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Wednesday
Sep142011

How The Shack Became the #1 Bestseller in Christianity

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people,
that I may discern between good and bad:
for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? I Kings 3:9

I like Paul Young. Having heard him speak about his life and book three times in Portland, Oregon, in fall of 2008, I found him to be passionate, witty and funny. While at Young's alma mater (Warner Pacific College), I was able to spend a few moments with him privately, during which time I asked him to respond personally to several criticisms and concerns that I and other Christians are raising about the theological content of his book. I wish I could report that he allayed my apprehensions, but instead I went away convinced that The Shack is more than just a little offbeat but is, as Dr. Albert Mohler pegged it during his May 26, 2008, radio broadcast, "blatant heresy."

Click to read more ...

Saturday
Sep102011

Battle Cry: Part II

READ PART ONE OF "THE BATTLE CRY OF PRAISE" HERE

Setting the Table for Battle

In II Chronicles 20, we read of Israel facing overwhelming odds as they prepared for battle with three alien armies. In worldly terms, the battle looked as if it was over before it began, with Israel meeting disaster. You’ve probably been there at some point in your life, with a mountain before you that looked insurmountable. In the case of Israel though, defeat meant at least captivity by their foes and probably death. Greatly outnumbered, the army of Israel appeared to be doomed. In the natural, things looked bad, but all things are possible with God.

The night before the battle, God’s Spirit came upon the Levite Jahaziel with a great word of prophesy.

...Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
—II Chronicles 20:15–17

This is exactly the kind of word we want from the Lord when facing the impossible, isn’t it? The passage says that Jehoshaphat and all of Israel worshiped the Lord, some probably kneeling, some bowing, and some lying prostrate before Him. We also see here that being led by the Levites, some stood and praised God “with a loud voice!” (When the chips are down, even the most conservative worshipers just may shout to the Lord!)

The next morning, Jehoshaphat appointed “singers unto the Lord” to go out before the army to worship the Lord. It was then that the Lord set ambushes against their enemies! As God’s people worshiped and sang, the enemy armies slew each other! This is a picture or “type” of what can happen in the spirit realm during Spiritual Warfare. Wow! We don’t have to paint much more of a picture than that to demonstrate the victory available to us Christians when we honestly and earnestly give praise to God in song! Worship sets the table for victory! These people were in a very serious life-threatening situation. There was no pretense in their praise. It was honest and without reservation. And true to His word, God inhabited the praise of His people!

Scripture in II Chronicles 20 goes on to say that Jehoshaphat and the Israelites took great loads of treasure, jewels, and other spoil and returned to Jerusalem the same way they had gone to battle–worshiping with psalteries, harps and trumpets!

Verse 29 says that ”the fear of God” was on all the countries surrounding Israel and that there were peace and safety during Jehoshaphat’s reign! Could it be that peace, safety and provision are attainable for those who worship God in spirit and in truth?

To Praise or not to Praise?

Too often we see people concentrating on how they feel during worship. Some saints seem to enter a worship service waiting on God to miraculously touch them before they begin to sing and enter into the flow of the service. They seem to be waiting on the worship leader and musicians to play just the right song that touches their feelings. May we say that whether we feel like it or not, we are commanded to worship God. Church, we need to enter in and concentrate on Him, allowing how we feel (be it good or mediocre) to become secondary. Often we may not feel anything as we begin to sing and praise the Lord but as we do so, His Spirit comes and meets us, filling our hearts with His joy as we express our devotion to Him. And let us not forget the biblical examples we have, which tell us music is indeed an integral part of the battle in the spirit. Perhaps we could say that it may indeed be a dangerous thing to just stand around week in and week out while a corporate worship service is going on. Would any worshiper have done that in the wilderness of Tekoa (II Chronicles 20)?

We do recognize the excesses within the body of Christ, as some in the church seem to actually “worship” worship itself, by using mere human effort to work themselves into a state of “spirituality.” It is also troublesome that in some corners of Christianity, the preaching of the Word and the ministry of the saints have been neglected to some extent because of the overemphasis on musical presentation. Still, while we’re more concerned with the spiritual lack apparent in those who never enter into worship than those who are perhaps on the opposite extreme, it is essential that the church understand the paramount importance of personal and especially corporate worship. Here’s why.

The Unseen Reason for Praise

As we study and learn what the Word of God says about worship, it is clear that while we are lifting praise and worship to Heaven, there is a second unseen benefit taking place.

As we read the Scripture and in particular see the Old Testament “types” about how music and worship were used, it reveals to us that New Testament worship is indeed a weapon of Spiritual Warfare. Just as the application and appropriation of the blood of the Lamb covers and protects us today, our understanding of what is taking place in the spirit realm as we praise God is integral to our victory as well. It could be said that the Christian—who knows the havoc that his or her worship to God is also wreaking on the powers of darkness in that general locale—will endeavor to worship God with all the more vigor! In fact, it is the glory of the saints to inflict damage on the Devil and his workers!

In Psalm 149, we see a terrific picture of both the purpose and priorities of worship.

1   Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.

2   Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

3   Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

4   For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

5   Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

6   Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;

7   To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;

8   To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;

9   To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

Notice the first five verses portray our foremost obligation in worshipto give God glory. But beginning in verse six, we see the secondary priority come into playWarfare against the enemy. In reading Old Testament passages, we are to view them through New Testament eyes. Knowing that, and knowing that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities and powers of Hell, then what we see here is a clear mission for the church today. We are to praise God, taking up the sharp and powerful sword of the Word of God; and through our Scriptural praise, inflict damage on the Devil’s kingdom! To proclaim the judgment of Almighty God upon the Devil’s forces is an honor; and as one version of the Bible says, it is “the glory of His saints!” Remember this passage the next time you are singing, “there is power, power, wondrous working power in the blood of the lamb!” Not only are you lifting up Jesus and giving Him the glory He is due, but by your commitment to worship, you are punishing, weakening and dethroning demonic beings who have designs on taking more captives around your general area!

If “one puts a thousand to flight and two, ten thousand” (Deuteronomy 32:30), just imagine what damage we could inflict upon the enemy’s kingdom in our locale if we joined together in the understanding that our praises weaken the defenses and advancements of the Powers of Darkness!

One more thought: If you’ve wondered why the usual, historical worship service in churches begins and ends with song, now you know. Just as Jehoshaphat sent the singers and musicians out at the head of the army, and also worshiped God after the battle, we do the same today. This is also reflected in the “Lord’s Prayer”, in which Jesus taught us how to pray by both beginning (Matthew 6:9b) and ending (Matthew 6:13b) with praise and worship. A solid, vibrant worship service softens the hard soil in the heart to accept the preaching of God’s Word and also binds the spiritual forces intent on deterring the will of God.

Praise Your Way to Freedom

“I just don’t feel like worshiping God. Things are coming unglued in my life and I have too many troubles to deal with.” Though a Christian may not ever verbalize these words, it is probably too often the scenario. Let us say that any saint, who is experiencing life’s turmoil or spiritual oppression, is the very person who needs more than anyone else to begin to praise God! When the storms of life hit, instead of giving in to the human inclination to declare, “woe is me”, and thus drifting into depression and despair, our reaction should be to praise the Lord! Do we praise Him because of the problem? No, we worship Him because He has all of the help and solutions we need in the midst of life’s problems. Satan desires for us to depend on human means to overcome the perils of this life. God desires us to look to Him instead. The Devil desires for you to fall into the trap of depression, but God says, “Come unto Me if you are weary and burdened!"

