WEBVTT 00:00:01.129 --> 00:00:04.349 When you watch the news, observe the culture, 00:00:04.509 --> 00:00:08.529 see the evil that's happening around the world 00:00:08.529 --> 00:00:12.009 and the challenges in families, have you ever 00:00:12.009 --> 00:00:16.449 wondered, what can I do? Is there any hope? Today, 00:00:16.550 --> 00:00:19.170 I want to tell you you're in a cosmic conflict 00:00:19.170 --> 00:00:22.230 and there's something that you can do that will 00:00:22.230 --> 00:00:25.989 make an absolutely vital difference in families, 00:00:26.170 --> 00:00:28.989 churches, communities, and the nation that we 00:00:28.989 --> 00:00:32.429 live in. It's a spiritual weapon that changes 00:00:32.429 --> 00:00:35.789 the course of history. Stay with me. Learn what 00:00:35.789 --> 00:00:40.409 it is and how to use it. Welcome to this edition 00:00:40.409 --> 00:00:43.909 of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. The mission 00:00:43.909 --> 00:00:46.450 of this daily program is to intentionally disciple 00:00:46.450 --> 00:00:48.950 Christians through the insightful Bible teaching 00:00:48.950 --> 00:00:51.390 of Chip Ingram. And we're nearing the end of 00:00:51.390 --> 00:00:54.049 his series, The Invisible War, what every believer 00:00:54.049 --> 00:00:56.829 needs to know about Satan, demons, and spiritual 00:00:56.829 --> 00:00:59.820 warfare. And today, Chip's going to help us prepare 00:00:59.820 --> 00:01:02.640 for the intense spiritual battles we may encounter 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:05.540 by revealing a powerful weapon God's given us. 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:08.000 So go again in your Bible to Ephesians chapter 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:11.540 6, beginning in verse 18, as we join Chip for 00:01:11.540 --> 00:01:14.579 today's talk, How to Gain Deliverance from Demonic 00:01:14.579 --> 00:01:18.219 Influence. I want to read a story. It's a true 00:01:18.219 --> 00:01:23.019 story. It comes out of a book that... It's sort 00:01:23.019 --> 00:01:25.040 of a devotional little book, but I want you to 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:27.540 just listen. A missionary was serving as a medic 00:01:27.540 --> 00:01:29.700 at a small field through a hospital in Africa. 00:01:30.420 --> 00:01:32.980 Periodically had to travel by bicycle through 00:01:32.980 --> 00:01:36.260 the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. It 00:01:36.260 --> 00:01:38.640 was a two -day trip, so he had to camp out overnight. 00:01:39.319 --> 00:01:42.099 He had made the trip several times without incident. 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:47.099 One day, however, he arrived at his destination 00:01:47.099 --> 00:01:50.260 and saw that two men were fighting. One was seriously 00:01:50.260 --> 00:01:54.150 hurt. So he treated him, witnessed to him, and 00:01:54.150 --> 00:01:57.049 went about his business. Upon arriving in the 00:01:57.049 --> 00:01:59.329 city again several weeks later, he was approached 00:01:59.329 --> 00:02:04.170 by the man that he had treated. He said, I know 00:02:04.170 --> 00:02:06.969 you carry money and medicine, said the man to 00:02:06.969 --> 00:02:09.389 the missionary. Some friends and I followed you 00:02:09.389 --> 00:02:12.509 into the jungle that night after you treated 00:02:12.509 --> 00:02:14.530 me, knowing you would have to camp overnight. 00:02:15.069 --> 00:02:17.849 We waited for you to go to sleep, and we planned 00:02:17.849 --> 00:02:19.750 to kill you and take your money and the drugs. 00:02:20.300 --> 00:02:22.819 Just as we started moving into the campsite, 00:02:22.840 --> 00:02:26.680 we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards. 00:02:27.020 --> 00:02:29.900 There were only six of us, and we knew we couldn't 00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:33.900 possibly get near you, so we left. Hearing this, 00:02:33.939 --> 00:02:37.280 the missionary laughed. He said, well, that's 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:40.180 impossible. I assure you, I was alone that night 00:02:40.180 --> 00:02:43.919 in the campsite. The young man pressed his point. 00:02:43.939 --> 00:02:46.439 He says, no, sir, I was not the only one who 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:49.090 saw the guards. My friends also saw them and 00:02:49.090 --> 00:02:51.210 we all counted them and we were all frightened. 00:02:52.090 --> 00:02:54.289 It was because of those guards that we left you 00:02:54.289 --> 00:02:58.289 alone. Several months later, the missionary attended 00:02:58.289 --> 00:03:00.590 a church and made the presentation in Michigan 00:03:00.590 --> 00:03:03.370 where he told about his experience in Africa. 00:03:04.189 --> 00:03:07.210 One of the congregants jumped to his feet, interrupted 00:03:07.210 --> 00:03:09.610 the missionary and said something that left everyone 00:03:09.610 --> 00:03:13.310 in the church absolutely stunned. We were there 00:03:13.310 --> 00:03:16.090 with you in spirit, the man said. The missionary 00:03:16.090 --> 00:03:20.409 looked. The man continued, on that night in Africa, 00:03:20.509 --> 00:03:23.930 it was morning here. I stopped by the church 00:03:23.930 --> 00:03:25.930 to gather some materials for an out -of -town 00:03:25.930 --> 00:03:29.229 trip to go to another parish. But as I put my 00:03:29.229 --> 00:03:32.569 bags into the trunk, I felt the Lord leading 00:03:32.569 --> 00:03:35.650 me to pray for you. The urging was so compelling 00:03:35.650 --> 00:03:38.289 and so strong, I called the men of the church 00:03:38.289 --> 00:03:41.009 to gather to pray for you. Then the man stood 00:03:41.009 --> 00:03:43.449 up and turned around and said, will all of you 00:03:43.449 --> 00:03:46.020 men who met with me that morning, Please stand 00:03:46.020 --> 00:03:55.039 up. And one by one, all 26 men stood up. And 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:57.680 I would say intercessory prayer is the pivotal 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:02.400 and essential aspect for corporate and individual 