“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matt. 12:28)

Just as the tangible, physical world is undeniably real, so is the spiritual realm. Scripture affirms this truth, pointing to the nature of God Himself: “God is spirit” (John 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:17).
God, while invisible to the naked eye, is intrinsically woven into the fabric of everything that exists. As John 1:3-4 eloquently states: “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” This passage reveals that all of creation has come into being through Him and resides within Him. This divine integration suggests that everything created bears the imprint of God’s presence, making the unseen visible through the existence and the intricacy of the created world.

Rob Bell’s seminar “Everything is Spiritual” explores the interconnections between spirituality and everyday aspects of our lives. In this seminar, Bell posits that there is no separation between the spiritual and physical worlds; everything we experience has a spiritual dimension. He uses a blend of storytelling, science, and scripture to illustrate how the universe is made so that everything is deeply intertwined.

Understanding individuals’ spiritual experiences can be elusive, as these experiences are deeply personal and subjective. Engaging not only the senses but also the emotions and intellect, spiritual encounters leave an indelible mark on one’s memory. Their transformative power often prompts profound life changes, serving as a testament to their authenticity.

Defining Spirituality

The term “spirituality” no longer refers exclusively or even primarily to prayer and spiritual rituals. Nor does it refer to an elite state or a superior practice of Christianity. The term has been extended to include more general life meanings:

• Faith and beliefs,
• Character and morals,
• Mindfulness and right thinking,
• Psychological and emotional stability,
• Social connectivity,
• and the general control of all your faculties.

The spiritual supernatural world is far more part of our daily life experience than most people realize.

We commonly speak of someone with the wrong attitude as someone with the “wrong spirit“. We talk about enthusiasm as someone having spirit! Someone with a strong character is described as someone with a strong spirit. In the world of sports, a deep, serious spirituality is increasingly welcomed because of the relationship between discipline and faith-related habits, resulting in a healthier individual. These athletes usually show a greater maturity of character when they do not win or recover from an injury. Moreover, athletes who believe in the supernatural heal faster than those who do not believe.

In the medical world, the spiritual aspect of humanity is becoming increasingly important as part of a holistic whole-person approach. The medical world can not deny the testimonies of unexplainable spiritual interventions, healings, and recoveries.

Spirituality: “Weird” Apart From God’s Word

There is rightly a very negative sentiment about the supernatural world outside the Word of God, i.e., devilish art of demons, deviant art, black magic, necromancy, witchcraft, sorcery, ghosts, spiritism, idolatry, and satan worship; tarot reading, astrology, channelling, Ouija boards, spiritism, witchcraft, reiki, and crystal healing. These practices invoke fear yet entice curiosity since we are created spiritual beings.
Many modern films focus on spiritual themes, depicting characters endowed with supernatural powers, wrestling with dark and demonic forces, and sometimes engaging in battles of exorcism.

Dr. André Pelser shares an intriguing account of a conversation with a high-ranking spirit guide and new-age guru who revealed to him that his deep knowledge of the Bible stems from its status as the oldest and most authoritative manuscript on the spiritual realm. The name of satan Lucifer comes from the Bible!

Names of spirits mentioned in the Bible

The NT uses a wide variety of terms for invisible divine beings in the spiritual realm, both good and evil. According to these Scriptures, we can deduce their degrees of rank, power, and function in the spiritual world.

Evil spirits:

• A spirit of sickness (infirmity) (Luke 13:11)
• A spirit of distress (1 Sam. 16:14)
• Unclean and filthy spirit (Rev. 18:2)
• A divining spirit (divination) (Acts 16:16)
• A spirit of slavery (Rom. 8:15)
• A spirit of error (1 John 4:6)
• A spirit of the world (1 Cor. 2:12)
• Seductive spirits (1 Tim. 4:1)
• A spirit of jealousy (Num. 5:14)
• A lying spirit (2 Chron. 18:12)
• A spirit of sorcery (Deut. 18:11)
• The spirit of the Anti-Christ (1 John 4:3)
• A spirit of fear (2 Tim. 1:7)
• A spirit of intoxication (Isa. 19:14)
• The tormentors (Matt. 18:34)
• Evil spirits (Matt. 10:1; Acts 5:16; 8:7; Matt. 12: 43-45; Mark 1:23-26; 3:11; Rev. 18:2)
• Demons (Deut. 32:17; 1 Cor. 10:20-21; Ps. 106:37; Matt. 8:16; Mark 7:26; Rom. 8:38; Jas. 2:19; Rev. 9:20)
• Rulers, powers, world rulers of darkness (Eph. 6:12; Col. 2:15; 1 Pet. 3:22)

