He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” John 9:25 NIV

SETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE

God often calls us to walk in ways in which we never expect nor see coming. God has called us to help those who are suffering from bondage and who are being tormented by unseen spiritual forces. Jesus Himself went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Luke 4:16-19

THE SPIRITUAL WORLD

God is eternal and he is the creator of all things in heaven and on earth. Christ became God in the flesh. John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity - the Godhead in three. John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” Within God’s creation, there are spirits. “Spirits are metaphysical persons (that is, persons who transcend our experience of physics.) They have individuality and volition. They think, feel and act - both above and within creation. They include angels, spiritual beings who are charged with doing God’s will both in heaven and on earth. (see Hebrews 2:4). They also include the devil and his demons (Revelation 16:14). Spirits inhabit the ethereal realm (Ephesians 2:2) and constitute the powers of the unseen world (Ephesians 6:11-12; Colossians 2:20). Though they may appear in bodily form, they are essentially otherworldly in nature (Luke 24:39).”[Holy Spirit - David Young]

While the Holy Spirits’ job is to move us towards Jesus and transform us into the image of Jesus, the adversary - Satan and his fallen angels (demons) incite rebellion, lies, temptation and intimidation to pull us away from the living God and wreak havoc in our lives and in this world. Demons are essentially fallen angels with the same attributes of angels. They are portrayed in scripture as possessing the ability to communicate with intellect, emotion, and will. They understand their impending judgment. Matthew 8:29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” They are not on the same level as God. They are limited and not omniscient like God. (1 Pet 1:12)

Demons are categorized into Principalities, rulers, authorities, powers, dominions, thrones and world rulers. This implies an organized hierarchy. Ephesians 1:20-21 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 3:10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Colossians 1:16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 2:10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So, we see in the Word of God that the spiritual world is a reality. It is unseen yet it is all around us and it operates with agendas. It is important that we are aware and that we know where we stand as Christians.

THE BATTLE FOR FREEDOM THEN AND NOW

Jesus quoted from Isaiah 61 saying He had come to set the captives free! Little did anyone realize that by His future work on the cross He would defeat the powers of darkness once and for all (Colossians 2:13-15)Jesus gave us, His disciples, authority to cast out demons and heal the sick using His name (Luke 10:18-20; Mark 16:15-20). In the great commission (Matthew 28:16-20), Jesus told us to teach and obey all that He had commanded. We, the Church, are His body and Jesus is our head (Ephesians 1:18-23). This means we sit with Him in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6) and have confidence in the victory we share with Jesus. The enemy often gains strongholds in our lives through various means such as generational strongholds, trauma and deliberate ongoing sin (Galatians 5:19-21; Colossians 3:5-8; Mark 7:21-23).Satan and his demonic forces whisper lies to us, trying to strip us of our identity and purpose in Christ. He tries to make us unproductive and ineffective disciples of the Lord Jesus and, unfortunately, he will succeed unless we take a stand! We stand against the father of lies who only wants to steal, kill and destroy and we take back ground from the enemy by the tools Jesus has freely given to us. These tools are not complicated. They are simply confession, repentance (renouncements) and commanding the enemy to leave our presence. Our Lord wants us to live an abundant life and worship in Spirit and truth and have joy no matter what this world throws our way. For this reason, we partner with the Holy Spirit and the Lord’s guidance to help walk beside those who desire freedom in their relationship with Christ.

We are not the first and surely won’t be the last to venture into spiritual warfare. The early church did it and faithful Christians throughout the centuries have done it. Although this particular guide is based solely on God’s Word, I think it important to note that we have been helped along the way while we learned from brave and wise souls who have helped pave the way before us. We have learned much from Christ devoted authors such as Neil Anderson, Sam Storms, Karl Payne, J.P. Moreland, Charles Kraft, Marcus Warner, Francis McNutt, Ken Fish, Jake Kail, Derrick Prince, Roger Miller and others. We have met with, talked to and shared testimonies with people such as Shodankeh Johnson from Sierra Leone, Neil Anderson and Deeper Walk Ministries. The following pathway to freedom with deliverance is a compilation of their combined knowledge and resources which have helped us immensely and for which we are very grateful. In the back of this guide is a bibliography with citations from our sources but the best source is, of course, the Word of God. There may possibly be things in the following pages that may not make sense, yet the biblical principles have been investigated and hold firm. There has been an intensive study and hermeneutical process that has gone into this guide based on God’s Word.

FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

We recognize that some Christians will have difficulty with Spiritual Warfare and to be honest, we were once fearful ourselves venturing into the unknown. What we quickly discovered is that we do not have anything to fear. Firstly, the battle has already been won by Christ. Jesus is the one who goes to battle for us and stands with us. Our identity is rooted and established firmly in him. We are simply his ambassadors willing to help those who are hurting or tormented. We have no special skills or anointing other than what every believer in Christ has – the Holy Spirit of God and a willingness to say yes. The question is whether or not we want to stand firm on the reality which has already been entrusted to us as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Experience has revealed that spiritual warfare is a reality much like invisible radio waves are a reality. God has shown us His power and glory in case after case after case. We suggest that you simply ask yourself these questions: 1) Is there a spiritual reality as found all through scripture? and 2) Are we called to suit up and fight in this battle? The following should hopefully answer some of those questions.

