Defeating Dark Angel chapter 1,2,5,6

[새성전의 기둥]

Defeating Dark Angels by Charles H. Kraft

Chapter 1.  Are Satan and Dark Angels for Real?

Ephesians 6:12-13 :  “We are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.  Wo put on God’s armor now!  Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy’s attacks ; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground’ 

Dr. Ed Murphy’s Change of Mind.  :  Carolyn Murphy (Dr. Ed murphy’s daughter) changed her personality and found out that it is caused by her necklace that has pentagram, a symbol of the occult world.  When she removed it from her neck, she became free from evil spirits.

The Bible Takes Satan and Demons Seriously. 

When Jesus started his public ministry, He affirmed the existence of Satan’s dark angels by announcing His purpose in the words of Isaiah 61:1-2 : ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sights to the blind; to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people” (Luke 4:18-19)

In Old Testament :  In the Garden of Eden, the Enemy’s activity is obvious.  (Tempted Adam and Eve to sin against God).  In Jobs, we see another of Satan’s overt challenges to God’s authority.

In the New Testament :

the plot to kill the baby Jesus (Matt 2:16-18)

His activity is overt when he confronts Jesus in the wilderness ( Luke 4:1-13)

He is undoubtedly behind the opposition of the Jewish Leaders to Jesus, plus His trial and 

crucifixions.

Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)

the demonized slave-girl (Acts 16:16-18)

Satan asserts his authority over the earth when he says to Jesus, “ I will give you all this power and all this wealth ..  It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose” (Luke 4:6).  He is referred to by Jesus as “the ruler of this world” (John 14:30), by Paul as “the ruler of the spiritual powers in space” (Eph. 2:2), by Peter as one who “roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet.5:8), and by John as the one that rules the whole world (see 1 John 5:19)

No Fear of Satan’s Activities :

Despite such statements concerning the impressive position of our Enemy, neither Jesus nor other New Testament characters seemed alarmed by Satan’s activities.  They dealt with them matter-of-factly, knowing that God’s power is infinitely greater than that of the Enemy.

Scripture makes it clear, however, that Jesus and His followers took demons seriously.  While they were not afraid of them, they acknowledged their existence and used the power of the Holy Spirit to fight them.  Over and over again, references to demons and Satan’s kingdom appear in the Gospels.  In the Gospel of Mark, for example, more than half of Jesus’ ministry is devoted to delivering the demonized.

Churches Should Be Doing This Ministry 

Luke 11:20 (Matt 12:28)  :  Jesus is being challenged by some of the Pharisees who even accuse him of doing his miracles by the power of Satan (Beelzebub).  So He says, “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (CJB).

There are many signs of the kingdom of God.  Jesus told many parables of the Kingdom.  Things like loving and forgiving are Kingdom virtues.  But another of the signs of the Kingdom is that demonized people are being freed of their demons and Satan is being defeated not only by love, but also by power.  This part of Kingdom experience is not to be neglected.  

The Satanic Kingdom

At the top is Satan himself.  He appears to be a high ranking angel (perhaps at or near the level of the archangels Michael and Gabriel).  He apparently asserted himself in opposition to God, becoming the adversary of all that is good, right and godly.

In Ezekiel it is said, presumably of Satan, “You were once an example of perfection.. Your conduct was perfect from the day you were created until you began to do evil” (28:12, 15).  In the Isaiah passage, Lucifer (Satan) is described as “determined to climb up to heaven and to place your throne above the highest star.. and be like the Almighty” (14:13-14).  Both passages speak of Satan being cast down and humiliated because of his rebellion.

The widely held belief is that when Satan fell, he took a large number of angels with him.  Some interpret Revelation 12:4 as indicating that one-third of the angels in heaven sided with Satan.

Until God terminates things, however, Satan and his dark angels (demons or evil spirits) will be active on earth.  We see from many biblical passages that demons can inhabit people (see Mark 1:23; 5:1-20; 7:25; Acts 16:16)

Above them there seems to be a hierarchy of principalities and power (see Eph 6:12) working under Satan’s authority.  Within the hierarchy, these evil beings take orders from those with greater power who rank above them.  Release from their assignment, therefore, can only be granted by highter-level spirits or by the power of God.

Satanic beings are involved in every kind of disruptive human activity.  They can hinder earthly endeavors and even delay answers to prayer (see Dan 10:13)  They seem to have authorities over places and territories, such as buildings, cities and temples.  Additionally, they appear to have authority over social organizations and groups, and influence sinful behavior such as homosexuality, drug addiction, lust, incest, rape and murder.

