VICTORY IN CHRISTIAN WARFARE
(Second Edition)
CHAPTER 10 The Final Battle: Reasons to Pray
Prayer is absolutely essential to our sanctification and, hence, essential to our salvation. It is essential to our winning our second and final battle with sin and Satan. As was said before, prayer is two-way communication with God. In its true sense, prayer is not a monologue where we talk all the time and do not listen to God.
Now we know that God is omniscient, which is to say, God is all-knowing. The question then arises, “Since God is all-knowing, why should we pray?” The answer is that, according to God’s word, the Bible, there are many reasons for us to pray. We will now look at some of these reasons.
It Gives Us Access to God
When the first human pair, Adam and Eve, sinned the human race was destined for extinction “for the wages of sin is [eternal] death.” Romans 6:23. If God had carried out the penalty of death for sin, Adam and Eve would have died and that would have been the end of the human race because at the time of their sin they had not yet had any offspring.
Why did Adam and Eve not die immediately? The answer is that Christ, the Son of God, a member of the Godhead, “he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed” (Numbers 16:48) in that the death penalty was averted. Thus, “there is…one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:5, 6.
Adam and Eve lost their open, face-to-face access to God when they sinned, because God would not communicate with Adam and Eve after they had sinned as He did when they were without sin.
Now God says, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1, 2.
God says, “I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land” (Ezekiel 22:30), which is to say, for the world, “that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30.
“The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Psalm 14:2, 3. God knew that none among humanity would be qualified to stand guiltless before Him as a mediator for the human race, since all of humanity have sinned.
“And he [God] saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor” (Isaiah 59:16), none “that…might plead for a man with God” (Job 16:21): “therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.” Isaiah 59:16.
“Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not…” (Psalm 106:23), Christ, “his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest [for fear that] he [God] should destroy them.” Psalm 106:23. “For the wages of sin is [eternal] death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.
So, all humanity now has no direct access to God. Our only access to God is through our “mediator…the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5. Christ is He who “through him we…have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” Ephesians 2:18. It is Christ “in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him” (Ephesians 3:21), by “the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12) which is the faith that we receive as a gift from God to exercise in taking hold of God’s promises.
Christ is He “by whom…we have access by faith into this grace” (Romans 5:2), into this divine influence upon our hearts, “wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2), wherein we rejoice in hope of receiving God’s sinless character of love. Our access to God is solely through Christ by faith.
“The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29. “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 1 Peter 3:12.
If we come to God without “a wicked mind” (Proverbs 21:27) we have access to God and God hears our prayers. When we pray, we are inviting God into our lives, otherwise our relation to God is that we are “alienated and enemies in…[our] mind by wicked works.” Colossians 1:21.
Thus, “being confident of this very thing” (Philippians 1:6) that I am counted by God as among the righteous, when I pray, by faith, I believe that “the LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.” Psalm 6:9. Christ Himself presents my prayers to the Father along with Christ’s own merits and it is wholly acceptable to the Father. In this way, we have access to God by our prayers.
To Worship God
“Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit [a mind] to them that walk therein” (Isaiah 42:5), “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” Psalm 29:2. “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:14.
“The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit” (John 4:23), that is to say, with their whole mental disposition, “and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23, 24. “For them that honour me I [God] will honour” (1 Samuel 2:30), God says, “and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” 1 Samuel 2:30.
Therefore, let all humanity say, “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker” (Psalm 95:6), for “holy and reverend is his name.” Psalm 111:9. “O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.” Psalm 105:1. Let every human being say, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1.
Having reverence then and profound awe for God, all of mankind should pray to God, worshipping God by paying homage to Him with thanksgiving and praise. Let all humanity say of themselves, “Let them shout for joy, and be glad…yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified” (Psalm 35:27), in that the Lord is to be highly praised.
To Agree With God’s Plan
God says, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9), that is, your name is to be reverenced. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9, 10. “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Matthew 6:13.