THE GOOD NEWS

God is full of love and mercy and his desire is that those who do not know him will come to him for salvation. This happens through belief in Jesus and his gospel, which is the good news. This comes through faith in Christ and God’s grace - his free gift of salvation for those who believe. Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. When we accept this, repent (turn) from sin, confess that Jesus is Lord and are baptized, we are promised the gift of the Holy Spirit. Romans 10:9-10 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The simplicity and magnificence of the gospel cannot be overstated. The reality is that God is a loving and merciful God who has much patience. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. After the fall of man in the garden of Eden, God had a plan of redemption for his creation. That plan included his Son. His desire is that all will come to know his Son and love his Son. John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. It is clear that there is a kingdom battle between light and dark (evil). Jesus is light and when we surrender to him as Lord, we are brought into his kingdom of light. Colossians 1:12-14 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. As believers who have surrendered our lives to Christ declaring him as Lord, repenting of sins, being baptized for the remission of sins and receiving the Holy Spirit we can have great joy!

WHAT EVERY BELIEVER DESIRES

When we surrender to the Lordship of Jesus, it is the most amazing thing we can do in this life. Nothing compares to this. Often there is a honeymoon period where we are overwhelmed with joy as we walk in the Spirit and soak in the goodness of God. When we surrender in the waters of baptism, the journey begins. We commit to a lifelong journey of sanctification being formed into the image of Jesus. 2 Cor 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Yet often life gets in the way and sometimes we can get discouraged and lose hope. The stresses of life come in many forms. After discipling many Christians over the years, the overriding theme of desire for most people is a desire for peace and joy. For example, when we study the Fruits of the Spirit, I have not met a person who does not strongly desire these in their lives. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

WHAT WAS MY IDENTITY BEFORE CHRIST?

We were once spiritually dead. Yet, because of God’s great love, we have been given life. Ephesians 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. Who is the ruler of the kingdom of air? It is Satan. God, through his Son has transferred us from this kingdom Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. So, our identity has gone from a citizen of the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of eternal light.

WHO AM I IN CHRIST?

We are made brand new. 2 Cor 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! With that newness, comes some significant truths which I will paraphrase. I am God’s child (John 1:12). I am a saint (Eph 1:1). I have been justified or made right (Rom 5:1). I have been bought with a price and I belong to God (1 Cor. 6:19-20). I have direct access to God via the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:18). I have been redeemed and fully forgiven of all my sins (Col 1:14). I am free of all condemnation (Rom 8:1), I cannot be separated from the Love of God (Rom 8:35). I am hidden in Christ in God (Col 3:3). I am a citizen of heaven (Phil 3:20). I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7) I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph 2:6). I am God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10). I can do all things through Christ (Phil 4:13). I am God’s temple (1 Cor 3:16). I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16) I can have confidence that the good work God began will be perfected (Phil 1:6) I am God’s co-worker (2 Cor 6:1) These are just some of the identity statements found in scripture of who we are in Christ. Considering the fact that these things cannot be changed, the enemy and father of lies can try to deceive us and tell us that some of these things are not true. Do you ever doubt any of these truth statements? If so, I can definitely tell you that those doubts do not come from God.

WHAT EXACTLY IS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS?

God’s method is to grow his kingdom from Jesus forward through discipleship, Jesus’ last words to us are found in the great commission Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” At Harpeth Christian Church, we define a disciple as someone who is following Jesus, being formed by Jesus and faithful to the mission of Jesus. Matthew 4:19 (NIV) “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Jesus intended his disciples to go and make disciples to then make more disciples into the 21st century. We can most certainly see that the 12 disciples walked in the power of the Holy Spirit and performed miracles recorded in the gospels. Yet, then Jesus sent out more, two by two. He sent out 72 others to do the same things. Luke 10:17-20 (NIV) The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” We see in the writings of the early church fathers that these things continued after the time of Jesus. In fact, Jesus promised the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and he told his disciples John 14:12-14 (NIV) Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

WHAT IS MY MISSION AS HIS DISCIPLE?

First it is to walk close to God, to be a true disciple of Jesus.

Well, we can see that his disciples such as Peter and John were not bible scholars but ordinary fishermen. He told them to go and fish for people. He promised his Holy Spirit to help them. He did just that. We see in Acts 4 where Peter and John healed a man, were arrested and then mesmerized the Sanhedrin with their courage and knowledge of the scriptures. Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. The point is that these men had been with Jesus. They knew Jesus intimately. Jesus wants the same for us as disciples. He wants us to have an abiding relationship so we can walk in the Spirit.

Second, love God and love people, as Jesus showed me.

