· 7 years ago · Nov 30, 2018, 03:44 PM
1 SPIRITUAL
2 WARFARE
3 HANDBOOK
4 From a Biblical, Evangelical Perspective
5 "For we are not ignorant of Satan's devices." II Cor. 2:5-11
6 Copyright  1995, 2007
7
8 PRAYERS
9QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE Prayer for forgiveness of anger 30
10 Prayer for forgiveness of sin 29
11Armor of God 64-70 Prayer for Freemasonry 41-42
12 Prayer for generational bondage 24
13Bible verses to use 70-72, 95-100 Prayer for idolatry sins 30
14How Do We Know Bible Is True? 82-86 Prayer for marriage 59
15 Prayer for Masonic bondage 41-42
16How Do We Know God Exists? 79-81 Prayer for occult involvement 41
17 Prayer for occult or New Age 45
18How Do We Know Jesus is God? 87-91 Prayer for recovery from sin 36
19Listening to God 101-112 Prayer for secret societies 41-42
20 Prayer for sexual sins 31
21Openings for Demonizing 33, 37-37 Prayer for son or daughter 58
22 Prayer for spiritual warfare in general 75-76
23Prayer, spiritual warfare 75 Prayer for the armor 69-70
24 Prayer for victory over fear 18
25Prayer, for the armor 69-70 Prayer for victory over self destruction,
26Steps to Deliverance 49-54 suicide, etc. 19
27 Prayer to break ungodly soul ties 27
28Symptoms of Demonizing 20 Prayer to cleanse room or home 23
29 Prayer to forgive others 30, 51
30Topical Index 95-100
31 Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer
32 Main St. Baptist Church - 252 W. State St. - Doylestown, Pa. 18901
33 215-348-8086 jerry@schmoyer.net
34 http://mainstreetbaptist.org http://www.sw-mins.or
35 TABLE OF CONTENTS
36INTRODUCTION Occult in General 39-41
37 So You‟re In A War! 2 Secret Societies 41-42
38 The Basic Requirement: Join God 3 Satanism 42-43
39 Why Spiritual Warfare? 4 New Age 43-45
40 Martial Arts 46
41I. COMMANDERS BEHIND DEMONIZING
42 A. THE GOOD GUYS 5 IV. CURE FROM DEMONIZING
43 God - Our Commander 5 A. SOURCE OF DELIVERANCE 47
44 Angels - Our Helpers 5-6 B. STEPS TO DELIVERANCE 48-54
45 B. THE BAD GUYS 7-12 C. SPECIFICS @ DELIVERANCE
46 Satan - Enemy Commander 7-10 Physical Healing 55-56
47 Demons - Enemy Soldiers 10-11 Fasting 56-57
48 Death, Darkness, Sp Blindness 12 Children 57-58
49 Husband & Wife 59
50II. CHARACTERISTICS OF DEMONIZING Parent & Child 60
51 A. DEMONIZING DEFINED 13 The Church's role 60-61
52 B. DEMONIZING DEFENDED 13-14
53 C. DEMONIZING DESCRIBED 14-20 V. CONTINUING BEYOND DEMONIZING
54 The Mind and Thoughts 14-15 A. PROBLEM: ONGOING BATTLE 62
55 Truth and Deception 16 B. SOLUTION: ONGOING BATTLE 63
56 Compulsion, Obsession 16 Grow Spiritually 63-64
57 Mentally Ill, Schizophrenia 17 Submit to Holy Spirit 64
58 Fear 117-18 Wear the Armor 64-70
59 Anger 18 Use the Word of God 70-72
60 Cutting, Mutilation, Suicide 18-19 Resist, Stand Firm 72-73
61 Responsibility & Demonizing 19 Prayer 73-76
62 Evidence of Demonizing 20 Helping others 76-77
63
64III. CAUSES FOR DEMONIZING IN CLOSING 77
65 A. PHYSICAL ATTACK 22-23
66 Past Use of Location 22 APPENDIX
67 Personal Property on Location 22 1. How Do We Know God Exists? 79-81
68 B. HISTORICAL ATTACK 23- 2. How Do We Know the Bible is God‟s
69 Ancestor‟s/Parent‟s actions 23-24 Word? 82-86
70 Own Past Actions 25-26 3. How Do We Know Jesus is God? 87-91
71 Sexual Union, Curses 25 4. How Can I Be Sure I Am A Christian? 92
72 Adoption 27 5. How Can I Be Sure I Am Still A Christian?
73 Soul Ties, Breaking 27 93-94
74 C. RELATIONAL ATTACK 28 6. Topical Index 95-100
75 D. SPIRITUAL ATTACK 28-29 7. Listening to God , What Does His Voice
76 Anger Based Sins 29-30 Sound Like? 101-108
77 Idolatry Based Sins 30 8. Listening to God, Telling God‟s Voice
78 Immorality Based Sins 31 from Satan‟s Voice? 109-112
79 Wrong Self Image Sins 32 9. Should We Speak in Tongues? 113-115
80 List of Common Sins 32-33 10. Does God Want Everyone Healed? 116
81 Confession of Sin 34-36
82 Who may be demonized? 37-38 Alphabetical Index 118-120
83 Occult and New Age 39-46
84 1
85 SO YOU'RE IN A WAR!
86 One day a young man was out for a walk. As he went along the street he saw a sign that
87invited him to sign up to see the world for free. Food, lodging, everything would be provided. In
88fact, he would be paid a salary, too. It sounded fine, too fine to pass up. So he went in and
89signed his name. To his surprise he was handed a rifle and military equipment. He soon found
90out there was a whole army of soldiers who now were his enemy and whose sworn purpose was
91to destroy him. It wasn't what he expected.
92 There are many Christians today who, when they accepted Jesus as Savior, were
93surprised to find they, too had an enemy. Perhaps they expected life to be perfect and fine, all
94settled with no more problems. Salvation, though, doesn't end the battle. In many ways it is just
95the start of it!
96 You see, when you accept Jesus as your Savior you also accept Satan as your enemy!
97You deserted Satan‟s army to join his enemy's army, God's army. He opposes God, but can
98only get at God by attacking His people -- you and me!
99 So now you find yourself in the middle of a war you didn't want, don't like, can't
100understand, and seem unable to win. What do you do? Where can you find a quick training
101program for spiritual warfare? Read on, this information is for YOU...
102 Actually, this idea of war following salvation is nothing new. We see the same thing
103happening to the Jews in the Old Testament. Satan has been opposing God from the
104beginning, but getting nowhere. When he started attacking God through His creatures he made
105much more progress. First there was Adam and Eve in Eden, then Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and
106Joseph. God's people ended up in Egyptian slavery for 400 years until God delivered them. He
107did it all: provided the innocent blood and the power to protect them from the angel of death as
108well as deliver them unharmed through the Red Sea. They did nothing but accept His salvation.
109Then the battles started for them: the Amalekites attacked, then the Canaanites, and on it went.
110The Jews had to learn to fight. When they learned to fight behind their leader Joshua ("Jesus"
111in Greek) they conquered and settled the land God had meant all along for them to have. When
112we learn to fight behind our general, Jesus, we, too, can have victory in life.
113 First of all, what are the weapons this enemy uses against you? The Bible says they are
114three-fold, "the world the flesh and the devil." The world refers to the organized system of
115ideas, people, activities, purposes, goals, motives, priorities and values that are based on
116Satan's system (I John 2:15; John 15:19). The "world" does not refer to nature, but to Satan's
117substitute for God's way. Peer pressure, rejection, persecution, problems getting along with
118people, pride, desire for popularity and success, etc., all these things are ways Satan attacks us
119through the world (Matthew 4:8-10; 12:26).
120 While these attacks are from without, we also have an enemy within -- our own flesh. By
121'flesh' we mean our old sin nature, that tendency in us to be naturally self-centered, sinful,
122prideful, willful and immature (Romans 7:15-25; Galatians 5:19-20). Even the 'good' we do in
123the flesh is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). This results in our sinning. Sin is thinking or doing
124wrong things, doing good things for the wrong reason/motive, or not doing good things that
125should be done. Temptations to worry, fear, get angry, be greedy, fulfill our lusts, think only of
126ourselves, feel self-sufficient or self-righteous, be jealous, gossip or criticize, etc. come from or
127through the flesh (Ephesians 4:22-27).
128 This booklet is designed to help you in spiritual warfare. It will summarize your battle with
129the enemy and how to have victory in Jesus. It is an updated and expanded version of my
130Spiritual Warfare Handbook of 1995 and replaces it.
131 2
132 The BASIC REQUIREMENT: JOINING GOD‟S ARMY
133Just as there are physical principles that govern the universe around us, so there are spiritual
134principles that govern our relationship with God. The first and most basic principle is that God
135loves us and has a wonderful plan for our lives (John 3:16), but when sin entered the world it
136separated man from our holy God (Romans 2:23). Being a just and righteous God, sin cannot
137be overlooked but must be paid for and since there is no way we can pay for our own sins God
138Himself, in His great love, became the payment for our sins. That first Christmas celebrates the
139fact that He voluntarily left heaven to come to earth as a human being.
140Although we celebrate Jesus‟ birth on Christmas, we know that He wasn‟t born just to give us a
141holiday where we remember Him as a baby – He was born to die in order to pay the price for
142our sins. We worship Jesus as a baby, but the story doesn‟t end there. He Jesus grew up and
143went through all the things we go through in life.
144He was rejected and crucified, but while dying on the cross He suffered the eternal punishment
145of every sin we would ever commit. In other words, He went through our hell so we wouldn‟t
146have to (Romans 5:8). Because He was man He could represent us and take our place.
147Because He was God He could endure punishment way beyond anything we could ever
148experience. At the end of the crucifixion Jesus said “It is finished†and His spirit returned to
149heaven. His body went into a grave but 3 days later came back to life, proving forever that sin
150and death had been conquered.
151He is in Heaven today! There He has made a place for us if we will only accept the gift and the
152joy that He has offered us. Salvation is freely available to every person (Ephesians 2:8-9), but it
153is a gift we must voluntarily receive by recognizing our need and asking Him to forgive us and
154live in us (John 1:12). He Himself then lives within us and gives us new meaning and ability in
155life. If you haven‟t received this wonderful free gift do so now by asking God for His gift of
156salvation.
157While there are no special or magical words to use, here is the idea of a prayer to pray to accept
158God's free gift of salvation. It's not saying the words but meaning them that makes the
159difference. Here is a sample prayer you can use:
160"Dear Jesus, I recognize my need of you. I know I sin and am guilty in your sight. Thank you
161for leaving heaven to come to earth and die on the cross for my sins. I know you took my
162eternal condemnation on Yourself on the cross and paid for it all. Please forgive sin and fill me
163with Your Holy Spirit. I freely accept your gift of salvation. I want to live for you and only you. I
164put you first in my life and want to serve You. I reject any other forces or powers and forbid any
165them to have any influence on me. Dear Jesus, fill me and use me. Thank you for hearing and
166answering me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
167Know that if you have ever prayed this prayer or something similar to it you are born again into
168God‟s family and nothing can take your salvation away. One of Satan‟s first lies is to get us to
169doubt our salvation, to question it we are a child of God or not. If you have doubts about having
170done this in the past just pray it again now, write your name and the date below, and you‟ll know
171for sure that you are a child of God and in God‟s army.
172
173
174__________________________________________________ ________________
175 (name) (date)
176
177
178
179 3
180 WHY SPIRITUAL WARFARE?
181 There are those today who say Christians aren't to get involved in spiritual warfare, but
182instead we are to just trust God and think only of Him. While God is always to be our only focus,
183He has given us tools to use to bring victory in this area. He has provided medical knowledge
184for us to use in the physical realm. He has also provided spiritual knowledge to help us in the
185spiritual realm. Paul tells us to make sure we aren‟t ignorant of Satan‟s devices (2 Corinthians
1862:5-11). We are to understand and use these resources which He has provided. I believe God
187commands us to be involved in spiritual warfare (I Timothy 6:12). Here are some reasons:
188
1891. THE BIBLE COMMANDS US TO USE SPIRITUAL WARFARE
190"Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, etc." Ephesians 6:10-12
191"We are not ignorant of Satan's devices" II Cor. 2:11
192We are to understand our enemy before battling him (count the cost) Luke 14:31
193Armor in Ephesians 5 - why would we be given armor if there wasn't a spiritual battle going on?
194
195IF GOD IS SOVEREIGN, WHY DO WE NEED TO FIGHT SATAN? If God is sovereign, why do
196we need to witness, pray, believe, work for our money, drive carefully, go to a doctor, or any of
197those things? If we trust in God, why lock doors at night? There are some things God expects
198us to do, in His strength. By doing these we learn to trust Him more. The Jews were given the
199land of Canaan but had to learn to fight to live in it. We praise Him more when we see His
200provision, might and deliverance. We are better able to pray for and give guidance to others.
201Also, we see the awfulness of sin and its consequences so we can better turn from it. We see
202His glory as He uses us for victory. Others see it and He is glorified in their sight.
203
2042. JESUS USED SPIRITUAL WARFARE Jesus talked about Satan & demons more than
205anyone in Bible. He cast out demons. He taught and commanded His disciples to fight Satan
206and cast out demons (Matthew 10:8; Luke 10:1, 17-20). He was disappointed when they were
207unable to deliver a demonized boy without Him (Mark 9:14-29). The religious rulers accused
208Jesus (Mark 3:22) and John the Baptizer (Luke 7:33) of being demonized. He commanded His
209disciples to cast out demons, too
210
2113. EXAMPLES OF OTHERS WHO USED SPIRITUAL WARFARE
212DANIEL prayed spiritual warfare prayer for three weeks (Daniel 10:2-6,12-14).
213JEREMIAH's whole ministry was one of spiritual warfare.
214PAUL was twice involved in casting out demons (Acts 13:6-12; 16:16-18) and writes much
215 about spiritual warfare (Ephesians 4:26-27; 6:10-13; Galatians 2:10, 13; etc.)
216MOSES was challenged by Satanic forces (Jannes & Jambres, Exodus 7:1-11, etc.).
217Many examples in church history show the involvement of God's people in spiritual warfare.
218
2194. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE SUPPORTS SPIRITUAL WARFARE The testimony of many
220who have been involved in spiritual warfare support and validate its importance as an important
221tool for Christians today. It is not our only tool, for different tools are needed for different jobs.
222Spiritual warfare is one tool among many (prayer, witnessing, counseling, praising, etc.) that
223God gives us to use at the proper time.
224
2255. LAST DAYS EMPHASIS OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE The closer the rapture comes the
226more spiritual warfare will increase. There will be MUCH of it in the tribulation as Satan's forces
227are released.
228
229 4
230 I. COMMANDERS
231 A. THE GOOD GUYS
232GOD - OUR COMMANDER
233 Everything starts with God. Everything came from Him. If you are unsure of the
234existence of God this must be settled in your mind to continue. Please read Appendix 1 page
23579-81. The Bible is our final authority in all areas and reveals God‟s truths for us today. If you
236aren‟t convinced of the inspiration and total accuracy of the Bible please read Appendix 2 page
23782-86. This must be completely settled in your mind to continue. Finally, you must believe
238beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is God Himself come to earth. If unsure read Appendix
2393 page 87-91. God is our commander in spiritual warfare as well as in every area of life.
240
241ANGELS - OUR HELPERS
242CREATION God created the angels before the world was created (Job 38:6-7), the same
243time He planned to create each one of us (and already knew us in His mind). He created an
244“innumerable†number of angels (Heb. 12:22; Rev 5:11). No angels have been created or
245destroyed since then. The number is exactly the same. People who die do NOT become
246angels, in eternity we have a position greater than the angels will have (I Cor. 6:3).
247PERSONALITY God created angels and humans in His image in that we all have a mind
248to rationally think and reason (I Peter 1:12), emotions to feel and experience (Luke 2:13), and a
249free will to choose our destiny (Jude 6). Soon after creation, the top angel (Lucifer, now called
250Satan Ezekiel 28:12-15) used his free will to rebel against God (II Thes 2:4) and as a result was
251kicked out of heaven (Isa 14:12-15, Ezek 28:15-17; Luke 10:18). The angels then had a one-
252time choice to follow Satan or God. About one third (Rev. 12:4) followed Satan in his rebellion
253and also lost their first position, now being called demons. This was the only time angels ever
254had an opportunity to exercise their free will. They are now „locked in‟ and cannot change their
255state (angels cannot fall to becoming demons, demons cannot move up to being angels).
256Angels do not know what it is to experience God‟s grace in their lives. That is why they are so
257interested in watching us as we talk and live (I Pet 1:12) for our lives show God‟s grace and love
258in operation in a way they don‟t personally experience. They are impressed with God and His
259undeserved mercy on us. They are amazed at His special love for us, unworthy as we are.
260NATURE Angels are spirit beings. They are not like God in that they do not know everything.
261They are limited to being at one place at a time. They are not all powerful or all knowing (Ps
262103:20; II Thes. 1:7). They have no physical body, but sometimes do appear in the form of a
263person (Heb 13:1). This is to help God‟s people in need. Some have wings to show power and
264glory, but not all have wings. While possessing all the traits we would call „masculine‟ and
265„feminine,‟ angels are always referred to as masculine. Male pronouns are always used.
266Angels are different, just like people are different: different abilities and functions in God‟s
267service, different traits and skills. Angels can‟t and don‟t reproduce (Mt 22:30; Mk 12:25),
268
269 5
270 although it does seem that demons somehow impregnated women before the flood in Noah‟s
271day (Genesis 6:1-4). Angels never die (Luke 20:36).
272ORGANIZATION Angels (and also demons) are organized in a military-like fashion with
273generals, colonels, lieutenants, sergeants, privates, etc. They are called archangels, princes,
274rulers, seraphim, etc. (Rom 8:38; Eph 3:10; 6:12; Col 1:16; 2:5). Some have leadership over
275geographical areas, others over groups of people (as Michael the archangel cares for Israel).
276Apparently, there are different kinds of angels with different characteristics and roles: cherubim,
277seraphim, and archangels. Seraphim (Isaiah 6:2-3; Ezekiel 1:27) have a fiery appearance
278because they are usually associated with the Presence of God. Cherubim (Genesis 3:24;
279Exodus 25:18-22; Hebrews 9:5) are represented with wings, feet, hands and often more than
280one face (Ezekiel 41:18; 10:21). They guard sacred things (the tree of life in Genesis 3:24; the
281Ark of the Covenant in 1 Samuel 4:4). Archangels are the highest created beings, angels of the
282greatest power and majesty. Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12) was an archangel. Michael (1
283Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 9) and Gabriel (Daniel 8:15-26; 9:21-27; Luke 1:11-38). Michael and
284Gabriel are warrior angels (Revelation 12:7) who do battle (Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1). Gabriel
285seems to be in charge of the care of the Jews. Other angels exist in various levels of authority
286and function under these (Ephesians 6:12). God has angels organized in a military-like manner
287with a chain-of-command from 'generals' to 'privates.'
288DUTIES The Greek word for „angel‟ („angelos‟) means “messenger.†Actually the word is just
289transliterated in our Bibles (English letters replace Greek letters but the word is the same).
290Were it translated into English we would have the word “messenger†every time „angel‟ appears.
291That is basically their function -- messengers (servants) of God. They are God‟s servants who
292help God‟s people (Heb 1:14). Individual angels seem assigned to children and believers (Acts
29312:12) to help them in special ways. God could use His sovereign power to do things such as
294prevent an automobile accident or have a child fall safely and not be hurt, or similar actions, but
295usually He has His angels do that work. They protect God‟s people (Psalm 34:7; 91:12; Matthew
29618:10). They bring answers to prayers (Acts 12:7), although sometimes demons oppose them
297and the answers are delayed (Dan. 10:10-21). They minister to our physical, spiritual and
298emotional needs (Hebrews 1:14). Angels watch and learn from believers (I Cor. 4:9; I Tim 5:2).
299They encourage us in danger (Acts 27:23-24). They even help in evangelism (Luke 15:10; Acts
3008:26). They care for God‟s people when they die (Luke 16:22; Jude 9). They fight against
301demons (Revelation 12). They watch God's children to learn about God's grace (I Peter 1:12).
302OUR RESPONSE TO ANGELS Angels are not to be communicated with, ordered
303around, or in any way contacted by us. They do not steal any of God‟s glory. We aren‟t in any
304way to focus on them or worship them (Revelation 19:10). All the credit and glory all go to Him
305(Revelation 4:11; 5:9-11). All the attention is His. In the Bible when someone tried to give them
306credit they passed it on to God. We aren‟t to communicate with them, but we can ask God to
307send them to do various things that need doing. And yes, they do manifest at times. There are
308many cases in the Bible. Sometimes they manifest as spiritual beings. I think young children
309can see or sense them quite more readily than adults. They also manifest as people and help us
310without us knowing they are angels. Hebrews 13:2 talks about this. Angels are always present
311around us, especially when we gather with other believers in Jesus‟ name. However we never
312can see them unless God opens our eyes in a special way (II Kings 6:17). It‟s quite likely you
313have seen angels, but in appearance as people (Heb 13:2) and therefore not recognized as an
314angel. That stranger who just happens to show up at the right time to provide help or
315assistance, whom we called an „angel,‟ might well have been one!
316
317
318 6
319 B. THE BAD GUYS
320SATAN - THE ENEMY COMMANDER
321EXISTENCE OF SATAN Unfortunately we live in a time when more people believe in
322the Loch Ness Monster than in Satan! Some people who do believe in him tend to made him
323smaller than he really is.
324 Your devil is too small if your see Satan as merely a personification of evil. The picture of
325a devil in a red suit with a tail and trident comes from ancient times when red stood for death,
326horns for power, and tails and cloven hoofs for bestiality. Satan is a real, live personality, not a
327symbol of evil.
328 Your devil is also too small if you consign him to long-ago times or far away places. He is
329too small if you assume he leaves Christians alone (that's one of his biggest lies, which he uses
330it to cover his tracks). He is too small if you don't think he is capable of performing miracles and
331other feats of power, or if you think you can recognize and defeat him on your own. He is
332powerful, even using forces of nature such as lightning (Job 1:16) and strong wind (Job 1:19) to
333do his will.
334 On the other hand some see Satan as more powerful than he is. Your devil is too big if
335you see him as an evil god. He is not equal to God, he is limited to one place at a time and
336does not have all knowledge. You also see him as too big if you live in fear of him and avoid
337learning about how to fight him.
338 The truth about Satan is that he was created as an angel. He was the top ranking of all God's
339angels, the highest created being God ever made (Ezekiel 28:12-15). Known as Lucifer, he was the
340highest angelic creation, the closest to the throne of God. However he didn't want to serve God but
341wanted to be worshipped in place of God (II Thessalonians 2:4). His sin was self-centeredness: pride
342(Isaiah 14:12-15) therefore God threw him out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:15-17; Luke 10:18).
343He lost all his position and privilege. With that rebellion of his sin entered the universe.
344
345POWER Satan has great power (Ephesians 6:12; 1:21; Revelation 9:3,10; Acts 26:18; 1
346Corinthians 15:24; Colossians 1:16; 2:10,15). He has the power of death (Hebrews 2:14; Luke
34711:21-22) but can only use it as God permits (Job 1 and 2). He uses traps and schemes
348(Ephesians 6:11-12) and lies and deceives (John 8:44). He devours like a lion (1 Peter 5:8).
349 His power in inferior to Jesus‟ power, though (Colossians 1:16; 2:10,15). He can only be
350one place at a time (Daniel 9:21; 10:12-14, 20; Luke 8:33). He is not sovereign [total and
351absolute authority over everything and everyone] (2 Corinthians 12:7), not omnipotent [all
352powerful] (1 John 4:4), not omniscient [all knowing] (2 Peter 1:11-12) and not omnipresent
353[everywhere at once] (Daniel 9:21). He cannot act against us without God‟s permission and
354God limits what he can do (Job 1:12).
355 We must always remember that Satan is a defeat foe. He was cast out of his original
356position in heaven because of pride (Ezekiel 28:16; Luke 10:18; Isaiah 14:12). His judgment
357was pronounced in Eden (Genesis 3:14-15). He was defeated by the cross (John 12:31). He
358will be cast to the earth in the tribulation (Revelation 9:1; 12:7-12), bound during the Millennium
359(Revelation 20:1-3) and then cast into the lake of burning sulfur forever (Revelation 20:7-10;
360Isaiah 27:1; 40:23-24; 2 Thessalonians 2:8)
361 7
362 CHARACTER Looking at the various names of Satan help us understand his character and
363work better.
364Satan (Job 1:6-9; Matt. 4:10) The title "Satan" occurs 53 times in 47 verses in the Bible. The
365primary idea is 'adversary, one who withstands.'
366The Devil (Matt. 4:1, 5, 9; Eph. 4:27; Rev. 12:9; 20:2)"Devil" is the Greek word diabollos which
367means "slanderer, defamer." This accentuates his goal and work to impugn the character of
368God.
369The Serpent (Rev. 12:9) This name for Satan looks back to Genesis 3 and the temptation in the
370Garden.
371Lucifer (Isa. 14:12) The Hebrew word for Lucifer (KJV translation) is literally "the shining one."
372This name draws our attention to his pre-fall condition and to the nature of the cause of his fall -
373pride.
374The Evil One (John 17:15; 1 John 5:9) The Greek poneros means "wicked, evil, bad, base,
375worthless, vicious, degenerate." It points to Satan's character as active and malignant.
376The Dragon (Rev. 12:7) The Greek word is drakon (as in draconian) and refers to a "hideous
377monster, a dragon, or large serpent." This word stresses the cruel, vicious, and blood thirsty
378character and power of Satan.
379The Prince or Ruler (John 12:31) The Greek literally means, "the ruler of this world system."
380This points to Satan as the head and energy behind the arrangements of things as they are in
381the world today.
382The God of This World or Age (2 Cor. 4:4) The fact Satan is called, the god of this world
383(Greek, aionos, "age, course") may emphasize Satan's rulership over this final period or
384economy which is so marked by a growing increase in apostasy, deception, and moral decay.
385The Prince of the Power of the Air (Eph. 2:2a) This points to Satan as the head of the
386demonic hosts which includes all the fallen angelic beings who operate night and day in our
387immediate spiritual atmosphere-an atmosphere of demonic influence controlled by Satan.
388The Accuser of the Brethren (Rev. 12:10) The Greek word for "accuser" is kathgor, which
389refers to one who brings condemning accusations against others. In view of Job 1 and 2, this is
390also an attempt to malign the character of God and His plan. 2).
391The Tempter (Matt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5) This title reveals him in another of his primary activities
392as seen from the very beginning with Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3).
393Belial (2 Cor. 6:15) This name means "worthless" or "hopeless ruin." The personification of
394worthlessness, hopeless ruin and the source of all idolatry and religion which is also hopeless or
395futile.
396Beelzebul (Matt. 12:24; Mark 3:22) Three possible spellings of this word each have a different
397meaning: (1) Beelzebul means "lord of the dung," a name of reproach. (2) Beelzebub means
398"lord of the flies." Either one of these are names of reproach and of uncleanness applied to
399Satan, the prince of the demons and uncleanness. (3) Beelzeboul, means, "the lord of the
400dwelling." This would identify Satan as the god of demon possession. This spelling has the best
401manuscript evidence behind it.
402Abaddon, Apollyon (Rev 9:11) Abaddon is the Greek form and Apollyon is the Hebrew
403equivalent. These words mean 'destroyer,' 'destruction.' This title stresses his work of
404
405
406 8
407 destruction; he works to destroy the glory of God and God's purpose with man. He further works
408to destroy societies and mankind.
409The Proud One The five "I wills" in Isaiah 14:12-14.
410The Father of Lies (John 8:44) Using his network of deception through demonic forces and
411duped people, he promotes false doctrines in the name of God.
412A False Angel of Light (2 Corinthians 11:14) One of his purposes is to make men as much like
413God as he can, but always without God. So, he will copy as much of God and His plan as he
414can, but he will always either distort, pervert, substitute or leave out those key ingredients of
415truth that are vital to the plan of salvation and sanctification through Christ.
416
417PURPOSE His goal is to rule the whole world instead of God. He was given authority over
418this world system by Adam when he sinned (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2) and controls our
419world system (1 John 5:19). He rules over it (Matthew 4:8-9; John 12:31; Luke 4:5-7; John
42014:30; 16:11). He is behind its values and world view (James 3:15). Presently he words to
421deceive the nations (Daniel 10:13,20; Matthew 4:8; Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 20:3,7-8; 16:14;
422I Kings 22:6-7). He leads mankind into idolatry (Psalm 96:5; 106:36-38; Leviticus 17:7;
423Deuteronomy 32:17). He especially wants to destroy God‟s special people: Israel (Revelation
42412:13-17; 20:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:9) and the Church.
425
426WORK AGAINST ALL PEOPLE He works against the gospel, hardening hearts to
427God‟s truth (Matthew 13:19-22). He blinds their minds (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 2 Thessalonians
4282:7-10; Luke 8:12; Colossians 2:18). When they hear the truth Satan tries to snatch it from their
429minds (Mark 4:15; Matthew 13:19).
430 He denies the truth (Genesis 3:1; 2 Timothy 4:3-4) and promotes false teaching (1
431Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 2:9). As is true of any good counterfeiter, he tries to make his
432deceptions as close to the truth as possible so as to deceive more. The authority of the
433Scriptures, the person and work of Jesus and salvation by grace are areas he especially tries to
434obscure so make sure anything you believe has these at its heart and core.
435 Satan brings oppression on all he can. His does this through sickness such as
436dumbness (Mark 9:17-29), blindness (Matthew 12:22), deformity (Luke 13:11-17), epilepsy
437(Luke 9:37-43) and other ways. He also uses the following to oppress: mental illness (Mark 5:1-
43820; 9:14-29; Luke 9:39), sin (Genesis 3:13-24; Ephesians 2:2), lawlessness (2 Corinthians 6:15)
439and death (Revelation 18:2; 9:13-18).
440
441WORK AGAINST BELIEVERS A primary objective of Satan is to oppose God‟s work
442and God‟s people. He oppresses and leads the persecution against the Jews (Revelation
44312:13-17; 20:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:9). He works especially hard against believers, for we are
444the light in his darkness, the only threat on this work against his kingdom. Since he can no
445longer attack Jesus directly he does so indirectly by attacking His children. He accuses us
446before God (Job 1:6-21; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Revelation 12:9-10; Zechariah 3:1-2) but Jesus is
447our defense attorney, our Advocate when accused (1 John 2:1).
448 Satan does all he can to oppose and hinder our service to God (2 Corinthians 4:4;
4491Thessalonians 2:18; 2 Corinthians 112:7; Zechariah 3:1; Matthew 13:19). He tries to infiltrate
450the church through false teaching (1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 2:9), false teachers (1
451Timothy 4:1-3; 1 John 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1-2) and false „Christians‟ (Matthew 13:38-40).
452
453
454 9
455 While not all temptation comes from Satan and demons, he certainly does all he can to
456entice us into sin (2 Corinthians 2:11; 1 Timothy 3:7; 2 Timothy 2:26) as he did when tempting
457Jesus. He will use our sin nature (James 1:14-15), the world system (1 John 2:15-16) or attack
458directly through demons (1 Corinthians 7:5). He can cause and use anger (Ephesians 4:27),
459pride (1 Timothy 3:6; 1 Chronicles 21:1; 1 Timothy 3:6), immorality (1 Corinthians 7:5), lies (Acts
4605:1-3), doubting God‟s Word and goodness (Genesis 3:1-5; Luke 4:9-12), „miracles‟ to deceive
461(Mark 4:8-9; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3,9-11), hypocrisy (John 8:44; Acts
46217:22), self sufficiency (1 Chronicles 212:1-7), worry and fear (1 Peter 5:7-9; Hebrews 2:14;
463Psalm 23;4), lack of faith (Luke 22:31-32; 1 Peter 5:6-10), physical affliction (Job 1:6-22; 2:1-7;
464John 8:44; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:20) and sin of any kind (1 Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew
4654:3; 1 Corinthians 10:19-21, 2 Corinthians 11:3,13-15; 1 John 3:8).
466
467
468
469DEMONS - ENEMY SOLDIERS
470CREATION When Satan rebelled and decided to oppose God instead of serving God, about
471a third of the angels joined him (Revelation 12:4). They, too, were case out of heaven and lost
472their position and privilege. They are now called "demons." They, as all angels, have
473personality (mind, will, emotions) but no body. They are limited to being one place at a time and
474do not have all knowledge or power.
475
476CHARACTER "Demon" means "destroyer." They are also called evil or unclean spirits,
477referring to the fact they don't have a physical body. They spread their sin and uncleanness any
478way they can. They are spiritual terrorists, trying to destroy the work of God's kingdom. As with
479human terrorists, no one is safe from them, they are deadly serious and have no softness or
480mercy. They serve Satan, who is their commander, and carry out his orders. They receive the
481worship given to idols or anything other than God (I Corinthians 10:20).
482
483ORGANIZATION Satan organizes his demons in the same manner God has angels
484organized - in a military-like structure. These are similar to generals, colonels, majors,
485lieutenants, sergeants, corporals, privates, etc. (Ephesians 6:12). Usually a "strong man" (or
486ruler) is assigned to a task, and he has lesser demons under his command to help in the work
487(Matthew 12:25-29; Daniel 10:2-6, 12-14). The names of these demons usually refer to their
488work ("Fear," "Anger," "Lust," "Pride," "Deception," etc.).
489
490POWER Their power, too, though is limited for they are under Satan and he is under God
491(Job 1:12). They answer to God, as we see Satan do in the Book of Job. They are powerful but
492NOT omnipotent like God (John 10:21); they are exceedingly clever but NOT omniscient like
493God and know their eventual destiny (Matthew 8:29); and they are mobile but NOT omnipresent
494like God. Like Satan, they can only be one place at a time (Daniel 9:21; 10:12-14,20; Luke
4958:33). They share the same fate as Satan. Some are already judged and are in chains awaiting
496coming judgment (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 9:14-15). Other demons have already been
497confined to the Abyss (Luke 8:31; revelation 9:11). All will be sent to the lake of fire with Satan
498when he is sent there (Matthew 25:41). Satan and his forces are defeated foes, having given
499their all to destroy Jesus on the cross, but being beaten by Him instead (Heb 2:14-15; I Pt 3:18-
50022). When Jesus returns Satan and his demons will be cast into the lake of fire forever
501(Matthew 25:41; Rev 20:1-15).
502
503 10
504 PERSONALITY Demons are spirit beings (Hebrews 1:14) but can appear visibly as a
505person (Genesis 18:1-22; 9:1; Hebrews 13:2). They are unclean (Matthew 10:1; 1 Samuel
50616:14; Mark 9:25; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Revelation 16:13-14; 9:17-19), evil (Luke 7:21; Matthew
50712:45), immoral (Genesis 6); wicked (Ephesians 6:12) and liars (1 John 4:6; 1 Kings 22:22-23).
508Their ability comes from Satan, who empowers and orders them to do all he can. They receive
509their power from Satan (Mark 5:1-18; Revelation 16:13-16).
510
511DUTIES AGAINST ALL Demons carry out Satan‟s commands and wishes. After enticing
512Adam and Eve to sin and getting authority over the world from them, Satan and his forces have
513continued trying to keep worship from God and getting it for themselves. They blind the minds
514of unbelievers (II Cor 4:4) and snatch the Word from their hearts (Luke 8:12). They do all they
515can to oppose God‟s work (Rev 2:13). Since they can‟t attack God, they take their anger out on
516those who are God‟s -- His people (Jews and Christians today). Satan and his forces tempt
517Christians to lie (Acts 5:3), accuse and slander them before God (Rev 12:10), hinder our work (I
518Thes. 2:18), do anything possible to defeat us (Eph 6:11-12), tempt to immorality (I Cor 7:5) and
519incite persecution against us (Rev 2:10). They promote human wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:12; 2
520Corinthians 11:4; 1 John 4:5-6). They influence and control the nations (Daniel 10:13,20;
521Ephesians 6:12) and mislead them so they can destroy them (Isaiah 9:14). It must always be
522kept in mind, however, that God is in sovereign control. They can do nothing without God's
523permission (Job 1:6-12).
524 Physically they can give superhuman strength (Mark 5:4); physically torment (Revelation
5259:5,10), emotionally torment (1 Samuel 16:14-23); do miracles (Revelation 16:13-14; 13:12-15),
526inflict disease (Matthew 9:33; Luke 3:11,16), indwell people (Matthew 8:28-34) and indwell
527animals (Matthew 8:31-32).
528 Emotionally they torment (1 Samuel 16:14-23), cause fear (1 Samuel 18:12,15; 2
529Corinthians 11:4; 2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 8:15; Job 4:14-15), cause anger (1 Samuel 18:10-11),
530cause jealousy (1 Samuel 18:10-15) and harden consciences (1 Timothy 4:2).
531 Sexually they cause immorality (Revelation 9:21-22; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 1 Timothy 4:1-3)
532and cause all kinds of impurity (Zechariah 13:2).
533 Mentally they cause bondage (2 Corinthians 11:4), influence the mind (Genesis 3:15;
534Ephesians 6:10-20; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:13), control the mind (1 Corinthians 10:20; 2
535Corinthians 4:4), and deceive, mislead and lie to people (1 Timothy 4:1,6; 1 Kings 22:22-23; 2
536Chronicles 18:20-23).
537 Religiously they promote false doctrine (1 John 4:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Kings 22:22;
538Revelation 16:13), counterfeit the truth (2 Corinthians 10:20-21), promote hypocrisy (1 Timothy
5394:2), promote legalism (1 Timothy 4:3), use false prophets and false teachers (1 John 4:1; 1
540Kings 22:22-23; 2 Chronicles 18:20-23), use fortunetelling and occult practices (Acts 16:16-18)
541and promote idolatry while receiving the worship of idols (Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 32:17;
542Psalm 106:37; Revelation 9:20; Hosea 4:10-12; 5:4; Acts 16:16; 1 Corinthians 10:20).
543
544DUTIES ESPECIALLY AGAINST BELIEVERS They especially work against
545believers by frustrating and opposing God‟s perfect will (Acts 16:16-18), putting obstacles in the
546path of following God (1 Thessalonians 2:18; Romans 15:22), influencing believers to mislead
547other believers (Matthew 16:22-23.) and instigating things such as jealousy, pride and disunity
548(James 3:13-16). They seek to get believers to turn from God and living for Him (1 Timothy
5494:1), they can cause physical torment (2 Corinthians 12:7), and they try to get us to operate by
550our own strength and ability (2 Timothy 3:5). All this work will intensify as the return of Jesus
551gets closer (1 Timothy 4:1).
552 11
553 DEATH, DARKNESS & SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
554 Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). Demons do this work for him (I Kings
55522:22-23; II Chronicles 18:20-23). He is characterized by any kind of falsehood and deceit (I
556John 4:16) and is not above mixing in some truth to make the lies more quickly accepted. Like
557any good counterfeiter, he knows the importance of making his false product appear as much
558like God's original as possible. He is very good at lying and deception (Revelation 12:9) and
559even tries to make it seem like he is bringing light instead of darkness (II Corinthians 11:13-15).
560 In actuality all Satan's forces operate in the realm of darkness (fear, deception, blindness,
561confusion, hopelessness, depression, self-pity, anger, revenge, suicide, death, etc.) He blinds
562men to spiritual things (II Corinthians 4:4; I John 2:11). He hardens minds and hearts to spiritual
563things (II Corinthians 3:14; Ephesians 4:18; Romans 1:21). He does this to individuals as well
564as nations (i.e.: Israel Romans 11:7-10). His purpose is to keep men from God's light and
565salvation (II Corinthians 4:4). God's light is greater than Satan's darkness (Genesis 1:14-19;
566John 1:5-9; 3:19-20; 8:12; 9:5; Matthew 17:2; Ephesians 5:8; I John 1:5-7; Revelation 21:11,23-
56724; 22:5; Isaiah 60:1). Believers are in the light, not darkness (Acts 26:18; I Thessalonians 5:4-
5685; Colossians 1:12-13; John 8:12).
569 The epitome of darkness is death. Satan's plan for man is death, just as God's plan for
570man is life. Satan is a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). His name, Abaddon or
571Apollyon means "Destroyer." He tries to destroy physical (John 8:44; Mark 9:20-22; I John 3:12)
572or spiritual (II Corinthians 4:4) life. Satan has power to bring death (Job 1:19; Luke 11:21-22;
573Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 9:14-16), but because the power of death was destroyed at the cross
574(Hebrews 2:14-15) he cannot use that power without God's permission (Job 2:6; Revelation
5759:4). Satan cannot separate us from God, even by death (Romans 8:38).
576OVERCOMING SATAN & HIS FORCES God is greater than Satan and his forces (I
577John 4:4), so we need not fear them (Luke 10:17-19). We must humble depend on God‟s
578strength, not our own (James 4:6-7; 5:16). Admit sin and open spots that Satan uses in your life
579(Psalm 32:5; 139:23-24), and confess any sin (I John 1:9). Accept God‟s forgiveness and, with
580His help, turn from the sin (Amos 3:3; Ezekiel 20:43). In prayer claim back any openings Satan
581is using in your life (Acts 19:18-19; Matt 3:7-8). Cover yourself with the armor of God each day
582(Eph 6:10-18). Stay in the Scriptures (Psalm 1:1-3). The Word is a mirror (James 1:22-25) a
583lamp (Psalm 119:105) a cleanser (Ephesians 5;25-26) a sword (Hebrews 4:12) and food (I Peter
5842:2; Matthew 4:4). Use it for all these. Develop a life of continuous praise & prayer (I
585Thessalonians 5:17). Stay in close fellowship with other believers (Hebrews 13:5). Commit
586yourself to totally follow God (Ephesians 6:16).
587
588
589
590
591 12
592 II. CHARACTERISTICS
593 A. DEMONIZING DEFINED
594 The Greek word ï¤ï¯ï©ïï¯ï®ï©ïºï¯ïï¡ï©ï€ ("demonizing") refers to one who is heavily impacted by
595demons. It is used 15 times in the New Testament. It does not differentiate between
596possession (demons within) or influence (demons without). If God doesn't make that
597clarification or distinction, I don't think its something we need to make, either. In the spiritual
598realm there are no clear-cut divisions like we try to make (demons 'within' or 'without', etc.).
599There are, of course, degrees of demonizing depending on the person, the demons involved,
600the access, etc., but it isn't always possible or necessary to pinpoint these things. The common
601denominator is that the person being demonized usually doesn't separate their own
602consciousness from the demonic influence. The thoughts and feelings the demon feeds them
603they assume are their own. A person always has a free will to turn to God for help, but when
604followed these impulses bring one deeper and deeper into bondage.
605 Perhaps demonizing can be better understood by thinking of it as a kind of spiritual
606hypnotism from within. Hypnotism of any kind is something for God's people to avoid (Psalm
60754:4-5; Joshua 1:8; Philippians 4:8).
608 We don't need to know the exact extent of demonizing, just that it is taking place. The
609cause is the same, and so is the cure. We will use the broad term 'demonizing' as the Bible
610does, referring to the whole spectrum of demonic influence/possession. Other words the Bible
611uses for the same thing are "entered in" (as when Satan entered into Judas - John 13:27) and
612"filled" (the same word that is used of believers being filled with the Holy Spirit - Acts 5:5 about
613Ananias and Saphira).
614
615
616 B. DEMONIZING DEFENDED
617CAN A BELIEVER BE DEMONIZED?
618 While all Christians agree that unbelievers can be demonized, some don't believe that
619can happen to believers. Demonizing speaks of influence, not ownership. A believer still has a
620free will to give soul access to demons, as do unbelievers. His spirit belongs only to God, but it
621is up to us to allow God's spirit to control or not.
622 The Bible makes no distinction between believers and unbelievers as far as demonizing
623is concerned. In fact, the Bible refers to many believers who were demonized: Paul's thorn in
624the flesh was a demon (II Corinthians 12:7), King Saul was a believer (I Samuel 11:6) and was
625obviously demonized (I Samuel 16:14-23), David was motivated by Satan to take a census of
626the people (I Chronicles 21:1ff; II Samuel 24:1ff), Ananias and Saphira were believers (Acts
6274:32-35) but allowed Satan to "fill" them (Acts 5:3), and Peter was Satan's spokesman in
628tempting Jesus to not go to the cross (Matthew 16:23). Paul warns believers to not give Satan a
629"foothold" in their life (Ephesians 4:26-27), showing such a thing is possible. Jesus Himself
630called deliverance "the children's bread" (Matthew 15:22-28), meaning it was for His children. A
631Christian can receive another spirit (II Cor 11:2-4) and there are examples of believers being
632demonized (Luke 13:10-16; I Cor. 5:4,5). Christians are warned to guard against this (I Pt. 5:8-
6339; Eph. 6:10-18).
634
635 13
636 A believer belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan cannot own him as he did before
637salvation (I John 4:4), but he can still demonize. When the words „possessed‟ or „oppressed‟
638are used then the question can asked if a believer can be „possessed.‟ To answer that then
639„possessed‟ must be defined. The Bible simply does not define it, not does it even talk about
640„possession‟ – just „demonizing‟ which means being influenced by a demon. No one would
641doubt this happens to believers.
642 As long as we are in this body we still have a sin nature, a capacity to sin just the same
643as we did before salvation. Salvation creates a new spiritual nature within us. But the old
644capacity to sin still remains in us. It is in this area, this sin nature, this capacity to sin, that
645demons work. Our new nature is greater but doesn‟t take away our free will choice to still
646function in our sin nature. Paul‟s struggle as recorded in Romans 7 describes this well.
647 A Christian has every right and resource to be free from this demonizing, however.
648Property which you own can be trespassed on by another person, but you have every right and
649resource to put him off your property. You just need to learn how to do it.
650
651
652
653 C. DEMONIZING DESCRIBED
654THOUGHTS IN, THOUGHTS OUT
655 The majority of demonizing consists of demons putting thoughts into a person's mind or
656snatching thoughts out of a person's mind. While they don't have access to our minds and
657thoughts to the same extent that God does, the Bible makes it clear there is some access.
658Jesus said this in the sower and the seed: "Satan comes and takes away the word that was
659sown." (Mark 4:15). David's thought to take a census was demonic (I Chronicles 21:1ff; II
660Samuel 24:1ff). So was Ananias & Saphira's greed (Acts 5:3) and Saul's jealousy/anger (I
661Samuel 16:14-23). That's why, when talking about spiritual warfare, Paul says we are to "bring
662every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (II Corinthians 10:4-5). Not only can
663Satan's forces put wrong thoughts into our minds, they can snatch right thoughts out of our
664minds (Mark 4:15) so we forget them.
665
666LET YOUR MIND EXPLAIN REALITY TO YOUR EMOTIONS
667Feelings and emotions are fine, important and necessary. They are icing on the cake of life.
