PUT ON ALL THE ARMOR THAT GOD SUPPLIES
EPHESIANS 6:10-18

 

A message from the founder of Blood of Jesus.com to all fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who intercede in the spiritual battlefield through deliverance & healing prayers.

Not too long ago (2006-2007), in my life, I had the opportunity to witness & experience the evil spiritual powers of this world & how they devise plans to systematically destroy human life &
families.

On the verge of destruction our Lord, God Jesus Christ saved me and my family. Since then I gave my life to Christ and began growing in the Word and ministry.

Today, I see similar situations of clutches, troubles and tribulations amidst pastors, prayer warriors and their families. The devourer is at work while one would expect "automatic protection"
for families that are involved in God's work. However spiritual world
works differently and it is a heart ache to see sufferings amidst
faithful Christian families who uphold Christ & serve His Kingdom.

However this can be prevented!

Through understanding of the spiritual world (the battle field) and by using God's armor one can prevent attacks from the enemy.

This message is intended to shed some light on the spiritual warfare and to help you equip and protect yourself, your family and the congregation.

 

Understanding the battlefield:

Prayer is powerful. Prayer brings results and it also draws "reaction from the enemy" side. This is no different or actually worse than picking up a fight on the street where the opponent knows where you live. This opponent is
also a lawless, powerful destroyer with countless number of soldiers who
hate God and His children with a passion.

Often pastors and prayer warriors go into the battlefield barefooted, without proper training and or armor.

Armor needs to be worn every time before entering the battlefield and relax the armor upon completion of the daily prayer or ministry activities, just like how a real soldier goes to duty. In this message I
would like to highlight the reason and the 2 step procedure that needs
to be put in place every day of ministry work.

 

Understanding Kingdom of God:

The Word indicates that things of this world is a shadow of the real things in Heaven and such one can understand the workings of Kingdom of God by comparing it to worldly government and armed forces.

Like how army soldiers on earth gets appointed, undergo training and receive armor, every man of God needs these three before entering the battlefield.

Appointment: One should not consider as soldier in God's Kingdom without invitation of appointment. When a person desires to join the army of God, submit in prayer and wait upon
the Lord. The Lord through dreams, visions or through an anointed pastor
will reveal the appointment.

This appointment is IMPORTANT because, with this appointment also comes a very important gift through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. This gift is called "Authority Over Evil Spirits". God gives this very important gift to every soldier when appointed. With this gift one can cast out demons and evil spirits in the name of Jesus. It is true that any believer can cast out demons
and evil spirits in the name of Jesus but the level of authority
required to do ministry is different from personal & intercession
prayers.  

Refer Luke 10 Verse 1 & 17 (God's Word Translation)

1 After this, the Lord appointed 70 other disciples to go ahead of him to every city and place that he intended to go. They were to travel in pairs.
17 The 70 disciples came back very happy. They said, “Lord, even demons obey us when we use the power and authority of your name!”

When I got started with my ministry, before going to the first ministry call (it was a deliverance call) Lord anointed me through my pastor who operates all the 12 gifts of the Holy Spirit. Lord anointed
me with the following gifts: "Authority Over Evil Spirits" and "Gift of Healing".
I still do not talk in tongues, I feel the same in every way but now
when I pray, deliverance takes place just like how it is mentioned in
Luke 10 verse 17.

Make every attempt to obtain, confirm and verify your appointment or else the spiritual problems that will follow home will soon make a believer bitter at heart and eventually cause backsliding, a common
situation which is actually worse than being saved in the first place.

Training: We need training to handle any responsible job, how much more training we will require to do God's work? It is a misunderstanding if someone would consider this work easy
or take it for granted. Consider this, when someone takes the Good News
without proper training and understanding of the Word and Ways of the
Lord, they can easily create confusion and damage to ones existing
faith. Instead a soldier should first dedicate lot of time to study the
Word, pray, fellowship and understand the ways of the Lord and by
applying the Word and all the commandments into ones own life first. A
new Christian should allow considerable growth before seeking
appointment.

