“The Theology of Spiritual Warfare” Chapter 8 of an ebook by Dave Bessey

PART II The Five-Fold Ministry in the True Kingdom of God and His Church.

Chapter Eight: Is the Church Maturing?

Isaiah Chapter 61 World English Bible

1 The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of Yahweh's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified. 4 They shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. 5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers. 6 But you shall be named the priests of Yahweh; men shall call you the ministers of our God: you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall you boast yourselves. 7 Instead of your shame [you shall have] double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be to them. 8 For I, Yahweh, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Yahweh has blessed. 10 I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Yahweh will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. WEB

Ever wondered what your job description is for ministry. Some use the great commission in Matthew 28. What you just read is what we are supposed to be doing. We are the ones who are continuing the work of Christ. Better said, He is continuing to work through us. He is the one who is breaking chains and setting captives free through us as we apply our faith. This is the work of the Church. What happened? After 2000 years, you would think everyone by now would be set free. Oh well guess someone missed the message in Church? Maybe they didn't read it or hear it? What is holding us back? Are we that lazy or dimwitted? The Holy Spirit is fully capable of doing it, but He is waiting for the Church to rise up and get a vision. Maybe we are arrayed in battle incorrectly? The reformation under Martin Luther and others, started the return of the Church to its former strategic position, but it has been very slow to return and resemble the army it is supposed to be. The power, unity and purity has been missing. Also the love has been replaced by some kind of human replica. A lie. Before Jesus returns we need the Church firing on all cylinders. Yet it continues in the seeker friendly environment that is placing people in bondage rather than setting them free. This candy coated gospel couldn't save anyone, it is void of Christ. It offers no true salvation, only self help lies. The truth sets you free, but this PMA or Positive Mental Affirmation places people in chains. The traditions of men and the doctrine of demons becomes one in the same, for it places people in bondage to the lies:

Matthew Chapter 15 New King James Version

1 Then Pharisees and scribes come to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, 2 "Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat bread." 3 He answered them, "Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.' 5 But you say, 'Whoever will tell his father or his mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God," 6 he will not honor his father or mother.' You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 8 'These people draw near to me with their mouth, And honor me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as doctrine rules made by men.'" 10 He called the multitude to himself, and said to them, "Hear, and understand. 11 That which enters into the mouth doesn't defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man." 12 Then the disciples came, and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?" 13 But he answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father didn't plant will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit." 15 Peter answered him, "Explain the parable to us." 16 So Jesus said, "Do you also still not understand? 17 Don't you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and then out of the body? 18 But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart, and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn't defile the man." NKJV

1 Timothy Chapter 4 New King James Version

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach. 12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. NKJV

Here we are in the last days and the Church is still not fully mature, why is that? We can get an idea from what the Apostle Paul talks about in Ephesians Chapter 4:

Ephesians 4 World English Bible

1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and humility, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love; 3 being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all. 7 But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Therefore he says, "When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." 9 Now this, "He ascended," what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same also who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 11 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; 12 for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all REACH the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; 15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ; 16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love. WEB

According to the Apostle Paul we are missing some warriors in the Church Board today, some folks called apostles, prophets and evangelists. Their anointing is critical for the growth or maturing of the Church. To build up the Church we need all team members working together. If Jesus gave some of each ascension gifts where are they now? Do we still have apostles, prophets and evangelists? According to Paul, the answer is yes, but. We won't be ready for Jesus return without them. So where are they? Glad you asked, there are some around, but there are some who question their existence in the Church today. They misquote scripture to say the apostles died with the last transistional/foundational Apostle John in 101AD. They do not want to lose their power in the Church. They are threatened by the five fold ministry teaching because it challenges their religious spirit position in the church. They do not want change even if it is the Holy Spirit creating the change or better said growth or building by Him. The apostle is the builder of the Church. He brings the anointing to not just plant churches but to bring the plans to do it. Like an architect he is gifted to conceive the strategies that work. They can see a vision that is God ordered and brings God's agenda for the battle. Working in conjunction with the other ministers of the five fold ministry, they move as one, each bringing their anointing and releasing this to the Church. Once the gifts are activated the Church will begin to mature. For observation sake look at the churches that are driven by Pastors and Teachers, these churches tend to not grow spiritually beyond the anointing of the Pastor and even very little growth numerically too. They stay the same size. Looking at churches that are apostolic they tend to be sending Churches, but they continue to train up warriors and group numerically too. These churches are equipping churches rather than just teaching churches. We make disciples and not all are called to be just theologians. We need teachers and pastors for the tending and making of disciples, but for them to mature and make disciples also, we need the prophetic and apostolic foundation.

