Spiritual Warfare

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Spiritual warfare is the term we use for fighting the enemies of our Covenant LORD. To be a friend of the world is to be the enemy of God. The flesh is at war against the Spirit. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. God opposes all that is antichrist, that which opposes or counterfeits Christ.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10.3-5

Jesus Christ came to destroy the works of the devil. He came to overcome and conquer all that separates us from His Father. He came to bring reconciliation, peace with God through the Blood of the Cross. He came to save us, to do what is necessary and sufficient for us to get back to the Father, to the Source of all Life and Blessing, that we might live in the light of God's glory.

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. We are fighting Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Belial, Leviathan, Asmodeus, Abaddon, and "the gang." We are fighting sin, self, and the world system. We are breaking lies with truth. We are tearing down strongholds in the mind and replacing them with the strongholds of God, with His laws and ways.

Spiritual warfare encompasses three dimensions. The first is ground level. At this level we fight sin, self, the world system, and if applicable, your ordinary demons in battles bringing healing and deliverance to the Body of Christ. The second is mid-range. At this level we fight occult powers, entities influencing witches and warlocks, those casting spells, curses, charms, vexes, hexes, and so forth. We fight demonic entities "in the high places" and "in the soil." The third level is cosmic. At this level we fight demonic entities influencing ethnic groups, territories, governments, and the like. We do this to "break the barriers" to the gospel as the harvest of souls to be saved comes in.... [We only do any of this as led by the Holy Spirit. Apart from Him (Jesus) we can do nothing. John 15] See The Anointing for Cosmic Spiritual Warfare

Jesus Christ, Whose I Am and Whom I Serve

Power Point Slides

The Gift of Prophecy and Spiritual Warfare

Weapons of Spiritual Warfare series: The Day of the Lord Proclaimed; His Name Is: The Holy Spirit; To Him Who Sits on the Throne; Holiness... (MCMTFFR website)

1. Click on the link above or below, then scroll down to where you see "WEAPONS OF Spiritual WARFARE"
2. Select a lesson from the white scroll-down box

Handout Sheets: Handout sheets for various studies, many of which are mentioned in this listing pertaining to spiritual warfare (MCMTFFR website)

Master Sheets: Answers for the Handout Sheets for Weapons of Spiritual Warfare (MCMTFFR website)

Prayers of Scripture: Prayers of the Bible (MCMTFFR website) -- After clicking the link, scroll down to the bottom of the page to access the Prayers of Scripture menu

Articles by Dr. Mary Craig

A Prayer of Salvation Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and by nature a child of wrath. I confess my sinful condition and acknowledge my need of a Savior...

The Glory of the Gospel
When I was in Jerusalem recently, reviewing what I had planned to say at the World Camp for Jesus, the LORD made it clear that He was changing the message. I previously sent the audio for this, but what follows is the message in full (due to time restraints at the Camp).
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
In the beginning (beginning-ness), was (always was) the Word, and the Word was (always was) with (face-to-face) God, and the Word was (always was) God…In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:1, 4, 5, 14)....

Access the Father Through the Blood of Jesus ...There is only one way to approach a holy God. There is only one way to access the throne of glory. It is "through the Blood."...

The Atoning Work of Jesus Christ The five aspects of the atoning work of Jesus Christ

Atonement 36 audio lessons on the atonement of Jesus Christ. You must understand and be grounded in the knowledge of who Jesus Christ is and his atoning work in order to be able to safely and successfully do spiritual warfare.

The Means of Grace Many today hear a snappy sermon; laugh at a few foibles and the frailty of the human condition; and then go forward to say a little prayer "to receive Christ." After placing their trust in Christ by the grace of God, they walk back to their seats thinking life will be different now but never truly grasp the heinousness of sin and their need for ongoing repentance, faith, and future grace.

Just today a young woman responded to an evocative presentation of the gospel by praying to receive Christ at Craighouse. I pointed out to her the need for personal growth in Christ as we move ahead in the Christian life, that every believer needs to avail himself/herself of the means of grace....

Cry of the Covenant God manifested His heart in the cry of the covenant. "I will be your God, and you will be My people." If you listen or ask Him, you can hear the cry of God’s heart for a people with whom and in whom He might dwell. Since before the foundations of the world, it was God’s plan that man might be His dwelling place. In Leviticus 26.12, we read, "I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people."

The Gift of the Holy Spirit The disciples learned to live under the power of another. To be over others, to conquer, we must first be under the Highest Power, and then go…and do what He says.

