What can be done in behalf of others who are in
obvious need of deliverance, but who are not open to
receive it? This is a frequently asked question.
The first point of consideration is the person's spiritual
condition. II as he or she been born again? Is he or she
backslidden? We must remember that salvation is the
most basic form of deliverance; it is the deliverance of a
man's spirit. The Greek word for "salvation" is soteria,
which denotes deliverance. Thus, the salvation of man's
spirit is the first stage of deliverance, and it is the basis
for all future deliverances.
Before salvation comes into a person's life, that person
is dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). In what sense
is he dead? We know he is not physically dead because
he is still breathing and moving. We know his soul
(personality) is not dead because he is still thinking,
feeling and making decisions. Rather, it is his spirit that
is dead. He has no comprehension of it, nor interest in,
the Holy Spirit. It takes the quickening power of the
Holy Spirit to resurrect a man's spirit, and he needs to
be "born again"to a new life (John 3:3). This comes
about by the grace of God through faith (Eph. 2:8). That
faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
(Rom. 10:17). So the priority, first and foremost, is to
lead a person to a relationship with Jesus Christ. If this
is not possible, and the person is unwilling to accept
Christ as Savior, then those who bear the burden of the
Lord for that person's spiritual welfare should give
themselves to intercessory prayer and stand in the gap.
The lost soul is blinded by satanic power. We should
thus pray that the spiritual blindness be removed.
"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
In whom the God of this world (Satan) hath blinded the
minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the
glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them." 2 Cor. 4:3-4
As the gospel is presented to such a person, pray that
the same God who commanded light to shine out of
darkness will shine into his or her heart, and that Jesus
the Savior will be revealed to him. Paul affirms that
this is how he became saved. It is how anyone becomes
saved - by the sovereign grace of God.
"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of
darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of
the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ." 2 Cor. 4:6
Intercessory Prayer
Intercessory Prayer is a powerful tool in the hand of the
believer. It can be a necessary tool for both saved and
unsaved person alike. Anyone who is closed to the
Lord's provision of salvation (or deliverance) is held by
spiritual blindness. And whatever excuse is offered for
rejecting salvation (or deliverance) represents some
form of deception.
Intercessory Prayer can be used to break through these
demonic barriers. Too often Satan the deceiver, is
having his way in a person's life precisely because no
on has interceded for them, and that person is held in
needless bondage.
Jesus taught us to intercede for one another that we
might be delivered from the snares of the Devil. He
taught us to pray: "And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil." Literally, this means "deliver us
from the evil one." Thus all believers are in need of
deliverance from the attacks of the enemy, to varying
degrees. Notice the pronoun "us" in the Lord's prayer.
This suggests we should include others in our cry for
deliverance.
Spiritual Warfare
In Paul's mighty exhortation on the Christian's spiritual
armor he emphasizes the importance of intercessory
warfare prayer in behalf of other believers.
Intercessory prayer is both a defensive and an offensive
weapon against the wiles or strategies of the Devil.
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance
and supplication for all saints." Eph. 6:18
Sometimes the Holy Spirit leads us to enter into direct
spiritual warfare in behalf of those who are not directly
open to ministry. The person's will may be so
overridden by demonic forces that he is unable
to respond to available help. No amount of reasoning or
persuasion will cause that person to be open to
ministry. His will is dominated by the enemy.
Remember, "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 (heavenly) places." Eph.6:12
The powers that control the bound person are
headquartered in the heavenlies where "the prince of
the power of the air" is enthroned. Jesus has given His
church the power to bind Satan (see Chapter 15).We
must carry the battle right up to the gates of hell and
overthrow the strategy that Satan has launched against
Him.
" ...Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto
thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven: And whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven." Matt. 16:18-19
The parents of a twenty-four year old daughter
requested us to intercede for her. She had accepted
Christ years previously and had attended a Bible
college, but at that time had backslidden. She was living
with a man whom she was not married and was also
involved in spiritism. She refused all offers of help from
her parents.
Together with the parents, Ida Mae and I bound the
controlling demons and commanded the spirits in her
to release her that she might receive direct ministry.
The girl was many miles away from us, but we were
operating in the spirit realm where distance is no
barrier.
A few days later the girl did a "complete turnabout."
