Spiritual Warfare: Am I under attack?

            I often tell people we live on a battlefield.  As we go about our everyday lives there is a spiritual battle raging about us, as well as very often within us.  Similar to gravity, you don’t have to see it, understand it, or even believe in it; it continues uninterrupted by our ignorance.  The evidence of the battle is just as clear as the evidence for gravity, if you know what to look for.

            Spiritual warfare is the clash of good and evil in the spirit realm, which has profound effects on the natural, physical realm.  While the Bible tells us the war has been won (1Co 15:55&56), the battle rages on with very real consequences and casualties.  We, my friends, are the spoils of this war. (Jn 8:10)

 

            God’s love for us is at the very heart of this conflict.  Although they are timeless, angels existed before physical creation which makes up our universe; they were given foreknowledge of God’s plan for our existence.  The thought of serving man, an inferior being with superior opportunity, was completely repulsive to Lucifer.  When he learned of God’s plan to incarnate, to become man Himself, it was too much for him.  In a jealous fit of prideful rage he snapped and rebelled against the thought of it, as well as ultimately God Himself, taking a third of his brothers with him.  There began his goal of keeping mankind from the love of God.

 

            Since all of mankind has the potential to receive God’s love, His salvation, and become what Lucifer, or Satan, could not, we are all the target of this warfare. (1Pe 5:8)  Those among us who do not know Jesus are of great interest to our enemy, but require little attention because they are at this time his; Christians, however, are of great interest and attention.  Even though it is too late for him to “possess” us, meaning to own us, he relishes the thought of killing, stealing from, and destroying our lives.  He and his fallen angels attack us continually using people they control; as well as directly from around, on, and WITHIN us; while invisible to our natural eyes.

 

            A very common question that comes up on this topic is, “Can a demon indwell (be within) a Christian?”  Many Christians say, they, as well as other true believers cannot have evil spirits within them because of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit; HOGWASH!  I deny anyone the ability to find one actual deliverance minister who holds this view.  This view is only held by those with no firsthand personal face to face experience with an indwelling demon, but only theological opinion.  Let me be clear here to believers who hold this view:  You need to stop theorizing and actually engage in the battle your Lord has called you into, use the powerful authority He has given you, and you will soon exchange this view that keeps you feeling safe and comfortable for the truth.  You might even find yourself useful in the fight instead of advancing the work of our enemy.  Stop allowing fear to rule you; it is likely a demon within.

 

            The only verse I ever hear quoted to support this “none-within” view is: “What fellowship does light have with darkness?” 2Co 6:14b  This verse is actually instructing us to use wisdom is choosing partners because we do not think the same as non-believers.  If the none-within view of this verse were correct believers would not be able to sit on a bus next to a non-believer without one of the two bursting into flames, and evil would cease to exist because God is Omni-present.  What I see in scripture is that deliverance (or exorcism for our catholic friends) is ONLY for followers of Jesus.  In chapter 12 of Matthew, Jesus teaches, when a demon is cast out of someone who does not have the presence of the Holy Spirit within them, it will return with friends and make the person worse off than before.  So if you dare to expel demons from anyone who is NOT a Christian, you need to be certain you can “fill their house” with the Holy Spirit before you start.

 

            As I am sure you can imagine, having a home on a battlefield makes all of us vulnerable to attacks to some degree.  In a physical battle, bullets are flying, bombs are going off; even if you are not personally in someone’s sights you may be wounded.  In the spirit realm there is what I refer to as “opportunistic demons”.  They don’t have a specific mission or target; they simply look for opportunities to disrupt someone’s life. They would be similar to unarmed invisible enemy soldiers roaming randomly through the ranks looking for whom they might strike.  We all get affected by these.  Once you know they are there and the cause of a problem, they are not particularly difficult to deal with.  Headaches, nagging thoughts, or temptation are often signs of their work.  Our bigger problems come from those on a mission, with a specific target.