Ephesians Chapter 2 World English Bible

1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; 3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; 8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, that no one would boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them:

11 Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision”, (in the flesh, made by hands); 12 that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, 15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace; 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility thereby. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 20 being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; 21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. WEB

You were made alive...this is key. You are no longer dead. Alive, Alive, Alive...you are set free, the chains are broken, now what? You received His peace and now you have a mission. It is a “Mission Possible!” The only way it will work though is if we work together as the Holy Temple of God in the name of Jesus and for His glory. We are no longer foreigners or aliens, we are fellow citizens, even heirs of the Kingdom, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. This is Not just some abstract message from former apostles or prophets or transitional/foundational apostles, but also present day apostles and prophets still working to build the Church and advance His kingdom. Jesus is still the Cornerstone the Chief Priest and Chief Apostle. (Hebrews 3)There is no room for boasting or pride as mention in verses 8 and 9 above. It is His grace and faith. We are to be humble servant leaders. Here is a prophecy from the other night for the local region of Negros and Bacolod City:

PROPHETIC WORD 06212013Last night at our soaker service the Holy Spirit moved powerfully. The command to prophesy was issued from the Spirit and there was a major shift in the spirit realm. We were singing “Here in Your Presence” and a new song rose up in the Spirit. The mighty warring angels came into the room. The sounds of walls being torn down could be heard. The sounds of chains being thrown and the sounds of angelic choirs pierced the City of Bacolod. Here is what I heard from the voice of God, His rhema:“I am Jesus there is no other King, why are you listening to mere men alone? Shut up the noisy gong and clanging cymbal! Come to me you who labor in your own strength and I will give you rest from the battle. I am the mighty warrior, stop fighting the enemy on your own. My reward is with me and I will return soon, the laborers and warriors are few not because I have not called them. The battle is raging and they are asleep in the light. The warriors are being trained, but they have been not released and activated. Only my apostle can send them into the fray. The apostle brings with them the anointing that is required. The prophet is proclaiming my heart, but only the apostle has my strategic battle plans. He is the architect of the new song you sing and the new wine you drink. I am the Chief Apostle, no one will steal my glory, I give it to my humble servants, those I call to break the chains of the old traditions, the religious strongholds that are standing in the way of my Church being pure and holy. Be set apart now! Rise up my beautiful bride you are truly loved by me, I have given you everything you need for victory, trust me, step out in faith. The war belongs to me! I AM He who will bring it to pass. Stand firm you warriors, submit to each other, cast out the religious spirits from among you, stop talking to them...remove them...remove jezebel, remove python and remove any idol that keeps you from me. Restore, restore restore! I said occupy until I come and I meant it. I said make disciples, not converts who serve their own word and its lies. I don't want religious zombies I said “live” not die. Live dry bones, live you who are dead in your sins, live you religious who place my people in bondage to your rules. My blood is sufficient for it is the power of my grace. My mercy is moving in your City. My love will not return to me without result. The seeds have produced fruit, stop starring at them and pick the sweet fruit of your labor. I have given you everything you need - Me, what more do you need? Go into the battle...go! I Jesus have spoken!

Live by Dave Bessey ( Corporate Warfare Praise)

Chorus

Live Live Live

In the name of Jesus

The walls are coming down

The chains are breaking and hitting the ground

You are free

So Live live live (x 3)

1. The Lord is rising up

His reward is coming now

Prepare the Bride

Put her in White

Bask in His light

Live live live

2. The battle rages on

It has already been won

Pick up your sword

Shout the Word to the hoard

Jesus is Lord

Bow before Him, Jesus is Lord x2

Chorus

Hallelujah, Jesus is Lord X6 fade

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus x6