When we walk in the Spirit, we obey the will of the Father in heaven and proclaim the wonders of the gospel of Christ to the world however he wants to use us. He will use us in differing ways according to the works he has given us to do. Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. The problem is that the enemy wants to render us ineffective and unproductive. He wants to place us in bondage if possible, to lessen our witness. Consider Peter’s warning to us. 2 Peter 1:5-9 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. I am not sure about you, but my desire is to be effective and productive with the time and provision God has given me.

Third, love people enough to disciple them to salvation and true discipleship.

Jesus told us to go and make disciples, to baptize, to teach them to obey all that he commanded. How do I do this exactly and with what methods and tools? There are many discipleship tools, yet few as potentially life changing as helping free a brother or sister from bondage to walk in freedom and experience the love of Christ through the intimacy of the Holy Spirit!

ARE THERE OBSTACLES IN MY LIFE PREVENTING AN ABUNDANT LIFE?

I remember a time in my life where I was seeking after the Lord and trying to follow his ways the best I could, yet there was a metaphorical brick wall between me and God. That brick wall was a mountain of strongholds that had accumulated over time. Some went back to childhood hurts and many were self-induced. I had allowed open doorways to demonic strongholds which I tried to hide and brush under the rug. I ignored scriptures that made me uncomfortable such as confessing my sins to another (James 5:16) I held onto resentments which I had justified in my mind. I had made vows of secrecy. I had dabbled in the occult without realizing it. I had addictions and compulsions I could not shake. Yet, I was a baptized believer in Christ who genuinely loved Jesus and loved the Word of God. I became broken in many ways – mentally, emotionally, and even physically. I cried out to God and asked what I needed to do. He directed me towards a path of freedom. That path invoked great fear and panic, yet I was desperate for freedom. I later learned that the things preventing me from being free were all biblical principles. Jesus discussed those principles in the Beatitudes in starting with Matthew 5:1 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. This meant that I needed to be broken and die to self fully and simply trust God with the rest. Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. The enemy says “Don’t worry about it. You’ve got it… Don’t do that!” Yet Jesus says John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

HOW CAN I WALK IN FREEDOM?

My personal journey led me down a decade-long path of recovery relying on biblical principles which were life changing and wonderful. That process taught me a great deal and opened my eyes to spiritual realities and the battles that take place in the heavenly realms. I learned the importance of confession, true repentance and walking in the light. These things brought a certain measure of freedom. James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 2 Cor. 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. Yet, I can tell you personally and from the testimony of countless other Christians that I have discipled or walked with on the journey that Satan does all he can do to prevent us from fully surrendering our hurts, habits and hang-ups in humility. He wants us to keep our masks on and live in self-reliance and bondage in one form or another. He is a master at getting us to believe another narrative rather than God’s direction through his Word and Spirit. So, what is the answer? The answer is simply to surrender to Jesus and trust him as a first step.

THE FLESH, THE WORLD AND THE DEVIL.

Sin is a terrible destructive force that separates us from God. Sin is walking outside of God’s will for us. Sins of the flesh are laid out clearly in the letter to the Galatians. Gal 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. The apostle Paul talked about the struggle with this reality. Rom 7:18-25 For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! The world and the flesh are closely linked. We live in a corrupted world that encourages sin and idolatry. This has been the case since the fall. Scripture tells us as believers that our citizenship is elsewhere. Phil 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s Word tells us plainly 1 John 2:15-16 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. Why exactly? Because our identity is elsewhere and this world is wasting away. 1 John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. And Eph 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. So, although there may not be a demon under every rock, the world, the flesh and the devil work together against us. The devil uses our flesh and the world against us to gain strongholds in our lives. We cannot therefore simply separate one from the other. We need to be wise and guarded in our faith journeys.

IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE A REALITY?

1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Jesus came to give us victory over death and deliver us from the devil’s work. 1 John 3:8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. When we read God’s Word and think logically, we see that a large part of Jesus’s ministry was to battle the enemy. He battled Satan in the desert before his ministry began. He drove out many demons and healed the sick. His disciples did the same. In fact, he told them they would do greater things in John 14:12-14. Some will claim that demonic activity subsided after the time of Jesus yet scripture teaches just the opposite. In Matthew 24, Jesus says in the last days, there will be wars, rumors of wars, kingdom battles, famines, earthquakes, persecution, hatred, deceit, false messiahs, false prophets, great distress and an increase in wickedness before the Son of Man returns. Often we overlook the enemy behind the enemy which is demonic forces of evil in operation. Paul tells us plainly that we are in a spiritual battle and against forces raised up against the knowledge of God. (2 Cor 10:3-5). Why else would Paul tell us to suit up with the armor of God? Ephesians 6:1-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. It is because we are in the midst of a battle! We need to recognize that we have been and are in a war until Christ returns. The world tells us that we can explain everything by science including things like mental illness or even physical sickness.

However, we have to remember that science is actually an empirical tool to explain the particulars. The world constantly tries to undermine the credibility of the Word of God. I have worked in medicine long enough (31 years) to know that illness has not only a physical and mental component but also a spiritual component often. They are linked intimately together.. Yet, spiritual realities do not submit to scientific methods of investigation. 2 Cor 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. As disciples of Jesus, we do not have an option regarding warfare. We are born into it. We can either choose to ignore it and run or we can know our enemy and engage in the battle, knowing we are on the winning team!

