Fighting the Unseen

Timing of certain negative events makes it very clear that what’s happening is a Spiritual Attack

1 Kings 20:22.  The prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, "Go, strengthen yourself; take note, and see what you should do, for in the spring of the year the king of Syria will come up against you."

Springtime is the time for sowing.  If the enemy can cause you to fight, instead of sowing, he not only affects your springtime, but he eliminates any expectation of a harvest - because he prevented you from sowing. 

Specific demons have are assigned to specific tasks

Spirits assigned to inflict poverty and fear

Every attack costs us something – finances & faith

Quench the anointing by disappointment, intimidation & fear – i.e. Elijah, after Event

These supernatural forces of evil are skilled, organized and operate strategically

Eph 6:11-12

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (methods) of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Evil spirits specialize in areas

Lying, fear, hatred, depression, perversions, murder, stealing, rebellion,

Demons depend on our ignorance to accomplish things

2 Cor 2:11.  Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

They set their timing to interfere with our purpose

We cannot be ignorant of the season / timing

1. Recognize seasons: consistencies to the attacks of the enemy
2. Know what the Word says about his strategies
3. Learn from the testimony of others
   

Know where the power is 

Eph 3:20.  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

If the enemy can cause you to feel oppressed or depressed, traumatized, etc.

          You won’t function from a position of power

If the enemy shuts you down, he shuts your power down

Worship can revive you

Restores your soul to Verticle

          Sets into reverse the plans of the enemy

Ps 149:6-9

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand,

7 To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples;

8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;

9 To execute on them the written judgment – This honor have all His saints.

Another one of Your Weapons is the Word – The Sword of the Spirit

Rhema (Eph 6:18):  Spoken Word

        Don’t just read what the Word says

               Open your mouth & say what the Word says

Look at what the Word does to the enemy…

Matt 4:3-11

Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."  4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"  5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"  7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"  8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."  10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"  11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

The Word (Jesus) went to the Word (Scripture)

Why won’t the devil leave you alone?  Because you never say, “It is written…”

You must Know the Word

          Satan uses the Word – Jesus, Eve

Meditate on the Word

Mutter, speak – saying it to yourself

Eph 6:17-18.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Be watchful 

Season of distraction

Prayer 

Mark 9:25b-29

[Jesus] rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"  26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"

29 So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

Not just prayer, but a Prayer-Life

          PUSH - Pray Until Something Happens

Dan 10:12-13

Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.

Don’t fight a battle alone

1 Sam 14.  Jonathan did not go to fight alone

Two-fold accord; being in agreement, etc.

Gal 6:2.  Bear one another’s burdens