Pastor E. Keith Hassell
Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Genesis 2:16–17 (NKJV) “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”

Theodicy is a technical term that means “defense of God’s goodness and power in view of the existence of evil.” Some struggle to believe in God because of the dilemma of the existence of evil. When people struggle to believe in God because of the dilemma of evil, they assume the existence of good. The existence of good assumes the existence of a moral standard that is beyond us that testifies to the principles of right and wrong, good and evil, and just and unjust. This moral standard exists within every human heart as affirmed by each man’s conscience (Romans 2:12-16). The existence of a moral standard assumes the existence of a moral Lawgiver. The existence of a moral Lawgiver points to the existence of a moral God. A moral God assumes that He is, by nature, good.

God and Good 
The Bible reveals that God, by His very nature, is good. (Exodus 33:19; 1 Chronicles 16:34) All that He created, in the beginning, was very good (Genesis 1:31). Evil has not always existed although the potential for evil has existed (Genesis 2:18). God did not create or ordain evil. Every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17).

What is evil?

1. Evil is the absence of good just as darkness is the absence of light, and chaos is the absence of order. (Exodus 33:18-19; Deuteronomy 31:17: Isaiah 51:1-2) "Augustine argued that evil is not something that exists; rather, 'evil is nothing but a privation [negation, or absence] of good.' He worked from the notion that God, who is the supreme good and source of good, created everything good in its original state. But creatures can fall away from their original goodness, and it is in this loss of goodness that evil consists: 'Here we see the proper use of the word evil; for it is correctly applied not to essence, but to negation or loss.'" (Gregg R. Allison, Historical Theology, p. 282)
2. Evil is the antithesis of good: the opposite of God’s nature.
3. Evil is the adversary of good: the enemy of good, and thus, the enemy of God.

The Dilemma caused by the Existence of Evil.
Skeptics assert that there are three statements that cannot be true at the same time. These statements are:

1. If God cannot restrain evil, then He is impotent and foolish in creation.
2. If God will not restrain evil, then He is careless and monstrous.
3. If God allows and restrains evil to give purpose to evil according to His decree, then God is benevolent and wise.

The dilemma caused by the existence of evil is usually caused by the following questions:

1. Evil exists. Where did evil originate?
2. God is good. Why does He allow pain and suffering?
3. God is omnipotent: What guides the use of His power?

 
Evil Exists. Where did Evil Originate?
Evil has not always existed. God did not create evil. Neither did He cause evil. He did, however, ordain the possibility of evil along with its consequences. God’s very essence is love (1 John 4:8; 4:16). He created man in His image and likeness. Mankind was created morally perfect and perfectly free. Bearing the image and likeness of God, mankind were given the capacity to receive God’s love and respond to God’s love (1 John 4:19). Love is not a subjective emotional response; love is a choice. Love cannot exist without free will. Free will does not exist without the ability to choose between good and evil. Thus, God placed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden with a command not to eat its fruit. (Genesis 2:16-17) This tree represented a choice provided by God’s gift of free will. What about the consequences of evil choices? In His foreknowledge, God provided a remedy for the certain consequences of evil through the Person and Work of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8; John 1:29, 36).

If God did not create or cause evil, then what is the cause of evil?

Iniquity was first conceived in the heart of Lucifer, a created heavenly being who aspired to be like God (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:11-19) As a result, Lucifer fell from his heavenly estate and became the Mastermind of evil. He is known as the Serpent (Genesis 3:1), Satan (Adversary), the Devil (Accuser), “the evil one” (Matthew 5:37; 6:13; Luke 11:14; John 17:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:3), and “the wicked one” (Matthew 13:19; Ephesians 6:16; 1 John 2:13, 14; 3:12; 5:18, 19). He is the archenemy of God and all that is good. He is the originator and conspirator of all evil. He is the god of this age who deceives the entire world. (John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Revelation 12:9).

Through the Serpent’s deception, Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command through an act of their free will.

Gregg R. Allison, in his Historical Theology (p. 280) states, “Tertullian reasoned from the fact that God decided to create human beings with free will. Because of this, God could not intervene to stop people from abusing their freedom by choosing to do evil. Addressing the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, Tertullian framed the problem in this way: ‘You reason that if God were good, and if he were unwilling that such a catastrophe should happen, and if by his foreknowledge he was not ignorant of the future, and if he were powerful enough to hinder its occurrence, that result would never have come about.… Since, however, it has occurred, the contrary affirmation must certainly be true: God must be neither good, nor knowledgeable of the future, nor powerful.’23 After vindicating the goodness, foreknowledge, and power of God, Tertullian turned to human beings to look for the cause of evil: ‘I find, then, that God constituted humanity free, ruler of its own will and power.… Upon careful consideration, it can be shown that this human freedom alone is to be blamed for the evil that it committed itself.’24 [1]Augustine said, ‘“[There is] an order of causes in which the highest effect is attributed to the will of God...But it does not follow that, though there is for God a certain order of all causes, there must therefore be nothing depending on the free exercise of our own wills, for our wills themselves are included in that order of causes which is certain to God, and is embraced by his foreknowledge, for human wills are also the cause of human actions. And he who foreknew all the causes of things would certainly not have been ignorant of our wills, because they are among those causes...We are by no means compelled to do away with the freedom of the will by retaining divine foreknowledge, or, by retaining the freedom of the will, to deny that God has foreknowledge of future things—an ungodly idea! But we embrace both!...Whatever is done in the world is done partly by divine agency and partly by our will.” And he extended this providential control to everything that exists.’” (Gregg R. Allison, Historical Theology, p. 282)

Through disobedience, evil took residence in the hearts of the entire human race (Matthew 12:34-35). Thus, the heart is the source of evil within humanity. The solution to the problems in our world begins in the heart. Through Adam and Eve’s disobedience and fall from perfection and God’s blessing, the entire creation was subjected to death and the curse (Genesis 3:14-19; Romans 8:18-25). We now live in an imperfect world corrupted and broken by sin, evil, and the curse.

God is Good. Why does He allow Pain and Suffering? 
When God finished His work of creation, all that He created was very good (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31; 2:9). There was no guilt, shame, fear, blame, pain, disease, suffering, deception, dysfunction, hate, war, environmental disaster, death, separation, or curse. In addition, mankind received God’s blessing (Genesis 1:22, 28; 5:2). God created a perfect world to demonstrate the glory of His wisdom, perfection, goodness, and beauty. God allowed evil to exist to reveal the glory of His redeeming qualities such as mercy, longsuffering, grace, forgiveness, healing, deliverance, salvation, justice, judgment, wrath against evil, reconciliation, restoration, and life. Without the existence of evil, the redeeming attributes within God’s nature would not be displayed (Romans 9:22-24). It was through man’s disobedience that the original blessing of God was lost (Genesis 2:17; 3:7, 8, 10, 14-15, 16, 17-19, 21, 23; Romans 5:12, 15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:21).

Justice is a righteous display of God’s goodness. His righteous judgment is a good rather than an evil action even if it inflicts pain and suffering (Genesis 18:25; 2 Thessalonians 1:6). His failure to exercise righteous judgment would itself be evil.

Accusing God of being unjust or unfair does not prove that He is unjust or unfair. It only reveals that we do not understand God’s standard of righteousness, justice, and the penalty we deserve. (Ezekiel 18:20-32; Revelation 16:9, 11, 21) Accusing God of being unjust or unfair is itself proof of our own sinful condition (Genesis 3:12, 13). In fact, God has demonstrated His love, goodness, mercy, and longsuffering toward us in that while we were yet dead in our sins and trespasses, He sent Christ to die for our sins (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:1). Through His love, goodness, mercy, and longsuffering, He has also temporarily withheld the full measure of consequence that our sin deserves to give us the opportunity to admit our guilt and repent (Psalm 103:10; 130:3-4; Romans 2:2-4; Revelation 2:21). If He did not restrain the consequences of our sin, who could stand?

Pain and suffering are not themselves evil. They are not evil when they result from the righteous judgments of God. Pain and suffering are regarded as evil when they are the direct result of the actions of evil. Evil in the hearts of men causes them to inflict pain and suffering on others. Pain and suffering are not evil when they function as evidence of something wrong in our physical body. Pain and suffering also remind us of evil’s presence and work in this fallen world. Discounting physical pain can have deadly results. Pain and suffering serve as a faithful sentinel to alert us to a problem so that we might seek out its source and find solutions. God will comfort us in our suffering and heal us of our pain as He reveals and remedies its root cause. (1 Timothy 6:10) God allows pain and suffering to exist to reveal our need for Him and His salvation. The sufferings of this present life remind us that something is dreadfully wrong with our world and with us so that we might seek His deliverance and salvation.

Some question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Others ask, “Why do good things happen to bad people?” King David struggled with the second question in Psalm 73 and discovered the answer he sought. Both questions are based on mistaken assumptions.

The first mistaken assumption is that there are GOOD people and BAD people. This assumption is based on human comparison and evaluation. Jesus set the record straight in Matthew 19:16-17 (NKJV) “Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’” The only One who is good is God Himself. There is no one righteous before Him (Romans 3:10, 23).

The second mistaken assumption Is that good people deserve good things while bad people deserve bad things. Jesus addressed this misconception in Luke 13:1–5 (NKJV): “There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.’” The experience of good things or bad things is not evidence of who is good and who is bad in God’s sight. Bad things can happen to anyone in a world influenced by the Evil One, in a world cursed and broken by sin, and amid a people influenced and controlled by evil and the Evil One. God demonstrates His goodness to all by pouring out His goodness on both the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5:44-48)

The third mistaken assumption Is that God is not fair. In our fallen state, we are not qualified to determine what is fair. In Ezekiel 18:25 (NKJV), God addressed those who accused Him of being unfair: “Yet you say, ‘The way of the LORD is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?’” Accusing God of being unfair is based upon a self-righteous and entitled attitude that holds God accountable for not giving us what we believe we deserve. The truth is that we deserve nothing but God’s wrath. God is not indebted to sinners; sinners are indebted to Him. Life is not fair, but God is still good. Demanding that we get what we deserve would make us losers. Psalm 103:8–11 (NKJV) “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;” If we received what is fair, the full measure of the consequences of our sin would immediately be poured out upon us. Whatever measure of goodness that we have enjoyed in life, whether large or small, is not a testimony to our goodness but to God’s mercy and grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Because evil exists, some assume that God tolerates or even ignores evil in our world. Does God know and care about our pain and suffering? God does care! God sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, into this broken, cursed, and suffering world. He was perfect and without fault (Luke 23:41). Although He had no sin, He lived amid and experienced the consequences of the fall. He was tempted, hated, rejected, persecuted, falsely accused, unjustly tried, sentenced to death, and subjected to crucifixion, the most inhumane and feared torture known to man at the time. Jesus experienced the full measure of evil’s hatred. While on earth, Jesus spent His days relieving human suffering. The life and suffering of Jesus Christ are an exclamation point that God has not ignored evil and that He cares about us amid our suffering!