WHAT HAPPENS IN WARFARE? LIES VS TRUTH

Satan rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven. Rev. 12:9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. His ultimate fate is the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14-15) Satan has been trying to seek vengeance on God throughout history. In the beginning, we see a clear picture of who Satan is. Genesis 3:1-5 (NIV) Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’? ”The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” What do we learn about our enemy? He is a master of deception. He appeals to our appetites and our pride. He incites rebellion against God. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he reminds them of our spiritual war fueled by deception. Satan and his army of demons want to establish strongholds (areas of bondage or slavery).

Dallas Willard is a respected voice in Christianity. He was an expert in what the Bible teaches about spiritual formation, describing hearing the voice of God through the Spirit.

“All of the words that we are going to receive from God, no matter what may accompany them externally or internally, will ultimately pass through the form of our own thoughts and perceptions. We must learn to find in them the voice of the God in whom we live and move and have our being.”

[Willard, Dallas. Hearing God (The IVP Signature Collection) (p. 237). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.]

In a similar manner, people also hear the voice of demons in a counter-productive way. Consider the apostle Peter who was rebuked by Jesus. Matthew 6:22-23 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

The religious leaders (the Pharisees) in the time of Jesus, rejected Jesus. The long-promised Messiah was right in front of them. They had been blinded by Satan. John 8:42-44 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Ponder the question of whether or not there are modern day “Pharisees”...Another time, while talking to the Pharisees, Jesus explains that he is the good shepherd and gatekeeper of his sheep, however he defines Satan as a thief and a wolf. John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. The battle is truth vs lies. It is light vs dark. Jesus came as a testament and John 1:4-5 states In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Jesus told Pilate in John 18:37 Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” And John 14:6a Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.

By standing with Christ in warfare, the truth prevails and the light overcomes the darkness.

HOW DO DEMONS AFFECT CHRISTIANS?

We have established that warfare is full of deception. 2 Cor. 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. Satan’s army and those whom he has deceived do his will. Their allegiance is to the kingdom of darkness. We see examples in scripture where demons affect our minds, our emotions and our bodies. Paul warned the Corinthian believers to be watchful of their minds. 2 Cor.11:3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. He also tells us to be transformed by a renewal of the mind. Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. The apostle Peter was a hot head and full of emotion. He had a zealous attitude about him yet often it got him into trouble like cutting off the ear of the temple guard when they came to get Jesus. At one point when hearing that Jesus must suffer, Peter attempted to rebuke Jesus. Mark 8:33 says But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” The body can be affected by demonic manifestations. A boy foaming at the mouth with convulsions was taken to Jesus for healing. The father explains to him in Mark 9:22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” Jesus spoke to and rebuked a deaf and mute spirit commanding it to come out of him and never enter him again.

Different Demonic Spirits May Do Different Things.

· There are deaf and mute Spirits (Mark 9:25;33)

· There are back crippling spirits (Luke 11:3)

· There are seizure inducing spirits (Matthew 17:15; Luke 9:49)

· There are strength inducing and tomb-oriented spirits (Mark 5)

· There are spirits of divination who can tell the future (Acts 16:16)

· There are spirits that even more evil than others (Matthew 12:45)

The problem in today’s western society is that demons are either ignored and we pretend they do not exist which is dangerous. The other problem is that we give them too much credit and attention. Movies such as the Exorcist in the 1970’s elicited fear and sensationalism. Too many people focus on the term “possession” such as stating “A Christian cannot be possessed!” Well, I will agree however a better and more correct question to ask is “Can demons gain access or strongholds in Christian’s lives?” The answer to that question is yes!

WHAT IS A STRONGHOLD?

Strongholds are fortifications of the enemy where he has a hold on us for one reason or another. Another term is foothold or opportunity. The Greek term for stronghold is the word “topos'' which means territory or a physical place. We see this term used in connection with sinful anger & resentment in Ephesians. Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. The simple point here is that God is telling us not to give ground or an opportunity to the enemy in our lives and this particular example happens to be harboring ill will in our hearts towards another person. The bible has much to say about forgiveness and reconciliation and letting the peace of God rule in our hearts. When we blatantly ignore God’s Word by our own disobedience, the enemy (Satan) can gain a foothold. There are many potential strongholds!

ARE THERE DEGREES OF STRONGHOLDS?

There is usually a sequence or progression which begins with a thought.

1. Thoughts. Consider the apostle Peter’s conversation with Jesus. Matthew 6:21-23 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” The enemy can attempt to place thoughts in our minds and this is why we must take every thought captive 2 Cor. 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2. Footholds. This is where we give the devil permission through willful disobedience, sin or some other area. Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. The apostle Paul goes on to instruct us not to steal, let unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, grieve the Holy Spirit, and to get rid of things like slander, bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander. He encourages us to walk in forgiveness, kindness, compassion and love instead. Paul knows when we hold onto these other things, then we give the devil an opportunity to monopolize and attach in a more substantial way.

