---

The Armor of God

Click Play in the video player window and follow along on the class notes below.

"Put On" The Armor of God

Eph 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Eph 6:14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
Eph 6:15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
Eph 6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Eph 6:17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Eph 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

While most people will recognize Ephesians 6:13, that is not the only verse that tells us to dress in God’s armor.

• Romans 13:12 tells us to "Put on" the armor of light
• Romans 13:14 tells us to "Put on" the Lord Jesus Christ
• And Ephesians 6:13 tells us to "Take up" the armor of God

The phrases "put on" and "take up" come from two Greek words. The first is ana-lam-banō, which means to pick up something in order to use it and the word "Enduo" meaning "to sink into (clothing), put on, or clothe one’s self." Both of these words are verbs presented as a command. In other words, it’s an instruction to do something – in this case God’s word commands us to get dressed in His armor. As a command, this is not optional and we are the ones that are supposed to do it.


Clean up this room!

Suppose for a moment, you tell a child to do something like "Clean up this room!" What do you expect the child to do? You don’t make it optional by saying, "would you like to clean up this room?" And clearly you’re not asking the child, "Would you like me to clean up this room for you?" No, you’ve given the child an instruction and you expect the child to do it. You expect an obedient child to do as you say and the clean up the room.

We are God’s children and He is our heavenly Father. When He tells us to get dressed in His armor, He expects us to get dressed.

If we refuse to dress in God’s armor, we are disobedient to His word and as we saw with Saul, we are under spiritual protection when we are obedient to God’s word.

Of all the ways to be disobedient to this command, the one I find most disturbing is hearing someone pray, "Father God, protect us with your holy armor," for not only does this prayer ignore God’s command to take up, put on, and dress in His armor, it asks Him to do something He has told us to do for ourselves. This is like a parent telling a child to clean their room and the child replying, "No, you do it!"


What Goes On, Can Come Off!

Satan understands God’s armor and how it works, but since he can’t get through it, he will try to fool you into taking it off. As we explore God’s armor, we will find that while hope protects the mind, losing hope will expose the mind. While righteousness will protect the heart, forgetting who you are in Christ can expose the heart to attack. God’s armor works and will protect you from Satan’s attacks, but as we said repeatedly throughout this course, don’t underestimate the wisdom of the enemy. God created Lucifer with great wisdom and he will try to use that wisdom to fool you into taking off your armor. One must be vigilant and on the alert at all times. So, be a smart bear – don’t take off your armor.


God’s Holy Armor

The nine pieces of spiritual armor listed in Ephesians 6 are:

1. The Helmet of Salvation
2. The Breastplate of Righteousness
3. The Belt of Truth
4. The Sandals of Peace and Readiness
5. The Shield of Faith
6. The Sword of the Spirit
7. All Prayer and Petition

Most people read this as seven pieces of armor, but careful study reveals there are actually nine different parts to God’s armor listed in Ephesians chapter six. Let’s now go over each one in detail.


The Helmet of Salvation

The Helmet of Salvation is hope.

• Eph 6:17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION,
• 1Th 5:8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. It is here that we learn that the helmet is hope.
• In combat, a helmet is worn to provide protection to the head
• The Roman helmet had a ridge across the forehead to prevent a sword blow from penetrating into the head and a "bill" that extended from the back side of the helmet to protect the neck from a sword strike.

Scriptures used to proclaim the Helmet of Salvation:

• Eph 6:17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION,
• 1Th 5:8 ...and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
• Php 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
• Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
• Heb 6:18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.
• 1Ti 4:10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

The Breastplate of Righteousness

• Eph 6:14 tells us to PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
• The breastplate provided protection to the whole upper body from the waist to the neck.
• The Roman solider breastplate was made up of overlapping strips of metal fastened to a larger inner front and back plate. This allowed better movement at joints like the waist and shoulders as the overlapping strips would flex with movement. The overlapping strips also offered better resistance to penetration from a sword than did a single layer.

Scriptures used to proclaim the Breastplate of Righteousness:

• Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
• Heb 13:12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
• Act 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
• Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

The Belt of Truth

• Eph 6:14 tells us, Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH,
• Beyond the practical use of belt, it should be noted that a belt surrounds its wearer and therefore a belt of truth will surround its wearer in truth.
• Roman belt played a crucial role in the effectiveness of a soldier's armor. The belt held the scabbard, without which there would be no place to put a sword. Additionally, from the belt "hung strips of leather to protect the lower body."

