Disarming the Powers of Darkness is about personal victory for you and your home in Spiritual Warfare. As the second scripture above proclaims, our utmost responsibility as Christians is to rescue those being led away to death. We cannot shrink from it. It is because of this that both of us feel so passionately about this issue. Our goal is to teach and live biblical truths, expose Satan’s ploys, and lift up Jesus Christ as the only hope. And we hope that by what is written here you too will be inspired and will strive to do likewise. However, we’ve already used two words that confuse, even frighten many today —"Spiritual Warfare." But fear not, you can have victory and you can win in the spiritual war!

In the nineteen-eighties and nineties, we heard lots of discussion about "Spiritual Warfare." Just about everywhere you looked within Christendom someone was talking about some form of "Warfare." It became chic. In the process, excesses surfaced, demonism and deliverance became frightening for some, and true victory in Christ became obscured and seemed unattainable for many. There truly is no shortage of differing views on this controversial issue. Some evangelicals and fundamentalists exhibit confusion on the issue by ignoring some of the more intense aspects of spiritual warfare such as demon possession. On the other hand, some pentecostal and charismatic believers tend to see a demon behind every door and under every rock, when in fact many of the sicknesses and sins plaguing mankind are simply a continuation of original sin (Genesis 3). Furthermore those caught in the trap of liberalism completely disavow any intrusion of the Devil and thus are easy targets for his deceptions. So what is the truth and where is the balance?

The "90-10" Approach

While we firmly believe in Satan’s work being a reality in the world and fully concur that demons exist and often need to be cast out of the possessed, this is not the focus of this book. There are many terrific resources available today which deal with deliverance and related topics. While we certainly won’t leave issues pertaining to the demonic untouched, our desire is to instill the need for every Christian to fight and win the battle for personal victory on an everyday scale. It seems to us that when called to battle, far too many saints are ill prepared to deal effectively with the demonic because they are not victorious as a habit. Thus the above section title: "The ‘90-10’ Approach." Directly dealing with the demonic is perhaps 10% of Spiritual Warfare, while living in an elevated level of victory and personal freedom is a goal we all can work toward. If we do so, then we’ll be ready, willing and able—in season and out—when Satan and his minions rear their ugly heads for a personal confrontation.

Spiritual Warfare—understanding it and waging it—is paramount to our spiritual effectiveness and survival until we’re at home in Heaven. Every day is the time to be alert and aware of the enemy’s plans, actions and desires. Yet with so many different viewpoints, where do we begin? Is there a balance? Yes! To capitalize on knowing God’s Word and serving Him daily is of course our first priority. Concurrently the defeat of mankind’s three enemies—the world, the flesh and the Devil—must be a priority too.

The apostle Peter admonishes us:

Satan is out to trick, trap, and destroy whomever he can, and he and his forces are at work all over the earth doing just that. The antidote for this is twofold. First, it is found in a flourishing, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ, King of Kings and conquering Lord! Second, it is in obedience to studying, understanding and implementing what the Lord imparted to us in His Word. So with that in mind, here is the reason we think this book is important, regardless of whether you are a single adult, grandparent, teenager, or are raising a family. There is a level of victory—spiritual power—that many in modern Christianity are missing.

We believe one important reason for this widespread anemic condition is that Satan’s attacks often go nearly unnoticed in our lives and homes. We have become anesthetized to the Devil’s workings. Because of this, the sometimes subtle influences that seep through the cracks in our humanity soon root themselves as fixtures in our lives.

Yes, this book may agitate some who read it. We know that. But our hope is that by exposing the issues, discussing biblical precepts and offering our insights and suggestions, you will benefit and the Body of Christ will be strengthened.

What You Don’t Know WILL Hurt You!

For nearly twenty years, both of the authors have ministered on and written about Spiritual Warfare and how the home and family are affected. We’ve seen many folks choose to be winners in this Warfare. For this we praise the Lord and are grateful that somehow we had a part to play in strengthening His church. Sadly, we’ve also watched many try to ignore the need to engage in the spiritual battle and subsequently pay the consequences. During those years of ministry in this area, we think we’ve found a key.

The late prolific apologist Walter Martin once quoted his mentor, Donald Grey Barnhouse, as saying, "You’ve got to get the hay down out of the loft where the cows can get at it." We concur. Much of what we’ve read on Spiritual Warfare has seemed so unattainable to the average member of Christ’s church. Often it has seemed either out of reach or ominous, spooky, and threatening. So our goal is to take the wraps off Spiritual Warfare and to expose some of the deceptions that affect so many today. We’re going to make it as simple and understandable as possible so that everyone reading can grasp and then implement God’s word on Warfare. We want to caution you that any commitment made to spiritual victory won’t often be pretty, and it won’t often be easy, but it will be worth it. Our prayer for the reader is that you and your household may go on to be the victors God has called you to be in Christ Jesus!

So go with us as we take a no-nonsense look at some important areas of Christian living that lots of folks would just rather not deal with. The need for spiritual warriors continues to rise and the battle is surely intensifying as we move on through these prophetic end-days. We pray that you’ll do more than just "amen" us and that you’ll examine your life and your home with fresh, biblical understanding. If you do, we can guarantee that you and your family will see a very real and powerful difference for eternity’s sake.

One last thing . . . Our victory over darkness isn’t just for our benefit. It’s also for the good of others; for the good of the Kingdom of God. So if we enter into battle merely motivated by "self," then we’ve fallen into the trap of the world today. If we’ll view the steps we take in Spiritual Warfare as acts of obedience to the Lord, we’ll then be in position to watch God do some great and awesome things in our own lives!

—Eric Barger & David Benoit