The fallen angels we call demons or evil spirits (No distinction between those terms) seem to be the “ground level” troops, as opposed to the “cosmic level” principalities, powers and rulers of Ephesians 6:12.  These ground level troops are the ones we encounter most often during spiritual warfare.  Scripture tells us that demons seek people to live in (see Matt. 12:43-45).

Satan, unlike God, is not omnipresent.  He can only be in one place at a time, though he apparently can get from place to place very quickly.  The other members of the hierarchy, including ground level demons, therefore, carry out his schemes throughout the universe.  

The Reality of the Battle.

Not only has the Enemy and his dark angels been defeated, but they have also been humiliated, for Jesus, at His resurrection,” made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession”(Col. 2:15).

Ken Blue writes, “The fight is real.  The victory of Christ through his cross and resurrection is final, but not yet fully realized.  Evil continues to exercise its bounded, though significant, power until Christ returns in his glory.”

A similar kind of delay occurred during WW II.  In June 1944, Allied troops landed successfully on the European mainland, sealing the doom of Hitler and his troops.  Though D-day assured the defeat of teh Nazis, the war did not end until 11 months later when the Axis signed the unconditional surrender in May 1945.  Though victory was assured, more Allied soldiers were killed in Europe during those 11 months than in all the preceding years of WW II.

In history of Israel, even before Israel entered the Promised Land, God had given it to them.  It was their land.  God had given it to Abraham.  His promise had been confirmed over and over again, and God selected Moses and Joshua to bring the Israelites into the land.  But enemies occupied it - formidable enemies who had lived there a long time and would not leave until they were forced out.  Though the land belonged to the Israelites, warfare was ahead for them as they crossed the Jordan to take possession of it.  They owned the land as soon as God gave it to them, but they did not possess what was theirs for some time, and only then after much struggle.

Like Jesus, we need to fight against Satan’s kingdom, in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Most importantly, we need to fight for the same reason that Jesus did - Obedience to our Father.

Why Should We Seek to Understand Demonization?

1. God expects us to free people.  :

“If you love me, you will obey my commandments,” Jesus said (John 14:15), and “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love”(John 15:10).  Jesus’ ministry was one of obedience to the Father.  Jesus’ teaching of the disciples stressed power ministry, giving them “power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases” and sending them out “to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick”(Luke 9:1-2).  He later instructed them to teach their own disciples “to obey everything I have commanded you”(Matt 28:20), including the ministry of freeing people from the Enemy.

2.    We should be motivated by Compassion 

3.    A deliverance ministry will increase our faith in Jesus.

How to Get Started

1. We began by praying, by letting God know that we were open to whatever He chose to bring our way.
2. We read everything we could get our hands on, listening to tapes, attended seminars and discussed deliverance with anyone with experience.
3. We sought opportunities to participate with those ministering deliverance, learning by watching and helping.
4. We then began to offer seminars to a variety of church groups, sharing with them what we have been discovering.
5. We regularly share with each other what we are learning both in seminars and in our individual ministries.

Chapter 2.  Twelve Myths Concerning Demonization

Myth 1 : Christians Cannot Be Demonized

This is one of Satan’s favorites.  If he can get Christians to believe it, his demons can work freely within those Christians and their churches.

Prominent Christian leaders perpetuate this myth.  Their doctrine assumes that since the Holy Spirit lives within a Christian, a demon cannot also live there - an assumption that they unconsciously employ when interpreting the Bible and human experience.  Their assumption forces them to deny that the demonized person is a Christian.  So the person feels doubly condemned-for having a demon and for not truly having accepted Christ.

We define “Christian” as one who has faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord.  If we look at those whom Jesus healed and delivered from demons and ask the question of whether or not they had saving faith, I think we have to conclude that most, if not all of them, came to Jesus in faith - faith that probably needs to be seen as saving faith.

However, those who assume that Christians cannot be demonized are partly right.  A demon cannot live in the Christian’s spirit - that is, the person’s central core, the part that died when Adam sinned, because Jesus now lives there.  Demons can, however, live in the other parts where sin also can dwell - body, mind, emotions and will.

