🏛️ Ephesus Mission School

                         Module 2 — Paul's Strategy: Spiritual Warfare                         

 Lesson 4 — The Strategic Spiritual Warfare

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1) Introduction

Spiritual warfare is not peripheral to Christian life or mission—it is the battleground on which evangelism, discipleship, and church planting advance. Strategic spiritual warfare means fighting the enemy with purpose, direction, and intelligent planning. The word “strategic” comes from the Greek στρατηγία (strategía), which means:                                                                                                                        

• the plan of a military commander,

• organized action,

• a campaign designed to win territory.                                                                                                                

In other words, spiritual warfare is not random, emotional, or accidental. It is intentional. It is thought out. It is directed at specific places where the enemy operates. Paul understood this deeply. He knew the spiritual hierarchy that ruled regions, cities, cultures, and nations — and he confronted it with a clear plan. Strategic warfare aims to break darkness, advance the Kingdom, and recover the people and nations that belong to God.

                                                                   

2) Biblical Basis

Primary Text — Ephesians 6:10–18
“Paul gives the clearest biblical foundation for strategic warfare: “Be strong in the Lord… put on the whole armor of God, that you may stand against the schemes (methodías) of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10–11.  Key word: methodías — strategies, calculated methods, organized plans. This confirms the enemy is strategic, therefore the Church must respond strategically.  Paul then lists territorial ranks of demonic power:                                                                                                                                                 

• Principalities (archai) — ruling regions

• Authorities (exousiai) — delegated powers in cities

• World rulers of darkness (kosmokratores) — cultural and political structures

• Spiritual forces of evil (pneumatika) — active evil spirits                                                                                 

This hierarchy explains why Paul’s ministry always targeted cities, idols, temples, governments, and institutions. He fought with strategy, not randomness.

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A) Old Testament Strategic Combat — Example 1: Joshua at Jericho

Joshua 6:1–5. God gave Joshua a specific plan, not a general idea:                                                                      

• March around the city once per day for six days

• On the seventh day, march seven times

• Priests blow the trumpets

• People shout

• Walls fall                                                                                          

    This is strategic warfare: God reveals the plan → His people follow → enemy territory collapses.

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B) David Against the Philistines

2 Samuel 5:17–25. David did not attack blindly. He asked God: “Shall I go up?” — 2 Sam. 5:19. God answered with strategy, not just permission:

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• First battle: “Go straight up.”

• Second battle: “Do NOT go straight up—circle around behind them.”

   Two battles → two different plans. David understood that spiritual enemies require strategic                 movement, not routine. The message is simple: God fights with strategy — not improvisation. And         so  must we.

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C) Why this matters:

Strategic spiritual warfare matters because you cannot evangelize a place that remains spiritually controlled by another power. Jesus Himself established the principle:

“No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods unless he first

binds the strong man.”— Mark 3:27. This is not poetry — it is strategy.

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3) Development & Application

“First bind the strong man, then plunder his house.” (Mark 3:27)

1. Every city has a “strong man” — a ruling spiritual power.

Paul taught clearly that principalities and powers operate over regions, cultures, and nations (Eph. 6:12). Before the Gospel can advance with impact, that spiritual control must be challenged and broken.                                                                                                                                                                       

2. Evangelism is not only preaching — it is invasion.

When the enemy holds people in blindness, addiction, idolatry, fear, or cultural deception, the Gospel does not enter freely. The strong man must be bound so the people can hear and respond.                                     

3. Taking “the valuables” means taking the people. Jesus’ language is exact:                                       

• the house = the territory

• the strong man = the ruling spirit

• the valuables = the souls, families, systems, and structures kept captive

     The mission of the Church is to enter the territory, bind the controlling power, and take back the          people for Christ.                                                                                                                                                                      

4. Cities, nations, and continents cannot be discipled without spiritual confrontation.

The Great Commission (“make disciples of all nations,” Matt 28:19) is impossible without first breaking the powers that dominate those nations. This explains why Paul:                                                             

• confronted idolatry in Ephesus,

• destroyed witchcraft in Acts 19,

• dismantled pagan ideas in Athens,

• preached boldly in political centers.