In the New Covenant, the believer receives God’s Spirit within, a Living Person, dwelling within. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father, the Spirit of Christ; we might say, God’s inmost self. The spirit of man is his inmost self. Andrew Murray says, “He becomes to me what He was to Jesus, the very life of my personality.” There must be harmony between a home and its occupant; an understanding of what it means, Christ in you, the hope of glory. “The Spirit fits for worship; worship fits for the Spirit.” (Andrew Murray) (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

Jesus cleanses with His blood and baptizes with the Holy Spirit. As the Lamb, Jesus takes away sin; as the Anointed, He baptizes with the Spirit. Only by shedding His blood did Jesus receive the Holy Spirit to pour forth on those for whom He died as promised. The blood and the oil go together. The Spirit comes where the Blood is applied. Leviticus 14:11-18.

Before the outpouring of Pentecost, Jesus spent three years training and preparing His disciples. Jesus attached the disciples to Himself, taught them as their Master and Lord, and expected their obedience, loyalty, and devotion. In John 14:15, 16, Jesus spoke of obedience to His commands as being the one condition of all further spiritual blessing.

The Anointing for Cosmic Spiritual Warfare Spiritual warfare is the term we use for fighting the enemies of our Covenant Lord. To be a friend of the world is to be the enemy of God. The flesh is at war against the Spirit. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. God opposes all that is antichrist, that which opposes or counterfeits Christ....

Listening to God Sin separates you from the Source, but the Blood of Jesus looses you from sin that you might be holy unto the Lord. Sin corrupts the soul. The soul that sins will surely die, for the wages of sin is death. Disobedience is sin leading to death. Satan blocks the ear with confusion, static in the airwaves, to effect corruption in the communication process, distortion in the interpretation. Hearing wrongly, you might disobey. Even those desirous of hearing and obeying God’s words find their attempts frustrated at times by corruption in the communication process. Apply the Blood of Jesus. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word [a rhema] of God.

Living the Purpose for Which We Were Born Question number one of the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, “What is the chief end of Man?” The answer is: “The chief end of Man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” (1 Corinthians 10.31) The book of Revelation pictures heaven for us as a place filled with the praise and worship of God as Creator/Redeemer (e.g. Revelation 5.13, 7.12). Redemption culminates in worship, the spiritual service owed to God as Man’s Creator.

Understanding the Prophetic Today Who do you believe? And what do you believe? Different messages, differing advice, all claiming to be the truth. What word do you swallow? What word do you follow?

When the Prophet Prays Because the sins and wounds of our heart taint our prayer life, we must pray for the heart, our own, above all.
. . .

Presumption is the main pitfall of the Christian in relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We must never presume on our relationship with the Godhead.

We might ask, "What happens when the prophet prays?" To begin, let's look at Jeremiah 15.16:

Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the
Joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts. (NKJV)

Enjoy the Benefits of Christian Community General article on spiritual warfare and the benefits of living in Christian community.

Lately, I have noticed much confusion and abuse in the area of prophetic gifting. I find people claiming to be in the office of prophet clinging to OT ways, misunderstanding the office for today. I find others wounded by "words" taken as the very Word of God from the mouths of "prophets." I find abuses of the phrase, "Thus saith the Lord," "the Holy Spirit says," "I speak for the Holy Spirit and God," "I am the voice of God to you," etc.

A Stronghold: Things That Devour Many times I am asked to speak about strongholds as I do conferences and seminars on strategic spiritual warfare. People ask, "What is a stronghold?"

2 Corinthians 10.3-5 tells us:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations And every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, And bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

A stronghold is a defensive spiritual fortress behind which one hides and is protected. 1 Samuel 23.14,19 gives us a clue.

And David abode in the wilderness in strongholds and remained in A mountain in the wilderness of Ziph…Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in Strongholds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the South of Jeshimon?

A stronghold is a fortified dwelling used as a means of protection from an enemy.

When I was in Puerto Rico, I became aware of El Morro, a stronghold built by the Spanish to protect the island from invading Indians and pirates, from anyone perceived as an enemy or threat to Puerto Rico’s well being. David hid from King Saul in wilderness strongholds at Horesh. These were usually caves high on a mountainside. They were difficult to attack....

A stronghold is a powerful, vigorously protected spiritual reality....

Strongholds: Things That Destroy A stronghold is a fortified dwelling used as a means of protection from an enemy. David hid from King Saul in wilderness strongholds at Horesh. These were usually caves high on a mountainside. They were difficult to attack. Such caves exist in Afghanistan and other regions where it’s easy for people to hide out.