668They add color and enjoyment to life. God created them for this purpose. But He didn‟t create
669them to be the source of our decision-making. Our feelings should dependent on our rational
670thought. When our feelings get ahead of it or away from it then trouble comes. You know in
671your mind that you are an OK person, yet your emotions fear you will be rejected. When
672feelings aren‟t founded on the truth of the mind they go wrong. The truth is that you are a fine
673person, but your emotions reject that truth and try to do the „thinking‟ themselves. I often tell
674people they need to let their mind explain reality to their emotions. When we feel our emotions
675are correct over our mind we err. One of the greatest needs of our emotions/feelings is security.
676This is closely related to love so we could say the core of our heart is love/security. Love must
677bring security but doesn‟t always do so. Other factors can tribute to our security as well.
678
679WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE MIND
680The Bible distinguishes between the heart (seat of emotions, subjective reasoning) and the
681mind (seat of thought, objective reasoning). The emotions are to enjoy life, the mind is for
682 14
683 decision-making. It is the rational control center of our beings, the center of decision-making
684(Luke 10:27; Psalm 26:1-3; Proverbs 23:7)
685Demons can and do influence a person‟s mind (Mark 5:15-16). That person isn‟t aware Satan
686is doing it; it appears to be their own thoughts. We see Satan deceiving mankind in the very
687start of the Bible (Eden) and at the very end. (through the Antichrist). Man‟s mind can be
688deceived (Genesis 3:13; Rev 20:10). Therefore God gives us 2 ways to victory over deception.
689One is the mind of Christ placed within us by God‟s Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:16). The other
690is the Word of God which we must study and learn (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12).
691The reason our mind is untrustworthy without the mind of Christ and the written Word is that it
692is influenced by out sinful nature (Romans 7:14-25). Paul clearly says his mind isn‟t in control
693of everything for what he wants to do in his mind he is often unable to do because of the pull of
694sin in him. This same tendency to sin can influence the mind and warp its perspective. Victory
695over the sin nature comes by submitting to God‟s power and presence and allowing Him to
696take complete control over every aspect of our lives (Romans 8:5-8; 12:1-2).
697Our minds only find peace in God (Isaiah 26:3-4). God promises us steadfast minds (Isaiah
69826:3). Steadfast means „firm, secure, fixed, settled‟ – our minds must be totally submissive to
699and dependent on God‟s control. Then He will give us peace. As the verse says, trust is a key
700factor. We can‟t trust and fear at the same time, we can have both but must choose to follow
701one or the other, not both. God knows our thoughts and intentions better than we do and, when
702we let Him, will work and guide us (Romans 8:26-27).
703Those not in control of their minds are in a dangerous position. Giving up our mental control to
704anything or anyone opens us to the demonic seizing that access. Paul uses the example of
705speaking in tongues to make this point (1 Corinthians 14:13-16). When speaking in tongues the
706mind is doing things that the person is not in control of. The person lets the mind go on its own,
707out of their control. Paul warns that this is dangerous, that the mind needs to be involved in
708everything we are doing.
709What you put in your mind has an effect on what you think. Remember those scary movies you
710watched as a kid, and then had nightmares? It didn't take long to realize that the way to avoid
711the nightmares was to stop watching that kind of movie. God has provided a way to overcome
712unhealthy thoughts and behaviors, and gain the self-control you seek. It's a matter of taking
713charge of your life - His way.
714In order for us to take our thoughts captive (Romans 12:21) we must first accept responsibility
715for our thoughts. God gave us a free will choice and the ultimate responsibility is ours. If we
716have unwelcome thoughts we are responsible to resist them and get to the root cause so they
717can be removed. Thoughts are the key to actions (James 4:1) so we aren‟t to just try to change
718actions (that is hypocrisy) but the thoughts behind them (Romans 12:2).
719When we take our thoughts captive we reject any lies or deception they may bring and turn
720them over to God. We can best defeat unwanted thoughts and temptations by quoting
721Scripture. When Jesus was tempted He quoted Scripture to have victory over Satan's
722temptations. Paul says our only offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.
723Psalm 119:9,11 tell us that it's through God's Word that we have victory. When you have these
724thoughts and attacks use Scripture to have victory. Ask God to give you some verses that will
725help against these things, write them down and memorize them. Say them over and over when
726these thoughts attack you. That is the only way to victory, and God guarantees it will work!
727In addition, we are required to make every effort to think about things that are true, noble, right,
728pure, lovely and admirable (Philippians 4:8).
729
730 15
731 HOW CAN WE BE DECEIVED IF WE KNOW THE TRUTH?
732Do you remember the children's story about the emperor's new clothes? Some crooks
733convinced him they were making fine garments which only the enlightened could see so he
734pretended to see them. Everyone else did also. Then in a parade a little boy spoke the truth
735and everyone realized they had been believing a lie and deceiving themselves. Satan deceives
736us into believing a lie. But how can we be deceived if we know the truth?
7371. We can be demonized. Like a drunk is influenced by alcohol so we can be by demons.
7382. We can prefer to be deceived because we don‟t want to face the truth or don‟t like the truth,
739so we convince ourselves that a lie is true. We start to really believe it because we want to.
7403. We let our emotions run the show instead of our mind. When we let our feelings explain
741reality to our emotions (reacting out of fear for example) we replace the truth with deception.
7424. Our mind can be deceived, too, when we use it as the final determining factor and think
743absolute truth comes from it. Without the anchor of God‟s Word to form our mind and correct
744our errors we can truly believe something based on the facts as we interpret them. But we may
745not be interpreting them correctly. However only God has all the facts and perfect insight,
746seeing the future as clearly as the past, so when we reject His truth we are open to any kind of
747deception.
7485. Satan and demons tempt us to deception. Of course they don‟t „sell‟ their product as a black
749lie, but make it look as appealing and good as possible. We sometimes fall for the bait.
7506. Even aside from the enemy, our natural tendency to sin (sin nature) causes us to prefer sin
751for we are often more interested in what is easiest and most enjoyable now instead of what is
752best in the long run. Our „flesh‟ desires instant gratification and we can „want‟ something so
753much that we leave all reason and balance behind.
754
755RECOGNIZING TRUTH
756How does your heart know truth? How do you know when your mate is telling the truth? It‟s not
757something you can explain or put into words. It‟s not something others who don‟t know your
758mate can tell, either. But you know them well enough to be able to read the subtleties and know
759what they are communicating. That takes time as a relationship grows. The more time one
760spends listening to God the better he knows what God is saying. The more you listen to and
761follow the truth, the better your heart will recognize it. Really it is His Holy Spirit in us that
762speaks to our thoughts (and emotions as well). He promises to reveal His truth to us (John
76316:13-15). For more information on listening to God read Appendix 7 & 8, pages 101-108.
764
765COMPULSIVE & OBSESSIVE THOUGHTS
766 Thoughts we don't have captive (aren't in control of) fall into two categories: compulsions
767and obsessions. A compulsion is a force that causes us to act against our inclinations. It
768comes from within but is not under our control and drives us to unpleasant behavior. These
769often take the form of a 'ritual' or tradition to be superstitiously followed. It can be an extremely
770detailed preoccupation with minor, every-day tasks or be a besetting sin we are unable to
771conquer. It feels like a force greater than self is driving the person.
772 An obsession is a thought which forces itself into conscious thought against our will
773(usually something unpleasant and/or sinful) and can't be dismissed by ones our free will.
774
775
776 16
777 MENTAL ILLNESS
778 Demons can and do cause mental illness: they can make a person be not in his 'right
779mind' (Mark 15:15), they can cause screaming and convulsions, foaming at the mouth (Luke
7809:39), they can cause self-destructive thoughts and actions (Mark 9:22), they can make a
781person appear to be 'raving mad' (John 10:20), and they can cause immoral, anti-social
782behavior that makes the person seem not right mentally (Mark 5:15; Luke 8:35).
783 It cannot be said that all mental illness is demonic. Other factors are involved such as
784chemical imbalances, birth defects, damage from injury or drug usage, etc. However
785demonizing must always be considered until completely ruled out. One way to tell if it is
786demonic or not is the person's willingness to listen or talk about Jesus. If they fall asleep,
787change the subject constantly, don't seem to be hearing you, get violent, want to leave in a
788hurry, etc., you have good reason to suspect demons are involved.
789
790SCHIZOPHRENIA
791 One of the most severe psychological disorders is schizophrenia. In general it is
792characterized by a loss of interest in life, withdrawal and varying degrees of thought disorders.
793Among the symptoms most frequently observed are: secluding ones self and withdrawal from
794society, irritability, excessive daydreaming or preoccupation with thoughts and fantasies,
795delusive thinking characterized by self-pity and feelings of persecution, bizarre behavior and/or
796language, and over-sensitivity to criticism and comments of others. I am no expert in these
797things, but in every case I have seen this has been demonic (Mark 5:6-7).
798
799FEAR
800 Fear is one of Satan's biggest weapons. Demons are often behind and use fear
801(Romans 8:15). If it takes the form of insecurity, anxiety, worry, preoccupation with problems, or
802whatever, it is still fear. Demons put fear of David into Saul (I Samuel 18:10-15) and put fear
803and terror into Eliaphaz by gliding by his face (Job 4:15). Anything not of faith is sin (Romans
80414:23). God does not give us fear (II Timothy 1:7; Romans 8:15), so if you experience fear
805realize it is not from God but from Satan. This doesn't mean it is always through demonizing, for
806you can be attacked with fear without being demonized.
807 Fear takes root when we choose to focus on circumstances instead of God. Peter
808walking on water is a good example. When his eyes were on Jesus his faith was strong, but
809when he looked at the waves they grew in his mind to be greater than Jesus‟ power and he
810started sinking. He did the right thing, though, and put his eyes back on Jesus.
811 Dream with me for a minute. Suppose as a young child you had a father who loved you
812more than anything and constantly showed it. He was always there for you, always showing his
813love, enjoying you and laughing with you. Whatever you needed he was there to help and
814supply. How would that make you feel? What difference would it have made? There is
815something down deep inside all of us that would love to have someone we could trust, someone
816to take care of us, someone to always be there no matter what. Then we wouldn't need to be in
817control so we wouldn‟t fear. Control is a poor but often necessary substitute for love and trust.
818It may have been necessary in your past but isn‟t necessary any more!
819TRUST, THE ANTIDOTE TO FEAR How can we understand trust, what it means and how it
820works? I think understanding how a family should work is the best answer. God established a
821family relationship to answer all those questions. He is the Father, we are the children. Do your
822children trust you? What do they have to do? What do you expect of them? It's exactly the
823 17
824 same. Jesus says we are to be like little children in order to learn faith and trust. Let your
825children teach you. Put yourself in their position - with a Perfect Father.
826PRAYER TO HAVE VICTORY OVER FEAR
827 Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You as Your child. I voluntarily place myself under your
828protective care. I acknowledge that You are the only legitimate fear object in my life. I confess
829that I have been fearful and anxious because of my lack of trust, my unbelief and believing the
830lies of the enemy. I have not always trusted You. Too often I have lived in fear and relied on
831my own strength and resources. I confess that as sin and thank You for Your forgiveness.
832 I know that you have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2
833Timothy 1:7). Therefore I renounce any fear in my life. I ask You to reveal to me all the areas
834where the sin of fear as affected me. Show me the lies I have believed and help me to believe
835Your truth instead. I desire to live in faith by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Fill me with Your
836presence and Your Spirit so I can follow You by faith. In Jesus‟ name. Amen.
837
838ANGER
839 Anger comes from mishandling hurt and pain. Instead of feeling it as hurt we turn it into
840anger. Demons are behind and use anger, too. They made Saul angry at David, so much so
841that he tried to kill David (I Samuel 18:10-11; 19:9-10). Paul says there is a very close
842connection between anger and demonizing (Ephesians 4:27).
843 As I said before, anger comes from pain and hurt that is buried inside. You can't bury
844something alive and think you are getting rid of it. The hurt must be dead - faced, admitted,
845healed, removed, forgiven. When a person buries hurt alive it keeps poising everything until it is
846dug out and destroyed.
847 While there is a legitimate use for anger („righteous indignation‟) most of what we face is
848not right. Anger is a secondary emotion, unlike fear which is a basic emotion. Wrong anger is
849always the result of mishandling another, deeper emotional like fear or pain. Let‟s take pain,
850first of all. When a person hits their finger with a hammer what do they do? Usually they get
851angry. What they feel is pain, but it comes out as anger because anger is a much easier
852emotion to handle than pain. When someone says something critical or threatening it hurts, but
853the natural response in many is to get angry. That way they don‟t have to face the pain – but it
854stays and causes more and more anger. That‟s where fear comes in. It‟s not just pain that
855causes anger, but fear of pain. Fear is at the root of anger in other ways as well. To seek to
856manage our fears we try to control our lives and circumstances (thus the control emphasis part
857grows). We feel that is necessary to prevent pain and other things we fear. We use anger as a
858control tool. The adrenalin rush makes us feel in charge instead of a victim. We learn that
859people can be manipulated and controlled by our anger (or the threat of it) and we use that to
860control as well. This is another reason why it‟s important to deal with and get victory over the
861fears down inside. When they go the anger and control issues will become much more
862manageable. A person can‟t stop their anger as long as what causes it is still inside pushing it
863out. They must get the root cause out, and that is where dealing with the fear comes in.
864
865CUTTING, SELF MUTILATION, SUICIDE
866 Some today explain cutting and other self-mutilation activities as purely psychological.
867They say it is a way of refocusing pain, of using physical pain to alleviate emotional pain. While
868that may be true, I believe there is a deeper cause to these things. From my experience and the
869Bible I am convinced that self-mutilation is contrary to our natural desire to „love‟ ourselves and
870 18
871 the natural drive to protect self and survive at every cost. Mark 5 tells about a demonized man
872who was continually cutting himself (Mark 5:5). Then there is the demonized boy who keeps
873throwing himself in the fire to burn or water to drown (Matthew 17:15). Satan loves pain and
874death. They are his tools of trade. He would have all of us dead if God would not forbid it. So
875the best he can do it to try and get us to harm ourselves. The ultimate of this is suicide. The
876prophets of Baal regularly used cutting as a means of appeasing their demonic gods, as seen in
877their encounter with Elijah on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:28). Accounts of suicide in the Bible also
878show close association with demonization. Saul killed himself after his encounter with the witch
879of Endor. Judas‟ suicide came after being indwelt by Satan and betraying Jesus.
880PRAYER FOR THOSE WITH SELF DESTRUCTIVE OR SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
881In Jesus' name I renounce all suicidal thoughts and any attempts I've made to take my own life
882or in any way injure myself. I confess ___________ (name each sin of self-destruction that
883comes to mind) and put it under the blood of Jesus. I renounce the lie that life is hopeless and
884that I can find peace and freedom by taking my own life. Satan is a thief and comes to steal, kill
885and destroy. I put any access any demons claim to my life or to my family under the blood of
886Jesus. In Jesus' name I cover all that with the blood of Jesus. I choose life in Christ Who came
887to give me life and give it abundantly. Thank You for Your forgiveness that allows me to forgive
888myself. I choose to believe that there is always hope in Christ. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
889
890
891OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF DEMONIZING
892 Luke 8:26-39, the account of the Gadarene demoniac, clearly describes various
893symptoms of demonizing. There is nakedness (immodesty, immorality), self-destructive
894tendencies (even to suicide and death), supernatural strength, animalistic behavior,
895schizophrenia, mental illness, preoccupation with darkness and death (living in a graveyard), fits
896of rage, resistance to spiritual things, etc. The strong man (ruler) was "Legion", meaning he had
897many demons under his authority that are doing these various works.
898
899HOW RESPONSIBLE ARE THE DEMONIZED?
900 How could a person be responsible and at the same time have demons affect the mind?
901While we aren‟t responsible for everything that happens when demonized we are responsible for
902letting it happen and not being in control. Think of it this way. Someone gets drunk and kills
903another family in the car. They didn‟t want to kill them, probably didn‟t even realize they were
904doing it until it happened. Does that mean they aren‟t responsible and can walk away free? No.
905They are responsible for their actions. They are certainly responsible for getting drunk and
906allowing themselves to be in a situation that could cause death. Just because sometimes they
907drive without killing anyone doesn‟t mean they are any less guilty then, too. The same is done
908with demonizing. Allowing another power to influence us makes us accountable for all that
909happens while under that influence.
910 But if someone is demonized from childhood and isn‟t aware of it, are they responsible?
911Yes and no. Yes, they are responsible, but no, for God covers it with His grace and His work on
912the cross. Just like a little child is guilty of sin but God doesn‟t hold him accountable until he is
913old enough to know the difference between right and wrong, so the person demonized that way
914isn‟t accountable until they start to realize what is going on. The option then is to turn to Jesus
915for help over it.
916
917
918
919 19
920 EVIDENCE OF DEMONIZING
921I. COMPULSIVE THOUGHTS
922 Extremely low self image (feel unworthy, unclean, no good, etc) Luke 8:2
923 Constant confusion in thinking (especially about spiritual things), restlessness
924 Inability to believe spiritual truths which you hear or read
925 Mocking and blasphemous thoughts (esp. when hearing spiritual truths)
926 Perceptual distortions (thinking others are angry at you when they are not)
927 Repetitious dreams or nightmares (sexual, horror-filled, fearful, etc)
928 Violent thoughts (of suicide, rape, murder, self-abuse, cutting, etc.)
929II. COMPULSIVE FEELINGS
930 Hatred and bitterness toward others for no justifiable reason
931 Tremendous hostility, fear, restlessness when challenged about demonizing
932 Deep depression and despondence (frequent and long)
933 Irrational fears, panic, and phobias (Rom. 8:15 Luke 9:39)
934 Irrational anger or rage (Mt. 8:28)
935 Irrational guilt and extreme self-condemnation, not forgiving self
936III. COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR
937 Desire to do right but inability to carry it out
938 Sudden personality & attitude changes (like, and then hate someone)
939 Strong aversion to Scripture reading & prayer
940 Lying compulsively, then often wondering why (Acts 5:3)
941 Stealing compulsively, if you need the thing or not
942 Drinking or using drugs (prescription or not) compulsively, if you really desire to or not
943 Eating compulsively (or reverse, bulimia or anorexia nervosa)
944 Sexual sins that are compulsive (especially perversions) Matthew 15:5 Luke 8:27
945 Irrational, inappropriate laughter
946 Irrational violence (compulsion to hurt self or someone else) Mt. 17:15; Mk. 5:5; Lk 9:39
947 Sudden speaking of a language not previously known
948 Reactions to the name and blood of Jesus (uncomfortable, move away, etc.)
949 Uncontrollable cutting and mocking tongue and language
950 Vulgar language and actions (Luke. 4:33-34)
951 Uncontrollable greed, which drives you on (Acts 5:3)
952IV. CONSCIOUSNESS PROBLEMS
953 Loss of time (little or a lot, not knowing how you got someplace what you did)
954 Extreme sleepiness around spiritual things (Bible study, prayer, etc.)
955 Demonstration of extraordinary abilities (ESP, telekinesis, out of body, disassociating)
956 Voices heard in the mind (mock, intimidate, accuse, threaten, bargaining
957 A voice speaking from you refers to you in the third person ("he" "sheâ€)
958 Supernatural experiences (haunting, movement or disappearance of objects, etc.)
959V. ABNORMAL MEDICAL PROBLEMS
960 Seizures (Mk. 1:26 Mk. 7:24-30 Mk. 17:15) (may or may not be demonic)
961 Pain without justifiable explanation, problem doctors can‟t cure
962 Physical ailments alleviated by a spiritual command (epileptic seizure, asthma attack,
963 headache, nausea, etc., which stops when commanded in Jesus' name to be gone)
964 Sudden interference with bodily functions (buzzing in ears, irritability to speak or hear,
965 increased hypersensitivity in hearing or touch, sudden chills, etc.)
966
967
968 20
969 III. CAUSES
970 Having looked at what demonizing is and some characteristics of it, the next step is to
971find out what allows demons to do this work in/against us. These openings are like cracks in a
972wall which allow the enemy to slip in. When you have these openings, it could be that demons
973are using this to demonize you. Demons are like rats that feed on garbage. To get rid of the
974rats one must get rid of the garbage, then the rats will be gone.
975 The most common avenue to demonic entrance is through a family line. One person
976opens themselves to demonic influence and the demons claim them and all they have, including
977children. Then the same traits and influences pass on to the children and their children. Occult
978and Satanic involvement by activities, drugs, acid rock music, Ouija boards, etc. is another
979opening. Cult involvement in the family, especially Masons, opens one. The Bible says that
980when 2 people have sex the two become one flesh and that allows demons to claim the other
981person. Abuse of any kind or any form of trauma, especially when young, open one to the
982demonic. Strong soul ties with someone involved can cause an opening. Being unwanted
983when in the womb or young is a definite opening. These are some of the main avenues demons
984use to gain entrance and attack people.
985
986
987
988 BECAUSE OF OUR BECAUSE OF OUR
989 PROPERTY RELATIONSHIP WITH
990 Past use of the location JESUS
991 Personal objects
992
993
994
995
996 BECAUSE OF OUR
997 ANCESTORS
998 BECAUSE OF SIN IN
999 Ancestors past actions
1000 OUR LIFE
1001 Our past actions
1002
1003
1004 21
1005 In order to have victory over the attacks of the enemy it is important to understand where those
1006attacks come from – what is the cause of them. This is very important in being able to defend
1007against them. If we know the direction from which our enemy will attack we can better defend
1008ourselves and defeat those attacks. If you think of your life as a fort you can better understand
1009what is happening. Think of a frontier fort such as were built for protection in the early days of
1010the USA. An enemy can 1) claim access through an open door, 2) enter through a weak spot in
1011the wall, 3) claim the land on which the fort is built, or 4) attack us because of our commitment
1012to Jesus. Let‟s look at these four avenues of attack.
1013
1014
1015
1016A. PHYSICAL ATTACK We can be attacked because of access
1017given through what has happened on the land or to the property in the past.
1018
1019
1020It can be PAST USE OF THE LOCATION. Some event may have happened
1021on the land or in the home or room where you live. It could be a violent act, an occult activity, a
1022curse, a dedicating of the property to the powers of darkness or similar acts. Sometimes when
1023we go into a certain neighborhood or home there is a „sense‟ of evil, a discomfort in our spirit. In
1024a store that sells New Age materials you may „feel‟ different in your spirit, a discomfort. This is
1025the explanation for supernatural apparitions that happen in „haunted‟ homes – demonic activity
1026may be present. Some countries and even continents are in extra darkness and bondage and it
1027can be sensed by believers. The message we get is from God‟s Holy Spirit Who is warning us
1028against the evil around us.
1029 Our solution is to pray, taking back any access the enemy may claim to the property and
1030asserting our right as children of God to claim and use it. Put any other claims under the blood
1031of Jesus and dedicate it to Him for His honor and glory. A sign, picture or cross on the wall can
1032be a good visual reminder to all of the ownership of the property by the Lord Jesus Christ.
1033 Pray, anoint the house and property, etc. Walk around you boundaries praying out loud,
1034claiming your property for God and forbidding any demons to have any access to it. Dedicate it
1035to God and invite His presence through all of it. Take back any access any demons may claim
1036to the property and put the access under the blood of Jesus. Break it in Jesus‟ name. Ask God
1037to put an angelic hedge of protection around it. Do the same in all the rooms of the house,
1038especially the basement (if you have one). Anoint each room with oil by dipping your finger in
1039the oil and putting a cross on the door, walls, etc. Pray as you did when you walked around the
1040property. If there is one particular part of the house that seems worse put a night light there so
1041there is always light in to room. You could do that to all the rooms. Demons hate light, and they
1042hate hearing Jesus praised, so you can play praise music in various places 24 hours a day. It
1043can be real soft – they will hear it!
1044
1045
1046In addition it can be from PERSONAL PROPERTY ON THE
1047LOCATION. When the Jews took possession of Canaan under Joshua they were told to
1048not keep any of the objects they captured. Even animals and children were to be destroyed.
1049They had been dedicated to Satan and were claimed by him. Those who used these things
1050would be opening themselves up to the demonic powers they had been dedicated to. That‟s
1051why Paul had the people in Ephesus burn all their occult books. Today we must watch for
1052things like literature from other cults and religions, Ouija boards and other occult paraphernalia,
1053 22
1054 pagan objects from primitive cultures, objects from Masonic or other secret societies, some
1055Native American artifacts or the like. Pornography, drug or alcoholic supplies, music with a
1056black or evil dimension
1057 The solution is to remove and destroy such objects as God convicts you or as being
1058openings for demonic access. Ask for forgiveness for having them, cleanse the room from their
1059presence, take back any access the enemy may claim and dedicate the space as well as
1060yourself to Jesus. Ask Him to reveal to you anything else that may need to be dealt with.
1061 When a room or object is under the control of an evil spirit for whatever reason they
1062claim, painting crosses by dipping a finger in oil and making them on a wall claims the place for
1063Jesus. Playing Christian music and leaving a small light on also are offensive to the forces of
1064darkness. Of course praying and quoting scripture while making the crosses is important, too. I
1065know I, as a Christian, have great power in blessing people, especially my own family and other
1066Christians. 'God bless you' is more than a slang or shallow comment. There's real power in it
1067when one means it that way. It's a privilege I use and repeat often to people. Distance doesn't
1068seem to affect it at all. Of course there is something even more special about touching a person
1069when I pray or ask God to bless them, but when at a distance it carries just as well. The power
1070is in God who is everywhere (omnipresent). Satan and demons are limited to one place at a
1071time so they are at a distinct disadvantage in this, too.
1072 The promise God gives us to claim and use is: The One who is in you is greater
1073than the one who is in the world. I John 4:4
1074PRAYER TO CLEANSE A ROOM OR HOME
1075Remove and destroy all objects of false worship, then pray this aloud in every room. Using your
1076finger to print small crosses of oil on the doors and walls is good to do. Also, leaving a light on
1077(against darkness) and/or music praising Jesus playing in the room is also good. Demons don‟t
1078like light or hearing Jesus praised.
1079“Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that You are the Lord of heaven and earth. In Your sovereign
1080power and love, You have entrusted us with this place to live and we thank You for it. I dedicate
1081this place to You for Your honor and glory. I pray this would be a place of spiritual, emotional
1082and physical safety and blessing for me and my family and ask for Your protection from all the
1083attacks of the enemy. As a child of God I command every evil spirit claiming ground in this
1084place to be gone. We put under the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ any access you may claim.
1085Any sin that has been committed here, any spirits invited here in any way and anything that may
1086have happened on this location we put under the blood of Jesus and we forbid you to take any
1087access to this place or do any work against us or anyone in this place.â€
1088
1089
1090
1091B. HISTORICAL ATTACK This attack comes through our or
1092our ancestors‟ sins. It is the same as leaving the front door open while building a secure
1093fortress.
1094
1095It may be because of our ANCESTOR‟S/PARENT‟S PAST
1096ACTIONS. When one person opens themselves up to demonic influence, that person‟s
1097descendants are also at risk of demonizing. When a demon has access to a person, he also
1098claims right to all that person has, including their children. The Bible says God "punishes the
1099children
1100
1101 23
1102 for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation" (Exodus 20:4-5; Deuteronomy 5:8-9;
1103Exodus 34:6-7). The Bible says that children are affected by their parents sins (Ezekiel 18;2)
1104and this is one of the ways. In fact, this is one of the most common reasons people are
1105demonized. This is especially true of first born males, for Satan seeks to claim them just as God
1106does (Exodus 34:20).
1107 Generational bondage is often discerned by the sin patterns that repeat from generation
1108to generation. It is not uncommon to observe generations of abuse, addiction, hatred,
1109superstition and fear, pride, control and manipulation, rejection, sexual sins and perversions,
1110aberrant religious beliefs, witchcraft, and rebellion etc.
1111 If you notice some of the same problems in your life as in your siblings, parents, aunts,
1112uncles, or grandparents it could very well be ancestral demonizing. The same demons have
1113access to those in the family and do the same work in various members (not all members, that
1114would be too obvious). They claim the blood line and use that as access. If you see some
1115patterns in the symptoms or characteristics of demonizing that were covered previously in
1116others in your family that could show ancestral access. That is why so often a boy who hates
1117his father for beating his mother grows up to beat his own wife, or a child of an alcoholic
1118becomes an alcoholic themselves.
1119 A very, very common pattern is for the first-born male to be affect first and most by
1120generational attacks. The first-born Jews were dedicated to God and so Satan tries to attack
1121and claim them first, too. Often it is the first-born male in a family that is attacked spiritually.
1122 Generational bondage can be broken by personally repenting of and confessing the sins
1123of past generations. Claim the blood of Christ as stronger than your blood line and put that
1124access under the blood of Jesus (Romans 5:15). Claim that you are a "new creation, old things
1125have passed away, all things have become new" (II Corinthians 5:17). Ask God to turn curses
1126into blessing (Deut. 23:5).
1127PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM GENERATIONAL BONDAGE
1128“Gracious Father over all, I acknowledge before you the sins of my parents and ancestors. I
1129know that they have sinned because all men and women are sinners. And so, I openly confess
1130the sins of my parents and ancestors. I know I cannot do what only they could have done in
1131attaining forgiveness of their sins, but I am sorry for their sins against you and I ask that you
1132cover their sins with the blood of Jesus and not hold their consequences against me or my
1133descendants. I claim the finished work of Jesus Christ, Who bore all my sin upon Himself. In
1134faith I accept that work on the basis of your holy Word. I reclaim any consent given to Satan‟s
1135forces by my parents‟ sin. Dear Jesus, please set me free from all evil influences coming from
1136my parents and ancestors in the name of Jesus. I know I am a new creation in Christ. Old
1137things have gone and all things have become new. I here and now reject and disown all the
1138sins of my ancestors. As one who has been delivered from the power of darkness and
1139translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, I cancel out all demonic working that has been
1140passed on to me from my ancestors. As one who has been crucified and raised with Christ and
1141who sits with him in heavenly places, I reject any and every way in which Satan may claim
1142ownership of me. I declare myself and my descendants to be eternally and completely signed
1143over and committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. I now command every evil spirit and every enemy
1144of the Lord Jesus Christ that is in or around me to flee my presence and never to return. I now
1145ask You, heavenly Father, to fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I submit my body as an instrument of
1146righteousness, a living sacrifice, that I may glorify You in my body. All this I do in the name &
1147authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."
1148
1149
1150 24
1151 The sin that opens the door for demonic attack doesn‟t have to be done by others, though. It
1152could be OUR OWN PAST ACTIONS. The lists of sins that are especially
1153prone to allowing demonic access are listed in this handbook on pages 20, 32-33. This refers
1154specifically to things that happened early in life, often in childhood, which gave demons access
1155to work against us. Present acts of sin will be considered separately.
1156 This can include occult, New Age, Ouija Board or other involvements in the past. Having
1157become a Mason, Shriner or member of any secret society, have had a traumatic experience,
1158rape, molestation or abuse experience, been involved in drugs, alcohol or immoral behavior,
1159having someone lay hands on you to pray and they had demonic issues themselves or having a
1160curse put on you or your family.
1161 God clearly states that SEXUAL UNION means two become one flesh, even if it is sex
1162with a prostitute (1 Corinthians 6:16). Therefore sexual activity with anyone before or outside
1163marriage can be a direct opening to demonization. Any demons that have access to the person
1164you are involved with will have immediate and instant access to you as well. It is like a spiritual
1165AIDS infection, but there is no prevention, no „safe sex‟ application. Those sexual involvements
1166of the past must be confessed and put under the blood of Jesus. Any access given to any
1167demons through them must be broken in Jesus name. Ask to be filled with His Presence
1168instead, and thank Him for His mercy!
1169 It may be someone has put a CURSE on you or your family by asking that something
1170bad happen to you. That is really a prayer that Satan really loves to answer! Parents can curse
1171their children by saying they wish they hadn‟t had them, they hate them, don‟t want them they
1172are no good and will never amount to anything, and so forth. Finally, we can curse ourselves
1173(Proverbs 6:2) by saying we hope we die, that we aren‟t good enough, that we‟ll never be happy
1174or any of many such things about ourselves.
1175 The area of curses is a less common but still a strong opening to demonic access. To
1176curse someone is to ask for evil to happen to them. Those requests (really prayers) are heard
1177by Satan and his forces and 'answered' when possible. This includes everything from occult
1178and witchcraft curses to one individual 'wishing' harm on another. Balaam was paid to curse
1179Israel, but God wouldn't allow it (Numbers 22 - 24). These curses, when in effect, can also be
1180passed on from generation to generation. The Bible says that speaking evil of someone is the
1181same as cursing them (Romans 12:14). Things like: "I hope you die..." "Since he/she won't
1182love me I wish they'd ....." "You're no good, you'll never amount to anything..." "I hope she gets
1183some of her own medicine..." "I hope your children do ..... to you when you grow up." You can
1184even curse yourself by what you say (Proverbs 6:2). Our words are powerful and important.
1185They aren't something to be taken lightly. Using profanity ("curse" words) also falls into this
1186category. When someone "damns" someone to "hell" that is an awful, awful thing to say!
1187Demons love to hear it, they use the power of the hate in the speaker and will latch onto any
1188authority or justification to do their evil!
1189 Balaam tried to curse the Jews (Dt 23:4). The Bible says we can curse others (Ps
1190109:17). Demons use this as an excuse to work against the person, as a „prayer‟ to gain
1191access. Old Testament men (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. Gen 27:23, 38) would bless or curse
1192their children (Genesis 48:20). Sometimes they even put a curse on them, as Abraham did with
1193Ishmael and Isaac cursed Esau. The Levites were used to pronounce blessings (Dt 10:8; 21:5).
1194When Naomi came back to Israel she said she was to be called „mara‟ because things had
1195turned „bitter‟ for her. A father is to bless his children by his words and send them into life with
1196his and God‟s blessing. What you have done is the opposite.
1197
1198 25
1199 If you feel this may have happened to you remember to "Bless them that curse you"
1200(Matthew 5:44). Treat the person with love and kindness, for when you return good for evil the
1201"undeserved curse does not come to rest" (Proverbs 6:2). Break that curse against you in
1202Jesus' name, claiming Galatians 3:10,13 which says "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the
1203law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'"
1204Ask God to turn the curse to a blessing (Deuteronomy 23:5).
1205 ADOPTED CHILDREN are quite often attacked because of openings in their past:
1206rejection, illegitimacy, rape (mother or them), abuse or many other things. There are often many
1207generational demons at work. Deliverance should be sought early for adopted children who
1208show signs of difficulties adjusting and adapting to their new family. Any child who has
1209experienced a traumatic experience when young can have demonic openings from it. A car or
1210other kind of accident or any situation that causes terror can be the reason.
1211So can abuse, rape, molestation or any form of rejection.
1212 In order to bring deliverance to adopted children first of all the bond with the natural
1213mother must be broken. It‟s like cutting an invisible spiritual umbilical cord. Pray to break any
1214claim by sprits of abandonment, resentment, anger, lust, low self-esteem, self-centeredness,
1215jealousy, rejection, self-rejection, etc., and pray for them to be free from any generational spirits
1216who would be claiming them. Pray against any family curses, spirits of occultism or anything
1217that had access to the family through the ancestors. For more information about children and
1218deliverance see pages 57-58, 60.
1219 REJECTION If, before birth, one or both of the parents reject the pregnancy and the baby
1220is unwanted, demons can step in and claim the baby. Also, if there is a difficult birth or the
1221parents are disappointed because of the sex or a physical feature (or handicap) of the baby then
1222demons can claim it. Sometimes even extreme sibling rejection can cause this. Rejection can
1223come later too, especially if a baby cries a lot or causes problems for the parents, or if it
1224interferes in their life or career.
1225 If you felt rejection in your childhood, what can you now do about it? First, make a free
1226will decision to forgive the person/parent. In Jesus' name break anything they said/felt against
1227you (as with curses above). Freely accept God's love to fill and heal you. In Jesus name forbid
1228any demons of rejection to do any work against you. From then on take every thought captive
1229(II Corinthians 10:4-5) and don't let negative thoughts about your past rejection dominate
1230(Philippians 4:8). Claim your new relationship to God (II Corinthians 5:17).
1231 ABUSE This includes any form of incest or physical abuse (physical or emotional). As
1232seen before, sexual union gives demons access (I Corinthians 6:16). The trauma of abuse
1233creates openings that demons often use in the child's life from then on.
1234 REBELLION Rebellion is often seen as "natural," but can be as much an invitation for
1235demonizing as direct occult involvement (I Samuel 15:23 says so!). There is a difference
1236between normal "trying to find one's self" and real rebellion. In Israel older children who rebelled
1237were stoned to death. How can we tell normal rebellion from abnormal?
1238 It is normal for a child to want his curfew extended to that of his friends but abnormal to
1239ignore their curfew and sometimes stay out all night. It is normal for a child to exhibit mood
1240swings (without violence of destruction) but abnormal when they become more and more
1241irrational and violent. Showing less interest in family activities as they grow older is normal for
1242children, but becoming so withdrawn they only use the home for a bed and breakfast is
1243abnormal. Showing some impatience with rules and restrictions is normal, but purposefully
1244disobeying and speaking disrespectfully are not. A gradual change in interests and friends as a
1245child grows in normal, but suddenly dropping all former interests and activities is not. It is
1246 26
1247 normal that a child will not confide in a parent as much as they used to as they mature, but
1248abnormal for them to be sneaky and secretive, even dishonest and manipulative. Children may
1249want to stretch the dress code you lay down, but it is abnormal to purposely dress in a way that
1250will shock and offend you. The Bible says this abnormal rebellion will grow in the last days (II
1251Timothy 3:1-5) and it certainly has been.
1252 If you sense this in your child please pray specifically and regularly for them. Confront
1253them in love. Reestablish the relationship so grounds of communication can be opened.
1254Counseling can be helpful, too. Try to distinguish between their attitude and their action.
1255Sometimes one must be addressed first, other times the other. Ask God for wisdom (James 1).
1256 SOUL TIES in our past can be another opening for demons. Just like they can
1257transfer from one person to another through a physical union like sex, so they can transfer
1258through an emotional union as well. Souls can bond as well as bodies. When one gives their
1259trust, their heart to another a bonding is formed. Bonds between mates, parents and children,
1260godly friends, etc., are good and necessary. But when we bond with someone who is
1261demonized then those demons can use that as access to the other person. Souls become
1262bonded, or tied together. If you have any of these in your past that you feel may not have been
1263godly and healthy, confess them as sin and break the bond in Jesus‟ name.
1264
1265PRAYER TO BREAK UNGODLY SOUL TIES
1266In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I ask God to break all ungodly spirit, soul Formatted: Space After: 6 pt, Border: Box:
1267 (Single solid line, Auto, 0.5 pt Line width)
1268and body ties that have been established between me and (name person). I sever that linking
1269supernaturally and ask God to remove from you all influence of the other person (name them)
1270and draw back to myself every part that has been wrongfully tied in bondage to another person.
1271I now speak directly to every evil spirit that has taken advantage of this ungodly soul tie. You no
1272longer have any rights here and I order you to leave now without hurting or harming me or any
1273other person and without going into any other member of the family. In Jesus‟ name. Amen
1274
1275
1276BREAKING ACCESS GIVEN IN CHILDHOOD
1277FROM YOUR OWN CHILDHOOD Confess (admit) what happened as sin and put it under the blood
1278of Jesus (I John 1:9). Even if it isn't your sin, you must label what happened as sin and break its power
1279over you by Jesus' blood. Forgive anyone that has been influential or guilty in any of these areas. In
1280Jesus' name take back any access demons can try to use. Ask to be filled by the Holy Spirit and healed
1281from the results of any of these. Claim II Corinthians 5:17, that you are now a new creation in Jesus and
1282all those old things are gone and passed away.
1283IN YOUR OWN CHILDREN Confess the sin and especially your part in it, putting it under the blood of
1284Jesus (I John 1:9). Forgive anyone involved (others or yourself). In Jesus' name take back any access
1285demons can try to use from it. Ask to be filled by the Holy Spirit and healed from the results of any of
1286these. Pray for them regularly and specifically. Claim II Corinthians 5:17 for them if they are believers
1287(they are a new creation and all these things in the past are gone). If they aren't a believer pray for their
1288salvation.
1289God‟s promise to us in this area is: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, He is a new
1290creation; the old has gone, the new has come! II Corinthians 5:17
1291
1292
1293
1294
1295 27
1296 C. RELATIONAL ATTACK One of the most common
1297reasons for our attacks is because of our commitment to Jesus. The fort is attacked just
1298because it is there and represents a threat to those who don‟t want it there.
1299 We don‟t have to have done anything – just our stand with Jesus will draw attacks for
1300Satan is committed to opposing God‟s kingdom in any and every way he can. Satan can‟t
1301attack Jesus directly so he takes his hate and anger out on God‟s children. That‟s why the Jews
1302have experienced such persecution through the years. While we were in Satan‟s army, or even
1303when we were neutral and ineffective for God, demons didn‟t need to waste time and effort on
1304us. But when we become committed to serving Jesus and building His Kingdom we find we
1305have spiritual enemies sworn to do anything they can to destroy us. Sometimes these attacks
1306are direct, other times they take an indirect approach. Our marriage, finances, children or health
1307may be attacked to discourage us and cause us to cease to actively participate in the cause of
1308Christ. These attacks can also take the form of opposition from others. There may be a person
1309who does what he can to make life difficult for you. This is why Satan attacked Job – because
1310he was effective in his faith and Satan wanted to stop that. That seems to be the cause of
1311Paul‟s demonic „thorn in the flesh‟ attack as well (2 Corinthians 12).
1312 How can we tell what is a normal problem of the flesh or life in a fallen world from what is
1313an attack of the enemy? If it brings a long, ongoing battle, and especially if you are having
1314trouble having victory over it, you should seek for deeper causes. Or if it is a very new, very
1315sudden attack that threatens to overwhelm and defeat you. If it is something large that comes
1316from nowhere, like a gigantic wave that threatens to wash you away. Then suspect spiritual
1317causes as well.
1318 Pray for a hedge of protection around yourself, your property and your family, as Job did
1319(Job 1:45, 10-11). Turn to God‟s Word for guidance:
1320 God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, then, to God.
1321Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.
1322James 4:6-8
1323 All things work together for the good of those who love God. Rom 8:28
1324 There is no testing taken you but such as is common to man. God will not allow you to
1325be tested beyond what you can bear, but with the testing will make a way of escape so you can
1326bear it. I Cor 10:13
1327
1328
1329
1330D. SPIRITUAL ATTACK The major cause for most of our
1331battles, especially if we are struggling with sins that defeat us. These are like having cracks and
1332rotten spaces in our defense. They are a sure invitation for attack and defeat.
1333 For children such sins as self-centeredness, pride, rebellion, anger and unforgiveness
1334are especially damaging in this area. Rebellion (1 Samuel 15:23), immorality, substance abuse,
1335pride and self rejection are sins teens commit which open them to the enemy. For adults any
1336ongoing sin patter, pride, greed, anger, lust, etc., can be an opening for demonic attack. The
1337lists of sins that are especially prone to allowing demonic access are listed in this handbook on
1338page 20, 32-33. Demons love to piggy-back on human sins, so watch out! Demons are like rats
1339attracted to garbage. To get rid of the rats you must get rid of the garbage. For us that would
1340be sin.
1341
1342 28
1343 Ask God to show you any sin in your life so that you can effectively deal with it. Ps
1344139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious
1345thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way
1346everlasting.
1347 Sin must be confessed (I John 1:9). That means to see the sin as God sees it. It
1348includes thoughts, actions, motives and sins of omission. Fasting can be a way of showing
1349humility and seeking victory over sin (Ps 169:10 Dt 8:2-3, 11-14; Isa 58:3). For more
1350information on fasting see page 56-57.
1351
1352
1353REMEMBER, GOD PROMISES VICTORY!
1354"Thanks be to God, He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." I Cor.
135515:57
1356"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ." II
1357Cor. 2:14
1358"Who is He that overcomes the world? Only he who believes Jesus Christ is the
1359Son of God." I John 5:5
1360 So let‟s define sin. Sin is anything we do, anything we think or anything we feel that is
1361not what Jesus would do, think or feel. It is anything we could do, think or feel that is right and
1362He wants us to do but we don‟t do, think or feel it. Or it could be something good we do, think or
1363feel but do, think or feel it motivated by our own selfish reasons. Sin is more motive than action.
1364PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS FOR SIN AND DELIVERANCE
1365"Dear heavenly Father, You have told us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision
1366for the flesh in regard to its lusts (Romans 13:14). I acknowledge that I have given in to fleshly
1367lusts which wage war against my soul (I Peter 2:11). I thank You that in Christ my sins are
1368forgiven, but I have transgressed Your holy law and given the enemy an opportunity to wage
1369war in my members (Ephesians 4:27; James 4:1; I Peter 5:8). I come before Your presence to
1370acknowledge these sins and to seek Your cleansing (I John 1:9) that I may be freed from the
1371bondage of sin (Galatians 5:1). I now ask You to reveal to my mind the ways that I have
1372transgressed Your moral law and grieved the Holy Spirit. ... (Then confess each sin that comes
1373to mind one by one.) I now confess these sins to You and claim through the blood of the Lord
1374Jesus Christ my forgiveness and cleansing. I cancel all ground that evil spirits have gained
1375through my willful involvement in sin. I ask this in the wonderful name of my Lord and Savior
1376Jesus Christ. Amen."
1377 Let‟s look a little more specifically at some of the sin areas that are especially related to
1378demonizing, either by cause or by effect.
1379
1380
1381ANGER BASED SINS
1382 One of the leading causes of demonizing is unconfessed anger. Anger includes any form
1383of unforgiveness, bitterness, hate, jealousy, gossip, criticism, etc. Paul says these can "give
1384the devil a foothold" (Ephesians 4:26-27). He tells the Corinthians that if they don't forgive each
1385other Satan will use that to "outwit" them (II Corinthians 2:10-11). Jesus Himself said that those
1386who don't forgive others will be turned over to tormenting demons to bring them to repentance
1387
1388 29
1389 (Matthew 18:34). This anger includes anger toward others, parents self, or God. There can be
1390no removing demons using this access until all anger is truly confessed and put under the blood
1391of Jesus. This is one of the first things that usually comes up when we counsel people and pray
1392for their deliverance. Do NOT take this lightly!
1393PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS OF ANGER & UNFORGIVENESS
1394"Dear heavenly Father, I thank You for the riches of Your kindness, forbearance, and patience,
1395knowing that Your kindness has led me to repentance (Romans 2:4). I confess that I have not
1396extended that same patience and kindness toward others who have offended me, but instead I
1397have harbored bitterness and resentment. I pray that during this time of self-examination You
1398would bring to mind only those people that I have not forgiven in order that I may do so
1399(Matthew 18:35). I also pray that if I have offended others you would bring to mind only those
1400people from whom I need to seek forgiveness and the extent to which I need to seek it (Matthew
14015:23-24). I ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
1402PRAYER TO FORGIVE OTHERS
1403Thank You, Jesus, for dying that I might be forgiven. By an act of my will I now choose to
1404express the desire of my heart and forgive those who have hurt me. (name the people) I
1405release each and every one of these people into the freedom of my forgiveness. In Jesus‟
1406name. Amen
1407
1408
1409
1410IDOLATRY BASED SINS
1411 Sins which specifically put something or someone before God also give openings to
1412demons. Putting anything before God is idolatry, and is forbidden by God (Exodus 20:3,4,23;
141323:24). These sins include greed, envy, jealousy, materialism, or putting anything (career,
1414possessions, etc.) or anyone (mate, child, parent, self, etc.) before God. Demons receive the
1415worship we give anything other than God (Zechariah 10:2; I Corinthians 10:19-21). Ananias and
1416Saphira were guilty of this (Acts 5:3). Spiritual adultery is something God hates (Jeremiah 3:8-
141710; Ezekiel 16:23-43; 23:24-30; Revelation 17:1-5). This starts in the mind (Judges 2:10-13;
1418Ezekiel 14:7).
