Have you ever experienced this scenario? You are in the process of solving a problem when a tougher, more painful problem arises. Why does this happen? When you understand spiritual warfare, this scenario makes more sense. You can gain understanding through Christian counseling. Counseling is an effective way to receive long-term healing and deliverance. The Holy Spirit heals you through counseling sessions. While the healing process is wonderful, it creates vulnerability to spiritual attacks.
The truth is, Satan doesn’t want you to be healed. He uses tactics to thwart your healing process. If you receive Christian counseling, you must also engage in spiritual warfare to experience full healing and restoration.
The Concept of Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual warfare is the term used to describe the continuous war between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (see Romans 14:17). The kingdom of darkness is everything that the kingdom of God is not. Satan is in constant opposition to the kingdom of God. He and his followers have devised all kinds of spiritual strategies to create strife and confusion.
Prayer is one of the most effective weapons of spiritual warfare. However, its power is lost when you don’t know what to pray about. The power also weakens when you don’t understand the threats from the kingdom of darkness. As a first step to spiritual warfare, seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit to know how to pray. A Christian counselor can uncover these specific issues during counseling. Once the issues are revealed, you will then be able to confront the spiritual strongholds.
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Spiritual Strongholds Explained
Spiritual strongholds have different aspects in the kingdom of darkness. There is the stronghold of adultery, the stronghold of depression, the stronghold of addiction, and so on. There can be multiple strongholds in your personal life, in your marriage, and in your church congregation. The aim is to break the power of the strongholds, and this is explained when you receive Christian counseling.
If the stronghold isn’t properly dealt with in spiritual warfare, your circumstance will show little or no improvement. For example, an adulterous spouse may commit adultery even after he or she has received counseling. This is simply because the stronghold of adultery still has power in his or her life. In Matthew 12:29, Jesus taught his disciples how to effectively devastate the power of a spiritual stronghold. He explained this with the use of very simple logic. The strong man must first be bound. He will continue to rebel unless he loses the freedom to move. The Lord has given us the power to bind these “strong men,” and your Christian counselor can teach you how to effectively bind a spiritual stronghold.
Prayer can occur without spiritual warfare, but warfare cannot occur without prayer. Remember our prayers may be words of thanksgiving. Such as the one made by Jesus over the five loaves and two fishes in John 6:11. The difference between this kind of prayer and spiritual warfare prayer is the use of strategies to interrupt the spiritual stronghold. The sooner the stronghold is dealt with, the sooner the problem is resolved. Seek Christian counseling, where you will learn how the Holy Spirit offers you victory.
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The Power of Two or More
Spiritual warfare is more powerful when two or more people unite before the Lord. Jesus has reassured us of victory whenever two or more people agree on a matter in the spirit. But Satan makes what should have been a simple task difficult through his deceptive schemes. For example, a counselor may suggest prayer and fasting as the solution for a couple, and suddenly one person becomes ill. The illness is a manifestation of Satan’s rebellious scheme. This is one of the reasons spiritual warfare is necessary even when receiving Christian counseling.
Remember, when receiving Christian counseling that is led by the Holy Spirit, two or more people (or a couple) must agree in the spirit to experience victory. The Holy Spirit will also provide your counselor with strategies and counsel so that healing and restoration can begin.
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Speed Up the Healing Process
One of the strategies of the kingdom of darkness is to pull your life apart when your focus is on putting your life back together. When people agree in the spirit, they have the power to experience the kingdom of God in a way that is so profound that it speeds up the healing process. Therefore, individuals and couples can pray and fast together. Congregations can war in the spirit together. Your spiritual victory is guaranteed. Additionally, spiritual warfare in counseling can also help to relieve distress.
You also need adequate weapons of the spirit in addition to strategy. Prayer is a powerful weapon of warfare. There are also additional weapons needed for you to remain fully protected on the battlefield. Paul outlined these spiritual weapons in Ephesians 6:14-18. When seeking out a Christian counselor, seek out a counselor who is strong in the spirit, knowledgeable in spiritual warfare, and able to provide the counsel of the Holy Spirit.
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If the Battle is in the Spirit, the Victory is in the Spirit
Paul has reminded us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, and against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (see Ephesians 6:16). Christian counseling is most effective when spiritual forces behind struggles are confronted with spiritual warfare. If your battles are fought in the spirit, your victory is also experienced in the spirit.
Angela Lowe, MS. Ed., LPC
Angela Lowe is a licensed Professional Counselor, trained Biblical Counselor and certified Holistic Health Coach. Her kingdom mandate is to restore God’s counsel to transform lives, marriages, and churches worldwide.
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