God's Armor: Out of the three the most important is putting on God's armor in an appropriate way. This applies to pastors, prayer warriors and to everyone who will go up in prayer to
rebuke and bind evil powers during ministry or personal prayers. This
also applies for healing prayers.

Let's read EPHESIANS 6:10-18 (God's Word Translation)

10 Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength.
11 Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil’s strategies.
12 This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the
heavenly world.
13 For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during
these evil days. Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able
to stand your ground.
14 So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your waist like a belt. Put on God’s approval as your breastplate.
15 Put on your shoes so that you are ready to spread the Good News that gives peace.
16 In addition to all these, take the Christian faith as your shield. With
it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Also take salvation as your helmet and the Word of God as the sword that the Spirit supplies.
18 Pray in the Spirit in every situation. Use every kind of prayer and
request there is. For the same reason be alert. Use every kind of effort
and make every kind of request for all of God’s people.

The Word is very precise and it prepares a soldier for the battlefield. With a deep understanding of the above verses and its meaning one shall prepare for the battlefield.

There is one more very powerful armor that we need. Which is "Blood Of Jesus". No armor can substitute the protection provided by Blood of Jesus. Every Christian should have a deep understanding about Blood of
Jesus and its power & authority.

When the prayer warrior claims the protection and victory of Blood of Jesus, powers of darkness will be shaken and thrown away because nothing can stand against the power of Blood of Jesus. Blood of Jesus is
THE highest & greatest power / defense from every device of evil.

 

Two Step Protection Process for prayer warriors, pastors & ministers.

Entering the battlefield:

Every day before beginning the ministry or prayers for others, the soldier needs to wear all the armor. This is done through a prayer. You can do this prayer in private, this prayer is for you, your family, job, business etc.

The following or similar protection prayer can be used.

- Holy Father I come into your presence in Jesus name.
- As I come, sprinkle me with your Blood, wash my sins, inequities & disgust and sanctify me.

- Lord I come to submit my day of ministry at your feet and into your throne of mercy & fortress of your Blood.
- Lord I submit myself, my wife, son, daughter.... (name all the members in your house)
- Lord I also submit every aspect of our life including my job, business, happiness, peace, marriage, health.... (name all that matters)
- INTO THE FORTRESS OF YOUR BLOOD AND FIRE
- Mark us all with your Blood, fence us with your Blood and Fire and appoint your angels to look after us.
- Guard us, guide us and lead us during and after ministry prayers.
- I rebuke every hindrances in the name of Jesus.

- I pray and ask in the most precious name JESUS. Amen!

- Thank you Father for hearing my prayers & blessing me with your mighty protection during and after my ministry prayers. With thanks
giving I proceed in the name of Jesus. Amen!

 

With this prayer you can begin your day of ministry and prayer. Protection prayer is required even if you are going to pray for just one person (or the whole day). Once the ministry day or prayer session is completed, a thanks giving prayer is required to fulfill the above protection prayer.

This actually applies to everything. When we receive something from the Lord, we have to give thanks to the Lord. Without thanksgiving, what we received cannot be fulfilled as a true blessing. Thanks giving and
thanks offerings are as important as the prayer itself.

 

Thanks Giving Prayer:

- Holy Father I come into your presence in Jesus name.
- As I come, sprinkle me with your blood, wash my sins, inequities & disgust and sanctify me.

- Lord I thank you for listening to all my prayers.
- Lord I thank you for the deliverance and fulfillment of all my prayers.
- Lord I thank you for giving me the privilege to pray, minister and support your children.
- Lord I thank you for protecting myself, my family and every aspect of our lives during and after my ministry.
- Lord I submit the rest of the day at your feet, guard me, guide me and lead me.

- I pray and thank in the most precious name JESUS. Amen!

 

This prayer seals the day and now you are free and protected.

 

Common Mistakes and Pitfalls

Sub: Laying of Hands & Praying

Often I come across evangelists who lay their hands on another person and pray for their needs and sickness. The first thing I was told by my pastor is NEVER lay your hands on someone. Instead ask them to keep
their hand on their chest or if it is a prayer for healing, have them
keep their hand on the part that needs healing.

