Spiritual Warfare

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

March 1, 2020 

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

Tonight I want to share with you that which I have received from the Lord concerning the topic of spiritual warfare. In the natural realm we see a war on crime, a war on drugs, a war on illegal immigration, a war on poverty as well as wars within families. Kids today do not know how to cope. I heard one minister recently say that 80% of young people are on alcohol and drugs. Of course our young people are also into unclean sex, rock and roll music, horror films, dirty magazines and the LGBTQ realm, which is everywhere. That is the work of the enemy. Why do we Christians see these conditions existing within our children? One reason is because in many families, both father and mother now work away from home 5 days a week, with day care for the younger children and home alone after school for the older. But the primary reason is because we parents have relegated our responsibility of teaching our own children the ways of the Lord. We have said, "We are too busy. Let the 'church' teach our children." But the Lord declares in His word that the primary training ground for teaching our children is in our individual families. That specific exhortation to obedience is found at least three times, in Deuteronomy, Chapters 4, 6, and 11. Now some may say, "But brother, that is in the Old Testament." Very true, but obedience to the Lord never changes, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever. God's moral law has never changed.

We also see wars between Christian families. Many years ago two Christian families lived next door to each other, just a few blocks from where we live. Both families had dogs. One Christian man said their neighbor's dog had left dog poop on his yard, so he deliberately took some dog poop and put it on his neighbor's front stoop. At some point they determined to go to court over the matter of a shed boundary. I tried to arbitrate their differences, but to no avail.

Of course we also have wars between nations, almost all of which have involved religious reasons. Jesus said in Matthew 24 that in the end times we would see wars and rumors of wars. But all of those wars, and more, just deal with symptoms, not the real problem.

If you were to ask 10 different Christians about spiritual warfare, you would probably get at least three different sets of answers. Some would perhaps dismiss entirely the need for spiritual warfare and refuse to acknowledge the war. Instead we fight against each other. Many more would say that we Christians have power over all the power of the enemy and that we should just bind the enemy and/or rebuke the devil when things don't seem to go the way we think they should. I have a different understanding of spiritual warfare. Many years ago in a small gathering of believers I deliberately said, "Resist the devil and he will laugh at you." At that point the hostess said, in a rather loud voice, "What?" in obvious unbelief. Then I said, but "Submit yourself therefore unto God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) There is a big difference. Christian man, in his own power and strength, is no match for the devil. 

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. Acts 19:13-16

We were born from above into a war that we did not start, whether we believe it or not and whether we understand it or not. That war began when an angel named Lucifer rebelled against God in eternity past and persuaded one-third of the angels to go with him (Revelation 12:4). Lucifer then became the devil, Satan, that old serpent, the great dragon, Beelzebub, the prince of the world, the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). God's answer to that rebellion is recorded in Isaiah 14:12-15. 

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Every Christian is aware that when Adam and Eve sinned, they were banished from the Garden of Eden and therefore could no longer partake of the tree of life. They also relinquished their right and authority to have dominion over all the earth to the devil. But when Jesus died on the cross at Calvary, He did at least two things. First, through His death and resurrection He made it possible for whosoever will to re-enter the Garden of Eden, and second He redeemed that authority back to Himself. Prior to the crucifixion of Jesus, we read, in John 18:36, 

"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence." 

As a result of the death and resurrection of Jesus, He fulfilled Colossians 2:14-15 

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

So the Lord Jesus has already won the victory; He has already won the battle against the devil. Jesus said to some Jews who believed on Him, in John 8:44, 

"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

Isaiah 42:22, "But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore."

That verse is current events. Far too many of God's chosen people are weak, wounded, prisoners, and in bondage. I believe the primary work of the Lord today is recorded in Isaiah 11.

Whereas Verses 1-5 of Isaiah 11 may refer to the work of Jesus at Calvary, Verses 6-16 definitely have not yet been fulfilled because we do not see the lion lying down with the lamb. More importantly, Isaiah 11:11 says that the Lord will set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant from 8 different aspects of bondage. That has definitely not yet been fulfilled. But the Lord is in the process of preparing His last day remnant.

