Deliver Us From Evil

A. Christ and Spiritual Warfare

Mannum Retreat

6-7 May, 2006

Dr John W Kleinig

1. Introduction

· Lord’s Prayer: ‘Deliver us from the evil one.’

· 1 John 3:8: ‘The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.’

· Practical approach: working in the dark

· Example of the Canaanite women in Mark 7:24-30

2. The Hidden Battle

a. Four cases

· Young convert: hell breaking loose

· Pastoral student: attack

· Middle aged man: addiction to pornography

· Sexually abused woman: Lord's Supper

b. Resurgence of the occult in Australia

· Apostasy in last 50 years

· Sexual revolution

· Drug taking

· Spiritual naivety: spiritual = good

· Paganism

· Fascination with occult

Ø Battle between good and evil: Lord of the Rings

Ø Spiritual power: Harry Potter

· Embarrassment of church about the devil

c. Cosmic war

See Rev 12:1-17

· Vision

Ø Pregnant woman: sun, moon and 12 stars

Ø Red dragon: eat new born baby

Ø Birth of male child: ruler of nations

Ø Snatching up of child: God and his throne

Ø Escape of woman to safe place in desert

Ø Eviction of dragon from heaven: Michael and angels

Ø Attack of woman by dragon

Ø Gift of wings to the woman

Ø Attack on woman’s children

· Meaning of vision

Ø Woman: Mary and the church

Ø Dragon: Satan

Ø Male child: Jesus

Ø Woman’s offspring: Christians

· Spiritual warfare

Ø Victory: Christ with Michael and the angels

Ø Eviction of Satan from heavenly realm

Ø Present battlefield: planet earth

Ø Enemy: devil and angels

Ø Attack: believers and church

Ø Tactic: accusation of Christians

Ø Goal: condemnation and destruction of faith

Ø Weapons: blood of Christ and confession of faith.

d. Hidden Battle

See Mark 1:21-28

· Hidden work of the devil and his agents

· Our involvement in an unseen conflict

Ø Holy Spirit v Satan.

Ø Son of God v unclean spirits.

Ø Jesus v opponents.

· Attraction of unclean spirits to Jesus and the church

· Disclosure of evil spirits by teaching of Jesus

· Recognition of Jesus as God's Son by the evil spirits (see Matt 8:29; Mark 3:11; 5:7; Acts 16:17)

· Deliverance by teaching God’s word with authority

Ø Defeat of darkness by presence of light

Ø Truth encounter rather than power encounter

e. Call to Spiritual Warfare

See 1 Tim 1:18-19: ‘Fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience.’

· Involvement in spiritual warfare

· Point of attack: faith and good conscience

· Common confusion: psychological with spiritual things

· Challenge to deal with spiritual things spiritually

3. The Strategy of Satan

a. Direct attack of Christians by the devil

b. Goal of temptation

· Front door: destruction of faith in Jesus by condemnation for sin

· Back door: destruction of love for fellow Christians by condemnation of them for abuse

c. Devil’s weakness: stolen power

· Prince of darkness: unclean spirits

· Knowledge of darkness and evil deeds

· Use of darkness and impurity: guilt, fear, envy, lust, anger, hatred

· Temptation to sin

· Abolition of darkness by light

d. Three main works of Satan in the conscience of God’s people

· Liar: John 8: 44

Ø Unbelief and self-delusion

Ø Fear of death: Heb 2:14-15

Ø Ministry of truth

· Accuser: Rev 12:10

Ø Adversary before God the Judge: 1 Pet 5:8

Ø Satan: opponent who accuses us before God

Ø Devil from Diabolos: slanderer

Ø Guilt and condemnation

Ø Ministry of absolution

· Murderer: John 8:44

Ø Killer of souls

Ø Use of anger, resentment and hatred: Eph 4:26-27

Ø Ministry of reconciliation: Eph4: 31-32

e. Three kinds of bondage

· Oppression with a guilty conscience: loss of assurance

· Obsession by evil desires: loss of control with addiction

· Possession through their capitulation: loss of self

4. The Gift of Deliverance

a. The rat principle

· Two approaches to rats in compost heap

Ø Trapping/poisoning

Ø Removal of garbage

· Connection between sin and impurity

· Digging up of ‘dirt’ by Satan to destroy faith and love

· Disclosure of spiritual problems by the attack

· Deliverance from darkness by removal of impurity

· Christ as the garbage collector

b. Three main areas of impurity: Ten Commandments

· First table

Ø Sins against God: idolatry, witchcraft, forbidden worship

· Second table

Ø Sins against others: rebellion, abortion, adultery, slander

Ø Abuse by others: parental, physical, sexual, verbal

c. Ongoing reception of deliverance by God’s people

· Faith in Christ

· Deliverance through baptism: lifelong process

· Use of baptism

Ø Invocation of Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Ø Renunciation of the devil’s works and ways

Ø Declaration of allegiance to triune God: Apostles Creed

Ø Spiritual self-diagnosis: Ten Commandments

Ø Confession of sins

· Praise of Christ with the angels and the communion of saints

· Hearing of God’s word as law and gospel: meditation

· Petitionary prayer

Ø Deliverance by Christ: self, others, world

Ø Gift of Holy Spirit: enlightenment and guidance

Ø Protection from the devil and the powers of darkness

· Reception of Christ’s body and blood

Ø Cleansing and release from sin

Ø Healing and release from abuse

· Reception of blessing: power and protection

5. Conclusion

· Knowing your enemy

· Faithfulness in worship

B. Spiritual Warfare and the Means of Grace

1. Introduction

· Parable of the empty house in Matt 12:43-45

· Importance of worship in spiritual warfare

· Prayer of Jesus in John 17: 15-16: ‘Holy Father, my prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. Sanctify them in the truth; your world is truth.’

