Advancing On the Kingdom of Darkness with Power

By Troy B. Clerk

Any good commander will make certain that their soldiers have correct and ample intelligence about the battles they are preparing to fight. This is what we have from our commander in chief, Jesus Christ. In Matthew 24, Jesus entrusts the soldier with a prophetic outline of the end-times. He explains what the world would look like in the advanced stages of depravity (Matthew 24:6-7). He further shared about the rise of religious deception (Matthew 24:4-5), the falling away of the church (Matthew 24:9-12), and the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21). Also hidden within this prophetic overview is a picture of the war between the saints and Satan for the souls of others. We see this in Matthew 24:7a when Jesus says, "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom."

While this verse clearly refers to the unprecedented upheaval of racial prejudice and extreme nationalism, Jesus is saying something more here. Nation rising against nation refers to ethnicities or races, but kingdoms refer to governments and countries. I believe that Jesus not only reveals that the natural kingdoms of this world would rise against one another but also that the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness will also rise against each other in unprecedented warfare.

Advancing on the Kingdom of Darkness with Power is a spiritual warfare manual written specifically for these end-times. In this book, we will discover how to truly dismantle Satan and his demonic hierarchy through divinely inspired systematic strategies. It is an exhortation for the Christian soldier to take up spiritual arms against the prevailing spiritual darkness that is permeating society. It aids the soldier in this endeavor by preparing them for end-time spiritual warfare, teaching them how to engage the enemy through Spirit-led wisdom and, ultimately, how to find victory for themselves and others. In these tumultuous times we live in, Advancing on the Kingdom of Darkness with Power is a weapon that every Christian soldier should possess in their arsenal.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886449013

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Foreword

Preparing for Warfare: Building an Effective Spiritual Arsenal

Chapter 1: Fighting with the Proper Perspective

Fighting with the Perspective of Victory versus Defeat

Chapter 2: The Necessity for Wisdom in Warfare

Obtaining Wisdom for Warfare

Chapter 3: Rules of Engagement

Chapter 4: Be Strong in the Lord

Paul's Exhortation to Be Strong in the Lord

Enduring Hardness

Seeking His Strength

Keeping His Strength

Becoming Weak in Ourselves

Becoming Poor in Spirit

Being Obedient

Following Him Wherever He Leads

Chapter 5: In the Power of His Might: Effectively Applying the Authority, Weapons, and Strategies of the Holy Spirit

Authority of the Christian Soldier

Exousia Authority: Rights and Privileges for the Christian Soldier to Become

Dunamis Authority: Power and Might for the Christian Soldier to Perform

Authority and Total Dependency

Weapons and Strategies

Obtaining Weapons and Strategies through Intimacy with God

Chapter 6: Arming Ourselves for War

Applying What We've Learned

It's the Soldier's Responsibility to Put the Armor On and Keep It On

The Armor of God Is Demon Resistant

Satan Has No Power to Take the Armor Off of Us

God Doesn't Want Us Ignorant of Satan's Devices

Chapter 7: Opposing the Schemes of the Devil

The Scheme of Demonic Distractions

The Scheme of Racial Prejudice

The Scheme of Ungodly Alliances

The Scheme of Covetousness

Chapter 8: We Wrestle Not against Flesh and Blood

Don't Be Ignorant of Satan's Devices

Understanding Our Warfare

Satanic Camouflage—It's Not the People; It's Satan!

Satan's Strategy for Rendering the Christian Soldier Ineffective in Battle

The Dangers of Being Enticed by Satan's Diversions

Safeguarding Ourselves and Others from Satan's Diversions

Engaging in Warfare: Setting the Battle in Array

Things to Expect

God Will Release His End-Time Remnant

Light in the Midst of Darkness

How We Fight

Chapter 9: We Fight by Responding in Humility

Assuming the Low Posture on the Battlefield Is Safer

Seeing Others through the Eyes of Humility

Suffering Humbly

Chapter 10: We Fight by Following the Holy Spirit

The Vital Importance of Being Led by the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit Leads Us into Battle

The Consequences for Refusing to Follow the Holy Spirit

God Is Glorified When We Follow the Holy Spirit's Leading

Chapter 11: We Fight with Faith and Aggression

The Preciousness of Faith

Faith Gives Us Access to All the Fullness of God

We Must Fight to Maintain Our Faith and Grow in It

Preparing Our Hearts for the Coming Events

Chapter 12: Feeding Our Faith on His Faithfulness

Who We Fight

Chapter 13: Understanding Satanic Forces and Their Functions

The Function of Principalities

The Function of Powers

The Function of the Rulers of the Darkness of This World

The Function of Spiritual Wickedness in High Places

Chapter 14: How Demonic Spirits Work Together

Chapter 15: Fighting against Demonic Spirits

Effectively Warring against Principalities and Powers

Effectively Warring against Spiritual Wickedness

Effectively Warring against the Rulers of the Darkness

Chapter 16: The Strongman (His Function, Rank, and Activity on the Earth)

