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Phil, the devil and spiritual warfare
Written by Peter Youngren on October 15, 2008Remember Phil, who I introduced a couple of months ago. Well Phil copied me a letter he wrote to someone concerned about demonic powers operating in their lives. This issue seems to pop up with a certain regularity. Born-again Christians seem to think they are caught up in a gigantic battle in the heavenlies. I think it was novelist Frank Peretti who got all this started with his “Darkness” books. Or it could have been one of many other authors. One thing is for sure, the spiritual warfare craze is not found in the Book of Acts.
Any how, here are Phil’s thoughts:
First of all, let me state that I do not deny there are battles facing every born again believer. From grizzled veterans of the 5-fold ministry to the average guy putting in 40hrs a week at the local factory – we all wage these battles. However, for born again believers this battle is not waged in the “spiritual” realm – this battle is waged between our ears. It is against principalities and powers that exalt themselves above the ‘knowledge’ of Christ. I am sure the devil wants every Christian to believe he (satan) still has something he can use against us in the heavenlies when in reality our true selves are already perfect and seated in the heavenlies with Christ. Satan cannot touch born again believers as we are “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). This being said; if the devil can get us thinking, praying and battling against spiritual enemies we feel ‘we’ need to defeat or generation curses we think ‘we’ need to break, then he has won that battle no matter how much we pray or fight because even addressing the issue on those terms exalts them above the knowledge of Christ. The fact is this: Jesus utterly defeated and disarmed satan and his cohorts at Calvary. Believing anything less is to deny the Gospel it’s true power.
One thing I do refute is the existence of spiritual generational curses over those who have been saved. The only way a “generational curse” can possibly have any effect on a born again person is if this person is taught that a curse is on them and they end up believing it. How can a generational curse apply to someone who has never existed before? When we are born again we become “new creations” - that word “new” means “out of nothing”. God doesn’t just change us - He recreates us! Also, how can something that God has blessed be cursed? To say that a born again believer needs to break generational curses over them is to say that the work of the cross wasn’t enough and that we have to put the finishing touches on what Christ wasn’t able to complete. What people really struggle with here is ways of thinking and behaving that get passed down from generation to generation. In some religious circles this event gets misdiagnosed as a “generational curse” and people get all weird about it.
I also don’t for one second believe that there can be some demon with ‘legal’ access to you because of what great, great, great grandmother Matilda did with a Ouija board or what Uncle Henry performed in a ritual ceremony 100 years ago. ‘Legally’ speaking we have an advocate that stands before God 24/7 on our behalf - His name is Jesus - so it’s not up to us to defend ourselves even if we do screw up or if something bad happened in our past. “What about sin? Doesn’t that give satan the legal right to accuse us?” No. Committing actions that don’t line up with who we are merely gives the devil the ability to whisper thoughts of condemnation in our ears in an effort to make us feel unworthy of God’s love. This can be a powerful weapon; however, even if it is only in our minds and that is why we must keep in the forefront of our thoughts who Christ is in us, who we are in Him and what that truly means. Satan cannot accuse us before our Father anymore because In Christ the issue of sin has been dealt with and the devil has no argument.
The primary struggle we have, as Paul states, is to enter into the rest God has provided for us in Christ. I guess that will always be a struggle until That day comes. Nobody will achieve perfection of thought or action until we see Him (Jesus) as He is but in the meantime we can rest safely in the fact that, as far as God is concerned and according to Christ in us, we are perfect in His eyes.
Wendy
Oh my goodness, this is good news. It goes all the way back to the beginning when God told Adam and Eve to stay away from that tree of good and EVIL. Humans are still attracted to that tree to this very day. Once you eat off of it curiosity and addiction will get their ugly claws into you and the search for more will go on and on and on and on because old slewfoot is the snare of the fowler. HE WHOM THE SON SETS FREE IS FREEEEE INDEED!- and that’s the WHOLE truth and nothing but the TRUTH. Get it-because of Jesus you are made WHOLE so stay out of that hole.
