PROTECTION FROM DEMONIC POWERS

There are specific ways to protect yourself from the activities of demonic powers. The most important protection is to receive Jesus Christ as Savior because demons cannot possess a true born-again believer. Keep yourself from sin, for through sin you "give place to the Devil." You provide opportunity for him to use demonic activities of oppression against you.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Demonic spirits and the spirit of God cannot inhabit the same spiritual vessel.

Avoid an obsessive interest in demons. It is not wrong to study what God's Word says about them, or courses such as this one which are based on God's Word. But do not read secular books, attend seances, etc., to learn more about demons. Avoid any contact with the occult. Do not consult witches, shaman, astrologers, horoscopes, card, palm, or tea leaf readers. Do not serve false gods or allow idols to come into your home:

The graven images of their gods you shall burn with fire; you shall not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourself, lest you be ensnared by it; for IT IS AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD YOUR GOD.

Neither shall you bring an abomination (an idol) into your house, lest you become an accursed thing like it; but you shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is an accursed thing. (Deuteronomy 7:25-26 The Amplified Version)

It is important to control your mind, your tongue, and select your associates carefully. It is also important to gain victory over the world and the flesh.

1. Study the following examples of how Jesus dealt with demonic powers:

Incident: Woman in the synagogue with the spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:10-17).

Summary: This woman was attending Sabbath day services and Jesus called her a "daughter of Abraham". We can assume she was a righteous, God fearing person. Yet a spirit of infirmity had bound her for 18 years.

In His ministry, Jesus distinguished between normal physical illnesses, which were cured by laying on of hands or anointing with oil, and cases of demonic affliction. In cases of a believer being bound from the outside as a result of demonic affliction, the binding spirit was loosed. If it was an unbeliever with physical infirmities resulting from demonic possession, the demons were cast out.

The deliverance of this woman occurred during a regular church service. It raised opposition from the spiritual leaders, including the ruler of the synagogue. Dealing with demonic powers still raises objections from many spiritual leaders. Some deny their existence. Others deny their power to oppress or possess.

In this deliverance, Jesus laid hands on the bound woman. Immediately, she was made straight and glorified God. In all true ministry to demonic oppressed or possessed, God should receive the glory, not the person used of God in the deliverance process.

Incident: The Syrophonenican woman's daughter (Mark 7:24-30; Matthew 15:21-28).

Summary: This young girl and had an unclean spirit which her mother recognized by outward manifestations of the spirit. She described her daughter as being "grievously vexed". Jesus healed the girl because of the great faith shown by her mother. The daughter was never in the presence of Jesus, which demonstrates actual physical presence is not necessary for effective ministry to those oppressed or possessed by Satan. This and the following incident prove children can be possessed and oppressed by Satan.

Incident: The deaf mute boy (Mark 9:14-29; Matthew 17:14-21; Luke 9:37-43).

Summary: The father of an only son sought Jesus for the healing of his boy. The demonic possession of this boy included physical deafness and dumbness. The combined descriptions of Matthew, Mark, and Luke reveal that the demon sorely vexed the boy, causing him to fall into the fire and water.

At times the demon would tear him and cause fits with foaming at the mouth and grinding of teeth. He was often bruised (injured) by the spirit, and the demonic presence caused a general pining away physically. His father called him a "lunatic", which indicated there were also mental problems associated with his condition. The disciples of Jesus tried to cast out the demon in the boy, but failed.

Luke records that as the boy was coming to Jesus, the demon caused him to have a fit. Jesus rebuked the spirit and healed the child. Matthew records that Jesus rebuked the devil and he departed and the lad was cured that very hour.

Mark's record of this demonic encounter is more extensive than those of Matthew and Luke. He records that Jesus questioned the father as to how long the boy had been possessed. The father said the condition had existed from early childhood.

Jesus stressed to the father the importance of belief, then spoke to the deaf and dumb spirit and told it to come out and enter no more. The spirit cried and came out leaving him in such a condition that many thought him dead. But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up.

When the disciples asked Jesus why they were unable to cast out the demon, Jesus answered:

If ye shall have faith as a grain of mustard seed ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place: and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Howbeit, this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. (Matthew 17:20- 21)

His answer reveals the importance of faith, prayer, and fasting in dealing with demonic powers. It also proves some demons are more difficult to cast out than others because Jesus said "THIS KIND goeth not out" without prayer and fasting.