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:05.639 deliverance. Notice how Paul ends, verses 18 00:04:05.639 --> 00:04:10.340 to 20. With all prayer and petition, pray at 00:04:10.340 --> 00:04:13.879 all times, how? In the Spirit. And with this 00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:17.360 in view, be on the alert with all perseverance 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:22.060 and petition for all the saints and pray on my 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:24.779 behalf. And what's he pray? That the utterance 00:04:24.779 --> 00:04:26.959 may be given to me in the opening of my mouth 00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:29.660 to make known with boldness the mystery of the 00:04:29.660 --> 00:04:33.060 gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains. 00:04:33.660 --> 00:04:37.740 That is proclaiming it that I may speak boldly 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:40.959 as I ought to speak. I want you to look at that 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:44.759 last paragraph and circle the word all, all prayer, 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:50.779 all times, all the saints. And then I want you 00:04:50.779 --> 00:04:55.319 to underline prayer, petition, alert, perseverance, 00:04:55.920 --> 00:05:00.060 petition, pray on my behalf, utterance given 00:05:00.060 --> 00:05:06.720 to me. Is there any doubt that this is talking 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:11.029 about a... level of prayer that isn't sort of 00:05:11.029 --> 00:05:14.990 casually talking to God in the car and hoping 00:05:14.990 --> 00:05:19.029 some good things happen. The summary of verses 00:05:19.029 --> 00:05:22.689 18 to 20 is the means by which believers are 00:05:22.689 --> 00:05:27.230 to withstand and overcome the attacks of the 00:05:27.230 --> 00:05:30.629 enemy in spiritual warfare is by consistent, 00:05:30.790 --> 00:05:35.509 intense, strategic prayer for one another in 00:05:35.509 --> 00:05:38.540 conjunction with the personal application of 00:05:38.540 --> 00:05:41.339 the armor of God. And so what I want to do is 00:05:41.339 --> 00:05:43.980 give you in our time together an overview of 00:05:43.980 --> 00:05:48.220 what does consistent, strategic, intentional, 00:05:48.259 --> 00:05:50.720 and intense prayer look like from this passage. 00:05:51.379 --> 00:05:54.459 And then a bit later, I want to talk about actual 00:05:54.459 --> 00:05:56.980 deliverance ministry and at least give an overview 00:05:56.980 --> 00:06:01.079 of that. Intercessory prayer is our most powerful 00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:03.579 and strategic corporate weapon in spiritual warfare. 00:06:04.180 --> 00:06:08.149 Prayer has a direct impact on spiritual warfare. 00:06:09.629 --> 00:06:14.209 Mark chapter 9, verses 29, they come down from 00:06:14.209 --> 00:06:17.029 the Mount of Transfiguration, and a man says, 00:06:17.170 --> 00:06:22.110 Jesus, help me. Your disciples have tried to 00:06:22.110 --> 00:06:24.970 cast out this demon, and it won't. And Jesus 00:06:24.970 --> 00:06:30.269 says, this kind only comes out by prayer and 00:06:30.269 --> 00:06:34.850 fasting. There seems to be a direct correlation 00:06:34.850 --> 00:06:38.360 between a kind of prayer, a level of prayer. 00:06:39.139 --> 00:06:41.800 Prayer provides and assists in the deliverance 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:43.500 of others who are undergoing spiritual attack. 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:49.000 Luke 22, Peter, Satan has sought to sift you 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:53.560 like wheat, but I have prayed for you. Power 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:58.350 falls where prayer prevails. All I want you to 00:06:58.350 --> 00:07:00.329 get, I want you to get that prayer isn't like 00:07:00.329 --> 00:07:02.529 an add -on or it's a few words here and there. 00:07:02.689 --> 00:07:05.769 The scripture is teaching that this is vital, 00:07:06.029 --> 00:07:09.389 pivotal, core to spiritual warfare and victory. 00:07:11.850 --> 00:07:14.829 I did a study in the book of Acts and I put it 00:07:14.829 --> 00:07:17.600 in front of you. I went through all the key passages 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:19.939 and all the breakthroughs. And you'll notice 00:07:19.939 --> 00:07:23.839 where prayer, Acts 1, Acts 2 .42, 3 .1, chapter 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:28.060 4, chapter 6, chapter 8, chapter 9, chapter 10. 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:30.899 Church history is replete. The Welsh revival 00:07:30.899 --> 00:07:35.459 started with a handful of people. People who 00:07:35.459 --> 00:07:37.819 met together each Saturday night and prayed. 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:40.899 God spoke to them. And there was a revival there 00:07:40.899 --> 00:07:42.980 that spread across the world. The layman's prayer 00:07:42.980 --> 00:07:45.480 revival in the 1800s. There wasn't a pastor. 00:07:45.579 --> 00:07:47.680 There was no preaching. It moved from city to 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:50.819 city to city where during the noon hour, a handful 00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:53.160 of businessmen said, let's pray. Three requests, 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:55.680 pray for him. Three requests, pray for him. And 00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:58.319 then it went Chicago, New York, all across the 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:03.220 country. Experts say millions of people came 00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:06.000 to Christ. The great awakening in the United 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:09.579 States, our history at Living on the Edge. I 00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:12.579 was sitting around a table and, you know, we've 00:08:12.579 --> 00:08:15.319 almost gone out of business once or twice, didn't 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:17.579 have sufficient funds. We've had times where 00:08:17.579 --> 00:08:21.120 we were taking big steps of faith and either 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:23.620 our family members or people on our team, we 00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:25.800 had like cancer, like five different people. 