You can arm yourself against evil! Warfare Prayer provides a toolbox and an operators manual for those who take seriously the Scripture that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers.

The author identifies three levels of spiritual warfare: ground-level, occult-level, and strategic-level. This book deals with strategic-level spiritual warfare and covers the why and how of confronting the principalities and powers which, under the command of satan, do their best to make human life miserable and unrighteous.

Our fight is not against human beings. No, it is against rulers, against authorities, against world powers of this darkness, and against evil spiritual beings in the heavenly world(Eph 6:12 PEB).

The demonic world around us is a reality, but all too few believers understand that realm of darkness to say nothing of having the skills to effectively use the weapons of warfare that God has given us.

Based on a combination of sound biblical theology and real-life experiences, this book is a user-friendly guide for those committed enough to join the army of God.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Frontline Warfare

Chapter 2: The Real Battle is Spiritual

Chapter 3: Jesus on the Offensive

Chapter 4: Demons Behind Bushes

Chapter 5: Territoriality Then and Now

Chapter 6: Equipping the Warriors

Chapter 7: Remitting the Sins of Nations

Chapter 8: Naming and Mapping the Powers

Chapter 9: The Rules for City-Taking

Chapter 10: Avoiding the Pitfalls

Twenty-One Crucial Questions Concerning Spiritual Warfare

Introduction: Before We Get to the Questions

Question 1: How does strategic-level spiritual warfare differ from other types of spiritual warfare?

Question 2: Since Scripture teaches that Jesus defeated the principalities and powers on the Cross (see Col 2:14-15), is there really anything left for us to do except to claim Jesus victory?

Question 3: Do Christians have the authority to confront higher-ranking satanic principalities just as they have authority over ordinary demons in individuals?

Question 4: Our usual concept of prayer is talking with God. How then can we say that we pray against evil spirits as, for example, Francis Frangipane did in his book The House of the Lord?

Question 5: Isnt there a danger that command prayers, such as commanding a territorial spirit to leave a city, could lead us into unauthorized areas of ministry? Shouldnt we call upon almighty God to do this?

Question 6: Jude 9 says that even Michael the archangel would not bring a reviling accusation against satan. Isnt this a biblical indication that we should steer away from strategic-level spiritual warfare?

Question 7: In Matthew 18:15-20, binding and loosing are used in the context of exercising Church discipline. Why do you associate binding and loosing with spiritual warfare?

Question 8: As He did with His disciples, Jesus commands us to cast demons out of people, but He gives no explicit command to cast demons out of cities or territories. Therefore, shouldnt we restrict our ministry of spiritual warfare to delivering individuals?

Question 9: How do you know that there is some kind of organized hierarchy among demons? What are the different ranks in such a hierarchy?

Question 10: Is it essential to learn the names of the principalities over a city as a part of the process of city transformation? How can such a thing be justified?

Question 11: The name of your book is Warfare Prayer. Since that is not a biblical term, why do you use it?

Question 12: Terminology is one thing, but there does not seem to be any direct instruction in the New Testament for engaging in strategic-level spiritual warfare. Doesnt this go beyond the established bounds of Scripture?

Question 13: Paul may not have stressed evangelism in his epistles, but in the Book of Acts we see him actually doing the ministry of evangelism. Why dont we see example of Paul doing strategic-level spiritual warfare?

Question 14: If we examine standard Christian theological works written across the centuries, we do not find sections in any of them dealing with strategic-level spiritual warfare. What do you think of this?

Question 15: How about history? Do we have examples of Church history where Christian leaders used strategic-level spiritual warfare as part of their evangelistic advance?

Question 16: Preaching the Gospel has always been the divine method of evangelism. Only the Gospel saves. Why should we consider adding anything like spiritual warfare to it?

Question 17: Directing so much attention to things like spiritual mapping, identifying territorial spirits, and prophetic acts can result in giving too much credit to satan and the powers of darkness. Why should we be glorifying satan?

Question 18: Is it possible for too much publicity about spiritual warfare to actually empower demonic spirits and make them more dangerous?

Question 19: Could strategic-level spiritual warfare simply be a fad? Couldnt it turn out to be like the discredited shepherding movement, which started well but later caused harm to the Body of Christ?

Question 20: Isnt there risk in confronting high-ranking principalities as Paul and Silas did in Philippi? They ended up beaten and thrown into jail. Shouldnt Christians just take a defensive posture and stand, as it says in Ephesians 6:13? Is it possible that some of us could become needless casualties of war?

Question 21: How would you respond to the suggestion that those engaged in spiritual warfare tend to substitute technique and methodology for holiness, evangelism, and Sprit-guided teaching?

Notes

About the Author

C. Peter Wagner serves as founding president of Global Harvest Ministries and chancellor of Wagner Leadership Institute. Peter and his wife, Doris, served as field missionaries in Bolivia. From 1971-2001 he taught in the Fuller Theological Seminary School of World Mission. He has authored over 70 published works. He and Doris have three children, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, and live in Colorado Springs.