I was running a seminar the other day and went up to speak after being given a wonderful intro. I was greeted with silence as I took up my space so I said to the audience, who were leaders of a very significant organisation, “This is where you guys start clapping.” I then said, I guess this is why I am teaching on EQ. A lot of times we don’t know what to do socially. Sometimes we feel awkward giving or receiving complements. All of this relates to our emotional intelligence. John 11:33-35 "When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled... Jesus wept." We live in a world that taught us, “cowboys don’t cry”, yet the King of the universe cried. We need to examine EQ God’s way. Luke 22:44 "And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." Jesus could make Himself vulnerable by expressing emotion. If we want to be Christlike, we need to embrace this too. If you study the science of likeability, vulnerability makes you more likeable. You don’t have to always put your best foot forward.

As we come to an end of this series it is important for us to understand that warfare fails when we have no back bone. The person who is effective at spiritual warfare tends to have tremendous resilience and grit. Proverbs 24:16 “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.” This verse shows us that one of the core characteristics of a righteous person is resilience. Resilience is positive adaptation in the face of adversity. Resilience is the ability to bounce back quickly from setbacks. There is psychological resilience, emotional resilience, physical resilience and community resilience. Many families in our church have been resilient through some of their worst times. The community in KZN was very resilient after going through looting followed by floods. The church in China has been resilient learning how to do church differently during times of persecution. Many churches demonstrated resilience during Lockdown and seasons of COVID. In this message I will highlight the power of resilience and outline three things that resilient people do differently.

In this next section we will explore how the enemy attempts to get us to violate a universal law that God has put in place. This is the law of submission to authority. God has created this world by His authority and has established various houses of authority for our own protection and blessing. How we relate to this system is crucial in warfare and life. Can you confidently say that you respect authority? Are you fully submitted to God; His ways and His Word? Do you often usurp the authority you have delegated? Do you punish your bosses by procrastination, gossip or a closed heart? Remember that submission is tested in disagreement. It is easy to say that you are submitted to authority until you disagree with that authority. In this message I will share with you 12 key points describing the technology of this universal law of submission to authority.

In this next part of our series, we will be exploring the various strategies the enemy uses against believers. Part of knowing our enemy is knowing his assignments against us. When you are aware of these strategies you are better positioned to deal with them.

In this next part of our series, we will be exploring the various strategies the enemy uses against believers. Part of knowing our enemy is knowing his assignments against us. When you are aware of these strategies you are better positioned to deal with them.

Today I will be teaching regarding 2 of the corporate weapons of our warfare. That includes corporate prayer and corporate fasts. Unfortunately for the church today, we have not yet tapped into the fulness of the power of these corporate weapons. You see, many come from collectivist backgrounds, but by and large, when it comes to church the predominant mentality is an individualistic consumerist one.

It is crucial for the Church to teach on the subject of spheres and jurisdictions for spiritual activities. We must recognize that God our Creator was very intentional when He set out which realm we would operate in.

Ps 115:16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind.

We will examine the geography of the spirit realm, outlining its different sectors. In this message my goal is to also outline a type of “organogram” for the spiritual realm. It is important for believers to understand the various levels and roles in the spirit realm so that we relate correctly to these varying dimensions. It is also important to note that the devil does not originate, but he produces counterfeits of what God has created. We will therefore also look at the ranks and levels in the kingdom of darkness. We need to know our enemy and his strategies.

It is crucial for the Church to teach on the subject of spheres and jurisdictions for spiritual activities. We must recognize that God our Creator was very intentional when He set out which realm we would operate in.

Ps 115:16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind.

We will examine the geography of the spirit realm, outlining its different sectors. In this message my goal is to also outline a type of “organogram” for the spiritual realm. It is important for believers to understand the various levels and roles in the spirit realm so that we relate correctly to these varying dimensions. It is also important to note that the devil does not originate, but he produces counterfeits of what God has created. We will therefore also look at the ranks and levels in the kingdom of darkness. We need to know our enemy and his strategies.

Jesus walked in authority and He expects us to do the same. 1 John 3:8 "The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work." We have been sent with the same mission, to reinforce what Jesus started. To destroy the works of the devil. John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 1 John 4:17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. NKJV Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. This is a powerful statement. This speaks of the extent of our oneness with Christ. In this message we will study Jesus’ dealings with the kingdom of darkness and get tools for how we too can engage the enemy.

C.S. Lewis: "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them."

When people have been exposed to different extremes, they sometimes develop a reactionary theology. Therefore, it is important for me to lay down foundations from scripture so that we know what we believe and why, with regards to spiritual warfare. Luke 11:20 (NKJV) "But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you." NIV "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." The central theme of New Testament theology is the reign of Christ and the establishment of God’s Kingdom. This verse shows us that the displacement of darkness by way of warfare is a core activity in the establishment of this Kingdom. The Old and New Testament are connected in this way. God gave the promised land to the Children of Israel and then they had the responsibility to go and take the land. In the same way, Christ’s death and resurrection disarmed the enemy and now we are called to enforce that victory and take back what belongs to us. We have been saved (justification), we are being saved (sanctification) and we will be saved (glorification). In this message I will share with you some foundations that ground believers in warfare. It is important to know these before one gets into the tactical aspects of warfare.