Chapter 3: Fight the Good Fight

It is an awakening revelation to the church today to discover how organized satan is and how systematically he is working against us. While most of us have been taught that it is every believer's task to be a witness of Jesus Christ, and even trained and encouraged to witness; at the same time we have not been schooled that it is also every believer's task to be a Christian soldier, active in spiritual warfare. How many Christians have been trained in "the PULLING DOWN of strongholds" (II Corinthians 10:4), or in how to "RESIST the devil" (James 4:7), or how to "WRESTLE against principalities... powers... rulers of the darkness of this world... and spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12)?

As Christian soldiers we must acquire practical knowledge. When I was in military training during World War II, I was taught the weapons and the tactics of the enemy. I was also taught the weapons and tactics which I would employ against the enemy. God's army is in boot camp today. We are learning how to be Christian soldiers and "war a good warfare" (I Timothy 1:18).

In Ephesians 6:10 we are exhorted to put on the whole armour of God and stand against the "wiles of the devil". The word translated "wiles" is "methodeia" meaning "to follow up by method and settled plan,using deceit, craft and trickery" (Thayer). satan has a method and a settled plan to conquer each one of us, along with our family, church, community and nation.

God has provided armour for our protection and weapons for offensive warfare. Thus, we can withstand every assault against us AND launch an attack that will overthrow the enemy!

The emphasis in this book is upon personal deliverance. This is the starting point for total spiritual warfare. When we engage the enemy on the level of personal deliverance we are fighting satan's front line troops. His "top brass" is beyond, and we must get to them before the battle is over. The first objective in warfare is to free oneself.

Does everyone need deliverance? Personally, I have not found any exceptions. While we have walked in ignorance and darkness the enemy has successfully made inroads into each of us. We must learn how to get him out and how to keep him out.

Talk out loud to the demons! This may seem foolish and awkward until you have gotten accustomed to it, but it is an effective and necessary tactic of spiritual warfare.

It is obvious that one must speak out when expelling demons. We must also speak to demons assaulting from without. For example, suppose a demon has just spoken to your mind: "So-and-so thinks you are stupid."

Demons talk to our minds like that. It is the way they plant seeds of resentment and suspicion. You can soon learn to distinguish between what is of self, of God or ofSatan. You might say something like this to the demon:

'You are a liar, demon. I reject that thought about my friend. My mind is under the protection of the blood of Jesus. I bind you from my thoughts. I command you to leave me alone, in the name of Jesus."

The preceding is an example of resisting the devil. We know the Bible tells us to "resist the devil", but we may not have discovered the practical way of implementing the principle. In whatever words you use, vocalize your position in Jesus Christ and resist the demons by the use of the name and blood of Jesus. They are trespassers and must "flee" when resisted in this way.

Do not stop at telling them once. Demons can be stubborn, so keep resisting until your mind is at peace.

Study carefully the seven ways to determine the need for deliverance (See Chapter 6). Be honest with yourself. Ask God to help you see where and how demons have invaded. This does not mean to mull over past sins and unpleasant things in the past. It is simply recognizing that demons have taken advantage of sins and circumstances in life, in order that those intruders can be driven out and the doors closed behind them.

Seek out help of deliverance ministry in the area where you live. Such help is much more prevalent than it was just a few years ago, and God is raising up many others to teach and minister in deliverance. If there is no help available, pray that God will provide it. Meet with other concerned believers in the body of Christ. Perhaps the Lord will direct you to learn to minister to one another.Ultimately deliverance must be restored to the church.

It is as much a ministry of the church as preaching, teaching and healing. Jesus performed all these ministries and commissioned the church to continue them.

Begin to practice self-deliverance. Pick out an area in your life where you know demons are troubling you, and command them to come out in Jesus' name. When the demons see that you are absolutely renouncing them and are speaking in faith, they will respond. Do not let them go unchallenged another day! "The Kingdom of God is... righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17). This is God's inheritance for you NOW! It is yours for the taking!

