No one can stand firm against the powers of darkness who does not know his position and resources in Christ and the deceptive schemes of the foe he faces. Christ’s glorious salvation and our triumph in Him form the splendid scenery that is always brightly silhouetted against the somber background of Satan and demonic activity.
Those who imagine that they can triumph in Christ and not encounter satanic conflict deceive themselves. If they do not experience warfare, either their “triumph” is phony or their position in Christ is purely imaginary.[3] They are parading in the sphere of darkness, but somehow they are mistaking it for the realm of light.
To be delivered from the foe you must know and face the foe. You must claim the efficacy of the blood of Christ and the power of His name. You must face the foe in the light of what you are in Christ and what He has done for you. […] (p. 188)[4]
[R]ecognition of demonic activity with bold confrontation of the powers of darkness is necessary to be set free. Ignorance of Satan’s devices and theoretical armchair interpretations of Scripture that simply do not jibe with authenticated human experience hinder rather than help the ministry of deliverance.
Today a new and subtle device of Satan is springing up to distract saints from facing the foe. Because of the flood of anti-occult literature from the evangelical camp that perhaps discloses in some quarters an unhealthy preoccupation with Satan and demonic powers, some believers are falling into another satanic trap. They are loathe to [sic][5] hear anything at all about the powers of darkness. At best, they shy away from facing the full implications of the scriptural teachings on the subject.
This is just as truly the snare of the devil as fanatical occupation with the powers of darkness. If we are going to be delivered, we must face the enemy squarely. We dare not ignore him even if he appears under the masquerade of supposed biblical orthodoxy that sets arbitrary limits to his sway over a sinning saint where such limitations do not really exist.[6] (pp. 189–90)
Merrill F. Unger, What Demons Can Do to Saints (1977; repr., Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1991)
Copyright © The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1991. All rights reserved.
In order to purchase Unger’s What Demons Can Do to Saints (1977),* see the links to the following websites:
Notes
1. Namely Satan (Gk: Σατανᾶς, Satanas).2. Scriptural quotations labelled ‘NASB’ are taken from the New American Standard Bible (1977 text edition).
3. That is to say, such persons are deluded or self-deceived; they are not, in actuality, united to Christ by faith.
4. Believers must ground their identity completely in the person of Jesus Christ, placing their confidence fully in Christ’s redemptive work, specifically his sin-cancelling death on the cross. Satan is not intimidated by human beings – least of all sinful human beings – nor is he disposed to respond to any authority other than the Lord Jesus Christ.
5. Rather, they are loath to (i.e. reluctant; unwilling) hear of anything concerning the powers of darkness.
6. It is not uncommon for conservative Christians to radically underestimate the level of damage that Satan can inflict in the lives of believers who do not walk circumspectly before the Lord and persist in wilful sin. —J. D. Gallé
Notes copyright © J. D. Gallé, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022. All rights reserved.
Notes copyright © J. D. Gallé, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022. All rights reserved.
Addendum. Merrill Frederick Unger (1909–1980).
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Latest revisions: 17 May 2016 (made correction of typographical error in par. 7); 15 April 2017 (altered punctuation in a few places in the notes); 17 and 27 February 2018 (minor textual modifications; altered title); added a note and shifted fifth note to sixth (16 May 2021); removed a comma in note (6 Oct. 2021); added a link concerning the author (Unger) (18 Nov. 2021); expanded nn. 1 and 5 (19 Aug. 2022).
Latest revisions: 17 May 2016 (made correction of typographical error in par. 7); 15 April 2017 (altered punctuation in a few places in the notes); 17 and 27 February 2018 (minor textual modifications; altered title); added a note and shifted fifth note to sixth (16 May 2021); removed a comma in note (6 Oct. 2021); added a link concerning the author (Unger) (18 Nov. 2021); expanded nn. 1 and 5 (19 Aug. 2022).