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
—Philippians 4:6–7

If you are looking for real answers to the storms of life, turn to prayer and supplication (worship) as the Scripture exhorts, and receive the peace of God! Why do anything else?

Worry or Worship?

It is an impossibility to honestly lift worship to God and also worry at the same time! That is so extremely freeing that we’ll repeat it again! It is impossible to worship and worry at the same time! Worry and worship are mutually exclusive activities. You can’t participate in both simultaneously. In the gospel accounts, time and again Jesus told His followers to “take no thought” for things like food and shelter. He was saying, “don’t worry.” Do you suppose that if you do something that Jesus told us not to do, that in doing so you sin? Of course. Besides, what did worry ever accomplish? Someone once said that worry is like a rocking chair; it’s something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere! Worry wears us down. Worship lifts us up. Worry embodies Satan’s will, while worship of God enthrones Him in our circumstances! If you are under attack and your situation has the aroma of prune soup, remember: Praise breaks the back of Satan’s attacks! It may not be an instant solution, but it will certainly be the right action to take! So may we suggest that the next time you are tested and the trials of life seem insurmountable, that you make the volitional choice to turn to God in joyful praise? It is confounding to the enemy and glorifying to God. Plus, it will be a powerful witness to those around you as you walk through the trials with an attitude of praise, giving God the glory for His strength in you.

What Kind of Praise?

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
—Psalm 8:1–2

With all the talk in this chapter about praise, it would be good to close with a biblical definition of just what that means. Here in Psalm 8:2, the word “strength” appears in the King James Version. It is the Hebrew word oze (Strong’s # 05797). It is interesting to note the English translation Strong’s Concordance renders for this word. It means, “force, security, strength, strong, power, boldness, loud, mighty, majesty, praise.” These are words which describe the kind of worship God desires. If we go into battle with praise that fits this description flowing from our lips, we are certain to walk in the victory of God while we displace the enemy!

Excerpted from Disarming the Powers of Darkness, Copyright, 2002 Eric Barger & David Benoit

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Saturday
Sep102011

The Battle Cry of Praise!

Greetings in Christ!

This email below contains the first of two installments which will include the complete chapter "The Battle Cry of Praise" from my book Disarming the Powers of Darkness co-authored by David Benoit. But first I want to make a few introductory comments about music and about Spiritual Warfare.

Many of you know that in the 1980's I wrote three books on the perils and pitfalls of the secular rock music industry. Having been a rock musician, record producer and recording engineer for the balance of my life before coming to Christ, it was a natural progression to concentrate on what I understood and warn others about its dangers. Then in the late 1980's, after having extensively studied the Scriptures concerning music and having presented hundreds of seminars nationwide on the subject, God began opening my eyes more and more concerning the enormous biblical prominence of music. It was about this time that God first revealed to me the somewhat veiled but tremendously important purpose of music as a weapon of Spiritual Warfare.

As I began to teach on the different aspects of waging effective Spiritual Warfare I was also just beginning to personally experience the awesome tool that music - in particular, worship and praise - affords to Believers as we battle the powers of darkness. Along the way I have also become acutely aware of how widespread the opposition is to even just the use of the term "Spiritual Warfare". Curiously, there is a great deal of pressure coming from liberals and evangelicals alike to discredit anyone who contends as I do that we are indeed either knowingly or unknowingly participants in a spiritual war. Some are content to employ the psychiatrist and visit the pharmacy in an attempt to relieve the afflicted from what is actually demonic intrusion. Others simply relegate then idea of an actual being named Satan and his army of demons to the hysteria and ignorance of a bygone age. However, nothing has convinced me in the least that the nay-sayers have any biblical or experiential grounds to stand on. While professing "Christians" argue against God's clear cut warnings about Spiritual Warfare in Scripture, Lucifer is running rough shod in our cities, our homes and even our churches. Who among us is willing to pick up the weapons of our warfare and follow the Lord into battle? Lord, make us willing!

While I do not hold to the idea that every sickness or problem mankind encounters is from the direct result of demonic activity and while I believe that 90% of Spiritual Warfare is actually about daily personal victory, I do believe there is indeed a very real enemy at work in our midst. It is a sad facts that so many who claim the name "Christian" have abdicated their responsibility to engage the powers of darkness in the spirit realm on behalf of the Kingdom of Heaven. Still, their obstinate attitude on this issue doesn't change the fact that there is indeed a war going on in the spirit; it's a war for the souls of people; that music is a battleground and if we understand and submit to God's will in it, there is a great victory which is ours for the taking. Whether it’s in a corporate Church worship service or personally in their daily walk through this world, the overcoming power of God is magnified as His saints worship and praise His holy name!

But it's more than just the simple act of worship that weakens the Enemy's power. As we outline in the book - it's a faith-filled attitude of victory that rises up and propels the Believer to wage effective warfare as he or she lifts praise to the King of Kings. Once we understand the very reason and intention for which God invented and created music and once we settle in our hearts to follow His will and not that of the world or the flesh concerning the issue, the next step becomes revolutionary. Grasping how worship pierces the ranks of hell with pin-point accuracy, a Christian - desiring all of what Christ's victory at the Cross provided - will never view with passivity both music itself and the very experience of worship again. I know this because I know what I experienced when God sovereignly revealed these truths to me from His word. I also know what is happening to people who really grasp what I preach concerning this in my live seminar series on Warfare. Those who get this down in their hearts will never participate in worship again without the awareness that they are warriors on orders to engage and inflict damage upon the principalities of darkness through their own expression of Godly praise!

It is my prayer that as you begin reading part one you'll immediately be struck by just how relevant this issue is in God's sight and how much the Enemy would love to keep we Christians blinded to it.

As I close my comments here I want to express how much Melanie and I appreciate the opportunity to share these emails with you and more so, we appreciate your continued support and intercession for our ministry and family as we prepare for the busy season of travel and ministry just ahead of us.

Let me also say that we're here for you as well so please let us know how we may pray for your needs and serve the Lord as we serve you.

God bless you - Psalm 37:23

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Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hand.
—Psalm 149:6

It is no revelation to a seasoned Christian that mankind was created expressly to have fellowship with God. Part of that fellowship is predicated upon our worship of Him. Though certainly worship is more than just musical, it is also no secret just how important music is to the Lord. When we study the Scriptures, we notice many verses instructing us on the subject of music. One of the best known is this one from Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
—Colossians 3:16–17

This passage gives us a microcosmic overview of God’s desire for the operation of our lives, as Paul lays out God’s will concerning music. Whatever we do, we are to do it for God’s glory. Is it any wonder then that the Adversary would so manipulate music to derail praise from God and instead deceive man into directing it toward himself?

