Spiritual Warfare:
Overcoming Demonization
Enoch
Wan
Professor, Western Seminary
Published
in Global Missiology, Spiritual Dynamics, Oct. 2003, www.globalmissiology.net
Reality
and Reasons of Demonization of Christians
The
Real Victory Won by Christ for Christians
The
Real Victory of Christians Over Demonization
Appendix 1 – A Prayer of
Renunciation & Affirmation
Christian
leaders may not be in total agreement on the how's and why's of demonization of
Christians, yet they all recognize the fact that Christians could be demonized.
Therefore overcoming demonization is an essential aspect of Christians' warfare
against sin, self, Satan (& evil spirits). The controversial debate on the
possibility1 and extensiveness2 of demonization of Christians is beyond the
scope of the present simple study which is just an attempt to provide brief
instructions for Christians on overcoming demonization.
The Reality and Reasons
of Demonization of Christians
Testimonies
of suffering Christians and reports of pastors/counselors all point to the fact
that Christians could and are being demonized. In the Philippine
context, Christians can be demonized for the following reasons:
Most Filipinos,
including many Christians, are believers and practitioners of spiritism, superstition and animism. They believe that
there is a "diwata," or "anito" or "patron" for every place,
phenomenon of nature, and profession. They wear amulets on their bodies, place
crucifix or charms in their vehicles, keep shrines (e.g. "sto nino")
at home, visit astrologist, patronize pa1m-readers or fortune-tellers, resort
to espiristista for healing, etc. They observe
superstitious taboo and practice. People may use different names such as
"folk Christianity," or "split-level Christianity," etc. to
label this syncretistic characteristic of the Filipino culture. The sad fact is
that Filipino Christians are readily susceptible and vulnerable to
demonization.
Non-Christians may be
superstitious out of fear of the unknown, unseen and invisible entity or
reality. Christian superstition is mostly due to theological ignorance,
spiritual immaturity and doctrinal inconsistency. For example, Filipino
Christians often think that God may be punishing them for missing morning
devotions or a prayer meeting when tragedy occurs to them. For many have a
ritualistic view of Christian duty.
Other Filipino Christians may have an idolatrous
attitude towards the printed Bible and find it easier to fall into sleep by
placing it on their chest when frightened by the evil-spirits. Yet others when facing a crisis may cry out "susmariosep" or "in Jesus' name" as a sacred
formula, or an incantation to ward off evil spirits.
The more Christians are afraid of Satan and his
companion evil spirits, the easier and more likely they could be demonized.
Christians who repeatedly quench the Holy
Spirit, persist in sin, or willfully rebel against God, could leave
room/ground/hold for evil spirits to inhabit/squatter in their life.
Just like many
physiological diseases that can be passed down from one generation to another,
so also can demonic influence (Ex 20:3-5). Demonization of Christians may be
caused by pre-conversion connection with evil spirits, e.g. ancestral transference,
parental consecration (or spiritist healing during
childhood), or personal involvement in occultic
practices (e.g. moving glasses, fortune-telling, séance, etc.).
The Real Victory Won by
Christ for Christians
Overcoming
demonization is not the monopoly of a few specialists or exorcists. All
Christians could and should be victorious. They should be reminded of the
following truth:
Christians can win the spiritual warfare against
the principalities and power of evil. The basis of Christian salvation,
sanctification and spiritual victory is Christ's atoning death and his
abolishing the power of the enemies: sin, sickness, Satan and evil spirits,
self and death. Salvation is for the total person (body, soul &/or spirit)
and is complete (past, present and future).
Christians should know
the provision in Christ and should be reminded of the victory over the spirits
are won by the power of prayer (Mk 9:29), the Word of God (Eph 6:17, 18), the
blood of Christ (Rev 12:11), and the power of Jesus' name (Mk 9:39; Lk 9:49).
Not only Jesus'
disciples were given the authority to cast out demons (Mt 10:1; Mk 6:7,12; etc.), Christians are also promised spiritual victory
over demons and evil-spirits (Mk 16:15-18; 1 Jn 4:4;
Jam 4:9, etc.).
The Real Victory of
Christians Over Demonization
The
position of Christians in Christ, the promise and the provision for Christians
are the basis of Christians' overcoming demonization. Yet these promises and
provisions for victory are to be appropriated and realized by Christians now
and here.
1.
Preparing for Christian
victory
Christians are to fight
the spiritual battle with spiritual preparation by being born of God (I Jn 5:1-5, 18), abiding in Christ (Jn
15); walking in the Spirit (Gal 5:16ff); confessing of sin (1 Jn 1:9), etc.
