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Straight Talk #17
on Christian Headship
adapted by William Schnoebelen from the anonymous work of a Man of God
After prayerfully seeking God, the writer believes that this material is consistent with His Word and can be of real assistance to those who will use the concepts presented, together with God’s Word. May the reader take seriously the concepts presented. There is too much at stake to be satisfied with anything less than a full appropriation of the benefits that God has made available to the believer.
Scripture is very clear on the establishment of a position of headship. As presented in Scripture, it is more a position of responsibility than of authority. Paul declares the existence of and puts a perspective on Christian headship and authority when he says:
"For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed. (2 Corinthians 10:8)
"So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail; for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory." (1 Thessalonians 2:8-12)
In these verses Paul clearly states that he was given authority by God and that its purpose is for the benefit of the Church. He describes his concern for the church and how he has labored for them as a father would. He describes how he spent himself for the benefit of the brethren that they might receive the gospel. Paul also demonstrated the functioning of a spiritual authority when in I Corinthians he “delivered such an one unto Satan for the destructions of the flesh....” From these and other scriptures it is clearly shown that God has established positions of headship.
Headship has a requirement of responsibility in both the natural and spiritual realms. Headship in the family means concern for and protection of the family members. It includes protecting, teaching, counselling and providing for the needs of the family. The spiritual aspects of these responsibilities must be met, as well as the secular.
The secular requirement of Christian headship is primarily service; that is, to love, to provide for, to be concerned for, to instruct and to meet all the needs of the family. The concept of an autocratic ruler in the home is entirely contrary to the proper concept of Christian headship. Headship is not superiority. As far as God is concerned, we are all equal in His sight, and this includes His regard for both men and women. The Lord considers a Christian marriage to be a partnership. He has assigned different responsibilities to the husband and wife, but this does not make the woman any less important. There are many places in the world where the husband has a position of authority in the home and where the wife is treated as a servant. This concept is not from the creation; it is from the fall. You will not find true Christianity where these conditions exist.
It is not God, but Satan, who works to put women in subjection to men. Even within the Christian church, however, the concept that the man is the ruler in the home can be found. This is a perversion of Scripture, where God clearly indicates that the man is to be the protector and provider. The Bible clearly declares that, in a marriage, a man’s first concern is to be for the wife. The wife, for her part, should understand and appropriate the headship covering for it to be fully effective. Under this covering the wife can be an active partner in the functioning of headship in the family. This is of special importance when there are children in the home, for there will be times when the mother will have to stand against Satan in the absence of the father.
There is much good material available on husband/wife/family relations in the secular context. The area where there is a lack of teaching, or worse yet, wrong teaching, is that concerning the spiritual aspects of marriage and family conduct.
Marriage was established by God and as such it is subject to criteria He has determined. Christian marriage is a three-part covenant. The husband and wife are the obvious participants; however, the Lord is also a participant in this covenant. The vows are made in His presence and under His authority. Thus, the Lord has not only strong desire that the marriage covenant not be broken, but a vested interest in the marriage. God has a commitment to sustain the marriage covenant.
With all the attack that Satan brings against marriages today, we need all the help we can get. Yet, if you don’t make the Lord part of the solution when there is difficulty, you are neglecting your most valuable resource. For those who will call on the Lord, He will honor His commitment to the marriage by bringing His power and authority to assist according to the requests made.
Once these criteria are established, we can begin to look at the concept of authority in the home. In order for the head of the home to be able to protect the family members from Satan’s attacks, the Lord has provided a special access to His authority in the position of headship. This is a spiritual authority to be used in opposing the efforts Satan makes to influence family members. Since only God’s Word can equip one to function adequately in this position, it is necessary that each one in a position of Christian headship search the Scriptures to understand the conduct and responsibilities associated with that position. Scripture declares a progression of headship:
"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (1 Corinthians 11:3)
BIBLICAL HEADSHIP
Biblical support for the concept of headship is more by example than by direction. The Old Testament is full of examples of the working of headship; one of the clearest examples is that of Moses. God assigned to Moses a position of headship authority and responsibility. Although Moses understood, by age forty, that he had been selected to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, he had to spend another forty years in the wilderness preparing for the responsibility. The functioning of headship through Moses was demonstrated in the plagues brought on Egypt through Moses’ intervention.
Another example of its functioning was when the Israelites fought with the Amalakites:
"So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass that when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed." (Exodus 17:10-11)
Many times God honored Moses’ intercessions on behalf of Israel. The depth of Moses’ concern for the nation is demonstrated when he sets himself between it and God’s wrath.
"Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." (Exodus 32:32)
Aaron also interceded for the Israelites when the Lord’s wrath was against them:
"And he [Aaron] stood between the living and the dead and the plague was stayed." (Numbers 16.48)
Jesus demonstrated that headship is a position of responsibility as He led the disciples and provided for them. In John 17, Jesus expresses His application of these principles:
"While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition..."(John 17:12)
The loss of Judas was not a failure of Jesus’ headship, but an act of Judas’ will that took him out from under that headship.
WOMEN IN HEADSHIP
The Old and New Testaments alike speak of women with deep respect for them as persons and for their work in the kingdom of God. While the Israelite culture was patriarchal, the Old Testament gives a prominent place to the character, leadership and service of many women. This is quite evident in the titles “prophetess” and “judge” given to women, and in their participation in individual and family worship of God.
In the New Testament, Jesus’ ready acceptance and inclusion of women in His life stands in sharp contrast to the disdainful and condescending attitude of many of His contemporaries. The encounters of Jesus with women illustrate His willingness to associate with them and His respect for their intelligence and faith. The early church followed His pattern of including women as integral members. They played a significant role in the life of the church, teaching men and women and caring for the needy.
The New Testament affirms that women and men are equally members of the priesthood of all believers by faith in Jesus Christ. Scripture clearly teaches that men and women are equal in having the same relationship to God. But Scripture also reveals an order in their relationship to one another and to God. Equality before God does not mean sameness. The New Testament discussion of these relations is rooted in a divine order that is not overthrown by the new creation.
Scripture shows that the provision for headship covering for a woman is to be from her father or her husband. What then is the woman’s condition when there is no man in a position of spiritual headship? This question is not easily answered. However, the principle of God’s Word is that He is the One who provides for the believer’s needs in all areas where the believer is not able. Thus, when other headship is lacking, the woman is to go directly to Jesus for that headship.
When the woman is single and alone, she looks to Jesus for headship as she would look to an earthly, believing father, in right standing with God. The Bible principles for spiritual authority, put forth herein, should be used by the single woman for her own protection. All God’s provisions for the implementation of headship authority is available to the woman on her own behalf.
