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Fighting your enemy by Seth Barnes on 2/19/2009
Here's something that's always bothered me. I was raised in a good Bible-believing church, but no one ever helped me grasp the reality of how to fight a personal evil (more on that
here). It was as though we believed that demons just disappeared from the earth with the Acts 2 church, or that if we ignored them, they wouldn't bother us.
Working extensively in Africa doesn't give us that option. Demons regularly show up in people and cause a ruckus. They need to be dealt with authoritatively. You can't play patty-cake with them or ignore them. As our missionaries are discovering, they can be obnoxious and obtrusive. Lisa Smith describes
her encounter with a witch doctor in Mozambique this way:
"I hear the low rumblings of guttural
groans. I'm not entirely sure whether this sound is coming from a human
or from an animal. I open my eyes during the prayer and glance around. I see that Ana's face
is slightly contorted and these strange sounds are escaping from her
lips.
The rest of the congregation seems completely unphased. I asked Solomon, our translator, what had
happened. He looks at me completely calm and says, "It was an evil
spirit." In a culture where witchdoctors are more prevalent than
hospitals, this phenomenon is widespread."
One woman was laying on the floor and the
other was flailing about as if someone were kicking her belly. She was
a 13 or 14 year old girl, who when she woke up that morning probably
didn't realize that her Sunday- best outfit would be getting torn and
dirty on a church floor as she wailed.
The parishioners and pastor were doing their best to lead the girl to
deliverance, but not much progress had been made since the girl had now
been wailing for about 30 minutes. My curiosity got the best of me and
I found myself inching closer and closer to the victim. Eventually, I
was kneeling next to her and what I saw....
This precious girl's eyes were not that of a child. Glazed over and
red they pointed straight up as if they were not allowed to look
anywhere else. Between the screams she would growl and between the
growls and screams she horrifyingly spat out shrieks drenched in fear.
When I asked my teammates for help in describing her shrieks, the most
common answer was like that of a woman being raped. I don't know that
any of us have actually heard a woman in this condition but the sound
was as if her core were being violated and violently ripped from her
being.
Pointing his finger in her face the Pastor shouted, "In the Name of
Jesus come OUT!" The demon didn't listen. He did this several times
and then he made eye contact with me that said, "Your turn."
I didn't know what to do. What can you do? But something in me
was ready. I was made for this. To give Jesus to people in torment!
Looking at her I wondered what her name was. Asking the Pastor he
informed me that it was Beatrice. With that I tried to see her how
Jesus saw her. What did he think of her and if He were here, what
would he say? I didn't used demonology terminology because I don't
know how to. Looking her in the eyes I said, "You are Beatrice. You
are a child of God. He calls you beautiful." Jerking from side to
side she lashed back at me in a freaky low grunt, "I am not Beatrice.
Beatrice doesn't want to be delivered."
That was enough to jumpstart my faith. A demon was trying to talk
to me like I was going to listen to it...Right. Continuing to watch
her God dropped something in my Spirit. Ask her to go back to the time
before she was abused. To the time when she was pure and untouched.
I grabbed her little face and softly spoke what I was told to speak in
her ear and as I did so the congregation continued to worship in song.
Immediately...Instantly...Abruptly.... as soon as the last word was
spoken her entire body appeared to fall asleep.
We all kind of looked around at each other, none of us knowing
what to do next. Was it over? The Pastor decided to answer our
curiosity by opening her eyes for her. As he did so her eyes moved
side to side and alas...a little girl woke up. Her name was Beatrice
and she was as gentle as a lamb. I helped sit her up and we walked her
through a prayer, her voice so soft and sweet. She had absolutely no
idea that a few minutes prior she had growled at me.
Marisa just posted this update: "I saw her on the road the other day and she
was absolutely stunning, fully delivered, bright, beautiful and quiet
tempered as ever."
