Introduction
We
saw in the previous pages how Satan uses deception and temptation
as strategies of attack. We now move on a further area of his activities,
outright or blatant attack.
1.
How does “Outright Attack” Occur?
Scripture
shows us that Satan has power to do the following:
1.1
Stir up the ungodly
Job
1:12,15
- Satan
was able to stir up the ungodly and unrighteous attitudes of these
people to provoke them to attack Job. But note that it was only
as far as God allowed.
1
Jn 5:19
- because
unbelievers have refused to submit to God and therefore allow sin
to reign in their lives, they put themselves under the rule of Satan,
and he is able to provoke their behaviour against believers.
Col
1:13
- Satan
clearly is a ruler, but not of us who are Christians, for we have
been released out of his dominion (area of rule)
1.2
Bring Hindrance
1
Thess 2:18
- somehow
Satan managed to stop Paul going where he wanted
- maybe
it was through ungodly people or simply through trying circumstances.
Dan
10:2,12,13
- Daniel
prayer for 3 weeks, until the angel came
- the
angel indicated he had been hindered by the enemy throughout that
time
1.3
Bring Natural Catastrophes
Job
1:12,16,18,19
- Satan
was able to bring fire and a mighty destructive wind.
- But
again it was only so far as God allowed.
Mt
8:26
- although
Satan is not referred to here the fact that Jesus told off (rebuked)
the wind indicates something wrong about it.
- it
may have been the sense of something unnatural about it that created
the fear in the disciples, most of whom were usually at home on the
lake.
1.4
Bring Physical Affliction
Job
2:6,7
- Satan
was able to bring sores to Job’s body.
Lk
13:11,13,16
- Jesus
attributed this woman’s infirmity to Satan’s activity
- Jesus
came to release the captives (Mt
11:4,5, Lk
4:18)
- This
is not to mean that every illness should be attributed to Satan, but
some obviously is. This is where the gift of discernment is useful.
- See
also later notes on demonisation.
2.
What is the Christian’s Position?
2.1
Within God’s will only
- Such
attacks are only allowed so far as they fit God’s purposes.
- e.g.
Job 1 & 2 See above
- See
also “Why God permits Satan” in the first page of this series about
Satan.
2.2
“Suffering for the gospel”
- This
is to be expected. "Suffering for Christ" is not illness
but spiritual opposition
Jn
15:20 / 2
Tim 3:12 / Rev
2:10
- Persecution
is to be expected and may even involve prison, and for some (martyrs)
death
- e.g.
Stephen (Acts
7:59,60) and James (Acts
12:2) and countless thousands since.
- Note
that for some God delivers them from the circumstance, and
for others God gives them the grace to go through the circumstance,
for some even death for Him.
2
Cor 1:8-11
2
Cor 6:4,5
- We
can expect hardship in seeking to share the Gospel. Paul’s hardships
took him right to the verge of death itself.
2.3
God’s grace is there to help us cope
2
Cor 12:7-9
- even
in attack God’s grace is sufficient to help us cope
Rom
8:28
- whatever
the situation, God will work to bring good out of it for us.
2
Cor 7:6,7
- that
grace may come through other people
- that
grace may come in the form of comfort and encouragement, or simply
in the form of inner strength or wisdom to know how to cope.
3.
What Forms do the attacks take?
It
seems far more than coincidence that often when Christians are moving
in outreach activities, a variety of mishaps seem to occur. The lists
below are simply examples of things know to happen:
3.1
“Physical” attacks:
- illness
- accidents
- breakdown
of mechanical / electrical goods
3.2
Mental, Emotional & Spiritual attacks:
- feelings
of tension, edginess etc. that is unexplained
- accusations
coming against others
- doubts
about own salvation, success etc.
- guilt
feelings about own unworthiness
- feeling
down, depression etc. with no recognisable cause
- unclean
or uncharitable thoughts predominating
4.
How do we Overcome?
4.1
Realise the source of power within you, the Holy Spirit
1
Jn 4:4
- holding
a right perspective is vital
4.2
Remember the work of the Cross
Col
2:13-15
- we
must remember that we are what we are and we continue to be that,
only by Christ’s atoning work on the Cross
4.3
Realise His grace that is available for you
2
Cor 9:8
- we
need to believe it’s there and take hold of it by faith, this grace,
this ability to cope, that is promised us.
5.
Demonisation
5.1
The Words we use
The
Greek word in the New Testament used for outright demon attack is best
translated “demonisation”. When that demonisation is severe we tend
to refer to that person being “possessed”, when there is complete domination
& control of that person by a demon. When the person is simply being
tormented or pressurised by a demon we refer to that as “oppression”
.
5.2
Demon Access
Demons
can only have access to a person in as far as they have given them space.
Satan and demons have the right to inhabit dark places.
If
we willingly and knowingly hold onto wrong (dark) things in our lives,
then we give the enemy an access to our lives. Willingly and knowingly
holding onto sin in our lives makes us vulnerable to enemy attack.
It
is vital therefore that we repent of such things, confessing them to
God and seeking His forgiveness and cleansing.
5.3
Demon Oppression
Initially
when a person is doing things that open the way for demons to come at
them, we simply refer to this demonic activity as “oppression”.
For
example when a person persistently and wilfully permits, say, wrong
anger in their lives, that sin seems to permit an evil spirit to come
and “emphasise” anger in them in such a way that they are bound by it.
In such a case we might refer to the spirit as a “spirit of anger”.
If this is true then we may refer to many different “sorts” of spirit
bringing oppression to both believer and non-believer who have surrendered
the sovereignty of their lives to the enemy through ongoing sin.
Often
in such cases only true repentance and the command of deliverance by
a Spirit filled believer moving under the anointing of the Spirit can
set them free. Where a person has truly repented and allows the Lord
to fill them with His presence (His Spirit) then the power of the enemy
is again broken.
5.4
Demon Possession
When
a person willingly and knowingly participates in occult activities,
those open that person up to greater demonic involvement. If a person
opens themselves up to occult activity they are in fact inviting in
demons and, depending on the level of involvement, open themselves up
to “possession” where the demon holds complete sway over that person’s
life and manifests its presence when challenged.
5.4
The Christian’s Daily Walk
For
the Christian in everyday life, although the enemy may come in some
form of outright attack, as long as that person is seeking to maintain
a good and right relationship with the Lord there should be no room
for demonisation. When the enemy does attack, the order shown in James
4:7 should be followed. i.e.
v.7a
Submit
- turning
to God & ensuring you are right with Him
- looking
to Him for the grace, strength and faith
- praise
and worship the Lord for who He is
v.7b
Resist
- you
are then able to resist the enemy
- you
tell the enemy to leave
- you
continue to praise God.
6.
Deliverance
To
recap, where there is severe demonisation, for release to come about
and the person be delivered there needs to be:
- Whole
hearted repentance by the person demonised
- A
whole hearted desire to turn to God by them
- A
renunciation by them of the works of darkness
- Affirmation
of the truth of Scripture in them
- Prayer
of faith with the command for release
- The
person being delivered should be filled with the Spirit to prevent
re-entry
- That
person should also be encouraged to purposefully go on with God to
ensure there is no further opportunity to such enemy manifestation
again.
7.
Verses to Memorise
The
wise Christian is one who commits to memory the truths of Scripture.
Below are some invaluable verses we would encourage you to learn:
1
Chron 29:11
Psa
33:11
Psa
110:1
1
Pet 3:22
Rom
8:28
Psa
18:2,3
Eph
1:3-5
1
Jn 2:1,2
1
Jn 1:9
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