She called her parents for help, left her place of sin and
agreed to stay in our home to receive deliverance and
counsel. Within a few weeks she was restored
and became actively involved in helping us to set other
captives free. All of this was the result of spiritual
warfare in the heavenlies.
We asked the young woman what she experienced at
the exact time that we and her parents were taking
authority over the demons that controlled her. She
related to us that at that moment her mind became
clear! Prior to that, she could not see any way out of her
problems. When the oppression lifted she instantly
recognized that her parents loved her and would gladly
come to help her. She then made the decision to
cooperate with the spiritual counsel and ministry being
offered to her.
One word of caution! We must realize that we cannot
control another person's will. Trying to control another
person's will is opposite to the goal of deliverance and
spiritual warfare, and is tantamount to witchcraft. (This
is different from a parent setting limitations on a child
or teen's schedule to curb behavior or to protect them -
see Chapter 14).
Instead, spiritual warfare has as its goal the releasing of
a person's will in order that he can respond directly to
the Lord and receive the help God has for him. There is
a freedom that often comes into someone's life through
intercessory prayer.
In a case where a person is in bondage to sin and to
Satan by an ongoing decision of his own will, then he
has chosen that path. Binding the Devil in this situation
may not cause him to turn. However, binding the work
of the enemy in that life provides an atmosphere for
change, and the best chance for that person to choose
Christ and His Kingdom.
Another note of Warning! There have been some
foolish and dangerous things practiced in the name of
intercessory prayer warfare, We have known of
situations where the intercessor agreed to taking into
himself the demons indwelling another person. This is
done in the belief that the demons in the unwilling
subject for deliverance will leave that person, enter the
intercessor and then be be “more easily” expelled from
the intercessor.
Satan is ready to play this game! Nowhere in God's
word is it even hinted that we should receive demons
into ourselves at any time for any reason. Consenting to
be demonized opens one up to an influx of evil spirits
with no guarantee from Satan that the demons will in
turn depart from someone else. The arch deceiver has
won again!
We spent the better part of a day delivering a person
from hundreds of spirits which had entered and
remained in her through her foolish involvement in
"accepting someone else's demons." She had even
accepted demons by "sitting in" the place of persons
who were available for direct ministry. Again, I
emphasize that there is no scriptural basis for such
ministry.
The Weapon Of Love
In helping one who refuses direct ministry, do not
forget the weapon of love. Buried deep within that
person lies the need to be loved. You can be sure that he
or she has somehow been hurt and rejected.
The ministry of love distinguishes between the person's
true self and the indwelling demons, even if those
demons manifest hatred, rebellion, suspicion and more.
Such discerning love enables those close to the person
to love unconditionally and not get blown away by the
storms that are generated by his or her unstable
personality. Even when that person does not recognize
or respond to offered love, we can be assured that it is a
spiritual wrestling technique that puts intolerable
pressure on the powers of darkness.
Evil spirits are equated with breath and air. The Greek
word for spirit (pneuma) in fact means breath or air.
Just as carbon monoxide is deadly to our breath so is
love to an evil spirit. He cannot exist and work when
surrounded by love. Our agape love forges a weapon
that breaks down the demonic, anti-love powers in the
lives of others. This is why Jesus taught us to love our
enemies. It heaps coals of fire upon their heads. That is,
it purifies their minds.
The very people most needful of deliverance are often
the most difficult to love. They may turn on us and
offended us when we offer compassion and love. But
we are commanded to love even those who seem least
worthy of love. (See Matt. 5:43-48) In fact, this is exactly
the way God delivered us. He loved us even though we
were altogether unlovely (See Rom. 5:8). His love broke
down our barriers, and His love has the power to break
down every spiritual wall. Love is a powerful weapon
in the hands of a skilled spiritual warrior.
Praying The Scripture
We must be led of the Holy Spirit in our intercessory
prayer warfare. The Holy Spirit will lead the prayer
warrior to specific Scriptures. Use these scriptures
quickened to you to guide you in prayer. You will be
using "the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of
God."
For example, in praying for a husband who is not
following the Lord, a wife could be led to pray this Paul-
type prayer. She could personalize the prayer thusly:
"I do not cease to pray for my husband, Bill, and to
desire that Bill might be filled with the knowledge of
God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
That Bill might walk worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and
increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with
all might, according to Christ's glorious power,
unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness."
