To many people, spiritual warfare is not something they want to think about or to deal with. Yet the reality is we, as believers, are involved in spiritual conflict. Many choose not to think about it, others have put it out of their mind, but the Word of God is clear that we are involved in this battle. Rob Randall, in his latest book The Invisible War, details his own personal experience and that of his family. More importantly, he turns to the Word of God to give the reader direction and instruction on how we are to face the Enemy.
You will find this practical tool a tremendous help in understanding what God’s Word has to say about this invisible war. As you are guided by these chapters it is my prayer that your spiritual eyes will be opened, that you will put on the full armor of God and that the strength and wisdom of our Lord will carry you through the battle.
WHAT LEADERS ARE SAYING
The Invisible War is a well done and thorough exposure of the Enemy and his tactics. A wholesome emphasis on the Christian’s armor is seen as obviously superior to the wiles of the Devil. It provides a number of specific prayers which parry various attacks of the Enemy. The Invisible War is the biblical and practical study on spiritual warfare we as Baptists have long needed.
–Dr. Roy J. Fish, Distinguished Professor of Evangelism
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminar, Ft. Worth, Texas
Rob Randall turns to the Word of God to give the reader direction and instruction on how we are to face the Enemy. You will find this practical tool a tremendous help in understanding what God’s Word has to say about this invisible war.
–Dr. Mac Brunson, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Dallas, TX
The Invisible War is not only an important work; it is an essential one. Well researched and thoughtful, it comes from the heart of Rob Randall, a preacher, evangelist and scholar. Read it carefully and read it thoroughly.
–Dr. Ergun Caner, Professor of Theology and Church History
Criswell College, Dallas, TX
Evangelist Rob Randall has been at the forefront of the spiritual battle for the past thirty years. It has provided him a sound basis for the practical procedures he offers to apply God’s Word in the personal arena of spiritual warfare.
–Dr. William E. Nix, Professor of Theology
Southern Evangelical Seminary, Charlotte, NC
This book is must reading for every Bible believing Christian. It will equip you to understand Satan’s tactics today and how you can experience the victory of the Cross of Christ not only for yourself, but also for those you love.
–Dr. Jim Logan, Counselor
International Center for Biblical Counseling, Sioux City, Iowa
Writing on spiritual warfare has fallen on disfavor in recent days. Perhaps it is because we have been lulled to sleep by the adversary, and he has us exactly where he wants us.
The Invisible War is not only an important work; it is an essential one. Well researched and thoughtful, it comes from the heart of Rob Randall, a preacher, evangelist and scholar. Read it carefully and read it thoroughly.
Dr. Ergun Caner,
Professor of Theology and Church History, Criswell College, Dallas, TX
Evangelist Rob Randall has been at the forefront of the spiritual battle for the past thirty years. He has drawn on his personal encounters in the crucible of experience to delineate specific issues confronting multitudes of individuals, families, and churches today.
His investigation has taken him into difficult areas where his reliance on the authority of God’s Word in speaking to the needs of humankind has given him boldness to go where few have dared to travel. It has also provided him a sound basis for the practical procedures he offers to apply God’s Word in their personal arena of spiritual warfare.
May His endeavor, The Invisible War, be an encouragement to all who seek guidance, support, and encouragement along the way.
Dr. William E. Nix,
Professor of Theology,
Southern Evangelical Seminary, Charlotte, NC
President, Electronic Bible Society, Dallas, TX
Evangelist Rob Randall has a genuine concern for people who too often become victims of the spiritual battles of life. He really cares! He has spent many long hours in searching the Scriptures, in praying, and ministering to hurting people. Out of this kind of ministry he has been led to write this book.
The Invisible War will be of great help to those who are seeking spiritual freedom and victory. Dr. Randall leads them step by step, saturated with the Word of God, in open communication with other Christians, and permeated with earnest prayer to true victory.
Read it slowly and thoughtfully while lingering in the many Scripture references. Pray for the Holy Spirit to be your Teacher. You will find the journey as I did eternally rewarding. You will be blessed!
Dr. James F. Eaves, Professor of Evangelism
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Ft. Worth, Texas
I have known Rob Randall since he was a two year old toddler son of my dear friend, Evangelist Bob Randall. I have watched him grow through the years to his now exciting evangelistic ministry. In recent years God has given him tremendous insight into spiritual warfare. The Invisible War is must reading for every serious soldier of the Cross.
Evangelist Johnny Jackson, Little Rock, Arkansas
President Arkansas Baptist Convention 1978-79
Chairman of Southern Baptist Convention
North American Mission Board 1991-92
I received a phone call from Brother Randall. He poured out his soul relating how the Enemy established a hold of his son’s life and was seeking to destroy him (John 10:10). He asked if I would council them.
The Invisible War was not written from a purely academic point of view. It was written by a man who experienced first hand the struggle to free his son from Satan’s grip. As Rob entered the battle, he began a pilgrimage of learning the strategies of the Enemy that caused something like this to happen to his own family. A wise man once said, "If Satan cannot get the parents, he will go after the children."
This book is must reading for every Bible believing Christian. It will equip you to understand Satan’s tactics today and how you can experience the victory of the Cross of Christ not only for yourself, but also for those you love.
Dr. Jim Logan, Counselor
International Center for Biblical Counseling
Sioux City, Iowa
FOREWORD
There is a noticeable shortage of books about the Devil. I might suggest that this is something the Devil very much appreciates since the one thing he desperately fears is exposure. That is the precise purpose of the book The Invisible War, and it is a well-done and thorough exposure of the Enemy and his tactics.
The book is written out of the context of the author’s own first hand experience. Rob Randall is far more than a theoretician when it comes to knowledge of the Enemy. But in spite of this, the author never looks to experience as the final authority in demonology. There is the prevailing insistence that the criterion by which one’s experience is judged is by the plumb line of Scripture.