Controversy

Though the Bible is replete with passages dealing with music, praise, worship, songs, psalmists, musical instruments and the like, it is probably amazing to most saints that there are nearly 900 Scripture passages that deal directly with music! It is interesting to note that in all of those verses, God neither advocates nor forbids any particular instrument, sound or type of music. It would have been so much simpler if God had declared a favorite style, but He didn’t! This fact adds to the discussion of this often divisive topic within Christian circles, but nonetheless it adds to the absolute imperative reason that we should study this issue with great care. We wish that God would just issue a weekly "Top Ten", but since He doesn’t, we’ll each just have to dig in and search the Scriptures on this one!

More Controversy

It can probably be said that there are three uses for music: first, music that is devoid of serving God. Next, music that is neutral of serving God. And finally, there is music that is aimed squarely at serving Him. As we’ve mentioned, this is an area of very limited agreement across the Christian world, but we can probably find agreement that some lyrics and lifestyles being promulgated in music today are anti-biblical. Some lyrics sung could perhaps be classified as passive or neutral, neither glorifying God nor breaking any particular Biblical standards. And lastly, there are thankfully many lyrics and lifestyles that are glorifying to the Lord and blessed by Him. Please note again that we recognize this is perhaps one of the most hotly contested topics of discussion among Christians today and is certainly up for a much more in depth debate than we’ll allow for here. You can probably tell that we’ve been round and round from every angle on this issue; and without ample space, we know we’re leaving this spiritual lightning rod dangling in the wind. Regardless of all the controversies, if we stick with the Bible, we can be absolutely certain whether or not the lyrics and lifestyle being presented are valid and are worthy to be called "Christian".

Most importantly, we can be assured that God has a perfect will concerning music: that is that He be worshiped and glorified through it! That’s the kind of music that becomes an effective weapon in the arsenal of an informed believer.

A clear example of how completely God honors music which is played and sung for His complete glory can be seen in the overwhelming outpouring of His Spirit during the consecration of Solomon’s temple in II Chronicles 5. As the musicians and singers worshiped the Lord, the temple was filled with the glory cloud of God and God literally overtook the participants. Since the New Testament tells us that we (His church) are now the temple of God, it would make sense that all believers who want God’s anointing will fill His temple with music that brings Him honor and praise. Why would we ever want to settle for anything less? ‘Nough said!

Secular Music - Satan’s Battle Cry?

While we don’t want to get sidetracked too far here, it’s very hard to resist a few comments concerning the toll that ungodly secular music is exacting in our day.

Both David and Eric have concentrated many years of ministry and thousands of hours of research and effort on exposing the darkness within today’s music industry. Coming from a past caught in the grips of the music business as a performer, record producer and recording engineer, Eric in particular has personally experienced the worldly attraction brought on by the lure of rock music. Both these authors have written, spoken and ministered about this issue in great depth, and one thing we have concluded is that what the world is offering up for young people and adults to listen to today is laced with spiritual poison. Of as much or more concern is the accompanying lifestyle the musicians present, as music plays such a pivotal part in so many lives now. From Rap to Rock and from Pop to Country, the music industry is generally at odds with the overwhelming Scriptural evidence as to why music exists at all. This brings us back to the reason we’ve included this chapter.

Music as a Weapon of War

There is more to “praise and worship” than just singing hymns and choruses on Sunday morning. Lifting our voices to God is not only an obedient expression of our love and awe for God, it is a powerful tool of Spiritual Warfare.

To define the differences, praise is usually sung about God to men. Praise edifies, teaches, exhorts and encourages. Worship, on the other hand, is usually sung directly to God. Worship praises God, thanks Him, adores Him and petitions Him. To those who understand what the Scripture reveals about praise, and who know what is happening in the spirit realm as we carry on worship, the term “praise and worship” truly becomes a battle cry!

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
—Psalm 22:3

Scripture says that God inhabits or is enthroned in the very praises of His people. What an awesome thought! The King of all creation is magnified and literally lives in our praises! Dare we hold back giving Him glory whenever and wherever we can?

In Psalm 22:3, the English word “inhabitest” is translated from the Greek word Yashab. It literally means “to sit”, “to remain”, “to have one’s abode.” This is extraordinarily powerful when we come to realize just what this really means to us as we do battle with the Devil.

To give praise to God is truly a spiritual experience. God–a spirit–dwells in our worship. Do you suppose He knows immediately when our worship is phony, contrived, and not truly from the heart? No one should believe that God ever honors a lackadaisical, halfhearted worshiper. We see a key to this in John 4 when Jesus states:

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
—John 4:24

Notice Jesus doesn’t say, “those that worship Him should worship Him in Spirit and in truth.” He said MUST.  Otherwise our unclean offering is void of the presence, comfort and power of God. Without the Holy Spirit’s anointing as we stand in His truthful righteousness, our words are empty and our actions meaningless, for God longs for and only inhabits the true praise of His people.

Is it any wonder that Satan tries to so intimidate men in their praise and worship to Almighty God? He knows that not only is it a point of obedience for Christians to unabashedly worship God, but if he can keep them from doing so, they’ll be much less a threat to his evil work. Now we caution you that in saying these things we are not promoting demonstrative displays that bring attention to humans in the name of worship. But if Satan can bring the fear of what men think upon your mind, and keep you from entering into God’s courts through praise, then how much more will he be able to accomplish as he whips up on you in Spiritual Warfare? It is for good reason that the Devil does this, for without the weapon of praise and a complete understanding of what it accomplishes in the spirit realm, you are greatly hampered in your effectiveness to battle.

We don’t pretend to know all the dynamics that take place spiritually when a Christian worships the Lord, but we do know that something powerful, something extremely potent takes place. We’re not referring to a feeling we might receive while worshiping. Though emotions might come into play during worship, understand that it is not the amount of tears we may shed that is the benchmark for how effective our worship may have been. It is the binding and even outright confusion our praise brings against the forces of evil that signifies the real cogency of our worship.

Go to Part Two of "The Battle Cry of Praise" Now

Excerpted from Disarming the Powers of Darkness, Copyright, 2002 Eric Barger & David Benoit

Click here for information on "The Battle Cry of Praise" Teaching Materials and Disarming the Powers of Darkness

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Take A Stand! Ministries - POB 1485 - Rowlett, TX 75030
www.ericbarger.com

Thursday
Sep082011

The Shack Book

The Shack Book

Tuesday
Aug302011

Fruitful Warfare - Preparing for Battle

"Discerning the Times in the Light of the Word"

This excerpt is from chapter three of the book Disarming the Powers of Darkness by Eric Barger and David Benoit.

Fruitful Warfare - Preparing for Battle

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

—Galatians 5:22–23

Is the Devil Mad at You?

Do you realize why biblical followers of Christ are in control of their emotions and their lives are not filled with anger, hatred, unrest, and other evil qualities? It is because the fruit of the Holy Spirit—love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, kindness, meekness, and temperance—is working in their lives.

Undoubtedly, these biblical fruits suppress anger, bitterness, hatred, and malice in the lives of believers. This also illustrates a microcosm of the battle in the spiritual realm. Evil versus good; right versus wrong; love versus hate; the fruits of the Spirit of God versus those of the Prince of Darkness.

