When we “study… rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), not only do we see what Almighty God is doing during today’s the “Dispensation of the Grace of God,” we see what Satan is working today as well.

We also see what God is not doing, and what Satan is not doing. All too often presumptions dominate modern “Christian” thinking. People assume Satan is doing this today, but he is doing something else. People assume God is doing this today, but He is doing something else as well. Not only is there misinformation about ‘spiritual warfare,’ there is misunderstanding about almost every Bible topic … because the word of truth is not being rightly divided by those who should?

Once, this author was speaking to a fellow Christian woman (a Charismatic) about witnessing to an unsaved person who refused to hear “the Gospel of the Grace of God” from his lips. The lady replied, “Maybe there was an evil spirit hindering her from listening and believing. Perhaps you needed to pray for that spirit to be bound!” Frankly, this foolish reply comes from nothing but Bible ignorance and superstition, and she is not the only one who suffers from it. When the Apostle Paul commented on Satan’s activities today, he made it known concerning God’s work today, never once was there given in Paul’s epistles a prayer to recite or declaration to utter in order for us to be victorious over Satan and his policy of evil.

Ephesians 6:12 is perhaps the key verse for the ‘spiritual warfare’ proponents: “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 places.” Yet, even here, nothing in this context exhorts us to pray to bind evil spirits. If the Holy Spirit wanted us to fight spiritual battles by reciting “binding prayers,” why did He not take that opportunity to tell us in Ephesians 6? It would have been pertinent to mention, if we are to believe the “binding-evil-spirits” people, anyway. The Holy Spirit did not do that because God is doing something different today during today’s age of God’s pure grace… relying totally upon the word and truth of Christ’s finished work of the Cross.

During today’s “Dispensation of the Grace of God,” the battle is not on the Earth as it was during Christ’s earthly ministry. Currently, there is “spiritual wickedness in high places.” The term “high places” is interchangeable with “the heavenly places.” The same Greek word is used in Eph. 1:3, 1:20, 2:6, and 3:10 where it is translated “the heavenly places.” For this reason, we do not read about Satan or any other evil spirits really possessing people today. There are never any instructions given in Paul’s epistles about exorcism (casting out devils). However, this does not mean that Satan is not active today in some capacity. Most definitely, Satan is alive and well… wise and sneaky as ever!

Paul wrote in First Timothy 4:

“[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines [Grk., didaskalia, the teachings] of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; [3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats [certain foods], which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. [4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: [5] For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

Having been raised Roman Catholic I recognize several of the underlined items in the verse above as being the marks of Romanism to this day, which is not surprising as much of the practices of Romanism are founded upon Pagan practices (meaning they are devilish in their source).

But particularly notice the words “doctrines of devils” in verse 1 (above). Thus, we see how, how Satan and his

evil spirits operate today? Is it by possessing people? No! The evil world system, of which man’s religion deceives through its Preachers and Teachers everywhere—those Preachers and Teachers deceive others with their lies and confused denominational tenets and church traditions to are contrary to dispensational truth of the word of God. Those lies are sourced in the Devil Himself, who Jesus said is ‘the father of lies.’

“Ye [the religious leaders of Israel] are of your father the devil, and the lusts [desires] of your father ye will do. He [the Devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44 (KJV)

Paul wrote of the way men can be recovered from the snare of the Devil here in 2 Timothy 2:24-26:

“[24] And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, [25] In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth [of His word]; [26] And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will [when they are deceived as such].”

Read the verses immediately above carefully. So, how do people escape Satan’s trap of deception today?

What can we do to fight Satan as Christians? Just read the passage again!

Paul says we are to teach anyone and everyone the sound Bible doctrine that is for us today—that they may believe it and thereby deliver themselves from the deception in which they find themselves. There is nothing here about praying that evil spirits will leave them alone, or binding evil spirits so these people can be liberated. The issue is Teaching not praying. In other words, frankly, those who claim to be using prayers to free people from spiritual bondage are really doing nothing meaningful with their “binding-evil-spirits” prayers. Victory is found in believing sound dispensational Bible teaching, NOT by reciting prayers that superstitious and denominational people have written.