When the single woman is also a mother, the implementation of headship is more complex. It is more difficult for a mother to maintain a covering over children than it is for the father. She must understand better and intercede harder than the father, for she will be more attacked by Satan than where there are both a father and mother. In any area where Satan perceives a weakness he will center his attack. However, the Lord has promised that He will neither leave us nor forsake us and the woman who relies on this promise can obtain all God’s assistance. The woman who understands Biblical principles is every bit as able in spiritual warfare as a man.
When there is a father present in the home who is not a believer in right standing with God, the woman can still look to Jesus for headship. However, this condition is perhaps the most difficult one that a Christian mother can face, for she is constrained that she must not try to usurp the headship of the father, yet she is concerned for the spiritual condition of her children. She must pray and intercede for both children and husband, with full reliance on the Lord, that He is able to assist her even in these circumstances.
THE ATTACK ON THE FAMILY
A major effort of Satan today is to destroy the family. He knows that if he can destroy the families in America, he can destroy what remains of the moral foundation of the country. Satan attacks the family in many ways. He uses oppression, division, rebellion, sickness, strife, divorce, financial worries and many other means to destroy the family. Secular Humanism, taught in the public schools today, is destructive to the Christian family. The fundamental doctrines of Secular Humanism are selfishness, rebellion and self-exultation. These concepts are in direct opposition to the Christian concepts of service and humility.
A major area of Satanic attack is against the children. He is attacking the minds of the children through television, video games and demonic games (Dungeons and Dragons, etc.). Another area is occultic children’s toys. He is also using the schools to reach the minds of the children.
These and other methods are being used to build up strongholds in the minds of our children. Strongholds are mindsets, established through demonic influences that fix lies in the mind. Three major strongholds that Satan is putting in the minds of the children are a stronghold of violence through TV, a stronghold of sex through pornography (but also through television and classes now taught in the schools), and a stronghold of magic and the occult through television and the schools.
God has provided the means to oppose the attacks that Satan brings. He will answer our petitions as they are in agreement with His purposes. There is a requirement that the Christian conduct himself according to the Lord’s moral criteria if the Lord is to respond to petitions for assistance. Headship is responsible to counter the attacks Satan brings against the family. God has provided the means to oppose the attacks Satan brings by delegating, within the position of headship, an access to His authority and power. Headship functions according to:
Our concern for our family
Our persistence in intercession
Our understanding of the authority that is in the name of Jesus
Our understanding of our position of authority through headship
Our conforming to the Christian criteria for conduct
Our ability to recognize Satan’s attacks against the family
Our time spent in the Word
We learn both God’s will and our position of authority from His Word. The head of the family must believe that the Bible is truly and perfectly God’s Word.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16)
If one questions the inerrancy of the Bible, the basis upon which he accesses God’s authority is brought into question and no effective position of headship can be established. One must know both in his mind and in his spirit that God’s Word is just as effective today as it was in the time of the apostles. God does not change (Mal.3:6) and His Word does not change. God’s Word is for us today, and it functions today as it did in the apostles’ day. The head of the family must understand the significance of Jesus’ victory over Satan.
"And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:15)
THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER
God has designated the husband as head of the home and he is expected to function from that position. God has also provided the authority, through Jesus’ name, to oppose Satan’s attacks. Just as Jesus commanded spirits to leave those who were afflicted, the head of the home can use Jesus’ name to command the spirits to leave his family. If there is strife in the home, the husband should bind it away in Jesus’ name. As the nature of each problem is discerned, the head of the home should stand against that problem, binding away any forces of darkness that have come against the home. Satan will attempt to circumvent the authority of the head of the home and bring his attack from another quarter. If the head of the family understands this, he can defeat the enemy every time, through the use of the name of Jesus.
The Bible tells us to stand fast in the battle. If results are not immediate, or Satan counterattacks, strengthen yourself from the Word and stand on God’s promises. Be persistent; restate your position of headship daily, if necessary. Bind Satan and his demons from your family, in the name of Jesus, and use the Word against them as Jesus did.
For the believer, the spiritual battle also takes place primarily in the mind. What you believe determines how you carry on warfare. What you know your position of authority to be determines how effectively you can access it. You must know what the Lord has provided. Without this knowledge you are unarmed. Authority is delegated power. Its value depends on the force behind the user. The believer who is fully conscious of the Divine Power behind him and of his own authority thereby, can face the enemy without fear. Behind the authority of the believer there is a Power infinitely greater than that of his enemies, and which they are compelled to recognize.
One must be honest with himself and with God if he expects to function effectively in a position of headship. Lack of honesty keeps areas of one’s life in darkness. Demon spirits thrive on such darkness. Honesty helps bring them into the light. Any sin not confessed or repented of gives the demons a “legal right” to remain. Ask God to help you see yourself as He sees you and to bring to light anything that is not of Him.
"I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgave the iniquity of my sin."(Psalms 32.5)
"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalms 139:23-24)
Finally, believe that what may seem impossible to us is possible for God, for nothing is impossible to God. He has all authority and power, and all this is now available to us through the name of Jesus. He has triumphed over Satan and all the forces of darkness and evil. He won this victory for us. Through Jesus we also are victorious over Satan and all that he sends against us! It must be understood that while the believer is commissioned by God as His representative to do His work here on earth, we do not take unto ourselves the power of God. We exercise authority in the name of Jesus Christ, but God brings the enforcement.
If we do not see an immediate effect from commands given in the name of Jesus, one of two conditions applies: either it is not according to God’s purposes or it is not yet the time for it to be done. There is a current teaching that man is able to partake of the nature of God, that God has allowed us to draw on His power to accomplish our desires- that God has committed Himself to provide what we claim if we use the name of Jesus. This doctrine is a reversal of the place of the servant and the master. Scripture is quite clear that it is we who are to serve the Lord and not the other way around. It is even strange that this should need explaining, yet this strange doctrine has gained wide distribution that a caution against it is included so that none be deceived by it.
THRONE POWER
Demon activity ever retreats where there is an active exercise of authority by the believer. But, in many of the Christian denominations the inerrancy of the Word is being called into question by the great leaders of the church. There remain few theological institutions where the Holy Bible is still recognized as the very Word of God. In like manner, the Spirit of God is dishonored by the disregard paid to His person and authority. Thus, there is a reversion to heathen conditions spiritually, and the demonic powers are again pressing in on our country and people.
Let us often recall that we are seated far above all the powers of the air, and that they are in subjection to us. As our faith learns to use the name and the authority of Jesus, we shall find the spiritual forces yielding obedience in ways that will surprise us. As we continue to abide closely in Him, our prayers will become less and less the uttering of petitions, and will increasingly manifest the exercise of authority to bind the forces of darkness in the lives of ourselves and our families.
While belief thus introduces us to our place of throne-power , only humility will ensure our retaining it. As we compare the abounding grace of God and our own utter unworthiness, the question arises, should we need such a warning? We know little of the plague of our own hearts, if we think there is no danger. The forces against whom we contend know us far better than we know ourselves. As we attack them, and authority is nought but a long, drawn out warfare against them, their return stroke is often swift and crushing. With a strategy gained in long experience in spiritual battles, they know that the offensive is their best mode of defense. One of their tested weapons is spiritual pride, and too often it proves effective.