Allen
~ Alberta
Thanks for the good news and reminding us again who we are in Christ Jesus.
craig
~ Portland
Would you comment further on casting out demons, and the connection between sickness and the demonic in the Christian and the unbeliever?
Thank you,
Bro. Craig
Odette Gray
~ South Western Ontario
I agree to a point but I can’t help thinking that the principalities an powers according to Ephesians 6:12 speak specifically of wicked spirits in the heavenly realm. Yes Jesus disarmed the powers and made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them by the cross, they will not defeat us providing we remain in Him but we are told to never be unaware of the devils schemes for he roams around like a lion looking to devour. Should we be afraid of him? Absolutely not! Are we promised the victory over him? Yes, one day the God of peace will soon crush satan under our feet. However lets take into account the whole counsel of the scriptures. Victory is our Lords and we must remain self controlled and alert! We need to be a people of wisdom and balance and especially not use mocking terms to describe our brothers and sisters in Christ if they think differently than us, we’re all one body.
Phil VT
~ Ontario
Hello Odette, I agree wholeheartedly that the principalities referred to are wicked spirits - no argument there. My issue comes when so called “experts” go around telling born again believers that these principalities have even a modicum of authority over them (the believers) or that these principalities weild some sort of spiritual weapons that we (believers) must overcome. The only weapon the wicked spirits we are talking about here have is the weapon of deception. They (evil ones) try to exalt the lies about who they really are in light of Christ’s finished work (stripped of all authority and utterly defeated) above the truth of who we really are in ligth of Christ’s finished work (more than conquerers because our enemies have been defeated for us).
odette gray
~ Ont
I absolutely agree with your response to me Phil. What do you think about ‘Giving the devil a foothold’? I have heard often that people believe Christians can open the door and give ‘legal rights’ to the enemy etc perhaps through disobedience/sin etc. Just curious as to your thoughts, of course everyone has different opinions on these topics and we could go back and forth for a long time! Thanks.
Wendy
Yes Phil I used to get furiously angry at God for allowing the devil to beat me up all the time. My Mom had a stroke and she came out of it really well; then all of a sudden everything in her body shut down. She was hooked up to oxygen, her kidneys were failing and they called us all in to say good-bye to her. I slept in the bed beside her all night. Before I went to sleep I asked the Lord what do you want me to pray. He said take authority over the enemy and go to sleep. I did and the next morning I woke up and they started unhooking everything and her body was totally healed. The doctor was in his early 60’s-almost ready for retirement. He said I have never seen in all these years a body shut-down that fast and then totally recover that fast. It took so long for me to figure out that Jesus said; I HAVE GIVEN YOU POWER AND AUTHORITY OVER ALL THE POWERS OF THE ENEMY! Oh thank you Jesus our STRONG TOWER. The righteous run into it and they are SAFE!
Phil VT
~ Ontario
Hello again Odette,
Re: legal access - read the second last paragraph of the blog - that’s pretty much how I feel about that issue in a nut shell. At the end of the day, the more we focus on Christ and the less we focus on us the better. Cheers :)
julie
~ moncton nb
Great article! So good to see all these kinds of teachings finally filtered through the New Covenant of grace! Thanks.
Denise
~ Ontario
Did Jesus give us (believers) power and authority over the enemy, Or was that directed at just Jesus’s apostles? And how can we bind satan? He can only be in one place at one time. Please explain? Thank You
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Grace
~ ONTARIO
Thank You Pastor Peter for speaking the gospel truth to all “demonologiests” out there:)
Because, it is sickening to hear what they call it doctrine of demon in Charismatic circles.
If you disagree with their theology, They tell you that you are are demon possessed. If you having a bad day, You are demon possessed, etc…
In the eyes of “demon doctrine specialists” every one in this world is ” Demon possessed” (Except themselves) It is an utter barf!