tells me that when I choose to follow Christ, I am enlisting in His army. I'm signing up to fight. So, how can you be in a fight with a lack of knowledge about your enemy? How can you be in a battle with a lack of knowledge about your tools and the resources you have to defend yourself?
A lack of knowledge is what unfortunately destroys too many Christians.
And so on that topic, I would like to expose a few things about the enemy, your enemy. I want you to know who you're fighting. But more importantly, I pray that this message will stir up your spirit and rile you up for battle.
And as I begin, keep this thought in the back of your mind.
As a child of God, you're fighting from a position of victory.
You're not fighting for victory, but from a position of victory because the battle was already won by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Now there are hierarchies in the kingdom of darkness. In the Amplified Translation from Matthew 12:26, the Bible reads, "If Satan casts out Satan, that is his demons, he has become divided against himself and disunited. How then will his kingdom stand?"
So from this verse we understand that the devil has a kingdom which is the kingdom of darkness. This kingdom of his is somewhat unified in its opposition to the kingdom of God.
And finally in the kingdom of darkness as in any kingdom there is a pillar of power. There's a chain of command. There are ranks in a kingdom.
Here's how we can piece together the fact that there are hierarchies in the demonic realm. Ephesians 6: 12 says, "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."
This is a list of spiritual enemies, wickedness.
However you interpret this verse, the indication is certainly that there seems to be a ranked order in the kingdom of darkness.
There will be a top level of evil spiritual forces below the devil and I believe these to be principalities. If you remember the story of Daniel, he prayed and prayed for 21 days. And when the angel finally came to deliver his answer, Daniel 10:12 and 13 says, "Then he said to me, don't be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before God, your words were heard. I have come because of your words. However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me for 21 days. But behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me because I had been detained there with the kings of Persia."
The prince of the kingdom of Persia. This wasn't your regular foot soldier.
This was a principality that was blocking Daniel's prayer. It wasn't your regular demon, but it was a principality that was strong enough to need the Archangel Michael to come in and intervene. This was a higher ranking evil power.
Now, despite these ranks in the kingdom of darkness, the kingdom of God naturally has its own order of things.
Our God is a God of order, and he has an innumerable number of angels available to do his bidding. Some angels are created simply to worship. Others are messengers, but thank God that we have warring angels available to us.
The angel who delivered an answer to Daniel said, "The prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me for 21 days, but behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me because I had been detained there with the kings of Persia."
Although the prince of Persia attempted to stop the angel from delivering Daniel's prayer, it was still no match for Michael the Archangel. And so the prince of Persia is obviously a high ranking territorial spirit. This is very different from the type of demons found elsewhere in the Bible.
Demons which cause sickness or illness. Luke 8:1 and 2 says, "Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God, and the twelve were with him and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities. Mary called Magdalene from whom seven demons had gone out."
The Bible says women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, meaning there exists a kind of demon that brings sickness and disease.
So how are we to interpret all of this and understand it in our own Christian lives?
Well, firstly, we ought to know that there are ranks in the kingdom of darkness. The stronger we get in faith, the stronger the opposition. But when you have knowledge, when you have knowledge, you know that Jesus Christ outranks every demon, every principality, every ruler of darkness, including the devil. Jesus Christ outranks them all.
Without knowledge, you will perish according to the Bible. You will perish because you will become fearful. And fear really only enters because you have taken Jesus Christ out of the equation. Of course, you'll become fearful at the thought of fighting evil principalities on your own. Of course, you'll be fearful at the thought of fighting demons on your own.
But when you have knowledge, you will not fear. When you have knowledge, you will not perish. When you have the knowledge that Jesus Christ holds absolute power over all things, then you will not perish.
When you have the knowledge that Christ outranks the highest ranking member of the kingdom of darkness, then you eliminate fear. This is why it's so important to know God's word. involved. You shouldn't be moved to fear or worry because of the kingdom of darkness.
The Bible says in Luke 10:17, "Then the 70 returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name." Just the name of Jesus Christ alone holds enough power to defeat the devil.
