Keepers of the Vineyard

CHAPTER 6

RENDERING THE DEVIL HELPLESS

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthian church, says, “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 strongholds; casting down imaginations and every high thing that [exalts] itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

It is imperative that we understand that Satan is a spirit and cannot be fought with the tools of man. We need spiritual tools to fight spiritual battles, and even then, the battle is won only when our obedience to God’s plan is fulfilled. Strongholds are thoughts that are placed in our mind by Satan in order to produce fear in our lives with the intent of destroying us. Our thoughts become strongholds, strongholds become imaginations, and imaginations develop into fear, which will eventually destroy us.

SPIRITUAL TOOLS:

There were many spiritual tools used by the people of God to fight the devil, but we will discuss only a few in this section of the book, and they are faith in God, prayer and fasting, the Word, and the power of praise.

FAITH

The Holy Bible declares, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen . . .” and “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God (whether by prayer, fasting, petitions, etc.), must believe that he is God and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:1, 6).

PRAYER AND FASTING

One day, a certain man brought his son, who was a lunatic, to the disciples for healing, but the disciples could not heal the boy. “Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, ‘Why could not we cast him out?’ Jesus answered, ‘Because of your unbelief . . . If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed you shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:15-21). Prayer and fasting together will give us the power, through God, to work miracles.

THE WORD

The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). God’s word is so powerful that when it is spoken, God’s anointing backs it up and causes the demons to fear and tremble.

Saint Matthew records that, “When the tempter came to Jesus, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But Jesus said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that [proceed] out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4, 7). The example that Jesus left for us to whip the devil was, “It is written.”

PRAISE

Praise is the magnet that pulls the blessings of God down to man. God inhabits the praises of his people (Psalms 22:3). As Paul and Silas prayed at midnight and sang praises unto God, a great earthquake formed, “so that the foundation of the prison was shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed” (Acts 16:25-26).

Many battles have been won through praise. Praise equips the believer for battle by arming him with courage and strength. It sends a message to Satan that the banner of faith has been lifted and the battle has already been won.

DEMONIC ATTACKS

From day to day, the saints of God wrestle against principalities and powers of darkness. In order to stand against the wiles of the devil, one must depend on God’s strength and the right armor. Jesus called Satan, the thief that comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Satan’s goal is to destroy the soul, the family, and the church. However, James gave the key to overcoming demonic attacks, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

KNOW YOUR ENEMY

Listed are a group of words that, when left unchecked, will produce bad fruit. The more we know about the enemy, the better we will be.

• REBELLION- God compares rebellion to the sin of witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). Rebellion leads to a self-willed spirit, stubbornness, disobedience, and a non- submissive spirit (Jonah 1:1-3; 1 Samuel 15:3, 9, 22-23).

• PRIDE – “Goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Characteristics of pride are ego, vanity, self- righteousness, haughtiness, importance, and arrogance (Esther 3:1-6, 5, 9-14).

• STRIFE – “The beginning of strife is as when one let out water. Therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with” (Proverbs 17:14). Strife leads to contention, bickering, arguments, quarreling, and fighting.

• JEALOUSY – “Is as cruel as the grave” (Song of Solomon 8:6). Jealousy brings with it envy, suspicion, distrust, and selfishness.

• INSECURITY – Leads to inferiority, self-pity, loneliness, timidity, shyness, inadequacy. The Lord “will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on [him]: because he [trusts in the Lord]” (Isaiah 26:3).

• CONFUSION – “In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion” (Psalm 71:1). The offspring of confusion are frustration, incoherence, and forget- fullness.