Power Encounters in Church Planting
Learning Objectives
1. Learn the false presuppositions about the sources of power.
2. Discover why power encounters are important in church planting.
3. Articulate the basic principles of the nature of power encounters from the scriptures.
4. Learn how to deal out of victory in Christ with evil forces.
Introduction - Throughout history, men and spirits have sought after power. Much of life is a struggle over power and authority. Paul said it best in Eph. 6:10, We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and power of this dark world.’’ The human soul and spirit are faced with a choice between the powers of darkness and the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan will use any means available to him to accomplish his purposes. He works in men’s minds, to deceive, distort, and persuade them to deny the truth of God.
I. False Presuppositions on the Sources of Power
The devil tries to trick men through false animistic presuppositions toward power.
A. Pantheism The belief that man can control his own destiny and become like a god.
B. Reincarnation - The belief that man does not die but relives his life in the life of another form. This opens the way for traffic between the living and the dead.
C. Rationalism - The belief that through reason based on logic men can discern truth.
D. Relativism - The belief that something is considered true in relationship to something else. Man then becomes his own valid standard for what is true and right.
E. Ignorance - The failure to know the truth and discern error.
F. Traditionalism - The belief that traditions holds the key to truth.
G. Elitism - The belief that knowledge enables one to rise above the average person to a semi- superhuman status.
The devil tries to delude men’s minds into believing that by obtaining one of these forms of power each person can master himself and other powers or problems of life.
II. Why Are Power Encounters Important in Church Planting?
A. Ignorance of the biblical teaching on power encounters could hamper the effectiveness of the church planter.
B. A church planter should be able to identify the principle sources behind the opposition to evangelism in his area.
C. Failure to equip oneself with the weapons of spiritual warfare will spell sure defeat.
D. Trying to outwit Satan without a theology of power encounters is suicide.
E. Demonic forces are constantly trying to frustrate the qualitative and quantitative growth of Christ’s church.
F. Many people come to know Christ through some form of power encounters.
G. Our success as Christians is dependent on our ability to fight the good fight of faith.
H. We are commanded to expose the deeds of darkness in Ephesians.
I. Evangelization of every people group can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8)
J. We are engaged in a war between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of Christ. Knowing the resources we possess in Him enables us to go forth with power, authority, and confidence.
K. Many missionaries, evangelists, and church planters have been ineffective because they were unaware of the dimensions of spiritual warfare.
L. Many minor disappointments on the mission field can become major stumbling blocks without a knowledge of power encounters.
M. Many early missionaries were hesitant to discuss power encounters openly for fear of being mocked by their conservative peers. Many thought of power encounters as ``superstitious beliefs that were not to be taken seriously. As a result Satan was able to frustrate the plans of many missionaries subtly.
N. Many Christians have mistakenly thought that they were shielded from any demonic attack. They opened themselves up to all kinds of defeats, depressions, and distractions unknowingly.
O. Without a balanced knowledge of power encounters missionaries may see everything as a demonic attack. In reality a good theology of power encounters allows one to become more discerning, effective, and pleasing to the Lord in all respects. The fruits produced will endure.
P. We are not to be ignorant of Satan’s strategies. (2 Cor. 2:11)
Q. Those schooled in power encounters are to be able to address and confront, if necessary, the occultic groups, traditional religious leaders, and spiritistic practitioners who may be hindering the work of God.
R. Inadequately trained missionaries are subject to many attacks, confusions, and disillusionments.
S. Without a knowledge of power encounters the missionary will not be able to present Jesus Christ to all areas of life.
T. Power encounter equipped missionaries can deal with problems of syncretism, charms, and idol worship.
U. People are looking for power and will go to who can offer them the best means to attaining it. By teaching them about Jesus Christ, the God of all power and authority, we can present the total God to them.
V. We can deliver people from many of their fears through a knowledge of what the Bible teaches about power encounters.
W. Missionaries will no longer be subject to powerlessness in their preaching, evangelism, and spiritual ministries.
X. Missionaries will know how to pray with power for healing, defeat of the devil and his works effectively.
Y. Church planters will be able to expose the counterfeit types of power.
Z. Missionaries will know better how to interpret Biblical passages in light of their knowledge of power encounters.
III. Basic Truths of Power Encounters
A. Tim Warner of Trinity Seminary in a lecture in 1989 defined power encounters as, ``The demonstration by God’s servants of the incomparably great power of God for us who believe. (Eph. 1:19) based on the work of Christ on the cross (Col. 2:15) and the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) in confrontation with and victory over the work of Satan and demons (Lk. 10:19) in their attacks on God’s children or their control of unbelievers resulting in the glory of God and in the salvation of the lost and/or the upbuilding of believers.