The Strongman's Influence within Family Lines

The Strongman's Influence over Individuals

Chapter 17: Disarming the Strongman

The Battle Will Be Fought in the Soul

The Strongman's Palaces

The Strongman's Armor

Addressing the Wound, Not the Symptoms

Obtaining Practical Victory over the Strongman

Chapter 18: Spoiling the Strongman

The Strongman's Spoils

The Victory of Others Can Be Connected to Our Victory over the Strongman

Chapter 19: Aggressive Evangelism

Spoiling the Strongman through Aggressive Evangelism

Aggressive Evangelism: Laying Down Our Lives for Others

Aggressive Evangelism: Persevering for Others

Aggressive Evangelism: Carrying Those Bound by the Strongman

Victorious in Warfare: Maintaining the Higher Ground

Chapter 20: Prevailing in Warfare

Prerequisites for Prevailing in Warfare

It's God's Will for the Soldier to Prevail in Warfare

Chapter 21: Prevailing over the World

Prevailing over the World

Chapter 22: Prevailing over Sin

Finding Strength to Prevail over Sin

Chapter 23: Prevailing over Demonic Forces

Chapter 24: Prevailing with the Whole Armor of God

The Belt of Truth

The Breastplate of Righteousness

The Shoes of the Gospel

The Shield of Faith

The Helmet of Salvation

The Sword of the Spirit

Chapter 25: Prevailing in Prayer

About the Author

Advancing On the Kingdom of Darkness with Power

Troy B. Clerk

ISBN 979-8-88644-900-6 (Paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88644-902-0 (Hardcover)

ISBN 979-8-88644-901-3 (Digital)

Copyright © 2023 Troy B. Clerk

All rights reserved

First Edition

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are taken from the Contemporary English Version copyright © 1995 by the American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ® Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

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www.covenantbooks.com

Foreword

If you are a Christian, you have been attacked, are being attacked, or know of another believer who's being attacked by the enemy of God. The theater of spiritual warfare has been active since the rebellion of Lucifer. And when you surrendered your life to Jesus—the King of all kings—and the victorious God of all creation, you were immediately advanced into the army of God as a soldier destined for victory.

Years ago I came under attack but didn't recognize the attack for what it was. I had been enjoying the daily presence of the Lord and learning of His love and ways. Life was good! The ministry I was a part of was exciting because of the prophetic voice of God in our midst. However, a day came when suddenly it was all gone.

One day, I was drinking in the presence of the Lord and hearing His voice in my spirit; and the next day, it was as though the heavens had dried up. I felt completely cut off, and no matter what I said or did, it wasn't changing my condition. I knew Holy Spirit was with me, but I couldn't feel Him. I knew that the Lord was always watching me and hearing me, but when I prayed, it seemed that my prayers were hitting a brass ceiling that gonged the loudest silence. My heart felt empty; and confusion, discouragement, and condemnation tried to wriggle their way in. But I refused them entry and kept turning to the Lord for a breakthrough.

A week went by, and Sunday morning rolled around. I felt as disconnected as I did that first day. On the way to church, I had a secret one-sided conversation with the Lord.

You know I can't get up there without you.

Silence.

I just won't sing. I'll bow out.

Silence.

I won't do this without you!

We were halfway to church when the thought came to me—a buffering spirit. I immediately recognized the attack and the attacker and commanded it to leave me. The heavens opened up, and like a flood of liquid love, the Lord's presence came upon me. Praise His name! It was then that I realized that half the battle in spiritual warfare is recognizing the enemy in our midst.

The tactics of the enemy of our soul are often devious, conniving, and stealthy, taking us by surprise and even catching us off guard at times. In his book, Advancing on the Kingdom of Darkness with Power, this boot-camp manual for soldiers heading into the theater of spiritual warfare, Troy unpacks the scriptures concerning head-on warfare with the enemy and how to become that soldier of victorious destiny you are anointed to be.

There is no doubt that Troy is a soldier in the service of God's kingdom who has gone through boot camp and spent countless hours on the battlefield and even more hours in our Commander's presence. I have read many books on spiritual warfare, but none of them are like this book. Troy has left no stone unturned to not only expose the identity, ways, and tactical moves of the enemy but to also encourage, equip, and train God's soldiers in the truths and ways of our God.

