By JFK Mensah
JFK is the area director for Pioneers North-West Africa.
Introduction
Today’s church in the West believes more in Myers-Briggs personality analysis and temperaments than in biblical concepts of demonisation. Our theological institutions fear to talk about demons, visions, dreams and angels.
One memorable Sunday, I preached on Jesus Christ and his authority over demons. During the prayer time, I commanded all unclean spirits to come out in the name of Jesus Christ. Words fail me to adequately convey what happened.
The congregation went wild. On stage, the worship leader started kicking me with her feet. Some started yelling and others were spinning around. One lady even ran out of the chapel chased by the youth. People were falling down and knocking chairs over. I stood there speechless, ignorant and overtaken by events.
When everything calmed down, I closed the church service in shame. I had no answers. As an evangelical pastor for six years, I had taught that demons could not dwell in born-again Spirit-filled Christians. I had no explanations. I just went home with my family.
In the days and weeks that followed, I read and re-read the gospels. I memorized every passage that spoke of Jesus’ encounter with evil spirits. I researched the Greek words used of demons and demonization.
I meditated on passages empowering the disciples of Jesus to cast out demons. I devoured the Acts of Apostles. I weighed the evidence of the scriptures with the arguments of the skeptics against the reality of the demonic world and its influence on the Christian.
I read and listened to Derek Prince, Frank and Idae Hammond, C. Peter Wagner, Ed Murphy, Peter Horrobin, Abraham Chigbundu, and a host of others.
I have since read the Bible through many times to find the answers. The convictions in this article have been formed as a result of the many mistakes Georgina and I have made in ministry over the years and our hunger to be Christlike.
What is Spiritual Warfare?
From a Christian perspective, spiritual warfare is the cosmic war of good versus evil: its battles are fought daily between God and Satan; between the Christian Church and the world system ruled by our spiritual enemy; and between the Holy Spirit and the lusts of the carnal flesh within every human soul. Robert S. Sims
Spiritual warfare is imitating Christ’s attitude towards Satan and his kingdom. Jesus Christ confronted Satan, his kingdom and demons more than anyone else in the Bible. He began ministry by overcoming Satan’s temptations.
The Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil, 1Jn. 3:8. He came to set the captives free, Lk. 4:18. He was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power and went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, Acts 10:38.
He went throughout the synagogues of Israel preaching the gospel and casting out demons, Mk.1:39. The demon-possessed were brought to him and he cast out the spirits with his word, Matt. 8:16,17.
He appointed his twelve apostles to be with him so that he could send them forth to preach and have power to cast out demons and heal the sick, Mk. 3:13-15.
When Jesus sent out the twelve, he gave them power against unclean spirits and commanded them to heal the sick and cast out demons, Matt. 10:1,7-8. The twelve did exactly that, Mk. 6:12,13. When he sent out the 70 two-by-two, they came back rejoicing that even unclean spirits were subject to them in Jesus’ name, Lk. 10:17.
Our Lord Jesus forbade his disciples from stopping a man casting out demons in his name who was unknown to the apostles, Lk. 9:49,50. He rebuked his disciples for unbelief when they could not cast out a stubborn demon, Matt. 17:19-21.
He promised that those who believe in him would have power to cast out demons in his name as they preach the gospel to every creature, Mk. 16:15-18. In fact, they would do the same works that Jesus did and greater works, Jn. 14:12.
He told his disciples that all authority in heaven and on earth was given to him and they were to go and make disciples of all nations based on his continual presence with them, Matt. 28:18-20.
