We’ve finished our last week of study with a lesson on Spiritual Warfare 401. In this lesson from the book The Invisible War, author Chip Ingram discusses deliverance from demonic influence; a lesson on how to respond when the enemy is already inside your life. We looked at intercessory prayer, which Ingram believes is missing in the life of most Christians and churches today. He stressed the importance of prayer which is consistent, intense and strategic and gave us the example of praying ACTS. We’ve used this prayer method in my church small group and if you’re not already doing this I recommend you give it a try!
Praying ACTS
- Adoration- give praise to God
- Confession-confess to God
- Thanksgiving-give thanks to God
- Supplication-present your requests to God
In this week’s study, Ingram listed three common pathways to demonic influence. These activities include: sin, spiritual rebellion and unresolved anger and bitterness. Ingram follows this with a list of symptoms which may be demonic and cautions us “the Bible doesn’t imply that all the following symptoms are demonic, but it does warn us to consider the demonic as a possible source.” We learned how the demonic disguises itself as a form of entertainment-through tarot cards, Ouija boards and fortune telling-and easily can slip into an open door for a demonic invitation.
For those deeply influenced by the demonic, Chip Ingram suggests exploring the ministries of Neil Anderson and Mark Bubeck.
You can watch the series at LivingOnTheEdge.org
Prayer Requests
We reset the prayer wall at the end of each month, so be sure to post new prayer requests on December 1st.
In the end of the book, Ingram shares the prayers of his ten-year-old son. Write out your own version of this prayer and practice saying it aloud. Kneeling by his bed, his son prayed “Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that I am complete in Christ, and I thank you that I have the armor of God. Dear Lord, these spirits are seeking to assault me tonight, and in the blood of Jesus, by his great name and power, I command them to leave me alone. I claim right now that greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. Depart from this bedroom and go where Jesus sends you. Amen” (Source: The Invisible War, Chip Ingram)
Chip Ingram Quotes
- Intercessory prayer is our most powerful and strategic corporate weapon in spiritual warfare.
- Power falls where prayer prevails.
- Demonic forces shudder when God’s people begin to pray.
- Sin is probably the most common pathway to demonic influence.
- Sin is an open door to evil spirits.
- While the war is invisible, victory and defeat are not.
This Week’s Memory Verse (NASB)
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
For Next Week
Be sure to get the workbook and join us in our Christmas Bible Study: Jesus the One and Only by Beth Moore. Our study begins November 30.
Chip Ingram recommends these resources if you want to further your understanding of demonis influence:
- The Adversary by Mark Bubeck
- Overcoming the Adversary by Mark Bubrck
- Powers of Evil, a Biblical Study of Satan and Demons by Sydney Page
Group Discussion- Answer one or as many as you want.
- Has your mind ever wandered during prayer? What can you do to be less distracted? (page 162 )
- What kind of prayers do you usually bring to God? Do they fall in the category of personal desires or kingdom purposes? (page 162 )
- Has this study helped you become more sensitive to demonic influences in your life? If so, how? (page 174 )
- Share your thoughts about this study.
Love in Christ,
1. My mind used to wander during prayer. The advise I was given was this … what does your mind wander to? Talk to God about what you wandered to. For example: you are in a prayer and start to think about what you will cook for dinner. Well, use it in your conversation to God … you know God, I’m thankful to have dinner in the first place! Any you know, God, I think I am going to try a new dish. Maybe this new dish will make someone happy. You know … it’s relationship with God.
2. I have started practicing ACTS for my prayers now. Then I like to follow with worship music … in the car, at work … however I can work it in.
3. I knew of some of this before, but am more aware now. I have 2 scripture quotes I am using right now … daily. For example: I was riding my horse on a windy day. I began to visualize my horse spooking and me falling off and getting hurt. I said … it is written … I know my thoughts and plans for you …
outloud. Hmmm I wonder if people will notice I now mutter. hahaha Oh well!
4. I think it might be a good idea to read the book at least once a year.
1. Has your mind ever wandered during prayer? What can you do to be less distracted? Yes, and I get very frustrated and start putting myself down for it. After this study, I realize it’s condemnation from the enemy. To be less distracted, I can use a prayer journal and a prayer closet.
2. What kind of prayers do you usually bring to God? Do they fall in the category of personal desires or kingdom purposes? I bring prayers about family and friends, or something I see on tv. If I hear an ambulance or fire truck, I automatically pray. I am not praying on a global scale and I want to change that.
3. Has this study helped you become more sensitive to demonic influences in your life? If so, how? I am less afraid of the demonic, realizing that the war is won and we stand in victory. I will be more vigilant to demonic attacks and people under the influence of Satan. When I encounter them, I will apply the knowledge learned in this book.
4. Share your thoughts about this study. I think every Christian should read this book and discuss it in small group format.
Has your mind ever wandered during prayer? What can you do to be less distracted? my mind has wandered but as soon as it wanders, I usually just wrap it up… I can see that the devil is at hand with this— no more rejoicing for I… I will have to be more mindful when I am praying.
