As it was in the days of Noah…

Note 1 of series

Last week the Lord led us to see more than one news story of demonic “possession” being covered in the news here in the US by mainstream media (one recent, others older; the most recent one included in a link below). Some of the reporters did not know to refer to what they were witnessing by that name, and without that diagnosis their reports had actually sparked chatter and concerns about real-life scenarios where people could display “zombie-like behaviors” and about the possibility of a coming “zombie-apocalypse.” As Christians we should understand that there will be no “zombie”-apocalypse, but is it possible that we could end up witnessing what will be just as otherworldly and evil?

As we see society degenerate in lawlessness and paganism in its spiral toward the end, we’re reminded that the Lord warned us that before His return, not only would there be a mass falling away (apostasy) from the Truth, but also that things would be as they were in the days of Noah before He destroyed the earth the first time (Matthew 24). Is it possible that He was not just referring to the fact that there would once again be sudden, unexpected destruction, but that He was also giving us a clue about what society would be like before this destruction occurs? From what we find in other passages, I believe it could be. We should remember that mankind had become so evil in Noah’s time that God was grieved He had even created them; it’s becoming less and less difficult to imagine.

Though myriads of people in our society (and the church) have already opened themselves up to demonic influences in certain areas of their lives and need deliverance from demonic oppression and demonization, satan has still most often been able to covertly masquerade under the names of “addictions,” “disorders,” “compulsions,” and sin without being overtly recognized for who he truly is by those who do not believe. But as society plunges further and further into darkness and increasingly gives itself over to satan, his lies, and works, I believe we will also see more and more demonic manifestations, where the supernatural realm of darkness is exposed in such blatant ways that not even unbelievers can ignore it (as in the recent news stories we saw). If our nation continues its popularization of the occult and witchcraft, such as what we heard was displayed at the Grammy’s last week, it would open the floodgates to this phenomenon in our society (even as Africa and other nations have dealt with on a more widespread basis due to more prevalent pagan and occult practices).

As I’ve thought and prayed about the things He showed us last week, several things have come to mind:

As Christians we need to understand what’s truly going on. We are called to have the answers for the horrors society is going to unleash through their increased rebellion toward God and we need to know how to help as many people as possible be delivered and set free. This is going to require us to be firmly established in the Word and in the full revelation of who we are in Christ, to remain full of His Spirit, to know how to put on our spiritual armor and operate in the power and authority the Lord has given us in Him, AND to be free from fear no matter what may come.

I know there is a great amount of ignorance about this subject in our nation, even in the body of Christ due to teachings that these kinds of things ceased after the first century (or that they only occur now in Africa). But I suspect that in the next several years many are about to have their theologies wrecked and their paradigms shifted.

Last week (1/31), in the status I posted about fighting sex-trafficking, I made some specific prayer requests – including the request for people to “bind” demons that were operating in these situations. I realized that many are not used to or comfortable with this kind of talk, so I began to question the Lord if I should not have spoken in those terms. The next day (2/1) I noticed the JHM devo was about that very topic:
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February 1, 2013

“Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:18

“When a strong man armed keeps his palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he takes from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divides his spoils.” Luke 11:20-22

There are two applications to this scripture. First, Satan is the strong man who kept the palace. He had everything his way until Jesus defeated him at Calvary. … To share in the victory of Christ at Calvary, we must first bind the strong man. Who is the strong man in this text? He is Satan’s representative over a nation, over a people, over a state, over a city, over a family or over a person. The powers and principalities are that well organized. Your problems are not with people. Your problems are with supernatural powers that control people.

Is your husband a drinker? Say, “Lord Jesus, in the authority of Your name, I bind that alcoholic spirit that drives my husband. …” That’s an illustration of binding.

Here’s an illustration of loosing. In Luke 13 there was a woman who had been bent double for 18 years. Jesus said, “Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed form this bond?” (Luke 13:18). So you can attack sickness like this. “Lord Jesus, in the power of your name, by the shed blood of your cross, I loose _______ from this infirmity. Be healed in Jesus’ name.” …

If your relatives are bound by alcoholism…by drug addiction…by adultery…by fornication…by bitterness…by resentment…by prejudice…by idolatry…by Satanism…by witchcraft…by the occult…by Eastern philosophies…by mind control…loose them in Jesus’ name. Agree with another believer. Put on the whole armor of God and pierce the darkness through prayer. (Copyright, John Hagee Ministries)
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Through this, I believe the Lord was confirming that I truly should have posted this very real strategy for our spiritual warfare, even if it is not yet understood or accepted by many. I believe the whole body of Christ must learn how to walk in these principles and in our authority in Him in order to survive the darkness that’s coming.

But we not only need the whole body of Christ to come to know these truths and learn how to operate in them; we need to get so established in them that we will not fear. After we watched the Fox news video posted below, I tried to imagine if I had been one of the witnesses in the room when the demons in the child began to manifest in supernatural ways. I questioned, would I have been able to react in faith, remain calm and stable, take authority over those demons and cast them out, or would I have responded in fear? I hoped I would have been able to respond in faith. Later in the week, another video the Lord led us to actually showed the person who was demonized. Though their behavior wasn’t identified as a demonic manifestation in the video, it was easy for us to recognize that’s what was going on. It was so disturbing that I turned the volume down because it was starting to freak me out and I didn’t want to give way to a spirit of fear. I realized, if I was starting to feel freaked out just watching this on a video, how would I have handled it if I had been there?

We have dealt with cases where people were being oppressed or tormented by demons and seen some visible manifestations, but we have been able to bind and command them to leave in the Name of Jesus without seeing the kinds of supernatural behaviors typically associated with demonic deliverance in the movies. Both I and the people we were ministering to have tangibly FELT demons leave on occasion, but thus far (thankfully) we have not had to SEE things (while praying for someone) that could potentially incite fear. After my reaction to what we saw this past week, I realized this is an area I need to get built up in so that, just like Jesus, regardless of what I’m confronted with, I will not respond in fear. I suspect I’m not the only one in the body of Christ who needs to develop to this degree. We need to renew our minds fully to the authority we have in Christ (as we remain under His Lordship) and mentally and spiritually prepare ourselves not to yield to fear. (video link at bottom of page)

And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:7-8

“…on this rock (the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19

“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:18-20

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:16-18

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. II Timothy 1:7