Post date: May 8, 2016 6:00:01 AM
Well,.. the spooky notions of putting oil on doorpost and Jericho marches are actually not.
These practices are charismatic tradition but we never see Paul or Jesus doing these things.
Paul and Jesus were not particularly bothered by demons. They cast demons our of messed up and sinning unbelievers but never addressed demons in the context of born again saints (Christians).
Christians must overcome sin in their lives by believing in Jesus, understanding the Word of the Kingdom and putting to death their members which are of the flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Victory is by Faith
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:4-5
Put to death sinful actions by the resurrection.
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
Colossians 3:1-10
The most famous Spiritual Warfare scripture below shows a misunderstood fact. Paul is going to rebuke human beings (false teachers not demons, not principalities.
Paul is going to cast down arguments and bring thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ, He is going to punish deception and human beings. The high things referred to are not principalities but arrogant teachings and pride
1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.
8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed—
9 lest I seem to terrify you by letters.
10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”
2 Corinthians 10:1-10
Demons do exist and are often administrators of deception and sickness but we never see demons addressed in the lives of Christians.
I know its more exciting to go some spiritual guru who can chase demons around and it is much more difficult to "bear the fruit of the Spirit" but bearing the fruit of the Spirit is what the Scriptures command not demon chasing.
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-25