Satan's Army - Frank Brancato 7/19/15

Certainly is wonderful to be here with you today and we

appreciate the presence of all that have come to be with us.

And as always is the case, it is my privilege to be able to speak

concerning the word of God. We're continuing our lesson from

last time regarding the Christians Warfare and yes we

are in a battle. We don't wrestle against flesh

and blood as the great Apostle Paul would say, but we do have a

war and a battle that's going on every day that we live in

Christ. And I invite your attention to

these sixth chapter of the book of Ephesians and as an

introduction. We'll just read one verse there.

That's verse 12, Ephesians chapter 6, and verse 12.

Ephesians 6 · chapter mention

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 Heavenly places

as we continue our study today. This morning, we're going to

talk a little bit more about the enemy.

We're going to talk about Satanism and the world of the

occult. And you remember last time we

talked about the idea of being in a spiritual battle.

By day, there's no reason why the child of God should ever

lose the battle. Those very encouraging things

that we talked about from God's word.

If a child of God would do three things, he would win the battle

over Satan. Number one, you got to prepare

yourself for the battle. How do you do that?

Be a faithful member of the body of Christ that draws his

strength from the Lord and not your own.

That's number one. Number two, to win the battle

against the devil, you Got to put on the armor and number

three. You got to identify the enemy

and resist him. And if we will do that, we can

defeat the Devil this morning though, I want to entitle our

remarks Satan's Army. He does have an army and that'll

be the last part of our lesson when we deal with that very

idea. The idea of the occult is on the

rise in our country. And believe it or not, many

young people are seeking their spiritual identity through

Satanism. In fact, Satanism has become an

issue of great concern. In our society today, it's a

phenomena that has crossed the city limits and it's made its

way into the rural areas of our nation.

In fact, Satanism, as one man, put it is not just a big city

problem. It is not just a problem that

you find in our larger cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco

or new, York or other, great big cities.

It's something that is finally found their way all over the

land. In fact news wires carry story.

After story about young children that are kidnapped only to be

found later as victims of some bizarre ritualistic crime.

You know to help us gain a very balanced perspective of the

subject author c.s. Lewis wrote this wrote a book

entitled, the screwtape letters and by the way I didn't know

what screwtape meant so I looked it up screwtape actually is a

fictitious name for the devil for Satan and so he wrote a book

called the screwtape letters and he said this regarding Satan and

his army. He said this and I quote there

are two equal and Asset errors into which our race can fall

about. The Devils one is to disbelieve

in their existence and the other is to believe and to feel an

unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally

pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with

the same delight and quote. Satanism challenges, the

Biblical, teaching regarding man's relationship with others.

The Bible would say that we esteem others better than

ourselves. In fact, we talked about the

idea of being in the body of Christ.

We are the family of God in First Corinthians chapter 12.

1 Corinthians 12 · chapter mention

The Apostle Paul says we are all members of that body and when

one would suffer, we all suffer with it.

When one rejoices we all Rejoice together and then in verse 27,

the first At the ins chapter 12, Paul said now you are the body

of Christ and members individually.

That's what the Bible says. Satanism is the opposite of that

Satanism esteem self over others.

A young Satanist, believe that a strong and the strong will

actually one day rule with Satan but then it gets worse.

It's very sad to me. As I Read this when someone is

sufficiently involved in satanic activity, they make a pact with

Satan that in a future time they committed date in which they

will take their own life by Suicide.

Their belief is if they submit themselves to Satan by death,

then they'll come back in another life stronger and be

able to rule with the devil forever.

You know, something about statistics.

Statistics are outdated just about the time that they're read

or written the kind of like an iPhone or a computer.

So keeping that in mind, I don't know how up to date.

These are but these are statistics that I did find

regarding Satanism. I'm not talking about suicide

for any other reason. I'm just talking about young

people taking their own life for the devil. 14 young, people

every single day. Take their own life.

Market friends. Satan is after our youth, Satan

is after our youth Satanism offers its Allure through

youthful things in society, like sinful things, like fornication

and drugs, Now, let me ask you this.

What is the picture in your mind of the profile of a Satanist?

I got to admit something to you my profile and sometimes we

stereotype, we shouldn't do that but sometimes we do that I did

that. I had a picture.