1419PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS FROM IDOLATRY BASED SINS
1420"Dear heavenly Father, You have said the pride goes before destruction and an arrogant spirit
1421before stumbling (Proverbs 16:18). I confess that I have not denied myself, picked up my cross
1422daily, and followed You (Matthew 16:24). In so doing I have given ground to the enemy in my
1423life. I have believed that I could be successful and live victoriously by my own strength and
1424resources. I now confess that I have sinned against You by placing my will before Yours and by
1425centering my life around self instead of You. I now renounce the self life and by so doing cancel
1426all the ground that has been gained in my members by the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ. I
1427pray that You will guide me so that I will do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but that
1428with humility of mind I will regard others as more important than myself (Philippians 2:3). Enable
1429me through love to serve others and in honor prefer others (Romans 12:10). I ask this in the
1430name of Christ Jesus my Lord. Amen. "
1431
1432
1433
1434
1435 30
1436 IMMORALITY BASED SINS
1437 God created sex to show the great oneness of believers and Christ (Ephesians 5).
1438Therefore Satan tries hard to pervert and destroy this model. Any sex outside marriage is sinful
1439(Ephesians 5:3, 5-6). This includes thoughts (Matthew 5:27-30).
1440 Sexual sin has an element that other sins don't have. When you unite yourself with
1441another person that also opens you to being demonized by any demons that are demonizing the
1442person you are united to. This is true even if it is simply sexual lust with a prostitute (I
1443Corinthians 6:16). Sex creates a special union, a spiritual oneness, an opening of total sharing
1444between two people. Often demons will claim this as access from one person to another. It is
1445like a spiritual AIDS disease, but much more contagious and with far worse consequences.
1446 It is important for each believer to confess all their past immorality and put it under the
1447blood of Jesus, as well as taking back any access given to Satan's forces by that act. Ask God
1448to heal and cleanse you spiritually. Of course a good spiritual life (connecting with God in
1449devotions each morning, reading your Bible, etc.) is a must.
1450 When a person first gets tempted, when the first thought pops into their mind, they must
1451get victory over the thought and not allow it to stay and grow. Victory only happens by quoting
1452scripture. Jesus had victory over Satan by quoting scripture and that is our sword of the Spirit.
1453Her are some passages you can use. Start quoting or reading them when tempted and don‟t
1454stop until well beyond the temptation†2 Corinthians 5:17; Psalm 51:10-12; Romans 12:1;
1455James 4:6-8; I John 4:4; Philippians 4:19; Matthew 16:23; Psalm 139:23-24; 2 Corinthians 5:17;
14562 Corinthians 12:9-10; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Job 31:1; Matthew 5:27-28. These verses can be your
1457sword for victory. Make sure you have an accountability partner who will check on you and be
1458there for you as well!
1459
1460
1461PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS FROM SEXUAL SINS
1462Father, I confess that at various times in my life I have been powerless against the continuing Formatted: Space After: 6 pt, Border: Top:
1463 (Single solid line, Auto, 0.5 pt Line width),
1464attacks of the enemy on my sexuality. I have chosen to sin in various ways and ask You to Bottom: (Single solid line, Auto, 0.5 pt Line
1465forgive me for the following: _____________ (specifically confess each and every sin). I now width), Left: (Single solid line, Auto, 0.5 pt Line
1466agree with Your verdict on my sin. I renounce all pleasure associated with these sins. I ask width, From text: 1 pt Border spacing: ), Right:
1467 (Single solid line, Auto, 0.5 pt Line width, From
1468You t cleanse my memories, heal the hurts and forgive me. In Jesus‟ name. Amen text: 1 pt Border spacing: )
1469
1470
1471
1472ANOTHER PRAYER FOR SEXUAL SIN
1473Loving Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of human sexuality and the high and holy
1474purpose for which you created it. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the power of His
1475blood, I resist all strongholds of sexual pervertedness assigned to manipulate and rule over
1476_____________ . I specifically resist demons and strongholds of ___________________
1477(name the areas of sexuality where they are being defeated), I command all of Satan‟s forces to
1478cease all activity and leave ____________________ and go to where the Lord Jesus Christ
1479sends them. In Jesus‟ name I pray. Amen.
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484 31
1485 WRONG SELF IMAGE BASED SINS
1486 While there is often too much focus on self today under the guise of "developing a good
1487self image," it is true we are to accept ourselves as God made us (Psalm 139). We are to
1488accept ourselves as we accept others (Luke 10:27) - accepting both strengths and weaknesses
1489without over-emphasizing one or the other. Overemphasizing our strengths is pride, and that is
1490the sin that caused Satan's downfall. He tries to use it today as much as possible. The other
1491extreme (under-emphasizing our strengths) is to dislike or not accept ourselves as God made
1492us. Self-love and self-hate are both from pride. Both focus on self and are preoccupation with
1493self. In one we see ourselves as better than others in the other you see yourself as worse.
1494Both are definite cracks to demonizing, sins which must be confessed.
1495 King Saul is a fine example of someone with a poor self image, someone who was
1496insecure and thought he was inferior to others (I Samuel 10:22). This was a crack that opened
1497him to demonizing (I Samuel 16:14, 23).
1498 Its as important to forgive yourself as it is to forgive others! Satan tries to bring up past
1499sins to have us feel defeated, unworthy, etc. Don't let this tactic work! The next time the devil
1500reminds you of your past, remind him of his future.
1501
1502
1503
1504
1505LIST OF COMMON SINS
1506The following sins are examples of those which can allow Satan and his demons to have access
1507to "demonize" you. If you are now doing these you must confess them and take back any
1508access you gave Satan through them. If you no longer do them, still make sure they are
1509confessed and then renounce them. If a close relative does or has done them seek God's
1510guidance as to if Satan has used that to attack you through the relative. This list is not
1511complete, but will give you an idea of things:
1512
1513 When these are confessed and renounced, claim back for God the ground that Satan
1514may have claimed for his through these sins. Then make sure you ask and invite God's Holy
1515Spirit to fill those areas. If they aren't replaced with the Holy Spirit, Satan will re-enter in
1516stronger fashion (Mt. 12:43-45; Lk. 11:24-26). If there is a particular fruit of the Holy Spirit (love,
1517joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, Gal. 5:22-
151823), that you need to counteract what you have confessed, ask God for His Spirit to produce
1519that in you., Be specific when you pray.
1520
1521
1522
1523
1524 32
1525 SEXUAL SINS Towards others (name):
1526 Fornication Bitterness
1527 Adultery Hatred
1528 Pornography Revenge
1529 Bestiality Unforgiveness
1530 Incest
1531 ENVY
1532 Lust (fantasies)
1533 Covetousness
1534 Masturbation
1535 Jealousy
1536 Homosexuality
1537 Rebellion - towards authority
1538 Rape
1539 Exhibitionism PRIDE
1540 Self-centeredness
1541DRUGS
1542 Poor self-image
1543 Illegal (name the drug):
1544 Self-sufficiency
1545 Legal (name the drug):
1546 Alcohol LIES
1547 Nicotine Believing Satan's lies
1548 Lack of honesty
1549IDOLATRY
1550 Deceitfulness
1551 Eastern religions (name):
1552 Meditation - Chanting, Mantras, STEALING
1553 Invocations Gambling
1554 Cults (name them): CURSING
1555 Catholicism Blasphemy
1556 Secret Orders (name ): Slander
1557 Material things (name): Gossip
1558 People (name ):
1559 VIOLENT ACTS
1560OCCULT PRACTICES Attempted suicide
1561 Astrology Abortion
1562 Fortune telling Rape
1563 Ouija Board Fighting
1564 ESP Beating others up
1565 Séances Planning how to harm others
1566 Hypnotism
1567 Pow Wows UNSCRIPTURAL SEEKING OF GIFTS
1568 Witchcraft Tongues (seeking, laying on hands)
1569 Mind Control Visions
1570 Psychic healing Healing (seeking ability to heal all)
1571 Dungeons and Dragons Other (name):
1572 Other (name): SATANISM
1573FEAR Bargain with Satan
1574 Worry Worship of Satan
1575 Anxiety MUSIC
1576 Depression Occultist
1577 Hopelessness Satanic
1578UNBELIEF NonChristian Hard Rock music
1579 Doubts SPELLS & CURSES
1580 Lack of trust Anything else you feel guilty of
1581ANGER (Name):
1582 Towards God Anything else that came to mind as
1583 Towards Self you went through this list:
1584 Towards Parents
1585
1586
1587
1588 33
1589 PATCHING THE CRACKS
1590 The only cure for sin is the blood of Jesus. Any sin you recognize in your life must be
1591confessed (admit it is sin - I John 1:9 ). There is no other way of deliverance from demonizing
1592caused by sin. Demons are like rats that feed on garbage. Remove the garbage and the rats
1593will be gone!
1594 Prayerfully and carefully read the Scriptures listed below and meditate on the questions
1595about each verse (Psalm 139:23-24). Every time God's Spirit pricks your heart pray and
1596admit/confess your sin. Put it under the blood of Jesus, and take back any access this sin has
1597given to Satan's forces.
1598
1599CONFESSION OF SIN
1600 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; and see if there is any
1601 wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24
16021. MATTHEW 6:12,14
1603Is there anyone against whom you hold a grudge?
1604Is there anyone you hate? Is there anyone you do not love?
1605Are there any misunderstandings you are unwilling to forget?
1606Is there any person against whom you are harboring bitterness, resentment, or jealousy?
1607Is there anyone you dislike to hear praised or spoken well of?
1608Do you justify a wrong attitude toward another?
16092. MATTHEW 6:33
1610Is there anything in which you have failed to put God first?
1611Have your decisions been made after your own wisdom and desires instead of by seeking and following
1612God's will?
1613Do any of the following in any way interfere with your surrender and service to God: ambition,
1614 pleasures, loved ones, friendships, desire for recognition, money, plans?
16153. MARK 16:15
1616Have you failed to seek the lost for Christ?
1617Have you failed to witness consistently with your mouth for the Lord Jesus Christ?
16184. JOHN 13:35
1619Are you secretly pleased over the misfortunes of another?
1620Are you secretly annoyed over the accomplishments or advancements of another?
1621Are you guilty of any contention, division or strife? Do you quarrel or argue?
1622Are there people whom you deliberately slight?
16235. ACTS 20:35
1624Have you robbed God by withholding His due of time, talents, or treasure?
1625Have you given less than He wants you to give to God's work?
1626Have you failed to support mission work in prayer or offerings?
16276. I CORINTHIANS 4:2
1628Are you undependable so that you cannot be trusted with responsibilities in God's work?
1629Are you allowing your emotions to be stirred for things of the Lord but not following through?
16307. I CORINTHIANS 6:19-20
1631Are you in any way careless with your body?
1632Do you fail to care for it as the temple of the Holy Spirit?
1633Are you guilty of intemperance in eating or drinking?
1634Do you have any habits which are defiling to the body?
16358. I CORINTHIANS 10:31
1636Do you take the slightest credit for anything good about you, rather than giving all the glory to God?
1637Do you talk of what you have done rather than of what Christ has done?
1638 34
1639 Are your statements mostly about "I"?
1640Are your feelings easily hurt?
1641Have you made a pretense of being something that you aren't?
16429. EPHESIANS 3:20
1643Are you self-conscious rather than Christ-conscious?
1644Do you allow feelings of inferiority to keep you from attempting things you should do in serving God?
164510. EPHESIANS 4:28
1646Do you do little in your work?
1647Have you been careless in the payment of debts?
1648Do you waste time? Do you waste other people's time?
164911. EPHESIANS 4:32
1650Do you complain?
1651Do you find fault with others?
1652Do you have a critical attitude toward any person or things?
1653Are you irritable or cranky?
1654Do you get angry? Do you become impatient with others? Are you ever unkind or harsh?
165512. EPHESIANS 5:16
1656Do you listen to unedifying radio or TV programs?
1657Do you read unworthy material?
1658Do you find it necessary to seek satisfaction form any questionable source?
1659Are you doing certain things that show you are not satisfied in the Lord Jesus Christ?
166013. EPHESIANS 5:20
1661Have you neglected to thank Him for all things, the seemingly bad as well as the good?
1662Have you virtually called God a liar by doubting His Word?
1663Do you worry?
1664Is your spiritual temperature based on your feelings instead of on the facts of God's Word?
166514. PHILIPPIANS 1:21
1666Are you taken up with the cares of this life?
1667Is your conversation or heart joy over things rather than the Lord and His work?
1668Does anything mean more to you than living for & pleasing God?
166915. PHILIPPIANS 2:14
1670Do you ever, by word or deed, seek to hurt someone?
1671Do you gossip?
1672Do you speak unkindly concerning people not present?
1673Do you carry prejudice against true Christians because they are of a different group or church?
1674Do you think less of people who do not see everything exactly like you?
167516. PHILIPPIANS 4:4
1676Have you neglected to seek to be pleasing to Him in all things?
1677Do you carry any bitterness toward God?
1678Have you complained against God in any way?
1679Have you been dissatisfied with His provision for you?
1680Is there in your heart any unwillingness to obey God fully?
1681Do you have reservations as to what you would or wouldn't do about anything that might be His will?
1682Have you disobeyed some direct leading from God?
168317. COLOSSIANS 3:9
1684Do you engage in empty and unprofitable conversation?
1685Do you ever lie? Do you ever exaggerate?
1686Do you ever cheat? Do you ever steal?
168718. II TIMOTHY 2:22
1688Do you have any personal habits that are not pure?
1689
1690 35
1691 Do you allow impure thoughts to stay in your mind?
1692Do you read that which is impure or suggest unholy things?
169319. HEBREWS 10:25
1694Do you think about other things while God's Word is taught?
1695Are you as faithful in your attendance as God wants you to be?
1696Have you neglected or slighted daily private times of worship?
1697Does your family have regular family worship together?
1698Are you neglecting studying the Bible as you should?
169920. HEBREWS 13:17
1700Do you hesitate to submit to leaders in the church ?
1701Are you lazy?
1702Do you in any way have a stubborn or unteachable spirit?
170321. JAMES 1:27
1704Is your manner of dress pleasing to God?
1705Do you spend beyond what is pleasing to God on anything?
1706Do you neglect to pray about things that you buy?
170722. JAMES 4:6
1708Do you feel that you are doing quite well as a Christian?
1709Do you feel that you are not so bad as others?
1710Do you feel you are good enough for God?
1711Are you stubborn? Do you insist on having your own way? Do you insist on your "rights"?
171223. JAMES 4:11
1713Have you dishonored Him and hindered His work by criticizing God's servants?
1714Have you failed to pray regularly for your pastor and leaders?
1715Do you find it hard to be corrected?
1716
1717 RECOVERY FROM SIN
1718Psalm 51 (David's confession after his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah) is a model for recovery from sin.
1719 1. Admit the failure to yourself (v. 3), don't blame others or make excuses.
1720 2. Admit the failure to God (v. 4). Recognize sin is basically against God.
1721 3. Claim God's faithfulness and forgiveness (v. 1).
1722 4. Come to terms with your sinful humanity (v. 5). Face up to and admit your sinful nature.
1723 5. Ask God to put your together again (v. 10). Take hold of God's pleasure in restoring sinners.
1724 6. Turn to the task at hand (v. 13). Get on with life. Accept God's forgiveness, forgive yourself.
1725
1726PRAYER FOR RECOVERY FROM SIN
1727"Dear heavenly Father, You have told us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision
1728for the flesh in regard to its lusts (Romans 13:14). I acknowledge that I have given in to fleshly
1729lusts which wage war against my soul (I Peter 2:11). I thank You that in Christ my sins are
1730forgiven, but I have transgressed Your holy law and given the enemy an opportunity to wage
1731war in my members (Ephesians 4:27; James 4:1; I Peter 5:8). I come before Your presence to
1732acknowledge these sins and to seek Your cleansing (I John 1:9) that I may be freed from the
1733bondage of sin (Galatians 5:1). I now ask You to reveal to my mind the ways that I have
1734transgressed Your moral law and grieved the Holy Spirit. ... (Then confess each sin that comes
1735to mind one by one.) I now confess these sins to You and claim through the blood of the Lord
1736Jesus Christ my forgiveness and cleansing. I cancel all ground that evil spirits have gained
1737through my willful involvement in sin. I ask this in the wonderful name of my Lord and Savior
1738Jesus Christ. Amen."
1739
1740
1741
1742 36
1743 WHO MAY BE DEMONIZED?
1744Those who experience any of the following may be demonized:
17451. If you were conceived in fornication or adultery.
17462. If you were not wanted at the moment of conception or while your mother was pregnant.
17473. If your mother had a difficult pregnancy.
17484. If your mother had a long or hard delivery.
17495. If your mother was depressed a lot throughout her pregnancy with you.
17506. If your mother died giving birth to you or if your father or mother died in your first few years.
17517. If you severely lacked oxygen or were delivered with forceps on the head.
17528. If your parents separated or divorced before you were an adult.
17539. If you have some childhood handicap or infirmity.
175410. If you are an orphan or your father and mother left you.
175511. If you were treated cruelly or were molested, raped or fondled.
175612. If you have a very painful memory.
175713. If you wish that you had never been born.
175814. If you wish that you were dead.
175915. If there is a history of sickness in your blood line, such as cancer, diabetes, learning
1760 disability or mental illness.
176116. If you have been cursed or have curses in your blood-line.
176217. If you have an uncontrollable habit and your have tried prayers, fasting and a firm effort of
1763 your will but with little success.
176418. If you have a persistent or uncontrollable fear of any kind.
176519. If you have strong rejection, depression, loneliness, despair, hopelessness, thoughts of
1766 suicide, etc.
176720. If you have a constant desire to be held.
176821. If you don't want to be touched.
176922. If you're obsessed with sexual desire or are abnormally frigid.
177023. If you dislike the opposite sex or your own sex.
177124. If you have guilt or condemnation for another person or yourself.
177225. If you find it very difficult to forgive a certain person.
177326. If you have resentment against God, for example, blaming Him : "God, why did you let this
1774 happen?"
177527. If you lived in a war zone or were in combat.
177628. If someone very close to you died, especially a sudden, tragic death.
177729. If you saw someone killed or murdered, watched an accident occur, or were in an accident.
177830. If you are constantly angry, or shy, or embarrassed, or timid.
177931. If you are afraid of demons or of deliverance.
178032. If you are a homosexual, lesbian, transsexual or transvestite, etc., have been one, or are
1781 tempted to be one.
178233. If you are or have been engaged in an adulterous relationship.
178334. If you or your family were ever involved with the occult: Satan worship, playing with a Ouija
1784 board, tarot cards, witchcraft, mind control, séances, out of body experiences, spirit
1785 guides, astrology, etc.
178635. If you ever had an abortion or were a party to one.
178736. If you were ever in any religious or para-religious cult or false religion.
178837. If you have watched movies or TV which opened you to fears, lust or the occult.
178938. If you compulsively indulge in fleshly sins that you detest but cannot live in freedom from
1790 sexual sins, lying, desire to curse God, alcoholism or drug addiction, smoking, desire to
1791
1792 37
1793 tear up Bibles, intense overwhelming anger or rage, rock music, desire to commit
1794 suicide.
179539. If you are unable to progress beyond a certain point of spirituality, have trouble reading
1796 your Bible, or often fall asleep during spiritual meetings or events.
179740. If your life has been much worse since becoming a Christian.
179841. If you resist or have constant distractions while trying to read the Word or pray, even when
1799 there is a desire to do so, of if Scripture seems to always condemn you as you read it.
180042. If you ever feel the presence of evil around you.
180143. If you sometimes feel there is some force of power controlling you from within, or if you
1802 sometimes feel you are a different (strange) person.
180344. If you ever hear voices speaking to your mind.
180445. If you have repeated unwanted thoughts you don't seem able to get rid of permanently.
180546. If you have ever observed yourself from some vantage point somewhere outside your own
1806 body (an out-of-body experience).
180747. If someone has ever laid hands on you or prayed for you to receive a certain spiritual gift.
180848. If you have recurring dreams or nightmares that are of a horrible nature, or if you have
1809 clairvoyant dreams.
181049. If you have a compulsive desire to curse the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, or the Holy
1811 Spirit.
181250. If you have compulsive murderous or suicidal thoughts or sudden surges of violent rage,
1813 uncontrollable anger, or seething feelings of hostility.
181451. If you have deep feeling of bitterness and hatred toward a person or group of people for no
1815 logical reason (Jews, church, strong Christian leaders).
181652. If you experience compulsive temptations which week to force you to thoughts or behavior
1817 which you truly do not want to think or do.
181853. If you have compulsive desires to tear other people down even if it means lying to do so, or
1819 if you speak with a vicious cutting tongue.
182054. If you experience overwhelming feelings of guilt and worthlessness, even after honestly
1821 confessing your sin and failure to the Lord.
182255. If certain physical symptoms suddenly appear and pass quickly for which there can be
1823 found no medical reason (choking sensations, unexpected pains which seem to move
1824 around, feelings of tightness about the head or eyes, dizziness, blackouts, fainting
1825 spells, ringing in the ears, etc.
182656. If you are frequently in deep depression and despondency.
182757. If you have terrifying seizures of panic or abnormal fears.
182858. If you have persistent doubt of your salvation even though you once knew the joy of your
1829 salvation.
183059. If you get thoughts like "Grab that knife and kill that person/yourself," " Jump over the edge"
1831 (when up high), etc.
1832 These will be covered in more detail in coming pages. We'll group these openings into
1833five main areas: 1) sin in life, 2)ancestral access, 3) curses, 4) childhood experiences and 5)
1834occult & new age involvement. First, sin in life.
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839 38
1840 OCCULT & NEW AGE
1841 On the banks of the Amazon River live a species of large, colorful spiders. When they
1842spread themselves out they look exactly like the blossoms of a brilliant flower. When bees and
1843insects land on one to find pollen they find instead a spider that poisons and kills them. Satan
1844does the same thing with the occult and New Age movement today.
1845
1846 OCCULT IN GENERAL
1847 Many, many Bible verses clearly forbid God's people to get involved in any occult activity.
1848The power behind the occult is always demonic (Acts 8:9-24; 16:16-18). While sins of the flesh
1849give opening to Satan's forces, involvement in the occult gives MUCH more access. It is direct
1850involvement with demons, and voluntarily asking them to work in your life. Deuteronomy 18:9-
185113 gives a list of some of the main occult activities which are forbidden.
1852
18539. When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the
1854detestable ways of the nations there. 10. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his
1855son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination, or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in
1856witchcraft, 11. or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12.
1857Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable
1858practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. 13. You must be
1859blameless before the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 18:9-13
1860sacrifice son or daughter in the fire Worship of Molech (includes worship of stars, sorcery, divination,
1861etc.) Manesseh did this (II Kings 2:1-17)
1862divination kosem kesamim Foretell future or discover hidden knowledge by supernatural powers.
1863Ezekiel 21:21 used arrows (picked one with label that they likes), or livers (color and configuration).
1864sorcery meonen Predict future based on planets, etc. Drugs usually part of this (pharmakeia - Greek
1865Gal 5:20) This is referred to in Acts 8:9-24
1866omens menachesh Inspect entrails of beasts, flight of birds, especially they used snakes back then. To
1867find hidden, secret info, knowledge
1868witchcraft mechashsheph Literally to reveal truth, uncover mysteries, usually by magic or witchcraft
1869(drugs, herbs, perfumes to call demons, etc.). The Jews learned it in Egypt & from pagans. It is
1870associated with idolatry (turn from God) and is strongly forbidden (II Kings 9:22; II Chronicles 33:6;
1871Micah 5:12; Nahum 3:4). God gave the death penalty for doing this (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27)
1872cast spells chober chaber A charmer, hypnotism, spells, curses
1873medium shoel ob 'engastromuthoi' or 'ventriloquist' - demon speaking through man (Isaiah 8:19,
1874Leviticus 19:31; 20:27). This is the same as Phythona spirit in Acts 16:16,18. This is the name of the
1875dragon/snake Apollo killed at Delphi who guarded the priestess there and gave her oracles. Thus this
1876Apollo spirit became the one by which the god spoke to the person who had it, enabling them to
1877pronounce oracles. This can be misinterpreted as 'speaking in tongues'.
1878spiritist yiddeoni A wizard (male witch) who would contact demons trying to get information God
1879doesn't give out
1880consults the dead doresh el hammethim Necromancy, contact the dead, is forbidden (Leviticus 19:31;
188120:6,27; II Kings 23:24; I Chronicles 10:13-14). Saul went to the witch of Endor to do this (I Samuel 28:7-
188225).
1883
1884
1885
1886 39
1887 THE OCCULT AND DEMONIZING
1888 Listed below are many forms of the occult today. While not all-inclusive, it does
1889give an idea of sins that need to be confessed and things to be avoided in this area.
1890
1891 Acupuncture Psychometry (personal objects tell
1892 Amulets (good luck charms) information)
1893 Apparitions (things move untouched) Reflexology
1894 Automatic Writing (hand writes while Ring or Needle on a Thread
1895 person sleeps or is in a trance) Rock Music (nonChristian)
1896 Astrology (not astronomy) Scientology
1897 Astral Projection (out-of-body travel) Séances
1898 Black or White Magic Sorcery
1899 Clairvoyance (discerning things Screening (Protection from a 'hex')
1900 beyond the 5 senses) Satanism
1901 Coffee Grounds reading Soothsaying (to tell future)
1902 Color Therapy (threads or light used Speaking in a Trance
1903 to heal or get information) Spells (give or receive) & Curses
1904 Charming (spells, „healing‟, etc.) Spiritistic Visions
1905 Candles burning to invite spirits Table Tapping or Raising
1906 Crystal ball readings Tarot Cards
1907 Divination (to foretell the future, find Tea Leaves - reading
1908 something lost, etc. Telepathy (communication by
1909 Drugs, especially illegal unusual ways)
1910 Extra Sensory Perception Tongues (seeking it, hands laid on)
1911 Eye Diagnosis (Iridology) (reading Transcendental Meditation (Eastern
1912 spots in the eye to tell info.) Rel.)
1913 Fetishes and related paraphernalia Vitagenics (health appeal)
1914 Fire Walking Water witching (depending on how it
1915 Fortune Telling is done)
1916 Graphology (some forms, not all) Wizardry
1917 Herbology Yoga of any form
1918 Horoscopes Zodiac signs, going by them
1919 Hypnotism
1920 Letters of Protection It can be that some of these, in proper
1921 Levitation (raising objects, tables) conditions, may not have anything to do with
1922 Magic of any kind demonizing, and I‟m sure other activities and
1923 Materializations (things appear or beliefs could be added to the list. My
1924 disappear without being touched) purpose is not to make a conclusive list, but
1925 Mind Reading to give an idea of the types of things that
1926 Necromancy (talk to the dead) open us to demonic involvement. The point
1927 Numerology (numbers foretell things) is that sins of these kinds MUST be
1928 Occult Healing admitted, confessed, renounced, and all
1929 Occult Games (Dungeons & access taken back from Satan. Then any
1930 Dragons, I Ching, Kreskin, etc.) demons who are working through these
1931 Omens (occurrence to tell future) areas must be cast out in Jesus' name.
1932 Ouija Board Prayerfully and honestly read the list and
1933 Pendulum check anything you have ever been involved
1934 Palm Reading in, then confess, renounce, and take back all
1935 Pyramidoloty access. Command the demons to be gone,
1936 Psychedelic Lights or Music too.
1937 40
1938 PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM OCCULT INVOLVEMENT
1939I unreservedly forgive all my ancestors for all the things they have done that have affected me
1940and my life. I specifically renounce the consequences of their sins in Jesus‟ name. As a child of
1941God I now claim that the power of the blood of Jesus is setting me free from the consequences
1942of generational sins. I claim my freedom from the consequences of all occult activity on either
1943my father or my mother‟s family lines (name specifically), from curses and pronouncements that
1944have had an effect on my life, from hereditary diseases and from the effects of any of their sins
1945that have influenced me. I put any and all sins of an occult nature that I may have committed
1946under the blood of Jesus and ask for Your forgiveness for each of them (specifically name as
1947many of them as you can). I take back any access I have given to any of Satan‟s forces through
1948these sins. I pray this in the name of Jesus, who became curse for me on Calvary and died
1949that I might be set free. Amen
1950
1951
1952 SECRET SOCIETIES
1953 While often quite popular today, even in Christian circles, secret societies have definite
1954occult connections. These are not so obvious from a distance, but are there. In Scottsdale,
1955Arizona, hotels and motels paint their grass green to lure tourists. You can't tell the difference
1956until you get up close. So with these societies. Secret societies include groups like the Masons,
1957Shriners, Elks, Moose, Odd Fellows and Klu Klux Klan. They are counterfeit religions for they
1958talk about God and being good, have chaplains, pray, quote Scripture and often meet in
1959"temples." They appeal today because of their WASP policies and pride in belonging.
1960 However, as the name implies, there are 'secrets' those without (and often the majority
1961within, too) don't know. An oath is taken to join, with a curse that comes if the secrecy oath is
1962broken. These secrecy oaths are commitments which open a person to demonizing. Jesus and
1963the Bible are against this secrecy (Matthew 5:33-37; James 5:12; Exodus 20:7; John 18:20;
1964Ephesians 5:11-12). In these societies believers are unequally yoked to unbelievers. Their
1965view of God is wrong (they have a secret name for Him, which some say is Lucifer, and equate
1966God with Allah and all other gods). Jesus is dethroned and made equal to Buddha,
1967Mohammed, etc. Prayer is not "in Jesus' name." Salvation is promised through doing the good
1968works of the group, and that is wrong (Ephesians 2:8-9). These groups usually see themselves
1969as superior to the church and Christian fellowship. Titles for their leaders like "Worshipful
1970Master" are pure blasphemy.
1971 The power and appeal behind these things is demonic. They receive the worship and
1972instill the pride (I Corinthians 10:19-21; Zechariah 10:2). Joining one of these groups give a
1973clear opening to demonizing. Once in a family these usually pass down ancestrally, even if the
1974next generation doesn't join a secret society.
1975 The cure is to leave, confess the involvement as sin (I John 1:9), and put any access
1976given under the blood of Jesus. Often these are powerful demons and this renouncement must
1977be made over and over while depending on God's deliverance.
1978PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM FREEMASONRY BONDAGE
1979"Father God, creator of heaven and earth, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ your Son. I
1980come as a sinner seeking forgiveness and cleansing from all sins committed against you, and
1981others made in your image. I honor my earthly father and mother and all of my ancestors of
1982flesh and blood, and of the spirit by adoption and godparents, but I utterly turn away from and
1983renounce all their sins. I forgive all my ancestors for the effects of their sins on me and my
1984 41
1985 children. I confess and renounce all of my own sins, known and unknown. I renounce and
1986rebuke Satan and every spiritual power of his affecting me and my family, in the name of Jesus
1987Christ. I renounce and annul every covenant made with Death by my ancestors or myself,
1988including every agreement made with Sheol, and I renounce the refuge of lies and falsehoods
1989which they have been hidden behind.
1990In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I renounce and forsake all involvement in Freemasonry or
1991any other lodge, craft or occultism by my ancestors and myself. I also renounce and break the
1992code of silence enforced by Freemasonry and the Occult on my family and myself. I renounce
1993and repent of all pride and arrogance which opened the door for the slavery and bondage of
1994Freemasonry to afflict my family and me. I now shut every door of witchcraft and deception
1995operating in my life and seal it closed with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. I renounce every
1996covenant, every blood covenant and every alliance with Freemasonry or the spiritual powers
1997behind it made by my family or me.
1998I renounce every position held in the lodge by any of my ancestors or myself, including "Master,"
1999"Worshipful Master," or any other occult title. I renounce the calling of any man "Master," for
2000Jesus Christ is my only master and Lord, and He forbids anyone else having that title. I
2001renounce the entrapping of others into Masonry, and observing the helplessness of others
2002during the rituals. I renounce the effects of Masonry passed on to me through any female
2003ancestor who felt distrusted and rejected by her husband as he entered and attended any lodge
2004and refused to tell her of his secret activities. I also renounce all obligations, oaths and curses
2005enacted by every female member of my family through any direct membership of all Women's
2006Orders of Freemasonry, the Order of the Eastern Star, or any other Masonic or occult
2007organization. In the name of Jesus Christ I renounce the oaths taken and the curses and
2008iniquities involved in any aspect of Freemasonry, by myself or my ancestors.
2009Holy Spirit, I ask that you show me anything else which I need to do or to pray so that I and my
2010family may be totally free from the consequences of the sins of Masonry, Witchcraft, Mormonism
2011and all related Paganism and Occultism.
2012(Pause, while listening to God, and pray as the Holy Spirit leads you.)
2013Now, dear Father God, I ask humbly for the blood of Jesus Christ, your Son and my Savior, to
2014cleanse me from all these sins I have confessed and renounced, to cleanse my spirit, my soul,
2015my mind, my emotions and every part of my body which has been affected by these sins, in the
2016name of Jesus Christ. I also command every cell in my body to come into divine order now, and
2017to be healed and made whole as they were designed to by my loving Creator.
2018I ask you, Lord, to fill me with your Holy Spirit now according to the promises in your Word. I
2019take to myself the whole armor of God in accordance with Ephesians Chapter Six, and rejoice in
2020its protection as Jesus surrounds me and fills me with His Holy Spirit. I enthrone you, Lord
2021Jesus, in my heart, for you are my Lord and my Savior, the source of eternal life. Thank you,
2022Father God, for your mercy, your forgiveness and your love, in the name of Jesus Christ,
2023Amen."
2024
2025
2026 SATANISM
2027 Satanism is one of the fastest growing religions today. The dark nature of it has a strong
2028appeal to those already demonized, and of course any involvement in it opens a person to deep
2029demonizing. Children and teens are more and more drawn into this through drugs, sex, rock
2030music, movies and other avenues. Satanists believe Satan represents indulgence (instead of
2031abstinence), vengeance (instead of turning the other cheek), and meeting your sensual desires
2032 42
2033 (instead of spiritual pipe dreams). Man is just another animal free to indulge any desire he
2034wants. Satan represents power and immediate gratification instead of Jesus' seeming
2035weakness and living for the future. Satan seems near and concerned, willing to quickly do
2036whatever a person wants. Involvement in Satanism is usually the end result of a path that starts
2037very subtly by allowing other openings to demonizing. Of course God is greater and it can be
2038broken, but even dabbling with it in curiosity is very serious business.
2039 There are many good Christian books in Christian bookstores that can give much more
2040detailed information about this subject than we can here. If necessary, please avail yourself of
2041them.
2042
2043
2044 NEW AGE
2045DEFINITION OF THE NEW AGE MOVEMENT
2046 New Age Movement: A loosely knit group of individuals and organizations that fundamentally
2047believe that persons will all evolve into God and achieve a global unity that will transcend religious, racial,
2048cultural and political ideologies. New Age Magazine, "What is the New Age?" defines it as: "A form of
2049utopianism thinking, the desire to create a better society, a 'new age' in which humanity lives in harmony
2050with itself, nature, and the cosmos. Various names are used: New Age, Aquarian conspiracy, Holistic
2051Health Movement, Cosmic Consciousness, etc. Buzz words include awakening, centering,
2052consciousness, cosmic energy, enlightenment, force of life, global village, holistic, human potential,
2053networking, world unity, planetary vision, spaceship earth, synergistic, transcendental, transformational
2054and transpersonal. Symbols include the rainbow, triangle, Pegasus, rays of light, unicorn, yin & yang,
2055pyramid, and crystals.
2056DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW AGE MOVEMENT
2057 New Age beliefs are not new. They are as old as man. In the current form they go back to
2058Humanism and Unitarianism with a lot of spiritism sugar-coated and thrown in. In the current religious
2059vacuum it has moved in as Satan's lie of the last days, to set up his world empire.
2060BASIC PRINCIPLES OF NEW AGE BELIEF
2061 A. MONISM (ALL IS ONE) "In J. D. Salinger's short story, 'Teddy,' a spiritually precocious
2062youngster recalls his experience of immanent God while watching his little sister drink her milk.... 'All of a
2063sudden I saw that she was God and the MILK was God. I mean, all she was doing was pouring God into
2064God.'" Marilyn Ferguson, 'The Aquarian Conspiracy' Therefore all mankind is one big brotherhood. "We
2065are one!" they say (as mankind did at the Tower of Babel, too). "We" here refers to man, animals, rocks,
2066nature, etc.
2067 B. PANTHEISM (ALL IS GOD) "All boundaries and dualism have been transcended and all
2068individuality dissolves into universal, undifferentiated oneness." Fritjof Capra, 'The Turning Point'
2069Trees, snails, books, people are all of one divine essence -- all are 'God'. This is pure Hinduism. Thus
2070today we worship "Mother Earth."
2071 C. HUMANISM (MAN IS GOD) "Each soul is its own God. You must never worship anyone or
2072anything other than self. For YOU are God. To love self is to love God." Shirley MacLaine, 'Dancing in
2073the Light' This is what Satan promised Eve: "You will be like God" (Genesis 3:5). Reincarnation part of
2074this (remember past lives - really is demon speaking, remembering). New Age teaches that Lucifer is
2075light and the one who brings unity & wholeness into life. He is actually superior to Christ.
2076 D. A NEW WORLD ORDER A coming one-world government (Age of Aquarius) will bring world
2077peace. This is Satan's counterfeit to the Millennial kingdom of Jesus.
2078 E. MAYA - ALL IS ILLUSION (MAN CREATES HIS OWN REALITY) "If I created my own
2079reality, then -- on some level and dimension I didn't understand -- I had created everything I saw, heard,
2080touched, smelled, tasted; everything I loved, hated, revered, abhorred....I was my own universe." Shirley
2081 43
2082 MacLaine, 'It's All in the Playing' They say we determine reality by our mind, so each mind can
2083determine what is real and what isn't, what is absolute and what isn't, what is good and what is evil.
2084Thus abortion and homosexuality aren't 'wrong.' Consciousness-raising & positive thinking seminars are
2085popular.
2086 F. CONTACT WITH KINGDOM OF DARKNESS SOUGHT "My own out of body
2087experience...served to validate the answers to many questions -- the surest knowledge being derived
2088from experience." Shirley MacLaine, 'Dancing in the Light' Out of body experiences and altered states of
2089consciousness are done by demons. It is opening ones self up to be demonized. Channeling by spirit
2090guides is the same thing.
2091 WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THIS
2092Let no one be found among you ... who practices divination, or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or one who
2093casts spells, or who is a medium, or spiritist, or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the
2094Lord..." Deut 18:9-12 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and
2095things taught by demons. I Timothy 4:1 The Devil ... is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 For Satan himself masquerades
2096as an angel of light. II Cor 11:1
2097
2098THE SOLUTION FOR MAN - AS NEW AGE SEES IT
2099 A. SEEK HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS "spiritual disciplines are designed to attune the brain to ...
2100a wider sensory realm and the mystical dimension by altering the brain's biochemistry. Meditation,
2101breathing exercises, and fasting are among the common technologies for shifting brain function." Marilyn
2102Ferguson, 'Aquarian Conspiracy' The powers one tunes into in this are all demonic!
2103 B. AWAKEN THE GOD IN US "The goal is to awaken the god who sleeps at the root of the
2104human being." Theodore Roszak, 'Unfinished Animal'
2105 C. CULTIVATE QUESTIONS "A teacher in the traditions of direct knowing encourages questions,
2106even doubts. This spirituality asks the seeker to drop beliefs, not add to them." Marilyn Ferguson, 'The
2107Aquarian Conspiracy'
2108 D. USE SPIRIT GUIDES "In my own far-out experiences...I have come upon two guides....They
2109may be entities in other spaces....They may be representatives of an esoteric hidden school....They may
2110be members of a civilization a hundred thousand years or so ahead of ours." John Lilly, "Center of the
2111Cyclone'
2112
2113THE DANGERS OF NEW AGE THOUGHT
2114 A. AN IMPERSONAL, FINITE GOD New Age turns God into a mere impersonal energy source
2115and crowns mankind with deity. This is a lie (Romans 1:25), God is distinct from the universe (Genesis
21161:3 - 2:3), He is an independent person who communicates with man (Exodus 3:13-14).
2117 B. DEIFIED HUMANS The Bible condemns men thinking of themselves as God (Genesis
21183:2-7; Daniel 11:36-37; Acts 12:21-23). God, not man is in control (Colossians 1:15-17).
2119 C. NO SIN The Bible clearly says that man is dead in sin (Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-24;
2120Ecclesiastes 7:20; Ephesians 2:1-3).
2121 D. LOSS OF INDIVIDUAL UNIQUENESS Man will never merge into blissful cosmos oneness for
2122man is a distinct individual from the rest of creation (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-16)
2123 E. NO TEST FOR EXPERIENCES When the person himself is the final authority there are no
2124absolutes. God warns against Satan's deception (Revelation 12:9; 20:7-10; II Corinthians 11:14).
2125 F. ETHICAL STANDARDS ABANDONED When there are no moral absolutes anarchy reigns.
2126History has proven that (Nazism, etc.). God has given moral absolutes in the Ten Commandments
2127(Exodus 20) and Sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7).
2128 G. FAILURE IMPORTED India has practiced this same thing for 2,000 years and it is destitute
2129
2130
2131 44
2132 BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY NEW AGE PANTHEISM
2133God Father (Personal) Force (Impersonal)
2134 Created all things Is all things
2135World Created out of nothing Emanated out of 'god'
2136 Temporal, finite - will be redone by God Eternal, will always remain just as it is
2137Man Made like God, sinned & became evil Is god and totally good
2138 Resurrection after death Reincarnation after death
2139Jesus God-Man Jesus just a historical man
2140Christ Died and resurrected Christ is the god-force in all of us alike
2141 Died and reincarnated
2142Problem Sin against a holy God Ignorance of innate divinity
2143Sin Rebellion against holy God Ignorance of personal divinity
2144Evil Free choice in this life Free choices in past lives
2145Solution Trust in finished work of Christ in cross Become conscious of innate divinity
2146Salvation From moral guilt by grace From disharmony by human effort
2147Faith Put it in Jesus Put it in man
2148Power Resides in Almighty God, uses it for man Resides in man
2149Cross Provides deliverance from sin Example of man perfectly united w/God
2150End of evil Removed by God Reabsorbed into god, eliminating distinction
2151 between good & evil
2152Holy Spirit God, 3rd person of the Trinity, personal Energy that can be used creatively or
2153 being physically
2154Bible Inspired Word of God Incomplete, Inadequate book by men
2155Basis of Grounded in God as revealed in Bible Grounded in man choices & decisions
2156Ethics Absolute Relative
2157Death Separation of soul/spirit from body to live Time of merging with the energy force of the
2158 forever in heaven or hell universe if enlightened (if not reincarnated)
2159Satan Top created angel, real being , not god Man his state of unrealized potential
2160Heaven Hell Real eternal states of being after death States of consciousness in this life
2161Last God-appointed end inaugurated when Christ Human-realized end inaugurated when
2162Things reigns on earth as king humankind realizes its inherent divinity
2163
2164
2165 CURE FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN OCCULT OR NEW AGE
2166 Recognize that just because there are nice-sounding words, deep conviction, and even
2167displays of power, that doesn't mean a thing is from God. "False Christs and false prophets will
2168arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
2169Behold, I have told you in advance." Matthew 24:24-25
2170 Confess any and all involvement as sin (I John 1:9) and put any access you may have
2171given Satan's forces through your involvement under the blood of Jesus. Take back any
2172openings you may have given demons to work in your life. If anyone in your family has been
2173involved in any of these occult activities (occult, Satanism, secret societies or New Age) put that
2174under the blood of Jesus, too, and take back any access any demons may have tried to claim
2175against you through it.
2176PRAYER FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN NEW AGE OR OCCULT ACTIVITIES
2177"Dear heavenly Father, I ask You to reveal to me all the occultic practices, false religions, and
2178false teachers with which I have knowingly or unknowingly been involved."
2179"Lord, I confess that I have participated in _______. I ask Your forgiveness, and I renounce
2180_______ as a counterfeit to true Christianity."
2181 45
2182 MARTIAL ARTS AND THE BELIEVER
2183 While many Christians participate in marital arts, I personally feel they are to be avoided
2184by believers, especially by those who are open to demonic attacks. It is very hard to separate
2185the physical aspect from the Zen Buddhist meditation techniques. These are not just physical
2186gym exercises but actually are seemingly innocuous doorways into non-Christian religions.
2187Taekwondo and martial arts are Zen Buddhist meditation techniques designed to bring a person
2188into the experience of satori, or Buddhist enlightenment. They can be traced to Bodhidharma, a
21896th century Buddhist monk who taught his disciples sitting meditation and moving meditation, or
2190the martial arts, to obtain spiritual enlightenment. The sitting meditation commonly done in
2191taekwondo and most martial arts is an essential part of the training, done before and after class
2192to clear the mind of all thought and relax completely, according to the book Official WTF
2193Taekwondo. Synchronized breathing is a key to both Buddhist and Hindu meditation, he said. In
2194contrast, biblical meditation is meditating on God's written Word the Bible, rather than meditating
2195on the empty mind by using breathing and visualization techniques.
2196 The ritualistic patterns of motion in the martial arts is also a concern. Many of the patterns
2197are rooted in semimystical Taoist philosophy and “their deeper meaning is said to be far more
2198important than the mere performance of a gymnastics series of exercises†(quote is by
2199taekwondo author and instructor Eddie Ferrie). We westerners can be naïve about the very
2200subtle influences of martial arts and we lack experience to notice their hidden religious nature.
2201 Some Christians practice the martial arts for exercise, or even as a way of evangelizing,
2202but don't really know what they are getting into. If it works they don't ask questions about what it
2203means. Eastern religious techniques often are portrayed as neutral so anyone from any religion
2204can use them, but I think this is very deceptive. We can try to ignore the spiritual dimensions,
2205but spirituality is their ultimate purpose historically. The Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs
2206considers the martial arts as "forms of spiritual education that function as means toward self-
2207realization or self-enlightenment."
2208 Martial arts can be a Trojan Horse in the house of the Lord, eroding the spiritual barriers
2209between Zen Buddhism and the Christian Gospel, and potentially leading vulnerable children
2210and teens into the early stages of Eastern occultism.