Scriptures used to proclaim the The Belt of Truth:

• Joh 14:6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
• Joh 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
• Joh 15:26 "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,
• Heb 6:18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. Heb 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,
• Joh 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; Joh 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

The Sandals of Peace and Readiness

• Eph 6:15 reads, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; - Careful study of this verse reveals two elements, preparation and peace.
• Roman legionaries were equipped with strong sandals. These made them highly mobile. They could make long, forced marches at short notice.
• The lesson of Gideon’s 300 men from Judges 7:2-7 also teaches us about God’s expectation of readiness. Beginning with 32,000 people, God told Gideon how to weed the ranks of his army until there was only 300 men left. These 300 men had passed a special test. When they were led to the water to drink, these 300 men brought the water to their mouths by cupping the water with their hand instead of bringing their face down to the water to lap. In doing this, their eyes remained on the alert and ready to respond to an enemy attack. One hand remained on their spears ready to fight. The New Testament warns us thirteen times to be or keep on the alert. This is readiness.

Scriptures used to proclaim the The Sandals of Peace and Readiness:

• Joh 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
• Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
• Mat 15:19 "For out of the heart come evil thoughts... Mat 15:20 "These are the things which defile the man;...
• Jdg 7:2-7 - vigilant and on the alert
• Jdg 7:2-7 - ready to answer God's call to serve

The Shield of Faith

• Eph 6:16 tells us, in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
• A shield is a mobile protective covering that a soldier carries with him. At any time, the solider can crouch behind the shield for protection from attack.
• The word translated here as shield is connected with the word for door. Its length was greater than its width. A trained soldier could crouch down and draw his body in so that he was completely protected. He had to be fit and athletic. An overweight man would not be fully protected.

Scriptures used to proclaim the The Shield of Faith:

• Eph 6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
• Rom 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
• 2Ti 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
• Mat 17:20 And He *said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

The Sword of the Spirit

• Eph 6:17 tells us, And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
• A sword is both a offensive and defensive weapon.
• Roman swords were made of iron with wood or bone handles. The swords were short for use in close combat.

Scriptures used to proclaim the The Sword of the Spirit:

• Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
• Rev 12:17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
• Rev 12:11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

All Prayer and Petition

Eph 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Though not often recognized, prayer and petition are two distinctively different spiritual weapons. These weapons have the ability to strike deep into the kingdom of darkness. Prince calls these weapons our ICBMs or the Christian warrior’s intercontinental ballistic missile. Both of these weapons and others are detailed in the course Foundations in Spiritual Warfare available in ICM’s theology and ministry catalog.


The Armor Challenge

As I testified in lesson one, God considered His armor so important that before He guided me to deliverance from the spirit of nicotine, He first taught me spiritual protection through the Armor of God.

For four years and counting, not a day goes by that I neglect to dress in God’s armor. Now, dressing in God’s armor is as natural as putting on my shoes and every day, an atmosphere of spiritual protection radiates around me.

You too may experience this same protection. Below is a link to the same guide we used in the video to dress in spiritual armor. The guide is in the PDF format. You may use it on your computer, smartphone, iPhone, iPad, or Android device. I challenge you to download that guide and use it to dress in God’s armor every day for three weeks. As you repeatedly proclaim God’s word over yourself, you will reinforce and strengthen your personal armor.


Key Point Review

1. Dressing in God’s armor is not optional. God’s word commands us put take up or put on His armor.
2. Satan will try to fool you into taking off your armor.
3. Asking God to protect us with His armor is rebelling against His command to dress ourselves in His armor.
4. The Helmet of Salvation radiates an atmosphere that surrounds and protects the mind.
5. The Breastplate of Righteousness protects the heart.
6. The Belt of Truth surrounds its wearer in truth.
7. Sandals of Peace and Readiness have two functions, peace that guards the heart and mind and readiness to answer God’s call to serve Him.
8. The Shield of Faith offers the warrior total protection of body, soul, and spirit.
9. The Sword of the Spirit is the spoken word of God that is used for both attack and defense.
10. All Prayer and Petition are like the Christian’s ICBM or intercontinental ballistic missile.

