Overcoming the Devil ~ Part 9

Examples of Prayers

The term “prayer” has many connotations depending on your upbringing and religious history. We’re using the term to simply describe the process and approach of dealing with the demonics, waging warfare, overcoming the enemy, or whatever you’d like to call it. The following is the sequence from above incorporating some language examples and ideas of other ways to approach this warfare:

1. Seek the Lord, acknowledging His presence and authority, then ask for the source of the influence in your life or for another person. If the Lord identifies it as a demon or other demonic influence, deal with it accordingly. (Feel free to command using Jesus’ name, but you don’t have to.)

“Lord, thanks for being here with us and in us. We remind ourselves of how much you love us, and that we are free to make mistakes as we learn to depend on you. We ask you to take us where you want to go, knowing that we can count on you to lead, guide, direct and protect us. You know better than we do exactly what the situation is, so we put this whole thing in your hands and thank you ahead of time for what you’re going to do.”

“Jesus, is there demonic activity involved in this situation (yes or no questions are best, at least at first)?”

“Lord, is this something we can take authority over?”

2. Ask the Lord for clarity, instructions, directions, strengths and weaknesses of the enemy; wait for His reply, which may come in whatever way He chooses to express Himself.

“Lord, is there anything specific we need to know or recognize about this situation?”

3. Identify the enemy by name (which will often reveal his function) if possible (ask the Lord for clarity, command the demon to respond truthfully). There is nothing wrong with speaking to the enemy, just be sure to command Him to be truthful. You may have to demand truth often.

“Demon, I command you to pay attention to everything I’m saying to you now. You will obey and answer clearly and truthfully what I ask. You will not interfere with anything else going on here, and will not bother (person’s name, for instance, John) in any way or interfere with this process. You will tell the truth, or be defying Jesus Himself.

Demon, I command you now to identify yourself by name to John’s mind clearly and plainly.”

4. Identify its range of influence – personal, geographical, occultic, etc. (ask the Lord for clarity, command the demon to respond truthfully).

“Demon (or name given, for instance, Jealousy), I command you now to identify your range of influence.”

“Lord, is there anything we’re missing here?”

5. Determine if it has a legal right to be interfering in the situation (ask the Lord for clarity, command the demon to respond truthfully; demons are the ultimate legalists, and must be dealt with on legal grounds).

“Jealousy, do you have a legal right to be here? You must tell the truth.”

“Lord, is this the truth?”

6. If it doesn’t have a legal right, command it to leave the area, and go where Jesus sends it. Feel free to command using Jesus’ name, but you don’t have to. Then ask the Lord if it has gone. If not, ask the Lord why not. Continue discourse until it’s gone and you are confident it is. This may occur over several attempts.

“Jealousy, you’ve admitted you don’t have a legal right to be here. I command you now to leave John immediately and go wherever Jesus sends you. You must leave John alone, and everything that pertains to him is off limits to you. You will take any lies you have sown with you, and restore anything that you stole.”

“Jealousy, are you gone?”

“Jesus, is Jealousy gone?”

7. If it claims to have a legal right to be there (which is the only way it can stay after being exposed), ask what is that legal right (ask the Lord for clarity, command the demon to respond truthfully).

“Jesus, does Jealousy have a legal right to be here?” (If no, follow previous discourse. If yes, proceed…)

“Jealousy, what legal right do you have to be here?” (the responses are likely to be varied, and it may take several attempts to clarify. There also may be more than one legal right, so simply pursue — it’s just a matter of time and persistence on your part…)

(in our example, John remembers a particular incidence of sibling rivalry in which his younger brother was given special attention over him; we would take John to that memory, and follow the procedures for getting a wound healed as discussed in previous sections, which would then negate the legality of demonic involvement. We would command the demon to stand quiet and not interfere in the healing process, then return to him when the healing was done…)

“Lord, what is your truth for John in this memory?” (give Jesus an opportunity to speak to John; in this case, perhaps John senses a removal of the jealousy, or hears words of assurance that have that effect)

“Lord, is this wound now healed?” (follow through until the answer is yes)

“Jealousy, John’s wound is now healed. Do you have any right to be here now?” (Jealousy responds to John’s mind, No.)

“Then, Jealousy, you’ve admitted you don’t have a legal right to be here. I command you now to leave John immediately and go wherever Jesus sends you. You must leave John alone, and everything that pertains to him is off limits to you. You will take any lies you have sown with you, and restore anything that you stole.”

‘Jealousy, are you gone?”

“Jesus, is Jealousy gone?”

8. If not, ask the Lord why not. Continue discourse and discernment until it’s gone and you are confident it is. This may occur over time.

