Battling Spiritual Warfare with Faith

Supersticious at best.

 

I've heard of a few people doing that sort of thing before. It certainly shows that you care a great deal about the souls of the people God has blessed you to shepard. Does it have anything to do with casting out demons (the windows part)? I would think your time would be better spent praying for the people themselves rather than their homes. As for evil spirits, they are all around us all the time, so consecrating a window will not hinder them. I think if we could see the spiritual realm around us (all the time) we would be absolutely horrified!

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Eph 6:12 NIV)

But we have nothing to fear if we Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Eph 6:13 NIV)

 

Dear Joy2:

Baptists generally are ignorant in the field of spiritual warfare.

To share something, before our services start, the worship leader prays for guardian angels to be stationed at every corner of the church to hinder the demonic spirits from entering and affecting our worship.

We also pray that whatever curses or evil spells that are sent our way are broken and returned to the sender, and bound to him and her so that the effects are tenfold.

Because of the rapid rise and spread of Satanism in your country, it would not hurt to pray these kinds of prayers.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Joy2:
Supersticious at best.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

I don't think it is ignorance on our part. I think it is because there is no Scriptural basis for the supersticious extreme that it is taken to by some. Satan is not as powerful as God. He is not omnipresent. He can't indwell Christians. He doesn't indwell buildings. His demons can't do these things either. They are spirits.

There is also no Scriptural basis for individual guardian angels. The verse that is taken out of context to give us that notion is , "He shall give his angels charge over thee..." It was quoted by Satan himself during the temptation of Christ, and it is refering to Christ, not us.

Christ dealt a death-blow to Satan's head when He died on the cross and defeated death. As a Christian, I do not have to worry about what Satan can do to me. Until God allows Satan free reign during the tribulation, he is not as powerful as some think.

For the little power that he does have, Ephesians 6 helps us to take care of that with the armor of God. I know you know the passage, so I won't quote the whole thing here.

 

Amen Joy.

We need to worry less about Satan and more about our own evil nature.

Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander.
Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery.

 

Robert said, "Baptists generally are ignorant in the field of spiritual warfare."

"Ignorant, non-sense, occultic" -- every post from you carries an inflammatory remark! Why don't you come down off your "holier than thou" perch?

 

Dear wellsjs:

I will try not to open my thesaurus which may contain several of those inflammatory words.

I recommend that all Baptists read the THE BONDAGE BREAKER by Neil Anderson. It contains case stories of Christians, yes, Christians being demonized and how they got demonized in the first place. It is sober reading. It also identifies the "doorways" which Satan uses to establish a stronghold in a believer's life.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by wellsjs:
"Ignorant, non-sense, occultic" -- every post from you carries an inflammatory remark! Why don't you come down off your "holier than thou" perch?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Pet.5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1 Cor.2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Cor.11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
1 Thes.2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

The Bible has much to say about the devil, Satan, and his demons. It is not a subject to be dismissed lightly or as superstition. Many today are involved in the occult. Many have become "demonized."
And, sadly, as Robert has noted, "Baptists are generally ignorant in the field of spiritual warfare." But that does not mean it doesn't happen. We just can't close our eyes to it. What do you think will happen to your children if they start playing with Ouiji boards, and then graduate to seances? Do you think these are just innocent fun where no harm will be done? What do all the Harry Potter books talk about?
If Satan has no power over you, why does the Scripture command us to resist him? Why was he powerful enough to hinder the Apostle Paul travelling to the Thessalonians? Wasn't he defeated at the cross? Yes, as far as our salvation is concerned. But he is a real present force in the world today, and works through his minions of demons. Believer beware. We are in a spiritual battle.
I don't believe in going to the extreme that Raymond does, in praying in every pew. But I do believe in a rapid rise in Satanism, the occult, demonism. And most Christians are at a loss, not knowing how to cope with someone who has been dabbling in the occult, and has trouble as a result of it.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
DHK

 

I could be wrong with this, but I'm going to let it fly anyway.

