By: Gen. Jim – 6/5/26
We, as God’s born-again Spirit-filled believers, should exercise “confrontational Christianity”. When we feel bound up, in fear or whatever the problem may be, we can cleanse ourselves of demon influence by using the name of JESUS.
Responsibility of the Church
Men & women of old, that is years gone by, believed that a Christian could be exercised by a demon or demons. I’ve taught dozens of lessons on this vital subject in the past. (See AC.net, P.1, sidebar under “Listen & watch!”, “Warfare/Deliverance” where I have 22 lessons you can listen to). I explain the difference between “demon possession” & “demonization”.
Sadly, the modern Church has neglected this vital doctrine – “The Children’s Bread” – hence, the Church is pretty much ignorant of deliverance.
In some churches this doctrine is even laughed at. They say “once saved always saved”, therefore no need for deliverance. But Satan’s CRAFT = WITCHCRAFT. Liberating theology has no deliverance in it. These liberal/progressive churches are WORTHLESS as far as deliverance goes. Even if they believe in demons, they do not believe they can indwell in a believer – yet church folks are diseased, sick, vexed. Jesus cast out demons that affected the body & the “victims” were healed!
Malevolent spirits are cunning! They deceive! The unScriptural idea is widely entertained that demonization presents no serious threat to the Christian today. The general truth that Christ DEFEATED Satan & demon powers at the Cross of Calvary is presented in Col. 1:13: “who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, & hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son”.
“Power”, Greek, ἐξουσία, has here the sense of the sphere in which power is exercised; God has delivered us from the realm in which darkness hold sways, i.e. rescued from the realm of darkness. If this was true in the sense of “no demon warfare”, why all the WARNINGS in the N.T.? Jesus made the WAY for His people to have dominion over them at the cross: now we, His people, must take full dominion over the satanic cosmos. We do this. We have the power & authority. When we were translated or transferred into the kingdom of God, this does not men we do not have to fight/stand against demonic powers. No!
Nothing less than the power of God can redeem a person from the darkness, or prince of darkness, who, by means of sin & unbelief, keeps men/women in ignorance, vice, & misery. How many believers in today’s Church are in I, V, & M? The KOG is not a matter of logos only but of dynamis also. Word/Spirit.
Those who hold that a truly regenerated person cannot possibly be invaded by demons use Col, 1:13 as their proof text. They also use Eph. 2:13.
The internal struggle of the believer is revealed to be a WARFARE between the Spirit & the flesh, they say, not between the Spirit & demon spirits (Rom. 6:1 – 7:25; Gal. 5:17 etc.)
At salvation we were delivered from committed sins, made alive in Christ, but it is foolish to think a believer may not be affected/infected again. The Bible tells us, “He (Christ) was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;…& by His stripes WE ARE HEALED!” Isa. 53:5. But WHY are so many Christians diseased, sick, dying?
Peter the apostle puts it this way: “who Himself bore our sins…by His stripes you were healed” – 1 Pet. 2:24, echoing Isaiah. DONE! Yet, in reality, Christians still suffer from demon attacks, physically, mentally, emotionally.
The Flesh?
If we lay the blame on the FLESH for the Christians problems, may we ask ourselves, “who empowers the flesh, God or Satan/demons”? If we believe Eph. 2:2, then we must believe that the prince of the power of the spirit (spirit realm) & his demons empower the “flesh”.
We may have been delivered at salvation BUT that does not mean we will not fall under the power of Satan as a believer. The Bible tells us to RESIST, STAND FIRM etc. But what if we don’t? What if we fail to keep on the armor of God (Eph. 6)? (See all my articles on Spiritual Warfare). The Bibles tells us NOT to quench the Holy Spirit (1 Thes. 5:19). Eph. 4:30 tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit. Do believers do these things? I’, not going to write all I have spoken (for radio). Listen to those (older) teachings.
While it is true that Christ defeated Satan at the cross, He made the WAY for His followers to have dominion over demons. Jesus told His disciples that signs would follow them (& all who believe) & in His name they “will cast out demons”, Mk. 16:17. Jesus said casting out demons is the “childrens bread”, Mk. 7:27. (Read the context 7:25-29 it is about a demon & deliverance). The casting out of demons was for the Jews. Jesus told the syrophenician woman (non-Jew) that deliverance from demonic powers was for the Jewish nation. Paul made this clear in his Rom. 1:16 statement where he said salvation is for everyone who believes, for the Jew first & also for the Greek (pagan)”. Jesus called the non-Jews “dogs” (vs.27). That was the language used of that day. The woman took no offense, she replied, “the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs”, vs.28. The whole context is about a pagan’s daughter who was possessed by an unclean spirit.
