— Gen. Jim, POW

We are at war! We are in a war. While many nations globally are in a physical war or revolution, we Christians are in a spiritual conflict, day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Finally. . . .be STRONG in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). STRONG – POWER – MIGHT. Let’s do a word study on those three words.

A) STRONG:

[Greek // Strong’s Conc. #1743 = endunamoo, “to empower; enable, increase in strength, be made strong.” Also #1411 = dunamis and #1412 = dunamoo, “miraculous power, mighty, violence, enable.”]

B) POWER:

[Greek // Strong’s Conc. #2904 = karatos, “vigor (fig. or lit.), dominion, might, strength.” Also #2962 = kuriotes, “supremacy, supreme in authority” (from 2963, kurios = “mastery, rulers, government, dominion – used as seen or unseen powers.”)]

C) MIGHT:

[Greek // Strong’s Conc. #2479 = ischus, “force (fig. or lit.), ability, power, strength” (from 2192, echo = “to hold as possession, ability, keep, condition.”)]

There is a lot of dominion power in Ephesians 6:10. Paul draws upon war imagery and ideals (6:10-20). He describes the Christian soldier/saint in terms of the dress and equipment of Roman soldiers. He also observes, however, that the Christian’s readiness for spirit combat is not directed against humans (as in literal combat) but against the spiritual powers of evil. Paul makes mention of those powers in Ephesians 1:21 — “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.” He also mentions four groups of enemies against which we are warring — “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” (6:12). Back in Ephesians 2:2 Paul also writes about the prince of the power of the air (i.e., spirit realm). And then in 3:10 he makes mention of the principalities and authorities in the heavens. So, are demon forces real, in real time? 100% YES!

HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD!

The following excerpts are taken from the Prophetic Word of the Spirit, given by Prophet General Deborah Green, Feb. 24, 2022: “I speak to you today and I say be thankful for the sword of the Spirit which is sharper than any two-edged sword and will divide asunder between the bones and the marrow. In the warfare for souls, and for your own soul, do not fail to use My Word. . . .”

Of course the Spirit was referring to Ephesians 6:17, e.g., the sword of the Spirit; the Spirit Word which is the Word of God. The Greek word from which these ideas are translated is “rhema” which means “an utterance,” which comes from the word “rheo/ereo” which means “the pouring forth; to utter, speak or say, command; also means to flow or run as water.”

In the Greek, the word “rhema” is significantly different in meaning than the word “logos.” Rhema means, “Something said (including thought), reasoning or motive; Divine expression as when Christ (God) spoke.”

The written Word, i.e., the Bible, is the Logos. The Word was put into the thoughts/mouths of the biblical authors and Prophets. Thus we have the Scriptures, which as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, are inspired by God/The Holy Spirit. Of course when 2 Timothy 3:16-17 was penned, the only written Word was that of the Old Testament which the Jews had faithfully preserved through the centuries. Then when the New Testament was written another significant addition was added to the cannon of inspired Scripture.

GOD STILL SPEAKS

1 Corinthians 12:10 speaks of the gift of prophecy.

PROPHECY: [Greek // Strong’s Conc. #4394 = propheteuo, “To foretell events, divine, speaking under inspiration, prophesy.” Also PROPHET: #4396 = prophetess, “Forteller, an inspired speaker (even a poet).”] My wife has, for years, held the office of a prophetess, a female foreteller or inspired woman.

Continuing with the Word of the Lord: “When you operate in the Spirit realm you will be able to discern between good and evil and between the precious and the vile. It is indeed a necessity to keep ACTIVELY ALERT and AGGRESIVE for the purposes to which I have called you.”

In Ephesians 6:12, Paul the Apostle writes about going to war against the “Big 4”: Principalities; Powers; Rulers of the darkness; Wickedness in heavenly places. Following is a brief study of the Greek words Paul uses to help you more fully understand what we are dealing with.

1) PRINCIPALITIES:

arche – “Chief (in various applications of order, time, place, rank, power, principle, rule.”

2) POWERS:

exousia – “Force, mastery, super-human, authority, right, strength.”

3) RULERS:

kosmokrator – “A world ruler, an epithet for Satan. Related to kosmos – Orderly arrangement, i.e. by implication the world in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants.”

4) HOST OF WICKEDNESS:

poneria – “Depravity, malice, plots, sins, iniquity. Related to poneros – hurtful, evil (in character or action), degeneracy, calamitous, diseased, derelict, vicious, mischief, lewd, the devil, sinners, grievous, harm.” Also ponos – “to toil, anguish, pain.”

TAKE HEED

While we may be born-again, filled with the Holy Spirit, firmly grounded in sound Biblical doctrine, and walking in love and light the best we can, we must always be AWARE of these invisible evil enemy forces that wage war against us. We must fight back using the Sword of the Spirit, i.e., Logos/Rhema. How many lives have been destroyed, and are being destroyed in real time, because the believers do not take heed, fight, and resist? If we could see in the Spirit world we would see mounds and mounds of slain bodies and souls.

So many are ignorant of the whole armor of God mentioned in Ephesians 6:13-17, so they do not take advantage of the protection it offers. Neither do they use the sword of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit has equipped each soldier in God’s army with both defensive and offensive armor and weapons. Plus we are to pray in the spirit at all times, staying alert, aggressive, and persistent, on the front lines of battle.

THE WORD OF THE LORD, CONTINUED…

“. . . .As My people, do not give way to the waves of fear that are being sent throughout the earth at this time. There are of course mediums of fear who are excited to cover the nations of the world with their fear as to what is happening and what is coming up ahead. However, if you truly reflect upon their motivation, it is control through fear of the present and the future.”

We must live in faith, not fear! Yet this is easier said than done. When the enemy rushes us or pounds on us, we, more often than not, give way to fear, not faith. Ephesians 6:14 tells us to “Stand your ground” and “pray in the Spirit at all times” (v. 18). The reason for putting on the armor of God is “so that you will be able to stand firm against the strategies of the devil” (v. 11).

STAND: Greek = histemi — “(literally or figuratively) to abide, continue, establish, stanch, stand up.” Also in the Greek = theo — “to stand upright in active position, commit, kneel down (humility of heart), set forth, settle in (as to wage war).”

THE LIVING WORD

“. . . .Do not fear for your lives, nor for the times that are and the times that are coming. Do not be as the ones who are fearing such things as rumors of wars, actual wars, sickness, disease, plagues, and high prices in the form of financial hardships. . . .because of the motivation of the evil one and his demonic forces. When you are being comforted by the presence of My Holy Spirit, you will not be quick to embrace those lying sources because you will be able to discern that which is of Me and that which is of the world. Live by faith, not fearfulness, fretfulness, and failure.”

“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

It is a fact (with exceptions) that during hard times our faith tends to dwindle: some have lost their faith completely under pressure. The antidote to this malady is to feed your faith and starve your doubts to death! We need not live a dysfunctional Christian life, having a tendency to quit. NO! Stand strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!