COUPLES FOR CHRIST

FOUNDATIONS FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING

TALK No. 7: OVERCOMING THE WORK OF EVIL SPIRITS
(Edited for Household Teaching, CFC Canada, May, 2013)
Introduction
We have seen 2 major sources of personal wrongdoing: the world (our social and cultural environment
whose trends, values and ideas are opposed to God), and the flesh (self-sufficient human nature which
operates independently of God).
We are not only a psychological, social and cultural being. We are also spiritual creatures. We need to
confront a 3rd source of personal problems: Satan and evil spirits.
The reality of Satan
The modern world dismisses the notion of a personal evil force as fantasy. Even Christians share this
view. This modern disbelief in demons is largely attributable to the increasing secularization of society.
Our culture has tried to reduce all of life to natural cause and effect, the interplay of atoms, the reactions
of chemicals.
Yet Scripture, tradition and personal experience all testify to the presence of a personal evil force
opposing God.
We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)
Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its
angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The
huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was
thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it. (Rev 12:7-9)
Satan is a fallen angel and wields tremendous power. Satan opposes God everywhere and fights Him
with all the weapons he can find. Satan's ultimate goal is to destroy the kingdom of God.
This spiritual war rages in world events. Satan is the "prince of this world". Satan is implicated in
political events, in international crises, and in the causes of human suffering: war, racism, famine, crime,
poverty, disease.
Satan also works more subtly to undermine the social order, often using well- intentioned individuals
and popular movements for his destructive purposes:
* Freemasonry
* New Age
* Contraception
Satan's schemes affect even the body of Christ, causing division and spreading weakness. Satan also
works in the lives of individuals. He tries to distort man as a creature created in God's image. He
subjects men to emotional, physical, mental and spiritual bondage.
Obvious areas of Satan's work
1. The occult: satanism, witchcraft, spiritualism, divination. We must renounce it, destroy any
objects associated with its practice and be prayed with for freedom from its effects.

2. The bizarre: uncanny and inexplicable happenings which involve changes in our normal sensory
perception. This is characterized by:
* An eerie sense of the presence of someone or something.
* An unusual perception change in sight, sound or smell.
* A hallucination-like experience, sometimes involving temporary loss of sight, hearing or
smell, or a new intensity of sensory perception which alters or mixes together colors,
sounds or smells.
Such can be induced by drugs, alcohol, fatigue and illness. If these are not the cause, then may be the
work of evil spirits.
3. Irrational feelings Satan lies at the root of many crippling, persistent, neurotic fears which have
no rational basis: fears of people, high places, dogs, death, etc. Satan also causes sudden irrational
impulses: to drive a car off the road, to leap from a tall building, to commit a homicidal or suicidal act.
Such may have complex psychological causes but are very often are caused by evil spirits.
Hidden areas of Satan's work
1. Temptations not just to sin, but to become anxious, frustrated, doubting, depressed, fearful,
condemned. Satan is "the accuser of our brethren" (Rev 12:10) and "the father of lies" (John 8:44). He
is often behind unfounded guilt feelings, self-condemnation, and false or evil thoughts about God,
oneself and others.
2. Addiction. At a time when you did not know God, you became slaves to things that by nature are
not gods; (Gal 4:8) Such spirits are often strongly implicated in addictions to alcohol, drugs, compulsive
eating, homosexuality, masturbation, etc. We need to consider also many natural and psychological
factors behind addictions. But often Satan is at work.
3. Emotional problems: depression, self-hatred, anger, etc. Satan often complicates psychological
and emotional disorders.
4. Illness Satan can hold people's bodies in bondage.
He was driving out a demon (that was) mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute person spoke
and the crowds were amazed. (Lk 11:14)
And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over,
completely incapable of standing erect. (Lk 13:11)
There is no foolproof method for discerning when an illness is the direct work of an evil spirit.
5. Spiritual problems Satan works to enslave us in our spiritual lives in the following ways:
* Incite overly rigorous self-denial or a severely legalistic approach to Christianity.
* Foster self-condemnation disguised as humility.
* Judge each other harshly.
* Adopt an extremely self-righteous posture toward others.
6. Fear of God's work in our lives. Whenever God is beginning to work in power, Satan can be
expected to try to obstruct the path. Some experience unnatural fears before giving their lives to God,
being baptized in the Spirit, taking some significant step in their Christian lives.

The Solution: The Armor of God.

10
Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. 11 Put on the armor of God so
that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not with flesh
and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness,
with the evil spirits in the heavens. 13 Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist
on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. 14 So stand fast with your loins girded
in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, 15 and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of
peace. 16 In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one.
17
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph 6:10-17)
1. Truth.
Satan is a liar and the father of lies. He tempts Christians by deceiving them about God, themselves,
other men, and the external world. Sometimes Satan is able to make a Christian believe a lie by
attaching it to a truth. "You shouldn't have yelled at your wife yesterday. You sure are a poor husband".
God's truth our awareness of His love and protection shatters Satan's lies.
2. Justice or righteousness.
We live righteously when we submit to the commandments of God. Sin is an invitation to Satan.
3. Faith.
The source of our authority over Satan is the power of God.
You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the
one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4) We need not fear Satan.
4. God's word the Bible. Search the Scriptures and find out God's truth about an area under
attack. We can also get this from authoritative preaching, teaching and prophecy. Gods word is a
verbal command spoken directly to Satan or an evil spirit. This brings deliverance.
Conclusion
Be aware of spiritual realities. Satan and evil spirits do exist, they operate in our personal lives.
Do not over-simplify or over-spiritualize the causes of personal problems by attributing every difficulty
to Satan. To attribute everything to Satan can itself be his deception.
Do not be afraid. Satan has already been defeated. Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning
from the sky. (Lk 10:18) Respect Satan's power, but have the confidence of God's greater power.
Be faithful to your life in CFC. The body of Christ is a fortress against the onslaughts of Satan. To be
outside its walls is to be dangerously vulnerable to enemy attack.
Reflection Guide:
1. Have you ever felt you were confronted by Satan? Describe the situation and what you felt.
2. How did you overcome it?
3. Have you felt Satans presence in some CFC activities? If so, how was it manifested?
4. How does CFC help you in your spiritual development?