What Spiritual Warfare Is NOT… One of the greatest misconceptions of spiritual warfare is that it is the ability to talk with demons and then reveal to the church the teachings/doctrines of these demons. Christian bookstores are full of books on spiritual warfare, prayer, deliverance ministries and teachings on the spiritual world, which contain specific teachings revealed to the authors by demons. One such book reveals the existence of the “demon of greed.” The holy Scriptures nowhere mention a demon of greed. This minister engaged in a conversation with the demon, learned this doctrine (the existence and ministry of the demon of greed) and then passed this demonic doctrine on to the church. In another book, purporting to be a teaching on satan and demons, a whole hierarchy of demons is given, even down to a description of their appearance. Again, these doctrines have not been given to us by God the Holy Spirit through the holy Scriptures but were revealed to a minister by demons and then passed down to the church. This practice is in direct disobedience to God and, as such, is sin. Pastors, ministers, spiritual leaders and the church as a whole are specifically forbidden to speak with demons, to learn from demons and to pass on to the church what demons have said. This is found in 1 Timothy 4:1-2 “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron…” Ministers are not to pay attention to demons, ministers are forbidden to formulate doctrines based on the teachings of demons, and it is self-evident that it is sin for ministers to pass on to the church the doctrines of demons, no matter the subject. Many will say, “But Jesus did it” and they reference Jesus’ many interactions with demons--the most notable being in Mark 5:5-10 “6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; 7 and shouting with a loud voice, he said, " What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!" 8 For He had been saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" 9 And He was asking him, "What is your name?" And he said to Him, "My name is Legion; for we are many." In addition, we find God the Father interacting with satan in Job chapters one and two. An example of this is Job 1:6-8 when God interacts with satan concerning the faithfulness of Job. From passages such as these, many so-called prophets, apostles and those involved in deliverance ministries make a financially lucrative spectacle out of spiritual warfare. Not only this, they claim a right for themselves--reserved only to God--to interact and pass on knowledge resulting from conversations with satan and demons. We must always remember there are both attributes and actions of God to which man is forbidden to aspire. One of these is verbal interaction with demons and the passing on to the church information gleaned from this interaction. Despite this, many are garnering fame and money for themselves and the churches into which they are invited in direct disobedience to the commands of God the Holy Spirit in I Timothy 4:1 & 2. Books, videos, conferences and “Holy Spirit Deliverance” meetings are carried on, where information garnered from demons, “doctrines of demons” are taught to the church and the church laps it up without reference to the commands of God the Holy Spirit on this issue. You will not find a single example of the holy apostles, pastors or ministers in the Book of Acts nor in the Scriptures as a whole speaking to satan or demons unless it is an example of sin. That is because it is forbidden. You will not find a single example of a so-called “deliverance crusade” where the demon-possessed are used for the fame and fortune of the minster and the morbid curiosity of the spectators. In dealing with this subject, it is important to keep in mind that God does many things which are forbidden to man. God knows all the thoughts and statements of man, even slander and gossip - Psalms 94:11”The LORD knows the thoughts of man…” & Psalms 139:4 “Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all,” but man is forbidden to know gossip and slander: Proverbs 20:19 “He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip .” God sees all. Psalms 33:13-14 “The LORD looks from heaven ; He sees all the sons of men; From His dwelling place He looks out On all the inhabitants of the earth,” and, in fact, saw Adam and Eve when they were naked, Genesis 2:25 “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” However, man is forbidden from seeing naked couples. Revelation 16:15 "Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame." Matthew 5:28 “but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” God can and does talk to satan and demons, enters into conversation with them, listens to their response and, by means of Holy Scripture, reveals this to the church. Mark 5:9 “And He was asking him, "What is your name?" And he said to Him, "My name is Legion ; for we are many.” Man is forbidden from this – from talking to demons, from listening to their lies and from passing anything a demon says along to the church 1 Timothy 4:1-2 “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron…” Certain knowledge, both physical and spiritual, both good and evil has been forbidden since the very dawn of creation. Genesis 2:15-17 “15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. 