God is Omnipotent. What Guides the Use of His power?
Although God has the absolute sovereign power to eradicate evil, He has chosen to restrain evil, but not all evil. He allows evil that fulfills His decreed purpose. (Genesis 20:6; 50:20; Ac 4:27-28) If God restrains and allows evil to fulfill His redemptive purpose, then God is good and wise. The use of God’s power to fulfill His sovereign purpose for His glory is called “providence.” God will not exercise His power at the whim of our misguided human demands. Rather, God exercises His power for His purpose and glory (Isaiah 43:6-7; 66:18-19; Psalm 96:1-3; Ezekiel 39:21; 1 Corinthians 2:6-7; 10:31; Ephesians 1:6, 11). The glory of God is His holiness and goodness on display (Exodus 33:18-19; 34:6-7). God will not exercise His power in violation of His justice. He will not overlook sin or withhold its consequences. God exercises His power to redeem sinners from the power of sin and evil (John 3:16; Romans 8:28). God exercises His power to accomplish what is good in His sight (2 Samuel 10:12; Matthew 11:26; Luke 10:21; Acts 10:38; Romans 12:2).

What has God done to Overcome Evil? 
God overcame evil with the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ upon the Cross. The coming of Christ into this world represented the entrance of the kingdom of God into the realm of evil and sin (Matthew 3:14-15), bringing God’s light and life into the darkness and evil imposed on His fallen creation (John 1:1-5), and ushering in God’s righteous rule and order into the chaos of this world (Isaiah 9:6-7). His coming was a direct confrontation with the opposing powers of evil and the Evil One (Matthew 11:12; 12:28; Acts 10:38; 1 John 3:8). The throne of God’s kingdom is founded upon righteousness and justice. (Psalm 89:14; 97:2) God’s works flow from the goodness of His righteousness and justice. Evil exists in the realm of time. Evil had a beginning and will have an end. God’s goodness, however, exists in the realm of eternity because God is eternal. Evil will be finally eliminated at the White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) and the pain and suffering caused by evil will pass away when all things are made new (Revelation 21:1-4). For the believer, deliverance from evil is experienced in the past, present, and future. At the Cross we were delivered from the penalty and personality of evil, we are currently being delivered from the power of evil, and one day we will be delivered from the presence of evil.

How are We to Overcome Evil?

1. We should ask God for the ability to discern between good and evil. (Don’t trust your own heart)
   1. 1 Kings 3:9 (NKJV) “Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
2. We must train our spiritual discernment by practicing the word of God.
   1. Hebrews 5:14 (NKJV) “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
3. We must maintain our joy and victory in Christ in the face of evil.
   1. John 16:33 (NKJV) “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
4. We must overcome evil through the provision of Christ’s work of redemption.
   1. Revelation 12:10–11 (NKJV) “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
5. We must overcome evil with good.
   1. Romans 12:21 (NKJV) “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
6. We must remain confident that God is working all things, good and bad, for our good and His glory.
   1. Romans 8:28 (NKJV) “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
7. We must keep our hope fixed on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the promised new heavens and a new earth free from evil and its consequences.
   1. Romans 8:18–25 (NKJV) “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”
   2. 2 Peter 3:13 (NKJV) “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

How will the Condition of Redeemed Individuals be Different in the New Creation?
Redeemed men will retain their free will in the new creation. What will prevent them from falling again? The answer is found in the difference between the first creation and new creation, i.e., re-creation. In the first creation, Adam was created in a state of innocence. In the new creation, believers are re-created in a state of redemption. Unlike Adam, redeemed believers are freed from the bondage of sin, cleansed from their filthiness and idols, given a new heart and a new spirit, have their stony heart replaced with a heart of flesh, have the law of God written on their heart, and receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to cause them to walk in obedience to God’s law (Ezekiel 36:25-27).

23 Tertullian, Against Marcion, 2.5, in ANF, 3:300–301. The text has been rendered clearer.
24 Ibid., 2.5–6, in ANF, 3:301–3. The text has been rendered clearer.
[1] Allison, G. R. (2011). Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine (p. 280). Zondervan.

Pastor E. Keith Hassell
Monday, January 3, 2022

True unity among brethren brings a blessing from the LORD!
Psalm 133:1 (NKJV) “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is tor brethren to dwell together in unity!”

May the LORD establish such unity among true believers! May we embrace and pursue such unity for the sake of Christ and the brotherhood!

In the Aeneid by Virgil, the story is told of the Greek siege of the city of Troy. After ten unsuccessful years to penetrate the city, Odysseus of the Greeks constructed a huge wooden horse and hid a select group of soldiers inside, including Odysseus himself. Thereupon, the Greeks feigned to discontinue the siege and sail away. The Trojans then pulled the wooden horse into the city as a trophy of victory. That night the Greeks soldiers inside the horse exited and opened the city gates to the Greek soldiers who had sailed back under the cover of night. Once inside, they destroyed the city and ended the war.

Unfortunately, there is an artificial unity that threatens the church. It is a false unity that brings God’s disfavor and the enemy’s destruction. What is false unity? It is the devil’s counterfeit offer to the church. It is unity that undermines the truth and weakens the church. How do we define Christian “unity”? Do we pursue unity at any cost? Is unity always virtuous? Were not the builders of Babel unified? Tragically, their unity was a conspiracy against God, and He dismantled their unity with confusion and scattered them!

Is Christian unity based upon the love of the brethren? To some degree yes. John the apostle declares plainly that the evidence that we have passed from death to life is that we love the brethren.

1 John 3:14–15 (NKJV) “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

Are all who call themselves by the name of Christ Christian brethren? Who are brethren except those who are true disciples of Jesus Christ? Not all who call themselves “disciples” are. Not all who claim to believe do (John 6:64). Not all who address Christ as “Lord” are in the kingdom of God. (Matthew 7:21-23). Not all who call themselves “Christians” are truly Christians. Not all who claim identity in the Christian faith affirm from the heart the historic and biblical faith that was once and for all time passed down by Christ and the apostles (Jude 3). In our generation, the term “Christian” has come to mean nothing and to embrace everything. In the name of “unity”, people have laid aside historical orthodox distinctives that define the Christian faith to include anyone and anything in the name of “love”. True disciples of Jesus, however, are set apart from others by the Truth they embrace and will not deny. They are more concerned about whether a church or group holds to the historical beliefs that define true believers than about their style, methods, glamour, charisma, hype, and popularity. They are soberly aware that those who do not love the truth will be deceived by the devil’s lying signs, wonders, and words. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). They will not make that trade. They are more willing to be among a remnant of those who stand firm in the truth than among a multitude who embrace a lie. Adrian Rogers said, “It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. It is better to stand alone with the truth, than to be wrong with a multitude.”

Jesus did not water down the gospel to open the gates of the kingdom to those who would not repent of their sins, believe in Him and the gospel of the kingdom, and follow Him. Jesus’ purpose was not unity but division to save those who would repent, believe, and follow. John the Baptist described the ministry of Jesus in a sobering way:

Luke 3:16–17 (NKJV) “John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

John the Baptist himself rejected false converts who wanted to enter the kingdom on their own terms:

Luke 3:7–9 (NKJV) “Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Therefore, Christ’s command presents the necessity to know and distinguish between true and false disciples and true and false converts and true and false Christians. (Mt 7:21-23) Who are within the “household of faith” and who are not? (Ga 6:10) It also demands that we love all true disciples and Christians regardless of our differences in non-salvific preferences, styles, methods, doctrines, and cultural and denominational distinctives.

False converts will eventually manifest their hypocrisy. The apostle John declared that the children of the devil—who are among us but not of us--are those who do not practice righteousness and who do not love the brethren. They are tares among the wheat. They are false brethren, by nature the children of the devil.

1 John 3:10–11 (NKJV) “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,”

Cain and Abel were brothers, but Cain was of the wicked one. Cain was a false “brother”. Abel’s deeds were righteous, and Cain’s deeds were evil. Therefore, Cain’s anger and jealousy led him to murder his brother.

1 John 3:11–12 (NKJV) “For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.”

Genuine Christian “brothers” are those who practice righteousness and love those who practice righteousness. Righteousness is determined by the God of righteousness and His word of righteousness. Not all who say “Lord, Lord” belong to the Lord. There are many who “profess” but few who “possess”.

Matthew 7:21 (NKJV) “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

Truth is the winnowing fan that exposes and separates the wheat from the chaff. When truth is declared, the false will be separated from the true.

1 John 2:18–19 (NKJV) “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”

Many self-proclaimed disciples gathered to Jesus and affirmed their allegiance. However, Jesus knew that not all who gathered around Him believed. Their true nature was revealed when He waved the winnowing fan of truth.

John 6:53–66 (NKJV) “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.’ 59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. 60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can understand it?’ 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, ‘Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, ‘Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.’ 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.”

Jesus was committed to speaking the truth rather than seeking unity. Those who loved Christ loved the truth that He declared. Those who loved Christ and embraced the truth remained in true unity with Him.

Only those who come to Jesus in complete faith will surrender to and obey Him. Only those who surrender and obey are counted as His disciples.

Luke 14:27 (NKJV) “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

Some confuse “relationship” and “fellowship”. The degree of our fellowship in Christ is determined by the degree to which we walk together in the light of God’s truth.

1 John 1:7 (NKJV) “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

We are to love all men as Christ loves all men and seeks to reach all men. However, love is not the measure of fellowship. Truth is. Some insist that unconditional love demands unconditional fellowship. The Parable of the Prodigal Son reveals otherwise. The father’s relationship with his son and his love for his son remained intact. However, the son’s sinful and selfish choices severed their fellowship. Only the son’s repentance and the father’s forgiveness restored the fellowship. The same is true among the saints. It is possible to have a common relationship in Christ with other believers while being unable to maintain fellowship with them if sin and false doctrine are present, embraced, and promoted.

