The Real Warfare is Spiritual
UPDATED for 2020: Given the recent anarchy in our cities and streets. And in our colleges and universities, I felt the need to update and republish this post from 2017.
Who or what is behind groups like “Antifa” and “Black Lives Matter”? Why is violence and hatred characteristic of political extremists on BOTH sides.
Human beings live in an active spiritual war zone. All humans live on enemy held territory. How did this happen?
First, a quick word about “Dualism” so that you do not get confused. Dualism is the view that two equal but opposite intelligent, uncreated powers inhabit our universe and war against one another. In Dualism, one power is good and one equal power is bad. They have been opposed throughout eternity and neither has won. Here and there they have a loss and then a victory over the other. Some people choose the good power and some choose the evil. Though some untaught people believe that this is what Christianity believes, it does not. Dualism is completely foreign and contrary to biblical Christianity.
The biblical Christian knows that the two powers that war against one another are nowhere near equal. One is Creator. That would be God. The other is a created being. That would be satan or the devil (not the cultural devil of red union-suit, pitchfork. horns, and tail fame). Satan was created for a purpose which he chose to abandon. He is far below God in power, authority, and ability. He rebelled against God and drew other angelic powers after himself. They warred in heaven against God’s loyal powers.
The spirit-dimensional beings that fell in rebellion are now demons. Demonic powers are mainly disembodied, though they seek human habitation and animate some humans. Demonized humans are willingly and/or unknowingly used by these powers to wage war both on those who do not serve their cause and on those in fellowship with Christ.
Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul wrote of these supernatural beings:
Ephesians 6:10–13 (ESV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Understand, the voices of Antifa, Black Lives Matter, CAIR, and those who foster division and who hate our nation serve demonic powers. Even though deceived people are the glove, spiritual beings are the hand in the glove. The real war is against spiritual forces. Only those who are equipped to wage war spiritually will be victorious. The majority of people are clueless. Most of them have allied with Satan. A few serve the true and only King. And they are equipped to stand against the demonic effectively.
Jesus said:
Matthew 7:13–14 (ESV)
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
In the excellent 2012 movie, “Act of Valor,” one of the Navy Seals presents a toast to his Seal team as they are gathered informally around a fire the night before their deployment. He lifts his glass and says, “To all those who have been downrange. To us and those like us . . . damn few.”
Genuine followers of Jesus Christ, who understand their calling to displace demonic evil, have been “downrange” in the spiritual warfare. And we are precious few.
Many can talk or write about spiritual warfare and the demonic but some of us are veterans of the spiritual war. For us it’s not theory or doctrine.
I have seen the joy in the face of a woman who was delivered from a demon. Before her deliverance, the demonic spirit caused her eyes to roll back in her head and her body to go stiff as a plank. I have seen the result when I confronted a violent man bent on attacking me. In Jesus’ name, I commanded the violent spirit controlling him to be bound. He and his friend turned from me and couldn’t leave the scene fast enough. The terror of Christ filled them and overpowered that violent spirit animating them. I’ll never forget the look of fear on their faces. I remember the grateful thanks to Jesus of a couple in Brazil who had their lives and marriage set free from a local Macumba priestess who had overcome them by demonic power. We saw the living Jesus Christ not only set them free, but later deliver and save the priestess herself.
Like it or not, this warfare is real. And we believers have not only authority but the assignment and responsibility to confront and displace demonic powers by the authority of Christ. We are sons of the Kingdom—the “sons of God.”(Romans 8:14) We are with Jesus and we gather with him.
Luke 11:23 (ESV)
23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Revelation 6:15–17 (ESV)
15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
Christ, the Lamb of God, will destroy Satan and all the demons that currently traffic with humans. To destroy Satan and his powers is to destroy the spirit of murder and terror.