Download your copy of ICM's Spriritual Armor Guide Here

Study Questions:

1. Explain what’s wrong with praying and asking God to protect you with His armor.
2. According to this lesson, explain how the Helmet of Salvation holds spirits of the enemy at a distance.
3. In your own words, describe a way Satan may try to fool you into taking off your armor.
4. The Sword of the Spirit is both a defensive and offensive weapon. Explain how you might use the Sword to defend yourself and then explain how you could use the Sword to attack.

---

---

Identity Crisis

Click Play in the video player window and follow along on the class notes below.

The Fathers Affirmation

Jesus’ baptism is a model for us - Mat 3:16 - After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,

Jesus had His identity tested - Mat 4:1- Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Satan wants to question identity because if he can get a person to doubt who they are then they will not have the strength to resist him.

Mat 4:3 - And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

Mat 4:6 - and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down;

Jesus knew His identity. He understood His covering and His authority so He was well able to overcome the devil. Mat 4:10 - Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'"

Satan will continually try to illegitimate the children of God. This spirit of illegitimacy rebels against our true identity and makes us vulnerable to the devils devices.

2 Cor 2:11 - so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

Any attempt to find identity and worth outside of God’s created identity in the believer is illegitimate.

Illegitimate attempts by mankind to find identity and worth through the world’s systems opens the door for the demonic spirit of illegitimacy.

When a person is born again his or her identity completely changes. 2 Cor 5:17 - Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

We have been given a choice by God.

• We can believe that we are who He says we are.
• Or we can choose to continue to live in our old identity.

Eph 4:24 - and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Do you see yourself as a grasshopper? Num 13:33 - "There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."

Or do you see yourself as a conqueror? - Rom 8:37 - But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.


WHO I AM IN CHRIST

• I am complete in Him Who is the Head of all principality and power (Colossians 2:10).
• I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5).
• I am free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
• I am far from oppression, and fear does not come near me (Isaiah 54:14).
• I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me (I John 5:18).
• I am holy and without blame before Him in love (I Peter 1:16; Ephesians 1:4).
• I have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5; I Corinthians 2:16).
• I have the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
• I have the Greater One living in me; greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the world (I John 4:4).
• I have received the gift of righteousness and reign as a king in life by Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).
• I have received the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened (Ephesians 1:17,18).
• I have received the power of the Holy Spirit to lay hands on the sick and see them recover, to cast out demons, to speak with new tongues. I have power over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm me (Mark 16:17,18; Luke 10:17,19).
• I have put off the old man and have put on the new man, which is renewed in the knowledge after the image of Him Who created me (Colossians 3:9,10).
• I have given, and it is given to me; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, men give into my bosom (Luke 6:38).
• I have no lack for my God supplies all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
• I can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one with my shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16).
• I can do all things through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:13).
• I shall do even greater works than Christ Jesus (John 14:12).
• I show forth the praises of God Who has called me out of darkness into His marvelous light (I Peter 2:9).
• I am God’s child for I am born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God, which lives and abides forever (I Peter 1:23).
• I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ unto good works (Ephesians 2:10).
• I am a new creature in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17).
• I am a spirit being alive to God (I Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 6:11).
• I am a believer, and the light of the Gospel shines in my mind (II Corinthians 4:4).
• I am a doer of the Word and blessed in my actions (James 1:22,25).
• I am a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).
• I am more than a conqueror through Him Who loves me (Romans 8:37).
• I am an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11).
• I am a partaker of His divine nature (II Peter 1:3,4).
• I am an ambassador for Christ (II Corinthians 5:20).
• I am part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people (I Peter 2:9).
• I am the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 5:21).
• I am the temple of the Holy Spirit; I am not my own (I Corinthians 6:19).
• I am the head and not the tail; I am above only and not beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13).
• I am the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).
• I am His elect, full of mercy, kindness, humility, and longsuffering (Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12).
• I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood (Ephesians 1:7).
• I am delivered from the power of darkness and translated into God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13).
• I am redeemed from the curse of sin, sickness, and poverty (Galatians 3:13; Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
• I am firmly rooted, built up, established in my faith and overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:7).
• I am called of God to be the voice of His praise (II Timothy 1:9; Psalm 66:8).
• I am healed by the stripes of Jesus (I Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5).
• I am raised up with Christ and seated in heavenly places (Colossians 2:12; Ephesians 2:6).
• I am greatly loved by God (Colossians 3:12; Romans 1:7; I Thessalonians 1:4; Ephesians 2:4).
• I am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power (Colossians 1:11).
• I am submitted to God, and the devil flees from me because I resist him in the Name of Jesus (James 4:7).
• I press on toward the goal to win the prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward (Philippians 3:14).
• For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7).
• It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20).