I think a lot of the "blessing the buildings and pews" "stuff" comes from the Frank Peretti books 'This Present Darkness,' 'Piercing The Darkness,' and to an extent, 'The Prophet.'

In those books, spiritual warefare is depicted as gaurdian angels battling it out with demons. Also, the townspeople in both books are "taking back" the cities by claiming buildings, city blocks, and even entire college campuses. Now I'll be the first to admit, that these books are a good read, but we need to remember that they are just fiction.

Is there really any scriptural validation for all of this? Not really.

For a really in-depth study on the subject of spiritual warfare, pick up a copy of 'Meeting The Enemy' by John MacArthur. It's the best treatment I've ever seen on the subject.

God Bless!!!

Adam

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That's my two-cents worth. What's yours?

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DHK:
If Satan has no power over you, why does the Scripture command us to resist him? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If Satan has power over the believer, how can one resist? Satan does not possess the believer, Jesus Christ does. Satan is a mere annoyance to the Christian. There is nothing Satan would like more for us to do than to focus on him rather than looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2.)

 

Satan has only the power over us that we give him.

I have been in businesses, and even whole towns where one could almost sense an evil presence. It is something to be aware of, but nothing to fear.

 

Joy ... Amen and amen!!!! The only power Satan has over us is the power we give him. If we start believing in his supposed "power" than you can bet your last dollar .. he is going to take over.

Any doubt .. any fear .. and there he is!

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Therefore shall we NOT FEAR , though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea ...

Be still and know that I AM GOD. Pretty wonderful stuff .. don't you think?

 

AMEN TO THE EXTREME ON THAT DR. BOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember when I was in high school and read the Perreti books "This Present Darkness" and "Piercing the Darkness" thinking that his depiction of angels and the power of God seem to me to be a little odd and unscriptural. It seemed almost like the power of God towork through angels to protect us depended solely on the prayers of the saints. He depicted the angels as helpless weaklings when the church was not praying, but then, showed them to be like Popeye on spinach when the saints got on their knees. I know the point was to try to get saints to see the importance of prayer to make a difference in their lives, but all I could think about was isn't God bigger than this? Does he really need our prayers to do what he wants to do? Is he some helpless weakling when I am not praying? SURELY NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, then if you think about the whole premise of the story, I think you realize that it seems to have some background (at least IMHO) in charasmatic theology which seems to place God under the subordination of the prayers of saints...you know "Name it and Claim IT". (If you don't pray for it, then God is helpless to give it. If you do pray for it, God must give it.)

The real shame is that many Conservative Christians today fell for it hook line and sinker because it was sensational, and hit all the emotional hot buttons of conservatives in America today. The problem is that it also threw in just enough bad theology to be harmful as well.

Joseph

 

Dr. Bob said, "Many of our good members are getting bad theology from books at our local christian book store!"

Amen to that brother! Most Christian bookstores are out to make a buck! They'll sell whatever sells.

 

In fighting spiritual warfare, another area Satan is working overtime is "Angelolgy." There are many websites promoting angel worship, while the Bible clearly says we are not to worship angels.

Back to the Christian bookstores that will sell anything, they are full of cute little angel objects. The problem is the makers of the ornaments don't know their Bible. These ornaments are always pretty, sweet-looking FEMALE angels. Nowhere in the Bible is a reference to a female angel. And they are frightening creatures . . . not cute. Now I know there are guardian angels around about me, but I'm kinda glad they're invisible!

 

While we are on the subject, I know Christians who regularly watch Touched By an Angel every Sunday night, and believe that garbage as well. Again, we are talking IFB's who consider themselves to be the strongest of the strong and the most "spiritual" of all other denominations. Great family programing!

 

Joy2,

I like "Touched." It's the only regular programming show I watch (I watch TV about an hour a month!). They do a pretty good job of "faith in God." I just wish they would talk about Jesus Christ instead of only "God." "God" doesn't offend Jews, Hindus, or Muslims. But Jesus Christ does!