When I started studying this out, I had a picture in my mind

of a young Satanist and I had a picture of this a very dark

person, may be a person that didn't have any friends.

I don't know who lot about it, but maybe they were Gothic.

Maybe they were the black all the time, the deep dark kind of

person. Maybe they were people that just

kind of give you the creeps, that's not the profile of a

young Satanist. These are statistics listen to

this. The profile has emerged and they

are generally get this from a white middle to upper middle

class family that fall into that category.

In most cases, they do well in school, they're bright, but

oftentimes, they're bored and unchallenged to meet their

potential. You know, my grandfather, Frank

brancato. The one I was named after used

to say all the time, my dad quoted him and it was this Idle

Hands are tools for the devil. And then he would say.

And an idle mind is his Workshop.

I don't miss is very dangerous. You can have the brightest of

bright kids and have idle time of unproductive time and get in

trouble. Idle Hands are tools for the

devil. I don't mind our his Workshop.

I think that's why my dad just worked us like slaves as kids.

There's another great influence on young people today, you know

what it is. It's music.

It's music. Music has always been at the

center of the youth culture now Let me just say, I am not

preaching against modern music. I was young too, I get that.

I'm not preaching against modern music.

What I'm saying is be very careful about the lyrics of

whatever it is that you're listening to if the lyrics

promote violent and sinful Behavior be.

Very careful. It will have an impact on you.

You might say no, not me. Yeah, you You ever hear about a

man called The Night Stalker. His name is Richard Ramirez of

Los Angeles, California. You know he did.

He believe that Satan would make him invisible Invincible?

Police said he was a serial killer police said that this

brutal style of his rapes and the 16 murders that he committed

resembled the lyrics of the song Night Prowler on AC/DC's LP

Highway to Hell. In addition to that along with

this fascination with AC/DC, he used cocaine and PCP in

conjunction with a deep interest in satanic worship.

Believing that Satan would protect him and on, and on it

goes, you know, Satanism is a growing concern, obviously in

our culture, and with this growth comes, a great deal of

confusion and lack of understanding it.

Because of that, I want to notice the following with you.

There is a difference between Between a cult and the Occult.

The first thing I want to notice with you is the definition of a

cult. A cult is a group or of people

polarized around an individual, with a Magnetic Personality, who

deviates from Orthodox Christianity by distorting, the

central message of the Bible by additional Revelation, or by

introducing their personal understanding of, Primary

biblical doctrines such as the person of Jesus Christ, Heaven,

hell, salvation and atonement. That is the definition of a

cult. But what about the occult?

The occult is simply defined as follows it is secret or hidden

knowledge. It's the knowledge that is

discerned. Get this not by the five senses

and therefore it is super naturally received through the

practice of divination. Now simply put its knowledge

received by some Supernatural involvement or connection.

Now what does divination mean the word divination?

means the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or

Unknown by Supernatural means All right.

What does the Bible say? And by the way, I don't have

every scripture on here you taking notes, write them down.

We're going to cover a lot of scripture going to back up,

everything we say with the word of God was God, thinking about

all this stuff, Deuteronomy, 18 beginning in verse 10.

It's what God thinks about all that stuff.

There shall not be found among you.

Anyone who practices witchcraft or a soothsayer or one who

interprets Omens or Sorcerer or one who conjures spells or get

this? She's got her own show or a

medium or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead for all.

These things are an Abomination to the Lord because of these

Abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you.

Leviticus 19 and 26. Leviticus chapter 19.

Leviticus 19 · chapter mention

Verse 26. Watch this.

You shall not eat anything with the blood and we get that, we

get that, we understand about that.

Look at the next part, nor shall you practice divination or

soothsaying. And again, it's the idea of

trying to acquire knowledge or future knowledge of something.

It's to acquire anything in the future through.

Supernatural forces. What's God, think about all

this? you know, sometimes we tell our

kids, Sometimes we tell our kids don't do this.

And if you do this, you will have that as a consequence.

And sometimes kids go ahead and do it anyway, kind of like old

enough to know better young enough to do it anyway and they

do it anyway and when confronted with the consequence, it is

almost as if they stand there and say you were serious about

that. How serious is God about what he

just said in Deuteronomy and Leviticus?

And you remember the life of King Saul and just bear with me,

I'm going to be very brief about this.

