2010 Basics Why Oppressed People Need Spiritual Power

Thursday, 30 December 2010 16:07

Spiritual Power is the operation of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers for the purpose of effective living and effective ministry. The outcome of the use of spiritual power is spiritual change that is often [but not always] seen and felt in the material world.

Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle [wrestling (a contest between two in which each endeavors to throw the other, and which is decided when the victor is able to hold his opponent down with his hand upon his neck) Strong, J. (G3823)] 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. 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. NKJV

2 Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war [1 to make a military expedition, to lead soldiers to war or to battle, (spoken of a commander). 2 to do military duty, be on active service, be a soldier. 3 to fight. Strong, J. (G4754)]. according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, NKJV

Spiritual power is necessary because a spiritual war is being prosecuted. Both of the scriptures quoted above say that there is a battle in which we are engaged that is not physical, not political, not social or interpersonal, but spiritual. It is a real but invisible battle against powerful, invisible and wicked entities. These invisible threats are demonic, they are fallen angels who exercise real influence in our world and in our lives. Their leader is Satan, their objective is the overthrow of God, their policy is known as Good and Evil. They have a system of authority which includes both fallen angels and human beings who execute the commands of the devil in this warfare.

Satan also treats this conflict as a war.

1 Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. NKJV

Spiritual power is necessary to fight this war because our adversaries are spirits. Spirits are invisible but real beings who exert tremendous spiritual force. We have seen spirits bring about the deaths of Jobs children and servants Job 1. Spirits can encourage wars that cause great destruction of human life 1Kin 22.19-23. Wicked spirits can blind the minds of men and women to the gospel

2 Co 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. NKJV

Spirits such as Lucifer can cause the collapse of entire nations

Is 14:12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! NKJV

Demonic entities like Satan caused the fall of the entire human race through temptation Genesis 3. Although these are all large issues, the way in which these large spiritual effects are created is by small spiritual victories or defeats in our everyday lives. We use the majority of the spiritual power that we do use, in these small daily victories:

To maintain successful interpersonal relationships: e.g. family life

To perform our secular duties faithfully and with excellence

To deal with various categories of pain to the glory of God

To learn the scriptures

To resist temptation to sin

To perform our spiritual ministry

It is through the use of spiritual power to accomplish these things that the large issues are resolved. We are often deluded into thinking that activity in spiritual mass movements or political causes is spiritual warfare. Rather, it is in effective living that most of spiritual warfare is waged. The rest pertains to the specific spiritual calling that we have received. Spiritual power is essential for the believer in order to grow and in order to be effective in the battle for which each of has been set apart by God. Spiritual power, when used effectively:

Promotes spiritual growth by enabling obedience to divine commands,

Souls are saved through effective evangelism,

Builds up the saints through the use of spiritual gifts,

Secures the tranquility of the community and nation when God provides blessing to mature believers that overflows to the family, community and nation of the believer

Spiritual Power and Oppressed People

Spiritual power is especially important to oppressed people.Lucifer uses oppression liberally in his administration of the world. Men oppress other men as a satanic policy by which the devil controls his kingdom. Oppression is a way in which sinful man mitigates the effects of the fall, by using other men to make life better for themselves. The words oppress and oppression occur 91 times in scripture

In Daniel 7 and Revelation 17, our times are portrayed as dominated by violence and oppression.

Mal 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. KJV

We don’t think in terms of oppression today because the results of oppression are blamed on the victim of oppression: his bad decisions, bad morals, bad culture, genetic inferiority, rather than upon the conscious policies of oppressive men that operate in the world. In the past someone oppressed you and didn’t care what you thought about it. Today oppression is accompanied by a marketing approach that convinces you that there is no inter-generational apparatus of oppression, the problem is simply that you don’t have what it takes to make it.

Spiritual power is the only effective solution to oppression in this world. Because the basis of oppression is satanic, it is implemented and maintained by men, socially, politically and economically, but at its source, oppression is a spiritual initiative.Social, political and economic approaches to oppression address symptoms and not the problem. Oppression is a manifestation of Satan’s policy and therefore a spiritual stronghold that must be thrown down by spiritual means.

Therefore the battle against oppression is a part of the spiritual warfare. Do not let anyone tell you that it is not. In fact be especially aware of Christians who tell you that one, there is no oppression in America and two, it is not a spiritual issue. You should reject this position because the bible is clear that the times of the Gentiles is characterized by violence and oppression and that this violence and oppression is spiritually motivated.

How does the use of spiritual power help oppressed people?

Spiritual power in the hands of oppressed people results in a changed mind Rom 12.2 [what does a renewed mind mean to an oppressed person?]. A new self concept which is informed by a proper understanding of the bible and biblical history in which blacks were key actors. Also a proper understanding of the bible shows that the sin is in oppressing people and not in being oppressed as we currently believe.These two changes will reduce the self destructive behavior which is brought about by inferiority complex.

Spiritual power in the hands of oppressed people results in the rejection of false teaching and false teachers. When people are spiritually mature, they will not tolerate false teachers and they will seek true spiritual instruction rather than entertainment and charlatanism.You cannot maintain a people in oppression without large numbers of false teachers in their midst. Discipleship is prevented among the oppressed by the constant infusion of erroneous spiritual concepts [doctrines of demons] among the people. Spiritual oppression always precedes physical oppression as shown in the example of Israel.

Spiritual power in the hands of oppressed people results in repaired institutions. After spiritual oppression through false teaching, the primary institutions of marriage and family are destroyed. These institutions are no stronger than the spiritual basis which underlie them.You cannot build strong families in the community on the foundation of doctrinally weak churches. The development of spiritually strong believers will improve the strength of marriages and families. This is because spiritually powerful believers can handle the stresses and pains of marital and family life better than spiritually weak believers. These believers become an example or template for the unbelievers in the community. Strong marriages and families will result in the development of economic power, which is the basis of local and regional political power.

Spiritual Power is the operation of the holy spirit in the lives of believers for the purpose of effective living and effective ministry. The outcome of the use of spiritual power is spiritual change that is often [but not always] seen and felt in the material world.

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