Soldier Up // Pastor Gene Pensiero

In this chapter, the Holy Spirit goes to great lengths to let us know that there will be a real kingdom of Heaven on the earth, and that it will last one thousand years. It isn’t a metaphor for eternity; or for a long time. It’s real; it’s literal. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

In our last study, in Ezekiel twenty-eight, we saw that Satan was a cherub – maybe the chief among the cherubim. This is further confirmed by the other Old Testament passage evangelicals cite as describing him. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

Satan has an origin, and we want to take a brief look at it. After all, no series on spiritual warfare could be considered complete without it. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

As a Christian, I find there are principals who are not so palsy-walsy. They are the “principalities and powers” mentioned by the apostle Paul in a list of demonic forces that aid the devil in his assault on believers. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

True, we have our flesh, and we will until we go to be with Jesus. But the Holy Spirit coming to dwell within us is a whole lot different than a demon coming to dwell with Him. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

Blowing-up bridges is a timeless military strategy to hinder the progress of your enemy. It’s so effective, it is even used by supernatural forces, against believers who are pressing forward, gaining ground, with the Gospel. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

There is a general reference to what we ought to expect from Satan in the famous spiritual armor section of Ephesians. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

This is where it gets dicey. When God gives permission to breach the hedge, we balk. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

Wounded and scarred isn’t how we normally think of Christians – but we should. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

Since we are involved in actual spiritual combat situations, we can – and we do – experience the fog of spiritual warfare. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

Is the best offense a good defense? Or is the best defense a good offense? So far we’ve talked about our part in spiritual warfare as mostly mounting a good defense. Taking a stand, resisting, things like that. Truth is, we are always to be on the offensive – but maybe not the way you […]

We have an enemy who we are told – not once, but twice – to resist and defeat. James and Peter say we ought to resist in two very different contexts. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

Sometimes we can go off half-cocked, thinking we are proficient with our weapons. Spiritual warfare can be like that. We can go off half-cocked if we don’t understand the weapons of our warfare. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

The moment you become a Christian, you are thrust into a war zone. You most definitely need a crash course on spiritual warfare. Any crash course in spiritual warfare would begin with the classic New Testament passage, Ephesians 6:10-17. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

We live in this present evil age, ruled by the devil, looking forward to the age to come, and to eternity beyond that. It’s a war zone. We are soldiers in a spiritual war. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)