Also see ICM's blog Embrace Your Identity for additional identity verses.

Study Questions:

1. Explain how Jesus' baptism is a model for us.
2. What is the Father's affirmation and why is it important?
3. Why is doubt and confusion about identity so dangerous?
4. Define the spirit of illegitimacy and how it can be conquered.

---

---

Doors

Click Play in the video player window and follow along on the class notes below.

What are Doors?

In their simplest form, doors are conditions created by choices.

At the heart of every door is a choice.


Manipulating Choices

Satan targets his attacks at the triune nature of the soul, as we saw in lesson three, teasing our emotions, will, and intellect in an effort to manipulate our choices to his will.


The Power Branch of Witchcraft

There are four power spirits under the Power leg or branch of witchcraft. They are: Power, Manipulation, Intimidation, and Control.

All four power spirits rebel against your free-will or choice.


Choice is the Moment of Sin

Mat 5:27 "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY';
Mat 5:28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

In Mat 5:27-28, Jesus teaches on the moment of sin. Notice how closely it resembles faith and works in that it also consists of two parts – first a choice and second the act. Sin doesn’t begin with the act – it begins with the choice. The act is only the product of the choice. Doors are also products of choices.


The Heart - A Geyser for Temptation

Like a spring or geyser erupting, temptations spring from the heart.

Mat 15:19 "For out of the heart come evil thoughts…Mat 15:20 “These are the things which defile the man…"

Mar 7:21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts…
Mar 7:23 "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."


Temptations Target the Soul

Temptations are "soulish" in nature. In other words, they target the three elements of the soul.

• Lusts are desires of the heart (emotions)
• Unclean or evil thoughts invade the mind (will and intellect)
• God’s protection for this is found in Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Choosing and Freewill

Without free will, you cannot choose to receive God’s gift of salvation, so it should be no surprise that Satan, full of wisdom, should devise a way to corrupt free will. His corruption arrives as a form of witchcraft and rebellion. These two parts work hand-in-hand as if they were joined at the hip. Anywhere one finds witchcraft, one will also find rebellion.

The "power" branch of witchcraft is where we find the four main spirits that rebel against free will. They are power, intimidation, manipulation, and control.

The four power spirits are like generals.

Their task is to rebel against Christ’s completed work on the cross – and what work did Christ complete? He protected the integrity of man’s free will.

Free will is so important to God’s plan of salvation for man that Jesus went to the cross to protect it from being corrupted.


Corrupting Man’s Choices

Satan and his dark kingdom cannot un-do Christ’s perfect work on the cross, so instead, they stand in rebellion against it. The dark kingdom will try and corrupt man’s ability to choose by using the pressure of power, intimidation, manipulation, and control to change man’s choice to one that rebels and rejects God’s word – so that just like Saul, the choice opens a door of opportunity for unclean spirits to oppress and torment.


The Role of Free Will and Choice

Deu 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,

Jos 24:15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

God cannot pre-destine man to love Him – for that would be a false love. If God had made us to serve Him without choice — He would have made a race of slaves. Love is a choice. For God to experience a reciprocating and loving relationship with man, we must be free to choose Him and that choice depends on free will.


Lucifer’s Precious Stones

Eze 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

The precious stones are part of the Breastplate of Judgment worn by high priests. This verse tells us that at the moment of Lucifer’s creation, God made Lucifer a high priest of heaven.


The Breastplate of Judgment

In Exodus 28:17-21, God instructs the Leviticus priests in the making of the Breastplate of Judgment. Notice that unlike Lucifer’s breastplate, here God says to use twelve precious stones.

Exo 28:17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
Exo 28:18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
Exo 28:19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
Exo 28:20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.
Exo 28:21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.


The Twelve Tribes of Israel

Each of the twelve stones represents one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Notice that Lucifer’s breastplate had only nine stones. The third row containing the ligure, the agate, and the amethyst is missing. Since each stone represents one tribe, Lucifer’s breastplate only represents nine of the twelve tribes of Israel.