This is the war we fight. Our spiritual battle is not against people, but against the spirits that animate them and use them to champion evil until Christ returns. We have authority over these demonic beings only because Christ gave it to us (Luke 10.19). It is our assignment to crush them through intercession and the command of Christ as we stand in our authority to displace darkness and the demonic:
Luke 10:17–24, ESV
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
Followers of Jesus, do not give up. Fight the good fight of the faith! You will be victorious! For nothing can succeed against the Church–the body of Christ. No weapon formed against us will prosper; all those who rise up against us will fall. We will sit enthroned with Christ to pass judgment on these spirit-beings–the enemies of all that is good, right, beautiful, and true–and send them to their final and ultimate eternal destruction in the Lake of Fire. In Christ we already have the victory!
© 2013, Dr. David C Alves, D.Min.
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France: It’s Patriots Died for What?
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As I was reading posts and articles regarding France, I was struck by three thoughts.
1. Our American youth who fought for France in WW II died for nothing. Those brave men who died on the Normandy beaches and in the little towns in France paid the highest price so that France could turn its back on God and pursue the freedom of demeaning people of faith. Interestingly, they are embracing the values of their WW II enemies. France was our longtime friend. The French helped us in our fight for freedom. They gave us lady Liberty–our famous Statue of Liberty.
We saved France from Hitler. Ironic how now they’ve turned and embraced him from the grave. Even to the point that many of them don’t believe that the Nazis murdered anyone. I wish some of the members of their heroic French Underground were still alive, and that their stories were valued. That brings us to point two.
2. Perhaps, since France wants to be a secular nation, all people of sincere faith and belief should leave France. Let them have their Godless society and see how long it lasts. I know one thing, I for one will not be buying French products. I’m standing with those who value the American and FRENCH blood shed to save them from the horror of the Nazis Third Reich. I’m standing with the followers of Christ and believing Jews who face ridicule and public humiliation for their faith.
3. France’s famed patriots–the French Resistance–died for what? Their sacrifice disappears into the mist of history in the hearts and minds of France’s newest conceit. The French have always considered themselves as above normal humans elsewhere in the world, yet look how pride blinds an entire society. They are willing to devalue and forget the past; therefore, they’re assured to repeat it. And they are repeating it! Nazis swastikas and anti-semitic sayings can be found everywhere. The authorities at least are fair, they don’t single out any particular faith, they despise ALL faiths. Why did France bother with retribution against Nazis sympathizers following the great war? Today, those people would be heroes in France and could hold public office.
Remember this is the home of the French Revolution–you don’t like someone . . . Off with their heads! That’s a good reason that Islam will do well there. Only a matter of time. Only this time. Let’s not run off across the Atlantic Ocean to help the French–who seem no longer to value friendship with America. Let them enjoy their free choice. Let them enjoy the right to need no one and no God to stand with them. Let them stand alone. After all they’re still free to choose . . . for a little while longer. Only pity their patriots, especially the French Underground and all the young Frenchmen who paid the ultimate price for this generation’s sad and selfish choices.
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Clash of Kingdoms: Allah vs Yahweh
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Part 1 of 2
DISCLAIMER: If you could hear my voice it would not be enraged, but insistent and urgent. I am deeply concerned for those Muslims and non-Muslims who I believe are asleep, or perhaps waiting on the sidelines to see how things shake down. I am most concerned for those who are followers of Jesus, to hear the Lord’s urgency that the time is short. My sincere desire is for ALL to come to a saving encounter with a loving God, not the god of Islam (where there is no love, no forgiveness, no assurance of righteousness and salvation). I want my readers to encounter the living God, Yahweh, and his truth expressed through loving engagement and most clearly in Yahweh’s Son, Jesus of Nazareth—Messiah.
Warmly,
David
Two Kingdoms have clashed since the beginning. Since his fall, Satan has always opposed God. God’s enemy may cloak himself in some new worldview, movement or genocide but anyone with eyes to see can recognize his strategy. Same old book with a different cover.
Satan’s M.O. is ALWAYS the same:
- Elimination of freedoms. Institutionalized bondage.
