Articles

Dominion Over Darkness

Dr. Brenda Myree • Spiritual Warfare
Christians are considered to be the army of God and each individual Christian a soldier in the army. As a new Christian there is a boot camp you go through in order to learn how the Kingdom of God operates and your place within His Kingdom. As with any boot camp or basic training, you learn about your new identity, learning how to think as part of the Body of Christ (an army of One), and new skills through your manual the Bible. You will learn to become disciplined and mature in the things of God. You learn what your tools and weapons are and how to use them as well as the tactics and strategies of the enemy. After basic training, you should enter advanced training learning to become more skillful in the Word. You learn to identify your King (Jesus Christ), yourself and your enemy. At this point you may also receive a special assignment and receive more specific tactical training for your assignment.

PRACTICAL GUIDE ON HOW TO DEFEAT

THE ENEMY IN THE ARENA OF LIFE

 

BASIC TRAINING:

 

Colossians 1:13 King James Version (KJV)

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

 

2 Timothy 2:3-4 (KJV)

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 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.

      There are two spiritual kingdoms that are constantly clashing, the Kingdom of Light (God) and the kingdom of darkness.  Before you are saved, you belong to the kingdom of darkness.  Once you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior you are translated into the Kingdom of Light or the Kingdom of God's dear Son.

      Christians are considered to be the army of God and each individual Christian a soldier in the army.  As a new Christian there is a boot camp you go through in order to learn how the Kingdom of God operates and your place within His Kingdom.  As with any boot camp or basic training, you learn about your new identity, learning how to think as part of the Body of Christ (an army of One), and new skills through your manual, the Bible.  You will learn to become disciplined and mature in the things of God.  You learn what your tools and weapons are and how to use them as well as the tactics and strategies of the enemy.  After basic training, you should enter advanced training learning to become more skillful in the Word.  You learn to identify your King (Jesus Christ), yourself and your enemy.  At this point you may also receive a special assignment and receive more specific tactical training for your assignment.

2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV)

11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

 

1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (KJV)

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

 

Romans 12:2 Amplified Bible (AMP)

2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

 

According to Webster's the word Assignment means a position of responsibility; a post of duty to which one is appointed, a specified task or amount of work assigned or undertaken as if assigned by authority!

KNOW YOUR ENEMY AND HIS DEVICES:

      The entity known as the devil or satan was once the arch-angel Lucifer which was created by God.  He was the anointed cherub who covered the throne of God.  He was the choir director in heaven who was himself a musical instrument.  At one point, Lucifer became prideful and iniquity was found in him.  Lucifer said he would exalt himself and would become like the Most High God.  When God kicked Lucifer out of heaven, he took 1/3 of the angels with him which became what we know as demons.  He lost his heavenly status and became known as satan, the devil or the dragon.

        Satan is a defeated foe but he is still a foe.  He continues to use the same plots, plans, schemes, snares and traps he has always used.  He has had a long time to study mankind and has learned what works.  He uses the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life to try to trip us up.  The battlefield is your mind.  The same tricks he used in the Garden of Eden, he still uses today.  He uses deceit, temptations of all kinds, riches, different lusts, pride, situations and circumstances.  He uses sickness and disease and negative thoughts. It is up to us to recognize what he is trying to do and counteract it.  People are not our enemies but the demonic spirits that are behind different actions.

Isaiah 14:12-32 King James Version (KJV)

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.

 

Ezekiel 28:12, 14-15 (KJV)

12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

 

1 John 2:16 (KJV)

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

 

2 Corinthians 11:3 (KJV)

3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

 

Mark 4:19 (KJV)

19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

 

Colossians 2:15 King James Version (KJV)

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he (Jesus) made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

 

Colossians 2:15 The Twentieth Century New Testament (20th Century)

15 He (Jesus) rid himself of all the Powers of Evil, and held them up to open contempt, when he celebrated his triumph over them on the cross!

