Spiritual Warfare
by Cliff Pash

"For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm" Eph 6:12 (Complete Jewish Bible)

"Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above." (New American)

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (NIV)

"But I tell you that anyone who nurses anger against his brother will be subject to judgment; that whoever calls his brother, 'You good for nothing!' will be brought before the Sanhedrin; that whoever says, 'Fool!' incurs the penalty of burning in the fire of Gei-Hinnom!' Mt 5:22

Most of us find it very easy to look at a person and their behavior toward us, then act or react to what is seen, to what is observed, to what is experienced. Yet Paul tells us that what we are humanly interacting with has very little to do with what the problem is. The problem that is seen on a human level is somehow being manipulated by a power or a ruler or a prince who has some measure of authority over a principality that includes our "enemy" .

This ruler, authority or cosmic power has somehow gained the right to manifest in the human being. Paul tells us that our struggle is not with our "enemy" but with those forces that are ruling in their life. Some translations seem to indicate that these evil forces have an authority both in the earth and in the heavenly realms. The Christian. then, has within him, the power to recognize this power and to struggle against it and overcome it.

Jesus warns us that by cursing or struggling against our human brother, we are actually cursing God's creation, and therefore, are in danger of burning in hell. Therefore, our struggle should be focused upon the "rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, (and) against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms"

If we are to have any success in this "war", we must understand that these "unclean" spirits have gained the right to become prevalent in the life of the people whom we are struggling against. The problem develops because every judgment and every anger and every injustice we take upon ourselves gives these "unclean" spirits a legal right to enter into our lives and to implant thoughts into our minds that often lead to sinful actions against other people.

The problem is not that the people are being controlled by outside spirits, but that these spirits have the right to manifest in our lives due to our "unclean" living. It is our sinfulness that gives these "rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness" the right to prevail in our lives and in the lives of those we struggle against.

The princes have an authority over their principalities as long as those humans have submitted to the rule and the reign of another "god“. Very often, the "unclean" spirit is easily bound or will flee when in the Presence of the Living God, and the person appears to have been set free. Simple observation, however, will conclude that, within days, the "unclean" spirit returns, causing great victories to be turned into great defeats.

"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils" Luke 11:21-22

"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first." Luke 11:24-26

Notice the passage in Luke says the Stronger man will take away the armor in which the man trusted. This can only mean the strong man utilizes armor against the stronger man; and the armor is found in the house -- that is: the man. Therefore, there is potentially something in each one of us that, when given the proper situation, the strong man can grab and use it as armor against the Kingdom of God.

Armor denotes something such as a spear or a shield or a sword, perhaps even a catapult or a burning oil pot. Armor could be defensive, such as a shield to thwart off the attacks of the enemy, in this case the enemy is the stronger man or the Kingdom of God. To think that there is something in each one of us that the strong man can use as armor becomes a little unsettling unless other portions of scripture are utilized.

"Do not let the sun go down on your anger.“ In light of the arguments above, the full importance of this statement goes far beyond what is traditionally taught. Anger gives the enemy (the strong man) a legal right to put thoughts into the mind of the angry person. The anger can gain a foothold and dramatically change the way the man thinks (the construction of the house is now changed).

Finally, a spirit can attach itself to the anger and can rise up from the depths of the person whenever the conditions are right. In this way, the anger becomes armor that the strong man (Satan) can use. The anger will explode in a variety of ways in the most inopportune moments, causing destruction among the people of faith. It is an offensive weapon in the hands of the strong man.

Interestingly enough, the stronger man comes to take away the armor, and brings about a healing of the causes of the anger, washing the soul of the man with Living Water. The healing of the causes of the anger breaks up the ground for the casting out of the evil spirit that would control the man -- that it; takes away the armor that the strong man has trusted in, cleansing the house, and becoming a house filled with the Presence of the Living God!!

If the evil spirit would attempt to come back to the house, he will find the causes of the anger healed, the source of the anger gone, the legal right for the evil spirit taken away and no longer will the strong man trust in or use the anger as a weapon or armor against the Kingdom of God - or the man.

From the thoughts outlined above, I have drawn two basic conclusions: First. There must be a great amount of time spent in the Presence of the Living God. The house must be filled daily with the Spirit of God. Gradually, the understandings necessary to fully switch kingdoms will come and the hope initially received will become reality in the life of the believer. When the mental battles come, being in God's Presence will continually challenge the negative and continually strengthen the positive.

Secondly, the more the believer is in that Presence, understanding and healing of the great events of the past that have manipulated and controlled one's life now begin to come about. The chains of sin and death can now be truly broken, the past loses it's ability to control the present and the future thoughts and actions of the believer. Freedom to become all that God had originally intended becomes a reality. Forgiveness sets the believer free. Praying that God will bring everything of the Kingdom to their perceived enemies sets the "enemy" and the believer free.

Finally, the door that allowed these "unclean" spirits to enter is closed and the thoughts implanted by them disappear. There is no legal right for these rulers and authorities to interfere with the life of the believer. When the "evil spirit" returns to the house he had left, the spirit finds the house filled with his archenemy, the very Presence of the Living God, combined with the determination of the believer that the "evil spirit" will never again gain that right to torment.

A believer should be filled with such a fear of God and the "rulers, ...the authorities, .… the powers of this dark world and ....the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." that no judgment will be made, no injustice will ever be allowed to take root, and that no anger will open any doors ever again. Freedom to become all that God has intended results and the purposes of God may then be fulfilled.