Experiencing overt spiritual warfare

One of my friends called me the other night and asked if I may recommend some books regarding spiritual warfare. Knowing she is an established believer acquainted with the word, I asked her if she meant temptation and subtle influence, or the outright presence of demons.

She indicated that lately she has been waking up and experiencing the overt presence of wicked beings. This is not unfamiliar to me; I have myself experienced such things on occasions.

I recommended The Christian in Complete Armor and told her that generally the advice remains the same: resist the devil (and all his cohorts) and he will flee. I told her to strap on the armor.

Does anyone else have some books or articles they can recommend on the subject?

Hi Michael,

[url=http://members.cox.net/spw1942/]Spurgeon on Spiritual Warfare[/url]

I haven't read the whole book, but from what I have read and heard from others, it is very good.

Thanks for this as well. Anyone else?

maybe you can find something here brother ----> [url=http://www.spiritualwarfaredeliverance.com/]Spiritual Warfare[/url]

I cant say everything on that site is good and ok in my point of view/opinion. So I advice you to use great discernment and double check with the Word as always but i have found some good things there too,

God bless

Hi Michael:

Was thinking about your request last night and remembered this:

I have found it and continue to find it helpful, practical and Biblical. It is by Warren Wiersbe: "The Strategy of Satan":
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=2366652&netp_id=151514&event=ETS

Blessings,

The deepest and best work I've found thus far other than TCICA by Gurnall is [url=http://www.oldlandmarks.com/owmortto.htm]The Mortification of Sin[/url] by John Owen.

A major factor in Christian warfare involves mortification, and though someone can read hundreds of books on fighting and faith, if they have an improper understanding of the principles of mortification, they will be cut down in the battle each time. All their time will be spent in the spiritual hospital, getting bandaged up, and nursing a wounded conscience. Not understanding mortification is like rushing out to the middle of the battlefield with a wonderful sword but with no armour! You may last a bit by swinging your weapon and yelling and kicking...but all it takes is one hit and you're an instant casualty.

John Owen wrote a wonderful treatise on mortification, and I think it's the best there is...as far as I know. A.W. Pink also wrote a good paper on it. Study the deep principles of mortification prayerfully and your battle efficiency will increase exponentially.

Brother Paul

I suggest you can save yourself some time and money by going to the LORD directly and tell Him what you are seeing, experiencing and ask for HIS intervention. Reading modern lit on this subject will have limited value because then you will become dependant on a [i]method[/i] to fix the problem instead of a [i]person[/i], and that person is Jesus Christ. This is essential in obtaining lasting, enduring victory.

Hope this helps...

ginnyrose

Battling the Hosts of Hell and Demolishing the Hosts of Hell by Win Worley. Those are two seperate books both by Win Worley.

I highly recommend the book [url=http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=6708&netp_id=270022&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW]Spiritual Warfare[/url] by Derek Prince.

It's very foundational and elementary, but that's what makes it so good. I was surprised how excellent this book was.

I've had some problems with this in the past too. Just being incredibly fearful feeling the presence of the demonic in my house. It's something I have just started to overcome... so hopefully I can help a little bit.

First thing I did was I prayed over my house. Charlene came over and prayed with me over everything. We claimed the house as God's ground, and told the enemy to go away. Every night before I go to bed I pray that God would build a wall of protection around my room and I also tell all evil to flee in the name of Jesus Christ.

Next thing I did was I looked over my room and prayed over what was in it. I believe that some objects or symbols can attract demons. I had all sorts of mythological pictures and dragons and a dream catcher... and although I'm not completely positive that all these objects attract demons (although some people have told me so). The best thing you can do is really pray over what is there and evaluate it... does this make my bedroom a holy place or is it attractive to evil? If after praying your spirit doesn't sit right with something that you have it's probably best to get rid of it.