Heavenly beings:

• Angels (Ps. 103:20; Heb. 1:7; Ps. 104:4)
• Archangel Michael (Dan. 10:13; 12: 1; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7); Archangel Gabriel (Dan. 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19, 26)
• Cherubim (Ezek. 10:12-14; 1:4-14, 22-24; 10:5, 8, 21-22; 41:18-19; Rev. 4:6-8)
• Seraphim (Isa. 6:2; Rev. 4:8)
• Divine assembly of the sons of God (Ps. 82:1; Job 1:6; 2:1; Job 38:7

Evidence of the Spirit World in Science

Classical Physics: Classical physics, as developed by Newton and others, is deterministic. This means that if you know a system’s initial conditions (like a particle’s position and velocity), you can predict its future behaviour perfectly. In this framework, the universe operates like a giant clockwork, where everything follows predictable and fixed laws without any randomness.

Quantum Mechanics: Quantum mechanics, which emerged in the early 20th century, introduces a starkly different concept: randomness is an inherent part of the universe at the microscopic level. At this scale, particles like electrons and photons don’t have definite positions, velocities, or paths until they are observed. Instead, they are described by a “wave function” which provides probabilities for finding the particle in various places or states. When a measurement is made, this wave function “collapses” to a specific state, a fundamentally random process. This means you can only predict the probability of an outcome, not the outcome itself.

For instance, in the famous double-slit experiment, particles such as electrons are fired at a barrier with two slits. Instead of acting like particles and going through one slit or the other, they behave like waves, creating an interference pattern on a screen behind the slits. However, if you try to observe which slit an electron passes through, it will behave like a particle and not create an interference pattern. This demonstrates the principle of superposition (being in multiple states at once) and the role of the observer in collapsing these probabilities into a single outcome.

Einstein’s famous discomfort with quantum mechanics, encapsulated in his phrase, “God does not play dice”, highlights the challenge that quantum randomness posed to the deterministic view of classical physics. Quantum mechanics suggests that while we can calculate probabilities with great precision, the fundamental nature of reality at the smallest scales includes inherent uncertainties and randomness, a radical departure from the predictable world described by classical physics.

The metaphysical world is, therefore, a vast, unknown field of study.

The Biblical Ancient Worldview of the Spirit World

The “church world” has two main streams: the Charismatic or Pentecostal stream and the Reformed stream. The latter deals carefully with the supernatural and focuses on Scripture interpretation and exegesis. The first group intentionally seeks the supernatural workings and manifestations of the supernatural spirit world.

According to Michael Heiser, a Reformed theologian and scholar of the Hebrew language and ancient peoples, there is a very clear supernatural worldview in the Bible writers’ understanding of the world from Genesis to Revelation:  ^[1]

• They regard the spirit-world as a family that sometimes meets (Ps. 82: 1), with hierarchies that are either obedient to God or a group that rebels against God. 
• In this spirit-world, Yahweh alone is omnipotent, omnipresent, perfect, and all-wise. 
• There is no rebellion directly against God, but against His creation. 
• Every spiritual being is limited in authority, position, and ability. So there is perfect order in the spiritual world – everyone knows his place. Satan himself had to obtain God’s permission to act against Job (Job 1:12).

Because Scripture clearly shows that we can be seduced by evil, and indeed we experience it, we should try to understand the spirit-world and learn what we must do to protect ourselves and our families.