We know the life of King saw the very first king, we know that,

we know God rejected him because he deviated from what God Said.

God said, Go destroy the amalekites.

He didn't do it. He left a gag and all the

animals and he's going to sacrifice it.

Samuel said it's better to obey them to sacrifice and we know

the story. What did Samuel say?

He said, because you have done this thing, God has rejected.

Acted you as King and King, David would be the anointed of

God and he would follow suit when Saul died, right?

We get that. Do you remember when Jonathan

and David became really good friends?

And you remember how we talked about the idea that when

Jonathan died, he died with Saul, he died with his brothers.

They all died together and David mourn, their passing.

And David said, oh, how the mighty are Fallen.

He wrote that beautiful thing, he talks about his friendship

with Jonathan. You want to find out why Saul

died? This is why he died.

First Chronicles, chapter 10. Beginning in verse 13.

1 Chronicles 10 · chapter mention

This is why he died. So solve died number one for his

unfaithfulness, which he had committed against the Lord,

because he did not keep the word, the Lord, that's when he

goes back to the amalekites. But there's more watch this and

also because he consulted a medium for guidance but he did

not inquire of the Lord. Therefore he Capital H God did

what it says, God killed him. And turn the kingdom over to

David. The son of Jesse.

Did you get that? God said don't do it.

Don't do that. God said, don't do that.

He did that and got killed me. Leviticus 20 and 6.

Here's talking about the person that turns to a medium Leviticus

20 and 6 and the person who turns to mediums or familiar

spirits to prostitute himself with them.

I will set my face against that person and cast him off from his

people. That's a person that turns to a

medium. Here's the person.

Now that is a medium Leviticus 20 and 27.

A man or a woman who is a medium or who has familiar Spirit,

shall surely be put to death, they shall Stone them with

stones. Their blood shall be upon them.

So is it wrong to be a part of that?

It sure is. God has always been against

that. Here's another form of the

occult here it is. It is the idea of Witchcraft

witchcraft is the use of scripturally forbidden

Supernatural powers to manipulate.

People and events, commonly known as The Craft of the wise

or Wicca, the worship of Nature and feminine energies.

It's all encapsulated under Mother Nature, witchcraft is

manifested in two opposing views, white magic, and black

magic, or Witchcraft. And by the way, Deuteronomy

we've already read, in terms of Witchcraft is condemned by God.

In Deuteronomy 18 and verse 10. Now, sometimes people say, well,

if it's white magic, It's okay. The only thing.

It's bad is black magic. What's the difference?

White magic is the use of Supernatural power to manipulate

a person or an event to bring about good.

It's the practice of divination. There's that word again, God

condemned that Gods against that is used to bring about positive

results, such as knowledge, healing Etc.

And most people that are involved in this will say this

is really good. Because after all it's to

achieve that, which is good. What's the difference between

white magic in Black Magic? Black Magic is the use of

Supernatural power to manipulate a person or an event to bring

about evil or destruction. It's the manipulation and is

achieved by the use of rituals and casting out spells.

And by the way, that's also the kind of magic that is used of

sacrifices to. It's the one that's connected to

satanic activity. It's the idea of giving in to

all of your cravings and all of your desires.

Satanism. Unlike witchcraft Satanism is

the worship of Satan formerly known as Lucifer and the

practice of black magic Satanism is a reaction against the

Christian church and the word of God in particular, Satanism

promote to do what you want attitude, and ultimately the

worship of your self. Now.

I put it on this morning. I don't know why I didn't stay

on there. I guess I didn't save it.

I didn't mean to, but I want to talk about the Church of Satan.

There actually is a Church of Satan.

It was formed in 1966, its founder is a man named Anton

zandor LaVey, he established the very first satanic church called

The Church of Satan. He became the author in 1969.

It was published the Satanic Bible.

And by the way, the Satanic Bible is the greatest largest

sense or largest source of satanic activity.

Rituals and satanic practice that young people draw their

information from Somebody might say nobody buys the Satanic

Bible, never even seen it. Did you know that the Satanic

Bible go into a bookstore when these days go into a large book

stores and large secular bookstore and you will find that

it is on the Shelf. How many people have bought

that? How many copies have been sold?

600,000 copies have been sold of the Satanic Bible.

All right. What about categories of

involvement? Categories of involvement.

