[CL] Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare

daily, cosmic and personal battle between the forces of good and evil.

Scriptures on Spiritual Warfare

From the Old to the New Testament, we have The tempter serpent to the final battle of good and evil

Genesis 3:1-7

From the beginning, with only Adam and Eve, the evil serpent—God's most cunning wild animal—asked and tempted Evil to eat the fruit in the middle of the garden (forbidden apple).

Isaiah 14:12-15

The morning star and sun of dawn (Lucifer), was thrown out of the kingdom of Heaven and earth and was brought to the realm of the dead.

Matthew 8:28-34

Two demoniacs who were from the tomb told Jesus "If you drive us out, send us into a herd of swine" as they were scared of Him

Luke 10:17-20

The Lord gave the disciples the power 'to tread upon serpents' and scorpions and noted that they should celebrate not because of that power but because their names are written in heaven.

Ephesians 6:11-15

The Bible tells us to put on a full armour of God (protection) to resist in the evil day.

Revelations 20:7-10

After a thousand years, Satan will be released to deceive the four nations. However in the end, he and his followers are thrown into a lake of burning sulfur which devours them.

Devil(Lucifer/Satan)

the leader of fallen angels

Demon

Any fallen angel, followers of Satan

Catechism on Spiritual Warfare

1) Angels are servants and messengers of God

2) The devil and demons are fallen angels

3) Evil is a person

4) Spiritual battle is a battle of prayer

5) Satan has been influencing since the beginning

6) Exorcism is a ministry of the Church

Angels are servants and messengers of God

Angel is the name of their office as purely spiritual beings with intelligence and will - St. Augustine

The devil and demons are fallen angels

Created by God but fallen by their own will and free choice

Evil is a person

Not abstract, but a person (Satan, the Evil One, angel opposes God—the devil (dia-bolos)

Spiritual battle is a battle of prayer

Prayer is a battle against ourselves and the wills of the tempter

Satan has been influencing since the beginning

self explanatory bru

Exorcism is a ministry of the Church

Expulsion of demons to the liberation of demonic possession authorized by the Lord to the Church

Two Degrees of Spiritual Warfare

1. Ordinary demonic activity

2. Extraordinary demonic activity

Ordinary demonic activity

common, frequent

Extraordinary demonic activity

rare, occasional

Temptation

• Ordinary Demonic activity

• Attractions to do something evil or bad which come from three sources:

1. our own sinful nature

2. devil/demons nursing us

3. the world's influence

Temptation (How)

a. Doubt - uncertainty

b. Enticements - making evil appear attractive

c. Accusations - blaming oneself to the point of losing hope

d. Trigger - provoking to do bad

e. Hoax - deceives us that evil is good

Temptation (When)

a. Vulnerable - weak in situations

b. Spiritual Change - wanting to be better

c. Tired - exhausted from work and academics

d. Depression - losing hope

e. In pain - sickness or suffering

f. Alone - no one to talk to

Infestation

• Demons or evil spirits are in disturbing places, objects, or animals, plants

• Causes would be cult practices or satanic practices in places or grievous sins committed

*Evil spirits can have many forms (Kapre in our country)

Oppression

• External in activity which a person may experience bodily attacks or personal problems

• Result of taking part or being cursed by the occult

• Considered as bad luck (minamalas)

Obssession

• Internal demonic activity where dark thoughts pop into one's mind

• Some can be common like nightmares but also extreme like hallucinations

Possession

• Rare, yet it happens

• Physical; demon takes possession of the body but not the soul (belongs to God)

• Must be evaluated by medical and psychological doctors—if difficult, one may be in need of exorcism

Signs of Possession

Different languages—ancient, Latin, and Greek Supernatural abilities Knowing the unknown Aversion to religious items or sacraments

Poltergeist Phenomena

Father Jocis Syquia said strange noises and movements are called the poltergeist phenomena. Women release pent-up frustrations into telekinetic bursts of energy

Adam Blai

He said there are two ways to exorcise: Exorcism and Solemn Exorcism

Exorcism

Imprecatory prayer (command)

Solemn Exorcism

Liturgical imprecatory ritual to treat demonically possessed people

Occult

• Latin: Occultus

• means secret, clandestine, or hidden.

Dangers of the Occult

• People claim extraordinary powers using witchcraft or astrology, or spiritual consulting, New Age spirituality (crystals), or even satanic worship

• Intends to gain power and control over success, people, or of events

• Israelites were forbidden as it can move us away from God

• Instead of the occult, we must pray for our guidance and experience the divine sacraments

Father Jocis Syquia

Some elemental spirits, nature spirits, or lamang lupa (encantos, duendes, nuno, kapres, tikbalang) can be harmful. According to Father Jocis Syquia, evil spirits must be driven out.

Warrior's Mentality

To be a good warrior, we need a certain mindset

a. Fight first our sins with humility

b. We are fighting against evil spirits and our own sin and not fighting against people, not even ourselves

c. Recognize the strategies of evil

Fight first our sins with humility

We must not think that we are better than others and instead seek God for guidance

We are fighting against evil spirits and our own sin and not fighting against people, not even ourselves

• We hate the sin, not the sinner

• We correct people because we care/love them

Recognize the strategies of evil

1. To blind us

2. Accustom us

3. Fall regularly to sin

Warrior's Weapon

1. Prayer

2. Scriptures

3. Sacraments and Sacramentals

4. Examination of conscience

5. Developing virtues

Prayer

To stay united with God

Scriptures

Reading the Bible purifies our thoughts

Sacraments and sacramentals

These remind us of God, saints, and angels

Examination of conscience

To recall the good acts and not so good acts

Developing virtues

Deepen our values to resist temptation