The Undeniable Influence of Satan 

“… satan fills your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold the price of the land.” (Acts 5:1-3)
“… so that satan will not tempt you by your lack of self-control.” (1 Cor. 7:5)
“… the tempter might not have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.” (1 Thess. 3:5)
“… so that he may not fall into contempt and into the snare of the devil.” (1 Tim. 3:6-7)
“Because some have already deviated from Satan.” (1 Tim. 5:15)
“… walk around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8-9)
“… satan must not prevail over us, we know his plans.” (2 Cor. 2:11)
“… unbelievers whose minds are blinded by the god of this world.” (2 Cor. 4:4)
“… every barrier that is raised against the knowledge of God.” (2 Cor. 10:3-5)
“… just as the serpent deceived Eve through his craftiness, so your minds may become corrupt, alienated from the sincerity of Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:3)

Godly Trinity Versus Satanic Trinity

The devil is not a creator; instead, he mimics and distorts what God has originally made. In contrast to the divine Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, there exists a so-called “unholy trinity” composed of demonic forces, a deceptive counterfeit of the true church, and corrupt political power. This malevolent triad seeks to undermine and corrupt what is divinely established, offering a twisted mirror image of God’s good and perfect order. The satanic trinity as unmasked in the book of Revelation: the dragon, the beast from the sea and the beast from the earth (Rev. 12-13).^[3]

We learn from Jesus that His spiritual battle was focused on all three forces of evil and malevolence.

• Against Herod (Mark 8:15).
• Against the religion of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matt. 16:6).
• Against the evil spirit world (Matt. 12:28).

1. The battle against the Spirit of the Worldliness

The most severe devastation and destruction of humanity have stemmed from malevolent, totalitarian dictators driven by a thirst for power and their systematic control over the masses. These leaders have left indelible marks of oppression and suffering across generations, demonstrating the profound impact of unchecked authority and manipulation.

It is well known that people’s worldviews limit or excel them. The term “worldview” refers to the way (perspective) you look at the world and life. The Biblical worldview is in contrast to the current humanistic, secular worldview we experience daily in the media, certain television programs, university ideologies, politics, and even in the church. 

See, for example, how directly the secular-humanist manifesto is directed towards an atheistic (anti-God) perspective and against a true biblical perspective:

• World knowledge is derived through observation, experimentation and rational analysis (Naturalism).
• Humans are part of nature, the product of unaccompanied evolutionary change. (Evolution describes how creation survives not how it originated.)
• Ethical values are derived from human needs and interests as tested by experience (Ethical naturalism).
• Life fulfilment comes through individual participation in the service of human ideals. (Fulfilment should come from serving and loving God.)
• People are social by nature and find meaning in relationships. (Yes we are relational beings, but it is our relationship with God first that determines how I relate to others.)
• Working to benefit society maximises individual happiness. (Making the world a better place vs God already has a better place for us prepared.)
• Respect for different yet human views in an open, secular, democratic, environmentally friendly and sustainable society. (Democracy is many times a coverup to hide how much governments want to control people.) The Nations with the highest democratic score, controls their citizens in every detail, even what they choose to eat.

Warning Against the Influence of Worldly Thought

“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mark 8:36)
“…these are all things that the unbelievers in the world are concerned about.” (Matt. 6:30)
“…Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matt. 16:23)
“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.” (John 1:10)
“The world cannot hate you; but he hates me because I openly declare his deeds evil.” (John 7: 7)
“He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”(John 12:25)
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)

What we believe about the world determines how we react to the world.

For example: 

• What do you believe about your future? 
• What do you believe about success? 
• What do you believe are the best careers? 
• What is your top priority: prestige; children; spouse; position; relationships or income? 

Summarizing all the answers determines your worldview. The crucial question is: How many of our answers are biblically accountable to a loving relationship with God?

2. War Against The Spirit of Religion

Jesus warns against the leaven (influence) of the religion of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matt. 16:6)
The devastation and pain inflicted on families, children, and individuals by cults or false religions are indescribable. Lives are shattered and completely altered as people become ensnared in these destructive groups. The deep emotional and psychological scars left behind can affect generations, highlighting the profound and often irreversible impact of such entanglements.

There is a whole chapter on this subject. Feel free to go through it (refer to Chapter 19: Jesus vs the Spirit of Religion and the Spirit of the World).

3. War in the Spirit-World

Once war breaks out, you have to take sides. There is no neutral ground. That is why Paul says: 

“Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;  but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.“ (1 Cor. 10:9-22)

“You cannot rebuke a devil that you continually grant access to your life.”