3. Filling our Hearts. Ananias not only lied to men but to the Holy Spirit. His heart became filled with deceit. He acted on this deceit. Acts 5:3-5 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

4. Had a Spirit or “demonization”. Consider some of the following passages from the gospels and the book of Acts.

• Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ [‘He has (echo) a demon (daimonion!’)]

• Luke 11:14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.

• Mark 3:30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”

[ “He has (echo) an unclean (akathartos) spirit (pneuma.)”]

• Mark 5:2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. [a man (anthrōpos) with (en) an unclean (akathartos) spirit (pneuma).]

• Luke 6:18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, those who were troubled (enochleō) with (apo) unclean (akathartos) spirits (pneuma) were healed (therapeuō).

• Luke 7:21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.

• Luke 13:11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.

[ a woman (gynē) there who had had (echo) a spirit (pneuma) of weakness (astheneia) for eighteen (dekaoktō) years (etos)].

• Acts 5:16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

[and (kai) those tormented (ochleō) by (hypo) evil (akathartos) spirits (pneuma)]

• Acts 16:16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.

[Had (echo) a spirit (pneuma) of divination.]

5. Participation with Demons (Another form of Demonization) · Paul told Christians that, if they are not careful, they can participate with demons by partaking of sacrifices to demons 1 Corinthians 10:20-22 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for receiving a different spirit than the Holy Spirit 2 Corinthians 11:4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. In Acts 19:18-20 a large number of Christians in Ephesus practiced sorcery, as Christians, and they repented and turned from it. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

Since we have established the fact that we are in a spiritual war, we will all be subject to some sort of attack. On the lower side of the scale is spiritual oppression. On a scale of 1 to 10, Let’s call this level 1 to 5. As Christians, we can choose to wake up, pray, read the Word, engage in prayer and suit up and keep the attacks to a minimum. Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. What if we ignore this and just go about life on our own power? Could it just be possible we open ourselves up to a stronger attack? I know as a Christian, when I do not walk in the spiritual disciplines (prayer, fasting, reading of the Word, fellowship with believers, worship etc.) then I have seen that I am more vulnerable to attack. Galatians 5 tells us to walk in step with the Spirit, rather than the flesh. Gal. 5:25 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Now, let’s jump to the other side of the spectrum or scale where we find possession. This would be a 10 on the scale. I do not believe a Christian can be possessed by a demon. Possession implies ownership. As baptized believers in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit living in us. 1 Cor 6:19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies. (However, I do believe that people who do not know Christ can be possessed by the demonic and I believe we are seeing much more of this in today’s world with terrorism, mass shootings, child pornography, & the rise in blatant occultism).

Now, coming back to the aforementioned scale, what would we call the 6 to 9 range? A term coined by some authors is “demonization” The New Testament term that is translated as “demon possessed” in several bible versions, in the original Greek language is δαιμονίζομαι or daimonizomai translated as “to be possessed, afflicted, vexed, by a demon or evil spirit”. An in-depth analysis more accurately would be translated as “a somewhat passive person who is strongly influenced by a demon(s)”. This is not possession nor is it oppression. It lies between the two. So, the question is therefore, can a Christian be demonized? I believe the answer to be yes by clues from scripture as well as experience in today’s world (along with experience of many others). For example, we read of the account in Acts 5:1-6 (NIV) Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? He and his wife both suffered the same fate and died at the apostle’s feet. Scripture warns us about our treatment of the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NIV) Do not quench the Spirit. And Ephesians 4:30-32 (NIV) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. In the early church, the apostle Paul actually talks about how believers fell into great sin. 1 Timothy 1:19-20 (NIV) some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 (NIV) It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! … So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. We see this when Judas, an apostle and disciple of the Lord Jesus himself, betrayed his master. John 13:2 (NIV) The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

To summarize, as Christians are all oppressed or under attack daily. If we do not engage in battle or ignore the enemy (or worse yet, walk in disobedience) we can open ourselves to a much stronger foothold and be potentially demonized. If you are still having trouble with this concept, rather than thinking internally, perhaps think of a strong attachment like a leech. Sam Storms, in his his book ‘Understanding Spiritual Warfare – a Comprehensive Guide’ ultimately concludes “Yes, in the final analysis, my opinion is that a Christian can be demonized” (Storms p.187) He explains “It would seem then, that the debate reduces the question to the location of demonic spirits relative to the believer, rather than to their influence. In other words, all must concede that Christians can be attacked, tempted, oppressed, devoured, and led into grievous sin. Satan can fill our hearts to lie, he can exploit our anger, he can deceive our minds with false doctrine.” So, whatever the location, the point is that demons can exert varying degrees of influence on us which we must recognize and fight against using biblical warfare tools.

*for further reading in the biblical text, consider Ezekiel 8:7-16 where the presence of the Lord is next to idol & demon worship in the temple between to portico and the alter with 25 men with their backs towards the temple of the LORD and their faces towards the east, bowing down to the sun in the east. The Babylonian god Tammuz is also being worshiped by the women. So, there is biblical precedence to evil spirits and the Spirit of God being in close proximity.

