When the reality of sin and its radical effects on the whole man are bypassed the idea takes over that it simply takes a decision for Christ to bring about the new birth. A decision for Christ is all that is needed. This is “easy-believism,” in which repentance from sin is sidelined. Those who make a decision receive a pronouncement that they are saved. This proves premature. False converts are the outcome. The theory of the carnal Christian has been invented in order to accommodate those who have made a decision but who bear no marks of the new birth.
Erroll Hulse

The Doctrine About The Spiritua

The Doctrine About The Spiritua THE DOCTRINE ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL WAR by Pastor Don Chapman

  1. The Spiritual War (SW) is a conflict between fallen angels and believers. We are all attacked. Eph.6:11-20; II Tim.2:25-26
  2. The SW is part of the Satan-angelic conflict (a war between God and the fallen angels).
  3. The local church is the ONLY place a believer can be trained and equipped for this war. The drill instructor is the pastor.
  4. The major battlefield in this war is the believer’s mind. Demons have the ability to place thoughts into the self-consciousness of a human soul – either directly or indirectly, both consciously and subconsciously. II Cor.11:3; Mt.4; Luke 4; Acts 5:3; Eph.6:16 “flaming arrows”
  5. The Word of God and prayer are the ONLY weapons that a believer has for protection in this war. These weapons are mentioned in II Cor.10:4, Eph.6:17-20 and Col.4:12.
  6. Through using the Word of God and prayer, a believer can resist the attacks of fallen angels. James 4:7 The Holy Spirit will help you do this – I John 4:4
  7. In addition to fallen angels, there are six other enemies that a believer has in this SW. They are:
    1. The lust of the flesh (OSN) – I Peter 2:11
    2. Relatives who are antagonistic to grace – Mt.10:34-36
    3. Other believers in reversion – Phil.3:18; James 4:4
    4. Those who persecute you – Phil.1:28-29
    5. Darkness (i.e., false doctrine) – Romans 8:6-7; I Tim.1:10
    6. The world system – James 4:4
  8. Suffering is part of every war. There is also suffering in the SW. Believers are commanded to endure these sufferings as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. II Tim.2:3
  9. One characteristic of maturing believers is consistent victory in this Spiritual Walk. I John 2:13-14
  10. Knowing how your enemy will attack in war will greatly aid in combat. Therefore, it is necessary for believers to understand the attack plans that Satan uses against them in the SW. I call these SAPs (Satan Attack Plans).

The following is a list of some of the SAPs used against believers. Each category also has the doctrine to defend oneself with.

SAP #1 Do not believe that the forgiveness of sin comes by confession

alone. I John 1:8-10

SAP #2 Get believers to add feelings, emotions or works to the

Gospel. Galatians 1:6-9; 3:1-14; 5:1-13

SAP #3 Get believers to believe that the filling by the Holy Spirit is indicated by their emotions or feelings. II Corinthians 6:11-12

SAP #4 Try to get believers to worry. I Peter 5:7-9

SAP #5 Get believers to commit evil so that God will be forced to punish them. I Cor.7:5; Eph.4:27-28; I John 5:18; Revelation 2:20-24

SAP #6 Get believers to reject their pastor-teacher by making fun of his mistakes, gestures, age, dress, looks, his presentation, and or convince believers that they are not growing spiritually because the pastor is not teaching something NEW all the time. Hebrews 13:17

SAP #7 Use eloquent false-teachers to get believers away from their

local church. II Cor.11:13-15; II Tim.4:3,4

SAP #8 Encourage believers to be proud because of their abilities,

good looks, or talents. James 4:6-7

SAP #9 Encourage believers to be discouraged by emphasizing their

mistakes. I Cor.15:10

SAP #10 Convince believers to not forgive others. II Cor.2:6-11

SAP #11 Keep pastors from their right-church. I Thess.2:18

SAP #12 Try to get believers to doubt their salvation, or convince

them that they can do something to lose it. II Tim.2:12-13

SAP #13 Encourage woman’s lib. I Tim.5:14-15

SAP #14 Breakdown the believers respect for authority. Romans 13:1

SAP #15 Encourage pastors to take a church before they are ready.

I Tim.3:6

SAP #16 Try to get believers to argue about some minor point of doctrine. I Tim.6:3-5; II Tim.2:23; Titus 3:9 All doctrine is important, but not all doctrine is cardinal.

SAP #17 Try to keep believers from praying (privately and in a

group). Eph.3:13

SAP #18 Keep pastors from studying and teaching the Word of God. They can teach anything else, but not Bible doctrine. I Tim. 4:14-16

11) In the SW, God has made provisions to protect believers positionally, physically and mentally.

  1. Positionally, we are eternally secure against losing our salvation. Fallen angels cannot take your salvation away. I Peter 1:5
  2. Physically, God protects us through secret service angels. Hebrews 1:13-14; Illustration – II Kings 6:8-23; II Chron.32:7
  3. Mentally, believers are protected through the “peace of God” – Philippians 4:6-7.
  4. In order to properly protect oneself in the SW, believers are commanded to put on the WHOLE armor from God. Ephesians 6:11-18 This armor is the Word of God. It is called the “armor of light” in Romans 13:12, and is also referred to in I Thess.5:8.
  5. It is not enough to have the whole armor from God, believers must also stand guard and be alert. Rev.3:2

Copyright 1989 by Don Chapman
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