Anyone that's involved in any aspect of satanic worship or

satanic idea or Satanism, or the occult will fall into one of

four categories. Number one, the

multi-generational international organization, that's another

words, part of the great, big International broadcasting of

Satan. It is full-fledged Church of

Satan on an international scale. Next national organizations.

That's the same thing. But limited to nationally

recognized organizations, thirdly independent, self-styled

people, I guess this would be called, I guess if you want to

try to give it a name. I guess you could probably call

it. I don't know non-denominational

satanists. Yeah, I really like the

individual that decides how they're going to do it, how

they're going to honor the devil.

I'm going to tell you something, I don't know what what you know,

or who you've known in your life, but to my knowledge unless

they totally kept it hidden. I don't know anybody.

That's part of the multi-generational international

organization of Satan. I don't I don't know anybody

that's part of the National Organization of Satan either to

my knowledge and to my knowledge.

I don't know anybody that's an independent self-styled

Satanist, I don't know. But I'm going to tell you

something. I've known some people that fall

into the next one, and so have you, here it is.

The individual dabbler. The individual dabbler.

In fact, the greatest increase in involvement is among this

group, The dabbler the dabbler, and here's the profile.

Again, get this the dabbler in most cases is from a middle to

upper-middle Caucasian home. And often times they use

alcohol, they use drugs and other forms of controlled

substances. Okay, and we might look at that

and say well yeah but we're not into the devil.

You know, what else? Falls into this category of a

dabbler? There it is.

This is also a dabbler those, that consult.

Mediums, psychics horoscopes fortune, tellers Ouija boards,

all manner of, tear it cards, that falls under the category of

the individual dabbler. And by the way, I didn't make

that up that came from the people that consider themselves

as experts on the field of satanic activity.

Most people are falling under the category of an individual

dabbler. You remember when I said that

Satan's, after our young folks, and when I said that, I'm going

to tell you something as a parent.

I know it as a parent. You know, it as a grandparent,

many of you know it Satan is after our young people today.

And the fight and the war is tougher than it has ever been

and it's only going to get tougher.

Now, I did say, we don't have to lose the battle and that is

true. But the battle is difficult to

battle is Raging and it is before her young people.

Young people are recruited to being under the influence of the

Devil by a combination of the following.

Number one. Free drugs and the sinful Act of

fornication. And by the way, I'm going to

call it that it didn't say that it was the s word.

I can't say, I really have a hard time say that from the

pulpit, okay? But sometimes people say, well,

all that is, is just an expression between two people

that love each other. No, it's fornication, and it's a

sin. And the devil is after our kids

through drugs and the sin of fornication.

How about companionship? How about camaraderie, by the

way, power is another one. And I mean individual power,

what does the Bible say? Don't think of yourself more

highly than you ought to think. Thanks, so merly, don't be

conceited. Let another man praise thee and

not with thine own mouth. A stranger not with thine own

lips. That's what the Bible says.

Do you know what the idea of power is here?

It's the idea that Satan can attract people and tell them how

powerful and great they are. In other words, you got to have

a higher level of steam. How about money?

Money. You know the Bible doesn't say

that money is the root of all evil people.

Misquote that all over the place that's not what it says.

It says the love of money is the root of all evil.

Satan Works through those means. Now I'm going to, I'm going to

put the next one up and I'm just going to tell you.

This is a real problem. In our world today.

And what I read in the last couple of weeks studying this

out, what I read is it's one of the number one things that the

devil is using to try to get young people.

You know what it is. Pornography.

It is a serious problem. It is a tool of the devil.

Look at all this gratification companionship power money, all

the things to attract to your senses and given to them.

So what the devil wants. And finally Personal choice.

These are Satan's recruiting tools.

So what is Satan's goal in all this Make no mistake about it.

Satan's goal is to deceive Man, by blinding him, to the truth of

the gospel and receive worship to himself.

That's what the devil does. And by the way, if the picture

of the devil, is some guy with horns and the ugly looking

creature, if that's really, the way the Devil comes out us.

He wouldn't get anybody. We'd all run.

He gets us through that. He gets us through.

Like he got Eve now. Shall not surely die.

God, just doesn't want you to be like him.

You gotta what? You got?

Have a better esteem. You got to have a little more

power. Oh, you deserve it.

