Chapter 3: Fight the Good Fight

It is an awakening revelation to the church today to discover how organized satan is and how systematically he is working against us. While most of us have been taught that it is every believer's task to be a witness of Jesus Christ, and even trained and encouraged to witness; at the same time we have not been schooled that it is also every believer's task to be a Christian soldier, active in spiritual warfare. How many Christians have been trained in "the PULLING DOWN of strongholds" (II Corinthians 10:4), or in how to "RESIST the devil" (James 4:7), or how to "WRESTLE against principalities... powers... rulers of the darkness of this world... and spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12)?

As Christian soldiers we must acquire practical knowledge. When I was in military training during World War II, I was taught the weapons and the tactics of the enemy. I was also taught the weapons and tactics which I would employ against the enemy. God's army is in boot camp today. We are learning how to be Christian soldiers and "war a good warfare" (I Timothy 1:18).

In Ephesians 6:10 we are exhorted to put on the whole armour of God and stand against the "wiles of the devil". The word translated "wiles" is "methodeia" meaning "to follow up by method and settled plan,using deceit, craft and trickery" (Thayer). satan has a method and a settled plan to conquer each one of us, along with our family, church, community and nation.

God has provided armour for our protection and weapons for offensive warfare. Thus, we can withstand every assault against us AND launch an attack that will overthrow the enemy!

The emphasis in this book is upon personal deliverance. This is the starting point for total spiritual warfare. When we engage the enemy on the level of personal deliverance we are fighting satan's front line troops. His "top brass" is beyond, and we must get to them before the battle is over. The first objective in warfare is to free oneself.

Does everyone need deliverance? Personally, I have not found any exceptions. While we have walked in ignorance and darkness the enemy has successfully made inroads into each of us. We must learn how to get him out and how to keep him out.

Talk out loud to the demons! This may seem foolish and awkward until you have gotten accustomed to it, but it is an effective and necessary tactic of spiritual warfare.

It is obvious that one must speak out when expelling demons. We must also speak to demons assaulting from without. For example, suppose a demon has just spoken to your mind: "So-and-so thinks you are stupid."

Demons talk to our minds like that. It is the way they plant seeds of resentment and suspicion. You can soon learn to distinguish between what is of self, of God or ofSatan. You might say something like this to the demon:

'You are a liar, demon. I reject that thought about my friend. My mind is under the protection of the blood of Jesus. I bind you from my thoughts. I command you to leave me alone, in the name of Jesus."

The preceding is an example of resisting the devil. We know the Bible tells us to "resist the devil", but we may not have discovered the practical way of implementing the principle. In whatever words you use, vocalize your position in Jesus Christ and resist the demons by the use of the name and blood of Jesus. They are trespassers and must "flee" when resisted in this way.

Do not stop at telling them once. Demons can be stubborn, so keep resisting until your mind is at peace.

Study carefully the seven ways to determine the need for deliverance (See

Study carefully the seven ways to determine the need for deliverance (See