“Lord, what have we missed?”

9. Follow up with other demonic influences that may be present.

“Any other demon present that is bothering John I command to make yourself known to John’s mind right now plainly and clearly.” (etc.)

10. Acknowledge the Lord’s work.

“Lord, thanks for what you’ve done here. Please continue to speak to and heal John, and help him learn how to enjoy you more and more. Give him quick discernment through experiencing your rest. Thanks again.”

This sequence is not meant to be an obligatory structure or to rule out other ways of approaching this subject. It is highly likely that other approaches are equally effective. Our goal is, however, to bring the topic of demonic warfare into a common conversation so we can discuss and learn objectively. If people are being set free from demonic influence, and are then learning to live in dependence with no fear of oppression or depression, God’s purposes are likely to have been accomplished.

Results of Overcoming the Enemy

Overcoming the enemy once does not mean he will stop his harassment of us. This is what he is, and what he does. So our posture toward him, both defensively and offensively, needs to become habitual and reflexive. We need to overcome our ignorance of the devices and plans of the enemy, toward us and others, and through dependence on the Lord overcome as frequently as necessary. As part of this process, we will also experience certain spiritual qualities and lessons that can only be revealed this way. Some of these are:

Faith-filled: Overcome the Fear of the Demonic

For most of us, there is a deep-seated fear of things that go bump in the night. As we learn how to turn on the lights, and how to use our night-vision to battle the enemy on his turf, this fear no longer has a grip on us. This area of our lives, this battlefield, also becomes property of our King over which He can rule and reign through us.

Focused: Risk Getting Wounded, Be Wounded, Get Healed

Tied to our fear of the demonic is our fear of getting hurt by the devil. He’s called our enemy for a reason! He does want to hurt us. But as we become focused on the purposes of God, we learn that nothing Satan can do is outside of God’s express will for us; He alone is the Great Orchestrator. He alone determines what affects our lives. We may need to adjust our belief system to acknowledge that sometimes God’s will for us is to be wounded. But we now have confidence in our Healer, our Minister, to bring us full restoration in His way and in His time.

Courageous: Overcome the Fear of Making a Mistake

It is perhaps because of our fear of getting hurt, feeling pain or causing others to be hurt that we are often frozen with the fear of making a mistake. But courage is not the absence of fear, but acting in spite of the fear. Because we have experienced God’s courage toward us, and His faithfulness toward us, we have confidence in His orders, His plan, and His outcome. So we can take the risk, and engage the enemy.

Tenacious: Learning How to Lose

There’s something about losing, regrouping, and trying again and again that can be more gratifying and confidence-building than initial success. We must have the patient endurance and internal motivation that will not deter us from our ultimate goals, whether for ourselves or others. Knowing that God is in control, is providing the leadership and direction for every endeavor, that we are not alone, and that we will ultimately succeed increases our endurance and long-sightedness.

Gracious: Learning How to Win

Our endurance (maintaining dependence) is also built as we successfully overcome the enemy multiple times. For any endeavor, success can be a catalyst for a destructive spiral if we are not diligent to resist the distractions that come from that success. Yet we must also be willing and able to accept and even enjoy the honor or recognition that comes from winning. Humility is not rejecting attention, but accepting appropriate recognition by just saying, thank you.

Freedom: For Ourselves and Others

As we overcome the enemy, we experience another aspect of our true identity as Overcomers. This brings additional, growing confidence in our true nature as sons of God, and strengthens our resolve to be available to God to extend that freedom to others as well. With freedom comes responsibility, and as we overcome and experience both the benefits and dangers of warfare, we value both the struggle and the victories more and are willing to risk more for greater victories.

Clarity: Greater Ability to Recognize Other Battlefields of Flesh and World System

The more we are able to discern the attacks of the enemy the more we are able to distinguish them from a flesh flare-up or temptation of the world system. As we enter into His rest, the Lord equips us for each battle (which sometimes occur simultaneously) and provides the instruction and leadership needed. But part of that training is to find that balance between learning and joining Him in each battle, yet depending on His direction by remaining in union with Him spirit to Spirit.

Conclusion

In the spiritual realm Satan and his buddies have been defeated. In the supernatural/soulical realm they continue to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives in two ways:

1) by provoking our flesh, showing us where we have wounds so they can be healed, and

2) by providing us with the opportunity to become Overcomers, so we can learn dependence under warfare conditions. This is an opportunity to learn to rule and reign in this lifetime spiritually, soulically and naturally, over the already-conquered ones. The lion who seeks to devour our souls is only released from his cage so that we can learn how to battle him. He is only truly our enemy when we refuse to engage the battle, for it is then not the enemy we are running from, but the Lord.