Many of the revelations God is bringing forth through Troy in this book will be new to you. I was personally surprised and delighted as for much of it, the Lord has been revealing the same to me. I believe these revelations have been released at this critical time to ensure the ordained victory of the army of God as we wage battle against the enemy for the souls of mankind. Someday our weapons will be fashioned into tools because war will be no more. But until then, and while the war of the ages for the souls of men continues, allow this soldier's handbook on the strategies of spiritual warfare to teach you how to wield a power-filled sword and live a victorious life in Christ.

For every person who reads this book, I pray that the eyes of your hearts be opened to the truth and revelations found in God's written Word and in knowing the Living Word, who is Jesus. There is a peace and a joy that can be obtained even in the middle of a battlefield when you know the Commander of the host stands beside you, and you know Him as your Lord and Savior.

Judy Irvine

Singer, songwriter

Section 1

Preparing for Warfare: Building an Effective Spiritual Arsenal

Prepare thy work without,

and make it fit for thyself in the field;

and afterwards build thine house.

—Proverbs 24:27

Preparing for Warfare

As I endeavor to write about spiritual warfare, I'm humbled by how little I know about the subject. The study of spiritual warfare is vast, and any attempt to share about it here is only scratching the surface. However, because there's a significant portion of Scripture that speaks to this matter, I'm compelled to share what little I've learned. My earnest prayer is that the Holy Spirit would help me to share what He has given to me with His heart and understanding. You may read things in this book that you're unfamiliar with. Therefore, as you read, I encourage you to do so prayerfully.

As we begin, it's important to start from a place where I believe there's a great deal of neglect concerning spiritual warfare. I'm referring to the essential aspect of preparation. Throughout the plethora of books I've read and audios to which I've listened, when spiritual warfare is taught, it's usually from the standpoint of engagement. In most cases, we learn exclusively about the victory Jesus won on the cross and the authority Christians have as a result. But unfortunately, we're seldom taught about the Christian's responsibility to prepare for war.

Preparing for war is vital! It's arguably even more significant than engaging in war. Think about it. If soldiers go into battle without considering everything they'll need to succeed in battle, it's highly unlikely that they'll adequately engage their opponent. In these tumultuous times, the soldier of the Lord mustn't allow the zeal to engage in battle to supersede their need to prepare for it. We must prepare ourselves to fight before we actually attempt to. Tenacity, zeal, and courage are all necessary qualities to succeed in warfare, but to become an effective soldier, we need more.

Jesus said:

For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. (Luke 14:28–32 NASB 1995)

In Luke 14:28–32, Jesus encouraged His followers to neither make shallow commitments nor initiate fights they haven't prepared themselves to win. He knows if His followers make shallow commitments to prepare or presumptuously engage in battle, they will not have the strength or faith to withstand their enemies or accomplish their goals. Therefore, He urges them to make a wholehearted commitment to a time of meticulous preparation before they subject themselves to a task. For example, if an engineer wants to build a skyscraper, he'll make sure to have all the supplies and money needed to complete the job and set the crew to a time of thorough preparation before they begin the project. If they neglect to prepare, it's highly probable that they'll miscalculate the supplies that are needed and fail to accomplish their goal. As an engineer must prepare before they attempt to build, Jesus is exhorting Christians to do the same. The soldier mustn't rush into an engagement without first committing to a thorough and realistic process of preparation.

When we take the time to prepare for war, it helps us recognize things we would normally miss when we're not preparing ourselves. Without preparation, we often rely on our impulses and presumptions. Relying on these two things is dangerous, and the soldier cannot afford to take impulse and presumption onto the battlefield. If the Christian soldier aspires to have a successful campaign and achieve favorable results in battle, thorough preparation is mandatory.

In Section 1: Preparing for Warfare, I will share some important truths that will aid the soldier in preparing for battle. I hope that as we embrace these truths, we will develop a powerful and effective spiritual arsenal.

Because preparation in warfare is crucial for the soldier's success, I have devoted the entire first part of the book to this topic. I will begin by sharing two preliminary weapons that every soldier should have stored in their arsenal. I trust these weapons will give the soldier a significant advantage when they engage in battle. May God grant continual victory to all who embrace and protect these weapons.