00:08:25.860 --> 00:08:30.790 It was like all hell breaking loose. And in those 00:08:30.790 --> 00:08:33.230 times, we learn to pray with intensity and we 00:08:33.230 --> 00:08:36.009 learn to fast. And I was with our staff recently 00:08:36.009 --> 00:08:37.990 and we have a number of new staff members that 00:08:37.990 --> 00:08:40.509 said, we don't pray every day because we're holy 00:08:40.509 --> 00:08:43.710 or noble or we think it's a good idea. We've 00:08:43.710 --> 00:08:47.070 been in crises and we've seen God deliver. We 00:08:47.070 --> 00:08:50.350 just decided, why don't we realize how desperate 00:08:50.350 --> 00:08:53.539 we are all the time? So we're going to pray. 00:08:53.580 --> 00:08:56.080 And when we give a small group to someone, we 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:58.039 say, how can we pray for you? And then we check 00:08:58.039 --> 00:09:00.480 back and how it's doing. And we pray for the 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:03.340 people that get connected. And I knew what was 00:09:03.340 --> 00:09:05.340 going to happen here. And so the Wednesday before 00:09:05.340 --> 00:09:07.159 we came, it was like, let's have a day of fasting 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:10.779 and prayer. It's voluntary. But the great majority 00:09:10.779 --> 00:09:13.559 of all of our staff said, we know what would 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:15.740 be happening in your lives. And I knew what was 00:09:15.740 --> 00:09:18.039 going to happen in my life. And I knew what probably 00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:24.799 what would happen here. God hears where prayer 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:30.480 prevails, power falls. What kinds of prayer bring 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:34.480 God's deliverance and power? It's not casual, 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:37.639 trite little prayers. Notice it's consistent 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:42.000 prayer, verse 18, with all prayer and petition. 00:09:42.340 --> 00:09:45.519 The first word there is a general word for prayer. 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:49.080 Notice it's... All prayers, all kinds of prayer 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:52.759 and petition, very specific. And so it's not 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:55.679 just asking, asking, asking. I think one of the 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:57.639 great breakthroughs that will help you in your 00:09:57.639 --> 00:10:01.279 prayer life is realize that God longs to be worshiped. 00:10:01.299 --> 00:10:03.419 You know, that little acronym that you learn 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:06.440 somewhere, A -C -T -S, adoration, confession, 00:10:06.779 --> 00:10:10.370 thanksgiving, supplication. The kind of prayer 00:10:10.370 --> 00:10:13.750 where we recognize God for who he is. We begin 00:10:13.750 --> 00:10:15.730 to thank him for what he's done and it builds 00:10:15.730 --> 00:10:17.950 up our faith. We come and we want to be clean 00:10:17.950 --> 00:10:20.129 and we confess our sins. And then we say, now, 00:10:20.210 --> 00:10:23.950 holy, almighty, all -powerful God, who you want 00:10:23.950 --> 00:10:26.330 to change the whole world. You're not willing 00:10:26.330 --> 00:10:29.450 that any should perish. We bring these petitions 00:10:29.450 --> 00:10:33.840 before you consistently. And when God sees that, 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:37.100 I think he just leans over and longs to answer 00:10:37.100 --> 00:10:40.120 our prayers. It's not just all kinds of prayer, 00:10:40.220 --> 00:10:43.240 but he says, pray at all times on all occasions. 00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:46.120 I think there's two kinds of prayer. I think 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:50.679 we all need protracted, quiet, extended times 00:10:50.679 --> 00:10:54.419 to pray. And then I think we need to have these 00:10:54.419 --> 00:10:57.600 punctuated, we're commanded in 1 Thessalonians, 00:10:57.620 --> 00:11:01.539 right? Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, 00:11:02.269 --> 00:11:05.049 In everything give thanks for this is the will 00:11:05.049 --> 00:11:08.250 of God for you in Christ Jesus. And as you study 00:11:08.250 --> 00:11:11.169 that passage, it's like a coughing prayer. It's 00:11:11.169 --> 00:11:13.289 like, you know, when your mind is free, you're 00:11:13.289 --> 00:11:15.789 talking to God. You're in the car. You're walking 00:11:15.789 --> 00:11:17.909 from, you're picking up your bag and you're taking 00:11:17.909 --> 00:11:20.830 it out to the car. Someone comes to your mind 00:11:20.830 --> 00:11:22.409 and as they're coming to your mind, you're not 00:11:22.409 --> 00:11:25.710 in conversation. You're constantly, it would 00:11:25.710 --> 00:11:27.769 be Brother Lawrence when he talks about practicing 00:11:27.769 --> 00:11:31.870 the presence of God. Over time, you're cultivating 00:11:31.870 --> 00:11:34.929 an awareness where when you're not thinking about 00:11:34.929 --> 00:11:37.690 something else, you are talking to the Lord. 00:11:38.129 --> 00:11:40.230 And by the way, I think one of the most important 00:11:40.230 --> 00:11:43.429 things in prayer, and especially for people like 00:11:43.429 --> 00:11:51.330 me who talk a lot, is to be quiet. And especially 00:11:51.330 --> 00:11:53.789 in situations where you don't know what to do 00:11:53.789 --> 00:11:59.009 or you need wisdom, ask and then sit quietly. 