Since there are many
possible reasons for demonization, Christians are to carefully examine and
explore the many aspects of their lives, i.e. past and present, ancestral ties
or personal involvement, etc. Spiritual victory can only come when one is
sincere in his desire to be freed, confident in the total salvation and
liberation in Christ, honest in his confession, earnest in his prayer for
deliverance. The following is a sample prayer (not a sacred formula but a
systematic coverage) of confession, renunciation and affirmation:
“As a child of God who has been delivered from
the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, I
cancel out all demonic working that has been passed on to me from my
ancestors...As one who has been crucified and raised with Christ and now sits
with Him in heavenly places, I renounce any and every way in which Satan may
claim ownership of me. I declare myself to be eternally and completely signed
over and committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. All this I do in the Name and
Authority of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, Amen.” (Gal 3:13, Eph 1:7,20; Rom 6:4, etc.)
Christians after being
delivered from demonic bondage should get rid of sinful practices and demonic
items, e.g. adultery and idolatry, "anting-anting,"
amulet and charms, etc. which were the immediate causes of trouble and defeat
before their deliverance. They should henceforth walk closely with God, grow
spiritually and be ministered to by the Body of Christ.
The Body of Christ has been given the authority
(Mt 18:18-20), endowed with spiritual gifts (1 Cor
12:9-10), for mutual edification and defense in the spiritual warfare. Gifted
and strong Christians should help the suffering and demonized ones to
experience victory together in the various stages of deliverance: preparing,
proceeding, and post-deliverance follow-up. Here is a sample prayer of
deliverance:
“In the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, and by
the power of His precious blood, I bind every spirit of (name of people or
place) and command you to leave ...and go to the place prepared for you,
harming nobody, now and never return. In Jesus' Name and for
His glory, Amen.”3
Overcoming demonization
is promised and provided by Christ for Christians and the Church. Christians have
a choice of either becoming victorious or victimized in the spiritual warfare
against demons. We are to regularly prepare for victory, readily proceed to
victory with positive attitude of being calm (1 Cor
15:33), confident (1 Jn 4:4) and cautious (Eph 6:10ff,
1 Pet 5:8-9). Of course, the best way is being preventive by the leaders'
modeling, teaching, and discipling and by the
followers' watching carefully against the enemies, and walking daily in the
Spirit.
At the time of writing, Dr. Enoch Wan was Visiting
Professor at
Bibliography of Recommended
Dick,
Mark
1975 The Adversary,
Chicago: Moody Press.
Koch,
Kurt
1965 Christian counseling and Occultism. Grand Rapids: Kregel.
1971 Occult Bondage and Deliverance. Grand Rapids: Kregel.
1973 Demonology, Past and Present.
McMillan,
J.A.
n.d. Modern demon Possession.
Montgomery,
John (ed.)
1976 Demon Possess.
Nevius,
John
1968 Demon Possession.
Unger, Merrill
1952 Biblical Demonology. Ill: Van Kampen
Press.
1971 Demons in the World Today. Wheaton: Tyndale.
1977 What Demons Can Do
to Saints. Chicago: Moody Press.
Local Publications
Heny, Rodney L.
1986 Filipino Spirit
world.
Michaelsen,
Johanna
1986 Beautiful Side of Evil.
Mercado,
Leonardo N.
1975 Elements of Filipino Theology.
Ortega, Juan
1938 Gintong Aklat ng Kabanalan at
Karunungan.
Sumrall,
Lester
1976 Demons: the answer
Book.
Wendey,
Joy H.
1982 Espiritista. Quezon City. New Day
Publishers.
Appendix 1 – A Prayer of Renunciation & Affirmation
As a child of God
purchased by the blood of the lord Jesus Christ, I here and now renounce and
repudiate all the sins of my ancestors. As one who has been delivered from the
power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son, I cancel
out all demonic working that has been passed on to me by my ancestors. As one
who has been crucified with Jesus Christ and raised to walk in newness of life,
I cancel every curse that may have been put upon me. I announce to Satan and
all his forces that Christ became a curse for me when he hung upon the cross.
As one who has been crucified and raised with Christ and now sits with him in
Heavenly places, I renounce any and every way in which Satan may claim
ownership of me. I declare myself to be eternally and completely signed over
and committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. All this I do in the Name and authority
of the Lord Jess Christ (Gal. 3:13, 2:20; Eph. 1:7, 20; 2:5-6; Rom. 6:4)
Signed _____________________________
(Full Name)
Address ____________________________
Phone No. __________________________
(None of us knows what works of Satan may have
been passed on to the counselee from ancestry. Therefore, it is well for every
child of God to make the above “Renunciation & Affirmation”. It is
advisable to speak it aloud with the witness of other Christians.)
Send comments to: ewan@westernseminary.edu