The persistence & ingenuity of love shown in this mother’s appeal for her afflicted daughter – she wanted Jesus to deliver her. If Christians would practice deliverance today we would see an entirely different Church. For God’s people have demon problems! Instead of doing what Jesus & His followers did, the ministers tell the afflicted to see a medical doctor or psychiatrist – get “pills for your ills”. We’ve been criticized for years because we pray/cast out demons. But Jesus is not against human help, He even used His own spit mixed with dirt to heal blindness (See Mk. 8:23). In Mk. 7:32 we find Jesus dealing with a deaf & dumb person. Jesus “put His fingers in his ears, & He spat & touched his tongue”, He spoke “Ephphatha” = “be opened”! The man was healed Some persons are born with impediments. Others have demons. Either way, healing & deliverance is for God’s people as well as for the non-Christians. We have seen healings take place with only prayer; others by casting out demons. Casting out of devils is HATED by the devil, hence, by many “Christians” (so called).
You see, Jesus said His followers would cast out devils. He didn’t limit this practice to pagans only, but to all who needed it. Why has the Church neglected this great ministry? The Ekklesia of God was called & endowed with power & authority to conduct an effective WARFARE against the “Big 4” (see Eph 6:12: (1) Principalities, (2) Powers, (3) Rulers of Darkness, (4) Spiritual Hosts of Wickedness. I’ve written on these 4 demonic powers many times. The “power” (Gk. dunamis/dunamai = Miracle power).
Today’s Failure
To talk about the absence of “miracle power” in today’s Church is frowned upon. As a result of forfeiting a clear & Biblical presentation of Christ’s redemptive POWER & of not using its God-given POWER to heal/deliver the pastoral ministry (with exceptions) becomes secular so to speak. Ministers, as one deliverance minister once said, play the role of clinical psychologist, social worker, the humanistic philosopher. We have worked under such ministries – far more SECULAR than SPIRITUAL!
The TRAGIC result is that the needy who suffer from physical, mental, emotional, even psychic/demonic disorders do not find help in their churches who do not believe. Some, not all, disorders, diseases, sicknesses etc. can be cured by deliverance. The Spirit may direct the individual to go to the world for help. We are not against worldly medical help, but we certainly believe in healing prayer/deliverance. We believe professionals in the medical/pshychotherapeutic profession do good for most people. But to neglect what the Bible says is to insult God.
Sin
Yep! This 3-letter word can & does KILL! I heard one famous preacher mock the Biblical doctrine of repentance. Just how one gets SAVED is a concern: but to repent, the minister said, is to admit he believed once saved always saved, hence, no need to repent over a committed sin – God automatically forgives! This guy has a church full of “sinning saints”.
The Bible
The Bible uses powers & authorities for both good & evil angels/demons. There are other words also used:
(1) “rule”, Gk. Arche – 1 Cor. 15:24; Eph. 1:21; Col. 2:10
(2) “rules”, Gk. Archai (RSV = “principalities), Eph. 3:10; 6:12; Col. 1:16; 2:15; Rom. 8:38
(3) “authority”, exousia – 1 Cor. 15:24; Eph. 1:21; Col. 2:10
(4) “authorities”, exousia; (RSV), Eph. 3:10; 6:12; Col. 1:16
(5) “power”, dynamis – 1 Cor. 15:24; Eph. 1:21
(6) “powers”, dynameis – Rom. 8:38
(7) “thrones”, thronoi – Col. 1:16
(8) “Lordship”, kyriotes; RSV, “dominion”, Eph 1:21
(9) “Lordships”, kyriotetes – Col. 1:16
(10) “rulers of darkness” – Eph. 6:12
(11) “spiritual hosts of evil” – Eph. 6:12
(12) “authority of darkness” – Col. 1:13
(13) “every name that is named” – Eph. 1:21
(14) “heavenly, earthly, & subterranean beings” – Phil 2:10 [That this terminology designates supernatural beings is clear from Eph. 6:11,12]
KOG
While the kingdom of God is the eschatological salvation, it is also a present blessing – the saints have been delivered from the power of darkness, i.e. this fallen evil age – & have been transferred into the kingdom of Christ Jesus (Col. 1:13). But our deliverance puts us above the devils power/authority, but we must act upon it. Like salvation, available to all but one must repent before salvation is ours. And one must endure to the end.
Jesus’ Mission
It was His mission that includes bringing the lost into the status of “children of God”, that we might receive the “adoption” as daughters & sons (Gal. 4:5). He IS God’s own Son (Rom. 8:3,31), the Son of His love, as Col. 1:13 says. 1 Cor. 8:6 tells us that “There is one God, the Father, from whom are all things & for whom we exist, & one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things & through whom we exist”. Jesus was & is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, the One in whom & for whom all things were created, & the One whom all things hold together as Col. 1:15-17 tells us. “Firstborn” (Gk. Prototokos) can have two meanings: the temporal priority or sovereignty of position. Christ was/is both the head over creation & also the agent of creation. With this in mind, realize He has POWER & AUTHORITY over Satan & all his evil spirits.
Spirit
It is important to be “in the Spirit”, i.e. “to walk in the Spirit” so as to have power & authority over Satan. Our Christian life should be the Spirit life. Prayer (Eph. 6:18), Love (Col. 1:8), Ministry (1 Thes. 1:5), Worship (1 Cor. 12:3). Other passages such as Eph. 3:5; 1 Cor. 12:9; & probably 1 Cor. 13:13.