In preparing for Spiritual Warfare, it is important to comprehend that the Devil is totally and completely void of the qualities represented by God’s fruits. Indeed, it is liberating to realize this as it helps define the battle lines and the adversary’s tactics. It is powerful to remember that there is nothing you can do to upset the Evil One. Satan’s work is the very reason people get upset in the first place! He is already upset, bitter, hate-filled, and enraged beyond any human imagination. He is the “Evil One”! Therefore, as we’ve mentioned in the last chapter, any actions you take are not going to make him any angrier. He’s already angry and you can not increase or decrease that anger one bit. No steps taken against the kingdom of darkness can increase his desire to see you fail and ultimately be destroyed. Yet the fearfulness and paralyzation generated by this misconception are genuine detriments in seeing some saints released to go forward in victorious spiritual living.

We are aware that this runs counter to what many Christians have either been taught or have merely perceived as they have gone to Sunday school. However, it doesn’t make it any less accurate and certainly any less biblical just because some may have believed a misconception about this. Thinking other­wise ascribes Satan ability and power outside what Scripture outlines. Let’s look at this further.

Satan Happy?

In referring to some instance or event, we often hear Christians say, “Well, that oughta make Satan happy!” How can that be? Though in a statement like this people are merely pointing out some event or circumstance where Satan has gained a foothold or advantage, we should understand that nothing actually makes him happy. Your lack of biblical action is not going to make him happy either. It is impossible for Satan to be happy. He once knew the greatness and beauty of God as one of God’s key servants. And though he may truly believe his own deception—that he, a finite being, can eventually conquer God Almighty—he does have access to the total revelation of what God proclaims his future fate is. Read here as God speaks to Satan in Ezekiel 28:14–16.

Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God ; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee.

The Great Intimidator . . . Why Many DON’T Fight

When discussing the spirit realm, we need to consider the idea that our human emotions concerning evil and good are also available to the enemy and his troops. While it is true that Satan manipulates emotions like fear, intimidation, and pain, to accomplish his mission in human lives, he is at best limited and perhaps void of any degree of emotion, as we know it. He knows that most humans know little of Spiritual Warfare, and thus will take the bait and buy into what he is selling. It works, and has done so for about six thousand years, so why change now? Just set up scenarios that play human emotions like a piano and watch them react without faith, allowing an even bigger foothold for the powers of darkness to operate in.

It stands to reason that if Satan is void of emotions and feelings, then those in the spirit realm under Satan’s command will exhibit few emotions—perhaps none—as well. Could theirs be any more than a cut and dried, antiseptic existence, driven by the hopelessness and bondage of Satan himself? While it is much more dynamic and interesting to portray the workers of darkness as raging, seething creatures, any such facade only veils the cold, calculating, and focused mission they are enslaved by their master to follow. Let us illustrate this further.

Though we often express our love for the Lord through the praise of our lips and should constantly find ourselves in an attitude of worship and adoration toward Him, the same is not true of Satan worshippers. Though they pay homage to their master with words and through ritual activities, I venture to say that you will find few that worship the Devil, exhibiting real heartfelt thanks, weeping for joy that they know him. Certainly, no classical Satan worshipper—who understands whom he follows—feels any love in his heart at midnight on Halloween! Conversely, the fact that Almighty God sent His Son to save us from our sins, regularly brings many of us to our knees, joyfully worshipping Him with every fiber of our being. Perhaps the only exception to this line of reason will be the false worship presented to the Antichrist during the Tribulation period in the end days (see Revelation 13:3). Scripture seems to reveal that people around the globe will then genuinly and tragically give glory to this counterfeit christ. In reality, in those days it will actually be Satan receiving adoration, for through his earthly representative he is glorified as deceived mankind follows him to their destruction.

Truly, the Devil has no ability to possess love, joy, peace, longsuffering, or any other fruit of the Holy Spirit. Quite the opposite is true. While we humans may vacillate from time to time in the degree that these fruits operate and are apparent in us, Satan is one hundred percent evil—one hundred percent of the time. He’s the meanest of mean dudes and can’t do anything to alter it. He is the epitome of fear and terror and nothing we will do will increase the degree that these characteristics are evident. He’ll be that way regardless of what we do or don’t do and will maintain the same hateful attitude toward us. It is when we engage in Spiritual Warfare, “fighting the good fight,” that we take back ground otherwise lost to the powers of darkness through ignoring them or being unaware of their powers and activities. Scriptural action—i.e., WARFARE—nullifies the will of the adversary! Praise the Lord! If emotions are at all possible for him, the Devil and his workers must sense discouragement when they come upon a Christian, filled with God’s Spirit, knowledgeable of His Word, prepared for battle and ready for action!

RESIST!

Since the powers of darkness are not infinite, it is a great advantage to realize that by acts of Spiritual Warfare we actually weaken their future attacks. This is what the apostle James is speaking of in James 4:7. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” The Greek word translated “resist” here is, antitassomai which literally means “to oppose” and “to range oneself against something.” Here again it becomes clearer that our position can never be neutral. This passage certainly encourages Christians to assume an offensive posture—not one of simply defense or abstinence.

“Resisting the Devil” begins with our pledge of obedience to God’s Word, by a life dedicated to walking in the fruit of the Spirit; and is solidified by the acts of Spiritual Warfare against the powers of darkness. This starts with having a working understanding the of enemy’s camp! Rule number one in resisting the Evil One is to remember that we are engaged in a constant battle that will only cease when the Lord Jesus comes again. This reality may seem intimidating to our flesh, but if we persevere, the victory is ours. We can stand assured that to accomplish their mission—the destruction of humankind—demonic powers must eventually move on to some more unsuspecting prey because you have exhibited your strength in God! Resisting the Devil DOES work and we really ARE more than conquerors! Wow!

So to view the spirit realm and our role as believers correctly, the notion that “ignorance is bliss” and other misconceptions about Spiritual Warfare must be dealt with in our hearts and minds. While it is true that those engaging in Spiritual Warfare may sometimes seem to have acquired the wrath of the Devil, that’s really not the case. As we eluded to earlier, when you expose Satan (Ephesians 5:11 ) and when you resist him (James 4:7), he may indeed, turn up the heat. He may throw an increased amount of his spiritual and even physical junk at us, try to give the impression that he is invincible, and attempt to make us believe that we are no match. However, in reality, the spiritual struggle has only become more focused and thus has brought us an increased awareness when the enemy attacks and counterattacks. Most likely, an upturn in the battle means that we are being effective or Satan senses that victory for us is eminent. His methods may seem more devious, his attacks seemingly more potent, and their effects or oppression on our hearts and minds may feel more painful or unsettling; but rest assured—if you don’t give up he will not win! If you remain focused and scriptural, he cannot win! As a good soldier, you are merely following your Commander. Upon sensing Satan’s increased attacks, you will also have very real and tangible evidence that you are indeed engaged in a war because your enemy is exhibiting signs that you are being effective through the power of the cross. This evidence will bode well and help you build spiritual muscle as you endeavor to take even more territory for the Kingdom of God .

