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Offensive Spiritual Weapons
The Lord hath opened his armory, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord God of hosts... (Jeremiah 50:25a)
You must learn how to wage offensive warfare which will help you advance into Satan's territory. With offensive weapons, you will be able to claim new ground as you spread the Gospel and bring deliverance to those held in enemy bondage.
To "war a good warfare" it is evident that you must take offensive action:
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare. (I Timothy 1:18)
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and has professed a good profession before many witnesses. (I Timothy 6:12)
You are to fight this battle intelligently with purpose:
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air. (I Corinthians 9:26)
Knowing your offensive weapons can give you the ability to fight with purpose instead of uncertainty.
OFFENSIVE STRATEGIES
Here are the weapons you use to wage offensive spiritual warfare:
PRAYER:
Prayer is a powerful offensive weapon. When you use it to wage offensive warfare you do not just pray only for your own personal wants, needs, and problems. You intercede for people, leaders, and nations, pulling down strongholds of Satan and his demonic forces.
All Christians are to intercede at times, but there is a special calling to intercession for some.
This powerful ministry brings the intercessor before the Lord to wage mighty battles in the unseen realm.
The value of praise and worship was also mentioned in other teachings. Praise and worship are powerful offensive weapons. In II Chronicles 20 when Israel faced a mighty enemy, they began to sing and praise God and He set an ambush to defeat their army. When you praise and worship God, you are actually setting "ambushments" in the spirit world.
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT:
Wherefore TAKE unto you the whole Armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day... (Ephesians 6:13)
To "take" something is to get hold of it, grasp it, to draw it to yourself. To take hold of God's armor implies offensive action on the part of the believer.
The "sword of the Spirit," which is the Word of God, is a weapon that can be used both defensively and offensively. The Word is a defensive weapon when you use it to defend against the attacks of Satan. It is offensive when you use it to claim territory for the Lord by sharing the Gospel message and deliverance with others.
There are two different words used in Scripture for the "Word of God." One word is "logos" which refers to the total utterance of God. This refers to the complete revelation of what God has said. The second word, "rhema," refers to a specific saying of God that has special application to a specific situation. This is the word used in this passage calling the "sword of the Spirit" the Word of God.
You will remember that Jesus used specific ("rhema") sayings of God, applicable to the immediate temptation. To be able to do this implies familiarity with the total Word of God. If you are to use specific Scriptures applicable to immediate battles, you must have knowledge of God's total revelation.
THE MIND OF CHRIST:
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, ARM YOURSELVES likewise with the same mind... (I Peter 4:1)
LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, which was also in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)
To "let" means to permit or embrace. You are to arm yourself with the same mind that Jesus had, a mind set to wage aggressive warfare:
... For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil. (I John 3:8)
You must "let" or permit this mind to be developed. You must take aggressive action to "arm yourself" with a similar mental attitude:
And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)
To be "transformed" means to experience a complete change which will be expressed in character and conduct. Renewing and arming your mind with Christlikeness results in such a transformation.
PULLING AND CASTING DOWN:
The goal of offensive warfare is to pull and cast down the strongholds of the enemy:
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the PULLING DOWN OF STRONG HOLDS; CASTING DOWN imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (II Corinthians 10:4-5)
To "pull down" means to take down by effort or force. To "cast" means to throw or hurl. You are told to cast off the works of darkness (Romans 13:12) and cast out demon powers (Matthew 10:8).
When you pull and cast down strongholds of Satan you are waging offensive warfare. You are not waiting to defend against an attack of Satan but you are attacking strongholds of the enemy's power.
BINDING AND LOOSING:
You have the power to bind the forces of evil and loose the forces of good:
And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven. (Matthew 16:19)
Through delegation of power and authority from Jesus, you can bind and loose spiritual forces.
Note that this weapon works together: It is binding and loosing. Whenever you bind something, you should also loose something. For example, if you bind the spirit of lying you should loose the spirit of truth to operate in its place.
THE BLOOD OF JESUS:
When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, He loosed us from the dominion of sin and the power of the enemy. His blood secures our access to God and release from the bondage of Satan. The Word of God indicates that "they (believers) overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ)" (Revelation 12:11).
Salvation, healing, and deliverance are all available because of the blood of Jesus. His blood enables you to wage offensive warfare for the souls of men and women and bring deliverance and healing in the name of Jesus. Your power to "overcome" the enemy is because of the "blood of the lamb."
YOUR TESTIMONY:
Revelation 12:11 indicates the enemy is defeated by the "word of your testimony." The word "testimony" means "evidence or record" like that used in a legal case in a court of law.
You will recall that Jesus often commanded people who had been delivered to go and tell others what God had done for them. As you "testify" or give evidence to the power of God in your life, you wage offensive spiritual warfare. To be effective, your testimony must be based upon the testimony of the Word of God, just as a lawyer in a court bases his arguments on the law of the land.
THE NAME OF JESUS:
You already learned that the name of Jesus is part of God's basic battle plan. The name of Jesus is a powerful offensive weapon also. Jesus said that "in My name" you will cast out demons, heal the sick, and overcome all the power of the enemy (Mark 16:17).
Review the various names of Jesus to see how many of His names reflect offensive action against the enemy. Also read through the book of Acts and note the miracles done "in His name."
The name of Jesus is not some magical phrase with which we conclude our prayers. It is a symbol of the authority and power He has given us. You had better be authorized to use His power an authority before you start using His names to war against Satanic powers. Review the story in Acts 19:13-17 and note what happened to the sons of Sceva.
Tactical Maneuvers
Study these references on the offensive action of "casting":
Matthew 5:29-30; 7:5; 8:16; Mark 16:17; Romans 13:12; II Corinthians 10:5; I Peter 5:7
Study these references on the offensive action of "putting":
Romans 13:12, 14; I Corinthians 5:13; 13:11; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:22-24; 6:11; Colossians 3:8-14
Study these references on the offensive action of "taking":
I Corinthians 3:10; 8:9; 10:12; Galatians 5:15; Ephesians 6:13,17; I Timothy 4:16; Hebrews 3:12.
You must participate in aggressive warfare to defeat the enemy. You must "let" or permit certain things in your spiritual life if you are to be victorious. Study the following references and complete the chart by recording what the Bible says you are to "let" or permit in your life:
References - As you study these scriptures ask yourself: What We Are To "Let":
Matthew 5:16
John 4:1,27
Romans 13:1,12-13
Romans 14:5,13,16,19
I Corinthians 3:18-21
I Corinthians 10:8-9
II Corinthians 7:1
II Corinthians 10:17
Galatians 5:26
Ephesians 4:26-31
Ephesians 5:3,6,33
Philippians 1:27
Philippians 2:3,5
Philippians 3:15-16
Philippians 4:5-6
Colossians 3:15-16
Colossians 4:6
I Thessalonians 5:6-8
II Timothy 2:19
Hebrews 4:1,14,16
Hebrews 6:1
Hebrews 10:22-24
Hebrews 12:1
Hebrews 13:1,5,15
James 1:5-9
James 3:13
James 4:9
James 5:13
I Peter 3:3-4,10-11
I Peter 4:11,15,16,19
I John 2:24
I John 3:7,18
I John 4:7
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