Welcome to Waymaker Church! We are so excited to have you join us today! We exist to Encounter, Live for, and Advance the Kingdom of God!

This last week, we wrapped up looking at what caused angels to fall and their current function. We also began to tackle the question, How do we battle against them? We made it through the first, thought which I will briefly recap.

Victory begins and ends with Christ.
The keys to victory are repentance, obedience, and submission. It is Christ who has won the victory.

The baseline and foundation of our victory is Christ.

How do we battle against them?

The nature of the new man rewires you to walk in victory.

The book of Ephesians speaks to this transformation. From walking in unity, to putting on the nature of the new man, it covers walking in love, walking in the light, walking in wisdom, walking in obedience to Christ, and how to put on the whole armor of God.

Through Christ we are delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God through the blood of Jesus.

Colossians 1:9–14 “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

We must understand the power of the blood of Jesus. In the Old Testament, blood was significant in two ways. First, it served to ratify and confirm the covenant. Secondly, it served to purify and consecrate people.

In the New Testament, it is the symbol of salvation, cleansing, and forgiveness. Through the power of the blood of Jesus we are justified, have peace with God, and are set aside as holy unto the Lord. The blood of Jesus has opened the door for us to walk in the power of our inheritance.

Colossians 2:11–15 “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

The Holy Spirit aids you in the change.
Romans 8:10–11 “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

Wisdom and revelation prepare you for victory.
Romans 8:13–15 “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Ephesians 1:17–21 “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”

Purity preserves you.
John 8:34 “Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.”

Romans 6:15–18 “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

The Word Equips you for Battle.

1. Recognize the Reality of the Spiritual Realm
• We must ask the Lord to open our eyes to spiritual realities and for discernment. Remember that deception is the enemies primary weapon. We must cling to the truth. 1 Corinthians 2:14.
• 1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

2. Guard Against Pride — The Root of All Rebellion
• Remember, Lucifer’s fall began with pride and self-exaltation. Pride is the seed of corruption. (Isa. 14:13–14; Ezek. 28:17) Examine your heart for pride.

3. Guard Your Mind and Affections
• Remember the primary battlefield is the mind. The enemy targets thought life — sowing confusion, doubt, and lies (2 Cor. 4:4). If we believe the lie we empower the liar. We guard our minds through the renewal of our minds with the word (Rom. 12:2).

4. Close All Open Doors to the Enemy
• Sin gives access to demonic influence — repentance removes legal grounds. (John 8:34; Rom. 6:16) Identify areas of unrepentant sin, unforgiveness, or unhealthy habits. Bring them to the cross.
• John 8:34 “Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.”
• Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”
• Renounce sinful behaviors, break agreement with lies, and invite the Holy Spirit to fill every area (Luke 11:24–26).
• Luke 11:24–26 ““When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.””

• Walk in Freedom — Don’t Settle for Bondage: Christ came to set captives free (Luke 4:18). The enemy seeks to enslave through sin and addiction. Seek deliverance, healing, and accountability where bondage persists. Walk in community; don’t isolate. Freedom is maintained through daily surrender and obedience.

Engage in the Battle:
1. The posture of spiritual engagement is submission. We must submit fully to God’s Divine Authority.
• Rebellion opened the door for Lucifer’s fall — submission restores divine order. Align your will with God’s will daily through obedience to the word of God.

James 4:7 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Ephesians 6:12–18 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”

2. Persist in Prayer.
• Spiritual opposition can delay answers (Dan. 10:12–13; 1 Thess. 2:18). Don’t quit praying when you face resistance. Persevere — help from heaven is on the way. Delays are not denials. Keep faith active through worship and fasting.

3. Break Generational Patterns Through Christ.
• Family cycles of sin can persist through unrepentant patterns. You don’t have to repeat what’s been in your bloodline. The blood of Jesus sets new patterns (Gal. 3:13). Confess family strongholds, forgive past generations, and declare your identity in Christ.

4. Avoid All Occult and Counterfeit Spiritual Practices
• Engaging with dark or occult practices opens doors to demonic possession or oppression.
• 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”
• Renounce any involvement with horoscopes, witchcraft, occult rituals, or deceptive spirituality. Replace curiosity with commitment to Scripture and prayer. Fill your spiritual hunger with God’s Word.

5. Live Ready and Watchful
• Fallen angels know their time is short and work with urgency (Jude 6; Rev. 20:10). Be alert and spiritually sober (1 Pet. 5:8). Live with eternity in view.

6. Rest in Christ’s Victory
• Though the battle is real, the outcome is settled — Jesus triumphed over the enemy (Col. 2:15). Don’t fear darkness — walk in light. Remember, you fight from victory, not for victory. 1 John 4:4.
• 1 John 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

The reality of spiritual warfare is that it is not optional. If you belong to Christ, you are already in it. When you engage in spiritual warfare, be humble by not overstepping your delegated authority.

Authority comes from alignment with God not human willpower. We do not have authority in the heavenly realm. Remember to function in the realm where you are equipped to function. Stepping into arenas where you lack covering invites unnecessary attacks.

Steer clear of pride, presumption, and power trips. They can backfire on you. A right heart posture is key to safe and effective intercession. Prayer should focus on exalting Christ, not confronting Satan directly. Humility, repentance, and worship disarm the enemy more than shouting at him. Our role is obedience, not conquest.

During times of intercession, pray for people, governments, and nations rather than rebuking spirits over regions. Ask God to send His angels, rather than assuming you command them, and cover yourself with the blood of Christ while praying from a place of peace, not fear.

Know your role. God is the ultimate authority, we partner with Him, not replace Him. We must simply be obedient to assignments He gives us.

A lifestyle of worship and the word is the strongest warfare. Daily surrender and repentance keep doors closed to the enemy. Community and accountability are essential. Don’t be a lone ranger, or you will likely become more vulnerable to attack.