- Value system directly opposite God’s revealed values (in Scripture)
- Lies. Since he has been labeled by Jesus as “the father of lies,” we can expect the following: outright lies, covert deception, false witness, false prophets, false doctrine/dogma, false accusation, denials in the face of absolute proof. He twists truth to his purpose—the Lie.
- Stealing what is not his. Satan is a thief. He takes what should be God’s and makes it his. He sets up his own gods, his own government, and his own systems of punishment.
- Satan makes himself out to be God. He is a usurper. Satan fell because He wanted God’s throne. Allah is not just another name for God:
The Koran teaches that Allah and Yahweh are one in the same God. If there is only One God and Allah is the same God as Yahweh, then why are the Muslim’s requiring conversion to Islam and submission to Allah? Believers are already submitted to Yahweh (both believing Jews and Christians). Why did I emphasize believing? Because not all Jews love Yahweh and have embraced their Messiah; and, not all “Christians” are followers of Jesus and his Father, Yahweh. This is why God himself despises religion. Someone can claim inclusion in a particular faith community, without responding to what God says truly identifies believers and faithful followers.
Based upon my understanding of Scripture, Allah is either a manifestation of Satan or one of his demon gods, demanding submission and worship that is not rightfully his. Allah is the Arabic, pre-Islamic desert moon-god–Allah.
- Hatred against God’s people (believing Jews & Christians). Satan demonstrates this hatred by the following characteristic—persecution.
- Persecution. Satan ALWAYS stirs up persecution and human rights violations. He hates people because people are made in the image of Yahweh, destined to crush Satan’s dark kingdom. Jesus said that Satan “was a murderer from the beginning.” From the beginning” is most likely an allusion to Cain. The man who killed his brother Able because Able was the true worshiper of Yahweh and honored him correctly. Cain was jealous, envious, and despised God. His anger at God resulted in killing God’s grandson (Adam was God’s son). Both Jews and Christians are being persecuted in the name of the God that supposedly gave them birth and eternal life?
If you want to see Islam without restraints then look around the world. Look at the Sudan’s Muslim hordes. Look at the lawlessness and violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt. Look closely at the real face of Islam. Wherever in the world Islam is the majority worldview, human rights mean nothing. Wherever human freedom is in jeopardy, Islam is a key player. Wherever terror is valued, Islam is its best friend.
Islam is the bully of the world. Of all the worlds’ religions, Islam is the only one that dares to put to death those who will not submit to its god.
One article stated: “In the absence of law, you can understand how demolishing a church goes unpunished,” he said. “I have not heard of anyone who got arrested or prosecuted.”
Why, “in the absence of law,” would Muslims destroy a church? I thought Muslims were “peaceful.” We’re told over and over that we’re bigots, xenophobes or islamophobes when we point out the public and private behavior of the genuine adherents of Islam. How can we believe they’re “peaceful” when at every opportunity, in every country but the U.S. they show their true colors (for recent examples see: http://www.persecution.com/ see also http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/AboutSite.htm. [They are showing their true colors here in the USA now too.]
- Death & Murder. Satan is the lord of death. Death is Christ’s final enemy. He has been defeated at Calvary, but must be put under the feet of Jesus through supernatural power in the course of history and finally at his Second Coming. This coming is not far off. That is why Islam has been stirred to new life by Satan. The global surge of Islam at this point in history is not by chance. The Bible prophesied that kingdoms would clash and that a global tribulation would be the result (but this is another post or perhaps book).
Islam is a religion of hate, war, violence, revenge, wickedness, and murder—as seen in its unrestrained adherents.
On Feb. 23, less than two weeks after Mubarak’s ouster, a priest was found dead with several stab wounds and witnesses say masked men shouting “Allahu-Akbar” (God is Great) were seen leaving his apartment. The incident triggered protests in the southern city of Assiut [sic] where Christians scuffled with Muslims.
