5. Spiritual Young Men and Women Have Overcome the “Evil One” (1 John 2:12, 14)
There are several levels of spiritual maturity. “Young men and women” is the middle range of spiritual maturity, between children and mothers and fathers. One of the characteristics of this level is the ability to overcome the evil one.
“Overcoming the evil one” has several dimensions. First, it means that we are no longer deceived by his attacks. We can see them for what they are. Next, we are able to fight against Satan in overt demonic manifestations.
I was in the process of counseling an elderly grandmother who had been involved in demonic spiritism. Others taught her how to pray to receive a “spirit guide.” She had experienced an “out of body” experience and was terrified. She wanted help.
I was not quite certain what to do. I was still a spiritual child at the time, and I had yet to learn how to overcome the evil one in a battle like this.
“They are going to kill me,” she repeated again and again.
“Who are ‘they’,” I asked.
“The spirits,” she replied.
Finally, I got her settled down and prayed for any demonic spirit attacking her to be bound and unable to touch or hurt her. That’s the best prayer that I knew to pray. She left.
The next morning her daughter called to tell me that the woman had slipped in the bathtub, hit her head on the spigot, and died.
I performed her funeral three days later.
If you know Jesus as your Savior, you are protected. You will never engage in a spiritual battle like that. But the spiritual world is real. You will encounter people who are experiencing demonic oppression, and as you grow in your faith, you will have the opportunity to help.
Long-term discipleship is the best way to help someone demonized in a particular area of their life. And remember, every demonic attack is a prayer project.