The reasons behind this instructions are shocking. Spiritual world is bigger than this physical world. We need a lifetime to learn and get around this world that we can see with our own eyes. How much more
learning we need to understand the world that we cannot see?

Basics: Our body is like a vessel that can contain spirit(s). A body can either contain The Holy Spirit or it can contain evil spirit(s). In general NO "human body" is empty. Evil spirits are in
such large numbers & in far greater ratio compared to the
population of this world. Often multitude of evil spirits are found in
one body. 

A person might look absolutely normal from the out side. They can be well dressed with full of manners, attitude etc. but what they contain is beyond one's guess. The only people that can touch and pray
are those who are gifted with the Holy Spirit, those who can see into
the spiritual world, understand what they are dealing with and have the power & authority to tie up demons.

All others who are still growing in faith & the gifts of the Holy Spirit should keep their hands with themselves. Because the moment you keep your hands on the other (during intercession & deliverance
prayer), evil spirits & demons can flow freely from one body to
another.

 

Scriptural Warnings & Evidence

1 Timothy 5:22

Don’t be in a hurry to place your hands on anyone to ordain him.
Don’t participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself morally pure.
(God's Word Translation) 

Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure
(New King James Version)

Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
(King James Version)

Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
(New American Standard Bible)

 

With the help of my Pastor, the following underlying practical problems has been explained with scriptural evidence.

Basically, laying of hands on someone (during prayer) can bring many problems in an instant. In the above verse, Paul orders not to lay hands while referring to an important
subject associated with laying of the hands, which is "Transfer of SIN" referred as "share in other people’s sins".

1. Do not lay hands

2. Take no part in the SIN of other

3. Keep yourself pure

 

Let's First Understand Curses and Disease (because SIN is behind it):

Mostly a man of God, a prayer warrior is called upon to pray for one's diseases or problems (clutches & curses).

Diseases in a human body can arise from the following main areas.

• Age & gender related
• Physical weaknesses & immunity
• Viruses and epidemics
• Accidents & Genetically inherited (can also be spiritual in nature)
• Evil spirit invasion

Today, many prayer warriors & pastors do not realize that diseases in a human life can be caused by invasion of evil spirits & that they are dealing with something which is spiritual in nature (rather than being physical in nature).

Modern medicine & technology are true blessings of the Merciful God, Lord Jesus Christ. You can verify this statement by taking into account of what the world had before Christ (BC) and what the world
received after death and resurrection of the Lord (AD). I mention this,
to illustrate that special caution
must be exercised when dealing with health problems that could not be
accurately identified and or the prescribed medication could not
effectively control, treat & heal the condition.

"special caution" refers to various other ailments and diseases that do not fall under the above category which can also be due to the result of evil spirit invasion. Only a gifted / anointed pastor through the
revelation of the Holy Spirit can understand the true condition.

There are many references in the Holy Bible where people get cured when evil spirits / demons leave the body.

Mark 1:34

He cured many who were sick with various diseases and forced many demons out of people. However, he would not allow the demons to speak. After all, they
knew who he was.

 

Luke 8:2

Also, some women were with him. They had been cured from evil spirits and various illnesses. These women were Mary, also called Magdalene, from whom seven
demons had gone out

 

Acts 19:12

People would take handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul’s skin to those who were sick. Their sicknesses would be cured, and evil spirits would leave
them.

 

Similar to diseases, most of the problems people face that require prayer and deliverance can also be spiritual in nature.

When someone has problems or diseases that require prayer... It is important for a prayer warrior to look at it from a spiritual point of view. When you look at the problems from spiritual world's point of
view, each of the issues will have a point of origination. A gifted
pastor can trace it back to its origination; sometime curses &
clutches lead back several generations.

Most importantly one should know & understand that evil spirit invasion that bring diseases & problems enter through SIN. This evil spirit entry could be the result of the SINS of the effected person or the family curses or inflicted through mediums such as
witchcraft.