2211 It can be difficult emotionally for a person to give up the martial arts, because they may
2212be so involved with them. Rather than considering they may be dangerous they vigorously
2213defend their right to practice them. Personally, I can picture Jesus exercising, but I can‟t picture
2214Him involved in the marital arts, can you?
2215
2216
2217CONCLUSION TO SECTION ON CAUSES OF DEMONIZING
2218 So sometimes we are attacked because of where we live – property we own or where we
2219live. Other times it is because of victories over parents or grandparents – attack us same way.
2220It could be something we did or that happened to us early in life as well. In addition, it could be
2221because of sin in our life. Or we could just be attacked because we are Satan‟s enemies since
2222we now support God‟s kingdom. Understanding the direction of the attack can help you know
2223how to defend yourself and have victory over the attack.
2224
2225
2226
2227
2228 46
2229 IV. CURE
2230A. THE SOURCE OF DELIVERANCE
2231 Before anything can be said about how to bring about deliverance, there must be no
2232doubt about whose power is in deliverance. It cannot be done in our own strength, we do not
2233have any power to remove demonizing (Mark 9:14-18). In fact, we can cause more damage
2234than good doing this in our strength and not Jesus' (Acts 19:13-20). Even Michael let God
2235rebuke Satan and wouldn't do it himself (Jude 9). We must be strong in the power God gives us.
2236Not our own. We can only be strong in Jesus' strength and power (Ephesians 6:10-18). We are
2237strong "IN" Jesus (Ephesians 6:10-18), not just "from" Jesus. Strength only comes from a close
2238personal relationship and dependence on Him. This is because Jesus has defeated Satan (Eph.
22391:20-22; Philippians 2:9-11; Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14; I John 3:8; Luke 4:18).
2240 In Jesus we have both power ( ï¤ïµï®ï¡ïï©ï³ dunamis - Luke 9:1; 24:49; Acts 1:8; 4:33; 6:8
2241Ephesians 1:18-23; Hebrews 2:14-15) and authority (ï¥ï¸ï¯ïµï³ï©ï¡ exousia - Luke 10:1,17-20;
2242Matthew 10:1,8; Mark 3:15; 6:7; I John 4:4). Power comes from the Holy Spirit within (Acts 1:8),
2243authority comes from our relationship as a child of Jesus (John 1:12). A policeman has both
2244authority (badge) and power (gun or club). Both come from a source outside himself, as do ours
2245(Colossians 12:9-10). Satan also has power (Luke 10:19; I Corinthians 15:24; I Peter 3:22) and
2246authority (Luke 4:6; Acts 26:10; I Corinthians 15:24; Ephesians 1:21; 2:2; 3:10; 6:12). Demons
2247have these, also (Revelation 9:3,10,19; Colossians 1:16; 2:10; I Peter 3:22). God's power and
2248authority is superior to that which Satan & the demons have. Men without Jesus do not have
2249power or authority anywhere near to Satan and his demons, though.
2250 In all areas it is Jesus' strength, not ours, that gives us victory (Philippians 4:13). God
2251promises to give us power (II Timothy 1:7; II Thessalonians 3:2-3). God is faithful to keep His
2252promise to strengthen us (Numbers 23:19; Philippians 1:4-6; Hebrews 10:22-23). Our part is to
2253use His strength. We are to fight, but in His strength. We must put on the armor God provides
2254and stand in His strength (Ephesians 6:10-18). We are promised what when we resist Satan in
2255God's strength that Satan will flee (James 4:7; I Peter 5:8-9). Victory is assured when we fight
2256in His might (I Corinthians 15:57; II Corinthians 2:14; I John 5:5). French Painter Emile Ranouf,
2257in a painting called "A Helping Hand," depicted an old man dressed in fisherman's garb, seated
2258in boat with little girl beside him. Both have hands on an oar. He is looking down fondly and
2259admiringly at her. Apparently he has told her that she may assist him in rowing the boat, and
2260she feels she is doing a great share of the task. It is easy to see it is his strong, muscular arm
2261doing the work. That's how it is with us and Jesus! It‟s all by His grace!
2262 Therefore we need not fear Satan or his forces (Joshua 1:9; 10:8; 23:9-11; Leviticus 26:8;
2263Exodus 14:13; I Samuel 17:45-47; II Samuel 22:33-35,40-41). They must have God's approval
2264for all they do (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7; Luke 4:35). God protects His people (Luke 10:19; II
2265Thessalonians 3:3; Revelation 9:4; I Samuel 18:10-11; 19:9-10). Nothing can get us away from
2266God (Romans 8:38; John 10:29). When we ask, God will put a hedge around us or those we
2267are praying for (Job 1:10; 3:23; Isaiah 5:5). God's power is greater than Satan's (Exodus 7:12;
22688:18; I Jn 4:4).
2269 47
2270 NO COMPROMISE WITH DEMONS
2271 Like the boy in the checkout line- the more you give in to demonic demands the harder it
2272will be to really say no and mean it. No one ever 'worked out some sort of deal' with Satan and
2273didn't regret it. It is motivated by fear and just makes things worse, giving the demons even
2274more power in a person‟s life.
2275 Instead. It‟s better to have some righteous indignation against what demons are doing.
2276That is a healthy thing. Righteous indignation is the kind of anger you feel when a bully is
2277hurting a smaller child. It's not a self-centered anger but one that says this isn't right! God gives
2278us it to motivate us to take positive action against a wrong done against us or another.
2279
2280
2281
2282 B. STEPS TO DELIVERANCE
2283AS JESUS DID IT
2284 Jesus is our example in casting out demons. At the start of His ministry He cast out
2285many demons (Matthew 4:23-24; Mark 1:39,34). In the Gadarenes He cast demons out of two
2286men (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-17; Luke 8:20). He cast demons out of the daughter of a
2287Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21 Mark 7:20), and cured a demonized man (Mark 1:21-28;
2288Luke 4:31-36). He healed a boy with seizures and demons (Matthew 17:14-20). He cast seven
2289demons out of Mary Magdalene as well as out of other women followers (Luke 8:2; Mark 16:9).
2290
2291 How did Jesus cast demons out? Before casting them out He rebuked them (took
2292their power away) (Matthew 17:18; Luke 9:42). Then He "drove" them out (Mark 1:39). He did it
2293verbally (Matthew 8:16), not by a certain ritualistic procedure. He didn't let the demons speak
2294(Mark 1:34; Luke 4:41), expect Legion and that was just to give his name so others would know
2295what was happening (Mark 5:9). He never let them say who He was (Mark 1:25; Luke 4:35;
2296Mark 3:11-12). He told them to "be quiet and come out" (Luke 4:35; Mark 1:25). Other times
2297He told them to "go" (Matthew 8;32). Sometimes He was quite far from the person whom He
2298was delivering (Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30). When He cast them out He forbid them to
2299ever return again (Mark 9:25).
2300
2301
2302AS THE DISCIPLES DID IT
2303 We have many examples of the disciples casting out demons, too. Jesus gave them
2304power and commanded them to use it (Matthew 10:1; Luke 10:17; Mark 6:7; 16:17). They cast
2305out demons as a regular part of their ministry (Mark 9:38; Luke 10:17). Paul cast out demons
2306(Acts 16:16-18; 19:12) and so did Philip (Acts 8:7). When trying to do it in their own strength
2307(without dependence on God) they failed (Mark 9:18, 28-29).
2308
2309 How did the apostles cast demons out? Paul brought deliverance by a word, too
2310(verbally). He said, "In the name of Jesus I command you to come out" (Acts 16:16-18). When
2311God was showing that Paul was His spokesman there was a time when just touching a cloth
2312that Paul had used brought deliverance (Acts 19:12). That was a special event, not a pattern to
2313follow! When directed by God, Paul defeated the demons in Elymas (an unbeliever) by making
2314him blind so he'd stop interfering with God's word (Acts 13:6-12).
2315
2316 48
2317 AS WE ARE TO DO IT TODAY
2318 When one is surrounded the best thing to do is to attack. That is what God wants us to
2319do, too, when seemingly surrounded by Satan's forces. We are to follow the example of the
2320apostles. They did what they did following Jesus' example and in His power (Matthew 10:1,8;
2321Mark 3:15; 6:7; Luke 9:1). We, too, are given power over the enemy (Luke 10:19; Matthew
232210:1; Zechariah 3:15). We have the authority and power to bind demons and loose oppressed
2323believers (Matthew 16:18-19). This must all be done in the power of Jesus' name (Matthew
23248:22; Luke 9:49) for that is the only thing demons will obey. Always refer to His full name: "The
2325Lord Jesus Christ." We, however, must be a clean vessel for Him to fill and use for deliverance
2326(Revelation 12:10-11).
2327 First pray for God's protection around us, our families and our properties as we begin
2328(Job 1:10; 3:23; Isaiah 5:5). Ask for protection from the enemy‟s interference, that all things
2329would be done decently and in order that angels would be present to minister and protect, that
2330the demons would not hide or interfere and that the Holy Spirit would lead and guide in all that
2331will happen. Claim your authority and power over the place, time and people involved. Forbid
2332anything to interfere, distract or embarrass as the session continues. Ask God to take their
2333power and authority away, as Jesus did when He rebuked the demons (Matthew 17:18; Luke
23349:42). Seeing God's power over Satan's forces today brings glory to God (Psalm 149:6-9).
2335God promises victory, saying we will see Satan crushed under our feet (Romans 16:20). The
2336very gates of hell cannot prevail against God's work on earth today (Matthew 16:18-19).
2337 Before anything positive can happen the person must be willing to submit their whole
2338lives to God (Romans 12:1-2) and be willing to deal with any sin in their lives (1 John 1:9).
2339There can be no known sin they are holding onto, no immorality or pride. They must be
2340committed to daily Bible reading and prayer as well as regular attendance at a Bible-believing
2341church. If they are not willing to obey and submit to God they won‟t find deliverance. Ask them
2342to pray confessing any sin that is still in their life and to reaffirm their total submission to Jesus
2343and their willingness to deal with whatever He shows must be dealt with.
2344 It is not in response to our faith that God delivers, but faith in Him is of the utmost
2345importance. It‟s not that if we have enough faith good things will happen and if we fall short they
2346won‟t. God‟s deliverance isn‟t determined by nor limited to our faith. Still, faith in God to be able
2347to deliver and trust in Him to bring to light what is necessary are primary ingredients for God to
2348work.
2349 Now it is time to start gathering information. Before a doctor writes a prescription or
2350gives treatment he first gathers all the facts he can. He will then know by the symptoms and
2351patterns what to prescribe and how to proceed. The same is true in spiritual warfare. These are
2352some of the questions I ask those I am counseling. Other questions might arise depending on
2353their answers.
2354 Can you briefly tell me what some of your earliest memories are? (this can shed light into
2355 childhood events, trauma, etc., that may have contributed to the demonizing)
2356 When did your problems and difficulties begin happening? (going back to the start is very
2357 helpful in understanding why they began. If they‟ve always been there then generational
2358 spirits can be assumed)
2359 Do you know of any event that may have caused the first one? (this can show an opening
2360 that needs to be taken back or a sin that needs to be confessed)
2361
2362
2363
2364 49
2365 How long have you been a Christian? (make sure they understand what it means to be a
2366 believer and really have trusted Jesus. Seeing when they became a Christian in
2367 relationship to when the demonizing started is helpful as well.)
2368 Does anyone else in your family or any ancestors have/had the same things happening
2369 to them? (this shows generational demonizing)
2370 Where are your parents spiritually? (this can show if it is generational as well as how the
2371 person was influenced)
2372 Are you married?
2373 Where is your mate at spiritually? (through the sexual union and through soul bonding
2374 demons can claim access to the other person)
2375 Have you ever been sexually involved with anyone outside of marriage? (through the
2376 sexual union and through soul bonding demons can claim access to the other person)
2377 Is there any sin you are allowing to remain in your life? (God will convict them of this. If
2378 they aren‟t honest not much good will proceed from here.)
2379 Have you experienced any trauma in life? (abuse, car accidents, extreme fear can break
2380 down a person‟s defenses and take control of their lives out of their hands, thus creating
2381 an opening for the demonic.)
2382 Do you have a church you attend? (the Bible commands we are to not forsake the
2383 assembling of ourselves. If this command is being broken it is sin and disobedience and
2384 must be changed for God to work in their lives. Only in very extreme, rare circumstances
2385 is it all right to not be attending a church.)
2386 What denomination is it? (this can tell you something about their beliefs and practices.)
2387 Were you ever involved in occult or demonic activities? (many people have used Ouija
2388 boards of something similar in the past and this is a definite opening to demonizing.)
2389 Do you speak or pray in tongues? (I and many others in spiritual warfare have found that
2390 a false tongue, really a demon, is present and entered through one asking for a spirit of
2391 tongues)
2392 Did anyone ever lay hands on you to receive the gift of tongues, healing or any other
2393 reason? (when someone lays hands on another and prays for them, anything demonic
2394 he or she may be open to can be transferred to the person they are praying for)
2395 At this point I may ask them to fill out the list of symptoms of demonizing (page 20) and or
2396the list of sins that lead to demonizing (page 32-33, 37-38) if I feel more detailed information is
2397needed. I may have them fill those papers in before we meet or at the very start. I will use
2398these papers and notes I have taken as I‟ve asked them the questions to guide my praying.
2399Don‟t rush this stage, the final product will only be as good as your gathering of this information
2400has been. Like a doctor, the results depend on this part of the process.
2401 Of course, any sins that come up with will have to be dealt with and confessed (1 John
24021:9). The person themselves must be the one to pray and confess the sin. You can‟t do it for
2403them. Demons are like rats attracted to garbage, so get rid of the garbage to get rid of the rats.
2404 It is of the utmost importance to make sure that forgiveness of others who have hurt
2405them in the past or present, including parents, ex-mates, etc., is dealt with at this time. Ask if
2406there is anyone they hold anything against, anyone they are bitter towards or don‟t like to see
2407prosper. You will sense this as they have answered the previous questions but now forgiveness
2408 50
2409 must take place for deliverance to continue. Unforgiven gives demons a solid stronghold from
2410which to work (Ephesians 4:26).
2411 As to forgiveness, what is forgiveness? Forgiveness is not forgetting or letting someone
2412off the hook. Forgiveness is choosing to not desire revenge, to not want to see the other hurt for
2413the hurt they have caused us. When we hurt we want to hurt back, or see the other hurt for the
2414hurt that caused us. This desire for justice is normal but forgiveness means we don't expect
2415justice, we will take our hurt and deal with it instead of turning it into anger at another.
2416Remember, anger is a secondary emotion coming from hurt. To forgive means giving up any
2417right you might have to see the other suffer for what they did to you. You can't forget, but
2418whenever the hurt or anger come back, you make that choice again to give up any right to see
2419them suffer. That's how God forgives us - He gives up any right to see us pay for our sin
2420against Him. Therefore when we forgive we are being like Him and when we don't we aren't. If
2421you have trouble forgiving just tell God you are willing but struggling. As God heals the pain you
2422will better be able to forgive.
2423PRAYER TO FORGIVE OTHERS
2424Thank You, Jesus, for dying that I might be forgiven. By an act of my will I now choose to
2425express the desire of my heart and forgive those who have hurt me. (name the people) I
2426release each and every one of these people into the freedom of my forgiveness. In Jesus‟
2427name. Amen
2428Father, I confess that, as a result of being hurt, I have allowed myself to hold anger, resentment
2429and bitterness in my heart against (name). I acknowledge this as sin, and I now repent and turn
2430from this behavior. I ask that You will forgive me and cleanse me. I take back any access this
2431sin has given to any of Satan‟s demons. In Jesus‟ name. Amen
2432
2433
2434 When you feel ready to proceed first explain what will be happening so they know what
2435to expect. People have all kinds of strange ideas of what „exorcism‟ is. While this is not
2436exorcism (demons forced out by a religious ritual) but deliverance (free will consent and taking
2437back of access by the person demonized) many may not know the difference. Tell them you will
2438pray and take back access the demons have claimed as well as commanding them to be gone.
2439I explain it like opening a door and allowing someone to enter a room, then realize you shouldn‟t
2440have done that. You need to close the door so no one else enters, but you also need to
2441command those who already have entered to leave. Confessing the sin and taking back the
2442access closes the door. Rebuking and commanding them to be gone cleans the room. Both
2443steps must be taken, in that order. Remind them there is nothing to fear (Luke 10:17-21) and
2444that fear is one of Satan‟s biggest tools against them. Tell them to be sensitive to anything God
2445is telling them in their mind or heart. If He brings up sins to confess ask them to interrupt the
2446process so the sin can be dealt with at that time. If God says it needs to be removed then it
2447must be removed to proceed.
2448 As you pray for them start with the oldest problems and accesses first. Put any claim
2449they make under the blood of Jesus, forbid them to do any more work against the person, and
2450send them immediately and permanently to where ever Jesus wants them to go. Usually
2451starting with generational spirits first is a good idea. Make sure there aren‟t any of them
2452working and then go from there.
2453 Next pray about childhood events and experiences: trauma, rejection, etc. Put them
2454under the blood of Jesus, take back any access demons claim through them and send them to
2455where Jesus would have them go.
2456 51
2457 Then deal with sins and openings that have come since childhood. Take your time and
2458be thorough. There is no hurry and no rush.
2459 As you proceed be sensitive as to who the main ruler (strong man) is. Sometimes it is
2460best to attack him first for he holds the other demons there. Other times he is too entrenched
2461and must be weakened by first casting out the lesser demons, the ones creating the symptoms
2462of sin and difficulties in the person‟s life. Ask for wisdom and be sensitive as to how God would
2463lead you in this important step.
2464 Usually it is best to bind the main ruler first (Matthew 12:29), then in Jesus name bind
2465up any and all demons involved (Matthew 16:18-19). Demons never work alone. Search out
2466the "root" spirits (the rulers) and pray against them. Quite often this will be a demon named
2467„Death‟ for that is Satan‟s ultimate plan against all of us. Other powerful rulers may be „Fear,‟
2468„Pride‟ or similar works. Each name describes the work of the demon. You can know their
2469name by seeing what they do in the person‟s life. Remember, behind every demonic problem
2470lies a flesh problem. By identifying the flesh problem that is at the root of everything the identity
2471of the main ruler can be discovered. However that flesh problem must be completely confessed
2472and renounced. Get rid of the garbage and you‟ll get rid of the rats!
2473 You can weaken their structure by breaking up their organization, for they do feed off
2474each other. Break off her children and claim them in the name of Jesus. Take back any access
2475through blood line, name, etc., and set them free. You can separate the power structure in her
2476from that in their mate, parent, or whomever you sense is involved. Just bind the demons into
2477those people and forbid them to bind together or help each other in any way. They are often the
2478same demons who share the person but limiting them to one person helps. Divide and conquer.
2479Forbid any other spirits to come take their place or help from without. Satan's tactic is to isolate
2480us, cut us off from other Christians and God, and then when we are weak work against us. The
2481same strategy works against him, too.
2482 Also be sensitive as you proceed to sins that the counselee needs to confess. If God
2483pricks your thoughts go along with this and make sure you stop to deal with any sins that come
2484up. Sins of attitude must be dealt with as well: fear, unforgiven, guilt, pride, revenge, jealousy,
2485etc.
2486 How can you know if the force against you is demonic or not? We are commanded to
2487"test the spirits" to see their source (I John 4:1). Challenge them with the deity (I John 4:11),
2488Lordship (I Corinthians 12:3) and blood of Jesus (I John 5:6-7). Be sensitive to the response in
2489the other person or in your own spirit. Angels do not indwell people, nor do they communicate
2490through people as demons do. Remember that demons always lie and deceive, they may even
2491claim to be God or the Holy Spirit. Be sensitive to thoughts put in your mind or the mind of the
2492one you are counseling. If God supplies someone with the gift of discernment as part of their
2493spiritual gift mix (or if you have that yourself) that can be very helpful (Acts 13:9-10; I Corinthians
249412:10).
2495 Remember the things covered earlier: we are safe in Jesus and aren't to run from the
2496enemy. We are to use our power and authority. Make sure all opening are confessed and
2497access taken back.
2498 Command the demons to be gone in Jesus name (Matthew 10:1; Luke 9;49; 10:17;
2499Mark 8:22). Do it in faith in Jesus (Matthew 17:18-27; John 5:4), not fear (Joshua 1:9; 10:8;
250023:9-11; Leviticus 26:8; Exodus 14:13; I Samuel 17:45-47; II Samuel 22:33-35,40-41). Be in an
2501attitude of prayer (communication with and sensitive to God - Mark 9:29). Don't be proud, stay
2502humble and submissive to Christ (Luke 10:10; II Peter 2:11; Acts 19:12-16). When cast out
2503
2504 52
2505 commit the demons to Jesus' authority in where He would have them go, that He would carry
2506out His sentence against them (Psalm 149:6-9; Romans 16:20; Job 30:3-8). Remember the
2507"house" must be filled with God's Holy Spirit when the demons are removed or things could be
2508worse than before (Matthew 12:43-45).
2509 Sometimes God may lead you to lay hands on the person you are praying for, and on
2510occasion Jesus Himself did this (Luke 4:29; 13:11-23; Matthew 8:15) as did the early church (I
2511Corinthians 1:14f; 12:4; II Corinthians 1:21f; James 5:13-16). Be sensitive to God's leading in
2512this area and do whichever it is He leads you to do. One way is not better then the other. Being
2513obedient to what God would have you do is the determining factor.
2514 Quote Scripture as much as possible (Matthew 4:1-10). God's word is more powerful
2515than and words we may use (Hebrews 4:12) and carry much more weight with Satan's forces.
2516Our authority is God's Word (I Jn. 2:14). Our sword of the Word is our only offensive weapon.
2517 Playing Christian music during deliverance or at other times in your home is often very
2518helpful for demons don't like to hear Jesus praised (I Samuel 16:23). There is power in praise
2519(Psalm 22:3), so use praise in your warfare praying. You can praise God in prayer or in song
2520during deliverance or afterwards. Use this whenever attacked.
2521 Do not converse with demons, either by having them give messages to a person's
2522mind or to speak verbally through a person's vocal cords. The object in deliverance is not to get
2523in contact with demons but to remove them. Communication with them makes you a medium
2524and God's words forbids that (Deuteronomy 18:9-13). There are good reasons to not
2525communicate with them. Neither Jesus (Mark 1:25) nor Paul would (Acts 16:17). They are liars
2526and deceivers (John 8:44) and you can't believe what they say. God wants you only to be in
2527touch with Him (Deuteronomy 4:24). Through the Holy Spirit we have access to all truth and
2528power (John 8:31-32; I Corinthians 12:7-11). By communicating with them you give them
2529recognition, allow them to stall, make things much harder on all people involved, and open
2530yourself up to pride. Besides, they are total liars and deceivers so nothing positive will come
2531from it.
2532 What about when deliverance is slow or not at all? Remember sometimes God has a
2533greater purpose than casting out every demon as soon as we pray. Sometimes there is delay.
2534Jesus even had times when He had to persevere for awhile (Luke 8:31 Greek). Usually
2535deliverance is a process. Its like peeling the layers off an onion. As new sin is revealed and
2536removed, more ground is taken back from Satan's forces. This gradual process allows the
2537person to better fill the ground which has been reclaimed with God's Holy Spirit and gives him
2538time to grow spiritually (Psalm 59:11; 119:50,67,71) before the next 'layer' is removed. That's
2539why the Jews under Joshua only conquered the Promised Land bit by bit instead of all at once.
2540If they would have driven out the Canaanites immediately then lions would have come in and
2541harmed them. There is a learning process involved that can be used to help others, too (II
2542Corinthians 1:3-4). Other times complete deliverance never comes. Paul's thorn in the flesh is
2543an example (II Corinthians 12:7). Paul testifies God then provides the grace needed to
2544withstand. God wants us to learn to depend on Him (Psalm 119:59,92). Of course if the opening
2545is allowed to continue then the demonizing will continue, too (Psalm 94:12-16; 81:11-14).
2546 When you start sensing that as much as will take place has taken place you can begin
2547changing the direction you are going. Ask the counselee if he has had any thoughts of
2548impressions that he should share. Deal with whatever these may be. Ask if there is anything
2549they would like to talk about or pray about.
2550 Pray again for wisdom, asking God if there is anything else to be dealt with at this time
2551and for His continued leading and guidance. Ask God what else needs to be done. Some times
2552 53
2553 there is lots of spiritual growth and maturity needed. Other times it is consequences of sin that
2554need to be faced. Faith gets tested. Quite often there are other demons or rulers (which are
2555demons, but the leaders) that will need to be dealt with later.
2556 Make sure they understand what has happened and what to expect in the next few
2557hours and days. Doubt, unbelief, guilt are quite common tactics of the enemy. Encourage them
2558to stay faithful, pray, read the Bible, memorize and use verses when attacked and write down
2559any questions they might have. If they don‟t fill the vacated spaces in their lives then the
2560demons will return in even greater number (Luke 11:24-26; Matthew 12:43-45).
2561 Encourage them to call for prayer whenever needed. That very act on their part can be
2562humbling and work against their pride, thus it can be very freeing. If demons know they will be
2563calling for prayer help they will be more hesitant to attack than if they know the person will try
2564dealing with them alone.
2565 Remind them that this is a process, not a once-and-done procedure. It's not that clear
2566cut and dried. Remember Paul's thorn in the flesh? Ultimately God has the final say, not the
2567demons. Remember Job? So when demons remain after we think they should be gone the first
2568thing we must do is ask God what He is trying to teach us, what He wants to show us. He uses
2569it all for our growth. Do we need to learn perseverance? Patience? Dig deeper for a root sin?
2570Humble ourselves more? Trust? Are we an example to others (as Job was)? The ultimate
2571answer to the questions you are asking lie in God's will, not in a demon's power.
2572 Close with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise for what God has done. Ask God to
2573continue the good work He has started in the person. Pray for their protection and growth. Ask
2574for their memories to be healed and the parts that have been emptied to be filled with the Holy
2575Spirit. Forbid any demons to return or others to do the same work. Ask God to bless them and
2576use them for His honor and glory.
2577
2578 TO SUMMARIZE, SUCCESSFUL AND LASTING DELIVERANCE REQUIRES:
25791. HUMILITY: no pride in yourself or your own strength (James 4:6-7; 5:16)
25802. HONESTY: admit any sin (Psalm 32:5; 139:23-24)
25813. CONFESSION: put any and all sin under the blood of Jesus (I John 1:9)
2582 Make sure there is no unforgiveness of others (Matthew 6:14-15; 18:21-35)
25834. ACCEPT FORGIVENESS: do not carry any guilt around (I John 1:9)
25845. REPENTANCE: attitude of willingness to turn from all sin (Amos 3:3; Ezekiel 20:43)
25856. RENOUNCE EVIL: verbally reject anything (openings) that have given Satan access, take
2586 back that access, and do whatever you must to right any wrongs you have committed
2587 (Acts 19:18-19; Matthew 3:7-8)
25887. PRAY: ask God to deliver you in Jesus' name (Joel 2:32) Don't forget YOU have the
2589authority to cast demons out in Jesus' name and God expects you to use it.
25908. CONTINUAL WARFARE: daily prayer and battle against sin & Satan
2591
2592
2593
2594
2595 54
2596 C. SPECIFICS ABOUT DELIVERANCE
2597PHYSICAL HEALING
2598 There is often a strong relationship between spiritual deliverance and physical
2599healing. Often physical problems are also gone when the demons leave. That is because the
2600demons were causing the physical problems. Examples of these in the Bible include: crippled
2601limbs (Luke 13:11), Paul's thorn in the flesh (eye disease? - II Corinthians 12:7), muteness
2602(sometimes dumbness, too - Matthew 9:32-33; 12:22; Mark 9:17-18,24-25), blindness (Matthew
260312:22), seizures (Mark 1:26; 9:17-18,20,22,25; Matthew 17:15,18; Luke 9:39), deafness (Mark
26049:17-18,20,25), sores (skin cancer?) (Job 2:7), boils and other painful afflictions (Psalm 78:49 -
2605the plagues in Egypt were demon-caused), and physical torments of all kinds (Revelation
26069:5,10). The Bible states that Satan can cause illness (Job2:7-8), even death (Job 1:19).
2607 Physical healing can be a result of deliverance. If any of the demons were causing
2608physical problems those problems will be resolved when the demons are removed.
2609Generational spirits can cause the same ailments from generation to generation. Physical
2610problems are usually not God‟s main concern, rather He is more concerned for the spiritual
2611condition of the heart. We often pray for the symptom (physical problem) to be removed while
2612God wants us to seek Him and what He is trying to teach us through it. Paul‟s thorn in the flesh
2613is a clear example. It wasn‟t God‟s will for that demon to be removed, but for Paul to be
2614spiritually strengthened through the experience.
2615 If a physical problem is present it can be good to find out when it first started and what
2616else was going on at that time. Instead of focusing on removing the physical symptom, look for
2617the root cause, be it demonic, spiritual or whatever else it may be.
2618 It must be noted that not all illness is demonic in origin. Jesus healed physical ills that
2619weren't demonic (Matthew 4:23-24; 8:16-17 fulfilled Isaiah 53:4; Mark 1:34; Acts 10:34; etc.).
2620The Bible clearly talks about illnesses that are not demonic: severe pain (Matthew 4:24),
2621seizures (Matthew 4:24), paralysis (Matthew 4:24; Acts 8:7), leprosy (Matthew 10:8), blindness
2622(Luke 7:21), crippled limbs (Acts 8:7) and many other various diseases (Matthew 4:24). The
2623fact that some physical ailments are on both lists (like seizures) shows that many ailments may
2624have demonic or natural causes. They could be from one source or the other.
2625 Jesus often cast out demons and cured illness at the same time. Jesus said he
2626would do this (Luke 13:32). He did this at the start of His ministry (Matthew 4:23-24; 8:16; Mark
26271:34; Luke 4:41), around Tyre and Sidon (Mark 3:10-12; Luke 6:18-19), and in the middle of His
2628ministry (Luke 7:21). Many female followers of Jesus were cured of both (Luke 8:2).
2629 Even more precise are the accounts of when Jesus both cast out demons and healed
2630illness in a person at the same time (Mark 6:13; Acts 5:16). Philip did this in Samaria (Acts
26318:7) and Paul did it in Ephesus (Acts 19:12).
2632 Thus it is obvious that some, but not all illness is demonic. There are no certain
2633illness that are exclusively demonic, nor others that aren't. Any physical ill can be demonic, but
2634no one ill is always demonic. In our day and age we err by seeing too little illness as being
2635demonic. Thus we often miss the cure. How can we tell if an illness or physical problem is
2636demonic or not? Some clues to look for are: medical doctors aren't able to bring relief or cure;
2637there is a pattern of it running in the family; it seems strange or doesn't follow the regular pattern
2638 55
2639 of symptoms (comes and goes for no particular reason, etc.); or you feel in your spirit that it
2640should be prayed about and looked into as possibly being demonic.
2641 Again, our pattern for bringing about this removal of physical ills by deliverance should
2642follow Jesus' example. He rebuked a fever and it left immediately and strength instantly
2643returned (Luke 4:39). On at least one occasion power came from within Jesus to heal (Luke
26446:19). He often laid hands on a person to bring both deliverance and healing (Luke 4:40; 13:13;
26454:29; Matthew 8:15; Luke 13:1-13).
2646 As to us doing this today, again it must be done in God's strength and power. If He
2647chooses to bring healing through deliverance that is His will. We must never demand it or make
2648it dependent on having enough faith. No one today has a gift to heal anyone and everyone. It is
2649right for us to pray for healing when doing deliverance and leave the results to God. It is also
2650necessary to deal with any demons who may be causing the illness (physical or mental, see
2651page 7). Often demons affect our health in indirect ways, such as working in us so we eat or do
2652things that are unhealthy for us in the long run and undermine our health. All of these, too, must
2653be dealt with in Jesus' name (Matthew 10:1). Sometimes God may lead you to anoint with oil
2654as a symbol of the Holy Spirit who does the healing (Mark 6:13). Do NOT put any faith in the oil
2655or any ritual in using it, it is simply an audio-visual. For more on healing see pages 116-117
2656 Therefore, be aware that often illness is demonic, especially when doctors are unable
2657to bring a cure. Even diseases they can cure can still be demonic, especially if there are other
2658signs of demonizing active in the person's life. Keep this in mind when praying and seeking
2659wisdom. Don't accept any illness as "incurable." Always make sure it isn't demonic (by asking
2660God for wisdom and commanding any demons involved in that ailment to be gone in Jesus'
2661name). Remember, when dealing with emotional and spiritual ills in your warfare praying, don't
2662let out physical ills! Never fear, demons can only cause ills with God's approval (Job 1:6-12).
2663 One word of warning: since demons can cause illness, they can also bring counterfeit
2664'healings' by stopping the physical ills they themselves cause (Matthew 12:24; 24:24; II
2665Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 16:14). This explains miraculous healings that aren't done in
2666accordance with God's will and Word.
2667
2668
2669FASTING
2670 Fasting is often neglected today, but when done out of a right motive it can be a real
2671help in spiritual warfare. Jesus fasted often (Matthew 4:1-11, etc.). Jesus assumed His
2672disciples would fast (note the "when," not "if" in Matthew 6:16). Fasting is a spiritual exercise
2673distinct from prayer, although often done in connection with prayer. It is still something for us to
2674do today (Matthew 9:15). Usually fasting is done from food (all or a certain food group, like
2675sweets, or a certain meal a day, or no food all day). Sometimes drink is abstained from, other
2676times not. Sometimes sleep (II Corinthians 6:5; 11:27) and/or sex (I Corinthians 7:3-5) are
2677included. Be sensitive to how and when God leads you to fast.
2678 The motive in fasting is not to punish self for sin or prove sincerity to God so He will
2679smile with more favor in a certain situation. Hunger pictures humility (Psalm 69:10;
2680Deuteronomy 8:2-3,11-14; Hosea 13:6). Enduring hunger teaches self-discipline and works
2681against pride (Ezra 8:21; Isaiah 58:3). It provides an attitude of submission. Fasting also opens
2682up more time to be available to pray and seek God. It shows a willingness to sacrifice anything
2683to get closer to God. It serves notice to demonic forces that you are serious in your pursuit of
2684God's will and glory (Jeremiah 29:13-14). A side benefit of fasting is that one can learn to
2685
2686 56
2687 depend on God for self-control and thus better control their appetite (I Corinthians 6:12-13; II
2688Peter 2:19). This also helps with self-control over sexual sins as well.
2689 While we usually think of fasting as going without any food, there are various forms
2690fasting can take. Partial fasts can involve eliminating certain foods or meals. Even with a
2691complete elimination of food healthy drinks can be consumed.
2692 Fasting is not a way to force God‟s hand or get our prayer answered quickly. It must be
2693done for the right motive or there is no benefit (Matthew 6:6-18; Isaiah 58; Luke 8:11-12).
2694Fasting can provide an attitude of submission (desire to please God and not self). It can free up
2695extra time for prayer. The accompanying hunger can be a reminder to pray without ceasing and
2696the hunger itself can be offered as a sacrificial gift to God.
2697 It is best to begin fasting gradually and not embark on an extended period of fasting the
2698first time. Many good books and articles are available helping one learn what is best to eat
2699before and after a fast. Just remember that the focus is on God, not the faster. The enemy can
2700use it as a source of pride and this negates the whole purpose of fasting.
2701
2702
2703
2704CHILDREN
2705 As we saw, children can be demonized. In fact, there is much more of this going on
2706that we are aware of. The form the demonic attacks take could be anything from causing an
2707infant to scream a lot at night to bed-wetting by an older child or to overt rebellion and
2708disobedience. Anything that seems to defeat you or the child is suspect. God's deliverance is
2709for them, too.
2710 The Bible records demons afflicting children with physical illness (Matthew 17:15; Mark
27119:18, 25). They prevent children from being able to control their own emotions (Mark 9:17, 22).
2712They physically try to harm children (Mark 9:20-22). They defile children by satisfying their own
2713evil natures through them (Mark 1:24, 34; 5:9; Luke 4:41). They make them perform or show off
2714(Mark 9:20, 25) and defy the person trying to free the child from their control (Mark 9:19, 23).
2715They may even induce symptoms of death when forced to leave (Mark 9:26-27).
2716 A very, very common pattern is for the first-born male to be affect first and most by
2717generational attacks. The first-born Jews were dedicated to God and so Satan tries to attack
2718and claim them first, too. Often it is the first-born male in a family that is attacked spiritually.
2719 Make sure the child knows that he is not the problem but that he has a problem. Often
2720children are more aware of these things than we think. They may be so used to hearing
2721voices in their heads, seeing manifestations in their room at night, or being controlled by
2722feelings/emotions beyond their control that they don't realize these are unusual. Spend some
2723unrushed time letting them talk. Ask lots of questions and listen carefully to the answers. Try
2724to put yourself in their place, with their limited vocabulary. Gently probe all areas (voices,
2725manifestations, too-real imaginary friends, etc.). Don't assume things. Take everything they
2726says seriously. Make notes of things to pray about or talk about later. Be sensitive to God's
2727leading. Go with your impulses and thoughts, they are from God at a time like this. Pray for
2728wisdom from God (James 1) about these things and what the openings may be.
2729 Children are often more sensitive to the spiritual realm. Many have a story from their
2730younger years of seeing an angel. They are also more sensitive to evil. It isn't unusual for a
2731house to have had certain parts (or all) of it opened to demonic forces by things said or done
2732there in the past. If a certain area of your home seems to cause problems (especially fear, but
2733 57
2734 it could be anything) go to that area and in Jesus name take back any access Satan's forces
2735claim to it. We've used oil to form crosses on the walls, left a light on (symbol of light over
2736darkness) and played Christian music which is something demons hate. Ask your child if there
2737is a certain place in the house where he feels afraid or funny, or where he thinks ghosts or other
2738things may be. They are usually more sensitive to these things than adults.
2739 When too young to understand (below 5 or 6) children don't even have to be present
2740when you pray for their deliverance. As a parent you can pray for your children with
2741authority, the same as you pray for yourself. When they are older (about 5 to 10) they should be
2742included for the purpose of educating them about these things. They can pray for themselves,
2743and they can start learning about spiritual warfare, too. Of course when there is specific sin in
2744their lives they should confess it. The older they are the more responsible they become
2745(especially from about 8 years old on) and the more they should be involved. A lot depends on
2746the openings, too. Free will sin needs their confession while ancestral oppression is something
2747a parent can do for them when they are young. Adopted children especially should have all
2748ancestral openings put under the blood of Jesus. The father as the spiritual leader should pray
2749for the children. Each morning he should pray specifically for each one by name. If for
2750whatever reason the father isn't filling this role as he should the mother can and should take
2751over.
2752 As for praying for deliverance for children just follow Jesus' example. He administered
2753deliverance to children the same as He did to adults (Mark 7:24-30; 9:14-25). Demons are the
2754same and work the same, so go about it the same.
2755 Pray regularly and specifically for your child. Satan has a plan and purpose for their
2756life. Be sensitive to what it might be and break it in Jesus' name. Some of the time pray out
2757loud with them so they can learn how to pray for themselves and so they know they are
2758committed to God's care and protection. Pray that Jesus be formed in the child (Galatians
27594:19), that they be delivered from Satan (Matthew 6:13; Proverbs 11:21), that they will be taught
2760by God and experience His peace (Isaiah 54:13), that they will learn to discern good from evil
2761(Hebrews 5:14; I Peter 3:21), that God's principles will be in their minds and on their hearts
2762(Hebrews 8:10), that they will choose friends who are wise and a good influence (Proverbs
276313:20; I Corinthians 5:11), that they will remain sexually pure (Ephesians 5:3,31-33), that they
2764will trust and honor their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3), that they will find as well as be the right
2765mate and that their marriage will last their whole life, and that they will know the career of God's
2766choosing.
2767
2768PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE OF A SON OR DAUGHTER
2769 "I humbly bow before you, heavenly Father, to intercede for my child . I bring him/her before
2770You in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank You that You have loved with the love of
2771Calvary. I thank You that You gave him/her to us to love and nurture in Christ. I ask You to forgive us
2772that for all of our failures to guide him/her in the way he/she ought to go. Accepting my position of being
2773"mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds," I bring all of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to
2774focus directly against all of Satan's power in 's life. I bind up all the powers of darkness set to
2775destroying , and I loose him/her from their power in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I invite the
2776blessed Holy Spirit to move upon 's heart and to bring them to you. In my position as mother/father I
2777put all their sin under the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. I take back any access any of Satan's forces
2778claim through any ancestral openings and I put that under the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. I plead the
2779blood of the Lord Jesus Christ over their life. I ask that Your Holy Spirit would fill them and ever use
2780them for your honor and glory, so that they would grow up to serve You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
2781For more information about children and deliverance see page 27.
2782 58
2783 HUSBAND AND WIFE
2784 It is clear today that a large part of Satan's plan for the downfall of our country starts with
2785a downfall of the family. He works in Christian marriages to undermine them, cause
2786misunderstandings, develop selfish thoughts in the partners, bring focus on the other's
2787weakness', set up little bickerings and negative feelings, fuel grudges, keep partners from
2788forgiveness and restoration, builds resentment, inclines each one put their needs first, causing
2789disagreements over money or raising children, brings unfavorable comparing of your mate with
2790others, incites to keep secrets from each other, and just causes drifting apart in general. Be
2791sensitive to what Satan's plan is for your marriage (how he is working to destroy or neutralize
2792it). Think about lies of his you believe that make his plan work. Put it all under the blood of
2793Jesus.
2794 When one mate is demonized the other must pick up the slack in patience, love,
2795leadership, and prayer. Depend on God's strength to do this. Apply all that has been said
2796about forgiveness, bitterness, anger, pride, etc., to marriage relationships as well.
2797 Keep God's authority pattern: husband as leader and wife submissive (Ephesians 5).
2798Husbands and wives should pray together, out loud, for their marriage and family. The husband
2799should take the lead in this.
2800 When the man or spiritual leader in the family is going away on a trip demons can take
2801that as a weakness and attack that family. The man should pray and declare to all the spirits
2802that he, the high priest in the family, states that when away his wife is in authority. Let them
2803know the children are dedicated to God and Satan‟s forces do not have permission to disturb
2804them. Reaffirm that any spirits to attack the family still must come through the head of the
2805family, and then forbid any of them to attack you.
2806
2807PRAYER FOR A MARRIAGE
2808Loving Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your perfect plan for our marriage. I know that You
2809planned marriage to be beautiful and satisfying, a picture of our relationship with you. I ask that
2810You would do what is needed in and through me to make our marriage all it should be.
2811 Please forgive me for my sins of failure in my marriage. I confess my _________
2812(confess individually all the sins and shortcomings you are aware of). I ask You to forgive me. I
2813put them under the blood of Jesus and take back any access I have given to any demons
2814through them. Open my eyes to see all areas where I am deceived and help me to apply Your
2815truth to those areas.
2816 I pray for my mate as well and put their sins under the blood of Jesus as well. I intercede
2817for them and ask for your mercy to cover their sins and shortcomings and to take back any
2818access any of Satan‟s forces claim through them.
2819 Father, I ask that You would fill each of us with Your Holy Spirit. Fill us with the fruit of
2820Your Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness , gentleness, meekness, faithfulness
2821and self-control. Heal us from the hurts we have caused ourselves and each other. Give us a
2822spirit of forgiveness for each other. Put Your supernatural love in our hearts and help us to love
2823each other as You love us.
2824 Show me what I need to do to change to correct my hurts and errors from the past. Help
2825me to apologize where necessary and to know what to do to restore our relationship. I submit
2826myself to You to be used and changed as You see fit. I submit my marriage to You for You to
2827do what is necessary to heal it and use it for Your honor and glory.
2828
2829 59
2830 PARENT AND CHILD
2831 Demons often use children to cause problems in the family for the parents or vice
2832versa. For years we have battled demons named "Frustration" and "Misery" whose work was
2833just what their names suggested. They would cause strife among the children, and it would
2834spread to the whole house. Their plan was to make things miserable and they quite often
2835succeeded. We have learned to pray against that at the start of each day and as soon as we
2836sense ourselves feeling it happen. More recently there is a spirit of "Argumentativeness" that
2837rears its ugly head. When we notice a lot of picking at each other in the children we pray
2838against that. We deal with the children, too, but include spiritual warfare also. That really helps
2839improve things! Quite often demons incite children to behavior that will affect others in the
2840family.
2841 We've seen several cases of children being motivated to do things to get into trouble so
2842they would get scolded a lot. That developed an inferiority feeling in them, an image of always
2843being bad or not pleasing their parents. Unless reversed that sets a pattern for life that is all too
2844common! We've also seen several cases of children being afflicted at night (bed-wetting, crying,
2845etc.) to interrupt the parent's sleep and make the parent have a harder time during the day.
2846Impatient parents then scold more and the child also feels rejected.
2847 Demons often set up things to cause a long-range cause-effect relationship, like
2848dominoes in a row falling down. David's sin with Bathsheba, for example, was set up many
2849years earlier when he indulged his lust for women (more than one wife). Satan patiently waited
2850for the right time to pull the trap. Its important we raise our children correctly for Jesus and not
2851let any openings develop which Satan can take advantage of.
2852
2853
2854THE CHURCH'S ROLE
2855 Jesus' promise that Satan and his forces cannot destroy the church are what I base my
2856church ministry on (Matthew 16:18). Churches have demonic forces assigned to defeat
2857and destroy them. As in other cases, there is a ruling spirit (strong man) with other demons
2858under him whose sole purpose it is to undermine a church's ministry (unless that church is
2859already going the way Satan wants it to go). Each church as a whole should be aware of
2860Satan's work against it so they can pray specifically against that. Pray for your church and its
2861community, binding up the powers of any demons assigned to work against it.
2862 Pray especially for your leaders, for Satan attacks the leaders first and most since they
2863are so influential in a church (Luke 22:31-32; I Peter 5:1,8). Pray for your church to be protected
2864from false teachers and teachings which are so, so prevalent and subtle today.
2865 Churches are to discipline sinning members so they will see the need to repent and also
2866so they will not mislead others. Churches, too, can have openings to demonizing and often it is
2867through those in the Body who are willingly allowing themselves to be demonized and/or are
2868allowing known sin in their lives. This must be put under the blood of Jesus. Discipline means
2869removing them from fellowship in the local church and putting them instead in Satan's kingdom,
2870the world. There they are under his influence (Matthew 18:15-18). In effect it is putting the
2871person in a place to follow their sin without restrictions. This way they will clearly see the
2872consequences of their choice and repent (I Corinthians 5:5 talks about this).
