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Overcoming the Demonic
Most modern day schools of the prophets major on worship
and prayer, teaching the body of Christ to enter deeply
into the Lord’s presence. They are also concerned to
teach right perspectives on spiritual warfare.
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This
is important, because many Christians today
appear to be more afraid of the rise of
Antichrist, than they are looking forward to the
return of our Lord Jesus. We must resist the
demonic expectation that evil will rule the
world. That is not to deny that evil is
establishing itself in places where it has no
right to be.(5) The enemy is a master
propagandist, and he has long succeeded in
securing landing-points for sin, in the Church
as well as in fallen institutions. We have only
to look at the endless committees that discuss
sexual as well as theological issues, and which
so often end up rationalising sin rather than
exposing it. |
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Scripture does indeed
teach that ‘the whole world is under the control of
the evil one.’ Jesus Himself called Satan ‘the
prince of this world.’ We have to reconcile such
statements, however, against the ringing declaration
that ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.’(6)
Satan is the god of this world in the sense that the
‘world’ corresponds to the prevailing system of
beliefs and ideas. These are the world order that he can
manipulate, but Planet Earth belongs to the Lord!
Delusion is Satan’s primary characteristic, just as
confusion his middle name.
In our own lives, our
first and most important spiritual weapon is repentance,
for this takes away all points of access from the
devil’s subtle shafts – the ‘house’ we may have
built around some sin or habit. We cannot hope to resist
the devil successfully until we have first submitted
ourselves to the Lord. (James 4:7) Sins such as lust,
greed, hate, and fear are primarily sins of the flesh,
and must therefore be taken to the cross. Demons can
fire the desires of the flesh – but flesh cannot be cast
out. Serious mistakes are often made at this point when
Christians take it on themselves to pray directly
against Satan, thus addressing the devil rather than
God.
It can cause serious
upset in the course of a prayer meeting when people
start addressing the wrong person! As Leanne Payne
reminds us, ‘We are always to minister to God, and to
practise His presence. It is only when we encounter
demons, principalities and powers as it were in our path
that we are to speak directly to them and command them
to leave.’(7)
To be involved in
spiritual warfare is not a licence to focus on demons.
If a Christian does becomes focused on them, he can,
quite inadvertently, provide the enemy with a landing
strip, and become embroiled in all manner of confusion
and unnecessary warfare. Yes, there are sins that need
addressing, not to mention confessing, but this usually
has more to do with habit-breaking repentance rather
than with demon-binding.
There is a call here for
maturity. It is possible to bring darkness into our
lives in such ways by praying in the wrong way. Just as
our task is to release people into areas of service,
rather than to control them, so we are not the ones who
can control the darkness. That is properly the Lord’s
domain.
Nevertheless, the Lord
will call some of us to pray for the corruption that is
hidden in the heart of the nation to be exposed. This is
a work for the mature, and one to undertake corporately.
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Our prophetic
task is always to prepare the way for the Lord –
which means overcoming the high places that are
in men’s hearts and minds. These are what need
challenging, as we pray for the release of the
Holy Spirit’s power. |
Reflections
In what ways have you experienced the prophetic ministry
in your life and calling?
Is there anything specific the Lord would have you do –
or be involved with – to make Him known in your
profession or special area of concern?
Selah
Lord, we pray that You will be glorified by raising up a
Church which moves in prophetic dimensions, revealing
You as You really are. May more and more of us serve You
in such ways within our chosen fields and professions.
Raise up many modern-day schools of prophets to Your
glory! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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