What kind of prayers do you usually bring to God? Do they fall in the category of personal desires or kingdom purposes? I can pray also both personal and for the kingdom but I do tend to go more personal.. another thing to be mindful of.
this study has helped me to be more alert and to put on the armor of God… not just say it but to walk it… I need to now more of my bible, reading it everyday, not when it is conveinent for me, it needs to be a priority in my life, to be able to fight what comes against me… thank you christine for this study.. blessing to you all
Guys…sorry i have been way behind in this study. I am still reading it and am gaining from it. Sorry I couldnt participate much.
This is a no shame zone…you do not need to be sorry for reading later than the rest of the group! The exciting thing is that you are completing the study and not giving up. God’s blessing over you as you endure -no matter what the enemy throws your way- learning how to overcome the evil and fight from victory in the name of Jesus. Enjoy the study!
1. Has your mind ever wandered during prayer? What can you do to be less distracted?
Yes it has, and I get frustrated with myself and the condemnation is loud and clear in my head! I do now realize it is the enemy who is whispering those horrible thoughts in my head. Satan effectively erased God’s grace and forgiveness from my mind and made me believe God is very legalistic. Which of course I know to be untrue. However, Satan is very good at his job and I still find myself thinking this way. I just read over what I wrote and it was not my intention to type that as part of this answer. To me this answer was a prompting from the Spirit and must be very important to God for me to pray about. Knowing that, I feel I must also say this: I am not a very happy person. I have moments, very brief to be sure, but overall, not very happy. I believe I am still hanging on to all the feelings of a “not so nice” childhood. Geez, Satan is a creep.
2. What kind of prayers do you usually bring to God? Do they fall in the category of personal desires or kingdom purposes?
Prayers have been few and far between, even for me. Obviously (well, obvious now) the work of the enemy. I’m not any good at intercessory prayer. Although I have been prompted a few times to pray and I remember being really very focused in those moments of time.
My pastor started including all emergency workers (EMS, highway patrol, police, fire, doctors, nurses) in his morning prayers during service several months ago. After a while I continued to think on that. I used to travel 65 miles one way to work everyday (I am now unemployed). When I would see emergency lights (not always) I would pray for protection for those driving, who they were going after, and for a safe trip. Now I don’t see as many lights, but I live not far from a volunteer fire department and an EMS station. Whenever I hear the sirens, I pray.
I tried a prayer journal several times. It hasn’t worked for me, but I think it could. I think I make it too big and thus it seems overwhelming to me. For instance, I belong to a Christian group on Linked In. I started writing everyone’s name down and a small description of what the issue was, or what they were asking for prayer for. The list is really big. I have since stopped writing in it and (horrible as it is) have stopped reading the emails and praying. I made it all too big, there are too many people in the group. I think I should have just written the group name down in the journal. I don’t have to remember what the issue is for the hundreds and hundreds of people in the group because God already knows what they need. I just need to pray that His will be done in their lives. I only need to write the individual names who I feel a prompting from the Spirit.
3. Has this study helped you become more sensitive to demonic influences in your life? If so, how?
Oh man YES! What the Spirit has prompted me to write here are some great examples of what I have learned. And there have been more. The problem I am going to have is APPLICATION, APPLICATION, APPLICATION. (Another thing to pray for!)
4. Share your thoughts about this study.
Wonderful. Thank you Christine for allowing the Spirit to use you as a vessel of God.
(Another confession that turns out to be something I learned during this study.) Honestly, all study I have done has been mostly to “know” something. I have it all locked up in my brain until someone says something where I can pull it out and “spout” out what I “know”. Geez I didn’t realize that was an act of the enemy until I did this study. I would not have done this as a study if it weren’t for the prompting of the Spirit when I saw a link on Facebook. Thinking of it now, of course, I was really interested (at first) to get the “knowledge” in case anyone should ask me in future because I haven’t really read anything on Spiritual Warfare before. But isn’t God great!! He used that tendency (the search for knowledge) and turned that sinful thing in me into something good. *Sigh*
Man I can get long winded!! Thanks for listening
I pray Peace and Blessings over you all as we all go out about life apply the information we learned here. I know the actual pursuit of knowledge, in and of itself, is not evil. I just need to get to that point and out of this pit I have allowed the enemy to push me into!
A very Merry Christmas to you all!
Lisa H
Lisa, please know that you are not alone. I can so relate to many of the things you have mentioned here. One of my biggest fears is that I will just gain head knowledge and not get it into my heart and be transformed by God’s Word. I pray (ok, beg mostly) God regularly to help me apply His Word so that I can be changed into the person He wants me to be. I can see the ways He has changed me and thank Him for those but then go right back to the fear that I’m not “getting” it. Let’s keep our eyes on God and keep moving toward Him – and trust that He will do the rest!
2) My prayers usually fall into the category of a need for myself, family or friends.
3)Yes, it has helped me to realize I have to better prepare myself mentally and emotionally.