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Foreword from
The Occult Trap
Doris M. Wagner
Global Harvest Ministries
International Society of Deliverance Ministers
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Way back in the 1980s when Peter and I began to become involved in
spiritual warfare, power ministries, intercession, and deliverance, we had
to formulate vocabulary for what God was leading us to do and teach.
"The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit" was on the minds and tongues of our
circle of friends and colleagues. We began to pray for the sick and see
people healed! We began to pray fervently for groups of people who had not
yet heard the gospel and saw how "power encounters" proved our God to be
real and powerful -- the healer, the savior, the provider, the giver of
peace, and so on. Prayer for the sick and power encounters were new and
powerful tools added to the arsenal of equipment of many Christian
workers.
But we weren't praying for the sick very long, nor were we evangelizing
out on the front lines much before we discovered the reality of demons,
principalities, and powers. We had to find out how to deal with these dark
angels. It was agreed upon that we were waging war out there on three
different levels, which we called "ground-level," "occult-level," and
"strategic-(or cosmic) level."
"These Signs WILL Follow Those Who Believe . . . "
We defined "ground-level" as the casting out of demons from individuals.
This was also called "deliverance." We see this again and again in
Scripture. But over the course of the centuries, it seemed that the
evangelical wing of the Church of Jesus Christ had lost the art of how to
recognize when it was needed, and how to actually do it. At least it was
totally absent from any pre-service training available to Peter and me
before we headed for the mission field in the 1950s. We landed in enemy
territory without the full inventory of equipment needed for spiritual
warfare. Interestingly enough, because of our naiveté, we just didn't see
demons, hence there was no need for the tools. Just as an aside, Peter and
I saved up for a trip back to the places where we had served for 16 years
in Bolivia. We made that trip to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary,
back in 1990. We were appalled by what we saw. All we could think of was,
"How could we have been so blind as not to have seen this?"
However, we could do much better now; so our passion is to better equip
the body of Christ to work boldly in deliverance ministry and spiritual
warfare. After all, Jesus did tell His disciples: "These signs will follow
those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak
with new tongues, they will take up serpents, and if they drink anything
deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and
they will recover." It goes on to say, "And they went out and preached
everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the
accompanying signs" (Mark 16:17-19, NKJV).
To me, the interesting phrase in that passage of Scripture is "those who
believe." There does not appear to be a time limit on those words, so I
choose to believe that the description of Christians back then should also
apply today. We have seen literally thousands of people healed and
delivered. Victory breeds encouragement and enthusiasm.
Our group of colleagues then discerned that there were two other levels of
demonic activity that seemed to be more organized and powerful.
"Occult-level" warfare dealt with the demonic activity occurring in things
like Satanism, witchcraft, shamanism, curanderos, Freemasonry, and the
like. Worship of certain demonic beings seemed to be included with this
level. It would take a little more understanding to deal with those who
had been deeply involved with these systems. Often a very deep level of
inner healing is required to bring people into total freedom. But freedom
is possible. Some of the finest Christian workers I know have come out of
the occult, and today are totally fearless because they know how much more
powerful Christ is than the demons that once held them captive.
"More and More Souls Will Be Snatched from the Kingdom of Darkness into
the Kingdom of Light . . . "
Then, of course, strategic-level spiritual warfare deals with powerful
principalities and powers that hold territories, people groups, and
systems under their sway. Those who combat these powerful spirits are
specialists who are few in number and like our "special forces" in the
military. Not many are needed, actually. They pray prophetic prayers and
do battle in the heavenlies accompanied by prophetic acts and spiritual
warfare.
These warriors are in touch with God on a special level and we don't talk
a whole lot about this because, frankly, most Christians do not understand
it -- nor do they need to. Special forces are rather private in nature.
But if the other foot soldiers ("those who believe") keep busy with what
they are supposed to do (casting out demons) the governmental structure of
evil will continue to be weakened and more and more souls will be snatched
from its kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.
"The Intelligence Contained in this Book Can Deal an Enormous Blow to the
Kingdom of Darkness . . . "
Literature in the field of ground-level spiritual warfare (casting out
demons) is plentiful, if you know where to look for it. But, we were
always shy on books having to do with the occult-level warfare. There are
some, but we needed a basic text in the field that we could recommend. And
now the book you hold in your hands is a very good start. I was delighted
to get the manuscript from Jim Wallace. I immediately liked it because it
was written in an organized, scholarly (but not ponderous) manner. I felt
a kindred spirit with Him because he came from much the same theological
tradition Peter and I did, and he learned much of what he knows from
practical experience on the mission field. We sort of wound our way
through the same pilgrimage and came out at the same place. Of course, my
prophet friends would say something like: "Well, what would you expect --
it's what the Spirit is saying to the churches."
I wish every deliverance minister out there could get a copy of this book.
Pastors, youth ministers, and parents would greatly benefit from reading
this also. Fear is a weapon of warfare from the enemy. It is often the
only thing that keeps God's people from coming against the demonic,
especially the occult level. Actually, friends, the demons fear equipped
Christians a whole lot more than we can possibly fear them because we have
the power to undo them.
Understanding the strategy of the enemy and his modus operandi is the
first step in defeating him. The intelligence contained in this book can
deal an enormous blow to the kingdom of darkness if put to use.
The clear step-by-step examples to assist both deliverance ministers, and
even those who can't find help from a qualified deliverance minister, are
excellent! Thanks, Jim, for placing in order this rather unsavory topic so
as to better equip the body of Christ for war.
Saints, let's get with the program and put this valuable material to
use. We can be an integral part of the prayer Jesus taught us to pray:
"Thy Kingdom come." |
