Chapter
One
Understanding Defense
"Satan has tremendous control over his captives, I thought. He
can control them completely."
Pat Holliday, Ph.D. (1)
SPIRITUAL DEFENSE
Our Lord is sitting at the right hand of the Father with all
authority and Satan's doom is sealed.
He is"far above all rule and authority and power and
dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age
but also in that which to come. All things have been put under His
feet and He has been made Head over all things to the Church, His
Body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."
We are enthroned intimately with Christ and are equipped
impregnably with the panoply of God, waging the conflict against the
supernatural forces of evil, it is our privilege to participate in His
sovereignty, authority and victory from the vantage position of the
heavenlies.
Seated together with Him there and standing together with Him
likewise, our feet are on level with His; CONQUEST IS SURE
BECAUSE ALL THINGS BEING UNDER HIS FEET.
Consequently, ALL THINGS ARE UNDER OUR FEET!
The Bible speaks of the danger of ignorance in God's people
(Hosea 4:6) and how risky it is even to bring things God classes as
abomination into our homes (Deuteronomy 7:25,26).
Unfortunately, our generation is so ignorant of God's Word that
it has been quite simple for Satan to attack us, almost at will.
Your main defense is belief in the validity of God's Word.
My heart rejoices in the lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My
mouth Boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance, There is
no on holy like the Lord; There is no one besides you; There is no rock like
our God, For the foundations of the earth are the Lord's upon them he
has set the world," I Samuel 2:1,2.
Before we attack the various doctrines of the occult, it is
important that Christians have a clear understanding of their defense.
First and foremost, Christians should never seek information from the
occultist or occult books. ! Satan lies! Always remember, that God never
intended that his people be ignorant of the Devil's devices. God has Saints
who are trained by Him to expose the wiles of Satan. You may find many
books concerning the subject of the occult written concerning the powers
of darkness from God's point of view in Christian book stores.
Be careful!
Occult Overview
The Bible says, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are
lost; In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which
believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image
of God, should shine unto them," II Corinthians 4:3-4.
In a popular TV show, the heroine calls upon spirits, spells, and magic
to defeat demonic beings. In another show, teen-age witches use their white
magic to defeat evil warlocks and spirits. Such popular shows deal with the
world of the occult. The occult has thrived since the beginning of
civilization. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, the prophets of God
confronted the problem of the occult.
The term occult is derived from the Latin word "occultus," which
means to cover up, hide, or those things which are hidden or secret. A brief
definition of the occult is the practice of attaining supernatural knowledge
or powers apart from the God of the Bible. Through these practices
occultists seek to influence the present or future circumstances, of their
lives or the lives of others.
Why is there such an interest in the occult?
Experts point to several factors. The first is disillusionment with the
church and organized religion. The second factor is curiosity. There is an
attraction to the occult that appeals to our interest in the unseen. Many
begin with "harmless" dabbling, but this can often lead to more. Third,
there is the quest for power. People want control over the future, spirits, or
over other individuals.
There are three primary categories of the occult world: divination,
magick, and spiritism. Divination is the attempt to foretell the future and
thereby shape our lives accordingly. The divination arts include astrology,
zodiac charts, crystal balls, tarot cards, palm reading, psychics,
numerology, and horoscopes.
The second category is magick or paganism. Those in magick attempt
to control the present by ceremonies, charms, and spells. The magick arts
include witchcraft, white magic, black magic, sorcery, Satanism, black
mass, and witch doctors.
Then there is spiritism. Those involved in spiritism attempt to
communicate with the dead and receive information or help from them.
Spiritism involves Ouija boards, seances, necromancy, and ghosts.
The world of the occult not only brings a false message, but a
dangerous one as well. Experiences with the occult drive us away from
God and bring us into contact with the demonic realm. Jesus said the Devil
is "a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44) In dealing with the demonic,
you cannot expect them to deal in truth. The Devil and his legion only seek
to "steal, kill, and destroy." (John 10:10)
For this reason, Deuteronomy 18 labels the practices of witchcraft,
sorcery, divination, and necromancy as detestable to the Lord. It was these
practices that brought judgment on the Canaanites and expelled them from
the land. God did not want such teachings to infiltrate any culture. The
church must not only present the danger of the occult, but the message of
life and victory found in Jesus Christ over the principalities of darkness. (2)
SPIRIT OF DIVINATION
The Bible warns against using divination, Deuteronomy 18-12.
Definitions by Webster.
- DIVINATION: The art or practice that seeks to foresee or
foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge, usually by
interpretation of omens, or by the aid of supernatural powers.
- SORCERY Use of power gained from the assistance or
control of evil spirits, a sorceress witch.