There can be no doubt that being fearful of or simply ignoring God’s call to pick up the weapons of Spiritual Warfare and engage in the battle will assure that Satan attains at least a partial victory in any given situation. Why give him that? God has done His part, now we must do ours. Once again, James 4:7 instructs us to “resist the devil”! This is not optional. The same verse promises that if we do resist him, “he will flee”! The image is one of a fleeing army, scattered in battle after a merciless defeat. Satan is to be crushed under our feet—just as Scripture teaches that he is under the foot of the Savior! Don’t let him up!

When Satan brings out the “big guns,” remember that God has a bigger one! When you feel overwhelmed in the spiritual struggles you encounter remember . . . the battle is the Lord’s (II Chronicles 20:15 )! The Lord is our fortress in times of trouble (Psalm 71:3)! Scripture assures us that under His wings there is refuge as He has commissioned angels to assist and guard you (Psalm 91:11)! Praise His name!

Satan’s Intimidation . . . The Fear Factor

When people hear that this book preaches against the Devil, some will reject it because of their private fear of him. Without even bothering to read it, some will throw out the old excuse, “Oh, Benoit and Barger are just too far out . . . they see demons everywhere . . . they teach that scary stuff . . .” (ad nauseam). And there will be still others who have no interest because they can’t relate to the topic of Spiritual Warfare. Often, lack of basic understanding on issues leads us to miss out on the very things we need a good dose of teaching on. Yet, if these pages were to talk only of the attributes of God, the same syndrome could occur. Sadly, if this was a work about the character of God—who will one day judge the living and the dead—some would ignore it simply because they possess no fear for the Lord. We’re talking about an awesome God who created the entire universe and will one day cast the Devil, every demon, fallen angel, and lost soul into eternal darkness. You know? We’re talking about the lake of fire, absolute darkness and total separation from God’s righteous love forever and ever and ever! Get the picture? Thank God for His wonderful salvation—wow! Yet, somehow there are some folks—yes, church members—who don’t fear Him, but instead fear the Devil. It certainly seems upside down, doesn’t it? In fact, what has happened is a lack of understanding, a loss of the reality of eternity and surely, no vision for the reverence and awe of God.

More Misconceptions . . .

. . . greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

—1 John 4:4b

There has been a lot of talk about witches and Devil worshippers praying against Christians, in particular, the idea of occultists praying for the demise of those in Christian ministry. While this is undoubtedly true, we feel their results have surely been exaggerated. In fact, there has been almost a feeling of near panic when some Christians describe these reports among themselves. In some Christian circles it is nearly akin to superstition and divination the way folks talk about what Satan’s human workers are doing and the damage they are allegedly inflicting on our side.

Now, let us say that in both of our ministries we have encountered witches and Satanists who have opposed us. This goes along with the territory. Once, several years ago on Halloween weekend, Eric was ministering at Southern Illinois University. He had been asked to come there and speak about the occult. Eric and his contact from the Baptist Student Union were backstage praying as people filed into the auditorium. When Eric was introduced and began his presentation, he felt an unusually strong hindrance, a spiritual blockage. After fumbling through the first ten minutes of the seminar, he stopped and simply stated that he knew in the spirit that there were people in attendance who were present only to oppose him and what the Lord had sent him to do. Eric stated that anyone who was actually praying against the presentation should beware because he was putting them on notice that he was rejecting their negative prayers and was sending back the power of God! Eric declared that because he was protected and ready, shielded by faith and covered by the blood of Jesus, their actions could not and would not stop what the Lord had ordained. The place erupted in applause—not just a little applause. This was thunderous! Thinking about it now, it was almost comical that it lasted so long and was so intense. When Eric resumed his presentation, immediately he had a peace of mind and clarity of speech that was not there minutes earlier. What Eric didn’t know was that while he had been backstage in prayer, the very vocal, high-profile coven of witches on the campus had filed in and were sitting across the entire second row before him! Everybody in the entire building knew it—everyone except Eric!

How did he “know” there was opposition and that the hindrance he was feeling in the freedom of his thoughts and presentation just wasn’t from lack of sleep or the exhaustion of travel? Tiredness and crazy schedules are things we incur regularly in our ministries, but this was different. This was a spiritual battle going on; one that Eric may not have been sensitive to if he hadn’t been in constant and recent communion with God. There is absolutely no shortcut for a dedicated devotional life. It aids you in the entire arena of human life, but it is of utmost importance during times of spiritual struggle and opposition. Otherwise, Eric might have ineffectively limped through the evening’s seminar and the witches would have gone on their way, declaring a victory over the “preacher.”

Were the witches’ prayers actually affecting Eric? Yes, but by following the biblical commands of resisting and exposing what he knew inside was happening in the spirit realm, Eric overcame the occult activity. Not only was he able to conduct the seminar in power, speaking effectively, with good recall and poise, but God used the occasion to show Himself strong over the powers of the occultists before several hundred students on that campus. Could Eric have missed it? Could he have just fantasized the feelings he had? Sure, in our humanity we do sometimes miss it, but if we don’t act as we believe the Holy Spirit is leading us, isn’t that much more troublesome and far less honoring to the Lord? But the seminar presentation that was noticeably out of joint as it began, ended with a great victory for God. We wonder just how many kids might have either left the witches coven or perhaps even were halted from joining it when they saw how the power of God overcame the power of witchcraft that night.

Therefore, sensing opposition because of occult manifestations and actually being manipulated because of them are two different things. If a Christian sins, is it because his next door neighbor is casting a spell on him to do so? No. If a pastor or minister falls, can we blame it all on the work ethic of Satanists or occultists? No. The Scripture tells us that we are all accountable for our own actions. Our sins are truly our own, and though the work of those given over to the powers of darkness may add to the effect, to identify them as the sole reason for our troubles, sicknesses, or sins does two unhealthy and unscriptural things. First, by doing this we shirk our own personal responsibility to live a righteous life. Though we are certain to sin, God’s keeping power and the strength of Jesus’ blood is greater than our sins. Thank God, if we sin His forgiveness is available through the power of repentance. Second, by blaming occult prayers for our actions, we are in effect, yielding to the powers of Satan. This attitude surely dethrones the Savior and glorifies the Devil. In short—it is tragic that God’s people would ever ascribe the Devil more power than the Word of God suggests that he possesses. This says nothing of those who seem to place Satan with God on an equal level. Of all people, we are supposed to know what the Word says, and it never alludes to any such lofty position for the Prince of Darkness. Remember—that was Lucifer’s intention to start with and the very reason for his ouster from Heaven! (Isaiah 14:12–15)

Any effect that negative prayers to the Devil may have cannot match the effects of prayerlessness and the lack of knowledge about Spiritual Warfare of many in the church! Now, make no mistake, occult prayers, spells, and incantations do wield power, but do they really have the ability to single–handedly destroy? It would appear that with direction from the underworld, these prayers are merely aimed at preexisting weaknesses that may already have a grip on any given man or woman. Isn’t it a waste of time to be overly concerned about what the witches might be up to—especially if it becomes an unhealthy or unbiblical fascination? Our efforts should be concentrated on seeking the Lord, staying washed in His blood and walking in a manner befitting of the calling we have received. Part of that walk is having a healthy, biblical understanding of the arena of Spiritual Warfare. That goes for all Christians, whether they’re involved in full-time ministry or not.

