I asked a question about evils of religious behaviour and got a fantastic response from AWM

Dear Angelica,

Andrew does not comment on the ministries of others. We do not know these people nor their doctrine.

We do have some pretty strong opinions about so called ‘spiritual warfare’ which we will share with you.

The topic of 'spiritual warfare' has led to many erroneous teachings and activities that have diverted the Body of Christ away from its primary call of preaching the gospel. For some reason, many fine Christians feel that Jesus' redemptive work on the cross was not enough, and they must add to it or complete it by waging war against the enemy. This is simply not Biblical.

To imply that we must ask forgiveness for 'the sins of the fathers' would mean that Jesus did not bring forgiveness to the entire human race through His sacrifice and His blood. Can you name one sin that was not included on the cross? Jesus was made sin! (2 Cor. 5:21) He was made a curse! (Gal. 3:13) And God reconciled Himself to the entire world and is not imputing our sins against us (2 Cor. 5:19).

All principalities and powers were spoiled by Jesus (Col. 2:15) and He has translated us from the kingdom of darkness into His own kingdom (Col. 1:13).

There are no more principalities to defeat and there are no more sins to atone for. Jesus has completed redemption for mankind and God has reconciled Himself to us and does not see our sin. The judgment for sin was paid by Jesus.

For that reason Jesus proclaimed,

All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matt. 28:18-20)

Jesus did not tell us to go attack principalities and powers, nor to ask forgiveness for the sins of our forefathers. He told us that He had all power and authority and we were to go and preach. It is so simple but we have had to make it complicated.

The 'wrestling' mentioned in Ephesians 6 has nothing to do with an offensive attack against heavenly principalities. It is speaking of a defensive preparation against temptations against our flesh here on the earth. The 'strongholds' mentioned in 2 Cor. 10, are not demons but rather thoughts, concepts, philosophies, superstitions, political beliefs, customs, etc., that go against the Word of God. They can only be brought down by the preaching of the Word.

What is clear from the New Testament is that there is no evidence whatsoever, nor any instruction that reveals a spiritual war in high places that requires our strategic prayer and intercession. Jesus never sent forth intercessors to prepare the way for His message. He sent his disciples to preach the gospel, heal the sick and cast out demons. Jesus never indicated that some regions wouldn’t receive Him because of demonic principalities, and therefore they must first be torn down before the gospel could be preached. He told his disciples to shake the dust from their feet and move to the next village if they were not received. So much for blaming demons for men’s hardness of heart!

Paul never prayed to identify the strongman over a city or region. He simply preached the gospel and let the chips fall where they may. At times he was received with gladness and other times he was stoned. No mention was made of the “stronghold” that must be torn down. No intercessory prayer group was formed to attack these powers so that Paul could be invited back to town.

What Jesus did commission the church to do was preach the gospel.

18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matt. 28:18-20

All power (authority) was given unto Jesus in heaven AND in earth. In other words, there is no realm that is not subject to His authority. Therefore, we are authorized and empowered to take the gospel to all nations regardless of principalities, strongmen and strongholds. The authority of those “powers” has been defeated.

“And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Col. 2:15

These are the same principalities and powers so often referred to in Ephesians 6. If Jesus has “spoiled” these powers, and if “all authority” has been given Him in heaven and in earth, and if He has commissioned us to “go into all the world and preach the gospel,” then it can be assumed that the only resistance we have to deal with is an earthly resistance comprised of the strongholds in the minds of men and the fiery darts of an enemy who has been defeated and spoiled.

But with the weapons of our warfare, we have been equipped for victory. Much time and prayer has been spent fighting an enemy by “binding” him in his heavenly abode, when in fact it is his earthly activities of lies and temptations that we have been equipped to tear down. And much time has been lost that should have been spent going into all the world and preaching. But, praying “strategically” sounds so much more romantic than actually preaching to the lost and healing the sick. You can stay at home and do “strategic warfare,” but you must leave the prayer room and go to the nations if we are to fulfill the Great Commission.

Unfortunately modern teaching would have us attack the heavenly powers first before feeling that we can preach the gospel with any effectiveness. This is not the New Testament pattern. There are two results from this line of thinking: 1) Men are not considered responsible for their hardness of heart. It’s the devil’s fault; and 2) Our lack of effectiveness in healing the sick and setting the captives free isn’t our fault either. We just need to tear down some more strongholds in prayer and maybe then we can see a revival. We believe this to be an error that has sidetracked the church from its true calling and commission.

Perhaps this will help you.

In accordance with Matthew 18:19, we set ourselves in agreement with you and release our faith with yours that these needs are met according to God’s perfect will.

We have prayed according to Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

We encourage you to remember Hebrews 10:35, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.” Also remember Hebrews 6:12, and be “followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”


Blessings,

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the
knowledge of God and our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:2)


Encouragement Dept.
Andrew Wommack Ministries
www.awmi.net