God “in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:15, 16.
God’s agenda includes that His kingdom of righteousness be established on earth as it is in heaven, and that all humanity should acknowledge God as the “only Potentate” (1 Timothy 6:15) on earth, the only monarch of the earth and all the universe. Also, God’s plan is that mankind should acknowledge that God is Ruler forevermore.
The context of all our prayers then should be that we acknowledge that it is God to whom we pray, and that we agree with God’s agenda and plan. For God says, “Them that honour me I [God] will honour.” 1 Samuel 2:30.
Because God Satisfies Our Deepest Need
God says, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3. “For he [God] satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalm 107:9. God satisfies the deepest human need which is to love, and to be loved in return.
Hence, we may say, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD” (Psalm 27:4), the beauty of His character of love, “and to enquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4. “Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.” 1 Kings 10:8. We pray to God then because we are drawn to God by His love for us, and we love God in return.
To Know God
God says that all humanity should say of themselves in truth, “I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” Ephesians 3:14, 15. I pray “that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. Ephesians 3:16.
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19.
We are to pray for a knowledge of the love of God in all its fulness. “We…pray…and…desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” Colossians 1:9, 10. “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” Ephesians 5:10. Our prayer then should be for a knowledge of God’s will.
Let our prayer be, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant.” Psalm 119:176. “Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine” (Psalm 80:19), that is, show us your favour; “and we shall be saved.” Psalm 80:19. It is God who gives us a knowledge of Himself by causing us to turn from our evil ways and to walk in His ways.
“And this is the confidence that we have in him [God], that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” 1 John 5:14, 15.
So, knowing the love of God and His will for humanity, we are to pray in accordance with God’s will. When we do this, we learn to bring our own hearts into alignment with God’s will. Every person may then say, “Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden [withheld] the request of his lips.” Psalm 21:2.
God’s will now becomes our will, and so we live in constant agreement with God. In this way, we come to know God by experience. Prayer then is essential to our knowing God.
It Builds a Relationship With God
In the case of those who are justified by God, “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15.
Through faith in Christ, we are drawn to regard God as a tender, loving Parent and so we pray affectionately saying, “Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6), where “Abba” is the Greek word for father. In so doing, we obey God’s command, “Draw nigh [near] to God, and he will draw nigh [near] to you.” James 4:8.
As we go “from faith to faith” (Romans 1:17), as we increase in faith going from one level of faith to a higher level of faith, we can pray in truth saying, “Trust in him [God] at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:8. “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” Psalm 57:7.
Through faith we learn to trust God and over time our trust develops into steadfast love for God. Therefore, with love for God in our hearts, we can pray saying in truth, “The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” John 8:29. Genuine faith in God then is followed by love for Him, which is followed by obedience.
Then it is true of God that “the father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.” Proverbs 23:24. For through communion with God and in the practice of righteousness in our daily life, we please God in all things and bring joy to His heart.
On the other hand, we can say of God, “Thou [God] wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11. So it is that God gives us joy and pleasures forevermore. In all of this, our prayers to God help us to build a loving relationship between ourselves and God.
Jesus Christ Set Us an Example
When Christ was on earth, “in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he [Christ] went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35. “And it came to pass in those days, that he [Christ] went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12. “And it came to pass, that, as he [Christ] was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray.” Luke 11:1.
Now Christ says, “I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done.” John 13:15. Jesus Christ set all humanity an example when He made prayer to God a priority in His life. We too must follow Christ’s example and make prayer to God a priority in our lives. We too can ask God, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1) and we can be assured that God will indeed teach us how to pray.
God Commands Us to Pray
God says to all humanity, “Enter into his [God’s] gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalm 100:4. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be [white] as wool.” Isaiah 1:18. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3.
Moreover, God says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7, 8.
“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2. In other words, you are to be watchful and pray so “that ye enter not into temptation.” Matthew 26:41. God also says, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” 1 Timothy 2:8.