Is withdrawing fellowship from a brother or even a group of believers ever appropriate in the eyes of God? Yes, it is an appropriate and responsible thing to withdraw fellowship from a brother or group of believers due to blatant and unrepentant sin, severe doctrinal error, preaching of a different gospel, proclaiming another Jesus, the promotion of spiritual activities that are not grounded in Scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and compromise with the world. It is not only appropriate but necessary. Separation in fellowship in such cases is not unloving. On the contrary, it is a loyal response toward God and a loving response toward the sinner. It is a loving response because its intent is to cause the sinner, the straying, and the deceived to consider his ways so that he or she might repent and be rescued from the error of their ways. It is also a loving response to protect the flock from the destructive influence of the sinner’s evil leaven.

1 Corinthians 5:6–8 (NKJV) “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

1 Corinthians 5:11–13 (NKJV) “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Loving parents take seriously their responsibility to watch over and protect their children. They take seriously the responsibility to separate their children from bad influences and to intervene against predators. Children may complain that their parents are unloving, judgmental, and controlling. Yet, a parent endures these immature accusations knowing that the preservation of their children is more important than their child’s current mistaken perception. They know that their children do not see or understand the nature and danger lurking around them. In time they will. In the same way, pastors are charged with the same responsibility toward the flock of God. The apostle Paul felt the same regarding the church and the responsibility of pastors and elders who shepherd local churches.

Acts 20:28–31 (NKJV) “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”

Faithful pastors take seriously this responsibility to watch and guard the flock of God.

Sadly, a poisonous weed has been planted in the modern church. This weed originated in the culture. It is the devil’s distortion of “love”. This distorted idea of love has been used in our fallen culture to justify and embrace any and every perversion. Anything is acceptable if it fits under the umbrella of “love”. They even imagine that because “love” is employed, God Himself approves of the sin! The culture has made love the supreme standard of determining what is right and wrong. Unfortunately, many modern Christians have been discipled more by the culture rather than by the word of God. Thus, they have made love the supreme standard for unity among believers. Only the God of Scripture can set that standard. Love is of God for God is love. How is it that fallen human beings are qualified to define “love” apart from God who is love? How can they know the attributes of God’s love apart from the revelation of His truth revealed in Scripture? Those who do not know God fabricate and peddle a “love” that is inconsistent with the attributes of God. God’s love is revealed in Scripture and personified in Christ. God’s love cannot be separated from His truth.

The same is true regarding the love of the truth and the love of the brethren. They are both important. Loving the truth and loving the brethren who love the truth are inseparable. Yet, at times, sin and error bring brethren into conflict. In such cases, does our love for the brethren demand that we lay aside our love of the truth to maintain unity? The questions then arise, “Unity in what?” Is unity the great cause for which Christ came and died? No, He came to bear witness of the truth and so gather a people who will hear His voice of truth.

John 18:37 (NKJV) “Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’”

Christian unity is based upon a common commitment to the faith passed down to us by Christ and His apostles. It is not our commitment to this common faith that threatens Christian unity. It is a diversion from this common faith that threatens Christian unity. Christian disunity today is the direct result of men of God failing to preach the true gospel that produces true converts. It is the failure of the church to make disciples of these converts, teaching them the tenets of their faith.  The introduction of a false or watered-down gospel has set the church up for the problem of disunity. Enough with those who blame those who hold to the faith once delivered to the saints as being divisive! Is it not those who stray from the faith who are the source of Christian disunity and division? Is it not they who divide us and demand that we embrace their error and love them as brethren? The cure for disunity is not to retreat from doctrine. The cure is to preach and teach it faithfully until we obtain the unity of the faith.

The early church was committed to maintaining the purity of the faith. When error arose, they were quick to change course and address it. Consider the words of Jude:

Jude 3–4 (NKJV) “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Is it not a failure to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered for the saints” that threatens the unity of Christ’s church? Is it not tolerance of sin and error that is the real enemy of Christian unity? Why do those who justify sin, error, and selfish agendas cry out for unity that they themselves undermine? Why should the faithful be bullied into submission by the condemnation of ungodly men and imposters? Why should the faithful give any credence to their accusations of being unloving and divisive? Why do they demand that the faithful seek unity on their terms? Why is it when their error is challenged by the faithful and an offer is made to be unified with the truth, that these imposters reject the offer and then organize their own “unity” movements that oppose the other? They herald the virtue of “love” while they rail against those who refuse to join them.

It is faithful preaching and discipleship in the truth of the gospel that will cultivate a genuine love for the truth. It is a common love for the truth that will unify those who love the truth. This is the definition of true Christian community, a community where the love of the brethren is cultivated around a common love for the truth. It is this love for Christ and for the truth that will bring about the oneness that Christ desires among His disciples. This is the secret of the unity experienced in the first church.

Acts 2:41–47 (NKJV) “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

It is the truth of God’s word that sanctifies us as Christ’s disciples.

John 17:17 (NKJV) “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

Only after Jesus prayed this, did He pray that those who are sanctified by the truth may be one.

John 17:18–21 (NKJV) “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

Jesus did not pray that they might be unified. He prayed that those who believe in Him through their word (apostles’ doctrine, the tenets of the faith) might be “one”. Unity apart from truth does not bring oneness. However, the oneness for which Jesus prayed guarantees unity among the brethren.

A.W. Tozer said it this way: “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.” --A.W. Tozer [quoted by R. Kent Ryles in Worship by the Book, ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 151; Cited from A.W. Tozer's Pursuit of God, 97]

Apart from truth, Christian community is non-existent. Christian community begins with a common faith in Christ through a faithful declaration of the truth of the gospel. Christian community is perfected in an environment where speaking the truth in love is cultivated and maintained.

Ephesians 4:14–15 (NKJV) “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—”

To compromise our love of the truth to feign a love of the brethren is to betray both. Apart from a common love for and commitment to the truth, the hand of Christian brotherhood cannot be extended.

2 John 7–11 (NKJV) “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”

John, the apostle of love, wrote this warning to the church. It was believed that the apostle John wrote this warning particularly regarding the false teacher Cerinthus who went about the churches teaching a heretical gnostic doctrine of Jesus Christ. In his Ecclesiastical History, early church historian Eusebius records an incident passed down by Polycarp, a disciple of the apostle John:

“And Irenaeus has set forth in Book 1 of his work Against Heresies some of the more unspeakable errors of the man, and in Book 3 he has committed a story to writing which deserves to be remembered, telling how, according to a tradition of Polycarp, John the Apostle once entered a bathhouse to wash, and when he learned that Cerinthus was within leapt out of the place and fled out of the door, for he could not endure to be even under the same roof with him, and he urged those with him to do the same, saying: ‘Let us flee, lest the bathhouse cave in, for Cerinthus, the enemy of the truth, is within.’” [Eusebius of Caesarea. (1953). Ecclesiastical History, Books 1–5 (R. J. Deferrari, Ed. & Trans.; Vol. 19, p. 186). The Catholic University of America Press.]

Obviously, John did pursue or encourage love and unity with Cerinthus!

The pursuit of unity divorced from truth is a conspiracy against the truth. Such efforts will suffer the same fate as Babel. Such builders will be scattered and confused.

The pursuit of love divorced from truth is also a conspiracy against the truth and a distortion of the love of God. It is a violation of true worship which is in spirit and truth. (John 4:23-24) A professed love for Christ divorced from the Truth of Christ is a betrayal of the love of Christ. The “kiss” of love for Christ without a love for the truth of Christ is both hypocrisy and a betrayal of Christ. Those who identify themselves with the Truth only to betray the Truth will suffer the same fate as Judas. Those who exchange the friendship of Christ for the friendship of this world make themselves enemies of God. (James 4:4) Those who profess the name of Christ apart from allegiance to the truth He proclaimed profane the very name they profess.

Truth is perfectly expressed in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and in His teachings as found in the New Testament. Truth has not changed. The terminology of truth must never be redefined to accommodate error. Redefining Christian terminology is a practice of cults and false religions. Truth twisted and “redefined” is a lie. A lie mixed with truth is still a lie. Those who proclaim “another Jesus”, or come in a “different spirit”, or who proclaim a “different gospel” are liars and deceivers.

2 Corinthians 11:3–4 (NKJV) “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!”

Those who love the truth love others who love the truth. Those who love the truth and love those who love the truth may be identified as Christian brethren. Those who hate the truth hate those who love the truth. Those who do not love the truth or those who love the truth are “false brethren”.

Galatians 2:4–5 (NKJV) “And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”

True brotherhood in Christ is characterized by a common love for Christ and the truth of Christ and a common love among true brethren. Such is the hallmark of true Christian community.

John 8:31–32 (NKJV) “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’”

John 13:34–35 (NKJV) “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 17:20–21 (NKJV) “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

Unity and love apart from truth is a Trojan Horse. Such deceptive efforts open the church to many fallacious and cancerous teachings and experiences that threaten the spiritual life and health of believers and the very existence of the church.

Preservation from Satan’s deception can only be overcome by an absolute love for the truth.
 
2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 (NKJV) “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

In conclusion, don’t entertain a Trojan Horse. Christian unity is not a goal achieved by man but the result of believers becoming one through sanctification in the truth. May the Lord grant us true unity through oneness in Christ.

ADDENDUM
During the “Downgrade Controversy” in the Baptist Union in 1887, from which he chose to separate himself, Charles H. Spurgeon made the following points:

“Believers in Christ's atonement are now in declared union with those who make light of it; believers in Holy Scripture are in confederacy with those who deny plenary inspiration; those who hold evangelical doctrine are in open alliance with those who call the fall a fable, who deny the personality of the Holy Ghost, who call justification by faith immoral, and hold that there is another probation after death...It is our solemn conviction that there should be no pretense or fellowship. Fellowship with known and vital error is participation in sin.” (C. H. Spurgeon)

“For Christians to be linked in association with ministers who do not preach the gospel of Christ is to incur guilt.”

“A Union which can continue irrespective of whether its member churches belong to a common faith is not fulfilling any scriptural function.”

“The preservation of a denominational association when it is powerless to discipline heretics cannot be justified on the grounds of the preservation of 'Christian unity'.”

“It is error which breaks the unity of churches, and to remain in a denominational alignment which condones error is to support schism.”

“Separation from such as connive at fundamental error, or withhold the 'Bread of Life' from perishing souls, is not schism, but only what truth, and conscience, and God require of all who would be found faithful.”

