The following questions and answers taken from A Manual for Spiritual Warfare by Don Basham represent some of the most commonly asked questions that Christians have about spiritual warfare.

We hope that Don Basham’s answers will not only inform you but also better equip you to be a successful and victorious Christian.

Questions

1. Why did God create the devil?

2. What is the deliverance ministry?

3. How can a Christian have a demon?

4. You're not really casting out demons - You're trying to cast out the carnal nature.

5. How can a person tell if he needs deliverance?

6. If we leave Satan alone won't he leave us alone?

 

Answers

1. Why did God create the devil?

The Scriptures clearly indicate that God did not create the devil. He created three archangels: Gabriel, Michael and Lucifer who, with all their various ranks and suborders of heavenly beings, ruled the heavens. All these God created through Jesus Christ.

He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities – all things were created through Him and for him (Col. 1:15 RSV).

The Fall of Lucifer

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star (Lucifer) son of Dawn! How are you cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the Pit." (Isaiah 14:12-15 RSV).

Pride – The reason for Lucifer’s rebellion and subsequent downfall is clearly revealed as pride, for five times in that brief passage, he exalts himself and his will against God and God’s will, saying, "I will….I will…"

Satan: cast out of heaven – down to the earth and the atmosphere

Some healing evangelists use the term "deliverance" to describe the total aspect of their work. Hence, their meetings may be advertised as "Deliverance Campaigns." Such a broad definition covers evangelism, healing the sick, and ministering the baptism in the Holy Spirit, with only a minor emphasis (if any) on actually casting out demons or evil spirits.

Ø But the Scriptures. make a much clearer distinction in the ministries of Jesus.

- He preached, He healed the sick, and He cast out evil spirits.

Ø He also commissioned His disciples to carry on these same ministries. He told them,

- "Go preach the gospel (the ministry of salvation),

- heal the sick (the ministry of healing), and

- cast out demons (the ministry of deliverance)."

Ø We are using the term "deliverance," then, to specify particularly the ministry of casting out demons.

Ø Il is important to recognize, however, that the deliverance ministry is a specialised one. It is applicable only in those situations where the person’s particular difficulty is caused by the activity of an evil spirit actually dwelling within his personality.

Ø Thus the deliverance ministry is to be used in addition to, not in place of prayer for healing, crucifixion of the old nature, baptism in the Holy Spirit and all the provisions available to the Christian in the name of Jesus.

"Where do the Scriptures say a Christian can have a demon? "We could as reasonably ask the opposite question, "

Ø Where do they say a Christian cannot have a demon?" There is no precise biblical answer to either questions.

Ø But the Scriptures do make it clear the Christian is a prime target for satanic attack and that our difficulties, whether demons, physical illness, or temptation to sin, are rooted in Satan's efforts to destroy us.

Ø This is why Paul reminds us we "wrestle not against flesh and blood" and why we are instructed to resist Satan and to cast out demons.

Ø Experience proves Christians can and do have demons just as they can have problems with the carnal nature and with the physical illness.

One major objection to Christians having demons is based on the King James translation of the Bible which describes persons tormented by evil spirits as "demon-possessed," a very unfortunate rendering of certain verses which is as emotionally upsetting as it is inaccurate. In the manuscripts from which our New Testament in translated there is a Greek verb which means, "to be demoned" or "demonised." Unfortunately, the King James version translates that word as "demon-possessed."

Ø A much more accurate rendering would be "afflicted or tormented."

Ø A Christian can be "afflicted" without being "possessed." By the literal definition of the term "possessed," demon possession is not possible for a Christian. Possession denotes ownership and every Christian is "owned" by Jesus Christ. Therefore, he cannot be owned by the devil or by a demon.

4. You're not really casting out demons - You're trying to cast out the carnal nature.

Ø With little or no understanding of the reality of Satan and evil spirits he came to the conclusion that a Christian's inner struggles can stem only from his rebellious carnal nature. As he said to me, "1 have counselled with thousand people and not one of them, I can assure you, has been troubled by an evil spirit."

Ø But many of us have learned that man’s struggle against evil includes more than wrestling with the old nature.

Ø It also includes wrestling against "persons without bodies …" against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world" (Eph. 6:12, Living New Testament).

Ø Therefore, in his earnest desire to live a victorious Christian life, a person may be faced with a dual difficulty.

1. Those problems originating in his carnal nature or "old man" may be overcome by prayer and self-discipline. The Bible refers to this a "crucifixion."

We know that our old self was crucified with him [Jesus] so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. … So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies …" (Rom 6:6, 11-12 RSV)

2. But what about those besetting sins - those compulsive appetites which stubbornly refuse to yield to crucifixion – which resist prayer and all other spiritual disciplines?

- If we hold the simplistic theology which claims that such problems are merely further extensions of the struggle against the flesh, then all we can advise is, "Try harder!"

- Yet the same Paul who taught the necessity of crucifying the flesh also engaged in the ministry of casting out demons (see Acts 16.16-19)

- and warned Christians against attack in the form of evil spirits (see Eph. 6:11-12 and I Tim. 4:1).