HOW DO STRONGHOLDS HAPPEN?

Firstly, Strongholds happen when we give into our flesh and ignore the Word of God and grieve or quench the Holy Spirit as we have discussed. Consider Galatians 5 for some doorways or avenues of sin. Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Could it just be possible that Satan looks for us to indulge in these sins to gain a foothold in our lives? I think without question; the answer is yes. A sobering warning for blatant disobedience for Christ followers is found in Hebrews 6:4-8 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. Repentance is a recurring theme found in scripture. It is where we die to ourselves and turn from our sinful ways to follow his ways. God is serious about repentance. 2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Other ways strongholds happen is when we engage in idolatry or the occult. 1 Cor. 10:14-22 shows where Christians are having fellowship (koinonia) with demons by eating food sacrificed to pagan idols and demons. In today’s world, not much has changed. Things like overt Satanism, witchcraft, Mysticism, New Age, Animism, Divination, and multiple false religions exist. Furthermore, strongholds can be established when we make ungodly vows, deceive others or believe lies about our identity and who God is. Strongholds occur through unforgiveness, abuse, trauma, pride, rebellion, familial sin, and other areas where we diverge from God’s best for us. Often, several strongholds overlap. We tend to either ignore them or brush them under the rug hoping they will disappear. The truth is they will not, until we take action with God’s help.

SHOULD I ENGAGE IN THE BATTLE?

Since we have established that the battle is real and that disciples are to follow and obey all the teachings of Jesus, then the simple answer is yes. However, just like the instructions by the flight attendant on an aircraft, in case of loss of cabin pressure, we are to grab the oxygen mask first and then help those next to us. This means we need to clean our own homes and learn to walk in freedom to then help others. It is called discipleship. We can each engage in different ways according to our giftings. One thing we can all do and should do immediately is fast and pray. 1 Thes 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. It is time to get off the bench and engage if you have not done so yet. God will provide everything you need.

SHOULD I BE AFRAID?

No! The enemy thrives off lies and fear. Yet, our identity says that we have nothing to fear. His Word says: 2 Tim. 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. And Phil. 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

SEQUENCE OF SIN TO BONDAGE AND STRONGHOLDS

When we give into sin, this leads down a destructive road. Sinful thoughts lead to wrong choices which lead to bad habits which lead to a loss of control and this leads to bondage. James 1:13-15 tells us When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. The sequence of Strongholds is where temptations become a thought. That thought becomes a choice. Bad choices lead to bad habits. Bad habits lead to bondage and bondage becomes a stronghold.

Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Satan wants to take anyone captive that he is able to. There are many people today who have gone through “deconstruction” of their faith. They have turned from God and become agnostics or atheists. Paul charges Timothy to uphold the Word and gently instruct others of the truth of the gospel message. 2 Timothy 2:25-26 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. He warns that there will be people with a form of Godliness who are anything but Godly. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

It is certainly possible that the enemy has gained substantial ground in our lives. However, there is hope! We need to pray that God will grant them repentance and bring them to the living hope that is found in the saving work of Jesus and submitting those strongholds to him. I have seen numerous people in this type of bondage repent and turn back to Christ.

HOW CAN I GAIN FREEDOM FROM STRONGHOLDS?

James 4:7-10 tells us Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. When we recognize that we are in bondage and surrender ourselves to Jesus and throw ourselves at his mercy, he will help us in our time of need. While in Nazareth, Jesus was teaching in the synagogue and was handed the scroll from the prophet Isaiah and he read (Luke 4:18-19) “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Jesus wants nothing more than to set us free from bondage and only he can do it. When we submit to him and resist the devil, we take steps to freedom. Those steps start with deliverance which then leads to self control, resistance to old habits, making right choices instead of wrong ones and this leads to right thoughts and freedom with peace and joy. It is a reversal of the bondage process. Yet it starts with a decision to surrender. Often Jesus uses other disciples to help in this process. We need the Word of God, the Spirit of God and the people of God to help in time of need. In the guide Discipleship and Deliverance, a trusted guide and intercessors will help do just that. Yet, it does not end there. Tools are freely given and encouraged to be used to continue to walk in freedom afterwards. Incidentally, we all have the same authority as Christians. There are no “special people” or “special powers” of certain people. As disciples, we can simply claim what is already given to us.

THE POSITION OF DISCIPLES

Our position in Christ is over the powers of darkness as he is our head, and we make up His body. Ephesians 1:18–23 says: I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. God has put all authority in heaven and earth under king Jesus. As disciples, we are members of His body, and are seated with him in the heavens right now. This puts us over all spiritual forces.

THE AUTHORITY OF DISCIPLES

Jesus sent out the 72 to minister. He told them Luke 10:18–20 And He said to them, “I was

watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”So we take great joy that our names are in the Book of Life, yet we also understand that Jesus Christ has delegated authority to us over all the power of the enemy, subjecting the spirits to us using his name, the name above all names!