“What have you and I to do with maintaining our influence and position at the expense of truth? It is never right to do a little wrong to obtain the greatest good...Your duty is to do the right: consequences are with God.”

Written by Edward Keith Hassell
Thursday, March 20, 2020

Heaven has officially declared the sin virus to be a pandemic! The sin virus is 100% fatal. There are no cases of survival. It is too late to avoid it. Every human being has already been infected and tested positive. Earth is officially quarantined. All travel to heaven has been banned to those with the sin virus. Governments have secured no vaccine and the medical community has provided no cure. Religious sanitizers have no power over the sin virus. No amount of toilet paper can clean up the mess. Fear and Death are the certain winners. There is, however, good news! The God of heaven has chosen to graciously intervene in this pandemic. He has dispatched His only Son, Jesus Christ, to combat the sin virus. Jesus took upon Himself the sin virus and went to the Cross to obtain a cure. Amazingly His shed blood has proven to be the only cure for the sin virus. It has a 100% success rate. As heaven's Great Physician, Jesus stands ready to administer the cure to all who will believe, call upon Him, and receive. Those who have come to Him have been completely cured and are in the process of full recovery. The cured are eager to share the good news with others infected with the sin virus. Sadly, some remain in denial of their condition while others doubt the cure. Some carriers with lesser symptoms still trust in religious sanitizers as they distance themselves from carriers with greater symptoms. Heaven has declared that time is running out. Carriers of the sin virus are urged to receive the cure now before it is too late. Heaven stands ready to receive all who have been cured.

John 3:16 (NKJV) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Written by Pastor E. Keith Hassell
Copyright 2000

Introduction
Intercessors are a great gift to the body of Christ.  As a pastor I am thankful for every person who feels a special calling to intercede for me and for the church I pastor.  I recognize that intercessors have played a key role in what God has done and is doing.  The place of spiritual warfare in intercession has become an immensely popular and debated topic in the body of Christ in the last few years.  People are acknowledging that their battle is not against flesh and blood but against evil spiritual powers in heavenly places.  The war against satanic forces has moved from the realm of casting out demons to actual warfare in the heavenly realm through prayer, worship, and prophetic acts. The concept of intercessory prayer has moved from praying for individuals and circumstances to direct confrontations with demonic powers in the heavenly places.

Casualties of War
In recent years spiritual warfare rallies and conferences have been organized to directly challenge and wage war on ruling principalities and powers over regions.  The testimonies of believers and intercessors who have entered the realm of spiritual warfare have been a mixture of both triumph and defeat.  Most are victorious testimonies of breakthrough.  However, some also testify of very devastating repercussions from the enemy.

Personally, I have seen how Satan has targeted pastors, intercessors, and churches that have entered spiritual warfare.  These “counter attacks” at times seem to be more than mere coincidence.  People who say they have received demonic counter attacks as a result of spiritual warfare point to things such as sickness, disease, financial setbacks, mood swings, problems in the marriage, problems with the children, divorce, oppression, depression, great temptation, tormenting fear, bad dreams, disunity in the church, problems among intercessors, church splits, deception, and even destruction.  Some teach that we have been commissioned and empowered to wage war in the heavenly realm while others teach that we should avoid spiritual warfare all together. What is the truth?  How should we approach this subject of spiritual warfare?  Is it scriptural?  Is it possible to maintain spiritual victory without experiencing the counter attacks of the devil?  Is there a reason to fear?

Let me state that my purpose here is not to exhaust the subject of intercession and spiritual warfare or to discuss issues such as travail, manifestations, or where and when to intercede.  Although I will expose areas where I believe the enemy has gained advantage, my purpose is not to deal harshly with the ministry of intercession or with intercessors.  Time and experience have given us great opportunities to learn, make mistakes, and to adjust. My purpose here is to bring Biblical principles and whatever pastoral wisdom and experience I have received into this very controversial subject so that people involved in intercession and spiritual warfare can walk in victory.  I believe the following information will help bring the ministry of intercession into its proper place in the church while helping those involved avoid becoming a casualty of war.

The Enemy
Warfare is the result of unresolved enemy conflict.  Where there is no enemy, there is no need for war.  The enemy of God is called “Lucifer,” the “Devil,” the “serpent of old,” and Satan (See Isaiah 14:12 and Revelation 12:9).   He fell from his place before God because of his pride and rebellion.  He is now the archenemy of God and of the saints.  He was in the Garden of Eden and deceived Adam and Eve into disobeying God.  He is the accuser of the brethren and goes about to deceive the entire world (Revelation 12:9-11).  The Bible is clear that he is full of wrath in waging war on the saints (Revelation 12:17).  Our presence as saints on this earth presents a direct threat to his rule of darkness in the lives of men.  As a result, it is conceivable and likely that the enemy would seek to launch a counterattack against the saints (see Revelation 12:17).  The natural enemies of Israel in the Old Testament are types and shadows of the nature of the demonic enemies of the church today.

The Kingdom of Satan
Revelation 12:9 reveals that Satan was cast out of heaven with a third of the angels.  These “fallen angels” are enemy forces who obey Satan and come to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).  Jesus encountered these forces in His earthly ministry when He cast out demons.  Our contact with these forces is inevitable.  Ephesians 6:12 tells us, “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.”  While Satan is the archenemy of God and of the saints, he is not omnipresent.  Few have encountered Satan personally.  However, he works in this world through his army of demonic forces.  These forces make up the kingdom of Satan (Matthew 12:26).  By design, a kingdom has differing levels of rule and authority.  Satan is the king of his kingdom with various levels of delegated authority beneath him.  Ephesians 6:12 reveals four distinct levels:

1.   Principalities:  The Greek word here is “archas” which describes the highest order of delegated rule in Satan’s kingdom.  We get the English word “architect” from this word.  Principalities are delegated rulers assigned over geographical nations and regions (see Daniel 10:1-21).  They are the master “architects” of Satan’s rule in these regions.  Regional religious and political systems take on the nature of the principalities that rule over them.

2.  Powers:  The Greek word here is “exousias” which means “authorities.”  These “powers” are delegated authorities in Satan’s kingdom under principalities.  They might be described as the “contractors” who build the “architect’s” master plan.  Satan is called the prince of the power (“exousia”) of the air (Ephesians 2:2).

3.  Rulers of the darkness of this world:  The Greek word for “rulers” is “kosmo-kratoras” which means, “word rulers.”  It can also be translated “lords of this world” and “princes of this age.”  “Darkness” includes the concepts of destitution, lack of light, obscurity, concealment, covering, secrecy, murkiness, shadiness, dimness, and death.  In other words, spiritual darkness is the spiritual atmosphere that is void of the true wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and authority of God.  Rulers of the darkness of this world are demons assigned to cover this world in darkness to conceal the true knowledge of God and of salvation through Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4) These rulers of darkness are Masters of human deception. This darkness is rooted in “philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8).  False religions, political mindsets, humanistic philosophies, and man-made traditions are powerful influences through which Satan blinds men to the truth in different areas of the world.
 
4.  Spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places:  “Hosts” is a word that can also be translated “armies.”  “Wickedness” describes the nature of these spirits as being morally bad or evil.  The English word for “wicked” is derived from the root word that means, “twisted.”  [We get the word “wick” (for a candle) from this concept].  Spiritual hosts of wickedness are armies of wicked spirits sent forth to twist the truth of God into a lie.  They work to twist man’s behavior, thinking, and character against the moral standard of God.  These are the front-line demons that oppose our pursuit after God.  It is these wicked spirits that come to oppress and demonize the bodies, minds, and souls of men.

Jesus and Spiritual Warfare
If warfare in the heavens was all it took to get this earth free from Satan’s hold, then the battle could have taken place there without the cross.  But Satan’s spiritual hold on human lives had to be broken in the earthly realm. The battle was spiritual, but it was fought on an earthly battlefield.  Jesus came as the last Adam to take back what the first Adam lost. When He came to this earth, Jesus took on the form of a servant and became obedient even to the point of death on the cross (Philippians 2:5-9).  The Bible tells us that Jesus was manifested to destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8).  Jesus laid down His divine authority in heaven and operated as a man with delegated authority on this earth.  Jesus did nothing by His own initiative, but carried out only what He saw His Father doing (John 5:19; 30).  As a man under delegated authority, Jesus exercised great authority and power over the devil.  As with the first Adam, Satan came to Jesus to tempt him to misuse God’s authority.  The issue behind every temptation in the wilderness was trying to deceive Jesus into exercising His authority independently of God.  Jesus submitted Himself to the authority of God’s Word in every temptation.   Submission to God was demonstrated through submission to His word. As a result, Satan could not touch him.

Based on the life of Jesus, it is possible to enter a place under God’s authority where the devil cannot touch us.  This doesn’t mean that the devil will not attack us, but it means that he does not have to succeed. The key to God’s protection is whether we will walk according to our flesh or according to the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18).  When we give in to the temptations of the flesh—lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—we can find ourselves defeated and enslaved (I John 2:16).  There are reasons we sometimes experience defeat in our personal battles with demonic forces.   I will cover some of these.  Satan could find no weakness in Jesus (John 14:30).  Satan was so powerless to destroy Him that Jesus often walked right through the midst of a crowd of people who intended to kill Him.  Jesus declared that no one could take His life from Him but that He laid it down willingly for our sake (John 10:17-18).
 
Jesus did not overcome the devil by rebuking him out of this world.   Satan had a right to be there based on the sin of man.  Jesus did tell Satan to get behind Him when Peter opposed God’s plan in the crucifixion.  Jesus cast out many demons operating in the earthly realm, but there is not an account in the Gospels where Jesus directly taught His disciples to initiate battles with unseen principalities and powers.  His instructions were to preach the gospel of the kingdom in all the earth.  As men and women submit their lives to Jesus, the kingdom of darkness diminishes, and the kingdom of God increases.  The kingdom of God is manifested where men and women are obedient to His lordship and follow His commands.

The Role of Intercessors
Because of the separation and deception that sin brings, God initiated in the Old Testament a plan for intercession (mediation) by instituting priests who could stand in the gap between Himself and His people.  The High Priest was the highest and most important intercessor among the people.  In the New Testament, Jesus is our High Priest and we have become a holy priesthood unto our God (Hebrews 4:14; 1 Peter 2:9).  Every believer in Jesus Christ is an intercessor by virtue of His priesthood.  It is not the job of a special elite force of “intercessors” in the church.  Every believer is to be involved in the ministry of intercession.
 