2873 The local Body can be very helpful in deliverance from demonizing, too. God puts
2874Christians in a local body to help each other in many ways, and spiritual warfare is certainly one
2875such way. He gives spiritual gifts to some that are quite helpful in spiritual warfare. The
2876 60
2877 purpose of all spiritual gifts is to serve others. God gives a person gifts to use for others in the
2878Body, not for him or herself. Some gifts which are particularly useful in spiritual warfare are:
2879 WISDOM: the special ability to know the mind of God in such a way as to receive insight
2880 into how certain knowledge may be best applied to specific needs arising in the Body of
2881 Christ. I Corinthians 12:8
2882 DISCERNING OF SPIRITS: the special ability God gives which enables some to know
2883 with certainty and assurance whether certain behavior supposed to be of God is in reality
2884 divine, human, or Satanic. Acts 5:1-10; 8:23
2885 INTERCESSION: the special ability to pray for extended of time on a regular basis and
2886 see frequent and specific answers to prayers to a degree much greater than that which is
2887 expected of the average Christian. I Timothy 2:1-2; Colossians 1:9-12; 4:12-13; Acts
2888 12:12; James 5:14-16; Luke 22:41-44
2889 EXORCISM: the special ability to command demons to leave people and have them
2890 respond and by Gone. Acts 16:16-19
2891 BEWARE: Satan can counterfeit these gifts and even do miracles today. Make sure you
2892know the source (II Thessalonians 2:8; Matthew 24:24 ; Revelation 13:13-14; 19:20; Acts 13:8).
2893Demons can speak through people, a kind of demonic 'gift of tongues' (Isaiah 8:19; 29:4; Isaiah
289424:8) and they can perform miracles (Matthew 7:22-23). Don't be impressed by something
2895supernatural unless you know the source of the power, for Satan is a GREAT counterfeiter!
2896
2897
2898
2899
2900 61
2901 V. CONTINUING ON
2902 A. PROBLEM: ONGOING BATTLE
2903 As stated before, deliverance isn't a once-and-done thing. It is a process, like peeling
2904layers off of an onion. Sometimes progress is very slow. It may seem no progress is being
2905made at all. Then, too, it is certainly possible to loose what you have gained (through sin
2906allowing the openings to be used again). Satan's forces don't quit easily, and just because they
2907are defeated or weakened once doesn't mean it is all over. Often the battle gets worse for
2908awhile. The more they tried to obey and stay close to God, the more opposition and battles the
2909Jews faced when conquering the land. Paul's thorn in the flesh is an example of this (II
2910Corinthians 12:7-10).
2911 Another example is Nehemiah. When the walls of Jerusalem were in disrepair and no
2912one was making any effort to rebuild them there was calm. But when Nehemiah started
2913encouraging the people to rebuild there was much opposition. Some was external, other
2914internal. Externally Nehemiah faced ridicule (2:19), anger (4:1), criticism (4:2), mockery (4:3),
2915threat of war (4:8), compromise (6:2), and lies being told about him (6:6). The stronger attacks
2916were internal. Satan attacked him within with discouragement (4:10), wanting to quit (4:10),
2917greed (5:1,3,5), and fear (6:10). Nehemiah persevered despite it all and finally the work was
2918completed (6:15) and the enemies of God defeated (6:16).
2919 We, too, will face much opposition, and continuing opposition. When we fight against
2920Satan's kingdom by being true to God's kingdom, we must realize the enemy will fight back.
2921What are we to do about it? Satan's plan is for us to be discouraged, to quit, to not persevere,
2922to stay where we are or to lose ground to him. Here's how to make sure that doesn't happen:
2923 When the Jews crossed the Red Sea God opened the waters and they walked through
2924on dried land, but after they matured in the faith things changed. When they got to the Jordan
2925they had to rush down the hill and step into the water while it was still there, trusting God would
2926move it when their feet hit the water. He did and again they walked through on dry land. You
2927are no longer at the Red Sea. You‟ve grown beyond that. Now God wants you to commit to
2928obedience no matter what, to step into the rushing water trusting He‟ll be with you. If you wait
2929for the waters to part first you‟ll never move. Commit to stop no matter what – even if it kills you.
2930Decide you‟d rather be dead than to continue to disobey. Now I don‟t‟ think it‟s a live or death
2931matter, but still you need to be willing to pay any price you may feel will come. I know God will
2932take care of you through it. It will be more of a struggle than you‟ve had with some of the other
2933victories, for God increases the pressure so our faith muscles grown. I like the story of the old
2934lady who was known for her faith. Someone said to her once, “I bet if God told you to run and
2935jump into a wall you‟d do it!†The lady said, “Yes, If he told me to do so I would. It‟s my job to
2936run into the wall and it‟s His job to take care of the wall.â€
2937WHY DOES GOD ALLOW THE BATTLE TO CONTINUE?
2938That‟s the age-old question. Why does God allow people to suffer and struggle? How can a
2939God of love allow so much evil to continue? God doesn‟t defend Himself or explain what He
2940allows. He gives us a free will choice and sin and the resulting evil are the natural
2941consequences or turning from Him. Still, innocent people suffer. We can‟t try to evaluate God‟s
2942 62
2943 person and character by these things for He has proven His character and love by leaving
2944heaven, becoming a man, living on earth, then going to cross to take on the punishment for
2945every sin we would ever commit. That proves His love for us beyond a shadow of a doubt. If it
2946weren‟t for that we would all deserve eternity in hell from this moment on. So anything less than
2947hell from now on is His grace and mercy. Why He seems to show more to some than others is
2948not up to us to judge. God isn‟t accountable to us. We cannot stand in judgment of Him until we
2949know all the facts as He knows them and see everything as good or better than He sees it.
2950Many things seem unfair to little children but they must trust their parents. Getting an injection
2951from a doctor, having a pretty shiny knife taken way, many things seem to a child that a parent
2952doesn‟t love them but a child doesn‟t have the perspective to truly view what is happening and
2953we don‟t have God‟s perspective on life either. We do know that facing things we don‟t
2954understand gives us an opportunity to trust. Our faith is stretched and we grow. God is glorified
2955as we see Him deliver and as others watch us patiently trust Him. Spiritual warfare is just one of
2956many forms of suffering God uses for our good and for His glory. That‟s another reason why
2957deliverance often isn‟t instantaneous but a drawn-out process.
2958
2959
2960
2961 B. SOLUTION: ONGOING BATTLE
2962 After trying to convince you that the deliverance you've gone through didn't really happen
2963(unbelief), Satan's next weapon is the lie that you won't have victory, you won't change, things
2964won't get better, etc. That's not true! If you follow God's principles you will have continuing
2965progress and victory. How soon and how complete is only up to God.
2966
2967RETAINING DELIVERANCE:
2968l. Put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)
29692. Confess any sin immediately, but don't dwell on it (I John 1:9)
29703. Stay in the Scriptures (Psalm 1:1-3). The Word is a mirror (James 1:22-25) a lamp (Psalm
2971 119:105) a cleanser (Ephesians 5;25-26) a sword (Hebrews 4:12) and food (I Peter 2:2;
2972 Matthew 4:4). Use it for all these,.
29734. Break old patterns, habits, and sins or Satan will return (Matthew 12:43-45: Luke 11:24-26).
2974 Fill the void with God's Spirit and His fruit (Galatians 5:9-24; John 15:3). Clean your
2975 house of unclean books and things that shouldn't be there (Deuteronomy 14:7-19).
2976 Dedicate your home and life to God.
29775. Develop a life of continuous praise & prayer (I Thessalonians 5:17).
29786. Stay in close fellowship with other believers (Hebrews 13:5).
29797. Commit yourself to totally follow God (Ephesians 6:16).
2980
2981
2982GROW SPIRITUALLY
2983 We all are either moving ahead or moving back. We cannot be dead still at the same
2984place. If you aren't growing spiritually then you are fading. Continue to grow spiritually. Focus
2985on the basics of the Christian life: prayer, Bible study, fellowship, worship, witnessing, etc.
2986Sometimes growth comes in spurts, other times there doesn't seem to be much outer change (it
2987is during these times that your spiritual roots are going deeper, getting you ready for the next
2988 63
2989 growth spurt). The same is true in nature, there isn't always sustained growth, things grow in
2990spurts.
2991 Do NOT focus on Satan or demons, always thinking about them or fearing what they will
2992do. Do not look for "a demon behind every bush." They love this attention, even if it is negative.
2993It keeps your eyes off Jesus and on them, and that‟s what they want. It is important to have
2994balance in this area of spiritual warfare. Keep it in balance. It is one of many important spiritual
2995tools for growth. Don't neglect the others for this one.
2996
2997
2998SUBMIT TO HOLY SPIRIT
2999 Remember, when demons are gone the area must be filled with God's Spirit or it will be
3000an invitation for them to come back -- more and worse than before (Matthew 12:43-45). Casting
3001them out is one thing, keeping them out is another. Close the opening (by confession and
3002covering with the blood of Jesus) and fill the space they occupied in your life with the Holy Spirit.
3003 It isn't my purpose here to go into detail about being filled with the Holy Spirit for many
3004fine books cover that subject quite well. Suffice it to say that immediately at salvation each
3005person receives the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13; I Corinthians 12:13). He never leaves
3006(Ephesians 4:30). Each believer has the Holy Spirit indwelling him, but not each one has the
3007Holy Spirit "filling" (literally "controlling") him (Ephesians 5:18). Allowing Him to fill/control us is a
3008moment-by-moment responsibility. It means we must be 100% yielded to God in all areas of life
3009(I Thessalonians 5:19), not allow any known sin in life (Ephesians 4:30), and to depend on Him
3010and His strength in every area of life (Galatians 5:16). This way there will be no strongholds
3011(openings) reestablished (II Corinthians 10:3-5).
3012PRAYER OF SUBMISSION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
3013"Dear heavenly Father, You have said that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and
3014insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry (I Samuel 15:23), I know that in action and attitude I
3015have sinned against You with a rebellious heart. I ask Your forgiveness for my rebellion and
3016pray that by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ all ground gained by evil spirits because of
3017my rebelliousness would be canceled. I pray that You will shed light on all my ways that I may
3018know the full extent of my rebelliousness and choose to adopt a submissive spirit and a
3019servant's heart. In the name of Christ Jesus my Lord. Amen."
3020
3021
3022WEAR THE ARMOR
3023Satan does not trouble those who aren't committed believers. They are his subjects (Col. 1:13) and
3024serve him (Eph. 2:2). Only when one wants to turn from that path, having accepted Jesus as his Savior
3025and wanting to make Him Lord of his life, does Satan oppose the person. Satan will not give up one of
3026his subjects easily and will do all he can to gain that person back. He can't take his salvation, but can
3027have him live the same kind of life as before (one of service to Satan and sin). God does not want that
3028for His children, however. He has defeated Satan and has made provision for us to share in that victory.
3029As a good commander He provides the equipment we need to defeat Satan and to protect ourselves
3030(Eph. 6:10-17, II Cor. 10:35, Mt. 12:29). The following is based on Ephesians 6:10-17. Open your Bible
3031as your read the following.
3032
3033
3034
3035
3036 64
3037 Picture of Roman soldier
3038I. ARMOR PROVIDED Ephesians 6:10-12
3039
3040"FINALLY" (10): Paul builds to this throughout the whole Epistle.
3041
3042"BE STRONG" (10): "Be continually strengthened" This is a command,
3043 not an option. It is passive, something we receive from outside
3044ourselves. A soldier receives (passive) equipment from his commander,
3045the commander is responsible to provide it, he must use it. The battle is
3046between God & Satan, we are just privates and only get attacked
3047 because of joining God's army, it's not our personal battle but our
3048commander who will make sure we can win it.
3049 What makes a soldier strong so he can use his equipment? (1.
3050Proper nourishment (food & drink) - for us the Word of God. (2.
3051Regular exercise to stay fit - not spiritually fat or lazy. (3. Proper rest,
3052meditation, relaxation, worship & praise times.
3053
3054"IN THE LORD" (10): not "FROM" the Lord for He doesn't just give us a
3055portion of His strength (as great as that would be) to fight in our own
3056strength and to add to our strength. We are actually "IN Christ" (a phrase
3057used over 40 times just in Ephesians). This refers to total dependence,
3058like a baby IN a womb. We are one, we share His foe and His victory. We
3059must stay as close to Christ as possible or we will never have victory.
3060
3061"HIS mighty power" (10): Never look at Satan's power, or your own, just and only at Christ's!
3062
3063"MIGHTY" (10): The word means a special endowment of power and strength. It is inherent strength,
3064ability, and authority that comes from being "in Christ."
3065
3066"POWER" (10): This word refers to manifested power, HIS power shown through us. The previous
3067word would be used of the muscular ability a person naturally has, this word of that power shown in use.
3068This power, by the way, comes through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). God is the sovereign general, we are
3069"in Christ," and the Holy Spirit is the power source given to us. What an unbeatable combination!
3070
3071"PUT ON" (11): This verse tells HOW to be strong in Jesus. This, too, is a command - it is not an
3072option., In the original language this speaks of a once-for-all action. The commander provides the
3073armor, but the soldier must put it on-and then he must NEVER take it off for the warfare is continual.
3074Each morning check out your armor to make sure it is well maintained, never take it off.
3075
3076"FULL ARMOR" (11): If missing even just one piece Satan will attack there.
3077
3078"TAKE YOUR STAND" (11): This same word is translated "resist" in James 4:7 and I Peter 5:8-9. We
3079are NOT to run, fall back in fear or panic, surrender, sit, or fall asleep. We are to stand alert BEFORE
3080attacked so we are ready to defend ourselves and beat it off.
3081
3082"DEVIL" (11) "Devil" means "Slanderer," and that is what he does. He slanders God to man (as to Eve
3083in Eden) and man to God (as with Job).
3084
3085"SCHEMES" (11): The picture behind this word is of a cunning, deceitful animal full of tricks and deceit.
3086Paul commands us to not be ignorant of these tricks and traps (II Corinthians 2:11).
3087
3088 65
3089 "STRUGGLE" (12): This word-picture of wrestlers shows the life-and-death struggle we are in with
3090Satan. Wrestlers back then tried to pin each other's neck to the ground. This is no innocent
3091misunderstanding or friendly competition!
3092
3093"NOT AGAINST FLESH & BLOOD" (12): Our main enemy is not other people, or even our own sin
3094nature. We know how those operate from firsthand knowledge. Satan is in another realm that we are
3095often unaware of, and have no idea how to fight.
3096
3097"RULERS" (12): These are the demons on top of Satan's organizational systems, the generals under
3098him as the commanding officer. They have vast oversight responsibilities, some over geographical
3099areas, others over philosophies or works, etc.
3100
3101"AUTHORITIES" (12): These very powerful demons are like colonels. They are given authority (thus
3102the name) over certain countries, areas, churches, groups of persons, etc. They don't do the work but,
3103like the Rulers, oversee and coordinate the activity of demons under them. They give power & authority
3104to these lesser demons.
3105
3106"POWERS OF THIS DARK WORLD" (12): These numerous, workhorse demons function on the
3107command level, like lieutenants and sergeants. They oversee and work with small forces of demons
3108assigned by 'Authorities' to a certain person, church, cult, location, idea, philosophy, etc. They receive
3109their orders and power through the chain of command above them.
3110
3111"SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS" (12): These very numerous
3112demons are the daily working demons that carry out the work assigned to them by the above chain of
3113command. These are the privates of Satan's army, the ones we do battle with each day. They are not
3114as smart or clever as the ones higher in the command, they simply carry out orders given them. They
3115have a great variety in their intelligence level, abilities, etc. They each function in one main area of
3116expertise, and are named accordingly (Greed, Listlessness, Self-Destruction, Fear, etc.)
3117
3118"HEAVENLY REALMS" (12): In the atmosphere is where Satan sets up his kingdom, between this
3119earth and the third heaven where God is. That is why Michael needed to help the other angels get past
3120the Prince of Persia in Daniel (Daniel 10:13). Satan is the "ruler of the kingdom of the air."
3121
3122
3123II ARMOR DESCRIBED Eph. 6:13-18
3124
3125 A. BELT OF TRUTH 14a
3126
3127"BELT": The belt was the KEY piece of equipment for a soldier because it held his other clothing and
3128equipment in place. Clothing was tucked back out of the way to allow freedom of movement to fight, and
3129it was the belt that gave them freedom. The belt held their valuables and personal possessions, too. It
3130also held the sword, thus the close connection between the truth and God's Word (sword).
3131
3132"TRUTH" : As the belt allowed the soldier's hands freedom, so the truth makes us free. Jesus is the
3133"way, TRUTH and life" (Jn. 14:6) and only in Him ("IN CHRIST") is truth found. He said "I am the truth"
3134(Jn. 14:6; 1:14). When we put on Christ and are strong in Him we take the truth that comes from Him as
3135revealed in His Word, the Bible (II Tim. 2:15, James 1:18, Ps. 119:41-43). It is through the Holy Spirit
3136that this truth is applied to our hearts and lives, for He is called the "Spirit of Truth" (I Cor. 1:6-15).
3137
3138
3139 66
3140 By contrast Satan is a liar (Jn. 8:44). He works in deceit and counterfeits to get us to fear and be
3141defeated. He tries to get us to be untruthful (Acts 5:3) and uses any untruth in us to gain access to us.
3142Therefore we are to "stand firm" against anything not 100% honest and truthful in us or others.
3143
3144
3145 B. BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS 14b
3146
3147"BREASTPLATE" : This vital piece of equipment covered the vulnerable organs of the upper body.
3148Enemy soldiers would grasp each other's left forearms and with the right start stabbing each other in the
3149breastplate. The first one to find or make an opening won!
3150 Satan, too, first attacks our vulnerable areas. He knows where our weak and open spots are.
3151That is why we are defeated over and over by the same besetting sin. Just as a soldier would make sure
3152his breastplate was sound and perfect before the battle began, so we must make sure there are no
3153areas in our life, thoughts, priorities or motives where Satan can defeat us. It doesn't matter how small,
3154he will use it. All openings must be closed and covered with the blood of Jesus.
3155
3156"RIGHTEOUSNESS": In contrast to our righteousness, which is like "filthy rags", God is pure
3157righteousness (Ps. 48:;10; 119:137; 145:17). One of His names is YHWH-TSIDEK ("The LORD Our
3158Righteousness" Jer. 23:6). At the moment of salvation our sins are transferred to Jesus and His perfect
3159righteousness is transferred to us. We must put faith in HIS provision, not our own good
3160works/righteousness. We need to allow His righteousness to shine through us, and to accept His
3161holiness (another word for righteousness) as ours "In Christ". It is in this area we can't have sin or Satan
3162will use that to defeat us.
3163 Note that our back isn't covered, just our front. A soldier of Christ cannot retreat or run but must
3164move ahead in victory!
3165
3166
3167 C. SANDALS OF PEACE
3168
3169"FEET": On their feet soldiers wore sandals which were VERY important. They had to be sturdy,
3170dependable and tough. The soldier went everywhere on his feet, and was usually attacked on rough,
3171rocky ground where getting a good footing would be very hard. Failure of his sandals to protect his feet
3172or give him good stability would result in his defeat. Our standing, too, must be sure and ready.
3173
3174"READINESS": This word has the idea of establishment, a firm foundation.
3175
3176"PEACE": "Christ is our peace" (Eph. 2:13-14), and we only have peace "in Christ." He provides peace
3177with God (Rom. 5:1) and peace of God (Phil 4:6-9; Rom. 16:20; Prov. 16:7). Jesus is peace (Jn. 14:27)
3178and we are to live in peace with God, self and others. This is our support, our foundation.
3179 Satan tries to produce turmoil, chaos, and lack of peace in our lives. Then he comes along and
3180offers false peace through drugs, alcohol, sex, compromise, etc.
3181
3182
3183 D. SHIELD OF FAITH 16
3184
3185"IN ADDITION": Literally "above all," meaning this is of the greatest importance. Faith, the helmet of
3186salvation, and prayer, the next three, are even more important than the ones already described. The
3187first 3 pieces of equipment are worn as part of the body, affixed to it. They are always to be there. These
3188next ones are to be "taken up" to use when battle was near. The first we receive (passive), these we
3189take up ourselves (active). These are our outer wall of defense.
3190 67
3191 "SHIELD": The shield was 2 foot by 4 foot. Soldiers would gather behind a wall of shields side-by-side
3192and use it for an outer wall of protection.. They would NOT go into battle without a shield!
3193
3194"FAITH": This is the substance of our shield. We, together with others of like faith, are to throw up a
3195wall against Satan. We can still hear his roaring attacks, but faith keeps us from being defeated by
3196them. It is not just 'faith' that protects, for faith must be in the right object - God.
3197
3198"FLAMING ARROWS": Burning pitch and arrows tipped with burning pitch would be hurled against
3199soldiers, and only a shield could protect them from it. Satan shoots arrows of pride, temptation, fear,
3200worry, guilt, suffering, etc, at us and only faith in God will get us through those times.
3201
3202"YOU CAN EXTINGUISH ALL": Some arrows get very close to us (like with Job), but God
3203determines just how close they will fall (also like with Job.) Sometimes it seems like some of them even
3204pierce our shield of faith. However when that happens they are no longer Satan's flaming arrows but
3205God's refining and purifying messengers of love, as Paul's thorn in the flesh (see also I Cor. 10:13; Rom.
32068:28 etc.) If we keep our shield up the fire refines us. It is only when our faith is down that the fire harms
3207us.
3208
3209
3210 E. HELMET OF SALVATION 17a
3211
3212"HELMET": The helmet protected soldier's heads from the broad sword their enemies carried. This
3213sword was 3 to 4 feet long. The enemy held it with two hands and brought it straight down with all his
3214might right on the soldier's head. Thus the helmet was very important.
3215
3216"SALVATION" : Our mind is very important, and Satan attacks that in a deadly and vigorous way.
3217Therefore it is very important to protect our mind: its thoughts, ideas, goals, motives, priorities, values,
3218decisions, etc. (Rom. 12:1-2; James 1:8; II Tim. 2:25-26). This is where Satan attacked Eve (Gen. 3:1-7,
3219II Cor. 11:3) and he attacks us there through our pride, selfishness & self-centeredness, as well as
3220through the influence of the world. It is only through salvation that we can have the "mind of Christ" and
3221thus do His will. Being Christ-like starts in our mind, so it must be protected and filled with God's word
3222(studied and memorized).
3223
3224
3225 F. SWORD OF THE WORD 17b
3226
3227"SWORD": The only offensive weapon (prayer, next verse, is the other weapon we have but that isn't
3228listed as a weapon the way the sword is in this soldier analogy). All the other pieces of equipment are
3229defensive and for protection. It is only through the offensive weapons, Bible study and prayer, that we
3230can forge ahead and defeat Satan. These weapons don't work until the previous ones are taken care of,
3231though, because if we have a way to be defeated Satan will seize the initiative and we will be driven back
3232instead of driving him back.
3233
3234"OF THE SPIRIT": ANY weapon used in the flesh will not prosper. Peter used the sword of his flesh
3235and cut Malchus' ear, but on Pentecost he used the sword of the Spirit and thousands of ears were won
3236and opened for Christ. The best defense is a good offense.
3237
3238"WORD OF GOD": Jesus, the living Word (John 1:1-14), is behind the Bible, the written Word. You
3239need to know God's Word in detail, with much of it memorized, so you can really use this weapon. Jesus
3240won His battles when Satan tempted Him by quoting Scriptures. That is how we are to win, too.
3241 68
3242 G. PRAYER 18
3243
3244"AND PRAY": This is our other offensive weapon, equal in importance to knowing God's Word. God
3245doesn't fully pour His Spirit into us in power until we fully pour our spirit out to him in prayer. In our
3246military analogy, communication with the commander is key to receiving orders, help, strength, additional
3247resources, support, etc.
3248
3249"IN THE SPIRIT": Our prayer must be directed by the Holy Spirit just as our Bible study is ("sword OF
3250THE SPIRIT"). The Holy Spirit directs our praying when we let Him (Rom. 8:26). Prayer in our own
3251strength and wisdom brings no answer (James 4:3). We must be sensitive to the Spirit as He leads us in
3252how to pray and just what to pray for.
3253
3254"ON ALL OCCASIONS": "Without ceasing." (Prov. 3:5-6). If you feel like it or not, are busy or not,
3255know what to say or not - still pray. Prayer must be consistent and persistent (II Cor. 10:3-5).
3256
3257
3258PRAYER OF THE ARMOR OF GOD
3259 Heavenly Father, I desire to be obedient by being strong in the Lord and the power of
3260Your might. I see that this is Your will and purpose for me. I recognize that it is essential to put
3261on the armor that You have provided, and I do so now with gratitude and praise that You have
3262provided all I need to stand in victory against Satan and his kingdom. Grant me wisdom to
3263discern the tactics and sneakiness of Satan's strategy against me. I delight to take the armor
3264You have provided and by faith to put it on as effective spiritual protection against the spiritual
3265forces of darkness present in the world today.
3266 I confidently take the belt of truth that You offer me. I take Him who is the truth as my
3267strength and protection. I reject Satan's lies and deceiving ways to gain advantage against me.
3268Grant me discernment and wisdom to recognize the subtle and sneaky ways in which Satan
3269seeks to cause me to accept his lies as truth. I desire to believe only the truth, to live the truth,
3270to speak the truth, and to know the truth. I worship and praise You that You lead me only in the
3271ways of truth. Thank You that Satan cannot stand against the truth.
3272 Thank You for the breastplate of righteousness which you offer me. I eagerly accept it
3273and put it on as my protection. Thank you for reminding me again that all of my righteousness
3274comes from You. I embrace that righteousness which is mine by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,.
3275It is His righteousness that is mine through justification. I reject and repudiate all trust in my own
3276righteousness which is as filthy rags. I ask You to cleanse me of all the times I have counted
3277my own goodness as being acceptable before You. I bring the righteousness of my Lord
3278directly against all of Satan's workings against me. I express my desire to walk in righteousness
3279before God today. By faith I appropriate the righteousness of Christ and invite Him to walk in
3280His holiness in my life today that I might experience His righteousness in total context of
3281ordinary living. I count upon the righteousness of my Lord to be my protection. I know that
3282Satan must retreat from before God's righteousness.
3283 Thank You, Lord, for the sandals of peace You have provided. I desire that my feet
3284should stand on the solid rock of the peace that You have provided. I claim the peace with God
3285which is mine through justification. I desire the peace of God which touches my emotions and
3286feelings through prayer and sanctification (Philippians 4:6). Thank You that as I walk in
3287obedience to You the God of peace promises to walk with me (Philippians 4:9), I thank you that
3288as the God of peace You are putting Satan under my feet (Romans 16:20). I will share this
3289good news of peace with all others that Your Spirit will bring into my life today. Thank you that
3290 69
3291 You have not given me a spirit of fear but of love and power and a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7).
3292Thank you that Satan cannot stand against Your peace.
3293 Eagerly, Lord, I lift up the shield of faith against all the blazing darts that Satan and his
3294hosts fire at me. I recognize that You are my shield and that in Your incarnation and crucifixion
3295You took the arrows of Satan which I deserved. By faith I count upon You to shield me from
3296above and beneath; on my right and my left; in front of me and behind me, that I might be
3297protected, walled in, and encapsulated by You that Satan may gain no way to hurt me or keep
3298me from fulfilling Your will today.
3299 I am willing that any fiery darts of Satan You wish to touch me should do so, but I shall
3300look upon them as refining fires permitted in Your providence and by Your love for my refining
3301and Your glory. Thank You, Lord, that You are a complete and perfect shield and that Satan
3302cannot touch me apart from Your sovereign purpose.
3303 I recognize that my mind is a particular target of Satan's deceiving ways. I take from You
3304the helmet of salvation. I cover my mind and my thoughts with Your salvation. I recognize
3305that the Lord Jesus Christ is my salvation. I fill my head with Him. I invite His mind to be in me.
3306Let me think His thoughts, feel His love and compassion, and discern His will and leading in all
3307things. Let my mind be occupied with the continuing, daily, saving work of my Lord in and
3308through my life. May You meet and defeat all Satanic thoughts in my mind.
3309 With joy I take hold upon the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. I affirm that
3310Your Word is the trustworthy, infallible Word of God. I choose to believe it and to live in its truth
3311and power. Grant me the love for Your Word which comes from the Holy Spirit. Forgive and
3312cleanse me from the sin of neglecting Your Word. Create in me a hunger and thirst to study and
3313know Your Word. Enable me to memorize it and to meditate upon its truth. Grant me proficient
3314recall and skill in using Your Word against all of Satan's subtle attacks against me, even as my
3315Lord Jesus Christ used the Word against Satan. Enable me to use Your Word not only to
3316defend me from Satan, but also to claim its promises and to wield the sword strong against
3317Satan to defeat him, to push him back, to take away from him ground he claims, and to win
3318great victories God through Your Word. Thank You that Satan must retreat from Your Word
3319applied against him.
3320 Thank You, dear Lord, for prayer. Help me to keep this armor well oiled with prayer. I
3321desire to pray at all times with depth and intensity as the Holy Spirit leads me. I trust the Holy
3322Spirit to enable me and to intercede for me and through me. Grant me great supplication and
3323burden for others in God's family of blood-washed saints. Enable me to see their needs and to
3324assist them through prayer as the enemy attacks them. All of these petitions, intercessions, and
3325words of praise I offer up before the true and living God in the name and worthy merit of my
3326Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
3327
3328
3329
3330USE THE WORD OF GOD
3331 Knowing and using God's Word, the sword of the Spirit, is key for victory (Joshua 1:8;
3332Psalm 77:12; I Chronicles 28:9; Matthew 22:37-38; I Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 4:8). That's
3333how Jesus defeated Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). Satan tries to plant doubts about God's word in
3334man's mind. This is how he got to Eve. She misquoted God's Word to Satan and when he
3335added to God's Word (making God seem like He was keeping something good from her) she
3336didn't pick it up. Satan was undermining God's Word, and he won! We must be skillful in the
3337use of our sword to win. Below are some verses to memorize and use.
3338 70
3339 When Jesus was tempted He quoted Scripture to have victory over Satan's temptations.
3340Paul says our only offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Psalm
3341119:9,11 tell us that it's through God's Word that we have victory. When you have these
3342thoughts and attacks use Scripture to have victory. Ask God to give you some verses that will
3343help against these things, write them down and memorize them. Say them over and over when
3344these thoughts attack you. That is the only way to victory, and God guarantees it will work!
3345
3346
3347 BIBLE MEMORY VERSES
3348
3349GOD'S LOVE & ACCEPTANCE The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger,
3350abounding in love. Psalm 103:8
3351THE BIBLE, GOD'S WORD The Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-
3352edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the
3353thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
3354GOD'S TRUTH FREES "If you hold to my teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will
3355know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
3356LIVE IN HOLINESS Therefore, I urge you, brothers in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies
3357as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship. Rom. 12:1
3358SUBMIT TO GOD, RESIST SATAN God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
3359Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God
3360and He will come near to you. James 4:6-8
3361GOD IS GREATER THAN SATAN The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the
3362world. I John 4:4
3363GOD WILL MEET ALL OUR NEEDS My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious
3364riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
3365RENEW YOUR MIND WITH CHRIST Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
3366but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
3367what God's will is -- His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
3368PRAYER The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
3369AUTHORITY OVER DEMONS Jesus replied: "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I
3370have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of
3371the enemy; nothing will harm you." Luke 10:18-19
3372RESISTING SATAN Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a
3373stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
3374Matthew 16:23
3375SIN AS OPENINGS TO DEMONIZING Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and
3376know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way
3377everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
3378CURSES Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is
3379written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Galatians 3:13
3380ANCESTRAL & CHILDHOOD OPENINGS Therefore if anyone is in Christ, He is a new
3381creation; the old has gone, the new has come! II Corinthians 5:17
3382
3383 71
3384 OCCULT OPENINGS Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by
3385them. I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:31
3386NEW AGE OPENINGS Such men (who preach a Jesus other than the Jesus I preached) are
3387false prophets, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for
3388Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. II Corinthians 11:13-15
3389DELIVERANCE FROM DEMONIZING Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the
3390spirits to see whether they are from God ... This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God:
3391Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. I John 4:1-2
3392DELAYED DELIVERANCE The Lord said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is
3393made perfect in weakness." ... For when I am weak, then I am strong. II Corinthians 12:9-10
3394CONTINUING VICTORY Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like
3395a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith. I Peter 5:8-9
3396
3397
3398FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF VERSES FOR ANY NEED SEE APPENDIX 6, pages 95-100.
3399
3400
3401RESIST, STAND FIRM
3402KEYS TO FREEDOM & VICTORY
3403There are 2 keys to attaining and keeping spiritual victory: 1. You have to want it so bad you
3404are willing to pay any price to get it. You must be 100% committed to sticking it out no matter
3405what. 2. The other key is that, as soon as you fail, you get right back up and start again. Don't
3406lay there in defeat but start over. It's taken a lifetime to get into this, it'll take awhile to get out.
3407Gradually you will log more and more time 'sober' and less and less 'under the influence.' That's
3408how it works.
3409PERSEVERE, AS BAD AS IT GETS
3410 Persevere no matter what. God can and will set you free from this. Deliverance is a
3411process He uses to teach us things about Himself and ourselves. He wants us to persevere in
3412faithfulness to Him no matter what for that helps us learn to depend on Him and trust Him. It‟s
3413also part of the way He works to make us more like Jesus.
3414 I know God is greater and will give the victory. I know the victory comes gradually, as we
3415learn to fight and take back ground that was given to the enemy. When the Jews entered the
3416promised land under Joshua God gave them victory, but one battle at a time, even one
3417generation at a time. He didn't give it all to them at once. He wanted them to learn to fight, to
3418need to keep trusting Him, to develop patience and perseverance. What was true of them
3419physically is true of us spiritually. So don't give up. Persevere. It may be hard to see progress
3420but remember - there is improvement. Look back at your life and you'll see improvement in the
3421past to the present. You certainly wouldn't want to go back! Progress is slow but steady, like
3422the story of the tortoise and the hare. Also be encouraged because it's obvious the enemy is
3423now throwing everything at you he can. That means this is as bad as it gets, this is all he can
3424do. If he could do more he would. While this is bad, knowing it is as bad as it gets and that it
3425will gradually but certainly get better helps. It takes time. God is interested in the process you
3426are going through as you grow, not just the final product. You do the same thing with your
3427children.
3428
3429 72
3430 We are told over and over again in the Bible to resist Satan (in Jesus' strength), to stand
3431firm and not give in. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7-8) is a promise to
3432claim. The conditions for the promise to work, though, are that we are to submit to God (total
3433commitment to God after salvation), draw near to God (quality and quantity time in prayer and
3434meditation) and be pure (life a holy life, confessing all known sin). The key is keeping our eyes
3435on Jesus.
3436 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
3437looking for someone to devout. Resist him, standing firm in the faith. (I Peter 5:8-9). Alert
3438means literally to "be sleepless," it implies a purposeful and active state of awareness. It implies
3439being active and watching out for anything that would tone down our alertness (like being
3440seduced by the world's pleasures). Resist is a strong word meaning to oppose. We aren't to
3441hide in fear, hoping he'll leave us alone. Each must wage his own fight, you cannot expect a
3442parent, mate, pastor or friend to resist for you. Stand firm means to stand solid, hard,
3443unbending in the faith. Jesus prayed Peter would stand when attacked by Satan (Luke 22:32).
3444Satan is like a bully. When he or his forces find someone who will give in they push them
3445around. Taking a stand may mean a fight for awhile, but then the promise comes that he will
3446flee. We are to be courageous and not fearful, taking our stand in the Lord (Joshua 1:9; 10:8;
344723:9-11; Leviticus 26:8; Exodus 14:13; I Samuel 17:45-47; II Samuel 22:33-35,40-41).
3448 Since Satan works through getting us to believe his lies, we must really resist and stand
3449fast in this area. By knowing which lies Satan trips you up with you can better be prepared for
3450them. Here are some common ones to look out for.
3451
3452
3453PRAY
3454 Prayer is powerful (John 14:13-14; 15:7,16; Mark 11:24; 11:22-24; Luke 11:9-10; I John
34555:14; Jeremiah 33:3). There should be six parts to your prayer life, all equally well developed.
3456These are:
34571. CONFESSION (I John 1:9; Psalm 66:18; 51:1). To confess means to agree with God that
3458the issue at hand is sin (not a mistake, someone else's fault, etc.) . Use the lists on page 15-17
3459to help in this. After you confess your sin make sure you accept God's forgiveness (Daniel
34609:9,19; Psalm 130:4; 86:5; 78:30; 99:8; 103:3; Amos 7:2). Only God can forgive sin (Mark 2:7;
346111:25; Luke 23:24; 5:24; Matthew 6:14; Colossians 3:13). God doesn't over look sin, he
3462forgives because it was paid for with the blood of Jesus on the cross (Hebrews 9:22; Ephesians
34634:32; 1:7; I Peter 2:24; 3:18; Luke 24:46-47; Colossians 1:14; John 19:30). This forgiveness is
3464available to all (Isaiah 53:6; Colossians 2:13; Romans 8:1). When you confess/admit your sin
3465God forgives it. This means He blots it out (Isaiah 43:25; 1:18; 44:22; Acts 3:19; Colossians
34662:14; Psalm 32), casts it behind His back (a place He can't see it - Isaiah 38:17; Jeremiah
346731:34), forgets it (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17; Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 31:34), makes it disappear
3468where it will never be found (Jeremiah 50:20), has it vanish like the morning mist at noon (Isaiah
346944:22; John 20:31; Matthew 27:51), and casts it into the deepest part of the sea (Micah 7:19)
3470which will then be gone forever (Revelation 21:1).
34712. PRAISE (Psalm 34:1-3; 48:1; Hebrews 13:15). Praise is glorifying God for Who and What
3472He is. It is different than thanking Him for things He has done. We will be praising God for all
3473eternity, so we should start now! God is pleased with our praise (Psalm 22:3; Hebrews 13:5).
3474 The Bible says there is power in praise (Psalm 22:3). Praise can be done by word or
3475song. Make sure you develop a strong praise life (Philippians 4:4; Hebrews 13:15). Read the
3476following passages and turn them into praise prayers: Exodus 15:1-2; Deuteronomy 10:21; 32:3-
3477 73
3478 4,43; I Samuel 2:1-2; II Samuel 22:4, 50; I Chronicles 16:9,25,31; 29:10-12; II Chronicles 5:12-
347914; 20:21-22,27; Psalm 8:1-2; 9:1-3; 31:21; 44:8; 40:16; 47:1-3; 68:3-4; 72:18-19; 86:12-13;
3480104:33; 108:3; 117:1-2; 119:108,175; 138:1-4; 142:7; 149:1,3,6-9; 150:1-6; Isaiah 25:1,9; 38:18-
348119; 60:18; Daniel 2:20-23; Jeremiah 20:13; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Zechariah 9:9; Luke 1:46-47;
3482Luke 10:21; John 4:23024; Ephesians 1:3; Jude 25; Revelation 4:10-11; 5:5,12-13; 15:3-4.
34833. THANKSGIVING (Psalm 116:12; Philippians 4:6; I Thessalonians 5:18). Thanksgiving is
3484thanking God for what He has done, is doing and is going to do in your life (as well as the lives
3485of others). We all appreciate being thanked for things we do, and so does God. Be specific in
3486your thanksgiving. Remember, everything comes from Him and is for our good (Romans 8:28)
3487so we should thank Him for everything!
34884. INTERCESSION (Psalm 28:9; James 5:14-20; I Timothy 2:1-4; I Samuel 12:23). Intercession
3489is prayer for others. Often it is good to keep a list of prayer requests so you remember to pray
3490for them and so you can mark down the answer, too. Then thank God for the answer.
3491Remember God answers EVERY prayer. The answer is either yes (now), wait (later) or no
3492(never). Every prayer gets one of these answers. God is able to do anything, but He isn't
3493always willing to do what it is we think He should do to bail us out (Daniel 3:17). Therefore
3494when you pray for others first be sensitive to how God would have you pray. Don't be so quick
3495to come up with a solution and make that your prayer. God may have another solution (better
3496than ours). Don't pray solutions to God, pray problems and let Him come up with His own
3497solution. You'll find prayers answered more often when you let Him figure out how to take care
3498of something. Often instead of removing something He gives us grace to endure it (II
3499Corinthians 12:7-10). Include that option in your prayers for others
3500CONFESSING THE SINS OF ANOTHER Praying for another person is important. Confessing
3501the sins of another person can help free them from demonic oppression. Sin, especially certain
3502sins, is like opening a door for demons to work in a person‟s life. These sins can be an open
3503invitation. Depression (self-pity), for example, can be almost a „prayer‟ to Satan because one is
3504so negative and sees everything from a very self-centered viewpoint about how it may affect
3505them. It‟s almost like they enjoy wallowing in this, so demons just help them move in that
3506direction by putting thoughts in their mind and the person accepts and feeds on these thoughts.
3507When that person tells God they are sorry for opening the door and confess (admit) that as sin,
3508He forgives them and the sin no longer blocks fellowship between the person and God.
3509However the door is still open and demons, who can get very technical and never want to give
3510up access they have, will continue to use it. When you enter the picture and put the sins of that
3511person under the blood of Jesus and state that demons can no longer use that sin as an access
3512to the person you are closing the door. If the person hasn‟t confessed the sin themselves that
3513still blocks their relationship with God, but by interceding for them we can slow down or stop (at
3514least temporarily) the demonic impact so the person can be free from that influence and be
3515better able to turn to God for themselves. Now if they continue in the sin they keep opening the
3516door. All you can do is keep trying to close it by putting the sin under the blood until the person
3517does so themselves or it becomes evident they don‟t want to and won‟t do it.
35185. PETITION (James 4:2; Hebrews 4:15-16; John 15:7). Petition means asking God for things
3519for yourself. This is legitimate. We shouldn't always pray just for ourselves, nor should we feel
3520unworthy to ever pray for ourselves. Much of what I said under "Intercession" above fits in here.
3521There are some things the Bible says we should ask for: an understanding heart (I Kings 3:7,9),
3522fellowship with other believers (Philemon 4-6), forgiveness (Psalm 25:11,18,20), guidance
3523(Psalm 25:4-5; 27:11), holiness (I Thessalonians 5:23), love (Philippians 1:9-11), mercy (Psalm
35246:1-6), power (Ephesians 3:16), spiritual growth (Ephesians 1:17-19) and to know and do God's
3525will (Colossians 4:12). As you pray for yourself think of a Bible promise to claim for it. God
3526 74
3527 promises He will not forget us (Isaiah 49:15), not fail us (Joshua 1:5), will show us what to do (I
3528Samuel 16:3), will help us (Isaiah 41:10) and will strengthen us (Isaiah 41:10).
3529 Remember, its always good to pray the problem, not the solution. Let God come up with
3530His own solution. Often we miss it because He answers a different way then we expected. He
3531is God. He can answer any way He wants. Just think of the ultimate result: God being glorified
3532and you growing. Pray for that – God to be glorified in the situation no matter what.
35336. LISTEN (I Samuel 3:10; Hebrews 1:1-2; 3:15; Psalm 62:5; 46:10) Good communication is a
3534two-way street. Pause a few minutes and listen to God talk to you. You should do that
3535throughout your day. After all, which is more important: you passing on information to God or
3536Him passing on information to you? Be still in your mind, let Him put in thoughts, feelings,
3537ideas, etc., that you need. Be sensitive to His leading. As with any relationship, the better you
3538know the person the better the communication. Good, deep communication is difficult with a
3539stranger, but the more time you spend with a person the better you can 'hear' them, and that's
3540true with God, too. This is an art that takes time to develop, but won't happen if you don't work
3541on it! For more information on this important art read Appendixes 7 & 8, pages 101-108.
3542PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN GENERAL
3543“Gracious God, I acknowledge that You are worthy of all honor, glory and praise. I am thankful
3544for the victorious work of Your Son, Jesus Christ at Calvary for me. I apply His victory to my life
3545now as I willingly surrender every area of my life to Your will.
3546“Thank you for the forgiveness and righteousness that has been given to me as Your adopted
3547child. I trust in Your protection and provision daily. I know that your love for me never ceases. I
3548rejoice in Your victory, my Lord, over all the principalities and powers in the heavenlies. In faith I
3549stand in Your victory and commit myself to live obediently for You my King.
3550“I desire that my fellowship with You become greater. Reveal to me those things that grieve You
3551and enables the enemy to secure an advantage in my life. I need the Holy Spirit's powerful
3552ministry in my life; bringing conviction of sin, repentance of heart, strengthening my faith and
3553increasing perseverance in resisting temptation.
3554“Help me to die to self and walk in the victory of the new creation You have provided for me. Let
3555the fruits of the Spirit flow out of my life so that You will be glorified through my life. Fill me with
3556your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.
3557“Please place your hedge of protection around me, my possession, my family and all my
3558descendants. Protect us from anything the enemy would try to do against us.
3559“I know that it is Your will that I should stand firm and resist all of the enemy's work against me.
3560Help me to discern the attacks upon my thoughts and emotions. Enable me to stand upon Your
3561Word and resist all the accusations, distortions and condemnations that are hurled against me.
3562“It is my desire to be transformed through the renewing of my mind, so that I will not
3563compromise with the ways of the world, or yield to the enemy's attacks, but be obedient to Your
3564will. So give me the mind of Christ in order that I may have His perspective, wisdom,
3565compassion, holiness and truth.
3566“I draw upon those spiritual resources that You have provided me and I attack the strongholds
3567and plans of the enemy that have been put in place against me. I command in the name of
3568Jesus Christ that the enemy must release my mind, will, emotions and body completely. They
3569have been yielded to the Lord and I belong to Him.
3570
3571
3572 75
3573 “Lord, enable me to become the person You created me to be. Help me as I pray to be strong in
3574faith. Show me how to apply Your Word in my life each day. I know that I wear the full armor of
3575God when I am committed to and stand firmly upon Your Word. I want You to have the supreme
3576place in my life. Give me a hunger and thirst to know You better, to read Your Word more
3577deeply, to pray more readily and to keep you first in all my thoughts all day long.
3578“I surrender myself completely to You, Lord. You are always faithful and You extend Your grace
3579to me constantly, even when I do not realize it. I claim Your promise of forgiveness and
3580cleansing in its fullness. In faith, I receive the victory today that you have already put in place for
3581me. I do this in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior with a grateful heart. AMENâ€
3582
3583
3584
3585HELPING OTHERS
3586 Once you get involved in deliverance, you'll start to see how it can help those around
3587you. You'll want to share with others what you've found. That's great! Remember, though,
3588there is a cost of your time (Mark 7:24), energy (Mark 6:31) and patience (Matthew 17:17).
3589Count the cost first (Mark 3:8-15). Getting involved in spiritual warfare for others may bring
3590attacks against you but do not fear such a thing (Matthew 10:24-27). Often the worse part,
3591though, is the criticism and rejection you get from others, believers and unbelievers alike
3592(Matthew 9:32-34); Matthew 10:24-27). Don't fear that, either (Luke 13:31-32).
3593 One danger to watch out for is thoughts popping into your mind of how spiritual you are,
3594or feelings of pride because of having power over demons. Others may see you as more
3595spiritual, too. This is a real danger. Jesus makes it clear that being able to administer
3596deliverance is no sign of spirituality or even salvation (Matthew 7:21-23).