00:12:00.750 --> 00:12:03.889 And learn to recognize God's voice and the promptings 00:12:03.889 --> 00:12:06.129 that he gives you. When he gives you a prompting 00:12:06.129 --> 00:12:09.129 that will cost you something, that might be embarrassing, 00:12:09.409 --> 00:12:11.370 that would really help other people, and that 00:12:11.370 --> 00:12:13.769 would glorify him, and you might not want to 00:12:13.769 --> 00:12:16.389 do it, there's a good chance it's from God. Because 00:12:16.389 --> 00:12:19.909 you wouldn't do that naturally. And you'll learn 00:12:19.909 --> 00:12:25.929 to recognize his voice. Consistent prayer. And 00:12:25.929 --> 00:12:29.720 intense prayer, not half -hearted prayer. Notice 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:31.700 it says, be on the alert. Literally, the word 00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:34.360 means without sleep. It means to be vigilant. 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:36.779 It means not going through the motions. And then 00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:39.399 it says, with all perseverance. It's not giving 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:42.600 up. Unless you're different than everyone else 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:45.139 in the world that I know, sometimes when you're 00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:48.639 praying, and it just feels like you're in mud 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:51.500 galoshes, and no matter how hard you try, you're 00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:54.240 not making any progress, or you begin to pray. 00:12:55.210 --> 00:12:57.350 You know, there's times, don't we all experience 00:12:57.350 --> 00:13:00.850 the presence of God when we're praying? And it's 00:13:00.850 --> 00:13:03.850 exciting and there's such a sense. And isn't 00:13:03.850 --> 00:13:08.090 there times where it's like, I mean, this is 00:13:08.090 --> 00:13:10.590 like, I'm not sure I'm even making it up to the 00:13:10.590 --> 00:13:12.429 ceiling, let alone through the ceiling, let alone 00:13:12.429 --> 00:13:15.950 to heaven, right? And it just feels dull and 00:13:15.950 --> 00:13:20.990 I'm not connected. The old saints used to talk 00:13:20.990 --> 00:13:25.200 about praying through. You know what happens? 00:13:25.340 --> 00:13:26.980 You know, the temptation when you get there is 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:30.399 like, you know, hey, I'll check you later. You 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:36.980 know, this is just, I'm, you know. Who do you 00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:41.600 think wants you to stop praying? You know, I 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:44.000 don't wake up every day. I really, really love 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:47.000 my wife deeply. But I don't wake up every day 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:49.940 with my emotions overflowing every single day. 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:53.100 But that has nothing to do with not loving her. 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:56.419 And I think many of us, especially out of our 00:13:56.419 --> 00:14:00.759 sort of evangelical mindset, is that if we don't 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:03.580 feel God and have some sort of ooey -gooey experience 00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:07.419 with Him, somehow He's not around. Faith is not 00:14:07.419 --> 00:14:11.000 based on. God hears you as much when you feel 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:15.220 Him as if you don't feel Him. In fact, it requires 00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:17.840 a lot more faith to do what's right when you're 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:20.440 not motivated and you don't want to do it. And 00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:23.279 what I find as you pray through, In the confession, 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:27.759 I don't always pray through, but I long to. And 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:31.240 what I know, it's these kind of prayers when 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:34.120 it's a battle. Elizabeth Elliot has a great little 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:37.059 book on prayer, and she has this line in it, 00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:41.120 and she says, I suppose people who ski like to 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:43.879 ski. I suppose they have the ability to ski. 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:46.039 And she says they not only have the ability to 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:47.559 ski, but they have a place where they can ski. 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:50.620 And they make time for skiing. And it's something 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:53.080 they do when they have the time and when they 00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:56.740 have the money. And her confession was, sometimes 00:14:56.740 --> 00:15:00.100 that's how I pray. I used to think prayer was 00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:02.360 a lot like skiing. You know, when I'm in the 00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:05.299 mood to pray, I think I'll pray. And when I can 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:07.639 make the time to pray, I think I'll pray. And 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:09.860 it really is a nice thing to do if you have the 00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:14.070 time. And then she has this line, but skiing 00:15:14.070 --> 00:15:18.610 is a sport and prayer is work. It's not skiing. 