Prayers for ‘casting out evil spirits’ and ‘binding-evil-spirits’ as commonly practiced by dispensationally ignorant Pentecostal/Charismatic Christians are spiritually dangerous because they are:

1. based on ‘misused’ Scripture verses ripped out from their dispensational context, which do not apply to us in this age of “the mystery [God’s secret plan]” and
2. other concepts that are built upon superstition and pagan tradition.

Dispensational Bible study of “the word of truth” will unfetter us from the spiritual confusion that largely pervades Christendom as a whole today.

Spiritual warfare prayers we have discussed herein are non-dispensational... not applying to us in this age. They are thus utterly ineffective because they do not reflect what how and God is doing today during the age of God’s pure grace. Some of these practices may very well have been something God did in the past—such as during Christ’s earthly ministry—and that of the Twelve Apostles in the early Acts period, but this is not according to God’s current dealings Satan’s lie program today based upon the truth of His word.

The false doctrine involved in these practices do not fit the Lord’s words through the Apostle Paul, who is God’s Moses for “the body of Christ.” Paul is His spokesman to all men today. The misused Bible information the deceived folks rely upon does not belong to or apply to us in our “dispensation of the grace of God”

“For I [Paul] speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I [Paul] am the [the article; singular] apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify [honor] mine office:” Rom. 11:13 (KJV)
“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, ²  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: Ephesians 3:1-2 (KJV)

“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I [Paul] write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 14:37 (KJV)

“[Jesus said to Paul] But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; ¹⁷ Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, ¹⁸ To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Acts 26:16-18 (KJV)

Never forget, it is possible to quote the Bible, to follow a Bible passage, and be completely outside of God’s will and a departure from ‘what and how God is dealing’ with Satan and us today.

For instance, Psalm 91 is another common proof text thrown around in the “spiritual warfare” circles. It is believed that God will send guardian angels if we ask Him.

This is exactly how Satan handled these same verses in the temptation of our Lord as seen in Matt. 4 and Luke 4. Operating apart from God’s will for us, we are urged to quote and follow Psalm 91, just like Satan encouraged the Lord Jesus in His temptations. Again, never once does the Lord through Paul speak of ‘guardian angels’ having any ministry during today’s “dispensation of the Grace of God.”

According to 2 Timothy 2:24-26, the key to escaping Satan’s influence today is teaching people sound Bible doctrine and urging them to believe it, NOT praying to bind evil spirits that they think afflict them. We must “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), paying special attention to Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon.

Many well-meaning Christians are unknowingly on a wild goose chase trying to help and free those who they think are bound by Satan’s host of demons by ‘binding spirit’ and ‘casting out spirits.’ But Paul already (~2,000 years ago) provided the answer to this problem. Here below is Paul’s specific instructions that will free and unshackle those we may reach from Satan’s deceptive ‘root cause false teachings’ that ‘seemingly have them bound.’ Note the words “teach,” “instruct,” and “acknowledging of the truth” which tells us knowing and believing the truth of Christ that is for today has the power to liberate people from the deceptions of Satan.

“[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].” 2 Timothy 2:24-26

The element that makes Paul’s prescription work is to have those who are “apt to teach” and to instruct those who seem to be bound by “the snare of the Devil.” Paul below tells us where and how the members of “the body of Christ” become equipped for this work.

“[11] And he gave [the body of Christ] some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; [12] For the perfecting [the furnishing] of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [build up] of the body of Christ:

[13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the [risen] Son of God, unto a perfect [complete] man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

[14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; [15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: [16] From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying [building up] of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:11-16).

- By Arthur J Licursi with Portions Adapted from Shawn Brasseaux -