The battle has been won!!!!

I don't mind the dramatics during an exorcism.  But the experienced exorcist is not always dramatic but is simply calm and collective knowing this, though there is a battle in the room, the battle has been won. Much like a preacher preaches with confidence of the Gospel in the midst of a world of sin.  The Gospel is the victory Christ has won for us upon the cross as He died for our sins for us and for our salvation and raised alive from the grave on the third day.  So the exorcist walks in the room as a victor in Christ and not a if there is a battle to be won.  This is a huge mistake in many books on spiritual warfare as the book frequently centers so much on us or the possessed and not on Christ.  Everything should be centered in Christ.

The picture above shows St. Michael with the "old man" namely the devil under his foot.  In St. Michael's right hand is a sword depicting a battle but in his left hand is a scale depicting that the judgment has taken place.  This narrative is described in Revelation 12 where the battle scene takes between the birth of Christ and the battle won in the blood of the Lamb (Christ).

This is why I love the seal of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne where you see the cross coming down upon the head of the snake! (Genesis 3:15) It reminds us that Christ has won the battle!

So your house is haunted ... a very brief response.

Among the many questions and concerns that come my direction is the question of what to do about a house that appears to be haunted. A very brief response ...

For a moment ignore the haunting and ask yourself a question, "Who are you as a baptized Christian?" Many things in this life, both visible and invisible and the very nature of our sin attract our attention away from examining ourselves, of living a life of repentance (Mk 1:15) and trusting in the Gospel, namely in Christ.

In other words, life has its distractions that take our attention away from our life in Christ. As an example, the psalmists didn't always have the answers to their problems and life experiences but they simply turned and confessed God who is the Author, Redeemer and Giver of Life.

The meaning of life was not what we make of life but what God has made of our life in Christ. We know this life under God's grace and forgiveness in Christ as baptized Christians. When we approach life experiences, we do so with this in mind. We know that we are God's child and belong not to the world but to God in Christ.

The devil wishes to draw our attention elsewhere other than Christ.  He does this by creating fear of things in this life, in death or of the devil, and not a fear (respect), love and trust in God above all things. In the midst of an apparent battle, the battle has been won in Christ.

More to be said but don't miss the point.

Secondly, call your pastor. Nothing better but to have your Christian pastor visit the house and your family and take it from there.

Not a baptized Christian, hmmmmm, either enjoy the ride, it may or may not be too pleasant, or set up a visit with your neighborhood Lutheran Pastor (Missouri Synod) or some faithful local baptized Christian pastor.

If you have a question regarding baptism, the Bible does not treat it as an option.  An example is found in quite a few verses but one could quickly look at passages as Acts 2:38 ff or Rom. 6:1-5 ff. But if you have any question why I consider it important, please ask.  Peace!!!

In Christ,
-Curate

What books should you read on Angels and Demons?

I will add more and modify this list so please stop back.  Also, I will add more of my book lists on this blog.  More of my lists exist elsewhere at the moment.  

I Am Not Afraid: Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare, by Robert H. Bennett

I found that the following books are helpful but not that I agree with everything in the following books:

99 Answers to Questions about Angels and Demons and Spiritual Warfare, by B.J. Oropeza

Angels, Elect and Evil, by C. Fred Dickason


A book I just ordered but looked through it and like what I saw is: Wizards that Peep, A Journey Into the Occult, by Siegbert W. Becker

Interviewed with Lutheran Hour: Men's Network on a program called: Great Deceiver

I really didn't contribute a lot to the program but here are the clips I'm in:

http://www.lhmmen.com/studyvideofull.asp?ID=23755&fid=2764&mode

and

http://www.lhmmen.com/studyvideofull.asp?ID=23755&fid=2766&mode

So enjoy,

In Christ,
Curate