THE BATTLE FOR HOME

In many homes today, even though husband, wife and children may profess Christ, there is strife, division, confusion and chaos. It is time the devil took his share of the blame. And it is time families learn how to drive the devil out of their homes.

The ideal starting point for victory is for each member of the family to commit himself anew to Jesus Christ.

This should be followed by deliverance for each one.

A beautiful thing took place in a church where our team was invited to minister. The pastor had taught well the principle of the man's place of headship in the home. One by one the men came forward to makeappointments for deliverance for themselves and their families. The ministry was important enough to them that they made arrangements to get off from their jobs and would take their children out of school in order to meet their appointments. This is the way it should be.

Families are encouraged to experience deliverance together. When the whole family is cooperating, and considering one another, the devil is defeated in a hurry.

But some homes have greater obstacles. Not all members of the family are believers. Some may be too backslidden to have any interest in spiritual things. If only one in a family is burdened for the welfare of the home, what can be done?

Mrs. J's problems were typical of many others whom I had counseled. She was trying her best to live for Christ, but her husband resisted her at every turn. He railed at her if she went to church. He drank heavily and gambled. She reported that he was abusive and violent, and she was afraid for herself and the children.

Her three young children were already showing the effects of the turmoil in the home. They were fearful, insecure, withdrawn and nervous. Mrs. J had prayed much for her husband, but he became worse instead of better. She was planning to divorce him.

Mrs. J consented to deliverance for herself. We knew it would be difficult for her to retain her full deliverance as long as her environment was so unsettled, but that she would get definite relief from fears and pressures.It was then decided that we would enter into spiritual warfare against the demons that were controlling the life of her husband, and blinding him to spiritual truth.

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. II Corinthians 4: 3,4 WARFARE IS NOT PRAYER! It is in addition to prayer.

There is no point in petitioning God for something He has already given you. God has given us power and authority over the devil. We must not expect God to get the devil off our backs. He has already defeated satan and given us the ability and responsibility to take care of ourselves. This truth is a revelation to many believers-it is good news! No wonder so many prayers have seemed unanswered. We need to stop storming Heaven for what has already been provided, and start using what God has given us.

We began the spiritual warfare in behalf of Mrs. J's husband. She would learn how to conduct a spiritual battle from the experience, and be able to continue it on her own. "You demons that are troubling Mr. J, we take authority over you in the mighty name of Jesus.

You are seeking to destroy this home, but we will not permit you to do so. We are seated together with Christ in spiritual authority. We know our position and our rights. We bind you in Jesus' name. Take your hands offof his life. Release his will that he may be free to accept Christ as his Savior."

Within a few weeks time Mr. J had completely changed into a new creature in Christ Jesus. He had experienced the new birth and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The family was going to church together, and Mr. J had become the spiritual leader in his family.

I do not want to leave the impression that all spiritual battles in similar situations end as quickly and as victoriously as the J family's, but I have seen enough victories through spiritual warfare to know that it can be startlingly effective. Other battles have taken much longer, and some are still in progress months after the beginning.

Spiritual warfare in behalf of another does not control the will of that person. It binds the power of demon forces and releases the will to make decisions apart from demon interference. Demons are not cast out of the person, but their power is bound for a season. This type of warfare is in full accord with the principle of spiritual warfare set forth in II Corinthians 10:3 and Ephesians 6:12.

These passages teach that our warfare is against spiritual enemies and must be fought with spiritual weapons. It is useless and wrong to be drawn into flesh to flesh encounters.

It is best to talk out loud to the demon powers when coming against them, but not in the presence of the one involved or openly in the presence of others who mightnot appreciate or understand what is being done. It is not absolutely necessary to speak aloud. It can be done from one's spirit, and this can be done while in the presence of the one you are seeking to release from demonic bondage.

It should be the aim of every home to maintain God's pattern of divine authority - wives submitting to husbands, husbands loving the wives as Christ loved the church, and children obeying their parents in the Lord. This will reduce the devil's opportunities to a minimum in any home.