3597 Keep in mind, too, that others minister deliverance in different ways. I feel strongly
3598that what I have written here is what God has for me according to His Word. However I am not
3599to judge or reject those who do it differently (Mark 9:38-40).
3600 Follow the steps for deliverance outlined in this book on pages 48-54.
3601 When you find yourself in a situation where you feel God wants you to talk or pray about
3602deliverance just go ahead! Don't worry about your lack of knowledge or experience (that's
3603a lie from the demons to silence you). It's God's power and He will give you the right words and
3604wisdom at the right time. Nothing is worse than not doing anything and allowing the demons to
3605continue their work. Just do your best, trusting God for each step of the way. There is no 'right'
3606or 'wrong' way, no magic formula. God is greater, so just bring His power against the evil
3607forces.
3608 One thing to be careful of, though, is your own time and schedule. Don't allow yourself
3609to be a crutch to anyone, for that isn't helping them. Wean them from you and onto God quickly.
3610Don't become too involved with the one you are ministering too. It can become too draining on
3611you and make it hard for you to be objective, plus harder to wean them. At first feeling needed
3612can be very nice, but it is God they should need, not you.
3613 Always consider the big picture when praying for deliverance. Keep deliverance in
3614balance. Should they see a counselor? Would a physical from a doctor be helpful? Are they
3615perhaps not giving you the complete, total picture, but just what they want you to know? Do
3616they REALLY want to be free or are they more interested in having your attention? Is their any
3617sin they aren't willing to get rid of?
3618
3619
3620 76
3621 OUR ROLE IN HELPING OTHERS (What God Expects)
3622 I see myself as a quarterback (football) who throws passes to his receivers. The
3623quarterback must throw the best pass he can – a nice, tight spiral right into the hands of the
3624receiver. But ones the quarterback lets go of the ball it is no longer up to him if it is caught or
3625not. Some receivers drop excellent passes, others make miraculous catches of poorly thrown
3626balls. I used to be very concerned about the results but had to realize that isn‟t up to me. Now
3627there must almost be callousness over my heart to some extent or I would get burnt out quickly.
3628I give the best advice I can, with God‟s help, and know that is all God holds me accountable for
3629– but He doesn‟t hold me accountable to do my best, to throw the best pass I can. If it is caught
3630or not is not up to me but between the persona and God. Many times I don‟t if the pass is
3631dropped or caught, but I keep throwing them anyway. And the more one practices the better he
3632gets at it. I keep a list of all the people who wrote me and the emails beck and forth. There are
3633hundreds and hundreds of names and almost all have more than one or two emails. Some I‟ve
3634been in touch with for years. They have become a core group to whom I send prayer requests,
3635especially about my India trip. They are the ones I ask to pray for me when special needs come
3636up. They keep me updated, sometimes every few months, and we write more regularly when
3637things get difficult. Jesus spoke to millions, thousands liked what He said, hundreds believed, a
3638dozen gave up everything to follow Him (and one of those turned back), three became His inner
3639core and one His best friend (John). That‟s about how it goes. In the parable of the sower and
3640the seed Jesus points out that only about one fourth of the seed sown grows, so if that‟s true of
3641Jesus I can‟t expect better! One more factor is that I know I am only the servant and Jesus
3642expects me to be faithful. He doesn‟t look at numbers.
3643I throw the best pass I can and then pray for them. For the most part that bit of callous self-
3644protection that all people in the service ministries have to have takes care of it. Now when it‟s a
3645person I know well, a really bad situation, especially a relative, then it can get to me more. But
3646that motivates me to be the more faithful in prayer and ministry. Even Jesus had Judas.
3647
3648
3649WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP THOSE STRUGGLING:
3650PRAY continually and regularly for them. Exercise your authority as a believer.
3651LOVE them unconditionally and let them know that over and over. Unconditional love conveys
3652God‟s love. That is very, very important to do.
3653PROTECT them from unwise decisions if you are in a position to do so. Protect them from
3654others, even from themselves.
3655LOWER your expectations of them. Give them time to understand, grow, act. Be patient, as
3656patient as God has been with you. Don‟t baby them or keep bailing them out of situations, but
3657accept them as they are and let God work in them at His pace.
3658
3659
3660
3661
3662 77
3663 IN CLOSING
3664If you've made it to this point in this handbook you must be serious about learning to win your
3665battles. God's blessing to you! Just remember to be patient with yourself. One doesn't become
3666an experienced, top-notch fighter overnight. It takes time. It takes practice. And it takes
3667failures as well. That's how we all learn. For the Christian, though, none of our failures are
3668fatal, and neither are their final. Victory will come, in this life and the next.
3669
3670When I first heard the story of the tortoise and the hare as a young boy I know I found a piece of
3671wisdom I could build on, and that story has helped motivate and shape who I have become. I
3672want to pass it on to you as well. Persevere! Don't quit! Keep going! You don't have to be
3673moving fast. In fact, you probably won't be moving very fast at all. But don't let that bother you.
3674Slow and steady does it. Stay faithful to God. Keep your eyes on Him, not on Satan and his
3675forces. Spend time in the Word and in prayer each day. Fight each battle as it comes. Don't
3676quit, run or give in. When you lose a battle, and you will (we all do) get up and keep going.
3677Remember, the race is not to the swift but to those who keep on running!
3678
3679You've a race before you. It's called the Christian life. One of the tools God has provided to
3680help us through to the end is spiritual warfare. Prayer, worship, sharing the gospel, helping
3681others, learning the Word, all these and many more are other tools He has given us as well.
3682Keep all your tools sharp and use the correct one for the job at hand. But when the job is
3683spiritual warfare, make sure you use your weapon to the best of you ability. Each battle will
3684sharpen your skills for the next battle.
3685
3686It's my prayer that you are found faithful by the One Who has called you and Who works in you
3687to conform you to the image of His Son!
3688
3689
3690I'd love to hear from you. If you have questions, comments, suggestions, experiences you can
3691share or anything you'd like to write about I'd truly love to hear from you. I‟ve experienced what
3692I have written about. I am 61 and pastor a Baptist church in Doylestown, PA. My theological
3693training includes a ThM and DMin from Dallas Theological Seminary. I have an online spiritual
3694warfare website for information and counsel. If I can help you in any way you can contact me at
3695jerry@schmoyer.net.
3696
3697May God bless you and use you for the glory of His Kingdom. If we never meet in this life we'll
3698meet in heaven and share stories of the victories our Savior and Lord have given us!
3699
3700
3701 If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, testimonies or anything
3702 you would like to be in contact with me about please feel free to write me at
3703 jerry@schmoyer.net
3704
3705
3706
3707
3708 78
3709 APPENDIX 1
3710 HOW DO WE KNOW GOD EXISTS
3711 “If we have full employment and growth--if we have cities of gold and alabaster--but our
3712children have not learned to walk in goodness, justice and mercy, then the American
3713experiment, no matter how gilded, will have failed. In modernity, nothing has been more
3714consequential, or more public in its consequences, than large segments of American society
3715privately turning away from God, or considering Him irrelevant, or declaring Him dead.
3716Dostoyevsky reminded us in Brothers Karamazov that „if God does not exist, everything is
3717permissible.‟ We are now seeing „everything.‟ And much of it is not good to get used to.†--
3718William J. Bennett, The Washington Times Pulpit Helps, March 1996, p. 10.
3719
3720 When people discount the fact that there is a God, the repercussions of that affect every
3721area of their life. Without God there are no moral absolutes, no ultimate accountability, nothing
3722beyond ourselves. Man becomes his own God and anything goes. In fact, many deny the
3723existence of God just so they won‟t have to be accountable to a higher power or submit to His
3724will. They want to live their own lives the way they want, totally unhindered. They say the idea
3725of „God‟ is just something emotional cripples use for a crutch to escape reality. Is this so? How
3726can we be sure there is a God? What „proof‟ do we have that God exists? How can well
3727answer sincere doubters (I Peter 3:15), or still our own unbelief?
3728
3729NO SCIENTIFIC PROOF In the last article we saw proof that the Bible is indeed God‟s inspired
3730Word. The Bible does claim the existence of God (assumes it, never tries to prove it). Still, to
3731use God to prove the Bible and the Bible to prove God is circular reasoning. What proof is there
3732beyond the Bible? First of all, you can‟t prove God by a scientific method any more than you
3733can prove Napoleon by the scientific method. Neither can be seen, touched or contacted with
3734our senses. They can‟t be put under a microscope to be analyzed. They each are accepted on
3735the basis of dependable evidence. There is rational proof for God, though. We do have much
3736dependable evidence, if we choose to accept it.
3737
37381. THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (Cause & Effect)
3739 Cause: There must be an uncaused cause or necessary being for each effect. No
3740effect can be produced without a cause. When you see a tennis ball lying on the floor you
3741assume (and rightly so) that someone created it and someone placed it there. It didn‟t just
3742appear on its own out of nowhere. The same is true of the universe, us, love, hate, etc. -- each
3743of these effects had to have a cause behind it equal to or greater than it.
3744 Motion: If you would see that tennis ball rolling across the floor, you would then assume
3745(and rightly so), that some power outside the ball and greater than it started it moving. The
3746universe is full of motion. Something cannot start and sustain itself. An external agent or force
3747is required. There must be a being that is the ultimate source of all motion.
3748 Interrelationships: Now our tennis balls hang in a large circle by string, each one
3749swinging and hitting the one next to it. The motion keeps going around and around the circle.
3750Each ball is dependent on the others for the system to work. There must be a final being or
3751force who is above these and independent of them to cause it to start. While some evolutionists
3752might have said that the „big bang‟ caused the motion and interrelationships, this is being less
3753and less accepted as the answer even among atheistic evolutionists.
3754 Perfection: There is a pyramid of beings, from insects to men, in an ever-increasing
3755degree of perfection. There must be a final being who is absolutely perfect, the source of all
3756perfection. This ultimate perfection is the start, not the finish produce, of all else. Things don‟t
3757
3758 79
3759 build from less to greater, as the second law of thermodynamics states. It says that everything
3760is winding down (entropy) and points back to a starting time. It shows that things now are
3761moving away from perfection, not toward it as evolutionists would say.
3762
37632. THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (Order & Design) Look at your wrist watch. The order
3764and design there causes you to assume that some intelligent being was behind its creation. If
3765God isn‟t behind everything, than „chance‟ is. If God didn‟t create this world, then „chance‟ did.
3766If God isn‟t in control of everything, „chance‟ is. It takes more faith to believe in chance than in
3767God! What „chance‟ is there of finding a watch just naturally formed of the materials in ground?
3768What chance is there of the Gettysburg Address resulting from an explosion in a print shop?
3769What chance is there that all the universe and life in it would just come about by chance? What
3770chance is there for a liver, or heart, or reproduction system to just come about by chance (and it
3771would have to be completely formed, for a species could not continue if any of these were only
3772partly evolved)? What are the chances of everything working out so perfectly: gravity, the tilt of
3773the earth, freezing temperature of water, rotation of the earth, proportion of water to land,
3774distance from the sun, etc., just working out? All that is in the universe, the human body, or an
3775individual cell tells us there is order and design. The „chance‟ of it all happening is too great to
3776even be considered! God created nature to show that He exists (Psalm 19:1).
3777
37783. THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (Moral) Suppose our tennis balls, or our wrist
3779watch, all of a sudden developed a moral nature when nothing else around it did, what would
3780this signify? Man, and man alone, has a moral nature. All peoples in all times and places have
3781had moral standards of right and wrong. While they haven‟t been the same, they have all know
3782there were such standards and that was such a thing as right and wrong (Romans 2:14-15). All
3783people have an innate understanding of these. There is something built into everyone which
3784cries out for justice, for reward for good and punishment for evil. We naturally look forward to a
3785future time when this is so. Where does this come from? Many naturally looks to an afterlife to
3786have these settled. We all know there must be something more to life than existing for one‟s
3787self then dying and being buried like a dog or a leaf. A restless is built into man showing there
3788must be something more to life, something from without to live for. All of this points to God. All
3789of this also shows there is a God who built it into all men. Where else could it have come from?
3790How could something like love and hate evolve? If so, why just in man? These strong emotions
3791had to be created be a greater being than man, then passed on to man. They couldn‟t come
3792from „chance.‟
3793
37944. THE ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT Man everywhere and in all time has naturally known
3795there is a power greater than and outside himself that he has worshipped. Satan usually
3796counterfeited and took the worship, but it is naturally in man to believe God and seek Him.
3797Those today who deny God‟s existence often have to shout so loud and long that one wonders if
3798it isn‟t the voices inside they are fighting against. When the infidel Robert G. Ingersoll was
3799delivering his lectures against Christ and the Bible, his oratorical ability usually assured him of a
3800large crowd. One night after an inflammatory speech in which he severely attacked man's faith
3801in the Savior, he dramatically took out his watch and said, "I'll give God a chance to prove that
3802He exists and is almighty. I challenge Him to strike me dead within 5 minutes!" First there was
3803silence, then people became uneasy. Some left the hall, unable to take the nervous strain of
3804the occasion, and one woman fainted. At the end of the allocated time, the atheist exclaimed
3805derisively, "See! There is no God. I am still very much alive!" After the lecture a young fellow
3806said to a Christian lady, "Well, Ingersoll certainly proved something tonight!" Her reply was
3807memorable. "Yes, he did," she said. "He demonstrated that even the most defiant sinner
3808cannot exhaust the patience of the Lord in just 5 minutes!" Another man added, " As I was
3809 80
3810 coming downtown today, a belligerent little fellow came running out of an alley, daring me to hit
3811him. Do you suppose I actually struck him, just because he challenged me to do so? In the
3812same way, our Lord will not strike everyone dead who defies Him. We should be thankful that in
3813this age He is still operating in grace and desires to show His love rather than His wrath."
3814(Romans 9:22)
3815
38165. SUBJECTIVE INNER AWARENESS Inside each one of God‟s people there is an inner voice
3817that says “Yes!†when the question of God‟s existence comes up. Demons try to flash thoughts
3818of doubt through our mind, but whenever those questions pop up realize it isn‟t our minds but
3819Satan‟s trick to take away our peace. When a Christian praises God in song or worship or
3820prayer, something inside says “YES!†When we talk to others about Jesus there is that “YES!â€
3821in our spirit. When we heard a godly speaker or read a special passage in the Bible the “YES!â€
3822is clearly there. That is God‟s Spirit confirming the truth of God‟s existence (Galatians 4:6).
3823
3824WHY DOES MAN DENY THE EXISTENCE OF GOD? Man doesn‟t want to be accountable to
3825God. Man is basically self-centered and prideful, and like Satan, wants to be independent of
3826God. Man wants to be his or her own God with no other higher power to be accountable to.
3827Thus man must convince himself that there is no God in order to accomplish this. The fact of
3828the matter is that God does exist and will reveal Himself to any and all who are open to seriously
3829seek Him (Heb. 11:6).
3830
3831ANSWERING DOUBTERS There is no answer for those who aren‟t open to consider the
3832possibility of a God. Arguments won‟t force anyone to believe something they don‟t want to
3833believe. But for serious seekers the above answers should help. Actually, against this evidence
3834it is up to them to prove to you that there is no God. They are going against the majority opinion
3835for all the ages. Point out to them that if they are right and you are wrong, you have not lost
3836anything, for your believe has at least given you a more peaceful and humane existence. But if
3837you are right and they are wrong, then not only is their quality of life in this existence at stake,
3838but so is their eternal destiny. Are they so sure there is no God they that they are willing to bet
3839eternity in hell on it if they are wrong?
3840
3841SO WHAT? This is more than an academic exercise for us Christians, too. Have you ever
3842thought how your life would be different if there was no God? What if this life was all there was,
3843everything happened by chance, and there was no God (and therefore no Jesus or Bible)?
3844Thinking about this for even a short time should help us feel compassion for those who face life
3845this way, and also cause us to thank and praise God all the more for His existence and His so
3846clearly revealing Himself to us! That is certainly reason to thank and praise Him!
3847
3848
3849
3850
3851 81
3852 APPENDIX 2
3853
3854 HOW DO WE KNOW THE BIBLE IS GOD‟S WORD?
3855 Roy Whetstine purchased a stone "from an amateur collector at an Arizona mineral show for
3856$10,000," according to Newsweek, Nov. 24, 1986. It has since been "valued at as high as $2.28 million"
3857and declared to be the world's largest sapphire.
3858 Western-world Christians have in their possession a precious gem of far greater value which
3859many treat just as cheaply. They fail to avail themselves of the joy such wealth could bring them, fail to
3860share it with their own families, and even fail to carry it with them to the house of God. They leave it lying
3861wherever it happened to be the last time the furniture was dusted under newspapers and magazines. If it
3862were stolen, they probably would not miss it for a month.
3863 There are multitudes in many parts of the world who would gladly give a month's salary, go for
3864days without food, and walk great distances to get one copy of the Bible to share with their entire
3865fellowship. Let's not be too quick to cast aspersions upon the intelligence of the amateur gem collector.
3866Often we are just as bad in attributing the true worth to the Bible.
3867GOD REVEALS HIMSELF God has revealed Himself to man in a general way in nature (Romans 1;
3868Psalm 19) but in a very specific way in the Bible. The Bible (which means “book†in Greek) is composed
3869of 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. The Old Testament focuses on the
3870Jews and the law. The New Testament focuses on Jesus and grace.
3871POSSIBLE & NECESSARY While some doubt God could or would reveal Himself to man, it is entirely
3872possible that God would reach out and contact man in this way. Since He is sovereign He can certainly
3873do this if He so chose. Not only is this possible, it is also necessary, for if God had not contacted man,
3874then man would not know God. Thus a revelation from God, like the Bible, is possible and necessary.
3875INSPIRATION The Bible claims to be God‟s Word (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21). Jesus considered
3876and spoke of the Old Testament as inspired by God (Mt. 22:29; 24:37; Mk. 7:13; Lk. 24:44).
3877“Inspiration,†meaning “God-breathed†in Greek, refers to God working through the 40 men who wrote
3878the Bible (over 1500 years) to insure that what they wrote is without error. Without taking away their
3879individual personality and its contributions to their writing, God showed them what to include, what to
3880omit, and made sure all was accurate. God revealed some parts of the Bible, things man wouldn‟t have
3881known on their own (creation, Revelation, etc.). Now God illuminates the Bible for us, showing us the
3882truth of His Word as we read it.
3883MULTIPLE AUTHOR THEORY It isn‟t uncommon today to hear someone say that Genesis is
3884composed of material from 5 different writers or that two men wrote Isaiah. That isn‟t true. It just
3885undermines inspiration, and makes the books younger than they really were. Thus prophecies in the
3886books can be said to be written after the event. This takes away from the greatness of the Bible. Liberal
3887scholars for years said Daniel had to have been written after the fantastic events described in it, for they
3888could not have been prophesied. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls has contradicted this. It isn‟t
3889surprising that, despite the discovery in 1947, Daniel still hasn‟t been released to the public! Scientific
3890study shows the books weren‟t written by different authors.
3891 Researchers in Israel, after subjecting the first five books of the Bible to exhaustive computer
3892analysis, came to a different conclusion than expected. The Torah, or Books of Moses, had long been
3893assumed by skeptics to be the work of multiple authors. But Scripture scholar Moshe Katz and computer
3894expert Menachem Wiener of the Israel Institute of Technology analyzed the book's material through
3895sophisticated computer analysis. They discovered an intricate pattern of significant words concealed in
3896the canon, spelled by letters separated at fixed intervals. Mr. Katz says that the statistical possibilities of
3897such patterns happening by chance would be one to three million. The material suggests a single,
3898inspired author -- in fact it could not have been put together by human capabilities at all. Adds Mr.
3899Wiener, "So we need a non- rational explanation. And ours is that the (Torah) was written by God
3900through the hand of Moses."
3901
3902
3903 82
3904 OLD TESTAMENT MANUSCRIPTS Some are quick to point out that no Old Testament manuscripts
3905from before the Massoretic text in AD 900 exist, and that leaves open the possibility of errors in
3906transcribing the Bible from generation to generation. The truth is, though, that the Jews were very
3907careful in copying the Bible. They would count each letter in each line, even in each column, total them
3908up, and make sure every letter was exact. If not the whole page would be burned. Also, comparing the
3909Massoretic text with translations in Latin, Greek, Syrian, etc., which have been passed down from
3910generation to generation in their own countries and languages, and which have not been influenced by
3911other translations, show that they all say the same thing. This shows there haven‟t been errors from
3912when they were originally translated hundreds and hundreds of years earlier.
3913 Archaeological discoveries are disproving those who question the Bible‟s accuracy and
3914supporting its inspiration. A recent archaeological report in the science magazine Discovery contained
3915amazing findings about the Old Testament. Before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, the
3916oldest Hebrew manuscripts dated about AD 900. The Dead Sea Scrolls, in startling agreement with the
3917Masoretic text, dated to about 150 BC. Whole or parts of almost every Old Testament book are present.
3918When these are compared to the Masoretic text over 1,000 years later, they are both the same! Perhaps
3919one word per large document differs, and these are small things like spelling changes (like „honor‟ for
3920„honour‟). None affect the meaning of the passages they are in.
3921 There is also the Septuagint (LXX), a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, made in
3922Egypt in 200 BC. It, too, agrees with the other translations and manuscripts. Remember, these all were
3923passed down over hundreds of years, in different parts of the world, without being compared to each
3924other until recently. Yet all say the same thing!
3925 Now archaeologists have discovered a pair of tiny silver scrolls that date back to about 600 BC!
3926While digging at the site of a 5th-century church in Jerusalem, researchers found a Roman legionnaires'
3927cemetery. Exploring still deeper, they found a small burial cave containing the scrolls. Very carefully,
3928less than a hundredth of an inch at a time, the scrolls were unrolled. On each of them appeared an
3929excerpt from the book of Numbers that included the word Jehovah. These scrolls date back to the days
3930before the exile to Babylon, earlier than liberal scholars said Pentateuch was written.
3931NEW TESTAMENT MANUSCRIPTS There are many more New Testament manuscripts than Old.
3932There are about 4,000 manuscripts of the New Testament available to use today. The earliest ones date
3933back to the time of contemporaries of Jesus (early 100‟s). Excellent manuscripts date from the 300‟s.
3934(For more information abut this see # 14 in “18 Reasons From Outside The Bible Proving It Is God‟s
3935Word†later in this paper). In addition, there are hundreds of Bible verses quoted by early writers, and
3936these help support the other manuscripts. As with the Old Testament, the New Testament was
3937translated into many other languages (Syriac, Egyptian, Latin, etc.). They also were copied and passed
3938on for hundreds of years without comparison to others, and when recently compared all support each
3939other. There are minor changes (spelling, punctuation, etc.) but nothing that affects any doctrine.
3940THE CANON The term „canon‟ is given to the collection of 66 books in our Bible. How do we know the
3941right books were included? Could some uninspired books have been included and/or some inspired
3942ones left out? Again, if it is possible and necessary for God to reach out to man and let His will be
3943known, that it is also possible and necessary that He could make sure the right books are included, and
3944that they come down accurately to us today.
3945 The New Testament canon developed over many years and much prayer. In various locations
3946many godly men found certain books to be helpful and used of God above other
3947books. Gradually the same group was used in many places and in a series of
3948meetings and councils, after much prayer and seeking God‟s leading, it was affirmed
3949that the 27 books we have today were the ones God wanted in the New Testament.
3950By comparing them to the books not included one can easily see a big difference in
3951literary style, spiritual value and historical accuracy.
3952CHAPTERS AND VERSES When originally written, the Bible didn‟t have chapters or
3953verses. Chapters were formed by Stephen Langton in 1228 and verses by Robert Stephanus in 1551.
3954These were added to make it easier to find and identify places in the Bible. Because they were added by
3955men, they aren‟t always 100% accurate in where they are placed.
3956
3957 83
3958 ERRORS AND CONTRADICTIONS Some say the Bible has contradictions. It is way beyond the scope
3959of this article to consider each one, but there are well-written books available that consider each seeming
3960contradiction and clearly explain how these passages do not contradict. .
396118 REASONS FROM OUTSIDE THE BIBLE PROVING IT IS GOD'S WORD Anyone can write a book
3962and claim that it is from God. Thus to really pin down the authority of the Bible we need to look at
3963supporting evidence from outside the Bible. These are given below:
3964 1. The Bible is theocentric (God-centered), not anthropocentric (man-centered). If man wrote
3965the Bible, he would be the leading character. In the Bible God is sovereign and absolute authority (I
3966Chronicles 29:11; Isaiah 43:7). Man's highest good is submission to His will. The purpose of all we do is
3967for His glory (Revelation 4:11). All other 'holy' books focus on man and build up man, not God.
3968 2. The Bible is monothiestic (one God), not polythiestic (more than one god). 'Scholars' say that
3969man started with many gods and eventually evolved to having just one. The Bible, at the beginning of
3970man, says there was just one. If man were writing the Bible he would have one God evolve out of many.
3971Even the fact that the Jews were worshipping the golden calf and other gods at the time the first
3972commandment was written (which say God was the only god, Exodus 20:1-6) show that even they
3973believed there was more than one God.
3974 3. The fact of the Trinity helps prove man didn't write the Bible. Would natural man write about
3975something that he could not understand, something with no parallel or analogy in nature? No finite mind
3976has ever comprehended how 3 separate persons could form one essence/substance. If man wrote the
3977Bible he would NOT write about a Triune God.
3978 4. If man wrote the Bible, would he say that the world was created from nothing (Hebrews 11:3)?
3979Nothing is a state man has never known. He would come up with some rational explanation, as
3980evolutionists try to do today.
3981 5. If man wrote the Bible would he say his basic nature is evil and sinful (Romans 3:23)? Would
3982man say there was nothing he could do but accept God's cure for sin (Ephesians 2:8-9). Every religion
3983man has developed or 'holy' book man has written has something man must do to earn/deserve removal
3984of sin, but not the Bible.
3985 6. The extent of revelation in the Bible shows it is beyond what man could or would write. How
3986could man write of things beyond his own senses and experiences? Yet the Bible speaks authoritatively
3987about heaven, hell and eternity without hesitation (I Corinthians 2:9-12; II Corinthians 5:8; Luke 16:19;
3988Revelation 19:20-21).
3989 7. If man wrote the Bible, its ethics would be based on individual, relative decisions (Judges
399017:6) rather than absolutes. Because man is a child of wrath (Ephesians 2:3) by nature his ethics would
3991be corrupt (as they are today apart from the Bible) and would end in chaos. One example: the Bible tells
3992us to use things (I Cor. 7:31) and love people (Rom. 12:10). Man's ethics are the opposite.
3993 8. It is humanly impossible for 44 authors over a period of 1500 years unknown to each other
3994and from vastly different backgrounds and cultures to arrive at 66 books so internally systematic and
3995consistent as the Bible. It would be like 44 men each tossing a stone on a pile over 1500 years and the
3996finished product being a modern hospital. There must have been one Author behind it all.
3997 9. The fantastic number of fulfilled prophecies in the Bible show that it is no book authored by
3998mere man. Experts in probability give these statistics concerning the following prophecies:
3999 7 prophecies against Tyre in Ezekiel 26:3-4,7-8,12,14,21 coming true: 1 in 7.5 x 107
4000 5 prophecies against Samaria in Hosea 13:16 & Micah 1:6 come true: 1 in 4 x 104
4001 5 prophecies against Gaza & Ashkelon in Amos 1:8, Jer 47:5, Zeph 2:4-7: 1 in 1.2 x 104
4002 3 prophecies against Moab & Ammon in Ezek 25:3-4, Jer 48:47; 49:6: 1 in 103
4003 9 prophecies against Edom in Isa 34:6-15, Jer 49:17-18; Ezek 25:13-14; 35:5-7: 1 in 104
4004 8 prophecies against Babylon in Isa 13:19-22; 14:23; Jer 51:26,43: 1 in 5 x 109
4005 9 prophecies about Jerusalem in Jeremiah 31:38-40: 1 in 8 x 1010
4006 7 prophecies about Palestine in Lev 26:31-33; Ezek 36:33-35: 1 in 2 x 105
4007
4008 84
4009 9 prophecies about Petra & Edom in Isa 34:6-18; Ezek 25:13-14; 35:5-7:1 in 2 x 105
4010 4 prophecies about Thebes & Memphis in Ezek 30:13-15: 1 in 103
4011 4 prophecies about Nineveh in Nahum 1:8,10; 2:6; 3:10,13,19: 1 in 102
4012The probability of these 11 prophecies coming true is 1 in 5.76 x 1059! This is almost impossible to
4013visualize. Suppose this number were silver dollars. There would be enough to fill 1028 suns! Or think of
4014it like this. In the universe there are about 2 trillion galaxies, each containing about 100 million stars.
4015From our 5 x 1059 we could make all of the stars in all of the galaxies 2 x 105 times! Only one silver
4016dollar in all of these stands for the chance a writer could have guessed all these prophecies correctly!
4017Even more astounding is the fact that these are only 11 prophecies. There are literally hundreds and
4018hundreds of others which have already come true. (For more information about this see "Evidence That
4019Demands A Verdict" by Josh McDowell).
4020 10. The exceptional literary value of the Bible cannot be attributed to the natural ability of human
4021writers. How could such unlearned men write such a surpassing piece of literary genius beyond their
4022own ability? The Bible far exceeds the intellectual and moral qualifications of other books being written
4023in its time such as the Talmud (Jewish), Apocrypha (Christian) and Koran (Islamic). The living quality of
4024the words, reaching to all ages and social positions of people for century after century show its
4025uniqueness. The Bible is deep enough for the most gifted scholar to spend a lifetime in one small part of
4026it and never get out all there is, but also simple enough for a young child to read and understand. One of
4027the greatest truths expressed is just 7 monosyllables, each 3 letters or less: "You in me and I in you"
4028(John 14:20). The Bible stories are never hurried or cramped, neither are they drawn out and boring.
4029The Bible does not gloss over the sins of its heroes, neither does it overemphasize them. The values
4030and opinions of the writers are not the focus, just their.
4031 11. Another proof for the Bible not being written by man is its enduring freshness. Voltaire said
4032150 years ago: "Within 100 years the Bible will be obsolete." It has not happened, in fact his home now
4033houses a Bible society! The Bible never grows old. No other book in the world not only invites but
4034sustains a ceaseless re-reading. Other books come and go, but the Bible has remained for thousands of
4035years. It remains a fresh, up-to-date book, not an old book.
4036 12. If man wrote the Bible would he say to further spiritual ends by love & reliance on divine
4037power or by political force? The Inquisition and Crusades in Christianity as well as the history of Islam,
4038Shintoism, Nazism, etc., all show man used political force to spread their beliefs. The Bible commands
4039to do it in a way that is not natural for man, the opposite way.
4040 13. No human scientist has been able to avoid being obsolete in a later time. Science is always
4041changing but the Bible is scientifically infallible in all ages. The Bible spoke accurately of scientific truth
4042thousands of years before man 'discovered' them, while the very writers often believed the opposite of
4043what they were writing. For example, the Bible says the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11)
4044yet until recent times doctors bled people to cure them. The Bible says the physical world is basically
4045non-physical in its ultimate essence (Hebrews 11:3; Colossians 1:16-17), something no human writer
4046could or would have guessed at. The Bible has always said the earth was round (Isaiah 40:22), rotates
4047(Job 38:12,14), has gravity (Job 26:7), and the whole solar system orbits in the universe (Psalm 19:16).
4048Man believed the moon was greater than the earth for many centuries but the Bible says opposite
4049(Genesis 1:16). Even atomic energy and its results is found in II Peter 3:10-12 (the Greek word means
4050to "loose" or "set free" as what happens when atoms are released). The laws of thermodynamics are
4051there, too: #1 (Genesis 2:1-2; Hebrews 4:3,10) and # 2 (Psalm 102:25-27; Hebrews 1:10-12; Romans
40528:20-22). There are hundreds of other examples, too.
4053 14. The number and accuracy of the ancient manuscripts of the Bible that have come down to
4054us today show God's work in giving and keeping the Bible for us. Of Caesar's "Gallic Wars" we have
4055only 9 manuscripts, the oldest 900 years after the original. Of the "History of Thucydides" and "History of
4056Herodotus" we have only 8 manuscripts each, from 1300 years after they happened. Yet of the Old
4057Testament we have 1,700 manuscripts, the oldest 100 years after the original. The variation percentage
4058between them is one minor difference every 2,000 words! Evidence for the New Testament is even
4059greater: 13,000 manuscripts with the oldest portion 10 years after the original and the variation
4060percentage being only one minor difference every 200,000 words! Manuscripts have come down in
4061 85
4062 many different languages and large portions come to us quoted in the works of hundreds of authors. The
4063recent discover of the Dead Sea Scrolls pushed back the date of the earliest Old Testament manuscripts
40641,000 years, yet there was no difference between them later manuscripts.
4065 15. The study of archaeology continues to prove there are no historical inaccuracies in the Bible.
4066William F. Albright, one of the greatest archaeologists ever, said, "The Bible's incredible historical
4067memory has been many times validated by the process of discovery. No archaeological discovery has
4068contradicted a Biblical reference." For many years scholars thought the Bible in error about the Hittites
4069for no trace of that vast and great civilization had ever been found. In recent years, though, much has
4070been found about them, again validating the truth of the Bible.
4071 16. The preservation and regathering of the nation Israel after 2,000 years is proof of the
4072greatness of the Bible. It has never happened, nor was it ever thought possible to happen, for a group of
4073people to survive 2,000 without a homeland yet stay a separate cultural unity. That has happened with
4074the Jews. Where are the Ammonites? Philistines? Hittites? Not only that, but the Jews are now back in
4075their homeland, truly a sociological miracle!
4076 17. The inner testimony of the Holy Spirit inside His people gives us assurance that the Bible
4077is true. He gives us peace and assurance within that the Bible indeed is God's book.
4078 18. The life and resurrection of Jesus also give validity to the Bible. If everything about Him,
4079His deity and His resurrection is true, then the Bible is true. If it is not true the Bible cannot be from God.
4080This will be considered in the next article about the deity of Jesus.
4081BIBLE: A MIRACLE BOOK
4082 1. It is miraculous in its origin -- coming to us by divine inspiration.
4083 2. It is miraculous in its durability -- outlasting the opposition of its critics and surviving the attempts of
4084its enemies to exterminate it.
4085 3. It is miraculous in its results -- transforming the lives of those who read and believe it.
4086 4. It is miraculous in its harmony -- agreeing in all its parts, even though written over a period of 1600
4087years by about 40 different authors.
4088 5. It is miraculous in its message -- telling of many occasions when God supernaturally intervened in
4089the affairs of men to accomplish his redemptive purposes.
4090 6. It is miraculous in its preservation -- maintaining its accuracy and reliability down through the
4091centuries.
4092 Yes, the Bible is God's Miracle Book!
4093
4094 If you are cold, let it WARM you,
4095 If you are asleep, let it WAKE you,
4096 If you are a backslider, let it WARN you,
4097 If you are defiled, let it WASH you.
4098 If you are disobedient, let it WHIP you.
4099 If you are uncertain, let it WITNESS to you.
4100 If you are unsaved, let it WIN you.
4101THEY WHY DOESN‟T EVERYONE BELIEVE? If there is this great body of evidence, why do so many
4102deny the Bible as being God's Word? Let me answer that with a story. Many years ago, while on a visit
4103to England, a wealthy man was fascinated by a powerful microscope. Looking through its lens to study
4104crystals and the petals of flowers, he was amazed at their beauty and detail. he bought one and took it
4105home. He thoroughly enjoyed using it until one day he examined some food he was planning to eat for
4106dinner. He discovered tiny living creatures were crawling in it. He was especially fond of this food and
4107didn't know what to do. Finally he concluded there was only one way out of this dilemma: he smashed
4108the microscope to pieces. That is what man tries to do to the Bible when it shows up his sin. Like bugs
4109under a rock run from the light when the rock is turned over, so man in sin runs from the light of God's
4110truth about him. That is what many do with the Bible because it reveals their sin. What a privilege we
4111have in owning and reading God‟s written message to mankind!
4112
4113
4114 86
4115 APPENDIX 3
4116
4117 HOW DO WE KNOW JESUS IS GOD?
4118 Did Jesus really live? Was there REALLY a historical person by the name of Jesus, from
4119Nazareth, who lived in Palestine early in the first century AD? Can you prove it?
4120
4121JESUS THE MAN There is so much historical proof, in the Bible and by secular historians alive
4122at the time, that no one doubts that Jesus lived as a man. Its a proven historical reality. Ralph
4123Waldo Emerson has said, "The name of Jesus is not so much written as plowed into the history
4124of the world." Was there really a person named Jesus? It‟s not even questioned.
4125
4126JESUS THE GOD However, was this human Jesus also God? Was He divine? That‟s where
4127many people, not wanting to admit to any God to whom they are accountable, deny Jesus is
4128God. Still, there is proof, abundant proof, that Jesus is God. Let‟s look at some of it.
4129
4130I. JESUS CLAIMED TO BE GOD Some try to say Jesus never claimed to be God, but that just
4131isn‟t true. “Before Abraham was, I Am" (John 8:58) "Father, Glorify me with the glory which I
4132had with You before the world was." John 17:5 "I and the Father are One." John 10:30 He
4133accepted worship as if He were God. He claimed to be able to forgive sin (Mark 2:5). Look at
4134the following list:
4135Claimed Equality With God Matt. 28:19; John 5:17-18; 12:45; 13:20; 14:1, 9
4136Claimed Oneness With God Matt 4:7; Luke 4:12; 8:39; John 10:30, 36-38; 17:11, 21-22; 20:28
4137Claimed To Be Sent By God Jn 4:34; 5:37; 7:16-29; 8:16; 9:4; 11:42; 14:24; 16:28; 17:18,23
4138Claimed To Be The Son of God Matt 16:17; 22:42-45; Mark 12:35-37; 14:61-62; Luke 20:41;
4139 John 9:35-37; 22:69-70 (“Son†does not mean He is inferior to His “Father†but of the same
4140 substance, equal in right and position. God is called the ETERNAL Father, thus Jesus the eternal Son.
4141 Thus they both always existed. It‟s not that the Father came first! This Father-Son reference is just to
4142 show family closeness and equality. Reading in inferiority for the Son is way beyond the limits of legitimate
4143interpretation.
4144Claimed To Be From Heaven John 6:33, 35, 51
4145Claimed Attributes of God John 8:42; 16:15
4146 Omniscience Matt 11:21-22; Luke 10:13
4147 Omnipresence Matt 18:20; 28:20
4148 Omnipotence Mark 14:61-63; Luke 22:69-70; John 2:19, 10:18; 11:25-27
4149 Forgive sin Mark 2:5,9,10; Luke 5:20-21; 7:48-49
4150 Divine Authority Matt 7:21-23; 28:18
4151 Honor John 5:22-23
4152 Pre-Existence John 8:58; 17:5; 1:1f
4153LORD, LUNATIC or LIAR Many people try to write Jesus off as just a nice man, a good
4154teacher, a fine example. That could have been if it weren‟t for His claims of deity. When
4155someone goes around saying He is God, can forgive sin, and accepting worship as God, then
4156those who would follow Him must deal with these claims. While claiming to be humble, Jesus
4157said over and over He was God. There are only three possibilities, and a good teacher isn‟t one
4158of them: LORD: He could be right and really God. LUNATIC: He could be deluded, mixed up
4159mentally, or demonized and really think He is God but be mistaken. LIAR: He could know He
4160isn‟t God but just be trying to deceive people. You see, either He is God or He isn‟t. If He is
4161then He is much more than just a good teacher, He is Lord. If He isn‟t, then He cannot be a
4162good teacher for He is either a lunatic or liar and no matter which not worthy of being followed,
4163for what about Him can really be trusted? Lord, Lunatic or Liar -- which do you say He is?
4164 87
4165 II. PROOF HE WAS GOD Not only did Jesus claim to be God, but there is abundant proof that
4166His claims were true. Consider there:
4167
4168A. PROOF FROM REASON For one thing, His character coincided with His claims. When
4169some goofball claims to be God, his character doesn‟t agree with the claims. But Jesus lived a
4170sinless, perfect, other-centered life. Even Pilate recognized this (Mt. 27:54).
4171 For another thing, Jesus demonstrated a power over natural forces. Nature responded to
4172His every word: storms, water to wine, fish and bread multiply, even demons submit.
4173 Also, He shows the Creator‟s power over sickness, making the lame to walk, dumb to
4174speak, blind to see, and bringing people back to life.
4175 Finally, others felt He was God. Those who knew Him, lived with Him day in and out for 3
4176years, called Him Lord, Son of God, Father, Master, etc. Even his enemies, who had spies
4177investigating His every action looking for a slip, could find nothing imperfect about Him.
4178 Certainly there is proof from reason that Jesus is God. There is more proof, too:
4179
4180B. PROOF FROM FULFILLED PROPHECY Old Testament prophecies were all fulfilled, in
4181Jesus Christ and Him only. Here is a partial list of the prophecy and fulfillment.
41821. Born of the seed of woman: Gen 3:15; Gal 4:4, Matt. 1:20
41832. Born of a virgin: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1;18,24,25; Lk 1:26-35
41843. Son of God: Ps 2:7 (I Chron 17:11-14; II Sam 7:12-16), Mt 3:17; 16:16 (Mk 9:7; Lk 9:35)
41854. Seed of Abraham Genesis 22:18 (12:2-3); Matthew 1:1; Gal 3:16
41865. Son of Isaac: Genesis 21:12; Lk 3:23,34 (Mt 1:2)
41876. Son of Jacob: Num. 24:17 (Gen 35:10-12); Lk 3:23,34 (Mt 1:2; Lk 1:33)
41887. Tribe of Judah: Genesis 49:10; Lk 3:23,33 (Mt 1:2; Heb 7:14)
41898. Family line of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1, 10; Luke 3:23,32 (Mt 1:6)
41909. House of David: Jeremiah 23:5 (II Sam 7:12-16; Ps 132:11); Lk 3:23,31 (Mt 1:1; 9:27)
419110. Born at Bethlehem: Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1 (Jn 7:42, Mt 2:4-8; Lk 2:4-7)
419211. Presented with gifts: Psalm 72:10 (Isaiah 60:6); Matthew 2:1,11
419312. Herod kills children: Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16
419413. His pre-existence: Micah 5:2 (Isa 9:6-7; Ps 102:25); Col 1:17 (Jn 1:1-2; 8:58; Rev 1:17)
419514. He shall be called Lord: Psalm 110:1 (Jere 23:6); Luke 2:11; 20:41-44
419615. Shall be Immanuel (God With Us): Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 7:16
419716. Shall be a prophet: Deut 18:18; Matthew 21:11 (Luke 7:16; Jn 4:19; 6:14; 7:40)
419817. He shall be a priest: Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 3:1; 5:5-6
419918. He shall be a judge: Isaiah 33:22; John 5:30; II Timothy 4:1
420019. He shall be a king: Psalm 2:6 (Zech. 9:9; Jer 23:5); Matthew 27:37; 21:5 (John 18:33-38)
420120. Special anointing of the Holy Spirit: Isaiah 11:2; Matthew 3:16-17; 12:17-21 (Mk 1:10-11)
420221. His zeal for God: Psalm 69:9; John 2:15-17
420322. Preceded by messenger: Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:1-2; 3:3; 11:10
420423. Ministry to begin in Galilee: Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:12,13,17
420524. Ministry of miracles: Isaiah 35:5, 6a; 32:3,4; Matthew 9:32,33,35; 11:4-6 (John 5:5-9)
420625. Teacher of parables: Psalm 78:2; Matthew 13:34
420726. He was to enter the temple: Malachi 3:1; Matthew 21:12
420827. He was to enter Jerusalem on a donkey: Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:35,36,37a (Mt 21:6-11)
420928. "Stone of Stumbling" to the Jews: Psalm 118:22 (Isa 8:14; 28:16); I Peter 2:7 (Rom 9:32-33
421029. "Light" to Gentiles: Isaiah 60:3; 49:6; Acts 13:47,48a; 26:23; 28:28
421130. Betrayed by a friend: Psalm 41:9; 55:12-14; Matthew 10:4; 26:49-50; Jn 13:21
421231. Sold for 30 pieces of silver: Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15; 27:3
421332. Money to be thrown in God's house: Zechariah 11:13b; Matthew 27:5a
421433. Price given for potter's field: Zechariah 11:13b; Matthew 27:7
4215 88
4216 34. Forsaken by His disciples: Zechariah 13:7; Mark 14:50 (Mt 26:31; Mk 14:27)
421735. Accused by false witnesses: Psalm 35:11; Matthew 26:59-61
421836 Dumb before accusers: Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-19
421937. Wounded and bruised: Isaiah 53:5 (Zech 13:6); Matthew 27:26
422038. Smitten and spit upon: Isaiah 50:6 (Micah 5:1); Matthew 26:67 (Luke 22:63)
422139. Mocked: Psalm 22: 7,8; Matthew 27:31
422240. Fell under the cross: Psalm 109:24-25; John 19:17; Luke 23:26; Mt 27:31-32
422341. Hands and feet pierced: Psalm 22:16 (Zech 12:10); Luke 23:33 (John 20:25)
422442. Crucified with thieves: Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38 (Mk 15:27,28)
422543. Made intercession for His persecutors: Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34
422644. Rejected by His own people: Isaiah 53:3 (Ps 69:8; 118:22); John 7:5,48; 1:11 (Mt 21:42,43)
422745. Hated without a cause: Psalm 69:4 (Isa 49:7); John 15:25
422846. Friends stood afar off: Psalm 38:11; Luke 23:49 (Mk 15:40; Mt 27:55-56)
422947. People shook their heads: Psalm 109:25; 22:7; Matthew 27:39
423048. Stared upon: Psalm 22:17; Luke 23:35
423149. Garments parted and lots cast: Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24
423250. To suffer thirst: Psalm 69:21; 22:15; John 19:28
423351. Gall and vinegar offered Him: Psalm 69:21; Matthew 27:34
423452. His forsaken cry: Psalm 22:1; Matthew 26:46
423553. Committed Himself to God: Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46
423654. Bones not broken: Psalm 34:20; John 19:33
423755. Heart broken: Psalm 22:14; John 19:34
423856. His side pierced: Zech 12:10; John 19:34
423957. Darkness over the land: Amos 8:9; Matthew 27:45
424058. Buried in rich man's tomb: Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60
424159. Resurrection: Psalm 16:10; 30:3; 41:10; 118:17 (Hosea 6:2); Acts 2:31(Lk 24:46; Mk 16:16)
424260. Ascension: Psalm 68:18a; Acts 1:9
424361. Seated at right hand of God: Psalm 110:1; Heb. 1:3 (Mk 16:19; Acts 2:34,35)
4244 Note: no one else in history has ever come close to fulfilling even a few of these. No one
4245ever can, since all Jewish records of lineage were destroyed with Jerusalem in 70 AD.