An intercessor is one “who stands in the gap for another”:  “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” (Ezekiel 22:30)   God wants to save people from destruction but He must find someone to stand in the gap and plead for mercy.  Isaiah 59 tells us that God’s arm is not so short that it cannot save nor His ear too dull that it cannot hear.  God could not save because of sin and the absence of an intercessor.  In this passage God could find no one to intercede.  God had intercessors in the form of prophets and priests, but, they too were a part of the problem rather than the solution.   The people of Israel were involved in violence, iniquity, lies, gossip, deception, weaving and fashioning lies, reproducing and hatching vipers, evil thoughts, plans and acts of murder, and a lack of justice.  Therefore, the curse had been released and the people were being destroyed.  God could find no one to stand in the gap and plead for truth and justice to bring reconciliation and peace between God and man and between man and man:  “He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor.” (Isaiah 59:16) God is not looking for those who can see the sin and faults in others and then proceed to expose and curse it.  Anyone can and will do that.  No, Jesus is looking for those who can see beyond the problem and seek the solution.  He is looking for those who can see God’s plan for the people and then stand in the gap as intercessors so that God will not have to destroy in judgment.  It is not the job of intercessors to pray judgment and destruction upon sinners and rebels but in every case to plead the mercy of God until repentance and restoration come.  Intercessors stand in the gap believing that when people are willing to turn to God, God’s mercy will always triumph over pending judgment (James 2:13).  Even if sinners refuse to repent and God executes judgment, the heart of a true intercessor will weep and mourn for those who have suffered this fate (Lamentations 3:48; Luke 19:41-44).

The Issue of Fear
The Bible is clear:  “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Fear of the devil is not from God.  Jesus defeated the devil on the cross and stripped him of his power to hold us in bondage based on our sin.  Paul stated in Colossians 2:13-15, “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us.  And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”  Jesus disarmed the devil of his power because of sin, but He did not disarm the devil of power.  Satan still has power, but his legal authority based on our sin has been taken away through the cross.  Jesus declared in Matthew 28:18, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore . . .” His authority He has delegated unto every believer.  Jesus said in Mark 16:17, “And these signs will follow those who believe:  In My name they will cast out demons . . .”   Jesus said in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”  God has given us both authority and power over the enemy.  We do not have to fear the power of the enemy as long as we operate within the boundaries of the authority and power given to us.  Isaiah 54:17 declares, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, says the Lord.”  Satan uses fear as a weapon against us.  It is designed to cause us to drop our shield of faith.  If we give in to fear, we surrender our authority over him. We must conquer fear with faith in Christ’s victory over the devil.

The Issue of Authority
Because the issue of authority is at the core of Satan’s rebellion, the ministry of intercession demands that all issues of authority be settled in our heart.  Mature intercessors understand that God alone has all divine authority and that He delegates His authority to whomever He wishes. Therefore, they do not struggle against God’s delegation process but honor those He has delegated as His agents and representatives in the earth.
 
Delegated authority is always given with expressed parameters and boundaries.  For example, those who are granted authority as law enforcement officers in one city do not have the same authority in another city.  Law enforcement officers must operate with a clear understanding of where the boundaries of their jurisdiction begin and ends.  When entering another jurisdiction, they must cooperate and work under the authorization of those in authority there.  A person who has been given the power of attorney is authorized to conduct legal transactions in the name of another person.  They do have no legal authority to do whatever they want.  To do so would be illegal and result in tragic consequences.  As believers in Christ, we have been given heaven’s power of attorney to carry out kingdom business in Jesus’ name.  As ambassadors of Christ, we are commissioned to represent our Homeland (Heaven).
 
Psalm 24:1 tells us that the earth and all of its inhabitants belong to the Lord.  God owns everything.  When He created this earth He also created man and gave him authority:  “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) God gave man authority to subdue His earth and to have dominion over every created thing on the earth.   Man was given rule in the earth as God’s delegated authority.   The Word of God defined Adam and Eve’s boundaries in the Garden of Eden. The Word of God also defines our boundaries in spiritual matters.  The Word of God is our written authorization.  Psalm 149:5-9 declares that our privilege and honor as saints is to execute God’s written judgments.

Man’s authority is manifested in the earth through the government in the home, church, city, and nations.  When Satan appeared as the serpent in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had the authority to exercise dominion over him. But rather than using their authority to represent God, Eve chose to act independently of her husband and Adam chose to act independently from God.  As a result, they came under the slavery of sin and the devil.
 
It is important to see that the forbidden fruit represented something that lay outside of the boundary lines of authority.  By choosing to eat the fruit, they chose to step outside of their delegated boundaries.  Knowing your God-ordained boundaries is vital in intercession and spiritual warfare.  Just because we have power over the enemy does not mean we can start blasting our spiritual canons.  Jesus has given us authority much like a Sheriff does a deputy.  But any deputy knows that he must still look to the Sheriff for regional assignments and for specific authorization to perform certain tasks.  We need to seek the Lord for divine strategy, timing and specific authorization in spiritual warfare.  Again, the key is not to act independently from God.  Entering battles that God has not assigned to us is presumptuous.  Many times, believers can “drift” across spiritual boundaries and suffer great harm without knowing what happened.  Some have even drawn “friendly fire” from the saints when crossing these boundaries.  Operating within our God-ordained boundaries helps keep things from getting confused in the heat of battle.  In spiritual warfare presumption can be deadly and ignorance is no excuse.
 
God worked His plan of redemption through men and women who would yield to His divine authority over their lives.  In the same way today, God has chosen to delegate His kingdom authority and power through those who will come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  When men and women yield their lives in obedience to Jesus, the kingdom of God (His authority and power) is manifested in the earth.  When men and women yield their lives in obedience to sin, the kingdom of Satan is manifested in the earth.  The great conflict in the earth revolves around who will have authority.

The Issue of Pride
Because of the high level of spiritual activity and revelation received during intercession, intercessors must be on the alert for the development of spiritual pride in their heart.  Intercessors must understand that everyone is called to the ministry of intercession and there is no official gift of “intercessor” mentioned in the Bible.  Intercessors must avoid the temptation to elevate this ministry above what God ordained it to be—a ministry of the priesthood of all believers.  I wish that all of God’s people were given to this ministry.  However, because of time or the direction of the Lord, some will have a greater involvement, anointing, and effectiveness in intercession.  When the term “intercessor” is used, it should always emphasize the “ministry” of prayer rather than an “office” of prayer.

Pride was the sin of Lucifer that caused him to rebel against God (Isaiah 14:12-15).  Pride is the sin of thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought.  As a result, pride leads to spiritual blindness concerning God’s principle of authority.  Those who have become deceived by pride cannot see their error because their views of themselves and the principle of authority become distorted.  They do not perceive their thoughts and actions to be rebellious because they have already assumed a position in their heart where their actions would normally be appropriate.  God created Lucifer a beautiful and magnificent angel (Ezekiel 28:11-19).  Yet he elevated himself in his own heart to a place equal with God.  Because of pride, his rebellious reasoning seemed appropriate to him.  In fact, there is no evidence in the Word of God that he has changed his mind.  Pride can be very stubborn and unrepentant.

Pride always leads to deep deception.  People who are deceived do not know they are deceived.  If they did, they would not be deceived.  The nature of pride is to lift us beyond the boundaries and placements of God.  This results in rebellion and in a fall from the place where we once stood (Proverbs 16:18).  It also leads to the judgment of God:  “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 6).  Our only defense against pride is to walk in humility before our God and to resist the temptation to think of ourselves more highly than we ought.  If God chooses to promote us, it is in our best interest not to strive to take it by our own power, but to wait until God confirms and establishes our boundaries through legitimate and proven leadership.  Then we become responsible to walk in within our boundaries in humility as a servant of God.
 
Intercessors are warriors in the spirit realm.  They must be aware of the domain they have been given and not seek to lift themselves up beyond their calling.  Intercessors may see into the spirit realm, but this does not make them prophets.  They may battle principalities and powers, but this does not make them apostles.  They may see what God wants to do in the church, but this does not make them pastors. Those who operate in the spirit realm must not assume more than what God has given into their hand.
 
Pride comes when we stop being thankful within the measure of rule that God has assigned to us.  David had the right heart when he said, “O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.  The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.” (Psalm 16:5-6) He was satisfied with the Lord and what God had assigned to him.  He did not fear another taking it from him for God maintained his lot.  Unfortunately, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram did not have this heart.  They became envious of the portion assigned to Moses and Aaron. Although God had given these men the great privilege of serving daily in His tabernacle, it was not enough. They rose in rebellion to take the priesthood also.  Moses said to them:  “Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to serve them; and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all of your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you?  And are you seeking the priesthood also?” (Numbers 16:9-10).  It is of immense importance to see that they did not perceive their actions as rebellious.  Why?  They had already lifted themselves up to be priests in their heart.  To them, the issue was clear: Moses and Aaron were controlling and full of pride. What they thought they saw in Moses and Aaron turned out to be the reflection of their own heart in the mirror of pride.  We must beware lest this same temptation and deception can come to us!
Familiarity with the anointing and presence of God has a way of making us think more highly of ourselves than we ought.  It is like being chosen by a king to be one of the servants in his house.  At first, we are in awe of this privilege and of our new surroundings!  But once inside we notice others who have more “honorable” positions.  After a while we can become desensitized to the great privilege we have entered as we begin to resent our lowly place.  Rather than being promoted, the king sets us aside for a new servant who is grateful for the opportunity to serve in his house.

As God allows us to carry His authority and anointing, we can be tempted to receive part of the glory and praise of man for ourselves.  We may not say it, but inside our heart can begin to swell.  In our heart we subtly begin to see ourselves higher than we really are—just like Lucifer.  If unchecked, we too can begin to step beyond our boundaries and grab for what has not been legitimately given to us.

Another error in pride is a false belief that operating in God’s anointing and presence overrides the principle of authority. When God raises a person to a new level of authority, He will seal it with the recognition of earthly authority. Spiritually, David was anointed to be king by the prophet Samuel.  But it was years later before he was recognized and anointed by the people to be king.  When Samuel anointed David, he became God’s “king elect.”  In God’s mind and in David’s mind it was settled.  Yet Saul was still king.  God allowed Saul’s reign to end before allowing David to come to the throne.  David walked in submission to Saul’s authority and did not attempt to take the throne prematurely.  David kept his heart submitted and served thankfully and faithfully in the measure of rule given to him until the day the people appointed him to be king.  As a result, David has become a model through which God has chosen to establish His kingdom authority in the earth.
 