Myth 2 : People Are “Possessed” by Demons

The term “ demon possessed” is commonly used to describe a person with demons living inside.  This comes from the mistaken rendering in many Bible translations of the Greek word Daimonizomai.  In older translations, and even in the New International Version, this word is rendered “demon possessed.”  The word daimonizomai occurs seven times in Matthew, four times in Mark, once in Luke and once in John.  A parallel expression‎, echein daimonion, “have a demon” occurs once in Matthew, three times in Luke and five times in John.  Luke uses the latter phrase interchangeably with daimonizomai.  Though the scriptural authors may have intended that daimonizomai indicates a slightly greater degree of demonic control than echein daimonion, translators simply are not justified in rendering either term “demon possession.”  This rendering signifies too much contrl.  Both wordings are better translated “have a demon” (see, for example, Matt 4:24; 8:16, 28,33; 9:32; 12:22, 15:22)

The word “possessed” greatly overstates the influence wielded by the vast majority of demons.  Many people battling the lesser influence demons more commonly have.  I would estimate at less than 10 percent the number of cases where demons exert control that could be termed possession.

It is far better to use a more neutral term such as “have a demon” or “demonized.”  Both are more true to the original Greek and also run less risk of frightening people.

A demon can never completely control a Christian, because it cannot live where Jesus is in the person’s spirit.

Myth 3 : Deliverance Always Entails a Big Fights

We have authority in Christ to forbid violence and that when we deal with the emotional and spiritual garbage the demons are attached to, the demons get weak and can’t cause violence.

In the heat of the contest, demons will do whatever they are allowed to do.  But the key is what they are allowerd to do.  In the name of Jesus, we have power over them.   They know this.  We need to know it too.  They can, therefore, do only what Jesus allows them to do.  When we forbid them to cause violence, they can do little or none.  We discover, as did the disciples, that when we minister in Jesus’ name, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name”(Luke 10:17,NIV).  The disciples simply exercised the authority Jesus had given them and were able to rejoice in experiencing God’s power to banish demons.

Dr. Kraft had more than 2000 cases of deliverance and hardly seen violence because

1.  He works almost exclusively with Christians

2.  He will work only with persons who are willing and eager to be healed.

3.  He starts each session by forbidding any demons to cause violence or vomiting

4.  He does whatever possible to weaken the demons before challenging them

Myth 4 : Demonization is Simply Psychological Illness

Liberal Christians assume that the biblical accounts of Jesus casting out demons simply record Jesus’ way of dealing with psychological illness.  “Jesus simply accommodated to the belief of the people of that day that demons caused problems,” they say.  “He knew then what we know not - that the so-called demonized were really heavy-duty psychological cases.”

Our naturalistic Western worldview makes it extremely difficult for us to believe that supernatural beings such as Satan and demons are real.  We are taught as we grow up that “seeing is believing” and “if you can’t see it, it doesn’t exist.”    When we come in contact with persons acting like the demonized people of the Gospel, we take them to psychologists, even though recent studies question the ability of psychological counseling to bring healing.

Myth 5 : Those with Demons Are Guilty of Spiritual Rebellion

Much damage is done to a person suffering from demonization when well-meaning Christians suggest that it is because they are sinful and rebellious.  Jesus never blamed people for having demons.  The belief that demonization comes about only through conscious choice is a lie.  As we will see, conscious choice is but one way and comparatively rare among Christians.

Case of Teri :  Whenever she participated in worship, in intense battle went on inside of her.

Case of Pastor Paul :  hearing voice since childhood.  Demons came to him through                                                inheritance.

It is cruel to add to the wounds of demonized people.  What they need is Jesus’ love and power to bring freedom both from demons and any guilt coming from inside them or from the Christian community.  Besides deliverance, they need to trust the truth in John 8:32, so that they need bear little or no responsibility for their condition, and that whatever responsibility they do bear can be forgiven.  “Therefore, there is now no dondemnation”(Rom.8:1 NIV)- even for those afflicted with demon.

Myth 6 : Problems Are Either Demonic or Emotional

Americans have what may be called an “either-or” mentality.   We also tend to look for simple answers.  This leads many to assume that symptoms of the kind we have been discussing are either demonic or emotional.   Thus, those people with a naturalistic mentality attempt to see such problems as emotional, while those who are more aware of the spirit world want to blame them on demons.  Still others believe problems can be both demonic and emotional.  But they cannot be neatly divided into exclusively the emotional or exclusively the demonic, especially since demons have to have something human to attach themselves to.

Whether or not there are demons, emotional problems are primary; demonization is always secondary, just as rats are secondary to garbage.  If we get rid of the rats and keep the garbage, the person is in great danger still.  But if we get rid of the garbage, what we have done automatically affects the rats.  Whether there are demons or not, therefore, we go after the primary problem - the emotional and spiritual garbage.