Victory over the powers of the air, from Satan downward, is a demonstrated possibility. But its attainment is through the employment of God’s assistance alone. Since Eden, man has sought to show himself to be self-sufficient. With believers, the desire to be independent is something that even the regenerate heart does not fully overcome. Often, just after some signal victory has been gained, there comes the subtle whisper of the enemy, and the believer is swiftly shorn of strength through feeling that he is strong.
With humility, there may go boldness in the Name. True boldness is faith in full manifestation. When God has spoken, to hold back is not humility, but unbelief. In the exercise of divine authority, there is needed a divine courage that fears nothing but God, and reaches out strong hands to bind and to restrain all that is set against the believer and his family. But with this courage, there must be a continual and close abiding in God, a spirit that is alert to every urge and check from Him, and a mind that is steeped in the Word of God.
Let the believer definitely accept his seat and begin to exercise the spiritual authority which it confers on him, and he will quickly realize that he is a marked man. Whereas he may have believed in the presence and working of dark powers, there comes now a new consciousness of their existence and imminence. Bitterly they resent and resist his entrance into their domain and his interference with their workings. Implacable and malignant, they concentrate their hatred against him in an intense warfare in which there is no relenting. If attacks against his spirit are successfully resisted, assaults may come in mind, or body, or family, or circumstances.
The place of special privilege thus becomes a place of special danger. Yet, since God Himself, with an eternal purpose in view, has introduced His people into this sphere, we cannot doubt that full provision has been made for their safety. The only place of safety is the occupation of the seat itself. It is “far above” the enemy. If the believer abides steadfastly by faith in this location, he cannot be touched. Consequently, the enemy puts forth all his wiles to draw him down, for once out of his seat, he is no longer dangerous, and he is open to attack.
The believer will encounter a constant stream of accusations in his heart. These will trouble him until he discovers that the purpose of the enemy is to turn him in upon himself, and, through the creating of a awareness of unworthiness, draw him down from the place of perfect faith. He learns to “overcome him by the blood of the Lamb”; i.e., he presents the Blood as his only answer to these accusations. But he learns a further use for this divine provision. The Blood represents, not only the cleansing from the guilt and power of sin, but it is also the witness of that overwhelming victory of Calvary. Once this is grasped, the believer sees that he has not to fight against the foe, but simply to hold over him an already accomplished triumph, the benefits of which he shares to the full.
Not all at once the full understanding comes, but, as he holds his place and exercises headship, there will be a gradual perfecting in the heavenly warfare.
CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
In many places in the New Testament the believer is directed not to sin. The implication is that sin will have a negative effect on the believer. Scripture makes it clear that the believer is not under the Law for salvation, yet the moral criteria put forth in the New Testament are basically the same as the Law. God’s moral criteria have not changed; only God’s requirement for salvation.
The spiritual realm is all around us, but we are not able to access it. Our five senses do not provide any contact with the spiritual realm. We are entirely dependent on the Lord for all our knowledge in this area. The spiritual realm existed before the natural realm was created and is more real than the physical realm that we live in.
To understand the significance of sin, we must note the effects of sin in the spiritual realm. We deal with spiritual things on the basis of the information the Lord gives us. Other than words the Holy Spirit gives directly to us, the only other authoritative source of data is the Scripture. All information that is provided by the Holy Spirit will be in accord with Scripture, and all information received “spiritually” must be judged against Scripture before it can be accepted. The believer has a position, provided by God, in the Kingdom of God. This is a “legal” position that is one of perfect righteousness through Christ, and assures him of salvation. This is not the same as the believer’s condition in the natural realm. Scripture clearly indicates that there are factors in the natural realm that affect our condition.
Our condition is influenced by our conduct. It is also affected by our ability to take hold of the covenant and of God’s promise to assist us. God provides our standing and man controls his state ; not, however, by his own strength but with the Holy Spirit. That both our spiritual position and our present condition are involved is expressed in many places in Scripture:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." (Romans 8:1,4,10)
21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar”.... 23) And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:21, 23)
"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." (1 John 3:7)
In these verses, as well as in many others, there is a clear indication that there is both a spiritual position and a natural condition involved. To try to equate the two makes the content of these verses contradictory. If our spiritual position assures our salvation, what then is the significance of our condition in the natural realm? There is in Romans 8:1 a clear indication that following after the leading of the flesh brings condemnation. Yet it is clear from Scripture that through Christ the believer has a position of righteousness in God’s kingdom. Thus, the consequences to the believer of following after the flesh must pertain to the flesh and not to salvation.
If the condemnation is not against our spiritual position, it must then pertain to our condition. That is, condemnation can be against us in the natural world even though it does not relate to our position with God. If it does not relate to our position with God, then it would seem to follow that it is Satan who brings condemnation against us in the natural world. The curse of the law , in the Old Testament, gave Satan access against the one who sinned.
Romans 8:4 clearly states that the law functions according to conduct. Thus, we can still bring the curse of the law upon ourselves through sin, and while the law no longer applies for salvation, the moral criteria expressed in it still has effect on our condition in the natural realm.
Romans 8:10 indicates that the body can be “dead” even while the spirit is alive, if there is sin in one’s life. In this context, death means separation, not annihilation. Thus, the verse implies that sin separates the body from God’s association even though He is present, as the Holy Spirit, giving life to the human spirit. Under this condition the body would not have God’s protection, and would be vulnerable to satanic attack. The life of the spirit “because of righteousness” is obviously the righteousness attributed to us from Christ and not by our merits. Here again we see that sin opens the door for demonic access and affliction to the mind and the body.
In James 2:21 & 23 we see reference to a justification that applies to Abraham’s condition and a righteousness that refers to his position. Finally, 1 John 3:7 presents a righteousness that is attributed to performance as well as allocation. As our position in Heaven is totally on the basis of Christ’s merits, it follows that this verse refers to our condition as well as our position.
The Old Testament moral laws are still normative for conduct. Judgment is needed when social changes may affect the application of some laws; e.g., stoning. In the New Testament it is made clear that the dietary and governmental laws were done away with; the only dietary restriction in the New Testament is against the consumption of blood. God did not establish the Law for His own benefit, but for man’s. So long as the Jews obeyed it they were under God’s protection. When they disobeyed the Law, Satan gained access and was able to attack them. When man sins he gives Satan authority in his life.
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Rom. 6:16)
Just as obedience to the Law protected the Israelite from satanic access, so today compliance with God’s moral criteria protects the believer from demonic attack.