This isn't a figment of our imagination. This is spiritual reality, a reality that is foreign to too many of us to whom Jesus gave "authority to drive out evil spirits." So, here's my exhortation to all of us: It's about time that we evangelicals woke up to the reality of a personal evil. We are being targeted by these things and we'd do well to acknowledge their existence and to better understand how to deal with them. Sticking our heads in the sand is hardly a strategy for taking on an enemy that wants to kill us.
25 years on, God has brought me through both ministry to me and used me in ministry for other people and I have learned that demons are not things you shout at - that's entirely unnecessary and they will just laugh at you if you do. Often forgiveness or repentance will get rid of their right to be there as they tend to gain access through a trauma or a rebellious choice. And Jesus is always but always stronger and their power was ended on the cross. And that's your authority. Not volume but truth.
I don't hold with people who are rude and disrespectful in their words and attitudes towards demons - Jude warns about those who "slander celestial beings" and tells the story about even the archangel Michael "when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring an accusation against him but said 'the Lord rebuke you.'" Don't give 'em any truck and kick them out, absolutely. That's what Jesus did. But He always cared for the individual life. It's a person you are ministering to, not a demon. Experiences like mine can be avoided if you remember that. I could have been set free a whole lot sooner than I was and personally, I don't want anyone captive to the enemy a moment longer than they have to be.
Love Marisa's story there. Perfect. She listened to what God told her to do and obeyed His instruction when the demon was manifesting in that lovely girl and as a result, she was delivered. We need to get braver, read the Word again and do what Jesus did. After all, it is part of the commission Christ gave us (Mark 16:15-18) and there are a lot of captives out there.
Your experience makes an important point - there is a dearth of teaching about deliverance and the prophetic in the church today (both the evangelical and charismatic wing). I am sorry for the trauma of your experience. Youth groups can be like snake pits as their leaders work the kids into a frenzy of demon slayers. However, I do think this abuse was more prevalent in the 1980s and 1990s, and now the opposite has happened, where it's largely been abandoned by the church as a whole.
Yet, the demons are still at work in their subtle, deceitful ways amping up the desires of our sin drenched flesh, and the internal chatter of our minds. Your experience demonstrates the need for teaching in the gifts of the Spirit (discernment here) because you can't cast the flesh out of the flesh. Even after deliverance, we still have a sinful nature to grapple with. Seth's experience demonstrates the utter simplicity of deliverance ministry, when done right, and the tremendous power we have with seasoned faith in the power of Jesus wonderful Name.
Andrew
I agree with Carol though on repentance...it is the key of hope. Also, I do not argue with demons...the Bible says these signs shall follow them that believe "....cast out demons..." The Russian churches I minister with are very INVOLVED in deliverance ministry. I help there, but I do not shout, or get crazy, or even hold people down(too much like Sceva the Jew's sons). I allow the person to call on the name of Jesus - it says he will save them. I would be more than willing to share a great experience about a recent deliverance(too long for this, but mighty). I believe that inner healing(another lost Christian ministry) is vital to see deliverance be real and healing. I know of Carol's experience where you feel like the demon yourself. I guess I believe that if that legion of demons hasn't been cast out of me by now...what hope have I? I mean really, I don't think the Gestapo or KGB stand a candle to some of these "Deliverance Ministers."
I want to add wisdom here though for all of us...let us know that we can cast the demons out/away from us everyday. And that ONLY the Holy Spirit possesses us as believers in Jesus Christ. I pray for all of us who have experienced and are experiencing deliverance - Jesus and Father God love us very much and are interested in out total healing. Deliverance, dear believers is not a bad thing...even if you have been hurt by it....it is not who defines you - JESUS does.
I wish I could say more, but I want to be kind of brief, yeah, I wasn't. This subject needs so much though...because of ignorance of those who don't believe it and those who did it the wrong way and wounded people.
Regarding your offer: "I would be more than willing to share a great experience about a recent deliverance (too long for this, but mighty)."
Please do post it. Very interested in the testimony.
Ever read the book "Visions Beyond the Veil" ?