1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." 

The effect of that war is everywhere. We are still at war with the powers of darkness. The chosen people of God are not prepared for battle in the day of the Lord. In natural wars, a large number of men are usually killed. But in the realm of the Spirit, there are more spiritual casualties because we Christians do not fight with the right weapons.

Let me suggest to you that the pathway to understanding and overcoming in true spiritual warfare must focus primarily on accentuating the positive ... namely Christ in you, the hope of glory. We will see this truth later in Ephesians 6. Now as long as the devil is not bound and as long as we are on earth in these physical bodies, we will be subject to spiritual warfare. Further, the more we mature in Christ, the more we become subject to the lies, temptations, and assaults of the enemy. Why? because we become more of a threat to the enemy.

Almost 50 years ago, I bought a book titled, "The Kingdom of the Cults," a rather large book that detailed most of the erroneous practices and teachings of almost all of the cults known to man at that time. But every time I tried to read that book, the Lord would not let me read it. Why? I believe that we should not waste our time investigating anything of Satan's realm. Otherwise we are giving center stage to the enemy.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 1 Peter 3:15

My wife has always liked to work outside in the yard, with trees, grass, and shrubs. Almost 50 years ago she received a revelation about how to have good, healthy grass - not by focusing on getting rid of the weeds but by concentrating on feeding the roots of the grass. If the grass roots are strong and healthy, the weeds will automatically get choked out.

1 Corinthians 12:18, "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him."

That verse is true both spiritually and naturally. Many years ago the Lord quickened to me that He placed me and my wife and family geographically just outside the Beltway that encircles Washington, D.C. not for me to do something or say something but primarily just to BE part of a group of believers to help to hold back the forces of evil in Washington, D.C.

I doubt that any Christian would disagree that in any situation we could and should ask our self, "What would Jesus do?" or "What DID Jesus do in a specific situation? In Luke 4:1-13, we read the pattern of spiritual warfare set forth for us by the example of Jesus. 

1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days He did eat nothing: and when they were ended, He afterward hungered.

3 And the devil said unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

5 And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

6 And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.

9 And he brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:

10 For it is written, He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee:

11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season.

From Verse 1, to overcome in spiritual warfare, we must be full of the Holy Ghost. That is not the same as being baptized with the Holy Ghost. "Being full of the Holy Ghost" means that we are abiding in the Vine or walking with the Lord. The members of the Church at Corinth were baptized with the Holy Ghost but certainly were not walking with the Lord. Note that Jesus was tempted in three areas. The same three temptations apply to each born-from-above believer.

The first temptation by the devil concerns our physical body. Barring an unusual miracle we must at some point eat natural food. But this area of temptation includes more that natural food; it concerns the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes ... all things that we mortals consider pleasant to the flesh, such as food, drink, sex, and entertainment in all forms. None of those things are necessarily evil unless they become excess and dominate our life. But our natural body too often dictates our thoughts or our spiritual worship. "I think I will just rest today. I don't feel like going to the church meeting; I don't feel like praying." Paul said, 

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Corinthians 9:27

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

The second temptation, from Luke 4 Verses 5-8, concerns our soul and our relationship with the world. It speaks of our reputation, successes, our name, prosperity, our influence, our mental prowess.

One pastor, who was a dynamic preacher, once told me privately that the church meeting place has to look very prosperous in order to attract more people. That is why he unilaterally bought $10,000 worth of new platform chairs (with church donations) even though the chairs that his church had looked almost new. That is why a mega-church in our geographical area spent at least 180 million dollars to construct a huge stone complex, complete with a gymnasium, cafeteria, and a 3-story concrete garage for use by their members. The world system (cosmos) wants our soul.

Paul told Timothy (and us) in 2 Timothy 2:3-4, 

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."

The third area of temptation, from Verses 9-12, concerns our spirit, or the religious arena. The devil took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem. The temple speaks of the popular theology, the traditional, the established, the formal, professional Christians. But Jesus said that He will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

Now, what can we conclude from all three levels of temptation? several things. First, the devil knows scripture as well or better than many of us. The devil also knows what the Church is to do. He will try to get us to accept some lesser goal. 