Also, one huge factor that can cause the demons to have power is fear. We can become so fearful that it overcomes our ability to fight. Praying for trust in God and assurance becuase demons, no matter what they do, they have no power if we rebuke them. We give them power over us when we fear them. I've had demons talk to me and I've talked with others who have to live with actually interacting with them on a daily basis (of course they could be making it up which is possible). Anyway, fear is such a huge factor, at least it was in my case. I was so afriad they were going to show themselves to me because I knew they were there and I was terrified of seeing them. I think the best thing we can do is pray for strength, rebuke them, and pray over her house and her bedroom with the name of Christ. Claim it as God's ground, don't let it become enemy ground where it is hard to fight.

Demons are very real, and although they can't possess us, they can oppress us and we have to take this war seriously. I don't think that reading books is really the answer, that's what I first tried to do... but I found that trusting in God and fearing Him instead of the enemy was what I needed. Vocally rebuking them and claiming this ground as Christ's is something I have to do and I've been doing it daily since that night Charlene came to pray with me and claim this house as Christ's. And it's been a few months, and I'm really doing much better :)

Another thing, lol, is what evil are we allowing into our lives? Are we inviting evil? Now of course, we will get attacked when we are being used of God as well... but we can prevent some by living a holy life and not allowing evil stuff into our lives.

Hope something in all that helps lol. :)

I agree with my sister, in many ways. Praying over things in your house.. and really seeing is there things that I shouldn't have? I have pray like my sister and it helps.. But there are differnt wars.. But the same God, so all battles are to be fought with and by the Lord, he is our banner.

One thing I do also I have the word at hand, I put it to my mind and go over it and over it..

praying truth, for the truth sets us free.
In Christ we have victory.. So we must run to him..and Give him the battle,

Knowing our God and knowing how much all more we need his grace. SO falling in prayer God hear I am fill me with your grace, let your promise be ture, Help to be as you will. What can we without. God wants we humble to cry to him

blessing

There are many who give power to evil that evil does not have. Just because someone wrote something in a book, or a movie showed evil with power, does not mean that this power exist over the child of God. Our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the grave abides in the child of God.
Read the Word of God, all power has been given unto the child of God to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, if you are a child of God stop giving satan power he does not have.

Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mark 16:15-18
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. [16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. [17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Luke 10:19
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

John 14:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:6-11
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: [7] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. [8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: [9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. [10] But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. [11] To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Several times over a number of years I have awoke to the feeling of an evil presence,
I spoke in the name of Jesus Christ be gone, you are not welcome here and it left.
It had to, there is no choice for it must obey when a believer evokes the name of Jesus.
We need to know who we are in Christ Jesus and what not to fear,
1 John 4:15-18
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. [16] And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. [17] Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Remember, we are sons of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ; we need to act like it, and not back down to the roar of a want to be lion who has no teeth.

In His Love
pastorfrin

The most practical teaching I've ever heard on the subject of spiritual warfare were from Dean Sherman of Last Day Ministries. He has a whole series of teaching videos. Here is a link for some of his writings.

http://www.lastdaysministries.org/articles/spiritualwarfare.html

Thank you to everyone. In reply to the previous poster, yes I have personally read Mortification of Sin, by John Owen, and TCICA by Gurmall (though not all, it got "borrowed")... these are exactly what I recommended to my friend and she will be reading them soon.

I am in hand with the belief that whom Christ sets free is free indeed and, if we resist the devil He will flee from us. Primarily, our resistance is indirect and is fought by sanctification and trust in the efficacy of grace through Christ; not by Christianized mumbo-jumbo being said in certain ways over the TV and toaster.

My friend works in a health store. She was informed by the owner, a professing Christian, that she believes their medical equipment is possessed because they use it on non-Christians. The owner "rebukes the demon in the machine" before using it, or else she fears false readings.

I know where I stand on these things, and I'm glad to have additional resources. Eli, thanks for the Prince book, as well as all the others that everyone has mentioned.

Love to all,