Furthermore, God says, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Hebrews 4:14, 15), touched by our moral frailty; “but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:15, 16), the throne of God, “that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16.
Thus, God commands us to pray to Him and, because He has invited us to pray, we need not be afraid of approaching God. For God desires us to commune with Him in prayer. The language of our hearts should be, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16), the throne of unmerited favour, “that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16.
It Keeps Us From Sinning
God says, “A whisperer separateth chief friends” (Proverbs 16:28), separates the best of friends. This means that the whispered temptations of Satan constantly entice us to sin. Let our constant prayer then be “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.” Psalm 119:34, 35.
God says, “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18:1. “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17. “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit], keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 1:20, 21. Prayer to God for help against temptation then keeps the love of God in our hearts so that we are not found to be “haters of God.” Romans 1:30.
If we neglect prayer through which we gain moral strength, we shall deviate from the right path and the darkness of Satan will settle upon our minds and hearts. Therefore, God exhorts all of humanity to pray to Him, for prayer is essential to our having spiritual life which keeps us from sinning. Under no circumstances should we allow our communion with God to be broken up by “the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11), the trickery of Satan.
To Receive Blessings
God says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17), that is to say, neither the changing shadow of the sun as the earth turns. “Yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” James 4:2. There is not the very least plausible excuse to accuse God of fickleness in granting us blessings, for some blessings will not come unless we pray and ask for them.
All humanity can say of God, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3. When it comes to “spiritual blessings” (Ephesians 1:3), if we pray asking for these, God’s answer is always an unequivocal, “Yes.”
With respect to all other blessings for which we ask, it is often true that “we know not what we should pray for as we ought.” Romans 8:26. In such cases, God’s answer to our prayer may be, “No.” Notwithstanding this, God is always eager to shower us with blessings. Therefore, we may continually say, “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 118:1.
To Relieve Us of Our Burdens
God says, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22), never allow the righteous to be shaken in their faith in God. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.
“Be careful for nothing” (Philippians 4:6), do not be anxious about anything; “but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6, 7.
God reveals Himself as He truly is, a Burden Bearer, One who cares for all humanity in every way, not willing that they should be bowed down with cares, anxiety, and worry.
Now God says, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” Genesis 18:14. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27. “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37. The answer then is that there is nothing too hard for God.
“Thou [God] wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3. “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” Jeremiah 17:7. “O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.” Psalm 84:12.
God is more than capable of solving any difficulties or perplexities in our lives. But we must, by faith, leave our burdens with God and go happily on our way knowing that God will bless us as He sees fit for our best good.
To Ask God to Direct Our Lives
God says that all humanity may say among themselves, “Pray…unto the LORD thy God…that the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.” Jeremiah 42:2, 3. They may individually pray, “Lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:24. In this way, we may ask God to direct our lives.
In answer to such prayers, God says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding…Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD” (Proverbs 3:5-7), have reverential awe for God, “and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:7.
To Save Souls
We will now consider how our prayers can help in souls, that is, persons, being saved from eternal death by God. Now “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.” Exodus 15:3. For Satan fights against God to keep souls in darkness so that they cannot be saved, but God fights against Satan to deliver them so that souls may be saved. For every human being who is saved at last it is God “who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” 1 Peter 2:9.
Now God says, “To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is [eternal] life and peace.” Romans 8:6. God’s war with Satan is a battle for the mind of persons so that instead of their being “carnally minded” (Romans 8:6) they might be “spiritually minded.” Romans 8:6.
God’s Legal Framework for War With Satan
God says of all humanity, “Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.” Isaiah 66:3. Moreover, God says, referring to Satan and the other demons, “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?” Isaiah 49:24. There is a sense in which Satan has a legal claim to humanity in that they have chosen Satan’s ways and not God’s ways.
Therefore, God asks all humanity, “Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee?” (Psalm 94:20), which is to say, “Shall you have fellowship with Satan?” Our answer should be, “Absolutely not!”