Ø Both the old self and evil spirits then, derive their life and inspiration from Satan.

Ø But since one is an actual part of us and the other is something which has taken up its dwelling within us, it can be understood how the method of dealing with the two sources of evil must be separate and distinct.

Ø That evil which is a part of us, i.e., the carnal nature, must – by prayer and discipline – be put to death or crucified, as Paul said,

Ø while that evil a which is not an intrinsic part of us, and which has simply taken up residence somewhere within us, must be evicted or driven out: thus the need for the deliverance ministry.

Ø The remedy for one problem is not the remedy for the other, and proper diagnosis must precede proper treatment. A single diagnosis – that all our problems stem from the struggle against the carnal nature – is inadequate and in some cases leads to wrong treatment.

You can’t crucify or put to death a demon; you can only cast it out.

Ø The same thing is true in our struggle against Satan. Problems which have defied solution for many years may have been mistakenly diagnosed and improperly treated. If the problem is the carnal nature, it will yield to prayer, but if it caused by a demon, deliverance is required (p. 40-41).

Most of our problems are not demonic, but rather weaknesses in our carnal nature which the Bible refers to as "the flesh."

Many people are burdened with problems because they are undisciplined and immature and those very qualities tend to make them seek quick and simple solutions to all their problems. For example, I have counselled many young coupled who were having difficulties in their marriage and who felt that either one or both of them needed deliverance. But the real problem was that neither one of them was ready to face up the responsibilities of marriage.

Ø Deliverance is no substitute for self-discipline. One of the frustrations attending this ministry is that it can bring such dramatic and pronounced improvement when it is properly applied that there is a continual tendency on the part of some Christians to seize it as the answer to everything.

Ø But assuming there may be a need for deliverance, how can a person tail if that’s really his problem? Two basic criteria suggest themselves:

1. Conditions which compel, shame, defile or torment a person usually prove to be demonic and,

2. conditions which consistently defy other spiritual disciplines, such as prayer and fasting also indicate demon torment.

If you have opportunity to sit under the ministry of someone known to be competent in this field, then as a kind of "spiritual check-up" you may want to submit to the ministry and see what happens.

Since I frequently teach on this subject, many people come with long lists of symptoms which make them suspect they need deliverance, only to experience nothing at all in the service. Others sitting nearby may receive dramatic help, while in spite of all their symptoms, nothing happens to them.

Ø Perhaps they had not fulfilled the conditions for receiving it, and the demons, knowing their hold was secure, did not manifest their presence. But more often it means that those symptoms were merely evidences of weaknesses in the carnal nature which must be dealt with by various other spiritual disciplines.

Ø Yet in all fairness I must add this: an equal number of fine Christians come to me saying, "1’m not aware of any demonic problem in my life, but I want nothing hindering me in my walk with Jesus."

Ø Then to their surprise and mine, when the deliverance ministry begins they may practicality explode on their chairs or fall to the floor in a convulsion or experience some other equally dramatic reaction as the sovereign power of the Holy Spirit begins His work of setting them free.

This question stems from an unhealthy fear of Satan and evil spirits. But pretending spiritual warfare isn’t real won’t remove us from the battlefield.

Ø Warfare is seldom pleasant, and, from Scripture as well as from experience, we know casting out demons is not a "polite" ministry. Abbreviated as they are, the scriptural stories of deliverance clearly reveal the ugly and raucous nature of demons.

And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice …and when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not "Lk. 4:33-35)

The devil is crafty. He will go to great lengths to keep us from discovering the authority we have over him in the name of Jesus. Yet his tactics are easily laid bare.

1. First, he encourages disbelief in his existence As long as we doubt Satan's reality he is free to carry out his evil seductions with little opposition.

So tactic number one is, keep people in ignorance

2. But once Christians accept his existence, Satan immediately launches a campaign of fear. He intimidates by manifesting himself in such ugly ways that people often feel powerless against him. His tactics are those of a bully who thunders, "Give in to me or I’ll beat yon up!" Therefore, we must remember we have the power and protection of Jesus Christ. Jesus said:

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 (Lk. 10: 19).

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith…(1 Pt. 5:8-9).

But notice, it doesn’t say Satan is a roaring lion, only that he makes a noise like one! And if we resist him he has no legitimate hold over us.

The very nature of Satan drives him to steal and destroy, to dominate and control. At first glance, ignoring him may seem wise, but actually it’s childish to believe the way out or difficulty is by pretending it doesn't exist. Trouble doesn’t go away by being ignored. History reveals that nations ignoring a dictator with ambitions usually end up under his dominion.

Ø Besides, to ignore the treacherous works a Satan and evil spirits is to forget one of the ministries Jesus commissioned us to perform: that of casting out demons.

Ø In addition Jesus said, "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18).

Notice, the Church is to storm the very gates of hell! This clearly implies a militant attack against the forces of Satan. We are not to ignore the enemy; we are to oppose him.