B. God has given Christians His Holy Spirit who gives us all authority and power in heaven and earth through the name of Jesus Christ. He enables us to defeat the powers of darkness through faith, prayer, his righteousness, our salvation, confession of his atoning blood for the substitutionary payment of our sins.
C. The kingdom of God is greater than any other kingdom.
D. Paul saw the world of non-christians as under the bondage of the evil one. (Eph. 2:1-4; 6:12) He knew that only through the weapons of warfare given through the Holy Spirit would we be able to defeat the enemy.
E. Paul knew that we must open their eyes and bring them back to the truth. He told us to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. This was to be done through the teaching and the preaching of the redemptive power given through receiving Christ as their Savior through faith. Faith is the confident persuasion that God will do what He says He will do and acting on that conviction.
F. Paul was assured that the gospel was the power of God for salvation for everyone who believed. (Rom. 1:16)
G. Paul saw the gospel as delivering man from Satan’s powers to God’s.
H. Paul saw that the redemption given through Christ as being complete, lacking in nothing, and eternal.
I. Paul saw that without accepting the power in Christ that man would be powerless to resist the forces of the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, and the evil forces of the devil.
J. Paul knew that true freedom was given through deliverance by Christ. Paul recognized the balance of law, love, and liberty offered through the power of Christ.
K. Paul looked at those subject to the power of Satan as under his control to do those things against the very nature of God.
L. Paul realized that Satan must be bound before a strong man can take over his life completely.
M. Paul knew that a person must fully appropriate complete forgiveness in Christ before the power can be made manifest. (Mark 3:27)
N. Paul taught that men are in slavery to sin and Satan until they are delivered by the power of Christ’s redemption and atonement.
O. Paul wrote that Satan is able to blind the mind’s of the unbelieving. He also taught that carnal Christians will not be able to clearly understand the truths of God without surrender to His will and renouncing of Satan’s powers. (2 Cor. 2:14-16)
P. Paul taught that biblical or spiritual issues will seem like foolishness to those who are under Satan’s control.
Q. Satan must be bound, renounced, and exposed before missionaries can experience:
1). Success in their personal and ministry lives.
2). Teach with power, authority, and confidence from the scriptures.
3). Engaged the forces of wickedness with certainty.
4). Discern false and counterfeit spirits and teaching.
5). The full manifestations of the power, authority, and truth of God’s word in the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
6). The full blessings of the Spirit’s power in the use of gifts, callings, and enablements.
7). Persuasive capacities and the working of the complete will of God.
R. Paul realized why so many Christians remain ineffective as they did not understand their full responsibilities in engaging in spiritual warfare.
S. Paul realized the danger to missionaries of exposing their family to attacks without knowledge of spiritual warfare.
T. Paul realized that many would be disqualified from the ministry without a thorough knowledge of power encounters.
U. Paul enabled many Christians to reach their maximum potential by equipping them with spiritual weapons of warfare.
V. Paul realized that evil forces could find channels through demons, evil spirits, deceiving spirits, the anti-Christ, fear, doubt, deception, wrong teaching, sickness, wrong beliefs, charms, idol worship etc.
IV. How to Deal With Evil Powers
A. Resist the forces of evil through materialism, paganism, traditionalism, rationalism, religious deceptions, animism, pantheism, and meisms in the name of Jesus Christ and His finished work of atonement.
B. Demand the forces of evil to ``go out’’. Realize that you are commanding the forces of darkness to disperse in the power of His authority not yours.
C. Do not seek victory as much as approach your church planting out of the victory already yours in Christ.
D. Renounce the devil and his works publicly in the blood of Jesus Christ.
E. Pronounce (Note you are not determining, just announcing) the absolution, victory, and redemption from all sins through Christ. Matt. 18
F. Sing songs of the victory of the cross of calvary and cleansing with the blood of His atonement.
G. Spend time in prayer and fasting searching your own heart to be sure you are cleansed from all sin. Psa. 66:18
H. Destroy any objects of sorcery, fetishes, occultic objects, charms, or instruments of idol worship that your members have depended on. Have a public display of turning from idols to serve a living and true God. I Thes. 1
I. Use Messianic Psalms and other pertinent scripture to lift up the name of Jesus above all other powers, authorities, and influences.