Right along these lines, another thing people constantly say is that we shouldn’t talk about the Devil, because then we’ll give him praise . . . like he has a mystical name, never to be uttered. Well, as we’ve pointed out, the Scripture implores us to expose his works and deeds instead. When the Scriptures were written, the name of Jehovah was so reverent that the scribes changed their pens when they penned the name of Jehovah. Now, it is tragic that some people throw God’s name out all over the place, but by their attitude, they reverence the name of the Devil. By believing that we should be silent about the Devil’s schemes and just praise Jesus, many allow the door of ignorance to swing open and sometimes slam shut—right on their lives and homes.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2002, Eric Barger and David Benoit

Order the Book & other Spiritual Warfare Materials

Read Table of Contents and More of the Book

Liner Endorsements

If you are not already a subscriber to Take A Stand! O N L I N E click here!

Take A Stand! Ministries - POB 1485 - Rowlett, TX 75030
(972) 495-9490                http://www.ericbarger.com

Monday
Aug222011

You are in a war - 2

YOU are in a WAR!

take_a_stand_full.1.jpg (17520 bytes)
"Discerning the Times in the Light of the Word"

This excerpt is from chapter one of the book
Disarming the Powers of Darkness
by Eric Barger and David Benoit.

disarming.ds.1.2.jpg (14537 bytes)

YOU are in a War!

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh...

—II Corinthians 10:3

Every Christian’s life is a warfare with Satan, and his principalities and powers, with the world, the men and lusts of it, and with the corruptions of their own hearts; and much more is the life of a minister of the Gospel, who is called forth to meet the adversary in the gate; to stand in the hottest place of the battle, and sustain the whole fire and artillery of the enemy; to fight the good fight of faith, endure hardness as a good soldier of Christ, and with the weapons he is furnished with to war a good warfare: which is not done “after the flesh”; in such a manner as the men of the world wage war with one another; or upon carnal principles; or with carnal selfish views; or in a weak way and manner; but in a spiritual way, with all simplicity and disinterested views, with great courage and intrepidity of mind.

—John Gill, Pastor, Strict Baptist Church, 1720-1771

Since the first confrontation with Lucifer in the garden of Eden, mankind has been engaged in a spiritual struggle. Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, we are all in a spiritual war. The hard reality is that if you are breathing, you are in this war and will be until you take your last breath here on earth. While this statement may be a revelation to some, it may well be dismissed by others but nonetheless, it is true. It appears to us that many Christians believe that somehow they are immune to this fact. There is no doubt that every born-again believer has been positionally delivered from the kingdom of darkness as Colossians 1 declares. But this deliverance from being members of Satan’s kingdom does not obscure us from his attacks. In fact, they are an inevitability we can count on. Your position as a believer does not change Satan’s plan for your life. It hasn’t changed at all and he will continue to steal, kill and destroy! Thankfully, in the verse where we learn this (John 10:10), Jesus goes on to say that His plan is to give us life and life more abundantly! There is the difference. Before we became Christians, we had no defense and probably little or no understanding of the Evil One. Now, covered in Jesus’ righteousness, we can be victorious over the Ruler of Darkness and his forces! Regardless though, every reader seeing these words is indeed in a war, as is every other person living on the planet. The real question are: whose side are you fighting on, and which kingdom are you a part of?

Many saints of God are unrealistically desiring to be permanently immune from knowing about, being subject to, or participating in Spiritual Warfare. As pleasant as this may sound, its not going to happen until we get to Heaven. As long as we’re here, we are going to be in the arena of Spiritual Warfare. However, if our hearts and lives are right before God, Warfare may often be likened to sitting inside an armoured tank. An adversary outside may be shooting a small caliber weapon at it and those inside the tank may indeed be aware of the assault , feeling the concussion of the bullets as they strike. However, regardless of the knowledge or awareness of the attack, those inside the tank are well protected from the potentially deadly yet inferior assault taking place. Yes, there is a war going on but they will not be harmed in the b attle. In fact, the weapons at their disposal from inside the protective covering are far more powerful than anything the enemy has to offer. Just one shot from the tank’s cannon and the enemy is toast! Praise God.

The Biblical Proof of the Spiritual War

To the skeptic, you must understand that these authors are Bible-believers who believe in the inerrancy of Scripture from Genesis through Revelation. We believe that if a person makes claims on being a Christian, then he or she should understand the complete and utter reliance we must have on the Word of God. That being the case, please carefully examine the following Scriptures which clearly announce that there is an ongoing spiritual conflict between the kingdom of darkness and the army of God. 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

—Ephesians 6:12

Our warfare is not waged against humans, but against the echelons of evil in the spirit realm.

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

—James 4:7

Walking under the lordship and command of God while making a stand against the adversary guarantees ultimate freedom!

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

—Jude 3

If there were not a war and an enemy attempting to steal and pervert our faith then why would God’s Word instruct us about the need to contend for it? While we must be ready to give every man answers for why we believe (I Peter 3:15), the evidence from Scripture here again indicates that we are to be mindful of the enemy’s accusations against the truth.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

—I Peter 5:8–9

In I Chronicles 12 we’re told about the leaders of the tiny tribe of Issachar who had understanding of the times in which they lived and knew how to respond in those times. In this passage from I Peter, God instructs that we are to be constantly alert, ready, comprehending our enemy and the danger he represents and understanding that he is “seeking someone to devour.” Note that Peter says “someone to devour,” which indicates that he can’t get everybody - only those unaware of how to resist him. We also see here that Satan is on a worldwide mission to inflict damage on Christians! (So much for the false teaching which perpetrates the lie that Christians are immune to spiritual attack!)

But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

—II Corinthians 10:2–5

 

Don’t expect to win any popularity contests for speaking up about waging Spiritual Warfare. There are many around us who attempt to deal with spiritual issues by using completely worldly means. That is what Paul is referring to here in II Corinthians 10:2. For example, what is the first remedy the world around us employs when someone exhibits signs of demon possession? Secular psychiatry, of course. If a few visits to the shrink doesn’t fix the problem, then certainly a prescription or two will do it. All the while the victim is probably receiving nothing more than medication to disguise the symptoms but absolutely nothing to alleviate the cause. That’s why we can’t afford to fall into the trap of “walking according to the flesh” as have the majority of those with careers in the psychiatric health community today. Please note that while we’re certainly not opposed to doctors or medicine in general, secular psychiatry cannot cure the demon possessed and can at best only rearrange a person’s emotional and mental problems. Doctor Jesus can cure them completely, set them free, and make the broken soul whole!

Moving on in II Corinthians 10:2–5, we see other important information relative to our discussion of Spiritual Warfare. Verse 3 states, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh...” An accurate translation of this could be, “Though we live in natural, human bodies on the earth we do not carry out acts of Warfare in the same way and with the same means that the armies of the world do.” The underlying point again here is that Scripture clearly indicates that Christians are in a war. It is interesting that the Apostle Paul doesn’t stop here to elaborate. He just announces “we wage war, but not as the world does.” One would think that the carnally-minded Corinthians would have needed a little more instruction about this. What’s more troublesome is that 2000 years later, so many Christians seem unaware of this simple yet vital fact.