Incident: Demon in the synagogue (Mark 1:23-28; Luke 4:31-37).

Summary: Although this man was present in the synagogue, Jesus does not refer to him as a son of Abraham or indicate He was a follower of God. There can be those present in a church fellowship who are unbelievers and demon possessed. Church attendance does not guarantee a born again experience or freedom from demonic powers. This possession was indicated by "us," revealing the presence of more than one demon. One demon was the spokesman, however, for he said "I." When the demon began to speak, Jesus told it to "hold its peace," which means to be quiet. He rebuked the demons, they tore the man, cried out, threw him down, and came out. The witnesses of this event marveled at the authority and power with which Jesus dealt with unclean spirits.

Incident: The blind and dumb demoniac (Matthew 12:22-29; Mark 3:22-27; Luke 11:14-22).

Summary: Possession here included the physical afflictions of blindness and dumbness. Jesus healed this man by casting the demon out of him. He was able to speak and see after the deliverance. It was in connection with this deliverance that Jesus gave His most extensive teaching regarding the casting out of demons. A summary of this teaching reveals:

• A house with division cannot stand. Demons call the bodies in which they reside their "house." It is not possible for demons and the spirit of God to exist in the same house. • Kingdoms or cities divided also cannot stand. • Satan cannot cast out Satan. • Casting out of demons is part of the ministry of God's Kingdom. • Demons are cast out by the Spirit of God. • It is necessary to bind the strong man (Satan) before attempting to cast him out (spoil his works). • There is no neutral ground in this spiritual battle. If you are not with Jesus, you are against Him. • When an unclean spirit is cast out of a person, it seeks reentry into a human body. • If the person from whom the demon has departed does not fill his spiritual house, the demon will return with other demons. The final condition of that person will be worse than in the beginning.

Incident: Demoniac of Gadarene (Mark 5:1-20; Matthew 8:28-34; Luke 8:26-34).

Summary: According to Matthew, two men possessed by demons, so fierce that no man could control them, lived in the tombs. Mark and Luke stress the terrible condition and the deliverance of one of the two, whose condition was perhaps the worst ever encountered during the ministry of Jesus.

Possession here was by many demons. Both men were so affected that they could not live in normal society. They lived in the graveyard. The demons in one man called themselves "Legion" for they were many. They made it impossible to bind him even with chains. The demons tormented him so badly that he went around crying out, cut himself with stones, and did not wear clothing.

The demons recognized Jesus and asked if He had come to torment them before their time. "Their time" refers to their final judgment to the lake of fire (Hell). That they requested not to be sent out of the country indicates demons may be assigned by Satan to specific territories. Jesus permitted them to enter a herd of pigs when He cast them out which resulted in the death of the pigs. The residents of the city asked Jesus to leave. Pigs, which was their livelihood, were more important to them than the deliverance of men from demonic powers.

Other incidents: In addition to these specific encounters of Jesus, the Bible makes general references of His ministry to those affected by demonic powers.

• In the following references the term "healed" is used to describe how Jesus dealt with the demons: Matthew 4:24; Luke 6:18. • In the following references the term "cast out" is used to describe His strategy: Mark 1:32- 34,39; 6:13. • Luke 4:41 simply records that the devils "came out." Luke 7:21 states that He "cured" them. Matthew 8:16 records that He "cast them out with His word". • Mark 16:9 and Luke 8:2-3 state that Jesus cast seven devils out of Mary Magdalene.

2. Sometimes God uses demons to accomplish His purposes. See I Samuel 16:14 and II II Corinthians 12:7. Wicked Ahab was punished for his sin by a lying spirit which God put in the mouth of his prophets to lead him to disaster. See I Kings 22:23. Demons will lure the armies of Armageddon to a similar fate. (See Revelation 16:13-16).

3. Demonic powers can exercise control over nations as well as men and women. See the example in Daniel 10 of the "prince of the kingdom of Persia." This demonic power seemed to be in charge of the affairs of this region. The book of Revelation also mentions evil spirits and their activities in regards to nations. See Revelation 16:13-16.

4. Joking about demons or Satan is not wise. See II Peter 2:10-11. Neither do we have thepower in ourselves to rebuke Satan. See Jude 9.

5. Jesus gave His disciples power to cast out demons. Study the following accounts of their use of this power: Mark 9:38; Luke 10:17; Acts 5:16; 8:7; 16:16-18; 19:11-12.