When Adam chose to follow Satan in rebellion against God, he relinquished to Satan the authority that had been given to him by God. Having given his authority to Satan, Adam had no way to reclaim the authority. So it is today, when man gives authority in his life to Satan, he himself has no ability to call it back. Fortunately, the believer has access to a greater authority, through Jesus, by which he can overcome the position that Satan has gained. The head of the home has the ability through the Lord’s delegation of authority, to restore to himself and to his family all that Satan has taken from them. It is instructive to look at the guidelines for the selection of elders, as put forth in Scripture, to gain understanding of the criteria for conduct for the head of the family.
"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)" (I Timothy 3:2-5)
While these criteria are for headship in the church, a similar standard applies to the head of the home. The head of the family, man or woman, maintains a strong Christian position through time spent in the Word. All these things listed above contribute to a positive position of headship.
God has placed the family head in a crucial position. He (or she) can choose to bless their family, or to block God from reaching them, for a parent’s blessing directs the flow of God’s giving. As parents prayerfully follow God’s principles of authority and holiness, a child’s spirit and soul will be nurtured. After all, holiness is not religiosity or legalism. It is the life of agape love lived out every day in the family. It is deep love, expressed personally in the home. It is obedience to God’s Word.
Today there are many families where there is no father. In these cases the mother must look to the Lord for headship covering. The Lord is then a husband to the woman and a father to her children. Under this covering, the woman then assumes full headship authority for her children. It is important in this circumstance that all negative headship authority of the father be broken in the name of Jesus. Since the task of providing headship covering is more difficult for the single parent than when both parents are present, it would seem appropriate for a mother to choose to claim the Lord’s blessings for herself and her children when there is no father to do so.
NEGATIVE HEADSHIP
Up to now, we have looked at the positive side of headship. The negative aspect
Sin is more than an act; it is a life-style of unbelief which results in disobedience to God’s Word - an exaltation of self above God. God will not force anyone to act righteously. He wants us to turn to Him with willing hearts and by faith commit ourselves to repentance. Faith in God is more than knowledge; it is an attitude of trust, yielding to God’s authority.
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: 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)
When a person establishes a pattern of sinful responses, he allows Satan to set up strongholds or fortresses in his life. Even though the Lord Jesus rendered the enemy powerless by His death on the cross, the enemy holds on to any ground he has taken prior to an individual’s conversion. This applies to every family member; father, mother, son or daughter. Only through the name of Jesus and sound Christian conduct can the enemy be dispossessed and cast out.
We experience trials and circumstances only because God allows them. Any other theology says that God is not in control and that Satan is bigger; and he is not. God is bigger and more powerful. Only what passes the hand of God, what He permits, will touch our lives. God has established a moral criteria which, if followed, restricts Satan’s access to man. Transgressing this moral criteria opens the door for demonic access. To make a hedge effective in his family, the head of the family must obey God and follow His steps. Jeremiah described what happened to Israel when they broke covenant and lost their hedge. Speaking for them, he said:
"The enemy has come upon my neck... He has made my strength fail, the Lord has given me into the hands of those against whom I am not able to stand." (Lam. 1:4-6)
That is what is happening in today’s church, as many are being overwhelmed by satanic attacks. Few have understanding to resist. Satan is coming at them and their strength fails. It is often related to their sin. They refuse to be searched by God’s Word or submit to its authority; they are not coming to the light to have sin exposed. Instead, they flirt about in fornication and lusts of all kinds. They sit passively before their idols of TV and pornography. Others do not pray; they forget the Lord days on end, and they are no longer intimate with their beloved Savior. Then they wonder why the enemy plunders their homes. How blind can we be? Our sins have forced the Lord to remove His hedge from about us.
Effective headship requires a break with all immoral and occult involvements. All such involvements provide for demonic access to the head of the family and through him, to the members of the family. Some areas of demonic access are as follows: Drugs (including alcohol, smoking, tranquilizers (Valium, Phenobarbitol, etc.) Ancestral idolatry (Exodus 20:5) Immorality of all kinds Sexual perversions (homosexuality, pornography, etc.) Dishonesty (lying, stealing, false witness, etc.) Occult activities (divination, fortune telling, charms, E.S.P, mental telepathy, parapsychology, astrology, clairvoyance, witchcraft, Dungeons and Dragons, peace sign, Star of David, tattoos, etc.) Occult healing (psychic healings, spiritual healing, cultic or occultic laying on of hands, Christian Science healing, psychiatric healings, etc.) Non-Christian religions (including cults, Christian Science, Unity, Islam, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witness, Catholicism, Hindu, Buddhism, The Way, Unitarians, Moonies, Bahai, etc.) Secret orders (Masonry, IOOF, Eastern Star, animal lodges, etc.) Idolatry (statues or posters of unicorns, flying horses, fairies, wizards, demonic beings, rock musicians, movie stars, Catholic saints, etc.) Personal conduct (anger, violence, envy, jealousy, pride) Occult movies and many TV shows (most children’s TV shows, including most Walt Disney shows) Gambling (dice, bingo, cards, casinos, horse races, lottery, etc.) Rock music (including so-called Christian rock or “contemporary Christian music”)
THE MUSIC THAT KILLS
A particularly insidious attack against our youth is being made through rock ‘n’ roll music. Rock music may not be the most serious problem in the church, but it is high on the list. There are basically three types of commonly enjoyed music: Sacred or Christian, Worldly, which includes most pop, ballad, country/western, rhythm and blues, folk, New Age, etc. Modern rock, including rock ‘n’ roll, hard rock, acid rock, heavy metal, and Christian rock.
America was first exposed to what we call Rock in the 1950’s. It was accompanied by a spirit that soon promoted drugs, illicit sex, and perversions. Lester Bangs, secular rock author, says:
“Of all contemporary rock, it is the genre most closely identified with violence and aggression, rapine and carnage.
"Heavy metal orchestrates technological nihilism - it is a fast train to nowhere, which may be why it seems to feel so good and make so much sense to its fans.
"The words don’t really matter because the music is the message...."
The message of the music is clear, and adding the words “Jesus Christ” to the lyrics doesn’t make a bit of difference.
"In the struggle between the words and the music, a struggle that has existed for centuries, the music most often dominates.”
The song, “My Sweet Lord”, written by Beatle George Harrison, glorifies a demon-possessed Indian guru with Satan as his master. Rock took a turn downward. What previously was bad became literally dominated by Satan. Modern rock started with the plunge into hell itself. It has since added rebellion, illicit sex, perversion, Satan worship, homosexuality, and drugs, plus every other evil that darkness can promote.
There is an allegation being made by those who promote “Christian Rock”, or as it is sometimes called, “Contemporary Christian Music” (CCM), that it is needed to draw the unsaved teens to Jesus. This contention is not supported by evidence that many are being saved in this way. Indeed, the fact is that CCM is destructive to the Christian commitment of young believers, and even to many of the performers. If this logic were valid, the churches would be running bars and porno shops in order to bring the church and Christians into wider contact with the unsaved. This may sound ridiculous, but it is no less logical than using Satan’s music to draw people to Christ. Would God use gambling or dope for His glory? Is it possible for the Lord to use Rock, which has long promoted drugs, alcohol, perversion, Satanism and every other deviate satanic ploy? Can we clean it up a little, and use it for His glory?
