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Boeing Bible Fellowship
Studies in the Life of Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Christ
Duwamish Study, Tuesday, November 14th, 2017
Lesson 242B
Jwk
PRINCIPALITIES IN CHINA Continued
Last week we had this outline which we rather fleshed-out during our conversation. This week I want to alert you to some of the mythologies of Satan in his schemes against the Will of God and his going about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may destroy. (1 Peter 5).
Our LORD Yeshua talks of a strong man, and the lesson attached to this, discusses this somewhat, and Paul introduces us to principalities. So there is serious order in Satan’s kingdom. Yeshua pointed that out, since it stands, otherwise it would collapse.
(Matthew 12:25–26 (ESV)
25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
So how do we identify these spiritual dark forces and is that even necessary? I think for the most part we leave that in the domain of God, but periodically the LORD wants to introduce us to various either controlling elements that are blocking the Word and Will of God.
In Ephesians Paul defines these 4 types and I image there are many more types, just as in man’s government. We know that God’s government has great order and dignity and honor in all of its operations.
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
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.
Ephesians 6:12–13 (NKJV)
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.
Ephesians 6:12–13 (Newberry Interlinear)
12 οτι ουκ εστιν ημιν η παλη προς αιμα και σαρκα αλλα προς τας αρχας προς τας εξουσιας προς τους κοσμοκρατορας του σκοτους του αιωνος τουτου προς τα πνευματικα της πονηριας εν τοις επουρανιοις
I only put the Greek there because I thought we might recognize some things in it.
1. Rulers or Principalities – αρχας
2. Powers or Authorities – εξουσιας
3. Cosmic powers over this present darkness, or the Rulers of darkness of this age - κοσμοκρατορας του σκοτους του αιωνος τουτ
4. Spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places or spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places - πνευματικα της πονηριας εν τοις επουρανιοις
Since Paul lists them in that order, I’m thinking this might be a clue as to their order in the hierarchy of evil. Now one of the ways to gain an understanding of this is probably go to the allegory the LORD gave me.
The plan in this lesson is to give a bit of the background going on in the Spirit as I traveled China with my tour group.
1. The tour
2. What does a dictatorship do to a people?
3. How to witness in a strange land – how to identify “principalities” in the Spirit
4. Conclusions
THE STRONG MAN
Back in 1988, I was going through serious marital stress, and after many mistakes, sufferings and hardships, the LORD one night gave me this message. It’s lengthy, so it will take us a number of weeks to get through it. Since I’m leaving for China the day after tomorrow, we will not be able to resume for a few weeks. LORD willing, upon my return, November 5th, I’ll be able to do a class on Tuesday November 7th. Meanwhile, you may find it interesting to read through the whole lesson, and especially the allegory at the end, simply to get a grasp of how Satan’s kingdom plots to overthrow and destroy God’s plans for us. He knows he will not prevail, but that doesn’t seem to lessen his obsession with our destruction.
Original 11 Jan 1988
THE STRONG MAN
OR
WHY OUR PRAYERS AT TIMES ARE SEEMINGLY NOT ANSWERED
2 Ki 17:40-41 They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.
These are very sad words. They were written about Israel just after it was deported to Assyria by the stronger kings of the north. These words were written about 700 BC!
1 Ti 4:1-2 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
“Satan knowing that his days are shortened is coming to earth with all his host and we are going to pass into a period of spiritual conflict such as the church has never known.”
Mt 24:21-22 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
Mt 24:42-43 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
Mt 12:28-29 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
Mk 3:23-27 So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house.
Lk 11:24-26 “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.”
Lk 10:17-20 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Lk 11:20-23 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils. “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.
Why These Scriptures?
These Scriptures dear Christian friend are given to encourage us to stand firm and recognize God’s power in Jesus Christ over all evil. If we, or a friend or parent, spouse, son, or daughter, or close relative, colleague are Christian or not and have allowed a habit take the upper hand in our life; a habit that is contrary to God’s Word, whether it be physical, mental, or spiritual, be assured there is a strong man nearby. Our prayers will be hindered greatly by the presence of these evil powers but God’s power is infinitely greater. We must persevere at all costs. Consider Daniel. Da 10:12-13 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I (the angel) have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.” Daniel had been fasting and praying that entire time.