     He knew that you cannot disciple a nation if you never bind the spirit ruling that nation.

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5. Strategic warfare opens the way for mass evangelism.

Where the strong man is bound:

• hearts open,

• resistance falls,

• repentance flows,

• churches are planted,

• revival spreads.

     This is why Jesus tied the spiritual battle directly to evangelistic harvest.

                                                                                                   

THE 9 POINTS FOR CITY-TAKING (Strategic Warfare)

1. Organize an Intercession Team

2. Choose the Battlefield

3. Identificational Repentance

4. Establish an Intelligence Team

5. Identify Pacts and Curses

6. Create a Spiritual Map of the Area

7. Define Battle Strategies

8. Perform Prophetic Acts and Decrees

9. Engage in Strategic Warfare                                                                                                                              

THE 75-DAY ACTION PLAN

  A) 7 Days – Biblical Foundation, Nehemiah 8:18 ( Scripture as the foundation)

  B) 21 Days – Fasting and Prayer, Daniel 10:12 (Seeking God for the Strategies)

  C) 7 Days – Taking Strongholds, Joshua 6:4–5 (Binding the enemy in his territory)

  D) 40 Days – Evangelization Campaign, Numbers 13:25 ( Taken the souls of his house)                                                                                                       

HOW THEY SYNCHRONIZE 

The 9 points provide the strategic structure for spiritual warfare, while the 75-day plan gives the timing and sequence to execute it.

• During the 7 days of Biblical Foundation, the first steps take place: intercession team formation, choosing the battlefield, and beginning identificational repentance.

• The 21 days of Fasting and Prayer align perfectly with gathering intelligence, identifying pacts and curses, and creating the spiritual map of the city.

• The 7 days of Taking Strongholds correspond to defining battle strategies and performing prophetic acts and decrees—this is where the “strong man” is confronted.

• Finally, the 40 days of Evangelization Campaign match the last point: engaging in strategic warfare and taking back the people, families, and territory the enemy held.

• The 9 points are the “what.” The 75 days are the “when.” Together they make a complete model for taking cities spiritually.

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4) Historical Reference — St. Patrick’s Mission in Ireland (5th Century)

Context: A pagan society led by druids with deep spiritual practices and social influence.
Warfare: Patrick engaged through prayer and fasting, bold proclamation, and signs that authenticated the Gospel. He contextualized the message (e.g., the shamrock for the Trinity) while uncompromisingly dethroning idols.                                                                                                                                                          
Impact: Thousands baptized, churches and monasteries planted, Ireland transformed into a missionary-sending base for Europe.
Lesson: Strategic spiritual warfare is prayer + proclamation + planting. When the church takes root, territorial darkness loses ground.                                                                                                                                             

                  

5) Conclusion

Spiritual warfare is unavoidable—but winnable. Victory flows from Christ’s finished work, the Church’s faithful stand, and Spirit-led strategy. Where believers renew their minds, minister freedom, and plant reproducing churches in prayerful unity, the powers are pushed back and people are set free.

Not by programs, not by personality—by the Word, the Spirit, and a multiplying Church.

 

 

6) Books / References

1. The Bible: Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28; Matthew 4; Ephesians 6; 2 Corinthians 10.

2. John Stott — The Message of Ephesians.

3. Clinton E. Arnold — Powers of Darkness: Principalities & Powers in Paul’s Letters.

4. Andrew Murray — With Christ in the School of Prayer.

5. Michael Green — Evangelism in the Early Church.

 

 

7) Quiz

1. According to Ephesians 6:10–18, who is our true enemy and what is our primary posture?

2. How did Jesus model strategic warfare in Matthew 4:1–11?

3. Describe the three levels of spiritual warfare and name one biblical weapon for each.

4. What is the 6-step missional pattern for confronting city-level darkness, and why must “planting” follow “power”?

5. What missional lessons from St. Patrick can strengthen church strategy today?

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