6. Study the following references where the word "possessed" is used: Matthew 4:24; 8:16,28,33; 9:32; 12:22; Mark 1:32; 5:15-18; Luke 8:36; Acts 8:7; 16:16.

7. Jesus was oppressed, but without sin: Isaiah 53:7. When Hezekiah was oppressed, he asked God to undertake for him: Isaiah 38:14. Jesus Christ healed all who were oppressed of the Devil: Acts 10:38.

Study further about oppression: • By the wicked: Psalms 17:9 • By our enemies: Psalms 106:42 • By the proud: Psalms 119:122 • By the rich: James 2:6

CASUALTIES OF WAR

Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (II Timothy 2:3)

In every natural war, there are casualties of war, soldiers who are wounded in battle. Some recover from their injuries to return to the battlefield. Others become permanent casualties. The same is true of the spiritual warfare in which we are engaged. Christian soldiers are not immune to the attacks of Satan, nor are they exempt from the effects of suffering.

Many of us do not like to talk about suffering. We do not hear a great deal of preaching on this subject. We prefer to hear messages on victory and prosperity, and these things are good, as they are part of the revelation of God. But we avoid the subject of suffering because there are things about it that are hard to understand and difficult to explain. But the Bible is not just a book of promises concerning the abundant life. It is a record of suffering, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.

When Jesus was here on earth and spoke of the suffering He was to face on the cross, many of His followers deserted Him. (John 6:55-66) They had expected the Messiah to reign in power and glory. Instead, He spoke of suffering. They could not understand this, so they turned away from following Him. If you do not understand suffering, you too may turn from following Jesus when you face difficult circumstances. You will become a casualty of the war instead of a conqueror.

This lesson concerns "casualties of war," those who have been wounded in battle. You will not only learn how to deal with suffering yourself, but how to minister to others experiencing difficulties.

THE SOURCE OF SUFFERING

God did not create suffering. It originally entered the world through the sin of man which was instigated by Satan (Genesis 3). When man yielded to Satan's temptation and sinned, suffering entered the world. Therefore, sin which resulted in all suffering can be traced to its originator, Satan. Although there are different reasons why suffering enters your life, all suffering can be traced back to this original source. But happily, in the life of a Christian soldier, God can take suffering, which Satan intends for evil, and turn it for good to accomplish His purposes. He can make a victim become a victor.

THE REASONS FOR SUFFERING

The Bible has much to say concerning suffering, problems, and afflictions. In summarizing its teaching, we discover five ways that suffering can come into the life of a believer. All suffering you face in life will come through one of these ways:

OTHERS AROUND YOU:

Suffering and difficult circumstances of life may come through others around you. Joseph is an example of this type of suffering. Through no fault of his own, Joseph was sold into Egypt by

his brothers, was imprisoned falsely by Potiphar's wife, and was forgotten by those he helped in prison. But listen to his response. Joseph said...

Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life...so now it was not you that sent me hither but God. (Genesis 45:5,7)

One way suffering comes to the Christian soldier from others around him is by what the Bible calls an "evil report" or gossip. Much suffering comes because of what you say about others, and what they say about you. As you have learned in this course, the tongue is the most powerful of weapons, and can create many casualties of war by the words it speaks.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE:

The second way suffering comes to you is through the circumstances of life. This is illustrated by the experiences of Naomi recorded in the book of Ruth in the Bible. She was bitter with sorrow because of the death of her husband and sons.

Until Jesus returns and the final enemy of death is conquered, death is part of life. Death entered through the original sin of man and it is a natural circumstance which we all will face, for "it is appointed unto man once to die" (Hebrews 9:27).

When Naomi experienced these difficult circumstances of life, she said, "No longer call me Naomi (which means blessed), but call me Mara." The name Mara means "bitter." Naomi was facing bitter waters.

YOUR MINISTRY:

The third reason for suffering is because of your ministry for the Lord. The New Testament speaks of suffering for His name's sake (Acts 9:16), in behalf of Christ, (Philippians 1:29) for the Kingdom of God (II Thessalonians 1:5), for the Gospel (II Timothy 1:11-12), for well-doing (I Peter 2:19-20; 3:17), for righteousness sake (I Peter 3:14), as a Christian (I Peter 4:15-16), and according to the will of God ( I Peter 4:19).