God says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Psalm 66:18. “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Proverbs 28:9. For “without faith it is impossible to please him [God]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6. God will not hear the prayers of the unrepentant sinner unless they come to Him in faith.
But the righteous may say in truth, “I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.” Psalm 3:4. “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 1 Peter 3:12. Thus, God says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16.
A righteous man called “Elisha said” (2 Kings 3:14), to an evil king, “As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of” (2 Kings 3:14), the righteous king, “I would not look toward thee, nor see thee [the unrighteous king].” 2 Kings 3:14. Likewise, in the spiritual realm, unless the Christ and the righteous intercede, that is, pray, and confess the sins of the wicked and seek a blessing for them, God will not bless the wicked in certain ways.
Now “your Father which is in heaven…he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:45. In this way, God blesses all humanity, but some blessings will not come upon the wicked without intercession. “For the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh [all people on earth]; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 25:31.
God therefore says, “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he [God] shall give him [eternal] life for them that sin not unto [eternal] death. There is a sin unto [eternal] death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto [eternal] death.” 1 John 5:16, 17. To “sin unto death” (1 John 5:16) is to be finally impenitent and, hence, grieve away the Holy Spirit. The prayers of the righteous “availeth much” (James 5:16) in the salvation of souls, in the salvation of persons who “sin not unto [eternal] death.” 1 John 5:16.
We should say, “God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you.” 1 Samuel 12:23. Neglecting to pray for others is a sin. In light of this, God also says, “Curse ye…curse ye bitterly…because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.” Judges 5:23. This means that praying for others, which is known as intercessory prayers, is not optional for the Christian, for God pronounces a curse on those who do not put forth efforts to win souls to Christ.
When we pray for others, even for those who not believe in God, there is a sense in which we give God legal permission on their behalf to intervene in their lives in order to save them. The prayer of faith brings those for whom we pray into the audience chamber of God where they may receive a blessing. For God’s goal in blessing anyone is that through His blessing they may be saved from eternal death.
Ultimately, unless Christ intercedes for souls the Father will not bless them. “God commendeth” (Romans 5:8), God exhibited, “his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6.
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Romans 5:10. It was God who took the initiative through our Mediator, Christ, in seeking to save mankind from eternal death.
It is Christ who takes the initiative in interceding for humanity, though they are wicked. Nevertheless, the prayers of the righteous “availeth much” (James 5:16) in that they, in effect, add further weight to Christ’s intercession resulting in greater blessings for those persons for whom the righteous pray. In this way, even the prayerless may be blessed as long as they are not finally impenitent, in which case they have committed the unpardonable sin and so God will not hear prayers on their behalf.
This then is God’s legal framework for His warfare against Satan. It is built upon intercessory prayer, especially those by Christ and the Holy Spirit. The intercession of the righteous among mankind, whom God calls saints, is highly esteemed by God and adds further weight to God’s right to bless humanity.
Christ Makes War With Satan
God says, “Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?” Psalm 94:16. “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah 6:8. “For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.” Proverbs 28:2.
Satan calls himself “the prince of this world” (John 12:31), the ruler of the earth. So, Satan and his evil angels, known as demons, are “the princes” (Proverbs 28:2) to whom God refers. This means that God is saying that many are the demons that Satan has set over a land or a country to cause evil to prevail there.
But thank God for Christ! For Christ answers God saying, “Here am I; send me.” Isaiah 6:8. He is the “man of understanding and knowledge” (Proverbs 28:2) who was victorious over Satan’s temptations to sin and who intercedes so that the inhabitants of the land, that is, the whole world, are not destroyed, so that “the state thereof shall be prolonged.” Proverbs 28:2.
God says, “When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils [booty].” Luke 11:21, 22. Satan is the “strong man” (Luke 11:21), Christ is the One who is “stronger than he” (Luke 11:22) and Satan’s “goods” (Luke 11:21) and “his spoils” (Luke 11:22), his booty, are the souls that Satan has kept in darkness.