4246 Note also: the probability of just 1 through 8 coming true would be 1 in 10 with 16 0's. (If
4247each chance is a silver dollar and they were laid down side-by-side on state of Texas they would
4248cover whole state 2 foot deep! One is marked, all others not. Blindfold a man and let him walk
4249anywhere, the chance he'd pick right one is the same as first 8 prophecies just happening!
4250
4251C. PROOF FROM THE RESURRECTION Another line of reasoning deals with the resurrection.
4252It‟s quite a claim to say one is going to come back to life, and then to have it claimed to have
4253happened! If Jesus really did come back to life, this alone would prove His deity. If not, He can
4254make no claims of deity. What about the resurrection?
4255 If Jesus didn‟t come back to life, how are we to explain the empty tomb? Well, some say
4256the disciples stole His body to make it look like He came back to life. But then how do we
4257explain His 10 appearances to a total of over 500 people? Also, if they knew He didn‟t come
4258back to life, where did they get the courage to all of a sudden be willing to die for Him?
4259 OK, others say, it was His enemies who stole the body. That still doesn‟t explain His
4260many appearances. Also, when people started thinking He was alive the enemies would have
4261produced the body to prove He wasn‟t alive, and they never even tried to do so.
4262 Finally, some say Jesus never died, that He just swooned and then revived. Think about
4263what that means, though. First, He was pronounced dead by experienced Roman executioners,
4264then a sword shoved in His side up into His heart. He was wrapped cocoon-like, head to foot
4265(no way to breathe), covered with 100 pounds of spices, sealed in a dark, damp tomb for 3
4266 89
4267 days. Somehow He would have to revive, slip out of his wrappings (the Greek says they were
4268undisturbed, like a cocoon after the butterfly leaves), with hands and feet ruined by nails He‟d
4269have to move a thousand-pound stone uphill from the inside (no handholds), overpower many
4270Roman soldiers, and travel many miles to Emmaus where He‟d convince everyone that He has
4271a glorious, superior, eternal body!
4272 There are just too many proofs to the resurrection to doubt it. He appeared 10 times to
4273500 witnesses. Without the resurrection being real, would could account for the spread of the
4274early church, the conversion of Paul and millions others, the willing martyrdom of so many?
4275How would the Lord‟s Supper have gotten started (why worship the body and blood of a dead
4276person)? Why even bother with baptism, which is a picture of Jesus dying and coming back to
4277life? There is no reason staunch Jews would change their day of worship from Saturday to
4278Sunday unless something really momentous, something greater than the creation of the world
4279(which is what the 7th day celebrates) really happened. Then, too, there is the whole Easter
4280celebration of the resurrection. Why would that have started and continued if people then knew
4281He didn‟t arise?
4282 Also, there is external proof of Jesus. Many secular historians recorded what they heard
4283about Jesus and the claims of His followers to have come back to life. Pliny the Younger wrote
4284to the emperor Trajan in 112 about these things. Tactius, a very anti-Christian historian,
4285recorded what was believed and happening. Thallus, another historian, wrote about the
4286resurrection but personally disbelieved it. So did Josephus, a famous Jewish historian of the
4287time period. Since these men didn‟t personally believe, but honestly recorded the facts of
4288history, we know they weren‟t part of any plot nor did they have any personal gain in recording
4289these things. Obviously the belief in the resurrection of Jesus in the first century was well
4290accepted and well recorded.
4291 One final interesting fact is that Tiberius Caesar, the Roman emperor, obviously heard
4292about the claims of Jesus‟ resurrection and the impact it was having in his empire, for he had a
4293marker erected in the Nazareth cemetery (probably because he heard that Jesus of Nazareth
4294arose but didn‟t learn that it was in Jerusalem) saying that anyone robbing a grave would be put
4295to death. While none of these alone can prove the resurrection, all of them together do add up!
4296 The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Without it the
4297believer has no hope for this life or for the life to come. The apostle Paul wrote, "And if Christ be
4298not raised, your faith is vain" (1 Cor. 15:17). Our belief in this great teaching is not based upon
4299some religious feeling or upon an unfounded idea about what may have happened in the past.
4300Nor are we talking about an isolated rumor, but about a historical fact with solid evidence to
4301support it.
4302 In the early part of this century, a group of lawyers met in England to discuss the biblical
4303accounts of Jesus' resurrection. They wanted to see if sufficient information was available to
4304make a case that would hold up in an English court of law. When their study was completed,
4305they published the results of their investigation. They concluded that Christ's resurrection was
4306one of the most well- established facts of history!
4307 In his little book, Countdown, G. B. Hardy has given us some thought-provoking
4308questions about the resurrection. "There are but two essential requirements: 1. Has anyone
4309cheated death and proved it? 2. Is it available to me? Here is the complete record: Confucius'
4310tomb -- occupied. Buddha's tomb -- occupied. Mohammed's tomb -- occupied. Jesus' tomb --
4311empty! Argue as you will, there is no point in following a loser."
4312 The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a reality. Countless changed lives testify that it's a fact --
4313not a fable!
4314
4315
4316
4317 90
4318 D. PROOF FROM FULFILLED EXPECTATIONS Let‟s look at this important subject from
4319another angle. You know, if God became man, there are certain things you would expect. For
4320example, IF GOD BECAME MAN, THEN YOU WOULD EXPECT HIM TO:
4321 1. Have an unusual entrance into life. What entrance could be more unusual than to
4322be born of a virgin? This is fully attested to by Bible writers as well as early church leaders.
4323Why would someone make up such a preposterous beginning if they wanted to get people to
4324believe and follow them? Unless this was true it wouldn‟t be claimed!
4325 2. He without sin. Jesus claimed to be without sin (John 8:46). Those who lived with
4326Him as well as His enemies all attested to this.
4327 3. Manifest the supernatural in the form of miracles. Jesus claimed to be able to do
4328miracles and many claimed to have witnessed them. The Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John,
4329peter, Jude) and early church writings all affirm these claims.
4330 4. Have an acute sense of difference from others. Jesus saw Himself as unique,
4331different. Others saw Him that way, too. Even those who didn‟t follow Him attest to that: the
4332Koran, Roman and Jewish writers and leaders, and historians and scholars throughout the
4333centuries.
4334 5. Speak the greatest words ever spoken. Jesus said: "My words will not pass away"
4335(Mt. 324:35). Roman officers: "Never a man spoke this way" (John 7:46). He is more quoted by
4336secular teachers and philosophers than anyone else ever.
4337 6. Have a lasting and universal influence. Historians agree Jesus is the most
4338influential life who ever lived on this planet.
4339 7. Satisfy the spiritual hunger in man. These needs were met individually in Matthew,
4340Peter, Nicodemus, Zachaeus, the woman at the well, and millions of others from then to today.
4341 8. Exercise power over death. He claimed to conquer death. He brought back to life a
4342widow‟s only son at Nain, the Centurion‟s servant and Lazarus. He Himself came back to life.
4343
4344CONCLUSION If Jesus were not God, then He deserved an Oscar!
4345 Two infidels once sat on a railroad train, discussing the life of Christ. One of them said, "I
4346think an interesting romance could be written about him." The other replied, "and you are just
4347the man to write it. Tear down the prevailing sentiment about His divinity, and paint Him as a
4348man - a man among men." The suggestion was acted upon and the romance written. The man
4349who made the suggestion was Colonel Ingersoll, the noted atheist. The writer was General Lew
4350Wallace, and the book was called "Ben Hur." In the process of constructing the life of Christ,
4351Gen. Wallace found himself facing the greatest life ever lived on earth. The more he studied,
4352the more he was convinced Christ was more than man. Until one day, he was forced to cry,
4353'Verily, this was the Son of God!"
4354
4355
4356
4357
4358 91
4359 APPENDIX 4
4360
4361
4362 HOW CAN I BE SURE I AM A CHRISTIAN?
4363 When a baby is born everyone checks immediately to make sure it is alive and healthy.
4364There are certain signs that show life: movement, crying, pulse, etc. The same is true
4365spiritually. There are certain spiritual „signs‟ that show us that we have been born into God‟s
4366family. I John lists 5 of these:
4367
43681. BELIEF IN JESUS AS SAVIOR AND LORD
43691 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and
4370everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. A sign of spiritual life is a deep
4371awareness that Jesus is God and Savior, that He is the One who provides salvation and it isn‟t
4372anything we do or deserve.
4373
43742. STRONG DESIRE TO OVERCOME SIN IN LIFE
43751 John 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one
4376who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. Along with
4377new birth comes a different attitude to sin. We now know it is wrong and have a strong desire to
4378stop. While we may struggle with certain sins, there should be a slow but steady progress in
4379godliness. Gradually we become more and more like Jesus in what we think and do.
4380
43813. DOING WHAT GOD CONSIDERS RIGHT
43821 John 2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does
4383what is right has been born of him. A baby doesn‟t know just how to live the moment it is
4384born, and neither do we who are born spiritually. It is a learning process, it takes growth.
4385Growth is a sign of life. God says that those who are alive spiritually will grow spiritually.
4386“GROW in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christâ€. II Peter 3:18
4387“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly -- mere infants in Christ. I gave you
4388milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are
4389still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are
4390you not acting like mere men?†I Corinthians 3:1-3
4391
43924. LOVE FOR OTHER BELIEVERS
43931 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our
4394brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. There will be a natural bond
4395between those are in God‟s family. We have the most important things in life in common.
4396Usually there is instant rapport. We have a desire to spend time with and get to know other
4397Christians. That is a joy and encouragement, for we are likeminded.
4398
43995. VICTORY OVER WORLDLY WAYS
44001 John 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that
4401has overcome the world, even our faith. While victory over sin often comes slowly and
4402gradually, as Christians we know that we have within us a Power greater than that which is in
4403the world and we can experience God giving us victory over things that used to defeat us.
4404
4405
4406 92
4407 APPENDIX 5
4408
4409
4410 HOW CAN I BE SURE I STILL AM A CHRISTIAN?
4411 When first born babies are very susceptible to disease and illness so they must be
4412protected from these. They are very vulnerable. Until they grow and become stronger they are
4413in danger of things that won‟t be nearly as hard to fight off later on. When someone is a new
4414believer there is danger they will start to doubt their salvation or fear they have lost it. Thus it is
4415important to make sure young Christians are protected from the diseases of doubt and fear.
4416Satan can‟t take away or salvation so he tries to take away the joy of our salvation in these
4417ways.
4418
4419DISEASE OF DOUBT It‟s not unusual for Satan to put doubt into a persons mind right
4420after they become a Christian. Did it „work‟? Did they „do it‟ right? There is no requirement to
4421meet so there is nothing that can be done wrong. Salvation is simply a heart attitude of
4422believing that Jesus is God who paid for your sins on the cross. If you believe that you are
4423saved.
4424Rom 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
4425John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
4426believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
4427Eph 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it
4428is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.
4429If you aren‟t sure when you accepted Jesus as Savior and for that reason wonder if you really
4430did, just take a moment right now to pray and ask Him to forgive your sins and live in you. You
4431will know for sure that He has done that now if not before, so you never will have need to
4432wonder or worry. Write down today‟s date so you can always go back to this time and
4433remember that you really did put your faith in Him. ________________________
4434
4435DISEASE OF FEAR If getting a person to doubt their salvation doesn‟t work Satan will try
4436to have you believe that you have somehow lost your salvation. That will take away your peace
4437and joy and replace it with fear. Believing you can loose your salvation will cause you to try to
4438do all you can to not lose it. Thus instead of the Christian life being one of security and
4439assurance in what Christ has done, the emphasis focuses to what you do or don‟t do. Fear of
4440doing something that will cause you to lose your salvation becomes the primary motivating force
4441in your Christian life. How could a family operate if everyone had to be nice to the others for
4442fear they would be kicked out of the family?
4443 God wants us to know for sure that there is nothing we can do to lose our salvation. He
4444wants us to be assured of His love forever. He wants us to serve Him our love for Him, not
4445because we are afraid He will send us to hell!
4446
4447WE ARE UNDER GRACE, NOT LAW, so there is nothing we can do to lose salvation. Rom
44486:14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
4449
4450GOD IS FAITHFUL to His promise to save us if we believe. Even if we become unfaithful He
4451still keeps His promise to us. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with
4452
4453 93
4454 him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he
4455will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
4456
4457GOD PROTECTS US when we are weak and faltering. When we sin and drift He does not cast
4458us aside. Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not
4459snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. Psalms 37:24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for
4460the LORD upholds him with his hand.
4461
4462GOD WILL NEVER HOLD OUR SINS AGAINST US for they were all paid for on the cross.
4463Thus there is no sin that will ever be charged to us. Romans 4:6-8 David says the same thing
4464when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from
4465works: "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed
4466is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."
4467
4468SALVATION CANNOT BE RETURNED, AND SATAN CANNOT TAKE US FROM GOD There
4469is nothing that can come between us and God, not even we ourselves. John 10:28-29 I give
4470them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My
4471Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my
4472Father's hand. Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
4473him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
4474neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in
4475all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
4476
4477 So any time you feel one of these diseases trying to hit you and take your joy and
4478strength, remember you have no reason to doubt your salvation and you have no reason to fear
4479losing your salvation.
4480
4481
4482
4483
4484 94
4485 APPENDIX 6
4486
4487 TOPICAL INDEX
4488Abortion is murder: Exodus 21:22-25; Psalm 139:13-15; Romans 14:22-23; Jeremiah 1:5;
4489Genesis 2:7; 9:6
4490Adversaries Will Be Defeated: Deuteronomy 32:43; Philippians 1:28; Deuteronomy 33:27
4491Angelic Intervention promised: II Kings 6:17; Psalm 34:6-7; Psalm 91:11; Daniel 6:22;
4492 10:5-14; Acts 12:15
4493Angels, creation of: Colossians 1:16; Job 38:6-7; Jude 6; Hebrews 12:11
4494Angels, ministry to believers today: Hebrews 1:14; Acts 12:7; 27:23-24; I Corinthians 4:9; I
4495Timothy 5:21; Luke 15:10; 16:22; Acts 8:26; Jude 9
4496Angels, nature of: Hebrews 1:14; Mark 12:25; Luke 20:36; Psalm 8:4-5; II Peter 2:11
4497Annihilation at death doesn‟t happen: Matthew 17:1-3; 22:32; John 11:25; Genesis 35:18; II
4498Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-23; John 3:36; Luke 23:43
4499Assurance of salvation: John 3:16; 5:24; 6:37, 44; 10:28-29; Romans 8:1,l 29-39; Ephesians
45001:13-14; Colossians 1:12-14; I Peter 1:3-4; I John 2:1-2; I John 5:13
4501Assured Of Eventual Triumph Over Our Adversaries: Acts 2:39
4502Atonement for sin: Exodus 12:13; Matthew 26:28;; 28:5-7; Luke 24:39; John 1:29; 19:33;
4503Romans 5:6-8; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:20
4504Believe, what does that mean? Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:12; I Corinthians 15:1; Colossians 2:6;
4505II Thessalonians 2:10
4506Bible, importance of studying it: Luke 6:40; John 5:39; Acts 20:32; Ephesians 6:17; II
4507Timothy 2:15; James 1:21-22; I Peter 2:2; II Peter 1:2
4508Bible, inspired Word of God: II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:19-20; I Corinthians 2:13; II Peter 3:15;
4509Hebrews 1:1; 2:3; 4:12; I Peter 1:10-12, 25; II Samuel 23:1-2; Matthew 24:35; John 10:35; 17:17
4510Bible, reliable & trustworthy: John 19:35; I John 1:1; II Peter 1:16; Luke 1:1-4; Acts 2:22
4511Comfort Promised: Psalm 23:4; Lamentations 3:22-23; Matthew 5:4; 11:28-30; John 14:16, 18;
4512John 14:16, 18; Romans 15:4; II Corinthians 1:3-4; II Thessalonians 2:16-17
4513Confession Means Cleansing & Forgiveness: I John 1:8-9; Thessalonians 5:23-24; I Timothy
45144:5; Luke 11:13; II Timothy 2:21; Jude 1; Romans 8:33-39; Titus 3:4-5
4515Conscience used by God: Acts 24:16; Romans 14:14, 23; II Timothy 1:5; Titus 1:15; Matthew
45166:22-23; Romans 1:14-15; 9:1; I Corinthians 10:27-29
4517Courage promised: Proverbs 38:1; I Corinthians 16:13; II Timothy 1:7
4518Creation is by God: Genesis 1:1, 26-27; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 24:1; 8:3; Exodus 20:11; I
4519Samuel 2:8; Psalm 33:6; 146:6; Isaiah 40:12; Jeremiah 51:15; Acts 14:15; Ephesians 3:9
4520Creation shows God: Romans 1:19-20; Psalm 19:1-2
4521Death no fear to believers: Psalm 23:4; 49:15; 116:15; John 14:1-3, 6,-19, 27
4522Demons, activity of: Daniel 10:10-14; Revelation 16:13-16; 12:3-4; Ephesians 6:11-12;
4523Matthew 4:24; 9:33; Luke 3:11, 16; Mark 5:13; Colossians 2:15; I Timothy 4:1
4524
4525 95
4526 Demons, possession & deliverance: Matthew 4:1-11; 17:19-21; 18:20; 28:18-20; Mark 5:9;
4527Luke 8:30; 10:17; 18:1; John 14:14; 15:7; Ephesians 5:18-20; 6:10-18; Colossians 1:20; 3:16-
452817; II Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; James 5:14-16; I John 1:9; 4:1-8
4529Depression Defeated: Psalm 42:11; Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 2:5; 4:8; Nehemiah 8:10-11;
4530Psalm 51:12; 1 Peter 5:7; Isaiah 26:3
4531Don‟t judge others: Romans 14:3-13; 2:1-6; I Corinthians 2:14-15; 4:5; but do evaluate/discern:
4532Matthew 18:15-18; 6:2, 5, 16; 7:1-12, 16-17; I Corinthians 5:12-13; John 7:24; Luke 12:57;
4533Eternal life: Mark 12:25; Luke 16:19-31; Jn 11:25-26; I Thes 4:16-18; James 2:26; I Jn 5:11-13
4534Everything Will Work Out Right In the End: Romans 8:28
4535Evil and suffering, why exist: John 9:1-3; II Peter 3:9; Revelation 21:1-8; Romans 8:28
4536Faith, what does it mean: Psalm 118:8; Proverbs 3:5; Isaiah 26:3; Mark 11:22; John 3:16-17;
4537Romans 5:1; 4:3-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9
4538False Teachers: Matthew 7:13-27; Jeremiah 23:16, 32; Deuteronomy 18:20-22; Matthew 24:4-
45395; 11, 24; II Pet 2:1-3
4540Fear of Death gone for believers: Psalm 23:4; 49:15; 116:15; John 14:1-3, 6,-19, 27
4541Fear, Promises to claim: Proverbs 3:25; Isaiah 14:3; Psalm 34:4; Joshua 1:9; 10:8;23:9-11;
4542Leviticus 26:8; Exodus 14:13; I Samuel 17:45-47; II Samuel 22:33-35,40-41
4543Fear, The Believer Has Nothing To Fear: Proverbs 3:25; Isaiah 14:3; Psalm 34:4; Joshua 1:9;
454410:8; 23:9-11; Leviticus 26:8; Exodus 14:13; I Samuel 17:45-47; II Samuel 22:33-35,40-41
4545Forgiveness, receiving from God I John 1:9; Psalm 19:12; 139:23-24; 32:1-5; Psalm 103;
4546Isaiah 1:18; 43:25; Romans 4:7-8; Hebrews 8:12; I John 2:12
4547Forgiving others: Matthew 6:12-15; 18:23-27; 18:35; Ephesians 4:32; Mark 11:25-26;
4548Colossians 3:13; Proverbs 24:17-19; Romans 2:23-24
4549Free will of man: Proverbs 1:23; Isaiah 31:6; Ezekiel 14:6; 18:32; Matthew 18:3; John 6:29;
455019:1; I John 3:23
4551Freedom from law, legalism: law a unit, go by all of it or none (Matthew 5:19); law given only
4552to Israel (Leviticus 26:46; Romans 2:14; 9:4); law fulfilled by Christ (Galatians 3:13); law done
4553away with (Romans 6:15)
4554God Hears & Answers Prayer: Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9; Jeremiah 33:3
4555God Is Always With Us: Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 18:20; John 14:16, 21;
4556Revelations 3:20
4557God judge those who have never heard? Romans 1:18-25; 2:1, 14-16; Acts 14:15-17;
4558Hebrews 11:6
4559God Promises His Care & Protection: Deuteronomy 33:27; Genesis 17:1; Jer. 23:24; 32:7
4560God Promises To Fight For Us: I Samuel 14:47; Jeremiah 1:8
4561God Will Help Us Carry Our Burdens: Nehemiah 4:10; Matthew 11:30; Psalm 55:22
4562God Will Meet All Your Needs: Philippians 4:19: Psalm 84:11; Romans 8:32; I Samuel 12:24
4563God, a Trinity: Matthew 28:19; 3:16-17; Genesis 1:26; 11:7
4564God, above & separate from creation: John 4:24; Hebrews 1:3
4565
4566 96
4567 God, creator: Genesis 1:1, 26-27; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 24:1; 8:3; Exodus 20:11; I Samuel
45682:8; Psalm 33:6; 146:6; Isaiah 40:12; Jeremiah 51:15; Acts 14:15; Ephesians 3:9
4569God, existence: Genesis 1:1-3; Romans 1:20
4570God, grace: Romans 3:242; 11:5; Ephesians 2:8; II Peter 3:18; Genesis 6:8; Psalm 51:1; John
45711:16; Romans 5:2; II Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 4:16
4572God, holy: Exodus 15:11; Leviticus 19:2; Habakkuk 1:13; Revelation 4:8
4573God, personality: personal (John 4:24; Hebrews 1:3); Remembers (Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah
457431:20; Hosea 8:13); Speaks ((Exodus 3:12; Matthew 3:17; Luke 17:6); Knows (Jeremiah 29:11;
4575II Timothy 2:19; I John 3:20)
4576God, seen in creation, nature: Romans 1:19-20; Psalm 19:1-2
4577God, sovereign: Exodus 18:11; 15:18; Matthew 6:10, 13; 11:25; Deuteronomy 4:39; I
4578Chronicles 29:11; Daniel 6:26; John 7:17; Ephesians 1:11; I Tim 2:4; 6:15; Rev 19:6
4579Guidance Is Promised: Psalm 32:8; Isaiah 30:21; 58:11; Luke 1:79; John 15:13
4580Heaven: Matthew 22:30; Luke 20:34-38; 23:43; Revelation 7:9; 8:1; I Corinthians 13:12; 15:42;
4581Philippians 1:23; I John 3:2; II chronicles 2:6; Mark 16:19; Deuteronomy 26:15; Job 3:17; Psalm
458217:15; 73:24; Matthew 3:17; 5:3; Luke 16:19-31; 12:32; John 14:1-3; I Thessalonians 4:17
4583Hell & punishment are real: Revelation 20;15; 14:9-11; Matthew 5:22; 8:11-12; 13:42, 50;
458422:13; Mark 9:44-48; Luke 3:17
4585Holy Spirit indwells believers: I Corinthians 1:21; 5:5; I John 2:20, 27; John 3:3-8; 7:37-39;
458614:16-17; Romans 5:5; 8:9; I Cor 2:12; 6:17-19; 12:13; John 7:37-39
4587Holy Spirit: John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 20:22; 16:8-14; I Corinthians 2:10-15; Matthew 1:18;
45883:11, 16-17; 10:20; Isaiah 63:10; Acts 5:3-4; Ephesians 4:30; Acts 8:29; 13:2; Luke 12:12; John
458916:7-18
4590Homosexuality is sin: Romans 1:26-32; I Corinthians 6:9-10; Leviticus 20:13; Genesis 2:18-22;
4591I Timothy 1:8-10
4592Hope in Jesus: Psalm 31:24; 71:5; 62:5-8
4593Hypocrisy doesn‟t invalidate Christianity: Matthew 23:23-36; Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 7;23;
4594Proverbs 26:23-26; Titus 1:16; I John 1:8, 10
4595Israel, God‟s special protection of: Isaiah 11:11-14; 19:19-25; Genesis 12:3; Jeremiah 48:12-
459615; Ezekiel 29:9-10; 35:1-5
4597Jesus Greater than Demons, Satan: Mark 1:21-28; 5:1-20; 7:24-30; 9:20-27; 2 Corinthians
459812:7-10; Hebrews 2:14-15; Luke 9:1-2; Luke 10:17-20; Revelation 12:7-11; Revelation 20:7-15;
4599Mark 1:21-28; Mark 5:1-20; Mark 7:24-30; Mark 9:20-27
4600Jesus Is Constantly Praying & Interceding On Our Behalf: I John 2:1; Hebrews 7:25
4601Jesus, Deity of: John 1:1, 34; 5:17-23; 10:30, 36-38; 12:45; 13:20, 45; 14:1, 9; 17:11, 21-22;
460220:24-31; Ephesians 1:20-23; Philippians 2:6-10; Hebrews 1:18; Matthew 1:23; 3:17; 8:29
4603Jesus, fully human: Galatians 4:4; Luke 2:52; 19:10; I John 1:1; Matthew 26:12; 4:2; Hebrews
46044:15
4605Jesus, the only way to God: John 14:6; 8:24; 3:16-18; 10:30; Matthew 26:63-64; Acts 4:12;
4606Galatians 1:8; I Corinthians 3:11; I John 2:23; Luke 10:16
4607
4608 97
4609 Jesus‟ resurrection, physical & literal: Luke 24:39-44; John 20:27-28; Mark 16:14; I
4610Corinthians 15:15
4611Jews, God‟s chosen people: Deuteronomy 14:2; 7:6-7; 10:14-15; Ezekiel 22:17-22
4612Jews, God‟s special protection of: Isaiah 11:11-14; 19:19-25; Genesis 12:3; Jeremiah 48:12-
461315; Ezekiel 29:9-10; 35:1-5
4614Law, legalism – believers free from: law a unit, go by all of it or none (Matthew 5:19); law given
4615only to Israel (Leviticus 26:46; Romans 2:14; 9:4); law fulfilled by Christ (Galatians 3:13); law
4616done away with (Romans 6:15)
4617Life after death: Matthew 17:1-3; 22:32; John 11:25; Genesis 35:18; II Corinthians 5:8;
4618Philippians 1:21-23; John 3:36; Luke 23:43
4619Life, only God can create: Jeremiah 10:16; Col 1:16-17; Job 33:4; Gen 1:26; Ps 8:6
4620Light: John 3:16-21; 8:12; 12:46; 1 John 1:5-7
4621Marriage, believers only marry other believers: II Corinthians 6:14-18
4622Materialism, attitude to money, accumulating money, uses of money, etc: see verses at end of
4623this booklet
4624Materialism, attitude to: Proverbs 30:8-9; 10:15; 28:22; Matthew 19:23-24; II Corinthians 9:8; II
4625Thessalonians 3:10; Ecclesiastes 10:19; Acts 8:20; Jere3miah 9:23-24; Mark 8:36-37
4626Miracles really happened: Matthew 8:14-15, 26-27; 9:2, 6-7, 27-30; Mark 1:32-34; John 2:1-11;
46276:10-14; John 10:24-25; 20:30-31; 3:2
4628Money, attitude to: Proverbs 30:8-9; 10:15; 28:22; Matthew 19:23-24; II Corinthians 9:8; II
4629Thessalonians 3:10; Ecclesiastes 10:19; Acts 8:20; Jere3miah 9:23-24; Mark 8:36-37
4630Money, materialism, attitude to money, accumulating money, uses of money, etc: see verses
4631at end of this booklet
4632Motives matter to God: James 4:2-3; Proverbs 16:2; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Hebrews 4:12-13
4633Nature shows God: Romans 1:19-20; Psalm 19:1-2
4634No Need To Worry: Matthew 6:25,34; I Peter 5:7; Isaiah 40:11; Matthew 5:38-39; Psalm
463537:1-9; Jude 24
4636Occult, spiritism wrong: Leviticus 19:31; 20:6-7, 27; Exodus 20:27; 22:18; Deuteronomy 18:10-
463712; I chronicles 10:13-14; Isaiah 8:19-20; Galatians 5:20; Revelation 21:8
4638Peace Is Available No Matter What: John 14:27; Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:20; Isaiah 26:3;
4639Philippians 4:6-7; Matthew 11:28-30; II Timothy 1:7
4640Peace Promised: Philippians 4:6-7; Isaiah 26:3; Romans 15:13; Psalm 85:8; 29:11; Ephesians
46412:14-15; Isaiah 53:5; Colossians 1:20; John 14:27; Romans 5:1; John 16:33; Galatians 5:22-24;
4642Philippians 4:7
4643Prayer, promises: Matthew 18:19; 21:22; Mark 11:24; Isaiah 65:24; Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew
46447:7-8; John 14:13; I Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 8:18; Hebrews 4:16; Philippians 4:6-7; I
4645Timothy 2:1
4646Resurrection of Christians: Psalm 49:15; 16:9-10; Luke 14:14; II Corinthians 4:14; Job 14:12-
464715; 19:25-27; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 15; Philippians 3:20-21; I Thessalonians
46484:16-18; John 11:23-26
4649
4650 98
4651 Resurrection of Jesus, physical & literal: Luke 24:39-44; John 20:27-28; Mark 16:14; I
4652Corinthians 15:15; I Corinthians 15:1-19; Matthew 27:62-66; 28:1-17; Mark 16:9-14; John 20:19-
465331
4654Salvation by faith only is too easy: Matthew 19:16-26; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 20:31
4655Salvation only through Jesus John 14:6; 8:24; 3:16-18; 10:30; Matthew 26:63-64; Acts 4:12;
4656Galatians 1:8; I Corinthians 3:11; I John 2:23; Luke 10:16
4657Salvation, a free gift: Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:12-13
4658Salvation, Atonement for sin: Exodus 12:13; Matthew 26:28;; 28:5-7; Luke 24:39; John 1:29;
465919:33; Romans 5:6-8; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:20
4660Salvation, available for whoever comes: Ezekiel 33:11; Romans 10:13; I Timothy 2:4; II Peter
46613:9; Matthew 12:50; 18:4; 10:32
4662Salvation, can‟t be lost: John 3:16-18, 36; 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; 20:30-31; Romans 8:14-
466316, 28, 37-39; 14:8; II Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14; 3:12; Hebrews 6:4-6; 2 Timothy
46642:11-12; Matthew 12:20; Psalm 37:24; Romans 4:6-8; 8:37-39
4665Salvation, man can‟t save self: Psalm 49:7; Luke 11:24-26; I Peter 1:18-19; II Peter 2:20-22
4666Salvation, man‟s need of: Isaiah 64:6; Romans 5:12; Hebrews 9:27; I John 1:10
4667Salvation, not earned by good works: Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:20, 27; 4:4-5; 5:8; 6:232;
466811:6; Galatians 3:11; James 2:10; I Peter 2:24; Titus 3:5
4669Salvation, not everyone will get to heaven: Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; John 3:18, 36;
46705:28-29; 6:37-40; I John 3:10; Revelation 20:10-15
4671Salvation, provided by Jesus: John 3:15-18, 36; 14:7; 10:10; Isaiah 53:5-6; I John 4:10; 5:12;
4672Romans 5:6-8; I Peter 2:24; 1:18-19; II Corinthians 5:21; I John 5:11-13; Acts 4:12; Eph. 1:7
4673Salvation, received by faith: Romans 10:13; John 5:24; Acts 17:31; Galatians 3:22; 5:6; John
46743:16
4675Satan, defeated Colossians 2:15; Psalm 3:4; Psalm 6:8-10; 72:12-14; 82:1-7
4676Satan, defeating: Matthew 4:1-11; John 15:7; 17:15; Ephesians 6:10-18; II Thessalonians 3:3;
4677James 4:7; I Peter 5:8-9; I John 4:4; 5:18; Romans 8:28; II Cor 2:7; Jude 8-9
4678Satan, fall of: Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah 14:12-20; I Tim 3:6
4679Satan, nature of: Ezekiel 28:12-14; Ephesians 6:11-12; Job 1:12; John 8:44; I John 3:8; I Peter
46805:8; Revelation 12:10; II Thessalonians 3:3
4681Sex, outside marriage forbidden: Matthew 5:27-32; 19:9; I Corinthians 6:9-10, 18-20; Hebrews
468213:4; Exodus 20;14; Deuteronomy 5:18; 24:1-4; Luke 18:20; James 2:11; II Peter 2:14; I
4683Corinthians 5:9; Ephesians 5:3; Leviticus 20:10; I Thessalonians 4:3
4684Sex, to show love in marriage: Genesis 3:16; 18:12; 26:8-9; 2:23-25; Deuteronomy 24:5; 34:7;
4685Proverbs 5:15-19; Song of Solomon 7:6-10; Hebrews 13:4; I Corinthians 7:3-4
4686Sexual Temptation, victory over 2 Corinthians 5:17; Psalm 51:10-12; Romans 12:1; James
46874:6-8; I John 4:4; Philippians 4:19; Matthew 16:23; Psalm 139:23-24; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2
4688Corinthians 12:9-10; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Job 31:1; Matthew 5:27-28.
4689Sin defined: Romans 3:23; 14:23; Galatians 5:19-21; James 4:17; I John 3:4
4690
4691
4692 99
4693 Sin paid for by Jesus: Exodus 12:13; Matthew 26:28;; 28:5-7; Luke 24:39; John 1:29; 19:33;
4694Romans 5:6-8; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:20
4695Sinfulness of man: Mark 10:18; Isaiah 53:5-6; 59:1-2; Rom 3:10-12, 23; 6:23; James 2:10; I
4696John 1:8-10; 3:4; 5:17
4697Sins of believers, forever gone: John 3:18, 36; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Romans 8:1; II Peter
46983:9-14; Revelation 20:11-15
4699Sorrow, God Will Help In Your Sorrow: Proverbs 10:22; Isaiah 53:4; John 16:22; II
4700Corinthians 6:10; I Thessalonians 4:13; Revelation 21:4
4701Soul sleep wrong: Matthew 17:1-3; 22:32; John 11:25; Genesis 35:18; II Corinthians 5:8;
4702Philippians 1:21-23; John 3:36; Luke 23:43
4703Spiritism, occult wrong: Leviticus 19:31; 20:6-7, 27; Exodus 20:27; 22:18; Deuteronomy 18:10-
470412; I chronicles 10:13-14; Isaiah 8:19-20; Galatians 5:20; Revelation 21:8
4705Spiritual warfare promises, memory verses: see verses at end of this booklet
4706Suffering and Evil, why exist John 9:1-3; II Peter 3:9; Revelation 21:1-8; Romans 8:28
4707Suffering, attitude to: Philippians 1:29; 3:10; I Peter 2:19-21; 5:10; John 15:2; 13:7; Hebrews
470812:7; 11:25; Revelation 3:19; Romans 8:18, 28; II timothy 2:12; I Peter 4:12-19; Hebrews 2:10;
47095:8; II Corinthians 4:17; Matthew 5:45
4710Suffering, reasons for: Job 1 – 2; Hebrews 5:8; II Corinthians 12:7; I Peter 1:7-8; John 16:33;
4711II Corinthians 4:8-11;; 1:3-24; II Timothy 2:10-13
4712Thoughts, Rejecting Wrong Thoughts: II Corinthians 10:5; Psalm 139:23-24; 141:3-4; Isaiah
471326:3-4; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22-24; Philippians 3:18-21
4714Trials Are Allowed To Bring Spiritual Growth: Psalm 119:67,71,75; 94:12; Isa. 48:10; Rom.
47155:3
4716Trinity: Matthew 28:19; 3:16-17; Genesis 1:26; 11:7
4717Truth: Psalm 51:6; 25:5; John 14:6; 16:13; 1:17; 8:44; 14:17; 17:17; Matthew 5:33-37; John
47188:31-36; Ephesians 4:25
4719Victory in spiritual warfare: Hebrews 2:14-15; Luke 9:1-2;10:17-20; Revelation 12:7-11; 20:7-
472015; Matthew 25:41
4721Victory Is Guaranteed Us: I Corinthians 15:57; Romans 8:37; I Chronicles 29:11; I John 5:4,
472218; II Chronicles 32:8; Revelation 3:5; 2l:7
4723Victory Promised: : I Corinthians l5:57; I Chronicles 29:11; Proverbs 21:31; I John 5:4, 18;
4724Rev. 12:11; 15:2; Romans 8:37; II Corinthians 2:14; John 16:33
4725We will never Be Separated From God: Romans 8:35-39; John 10:27-29; 3:36; 5:24
4726Wisdom Is Promised Those Who Ask: James 1:5; 3:15-17; Luke 16:8; 21:15; I Cor. 2:5; 3:19
4727Word of God‟s Power: Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 55:11; 59:21; Psalm 119:81, 105,
472811-112; Proverbs 30:5; Lamentations 2:17; 3:37; Matthew 24:35; John 5:24; 8:51; 15:7;
4729Romans 10:17
4730You Won't Ever Face Anything You Can't Handle With God's Help: I Corinthians 10:13
4731
4732
4733
4734
4735 100
4736 APPENDIX 7
4737
4738
4739
4740 LISTENING TO GOD
4741 “What Does God‟s Voice Sound Like?â€
4742 In the dome of St. Paul‟s Cathedral there is what is known as the “Whispering Gallery.â€
4743Through the peculiar construction of the dome a whisper by a person at one side travels round
4744and can be distinctly heard by another person standing at the other.
4745 An even more remarkable whispering gallery is that known as the “Ear of Dionysius†at
4746Syracuse in Sicily. This is a vast cave, which externally bears a resemblance to a human ear.
4747Entering by a low doorway, the visitor finds himself in a huge cavern. High up, concealed in the
4748roof, is a chamber, which can only be entered by a concealed path at the top. The faintest
4749whisper uttered below is distinctly heard by those concealed above. In this chamber the tyrant
4750Dionysius used to sit listening to his slaves working or to his captives imprisoned below. All their
4751plots against him were thus, to them, mysteriously discovered and circumvented. From this
4752historical fact the cave has received the name of the “Ear of Dionysius.â€
4753 We, too, can learn to hear everything God says – if we know how to listen.
4754 We saw last week that God really does speak to us today. He desires communication
4755with us and we desire communication with Him. We saw that hearing from God is probable,
4756possible and even very necessary.
4757 Then we saw examples of those whom God spoke to in the Old Testament. These
4758include Moses, Samuel, David and the prophets. In the New Testament we see Him speaking
4759to Jesus quite often, to Paul on the road to Damascus and to many others.
4760 We also looked at some of the ways God speaks to man. Some of the means God used
4761to communicate to men in the past but which He no longer uses include audible voice (although
4762there may be some times He still speaks audibly to people today), angels, dreams, visions,
4763casting lots and the Urim an Thummim. We observed more closely some of the ways God
4764spoke in the past and still speaks today. He speaks through nature, other people,
4765circumstances and experiences, prayer, the written Word, the Holy Spirit and our conscience.
4766 Thus we have established that God wants to speak to us and in deed does. Now we
4767want to look at how He speaks and what He says.
4768 I hope you‟ve been learning to listen to Him this past week. Have you taken time to let
4769Him speak and to sit and listen? Have you become more aware of when and how He speaks to
4770you? I hope so. The whole purpose of these messages is for you to take this information and
4771apply it to your own lives during the coming week.
4772
4773
4774I. WHAT DOES GOD‟S VOICE SOUND LIKE?
4775 Out of the several ways God uses to communicate His messages to us today, we will be
4776focusing on His speaking to us by the Holy Spirit. He speaks to us today and we can hear His
4777voice. It‟s not a sound, it‟s a voice. It‟s not something you hear with your ears but in your mind.
4778Once you learn to recognize and respond to this voice you‟ll recognize it often.
4779 101
4780 There is an old story about two men walking down a busy, loud New York City street.
4781Horns honked, engines roared, PA systems blasted advertisements. All of a sudden one of the
4782men, who had been an outdoorsmen all his life, stopped and said, “What‟s that?†The other
4783man couldn‟t imagine what he was talking about with all the noise and confusion all around.
4784The first man went over to the side of a building and picked up a cricket he had heard. The
4785friend was amazed that the outdoorsman had even heard it, but his ears were attuned to that
4786sound and could pick it out of the din around them. That‟s how our spiritual hearing needs to
4787be. We need to be able to pick God‟s voice out of all the other voices clamoring for out
4788attention. Hopefully this message will help you to be able to do that.
4789 First we‟ll look at what God‟s voice sounds like, and then we‟ll talk about some of the
4790things He says. The first clue we have to what God‟s voice sounds like is in I Kings 19 where
4791we see it is a still, small voice – a gentle whisper.
4792 Kings 19:11-13 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of
4793the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the
4794mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.
4795After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the
4796earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle
4797whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the
4798mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
4799 In the still, small voice of God we are given a message that bears the stamp of His
4800personality quite clearly and in a way we will learn to recognize.
4801 There is a speaker system at the Ontario Motor Speedway in California that has an out
4802put of 30,800 watts connected to 355 speakers and able to communicate to 230,000 people
4803above the noise of the car races. God could outdo that, but instead chooses to speak quietly.
4804Therefore if we want to hear Him we can‟t wait for Him to shout over the noise in our life but we
4805need to learn to be quiet and listen for His still, quiet voice.
4806 I remember several years ago I was marrying a couple that I had known for a long time
4807and had been coming to church and Bible studies for quite some time. They had some major
4808„issues‟ it seemed that had worked through, but the day before the wedding the groom did
4809something that was part of his old pattern. I clearly heard God‟s voice in my spirit telling me not
4810to marry them, so I didn‟t. The bride and both families really put a lot of pressure on me to go
4811ahead with the wedding but I knew that God had spoken.
4812 Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones writes: “God sometimes answers directly in our spirit. The
4813prophet said, „I will watch and see what He will say in me.‟ God speaks to me by speaking in
4814me. He can so lie something upon the mind that we are certain of the answer. He can impress
4815something upon our spirits in an unmistakable manner. We find ourselves unable to get away
4816from an impression that is on our mind or heart; we try to rid ourselves of it, but back it comes.â€
4817 Remember, this is not verbal voice, a sensation or an emotional experience. In fact, it
4818can be very easy to overlook His voice or just think it‟s a thought of our own.
4819 Try an experiment: Be as still and silent as you possibly can for the next 30 seconds or
4820so. Listen as intently as you can, noticing the sounds you hear. How many sounds? What are
4821they?--Close your eyes and begin to listen. Pause: Did you hear 1 sound-- 2? 3? 4? 5? Did you
4822hear the ticking of the clock? Heater noise? Birds? Traffic? Voices? Your own breath? Your
4823heartbeat? Ringing in your ears?
4824 We are seldom still enough to hear the subtle sounds. Most of us suffer from a steady
4825dose of noise pollution: TV, radio, conversation. Constant sound bombards us until the
4826 102
4827 naturalness of silence sounds foreign, unnatural, threatening, and we'll do just about anything to
4828cover it up. In a significant way, we are in fact addicted to noise. The constant blaring of the TV
4829is for many an electronic companion whose presence we take for granted; Muzak fills the
4830elevator; we jump in the car and switch on the radio to fill the uncomfortable void; even a lapse
4831in social conversation is viewed with alarm, and someone has to rescue the moment by talking.
4832Even in church, if a few moments of silence are called for in worship, most church members
4833have this internal response: "When will this be over?"
4834 We need to learn to hear God‟s still voice as He speaks to us. I can think back on times
4835He told me to talk to someone about Him and I didn‟t. Those still haunt me. Better memories
4836are the times when God put it on my heart to speak to someone and I obeyed.
4837Writer Charles Swindoll once found himself with too many commitments in too few days. He got
4838nervous and tense about it. "I was snapping at my wife and our children, choking down my food
4839at mealtimes, and feeling irritated at those unexpected interruptions through the day," he
4840recalled in his book Stress Fractures. "Before long, things around our home started reflecting
4841the patter of my hurry-up style. It was become unbearable.
4842 "I distinctly remember after supper one evening, the words of our younger daughter,
4843Colleen. She wanted to tell me something important that had happened to her at school that
4844day. She began hurriedly, ‟Daddy, I wanna tell you somethin‟ and I‟ll tell you really fast.‟
4845Suddenly realizing her frustration, I answered, „Honey, you can tell me -- and you don‟t have to
4846tell me really fast. Say it slowly.‟ I‟ll never forget her answer: „Then listen slowly.‟"
4847 That‟s good advice for all of us. Listen slowly; listen intently, for His voice is often a
4848gentle whisper, a still, small voice. When we learn to listen for it we recognize that He speaks
4849rich and enlightened thoughts to our spirits.
4850 God can put a new idea directly and immediately into our mind. He can give us a new
4851perspective in which to view something. He can put new desires into our hearts. He can
4852stimulate certain memories stored within our mind just when they are most needed.
4853 Martin Luther wrote: “If the Holy Spirit should come when these thoughts are in your
4854mind and begin to preach to your heart, giving you rich and enlightened thoughts, then give Him
4855the honor, let your preconceived ideas go, be quiet and listen to Him Who can talk better than
4856you; and note what He proclaims and write it down.â€
4857 James Dobson has given some of the best practical advice I have ever heard on how
4858someone who really wants the will of God and who has a basically correct understanding of it
4859should proceed. Describing how he does it himself, he says, “I get down on my knees and say,
4860„Lord, I need to know what you want me to do, and I am listening. Please speak to me through
4861my friends, books, magazines I pick up and read, and through circumstances.â€
4862 Often God‟s still, small voice takes the form of thoughts that are our thoughts, though
4863they are not from us.
4864 When God speaks in your heart it doesn‟t matter where your mind has been going; He
4865blocks and overrides all circuits. You are captivated by His voice speaking to you. He
4866commands your undivided attention. There is absolute certainty in what He says. What He says
4867is right. His word has perfect balance and proportion. Everything He shows us fits together
4868seamlessly. The word He gives us is complete. Everything He says compliments everything
4869He‟s been showing us.
4870 It‟s true that Satan can counterfeit this, but that just proves that God does speak to us in
4871this way. A little later we‟ll have a whole message on how to tell God‟s voice from Satan‟s
4872counterfeit leading.
4873 103
4874 When I study, when I prepare sermons and lessons, I try to be very aware of the rich and
4875enlightening thoughts that God sends me by means of His Spirit. When I counsel I always try to
4876be sensitive to His leading and direction. When we are involved in spiritual warfare it is essential
4877to be in tune to hear what thoughts God gives me.
4878 Often this still, small voice speaks rich and enlightening thoughts by causing a burning
4879within my heart.
4880 The disciples who talked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus that first Resurrection
4881Sunday experienced this. Luke 24:32 says, “They asked each other, „were not our hearts
4882burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?‟â€
4883 Psalm 39:1-3 talks about this as well. “My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated,
4884the fire burned.â€
4885 One of the more familiar quotes about this comes from the journal of John Wesley for
4886May 14, 1738. “In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate-Street, where
4887one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine,
4888while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt
4889my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation: And an
4890assurance was given me, that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the
4891law of sin and death.â€
4892 Haven‟t you found yourself moved by something you sense in your spirit? Perhaps it
4893happens during a song or sermon, when listening to a testimony or out in nature? This stirring
4894is God speaking to our hearts through His Holy Spirit, putting His fire within us to highlight
4895something of importance.