Verse four holds the keys to demolish the strongholds of the Devil through the power of God, and in verse five the Apostle Paul outlines exactly where the battlefield is and why so many end up on the losing end in Spiritual Warfare.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

—II Corinthians 10:5

 

The battleground of Spiritual Warfare is the mind, and it may be either our old conceptions about Warfare that need to be retooled; or perhaps we simply need God’s truth to fill the void ignoraqnce. Either way, if our thoughts run contrary to God’s changeless Word by allowing anti-biblical arguments, pretensions and thoughts to dwell there, we’re destined to be less than what Jesus’ sacrifice insured we could become. So if this “Spiritual Warfare” stuff seems foreign to you, or you’ve never heard about it before, or have been taught against it, we invite and encourage you to take captive every thought and make them obedient to God’s Word. Change your mind and get in agreement with God. You’ll be glad you did!

So once we ascertain that there is indeed a war going on, what is it that is first under attack?

Satan’s First Point of Attack - The Word of God!

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

—II Timothy 2:15

One need only examine the early pages of the Bible to see that Satan’s first assault on mankind was his attack on the validity of God’s Word. Inferring that God didn’t really say what He said, and that He really didn’t mean it if He indeed said it, led to the fall of mankind into original sin. It doesn’t take long to figure that the Devil hasn’t changed his tactics and that they are still working some 6,000 years later.

Today, theological institutions, churches, denominations and seminaries that not long ago preached the authentic Gospel message, have become shallow, empty tombs resorting to the social doctrines of a worthless gospel which does little more than tickle the ears. It is not as if God didn’t give us ample warning about the current conditions of some sectors of the church.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers...traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away...Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

—II Timothy 3:2a, 4–5, 7

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

—II Timothy 4:3–4

Maintaining sound doctrine in these perilous times may indeed be the biggest battlefield. Indeed, it seems to us that one cannot be effective in any other area of Spiritual Warfare without first examining, understanding and then firmly standing on the essentials of God’s Word.

There are people all over the proverbial landscape who claim to be Christians yet disavow the historic central doctrines of the faith as carefully passed to us by the Apostles, early church fathers and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Though this book will aim in a different direction than to simply preach basic beliefs, we would be remiss unless we mentioned that the readers will find no lasting victory in Spiritual Warfare unless they first ground themselves in the foundational doctrines of the faith. Perhaps there is so much disagreement and confusion about Spiritual Warfare among those claiming to be Christians because there seems to be such a large doctrinal void in the lives of so many who, by virtue of breathing air, are ensnared in an ongoing battle with satanic forces. The point is: FIND OUT WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES, READ IT; LEARN IT; AND HANG ON TO IT! This is the key to everlasting victory over the forces of darkness around which everything else revolves.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2002, Eric Barger and David Benoit

Order the Book & other Spiritual Warfare Materials

Read Table of Contents and More of the Book

Liner Endorsements

If you are not already a subscriber to Take A Stand! O N L I N E click here!

Take A Stand! Ministries - POB 1485 - Rowlett, TX 75030
(972) 495-9490                http://www.ericbarger.com

Monday
Aug222011

You are in a war!

YOU are in a WAR!

take_a_stand_full.1.jpg (17520 bytes)
"Discerning the Times in the Light of the Word"

This excerpt is from chapter one of the book
Disarming the Powers of Darkness
by Eric Barger and David Benoit.

disarming.ds.1.2.jpg (14537 bytes)

YOU are in a War!

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh...

—II Corinthians 10:3

Every Christian’s life is a warfare with Satan, and his principalities and powers, with the world, the men and lusts of it, and with the corruptions of their own hearts; and much more is the life of a minister of the Gospel, who is called forth to meet the adversary in the gate; to stand in the hottest place of the battle, and sustain the whole fire and artillery of the enemy; to fight the good fight of faith, endure hardness as a good soldier of Christ, and with the weapons he is furnished with to war a good warfare: which is not done “after the flesh”; in such a manner as the men of the world wage war with one another; or upon carnal principles; or with carnal selfish views; or in a weak way and manner; but in a spiritual way, with all simplicity and disinterested views, with great courage and intrepidity of mind.

—John Gill, Pastor, Strict Baptist Church, 1720-1771

Since the first confrontation with Lucifer in the garden of Eden, mankind has been engaged in a spiritual struggle. Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, we are all in a spiritual war. The hard reality is that if you are breathing, you are in this war and will be until you take your last breath here on earth. While this statement may be a revelation to some, it may well be dismissed by others but nonetheless, it is true. It appears to us that many Christians believe that somehow they are immune to this fact. There is no doubt that every born-again believer has been positionally delivered from the kingdom of darkness as Colossians 1 declares. But this deliverance from being members of Satan’s kingdom does not obscure us from his attacks. In fact, they are an inevitability we can count on. Your position as a believer does not change Satan’s plan for your life. It hasn’t changed at all and he will continue to steal, kill and destroy! Thankfully, in the verse where we learn this (John 10:10), Jesus goes on to say that His plan is to give us life and life more abundantly! There is the difference. Before we became Christians, we had no defense and probably little or no understanding of the Evil One. Now, covered in Jesus’ righteousness, we can be victorious over the Ruler of Darkness and his forces! Regardless though, every reader seeing these words is indeed in a war, as is every other person living on the planet. The real question are: whose side are you fighting on, and which kingdom are you a part of?

Many saints of God are unrealistically desiring to be permanently immune from knowing about, being subject to, or participating in Spiritual Warfare. As pleasant as this may sound, its not going to happen until we get to Heaven. As long as we’re here, we are going to be in the arena of Spiritual Warfare. However, if our hearts and lives are right before God, Warfare may often be likened to sitting inside an armoured tank. An adversary outside may be shooting a small caliber weapon at it and those inside the tank may indeed be aware of the assault , feeling the concussion of the bullets as they strike. However, regardless of the knowledge or awareness of the attack, those inside the tank are well protected from the potentially deadly yet inferior assault taking place. Yes, there is a war going on but they will not be harmed in the b attle. In fact, the weapons at their disposal from inside the protective covering are far more powerful than anything the enemy has to offer. Just one shot from the tank’s cannon and the enemy is toast! Praise God.

The Biblical Proof of the Spiritual War

To the skeptic, you must understand that these authors are Bible-believers who believe in the inerrancy of Scripture from Genesis through Revelation. We believe that if a person makes claims on being a Christian, then he or she should understand the complete and utter reliance we must have on the Word of God. That being the case, please carefully examine the following Scriptures which clearly announce that there is an ongoing spiritual conflict between the kingdom of darkness and the army of God. 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

—Ephesians 6:12

Our warfare is not waged against humans, but against the echelons of evil in the spirit realm.

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

—James 4:7

Walking under the lordship and command of God while making a stand against the adversary guarantees ultimate freedom!