The Issue of Accountability
Accountability is one of the most important things intercessors need when becoming involved in spiritual warfare.  Intercessors are prime targets for the devil.  Sadly, I have seen and heard testimonies of how anointed intercessors were led astray and shipwrecked by the devil.  This could have been avoided if they had allowed themselves to be accountable.  Let me share with you a typical progression for intercessors unwilling to become accountable.  Intercessors can spend so much time in the spiritual realm that they can lose all sense of God’s wisdom in the natural realm.  Without proper accountability intercessors can get flaky and out of touch.  Their family life often suffers.  They often need a higher and higher “goose bump” level to be fulfilled.  If greater spiritual “highs” become the focus, things can get off base quick.  Without accountability intercessors can begin to feel that they are above natural duties such as cleaning the church, serving in the nursery, and helping others in need.  Nothing matters anymore but prayer, and they alone must do it.  They can begin to feel that there is no such thing as “fun” activities because everything must be super spiritual.  They feel that anything organized must be unspiritual.  They begin to think others, rather than they, are out of touch.  As a result, they can judge others as unspiritual—even their pastors and leaders—and begin isolating themselves.  They stop receiving input or correction from their leadership because they “know” more about what is going on in the spirit realm.  This can lead to a deeper and deeper digression into deception.  They begin to feel that everyone is against them.  Depression often occurs as they feel “rejected” by the pastor and those in the church.  No one is worthy of his or her submission.  They don’t feel they need church or the pastor anymore and begin depending upon conferences, seminars, tapes, and Christian television for their spiritual nourishment. They have become a part of the church “universal” and commitment to the local church is deemed a “cramping” of this spiritual “freedom” they have found.  They no longer believe in the principle of submission because leaders have become “religious” while they have not.  Proverbs 18:1 says, “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment.”  Hebrews 13:17 states, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.  Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”  It is dangerous to feel that we are above scrutiny and evaluation.  Accountability is necessary for our protection from the deceitful plotting of the enemy. Those who intend to remain free from the enemy’s deception will seek and embrace this process of accountability.
 
The Issue of Flesh
Another thing that has caused casualties in intercession and spiritual warfare is “smoke screening” the works of the flesh behind a cloak of spirituality.  Human beings are great at making “fig leave coverings” to cover the nakedness of the flesh.  When confronted we do just like Adam and Eve and shift the blame to everyone else but ourselves.  Yes, others may be involved, but we will never be free until we stop blaming others and making excuses.  Humility, confession, and repentance are our only way back into God’s blessing.
 
God had to get Adam and Eve to confess their guilt.  When they did He covered their flesh in the blood (skin) of a lamb.  Sadly, like Eve, it is easier to blame the devil or someone else than it is to fall on our face before God and repent.  Rather than saying, “I was wrong”, we choose to hide behind of a façade of being “under attack by the devil” and “I’m being targeted by people under the control of evil spirits.”  Although this is sometimes the case, more often than not God is dealing with an area of sensitive flesh in our lives.
 
“It’s not my fault!” and “I didn’t do anything wrong!” is the cry of many people I have visited in jail and in prison.  Sadly, the same is true for many Christians.  Guilt, shame, and fear keep them locked up in an emotional and spiritual prison.  People don’t realize that they place themselves in bondage to the devil through fleshly responses and behavior.  It is difficult to reach people who justify themselves while blaming others.  They are irreconcilable because they refuse to come out of hiding or to let go of the “fig leaves.”  When a person gets to this point, only the voice of God calling their name can penetrate their hiding place and bring them to confession and repentance unto freedom.
 
What are the works of the flesh?  Paul states clearly in Galatians 5:19-21,  “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are:  adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery (or witchcraft), hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like, of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  On the other hand, how do we know when we are operating in the Spirit rather than in the flesh?  Paul goes on to tell us in Galatians 5:22-23:  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.”
 
Before we begin to blame the devil, we must get rid of any smoke screens of the flesh.  Flesh will not prosper behind the “fig leaves” of religious activity and false spirituality.  Flesh is not removed through spiritual warfare and rebuking demons.  It is removed when we do as Jesus said and “crucify it”.  When we get rid of the flesh, we automatically get rid of the demons that feed on the flesh.  We will never have lasting victory over the demons in our lives until we get rid of the flesh they are feeding on.
 
We must humble our pride and die to the will of the flesh if we are going to avoid becoming a casualty in spiritual warfare. When people deal honestly with their flesh through repentance and dying to self, the demons have no more room to operate.  No amount of spiritual warfare will prevail when the flesh remains alive and in operation.  God has promised us in Proverbs 28:13:  “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

Many times, people carry personal struggles with other individuals into the arena of spiritual warfare.  For instance, due to a feeling of hurt or threat people can get caught up “discerning demons” in each other rather than obeying the clear instructions of Scripture to go to a brother or sister who has offended, who has been offended, or who has fallen into sin.  Even if a person has come under the influence of demons, it only reinforces our Scriptural duty to pray for their deliverance and to go seek reconciliation and restoration in love.  Love covers a multitude of sins while the flesh exposes sin with a motive to destroy.  Attempting to do spiritual warfare by “discerning” and “exposing” one another’s “demons” is not only a smokescreen for the sin of judging, but it is also highly subjective and breeds mistrust and division.  It is the work of the Accuser of the Brethren, Satan himself.  It results in a miry pit of suspicion and mistrust from which only God can deliver us.  As much as possible, we must stick to the natural issues involved in bringing reconciliation and restoration.

The Issue of Forgiveness
We cannot intercede sincerely for those we have not forgiven from our heart.  Forgiveness is an area where intercessors must excel, especially when entering intense spiritual warfare. During intense counter attacks of Satan even small offenses left unforgiven can become magnified.  Many times, when intercessors feel tempted to pray judgment rather than mercy it is because they have become personally wounded in battle. Out of a festering wound they start calling for God’s judgment rather than for His mercy.  They fail to realize that they have removed themselves from the seat of intercession to sit in the seat of a judge.  Obviously, there is a problem in our heart when we feel compelled to condemn, judge, and destroy those for whom Jesus died.  Intercessors who begin warring against flesh and blood in their prayers will also be judged themselves (Matthew 7:21).
 
In Luke 9:54-56 we read the account of Jesus attempting to pass through Samaria on His way to Jerusalem.  Because of the racial tension between the Jews and the Samaritans, the Samaritans refused to let Jesus pass.  Two of the disciples, James and John, responded with an Old Testament approach when they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”  Jesus responded, “You do not know what spirit you are of.  For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”  Jesus said again in John 3:17, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
 
Intercessors must ensure that the beam of judgment in their own eye has been removed before attempting to remove the splinter from the eyes of those for whom they intercede.  We are unable to intercede effectively for those we are not willing to die for.  We need to ask God for a revelation of His love for those for whom we pray.  Most problems that separate human beings are small matters (splinters) that have become magnified (beams) in our eyes.  Ceasing our criticism and judgment of others can bring the problem back down to splinter size so that we can deal with truth rather than distortions.  Intercessors are to plead for mercy and salvation even when the ones for whom they intercede turn against them.  Jesus looked down from the cross and cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34).  Stephen, the church’s first martyr, cried out on as he was being stoned, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin!” (Acts 7:60) Because of this type of forgiving intercession, one of the men who had participated in his stoning—Saul (Paul) –was later saved and used gloriously to win many souls to Christ.  If Jesus and Stephen had been like many of us they would have cried out “Father—look upon their offense against me and judge!”  Intercessors are to be motivated by the same love that Jesus demonstrated on the cross:  “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:10-11)
 
The Issue of Competitive Jealousy
Another area that has led to casualties in intercession and spiritual warfare is competitive jealousy between intercessors.  We must remember that we are not competing against one another.  We will each stand as individuals in our own race.  What is important is not how we compare to each other, but how we compare to the measure of Jesus.  Competitive jealousy enters when individuals get their eyes off Jesus and on each other.  Anytime this happens people can become puffed up, envious, dissatisfied, or threatened by others.  Insecurity and the struggle for significance can make this a difficult thing to overcome.  Competitive jealousy can become very cruel when slander, gossip, lies, and even flattery are used to deceitfully undermine the position, character, influence, and favor of others.  When we begin to compete for greater power and influence within the rank and file, we sacrifice the team for the sake of personal gain.  Competitive jealousy undermines the foundation of trust and goodwill needed to maintain unity.  We must overcome this work of the flesh through repentance, reconciliation, and getting our eyes back on Jesus.  We must then keep competitive jealousy out through preferring one another in love.  David had an army of mighty men who could do greater things than him, but they complimented and strengthened each other rather than competing.  As a result, they were said to be like “the army of God.”

The Issue of Unity in Intercession
Intercessors must understand that they are not lone rangers but are part of a team.  God is bringing forth His army in these last days.  Why?  Armies, rather than individual soldiers, are raised up to possess territories. There is no spiritual precedent for the John Wayne or Rambo mentality that operates in the minds of some believers.  Unity and interdependence in the army of God are key elements involved in taking cities, regions, and nations.  Jesus stated in Matthew 12:25, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”  Satan will seek to divide us to destroy us.  A military strategy used to conquer mighty armies is “divide and conquer.”  Satan cannot defeat us if he cannot divide us.  However, that is more easily said than done.
 
I have noticed that every time the church begins to take ground from the devil, an issue will arise within the church or between key leaders to bring division.  Issues are important, but not usually at the cost of division.  Most issues fall into the area of offense.  It is important in spiritual warfare that we do not wear our feelings on our sleeves.  If we are easily offended, we will have many opportunities.  We must choose to walk in love, unity, and forgiveness.  We must not pursue personal battles that cause God’s army to suffer damage and defeat.  It is not our cause for which we fight.  It is the cause of Jesus Christ.  Armies deal severely with personal squabbles within the rank and file because it threatens the survival of the entire unit.  The same is true in the army of God.  Division cannot be tolerated in the realm of spiritual warfare. Any church or intercessory prayer group divided cannot stand.  We must relinquish all personal battles to the Lord for the sake of the kingdom knowing that righteousness and truth will always prevail in the end.  Paul admonishes us to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)  There is a saying that is true in spiritual warfare, “United we stand, divided we fall!”
 