Andrew
by H. A. BAKER
Missionary to Tibet, China, and Formosa
Download here:
http://files.biddenhelpt.net/us_Visions_beyond_the_Veil.pdf
Visions Beyond The Veil provides a fascinating insight into Heaven and the spiritual battle that is going on around us. It is designed to open your eyes to the spiritual blessings God has prepared for every believer in Christ.
H.A. Baker is survived by his grandson Rolland Baker. Rolland and his wife, Heidi, are currently missionaries to Mozambique and they run an orphanage there. Some of the "naughty" children in this orphanage have had visions where they met Jesus and were told to stop sinning and preach the gospel. When a disruptive child has this type of vision, it results in a drastic change in their behavior. Also, a revival has broken out in the nation of Mozambique under the supervision of Rolland and Heidi Baker, which has resulted in over 5,000 churches being planted. If you would like to know more about Rolland Baker and Iris Ministries, please see their www page at http://www.irismin.org .
Jesus Encounter is a spiritual retreat weekend with various teachings including deliverance. My blessed Russian brethren do deliverance the "traditional" way - lots of shouting, and hours of exorcism. I had finished my teaching on the love of Father God, and was over at the fabulous Russian meal time, when I was asked to come back over to the meeting hall. Before I got there, I heard the screams and shouting. When I got inside, a small framed African descendant young women, early 20's was on the floor. She was moving around like a serpent, or wild animal, and there was screaming and yelling going on from both sides. So, I proceeded to pray and worship the Lord, to be honest quite relaxed in loving and talking to Father & Jesus. There were around 8 ministers praying and holding the young lady down, as she wriggled about and screamed. I kept praying "Father, please let her be free by your love." Truthfully, my heart was broken... Well, this went on for about 15 minutes, and then the Russian Pastor of a church asked me to pray. I want to add here that these Russian brethren are precious, having gone through hell with the KGB and Soviet oppression prior to coming to USA. This young lady was frothing at mouth, screaming with mouth that was wide like a alligator. I looked down at her and started to tell her(not the demon) that Father God in heaven and Jesus loved and cared for her. Oh, by the way...I did not even try to hold her down. Maybe I am ignorant of scripture here, but I find no model of this type of thing in the word of God. It doesn't say "...these signs shall follow those who believe, they shall hold people down, and then cast out devils..." She looked at me and stared directly in my eyes... And they were still holding her down.... I then told her that Jesus in her loved her and was here for her... I then held her hand, and she slowed down the moaning and yelling. I told her to call on the name of Jesus, as she was a believer. I kept reassuring he that Father and Jesus loved her. Then the word of the Lord came to me, and I told her to forgive - she started screaming and crying, but the Holy Spirit gave me power in Jesus name. I rebuked the devil and started speaking to her inner man of God. I told her that her Father wants her free and she has right to be free. The more I spoke, not soft, but no yelling - the more she freed up. And then she spoke the name JESUS - and calmness fell on her. No more shouting, screaming, frothing, and wiggling around on the floor - her eyes cleared up and it was over. She then went and ate with us, and started to worship and praise God at next session an hour later. Also, I did not tell the demon 100 times to leave.
This event has occurred many times in deliverance sessions at church meetings. I don't fight with demons...I believe the real battle is us. We are the ones who need the convincing of the power of Jesus name. The power of Jesus name really rests in the knowledge of Jesus being the son of God, who has empowered us by his nature of life and spirituality. I find the more I believe in God and Jesus Christ, the more spiritual authority I have over the devils, flesh, and any adversity. I stopped trying to convince the devils to leave and starting "convincing" myself of the true power of Jesus Christ. And I did not need to puke in a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket as I have known some to do. Sometime, maybe I will write a blog about my experiences over the years with deliverance ministry - I am more prone to inner healing ministry though because I believe it is what the Lord does when he sets the captive ones freehe heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds, putting us in the gap as prayer warriors, and loving brethren to cover each other and pray in the name of Jesus - really believing that there is power in the name of Jesus.