This means then that Christ is able to lead souls from the darkness of Satan’s lies into the light of God’s truths. Thus, God says, “A wise man scaleth the city” (Proverbs 21:22), penetrates the defences by climbing over the walls of the city, “of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.” Proverbs 21:22. Christ is the “wise man” (Proverbs 21:22) who overcomes Satan “the mighty.” Proverbs 21:22.
In addition to Christ’s intercession whereby souls are blessed, Christ is the “captain of the host of the LORD” (Joshua 5:14), the captain of “the angels of God” (Genesis 28:12) in heaven. He is “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.” Ephesians 1:21.
Now God says, “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening [being obedient] unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.” Psalm 103:20, 21. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Hebrews 1:14.
Christ is ruler over all the angels in heaven. Now every human being has been granted a guardian angel by God and this angel guards them from Satan’s evil designs while there is hope that they might be saved, while they have not become finally “impenitent.” Romans 2:5. “The angels of God” (Genesis 28:12) “minister” (Hebrews 1:14) to humanity seeking to draw them away from sin unto holiness according to God’s “commandments” (Psalm 103:20) and “the voice of his word.” Psalm 103:20.
Heaven then is a place of activity as God Himself seeks to draw sinners to Himself and He sends the angels on missions of mercy for those perishing in their sins. In this endeavour it is Christ who conducts the war against Satan on God’s behalf.
Christ Gives us Power Over Satan
Just as God said to Christ, He also says to all humanity, “Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?” Psalm 94:16. God says that as Christians we should wage war against Satan and the wicked among mankind who have not obeyed God’s command to “grieve not the holy Spirit of God.” Ephesians 4:30.
The finally impenitent are those who have chosen Satan and his ways and have grieved away the Holy Spirit. God says of them “because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.” 2 Chronicles 24:20. These wicked people then are the agents of Satan, so they wage war against those whom God calls Christians. This is spiritual warfare and God has sounded the battle cry.
Armed for Battle
In order for the Christian to engage in this spiritual war, God says, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles [trickery] of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13.
“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about [girded] with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Ephesians 6:14-18.
The Christian must, first and foremost, be armed for battle against sin and Satan. “For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19. If the Christian has been overcome by Satan and is, therefore, in bondage to sin they cannot be “a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3) for he or she is ineffective. Regarding such persons God says, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Proverbs 28:9.
Regarding the individuals who have been overcome by Satan and are in his power, and yet they seek to war against Satan, God says it is as if Satan, “he esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones” (Job 41:27, 28), stones flung from a sling, “are turned with him into stubble. Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.” Job 41:28, 29. In other words, Satan laughs at the attempts of such individuals to engage in spiritual warfare with him.
But if the Christian has on “the whole armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11) then they may say, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31. “My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.” Psalm 7:10. Those then who are spiritually armed are invincible in that Satan cannot overthrow them.
Putting Demons to Flight
Those who are not transformed by God are those who are in “the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy 2:26. They are influenced by evil angels who control their will. Therefore, the task of bringing their mind into conformity with God’s law of love involves a battle for the mind of these individuals. This can only be accomplished by successfully wresting control of their mind from the evil influence of Satan and the other demons and instead causing their mind to be controlled by God.
In this warfare, there is no middle ground, either we are controlled by Satan or we are controlled by God. Those who have chosen Satan’s ways are his followers, and Satan uses them as his agents in his warfare against God and the righteous.
But how can the Christian battle against Satan and his followers among mankind? In answer to this question let us consider what Christ says in this regard. “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19.
“Verily I say unto you, 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. “Howbeit this kind [of demon] goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:21.
The Christian can fight in this war only in the spiritual realm through prayer. For Christ has given the true Christian “power to tread on serpents and scorpions” (Luke 10:19), power to triumph over demons. By prayer, asking God to bind the demons and to loose their victims, our God in heaven acts to answer these prayers by His mighty power.