The Issue of Witchcraft in Intercession
Witchcraft is listed among the sins of the flesh in Galatians 5:20 (KJV).  Witchcraft is an attempt to control others in any of three ways: intimidation, manipulation, and domination.  The simple work of the flesh is bad enough, but when spiritual forces are implemented, it can become diabolical.  Thus, we have the medieval concept of witches casting spells and hexes to control others.  When Christians enter spiritual warfare in a fleshly manner to push their own agenda, the same results of intimidation, manipulation, and domination can begin to manifest.  It can destroy individuals, homes, and the church.  God is not obliged to protect those who would enter such independent and selfish activity.  God is looking for those with a humble attitude who will submit themselves under the mighty hand of God to do His will rather than their own.
True intercessors have loyalty and respect for those in authority over them.   They understand that God has positioned these authorities and will perform His will through them (Proverbs 21:1).  Paul even stated that the angels of God recognize us based on our recognition of God’s order (1 Corinthians 11:10).  When we step outside of the boundaries of God’s authority in our lives, we open ourselves up to the evil forces of destruction.  People therefore must continually walk under submission to authority.  We are not called to use prayer as some type of spiritual “sorcery” to get others around us to do what we think should be done.  Intercessors are not to take on a super-spiritual attitude and begin believing that their time in prayer gives them spiritual insight and authority to lead or dictate the direction of people’s lives.  No, on the contrary, intercessors must be careful not to think of themselves more highly than they ought lest they become puffed up with pride and launch out in areas outside of their God-ordained boundaries.  It is important for intercessors to remain in submission to the authorities in the home and in the church in addition to being subject to God, for God has established all of these authorities.  Great harm has been done when intercessors have fought against rather than mediated for the leadership in their homes and in the church.

True intercessors pray in line with the vision of the house.  They are not interested in praying their own vision.  Two differing visions create “di-vision.”  They ask the leadership of the house to share their vision and they go into prayer like Joshua and Hur to hold up the hands of these who hold forth the rod of God.  Witchcraft prayer, on the other hand, sets ambushments against the leadership of the house.  They pray for their agenda and don’t mind praying against the vision of the house.
 
Three Levels of Spiritual Warfare
Not all encounters with demonic forces are fought on the same level.  As previously noted, there are different ranks of spiritual forces working around us.  We must understand what level of demonic activity we are encountering if we are to wage war effectively.  There are three basic levels where demonic forces operate:

1.  Ground level warfare:  (Luke 10:17-20; Mark 16:15-20) This level of spiritual warfare is the most common in our daily lives.  It is at this level that we wage war through salvation, repentance, and by casting out demons.  This is the most common type of demonic encounter that Jesus faced while on this earth.  Every believer has authority and power to operate on this level in setting people free.  Casualties among saints in this area are usually minimal and a lot depends upon a person’s right standing with God, their maturity, and their level of faith.

2.  Occult level warfare:  (2 Corinthians 10:3-5; James 3) At this level demons are activated against us through words and/or curses.  Curses release the voice of demons to begin speaking in our minds and in our hearts.  Blessing changes the inner voices.  The first sign that occult level warfare is engaged against an individual or congregation is when people begin to hear and voice cursing.  These critical voices will keep a person or congregation from hearing what they need to hear.  When we refer to people based on their race, we bind them into their cultural genetics after the flesh rather than referring to them as saints, which releases the spiritual genetics of the new creation. If we do not engage the occult level voices through prayer and blessing, then it will destroy the people involved.  Every believer has the ability and authority to release God’s word and blessing to see people set free from this level of demonic activity.  Casualties in this area can be avoided by staying free from offence, bitterness, rebellion, and pride.  The heart and mind is the chief battleground in this level of warfare and the tongue is the chief weapon.

3.  Territorial level warfare:  (Daniel 10; Mark 5:10) This level of spiritual warfare is over geographical neighborhoods, cities, counties, regions, states, and nations.  This level of warfare engages principalities and powers that directly influence and control lives in that region both in the political and religious realm.  These demonic forces do not usually go away but they can become weaker.  While believers have authority over these powers, territorial spirits have deep-seated roots in the sins of the forefathers.  They are best dealt with by “armies of saints” rather than with individual saints.  In this type of warfare, rank and file unity within the army and strategic operation in the army seems to be of immense importance to avoid unnecessary casualties of war.  Rambo-type intercession at this level can be extremely dangerous and costly.  Identificational repentance and confession of sin (Daniel 9), submission under the mighty hand of God, and the preaching of the gospel of peace and of the kingdom of God to those who live in the territory are the most biblical and effective ways to weaken or to uproot these principalities and powers.  Binding and loosing spiritual activity at this level must be orchestrated from the throne of God:  “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind—that is, declare to be improper and unlawful—on earth must be already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth—declare lawful—must be what is already loosed in heaven.”  (Matthew 16:19, Amplified Bible)

The Issue of Revelation in Intercession
Casualties in spiritual warfare can take place by warring with the wrong type of revelation.  Intercessors must be careful where they receive their revelation for prayer.  Understanding where certain revelation is coming from will help us avoid misguided intercession.  There are three basic spheres of revelation (2 Corinthians 12:2).

1.  First Heaven Revelation:  (Genesis 1:20) This first heaven is the natural atmosphere that surrounds the earth.  The type of revelation received in this earthly realm is “sense knowledge.”  In the natural realm we gain knowledge of things around us based on our five physical senses—what we see, taste, touch, smell, and hear.  While this type of knowledge may be important, it can lead us into inaccurate intercession.  We are not to make judgments about individuals or situations based on the outward appearance alone, for God knows the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).  It is from the knowledge gained from this realm that we recognize the need for food, clothing, shelter, healing, provision, physical strength, peace, etc.   But we will get little results if we pray solely on the basis of the need.  Jesus was not moved simply by the need in people’s lives.  He was moved by faith and by what He saw His Father doing.  We will never experience the kind of results we long for if we base our prayers solely on sense knowledge alone.

2.  Second Heaven Revelation: (Ephesians 6:12) The second heaven is the realm in which demonic spirits operate.  The type of revelation received in this realm comes through the demonic realm.  Because we are spiritual beings, we can detect or discern demonic or evil influences at work around us.  But just because we detect or discern this negative information does not mean we are to act based on that information.  Anyone can see the negative and attack it with criticism and judgment.  For instance, James and John discerned the negative spiritual attitude in the Samaritans and concluded that they should respond by calling down fire out of heaven.  Jesus revealed that they were operating in the wrong spirit.  What they discerned was true, but their response was wrong.  He proceeded to give them a higher revelation, that is, He did not come to destroy but to save.  Many people have been hurt by Christians who have tried to minister to people on the basis of this type of revelation.  If we respond to people based on what Satan is doing in their lives, we fail to remember the difference Jesus came to make.  God sees sinners as hostages to these demonic “kidnappers”.  We must not deal with kidnappers by blowing up both the kidnapper and the hostage.  No, we must rescue hostages with a strategy that can loose them and set them free.  Second heaven revelation, although it may appear to be spiritual wisdom and discernment in operation, is not the wisdom of God at all. It is earthly, sensual, and demonic and produces the negative results of self-seeking, confusion, strife, and every type of evil work (James 3:13-18).  Although this type of revelation may give us insight into what the enemy is doing, it must not become the basis of our direction in intercession.

3.  Third Heaven Revelation: (2 Corinthians 12:2; Ephesians 1:20-23) This is the heaven in which God lives.  It is here that we can approach the throne of God.  This realm is free from demonic influence.  The revelation that we receive from this realm is given by the Holy Spirit.  It is at this level that we can discover God’s eternal perspective and His perfect will.  It is in this place that Jesus our Intercessor is interceding for us (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25).  Intercession must always be initiated from this realm.  We are not the intercessor, but Jesus is our High Priest Intercessor.  We must enter His intercessions.  We are not to pray according to what originates in our own heart.  On the contrary, we must come before His throne and pray until the Holy Spirit reveals what is on His heart to pray.  In this realm God reveals His intended destiny and plan for an individual or people.  From this realm we see beyond the natural and the demonic and we see people as God sees people.  From this realm it is clearly seen who the enemy is and who is the victim.  From this realm we see the sacrifice of Jesus and the end from the beginning.  This is the realm where vision is clear, and love prevails.  From this realm we can begin to love a Saul of Tarsus because we can see the plan of God for his life.  From this realm God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins while we were yet sinners.  From this realm we can lay down our lives for those who seem to be our enemies because we can “see” their ultimate destiny in Christ.  This is the first place where intercessors must go if they are to minister effectively in the first and second heaven.  We enter this realm in an attitude of worship allowing God simply waiting upon God to reveal His heart for the sinner, for our family, for our city, for our nation, and for our world.  This is the revelation upon which we base our intercessions.
 
Intercession from the Third Heaven
Our intercession and spiritual warfare must be initiated and sustained from the third heaven.  Much of our intercession has been ineffective or even counterproductive because of a failure to understand this.  We are to pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.  Therefore, we are not to impose our ideas upon this earth but to enter the throne room in worship and prayer until the Lord reveals His will.  Then we can pray in agreement with Him.
Our fleshly attempts to fight demonic forces are futile and dangerous.  Attempting to fight demonic forces in the second heaven from a first heaven perspective can be like shooting arrows at the moon.  It may activate demonic counter attacks against us from which we can suffer great harm.  We must go to the third heaven to receive what we need to fight in the first and second heaven.  We should never fight from the first heaven up but from the third heaven down.  We are not to choose our battles or the time and place in which they will take place.  Just because we see the enemy out there does not necessarily mean we are the ones assigned to launch the attack.
 
There is a strategy and timing for victory.  Zealous presumption can lead to defeat.  This does not mean that we should sit around doing nothing waiting for orders from heaven.  No, we have already received our orders to “GO” take the gospel into all the world. We will naturally encounter enemy resistance as we do. In these cases, we can respond with the authority and power necessary to carry out the Lord’s command. Yet we must also understand that there is a time for the displacement of principalities and powers from a region (Genesis 15:13-16; Daniel 10).  It is wise not to engage principalities and powers in the second heaven without the Lord’s direction.  Jesus has given us authority to bind their activity in the lives of those to whom we minister and to spoil them.  But we do not have the authority to cast them out of a region.  In Daniel chapter 10, it was Gabriel and Michael who fought principalities and powers in the heavenly places as Daniel repented, fasted, prayed, and sought the Lord.  In Revelation 12 we don’t find the church fighting the dragon but birthing the plan of God into the earth.  When this happened war took place in the heavens, but it was Michael, and not the saints that had to engage in the war.  However, on this earth it is clear that we will encounter and wrestle against their influence.