His name alone carries power. So I encourage you to fight from a place where you know that you can call on the Son of God, the One who has the highest rank above all.
Live with freedom and boldness. Yes, you may have to fight a demon at some point.
You may have to fight a ruler of wickedness at some point. But if God is for us, who can be against us?
Because the Bible says in James 2 :19, you believe that there is one God, you do well. Even the demons believe and tremble. Even the demons tremble when you get God Even the devil himself is a defeated foe.
I would like to end with a few fighting words. A verse that you should know as you fight this good fight of faith.
Luke 10:19 says, "Listen carefully. I have given you authority that you now possess to tread on serpents and scorpions and the ability to exercise authority over all the power of the enemy, Satan. And nothing will in any way harm you.
We have authority through the name of Jesus Christ.
We have authority through the blood of Jesus, through faith. This authority is what we need to exercise. And that is the kind of knowledge we ought to have. The gates of hell cannot prevail. They will not prevail because we have knowledge. We have the knowledge of the authority we're given by Christ.
We know that we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome the devil. We know that God has angels encamped all around us. There is a divine perimeter protecting you and me as children of God.
In closing, should you find yourself under attack at any point in your life, remember Ephesians 6:10 to 12, which says, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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 faces.
这告诉我，当我选择跟随基督时，我就加入了祂的军队。我报名参战。那么，如果你对敌人一无所知，又怎能投入战斗呢？如果你对用来自卫的工具和资源一无所知，又怎能投入战斗呢？
不幸的是，正是知识的匮乏摧毁了太多基督徒。
因此，关于这一点，我想揭露一些关于敌人——你的敌人——的事情。我希望你知道你在与谁作战。但更重要的是，我祈祷这篇信息能够激励你的灵，让你充满斗志投入战斗。
在我开始之前，请记住这一点：
作为神的儿女，你是在胜利的立场上战斗。
你不是在为胜利而战，而是在胜利的立场上战斗，因为这场战斗已经被我们的主和救主耶稣基督赢得了。
