1/14/12
Greetings,
Spiritual warfare exists because there is an ongoing war between two kingdoms in the spirit realm. These two kingdoms are the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. Both exist in the spirit realm, yet are just as real as the kingdoms and nations found in the natural realm.
The kingdom of light is the kingdom of God. In this kingdom Jesus Christ is the King. This week we are going to spend some time discussing this kingdom. It is one thing to say that we have the victory in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). However, to truly understand how deep a comment like this really goes, we need to understand the concept of kingdom.
A kingdom is a government. Therefore, when we understand that there are kingdoms at war in the spirit realm we are really saying that there are governments at war in the spirit realm. Government is for the purpose of ruling a society. In the spirit realm there are two main societies. There are those that are allied with Jesus and those that are allied with Lucifer who is also known as Satan.
A kingdom is a top down form of government with a supreme ruler. In a kingdom there is rank and order. Rank and order creates a hierarchy. All authority comes from the king, and all offices which are held within a kingdom are granted according to the King’s appointment (Ephesians 4:11). This is important to understand because when we become Christian we are translated into a government called the kingdom of God. From this point forward we are part of system which is highly structured and organized according to the infinite wisdom of God Himself.
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13)
What many Christians have yet to catch onto is that rank and order does exist among the people of God. When we see very powerful ministers of God (whose prayers seem to shake heaven and earth) we often do not make the connection that part of the reason for the power entrusted to them is the rank and office they hold within the kingdom of God. We graduate from one rank to another in the kingdom of God as we faithfully execute all that God asks of us and continue to grow in our relationship with Him.
We must also understand that the war in the spirit realm is not being fought because it is possible for the kingdom of darkness to beat the kingdom of God. The kingdom of darkness has already lost this war. This is why the Bible says that Jesus trampled upon principalities and powers (types of angelic spirits) and triumphed over them. This is also why Jesus Himself says that He has all power in heaven and on earth.
“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He [Jesus] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15 NKJV)
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18 NKJV)
The war in the spirit realm is being fought because it is a war for the souls of men. The goal of the kingdom of darkness is to destroy and take captive as many lives as possible in the time that God has allotted until the return of His son Jesus Christ. This is why the Bible says the devil has come down with great wrath knowing that his time is short.
“Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” (Revelation 12:12)
Understanding the fact that kingdoms are involved in the existence of spiritual warfare is extremely important. It is so important, in fact, that it cannot be overemphasized. When any kingdom goes to war there is a rank and order. Soldiers do not simply get a gun, get sent out into the field, and get told to shoot whatever moves. Soldiers are organized by rank. There are offices and systems of accountability set in place. Missions are executed with declared objectives that work towards the accomplishment of larger goals and agendas. At the end of the day, all major efforts of a kingdom’s army are in response to the agenda and priorities of the king.
This changes a lot of paradigms. The fact of the matter is that spiritual warfare is not a solo effort, it is a kingdom agenda. It is not just about “casting out demons.” Spiritual warfare is really supposed to be executed according to a progressive campaign strategy that will result in the expanse of a kingdom’s territory and sphere of influence.
No war is ever about a single soldier. It is about corporate goals that will affect an entire society. No true soldier fights for himself, he or she fights for something bigger than themselves. In the case of Christianity, we are involved in spiritual warfare as members of the kingdom of God. We are actually fighting for a kingdom and an agenda that will result in the expanse of territory. This territory is ultimately taken in the hearts of men, but the result is the empowerment of societies on earth.
We are members of a government in which we hold an appointed status. As members of this kingdom, we are sent forth to use the resources of this kingdom to make war with the enemy. This is where we come back to the concept of having the victory in Jesus Christ. When we go forth as warriors of the kingdom of God we make war using the power and authority of Jesus—which is the victory that holds sway over the whole spirit realm. In the natural we see soldiers go out with guns, knives, and other weapons of combat. These weapons do not come with any promise of victory. Never has any natural soldier gone onto the field of battle with a guarantee that they are going forth to establish victory. We have the guarantee of victory. As Christians, our main resource is the name of Jesus and the fact that He has all power in heaven and on earth. This is why it is said, if God be for us, who then can be against us?
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us