A stronghold is a powerful, vigorously protected spiritual reality. When God is the enemy or when we have thoughts, words, and deeds sympathetic toward the devil, strongholds become a defense for Satan against God. When Satan is the enemy, strongholds established by God and salvation through Jesus Christ protect us from him....

Godly strongholds include fortresses like the Lord, the Blood of Jesus, humility, holiness, the armor of God, and the walls of salvation. A demonic stronghold is any type of thing that exalts itself above the knowledge of God.

Christians cannot be owned by a devil. The devil does not own someone who has been bought by a price by Jesus Christ, i.e., redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb. But Christians can have thoughts in rebellion against God and His Word, thoughts not brought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ. These thoughts are lies we have swallowed, lying words we have believed, words which we have obeyed in disobedience to God. They are things like vain imaginations, sinful habits. They are fortresses keeping God out. They are fortresses protecting Satan and our sinful ways. They are fortresses protecting our very "selves." They are our defenses from anything entering from the outside that would threaten us and cause us to be overthrown. (2 Corinthians 10.3-5) ...

Trust God's Covenant Love Have you ever found yourself so frustrated that you cry out, "Is the LORD among us, or not?" Have you seen giants in the land and declared to God, "The enemy is too strong for us!" Or have you wondered how God would move you through a seemingly impossible situation?

Recently, as the Lord was preparing my husband, Rev. Jim Craig, and I to go to Scandinavia July 4-16, He impressed upon me that the spirit we would be up against had to do with the Amalekites. Somehow it all related to the Vikings, pirates, and even South Florida. Somehow we were learning a new lesson in spiritual warfare.

Who were the Amalekites? They were pastoral, nomadic raiders, a people with no fear of God, God-defiant ones with an unrelenting and destructive spirit who attacked the rear guard and who cut off those who became physically weak, the old, and children. God told the Israelites to treat them differently. Deuteronomy 20.10-12 tells us that no offer of peace was to be given to them first....

David: A Covenant Man Every war has weapons. Ours are spiritual. God has given His children spiritual weapons as they wage war against the world, the flesh, and the devil in their personal lives. In this regard, we are told in scripture to look to the examples of those who have preceded us in the faith. One such person from whom we can learn is David.
...
David knew he was a covenant man. He knew the living God....

Crowning the Earth with God's Glory In March of 2008 I received a directive to go to Iceland and Greenland, to declare God's Name from North to South, East to West; to release healing into the seas that it may flow into the oceans; that God will make bitter waters sweet. In December of 2008, I received from the Lord that He is roaring with a roar that will be heard over all the Middle East, that we should watch and be ready...

Humble Yourself Before God (or The Spoiler and the Arm of the LORD)
Some themes have been developing in the last few weeks amid all the tension that continues throughout 2011. We’re facing in the nation and in our world disasters and destruction, disappointments and dismay at unprecedented levels. Our news is filled with talk about the debt crisis, the lowering of U.S. credit ratings, riots in London, record-breaking heat, and the deepening tragedy of those fallen in Afghanistan. Hope and change has fast become hopelessness and spiraling deficiencies in all areas of life.

The spoiler is at work. We know we have been battling Apollyon, the king over death and destruction, since 2009. This “king” spirit joins with Leviathan, king over the children of pride, and the king of torment to forge a formidable foe. The spoiler goes forth to plunder, loot, ruin, devour, destroy, rob, assault, etc.

Spiritual Warfare Missions When we began MCM in July of 1993, spiritual warfare miss ions raised eyebrows followed by frowns on some. Today, however, many books and courses have been written, including my own. MCM began and continues yet today with a three-fo ld apostolic call: to bring healing and restoration to the Body of Christ; to call the nations to which God would send me to repentance, to resurrection, and to restoration; and to prepare the Bride for Jesus’ return. We began in July 1993, “calling in” the USA first. This April an MCM mission team went to the geographical center of the USA in response to such a commission.

Of Spiritual Bunkers and Strongholds The Living God is calling each of us to create a spiritual bunker. This creating process would be more like us putting things together in a new way. It is for the purpose that God's people be protected from what is coming, and that they be able to defend themselves against the attacks of the enemy of men's souls.

Spiritual Warfare Lessons Learned from a Life on the Front Lines (PowerPoint presentation from World Camp Jerusalem conference)
From "opening the east gate" in March, 1999, to spiritual warfare concerning "the war between truth and lie," in May, 2014, Mary Craig Ministries has responded to seven apostolic-prophetic calls to Jerusalem and Israel. After giving the testimony of the heart of a holy God for Israel and Jerusalem, and His faithfulness to enable obedience to each call, these are the lessons learned from a life on the front lines during the battles of strategic spiritual warfare missions, not only for Israel, but for the nations....

