Spiritual Warfare vs Christian Prayer
There is a difference between Christian Prayer and Spiritual Warfare. Sometimes the lines can be skewed or blurred, but there are important differences that we all need to understand. They are each used for different purposes and understanding the differences could help move a person into a whole new level of prayer life and be assured of victory over all the evil around or coming within us.
Both Christian prayer and Spiritual Warfare speak to the spiritual world. Both can cause action and both can realize results. But they are used for different reasons and different purposes.
Christian Prayer, as we generally understand, is petitioning God for His mercy, wisdom and guidance and listening for His response. It is often used to ask for favor or a specific action by God on our or someone else’s behalf. It is often used for requesting guidance, wisdom and knowledge about how to handle a situation. It is also used for interceding on the behalf of others, asking for forgiveness of sins and for asking God to deliver the promises He’s made to us in His Word. Often it is used to ask God to bail us out of a situation we have gotten ourselves into or that another person has led us to. We pray to God for many reasons and we trust Him for the correct response. All for His glory.
Thank you Jesus for all that you have done and continue to do.
Spiritual Warfare is quite different and takes a different mindset.
It can be thought of as what Jesus called “Speaking to the mountain”. The bible uses the metaphor of a mountain to mean different things in different situations. Sometimes it is used to signify a difficult object or circumstance that we need to conquer. But it also can mean an immovable place or stronghold that He has given over to the enemy. Therefore warning us to leave it alone.
Spiritual Warfare is also what we do when; we stand in the authority of Jesus and use it.
There are times when all Christians are asked to take a stand against evil. We are conducting Spiritual Warfare when we use the authority of the Blood sacrifice that Jesus provided, especially to all born again, spirit filled Christians, to empower the faith based position we have staked out. It is what we use when we take dominion over some evil that has risen in front of us. It is with Spiritual Warfare that we speak to the fallen spiritual beings called demons, the ungodly, and issue commands and give directions to bring their rebellion to a Godly, successful change or conclusion.
Are we doing Spiritual Warfare when we call on God’s angels to help us to respond to our faith-based needs and to serve as our defenders and ministering spirits?
The angels of God, the “Ministering Spirits”, are assigned under the authority of Jesus Christ to every born again Christian.
When we call on them, in a faith based way, the Word of God states:
Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Do you make use of the ministering angels that are assigned just to you?
We can call on them to join us in the battle.
The fallen angels, the demons, must obey and submit to these same faith-based commands and directions. God wants us to know this, it is a principle that God has given us to live by. He wants us to stand on our own two feet while exercising the authority He’s given us over the devil, over ALL ungodly people and situations and the natural environment.
Through Spiritual Warfare, a spirit filled Christian can give commands to the evil in this world and all the workers of Satan, the demons, must obey.
Sometimes you will find Believers “praying” over things that God has instructed us to wage Spiritual Warfare against. It’s a weak and passive action that is based on the hope that through “submission and ones pleas” that God will do all the work. That He will do for us that which He already gave us the Holy Spirit to do.
If you are a spirit filled, born again Christian you already have all the power and authority to say:
“I bind you in the name of Jesus Christ.” And the demonic spirits that you are coming against WILL BE BOUND. That means tied up or immobilized.
“I rebuke you in the Name of Jesus Christ and command you to come out of (her, him or yourself.)” When commanded, THEY MUST LEAVE!
“I Plead the Blood of Jesus upon my children for their safety, protection and care.” Try it, it works. See our teachings on Pleading the Blood of Jesus.
“I Plead the Blood of Jesus upon this home, these walls and everything in it FOR cleansing and the removal of all evil infestations or strongholds that may exist within these walls. Under the authority of Jesus Christ I claim this house for righteous purposes and command all ungodly spirits and any curses that have been put against it to be broken, loosed and commanded to leave.”
In the name of Jesus Christ, who lives as the only true Son of God.
In His Word God states:
- Matthew 17:20 – for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
- Matthew 21:19 – And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
- Matthew 8:28-32 – there met Him [Jesus] two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.
31the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”
32 And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water. - Mark 11:23 – For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
During this final Age that we live, both Good and Evil are rising in strength.
Yes, as the hand of protection that God has had on this place is lifted, the demonic powers are increasing in power. We can all see with our own eyes evil rising and gaining in power. Our reaction to this as Believers should be to ask for and receiving increased spiritual power to help us conduct the spiritual warfare that we are told to do on a daily basis.
To be an overcomer of all evil one is going to have to learn how and when to conduct Spiritual Warfare.
I encourage you to pray to God about this. Ask Him. Ask Him for help!
If you’re not quite ready for “warfare” yet, stay in prayer and stay in the Word, until God nudges you and lets you know: “It’s time!” It’s time to join the war.
Ephesians 6:13-14 – Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Then stand in full faith and expect that God will deliver what He has promised in His Word. God guarantees every thought in His Word, and God will strengthen you and back you up when you step out on the promises stated in the bible.
Spiritual Warfare isn’t an “ego” exercise. In fact it’s just the opposite. It is a total submission to the power of God and the unchallengeable power of the name of Jesus Christ, Yeshua. It is simply you and I being obedient to what God tells us in the Bible.
So, Believe and walk In Faith.
In His Word, He tells every Christian to Repent, get Baptized, Believe, Forgive all and to prepare ourselves for Spiritual War!
All of us that step up for the battle of these last days will be confronted with at least two enemies or hindrances.
*When we rise up the workers of Satan will notice and form a battle plan against you. Halleluiah! Run you devils. We’re armed.
*And this is the sad one. That part of “the church” that does not have the Holy Spirit within them or may not be in obedience to the Word, may rise up against a true born again, filled with the Spirit also. For those, we pray that they are released from the Great Deception that has fallen upon them and much of the church today. Pray that their eyes and hearts are opened to the truth.
Much of Churchianity today is Bloodless and contains very little spiritual power. That is very sad. I’m sure Jesus is weeping, for so many of His kids are not being taught and will perish.
But always remember, whatever evil stumbling blocks the world may throw at us during the days ahead, the One True Living God that we serve is stronger and more powerful…….
So are His warriors that are filled by the Holy Spirit and armed with the weapons of His Warfare AND THAT ARE NOT AFRAID TO USE THEM!!!!!
How does one know if he or she is prepared? We ask Him!
Special note: If another Christian or a pastor ever tells you that you cannot be assured, tell them to read their bible. God says that we will know. God says that we have to know. When asked, He reassures us through the Holy Spirit.
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
He will provide you everything you need to overcome the evil that is rising If———- If we ask. Guaranteed! It’s a promise of Jesus. Halleluiah! Thank you Jesus!
If you want to learn Spiritual Warfare from the experts, The Joseph Plan invites you to sign up for our “Spiritual Warfare Training Course”. Just follow the link off the menu bar above. It is free and has been taken by thousands. God’s end times army is rising up and being trained. Want to join us?
This teaching has been posted on our new sister blog site also. Biblical Spiritual Warfare Training dot Org. www.biblicalspiritualwarfare.org
You can check it out here.
If these teachings are a blessing to you, we need your support. We are an independent, non-denominational, husband and wife ministry. Pastor Thomas has been disabled for over twelve years and he and Kate exist and support The Joseph Plan on their Social Security income and the donations of people like yourself that desire to learn the teachings of the Word of God. Not the doctrines of the modern diluted church.
Psalm 91
God Bless,
Pastor Thomas Holm