Every battle requires you to know your enemy, understand their methods, choose your weapons, establish offensive and defensive lines, and if necessary, to mount a counterattack. This is also true of the battle that often goes unseen against spiritual forces of darkness. In this segment, we’re going to talk about how to fight. Let’s look at what Peter had to say about firsthand evil:
8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)
Real people are the target of affliction and real people are suffering because of this. Now, as we talk about this, we have to ask: Is all affliction and suffering caused by the demonic? Further, what does it even mean for something to be demonic? We typically sort affliction into one of three categories, but Luke, in his Gospel account, makes note of a fourth. Let’s take a look at these four causes of affliction:
1. Physical: Something in the body itself is being aggravated or injured.
2. Psychological: Mental illness is real and can be treated in a variety of ways.
3. Relational: Things other people say and do can hurt us, and reconciling those relationships can be hard, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you are being attacked by Satan.
4. Demonic: A Jesus follower should be aware of all the ways people can be afflicted in this way as well as multiple methods of approach for healing. Let’s walk through this category now.
The first question to be asked regarding this category is: What is a demon? Demons are immaterial, created beings that are opposed to God, and therefore evil. Ok, we’ve answered that, but what exactly do we know about demonic causes? There’s a specific Greek word that the Bible often uses to talk about demonic influence and it’s this…
Demonization: Being tortured or tormented by an evil spiritual being. This word means far more than just feeling the effects of sin in the world and in our lives. This word is used instead of our English words “possession” or “oppression.” With that in mind, the next big question we should ask is: Can a Christian be possessed by a demon?
Christians cannot be possessed by demons, but they can be influenced by them. Possession language often conveys the idea of ownership. Since Christians have already been bought by Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit, no one else can claim ownership of them. But, they can still be influenced.
Let’s look at a Bible verse that shows one of the most common ways a believer can be influenced by demons:
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (1 Timothy 4:3)
So, based on what this verse is saying, any teaching that leads people away from Jesus is deceptive and demonic.
Demonization is far more robust and influential than we might initially realize. Our prayer is that we would all instead experience what Paul told Timothy:
25“Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:25-26)
The devil’s trap is rooted in lies and deception.
There were several demonic moments in Jesus’ earthly ministry, and each of them looked different. Different words used, different details, and different settings. The theme of each of these is always the same, though. This tells us that victory over the demonic is not about a formula and far more about the authority of the King and the arrival of the kingdom.
This is how we do spiritual warfare at SMCC. The local church, our church, has been victoriously pushing back the power of hell for years by sharing the good news of Jesus and walking with people in their next step journey. We strive not only to preach the Gospel, but to make disciples who obey Jesus. So the common approach to spiritual warfare at SMCC is evangelism and discipleship, but the rare and bizarre episodes could happen. God could use you in that process in a powerful way, so here’s six A’s that you can use to tackle these situations if you have to:
1. Attune to the pain. Be aware of what is going on.
2. Assess the affliction. Determine what the cause of this person’s affliction is, whether it’s demonic or something else.
3. Ask about allegiance. Since Christians can’t be demon-possessed, ask the person what they believe in.
4. Appeal to the truth and power of Jesus. Recognize that what Jesus says about these things is true and that He alone has the power to heal.
5. Ask Jesus to powerfully remove evil. Ask Him to work in this person to expel that evil spirit.
6. Act on a spiritual next step in confidence. Be confident in taking the next step.
If you encounter an afflicted person or you are afflicted yourself, and you think the cause isn’t physical, relational, or psychological, then spiritual evil must be the answer, and this is the process for addressing it. Remember, deliverance is not the end goal, discipleship is. Deliverance without discipleship is dangerous. Let’s look at what Jesus says about this:
43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” (Matthew 13:43-45)
What He’s saying here is that even if you have been freed from an evil spirit, you are so wicked that you will just be consumed by more. This means that a cleaned-out life can’t just sit there, it must become a life filled with devotion and delight in Jesus.
Since the battle is won, invite people into a victorious kingdom through evangelism, through discipleship, and if necessary, through deliverance. Be awake, be alert, and be confident. The power and authority of Jesus is not match for evil spirits. Stand confidently in that today knowing the battle has begun.
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