Wolves
Jesus used the wolf to describe certain of Satan’s activity against the Children of god. John 10:1-21. A strong man always has wolves in the vicinity. This is a matter of degree, so to speak. Their purpose is our destruction at any cost. This destruction may come in the variety of forms that evil takes: humiliation, depression, physical or mental disease, and rebellion against God’s commands and covenants (which eventuates in God’s wrath being poured out on us, simply by the sowing and reaping principle).
In Deadly Earnest
Has any of us lost a Christian friend through suicide? Or seen another ‘s faith seduced away by the world, or lust? Or what about the inspiring Christian who all of a sudden has a drinking problem, or an incurable disease? Or what about the Christian leader who is found to be in adultery, or incest? The list is endless and most of us can probably identify with a few of these cases because they are rather extreme. There are a multitude of problems – types we never hear of: the Christian self-abusers who are good at hiding their food, or pornography, or self sex, or drugs, or booze, or women, or spending, or power, or ego self-love, or fill-in-the-blank! These evil powers are in deadly earnest. They literally mean to cancel out our lives, or the lives of those whom we know. These powers of darkness will attempt to muffle our witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. They will torment and confuse our minds through fantasy, and cause us to dwell on bizarre, unreal thinking. They will war against our souls with every weapon of doubt, and guilt, fear and anxiety they can muster.
They Are Dead They Shall Not Live
“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” 1 Jn 3:8b. The resurrection covenantal power of God infused life in the dead body, the corpse, of Jesus Christ lying in that tomb so long ago, and transformed Him into the living Christ Messiah now seated at the right Hand of God forever more. He has conquered all evil and His righteousness is increasingly filling the universe with Eternal light. The powers of hell and darkness, Satan, his principalities, powers , strong men, and wolves are dead; they shall not live. Isaiah described it in a praise song, Is 26:13-14 O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish. The powers of darkness and evil have been overcome. All one need do is believe. Sounds easy doesn’t it? It really is IN HIM but let’s take a closer look.
How Bad Is The Maze?
Where do we begin? How can we begin to witness the binding of the strong man in our lives? How can we, sometimes guilt-ridden, sometimes daily consumed by troublesome, unhealthy lust for things, for positions of power in relationships, for and unhealthy desire for a better wage, or unwholesome desire for another person, or any of the multitude of ways we are imprisoned, come free from the strong man (or men)? These strong men in effect paralyze our life’s effectiveness such that what Peter says cannot happen. 2 Pe 1:8 For if you possess these qualities (faith added to goodness, added to knowledge, to self-control, to perseverance, to godliness, to brotherly kindness, to love) in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. How can we free ourselves, or witness the power of God cut the web that holds so tightly? Is it truly possible to be free from the gnawing’s of desire to gratify or is that just the privilege of a select few? Or a myth? Can we really cease being angry at long, tedious, consuming lines of traffic? Can we really fall asleep at night in peace, without worry? Do credit cards have to leave us with so much condemnation? Do certain of us or ones we love have to be preyed upon by the wolves of promiscuity, pornography, homosexuality, masturbation, drug or alcohol addiction, lesbianism, sodomy, suicidal tendencies, murderous rage or anger, cursing blasphemies, mental confusion that literally prevents sleep, mental illness that robs continuity , or consumptive disease where the prospects of a future healthy life are dim, or are blotted out by no known cure?
The Canine Species
The canine family (dogs, wolves, coyotes, etc.) has been with us for quite a while. When wolves or other members of the dog family search for prey, they do so collectively. They generally look for the weak and they track by scent. They single out a victim, rushing upon it and harassing it., attempting to tire it. Sometimes a surprise move is made to discover a weakness or a straggler. But the key is persistence. They pursue relentlessly until they have given themselves every possibility to succeed. It is good to study the habits of these creatures. They are very instructive. It is rather sobering to imagine being pursued in such a fashion, and yet this is precisely what Jesus implies by the parable of the Good Shepherd in John the 10-th Chapter.