Col. 1:9-11
Let The Spirit Lead
We have set forth some spiritual principles to follow in
intercessory prayer warfare, but each situation is, in its
own sense, unique. The Holy Spirit knows all the facts
and circumstances. He will tailor-make the right course
of action for you to follow; The battle for others is a
spiritual battle. It cannot be won in the flesh. Its
strategy cannot be plotted by human ingenuity. Let the
Spirit lead.
What About Those Who have Never heard the Gospel ?
As a believer in Christ, I have of course wondered about what happens to those who have never heard about the Gospel. I currently reside in South-Korea as part of a 2 month mission trip. During my stay I have become friends with a young woman who, as a child, escaped from North Korea and became a Christian in South Korea. She shared with me that her father is still a farmer in North Korea (readers, please pray for him) and that her family had never heard about Jesus, let alone about the Gospel. This example made the debate about those who have never heard come far closer in my own personal life.
Of course I wrote the former not to play on the emotions of my reader but to give an example to those who have had the possibility of reading the Bible, hearing the Gospel,… Not all people in this world have the same privilege. (This good father probably sacrificed a lot to give his daughter a better future, possibly even sacrificing his own chance of hearing the Gospel from a preacher, for his daughter’s sake.)
I started looking for answers, for my dear friend. Not claiming to know it all, I think the following few verses give us some hints of how God deals with those who haven’t heard:
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at.”
– Acts 17:30 (KJV)
“God overlooks it as long as you don’t know any better.”
– Acts 17:30 (MSG)
“For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”
– Romans 2:14-16 (KJV)
I personally really like this paraphrase:
“When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God’s yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.”
– Romans 2:14-16 (MSG)
“I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.”
– Proverbs 8:17 (NKJV)
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear”
– Isaiah 59:1 (KJV)
“Look! Listen!
God’s arm is not amputated—he can still save.
God’s ears are not stopped up—he can still hear.”
– Isaiah 59:1 (MSG)
If the North Korean regime tries to stamp out the Gospel and it does not repent of their practices, then it will not mean the destruction of the souls of those who genuinely seek God but the destruction of their own souls!
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”
– Revelation 19:1 (NKJV)
“Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame.”
(Hillsong United – From the Inside Out)
So I am hopeful for her father and others like him. I believe there is nothing wrong in being hopeful.
Varnel Watson
it is what it is Isara Mo Joe Absher some twist it
Joe Absher
It has its bugs 🙂
Varnel Watson
Charles Page RichardAnna Boyce Philip Williams
What About Those Who have Never heard the Gospel ?
As a believer in Christ, I have of course wondered about what happens to those who have never heard about the Gospel. I currently reside in South-Korea as part of a 2 month mission trip. During my stay I have become friends with a young woman who, as a child, escaped from North Korea and became a Christian in South Korea. She shared with me that her father is still a farmer in North Korea (readers, please pray for him) and that her family had never heard about Jesus, let alone about the Gospel. This example made the debate about those who have never heard come far closer in my own personal life.
Of course I wrote the former not to play on the emotions of my reader but to give an example to those who have had the possibility of reading the Bible, hearing the Gospel,… Not all people in this world have the same privilege. (This good father probably sacrificed a lot to give his daughter a better future, possibly even sacrificing his own chance of hearing the Gospel from a preacher, for his daughter’s sake.)
I started looking for answers, for my dear friend. Not claiming to know it all, I think the following few verses give us some hints of how God deals with those who haven’t heard:
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at.”
– Acts 17:30 (KJV)
“God overlooks it as long as you don’t know any better.”
– Acts 17:30 (MSG)
“For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”
– Romans 2:14-16 (KJV)
I personally really like this paraphrase:
“When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God’s yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.”
– Romans 2:14-16 (MSG)
“I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.”
– Proverbs 8:17 (NKJV)
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear”
– Isaiah 59:1 (KJV)
“Look! Listen!
God’s arm is not amputated—he can still save.
God’s ears are not stopped up—he can still hear.”
– Isaiah 59:1 (MSG)
If the North Korean regime tries to stamp out the Gospel and it does not repent of their practices, then it will not mean the destruction of the souls of those who genuinely seek God but the destruction of their own souls!
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”
– Revelation 19:1 (NKJV)
“Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame.”
(Hillsong United – From the Inside Out)
So I am hopeful for her father and others like him. I believe there is nothing wrong in being hopeful.
Joe Absher
We must hope and pray and believe and trust