 

KNOW YOUR KING:

      Jesus Christ is the King of the Kingdom of Heaven.  He is our example in all areas of life.  Jesus is the Word but, more importantly, He is God.  He was in the beginning.  He is the creator of all things as nothing was made without Him.  He is seated at the right-hand of the Father.  Just as we must be able to identify our enemy, we must be able to identify our leader and His methods of operating.  Knowing the attributes of our King makes it easier to identify an enemy or other imposter. 

John 1:1-3 (KJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 

Acts 2:32-34 (KJV)

32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

 

Colossians 1:16-17 (KJV)

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

In Jesus dwells the fullness of the Godhead.  He is filled to the full with all power, all authority.  He has total pre-eminence or excellence and superiority.  He is in the Father and we are in Him, and He in us.  So the fullness or completeness and totality of the Godhead dwells in us bodily as well.  It is all about Christ in us.  All that He is, all that He possesses is in us.

Colossians 1:17-19 (KJV)

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

 

Colossians 2:9 (KJV)

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

 

John 17:21 (KJV)

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

        Jesus was manifested to destroy the works of the devil.  Once He gave Himself up on the cross and was buried, He descended into hell where He set captives free and prevailed over the devil, spoiling him and making a show of him openly.  While Jesus was in hell, He conquered the devil and paraded him around hell as a victor of war parading his captives around for all to see.  Jesus put the devil under His feet placing His foot on the neck of the devil so all the inhabitants in hell could see who was all powerful.  Jesus triumphed over the devil and took the keys of death, hell and the grave. 

1 John 3:8 (KJV)

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

 

Colossians 2:15 (KJV)

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

After becoming the victor over the devil, Jesus was raised from the dead and God exalted Him.  Jesus was placed above all principalities and powers, all dominions and put all things under His feet.  God gave Jesus a name that is above every name that at His name EVERY knee, in heaven, on earth and beneath the earth, must bow and every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord not only in this world but in the world to come.  He was made head of the church, His body. 

Ephesians 1:19-23 (KJV)

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

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:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

 

Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV)

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

KNOW YOURSELF:

       We are an army of one.  A many membered body.  As a Christian, we have been crucified with Christ and He lives in and through us through the Holy Spirit.  He lives His life through us.  In Him we live and move and have our being.  We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.  We are kings and a royal priesthood, we are a chosen generation.  We are more than conquerors.  We have been endued with power through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus has given us His power and authority to maintain what He obtained on the cross.

1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Romans 8:17 (KJV)

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

 

Colossians 2:9-10 (KJV)

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

 

Acts 17:28 (KJV)

28 For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

 

Galatians 2:20 King James Version (KJV)

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

Acts 1:8 (KJV)

18 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

Luke 10:19 (KJV)

19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

 

THE WEAPONS OF YOUR WARFARE:

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 for the weapons of our warfare [are] not fleshly, but powerful to God for bringing down of strongholds,

5 reasonings bringing down, and every high thing lifted up against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of the Christ,

 

       As stated earlier, the battlefield we fight on is the mind.  God has provided us with weapons to defeat the enemy.  Since the battlefield is our mind, we must continually renew our mind in the Word of God.   We are not to open any doors to the enemy or give him an entry point in our lives.  Yes, Jesus defeated the devil but, we must maintain what Jesus obtained, until He returns. 

Some of your strategic offensive and defensive weapons are:

 

1.  The Word of God  5.  The Blood of Jesus
2.  Holy Spirit 6.  The Name of Jesus
3.  God's Armor   7.  All prayer and supplication in the Spirit
  a. Truth 8.  Faith
 b. Breastplate of Righteousness

9.  Praise & Worship

  c. Gospel of Peace   10. Fasting
  d. Shield of Faith 11. Thanksgiving
  e. Helmet of Salvation    12. Gifts of the Spirit
   f. Sword of the Spirit 

13. Believe in Jesus

4.  Love & Compassion  

                                     

  Romans 12:2 (KJV)

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV)

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

Ephesians 4:27 (KJV)

27 Neither give place to the devil.

 

2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)

5 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;

 

Ephesians 6:10-18 (KJV)

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

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.