 

            Nothing paints a target on our lives bigger, better, or faster than sin.  When we disagree with God in our choices we are cooperating with our enemy.  Its like we leave our doors and windows unlocked inviting our enemy to come in and take control.  “Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.’” Jn 8:34  Often it is someone else’s sin that gives our enemy access to our house.  We might even inherit our houses with the windows broken and doors left open from our parents; this would be a generational curse.  While we were not personally responsible for the cause of the vulnerable house, it is our problem to resolve.  Another way someone else’s sin can cause vulnerability to our safety is when someone has authority in our lives.  It doesn’t matter if it is permissive, someone to whom we gave authority, like a pastor; or positional, someone who has authority just because of the nature of their role in our lives, like our parents for example.  If they use their authority inappropriately or irresponsibly they can make our house vulnerable.  All of these are pictures of our enemy having access to us through rights of some kind.  It’s as if they have a set of keys to our house that they can come and go as they please.  Evil spirits do not fight fair.  It does not matter if you are responsible, only if you are vulnerable.  They will enter if able and take you captive.  Appeasing, or cooperating with them for temporary relief only empowers them, strengthening their hold on you.  A battle is never easy, but cooperating with the enemy is never a good strategy.

 

            Some sin carries with it at least different, if not more severe, consequences than others: “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.” Eph 4:26&27  Not all anger is sin, but apparently “old” anger gives the devil a foothold; “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Mt 6:15  The sin of unforgiveness works very powerfully against us.  This verse from the Word of God challenges a lot of men’s theology; “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.” 1Co 6:18  Here, sexual sin is set apart as different from all other.  Experientially we know that EVERY act of sexual intimacy creates what is known as a “soul-tie”, whether it is honorably between a husband and wife, dishonorably (sinfully) in any other form, or even by force.  This fact is indicated in Scripture: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Gen 2:24  Becoming “one flesh”, or having a soul-tie creates a connection between those involved that goes way beyond the physical act.  There is a spiritual connection made that allows open access one to the other.  Using the house analogy, it is like an open tunnel is dug from one house to another creating a permanent connection.  When a tunnel is dug to a sexual partner’s house, you are then connected by this tunnel system to every sexual partner they have ever, or will ever, have.  Demons can easily and legally travel from one person to another through the network of soul-ties, or tunnels.

 

           Some sin seems especially offensive to God, such as someone 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” Duet 18:10-12;  These are forms of idolatry and are directly cooperating with demons who are very quick to perform powerful and deceptive acts by which they entrap those who do not pay attention to God’s warning of these dangerous practices

 

            Unfortunately those who do not know Christ as their Savior have no power with which to fight these many attacks.  However, for Christians it is different, “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.” Lk 10:17-19  While it is the power of freewill, our choosing to sin, that creates most of our spiritual vulnerability, it is the power of Christ, and His authority given to us that is the solution.  No matter what our problem, Jesus is the answer.  Jesus is Truth.  When lies are destroying our lives, we need to seek Him for truth.  When our sin is the problem, we need the power of His forgiveness through the cross by repenting and confessing.  When other’s sin affects us, we need His authority to break soul-ties, and His strength to choose to forgive.  Through Jesus we are able to repair broken windows, lock the open doors, and even dig up tunnels and fill them in.

 

            Renouncing all cooperation with our enemy; repenting (change the way we think) of sin through confession; rejecting our enemy in every form; recanting (take back something spoken) all vowels, commitments, promises, oaths, or rites; forgiving all, including self; as well as breaking all unhealthy soul-ties in Jesus name; are all acts of shutting off access of our enemy to our house.  Once the house is locked down, we need to KICK HIM OUT!  Expelling, or casting out our enemy from us is an act of authority, not prayer.  God will not do for us what He has empowered us to do.  Jesus said He GAVE US authority to overcome all the power of the enemy.  Speak out loud whatever is appropriate to your situation, “I command the spirit of addiction gone to judgment in Jesus name!”; NOT “Jesus will you remove the spirit of addiction”.  Repeat as necessary, get help if necessary, contact me if necessary, they can be stubborn.  If you feel weird things, that’s good; keep going.  When finished invite the Holy Spirit to fill up every place that has been vacated.