The Apostle Paul is an example of suffering resulting from ministry. Some people view suffering as a sign of failure or lack of faith. If this is true, then the Apostle Paul had no faith and was the greatest failure in the history of the church. Paul said that while in Asia he was so utterly crushed that he despaired of life itself (II Corinthians 1:8). He presents a different image than that of the cheerful evangelist who promises believers nothing but peace and prosperity.

When Paul was first called of God to ministry he was told of "great things" he would suffer for the sake of the Lord (Acts 9:16). Paul's response to suffering was to endure "the loss of all things to win some for Christ." He wrote to believers "to you it is given not only to believe, but to suffer for Him" (Philippians 1:29).

Paul was not alone in suffering for the ministry. The whole church suffered in New Testament times (Acts 8). Hebrews chapter 11 records the stories some of the cruel persecutions they endured. Many of these men and women of faith were delivered by the power of God. Prison doors were opened and they walked out. They were sentenced to death in fiery furnaces but emerged unaffected by the flames.

But some of these believers, who are also called men and women "of faith," did not receive such deliverances. They were imprisoned, afflicted, tormented, and even martyred because of their testimony of the Gospel (Hebrews 11:36-40). We focus on living faith but God also reveals His power in dying faith. This is a faith that stands true in the bad times, not just in good times when mighty deliverances are manifested.

DIRECT SATANIC ACTIVITY:

Suffering can also enter your life as a result of direct Satanic activity. This is evident in the story of Job. This book wrestles with the question, "Why do the righteous suffer?" God's testimony of Job was that he was a righteous man (Job l-2). Job did not suffer because he had sinned, as his friends claimed. They believed if Job repented, his circumstances would change. These friends tried to make a universal application based on individual experience. It would be similar to saying that because God delivered Peter from prison He will do the same for you. This is not true. Many have been martyred in prison despite their great faith and sinless lives.

We must be careful when we view the suffering of others that we do not accuse them of sin, faithlessness, or unbelief. The Bible does teach that a sinful man reaps a bitter harvest because of sowing in fleshly corruption (Galatians 6:8). But sowing and reaping cannot be used to explain the suffering of the innocent.

Job did not suffer because of anything he had done. Job was a righteous man. This was God's testimony of Job, Job's testimony of himself, and his reputation before man. Behind the scenes in the spiritual world was the true cause of Job's suffering. There was a spiritual battle going on over the heart, mind, and allegiance of Job.

There is a warfare going on in the spiritual world over you. That warfare is manifested in the difficult circumstances you experience in the natural world. An important truth evident in Job's suffering is that nothing can enter the life of a believer without the knowledge of God. God does not cause your suffering. It is inflicted by Satan, but its limits are set by God. God's power is greater than that of Satan, and you will experience victory if you continue to trust Him.

YOUR OWN SIN:

The fifth way suffering enters your life is because of your own sin. Jonah is an example of such suffering. In disobedience to God, Jonah headed the opposite direction from Ninevah where he had been commanded to go and preach repentance. He experienced a terrible storm at sea and ended up in the belly of a great fish because of his own sin (Jonah l-2).

Trouble should always be treated as a call to consider your ways and examine your heart before God. You may be suffering because of your own sin. The Bible reveals that God chastises those who are living in disobedience to His Word. Chastise means to discipline, reprove, and correct:

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:11)

God uses suffering to correct you and bring you back to His will for your life:

Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept thy Word... It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes... I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that THOU in faithfulness hast afflicted me. (Psalms 119:67,71,75)

THE PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARDS SUFFERING

Trouble is not necessarily a sign of being out of God's will. The Bible declares that "many are the afflictions of the righteous" (Psalms 34:19). When you suffer innocently and not because of your own sin, you should maintain a proper attitude towards suffering. The real test of your spirituality is how you respond in the day of distress:

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. (Proverbs 24:10)

The Bible describes the attitude you should have when you suffer as a believer within the will of God. You should not be ashamed:

If any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf...(I Peter 4:16)

You should commit your soul (your suffering) to God, knowing He works all things for your good:

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing as unto a faithful Creator. (I Peter 4:19)

You should be happy when you suffer according to the will of God:

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. (Acts 5:41)

Paul says you should be:

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. (Romans 12:12)

...being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it... (I Corinthians 4:12)

...in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses... (II Corinthians 6:4)

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. (II Timothy 1:8)

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. (I Thessalonians 3:3)

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (II Timothy 4:5)

You should not think it strange when you experience suffering:

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing partaker of Christ's sufferings; that when His glory shall be revealed ye may be glad with exceeding joy. (I Peter 4:12-13)

Paul summarizes the proper attitude toward suffering when he explains...