4896 Charles Stanley writes: “As you pray and read, trust the Holy Spirit to quicken your spirit
4897to His truth. You may feel this as warmth inside, or you may feel a great sense of absoluteness
4898about a particular verse. Sometimes the words on the page of your Bible may seem to stand
4899out to you as if they were written in bold headlines. Sometimes you may not be able to get
4900away from a particular passage. It comes repeatedly to your mind, and you can‟t seem to shake
4901it from memory.â€
4902 So we see that this still, small voice speaks rich and enlightening thoughts by causing a
4903burning within our hearts. How He speaks is by a gentle, quiet whisper. Where He speaks is to
4904our thoughts and to our hearts. He touches our rational mental capacity (enlightened thoughts)
4905as well as our emotional feelings (burning hearts).
4906
4907
4908II. WHAT DOES GOD‟S VOICE SAY?
4909 Hopefully that makes hearing God‟s voice a little clearer, but there is one more part I
4910want to add which can be very helpful. What does His voice say? What can we expect to hear
4911from God? What sort of things does He communicate to those who are listening?
4912 To Ezekiel God complained that “these people have ears to hear but they never hear,
4913eyes to see but they never see†(12:2). Jesus repeated this complaint several times as well.
4914 We saw last time the many different people that God spoke to in the Old Testament.
4915Often He spoke to them many times. We see throughout the Bible phrases like “the voice of the
4916Lord†(14 times), “the voice of God†(3 times), “the Lord spoke†(24 times), “God spoke†(6
4917times), and “the word of the Lord came to…†(99 times). There is no way of knowing how many
4918times this was a verbal voice and how many times it was God‟s still, small voice speaking rich
4919
4920 104
4921 thoughts to their mind or heart (or both). If it was verbal or not, however, the result was still the
4922same – God spoke to them and they heard Him.
4923 When we look at these occurrences we see they can be grouped into five areas of
4924revelation. God spoke conviction, information, encouragement, enablement in ministry, and
4925revelation of Himself.
4926 For most of us, the first time we heard God speak to us He was convicting us of sin,
4927showing us our need of salvation. Jesus said, “When the Holy Spirit comes, He will convict the
4928world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do
4929not believe in me†(John 16:A7-11). I Thessalonians 1:4-5 says the gospel comes to us with the
4930Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.
4931 Of course we all know that how we respond that that conviction is a free will choice each
4932will need to make.
4933 In the 1640s George Fox, founder of the Friends or Quaker movement, wandered the
4934fields and lanes of the English countryside, seeking someone who could show him the way to
4935peace with God. He finally became convinced that “there was none among them all that could
4936speak to my condition. And when all my hopes in them and in all men were gone, so that I had
4937nothing outwardly to help me, nor could I tell what to do; then, oh! Then I heard a voice which
4938said, „here is one, even Jesus Christ, that can speak to thy condition‟; and when I heard it, my
4939heart did leap for joy. Then the Lord did let me see why there was none upon the earth that
4940could speak to my condition, namely, that I might give him all the glory.â€
4941 One way in which God speaks to us is to show us the sin in our life. He does this before
4942salvation so we will see our need of Him. He also does this in the lives of those who have freely
4943received His free gift of salvation. He shows us sin so we can confess and remove it.
4944 Charles Stanley wrote: “As we read God‟s Word, we nearly always come to what I call a
4945„gulp point.‟ Something we read challenges us to change something in our lives, to gulp and
4946say, „Wow! That really hit me. I need to do something about that.‟ Sometimes it‟s a conviction
4947about sin in our lives. Sometimes it‟s a correction in the way we have been taught or the way in
4948which we act toward others. Sometimes it‟s a clear call to engage in a new discipline or area of
4949ministry.â€
4950 The problem is that we have a tendency to only listen to what we want to hear. A doctor
4951can give us good advice about diet changes or needed exercise, but it‟s very easy to ignore his
4952counsel if it means changes we don‟t want to make.
4953 I‟ve learned to recognize God‟s Spirit when He convicts me of sin. He warns me ahead
4954of time through my conscience. He also censures me after I have sinned. While we may not
4955want to hear these things from Him, we can thank Him for faithfully bringing sin to our attention.
4956Suppose He didn‟t?
4957 A second type of content God speaks to us is information and guidance.
4958 Jesus said, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He
4959will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to
4960come†(John 16:13).
4961 The Bible abounds with examples of this. Paul said the Holy Spirit warned him of what
4962was to come when he went to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22-23). He reminded the church in Corinth
4963that they had the “mind of Christ†(2:16). Joseph heard of Pharaoh‟s dream and God told Him
4964the contents and their meaning. Daniel heard Nebuchadnezzar‟s dream and God gave him the
4965interpretation. Jacob (Genesis 46:2) and Samuel (2 Samuel 23:2) both said God spoke His
4966 105
4967 guidance to them. Simeon was moved by the Spirit to find Jesus with His parents in the temple
4968(Luke 2:25-28). Several times the Bible tells us that God guided Him by directing His spirit
4969(Mark 2:8; John 13:21). God spoke to Ananias and told him to go to blind Paul (Acts 9:11-15).
4970 An analogy I like which explains this is the shepherd-sheep illustration. He said that His
4971sheep hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:4, 16, 27). Jesus‟ definition of a disciple is one
4972who follows Him, who hears His voice and responds.
4973 St. Augustine tells of a time God‟s voice guided him. “I heard from a neighboring house a
4974voice, as of a boy or girl, I know not, changing, and oft repeating, „Take up and read. Take up
4975and read.‟ I could remember no child‟s game with these words. So, checking the torrent of my
4976tears, I arose; interpreting it to be no other than a command from God, to open the book, and
4977read the first chapter I should find.†Thus he came upon Romans 13:13-14 which led to his
4978salvation and transformation.
4979 Twenty three years ago I was between churches and seeking where God would have me
4980minister. A church in western Pennsylvania invited us to come speak and apply so we did. We
4981weren‟t sure if God wanted us to go there or not, but they went ahead with their procedure and
4982voted on us. The vote was 100% - unanimous. I remember agonizing over the decision,
4983awaiting their final call to see if we were coming or not. When the phone rang I still wasn‟t sure,
4984but as I talked I knew God was telling me to turn it down. I really wanted to get back to
4985pasturing. I hadn‟t ever heard of Main Street Baptist Church in Doylestown. Six months later
4986God led us here, and the church vote was 51% in our favor. Denominational leaders urged us
4987to turn down what was then a hot-bed of conflict and strife, but I knew God was leading us to
4988come here so we did.
4989 That‟s why it‟s so important to be listening to God and letting Him guide and direct.
4990 A very remarkable illustration of this concerns Peter Marshall, the Scot who in the middle
4991of the twentieth century became one of America‟s most widely acclaimed ministers. Through his
4992outstanding qualities as a man and a minister, he brought the office of the chaplain of the United
4993States Senate to a new level of prominence.
4994 Back in Britain, on one foggy, pitch-black Northumerland night, he was taking a shortcut
4995across the moors in an area where there was a deep, deserted limestone quarry. As he
4996plodded blindly forward, an urgent voice called out, “Peter!†He stopped and answered: “Yes,
4997who is it? What do you want?†But there was no response.
4998 Thinking he was mistaken, he took a few more steps. The voice came again, even more
4999urgently, “Peter!†At this he stopped again and, trying to peer into the darkness, stumbled
5000forward and fell to his knees. Putting down his hand to brace himself, he found nothing there.
5001As he felt around in a semicircle he discovered that he was right on the brink of the abandoned
5002quarry, where one step more would certainly have killed him.
5003 It‟s not just the big things, but little things He leads us with as well. Many times I‟ve not
5004been able to find my keys or something I‟ve misplaced. After frantically looking everywhere I
5005finally stop and pray, and then soon after that their location pops right into my mind!
5006 Charles Stanley adds excellent counsel to this. “In the Old Testament when men such as
5007King David inquired of the Lord, the question was nearly always put to the Lord in such a way
5008that the answer was yes or no. I believe this is the foremost way that the Holy Spirit speaks to
5009us hour by hour as we walk through our particular set of circumstances. We can never ask too
5010many times of the Holy Spirit, „Should I do this – yes or no?‟ We will sense in our spirits His
5011word of reply to us. Generally, it will be a sense of enthusiasm and eager desire marked with
5012great joy and freedom, or it will be a sense of foreboding, danger, caution, or need for silence. I
5013 106
5014 find that it is much easier to receive the direction of the Holy Spirit by asking for yes-or-no
5015counsel than to say to Him in general terms, „What do you want me to do?‟â€
5016 So when we talk about the content of what God speaks we find He speaks conviction,
5017information and guidance, and also encouragement.
5018 God doesn‟t just speak information to us; quite often He speaks words of
5019encouragement, peace, comfort and strength. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I
5020do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraidâ€
5021(John 14:27). “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
5022hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus†(Philippians 4:6-7).
5023 God has given me encouragement and peace about our church. Despite the numbers
5024and financial difficulties, I know He wants me to persevere here.
5025 So God speaks conviction, information and encouragement to us. He also tells us how to
5026carry on the responsibilities and ministries He has given us.
5027 His voice calls people into ministry (I Timothy 1:12; 2:6-7) and then tells those whom He
5028has called what to say. Moses is an example of this (Exodus 4:10-12). I‟m sure you‟ve noticed
5029times when you were talking to someone about spiritual things and all of a sudden the right
5030thoughts came to you and you were able to explain something in a way you never thought you
5031could.
5032 When I teach and preach I depend on God to give me the right things to say. That‟s why
5033I always pray before I start, asking Him to give me His words to speak and that everyone would
5034hear Him and not me. I need to listen to Him and you need to be hearing from Him as you hear
5035me.
5036 The final form His communication may take is that of revelation of Himself. Often it will
5037just seem to „hit‟ us how wonderful, powerful or majestic God is. This is Him revealing Himself
5038to us by His Holy Spirit. He does this so we will respond in praise and worship.
5039 That happens to me when I listen to my son Dan play the piano or when I listen to
5040Southern Gospel Music.
5041 Sometimes we can be so overwhelmed with God‟s love in our soul that we find ourselves
5042enraptured in an immense feeling of being loved deeply, of God telling us how much He loves
5043us. Our natural response is to worship, to love Him back.
5044 So we‟ve seen this morning that God speaks to us in a gentle whisper. When He does,
5045He speaks rich and enlightening thoughts to our minds. Or He may cause a warm burning in
5046our hearts as He speaks to our emotions and feelings.
5047 The content which He communicates to us consists of conviction, information and
5048guidance, encouragement and peace, enablement in ministry, and a revelation of Himself to
5049cause us to worship Him.
5050 In which of these areas has He been speaking to you during the last week? In which is
5051He speaking to you now? Where do you need to hear Him speaking in the coming week?
5052 Now that you know a little better what God‟s voices sounds like and the kinds of things
5053He talks about, make sure you are listening for them this week. Many people like to write down
5054these things so they remember and follow through with them.
5055 Make sure you are always listening, for God will be speaking. He will speak to you this
5056week, will you hear Him?
5057
5058 107
5059 I‟d like to close with a story I shared on a Wednesday evening several years ago. It‟s a
5060great example of listening to God speak.
5061 A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible study. The Pastor had shared about
5062listening to God and obeying the Lord‟s voice. The young man could not help but wonder “Does
5063God still speak to people?†After service, he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and
5064they discussed the message. Several different ones talked about how God had led them in
5065different ways. It was about ten o‟clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his
5066car, he just began to pray, “God... If you still speak to people, speak to me. I will listen. I will do
5067my best to obey.†As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought to
5068stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook his head and said out loud, “God is that you?†He did
5069not get a reply and started on toward home. But again, his thought still reminds him to buy a
5070gallon of milk. The young man thought about Samuel and how he did not recognize the voice of
5071God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli. â€Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk.†It did
5072not seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and
5073purchased the gallon of milk and started toward home. As he passed Seventh Street, he again
5074felt the urge, “Turn down that street.â€
5075 This is crazy he thought and drove on past the intersection. Again, he felt that he should
5076turn down Seventh Street. At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh.
5077Half jokingly, he said aloud, “Okay, God, I willâ€.
5078 He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the
5079curb and looked around. He was in a semi-commercial area of town. It was not the best but it
5080was not the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses
5081looked dark like the people were already in bed. Again, he sensed something, “Go, and give the
5082milk to the people in the house across the street.â€
5083 The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either
5084gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat.
5085“Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad
5086and I will look stupid.†Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk. Finally, he opened the
5087door, “Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door, and I will give them the milk. If you want me
5088to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something but
5089if they don‟t answer right away, I am out of here.†He walked across the street and rang the bell.
5090He could hear some noise inside. A man‟s voice yelled out, “Who is it? What do you want?â€
5091Then the door opened before the young man could get away. The man was standing there in his
5092jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and
5093he did not seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. “What is it?†The
5094young man thrust out the gallon of milk, “Here, I brought this to you.†The man took the milk and
5095rushed down a hallway speaking loudly in Spanish. Then from down the hall came a woman
5096carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was
5097crying.
5098 The man had tears streaming down his face. The man began speaking and half-crying,
5099“We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We did not
5100have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some
5101milk.†His wife in the kitchen yelled outs, “I ask him to send an Angel with some. Are you an
5102Angel?†The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and
5103put it in the man‟s hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were
5104streaming down his face. He knew that God still answers prayers.
5105
5106
5107 108
5108 APPENDIX 8
5109
5110
5111
5112 LISTENING TO GOD
5113 “How Can I Tell the Voice is God‟s and Not Satan‟s?â€
5114 Impersonators make good money entertaining and impressing audiences with their ability
5115to look and/or sound like someone famous. They can make good money cashing in on
5116someone else‟s fame and good name.
5117 Satan does the same thing. He pretends to be God speaking to man – but not just for
5118entertainment and amusement. The results are deadly if we listen to the wrong voice.
5119 In World War II the Japanese found ways to broadcast on American airwaves to soldiers,
5120giving commands and orders to deceive and defeat our troops. Soldiers had to make sure they
5121were taking orders from the right source. As God‟s soldiers in a deadly war with Satan, we must
5122make sure that we are hearing from Him and not our enemy. Sometimes that isn‟t so easy.
5123 We‟re finishing a series of messages on listening to God speak. We‟ve talked about how
5124He speaks in a still, quiet voice so we must take time to be still and listen to Him. We‟ve seen
5125how through the Spirit He speaks rich and thoughts to our minds and/or puts a warm burning in
5126our hearts. He convicts of sin, gives guidance or information, encourages or gives peace, helps
5127us to carry out ministries He assigns us, and reveals Himself to us so we can respond in
5128worship.
5129 As with a friend or loved one, we must take time to listen. As we learn to identify His
5130voice and commit to responding to what He says, we will find we hear from Him quite often. Our
5131relationship with Him will grow and we‟ll be much better servants of His.
5132 However sometimes it‟s hard to know if it is really God who is speaking to us or another
5133voice which is counterfeiting and confusing us.
5134
5135
5136I. WHAT VOICES DO I HEAR?
5137 There are actually three counterfeit „voices‟ that can confuse or mislead us. The first is
5138the voice of the flesh. As Paul says in Romans 8:5-8, the flesh is, in essence, the part of us that
5139tends to sin. It is in opposition to the Spirit in us and leads us to disobedience of God (James
51401:13-14). The desires of the flesh can be strong, especially if they have been given free reign in
5141the past.
5142 By knowing what God‟s Word says and by listening to the convicting voice of the Spirit
5143within, we can learn to recognize this voice for the self-centered temptation it is.
5144 A second „voice‟ is the voice of the world. The world system, with its values and goals,
5145can have a strong appeal to our sin nature (flesh). John warns us not to the system around us
5146that is not based on love of God and His Word (I John 2:15-17). Its „voice‟ comes to us through
5147what we see, hear and read in our daily lives. It can come through others, the media, or our
5148own envy of those who seem better off than we are. Inputs from the world around us can be
5149very persuasive, effecting how we think and therefore behave. They can sound very appealing,
5150so we need to carefully study God‟s will as revealed in the Bible and be sensitive to the Spirit‟s
5151
5152 109
5153 promptings and warnings. When the voice of the world lines up with the voice of the flesh, the
5154temptation can be very strong.
5155 The most dangerous voice, however, because it is most subtle, is the voice of Satan.
5156Ananias obviously listened to Satan‟s voice instead of God‟s when saying he was donating all
5157he received for the sale of his land when it was, in fact, only part of the amount (Acts 5:3).
5158 Satan does communicate with man. He did so with Jesus when He was tempted after
5159forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4). Paul says Satan sows deception in the hearts of
5160people (2 Corinthians 11:3).
5161 Jesus says that everything Satan says is a lie, for that is his nature. “You are of your
5162father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the
5163beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he
5164speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies†John 8:44.
5165 The Bible doesn‟t give details about just how Satan does this, but we do know he can put
5166thoughts into a person‟s mind. “But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter,
5167and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God‟s interests, but
5168man‟s†Mark 8:33.
5169 In addition, Satan can take thoughts out of a mind. “When anyone hears the word of the
5170kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been
5171sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road†Matthew 13:19.
5172 As with Adam and Eve, Satan‟s communication with man is always deceitful and
5173destructive. He can make suggestions about how we may meet a legitimate need on our own
5174without waiting for God‟s provision. He can put thoughts of guilt and failure into our minds. He
5175can provide excuses to justify a sinful course we are taking. He can undermine God‟s goodness
5176and the Bible‟s authority.
5177 Satan is willing to speak as much as a man is willing to listen. He uses various forms of
5178the occult to communicate with man, such as tarot cards, Ouija boards, séances, and other
5179means. He can and will speak directly to a person much as the Holy Spirit does. “Be self-
5180controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone
5181to devour†(1 Peter 5:8). Because Satan is the most dangerous of the counterfeit voices we
5182hear, we will focus on him for this message.
5183 Satan is a counterfeiter. He tries to counterfeit all God does for His people. Judas heard
5184Satan‟s voice and betrayed Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16). Peter heard Satan‟s voice and did not
5185believe the voice of Jesus (Mark 8:31-33). A leper was healed by Jesus and told not to tell
5186anyone who did it but he heard Satan‟s voice and disobeyed (Mark 1:40-45).
5187 While we know Satan is limited to one place at a time, we must recognize that he does
5188his work thorough demons. It is highly unlikely that Satan will ever speak to us directly, but by
5189assigning certain demons to harass and impact us the result is the same. Thus when we say
5190that „Satan speaks to us‟ we are really recognizing that all demonic forces work together for
5191Satan.
5192 David‟s thought to take a census of the people was demon-inspired (1 Chronicles 21:1ff;
51932 Samuel 24:1ff). Saul‟s jealousy and anger at David was as well (1 Samuel 16:14-23).
5194Ananias and Sapphira‟s greed was demon stimulated as well (Acts 5:3). When God didn‟t
5195speak to Saul, he went to a medium to connect with a supernatural power (1 Samuel 28:4-7).
5196For this reason John warns, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
5197are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.â€
5198 110
5199 Therefore it is essential to make sure you can tell Satan‟s voice from God‟s voice. Let‟s
5200look at how to do that.
5201II. HOW CAN I TELL THE VOICE IS GOD‟S AND NOT SATAN‟S?
5202 The first way we can tell the difference between God‟s voice and Satan‟s voice is that
5203God convicts while Satan condemns. When God speaks to us about sin we feel guilty and sinful
5204but still loved. When it is Satan condemning us we don‟t feel loved but rejected and hopeless.
5205 Jesus forgives and restores, as with the woman taken in adultery. Jesus straightened up
5206and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she
5207said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sinâ€
5208(John 8:10-11).
5209 By contrast Satan accuses and focuses on our guilt. That‟s why he‟s called the „accuser
5210of our brothers‟ (Revelation 12:10).
5211 God will expose the sin and focus on it, but only for the purpose of us confessing and
5212removing it. He offers hope of restoration. He doesn‟t emphasize our guilt, failure and
5213unworthiness in that area and as a person in general, but Satan does.
5214 When Jesus convicts we know specifically what He is talking about and what to do about
5215it. When it comes from Satan we just have a nagging sense of unspecified guilt and failure to
5216discourage and defeat us. Or Satan will point to past sins which have been confessed and
5217forgiven and try to get us to feel miserable about them, ignoring the fact that God has forgotten
5218them.
5219 So God convicts but Satan condemns.
5220 A second way of telling the difference is to remember that God clarifies but Satan
5221confuses. When God speaks to us it is to clearly show us sin in its true, deadly light. The
5222„pleasure‟ and deception is removed and the awful deadliness is revealed. Satan, however,
5223tries to perplex us with worldly logic and explanations. He feeds us excuses, justifications,
5224thoughts of how it is another‟s fault and general confusion over it (James 3:15). When God
5225speaks there is a sense that everything is under control (1 Corinthians 14:32). Satan‟s purpose
5226is to ensnare and take captive (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
5227 God‟s voice brings peace (Philippians 4:7) but Satan‟s voice brings uncertainty for what
5228he tells us conflicts with what the Spirit is also telling us. Thus we feel perplexed.
5229 If the voice you are hearing brings a nagging, gnawing feeling of frustration in your spirit,
5230it‟s not from God. God brings a deep calmness in your spirit.
5231 Thus God convicts while Satan condemns. God clarifies while Satan confuses. There‟s
5232another way to tell the difference: God confirms while Satan contradicts. When its God‟s voice
5233speaking to us we know it lines up with the Bible and advice Godly believers would give us. It
5234passes Paul‟s test of making sure everything is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable
5235(Philippians 4:8-9). However when Satan speaks his words don‟t agree with the Bible or advice
5236of mature Christians. When we desire it so much we ignore the warnings in our spirit we are
5237headed to sin.
5238 So God convicts while Satan condemns, God clarifies while Satan confuses, and God
5239confirms while Satan contradicts.
5240 Further, God chooses while Satan captures. God‟s voice brings us freedom, there are no
5241strings attached. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.†Following Satan‟s
5242voice brings bondage, we are trapped and taken prisoner (2 Timothy 2:26).
5243 111
5244 Satan says, “Do your own thing, do what you want to do.†God says, “Consider the
5245effects of your behavior on others. Live a selfless, self-giving life.†Satan says, “Live for the
5246moment.†God says, “Live with an eye on eternity.†Satan says “Don‟t concern yourself with
5247what others say.†God says, “Receive godly counsel.†Satan says, “You‟re as mature as you
5248ever need to be. You‟re grown up.†God says, “Continue to grow and mature and to become
5249more and more like Jesus.†In all these Satan‟s advice, while appealing to our flesh, leads to
5250bondage and defeat. God‟s will, instead, brings freedom and life.
5251 God convicts while Satan condemns, God clarifies while Satan confuses, and God
5252confirms while Satan contradicts. God chooses while Satan captures.
5253 In addition, God constrains but Satan constricts. God draws us by His love and gives us
5254a desire to want to live for Him. “For Christ‟s love compels us†(2 Corinthians 5:14). Moving
5255from sin to following God is like taking a shower when we are really dirty because we know how
5256good we‟ll feel afterwards. Satan‟s communication does not bring that. It constricts, limits,
5257makes us feel dirtier and ineffective. We feel discouraged and hopeless.
5258 Satan is like the salesman trying to force us to make a decision we aren‟t quite sure of,
5259telling us if we don‟t buy now it‟ll be too late. God respects our free will and doesn‟t force us.
5260He gives us time to think the alternatives through. When we feel forced, pushed or in a hurry we
5261can know Satan is speaking, not God. God is never in a hurry/
5262 So in summary we see that God convicts while Satan condemns, God clarifies while
5263Satan confuses, and God confirms while Satan contradicts. God chooses while Satan captures.
5264God constrains but Satan constricts.
5265 The way to tell Satan‟s voice from God‟s voice is to run what you hear through the
5266following test:
5267 1 - Is it consistent with the word of God? Does this solution fit the principles that are in
5268the Bible? Does it violate anything in the Bible? Would Jesus do it?
5269 2 - Is it a wise decision? In your own heart and mind is it the type of solution that Jesus
5270Christ himself would agree with? Would Jesus implement this solution himself?
5271 3 - Are you confident in asking God to enable you to achieve this solution? Can you
5272look upon this solution as one that God would send into your life?
5273 4 - Do you feel that it is a God given solution? Deep within your heart do you feel or
5274sense that this solution is the will of God?
5275 5 - Does this solution fit a child of God? From all that you know about God, does this
5276solution or this answer fit a person that truly loves, believes, and trusts God?
5277 6 - Does the solution fit God's overall plan for your life? Does this solution fit in with
5278God's guidance and direction of your life?
5279 7 - Does this solution honor God? Does it bring glory and praise to Almighty God?
5280 Have you been able to recognize any of these traits of Satan‟s voice in communication
5281you have been hearing? Make sure you don‟t follow anything that doesn‟t come from God!
5282 Are you now better able to discern God‟s voice from Satan‟s voice? If you really want to
5283hear from God only and not be deceived, He‟ll make sure you have the discernment you need.
5284Just ask Him.
5285
5286
5287
5288 112
5289 APPENDIX 9
5290
5291 DOES GOD WANT US TO SPEAK IN TONGUES TODAY?
5292
5293BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT, SECOND BLESSING, TONGUES & SUCH MATTERS
5294What a land-mine this subject is! It gets so divisive. I‟m sure God hates to see that
5295among His children. I don‟t write this to be divisive, but God does require each of us to
5296come to our own conclusions on this matter, based on the Bible. I don‟t try to explain
5297how or why others feel led as they do, I don‟t in any way judge or condemn them, I only
5298know how God is leading me from His Word. I have thoroughly studied this whole issue
5299with as open a heart as possible, even wishing there were some higher form of
5300spirituality and victory that would take me to a higher plane. Still, I feel totally convinced
5301God is showing me through His Word that these things are not for me nor the people I
5302shepherd. What is happening in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles I do not know. I
5303only know how He leads me.
5304 The Bible teaches that each believer is filled with the Holy Spirit at the moment
5305of salvation (I Cor 10:1ff; 12:3; 6:19; Eph. 4:5; Rom. 5:5). One cannot be saved without
5306the Holy Spirit indwelling them (John 7:37-39; 14:16-17; I Cor 6:19-20). From there on it
5307is not a matter of getting more of the Holy Spirit but of the Holy Spirit getting more of us!
5308As we totally submit and live a holy life He fills and works through us.
5309 Then what about Acts 2, 8, 10 and 19, when the Holy Spirit came on those who
5310were already believers? Acts 2 is a one-time, non-repeatable experience (not even
5311repeated in Acts 8, 10 or 19). Just like the Second Person of the Trinity made a unique,
5312one-time entrance into the world through a virgin in a stable, so the Third Person made
5313His entrance in a unique, one-time way. When Jesus came back to earth after the
5314resurrection to the apostles, Paul or John on Patmos, He never repeated the virgin-in-a-
5315stable entrance. Acts 2, also, is non-repeatable.
5316 Acts 2 is a transition, from Old Testament law when the Holy Spirit only indwelt
5317some believers some times, to New Testament grace, when the Holy Spirit indwells all
5318believers for their whole life. The apostles had already accepted Jesus‟ claims and were
5319saved in the old dispensation, then when the new dispensation started and the Spirit
5320came they naturally would be the first to receive Him in that way. That is non-
5321repeatable, too. In Acts 8 we see this same truth applied to half Jews and half Gentiles,
5322in Acts 10 to Gentiles in Palestine, and in Acts 19 to Gentiles outside of Palestine.
5323They were similar to Acts 2 to show that Jews and Gentiles were now equal in the same
5324Body, that the same thing happened to each. Each one showed the changeover from
5325Old Testament law to New Testament grace. There had to be a definite time of change,
5326showing the transfer had been made and those believers accepted. Still, what
5327happened was different enough to show that it wasn‟t Acts 2 repeated again. Those
5328were the only times anything even resembling Acts 2 happened in Acts, and it only
5329happened once for each new group as the gospel spread from Jerusalem. All others
5330received the Holy Spirit immediately at salvation.
5331 Tongues is not proof of Spirit baptism. Many received the Holy Spirit but not
5332tongues: 3,000 on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38-41), early church believers (Acts
5333 113
5334 4:31), Samaritans (Acts 8:14-17), Paul (Acts 9:17-18), John the Baptist (Luke 1:15-16),
5335Jesus (Lk. 3:21-22; 4:1,14,18,21) and many others (Acts 4:8,31; 6:5; 7:55; 11:24;
533613:9,52). Speaking in tongues is never mentioned in the leadership qualities in Titus or I
5337Timothy. The Bible makes it clear that obedience is the proof of the Holy Spirit‟s
5338indwelling, not tongues (Eph 5:18f).
5339 Tongues in Acts and Corinth were the same. The same Greek word („glossa‟
5340meaning „tongue, to speak, language‟) is always used of known foreign languages and is
5341used in both Acts (2:6-11, etc) and Corinth (I Cor 14:21; 12:10). In Acts is it obvious that
5342the listeners heard known languages spoken by those who had no previous knowledge
5343of the language. There is no indication that what Corinth experienced was different. It is
5344only the church at Corinth that is mentioned as using tongues, and then many
5345corrections were needed because it was a very carnal church (I Cor. 3:1-3).
5346 The purpose of tongues was to show Jews that God‟s judgment was on them.
5347They were to spread God‟s message to Gentiles but failed. God would show He was
5348judging them for that by bringing His word to them by Gentiles in Gentile languages.
5349This was prophesied in Isa. 28:9-12; 33:19f; Deut 28:49; and Jer 5:15. Paul said
5350tongues fulfilled those prophecies (I Cor 14:21-22). When the Jews didn‟t heed this sign
5351and repent, God‟s judgment came upon them in 70 AD when Jerusalem was destroyed.
5352After 70 AD there is no instance of tongues being used in the early church. Signs are
5353placed before what they are to mark, not after! Paul said (I Cor. 13:8-12) that tongues
5354“will be stilled.†The Greek word, „pauo,‟ is in the middle voice; they will stop by
5355themselves and not start again. History records only a very few, very isolated, very
5356minor outbreak of tongues from Acts to the present. These groups were often heretical
5357in some or all of their other beliefs. Obviously tongues did stop. There is nothing to
5358indicate that they would ever begin again, for their purpose has been fulfilled. When Joel
53592 talks about the Holy Spirit coming back after the Tribulation, there is no mention of
5360tongues!
5361 Then what about those with the gift of interpretation? First, the Greek word for this
5362refers to someone who interprets known languages, like from Spanish to German. The
5363use of foreign languages was to show God‟s judgment to the Jews present. The content
5364of the message was God‟s good news, which the Jews should have been spreading.
5365Since speaking in an unknown language would mean nothing to Gentiles present, Paul
5366said there had to be an interpreter present when the gift was used (I Cor 14:26-28). This
5367was necessary for the weak and immature Corinthian believers (14:20-22) who were
5368ignorant of God‟s truth (12:13). It was to be kept to a minimum (14:6-12) because it was
5369an inferior gift (I Cor. 14:4). Paul himself only used his ability to speak in unknown
5370languages in Jewish synagogues, not Jewish services (14:39).
5371 Applying these criteria to tongues today (known foreign language, showing God‟s
5372judgment on the Jews, used only with Jews present, sees as a lesser/minor gift whose
5373use was to be kept to a minimum, etc.) shows that what is happening today is different
5374from what happened back then.
5375 Tongues are not a heavenly language. The Greek word makes it clear they are
5376a KNOWN language (Acts 2:6-11; I Cor 14:21; 12:10). This is different than the
5377„groanings‟ of Romans 8:26 for those are clearly said to be unutterable (not able to be
5378 114
5379 spoken). The “tongues of angels†(I Cor. 13:1) is a hyperbole (overemphasis to make a
5380point) like “faith to move mountains.†Besides, when angels spoke in the Bible, it was
5381always in the known language of those to whom they were speaking.
5382 Tongues are not a private prayer language. All spiritual gifts are given for the
5383sake of others, not the one having the gift (I Cor 12:7, 12f; 14:19,27), that‟s why an
5384interpreter had to always be present in Corinth (I Cor 14:26-28). Every time the gift of
5385tongues was given in the Bible it was given to a group, not an individual. It was always
5386used in a group, too, no instance of private use is recorded. The tongue is to be
5387controlled by the speaker, not beyond his control (I Cor. 14:28-33). Plus, tongues were
5388to be a sign to unbelievers, not believers (I Cor 14:22). Jesus Himself warned about
5389praying words we don‟t understand (Mt 6:7). Paul said he always understood what he
5390said when he prayed, even in tongues (I Cor 14:15). When asked how to pray Jesus
5391gave the Lord‟s Prayer, not tongues.
5392 Dangers of speaking in tongues today. Paul warns about Satan‟s ability to
5393counterfeit this (I Cor 12:2-3) as he has in other religions and cults today. Tongues is
5394said to be an inferior gift because it is self-centered (I Cor 14:4) and leads to emphasis
5395being put on emotions which can lead people astray (II Cor 6:11-12; Rom 16:17-18). We
5396are told to pray with understanding (I Cor 14:13-17) and control our spiritual gift (I Cor
539714:28-40). God arbitrarily chooses which gifts to give to whom (I Cor 12:7,11,18,28).
5398We are told to not seek any particular gift (I Cor 12:31; 14:1-4). Tongues speaking can
5399become a substitute for spirituality (I Cor 14:26-28). Worse of all, it can produce a false
5400security by those who put faith in it as proof that God loves and accepts them. Most who
5401practice tongues-speaking do not believe in eternal security of salvation, so their
5402speaking in tongues becomes their proof of acceptance by God. Our faith must be in
5403Jesus‟ work on the cross, not in our ability to speak in „tongues.‟ Those without the gift
5404can feel pressured to fit in with the rest of the group.
5405 I have been told by those who are more experienced in dealing with tongues
5406spirits than I am that these demons are often „gatekeepers‟ and keep other demons in.
5407They also call others in and keep them from exiting.
5408
5409
5410
5411
5412 115
5413 APPENDIX 10
5414
5415 IS IT GOD‟S WILL FOR EVERYONE TO BE HEALED TODAY?
5416 There are those today who believe that Jesus not only paid for sin on the cross,
5417but that He also paid for our sickness. They say that each is received by faith, if you
5418have enough faith to receive it. Loss of faith, then, causes the loss of these benefits of
5419faith. They claim some are especially gifted in healing and can heal those who come to
5420them. They say God did miracles in the Bible and he is still a miracle-working God
5421today.
5422 What about this? Is this true? This is not just one peripheral issue, but stands
5423very central in our salvation and Christian life. Is God‟s sovereignty or man‟s free will the
5424final and ultimate deciding factor? It must be God‟s sovereignty. The motive for living
5425for Jesus should not be fear of losing our salvation. The goal of living for Jesus should
5426not be a problem free life. Pain and suffering isn‟t to be faced by whipping up enough
5427„faith‟ so that God removes it (or living with the feelings of failure and guilt if it isn‟t
5428removed and we believe that is our fault by not having enough faith). What about these
5429claims of „faith healers‟? What does the Bible say?
5430IS THE GIFT OF HEALING FOR TODAY? While it‟s true that Jesus and the Apostles
5431healed, it was done as a sign to authenticate that they were from God (Mt 12:39). This
5432was God‟s way having people listen to them instead of all the counterfeits around. When
5433they were fully authenticated, there was no longer any reason for the sign. In AD 35 all
5434were healed but by AD 60 some were not (Epaphroditus, Paul‟s thorn in the flesh). Then
5435by AD 67 very few were being healed (Trophimus was left at Miletus sick, Timothy‟s
5436stomach was unhealed, etc.). Jerusalem, the scene of many early miracles, had not one
5437miracle done in it after Stephen was stoned. The people had the evidence but rejected
5438it. James, the oldest book in the Bible, says that if someone is sick we are to pray for
5439them (James 5:14).
5440SHOULD WE SEE MIRACLES TODAY LIKE IN BIBLE TIMES? Actually if you list all
5441the miracles in the Bible you will find almost all of them fit three time periods. They
5442aren‟t evenly spread out throughout history but cluster in the times of Moses/Joshua,
5443Elijah/Elisha and Jesus/apostles. In each of these times a new mess had developed so
5444God sent a new message through a new messenger whom He authenticated by miracles
5445(“signsâ€). One more time of miracles is coming, called the Tribulation.
5446IS FAITH A PREREQUISITE FOR HEALING? Jesus didn‟t make faith a requirement for
5447healing. Many that He healed didn‟t have faith. The impotent man at the pool didn‟t
5448even know who He was. The man with the withered hand and the man with dropsy were
5449healed as a sign to religious leaders who were present, they didn‟t ask to be healed.
5450The cripple that Peter and Paul healed outside the temple didn‟t exercise any faith. Of
5451course the demoniacs who were delivered and those brought back from the dead didn‟t
5452exercise faith. Then there are others who had strong faith but weren‟t healed: Stephen,
5453Paul, Timothy, Job, David, Elisha, etc.
5454IS „HEALING‟ TODAY THE SAME AS IN BIBLE TIMES? Today‟s „healers‟ must meet
5455the same characteristics of Jesus and the apostles to claim they are doing what was
5456done then. Jesus and the apostles healed with a word or touch wherever and whenever.
5457 116
5458 There was no special place or time, no chants or music, no gimmicks, nothing. Do
5459today‟s faith healers walk down the hall in a hospital and empty every room? That‟s how
5460Jesus and Peter did it. Also, Bible miracles were done instantly, not gradually or slowly.
5461There was no healing to „claim‟ or lose. Healing was then done totally, not partially, and
5462it was never lost. Everyone was healed. There was no screening done. 100% of every
5463one, no matter the need, was healed. Organic diseases were healed: limbs grew back
5464instantly, strong enough to walk on, eyes were open, leprosy instantly gone and healthy
5465flesh gown. Then, too, the dead were raised. Today‟s faith healing doesn‟t nearly meet
5466these characteristics.
5467DOES GOD NOT HEAL? Yes, a sovereign God can always heal. He is always able to
5468heal, but He is not always willing. Healing isn‟t guaranteed. Healing isn‟t based on our
5469having enough faith. Miracles by Jesus and the apostles were done as a sign to
5470authenticate the One who could heal an unseen soul. God can and does heal, but He
5471doesn‟t gift others to do it, nor does He say that is the recommended norm for His
5472people.
5473WHAT ARE WE TO DO WHEN SICK? When we are sick its good to first make sure it
5474isn‟t for sin or disobedience. If there is sin that God is using the sickness to point out,
5475confess it and God will forgive and then use that illness for good (Romans 8:28). It‟s fine
5476to pray, asking God to heal if that is His will. We are to submit to His will, not demand
5477He do what we want. Ask Him to use the pain and suffering for His glory (that we and
5478others can see His greatness through His provision and peace) and our growth(make us
5479trust Him more and become more like Jesus). Use the best available resources: diet,
5480rest, exercise and medical help. Realize that all healing does ultimately come from God.
5481Leave the results to His will, though.
5482 Granted, this whole subject of faith and healing can be a confusing and guilt-
5483producing area. Specific verses can be found to seemingly support most any view.
5484However an overview of the Bible and it‟s teaching about these things definitely seems
5485to substantiate the above view of healing. Always remember, our faith must be in Jesus.
5486HE is the object of our faith, never a human person or group. Put faith in Jesus, not faith
5487in your faith! HE is the one we are to look to and glorify. Always keep your eyes on Him.
5488Trust and serve Him no matter what.
5489
5490
5491
5492
5493 117
5494 ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF SUBJECTS COVERED
5495
5496Abuse and demonizing 26 Darkness, Satan behind 12
5497Actions of Satan 8-9 Death, Satan‟s goal for us 12
5498Adoption & demonizing 26-27 Deception and truth 16
5499After deliverance 62-76 Deliverance by Jesus 47
5500Ancestors sins 23-24 Deliverance doesn‟t come 53
5501Angels and believers 6 Deliverance slow 53
5502Angels our helpers 5 Deliverance today 49-54
5503Anger 18, 29-30 Deliverance ongoing 62-76
5504Anointing with oil 22, 23, 56, 58 Demonic influence of the mind 14-15
5505Apologetics 79-81 Demonized people, how responsible? 19
5506Armor, wear it 64-72 Demonized who may be 37-38
5507Authority and power 47 Demonizing defined 13
5508 Demonizing of believers 13-14
5509Believers and angels 6 Demonizing openings 22-46
5510Believers can be demonized 13-14 Demonizing evidence of (list) 20
5511Believers, demons work against 11 Demons, enemy soldiers 10-12
5512Believers, Satan‟s work against 9-10 Description of demonizing 14-20
5513Belt of truth 66-67 Deuteronomy 18:9-13 39
5514Bible and deliverance 68, 70-72 Discerning of spirits 61
5515Bible verses for all occasions 95-100 Disciples and deliverance 48
5516Bible, How We know Is God‟s Word 82-86 Discipline, church 60
5517Breastplate of righteousness 67 Duties of angels 6
5518 Duties of demons 11
5519Causes of demonizing 21
5520Character of demons 10 Emotions and demonizing 13
5521Character of Satan 8-9 Ephesians 6:10-18 64-70
5522Characteristics of demonizing 13-20 Eternal security 93-94
5523Childhood access broken 27 Evidence of demonizing (list) 20
5524Children and demonizing 57-58 Existence of Satan 7
5525Children and parents 60 Exorcism, sp gift 61
5526Christian, how to know for sure 92
5527Church and deliverance 60-61 Faith, shield of 67-68
5528Church discipline 60 Fasting 56-57
5529Communication, None With Demons 53 Fear 17-18
5530Compulsive thoughts 16 Forgive others 50-51
5531Confessing the sins of another 74 Forgiveness of sins 34-36
5532Confession of sin 34-36, 73 Fortress illustration 21
5533Conversing with Demons is Out 53 Freemasonry 41-42
5534Counsel to others 76-77
5535Counterfeit Healings 56 Generational openings/sins 23-24
5536Creation of angels 5 God our commander 5
5537Creation of demons 10 God How We Know He Exists 79-81
5538Curses 25-26 God‟s voice from Satan‟s voice 109-112
5539Cutting 18-19 God‟s voice, how to hear 101-108
5540
5541
5542
5543
5544 118
5545 Healing and deliverance 55-56 Organization of demons 10
5546Healing for all today? 116-117 Others, helping 76-77
5547Healings, Counterfeit 56
5548Helmet of salvation 68 Pantheism 43, 45
5549Helping others 76-77 Parent and child 60
5550Holy Spirit, submit to 64 Parent‟s sins 23-24
5551Home demonized 22 Persevere no matter what 72-73
5552Humanism 43 Personality of angels 5
5553Husband and wife 59 Personality of demons 11
5554 Physical healing 55-56
5555Idolatry based sins 30 Poor self image sins 32
5556Illness and demonizing 55-56 Power and authority 47
5557Illness, Mental 9, 17 Power of demons 10
5558Immorality based sins 25, 31 Power of Jesus 47
5559Intercession 74 Power of Satan 7
5560Intercession, sp gift 61 Praise to God 73-74
5561 Prayer and deliverance 72-76
5562James 4:7-8 78 Prayer and the armor 69-70
5563Jesus and deliverance 48 Prayer, how to 72-76
5564Jesus, How We Know He Is God 87-91
5565Jesus, source of deliverance 47 PRAYERS
5566 Prayer for forgiveness of anger 30
5567Karate‟s influence 46 Prayer for forgiveness of sin 29
5568 Prayer for Freemasonry 41-42
5569Listening to God 75, 101-108 Prayer for generational bondage 24
5570Lists of sins, openings 20, 32-33 Prayer for idolatry sins 30
5571 Prayer for marriage 59
5572Marriage 59 Prayer for Masonic bondage 41-42
5573Martial Arts 46 Prayer for occult involvement 41
5574Masonic Lodge 41-42 Prayer for occult or New Age 45
5575Mediums 72 Prayer for recovery from sin 36
5576Memory verses 71-72 Prayer for secret societies 41-42
5577Mental illness 17 Prayer for sexual sins 31
5578Mind and demonizing 14-15 Prayer for son or daughter 58
5579Ministering Deliverance to Others 76-77 Prayer for spiritual warfare in general 75-76
5580 Prayer for the armor of God 69-70
5581Names of Satan 8-9 Prayer for victory over fear 18
5582Nature of angels 5 Prayer for victory over self destruction,
5583Necromancy 39 suicide, etc. 19
5584New Age 43-45 Prayer to break ungodly soul ties 27
5585No Deliverance 53 Prayer to cleanse room or home 23
5586 Prayer to forgive others 30, 51
5587Obsessive thoughts 16
5588Occult and demonizing 39-46 Pride 2,7,8,10,24,32,41,52
5589Occult and the Bible 39 Promises of victory 29
5590Oil, anointing with 22, 23, 56, 58 Property an opening 22-23
5591Ongoing battle 62-76 Purpose of what Satan does 9
5592Openings for demonizing 22-46
5593Openings common sins 32-33
5594Organization of angels 6
5595 119
5596 Rebellion and demonizing 26-27 War, believer in spiritual war 2
5597Rejection and demonizing 26 Who may be demonized 37-38
5598Removal of sin access 34-36 Why spiritual warfare? 4
5599Resist and stand firm 72 Wife and husband 59
5600Responsibility of the demonized 19 Wisdom, sp gift of 61
5601Retaining deliverance 63 Witchcraft 24, 25, 39
5602 Word of God 68, 70-72
5603Salvation, can‟t be lost 93-94
5604Salvation, how to be sure 92 Yoga's influence 46
5605Salvation, need of 3
5606Sandals of peace 67
5607Satan, enemy commander 7
5608Satan‟s voice from God‟s voice 109-112
5609Satan‟s work 8-10
5610Satanism 42-43
5611Schizophrenia 17
5612Scripture and deliverance 68, 70-72
5613Scripture for all occasions 95-100
5614Secret societies 41-42
5615Security of salvation 93-94
5616Self image sins 32
5617Self-mutilation 18-19
5618Sexual sin & demonizing 25, 31
5619Shield of faith 67-68
5620Shriners 41-42
5621Sin openings for demonizing 25-46
5622Sin recovery from 36
5623Sin list of common 32-33
5624Soul ties and demonizing 27
5625Source of deliverance 47
5626Spiritual blindness 12
5627Spiritual gifts and deliverance 60-61
5628Spiritual gifts, tongues 113-115
5629Spiritual growth 63-64
5630Spiritual warfare, why do it? 4
5631Steps to deliverance 48-54
5632Submit to Holy Spirit 64
5633Suicide 18-19
5634Sword of the Word 68
5635
5636Talk, Not With Demons 53
5637Test the Spirits 52, 72, 110
5638Thanksgiving in prayer 74
5639Thoughts and demonizing 14-15
5640Tongues, for us today? 113-115
5641Topical index 95-100
5642Truth and deception 16
5643
5644Victory promised 29
5645
5646 120
5647