Intercessory Prayer Warfare

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What can be done in behalf of others who are in 
obvious need of deliverance, but who are not open to 
receive it? This is a frequently asked question. 

The first point of consideration is the person's spiritual 
condition. II as he or she been born again? Is he or she 
backslidden? We must remember that salvation is the 
most basic form of deliverance; it is the deliverance of a 
man's spirit. The Greek word for "salvation" is soteria, 
which denotes deliverance. Thus, the salvation of man's 
spirit is the first stage of deliverance, and it is the basis 
for all future deliverances. 

Before salvation comes into a person's life, that person 
is dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). In what sense 
is he dead? We know he is not physically dead because 
he is still breathing and moving. We know his soul 
(personality) is not dead because he is still thinking, 
feeling and making decisions. Rather, it is his spirit that 
is dead. He has no comprehension of it, nor interest in, 
the Holy Spirit. It takes the quickening power of the 
Holy Spirit to resurrect a man's spirit, and he needs to 
be "born again"to a new life (John 3:3). This comes 
about by the grace of God through faith (Eph. 2:8). That 
faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God 
(Rom. 10:17). So the priority, first and foremost, is to 
lead a person to a relationship with Jesus Christ. If this 



is not possible, and the person is unwilling to accept 
Christ as Savior, then those who bear the burden of the 
Lord for that person's spiritual welfare should give 
themselves to intercessory prayer and stand in the gap. 

The lost soul is blinded by satanic power. We should 
thus pray that the spiritual blindness be removed. 

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 
In whom the God of this world (Satan) hath blinded the 
minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the 
glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, 
should shine unto them." 2 Cor. 4:3-4 

As the gospel is presented to such a person, pray that 
the same God who commanded light to shine out of 
darkness will shine into his or her heart, and that Jesus 
the Savior will be revealed to him. Paul affirms that 
this is how he became saved. It is how anyone becomes 
saved - by the sovereign grace of God. 

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of 
darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of 
the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus 
Christ." 2 Cor. 4:6 


Intercessory Prayer 

Intercessory Prayer is a powerful tool in the hand of the 
believer. It can be a necessary tool for both saved and 
unsaved person alike. Anyone who is closed to the 
Lord's provision of salvation (or deliverance) is held by 



spiritual blindness. And whatever excuse is offered for 
rejecting salvation (or deliverance) represents some 
form of deception. 

Intercessory Prayer can be used to break through these 
demonic barriers. Too often Satan the deceiver, is 
having his way in a person's life precisely because no 
on has interceded for them, and that person is held in 
needless bondage. 

Jesus taught us to intercede for one another that we 
might be delivered from the snares of the Devil. He 
taught us to pray: "And lead us not into temptation, but 
deliver us from evil." Literally, this means "deliver us 
from the evil one." Thus all believers are in need of 
deliverance from the attacks of the enemy, to varying 
degrees. Notice the pronoun "us" in the Lord's prayer. 
This suggests we should include others in our cry for 
deliverance. 


Spiritual Warfare 

In Paul's mighty exhortation on the Christian's spiritual 
armor he emphasizes the importance of intercessory 
warfare prayer in behalf of other believers. 

Intercessory prayer is both a defensive and an offensive 
weapon against the wiles or strategies of the Devil. 


"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the 
Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance 



and supplication for all saints." Eph. 6:18 


Sometimes the Holy Spirit leads us to enter into direct 
spiritual warfare in behalf of those who are not directly 
open to ministry. The person's will may be so 
overridden by demonic forces that he is unable 
to respond to available help. No amount of reasoning or 
persuasion will cause that person to be open to 
ministry. His will is dominated by the enemy. 

Remember, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, 
but against principalities, against powers, against the 
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual 
wickedness in high (heavenly) places." Eph.6:12 

The powers that control the bound person are 
headquartered in the heavenlies where "the prince of 
the power of the air" is enthroned. Jesus has given His 
church the power to bind Satan (see Chapter 15).We 
must carry the battle right up to the gates of hell and 
overthrow the strategy that Satan has launched against 
Him. 

" ...Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates 
of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto 
thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and 
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in 
heaven: And whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall 
be loosed in heaven." Matt. 16:18-19 

The parents of a twenty-four year old daughter 
requested us to intercede for her. She had accepted 



Christ years previously and had attended a Bible 
college, but at that time had backslidden. She was living 
with a man whom she was not married and was also 
involved in spiritism. She refused all offers of help from 
her parents. 

Together with the parents, Ida Mae and I bound the 
controlling demons and commanded the spirits in her 
to release her that she might receive direct ministry. 

The girl was many miles away from us, but we were 
operating in the spirit realm where distance is no 
barrier. 

A few days later the girl did a "complete turnabout." 

She called her parents for help, left her place of sin and 
agreed to stay in our home to receive deliverance and 
counsel. Within a few weeks she was restored 
and became actively involved in helping us to set other 
captives free. All of this was the result of spiritual 
warfare in the heavenlies. 