False Teachings: Have I been mislead?

           There is a lot of false teaching in this world.  Even if we narrow the conversation only to the arena of God and religion we could fill numerous books with the material.  For the sake of space I will simply be refuting false teaching as it pertains to Biblical salvation.

The Truth:

            The Bible states, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life” Jn 3:36a.  Eternal life is here referring to a right relationship with God which brings with it many benefits, such as: becoming a new creation as an accepted child of God, having a home in heaven for eternity, sins forgiven, authority over our enemy, indwelling Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and even access to God Himself, all through belief in Jesus. This is what the Bible says we are to believe about the Son: “…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” 1Co 15:3&4.  The Bible also states very clearly that salvation is: “the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast” Eph 2:8b&9 Confusion comes to the topic of salvation when a “necessary” action (or work) is added to the simple gospel message.  By far, the most frequent offenders of this “adding” are simple misunderstanding and religion.

Universalism:

            The most common misunderstandings are almost universally accepted.  “Good people go to heaven (or are saved) and bad people go to hell.”  This seems to make sense, after all, this is what most are told from cradle to grave in every TV show, movie, book, and story we ever experience.  The all important questions that need to accompany this belief seem to remain forever unasked and unanswered:  “How good earns heaven?”  “How bad warrants hell?”  “Who decides?”

            Without these answers, most default to the next most common misunderstanding:  “God  grades on the curve.”  If asked, “Who do you think will go to hell?” most would respond, “Hitler”, “mass murderers”, or “child molesters”, something like that, but will almost always indicate someone or some group worse in their eyes than themselves.  While looking around to see if we are better than those around us is often comforting, that is not God’s plan.  Contrary to this belief the Bible tells us that ALL have sinned and fall short (Ro 3:23) and that this sin has earned us death (hell) apart from the gift of God through faith in Jesus. (Ro 6:23)  The most dangerous thing about these misunderstandings is the belief that most people are automatically saved and look forward to heaven when they die, when in fact the Bible tells us that many more people will go to their destruction than those who find life. (Mt 7:13&14)

Religion:

            “Religion”, as used here, is defined as man’s attempt to make himself right with God.  Just like the Old Testament law, it consists of a set of rules universally applied to all, requiring no relationship with God.  However, the grace and truth that Jesus introduced is all about relationship, unique with each of us.  While there are still absolutes for all, believing in Jesus and being known by Him personally is at the heart of salvation.  We cannot fix the problem we have created through sin; we cannot make ourselves right with God.  Jesus did not talk about helping us or offer a plan of assistance.  The Bible teaches we actually need to be completely saved by Him from our condition of lost and spiritually dead. 

            Some denominations claim their leaders and traditions have a higher authority than that of the Bible, without offering a reasonable explanation as to why that should be. This gives them great latitude to create their own plan of salvation apart from Scripture. (If you are not familiar with the reasons we have to trust the Bible above all else, please read the post The Bible in this series.)  Religion is based on works, or deeds; performing acts of sacrifice; ritual, or ceremony in order to earn God’s favor.  As we have already read, however, “works” don’t work.  Jesus has done all the work that needs to be done; He has finished the sacrificing necessary (Heb 10).  To say we need to help Him save us implies what He did was not enough; God says it was, and we simply need to believe in Jesus.  Those who teach that we need to “purge” ourselves of certain types of sin have  used this teaching to control and manipulate through fear, those who believe their heresy. 