Unless you are an anointed pastor who operate the Gift of Revelation, it is not possible to understand or know what kind of spirits/demons that you are dealing with.

In Matthew 17:21 Jesus said; “However, this kind of demon goes away only by prayer and fasting.” 

Gifts of the Holy Spirit enables a pastor to understand and have the authority to deal appropriately with different kinds of demons, since every deliverance and situations are different. Please read 1 CORINTHIANS 12:7-11 to learn about all the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit.

 

Spirits Can be Transferred Through Laying of Hands

When prayer warriors lay the hand on someone and pray for their problems & diseases, without proper protection and authority, spirits responsible for these curses escape that body & often get transferred into the lives and families of the prayer warrior.

To bring clarity, I'll recall Paul's warnings in 1 Timothy 5:22

Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.

The above verse clearly identifies the spiritual transfer of sins from one body to another or from one life to another through laying of the hand.

What is SIN in the above reference? As explained earlier SIN is through which evil spirits invade a human life to cause sickness and problems.

Thus SIN is the underlying reason for the problem that you, the prayer warrior is praying for deliverance. However the result of SIN is invasion of evil spirits. Now when you lay your hands, such evil spirits / demons that has been brought through
SIN, the ones responsible for the sickness & problems that you are
praying for; gets agitated during prayer & thus gets transferred
from one body to another; now who is paying the price for the sin of the
other man?

This is the reason Paul warns not to lay your hands hastily. If done, the evil spirits responsible for the problems transfer the sin's curses from one body to the other thereby sharing responsibility for the sins of others
which inevitably brings new problems to the lives & families of
prayer warriors. Now these prayer warriors will need deliverance
themselves.

There are many evidence in the Holy Bible, to support spiritual transfer between two bodies.

Luke 8:43-46

A woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years was in the crowd. No one could cure her. She came up behind Jesus, touched the edge
of his clothes, and her bleeding stopped at once. Jesus asked, “Who
touched me?” After everyone denied touching him, Peter said, “Teacher,
the people are crowding you and pressing against you.”

Jesus said, “Someone touched me. I know power has gone out of me.”

Acts 19:11 –12

God worked unusual miracles through Paul. People would take handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul’s skin to those who were sick. Their
sicknesses would be cured, and evil spirits would leave them.

 

Human Body is like a Vessel that contain spirit(s):

In Luke 8:43-46 & Acts 19:11 –12 we see that the power of God is delivering sicknesses and evil spirits are fleeing human body. This is because our bodies are spiritual vessels.

We also must know & understand the three types of spirits that are present.

Three Types of Spirit:

1) Spirit of God (God is Spirit; Referred as Holy Spirit)
2) Spirit of Human
3) Evil Spirit

God is Spirit in form, we have hundreds of references in the Bible starting from GENESIS 1:2. When God created the first man from dust of the earth; God blew the breath of life into
his nostrils, giving humans their own spirit. So God gave spirit to
human body & each of us have our own spirit. Here is a nice
reference from

1 CORINTHIANS 2:11

After all, who knows everything about a person except that person’s own spirit? In the same way, no one has known everything about God except God’s Spirit.

 

The third type of spirit is the evil spirit. Evil spirit is an angel who originally served God, but was casted out from Heaven with all his associated angels who rebelled against God. Today these evil spirit
dominate the world by deceiving the World in order to make the World
ignore the True Living God and the spiritual truth.

Out of the three types of spirit; Spirit of God is most powerful, followed by the spirit of man and the least powerful spirit is the evil spirit. A man who is with God can command and cast out evil spirits in
the name of Jesus, because God gives more power to humans who are His
children.

However, we should understand that the human spirit has the ability to decide which spirit it wants to join. In other words, human spirit can either collaborate with evil spirit or with Holy Spirit.
Characteristics of the human spirit will be based on the type of spirit
it joins with.

