Original artwork for today's post done by the incomparable Stephen Hesselman. Thank you again dear brother for blessing the body of Christ with your gifts and talents--we are blessed to be the recipient of your work here at COT.
There is so much confusion about spiritual warfare today that many of the accepted techniques and practices resemble more of a superstitious Christianity than a biblical Christianity. For example: binding and losing Satan through prayer; shouting to Satan, commanding his hellish minions to leave a church or place of worship where any Christian gathering is taking place; seeing spiritual battle as a "cosmic dualism" between good and evil; attributing anything negative in our lives to the work of Lucifer; and most disconcerting, saying that Christians can be demonized (i.e. Neil Anderson).
Believers tend to forget that Satan maybe mighty, but Jesus Christ is Almighty--and the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Lord and His church. Satan, though supra-natural, is not a free agent; he still operates under the Sovereignty of God (consider Job 1).
Praise the Lord for men of God like Watson whom never bought into the TBN Word/Faith "theology" of spiritual warfare. Watson speaks "from the grave" and points us back to Scriptural reality. This simple, biblically rich quote from Thomas is lucid, succinct, and spot on target on resisting Satan and living holy for the Lord. The "steal of righteousness" is the greatest resistance against our "ancient foe."
May his words encourage you to "submit yourselves to God; resist the devil and he will flee" -James 4:7. IOW, the emphasis is never on battling demons, but on living for Christ. Soli Deo Gloria! "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." -1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)
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I work for an evangelical denomination that has more than 800 missionaries serving overseas, with whom I correspond daily. Through them I have heard many eye-witness accounts of people being demonized, including believers in rare cases. There was a time when I never would have believed a Christian could be demonized, but I simply cannot dismiss the testimony of Bible-believing, discerning Christians who have seen this phenomenon with their own eyes. I also think it's important to note that when Neil Anderson speaks of believers being "demonized," he is very careful to note that a believer cannot be possessed (i.e., owned) by demons the way nonbelievers can be. Keep in mind, too, that there is a biblical basis for binding Satan in Matthew 12:29 and that Jesus told His disciples to use the command of faith to remove seemingly immovable obstacles. This implies that believers do have the authority to command demons to leave a place. The bottom line is this: While we should avoid the excesses that sometimes characterize spiritual warfare and exorcism, we should also avoid the other extreme of ignoring the reality of demons and the influence they can have when they are given a foothold. For those interested in further study of this subject, I highly recommend John A. MacMillan's booklet "The Authority of the Believer" (it can be downloaded for free off the Net; just do a Google search of the author and title). Click here to reply to this post
Satan probably thinks he has us in a checkmate
Posted On: 04/17/08 10:18:10 AM
Age 53, AR
“we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph 6:12). Satan has used science so effectively that many evangelicals are not aware that he exists as anything more than a symbol of evil. Much of Evangelical America is in a profound state of confusion. On the one hand many define conservatism as an emotionless salvation where one believes they are saved because the Bible says so. Regeneration is reduced to a legal fiction whereby over 70% of Americans think they are born again. On the other hand, many of the Emergent types say there is no Satan and the battle is only with flesh and blood. Modern psychology and socialism are seen as the tools of "discipleship." Spiritual power is defined as becoming one with a "Christ consciousness" while evil spirits destroy millions of church people. We focus on homosexuals while half of church marriages end in divorce. We think we lose our kids when they go to college because we haven’t given them enough Biblical facts. Pastors in some denominations can’t keep their jobs if they tell their congregations that television is a tool of the Devil. Most evangelicals want so badly to fit into the world that they are unfit for the Kingdom of God. With so few regenerated saints in churches, the Antichrist will have little difficulty when he comes. Satan probably thinks he has us in a checkmate. Click here to reply to this post
Biblical Jones's
Posted On: 04/18/08 08:30:16 AM
Age 47, MO
Brother: Good Post. I would add to it by the reality that American Christians know enough Bible to be dangerous but don't know the Holy Spirit, thus they distort Scripture to their desires and destruction. We do this because our lives are still focused on self, and not on Christ. We live hurried lives of work, eat, sleep, rush here, appointment there, and never stop long enough to hear God. Further, when we read Scripture we don't recieve new revelation but think we already know what the Spirit is saying to us because we relied on others to teach us. Thus we believe slight distortions, engage in group think, and keep up with the backslidden biblical Jones's. John Click here to reply to this post
Well said John
Posted On: 04/18/08 03:22:53 PM
Age 47, OR
My spirit is right now receiving what you "added" and I am humbled and convicted. Brother, THAT should be the message of this entire post -- that we would know how to respond in any situation physical or spiritual by hearing and obeying the Spirit of the Living God, and by receiving our marching orders only from Him. What a concept. Come quickly Lord Jesus. Praying, Grace Click here to reply to this post
JUDE 3
Posted On: 04/16/08 10:10:48 PM
Age 68, MI