Kimberley Pothier

There is no neutral ground in a war for occupation: 

• You must either fight back or lose your land. 
• The spiritual warfare is about the territory of our hearts. Who rules in your heart? Satan or the Lord Jesus Christ? 
• Your life is a habitat, home, territory, and garden. The Lord wants your garden to flourish in all your uniqueness, to be like Jesus in character, values, habits, thinking, and action. 
• Satan, on the other hand, is the seducer, to come and steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).

The Issue of Jurisdiction

Every law enforcer works within a certain jurisdiction. For example, he cannot just walk into your house and give orders. This is because you are the owner and have jurisdiction over your home. Therefore, the police must have a warrant before they can come and investigate your house. A policeman from South Africa does not have authority and jurisdiction in the USA until it is mandated by the USA police. 

• Our jurisdiction is on earth (Gen. 1:28; 2:15).
• We have lost this jurisdiction and authority (Luke 4:6). Satan has acquired illegal jurisdiction. He is called:

“… ruler of this world” (John 12:31),
“… the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4),
“…the prince of the invisible forces, the spirit that is now at work in the people who are disobedient to God” (Eph. 2:2),
“…but against every power and authority, against every spirit that rules over this sinful world, against every evil spirit in the air” (Eph. 6:12).

• Christ redeemed and got us our authority back but under His control. We have delegated authority under Christ over evil spiritual forces. Ephesians 6:12; Matthew 16:19; Luke 10:19; Ephesians 1:20-23

Jesus exercised very clear power and authority over evil spirits. He also gave His disciples power to cast out unclean spirits (Matt. 10:1). “Behold, I have given you the power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and to overcome the enemy with all his might, without any harm to you.” (Luke 10:19)

It is also clear that the evil spirits fear a coming judgment of Jesus (Mark 5:7). With His crucifixion, Jesus took away the keys of the realm of the dead. Keys indicate authority. He disarmed satan, and took back the jurisdiction taken from man as the perfect man. In Christ, the full rule and power that God intended man to exercise has been restored.

“He disarmed every power and authority and displayed them in public by taking them captive in the triumph of Christ.” (Col. 2:15)

“But thanks be to God! He always leads us in His triumphal procession because we are one with Christ. Through us He spreads the knowledge of Christ everywhere like a pleasant fragrance.” (2 Cor. 2:14)

Satan therefore still has authority only in people because of their disobedience, and that they place themselves as tools in His hand. He therefore has legal jurisdiction because they gave it to him (2 Tim 2:26).

“Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.“ (1 Cor. 15:24-25) 

The Order of Authority in the Spirit World

A policeman does not have to shout loudly to enforce his authority. Maybe at arrest, only when the criminal resists. His authority lies in understanding the law, and acknowledging everyone’s jurisdiction. If, for example, he does not collect, mark and document the evidence correctly, the case is thrown out of court. If he has acted irregularly, the state loses the case against the criminal. Likewise, there is order in the spirit world.

The evil spirits knew exactly who Jesus was (Luke 4:34; 8:28). However, the seven sons of Skeva, a Jewish high priest, met their match when they tried to cast out evil spirits without real spiritual authority. They simply wanted to use magical techniques, even Jesus’ name, without a life dedicated to God or filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:14). The magician wanted to buy this gift, but was cursed for his impure motives. (Acts 8:20).

“Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.“ (Acts 8:22-23) 

True Basis of Spiritual Warfare

From these passages of Scripture we can build a very strong argument that a holy life, dedicated to the Lord, full of the Spirit of God, is the true basis of spiritual warfare.

Paul explains this even further with a beautiful metaphor: The Christian’s armour is not “magic”, but a holy way of life (Eph. 6:14-18). Justice, truth, faith and willingness are acts of obedience that protect us against evil. Many believers try to use the armour without understanding by daily “putting it on”. This is not what Paul wants to achieve with the metaphor. He is merely explaining the spiritual truths we live out in the light of a soldier’s armour. Faith is a way of life and forms a shield against the fiery arrows that satan constantly fires at us.