- WITCHCRAFT: Use of sorcery or MAGIC Use of means
(as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over
natural forces.
- CHARMS To affect as if by magic, compel, or something
worn about a person to ward off evil and ensure a good
fortune = amulet. (Jos. 7.)
- SPELL A spoken word having magic powers.
- BEWITCH Baskaino gk. Primarily to slander, to prate about
anyone, then to bring evil on a person by feigned praise, or
mislead by an evil eye, and so to charm, bewitch (Eng.,
fascinate is connected), is used figuratively in Gal. 3:1, of
leading into evil doctrine. Existemi gk, is rendered "bewitch"
in Acts 8:9, 11, A. V., concerning Simon the Sorcerer; it does
not mean to bewitch, as in the case of the preceding verb, but
to confuse, amaze (R.V.).
- ASTROLOGY (OBSERVER OF TIMES) The divination
of the supposed influences of the stars and planets on human
affairs and earthly events, by their positions and aspects.
- ENCHANT Influence by charms and incantation bewitches.
To cast a spell over.
- NECROMANCY Conjuration of the spirits of the dead for
the purposes of magically revealing the future of influencing
the course of events. (The medium or psychic is the person
who is a channel of communication between the earthly world
and the world of spirits).
IGNORANCE CONCERNING THE OCCULT
Recently, this author heard another Christian discussing the fact that
a pastor had sent some members of his congregation to a psychic town in
another part of the state. After the Christian told her story, I told her, "that
is just wrong for a Christian to go to place like that." She responded, "It's
alright, they covered themselves with the blood of Jesus."
"No, it is wrong and very dangerous," I said. "Christians never seek
information from the occult sources.
I remember a Christian minister that told me that she had gone to the
public library and checked out books concerning witchcraft. I advised not
to read them. "You must return them, it is extremely dangerous to read
about powers of darkness from Satan's point of view."
The minister said that the Holy Ghost had "led" her to get these
witchcraft books so that she could learn about it so that she could teach."
I affirmed to her that the Holy Ghost does not need the powers of
darkness to teach us anything.!
She did it her way. The results, one day while teaching, she coughed
a big part of lung. She had to retire from ministry and is on oxygen most
of the time.
If we do our ministry by the book, (Bible) Jesus' power is always
greater, Colossians 1:15 shows Him victorious over Satan. "And having
spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it." The war is already won in Christ who is not
only our Lord but Lord of all. We must walk in the dark.
We have seen many Christians who are bound by demonic
powers. If they are seeking religious experiences to feel good, they can be
open to receive evil spirits. If they live double lives, unholy, without true
commitments to the Lord, they will be demonized. If they find themselves
under a religious cult, they will need deliverance. If they are following a
person, instead of being led by Jesus Christ and His Word, they will
receive spirits of religious confusion, antichrist, rebellion, idolatry, and
many others.
FOLLOW THE WORD OF GOD
Real Christians are people who believe that Jesus Christ is God.
They follow Him and His Word. They lived sanctified and holy lives. They
will try to live for God's approval. Christians must live a defensive life that
realized that they have an enemy. Satan is their enemy and he uses human
vessels to make them fail. Hosea said, "Study to show thyself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth." 11 Timothy 2:15.
Christians today must return to the basics of their faith. Preachers
should teach them the foundations of the Scriptures. Knowledge is power!
CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS
The believer is delivered from the power of Satan and his
demons. Proof text (Colossians 1:12, 13: 12 Colossians 1:12-14---12
"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers
of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the
power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear
Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins . . . "
Colossians 1:13-14, --- 13 "Who hath delivered us from the power
of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of
sins . . . "
"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in
Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were
sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our
inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the
praise of his glory," Ephesians 2: 1-3).
Like other promises, the Bible solution is not automatic. As we
voluntarily meet God's conditions for deliverance, Christians are provided
with complete protection from fiery darts of the enemy (Ephesians 6.)
Armor is designed for defense from external-not internal enemies. Armor
is not always in place. There are many Christian-leaders that have
problems with no solutions. They see many discouraged people who give
up and are dropped by the wayside.
In some cases, suicide, is treated as a "right" and many ministers do
not have the ability to find a solution within the framework of their
theological understanding.
Personal experience is certainly not the basis for the
interpretation of the Bible. If experience runs counter to interpretation,
they should seek to find the reason. Be willing to restudy interpretation
under direction of the Holy Spirit. Be prepared to make any necessary
corrections to beliefs so as to be in full agreement with facts as they are. As
a matter of fact, Biblical doctrine of human depravity, causes one to
wonder that Holy Spirit would enter a person under any circumstance.
