THEME: Spiritual Growth: Understanding The Whats and Hows of Growing Up Unto God’s Life in our Souls
LESSON: Nine
TOPIC: Learning To Fight/Wrestle Evil Spirits Through The Good Fight Of Faith Unto Change Of Our Nature
TEXT: Ephesians 6:12; 2nd Corinthians 10:3-6; Genesis 32:24-29; 2nd Corinthians 4:13
MEMORY TRACK:
By God’s grace in our last lesson, we saw that lines are the defined paths of life that proceed from knowledge (precepts). They are not just teachings, but they are the pathways that show how truth is lived, not just what is known. Lines are measurable expressions of spiritual growth; they show the degree to which Christ’s life has been formed in a believer. We saw that lines or ways come through Teaching. Teaching comes by hearing. Hearing produces faith & understanding. Understanding leads to transformation, and transformation is expressed through feeding, leading, and dealing. God is not just interested in what you know but in the way you walk.
THE PLACE OF LEADING IN NATURE FORMATION
We didn’t just arrive at having evil natures overnight or by ourselves without the input and LEADINGS AND GUIDANCES of evil spirits—we were all led (1st Corinthians 12:2). Nations of men for thousands of years have been led by Satan and his cohorts until well-defined “anti-god/ungodly/unholy natures” were framed and formed in man’s soul (mind and heart).
What man ate in the garden of Eden was just knowledge/precepts of Satan (Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:5-7, 22). Eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil alone was not sufficient to form sin nature in Adam’s and his wife’s souls (eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was only sufficient to open the door for Satan to kill man’s spirit instantly, but not their souls). For souls to be trained/formed/captured, men/human race needed to be led. And by that enterprise, Satan and his cohorts invested in man for thousands of years; the rest, they say, is history. We are where we are today as the human race because we have greatly yielded to and aligned with the dealings and leadings from evil spirits (1 Cor 12:1-2, Eph 2:1-2).
Anger, hate, jealousy, fornication, heresy, witchcraft, disobedience, rebellion, sodomy, and wars, amongst others, are all natures cultured into man through the trainings/leadings/dealings of evil spirits over and within (Ephesians 6:12). Man has been so led to the point that Satan’s work in men has become “strongholds/high things” that merely hearing the preaching of the gospel alone without being led/dealt with by the Holy Spirit cannot guarantee change.
NEXUS BETWEEN LEADING & WARFARE IN NATURE FORMATION
Truth be told, there will be NO CHANGE OF NATURE IN OUR SOULS WITHOUT A WAR WITH EVIL SPIRITS
who have been managers/keepers/overseers and benefactors of such evil natures (Ephesians 6:12). The process of being dealt with in lines/ways/leadings of the Holy Spirit is the trigger of warfare/fighting with evil spirits. Evil spirits would not sit by and watch their work for many years just go away without putting up a fight (Ps. 119:67, 71).
We want to see, in measure, the manner of fighting a Christian who is engaging lines/leadings of the Holy Spirit is expected to fight and how they are to fight it (1 Tim 6:12, 1 Cor 9:7, Ps 23).
- Fighting to obey (1 Sam. 15:22-23): Obedience does not come easy; we wrestle in the place of obedience because disobedience is a working of spirits (Eph. 2:2). The Bible calls these spirits strong men and captors who really do not want to release their prey (Lk 11:21-22, Is 49:24-25).
- Speaking against the wrong natures we are fighting (2nd Corinthians 4:13, Prov. 18:21, Matt. 12:37, Matt. 12:34-35)
- Not agreeing with our flesh, or feeling when fighting spiritual warfare (2 Cor 5:7, Rom 8:12-14)
- Always giving thanks for change of natures by faith (even when these natures are still stirring us in the face. (Col 1:12-13, 2 Cor 6:10, 1 Thess 5:16-18, 2 Cor 12:8-10).
- Giving ourselves to constant feeding (Lk 21:17-22, Ps 104:19, Ps 23:2-3, 5, Deut 8:3, Lk 4:4)
Conclusion
Our victory as believers is guaranteed by a life of obedience to the Spirit of God (Gal 5:16-18, 1 Cor 2:10-12).