We have received in Christ all these spiritual truths of life. We each have a measure of faith and we have received salvation, the truth and righteousness – all in Christ. Through a lifestyle of willingness, out of the truth and in His righteousness, we live out His salvation wherever we move. 

The Spiritual Arsenal of the Believer

After careful study of the following verses you will find a pattern of Kingdom-orientated behaviour and best practise under difficult circumstances:

1. 1 Corinthians 4:10-15:
   • “When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat“
2. 2 Corinthians 4:8-18:
   • “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair“
   • “We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen“
3. 2 Corinthians 6:3-10:
   • “Giving no cause for offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed”
   • “As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities”
   • “By purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love“
   • “By truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left”
4. 2 Corinthians 13:9:
   • “For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.”

Understand Your Place and Role

In the last few decades, there has been a renewed focus on spiritual warfare in the world of faith. This focus is partly good, but there are also dangers if we do not understand our place and role. 

For example: 

• prayer-marches have often been held,
• worldwide prayer-chains have sprung up,
• people have anointed the doors and windows and corner posts of their homes and businesses,
• “house-cleaning” rituals have been performed to destroy occult items, 
• studies have been made of spiritual outlines and occult, satanic curses, memorials with satanic meanings, ancestral curses, etc. 

The natural question is: 

• What is the outcome now 30 years later? 
• Is the church holier? 
• Are more people being converted? 
• Is there more unity in the church now? 
• Is there revival? 

The Bible is a collection of unconventional spiritual stories with supernatural elements, so the Lord can use a march as with Jericho (Joshua 6:1-21). After all, He split the Red Sea open (Exodus 14)! God can do anything. Yet, we see Jesus acting very pragmatically in the war against evil.

We cannot fix a wrong lifestyle and its consequences with magical rituals. This is a great deception in the faith community. We cannot fight black magic with white magic!

How Did Jesus Work With the Spirit World?

Jesus’ clash with evil is open, direct, and confrontational with respect to the satanic trinity. Jesus openly unmasked the falsehood and cunning of the Pharisees, scribes and so-called religious, as well as His disregard for their iligitimate display of authority. Jesus did not do shadow boxing with the forces of evil, he directly and openly resisted them, and broke their foothold over people.

“Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. 

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” (Matt. 8:14-17)

“Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 

Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority, He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. 

Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. 

At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.” (Luke 4:31-37)

Jesus’ Way of Working With Evil

• Jesus’ confrontation is direct and upfront: When there are demonic manifestations, He silences them and drives them out with a word. Prayer is primarily directed to God, and demons are cast out when they manifest in His presence. It is therefore once again a matter of jurisdiction. A law enforcer can only act where there is evidence of crime. He thus did not give the Devil any airtime in His ministry.
• Satan’s attempt to tempt Him is briefly done with “it is written” and “away with you satan” (Luke 4). There is no dialogue or long conversations with satan.
• Jesus does not use magic or ritual in His ministry. He does not perform each miracle in the same way, and He does it without religious, self-glorifying showmanship like magicians would.
• He usually instructs the infirm. He lays His hands on the sick. Remember it is about the territory of our hearts.
• Jesus does not confront evil as an abstract, invisible reality. When evil makes itself visible, Jesus confronts it openly.
• When the evil spirits manifest in this world, Jesus immediately takes authority over them. We do not see any examples where Jesus or any of the leaders of the early church became involved in prayers, statements or pronouncements directed at the spirit world. Our existence has earthly limitations, and through Christ Jesus we have resumed our original mandate to exercise authority here. We are however not only spiritual beings and hence do not have jurisdiction to exercise authority in the spirit world, such as commanding angels and giving them commands or instructions. Only when these spirit beings illegitimately reveal themselves in our world do we take a position of authority over them. 

“And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.” (Jude 1:6) 

Overcoming Evil: Disciples of Nations

Just think if we as a church have kept to this one commandment in which God has empowered us: 

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” (Matt. 28:18-20) 

Through the ages we have disregarded this one great mandate and the whole world is suffering because of our disobedience (Rom. 8:22).