00:15:19.049 --> 00:15:22.970 It must be taken from other things that are very 00:15:22.970 --> 00:15:29.370 important. I've shared this a lot and I guess 00:15:29.370 --> 00:15:32.470 I'll keep sharing it. I live with a woman who 00:15:32.470 --> 00:15:36.909 prays like no one I've ever met. And I mean this, 00:15:36.929 --> 00:15:39.799 I think I will get to heaven. And I will get 00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:42.919 to see that I ran many, many errands that God 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:47.860 and Teresa had been talking about. And don't 00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:49.840 get me wrong, I pray and I'm growing in my prayer 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:55.080 life. But it's interesting, my kids are in a 00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:58.500 really big jam. Is mom home? Why? I need to ask 00:15:58.500 --> 00:16:01.340 her to really pray. We just have this track record 00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:06.340 of unbelievable, amazing answers to prayer. We 00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:08.860 have a... We went through a book together, and 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:11.799 one of the quotes was from Haddon Robinson. He 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:14.360 was a professor of preaching at Dallas, and then 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:16.820 later I think was the president of Denver Seminary, 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:19.860 and then later headed up a department at Gordon 00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:22.960 -Conwell. And it's a quick quote, but it's now 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:26.019 on all of our screens that comes up every day, 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:30.179 living on the edge. Prayer is the battle. Ministry 00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:34.879 is the spoils. Prayer is the battle. Ministry 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:39.059 is the spoils. You're listening to Living on 00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:41.559 the Edge with Chip Ingram, and we'll get you 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:44.220 back to today's program in just a second. But 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:46.139 first, I want to tell you that this insightful 00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:49.620 teaching from Ephesians chapter 6 is also in 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:52.620 a helpful small group format. So if you're not 00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:55.419 in authentic community, or you and your friends 00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:57.679 are looking for something else to study, order 00:16:57.679 --> 00:17:00.559 the resources for The Invisible War small group 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:03.259 today. Stick around after the message to learn 00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:05.940 how. With that, here again is Chip to continue 00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:09.049 his talk. It's the kind of prayer that's consistent, 00:17:09.309 --> 00:17:13.029 it's intense, and then it's strategic. Notice 00:17:13.029 --> 00:17:17.589 he says, I pray for all the saints. God's messengers 00:17:17.589 --> 00:17:20.369 will be bold. That utterance may be given. It's 00:17:20.369 --> 00:17:24.309 about God's message. Warren Wiersbe said, prayer 00:17:24.309 --> 00:17:27.109 is the energy that allows the soldier to wear 00:17:27.109 --> 00:17:32.549 the army and wield the sword. And I think... 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:36.079 When you listen to what Paul prayed, and I'm 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:39.220 going to say something only because I think we're 00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:43.980 missing out. We tend to unconsciously get very 00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:47.460 self -focused. And what I'm about to say, especially 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:50.160 for you, like, take it literally, people. I'm 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:52.500 not saying you shouldn't do this. What I'm saying 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:56.240 is, don't let it get limited to this. We've unconsciously... 00:17:56.569 --> 00:17:58.950 got this idea that we live in this silo. And 00:17:58.950 --> 00:18:01.390 so Lord, help me and help my husband, help my 00:18:01.390 --> 00:18:05.029 kids. And we've got a need over here and grandma's 00:18:05.029 --> 00:18:08.069 ankle hurts. And Lord, would you help our church? 00:18:08.210 --> 00:18:12.230 And you pray some specific things. And oh gosh, 00:18:12.329 --> 00:18:15.009 the mall is so full at this time. Would you please, 00:18:15.130 --> 00:18:17.069 could I get a parking spot like on the first 00:18:17.069 --> 00:18:20.849 or second floor? And by the way, you know what? 00:18:20.869 --> 00:18:22.750 I think God hears there's nothing too small. 00:18:23.910 --> 00:18:27.470 But when you read, The prayers in scripture, 00:18:27.890 --> 00:18:32.549 God, I pray that you might open their eyes. They 00:18:32.549 --> 00:18:34.470 might have spiritual discernment to understand 00:18:34.470 --> 00:18:37.029 who you really are. Lord, I pray that they might 00:18:37.029 --> 00:18:38.829 know the height and depth and length and breadth 00:18:38.829 --> 00:18:41.750 and know the love of God that surpasses knowledge. 00:18:41.990 --> 00:18:45.369 Here he prays, give me utterance and boldness 00:18:45.369 --> 00:18:48.210 that your message and your messengers. When do 00:18:48.210 --> 00:18:50.910 we pray? God, we want to reach the city. God, 00:18:50.950 --> 00:18:52.930 will you cause these churches to get unified? 00:18:53.329 --> 00:18:56.289 God, would you do something radical in our culture? 