For God says, “The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten [defeated] before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.” Deuteronomy 28:7. So, when we pray, our prayers may cause demons, who are the evil angels, to flee through the authority granted us by Christ.
God says that the true Christian may say in truth, “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 strong holds [strongholds];) casting down imaginations, and every high thing [every demon] that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
In this warfare, the Christian is victorious when first of all their own mind, and after that the minds of those for whom they pray, are such that God’s grace has brought “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5. It is their prayers and not physical warfare wherein they “war after the flesh” (2 Corinthians 10:3) which have prevailed with God to make themselves and those for whom they pray obedient to God’s law of love. This means that the Christian may say in truth, “We are labourers together with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:9.
Now God said of a particular king, “He went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.” 2 Chronicles 26:6. This king prevailed against his enemies and built cities, probably garrisons which are military posts, in the territory of his enemies.
Likewise, in the spiritual realm, the Christian who is victorious in prayer may establish strongholds for God in the midst of Satan’s kingdom, by rescuing souls from Satan’s power.
The Example of Daniel
Let us consider the example of a godly man named Daniel who said, “In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled…Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen.” Daniel 10:2-5.
“And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee…for unto thee am I now sent. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.” Daniel 10:11, 12.
“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.” Daniel 10:13. “Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia.” Daniel 10:20.
God sent an angel from heaven to speak with Daniel in answer to his prayers. The angel was seeking to wrest control of the minds of the rulers of Persia from the demon which the angel called “the prince of the kingdom of Persia.” Daniel 10:13. Three full weeks elapsed before “Michael” (Daniel 10:13), who is Christ, intervened to assist the angel. This example of Daniel shows the warfare going on in the spiritual realm that is invisible to our sight.
Now God says, “I will lead on softly [gently], according as…[they] be able to endure, until I come unto” (Genesis 33:14) the desired end. In other words, the salvation of persons often involves victories that God wins day by day in turning their minds from sin to holiness.
We can learn from the example of Daniel that in praying to save souls, we are not to let go of God’s arm too soon. We must continue praying until we have evidence from God that He has the victory over Satan. This final victory may not come until after a long, protracted process of God leading the person “in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:24. Thereafter, our prayers are still necessary to keep them on the right path because they continue to receive God’s grace.
We may not see any evidence of the desired end, which is their conversion to God, before weeks, months, or years have passed. We may even pray for a lifetime and die without seeing an answer to our prayers. But God will continue to work to answer every sincere prayer even after we have died and so our prayers are not in vain.
God Calls for United Prayer
Christ says, “I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19, 20.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14. God calls for those who pray for others to unite in prayer.
Moreover, God says, “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2. God who is “the Lord of the harvest” (Luke 10:2) calls the gathering of a crop of persons converted from sin to righteousness from all over the earth His harvest of souls. This harvest God says is great in that there are many persons to be gathered into heaven forever to live in God’s presence.
Nevertheless, God says that those among all humanity who “are labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9) are few. For God says, that in addition to praying for others, we are to obey God’s gospel commission, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), that is, to every person. But God says those who labour in prayer, and in the spreading of the gospel in whatever way they can, are few in number.
Therefore, God says, these labourers should pray to God that their numbers might be increased when God shall “send forth labourers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2. In other words, God calls for the worldwide, united prayer and the earnest work of those who are now themselves “labourers together with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:9.
For God says, “Ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.” Leviticus 26:7, 8.
Five praying, true Christians, can put one hundred demons to flight and likewise one hundred such praying Christians can put ten thousand demons to flight. But God also says, “One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.” Joshua 23:10. “How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight?” Deuteronomy 32:30.
Now the demons control the will of the wicked and whisper evil thoughts to them, not audibly but in a supernatural way, which stirs the evil passions of the sinful nature. Putting the demons to flight, removes this ungodly influence and makes the wicked more susceptible to hearing what God has to say to them through the Holy Spirit.