Christian rock concerts are worse than the secular kind, as they are insidious in their actions. The secular rock concerts are, at least, obvious in what they represent.
The lyrics do not change the music’s content nor its subliminal message. The music converts the Christian message into a nightclub format unfit for use in the church. Bringing the unclean object into the temple does not sanctify the object; it only desecrates the temple. Putting the name of Jesus to rock music does not sanctify the music; it desecrates the name of the Lord.
There is no beauty in Rock. It contains an appeal only to the flesh. There is a hypnotic beat in rock music that subdues the will and brings the mind into a stupor. These are the exact conditions that the occult presents as the means for spiritual access to man’s mind. The effects of the rock beat are the same as those of alcohol or drugs on the mind. One has only to see the reactions of the crowds at the rock concerts to recognize that, for many, rational control has been totally lost. Just as drugs, rock music opens the door for demonic entrance.
The concept of using worldly things to promote the gospel is plaguing the church today. Many claim the Holy Spirit can use psychology, possibility thinking, etc. The claim is that just because they are not mentioned in the Bible does not rule them out as useful tools. However, God says:
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light." (Ephesians 5:11-13)
TO HEAL THE FAMILY
It is unrealistic to imagine we are automatically cleansed from past satanic associations, or become immune to the consequences of our actions in the present. Supernatural forces constantly war in the soul, mind, will, emotions and body, vying for control. Salvation does not exempt anyone from this battle; it only equips us to win it.
The body is made more vulnerable to attack when the spirit is weakened through sin, neglect, or rebellion. Health problems are often rooted in demonic activity. Believers are also subject to emotional imbalances and illness. Yielding our thoughts to the enemy constitutes an invitation to demonic control and one the enemy eagerly accepts. This is why we are commanded to cast down imaginations (2 Corinthians 10:5). It is illogical to believe that spirit activity takes place outside the body of the believer.
Children acquire both the blessings and the curses the parents qualify for unto the third and fourth generation. We are laid open to possible attack because of the sins of our ancestors. God has pronounced curses upon the disobedient and their descendants. For some sins the curse travels even as far as the tenth generation, as the one for illegitimacy. (Deuteronomy 23:2)
These generational curses, or penalties for sin, can be enforced by demons. Depending on the nature of the offense, evil spirits may work in the lives of the descendants to duplicate the transgressions of the fathers and bring the misery of the chastisement due as well. Alcoholism, lust and all kinds of perversion, rebellion and occult involvement are common examples. Generational curses can be broken in Jesus’ name, for the Scripture declares:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2)
Declaring oneself free from the curse of the law according to the Word of God, in Jesus’ name, destroys any position Satan gained from ancestral sins and leaves the demons no position by which they can remain. It is important that all generational curses be broken in this manner. It is not necessary to know details of generational curses to break them. When the details are suspected, as in the case where an ancestor has been involved in an occult religion such as witchcraft, Masonry or Roman Catholicism, the curse of idolatry should be broken specifically in that area. Otherwise, a general pronouncement to break all generational curses or hereditary authority in Jesus’ name should be effective. Again, if there is an indication of an occult bondage similar to that of an ancestor, persistence in breaking generational curses in the specific area may be needed.
Spoken curses can be simple negative statements agreed to, or powerful hexes and enchantments pronounced by witches or other occult practitioners. Either way, the devil makes it his business to see that these come to pass in the lives of men. They may be countered with positive statements and renunciations, followed by the casting out of the attending demons.
Curses function through the transferring of secular access to demonic spirits. Demons are restrained from or allowed access to men according to the spiritual laws established by God. While we have only a limited understanding of these spiritual laws, we understand from Scripture that they exist. The book of Job gives some insight into the functioning of these laws.
That which restrains a person from taking action against another person is primarily the secular laws. Man, however, can attack man if he is willing to bear the consequences of the law, or if he can circumvent the law. Because man is not restrained by the spiritual laws the same way the demonic spirits are, if there is an allocation of access from men to the demonic spirits, the demons can attack men where they would otherwise be constrained by God’s spiritual laws.
Men can implement demonic access against themselves or their descendants through oaths sworn or commitments made through idolatry or immoral involvements. Men can also give demons access against others through curses, incantations or even prayers made to control others. God will not honor prayers that are given to control others whether they are of good intent or not, for God will not work to overcome our free will. Demons will, however, intervene to accomplish what is prayed if it is to their benefit and they are able to gain access because of the intent of the one who is praying. This transference of access from men to spirits is the basis of much demonic attack.
Let it ever be held in mind that the authority, given by God to the believer, is over the powers of the air and never over his fellow men or their wills. He is called to bind the unseen forces, but to deliver his brethren. Satan’s constant aim is the subjugation of the human will to himself; God’s purpose is the full liberation of the will that the freed spirit, through glad acquiescence in the Divine Will, may glorify his Creator. Human control of the will of another, as manifested in hypnotism, etc., is obtained through the use of occultism in conjunction with evil spirits, and is as unlawful for the Christian as wizardry, which are directly forbidden in the Bible.
The Christian has a right to claim God’s protection against all curses and incantations. Breaking all curses in the name of Jesus has been the key, in many cases, in overcoming demonic attacks that seemed to have no remaining grounds of access. The results of current or ancient curses can bring financial losses, health problems, emotional instability, division in the home and many other types of problems. However, Jesus has already won the victory over Satan and all the forces of evil, and in His name all curses can be broken and their effects eliminated. For your own life and family, the following prayer and affirmation should be made:
"As a child of God, purchased by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, I here and now renounce and repudiate all the sins of my ancestors. As one who has been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son, I cancel out all demonic working that has been passed on to me, or through me to my descendants, from my ancestors. As one who has been crucified with Jesus Christ and raised to walk in the newness of life, I cancel every curse that may have been put upon me, or upon my descendants. I announce to Satan and all his forces that Christ became a curse for me and for my house when He hung on the cross. As one who has been crucified and raised with Christ and now sits with Him in heavenly places, I renounce any and every way in which Satan may claim ownership of me, or those of my house. I declare myself to be eternally and completely signed over and committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. All this I do in the power and authority of the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."
This prayer is a slight modification of one composed by E. B. Rockstad, wherein the effect of the declarations made have been extended to include family and descendants. Both husband and wife should make this declaration.
The Issues of Unforgivenness, Bitterness, Guilt, etc.