00:18:56.569 --> 00:18:58.630 Lord, would you cause the gospel to go forth 00:18:58.630 --> 00:19:00.990 through all the continents? In other words, Paul's 00:19:00.990 --> 00:19:04.349 praying a missional prayer. Paul's saying, it's 00:19:04.349 --> 00:19:06.809 not about, does my life work out? Am I happy 00:19:06.809 --> 00:19:10.230 today? Is my knee feeling a little better? Do 00:19:10.230 --> 00:19:17.519 I have a parking spot? And again, I'm glad when 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:19.980 he answers about my knee. And it is kind of neat 00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:22.180 when, wow, hey, there's a parking spot. I think 00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:24.599 we should let, those are those, as you're driving, 00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:27.119 as you're thinking, you're always talking with 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:30.259 the Lord. But there's sometimes you need to get 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:33.500 your armor on and you need to understand we have 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:37.089 been given a mission to take. The gospel to the 00:19:37.089 --> 00:19:40.930 ends of the earth. And I am in his ambassadors. 00:19:41.109 --> 00:19:43.549 And I want to pray for the message. And I want 00:19:43.549 --> 00:19:45.589 to pray for the messenger. And I want him to 00:19:45.589 --> 00:19:49.349 use me here and my family here and my kids and 00:19:49.349 --> 00:19:53.029 my grandkids and this church. He says, ask of 00:19:53.029 --> 00:19:56.829 me and I will give you the nations. I think we're 00:19:56.829 --> 00:19:59.450 asking really small little prayers and we get 00:19:59.450 --> 00:20:03.089 really small little answers. Ask him for big 00:20:03.089 --> 00:20:05.450 things that you know for sure are on his heart. 00:20:06.009 --> 00:20:10.170 And you just might be shocked at what the Lord 00:20:10.170 --> 00:20:13.750 will do. The summary is the missing ingredient 00:20:13.750 --> 00:20:16.009 in most Christian lives and in most churches 00:20:16.009 --> 00:20:20.089 is a commitment and regular practice of intercessory 00:20:20.089 --> 00:20:24.250 prayer. Scripture indicates its individual and 00:20:24.250 --> 00:20:28.690 corporate consistent, intense, strategic responsibility. 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:34.819 that will in fact deliver one from evil. I have 00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:37.700 a quote here that I put in your notes by S .D. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:43.000 Gordon. Follow along as I read it. And by the 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:46.579 way, it is so convicting that maybe that's what 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:49.839 we need. The great people of the earth today 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:53.640 are the people who pray. I do not mean those 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:57.019 who talk about prayer, nor those who say they 00:20:57.019 --> 00:21:00.400 believe in prayer. nor those who can explain 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:04.200 about prayer. But I mean people who take time 00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:08.140 and pray. They have not the time. It must be 00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:12.279 taken from something else. This something else 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:17.079 is very important and pressing, but still less 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:23.099 important and less pressing than prayer. And 00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:28.190 so I want to pause and just say, okay, We've 00:21:28.190 --> 00:21:31.750 talked about the reality of a war, of spiritual 00:21:31.750 --> 00:21:35.869 warfare, a command to stand firm. The way to 00:21:35.869 --> 00:21:38.710 stand firm is we put on our armor. Okay, we're 00:21:38.710 --> 00:21:40.210 going to have the shield of faith, the helmet 00:21:40.210 --> 00:21:43.049 of salvation. And then we're going to sort of 00:21:43.049 --> 00:21:48.509 weave all this together with prayer. And here's 00:21:48.509 --> 00:21:50.990 the summary statement I really want you to get. 00:21:51.349 --> 00:21:54.029 It is because this is not about, oh, I came. 00:21:54.750 --> 00:21:57.609 from studying on spiritual warfare, and now I'm 00:21:57.609 --> 00:22:00.690 either fearful. The great majority of the teaching 00:22:00.690 --> 00:22:04.529 on spiritual warfare in the Bible has to do with 00:22:04.529 --> 00:22:10.230 alertness, preparation, defense, and being proactive 00:22:10.230 --> 00:22:12.970 to prevent demonic influence from breaking our 00:22:12.970 --> 00:22:15.990 fellowship with Christ and thwarting God's program 00:22:15.990 --> 00:22:19.470 in our lives. What are we to do, however, when 00:22:19.470 --> 00:22:22.440 the enemy gets a foothold in a life? Ours or 00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:26.039 someone we know and love. So what I want you 00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:29.240 to get is, if you walk with God, if you're renewing 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:32.240 your mind, if you're listening to Him, if you're 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:34.920 in a community of believers, the great majority 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:37.660 of the spiritual attack you'll catch, you'll 00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:40.900 walk with God, but there are times, and this 00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:45.640 is the big shift, when there's some avenues where 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:49.140 the enemy begins to get a foothold, either in 00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:52.569 your life or someone else's, What do you do? 00:22:53.069 --> 00:22:54.849 I mean, what are we to make of this whole thing 00:22:54.849 --> 00:22:59.630 called the ministry of deliverance? The central 00:22:59.630 --> 00:23:01.769 text of the New Testament on spiritual warfare 00:23:01.769 --> 00:23:06.349 is Ephesians 6, put on the armor. Now I want 00:23:06.349 --> 00:23:09.890 to give you more of an overview. And you'll see 00:23:09.890 --> 00:23:12.130 I've given you lots of notes and lots of passages. 