Prayer Towards God, Not Towards Evil Spirits

Some people spend a lot of time rebuking spirits in the sky that they cannot see. Why not serve people directly and then take authority and set people free when an evil spirit manifests? 

In the case of administering deliverance, liberation is to get the person concerned to: 

• confess where they have given satanic and evil legal invitation,
• confess and acknowledge Jesus’ rule in their lives, 
• be freed in Jesus Name. You give an immediate expulsion order! You command the evil spirits with a word to leave and not to return!
• rule over the influence of evil, addiction, sin and temptation in our own lives. 

“…in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.” (Eph. 2:2) 

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” (Rom. 6:12) 

Battle of Obedience 

Jesus explained that His love had brought His disciples to follow Him but He required that obedience would continue to prove their commitment to Him (John 14:21).

Who are you going to obey? 

●      God or self? 
●      God or satan? 
●      Holy Spirit or the spirit of the world?
●      Word of God or traditions of men?
●      Holy Spirit whispers or satanic whispers

True Spiritual Warfare – Obedience to the Holy Spirit

True spiritual warfare is therefore your exercised victory in Christ Jesus when you: 

• claim authority in Jesus’ Name, 
• take authority over your: urges; carnal desires; whispers; thoughts; and emotions that are not based on the Word. 

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2 Cor. 10:3-6)

Obedience to Jesus is Our Victory Over Evil 

“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:17)

Every day we live out this victory in our own lives, but ultimately also for the people around us. We live in harmony with God and our spiritual family eventually becomes a piece of divine territory, an Eden, where God’s will is lived out.

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” (Matt. 6:10) 

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Hab. 2:14)

Our disobedience costs us far more than our obedience. Think of what Adam and Eve’s disobedience cost them and, consequently, all of humanity. Satan wants to conquer a heart dedicated to the Lord. He has no other agenda than to make us give up our purpose of being created, of being God’s instruments of creative healing love.

Surrender and Submission

In this, we receive Christ’s power and ability to break free from the hold and power of sin. Slavery implies that slaves are under the power of the slave-driver. Jesus came to redeem us from this power. He obtained our legal release so that we can now obey Him through the Holy Spirit.

Being Salt and Light

Through obedience to the Spirit (Matt. 5: 13-16); to be leaven (Matt. 13:33) and to be a fragrance of life (2 Cor. 2:14). Nowhere is there any evidence that the believers practiced any magical, imaginary spiritual warfare against the rulers of that time. 

Even their persecution was seen as an opportunity to preach the Gospel. Jesus’ life of love, caring, mercy, fellowship, self-denial, and forgiveness were the hallmarks of the first believers that distinguished them from the world.

This lifestyle eventually seeped through the world to the point where the mighty Roman Empire adopted Christianity as the official religion. Unfortunately, the Roman world-spirit permeated the church like leaven and ushered the world into the dark ages, before God’s light broke through the reformers again.

Our Responsibility as Light-bearers

Darkness can only reign in the absence of the Light. The lie can only exist in the absence of the Truth. 

Admittedly, this also means that: 

• mankind must accept Jesus as the Truth. Jesus was the light and they did not love the light (John 3:19). Jesus is the only Way, He is the only Truth, and He is the only Life (John 14:6). Yet mankind chooses to turn their backs on the Truth. 
• It is not God who punishes man, it is man who brings punishment on themselves because they reject the truth. 
• Where the truth is appropriated and obeyed, there is unity, and those who are in Christ retain the holy bond of unity (Eph. 4:3-6).
• It is man’s disobedience and search for their own gain that opens the door for satanic forces to rule. 

Where we follow Jesus’ life, and walk according to it, there is: 

• Order, and social peace. 
• Victory in the spiritual war when no one sees. David defeated the bear and the lion where no one saw it happening. This brought about a faith to defeat Goliath in public. “I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.” (1 John 2:13) The personal victory over evil, is essential to public victory.

^[1] Michael S. Heiser, Supernatural: What the Bible Teaches about the Unseen World—And Why It Matters, ed. David Lambert, (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015), 43.

^[2] Marais, E. (2012). The Soul of the White Ant. Cape Town: Human & Rousseau.

^[3] Riekert Botha, Openbaring Ontsluit. (location Eboek 2358) 

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