1. Sardius = Rubin
2. Topaz = Simeon
3. Carbuncle = Levi
4. Emerald = Judah
5. Sapphire = Dan
6. Diamond = Naphtali
7. Ligure = Gad (Missing)
8. Agate = Asher (Missing)
9. Amethyst = Issachar (Missing)
10. Beryl = Zebulun
11. Onyx = Joseph
12. Jasper = Benjamin

The Three Missing Stones

Of Gad, Jacob says…

Gen 49:19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

Of Asher, Jacob says…

Gen 49:20 Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.

And of Issachar, Jacob says…

Gen 49:14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:
Gen 49:15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

Jesus was overcome but overcame at the last. Jesus is the bread of life and through Him we are of the royal priesthood. Jesus bowed his shoulder to bear and became a servant unto tribute.


God withheld those three stones from Lucifer because they belonged to Jesus. Lucifer was a high priest of heaven but not THE high priest of heaven. That title belongs to Jesus alone, but at the time Lucifer was created, there was no rebellion. There was no fall. There was no creation. There was no earth. There was no man. There was no sin. There was no need of redemption. There was no reason for Jesus to die!

By withholding the three stones from Lucifer’s breastplate, God demonstrated that He knew, even before creating Lucifer that Lucifer would rebel. Before the fall, God knew Lucifer would fall. Before creation, God knew sin would enter the earth. Before man was created, God knew man would fall to sin. Before the first sin, God knew Jesus would have to die to redeem man.

If there was no sin, mankind would not have fallen. Jesus would never have had to carry the burden of mankind’s sin. Man would not need redemption. All God had to do was stop sin before it happened.

So, what was so important to God that He would allow sin to enter creation, knowing in the moment that He created Lucifer with only nine precious stones, that it would cost Him the life of His Son Jesus to redeem man?


Jesus Protected the Integrity of Freewill

Freewill! If God had stepped in and stopped sin from entering creation, He would have denied free will.

Without free will, man cannot choose to enter into a loving relationship with God and so, God had to allow us free will to choose, even if that choice rejected Him and followed sin. God had to allow Jesus to go to the cross rather than corrupt the integrity of freewill and choice.

This is why denying a person’s free will to choose is denying Christ’s completed work on the cross.

Unclean spirits readily deny the freewill that Jesus gave His life to protect.

Through power, manipulation, intimidation, and control, unclean spirits deny your freewill try to force you into choices that open doors that they may use to enter your life.


Intercession and Counseling

If you’re called as an intercessory warrior or counselor, be careful not to fight against God’s word. Instead, put it to work for you.

If you fight a spirit that has permission under God’s law to be where it is, it will fight you to stay where it is. If however, you exercise God’s law to break or remove the permission or legal ground, the spirit you fight will be compelled under God’s law to leave.


Permissions that Open Doors

There are many conditions that give permission to open doors. Several common permissions that allow unclean spirits to work in a person’s life are:

• A condition, as defined by God’s law, that permits an unclean spirit to harass or torment a man (ie: Saul’s evil spirit of the Lord)
• A choice to continue or reject God’s word or law. When we reject God, He rejects us. If we stand with God, He stands with us.
• Willful disobedience of God’s word
• An attitude of agreement with unclean or evil spirits
• Works that are in agreement with the nature of unclean spirits
• Lack of Knowledge of God’s word (ignorance)
• Lack of concern for God’s word (apathy)

Footholds

Eph 4:27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

God warns us not to "give" the devil a foothold. Why? Because He knows we can give it. God would not tell us not to do something we were unable to do.

A foothold gives access to unclean spirits that have not yet rooted themselves with a stronghold.

A foothold builds upon a choice and holds a “door” open for unclean spirits to reside in a man.


Strongholds

Strongholds are often incorrect thinking that roots a condition and permits an unclean spirit to reside in a man.

The very nature of incorrect thinking precludes the ability to recognize or see the condition without discernment from the Spirit of Truth.


Closing Open Doors

There are four elements of removing permissions and closing doors.

1. Confession - 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. Repentance - Act 17:30 "… God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,"
3. Seek Forgiveness - 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
4. Renouncement - Pro 28:13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
   
   Renouncing is cancelling a choice that opened a door.

Doors that Won’t Stay Closed

Often we see doors that won’t close or stay closed. A person under this condition will often experience the same problems returning again and again. I personally believe Satan will use a door that is left open to build schemes in people’s lives, repeating the cycle of bondage over and over.

Here are three conditions that prevent doors from being closed or reopen closed doors:

1. Faith + Works must both be present to close a door.
2. Unforgiveness can hold a door open.
3. Failure to renounce a choice can leave a door open.