AS AMERICA "WORSHIPS' this pope. AS WELL AS 7OO CLUB FOX NEWS AND MILLIONS OF "BELIEVERS IN god" WE SEE HOW BROKEN AMERICA AND THE "CHURCH" REALLY IS. NOT WILLING TO BE HATED ATTENDING SOME CHURCH THAT IS CLOSE TO HOME WILL NOT KEEP YOU OVER 45 MIN. AND TEACHES YOU NOTHING .INFANT BAPTISM THE LYING CATHOLIC "CHURCH" THAT RADIO TV AND MOST PASTORS OR "BELIEVERS WILL NOT EXPOSE.VOTING FOR A MORMON WE CANNOT SEE THE HUGE PURPLE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM AND REALLY AS A WHOLE DO NOT CARE. ALMOST NO STREET PREACHERS JUST "SOCIAL CLUB MEMBERS" MOSTLY. GET OUT AND STREET PREACH TALK TO NEIGHBORS STRANGERS AND YOU WILL SEE I AM RIGHT gary Click here to reply to this post
the other end of the spectrum
Posted On: 04/16/08 11:32:41 AM
Age 34, MO
I certainly agree with how Mr./Bro. Camp addressed the current trends of dealing w/Satan. I would say that on the other end of the spectrum, many 'Christians' act like he doesn't exist at all, and that any behavior on their part doesn't ever fall into the 'old man vs. new man' as Paul talked about, but rather ANY behavior on their part is okay, since they're 'Christian.' I've had debates and discussions on many topics concerning the occult and cults and thing of that nature, as well as Christian behavior, and from all over the Midwest to South and Southwest, that's the larger view of it, that I've experienced. Click here to reply to this post
Thanks
Posted On: 04/18/08 08:35:05 AM
Age 47, MO
Brother, you are absolutely correct. Your observation is true because Christians don't know the Holy Spirit but know enough Scripture to dangerously distort. I wrote more on this at a post above. John Click here to reply to this post
it is a balance
Posted On: 04/16/08 12:29:15 AM
Age 21, MN
Well, when Jesus was dealing demon possession, sickness, deformities, blindness, and even death, he attributed these things to demons and Satan and not God. To me, Jesus seems to attribute evil to Satan throughout the Gospels. Spiritual warfare is real, and demons are real. I know from experience. People who do not take the demonic seriously are ignoring forces that play a huge role in what comes to pass in our world. Jesus and Paul both refer to Satan as the ruler of the earth several times and several different ways. Jesus doesn't dispute Satan's claim that he can give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. Satan owns this earth for a time until the Second Coming. We live in a world taken over by Satan ever since the Fall of man. We have a responsibility to be aware of the reality of demons. It cant hurt to pray for protection from the Lord over a church service, or your missions work, or even your own sleep. Spiritual warfare is real, and must be fought, but it can be as simple as prayer, taking communion, resisting temptation, serving others because all of these things expand the Kingdom of God against the Kingdom of Satan. There is nothing harmful in seeing the world and our lives as Christians as part of war between God and Satan which will ultimately be won by God in the end. That is the type of world i see portrayed in the bible and also is the world i see around me. The problem may be developing an unhealthy fear and/or obsession with the demonic, or trusting in rituals, gadgets, and other unbiblical means in resisting evil. It is a balance, but please don't discount those of us who really realize the necessity to take the demonic seriously. -Dan Smith Click here to reply to this post
I must agree...
Posted On: 04/21/08 10:51:59 PM
Age 20, MN
Demonic influence is strong, though by no means a match against the Almighty. As you said, "The problem may be developing an unhealthy fear and/or obsession with the demonic, or trusting in rituals, gadgets, and other unbiblical means in resisting evil. It is a balance, but please don't discount those of us who really realize the necessity to take the demonic seriously." Have a great day and God Bless! Click here to reply to this post
Surprised by Spiritual Warfare article
Posted On: 04/18/08 11:45:24 AM
Age 47, OR
I applaud this young man from MN for his wisdom concerning spiritual warfare. He is right when he says that balance is the key. The pendulum swing both ways and just because we find ourselves at one end or the other on the topic of spiritual warfare, doesn't justify taking swings at one another. We mustn't diminish the importance of each of us functioning in the Body of Christ, contributing our gifts to the strengthening of the saints. We cannot cut off our hand or foot because we don't agree with each other. After all isn’t Jesus the “head” of the Body? Let's reason together and honor one another, stay obedient to the Word and fulfill Jesus' command to love Him first and love one another. God has given to each one of us "different" areas of specific spiritual focus...some to teach, some to prophesy, some to minister, some to encourage, etc. Let's not take unnecessary "swings" at our brothers and sisters in the body (Neil Armstrong & TBN) just because their gift is different than ours. Let's not criticize or condemn that which we do not yet fully understand. I do not believe that disparaging the Body of Christ honors our Father or one another. The point was to "submit yourselves to God; resist the devil and he will flee" -James 4:7, and this begin with loving each other as Christ loved the Church. As the days grow short, we must stand firm in our faith and practice loving in word and in deed. It’s okay to make a point, but not to when it means pointing dishonoring fingers. Click here to reply to this post
Follow the Spirit
Posted On: 04/18/08 08:43:34 AM
Age 47, MO
Dan: What you say is true but I would flex it a bit. Satan has no power other than to distort truth. Obviously a lie is less than 100% truth, so Satan has his tenticles everywhere, and mostly unnoticed. Given this truth and the truth that Christians are Spiritually born again, the solution is not to pray for protection, but rather to pray to hear and follow the Spirit. Tho they sley me, No wrong will come to those who follow the Spirit. Amen? John Click here to reply to this post
follow the spirit
Posted On: 04/18/08 12:16:43 PM
Age 21, MN
You are correct. However, i am just pointing out that praying for protection is one aspect of prayer that gets overlooked. Heck, praying for protection is essentially the same thing as inviting the Holy Spirit into your decision making and discernment. -Dan Smith Click here to reply to this post
Original artwork for today's post done by the incomparable Stephen Hesselman. Thank you again dear brother for blessing the body of Christ with your gifts and talents--we are blessed to be the recipient of your work here at COT.
