Breaking Free from the Old Gods: The Spiritual War Behind the World System | KIB545
Kingdom Intelligence Briefing
DESCRIPTION
What if many things modern believers consider normal are actually remnants of a world system from which Christ has called us to separate?
In Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Episode 545, Dr. Michael Lake and Mary Lou Lake examine the continuing spiritual battle between the Kingdom of God and the systems of this world. Beginning with the influence of ancient Greek and Roman culture and moving deeply into the Apostle Paul’s teaching in Ephesians, this episode challenges the Remnant to recognize just how thoroughly the ways of the old world can become embedded in culture, religion, education, tradition, and everyday life.
Dr. Lake focuses particularly on Ephesians 2:1–3, where Paul describes three interconnected dimensions of humanity’s former bondage: the world, the devil, and the flesh. But Paul does not leave believers there. Christ has been raised above every ruler and authority, and those who belong to Him have been called into an entirely different Kingdom and way of life.
This leads directly into the spiritual warfare of Ephesians 6.
The believer’s struggle is not merely against bad ideas, political systems, cultural movements, or human opponents. Paul identifies principalities, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, and spiritual forces of evil. The enemy continually schemes to entangle believers in the very system from which Christ delivered them.
That makes TRUTH indispensable.
The armor of God does not begin with emotionalism, religious excitement, or spiritual spectacle. It begins with the belt of truth. Dr. Lake explains why believers cannot merely SAY that they are putting on the armor of God. The armor must become a lived spiritual reality through obedience, sanctification, prayer, faith, and the renewing of the mind through the Word of God.
This episode also examines:
- The continuing influence of Greek and Roman religious ideas on Western civilization
- Ancient gods, principalities, and the spiritual warfare behind human systems
- Why Paul was uniquely prepared to confront Greco-Roman culture with biblical truth
- Ephesians 2:1–3 and the world, the flesh, and the prince of the power of the air
- Why Christ’s authority is greater than every principality and power
- How cultural traditions can pull believers back toward the world system
- Why true biblical Christianity will never comfortably conform to darkness
- The spiritual meaning of the armor of God
- Why spiritual warfare is an ongoing wrestling match
- Emotionalism versus genuine conversion and transformation
- Why forgiveness is essential in breaking the enemy’s influence
- Torah as the loving instruction of God
- Jesus as the perfect example of walking in the Father’s ways
- The brazen laver, the altar, and becoming a living sacrifice
- Why the Remnant must learn again to discern clean from unclean and good from evil
- How believers can begin disentangling themselves from the world system one decision at a time
The early Church could not be conquered by persecution because believers possessed the Scriptures, the testimony of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Lake argues that abandoning the biblical foundations of the faith has left much of the modern Church unable to discern good from evil and vulnerable on the spiritual battlefield.
The answer is not fear.
The answer is a return to God.
Every time we choose God’s ways instead of the ways of the world, another strand connecting us to the world system is broken. Every act of obedience removes another avenue through which darkness attempts to influence our lives.
The Kingdom of God is coming.
Daniel 2:44 declares that God will establish a Kingdom that will never be destroyed.
Revelation 11:15 announces:
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
And that Kingdom can begin reigning within the hearts and lives of God’s people RIGHT NOW.
The Remnant must prepare.
It is time to hunger for the Word of God again.
It is time to learn His ways.
It is time to recognize the schemes of the enemy.
It is time to become disentangled from the world system.
And it is time to walk as citizens of the Kingdom of God.
CALL TO ACTION
If this teaching strengthened your understanding of biblical spiritual warfare, help us place it into the hands of others.
LIKE this video so that more believers can discover this teaching.
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SHARE this episode with believers who are hungry for deeper biblical truth and want to understand the spiritual battle unfolding around us.
Most importantly, STUDY these Scriptures for yourself. Open your Bible, examine the passages discussed in this program, and ask the Holy Spirit to deepen your understanding and help you apply the Word of God faithfully.
PARTNER WITH BIBLICAL LIFE TV
Kingdom Intelligence Briefing and Biblical Life TV are made possible through the prayers and faithful financial support of our partners around the world.
Your partnership helps us continue producing biblical teaching designed to inform, equip, and prepare the Remnant for the days ahead.
If this ministry has strengthened your walk with God, prayerfully consider becoming a financial partner with Biblical Life.
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P.O. Box 160
Seymour, Missouri 65746-0160
Online giving is available through the Biblical Life store.
Thank you to every partner who stands with us in prayer and financial support. Your faithfulness enables us to continue taking these teachings to believers around the world.
FEATURED RESOURCE – THE KINGDOM PRIESTHOOD
The Kingdom Priesthood is Dr. Michael Lake’s training manual for the Remnant, exploring the biblical priesthood, principalities wars, the fire of God, the believer as both priest and tabernacle, and the calling of God’s people to represent Messiah in the earth.
The book is designed to help believers understand their priesthood, purpose, and service to Almighty God—and how the Remnant must prepare to stand against the agenda of darkness in the last days.
YOUTUBE CHAPTERS / TIMELINE
00:00 – Biblical Life TV Introduction
01:30 – KIB 545: Welcome to the Remnant
01:57 – Prayer for Fires, Flooding & Families Across America
03:20 – The Feasts, Traditions & Examining Their Origins
05:20 – Artemis, Hecate & Ancient Sacrifice
09:15 – Kronos, Saturn & the Ancient Death Cult
12:00 – Greek and Roman Gods Behind Western Culture
14:48 – Pagan Influence Embedded in American Culture
16:13 – Saturnalia, the Old Gods & Spiritual Influence
17:33 – Why the Apostle Paul Was Uniquely Prepared
20:25 – Ephesians 2:1–3: The World, the Devil & the Flesh
23:00 – Christ Above Every Principality and Power
25:04 – A Biblical Theology of Darkness
27:43 – Paul’s Message to the Ephesians
29:18 – Why Biblical Christianity Will Never Fit the World
31:40 – Leaving Babylon and Learning God’s Ways
33:01 – The Power of God Against Cultural Conformity
33:35 – Ephesians 6 and the Schemes of the Devil
35:00 – Emotionalism Versus Genuine Conversion
38:41 – Forgiveness, Sanctification & Breaking Bondage
40:23 – Spiritual Warfare Is a Constant Wrestling
41:50 – The Spider Web: Understanding the Wiles of the Devil
44:20 – How the World System Tries to Pull Believers Back
46:24 – The New Walk in Christ
48:00 – Why the Armor of God Begins with Truth
49:39 – What Made the Early Church Unconquerable?
50:40 – You Cannot Simply “Say” You Put On the Armor
52:00 – Torah, Jesus & the Perfect Law of Liberty
54:58 – Breaking Free from the Old Gods
56:46 – The Kingdom That Will Never Be Destroyed
57:22 – Revelation 11:15 and the Coming Kingdom
58:20 – Learning Clean from Unclean Again
59:09 – Small Victories Become Greater Victories
59:33 – Closing Prayer: Hunger for the Word of God
1:00:19 – The Kingdom Priesthood
1:02:43 – Biblical Life TV / Partner Information
Download the study guide for this week’s episode.