Colossians 2:13-15 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Ephesians 2:6-7 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

THE PROTECTION OF DISCIPLES

Jesus tells us in the passage above in Luke 10 that “nothing shall injure you”. We stand with Jesus when we engage in warfare and we have nothing to fear. A small excerpt from Psalm 91:9-13 (I like to read the entire Psalm in warfare) says: If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

THE VICTORY THROUGH KING JESUS

The battle has been won! The Lord Jesus Christ. crushed the authority of Satan at the cross of Calvary. Colossians 2:13–15 NASB 1995 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

BATTLE ARMOR

Ephesians 6:13-18 Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. The Word of God tells us to suit up daily in full armor to defeat the enemy. We are to stand in the foundation of Christ. Christ is the truth and we stand on his truth, the same truth that sets us free (John 8:31-32). Our hearts are protected in the righteousness that we have through Christ. The accuser can no longer harm us. The gospel of peace is our readiness, because the same gospel took down the entire kingdom of the enemy and we reconcile our fellow man to God with this same gospel of peace. We go to battle for our brothers and sisters. The shield of faith, or a faithful faith or allegiance to Jesus has power to deflect any weapon of the enemy. The helmet of salvation protects our minds and showcases our position of victory in Christ. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The Word of God yields power, especially the spoken Word. Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Finally, this Ephesians 6 passage tells us to use yet another weapon: the weapon of prayer. We pray for all the Lord’s people – the saints who stand beside us in this fight.

OTHER WEAPONS OF WARFARE

We have seen in the above passage that we are to use defensive weapons and offensive weapons in spiritual warfare. What else does scripture say about weaponry?

We fight with the truth of God’s Word, or what we would call a truth encounter. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 or though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. We submit ourselves and our thoughts to the Lordship of Jesus to defeat the enemy. We combat him with all kinds of prayer, worship, the fellowship of believers and other spiritual disciplines. These offensive weapons then take down strongholds!

Revelation 12:10-11 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. So, we also fight with our spoken testimonies of the power of Christ and his victory over the enemy by his blood. He defeated death with his resurrection. The church and body of Christ showcase this. Ephesians 3:10-11 states His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. These are all tools for us to use in offensive warfare.

BINDING AND LOOSING

Jesus tells Peter that he (Christ) is the rock or foundation which the church will be built on. As part of the church his disciples are given keys. Matthew 16:18-19 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” The ability to bind and loosen are tools given to believers to proclaim the gospel without interference from the enemy. We bind the enemy (Satan and his demons) and loosen the minds, wills and sometimes the body parts of believers. This is a necessary tool to use as without it, the enemy would be able to have too much control. In fact, in 2 Cor 4:3-4 tell us And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. How can we share the gospel unless we bind the strongman and loose the minds to hear the truth and the good news? In Matthew 12:26-29, Jesus talks about divided kingdoms. He says If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. So, from these passages, with the positional authority we have in Christ, we have the ability to bind and loose and in particular bind any strongman spirits that are exerting control over believers. We cannot make forward progress until we do this and then we can speak gospel truth so ears are loosened to hear and hearts that are willing to renounce the lies that they have been told.

FOUR SIMPLE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR FREEDOM

The four-simple biblical principles that are done with any session of deliverance for freedom are confess, claim, command and commit.

When we confess, we simply own whatever it is that we have done, participated in, or we speak of the hurt. We become willing to speak the truth, no matter how hard it is. By doing so, we are also confessing we want to surrender it to Jesus who is Lord. We do this in the company of trusted leaders and intercessors. James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

The next part is claim which encompasses repentance and renouncements. We are claiming the blood of Jesus over our sins and strongholds. We state out loud that we want nothing to do with Satan and his demons and any influence or effects that they have had on us. We agree to turn from those ways and trust God. 2 Cor. 4:2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. We ask God to remove any legal rights the enemy may have against us.

Then, using the authority God has given ALL his disciples, we command the spirit to leave and go to the place Jesus wants to send them. At that point, the spirit has no more right to stay and they must go. Acts 16:16-18 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.

We invoke the name of Jesus - the name above all names! Ephesians 1:18-23 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Colossians 2:13-15 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Ephesians 2:6-7 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

The Holy Spirit and the power of Christ make them go using his name. It is that simple. Sometimes they try to hide or hold on but once their grip has been severed, they must go. As they go, we have freedom and we command them never to return.

The final part is to commit to fill up with the Holy Spirit to heal and fully fill any areas vacated by the enemy. In essence, we learn to walk in step with the Spirit of God (Gal 5) and fill our houses with the things of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit in all areas.

THREE APPROACHES TO SPIRITUAL WARFARE

We combine the truth approach popularized by Neil Anderson in The Steps to Freedom in Christ, the legal approach championed by Dr. Marcus Warner of Deeper Walk Ministries and the power approach which is seen in many deliverance ministries. There is value in all three of these approaches.