..though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory:

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal... (II Corinthians 4:16-18)

Paul viewed suffering as a servant...He said it "worketh for us".

POSITIVE BENEFITS OF SUFFERING

There are many positive benefits of suffering according to God's will. If you understand these, it will help you deal with your own suffering as well as minister to others who are "casualties of war":

YOUR FAITH IS TESTED:

Everything in the spiritual world is based on faith. This is why the strength of your faith must be tested:

That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. (I Peter 1:7)

It is a trial of faith when you pray as Jesus did, for God to let the cup of bitterness pass, and yet it does not pass. Instead, you are forced to drink deeply of its suffering. But faith will learn that our prayers are not unanswered just because they are not answered the way we want.

YOU ARE EQUIPPED TO COMFORT OTHERS:

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (II Corinthians 1:3-4)

When you share God's comfort with others you...

...lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:12-13)

YOU LEARN NOT TO TRUST IN YOURSELF:

Paul spoke of the purpose of his sufferings in Asia:

...In Asia we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life;

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God which raiseth the dead. (II Corinthians 1:8-9)

You will come to recognize that...

... we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (II Corinthians 4:7)

YOU DEVELOP POSITIVE SPIRITUAL QUALITIES:

We glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, (resulting in the love of God being shed abroad in our hearts). (Romans 5:3-4)

...after ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (I Peter 5:10)

These qualities conform you to the image of Jesus, which is God's plan for you (Romans 8:28- 29; Hebrews 2:10,18).

THE WORKS OF GOD ARE MANIFESTED:

When the disciples saw a man who had been blind from birth, they asked who was responsible for his condition. Was it the sin of his parents or of the man himself? Jesus answered:

Neither this man sinned nor His parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in Him. (John 9:3)

THE POWER OF GOD IS PERFECTED:

And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (II Corinthians 12:9)

THAT WHICH IS UNSTABLE IS REMOVED:

Suffering results in all that is unstable being shaken out of your life. You cease to depend on people, programs, or material things as these all fail in your time of need. God permits this...

...removing of those things that are shaken as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. (Hebrews 12:26-27)

During the storms of life, everything crumbles that is not built upon God and His Word (Psalm 119:89 and Matthew 7:24-27).

YOUR FOCUS IS CHANGED:

When you experience suffering you often focus your attention on cause and effect. You are concerned with what caused the difficult circumstances and the terrible effect it is having in your life. God wants to change your focus from struggling to understand the temporal situation to recognizing the benefits of the eternal:

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more

exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (II Corinthians 4:17-18)

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (I Peter 4:12-13)

If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him... (II Timothy 2:12)

THE OLD SELF-NATURE IS CHANGED:

God said of the nation of Moab:

Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity; therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. (Jeremiah 48:11)

Because Moab had not experienced the troublesome pouring out and stirring similar to that necessary to develop good wine, the nation did not change. Moab was at ease and settled in prosperity and because of this did not develop and mature properly spiritually. Therefore there was no change. His "own scent" remained in him. Suffering rids you of the old self-nature. As you are stirred, troubled, and poured out, your spiritual scent changes from carnal to spiritual.

YOU ARE PREPARED FOR MINISTRY:

You have asked to be used by God. You desire to be more like Jesus and prayed to be a chosen vessel for His use. The answer to your prayer may come through suffering:

Behold I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. (Isaiah 48:10)

It is through affliction that you move beyond the calling as a child of God to become chosen of God. Affliction according to the will of God refines you for His use just as metals are refined in a furnace in the natural world. God actually prepares you to wage warfare against the enemy by suffering!

YOU ARE PREPARED TO REIGN WITH CHRIST:

If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him...(II Timothy 2:12)

YOU RECEIVE SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS:

Jesus said:

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12)

YOU LEARN OBEDIENCE:

Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered... (Hebrews 5:8)

THE WORD OF GOD IS TESTED WITHIN YOU:

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (Psalms 12:6)

YOU ARE HUMBLED:

Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that He might humble thee, and that He might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end... (Deuteronomy 8:15-16)

YOU ARE ENLARGED SPIRITUALLY:

This means you grow spiritually

Thou has enlarged me when I was under pressure. (Psalms 4:1 Revised Standard Version)

YOU COME TO KNOW GOD INTIMATELY:

You come to know God on a more intimate basis through suffering. Job, who suffered much,learned this truth and said...