You deserve it. Give in to the gratification to

the flesh. You know why you're deserving of

it. But it has always been a ploy by

the devil to get that to get people to worship him.

I'm going to notice some scriptures with you.

Okay, write them down. If you take notes, Matthew 49,

let's go all the way back to the greatest one that ever lived.

Let's go back to the Lord and he's being tempted by the devil.

And the Bible says and he said to him, all these things, I will

give to you now. He talks about all the kingdoms

of the world. Now, why could Satan say that

about the kingdoms of the world? What did we establish last time?

Say Satan is the god, small G, the god of the world.

He is the prince of the power of Darkness.

He is the prince and the power of this world.

All that is in the Bible. So Satan takes Jesus up to a

high mountain and the Pinnacle and all of that and he looks out

over all the kingdoms of the world and he said you can have

it all just fall down and worship me.

How about 2nd Corinthians 4? Beginning in verse 3.

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those

that are perishing, that's the new King James.

The King James says, if our gospel be hid, it is hid to

them, that are lost whose Minds. The God, small G of this age has

blinded who do not believe lest the light of the Gospel of the

glory of Christ, who is in the image of God should shine on

them. Here's another one Revelation,

12 and 9, we talked about this last time.

Now in Revelation, he's called the Dragon And he has a tail.

And Revelation 12 and 9. It says solve, the dragon was

cast out. That Serpent of old, called the

devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.

He was cast to the Earth and his angels were cast out with him.

In other words, Satan was in heaven.

He was Lucifer. We know that we talked about

that last time, he's the dragon and he took a third of the host

of heaven with him. How do I know that Isaiah 14?

Beginning in verse 12, how are the mighty, fallen from Heaven

o, Lucifer, that's the devil. Son of the morning.

How you are cut down to the ground.

You are weakened the nation's for you have said, in your

heart, this is why, by the way, he was kicked out of heaven, I

will Ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the

stars of God. I will also sit on the Mount of

the congregation on the farthest sides of the north.

I will Ascend above the heights of the clouds.

It's I will be like the most high.

That's the reason. Satan was cast out.

He said I'm gonna be like the most high, who's the most high.

That's God. God said, get out.

And Satan Lucifer and going to get to that a little bit, his

army was kicked out of heaven, all right.

In fact, it says, you shall be brought down to sheol by the

way, that's a work for hell. You'll be cast down to sheol to

the lowest depths of the pit, and that's where he is today.

He is in Tartarus waiting. What waiting the resurrection

waiting, the Judgment. When he will be cast into the

Lake of Fire. The place that was created for

the devil and those Joe's. All right.

On a practical level. On a practical level.

And by the way, if Satan can do this he's got a stronghold in

your life. If he can do this, Satan desires

to alter an individual's values. Turn them against themselves.

Turn them against their beliefs. Turn them against their family.

Turn them against God. And even turn them against

Society. If the devil offering all of

that stuff can get people to do that, he's got a strong, hold in

their life, he's got them. All right, that's Lucifer that

Satan, but he's got an army. Let's meet them.

Now in Ephesians chapter 6, and verse 12, for we do not wrestle

Ephesians 6 · chapter mention

against flesh and blood, but with against principalities

against Powers against the rulers of Darkness of this age

against spiritual hosts of wickedness in Heavenly places.

Remember this. From last time, the word wrestle

literally is translated from a word that means hand-to-hand

combat until the death. We're not just talking about two

guys going on a mat in those jumpsuits that they wear and

wrestle around and pin the other one we're talking about

something that is always to the death.

That's what that means. And what Paul is saying is we

don't fight to the death against what against flesh and blood.

We don't fight people, we don't take other people's lives, but

we are in a battle, we wrestle against principalities against

Powers against the rulers of Darkness of this age and against

spiritual hosts of wickedness. Wickedness in the Heavenly

places. All right, so the first one is

principalities. so since we don't fight against flesh and

blood, It has to be referring to political distinctions among

spiritual creatures. Principalities powers.

And rulers is talking about, just that spiritual political

distinctions among those creatures specifically, the

Angels, or demons that were cast out of Heaven, those Wicked

angels with Satan or Lucifer. Now, the word principalities

refers to the same corrupted Angelic off.

This as mentioned in the book of Jude.

Look at Jude verse 6. You know, first I'm going to

read the first part in the King James in the new King James,

another translation, and the angels who did not keep their

proper domain. That's the new King James.