Not long after, in March, a Muslim-Christian love affair led a Muslim mob to torch a church in Soul village to the south of Cairo and set it on fire. When Coptic Christians held a protest denouncing the attack on the church, they were attacked by a Muslim mob wielding guns, knives, and clubs (peaceful hunh?). When the protest ended, 13 were dead and 140 injured. Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/10/10/international/i142529D08.DTL#ixzz1bKWWbE21
Here in the U.S., we have a more covert, watered-down version of Islam. That’s why the term “stealth jihad” is so appropriate when speaking of their agenda here in the States. Muslims here realize the foolhardiness of exposing Islam’s historic purpose and, instead, practice subterfuge. Deception is not only permitted by the Koran, but encouraged. The doctrine of using deception to further Islam is known as El takria. Lies are the native language of its founder and its god–“War is deceit.” How can a Muslim ever rise any higher than either of those two, unless that Muslim recognizes the truth and turns to the love of Yahweh? Allah’s values reveal him to be, not God, but God’s adversary and enemy.
No matter which way you slice it, Islam has been, is, and always will be about death, because its god—Allah—is all about death for those who will not submit to his authority. Satan is a murderer and so are all his appointments, including Allah.
Just look at the people who have had their lives threatened because they have spoken against or blasphemed Allah or Islam. When was the last time you heard of a true, regenerate follower of Jesus threaten someone’s life for not believing or for blaspheming? NEVER!!! True followers of Jesus and of Yahweh leave it to God or Christ to take care of blasphemers. Who among us is wise enough to know who to put to death? But this has ALWAYS been the way of Satan through his puppets. You will know them by their behavior. And their behavior cannot rise above who they truly are in nature and character. Any honest person can see a HUGE difference between Yahweh and Allah, between Christ and Mohammad. They’re not even in the same universe of morality or supernatural power.
We who speak the truth of Christ Jesus have always had our lives threatened by Satan. He is the murderer behind all murder and killing in religion—including those of historic Christianity (both Roman Catholic and Protestant); Hitler’s pretense to be “Christian” and his demented Third Reich (now there’s a blasphemy for you); and now, true followers of Allah (those who really know their Koran and follow the life of Mohammed (I’m not talking about the many lapsed Catholic and fringe protestants who have “converted” to Islam. They don’t know Islam any better than they ever knew Jesus or the Bible. They simply rejected the worst of religion for something that offered a different, more mysterious reality regardless of its truth, righteousness, or the values and actions of its founder and god.)
Next post, I’ll suggest a response.
QUESTION: What are your thoughts given what you’ve just read?
Part 1 of 2 – ©2011, David C Alves
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Bin Laden’s Death: Mission Behind the Mission
Shortly after 3PM Eastern time Sunday, U.S. Navy Seals killed Usama Bin Laden. What was the mission behind the mission though? I believe that my friend, Luke, and I along with many others had a part in this event. Let me explain.
Saturday night, Luke and I watched “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West.” The DVD showed the intense hatred and focused malevolence aimed at the United States and other western countries by radical jihadists. The documentary interviewed reformed radicals who speculated upon the origins and sources of the hatred and violence of the jihadists. This threat is a clear and present danger not only to our country and economy, but to our way of life. It became obvious to us that this is a very different kind of warfare. You can’t see the enemy. No uniforms, no clear lines are drawn. No battle fronts. The battlefield is anywhere and everywhere. One of the reasons is that it is a spiritual warfare. The war against terror is a clash of kingdom ideologies that cross physical boundaries.
Not understanding this is the West’s greatest point of vulnerability. When secular humanists encounter radical spiritual warfare, their western, anti-supernatural bias prevents them from understanding the spiritual forces and reality behind the war. Having been in discussion with secular thinkers, I have found that they dismiss the spiritual for several reasons:
- Secular eyes can’t see spiritual truths. Jesus said as much. So did the Apostle Paul.
- Secular hearts fear what they can’t see or control. Even if they are willing to concede that perhaps there is spiritual reality behind religious warfare, they assume that because we’re dealing with the invisible realm, there is no way to affect the outcome or measure effectiveness. Of course, I would disagree and can site many instances of the physical realm being affected by the spiritual.