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:5-6)

Some of us know God only second handedly. When you are experiencing the blessings of life, God is often a luxury instead of a necessity. But when you have a real need, God becomes a necessity. Job came to know God more intimately through suffering. Before he suffered, Job knew God through theology. Afterwards, he knew Him by experience. Paul expressed a similar desire when he said:

That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death. (Philippians 3:10)

You can only come to know God in resurrection power through the intimate fellowship of suffering. Throughout his suffering, Job questioned God as to the cause of his suffering. It is not wrong to question God. Jesus knew the purpose for which He had come into the world was to die for the sins of all mankind. Yet in His hour of suffering He cried out, "My God, My God, WHY hast thou forsaken me?" It is what follows the questioning that is important. Jesus's next words were, "Into thy hands I commit my spirit."

Despite the questions, Job's response was...

Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him...(Job 13:15)

For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. (Job 19:25-26)

After all the questioning is finished, the emphasis must change from "me" to "Thee." You must commit your suffering, with all its unanswered questions, into the hands of God.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

God may reveal some of the purposes in your suffering, but it is possible you will never fully understand it:

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing...(Proverbs 25:2)

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us... (Deuteronomy 29:29)

There are some secret things that belong only to the Lord. As Job, you may never understand all the purposes of your suffering:

Since the Lord is directing our steps, why try to understand everything that happens along the way? (Proverbs 20:24 The Living Bible)

When God finally talked with Job, He used several examples from nature which Job could not explain. God stressed that if Job could not understand what he saw in the natural world, he certainly could not understand that which he could not see in the spiritual world.

When Job faces God, it no longer matters that he does not get an answer to his questions about suffering. He is in the direct presence of God, and that experience leaves no room for anything else. He is no longer controlled and tormented by human reasoning. He replaces questions, not with answers, but with faith.

When you come to know God intimately through suffering, you see yourself as you really are. You no longer know God second-handedly. That face-to-face encounter with God does what arguments and discussions cannot do.

When Job stood before God, he had no new answers. He was given no new facts about his suffering. But he replaced questions with faith. Job had been in the direct presence of God, and that experience left no room for questions or doubts.

THE STORMS OF LIFE

Suffering is sometimes compared to a natural storm. When you suffer, you experience a storm spiritually speaking. This "storm" may affect you spiritually, mentally, physically, materially, or emotionally.

The Bible tells of a storm which the disciples of Jesus experienced. Read the story in your Bible in Mark 4:35-41. Jesus told the disciples to go to the other side and He joined them in the boat. The storm was an attack of Satan who was trying to prevent them from reaching the shore because of the miraculous works that were to be done in Gadarea (see Mark chapter 5).

Immediately Jesus took authority over the storm. He rebuked the powers of the enemy. Calm returned to the sea and they continued their journey unhindered.

Difficulties of life can be compared to natural storms. A "storm" of Satan is anything that tries to hinder you from fulfilling the will of God for your life and being an effective Christian soldier. It is not suffering resulting from your own disobedience. Neither is this kind of suffering is "according to the will of God." God does not want anything to hinder His plan for you and your victory in spiritual warfare! When you face a storm caused by Satan, exercise authority over the enemy. Jesus has given you power over every power of Satan.

There are two other stories of natural storms recorded in the Bible which illustrate storms resulting from chastisement for sin and storms that occur "according to the will of God." Read the story of Jonah and the storm in Jonah chapter l. Read the story of Paul and the storm in Acts 27. Then study the following chart:

Jonah Paul Jonah put himself in the storm. Paul was in the storm through no fault of his own... He paid the fare He tried to prevent them from sailing Jonah was the cause of the storm Paul was the remedy for the storm Jonah slept during the storm Paul fasted and prayed in the storm God's blessing was not with Jonah God's blessing was with Paul The crew was fearful The crew was told to be of good cheer To be saved: Jonah must be cast out To be saved: All must abide in the ship

There are differences between going through a storm of life within God's will and experiencing a storm out of the will of God. When you go through a storm out of the will of God, it is a situation which you have created. For example, a believer who marries an unsaved person will experience trouble because they have violated a Scriptural principle. You are the cause of a storm that results from disobedience. You have violated God's will and His commands. Often you are not even aware of the seriousness of your situation. You sleep spiritually while the storm increases its fury around you.