The King James says, and the angels, who did not keep their

first estate, another translation, renders it like

this. And that's what the passage

actually means in his referring to angels.

That did not keep their positions of authority.

That's what's being described here.

We're talking about political distinctions among Angelic

demonic beings, and principalities appears to be the

head. The top of that you got Satan or

Lucifer and then you have principalities.

Then it goes on to say, he has reserved in Everlasting, chains

under Darkness for the Judgment of that great day.

Now, very, very very, very important message that that's

found in the book of Colossians. It's about this, we're talking

about those things that have a tremendous amount of power.

What all of the powers that were talking about every one of them,

they are all inferior to Jesus Christ for two reasons.

I just love encouraging passages in the Bible, you read about all

the bad stuff and then here's a here's a ray of Hope, watch

this, the first reason is because Christ created them, so

it doesn't make any difference. What happens, he is always going

to be superior to them because number one, he created them.

Do you remember when the Bible says Jesus?

He was made a little lower than the Angels.

You know what that means? That means so he could die

angels Don't Die. But at no time, was Jesus ever

subordinate to or inferior to these demonic beings?

Never Number one, why he created them Colossians 1:16 for by him?

Colossians 1:16

All things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,

visible and invisible, whether Thrones, or dominions, or

principalities or powers, or that, all things were created

through him and for him, okay? In addition to that, though,

Jesus will always be superior. Because of the victory over

them. At the cross.

That passage in Hebrews last week.

It doesn't matter, whatever happens.

He will always be superior. Because he created them.

And he whipped him at the cross. You want to talk about a weapon?

The Lord was Victorious. Over the devil at the cross.

Colossians 2:15, having disarmed.

Colossians 2:15

And by the way, this is what he did to them.

Having we're talking about, we're talking about

principalities having disarmed, principalities and Powers.

He made a public spectacle of them.

Triumphing over them. Now, because of that because of

that, he is exalted to God's right hand looking unto Jesus,

the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy, that was

set before him, endured the cross, despising, the shame and

is set down on the right hand of the Throne of God, he's above

them all. He whipped him at the cross.

Ephesians, 1 verses, 20, and 21. Which he worked in Christ when

he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in

the Heavenly places far above principality, here it is again

and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not

only in this age, but the one that is to come.

Now, here's some great news. What some great news, here's

some great news. Because of the victory that

Christ had over the devil at the cross.

The child of God, shares in that same Victory when you are

baptized into Christ, Romans 6. When you are baptized into

Christ and you contact the blood of Jesus, guess what happened,

you've become Victorious over the devil to, how do I know

that? Ephesians 2 and 6.

Watch this and raised us up together and made us to sit

together in the Heavenly places in Christ.

Jesus Revelation 1 in 6 and he has made us Kings and Priests to

his God and Father to him be glory and Dominion forever and

ever, amen! We share the same Victory and

not great. And finally, along this line.

Not only. Not only did the devil's lose

and Jesus was Victorious over them at the cross, but there's

more guess what? Not only were they disarm but

you know what? Now they got to sit back and

watch the parade. They got a weapon and now they

got to watch the parade. What is that?

I'm talking about the evil Powers.

Observing God's wisdom. That's manifested through the

church. Ephesians 3 and 10 to the

intent. That now, the manifold wisdom of

God, might be made known by the church to who principalities and

powers in The Heavenly places. The Lords over all of them and

now they're sitting back and they're watching the wisdom of

God today through the church. I'm just gonna spend, it's just

a second on this one. It seems to me, it's just a

lower step down of the political distinctions among them, but

it's the same kind of thing and it's called Powers strong.

Said it refers to another Angelic position of authority.

So if it's another Angelic position of authority, it's not

the same as principalities. And by the way, if you read in

the New Testament about principalities Powers, it's

always in that order. So that seems to me that

principalities is higher. Then a power, but it's the same

thing. Another political distinction

among them Romans 8:38-39 for I am persuaded that.

Romans 8:38–39

Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor

powers nor things present, nor things to come nor height nor

depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate

us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our lord,

Rulers of Darkness. That's another one.