I believe that we should spend more time focusing upon God in worship and intercession over souls than in focusing on spiritual warfare in prayer.  As we worship Him, God will reveal what is on His heart and what He desires to do.  When He initiates the encounter in the second heaven, we can be sure that He has granted us the specific authority and anointing to enforce it.  I believe much of our work in the second heaven will be prophesying the rhema word of the Lord that we have heard while in prayer.  The only offensive weapon mentioned in Ephesians 6 is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word (“rhema”) of God.  It was this same weapon that Jesus used against Satan on this earth.
 
Avoid Reviling Accusations
Although Satan is a defeated foe, the Scriptures seem to indicate that our attitude towards angels and principalities in heavenly places is to be that of respect.  We must remember that we are not created above angels, but that they have been created above us in authority—operating under delegated authority in all three heavens.  Although Paul states that we will one day judge angels, Psalm 8:5 tell us clearly that man was created a little lower than the angels.  Man has been given delegated authority upon this earth.  We should avoid flippant accusations and proud reviling of our flesh against Satan.  Not even the holy angels of God will revile Satan. They only bring against Him the word of the Lord, nothing more and nothing less.  Jude 8-10 declares, “Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.  Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’  But these speak evil of whatever they do not know.”
 
Although Satan and his demons have been conquered at the cross, we are to respect the principle of authority in the heavenly realm even as we do with earthly authorities who are also enemies of God.  Michael, one of God’s chief angels, dared not bring a reviling accusation against the devil.  Neither should we as human beings.   Michael’s rebuke of Satan was not a personal initiative. The battle is the Lord’s.  In the same way that Michael was a messenger of the Lord’s rebuke to Satan, so are we.  We are messengers of good news to the lost and messengers of the Lord’s rebuke to the devil.  Yet even with this, Jesus told His disciples not to rejoice because the demons were subject to them in His name, but to rejoice that their names were written down in heaven (Luke 10:20).  We must remember that our greatest spiritual blessing is not to be granted authority over the devil but to be granted eternal life with the Father.

The Battlefield of the Mind
Our weapons are designed to bring down strongholds in our lives and in the lives of others.  Most of these weapons have to do with delivering the mind from the power of Satan’s deception.  The mind is really the battlefield upon which the battles between the truth of God and the deception of Satan are fought.  We stand in this mental battlefield and must fight to keep God’s truth intact while capturing and casting out the lies of the devil.  Strongholds are an organized set of thoughts and reasoning based on the devil’s lies. These lies keep us bound in deception, destruction and sin.  These thoughts can be planted in our minds through the words of people or through the voice of the devil himself.  The way to freedom is to put on the armor of God and to use the weapons that God has given us to pull down and destroy the devil’s strongholds in the mind.
 
The Armor of God
Armor is meant for protection in battle.  In order to avoid casualties in the battle against demonic forces, we are told to put on the full armor of God. This armor is not optional.  Our battle is real.  The armor is for our protection against enemy attack.  If we are to survive, we must understand the nature and purpose of each piece of armor and implement it in battlefield.  Don’t enter the battle without it!

Waist girded with truth:  The girding of the waist keeps the clothing secure as the warrior maneuvers in battle.  It represents freedom in movement.  Our freedom in movement against the enemy is found in girding our minds with truth (John 8:32; I Peter 1:13).

Breastplate of righteousness: The breastplate protects the heart.  Satan comes to condemn us because of our past.  The righteousness we wear is not our own, but is given to us by the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:21).  It is purchased through the blood of Jesus for our sins.  This piece of armor is a righteousness consciousness that we have in our heart that gives us confidence to stand against the devil when accused (Revelation 12:11).

Shoes of the gospel of peace:  Shoes are very important in warfare.  Without a solid footing, the enemy is sure to bring even the best of soldiers down.  Therefore, we must be sure of our standing with God.  We must know without any doubt that we belong to Him and have peace with God due to our faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The feet also take ground from the enemy.  We are to go forth with the gospel taking ground away from the devil in people’s lives.  The feet also represent victory, as it was customary for the conqueror to place his foot on the head of the conquered foe.  In the same way, we are assured that we will crush Satan underneath our feet with the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 16:20).

Shield of faith: Shields were used both to push against the enemy and to block the blows and fiery arrows of the enemy.  Shields were usually covered with leather and soaked in water before battle.  Our shield is faith.  Our faith in God and His word will help us push forward against the enemy and extinguish the fiery darts of fear and doubt that are aimed at our heart and mind.

Helmet of salvation: The helmet protects the head and mind.  The mind is the center of the body’s thought processes.  If the mind is not in proper functioning order, then the soldier will be unable to fight in such a way as to win.  The helmet of salvation is needed to ensure that we maintain a salvation or victory consciousness in Christ Jesus.

Sword of the Spirit: The sword is the only offensive weapon mentioned in this list of armor.  This “sword” is called the “word (“rhema”) of God.”  The rhema word of God is the specific revelation of God’s word given to us for a specific purpose to overcome a specific strategy of the devil.  This was the sword of God’s word that Jesus used against Satan during the temptation in the wilderness. (see Hebrews 4:12)

Prayer: Prayer in this passage is not so much a weapon as it is the engagement of our weapons against the enemy.  Just as warriors once fought against one another in great sports arenas during the days of the Roman Empire, so we also fight against principalities and powers in the place of prayer.  All the weapons of God are available to be used against our spiritual enemy in prayer before the battle is taken into the earthly arena of human life.
 
The Weapons of our Warfare
Believers have been given powerful weapons to use against the enemy.  Ignorance of these weapons could result in defeat.  The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty in God to the pulling down of strongholds.  There are four basic weapons that God has given us.  We must understand and use them effectively.

The Word of God:  The word of God is called the “sword of the Spirit.” (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12).  The word of God is the “thought” of God expressed.  Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us that God’s thoughts are higher (in eternal truth) than our thoughts.  When we choose to accept God’s thoughts we come to odds with the devil’s lies.  We fight the lie with the truth of God’s word.  This is the weapon that Jesus used against the devil in temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4; Luke 4)

The Name of Jesus:  The name of Jesus is the single most powerful thought in the word of God.  He is the Truth.  Jesus said that those who believe in His name would do mighty works (Mark 16:15-20).  The early church was obsessed with the name of Jesus.  Jesus is the word of God (John 1:1) and His name represents the summation of the authority of God (Philippians 2:5-9).  The devil and his demons are subject to the name of Jesus.

The Blood of Jesus:  The blood of Jesus represents the essential truth of man’s redemption and deliverance from the devil’s power.  The blood of Jesus effectively eliminated the power of the devil’s accusation of the devil against us.  When we invoke the blood of Jesus, we destroy the foundation upon which the strongholds of Satan are built.

The Cross of Jesus:  The cross of Jesus is the power and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:18, 24).  The cross was where the charges against us were wiped out (Colossians 2:14).  Through the cross represents the reconciliation of God whereby all walls between people are broken down and they become one body in Christ (Ephesians 2:14-16).  The cross is the outstanding symbol of Satan’s defeat (Colossians 2:15).  As a result, the cross is Satan’s most regretted military blunder, and it demonstrates the surpassing wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 2:7-8).  The cross of Jesus is the central theme in the message of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 2:17-2:8).

These four weapons are like nuclear warheads.  They have great power against the enemy.  Like missiles, however, these warheads must be mounted upon launching rockets to get them to their target.  

There are seven basic spiritual “launching rockets” that we have available to us.  All seven find their release with the words of our mouth.  They are:

Prayer:  Prayer releases these weapons of God into the spiritual battlefield in heavenly places.  There is no power in prayer against the enemy if our prayer is not armed with one or more of these spiritual warheads.

Praise:  Praise is magnifying God with our lips.  When we magnify the Lord, we invite His presence and activate His power over the enemy.  Jehoshaphat discovered this key against the enemy in 2 Chronicles 20.

Preaching:  Preaching is proclaiming the thought of God to others.  When believed, the deception and power of the devil is broken in the lives of sinners.

Testimony:  Testimony is our witness to the salvation of God in our lives.  When we share our testimony, we become a personal lighthouse of hope so that others might overcome the power of hopelessness and embrace God’s truth and salvation.

Confession:  Confession is proclaiming the truth of God’s word in the face of opposition and trouble.  It is elevating the truth of God’s thought above the thoughts of doubt and unbelief that try to deny God’s truth.  When we believe with our heart and confess with our mouth the word of God, we will see the salvation of God (Mark 11:23-24; Romans 10:9-10).

Prophesying:  Prophesying is activating the revealed will of God by speaking forth the word of God through divine unction.  Prophesying releases the potential of God into a situation.  God’s way is to speak forth His will and then to bring to pass what He has spoken (Genesis 1; Romans 4:17; Amos 3:7).  God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones and they were resurrected to be a mighty army (Ezekiel 37).

Blessing:  Blessing is speaking forth God’s divine destiny and favor in people’s lives. The power of blessing is in the tongue, and it can set in motion the course of existence (James 3:6; Matthew 5:44; Mark 10:16; Genesis 27:27-29; 48:1-16; Deuteronomy 33).
 
In Conclusion
As believers and intercessors, it is a great honor to be entrusted with delegated authority as Christ’s ambassadors in this earth.  We have been given authority in Jesus’ name to carry forth this gospel of Jesus Christ.  We should use this authority wisely in submission unto God as we represent His will on earth as it is in heaven.  We have been given authority and power over the evil one.  We do not need to fear the weapons of Satan fashioned against us if we will not allow ourselves to enter sin or presumption.  The battle is not ours; the battle belongs to the Lord.  Therefore, we as intercessors must understand our role and operate within the scope of our delegated boundaries trusting that our Captain, the Lord Jesus Christ, is ordering and leading His troops to victory.  We have the authority and power to conquer Satan on any level as the Lord directs.  The greatest threat we face in spiritual warfare is not the devil but the weakness of our own flesh.  There is no need to become a casualty of war.  There is only a need to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and to be obedient soldiers in His army.  Simply stated, this is the wisdom of God for victorious warfare.