There are many references from the Bible, I'll quote a few;

ROMANS 8: 14-15

Certainly, all who are guided by God’s Spirit are God’s children. You haven’t received the spirit of slaves that leads you into fear again. Instead,
you have received the spirit of God’s adopted children by which we call
out, “Abba!  Father!”

ROMANS 8: 9

But if God’s Spirit lives in you, you are under the control of your spiritual nature, not your corrupt nature.Whoever doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ
doesn’t belong to him.

 

As pastors and prayer warriors (who do not operate the Gifts of the Holy Spirit), cannot see nor understand the condition of the human spirit and its association. The human body is a
vessel and the fact is that a body can contain multiple spirits
responsible for various curses and sins.

This fact, that multitude of evil spirits can dominate a human body is clearly stated in Matthew 12:43-45.

“When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it goes through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any. Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to
the home I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept
clean, and in order. Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits
more evil than itself. They enter and take up permanent residence there.
In the end the condition of that person is worse than it was before.
That is what will happen to the evil people of this day.”

 

Then Who Can Lay Hands?

Bible refers to laying of the hand in multiple verses. Even my pastor lays his hand while praying for sick and the cursed just like how it has been mentioned in the Bible. But the same pastor warns me not to do
it. So what is the catch?

Let's refer Matthew 12:29

How can anyone go into a strong man’s house and steal his property?
First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can go through his house and steal his property.

In the above verse Jesus refers to demons as strong man.

The meaning of the above scripture is that; First the prayer warrior must tie up the demon before stepping into a human body occupied by demons (strong man’s house) so that the man of
God can destroy the plans of the demon & take victory (go through
his house and steal his property).

The above is possible only by an anointed pastor, who has been entrusted with the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

We have scriptural evidence of Jesus anointing Peter this way in Matthew 16:18-19

You are Peter, and I can guarantee that on this rock I will build my church. And the gates of hell will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of
the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And
whatever you set free, God will set free.”

Even today Jesus anoints and gives pastors such authority (my pastor is one of them). The question to ask before laying your hands is whether or not you have received this type of
authority and anointing? If you do you will know that you have received
it, there are no guess work with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit because in
Luke 8:46, we can see how Jesus was able to feel the anointed Power of the Holy Spirit suddenly leave his body.

Jesus said, “Someone touched me. I know power has gone out of me.”

Similarly, my pastor explained that the anointed pastors will feel and know when the Power of the Holy Spirit has been released from their hands onto the other person and that, only
the Power of the Holy Spirit CAN CAST OUT ANY EVIL SPIRIT or sickness /
diseases completely (without bouncing it back into their lives).

...Now these are the pastors that can lay their hands and pray.

Please read 1 CORINTHIANS 12:7-11 to learn about all the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit. Pastors who operate all the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are equipped and have the authority to
deal with the situation. They can SEE into the spiritual world,
they can command evil spirits by looking at them. In fact most evil
spirits will run away even before such pastors having to do anything.
The Holy power and Holy authority is completely in a different standard.
These are the results of the Holy Gifts that has been entrust by the
Lord.

Today, pastors who operate these gifts are rare. Simply because the spiritual standards of today's people do not fulfill God's requirements. This also includes myself. However those who seek God and His standards
will eventually be blessed with spiritual growth and the Gifts of the
Holy Spirit. We who pursue must submit yourself and pray for the Lord to
mould you into useful vessels. Grow in the Word and take training at
the feet of the Lord. The Lord is actually waiting to bless & bring
forth such faithful men to lead nations to the light of the Good News.

Through the help of my pastor, I will try to provide detailed explanation about the spiritual standards that are required to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. This will help myself and other men of God
who is seeking growth.

If you should require further clarification on this subject, please write to me and I will do my best to reply back with relevant and useful information. Together, let's fight the good fight more effectively
& efficiently.

Lord says that the harvest is great and the workers are few. If we do not take appropriate measures to protect ourselves then the workers are going to be further reduced. Because no man can work effectively while
carrying large burdens himself. Therefore, we shall always remember to
wear the Lord’s amour at all times.

With Love, In Christ