We are loved by our Father and accepted in his beloved kindness and saved by our wonderful Jesus - therein is the power you need to know when casting out devils and (flesh).
Regarding your testimony of deliverance... Very inspiring and patient courage on your part to let Jesus be incontrol as you trust to even be called forward. That is something I am learning in another part of my life.
IMHO, how right on you are about faith working through love, and not in the shouting. I think both deliverance ministers and the demons like the drama, the spectacle. It's wrong, and takes the focus off Jesus. While the shouting works, I think it does so only because that is where the ministers faith is resident. But it is not necessary, and not scriptural, as you so aptly point out (not that it's anti-scriptural to be so dramatic). Maybe you should do a blog!
Personally, I do not try/want to talk to demons. Discernment of spirits while show me what I need to know when I need to know it. When demons put on the drama, I speak this scripture to silence them, "Be silent all flesh, before the LORD..." Zechariah 2:13
*** you can download the book VISIONS BEYOND THE VAIL at this link:
http://files.biddenhelpt.net/us_Visions_beyond_the_Veil.pdf
I absolutely agree, Andrew, it is the demons that love the drama -it's distracting, even frightening and deliberately so. Like the scripture you use - good one!
My friend Michelle has a hugely powerful ministry in this area and there is no drama, no holding people down, no shouting. Sometimes you can barely hear her speak, she speaks so quietly. I have often heard her say "out you come now in the name of Jesus, out on the next natural breath.......thank You Lord" in about the same tone as she would offer me a cup of tea......but the demons flee because she knows her authority in Christ. She knows the truth, she doesn't need to get loud and excited about it, she just speaks the word and they go.
She also listens very very carefully to what God tells her and He hands her key after key that only He would know about in the person's life. Her whole aim is always, as you say Mark, inner healing. To set the person free and focus them on Jesus. And then she helps them walk it out in any way that may be appropriate. As you say, Andrew, you still have a sinful nature to grapple with after deliverance. You have to take the steps forward and keep on walking in your freedom, one step at a time.
Good stuff on here today guys - thanks!
Love Carol xxx
you are right...this is absolutely true...AMEN!!
God immediently convicted me and I had to repent of my use of language towards it! The person that the demon was in cant really remember what happened other than when I bound it they suddenly felt a "pulling" in their spirit like something just shrinking inside them.
Our fight is not against flesh and blood thats for sure. I have lost count the amount of demons I have seen (and angels, its not just one sided)In fact when I was went to see "Lord of the Rings" and that big demon at the end grabbed Mr G I was impressed that someone had done their homework! Ive seen things like that!And this is all in the UK not some African country!
We have been born into a spritual war that has been raging for thousands of years but many christians are in the middle of the battlefield getting slaughtered with no armour on and no awareness of the enemy nor his tactics.Then the church wonders why it is in the state it is!
They are not qualified through experiential knowledge adequately to be able to offer the correct information, support and guidance to those suffering from demon possession or manifestations. There is ignorance because very few people in the church wish to learn about How demons work to enter and afflict people and they don't understand how the devil and his wiles are to be resisted in order to affect healing.
The first thing to tell those afflicted, is that they need to take responsability for their own development of faith.
No good preaching the word to them, they must read it daily themselves and must understand that certain life changes have to be made so that sin can be dealt with.
God will not keep asnwering prayers for healing if the one receiving deliverance does not remain in rightstanding with him.
It's important also to know the truth about the gifts of the holy spirit which were received by the apostles at pentecost. These gifts allowed those men and woman to cast out sin directly in those who were possessed or oppressed. Those men and women had the POWER and AUTHORITY of God on account of their righteousness before God. This is not the case today, but instead we have men and women who venture into deliverance ministry without the POWER of God, which makes them in truth powerless to effect any kind of lasting relief of healing amongst those they are trying to help.
I suggest that you read "Secrets of Spiritual warfare" by Penn-Lewis to learn about the pitfalls which Satan uses to hinder people in their quest for healing and relief.
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