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

—Jude 3

If there were not a war and an enemy attempting to steal and pervert our faith then why would God’s Word instruct us about the need to contend for it? While we must be ready to give every man answers for why we believe (I Peter 3:15), the evidence from Scripture here again indicates that we are to be mindful of the enemy’s accusations against the truth.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

—I Peter 5:8–9

In I Chronicles 12 we’re told about the leaders of the tiny tribe of Issachar who had understanding of the times in which they lived and knew how to respond in those times. In this passage from I Peter, God instructs that we are to be constantly alert, ready, comprehending our enemy and the danger he represents and understanding that he is “seeking someone to devour.” Note that Peter says “someone to devour,” which indicates that he can’t get everybody - only those unaware of how to resist him. We also see here that Satan is on a worldwide mission to inflict damage on Christians! (So much for the false teaching which perpetrates the lie that Christians are immune to spiritual attack!)

But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

—II Corinthians 10:2–5

 

Don’t expect to win any popularity contests for speaking up about waging Spiritual Warfare. There are many around us who attempt to deal with spiritual issues by using completely worldly means. That is what Paul is referring to here in II Corinthians 10:2. For example, what is the first remedy the world around us employs when someone exhibits signs of demon possession? Secular psychiatry, of course. If a few visits to the shrink doesn’t fix the problem, then certainly a prescription or two will do it. All the while the victim is probably receiving nothing more than medication to disguise the symptoms but absolutely nothing to alleviate the cause. That’s why we can’t afford to fall into the trap of “walking according to the flesh” as have the majority of those with careers in the psychiatric health community today. Please note that while we’re certainly not opposed to doctors or medicine in general, secular psychiatry cannot cure the demon possessed and can at best only rearrange a person’s emotional and mental problems. Doctor Jesus can cure them completely, set them free, and make the broken soul whole!

Moving on in II Corinthians 10:2–5, we see other important information relative to our discussion of Spiritual Warfare. Verse 3 states, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh...” An accurate translation of this could be, “Though we live in natural, human bodies on the earth we do not carry out acts of Warfare in the same way and with the same means that the armies of the world do.” The underlying point again here is that Scripture clearly indicates that Christians are in a war. It is interesting that the Apostle Paul doesn’t stop here to elaborate. He just announces “we wage war, but not as the world does.” One would think that the carnally-minded Corinthians would have needed a little more instruction about this. What’s more troublesome is that 2000 years later, so many Christians seem unaware of this simple yet vital fact.

Verse four holds the keys to demolish the strongholds of the Devil through the power of God, and in verse five the Apostle Paul outlines exactly where the battlefield is and why so many end up on the losing end in Spiritual Warfare.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

—II Corinthians 10:5

 

The battleground of Spiritual Warfare is the mind, and it may be either our old conceptions about Warfare that need to be retooled; or perhaps we simply need God’s truth to fill the void ignoraqnce. Either way, if our thoughts run contrary to God’s changeless Word by allowing anti-biblical arguments, pretensions and thoughts to dwell there, we’re destined to be less than what Jesus’ sacrifice insured we could become. So if this “Spiritual Warfare” stuff seems foreign to you, or you’ve never heard about it before, or have been taught against it, we invite and encourage you to take captive every thought and make them obedient to God’s Word. Change your mind and get in agreement with God. You’ll be glad you did!

So once we ascertain that there is indeed a war going on, what is it that is first under attack?

Satan’s First Point of Attack - The Word of God!

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

—II Timothy 2:15

One need only examine the early pages of the Bible to see that Satan’s first assault on mankind was his attack on the validity of God’s Word. Inferring that God didn’t really say what He said, and that He really didn’t mean it if He indeed said it, led to the fall of mankind into original sin. It doesn’t take long to figure that the Devil hasn’t changed his tactics and that they are still working some 6,000 years later.

Today, theological institutions, churches, denominations and seminaries that not long ago preached the authentic Gospel message, have become shallow, empty tombs resorting to the social doctrines of a worthless gospel which does little more than tickle the ears. It is not as if God didn’t give us ample warning about the current conditions of some sectors of the church.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers...traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away...Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

—II Timothy 3:2a, 4–5, 7

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

—II Timothy 4:3–4

Maintaining sound doctrine in these perilous times may indeed be the biggest battlefield. Indeed, it seems to us that one cannot be effective in any other area of Spiritual Warfare without first examining, understanding and then firmly standing on the essentials of God’s Word.

There are people all over the proverbial landscape who claim to be Christians yet disavow the historic central doctrines of the faith as carefully passed to us by the Apostles, early church fathers and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Though this book will aim in a different direction than to simply preach basic beliefs, we would be remiss unless we mentioned that the readers will find no lasting victory in Spiritual Warfare unless they first ground themselves in the foundational doctrines of the faith. Perhaps there is so much disagreement and confusion about Spiritual Warfare among those claiming to be Christians because there seems to be such a large doctrinal void in the lives of so many who, by virtue of breathing air, are ensnared in an ongoing battle with satanic forces. The point is: FIND OUT WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES, READ IT; LEARN IT; AND HANG ON TO IT! This is the key to everlasting victory over the forces of darkness around which everything else revolves.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2002, Eric Barger and David Benoit

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Thursday
Jul152010

The (False) Gospel of Inclusion

New Heresy Claiming Victims in the Name of Love

For some time I have been very concerned over an idea that is garnering growing acceptance in some parts of the body of Christ. It is the idea that since Jesus came and died for the sins of the whole world, then the whole world is indeed, saved. It is an offshoot of old fashioned universalism that is being preached by several men such as well-known Oklahoma pastor, Carlton Pearson and an Illinois preacher named Mike Williams.

Oral Roberts, Marilyn Hickey, T.D. Jakes and others have attempted to dialog with Pearson to no avail. (more) Pearson's doctrine has also been deemed "heretical" by other Christian leaders. (more)

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Thursday
Jul152010

The Universal Mistake

“Though it is said that all religions could be wrong, they most certainly can’t all be right."
- Original Source Unknown

Stop a moment and think about that. As time progresses and the line between truth and error continues to fade, Universalism and its evil cousin, "Inclusionism" is going to be touted more and more. In an age of intense political correctness, the inherent tolerance of Universalism - AKA that all paths lead to God - is indeed appealing. Oh, it sounds so good to the carnal mind doesn’t it? The intellectual who warms to universalism thinks he has risen above the fray of absolutes and those less willing to examine deeper either buy into it themselves or simply repeat the error thinking of themselves as forbearing to those of other religions.

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Thursday
Jul152010

Is Everyone Already Saved?

Some thoughts on Universal Reconciliation or "Christian Universalism"

An email recently came my way asking about so called "Christian" Universalism. It stated:

"Let me ask a question. Will God save all those for whom He sent his Son to die?"

Blessings,

Bob (California)

- - -

Bob,

Do you believe that God is obligated to save everyone because of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross (universal Reconciliation or "Christian" Universalism)?

The Scriptures teach that He has given us a way out of the sin that would forever block us from being able to enter His presence and that by sending Jesus. However, He allows us free will choice to accept His gift of eternal life. If you are leaning towards the idea that because Jesus went to the Cross then salvation is universal for all, then please allow me to give you some observations.

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