Results of Doors Left Open

• Unclean spirits may return to continue oppressing a person.
• A person may experience temporary freedom but slip back into oppression and torment.
• A door left open can be the root of a repeating scheme.
• Doors that are left open can make a person feel like they can’t find lasting freedom because the same issues keep coming back. They may feel haunted and tormented by something they can’t escape.
• A person’s own expectation of bondage can develop into a stronghold of incorrect thinking that insures the condition will return.

Proclamation of Renouncement

This is a Proclamation of Renouncement. Save it! Its purpose is to cancel choices that open doors. You may phrase this for yourself or for someone else.

"By the power and authority of the blood of Christ, I cancel all legal grounds and permissions I created through my actions and choices, and I proclaim that unclean spirits have no authority to operate in or over my life."

Use this. Proclaim this over yourself anytime or every time you need to erase a bad choice and close a door.

This may be proclaimed over someone as a tool in intercession and ministry, but be aware that if the person you’re interceding over is not also renouncing the choice or open door, the effect will likely be temporary.


Key Point Review

1. Doors are conditions created by choices.
2. The four power spirits of witchcraft, power, manipulation, intimidation, and control rebel against and deny your free will and choice.
3. Choice is the moment of sin.
4. From the heart spring evil thoughts that defile.
5. Jesus died to protect the integrity of free will and choice.
6. A spirit will fight if it’s in its right to stay.
7. Footholds hold doors open.
8. Strongholds root a spirit in place.
9. Doors are closed by confession, repentance, forgiveness, and renouncement.
10. Doors that are left open can help build a cycle of bondage.

Study Questions:

1. Explain why unclean or evil spirits try to influence your choices.
2. Explain what Lucifer’s precious stones teach us about God’s value of free will and choice.
3. Explain why choice is the moment of sin.
4. Explain how one closes open doors and cancels choices.

---

---

Empowerment Under Authority

Click Play in the video player window and follow along on the class notes below.

Operating Under Authority


The Three Demands of Spiritual Protection

• Respect for Christ’s Authority operating in and through each Local Church
  • Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
  • 2Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
  • 1Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,
  • Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
• Unqualified Forgiveness for all who have wronged or harmed us
  • Mar 11:25 "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions."
• An attitude of submissiveness toward all our fellow Christians
  • Eph 5:21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

The Roman Centurion

Luke 7:2-9 "For I also am a man placed under authority…"

The Greek word "kai" is a conjunction that links the likeness of two conditions.

καί

kai
Thayer Dictionary Definition:
1) and, also, even, indeed, but
Part of Speech: conjunction

Like Jesus, Centurion is "under" authority


Use or Abuse of Authority

God’s Armor & spiritual covering are empowered while under His authority.

Like we saw with the seven sons of Sciva from Acts 19 in Lesson 1, if we operate outside of the authority Jesus has given to the church, we are not under His spiritual protection.


The Danger of the 3-R’s

There’s no room for Renegades, Rebels, and Rambos in the Kingdom of Heaven.

• Notice in Eph 1:3-12, Paul never addresses the individual. Instead he addresses the church collectively, writing in the plural.
• Eph 1:3-12 – God has blessed us...He chose us...He predestined us...He made us accepted...we have redemption...He has made known to us the mystery of His will...we have obtained an inheritance...we should be to the praise of His glory.

Now notice in Ephesians 6, the description of spiritual warfare is also plural.

• Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
• We are the church. We are many – there’s no room for lone rangers, Renegades, Rebels, or Rambos.

The Authority Chain - Link 1

Mat 28:18 – Jesus drew near and said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”

The Authority Chain - Link 2

Eph 1:22 – God put all things under Christ’s feet and gave Him to the church as supreme Lord over all things.

The Authority Chain - Link 3

1 Co 11:3 – But I want you to understand that Christ is supreme (head) over every man, the husband is supreme over his wife, and God is supreme over Christ.

κεφαλή
kephalē
Thayer Definition: 1) the head, both of men and often of animals. Since the loss of the head destroys life, this word is used in the phrases relating to capital and extreme punishment.
2) metaphorically anything supreme, chief, prominent
2a) of persons, master lord: of a husband in relation to his wife
2b) of Christ: the Lord of the husband and of the Church
2c) of things: the corner stone


The Chain of Authority in the Church

God’s Spirit flows to the church through Jesus and the chain of authority. The pastor, church elders, and church leaders are links in the chain.