THE BATTLE FOR CHURCH

satan has a special interest in the church. We can well believe that he will do everything in his power to sidetrack, hinder, weaken and destroy the church's ministry. The devil's organizational set-up calls for a prince demon assigned to each local expression of the church. Many churches have a history of certain types of problems. The prince spirit over that church can readily be identified by a church's specific type of problem.

In some churches you will find a spirit of strife, for instance member striving with member. This is one of satan's chief weapons. He will stir up jealousy and competition. Christians can become puffed up with pride, thinking themselves better than others, and thinking of themselves more highly than they ought to think. As long as Christians are fighting amongthemselves they are certainly not fighting the devil.

This is what the devil is after, and He has won his battle.

Other churches are controlled by doctrinal demons.

With some it is false doctrine.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (demons). I Timothy 4:1 In other instances the doctrine may not be false, but the devil fosters an obsession with doctrine. He can get a group so concentrated on one facet of truth (e.g. salvation or the second coming) that it will neglect to minister the whole counsel of God. The church is sidetracked.

Some (demons are specialists in getting a church to operate on human talents and abilities rather than upon the power of the Holy Spirit. "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" (II Timothy 3:5).

Some are still blinded to the great outpouring of God's Spirit today and continue to operate on manpower.

There are prince spirits of denominationalism and sectarianism. Their aim is to keep the body of Christ divided. When I saw a sign in front of a church building branding itself as "independent fundamental" I felt that it was publicizing the ruling demon over that congregation. Some churches are noted for isolationismand spiritual pride.

Demons of worldliness and materialism rule over some local bodies. The spiritual ministry has faded out of sight. The emphasis is upon bake sales, rummage sales, bingo parties and the like.

The listing goes on and on - formalism, ritualism, control by a pastor or group, complacency, indifference, pessimism, discouragement, obsession with problems without solutions etc. etc.

"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain..." (Joel 2:1). The second chapter of Joel calls the people of God to rise in battle against a terrible host of wickedness. But it is first a call to repentance and a return to God.

Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God. Joel 2:12,13a This is the call to the church today. Let each local congregation turn from its sins and humble itself before God. Then let it rise in the power of God against the spiritual foes allied against it. The church must learn to rise into the heavenlies and come against the "spiritual wickedness in high places". (See Ephesians 1:20,21; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12. High places=heavenly places.)These prince spirits over churches can be bound and their voices silenced. God has given the power to His people. It is up to them to do it.

THE BATTLE FOR COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY

The angel that visited Daniel reported that he had encountered and fought with "the prince of Persia", meaning the ruling demon potentate over that nation.

We see this as evidence that satan has assigned a powerful demon ruler over every nation of the world, and, in turn, over every city and community.

The prince spirit over the community which I pastored was revealed through a vision from God. The vision revealed a large, octopus-like creature hovering over the community. Across its head was written "Jealousy" tentacles reached down and were entwining and crushing every facet of community life-churches, schools, businesses, homes, social life, government, recreation and personal relationships. The tentacles represented strife, criticism, envy, backbiting, greed, gossip, selfishness and covetousness.

As we began to reflect upon the vision we could see how true and accurate it was. Jealousy and all its helpers were holding the community in a vise-like grip.

When I first moved into that community to begin my ministry, two pastors came together to visit me and tell me that I was not needed nor wanted. They invited me to leave on the basis that their churches were adequate to minister to the community. The spirit of jealousy wasthus showing itself among the churches. God showed me through the vision that I was not fighting fellow ministers, but fighting the "principalities and powers" of the devil.

Hope for our communities and nation does not lie in social and governmental programs. Neither does it lie in education or science. Our problems are basically spiritual, God has given us spiritual weapons and resources for victory. The church has the answer. It must take the offensive against the ranks of demonic powers while there is yet time. How is this done? By wrestling with these powers in spiritual warfare.

Vocalize your position in Christ and your authority over these demon forces just as you would in personal warfare. Praise God, Christians everywhere are learning these techniques of spiritual battle. A revival is being loosed!