If the person turns out also to have demons, we deal with them after the demons’ “food” (the emotional problems) has been greatly reduced.  Bu that time any demons still there will be much weaker than if we had challenged them at the beginning.  This approach recognizes that the real problem facing demonized people is never the demons, but the deep-level emotional problems to which they are attached.

Myth 7 : All Emotional Problems Are Caused by Demons

When a child is abused, for example, though a demon may be pushing the abuser, it is the abuse, not the demon, that is central to the problem in the child.  the child probably became demonized as a result of that abuse, but it is the abuse that needs to be dealt with if we are to get at the demons.

We cannot simply assume that every problem has been caused by demons.  That is too simplistic.  

Their ability to cause limited to whatever influence they can have on persons and events.  Demons are, however, very opportunistic.  If abuse occurs even without demonic initiative, they are eager to make it worse.  Or, if thins are going well for a person, they will do whatever they are permitted to do to push the person to ignore, exaggerate or divert those good things.

Demons cannot stand against the power of God, when activated, or a strong human will.  And when strong human will is empowered by God and directed against them, it is impossible for the demons to win.

Myth 8 : Only Those with “Special Gifting” Can Cast Out Demons

The Scriptures do not speak of a gift of deliverance.  In none of the lists of spiritual gifts in the New Testament (see 1 Cor. 12-14; Rom 12:1-8; Eph 4:1-16; 1 Pet. 4:7-11) is deliverance included.  Some argue that deliverance is implied in the gift of healing.  Yet deliverance, as such, was never singled out.  I believe this is because all believers have the authority to cast out demons.

Matt 28:20:  Jesus said “ to obey everything I have commanded you.”  Deliverance is a matter of obedience, not gifting.   God does indeed give spiritual gifts to help set captives free, but specific gifts are not required to minister to the demonized.

Myth 9 : Demonization is Uncommon in the United States

Church leaders often ask me why we in the United States need to learn about deliverance.  They believe that our country has been so thoroughly influenced by Christianity that the Enemy couldn’t be serious threat there.  They think this way because they assume that the Christian influence in America has been sufficient to thwart demonization.  They assume that demonization will be obvious.  Based on that assumption, they further assume that demonic activity occurs only where it is obvious, such as in other societies.

But…..:

1. Nearly all American cities have a variety of occult establishments.  :  Palmists, fortunetellers, pshchics, tarot card readers and astrologers.  Spiritists, scientologists and psychics advertise openly.  Masonic temples, Christian Science churches, Mormons and Jehovah’s Witness Meeting places.  Buddhist and Islamic temples etc….. 

Myth 10 :  Get the Demon Out and Freedom Comes Immediately

Deliverance ministry is only 5% of what we do.  45% inner healing and 45% of follower up are more important.

Myth 11 : The Demonized Speak in a Different Voice

Can be possible.  Demons use difference voice or language to fool their host and minister.

Myth 12 : Inner Voices and Personality Switching; Sure Evidence of Demonization

Multiple personality Disorder.   

Chapter 5: What Demons Do

Making Bad Things Worse

“Be alert, be on watch!  Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, 

  looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter5:8

“For when I forgive… I do it in Christ’s presence… in order to keep Satan from getting
  the upper hand over us; for we know what his plans are.” 2 Cor 2:10-11

• Are all bad things in life caused by demons?
• Is everybody with recurring emotional or physical problems demonized?
• Basics understandings of the spiritual conflict between God and Satan:

1. There is a kingdom led by Satan and filled with demonic associates.
2. These try to disrupt God’s workings as much as possible.
3. They are especially out to hurt humans, who were the only ones made in God’s image.
4. Satan and his followers can only work within the rules set by God.

• The Enemy cannot influence a person without a legal right by gaining a foothold through an “entry point.”  It can only latch onto bad things and try to make them worse or make people go overboard with good things.
• The Enemy is always scouting to get in and to exploit any weaknesses.  We must find them first and deal with them.
• Stronger demons are assigned to those that pose the greater threat to their kingdom.