Unforgiveness is a common, if not major cause of demonic oppression among Christians. Mt. 18:34-35 states we will be delivered to "tormentors" if we do not forgive from our hearts. Many times it is not willful unforgivenness, but a passive attitude towards injuries inflicted by others. By not dealing with them properly, little hurts can grow into big spiritual problems. Unforgiveness can produce chronic illness of all types, emotional instability and inability to progress spiritually. The tormentors will remain with us until we forgive those responsible and rebuke the demons. The trespassing demon will remain, even without legal rights, unless we command him to leave.
Perfect forgiveness requires that the Spirit bring to mind those folks hidden in our past who have hurt us. Through prayer, God will reveal roots of bitterness and those we need to forgive. A diligent search of our past should be made in order to loose the legal holds tormenting spirits may have. God brings to mind those who have neglected, rejected and disappointed us. Those closest to us usually have the power to hurt us most.
We must verbally forgive those who have hurt us and speak forgiveness in Jesus’ name as they are recalled. There is no requirement that we feel warmth or affection for those who have hurt us, nor do we have to agree with their actions. We forgive with our will, not our emotions. God will, in time, supply the healing for the hurts of the past if we declare the forgiveness. Guilt is a symptom of deeply rooted and often hidden bitterness, resentment and unforgivenness. If you are troubled with persistent guilt or shame, check for any of these hidden things in your life.
An area of major satanic access is a root of bitterness. Bitterness grows out of rejection. It manifests itself as resentment, withdrawal, self injury and unforgivenness. A root of bitterness will cause a child (or sometimes an adult) to think in the following ways: Even if they don’t love me I will make them feel sorry for me, and then they’ll give me some attention. I will hurt myself so they will feel sorry for me. I will punish them by doing those things they least want me to do. When they see me suffering they will really be sorry. They don’t care if I am hurting and I hate them for it. Others get sympathy when they hurt, and I don’t; therefore, I am of less value. I don’t get recognition when I succeed; therefore, I will fail. It is their fault that I am hurting. God doesn’t care if I am hurting. If He cared, He would make it stop hurting; therefore, it is His fault that I am hurting because He could make it stop.
The thoughts Satan brings are, of course, more complex than these statements, but these are the basics of his arguments. The truth is, it is Satan who is causing the pain. He is the one who has found an opening into the family and is causing members to treat each other badly. God feels your pain. He loves you. He wants to help you, but as long as the root of bitterness remains He will not intervene to remove it, for to do so would leave the cause of the unforgivenness undealt with. You must determine to understand the cause of bitterness, if it is present, and deal with it through forgiveness.
It is most important that consideration be given to each member of the family so that bitterness does not creep in. Everyone needs recognition and acceptance. To treat any member of the family unfairly will open the door for feelings of rejection to come in. Out of this can come bitterness, rebellion and even thoughts of self destruction. Satan has caused many to commit suicide through a spirit of bitterness. Where there is a proper functioning of headship, this can be prevented.
Unjust and autocratic treatment of a child can bring severe feelings of rejection. Serious neglect of a child will also result in these same feelings. These feelings are often buried in the memory and it may take considerable time before the person (child or adult) can come to a point of forgiving those involved.
It is, at times, necessary to discipline children. Scripture directs that the father should keep order in the home. Punishment must, at times, be used so that order can be maintained. Physical punishment should be a last resort, and even then, it should surely not be such as to cause injury. The loss of privileges should, in most cases, be sufficient to obtain the child’s attention. Fear should never be used to obtain compliance from a child, for it can be traumatic and open the door for spiritual access. Claustrophobia can result from punishing a child by confining him in a small or dark space, such as a closet.
A child should not be disciplined until the reason for the child’s actions are understood. Many times the problem comes out of a misunderstanding more than misconduct. Resentment will result if a child is (or thinks he is) unjustly punished.
Coming Against Demonic Attack
Before any form of discipline is used, there should be consideration of the possibility that there is demonic influence involved in the child’s action. Rebellion is a frequent form of demonic disruption in the home, and should be addressed through spiritual warfare before confronting it in the natural. Punishing a child with a rebellious spirit will only promote resentment and compound the problem. While punishment may bring conformance at the time, if there are spiritual influences involved, the problem will most likely reappear at a later time. The author has seen bickering and contention in the home, where secular efforts failed totally, quickly resolved through the exercise of spiritual authority by the head of the house.
It must be understood that many of our problems come from the actions of demons. They bring oppression, despair, rebellion, contention, sickness, and even death. If people are not willing to credit these kinds of things to satanic agencies, they will not be able to counter them through spiritual warfare. It takes a familiarity with Scriptures to understand the extent to which demons can bring these kinds of affliction. When we “demythologize” Scripture - miracles, healings, tongues, deliverance, etc.- we do not interpret the inspired writers; we simply call them liars.
In almost every account of Jesus healing people, it also says that He was casting out evil spirits. While not all sickness or emotional problems are demonic, many are and it behooves the one in headship to discern when this is the case and deal with it accordingly. Scripture does not give a formula for dealing with demonic afflictions. It does, however, give concepts and fundamentals and it gives many examples of how Jesus and the apostles dealt with these conditions. Many times there are past or current sins that have not been adequately renounced and repented of. Before deliverance can be obtained, these must be dealt with through renunciation and repentance.
Those who come out of the cults or occult will generally have emotional problems until all aspects of the idolatry have been dealt with. All commitments made to persons or idols must be renounced, as well as all doctrines that are not Biblical. Any oaths taken or rituals performed must also be renounced. Also, it is important to go before the Lord and renounce any false headship from being in subject to some cult leader (prophet, pope, pastor, high priest, etc.) It will take a significant knowledge of the occult nature of the doctrines and rituals of a cult before all the demonic access is broken. Outside help may be required if the one in headship does not have this knowledge. The one coming out of the cult may not understand what must be dealt with and will need help to understand what needs to be renounced and repented of.
Any past involvements with abortion are an open door to demonic attack. Experience gained in counselling has shown that the emotional and spiritual trauma of an abortion is extreme and requires a special intervention and healing from the Lord to relieve the spiritual oppression. A strong inclination to suicide is a frequent aftereffect of a willful abortion. Those who have in any way helped with an abortion must also deal with this involvement, even if it was only through agreeing with the performing of the abortion.
THE PLACE OF INTERCESSION
Intercessory prayer is an important part - if not THE most important part - of meeting the responsibility of headship. Jesus demonstrates the operation of intercession in John 17, where He asks the protection of the Father for His disciples and for those who believe on Him through their word.
"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word: That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17:9-11; 15-17; 20-21)
In intercession we come before the Lord and made petition for others. We present such arguments as are appropriate to obtain God’s intervention to accomplish what we are not able to do. It is important for those in a position of headship in the Christian church to intercede for those for whom they have responsibility.