- Secular anti-supernatural bias is birthed and sustained by materialism (the belief that the only reality is material–what can be measured physically) and fear. Secularists are like Ostriches. Just plunge your head into the sand and you have no more to fear.
The great Apostle of Christianity, Paul, said, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 ESV)
Knowing that terrorism has its roots in spiritual reality, Luke and I prayed that the Father would begin to take apart the ground that these demonic beings have claimed. We prayed that the powers and principalities behind the hatred would be revealed and silenced. We prayed that our enemies would come to their senses and be set free from the darkness that has them ensnared.
One day later, Osama Bin Laden died at the hands of U.S. Navy seals. The head of the snake has been severed. In Luke, chapter ten, verse 19, Jesus said, “I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.” (ESV) [emphasis mine]
Our prayers, joined to those of many intercessors worldwide paved the way for our troops to be successful in this mission. We believe that we have at our disposal the ways and means to defeat radical Islam.
We hope you will join us. Pray for our troops. Pray for the defeat of darkness and wickedness. Trample the snakes and scorpions (demonic powers) by living a Spirit empowered, Spirit-filled life of intercession. Then let’s trust the Father to manifest the results of our spiritual warfare in the nightly news.
©2011, David C Alves
God is a Writer, Speaker, and Reader
But gradually an urgency to write fiction took over; it was a vocation that seemed so exalted and sacred and beyond me I would not even talk about it. . . . Many writers are agnostic and have as their religion art, but just as many are conscious that the source of their gifts is God and have found thanksgiving, worship, and praise of the Holy Being to be central to their lives and artistic practice.
Yes. I am one of the latter. I believe that vocare (vocation–calling) is the fundamental difference between the writer who happens to be a Christian (and may be rather embarrassed to admit it) and the Christian writer (a disciple of Jesus Christ who writes under compulsion of the Holy Spirit).
The Apostle Paul understood this because he says that he preached under compulsion (1 Cor. 9:16; cf. Ac. 9:15; Rom. 1:14 NIV). Being a Christian writer does not limit us to Christian literature, rather God gives us the freedom and responsibility to explore life and exegete creation–always embodying truth in the metaphors he inspires.
God is also a Speaker. He travels and comments on his work and his writings through the Holy Spirit (who will bring back to remembrance all that is said, leading us into all truth). The best example is Jesus on the road to Emmaus:
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. . . And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:13-15, 27, ESV)
For many years now I have walked in a ministry of speaking the Word. I now sense that God is combining them in my life: writing and speaking. These facts encourage me as a writer and a speaker. I look forward to the doors of opportunity opening wider in my calling. I have a sense, overwhelming at times, of God’s tender oversight and care in what I write and speak. I know him to be moving my writing at times. I see–in the impact it has in readers–a confirmation to continue. I know in the personal correction and discipline in my life that I am being shaped for these purposes.
God is a Reader. Jesus says to the crowds, “Haven’t you read . . . ” implying, he had (Mt. 12:3, 5; 19:4; Lk. 4:16). I am encouraged as a reader and student of literature that God grants exceptional understanding in this discipline as well. Simply read the following passage in Daniel:
“As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” (Daniel 1:17, ESV)
If we will let him, God makes us into readers. Good readers. Readers who see more than what’s obvious, lying just on the surface. We will see the deeper truths behind the words, thoughts, and emotions shared by authors.
I want my writing, speaking, and reading to be filled with the grace and power of God. I hope those of you who know me will pray that God will bring this to pass in my life. That I might be a blessing and that my life would make a significant contribution to the lives of others.
Now in my early sixties, I often feel I’m getting a late start, but I MUST entrust that to Him. For he does all things well and makes everything beautiful in his time.
QUESTION: Do you sense God’s involvement in your writing, speaking, or reading? Please take a moment and share an example with us.
© 2011, David C Alves
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