Many Charismatic writers such as Pat Brooks, Don Basham, Pastor
Carl Strader and non Charismatic writers such as, Frances Manuel, Merrill
Unger, Mark Bubeck, Robert Peterson, Hal Lindsay declares that they
believe that Christian can have demons.
For instance, Dr. Unger writes: "In demon influence, evil spirits exert
power over a person short of actual possession. Such influence may vary
from mild harassment to extreme subjection when body and mind become
dominated and held in slavery by spirit agents. Christians, as well as
non-Christians can be so influence. They may be oppressed, vexed,
depressed, hindered and bound by demons." (3)
Unger is frank to say that he had written in 1952, "To demon
possession, only unbelievers are exposed."
He writes 20 years later, "This statement was inferred, since Scripture
does not clearly settle the question. It was based the assumption that an
evil spirit could not indwell the redeemed body together with the Holy
Spirit."
Unger changed his position after Missionaries from all over the world
wrote to him telling of cases to the contrary and as the author notes, the
claims of the missionaries "appear valid." (4)
The late, Dr. Hobart Freeman, wrote spiritedly "As a result of
erroneous teaching and beliefs, which are based neither upon
Scripture or experience, Satan has deluded many concerning the
question, can a Christian be oppressed by Satan or possess evil
spirits?"
He answers his inquiry, "Yes-both questions-Supported both by
experience and Scriptures. Believers can be oppressed, vexed, depressed,
hindered, bound, and afflicted by Satan or suffer infestation by demonic
spirits." (5)
There are three kinds of demonic attacks.
Possession... Anything owned or possessed, or being controlled
by passion or the supernatural. A persons' life, will come totally under
the domination and control of Satan.
The word oppression means to be kept down by unjust use of force
or authority... The tyrant's oppression of the people." Spirits will be on
the outside the body. They will impress thoughts upon the mind. They will
press down the persons' body and bring infestation of various spirits of
infirmity, fear, resentment, doubt, depression, and so forth.
Strong- uncontrollable compulsions spirits that works in the mind.
These spirits cause unmanageable obsessions and unhealthy preoccupations
with something or someone or irrational motives for performing trivial or
repetitive actions against your will. The evil spirits cause never-ending
temptation-driving in the mind to be centered on its mania.
A person is tempted when he is drawn away from God by sinful
desire. Desire-when conceived, brought forth sin. (James 1: 14, 15.) The
Devil can tempt us but cannot make us yield. The power of evil spirits over
a person is dependent of the human will. It cannot be exercised without at
least, some consent of the human will.
DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE
Spiritual defense is military action to protect a person against
potential enemies or protection from harm. It is an important part of
Christian living. We must teach the Scriptures concerning protective
covering and spiritual dominion through living in obedience to God and
using the Word of God.
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a
roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist
steadfast in the faith,"
Christians have spiritual enemies. The Bible warns us to be aware of
the strategies of Satan and his demons. 1 Peter 5: 8,9, "Resist the devil and
he will flee from you," James 4:7.
We have all the authority and power of Jesus needed to win in
spiritual warfare. The Devil knows it and all his demons know it, but
Christians must be taught the reality of their strength to know it.
Use your authority against demons and they must obey your
dominance. Demons don't have a choice. They tremble and run when
we talk and agree with the Word of God. It is God's will for you to be free
from every evil influence of the devil.
1. Provisions made by His Word.
2. Through blood of Jesus.
3. Through His delegated authority.
"In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are
gathered together, and my spirit with the power of our Lord
Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one to Satan for the
destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day
of the Lord Jesus," (I Corinthians 5:4, 5).
The Apostle Paul deals here with disobedient and sinful believers in
the church at Corinth. V-10, specifically emphasizes that he is speaking not
about evildoers of the world but in the church. V-12, Again made clear.
Some Christians open themselves to demonic attack by backsliding.
If a Christian backslides, grows cold in his allegiance to Christ. Satan will
first tempt him to do wrong. As he obeys, he opens himself for a spirit to
enter and take control.
The spirit will not come in immediately because they were willingly
invited back. God is merciful, however, if the sin is continually indulged in
after professed conversion, and the person does not repent, then such a
person is wide open to demonic oppression in its many forms.
Anyone who is periodically attacked by a compulsion-to act in a way
which is contrary to his basic nature and personality, should suspect demon
activity.
Demonic attack brings forth a behavior pattern that "can't be
him." It isn't. It is the personality of the demon spirit being manifested
through him. They will be themselves at times, but revert to strange
behavior. These actives will make them unknown person. You will notice
the may acquire a split personality or schizophrenia. "Holding faith and a
good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made
shipwreck: of whom in Hymanaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered
unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme?" (1Timothy 2:25, 26).
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