In petitions and prayers, we are concerned for ourselves and our needs. In intercession, we are concerned for the needs and interests of others. Intercession is the unselfish and altruistic aspect of prayer. In intercession, the believer is acting as an intermediary between God and man. He forgets himself and his own needs in his identification with the needs of the ones for whom he prays. The prayer of Abraham for the people of Sodom (Genesis 18:22-23) and of Moses for Israel (Exodus 32:1-14) are classic examples of intercession. Praying in the name of Jesus is not merely mouthing a formula. To use that name without being personally acquainted with the One who owns it carries no weight.Jesus clearly tied the importance of a personal relationship with Him to the use of His name. It is Jesus Himself I must know and love as my friend; and when He is my friend, then He lends me His name when I bring my petitions to the Father. Jesus teaches this in the heart of the 15th chapter of John.
"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15:14-16)
True intercessors never claim anything on their own merits. They know it is not their character, their commitment, or their goodness that brings results. They know they can gain access to Heaven’s throne only through the merits of their Saviour.
Many times the intercessor will place himself between the forces attacking and the person being attacked. This should be done only as the Holy Spirit leads or when such an action is in accord with the Word. In the case of the head of the home, it is part of the responsibility of headship to do just that. However, the head does not take that position in his own strength, but comes in the name of Jesus and with the authority of that name. Done in this way, he is in accord with the purposes of the Word, and can fully expect the Lord to honor his stand and to support him in it.
There are conditions that need to be present for God to answer prayer. Scripture presents many of the conditions that are needed to obtain that which we petition God for. There is a current teaching that all we need to do is to speak something out in the name of Jesus with sufficient faith, and God will cause it to come about. However, Scripture puts more conditions on answered prayer than just faith. Faith is essential to answered prayer. Praying without believing will not bring God’s intervention. When we pray, with faith, and in accordance with God’s purposes, God will respond:
"If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (John 15:7)
In this verse, Jesus specifically ties God’s commitment to respond to our place with Him and to our conformity with the Word. In many places in Scripture, Jesus tells His disciples that they will receive what they ask in His name. The full context of the Scripture places conditions on the intent of Jesus’ statements, even though it is not always as directly evident as it is in John 15:7. Faith is required, but we should not expand on God’s promises by reading into His words commitments He did not intend. Pray in faith, but also in accord with God’s purposes as He has given them in His Word.
Praying in agreement with others will also have great effect when we are about the Lord’s work. In many places in the Word, God indicates that the cooperation of His people in His work more readily brings His intervention. God hears our concerns. The greater our genuine concern for the ones we are interceding for, the more effective our appeal to the Lord will be. When we are hurting for another, our petition to the Lord will be with sincerity and urgency. The Lord will respond to our heartfelt concerns.
When we intercede, we need to bring an argument from the Word. God will honor His promises if we remind Him of them. Not that God has forgotten them, but He acts on them as they are expressed in our petitions. The principle of covenant access is that aid will be given as it is asked for. Many do not receive because they do not understand. David understood the principle of the covenant and claimed victory where others saw only defeat. The expectation of God’s response will always rest with the applying of God’s truths from the Word to meet the needs expressed to the Lord.
The position by which the family member is presented before the Lord is not on the basis of their merits but on the merits of Jesus Christ. Jesus has made them worthy to receive from God according to the covenant promises. Our petitions are made on these and similar arguments according to the promise of the Word. God also honors the position of life and blessing for the family as the father and husband (head of household) has claimed it:
"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live."(Deuteronomy 30:19)
Men of all ages have prayed (quite correctly) with the sense that there were difficulties in the heavenlies to overcome. As we saw in Daniel, overcoming these difficulties may take considerable time and persistence. Persistence is an important part of answered prayer. There are many accounts of parents who have interceded for years before seeing the results of their efforts in children being set free from the bondage of Satan. Many accounts in Scripture show the importance of persistent and importuning prayer. Christ Himself was often in prayer and encouraged persistence in prayer in order to receive from God.
Praise should be a part of all prayers. Scripture is filled with the praises of the Lord and the accounts of godly men giving Him praise. Praise allocates to the Lord the position He should have in our lives. Praising the Lord is a part of getting ourselves into an appropriate relationship with God. When we come before the Lord in prayer it must be in a position of humility. Scripture says that we can come only as little children. When we praise God we allocate to Him the position of majesty and exaltation that He is due. Through praise we come to an understanding of just how helpless and weak we poor mortals are and how dependent we are on God’s intervention in all things of a spiritual nature. Praise is an appropriate service unto the Lord.
It frequently seems that more prayers are not answered than are answered. Much of the time this is true. However, this is not God’s failure, but ours. Sometimes we must realize that God has answered our prayer, but the answer is: “Wait” or even “No.” To someone travailing over a lost relative or a wayward child, God seems to be infuriatingly slow, at times. However, like a parent telling a child to wait until after dinner for some sweet, God always knows better and His timing is impeccable! An old saying has it that “God may be slow, but He is never late.”
But beyond the times when God says no or wait, why does prayer so often fail - even when what we are interceding for is obviously in God’s will (i.e.. salvation of someone)? While in many cases we cannot know the answer, there are a number of reasons for unanswered prayer. Separation from God is a common cause of unanswered prayer:
"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) Unforgiveness also is a cause for prayer to go unanswered.
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15)
Faith is required for prayer to be answered. Unbelief will prevent the Lord from responding to your petitions.
"And he could do there no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching." (Mark 6:5-6)
A wrong position with God will also prevent the Lord from responding:
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:4-5)
When we petition God we need to ask in accordance with His purposes. A wrong motive will keep us from receiving our request.
"Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." (James 4:3)
The victory that Jesus won over Satan, He won not for Himself, but for us. We need to continually claim this victory. Faithful usage of this victory, achieved for us, defeats Satan’s attacks against the family.
The purposes for which Christ came were to free the captives and to destroy the works of the devil. When we are interceding for others to obtain these effects in their lives, we are in accord with the Lord’s purposes. We can believe that in every situation, where the circumstances permit, the Lord will intervene to provide what is requested. For those who have, by choice or through deception, elected to follow after the things of the flesh by following Satan, God may have to bring much persuasion through circumstances to obtain results. In these cases, time and persistence will be required before results are seen. In some cases where a person has committed themselves to sin or to Satan, even God’s intervention will not suffice to change their minds.
God will meet you where you are. Many times we see new Christians receiving answers to their prayers even though many of the conditions for answered prayer are not all met. God appears to make exception for those who have not had time to learn His criteria. However, this consideration does not last indefinitely. It is important to study the Word and continue to grow spiritually. Do not delay to begin to take hold of the promises of the Lord and receive His benefits.
SPECIAL CONCERNS WITH CHILDREN
Many of the inquiries we get involve praying for children, especially older children(12 and up). The world system has done its work well, and our children are being bombarded daily with secular humanism, gay rights, values clarification and occult weirdness. Even children of good hearts and minds are being drawn into strange concepts. Often, through no fault of their own, they swim daily in a sewer of foul ideas and are as unconscious of it as is a fish of the water in which it swims.