00:23:12.250 --> 00:23:16.170 And this really is the kind of thing that you 00:23:16.170 --> 00:23:20.380 need to study and check out. and discuss and 00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:23.140 become aware of. But I think this whole ministry 00:23:23.140 --> 00:23:27.220 of deliverance is one that is really, there's 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:30.500 either huge extremes that you need to avoid or 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:33.779 the thought that this never happens anyway. So 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:36.759 what I've done is I'm going to talk about its 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:39.759 validity. I'm going to talk about the problems 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:42.319 of this kind of a ministry. I'm going to talk 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:45.319 about the causes of demonic influence, evidences 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:47.319 in the New Testament. Then I'm going to talk 00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:50.279 about What specific action steps would normal, 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:54.059 ordinary people like us take if there's a clear 00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:57.440 indication that someone is either oppressed or 00:23:57.440 --> 00:24:00.799 harassed or actually engaged in ways where demonic 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:03.720 influence, and you need to do something about 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:06.019 it? So with that, let's look at the validity 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:09.740 of the ministry. Jesus regularly exercised this 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:12.140 ministry. If you go through the Gospels, about 00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:18.750 25 % to 30 % of his time and energy casting out 00:24:18.750 --> 00:24:20.849 demons as one of the things that he does. The 00:24:20.849 --> 00:24:23.990 apostles regularly exercise this ministry. On 00:24:23.990 --> 00:24:25.809 their first little mission trip, you remember 00:24:25.809 --> 00:24:28.329 what he did? He gave them authority over demons 00:24:28.329 --> 00:24:31.069 and authority to heal as he was going to validate 00:24:31.069 --> 00:24:34.670 his mission. The early church regularly exercise 00:24:34.670 --> 00:24:37.529 this ministry. In Acts 16, we have this situation 00:24:37.529 --> 00:24:40.890 where the occult was so heavy that the people 00:24:40.890 --> 00:24:42.869 came, remember, they brought all their satanic 00:24:42.869 --> 00:24:46.150 books and they burned them. And then Simon saw 00:24:46.150 --> 00:24:49.069 the power of God even greater, and he tried to 00:24:49.069 --> 00:24:52.509 buy it, and he got a sharp rebuke. In the early 00:24:52.509 --> 00:24:58.150 church, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Origen, Athanasius, 00:24:58.289 --> 00:25:01.670 all the way the first 400 years of the church, 00:25:01.849 --> 00:25:04.630 deliverance ministry from demonic influence, 00:25:04.970 --> 00:25:09.869 it's a norm. There's an excellent article you 00:25:09.869 --> 00:25:12.950 can Google. It's by Paul Thigpen, Discipleship 00:25:12.950 --> 00:25:18.410 Journal. Issue 81, 1994. He does a historic analysis 00:25:18.410 --> 00:25:21.990 of deliverance ministry from the first 400 years. 00:25:22.130 --> 00:25:24.450 In fact, in the early church, in the early hundreds 00:25:24.450 --> 00:25:27.329 of years, they actually had an office of deliverance. 00:25:27.910 --> 00:25:31.769 So this, for our modern ears, America, some of 00:25:31.769 --> 00:25:35.569 this may sound a little weird, but it's historic. 00:25:35.670 --> 00:25:38.309 The other thing is, this is not weird around 00:25:38.309 --> 00:25:43.339 the world. I remember You know, you think as 00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:46.299 people are modern and sophisticated, you know, 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:48.220 of course, you know, in the back in Papua New 00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:51.200 Guinea and maybe in Thailand or, you know, oh, 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:53.740 when you're in India, it is, man, there's just, 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:57.769 there's over a million gods there. And we would 00:25:57.769 --> 00:25:59.529 think of all those things, but I remember being 00:25:59.529 --> 00:26:03.869 in South Africa, and we were at a cemetery, and 00:26:03.869 --> 00:26:06.230 we'd been doing some ministry there, and it was 00:26:06.230 --> 00:26:10.170 a nicer part of town, and I watched Mercedes 00:26:10.170 --> 00:26:14.269 pull up. So these people were wealthy, well -educated, 00:26:14.329 --> 00:26:16.390 and they all were getting out, and they were 00:26:16.390 --> 00:26:20.069 taking food and flowers and different things 00:26:20.069 --> 00:26:24.589 and putting them on all these graves. And I turned 00:26:24.589 --> 00:26:26.970 to the guy that was with us. I said, what is 00:26:26.970 --> 00:26:30.690 this all about? Oh, I mean, they're scared to 00:26:30.690 --> 00:26:34.490 death of ancestral spirits. And they have manifestations 00:26:34.490 --> 00:26:37.190 of things in their home, and they're making an 00:26:37.190 --> 00:26:40.869 offering to the spirits of their father or grandfather 00:26:40.869 --> 00:26:45.049 or people that are manifesting, and they're scared 00:26:45.049 --> 00:26:48.490 to death. And so can you imagine having a modern 00:26:48.490 --> 00:26:51.440 mind, a modern job? driving up in a Mercedes 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:56.039 and making offerings to ancestral spirits out 00:26:56.039 --> 00:27:02.480 of fear. This is Living on the Edge with Chip 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:04.519 Ingram. And you've been listening to part one 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:06.900 of Chip's message, How to Gain Deliverance from 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:09.799 