16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat , for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." Notice both good and evil knowledge are forbidden when withheld by God. The vain argument by these false teachers that their discussions with demons lead to “good” is just as empty as the arguments of certain witches that they only use witchcraft “for good” or of fortune tellers that they only use their powers “for good.” This restriction is reaffirmed in the Law in Deuteronomy 29:29 " The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.” Here God teaches that there exists both secret things and revealed things. All that should be known concerning the spiritual world is revealed to man though the Holy Scriptures. What should not be known remains in the classification of secret things and should not be sought out by man. It is possible to know that which is forbidden. The fact that it is possible for these deceived congregations and the deceiving (so-called) deliverance ministers to speak to demons and then to pass on this information to the church does not prove that this is God’s will. It is possible to listen to gossip and pass it on but this is sin and not God’s will for ministers. It is possible to know pornography and pass it on but this is sin and not God’s will for ministers. It is possible to know lies and pass them on but this is sin and not God’s will for ministers. It is possible to talk with demons, know what they say and pass it on but this is sin and not God’s will for minsters nor their audience. The allure of knowing secret things about satan, demons and the spiritual realm is very strong. God the Holy Spirit has chosen that which man may safely know and deal with through the revelation of His holy, eternal, inerrant written Word of God. Yet, despite this, man is drawn to books, to public spectacles, to “ministries” where secrets can be known. The allure of the statement of satan to Eve in Genesis 3:1 remains as strong today as it was then, “Indeed, has God said…?” Remember satan was tempting Eve with the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. She was not being tempted with the fruit of eternal life, but that she could know things that God had reserved only for Himself. Remember, the exhortation by God in Deuteronomy 29:29 could not be more clear " The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.” We are to add discipline to our knowledge. There are things that we are not to know. The answer to the question, “Indeed, has God said that man may not speak to demons nor to pass this knowledge on to others?” is a resounding “YES!” Those who engage in the practice of speaking to demons and then passing their words along in books, in public spectacles or through the mass media are as deceived and sinful as Eve was on that fateful day when she, too, listened to satan, interacted with satan and fell into disobedience to the clear teaching of God when it comes to knowledge, both of good and of evil. Again, that is why in II Peter 2:5 – 9 God the Holy Spirit warns us to add “self-control” to our knowledge. Notice God’s judgment on those who refuse to limit themselves to “true knowledge” as revealed in Holy Scripture. Take note as well the contrast made by God the Holy Spirit. On the one side is praise for those who seek true knowledge, on the other side is the condemnation of those who, instead of being satisfied with seeking Jesus through the Holy Scripture, decide to learn and hear from demons that which God has both withheld and forbidden, 2 Peter 1:8-9 “8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.” This was, in fact, the original attack, of satan—to tempt man to seek out, for whatever reason, spiritual knowledge forbidden by God--and his tactics have not changed. What then is our response? 1. Protect yourself by memorizing these four key passages I Timothy 4:1 & 2 Genesis 3:1 – 7 Deuteronomy 29:29 II Peter 2:5 – 9 2. Obey God. Go back and read Deuteronomy 29:29. Notice that knowledge is not for power, for enrichment nor for curiosity--but to aid us in obeying God. That means when sinful knowledge is being taught… a. Shut the book and throw it away b. Turn off the TV c. Delete the website/page d. Unfriend the minister or ministry e. Turn off the CD or DVD and throw it away f. Immediately get up and walk out of the meeting. g. Do not be an Eve, who tarries and considers (Genesis 3:1- 5) but be a Joseph who immediately and without hesitation flees (Genesis 39:10 – 12.) 3. Go one step further--speak up, do not allow the sin of satan to spread in your church, your ministry or fellowship. Ephesians 5:11 “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;” Remember, though, obedience to the Word of God and opposition to satan always brings about persecution (II Timothy 3:12.) You see, in the final analysis, these false ministries of disobedience are about two things – crowds (fame) and money. If speaking the truth in love challenges either of these two idols, you can expect opposition and persecution from the recipients of this fame and fortune. Be prepared with the Word of God and a steadfast heart. Far more will take the road of Adam and Eve than that of Joseph.
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