Ephesians 3:8-12, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him."

The devil will frequently quote scripture, but twist scripture just enough to tempt us and sidetrack us. The devil bombards us with lies. Second, the devil tries to create doubt in our minds. He wants to render us inactive, kill, steal, and destroy. When tempting Jesus the devil said (twice), "IF thou be the Son of God, then..." Moreover, the devil always wants to undermine our personal relationship with the Father. The devil also has a goal to turn us away from the true goal of giving all the glory to God.

Now, how did Jesus overcome all of the temptation from the devil? as a Lion or as a Lamb?The strength of the Lion is expressed by the humility of the Lamb.

Now how can we or how do we overcome? The same way that Jesus did. The Bible is full of paradoxes: the way up is down; the way down is up. The character and nature of Jesus within us is our most effective weapon. It is that same Lamb character within us that overcomes all of the lies of the enemy. We overcome by knowing, understanding, and walking in the Truth. We overcome by first allowing the Holy Spirit to develop within us the same humility and meekness exhibited by Jesus when He walked the face of the earth as a Man.

Revelation 12:7-11, "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." 

Now let us look briefly at Ephesians 6:10-20.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

The prerequisite for spiritual warfare is to be strong in the Lord. The power of His might speaks of the Holy Ghost. 

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

A principality is a demonic ruler over a region.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The scripture exhorts us twice to put on the whole armor of God. That is something we must do, by the power of the Holy Ghost within us.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Our loins speak of our body. The breastplate of righteousness protects our heart or spirit. 

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

The helmet protects our head or mind. We use the sword of the Spirit to fend off the lies of the enemy.

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Why is prayer and supplication listed last? because the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Note that prayer should be for all saints. The Lord is interested in a body, not just a few selected saints.

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The basic principles of spiritual warfare are set forth at Jericho, the first battle AFTER the Israelites entered the Promised Land. The Lord had promised the land of Canaan to the Israelites, but they still had to go up and possess the land. The walled city of Jericho at that time period was considered impregnable. It is said that Jericho had walls that were thick enough to run chariots on the top. Jericho exhibited all of the abominations of the ancient world: the lowest and vilest forms of immorality; demons were worshipped; the moon was worshipped; religious prostitution was commanded; and human beings were sacrificed.

Jericho, which means both "city of fragrance" and "city of the moon," represents man's efforts and intellect, independent of the Lord. It speaks of the material, the physical, the natural.

Jerusalem speaks of the spiritual. The relationship of the moon to the sun is the same relationship as the intellect to the spirit. The moon does not shine with its own light but is totally dependent upon the sun. So Jericho is a stronghold that speaks of a counterfeit fragrance.

There are things that God wants us to do and obstacles that need defeating in our lives, so we can turn the world upside down for Jesus. The walls of Jericho represent growing opportunities for us in our relationship with the Lord. He already knows that we can overcome them in His strength, but WE need to learn that. Let's make one thing clear: God never puts a wall of Jericho in our life to defeat us. Any test we face is to make us stronger, not grind us into the dust.

A man named Todd Bolen, in his Seven Fascinating Facts about Crossing the Jordan River. August 17, 2016, wrote the following: In 1854 an expert swimmer was unable to make it across the river near Jericho because the river was too wide and the current too strong. How wide was the Jordan River when the Israelites crossed the river? We do not know since the book of Joshua does not tell us. The depth of the river was probably deeper since sediment would have moved down the river since the time Israel crossed the river. The crossing of a turbulent river at flood stage would have been difficult and was most likely greater than 100 feet wide and greater than ten feet deep.

But the real miracle is not how wide or how deep the river bed was when Israel crossed the river, but that they crossed a dry river bed at flood season. It revealed God's power and care for His chosen people Israel. Joshua 3:14-17 says that the river rose up in one heap at the city of Adam when the feet of the priests, bearing the ark of the covenant, "dipped in the edge of the water" and instantly the river bed also became dry. We can praise our God for His care of His own. (end of his blog)

About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho. Joshua 4:13

Undoubtedly Joshua, as the leader and captain of those 40 thousand warriors, thought that he needed a strategic plan concerning how to dispossess all of the inhabitants of Jericho.