How is it then that a thousand or more demons may be put to flight by one or two persons? We find the answer when we consider the instance of a godly man named Elijah. “Elias [Elijah] was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” James 5:17, 18.
Elijah prayed and God gave him his request in that it did not rain for three and a half years because of the people’s sins. Elijah prayed again and once again God gave him his request for God sent rain to water the earth once more when the people turned back to God from worshipping idols.
Now not many praying Christians have ever seen such powerful answers to their prayers. Why is this so? What made the difference with Elijah such that his prayers were met with the favour of God? We find the answer when we consider the end of Elijah’s life on earth.
“There appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire…and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” 2 Kings 2:11. “By faith” (Hebrews 11:5), Elijah, “was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Hebrews 11:5. Elijah was taken to heaven by God without him ever dying because God was pleased with him.
What made the difference with Elijah was that his character was perfected by God’s divine influence such that he was obedient to God’s law of love. So, the more fully we become transformed by God into Christ’s character of love, the greater the favour with which our prayers are received by God. This then is the reason why it is possible that “one man of you shall chase a thousand” (Joshua 23:10) demons.
God Delivers Us and Others from Satan
All humanity may pray to God saying of themselves, “Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.” Psalm 56:2. “Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler [large shield], and stand up for mine help.” Psalm 35:1, 2.
“Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.” Psalm 35:3. “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” Psalm 18:3. Now we may say that we have no enemies, but the reality is that everyone who has left the ranks of Satan’s army to follow Christ has enemies.
Who are these foes? They are Satan and his evil angels as well as Satan’s agents among mankind and the world in general which is opposed to righteousness. These are they who are “despisers of those that are good.” 2 Timothy 3:3. But fear not because of your numerous enemies. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.
If we know that we have God’s favour we may say, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1. In other words, we may say, “God gives me the light of His truth and saves me from eternal death because His divine influence is” “the [moral] strength of my life.” Psalm 27:1.
The experience then of those who have God as their defence is that “he [God] delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.” Psalm 18:17. Such persons may say in truth “When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” Psalm 27:2, 3.
Likewise, our prayers for others might shield them from Satan’s malice “for them that sin not unto [eternal] death.” 1 John 5:16. For “our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” Psalm 115:3. God is He who “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11), “wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.” Ephesians 1:8. “For…he also did predestinate [predestine us] to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29), to be conformed to Christ’s character of love.
Our prayers to God for others might shield them and not will always shield them from Satan if they are walking in Satan’s ways. Even so we may trust God’s wisdom in whatever happens to those for whom we pray. For every human being may know that “he [God] restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3.
“Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8. Our prayers then for ourselves and others will always defend the godly, but might defend the ungodly from Satan’s wickedness.
Intercessory Prayer a Proof of Our Love
God says, “There is a sin unto [eternal] death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” 1 John 5:16.”For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7. We cannot read the heart, only God can.
God alone knows the exact spiritual condition of an individual, whether they “sin unto [eternal] death” (1 John 5:16) or not. Therefore, our part is to pray to God saying, I pray “for them that sin not unto [eternal] death” (1 John 5:16), and then leave the results of our prayers with God.
Now God says, “He who loveth God love his brother also.” 1 John 4:21. Thus, all mankind should say of themselves, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:7, 8. For if we will not even pray for others, this is a sure indication that while we may profess to be Christians, we are Christians in name only for we do not have true love in our hearts.
Daily our earnest work should accompany our prayers in that we should seek to edify everyone and, hence, be labourers together with God. In so doing, we “sow beside all waters” (Isaiah 32:20) not knowing if the gospel seed we have sown “whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Ecclesiastes 11:6.
This then is proof that we are the people of whom God says, “Ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law.” Isaiah 51:7. God’s law of love is written in our hearts.
The Fruit of Our Labour
God promises us saying, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Psalm 2:8. When we pray for others, God promises to save those who do not resist His will and God counts these persons as those who have been won to Christ by our prayers. This then is the fruit of our “labour of love.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3.