In a storm caused by your own sin, you are fearful and those around you grow fearful. The storm is not an attack of Satan. It is chastisement from God. You can confess promises of "power over the enemy" but it will not change the situation. When you recognize a "storm" of suffering as one resulting from sin, there is only one remedy: Ask forgiveness from God!

But when you suffer according to the will of God, the situation is different. You suffer through no fault or sin of your own. You can be a remedy to the problems around you instead of a cause. Like Paul, you can assume spiritual leadership because God's blessing is on you. You can bring encouragement to others because you are a solution to the storm instead of the cause. You should not bail out of the ship or run from the trouble. You must abide in the "ship" of this type of suffering for it is the will of God.

THE SUFFERING SOLDIER

When you suffer according to the will of God, you should realize you are not alone. Many others in God's army are experiencing similar battles:

...knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (I Peter 5:9)

"Storms" of life are inevitable and uncontrollable, as illustrated by the parable of the two houses in Matthew 7:24-27. Storms will come to those who have built their lives upon God's Word as well as those who have not. The foundation of a man's life is what will determine the outcome of the storm. Suffering is to be expected as part of the will of God:

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (II Timothy 3:12)

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake (Philippians 1:29).

...that ye may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer... (II Thessalonians 1:5)

For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass and ye know. (I Thessalonians 3:4)

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. (Matthew 24:9)

...they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my names sake. (Luke 21:12)

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you... (John 15:20)

Now this does not mean that you make yourself suffer believing it would be pleasing to God. God is never pleased when people suffer. To purposefully make yourself suffer (an act called asceticism) is a sin. Many people try to do this to try to appease God's anger and/or make themselves appear holy or religious before men. But God is only appeased by the blood of Jesus Christ. God does, however, take the tragedy of suffering when it does touch your life and redeem it for good.

Part of the follow up plan in establishing early churches was to teach believers that they would experience suffering. This is missing in many churches today:

...They returned...confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22)

The call of Jesus to followers is one of denial and suffering:

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38)

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

...Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me. (Mark 8:34)

...come, take up the cross, and follow me. (Mark 10:21)

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27)

Spiritual warfare is not a succession of great victories and celebrations of praise. As a soldier in God's army, you are called to endure suffering:

Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (II Timothy 2:3)

One of the principles of natural warfare also applies to the spiritual realm: "Do not stop fighting just because you are wounded!"

Conclusion

Though we are all stuck with having to deal with the reality of demonic spirits in this life as a result of the curse Adam and Eve brought upon this earth, there is still order in all of this and God is still running the entire show.

The Bible has made it very clear. God's Word has told us that we have all been called to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Notice that God is using the word "good soldiers." When God is using the word "good soldiers," I believe He is meaning exactly what He is trying to tell us. Good soldiers are warriors and they know how to directly engage with their enemies if they are forced too. They are strong, bold and fearless.

God tells us in His Word that He wants us to be as bold as lions and that we are to directly engage and cast out demons when we have too. He tells us that if we faint in the day of any kind of adversity, that our strength will be considered small in His eyes.

I believe God is looking to raise up more well-rounded anointed soldiers in these last days to battle the increasing evil we are starting to see more of. As we approach what I believe will be a coming Rapture, and then the coming of the 7 year Great Tribulation where this entire world will literally be ruled by a real live living Antichrist, I believe God will be pulling out all of the stops to try and get as many people saved and on that first rapture train as He possibly can.

In order to do this, I believe God will be raising up an incredible army of anointed believers who will walk and fly with His supernatural power in a way that the world has never seen before and will never see again. Many of these anointed chosen ones are being worked, trained, molded and shaped right now into the eagles that God is calling them to become in Him.

Like it or not, we have all been born into a war zone as result of what happened in the story of Adam and Eve. And not only are we all stuck having to battle with people who have chosen with their own free wills to live this life on the dark side, but we are also stuck with having to do battle with demonic spirits from time to time.

For most Christians, the most demons can do to us is to try and come in and start playing their mind-games with us from the outside. Unless you have a major hole in your hedge and have given a demon some kind of legal right to literally enter into your body - the most a demon can do to you is to try and attack you from the outside of your being - not from the inside of your being.

For those who have the problem of literally having demons operating on the inside of them - they will have to go through an actual deliverance process to get rid of those demons. You will first have to find out what the legal right is that allowed the demons to get in there in the first place. Then you will have to take care of that legal right before God the Father before you can cast the demons out.