We asked the young woman what she experienced at 
the exact time that we and her parents were taking 
authority over the demons that controlled her. She 
related to us that at that moment her mind became 
clear! Prior to that, she could not see any way out of her 
problems. When the oppression lifted she instantly 
recognized that her parents loved her and would gladly 
come to help her. She then made the decision to 
cooperate with the spiritual counsel and ministry being 
offered to her. 



One word of caution! We must realize that we cannot 
control another person's will. Trying to control another 
person's will is opposite to the goal of deliverance and 
spiritual warfare, and is tantamount to witchcraft. (This 
is different from a parent setting limitations on a child 
or teen's schedule to curb behavior or to protect them - 
see Chapter 14). 

Instead, spiritual warfare has as its goal the releasing of 
a person's will in order that he can respond directly to 
the Lord and receive the help God has for him. There is 
a freedom that often comes into someone's life through 
intercessory prayer. 

In a case where a person is in bondage to sin and to 
Satan by an ongoing decision of his own will, then he 
has chosen that path. Binding the Devil in this situation 
may not cause him to turn. However, binding the work 
of the enemy in that life provides an atmosphere for 
change, and the best chance for that person to choose 
Christ and His Kingdom. 

Another note of Warning! There have been some 
foolish and dangerous things practiced in the name of 
intercessory prayer warfare, We have known of 
situations where the intercessor agreed to taking into 
himself the demons indwelling another person. This is 
done in the belief that the demons in the unwilling 
subject for deliverance will leave that person, enter the 
intercessor and then be be “more easily” expelled from 
the intercessor. 



Satan is ready to play this game! Nowhere in God's 
word is it even hinted that we should receive demons 
into ourselves at any time for any reason. Consenting to 
be demonized opens one up to an influx of evil spirits 
with no guarantee from Satan that the demons will in 
turn depart from someone else. The arch deceiver has 
won again! 

We spent the better part of a day delivering a person 
from hundreds of spirits which had entered and 
remained in her through her foolish involvement in 
"accepting someone else's demons." She had even 
accepted demons by "sitting in" the place of persons 
who were available for direct ministry. Again, I 
emphasize that there is no scriptural basis for such 
ministry. 


The Weapon Of Love 

In helping one who refuses direct ministry, do not 
forget the weapon of love. Buried deep within that 
person lies the need to be loved. You can be sure that he 
or she has somehow been hurt and rejected. 

The ministry of love distinguishes between the person's 
true self and the indwelling demons, even if those 
demons manifest hatred, rebellion, suspicion and more. 
Such discerning love enables those close to the person 
to love unconditionally and not get blown away by the 
storms that are generated by his or her unstable 
personality. Even when that person does not recognize 
or respond to offered love, we can be assured that it is a 



spiritual wrestling technique that puts intolerable 
pressure on the powers of darkness. 

Evil spirits are equated with breath and air. The Greek 
word for spirit (pneuma) in fact means breath or air. 
Just as carbon monoxide is deadly to our breath so is 
love to an evil spirit. He cannot exist and work when 
surrounded by love. Our agape love forges a weapon 
that breaks down the demonic, anti-love powers in the 
lives of others. This is why Jesus taught us to love our 
enemies. It heaps coals of fire upon their heads. That is, 
it purifies their minds. 

The very people most needful of deliverance are often 
the most difficult to love. They may turn on us and 
offended us when we offer compassion and love. But 
we are commanded to love even those who seem least 
worthy of love. (See Matt. 5:43-48) In fact, this is exactly 
the way God delivered us. He loved us even though we 
were altogether unlovely (See Rom. 5:8). His love broke 
down our barriers, and His love has the power to break 
down every spiritual wall. Love is a powerful weapon 
in the hands of a skilled spiritual warrior. 

Praying The Scripture 

We must be led of the Holy Spirit in our intercessory 
prayer warfare. The Holy Spirit will lead the prayer 
warrior to specific Scriptures. Use these scriptures 
quickened to you to guide you in prayer. You will be 
using "the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of 
God." 



For example, in praying for a husband who is not 
following the Lord, a wife could be led to pray this Paul- 
type prayer. She could personalize the prayer thusly: 

"I do not cease to pray for my husband, Bill, and to 
desire that Bill might be filled with the knowledge of 
God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 
That Bill might walk worthy of the Lord unto all 
pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and 
increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with 
all might, according to Christ's glorious power, 
unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness." 
Col. 1:9-11 

Let The Spirit Lead 

We have set forth some spiritual principles to follow in 
intercessory prayer warfare, but each situation is, in its 
own sense, unique. The Holy Spirit knows all the facts 
and circumstances. He will tailor-make the right course 
of action for you to follow; The battle for others is a 
spiritual battle. It cannot be won in the flesh. Its 
strategy cannot be plotted by human ingenuity. Let the 
Spirit lead.