Rulers of Darkness of this age. So principalities powers and

rulers of Darkness of this age. This phrase, identify spiritual

rulers, who act on behalf of Satan to bring the world under

his control. Remember Satan is the God of

this world. Second Corinthians 4:4 says,

2 Corinthians 4:4

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 in

the image of God should Shine On Them John 12.

And 31 says that Satan is the ruler of this world, but make no

mistake about it. We need to be aware of his

devices. Why?

Because the Bible says he often even would disguise himself as

an angel of Light, second Corinthians, 11 and 14.

Okay, here's some more great news.

And I'm almost finished a with me.

Here's some more great news. We have been transferred if

you're Christian. From the domain of darkness and

you have been brought to and inserted in the Kingdom of

God's, dear son, if you're a member of the church, if you're

a faithful Christian, if you're baptized into Christ, have

clothed yourself with Christ, you are part of his body.

I'm going to tell you something, if you would proactively, keep

the devil out of your life. In the way that the word of God

says, to do that. He cannot have a stronghold in

your life and I'm going to tell you something else, it's not by

your own strength. It's by the strength and the

promise of the lord, it's his strength.

I'm going to tell you, you can't beat the devil on your own.

You cannot. You can't.

So, we have to resist him and stay away from him.

The rulers of Darkness, the powers in the principalities and

Lucifer himself has no power over you if you will not allow

it. One final thing.

What about spiritual wickedness? What's that talking about?

You know, the phrase is better translated against the spiritual

forces of wickedness. Now, I'm going to tell you, we

don't know all the forces are powers that this phrase is

talking about and I'm going to tell you something, I read some

spooky stuff. I read some pretty.

Pretty spooky stuff that I can't explain.

I'll just tell you that right now.

There's some stuff that goes on out there that I cannot explain.

I don't even have an X place. I thought I would, as I went in,

I thought by the time I got out, the end of this, I would have

every single explanation about spiritual wickedness and I do

not I don't all I know. Is we better be like the

Ephesians But what does that mean?

Do you remember in Acts? 19 really briefly, do you

remember in Acts 19 about those at Ephesus when they believed

they confess? The Bible says about what that

they were guilty of Witchcraft. They were guilty of divination.

They were guilty of all that stuff, you know what they did?

They realized because they were Christians.

Now, they got to get rid of all of that.

They have to get rid of all the spiritual wickedness that's

found in their life. You know what?

Did the Bible says they brought all their books of Witchcraft

and burned them. Wonder how much it cost?

Remember how much the Lord was sold for?

the Lamb of God, the greatest one that ever lived, 30 pieces

of silver, the price of slate, Do you know how much this is?

The impact it had on the Ephesians.

They knew how awful it is for Christian to be involved in that

kind of stuff. You know what they did.

They burned it all. You know I'm going to cost the

Bible says 50 thousand pieces of silver. 50,000 pieces of silver.

That's what you need to do. Get rid of anything, if you have

it. That has anything to do with the

occult. Stay away from false prophets.

Psychics, mediums channelers divination, or those who have

Consulting familiar spirits of the Dead, trying to consult the

dead. Isaiah 819 Sorcerers are those

that practice? Witchcraft, second chronicles,

thirty three, and six Ouija boards tared card to Palm

readers Tea, Leaf, readers astrologers, horoscopes Crystal

healing Transcendental Meditation, Astro flying.

Elsa p gnosticism and many other forms of Satanism, paganism

idolatry, and those who practice New Age religion, get rid of it,

have nothing to do with it. Don't be one of those individual

dabblers. Finally this one final thought

he says in Heavenly places at the end of the passage and

what's that talking about? That term is signifying the

realm of reality. T that reaches beyond the Earth

that which is Earthly in nature. In fact, I think the New

American Standard just says the have been leaves.

It's talking about a world that is separate from this world.

Now, in that spiritual World, there is a battle going on

between Good and Evil. For your soul.

But, you know, I'll tell you something, we don't have to

lose. Prepare yourself.

Be a faithful member of the body of Christ.

Draw your strength from the Lord and not yourself and you can

whip the devil to because, guess what?

We have Victorious optimism. As Jesus is Victorious.

Over them. So, are we why?

Because of the cross, Number two, got to put on the armor.

Got to put the armor on and number 3, understand who the

enemy is and resist him. And you know what James?

4:7 says submit yourselves therefore to God resist the

devil and he will flee from you. We thank you for listening to

our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.

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