sabbath made Paul to address them of Rome.
4. In Galatia, where CRESCENS departed to, we read in Paul’s letters to Galatians about false brethren who have crept in unawares. Circumcision and The Law became major doctrinal issues concerning salvation. The Jerusalem Ministerial Conference had to be held to resolve those issues
5. In Thessalonica, where DEMAS departed, we read about Paul writing to re-assure the saints concerning the coming of the Lord.
6. Then of course, we have Hymenaeus, Philetus, and Alexander the copper smith. Hermogenes, and PHYGELLUS

DO WE HAVE DOCTRINES TODAY ARISING FROM BROTHER BRANHAM’S CONTEMPORARIES?

I think, the answer is “YES”. Some of them may be the ones associated with the following issues:

1. “THE RETURN MINISTRY “
2. “THE DEITY DOCTRINE”
3. “THE TWO LORD’S TEACHING”
4. THE 14 OR MORE, VERSIONS OF “SEVEN THUNDERS DOCTRINES” which spread from USA to Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and many islands of the world.
5. “POLYGAMY DOCTRINE FROM “MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE”
6. “MILLENIUM IS ON”, DOCTRINE
7. “MERCY SEAT NO MORE”, DOCTRINE
8. “CHRIST CAME IN 1963”, DOCTRINE
9. “THE 8^TH CHURCH AGE & 8^TH MESSENGER”, DOCTINE

Behind most of these doctrines, and perhaps more, are some contemporaries of Bro. Branham. Let us pray for them. May the Lord open their eyes to see the harm they are doing to his body, The Bride. He rescued some in their day. He can do the same today.

We are therefore witnessing the repeat of the same spirit over all the 7 church Ages. The faithful ones overcame. We must also overcome in our day and age. The Captain of their warfare is the same Jesus who is Captain of the same warfare today.

TAKE.ON.THE.WHOLE.ARMOR.OF.GOD_ SANTA.MARIA.CA SUNDAY_ 62-0701

E-81   In His army... He presents His army in the form of five offices, first, apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors, evangelists. That's His army; that's His soldiers; that's His commanding officers, all with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, waiting out there to meet the enemy on any grounds he comes upon; to meet the enemy with the Word of God (Amen.), each one backing one another up, with Him the Chief Captain, not out there in front, up here, above, back behind; but in them. That's the army. Vindicating, vindicating what? His resurrection, by the proof of His works.

THE LORD BLESS YOU MIGHTLY IN YOUR CHRISTIAN JOURNEY HERE NOW.

PASTOR MARTIN TOMBE.