Chapter 1

Fighting with the Proper Perspective

The first preliminary weapon every Christian soldier needs is fighting with the proper perspective. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines the word perspective as a mental view or prospect. Therefore, an individual's perspective is the way they view things which determines the way they define or interpret it. How a Christian soldier defines or interprets their calling will ultimately determine what kind of Christian they become. For example, many believers adopt the perspective that when they accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, this meant Jesus came into their lives. However, the Scriptures don't support this view of the Christian experience (John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 5:15). The Bible reveals that the Christian experience is one where those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior enter His life, not the other way around. Some may think that these two views of the Christian experience are just an insignificant play on words, but if the Christian believes Jesus came into their lives, what will happen when the Holy Spirit does something completely contrary to the life they planned for themselves? Not only does embracing this erroneous perspective allow room for Christians to compartmentalize Jesus into small fragments of their lives, but it also threatens to sabotage their entire Christian experience. In contrast, when a Christian adopts the biblical perspective of entering Jesus's life, they no longer view Him as only a part of their lives but as the absolute epitome of their existence.

A soldier's perspective of the Christian experience is extremely important! It will fuel either a defeatist point of view or a victorious one. If God's soldiers have a faulty understanding of the Christian life, then their perspective will also be faulty. However, if their perspective is consistent with the Word of God, their outlook concerning the Christian experience will accord with the Word of God. If the people of God will ever experience a victorious Christian life, they must first learn to embrace God's perspective.

Fighting with the Perspective of Victory versus Defeat

Now that I've answered the question about what a person's perspective is, let's examine the perspective that must govern Christian soldiers in warfare. The perspective that God desires Christians to embrace in warfare isn't one of fighting to obtain victory but of believing they already have it. Romans 6:12–18 brings to our attention that immediately following the Christian's new birth, God served sin and Satan eviction papers. In short, Christian soldiers inherited victory the moment they committed their lives to Jesus. When we apply faith to this victorious biblical perspective, we realize we're contending in a fight already fixed in our favor. Having this understanding boosts our morale tremendously. It helps us experience victory as a common practice opposed to only a once-in-a-blue-moon experience.

When our faith aligns with the victorious biblical perspective, we will find the strength to walk out of captivity, overcome temptation, and powerfully advance on the kingdom of darkness. For Christians, fighting with the proper perspective simply means fighting with a victorious perspective (1 John 5:4). If we look forward to powerfully advancing on the kingdom of darkness, then learning to fight with the proper perspective is paramount.

Chapter 2

The Necessity for Wisdom in Warfare

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war.

—Proverbs 24:6a

The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust.

—Proverbs 21:22 (NLT)

The second preliminary weapon that the soldier must carry into battle is the wisdom of God. In the previous chapter, we summarized what it means to fight our battles with the proper perspective, and we concluded that when we fight with the proper perspective, it provides us a strategic position from where we can strike our enemies more effectively.

However, though a good vantage point is essential to fight a successful war, it alone isn't enough to win a war. Let's use the military as an example. In order for the armed forces to defeat their opponent, they'll need more than strategic positions on the battlefield; they'll need good, reliable intelligence. Those who obtain reliable intelligence in war are often the victors.

In like manner, Christians need to embrace more than their victorious position if they'll succeed in warfare. They'll also need godly intelligence, i.e., godly wisdom! Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words defines wisdom as the ability to discern modes of action with a view to their results. This means that wisdom is the ability to know God's will and the divine enablement to apply it. In order to advance upon the kingdom of darkness with power, embracing godly wisdom is essential.

When we obtain wisdom for warfare, God makes us privy to valuable information such as: the most effective way to attack (Ecclesiastes 10:10), the time to attack (Ecclesiastes 8:5), and who to attack (Proverbs 28:18). Without wisdom, our fighting will yield little or no results.

Moreover, Solomon called wisdom "the principal thing" (Proverbs 4:7), or we could say, the main thing. Here, he contrasts the supremacy of wisdom over its counterparts: knowledge and understanding. He explains that though knowledge and understanding are noble virtues, wisdom supersedes them. This doesn't mean that wisdom surpasses knowledge and understanding in virtue, only in function. The reason for this is that knowledge may give us insight to recognize the things of God, and understanding helps us to receive the things of God, but only wisdom imparts the grace to soundly apply the things of God.

Because Solomon esteems wisdom as better than weapons of war, it would be unwise to go into war without wisdom. Wisdom may be better than weapons of war, but this doesn't mean that wisdom isn't a weapon. It only means that wisdom far outweighs physical weaponry. Physical weapons are an effective tool to win earthly wars, but they have no effect against the unseen world of the spirit. In contrast, godly wisdom not only aids in winning physical wars (Ecclesiastes 9:15), but it's also effective in winning battles within the unseen realm of the spirit (Proverbs 24:6). Because this is true of wisdom, the soldier will need godly wisdom to secure victory in battle.

Because godly wisdom is an essential weapon for the soldier's arsenal, let us examine