Not in the Flesh
How many “Christians” walk in the “flesh” and not in the “Spirit”? (See Rom 8:9 & 7:5). When we walk in the flesh we walk outside the covering of the Spirit. This is WHY the N.T. tells us to DIE to the flesh, i.e. the carnal nature. Paul once wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ”, Gal. 2:20, meaning he did not yield to the old nature, but the new. (See also Gal 6:14). These are not mystical expertential statements but affirmations of FACT that the believer is to accept by faith. You see, demons attack the body and the carnal nature. I cover all this in many of my teachings – 1984-2026 –. Christ dwelling in our heart (Spirit) is called the New Man. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). We can either yield to the “New Man” or to the “Old Man”. We choose!
The Spirit (Holy)
The Spirit is also the “Spirit of Faith”, i.e. the Spirit who imparts faith (2 Cor. 4:13. Note: the RSV does not translate this as a reference to the Holy Spirit, but see Arndt-Singrich, 10c. Cit.; E. Schweizer, Theological Dict. of the N.T. 6:426). Possessing the “earnest” (Gk. Arrabon) of the Spirit means to walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:5,7).
To Be in Christ
When Christ died & rose from the dead, He brought forth a New World Order, a ream in the Spirit that opposes the Old World Order, controlled by Satan/demon spirits.
To be “in Christ” means to be in the “New Age” & to experience its life & powers. Paul wrote: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away, behold, the new has come”, 2 Cor. 5:17. This my dear Christian is not a secular event of world history. No. It is known & experienced ONLY by those who have repented of their sins, been forgiven, washed in Jesus’ blood, sanctified (set apart), filled with the Holy Spirit, been water baptized – “been made ALIVE who were DEAD in trespasses & sins”, Eph. 2:1. We sinners lived & walked according to the COURSE (aion/aeon – Gk.) of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air (spirit), the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” – Eph. 2:2. ALL souls who have not been born again are under the control/law of Satan, under the Old World Order. Those of us who have accepted Christ in our hearts (spirit)live in the NWO (see Eph. 3:17 – “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith”.
Therefore
Therefore the transition from the SIN & DEATH of the “Old World Order” to the LIFE found in the “New World Order”. It is only partial, although it is REAL. We, as believers, are already living in the Kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13), but we await the coming of the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 15:20). We have already experienced the new LIFE in Christ (2 Cor. 2:16), but look forward to the fulness of eternal life (Gal. 6:8). We have already been saved/redeemed (Eph. 2:5), but we are still awaiting our FULL redemption (Rom. 13:11). We have been raised into newness of LIFE in CHRIST (Rom. 6:4), yet we long for the resurrection (2 Cor. 5:4).
So, this present ambiguity of the new LIFE in CHRIST demands the return of Him to complete the work of redemption. One theologian put it this way: There should be no objection to the idea of such a temporal kingdom in principle, for the N.T. is clear that we are already experiencing a temporal reign of Christ Jesus in the Church age. Christ is already exalted as Lord (Phil. 2:9) & reigning at God’s right hand (Acts 2:33-36). He is already enthroned as King (Rev. 3:21; 1 Cor. 15:24-26) & has brought the blessings of His Kingdom to the human race (Rom 14:17) & human beings into His Kingdom (Col. 1:13). (Prof. G.E.Ladd, unity of N.T. theology, 1957).
So this brings us to the issue of deliverance from demon forces. When the Universal Church began to lose sight of the SINfulness of SIN, the Church began to lose the desire to deal with demons. The Church began to bow to opinions of men (demons in human bodies), she began to minimize the consequences. In that day when Satan was mythologized, God’s people began to be powerless! How many churches in this hour, in this nation, practice casting out demons? Oh, they are thrilled to have received so-called NEW revelations (usually anti-Scripture). Instead of using one of the gifts of the Spirit – discerning of spirits, 1 Cor. 12:10 the ministers told their congregations that their problems were/are purely psychic, not demonic. Their physical ailments could be treated with pills, not deliverance. I’m not saying all mental/physical problems are demons, but to count them out is a big mistake. Jesus CURED some in his Day by casting out demons, not giving them pills for their ills. How many Christians are hexed, vexed, tormented, subject to endless attacks? Instead of living the victorious, Spirit-filled life in Christ, too many of God’s people are “victims”. We are admonished in Eph. 6:10, “be strong in the Lord & in the power of His might”, “Stand against the wiles (schemings) of the devil”, vs.11, “wrestle against the hosts of Hell, vs.12, “withstand”, vs.13, “stand therefore”, vs.14, “persevere”, vs. 18. Does this sound like psycho-babble? No! This is N.T. WARFARE!!! We are to be victors not victims…waging a campaign of RESISTANCE against Satan & his demon army.
No Armistice!
No! There is NO armistice in this invisible internecine WAR. We need to Make the Church Great Again!