Good Deeds:

            Some argue that “good works” are a part of the plan of salvation.  They generally point to the verse in James that reads: “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” Jas 2:24  If we only had this verse I could concede an apparent contradiction, but a contradiction at best.  Having this verse in the Bible does not make void the verse quoted earlier, “the gift of God—not by works”.  I’ve come to learn that whenever there is an apparent contradiction in the Bible, I’m about to learn something, because a little more digging will reveal my misunderstanding.  Looking further at the context of the James verse above clarifies what is not obvious from the one verse. 

            Any person can claim to have saving faith in Jesus; it only takes a few words, but making a claim does not save any more than simply knowing how to spell “Jesus” saves.  Understanding and accepting in your heart who Jesus is and what He did for you is “believing in Him”; and this WILL NOTICEABLY CHANGE you.  The Bible says we actually become a new creation (2Co 5:17).  A person’s claim to have accepted Jesus can be justified or not by judging their works.  James is not saying that faith in conjunction with works is necessary to save, but that a faith that saves will always produce good works that are evident.  In verse 14 of that same chapter we read: “Can such faith save him?”  and in verse 18: “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”  In context, there is no contradiction at all.  Our faith can be and should be judged, or observed.  We are saved by faith alone and once changed by that faith, we will then produce good works.

Baptism:

            Another popular teaching is that you are not actually saved until you are submerged in water, baptized.  Ironically this is not a doctrine of the “Baptists”.  To my knowledge, there are three scriptures that are generally referenced to defend the “necessity” of baptism for salvation.  “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” MK 16:16  This could just as easily say, “Whoever believes and shops at Kroger will be saved” because the second half of the verse clarifies “believing” as the key to avoiding condemnation.  I am not at all trying to diminish the importance of being baptized as the proper response to receiving the gift of salvation; even Jesus, though He had no sin, was baptized out of obedience.  The point is, not all things that are important are a part of the gospel message.

            “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you” AC 2:37&38a This group of people believed what they had just heard from Peter, “they were cut to the heart”.  When wondering how to respond after just accepting the message of Christ, the only appropriate response for Peter to give would be, “Repent and be baptized”.

“…and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” 1PE 3:21  It is very clear throughout the New Testament that physical baptism in water is not the only baptism that there is.  Many verses contrast John’s water baptism with the baptism of the Spirit, of fire, power, among others.  It seems apparent to me that Peter is talking about a spiritual baptism when he emphasizes, “not the removal of dirt from the body” which to me says, “not the physical” but rather, “It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” which is spiritual.

I don’t mean to be rude here, but some that teach this doctrine see water baptism every time the Bible mentions moisture of any kind.  I’ve even heard it taught that Jesus was including water baptism in the gospel message while talking with Nicodemus because He said, “no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”  Jn 3:5  Even though He immediately continues by clarifying, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” Jn 3:6  They seem to miss the main point He is making about being “born again”, not just into this world of flesh made of water, but coming alive spiritually as well.  Baptism is our appropriate response to God after accepting what He has done; it is not our act to do, which obligates His respond to us.

Speaking in Tongues:
           Some in Pentecostal denominations believe and teach that unless one has the evidence of “speaking in tongues”, they are not truly saved.  I have never heard a good Biblical argument that supports this teaching so I will simply address the little I have heard.  Let’s go back to that same conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3.  After Jesus says is verse 7, “You must be born again.” He continues by giving an analogy of the Spirit, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”  From this verse, some say that since Jesus referred to recognizing the wind by its sound, He must have meant that we would also recognize the coming of the Spirit by His sound.  In order to reconcile this belief with scripture that clearly contradicts it; they have taken this supposed initial sounding of the Spirit and transformed it into a unique speaking, which is NEVER actually mentioned in scripture.

            Once again, Biblical “speaking in tongues” has much value and benefit, but it is simply ONE of the many spiritual gifts that the Spirit gives as He chooses (1Co 12:7-11), not a necessary action to authenticate the presence of the Holy Spirit who comes to all who believe.