J. Give opportunities for testimonies of changed lives of those who have renounced evil and committed themselves to Christ and His will.
K. Have your members break all mediumistic contacts.
L. Give opportunities for confession of sin and together reclaim the ground of people’s souls for Jesus Christ.
M. Bind demons by demanding that they leave. Do not negotiate with them, but command them to go out in the name and blood of Jesus Christ.
N. Use prayer and Bible study fellowship groups to help believers grow in faith, knowledge, love, and assurance.
O. Realize that there are no special formulas that will always work in defeating evil forces other than faith in the finished work of Christ.
P. Claim absolute faith in the word of God. Luke 8:22-25 for your weaponry against the forces of darkness.
Q. Do not try to defeat the forces of darkness through intellectual, philosophical, moral, cultural, or humanistic means. The devil is able to outwit any human in these areas.
R. Do not criticize the methods of others. Mark 9:38,39
S. Claim the power and protection of Jesus Christ, His word, and His atoning blood during your confrontations. Do not grow afraid, timid, or inhibited by Satan’s intimidation tactics.
T. Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit for guidance, teaching, and discernment to see through error or attempts to deceive, disrupt, or disallow the planting and growth of the church.
U. Be prepared for persecution and demonic backlashings. Demons will attempt to cripple, destroy, and undermine the servants of God. Rest assured that ``Greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world.’’ (I Jn. 4:4)
V. Do not confuse demonic forces with interpersonal problems, cultural issues, or differences in approach to church planting.
W. Take up the full armor of God as prescribed in Eph. 6:10-18 which includes
1). Belt of truth - All truth is God’s truth. By speaking the truth in love we are able to defeat all powers of evil as the battle is His. Help people understand that truth goes to the root of people world views. It challenges their deepest allegiances. When people are able to perceive their realities through the eyes of truth everything becomes clear. Do not allow truth to be determined solely by culture, reason, or individual experiences. By helping people know the truth, Jesus promised, ``The truth would set them free.’’ Jn. 8:32
2). Breast Plate of Righteousness - Our righteousness is in Christ through faith. The devil knows that if he is able to discredit the trustworthiness of Pastors, Church Planters, or Evangelists he will diminish the credibility of the gospel before men. Put the focus of your evangelism on the righteousness available through Christ. Assure the people that all shame, guilt, or disgraces can be totally forgiven for eternity through His righteousness. In Christ we stand holy, righteous, and totally cleansed from all sins. No one is allowed to accuse us as He has declared us righteous.
3). Shield of Faith - Faith is the confident persuasion that God will do what He promised and acting on that conviction. The protection that faith provides is both qualitative and quantitative. The greater the quality of our faith the more progress we are able to make for His sake. Teach your people the many dimensions of faith. This will allow them to live with power over demons, discouragements, and afflictions.
4). Sword of the Spirit - The Bible - We need to teach our people how to study, hear, memorize, meditate, analyze, synthesize, teach, preach, and meditate on the scriptures. Josh. 1:8 assures us that knowing, believing, and using the scriptures will make us prosperous in every aspect of life.
5). Pray in the Spirit - Teach your people together how to pray in the will and power of God. The battle is not fleshly but spiritual. We gain our strength, confidence, and victory through persistent prayer. Pray with your members about specific areas where they can exhibit the power of Christ over the forces of evil. Claim God’s promises for victory through Christ. Let your prayers be done with faith, humility, and intelligent reflection by writing down your requests and sharing answers to prayer.
Example - Pastor J. was warned by the evil authorities that they would knock down his church unless he got ``proper permits’’. After several futile efforts to obtain a legal permit, he decided to put his life on the line for Christ. He prayed and agreed with his elders to begin to erect the foundation of the church. However, the officials from the ministry quickly got word and ordered their heavy machinery to knock down the small church.
When the bulldozer came to demolish the church, Pastor J. stood in front of the building with his elders. However, when the 10 ton machine tried to move forward, God stopped it’s forward motion. Despite many mechanics attempts, the bulldozer could only move in reverse. Finally, the minister of works came and declared that ``Christ’s church must be in the will of Allah’’. Today there are 700 members worshipping in that town in Nigeria. We may have to risk our lives in demonstrating His power. Nevertheless, we must always pray, ``Not my will or way or timing, but yours be done!’’
