Unpacking
Prayer
Part 4: Prayer and the
Battlefield
1. The Basics of Spiritual Warfare
- The three heavens
(2 Cor. 12 : 2-4, Gen. 28)
2 Corinthians 12:2-4
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years
ago—whether in the body I do not know, or
whether out of the body I do not know, God
knows—such a one was caught up to the third
heaven. And I know such a man—whether in the
body or out of the body I do not know, God
knows—how he was caught up into Paradise and
heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for
a man to utter.
1. The Basics of Spiritual Warfare
- The three heavens
(2 Cor. 12 : 2-4, Gen. 28)
3rd heaven
2nd heaven
1st heaven
Jacob’s Ladder
and the three
heavens
1. The Basics of Spiritual Warfare
- The three heavens
(2 Cor. 12 : 2-4, Gen. 28)
- Angels and demons
(Psa. 104 : 4, Heb. 1 : 14)
Psalm 104:4
Who makes His angels spirits,
His ministers a flame of fire.
Hebrews 1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth
to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
What do angels do?
● Angels worship God
● Angels carry answers to
prayer.
● Angels battle with demonic
forces.
● Angels minister to God’s
people.
1. The Basics of Spiritual Warfare
- The three heavens
(2 Cor. 12 : 2-4, Gen. 28)
- Angels and demons
(Psa. 104 : 4, Heb. 1 : 14)
- The authority of humans
(Psa. 8 : 4-6, Heb. 2 : 16)
Psalm 8:3-6
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
You have made him to have dominion over the works of
Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet…
1. The Basics of Spiritual Warfare
- The three heavens
(2 Cor. 12 : 2-4, Gen. 28)
- Angels and demons
(Psa. 104 : 4, Heb. 1 : 14)
- The authority of humans
(Psa. 8 : 4-6, Heb. 2 : 16)
2. The Importance of Spiritual
Warfare
- the superiority of the spiritual
realm (Eph. 6:12)
Ephesians 6:12
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.
2. The Importance of Spiritual
Warfare
- the superiority of the spiritual
realm (Eph. 6:12)
- minds are veiled
(2 Cor. 4:1-4)
2 Corinthians 4:1-4
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we
have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we
have renounced the hidden things of shame, not
walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God
deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to every man’s conscience
in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is
veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who
do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the
glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should
shine on them.
2. The Importance of Spiritual
Warfare
- the superiority of the spiritual
realm (Eph. 6:12)
- minds are being veiled
(2 Cor. 4:1-4)
- behaviours are being influenced
(Eph. 2:1-3)
Ephesians 2:1-3
And you He made alive, who were dead in
trespasses and sins, in which you once walked
according to the course of this world, according to
the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who
now works in the sons of disobedience, among
whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the
lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh
and of the mind, and were by nature children of
wrath, just as the others.
2. The Importance of Spiritual
Warfare
- the superiority of the spiritual
realm (Eph. 6:12)
- minds are being veiled
(2 Cor. 4:1-4)
- behaviours are being influenced
(Eph. 2:1-3)
- our relationship with God is
under attack (Rom. 8:37-38)
Romans 8:37-38
For I am persuaded that neither death nor
life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor
things present nor things to come, nor height nor
depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able
to separate us from the love of God which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
2. The Importance of Spiritual
Warfare
- the superiority of the spiritual
realm (Eph. 6:12)
- minds are being veiled
(2 Cor. 4:1-4)
- behaviours are being influenced
(Eph. 2:1-3)
- our relationship with God is
under attack (Rom. 8:37-38)
3. Angels, demons and prayer
- We have been given
authority.
- Understand the roles of
angels and demons.
- Join with the angels in
the battle.
- Do not get your eyes
off of Christ the King!
The battle belongs
to the Lord.
Next week will be strategic!
Make sure you come next week!