Deliverance from the Prison of Insanity There are times in people's lives that bring them to the brink of insanity and beyond. We may not personally see it as it is, but we can be introspective, self-centered, locked into our own thoughts, proud, puffed up, and on a collision course headed for destruction. We are definitely not in a mood to praise the LORD, rejoice in Him, and to hear that He is good.

Book: War on the Saints by Jessie Penn-Lewis, 1912 unabridged edition. War on the Saints is a very in depth analysis of the deception and schemes satan uses to lead the elect astray and into bondage, and the means through which the bound one can be set free in Christ. Revolutionary for her day, but be alert to an over-focus on the power of the enemy. With the advantage of our current understanding of spiritual warfare, there's much more Biblical doctrine, balance and knowledge that God has given on this subject with the focus on the atoning work of and the grace and power of Jesus Christ who has overcome and defeated the enemy and has given us the anointing, power and weapons in Himself to overcome and reign with Him. It is now war on the adversary in Jesus' name.

Weapons of Spiritual Warfare Series

Utilizing the Means of Grace The means of grace, the gifts, good works, the "sacraments"...

Humility, the Spirit of a Son It starts in the secret place. God clothes the soul with humility as the Holy Spirit convicts and convinces us of who we really are and who He really is.

Grace from the God of All Grace The ascension positioned Jesus Christ in authority over all demonic powers. Many today seek that kind of power, the power of the anointing. But how did Jesus get there? What qualified Him for such glory and honor and power and dominion?

Strategic Prayers

A Prayer of Salvation Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and by nature a child of wrath. I confess my sinful condition and acknowledge my need of a Savior...

Prayer to Release the Power of the Blood Your Word says, "If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, You are faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make You a liar, and Your word is not in us (1 John 1: 8-10) . 11 You also say that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe we are being justified as a gift by Your grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom you, God, displayed publicly as a propitiation (substitute) in Jesus' blood through faith to declare and demonstrate His righteousness, because in Your forbearance, God, You passed over the sins previously committed....

The Names of the Son of God

The Names of God Paul quotes from the OT in Romans, "Whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." Here are amost 700 names of God from the Bible. "Calling on God's name(s)" as it applies to the battle is a key strategy for defeating and for God to defeat the enemy.

A Prayer for Peace My heavenly Father, This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). I trust in You, delight myself in You, Lord, commit my way unto You this day, and rest in You, waiting patiently for You (Psalm 37:3-7). I am happy inasmuch as my God is the Lord (Psalm 144:15).

Thank You, Father, that You rejoice over me with joy (Zephaniah 3:17). You redeem my life from the pit, satisfy me with good things and execute righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed (Psalm 103:4-6). You comfort the waste places and provide joy and gladness, thanksgiving and the voice of melody (Isaiah 51:3). The joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and even today I count it all joy when I encounter tests or trials (James 1:2)....

Disarming The Enemy Based on Mat. 5:25,26 (agreeing with the enemy's charges) and others.

Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge,
and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

It is my desire to disarm the enemy in my own personal life. It is my desire to walk in Christ, rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, abounding therein with thanksgiving. I do not want anyone to spoil me through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the elements of the world, and not after Christ, for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. I am complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power: in whom also I am circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with Him in baptism, wherein also I am risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised Him from the dead. And I, being dead in my sins and the uncircumcision of my flesh, has He quickened together with Him, having forgiven me all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against me, which was contrary to me, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross: and having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2.7-15)...

A Prayer Seeking God for His True Light Heavenly Father,... "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness: and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1.1-5) John was sent by God to bear witness of the Light. John was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. "That was the true Light, which lights every one that comes into the world." (John 1.8)

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and human beings loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But the one that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3.19-21)...

A Prayer for Deliverance Dear Lord Jesus, I look to you as refuge, fortress, and strength. I confess that I am guilty of sin, iniquity, and transgression. I submit to you, God. I draw near to you that you may draw near to me. I cleanse my hands and purify my heart. I am miserable and mourn and weep. My laughter is turned into mourning and my joy into gloom. I humble myself in the presence of the Lord that He may exalt me. I repent of my sins …… The word is near me, in my mouth and in my heart. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. Forgive me now, and cleanse me with Your blood....

Defeating Belial in the Midst My Heavenly Father, The nature of Belial has come to my attention, and it is my desire to defeat Belial in my midst. I desire to be separated from Belial that I might serve Jesus Christ. Beli means "without, negated, wearing out." Yaal means "help; be of use, profit, advantage."...

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