The Bible says that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. Our minds are thus the battlefield. Both God and demons will come after your mind. God will try and pull you into His ways of living in this life and demons will try and pull you into their dark ways of living in this life.

Many Christians have been lured and pulled into some of the dark ways and areas of these demons, and as a result, many have either died before their time was really up in the Lord, or they have been forced to live with the extreme consequences of some of the bad choices they have made.

As Christians, we have something that the nonbeliever does not have. We all have the full power of God operating on the inside of us in the Person of the Holy Spirit Himself. We also have the fact that demons are already defeated animals. They have all been defeated by Jesus on the day that He was crucified for all of our sins. We are thus dealing with a defeated foe.

However, for many Christians, the subject of demons and spiritual warfare is too scary and too frightening to deal with and they would just prefer to keep their heads buried in their sand. As a result, demons are literally getting away with being able to tear some people apart with all of the murders, suicides, drug use, alcohol abuse, divorces, spousal abuse, abortions, thefts and premarital sex that is occurring across this country on a daily basis.

And most of this kind of dark side activity starts with a simple mind-game that the demon will start playing with the one that he has targeted. This is why the above verse says that we are to be "vigilant" and "sober" in keeping our eye out for any demonic activity that could easily set in on either ourselves, our families, or some of our close friends.

Again, you don't want to get so paranoid and out of balance that you are seeing demons around every possible corner - but you have to realize the reality of demons and the games they will attempt to play with either you or someone who may be close to you.

In this area of spiritual warfare, I have found something so simple, but yet so extremely effective in dealing with demons who have targeted someone to start playing their mind-games with from the outside. It comes off of the saying of nipping something in the bud before it even has a chance to sprout or grow.

Once you sense the presence of a demon trying to mess with you and your mind from the outside - you immediately, I repeat, immediately have to engage with him and drive him out and off of you before he even has a chance to work his claws into you to form any kind of mental stronghold. So how do you do this for those of you who don't know how to directly engage with a demonic spirit?

You directly engage with a demon by using "verbal warfare." The Bible tells us that the "Sword" of the Holy Spirit is the "Word of God." In other words, the Words of God operating in your mind and spirit that can be released out of your mouth is the Sword that you will use to go into combat with this demon!

Since you are a Blood-bought child of God the Father, saved through the Blood of His Son - you now have the legal right to be able to use the appropriate command words from the Lord to verbally engage with any demon who may attempt to come against you - operating under the full power, anointing and authority of God the Father Himself to be able to do this.

The Word of God is your Sword. Keep that Sword in your sheath - and don't be afraid to take that Sword out to chop off the head of any demon who may come after either you or any of your close loved ones.

You are a soldier of Jesus Christ! Realize this fact - and directly engage with the enemy if that enemy should ever attempt to attack either you, anyone in your family, or any of your close friends.

You do not have to become a punching bag for the darts and attacks of these demons. God has already given you His power in which to totally defeat this enemy. It is just a matter of every Christian realizing this fact and not being afraid to engage with the demons by saying the appropriate command words against them to drive them off of you.

Bottom line - demons are real, and they are still allowed to roam in the air on this earth seeking who they are going to try and devour next. As a result of this dark reality, some Christians will come under direct demonic attack from time to time from some of these demons.

1. The Big Picture

The first thing each Christian must "realize and see" is what I call the big picture. You first have to step away from your problem and see things for the way they really are.

Bottom line - the time that we will all spend on this earth is just a blink of an eye compared to the time that we will all be spending in eternity once we die and cross over. Heaven is for eternity - our life on this earth is just for a very brief moment compared to the eternal time frame that is operating up in heaven.

The first thing that each Christian must get a hold of when being seriously wronged by someone else in this life is that the person who has viciously wronged you will have to come before God Almighty Himself for a personal judgment once he dies and crosses over!

The Bible tells us that not only is God our Father - but He is also a Judge. And as a Judge, He will be judging every single one of us when we die and cross over - which includes both Christians and nonbelievers.

When Christians die and cross over, the Bible tells us that we all have to appear before the judgment seat of Christ to directly face Jesus for all the good and bad things that we have ever done in this life. This judgment will not cast us into hell since we have all been saved and born again through the blood of Jesus. However, I have a very funny feeling that this judgment that will be rendered upon each Christian will somehow determine what kind of reward and place he or she will have in heaven.