2. Our Weapons in Spiritual Warfare

See 2 Cor 10:3-4: ‘Though we live in the world we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.’

· Christ’s authority

Ø Authority as Christians: Luke 10:19

Ø Submission to authority of Christ and those whom he has set over us in the church

Ø Authority as pastors: Luke 9:1-2

Ø Use of keys to free people from Satan: Matt 16:18-19; Luke 13:12,16

· The name of Jesus: Luke 10:17 (cf. Acts 16:18; Phil 2:10)

Ø Reliance on Jesus as our champion

Ø Luther: ‘One little word can fell him.’

Ø Use of the name of Jesus in prayer and praise, confession and absolution, rebuke and blessing, proclamation of victory and declaration of deliverance

· The Spirit-filled word

Ø Christ’s use of his word to banish unclean spirits: Matt 8:16

Ø Strength from God’s word in us: 1 John 2:14: ‘You are strong and the word of God remains in you and you have overcome the evil one.’

Ø Reliance on his promises such as in 1 John 5:18: ‘the evil one does not touch anyone who is born of God.’

Ø Guidance of word in intercessory prayer: Eph 6:17

Ø Banishing demons by preaching God’s word: Mark 3:14-15

· Individual and corporate prayer: Eph 6:17-18; 1 Pet 5:8-9

Ø Luther: calling in the champion

Ø Operation by the power of the Holy Spirit

Ø Use of Lord’s Prayer and prayer in the name of Jesus to join with him in his intercession for deliverance (Matt 6:13) and protection (John 17:15)

Ø Christ’s assurance to Peter in Luke 22:32

Ø Coupling of prayer with fasting (Mark 9:29) and abstinence from sleep (Matt 26:41)

· Confession of faith

Ø Resistance of Satan by exercise of faith: 1 Pet 5:9

Ø Conquest by confession of faith in Jesus: 1 John 5:5; Rev

12:11

Ø Luther’s use of the creed in spiritual conflict

Ø Confession of faith in songs of praise: Ps 149:5-9

· The blood of Jesus: Rev 12:11

Ø Ransom from futile lifestyle by trust in the power of

Christ's blood: 1 Pet 1:18

Ø Use of the Lord's Supper for protection

Ø Formula for dismissal in Holy Communion

Ø Use of Christ’s body and blood: cleansing and holiness: Heb 9:14;

10:10; 13:12; 1 John 1:7

3. Turning Defence into Attack

· Sentry duty: Eph 6:10-20

Ø Assumption

§ No need to seek out the enemy

§ Enemy seeks us out: attraction to the light

§ Power from desecration of what is holy

Ø Soldiers on sentry duty rather than spiritual crusaders

Ø Guard duty for holy territory conquered by Christ

Ø Only enemies: Satan and powers of darkness

Ø Two tasks

§ Standing guard at our allotted post

§ Staying awake to watch for attack

Ø Use of Christ’s priestly armour and power

Ø Sentry duty by prayer for the saints

§ Calling out the champion to defeat attack

§ Standing in the breach: Ps 106:23; Ezek 13:5; 20:30

§ Protecting with the blood of Christ

§ Pleading for mercy for sinners

§ Prayer for pastors and missionaries: opening for gospel

§ Prayer for those placed in your care: vicarious church

attendance

§ Watch by pastor on behalf of members: Heb 13:17

Ø Use of God’s word in prayer as only offensive weapon

§ Guidance by word and Spirit

§ Praying the word: claiming what is promised

§ Praying in the Spirit against Satan

· Watching out for attacks of your spiritual support system

Ø Attendance of church

Ø Devotional life

Ø Marriage

Ø Children and grandchildren

Ø Wider family

Ø Pastor and leaders of congregation

· Staying under authority: subordination to spiritual head

Ø Parents

Ø Husband

Ø Pastor and leaders of congregation

Ø President and pastorate

4. Conclusion

a. The order of the Lord’s Prayer

· All prayed against the devil

· Deliverance from the devil in last petition

· Undoing of his works in first six

b. Parable of persistent widow: Luke 18:1-8

· Call for persistent prayer: day and night

· Woman: ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

c. Saying from Abba Agathon

The brothers also asked him, 'Amongst all good works, which is the virtue which requires the greatest effort?' He answered, 'Forgive me, but I think there is no labour greater than that of prayer to God. For every time a man wants to pray, his enemies, the demons, want to prevent him, for they know that it is only by turning him from prayer that they can hinder his journey. Whatever good work a man undertakes, if he perseveres in it he will attain rest. But prayer is warfare to the last breath'.