Demonic Influence from our series, The Invisible 00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:12.420 War. Chip will be back shortly to share some 00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:15.619 helpful application for us to think about. Right 00:27:15.619 --> 00:27:17.819 now, there's a spiritual battle happening all 00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:20.650 around us. We can't see it, but it's an epic 00:27:20.650 --> 00:27:23.549 struggle for our hearts and minds. So what are 00:27:23.549 --> 00:27:25.849 we as believers supposed to do? Well, through 00:27:25.849 --> 00:27:28.410 this eight -part study, Chip shares some insights 00:27:28.410 --> 00:27:31.490 from Ephesians chapter 6 for how we're to think 00:27:31.490 --> 00:27:34.470 about, prepare for, and respond to spiritual 00:27:34.470 --> 00:27:37.650 warfare. Learn why we don't have to be afraid 00:27:37.650 --> 00:27:40.150 because of the armor God's given us to fight 00:27:40.150 --> 00:27:42.990 back and fight well. To learn more about this 00:27:42.990 --> 00:27:47.289 series, visit livingontheedge .org or the Chip 00:27:47.289 --> 00:27:49.940 Ingram app. Well, Chip's with me in studio now 00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:53.319 to share a quick word. Thanks, Dave. Before we 00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:56.400 go any further, I want to remind you what we're 00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:59.480 learning in this series. There is a war happening 00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:02.960 all around us. We have an enemy whose purpose 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:06.200 is to destroy us and our connection with God. 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:09.259 And you have to know how to fight and to fight 00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:12.019 back effectively. I want to encourage you to 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:14.359 get the small group study, The Invisible War, 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:17.099 what every Christian needs to know about Satan, 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:20.480 demons, and spiritual warfare. It'll teach you 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:23.519 how Satan attacks, how to put on your armor, 00:28:23.660 --> 00:28:26.539 and how you already have the victory, but you 00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:29.950 have to possess it. You know, we're in a battle, 00:28:29.970 --> 00:28:32.690 and my experience over and over as a pastor, 00:28:32.869 --> 00:28:37.049 it's sitting around a table or in a living room 00:28:37.049 --> 00:28:40.569 with a group of people where you share, you pray, 00:28:40.809 --> 00:28:43.390 you share insights about what you're learning 00:28:43.390 --> 00:28:46.009 and where you're struggling, and you come together 00:28:46.009 --> 00:28:49.150 and put this into practice. That's where real 00:28:49.150 --> 00:28:51.809 growth occurs. Let me encourage you. Don't just 00:28:51.809 --> 00:28:54.789 read the book or listen to the message. Get the 00:28:54.789 --> 00:28:59.119 small group. Dig in. and say, Lord, you have 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:02.099 given us the victory. Would you now show us how 00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:04.660 to live it out day by day? To learn more about 00:29:04.660 --> 00:29:08.180 the Invisible War small group, go to livingontheedge 00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:11.799 .org. Join Chip in this vital study and uncover 00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:14.420 the biblical weapons and armor we've been given 00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:17.619 to withstand Satan's attacks and stand victorious 00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:20.420 over him. Place your order for the Invisible 00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:24.319 War small group by visiting livingontheedge .org. 00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:27.700 App listeners tap special offers. Well, with 00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:30.880 that, here again is Chip. As we close today's 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:33.579 program, what I'd like you to do is set your 00:29:33.579 --> 00:29:36.579 watch or set aside today, not tomorrow, today, 00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:40.440 15 minutes. I mean, if you have a timer, put 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:42.859 it on for 15 minutes, and then I want you to 00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:46.059 pray how you've learned today. Consistent, intense, 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:51.690 strategic prayers. for 15 minutes and do it today. 00:29:51.789 --> 00:29:54.910 If your mind wanders, it wanders. But you do 00:29:54.910 --> 00:29:57.529 this for 15 minutes and then you decide for the 00:29:57.529 --> 00:30:00.750 next few days to pray for 15 minutes, you will 00:30:00.750 --> 00:30:03.509 see progress, you will see answers, and you'll 00:30:03.509 --> 00:30:06.049 see deliverance. And here's a hint. If you struggle, 00:30:06.130 --> 00:30:08.670 find one or two other people that would be willing 00:30:08.670 --> 00:30:11.430 to partner in this kind of prayer and you will 00:30:11.430 --> 00:30:14.670 start to see amazing things happen. There's a 00:30:14.670 --> 00:30:18.190 secret weapon. It's called prayer. But it's a 00:30:18.190 --> 00:30:21.049 special kind of prayer, and you've got to use 00:30:21.049 --> 00:30:24.829 it. May God bless, encourage, and give you faith 00:30:24.829 --> 00:30:27.829 as you pray today. Great encouragement, Chip. 00:30:28.109 --> 00:30:30.150 Well, be sure to listen in next time as Chip 00:30:30.150 --> 00:30:33.069 wraps up our series, The Invisible War. Until 00:30:33.069 --> 00:30:35.690 then, this is Dave Drury saying thanks for joining 00:30:35.690 --> 00:30:38.150 us for this edition of Living on the Edge.