13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto Him, What saith my lord unto His servant?

15 And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. 

Joshua 5:13-15

So the Lord made it very clear to Joshua that He, the Lord, was in charge of the battle, not Joshua. Likewise, from Isaiah 9:6, the government must be upon the Lord's shoulder, not on the shoulders of pastors or men called elders. We think that we must win the battle, but the battle is the Lord's. Jesus won the war at Calvary. Too many times we assume too much responsibility.

In Joshua, Chapter 6, the Lord revealed His plan for the Israelites to take the city of Jericho. Our plans will be effective only if they are the Lord's plans. 

1 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

Not the long straight trumpets generally used, but the same kind that were to be employed on the first day of the seventh month (Leviticus 23:24), and to announce the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:9). The trumpets were made out of rams' horns, which is the same as the shofar.

"Shofar" means to "burn into" like a branding iron burns into the flesh of an animal. The very loud sound of the shofar burns into the heart, drawing people to attention. 

5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.

7 And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.

8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.

9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.

So the children of Israel walked around the walls of Jericho in silence, but they listened to the blast of the rams' horns. That must have been quite a message to both the Israelites and the inhabitants of Jericho. For the Israelites, it served to build up their faith and trust in the Lord. Faith comes by hearing, not by talking. For the inhabitants of Jericho, the blasts increased their fear. 

11 So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.

12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.

13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.

15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble

19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.

20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

There is a time to keep silence and there is a time to shout. But we shout to the walls of Jericho only when the Lord says to shout. The Lord is not deaf; neither are the devils. Can you imagine the deafening noise when 40,000 men plus the priests suddenly interrupted the silence with a shout? 

21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.

22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.

23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.

24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.

25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.

27 So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.

2 Corinthians 2:14, "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place."

What a powerful verse! God ALWAYS causes us to triumph in Christ, but we will always lose the battle if we are not "in Christ." The phrase "in Christ" means much more than being born again and baptized with the Holy Ghost. In a later message or two I want to elaborate on what it means to be "in Christ." The word "savour" means "fragrance." What is the fragrance of His knowledge? It is the knowledge of Christ, which cannot be hidden. His very presence is something which we cannot hide. When we know Him experientially, when we possess Him, when we are in Christ and He is in us, a sweet-smelling fragrance is emitted.

Of course Jericho represents the first, but not the last stronghold of the enemy that we must overcome AFTER we enter the Promised Land. Other strongholds, which hinder our maturing in Christ, are our carnal mind, as exemplified by the Church at Corinth (that resulted in division into separate parties because each party thought they knew all about Christianity); Judaizers and legalism as exemplified by the Galatian churches; asceticism, Gnosticism (secret knowledge of Christ), depreciation of Christ, strict ceremonialism as found in the Colossian church (severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence).; legalism and antinomianism, being spiritually proud with the rivalry between two spiritual sisters at Philippi; and the substitution of head knowledge for knowing the Lord as exemplified by the Church at Ephesus. The Thessalonian churches: Jesus will come back immediately, therefore let us quit our jobs.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" 

Jericho was taken because the presence of the Lord was manifested. The power of His might was not in the silence, not in the sounding of the shofars, not in the shouting, but because of the presence of the ark of the covenant. After the victory at Jericho, the Israelites received no spoil. We get no glory from that which God has done. God takes only that which goes through the fire, namely the silver and gold, and vessels of brass and iron. Those went into the treasury of the Lord. But perhaps the greatest spoil was the salvation of Rahab, who had been a harlot ... the lowest of all people in Jericho. But David came from her, and eventually so did the Man Jesus.

In Christ we are more than conquerors and fully equipped to overcome all obstacles and prevail in all spiritual warfare in order to fulfill His purposes for His glory. He alone is worthy! Amen! 

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2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 2 Peter 2:9

Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Revelation 3:10

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. James 1:12

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.  

1 Corinthians 10:13

 

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  

Hebrews 4:14-15