The truth approach focuses on claiming biblical truth found in Scripture and agreeing with it. Scriptural truth is read out loud. The Word of God is powerful when spoken. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. John 14:12-14 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

The legal approach can be explained in terms of permission. There are several ways that demons can gain permission in a person’s life. One is deliberate ongoing sin. Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. The occult is seeking spiritual power other than from God. This includes secret knowledge or divination. 1 Cor 10:19-22 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he? Deut 18:10-12 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. Believing lies about who we are and what we can do in a control tactic by the deceiver. This occurred in the garden of Eden with the fall of Adam and Eve. It has occurred ever since. Demons use deception to drive our thoughts and emotions that leads to harmful behavior that affects our relationship with God and fellow man. Jesus told the Pharisees in John 8:43-44 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Consider an example of fear or anxiety. 1 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. and Philipians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Another way the demonic gains access is through lineage. When our family members or family line do things that give demons permission, those demons work to keep their right to affect subsequent generations. We see New Testament examples of the demonic affecting children. Mark 7:25-26 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. and Mark 9:17-18, 21-22 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid…Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” In both of these cases, Jesus drives out the demons and used the later case to instruct his disciples on the importance of prayer to cast out the demons. Mark 9:29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

In essence, the legal right approach cancels the permission the enemy has for a stronghold by renouncing sin, the occult, lies and lineage. Participants renounce the demonic, confess any sins, ask for God’s forgiveness and metaphorically cover themselves in the liberating blood of Jesus. Often, we may pause to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate areas that has allowed a stronghold. Intercessors pray and ask the Holy Spirit for help during the process.

The Power approach: Finally, we apply the biblical principle used in the power approach seen throughout the gospels and the book of Acts when the disciples commanded demons to come out using the authority and name of Jesus! This simply goes back to verbally claiming our authority in the Lord Jesus. This is used to command demons to leave the person and go to where Jesus wants to send them. Acts 16:18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.

CARRYING EACH OTHERS BURDENS

We are to stand in the gap for our brothers and sisters and for that matter anyone who is suffering. We are to showcase the Love of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2 (NIV) Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Scripture tells us plainly Galatians 5:6 (NIV) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. If by prayer and discernment or by confession, a brother or sister has a known stronghold and wants help, who are we not to go to heavenly battle on their behalf? We could simply tell them “Best of luck” and send them on their way but we would be like the priest or the Levite in the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-35. Discipleship is messy and we are called to the front lines of battle to aid our brothers and sisters! It is a great injustice when people seeking freedom from bondage are turned away from the church telling them they need to seek help elsewhere.

WALKING IN FREEDOM

With deliverance, comes a sense of peace with each step and a sense of release and a filling of love by the Holy Spirit. After a full house cleaning, there often is a renewed sense of quiet and joy. 2 Cor 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

PRODUCING GOOD FRUIT

We go to battle by first asking God where he wants to send us or ask who he wants to send us. Then, we act in obedience starting with prayer. Those prayers are for freedom and complete deliverance so that disciples can go on to produce much good fruit. That is what it is all about and it is a joyful process which glorifies the Son, the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Col. 1:9-14 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

A WARNING FROM SCRIPTURE

There is a warning given to us in Scripture in Matthew 12:43-45: When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation. This tells us that demons can and will come back looking for an empty house. Our goal is that each participant will therefore commit to filling their house with the living Spirit of God and fortify their home! In our experience, this can only happen through the God-given tool and gift of discipleship as believers are constantly pointing one another to the truth and goodness of God. At the end of this process, we will provide tools and suggestions to do just that. There is nothing more powerful than Jesus–He is the impossibility specialist! He will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. It just takes surrender on our part and a commitment to His Lordship in our lives. Our prayer and desire is that this process will “pop the top” and catapult disciples of Jesus into a rich and vibrant lifelong relationship with Him and other believers. In turn, perhaps God will use you to go on to help others gain freedom!

LEARNING TO WALK IN JOYFUL HOLINESS

Have you ever really wondered about being holy? The apostle Peter told us 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV) Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” He goes on in the next chapter to tell us that we are being built into a spiritual house and that we are a royal priesthood. 1 Peter 2:5,9 (NIV) you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ… But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. One thing that engaging in the reality of spiritual warfare has taught us is a healthy reverence and fear of the living God. God is all powerful and full of love and compassion, having great patience and wanting all to come to repentance and a knowledge of the truth. His desire is that we would glorify him by glorifying his son. He wants us to be disciples of Jesus to go on and make more disciples. We can have no greater joy than to walk in holiness and point as many as possible to the love and freedom that Jesus freely offers us.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT DISCIPLESHIP

THE HEALING JOURNEY

Think about cancer. Often cancer needs to be cut out of the body. This process is much like surgery. After surgery, people need to recover physically and mentally. They need to be nurtured and cared for. If the person is treated well after surgery with proper rest, medication, nutrition, rehabilitation and human care, then they will heal and flourish. If any of these things are absent, the process of recovery can be painful and even harmful. For this reason, we outline a process of discipleship after this session of spiritual battle. We all need the Word of God (truth), the Spirit of God (healing power) and the people of God (love). This means that we require all participants to have a plan in place for discipleship which includes those elements. Accountability is key to gaining and maintaining freedom. This process is not a one-time fix. Jesus constantly transforms us by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2)! We are confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6)