Parents need to understand that often it is NOT their fault if their child gets involved with drugs, sex, homosexuality or witchcraft. All of these things are presented to our children by educators and the media as being wonderful paths for “life-style enhancement.” Even children who are home-schooled or in Christian schools can go astray. It may well be that the parents did very little wrong. Remember, even God’s “kids” (Adam and Eve) in a perfect environment with perfect fellowship still went sour.
However, having said that, it is still heartbreaking for a parent to find their child going in ways so clearly outside the ways of the Lord. Almost daily we get calls from (presumably) good Christian parents whose kids have gotten into Witchcraft, Mormonism, drugs, sex or even devil-worship! What can these parents do, in the light of the issues presented already concerning headship?
The first thing any parent should do is examine their own lives and ancestry. Before salvation, had THEY been involved in cults or the occult? Had they parents or grandparents who were into such things. The most common problems which come down the generations (see Ex. 20:5) are as follows:
1) Freemasonry, or other cult involvement
2) Spiritism or other occult practices
3) Drunkenness
4) Suicide
5) Sexual immorality
6) Various forms of mental illness (Not that mental illness is a sin, per se, but it often comes from some sort of old generational curse which needs to be broken.)
If any of these things are in their lives or the lives of their ancestry, they should pray and ask the Lord to break all generational sins (see prayer on p. 15). Just doing this may help about 50% in clearing up the young person’s issues.
The next step is to understand that according to headship principles mentioned before, God has given you children and has given you ultimate spiritual authority over them. You (as parents or grandparents) can literally pray AS IF YOU WERE THEM!Understand the power behind that spiritual truth! You can go boldly into the throne room of God and (take your pick) repent for them, cast spirits out of them, or ask for blessings from God for them!
As mentioned earlier, this is absolutely true for all children up to their legal majority. It is true for female children until they marry. It is true to a lesser degree for adult males and married females, but it is still true! While this might sound sexist, it is Biblical! There is plenty of Biblical precedent for these concepts. Notice how (as mentioned earlier) Job interceded for his children. Notice how a woman’s vow can be undone by her father under certain conditions (Nu 30:3ff)!
AN EIGHT PRONGED ATTACK!
Therefore, if (for example) your son or daughter is dabbling in Wicca, you can prayerfully go into the throne-room of God(assuming your own life is in good order and your relationship with the Lord is strong) and do the following:
1) Rebuke Satan in the name of Jesus and claim your child as a blood-bought child of God (assuming they had ever received Christ);
2) Claim the blood covering of Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary over all sins your child may have committed (you don’t even need to know the specifics, God does!). Ask the Lord specifically to forgive any sins of blasphemy (swearing, taking God’s name in vain, etc.), rebellion, witchcraft, and (if you think it appropriate) sexual sin.
3) Ask the Lord Jesus to intercede on the behalf of your child and ask Him to take the devil’s fingers out of your child’s ears and his hands off of your child’s eyes so that he or she can hear the Holy Spirit anew;
4) Ask the Lord to bind any deceiving spirits away from your child and loose the spirit of truth;
5) Ask the Lord to cut any ungodly soul ties (sexual or friendship) between your child and any unwholesome associations they may have - physical (human beings) or soulish (some young people who struggle with masturbation may actually have attracted succubus or incubus spirits to them - these are sexual demons attracted to unholy fantasies and lusts);
6) Ask the Lord to bind away any spirits of divination which may be empowering your child to have the illusion of occult power. Ask Jesus to make the child’s spells to fall to the ground, and their attempts to work magick to fail. He will do it!
7) Ask the Lord Jesus to reveal Himself anew to your child in a sovereign and powerful way in accord with His perfect will; to draw him or her back to the true light of Christ.
8) Finally, in the name of Jesus and by the power of His blood, counterplead before the throne of God for your child’s spiritual well-being. Declare in Jesus’ name and by the authority you have been given as a mother or father that Satan has no right to this child because he or she is covered in the blood of Jesus and is a child of God. Ask the Lord in Jesus’ name to silence the accuser of the brethren.
Do not underestimate the authority you have, either as a believer in Christ, OR as a parent who has been entrusted with one of the most sacred of obligations - raising a human soul to adulthood. God gave you this child, and you have every right to ask the Lord for supernatural wisdom and guidance to help in raising him or her. You also have the right to command Satan away from your offspring and plead the blood of Jesus over them daily.
Realize that this still may be a struggle. Sometimes teens have a lot of ego invested in their rebellious ways. You can cast the spirits out and they may well (often unknowingly) invite them back by their behavior. I liken it to shooing flies away from a picnic lunch. The flies tend to come back. You have to be persistent. Pray for the Lord to give the teen a season of spiritual clarity so that they can understand how dangerous their choices have really become.
Also, it is important to choose your battlegrounds carefully in the emotional interplay with the adolescent. Don’t throw all the emotional or spiritual weight you have into battles over whether or not a young person should dye their hair or wear ratty-looking jeans to school. Such things are relatively inconsequential. That way, you will still appear to the child to have moral authority when you do come down on serious issues like drugs, sexual activity, or occult bondage.
Please take comfort in the words of the Scripture:
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." - Pr 22:6.
Many young people go through some really frightening periods where they are trying out choices and challenges that you, as parents, wish they would not. Teens think they know better than adults and that adults do not understand them. It is a bad situation made worse by the youth culture which has grown up around them in the last couple of generations. However, they almost always return to spiritual sanity eventually.
Remember, that the idea of “adolescence” was unheard of, even a hundred years ago - to say nothing of Bible times. Before this century, most young people - by the time they hit puberty, were already working almost full-time. (Puberty also came a lot later! A century ago, most young people hit puberty around 15-17 years old!) They didn’t have as much time to rebel because they were already taking on many adult responsibilities. Mary and Joseph, for example, were probably betrothed when Mary was barely 15!
Our modern secular culture has created an artificial zone in the young person’s life called “adolescence” which isn’t really Biblical (no surprise there) and then proceeded to fill that zone with all manner of rebellious, vile images - beginning in the postwar period right up to the end of this century, where sex, sodomy and rebellion are deified by the rock-music culture and MTV. No wonder young people (even the best of them) are struggling. They are experiencing things God never meant them to experience.
Just remember, the Lord is not surprised by any of these developments. In Jesus, and in headship authority, he has given us the tools we need to fight for our families. This whole artificially created “generation gap” was foretold 2400 years ago, and an answer provided by the Lord God:
Mal 4:4 "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
The mantle of prophecy is upon all true believers in Jesus that have His testimony:
Re 19:10 "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
If you have the testimony of Jesus and especially if you are the head of a household, you can move in the spirit of prophecy to proclaim in the heavenlies that your family belongs to God and that Satan has no right to interfere - making certain that your own personal life is in order.
Patient, powerful, scripture-based, Spirit-led intercession is the key. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your prayers for your family. He will!
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