Spiritual Warfare

Robert D. PattonMissionary to SurinameBaptist World Mission

What are some of the doors we open to evil spirits Witchcraft Family spirits False teaching Bitterness Pride Rebellion Sexual issues Anger, resentment, etc.

This list may be representative rather than comprehensive

I found this list used by Neil Anderson dealing with persons in the USA

I translated and modified the areas to make them appropriate for the Bush Negro culture in Suriname

But each culture has its own specific areas of focus. Furthermore, there is a difference between formal religion and folk religion

Eliminating ground given to evil spirits

As mentioned above, 40% of the world has a basic animistic worldview. Furthermore, virtually all of the major religions of the world have had influence from and belief in evil spirits.

Though there are differences in details, many of the generalities of the folk religion are the same

Witchcraft – a common open door Any sort of witchcraft, in which we

open ourselves to worship the creature more than the creator, can open the door to evil spirits and give them ground in our lives

Direct satanic worship, offerings, etc.

Worship of idols – think of Buddha, Hindu temples, etc.

Open door #1 Witchcraft Remember that lust for things is as

the sin of witchcraft (covetousness) Contact with evil spirits – seances,

etc. Amulets to protect ourselves – think of

medals that have been blessed, etc. Bowing before any object – think of

the wafer of the Catholic church, for example

Door #1 - Witchcraft

Usually we are seeking secret “occult” information or power, but satan does not know the future, and his power is derived power permitted by God

Now all power is ultimately in the hands of Jesus, who lives in the believer. Furthermore, God knows the future. So give yourself to God, not spirits

The Bush-Negro culture has much witchcraft

Often the woman when pregnant will make contact directly with the witchdoctor. If she has trouble getting pregnant, she will go sooner

She may make further contact and do certain things during the pregnancy

Bush-Negro culture

After delivery: “poeroe da pikin na doro” – the child is introduced to the spirits, including dead ancestors, etc

Marks to protect against the evil eye Amulets to protect early in childhood Witchcraft for any sickness

Bush-Negro culture

Using Amulets around the body Wearing jewelry which has been

“blessed” Burying witchcraft items in the

ground near the house Putting things over the door, or on the

path to the garden

Bush-Negro culture

“Washing” to come clean with witchcraft items, especially New Year

Using white clay “Pimba doti” over the body

Burial ceremonies which have much witchcraft in them

Open doors #2 – Family Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods

before me. 4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the water under the earth, 5. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the sinners upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Mi; 6. And showing mercy unto thousands that love Me, and keep My commandments.

Open doors #2 – Family See Numbers 14:18[18] The LORD is longsuffering,

and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

Deut. 5:[8] Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:[9] Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me

Generational sins

When I participate in witchcraft, I can adversely influence my family to the fourth generation.

My family to the fourth generation can influence me as well.

This statement is mentioned repeatedly in the Old Testament.

Generational sins - Nehemiah confesses sins of his fathers

Nehemiah 9:[16] But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,…[34] Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them.

Generational sins – Daniel’s confession

Daniel 9:[6] Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.[7] O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.

Generational sins - Daniel Daniel 9:[8] O Lord, to us belongeth confusion

of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.[9] To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him

Generational sins

This is apparently the basis foe the hold of the evil spirits on many of our people in Suriname….

But this can be broken Any oaths Any witchcraft To the 4th generation – ourselves,

parents, grandparents, and parents of grandparents

What we see in our Bush Negroes in Suriname Again – these things effect the children too… They go to a “medicine person” while

pregnant They “introduce” the child to the spirits of

the ancestors a week after birth They put a blue mark on the child to protect

against an “evil eye” They tie amulets around the child from birth

What we see in Suriname They go to a witch doctor with sicknesses They wear amulets for protection They have family rituals “washing with

certain plants” to help cleanse them from sins

They rub white clay over their skins They have all sorts of ceremonies for the

dead spirits at death, and expect all the family to participate.

False teachings Accepting false doctrine can open doors through

the “doctrine of demons” I Tim. 4:Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in

the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrine of devils, 2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

False teachings need to be renounced and confessed

Open door #3 False teachings in such religions as…

Roman Catholicism Worship of Maria Worship of the saints Use of idols, rosary Belief in sacramental salvation

Hinduism Worship of many many gods Offerings to idols, etc.

Open door #3 False teachings in such religions as…

Buddhism Worship of idols Demonic involvement - as in lamaism,

etc Islam

Folk religion The kaaba, enz.

Open door #3 False teachings in such religions as…

“Christian cults” such as Mormonism

Baptism for the dead Denial of deity of Christ, etc.

Jehovah’s Witnesses Denial of the deity of Christ Denial of the trinity Denial of hel Placing the writings of the Watchtower organization

too high, etc

Dealing with false teaching

Removal of objects associated with the religion – idols, amulets, etc.

Renunciation of false teachings Separation from false teachers

Sexual immorality

I believe that this works through the one flesh relationship.Any evil spirits affecting one of the partners can apparently spread to the other

Sexual immorality plays an important role in satanic worship. Found in Baal-Peor where the Israelite men committed fornication with Moabite women

Sexual immorality

Numbers 25:[1] And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.[2] And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.[3] And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

Sexual immorality

It is condemned in Revelation 2-3 in the message to the churches:

Pergamon: Rev. 2:[14] But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Churches with immorality

Thyatira: Rev. 2:[20] Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.[21] And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Rebellion against God-given authority I Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said,

Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

Rebellion

Saul ended up Oppressed by an evil spirit Trying to kill the anointed of God Consulting a medium He and his sons were killed by the

Philistines

Pride I Tim. 3:7 Moreover, he must have a good

report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace unto the humble

I Peter 5:5b Yea, all of you be subject to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Peter opened the door

Peter joined in boasting about who would be the greatest of the disciples

Satan wanted to sift him as wheat Jesus prayed for him Peter slept during Christ’s prayer Peter ended up denying that he

even knew Christ

Bitterness Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest

any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.

Bitterness ties us to the person who we resent

We need to forgive – not primarily for them, but for us to become free

Bitterness – often the number one door in Christians My father-in-law, a Christian psychiatrist,

found 50% of Christians in churches admitted to long-standing bitterness & resentment

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice, 31. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Anger, wrath

Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath; 27. Neither give place to the devil.

Normally, we sin when we feel that our personal rights have been violated, and we can give place to the devil…

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Robert D. PattonMissionary to SurinameBaptist World Mission

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