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.

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

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:

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

 

Matthew 14:14 (KJV)

14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

 

Isaiah 10:27 (KJV)

27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

 

      One of our greatest weapons or wall of defense is the Word of God.  The Word is also an offensive weapon.  When Jesus was driven into the wilderness and tempted of the devil, He was able to defeat the devil at that time by reminding him of what the Word (Bible) had to say.  Jesus always answered with, It is written, then would quote the appropriate scripture or promise of God.  It is not enough to just have knowledge of the Word but to have faith in the Word, believe that the Word of God will accomplish what it is sent to do.  As kings and priests in this world, we can decree and declare His Word, in faith.  Every promise in the Bible is ours but, we must receive it by faith.  We can and should confess God's Word for what we are believing for. 

Mark 11:22-23 (KJV)

22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (The God kind of faith). (Emphasis mine).

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

 

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)

11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

 

Romans 4:17(B) (KJV)

17(b) and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

 

Hebrews 4:12 New King James Version (NKJV)

12 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.

 

        Proverbs 18:21 states, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit."  There is power in the words we speak, good or bad.  We can speak forth death or life by the words that we speak.  We will eat the fruit of our words or the fruit which our words produce.  We can speak life to a situation or death to a situation by speaking what the Word of God says about that particular situation or circumstance! It is important that we meditate, day and night, on God's word until it becomes rhema to us.  Once the Word has become rhema and we speak forth the Word, we will be able to speak with power and authority.

        Jesus has given us His blood, His name, His Word, and His Holy Spirit.  He has given us His armor, everything we need to be successful and to walk in victory.  Greater is He who is in us than he (the enemy) who is in the world.  We are more than conquerors.  As stated previously, we are victors.  A victor is one who not only conquers but one who totally overcomes a particular enemy.  We overcome the enemy when the Word abides in us.

1 John 5:4 (KJV)

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

 

Revelation 12:11 (KJV)

11 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.

 

Ephesians 6:11-12 (KJV)

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.

 

John 15:7 (KJV)

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

 

Romans 8:37 (KJV)

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

 

We are to operate in His faith.  The just, those who are justified, are to live by faith.  Everything we do must be done in and by faith.  It takes faith to please God.  Jesus has given us His authority (exousia) and His power (dunamis) through the Holy Spirit. 

 

Mark 16:17-18 New King James Version (NKJ)

17-18 You will cast out demons; you will speak with new tongues; you will take up serpents; and if you drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt you; you will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

 

Matthew 15:19 (Amp.)

19 Whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth will be bound (declared to be improper and unlawful) in Heaven, and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth will be loosed (declared to be lawful) in heaven.

 

John 1:12 (KJV)

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

 

Galatians 3:11 (KJV)

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

 

Galatians 5:6 (KJV)

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

 

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We have all kinds of prayer, praying in tongues as weapons.  Thanksgiving and Praise and worship are weapons. 

Jude 1:20 (KJV)

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

 

2 Chronicles 20:15-22 (KJV)

15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.

17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.

18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.

19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.

22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

 

Acts 1:8 (KJV)

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

Acts 4:31 (KJV)

31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

 

(Speaking of Abraham):

 

Romans 4:20 (KJV)

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

 

Mark 16:17 (KJV)

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

 

Mark 9:29 (KJV)

29 And he said unto them, This kind (power) can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.  (Emphasis mine).

 

1 Corinthians 12:8-10 (KJV)

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

 

1 Timothy 2:1 (KJV)

2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

 

Psalm 69:30 (KJV)

30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

 

2 Corinthians 4:15 (KJV)

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

 

Philippians 4:6 (KJV)

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 

Colossians 2:7 (KJV)

7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

© 2008-2015 Kingdom Dominion International Ministries, Inc. - All Rights Reserved

© 2008 - 2024 Kingdom Dominion International Ministries, Inc. - All Rights Reserved.