Church Leaders are Targets

If the church leadership is disabled through spiritual attack, the flow of God’s Spirit is choked and the body starves.

Church leaders are targets just like officers are targets on the battlefield.

Leaders must be strong in faith and be under a spiritual covering. Leaders must be protected from spiritual attack through spiritual armor, authority, and the protective covering of God’s Spirit.

When a leader comes under attack – the whole body can starve, can dry up, because the flow of God’s Spirit is cut off – the chain is broken.


Authority over Serpents & Scorpions

Through the church, Christ gives His authority to the body of Christ. Mission leaders must be careful to operate under the authority of each local church.

Luke 10:19 – Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you.


Empowerment of Authority


In Groups of Three

Triune:

• Latin "tri" = "three"
• Latin "unus" = "one"
• English = "three in one"

The Holy Trinity is Triune

• God the Father
• God the Son
• God the Holy Spirit

God Created Man Triune Like Himself

• Man is Triune – made in God’s likeness and image.
  • 1 Thess 5:23 "…may your spirit, soul, and body be preserved complete…"
• Spirit
• Soul
• Body

Man’s Soul is Triune in Nature

• Will – "I Want"
• Emotions – "I Feel"
• Intellect – "I Think"

Man’s Spirit

• Man’s spirit exists in the spiritual realm.
• Through Christ, man’s spirit is reunited with Spirit of God.

Man’s Physical Body

• Man’s physical body exists in the physical world. It is separated from the spiritual realm.
• To release the power of God’s Spirit into the natural realm, God’s Spirit must flow from man’s spirit to man’s body in the physical world.

Man’s Soul is the Connector

• Man’s soul spans both spiritual and physical realms connecting man’s spirit to his body.
• Man’s soul must receive God’s truth from man’s spirit and through free-will pass it to man’s body in the physical world.

Release the Power of God’s Spirit

James 2:17 – "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."

James 2:20 – "Faith without works is useless."

Faith and works must work together – the soul has God’s truth but the body must act upon it before it becomes real in the physical world!


Rhema – The spoken word of God is the empowered Sword of the Spirit!

It is acting upon God’s word in faith that allows His power to flow through us. Some common ways we allow God’s Spirit to flow include:

• Proclaiming God’s Word
• Speaking a prophetic utterance
• Laying on hands to impart God’s Spirit
• Speaking knowledge of spiritual truths

When you speak God’s truth aloud, what happens? Your lungs exhale air molecules that vibrate your vocal chords creating sound waves of God’s truth. Your speaking has converted God’s truth, received from His Spirit in the spiritual realm into something physical in the natural world – sound waves moving air molecules – real, tangible, and physical in the natural world.

Satan has no defense against the spoken word of God. This is key to your spiritual authority.


Key Point Review

1. The 3 Demands of Spiritual Protection are:
   1. Respect - Respect for Christ’s Authority operating in and through each Local Church
   2. Forgiveness - Unqualified Forgiveness for all who have wronged or harmed us
   3. Submission – An attitude of submissiveness toward all our fellow Christians
2. There is no place for renegades, rebels, and Rambo’s in the Kingdom of God.
3. The chain of authority in the Kingdom of God flows from God the Father to Jesus, to the church and the body of Christ, to church leaders, to heads of families, to each family member.
4. A church leader may come under spiritual attack to choke God’s Spirit from flowing to the members of the body of Christ.
5. God created man in His likeness – as triune beings of spirit, soul, and body.
6. As a triune being, man exists in both the spiritual realm and the natural realm.
7. Through belief, choice, and faith, man’s soul allows God’s Spirit to flow from man’s spirit to his body in the natural realm.
8. Faith without works is useless. It is by acting in faith through works that the power of God’s Spirit is released into the natural world.
9. The spoken word of God is the Sword of the Spirit and makes God’s word physical in the natural world.
10. Satan has no defense against the spoken word of God.

Study Questions:

1. Explain how you will apply each of the three demands of spiritual protection to your life or ministry.
2. Explain how a spiritual attack against a leader in the church can affect the body of Christ.
3. In James 2:17,20 we know that faith without works us useless, being dead by itself. Explain, in context with this lesson, the relationship between faith and works shown in these verses.
4. The spoken word of God is called the Sword of the Spirit. Explain what happens when we speak God’s truth aloud.

---