黑暗的国度里存在着等级制度。在《马太福音》12:26的扩充版译文中，圣经写道：“撒但若赶出撒但，就是赶出他的鬼魔，他自己就内讧了，他的国怎能站得住呢？”
由此可见，魔鬼拥有一个国度，即黑暗的国度。这个国度在某种程度上与神的国度为敌。
最后，如同任何国度一样，黑暗的国度中也存在权力中心，存在等级制度，存在等级分明。
以下是我们如何理解魔鬼领域也存在等级制度的。《以弗所书》6:12说：“因我们并不是与属血气的争战，乃是与那些执政的、掌权的、管辖这幽暗世界的，以及天空属灵气的恶魔争战。”
这是一份属灵敌人的名单，代表着邪恶势力。
无论你如何解读这节经文，它都表明黑暗国度中似乎存在着等级秩序。
在魔鬼之下，存在着更高层次的邪恶灵力，我相信这些就是权势。如果你还记得但以理的故事，他祷告了整整21天。当天使最终前来传达他的旨意时，但以理书10:12-13记载：“他对我说：‘但以理啊，不要惧怕！因为你从第一日专心求明白，又谦卑自己到神面前，你的祷告就蒙垂听了。我因你的祷告而来。然而，波斯国的君王拦阻我21天。但我在那里与波斯王一同被拘禁，有一位大君米迦勒来帮助我。’”
波斯国的君王。这并非普通的士兵。
这是一个阻挠但以理祷告的权势。它并非普通的恶魔，而是一个强大到需要大天使米迦勒亲自出面干预的势力。这是一个地位更高的邪恶力量。
然而，尽管黑暗王国中存在着这样的等级，上帝的国度自然有其自身的秩序。
我们的上帝是一位秩序之神，他拥有无数的天使来执行他的命令。有些天使被创造出来仅仅是为了敬拜。有些是使者，但感谢上帝，我们还有可以与之争战的天使。
那位向但以理传达信息的天使说：“波斯国的君王与我对抗了二十一日，但看哪，大君中的一位米迦勒来帮助我，因为我与波斯诸王一同被囚禁在那里。”
尽管波斯君王试图阻止天使传达但以理的祷告，但他仍然不是大天使米迦勒的对手。因此，波斯君王显然是一个地位很高的地域性邪灵。这与圣经其他地方提到的恶魔截然不同。
带来疾病的恶魔。路加福音 8:1-2 记载：“此后，耶稣走遍各城各乡，宣讲神国的福音。十二门徒与他同在，还有一些妇女，她们曾被恶鬼附身，或患有疾病，都得到了医治。其中有抹大拉的马利亚，曾有七个鬼从她身上赶出来。”
圣经提到“曾被恶鬼附身，或患有疾病，都得到了医治的妇女”，这意味着确实存在一种带来疾病的恶魔。
那么，我们应该如何解读这一切，并将其运用到我们自己的基督徒生活中呢？
首先，我们应当知道，黑暗国度里有等级之分。我们的信心越强，遇到的阻力就越大。但当你拥有知识，当你拥有知识，你就会明白耶稣基督凌驾于一切邪灵、一切权势、一切黑暗统治者之上，包括魔鬼。耶稣基督凌驾于他们之上。
没有知识，你必将灭亡，正如圣经所说。你会灭亡，因为你会感到恐惧。而恐惧的产生，恰恰是因为你把耶稣基督排除在外。当然，想到要独自与邪恶的权势争战，你会感到恐惧。当然，想到要独自与魔鬼争战，你会感到恐惧。
但当你拥有知识，你就不会恐惧。当你拥有知识，你就不会灭亡。当你明白耶稣基督拥有绝对的权柄，凌驾于万物之上，你就不会灭亡。
当你明白基督凌驾于黑暗国度中地位最高的成员之上，你就会消除恐惧。这就是为什么了解神的话语如此重要。你不应该因为黑暗的权势而感到恐惧或忧虑。
圣经路加福音10:17说：“那七十个人欢欢喜喜地回来，说：‘主啊，因你的名，就是鬼也服了我们。’”单单耶稣基督的名就拥有战胜魔鬼的足够力量。
祂的名本身就充满力量。所以我鼓励你，要从确信你可以呼求神的儿子——那位超越一切至高者——的地方来争战。
要活得自由勇敢。是的，你可能在某个时候要与魔鬼争战。
你可能在某个时候要与邪恶的统治者争战。但如果神帮助我们，谁能敌挡我们呢？
因为圣经雅各书2:19说：“你信神只有一位，你信的不错；连鬼魔也信，却是战兢。”即使是魔鬼，在你认识神的时候也会颤抖；就连魔鬼自己，也成了你战败的敌人。
最后，我想用几句激励人心的话语来结束。这节经文，在你为信仰而战的时候，应该牢记在心。
路加福音 10:19 说：“你们要仔细听。我已经赐给你们权柄，可以践踏蛇和蝎子，又胜过仇敌撒但一切的能力，断没有什么能害你们。”
我们因耶稣基督的名得权柄。
我们因耶稣的宝血，因信得权柄。我们需要运用这权柄。我们也应当拥有这样的知识。阴间的权柄不能胜过我们。它们必不能胜过我们，因为我们有知识。我们拥有基督所赐给我们的权柄的知识。
我们知道，圣灵赋予我们能力去胜过魔鬼。我们知道，神在我们周围安营着天使。有神圣的护卫保护着你我，作为神的儿女。
最后，如果你在人生的任何阶段遭遇攻击，请记住以弗所书 6:10-12，经文说：“我还有末了的话：你们要靠着主，倚赖他的能力刚强。”要有能力。穿戴神所赐的全副军装，就能抵挡魔鬼的诡计。因为我们争战的不是血肉之躯，乃是与那些执政的、掌权的、管辖这幽暗世界的，以及天空属灵气的恶魔争战。
No comments:
Post a Comment