Things Demons Encourage

1. We can assume that demons are involved in every kind of disruption.
1. They push, prod, tempt, and entice toward bad/unwise decisions.
2. Working to exacerbate accidents, broken relationships, abuse, disruptions
3. Attacking individuals, groups, organizations, ministries, governments.
2. Demons are probably the primary agents of temptation.
1. Adam & Eve, Cain, Joseph, Ananias, Jesus, Judas, etc.
2. Demons can put thoughts into people’s minds – catered to each.
3. Demons seek to keep people ignorant of their presence and their activities.
1. Media, making people think that their actions/reactions are “natural.”
4. Another demonic tactic is to get people to fear them.
1. Movies/media, stories of extreme cases of manifestation & deliverance.
5. In all satanic activity, deceit is a major weapon.
1. Satan is called the “father of all lies.” (John 8:44)
2. Lies about who we are, who God is, who he is and what he does.
3. Telling things like “if God was real, would He…?”
6. The job of demons is to hinder good by any possible means.
1. To hinder faith (and related activities) and to exploit weaknesses.
7. Demons, like Satan, are accusers.
1. Blame God  hurt faith and relationship with God
2. Blame self  debilitate self (retain guilt even after confessing to God)
3. Blame others  wreck relationships
8. Demons reinforce compulsions.
1. Both good and bad.
9. Harassment: another demonic tool.
1. “the ruler of this world” (John 14:30) wants to hurt God by hurting those that belong to God’s Kingdom but are living in “his territory.”
2. Ex: sleepiness during sermon, wondering thoughts, fight on the way to church, etc.

More Obvious Demonic Activity

1. Evil spirits may become bold for tactical reasons.
1. “Presence” in homes, graveyards, dreams, etc – also related to artifacts, etc.
2. This may also occur when confronted by the Holy Spirit.
2. Evil spirits often make mistakes.
1. Attacking people that know how they operate  found and kicked out.
3. Pressured by the power of the Holy Spirit, demons often incriminate themselves.
1. Often during worship, prayer, or when challenged in the name of Jesus.

Resisting Demonic Influences

1. Spiritual growth weakens Satan’s ability to work in or on a person.
1. Grow closer to God by spending time with Him individually and in fellowship.  Listen to and converse with God “at all times” (1 Thes 5:17).
2. Demonic activity weakens when people give their heavy loads to Jesus.
1. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28)
2. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Mt 6:14-15)
3. In the name of Jesus, demons can be commanded to quit. (James 4:7)
4. Since Satan attacks through deception, one of our best defenses is truth.
1. Refuse the lie and assert the truth (in the Word).
2. Ex. 1 John 1:9 on how God deals with sin: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Chapter 6: Demonic Attachment and Strength

Rats and Garbage

• Rats = demons
• Garbage = emotional or spiritual garbage
• Getting rid of garbage to (1) get rid of rats & (2) keep them out.
  

Function Names of Demons

• Demons are often attached to emotions, such as hate, anger, shame, etc.
• They can also encourage compulsions and additions, such as pornography, alcohol, etc.
• Occult and cult spirits make up another category.
  

Strength of Attachment

1. Demons differ in strength.
1. Ex. Those coming by inheritance can be stronger than those attached to emotions.
2. The amount of “garbage” a demon has to “feed on” is an important variable.
3. Demons seem organized in hierarchical groupings with one as the leader.
4. Among non-occult demons, certain ones are more likely to be head demons than others.
5. Inside spirits are under the authority of higher level spirits outside.
6. A person’s actions can weaken the demons inside him – including prayer by others.
7. A person’s actions can strengthen the grip of demons.
1. Giving into temptations and emotions being reinforced by demons.
2. Kicking out a demon but later inviting it back in (Luke 11:26).

What Demonic Strength Means

1. Harassment by a weak spirit.
1. Ex. A rape victim who is reminded of the incident when hearing about rape.
2. A measure of control by a spirit with more strength.
1. Ex. A rape victim who has not been able to work out emotions.  May be hindered by mixed emotions, over-discipline children, bathe compulsively, etc.
3. An even greater measure of control by an occult spirit.

Strength of Attachment Scale

    Scale of 1 to 10 (for demonization in Christians)

Level 1-2: Weak, pesky.  Cannot take over vocal cords.  

Level 3-4: Can cause uncontrollable anger, fear, great discomfort in worship, and desire to run.  Can manifest in the body when challenged in Jesus’ name and even speak.

Level 5-6: Specialize in compulsive behavior.  If not forbidden, can cause contortion and pain during deliverance.

Level 7-8: Rare in Christians, unless have been involved in the occult.  Quite possible to have two or more differing personalities.  Change in eyes, violent behavior, etc.

Level 9-10: Extremely seldom, if any, in Christians.  Escalated behavior beyond level 7-8.

   It is advisable not to challenge demons beyond levels of 1-2 or 3-4. 

   Demons at higher levels can be “downgraded” to lower levels through inner healing first.

Awareness

Unawareness in Western Churches, along with tendency to blame self, helps the Enemy hide under the radar.