All of us know of preachers and even books which, in spiritual warfare, find a "demon behind every bush." The Invisible War doesn’t fall into this error. The message of the book is extremely balanced at this point. In fact one of the great strengths of The Invisible War is its balanced approach. The deceptive activity of the Devil is a major thrust of the author, but this is skillfully balanced by the positive aspect of the power and authority given to the believer in our union with Christ. A wholesome emphasis on the Christian’s armor is seen as obviously superior to the wiles of the Devil.
This book does not deal in generalities. It provides a number of specific prayers of deliverance which parry various attacks of the Enemy. The last chapter deals with specific ways in which the Devil hinders revival and how to respond to his efforts.
The real strength of this book is that it is soundly biblical and intensely practical. If you are looking for something that challenges your heart and stretches your mind, you will be greatly helped by this book. The Invisible War is the biblical and practical study on spiritual warfare we as Baptists have long needed.
Dr. Roy J. Fish,
Distinguished Professor of Evangelism
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Ft. Worth, Texas
Introduction To
THE INVISIBLE WAR
…while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Cor. 4:18). Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb. 11:1).
We are surrounded by the invisible war. We see casualties of the war on every side. It is becoming more and more impossible to ignore the supernatural battle in which we find ourselves. As the return of our Lord approaches ever closer, Hell is unleashing its fury on this generation of our children. Those who should be living in great victory and power more often fall into great sorrow and defeat. This is the "pill" generation. If a child has the behavior problem we give him a pill to manipulate his behavior. We look to the doctor and pharmacist for the peace of mind we do not possess.
There’s never been a generation like this one. A time filled with education but without truth. It is a time of great promise but without hope. Everywhere we look, people are seeking answers from psychiatrists and self help books and psychics. Husbands and wives having lost all hope run to lawyers to solve marital problems. The struggle to find some peace at home so often leads to divorce which brings more guilt and more hopelessness. Mothers are killing their own children for the sake of selfish convenience. Men and women are confused as to their own sex. Out of control are they even in the face of AIDS and certain death. We are witnessing a generation out of control with all kinds of addictions, seeking to medicate the pain of grief, sorrow, and endless loneliness.
From Columbine High School to Pearle Mississippi, across our land we watch in horror the epidemic of kids killing kids as a result of a hopeless rage. Children walking into our schools dazed in a trance, loaded for war with an appetite for the shedding of Christian blood. Our prisons are filled with children who could not find any reason to live straight. Our graveyards are filled with the bodies of children that lived in such defeat they could not find a reason to live. Beautiful young girls, their hearts filled with anorexic confusion, believing a lie that they are fat commit slow suicide as their bodies waste away headed for the graveyard. Children filled with such guilt and heartache that they cut themselves to relieve their spiritual pain. Truly our generation is the generation that will be remembered as the hopeless generation.
Even the pulpit is too often a place for psychoanalyzing rather than the preaching of the Word of God. Preachers filled with prescription drugs find no peace within themselves. A deluge of dark desperation and depression has baptized those who should be living in great joy and victory. The more society looks for answers the more confused and lost it becomes. Education has not solved our search for truth. More people carry degrees today than ever and yet people live in hopelessness. When we have a problem we throw money at it, and it doesn’t solve a thing. Our politicians pontificate declaring they have the answers so we will re-elect them to their own selfish carnal realities. The tragedy is we don’t seem to know how to appropriate the victory that is ours in Christ.
We find ourselves in the midst of a revival of interest of the supernatural. From physic hotlines to government studies of the paranormal, people everywhere are searching for spiritual answers. From religions of witchcraft to blasphemous rituals in the church, we see a strange marriage between the holy and the unholy. We read with shock when our First Lady, Nancy Reagan sought answers from the world of the psychics and spiritual mediums.1 Well publicized was the spiritual encounter Hillary Clinton had with Eleanor Roosevelt through the medium of a spiritist. And just think the "Harry Potter Generation" is just ahead. Billy Graham has said, "Certainly, the activity of Satan is evident on every side. We can see it in the wars and other crises that affect all men daily. We can also see it in the attacks of Satan against individual members of the body of Christ. Demonic activity and Satan worship are on the increase in all parts of the world. The Devil is alive and more at work than at any other time. The Bible says that he realizes his time is short, his activity will increase."2
If we are to know the truth, we must go to the Word of God. Forever Oh, Lord thy word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89). Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my Word will never pass away (Luke 21:33). All we can know for certain concerning spiritual things is what we read in the Bible. There must be a non-hysterical biblically balanced approach to spiritual warfare. We have nothing to fear but our ignorance of God’s truth. For you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32).
It was a normal day, most like any other day. In my heart, I knew I needed to spend some time with the Lord. As I went before Him, an acute longing came over my soul for real revival. I began to cry out to the Lord concerning our spiritual needs as the people of God. Serving as the President of the Conference of Texas Baptist Evangelists, as well as serving on the Evangelism Committee of a strong conservative evangelical denomination, I was aware of most of what the Lord was doing in our churches. Although we were regularly seeing people come to Christ, the work of evangelism was not seeing near the harvest I was convinced God had for us. Having served now in evangelism for a quarter of a century as well as growing up in an evangelist’s home, my heart became very heavy for a genuine move of God in our time. As a student of the history of revival and spiritual awakenings, it was obvious what I read in the history books, we had never experienced.
As I prayed, I told the Lord I was not ungrateful. "Lord, You have blessed me far beyond my greatest expectations. You have given me a precious wife and three wonderful and gifted children. My ministry as an evangelist has your hand upon it. I see more people come to Christ in a year than many churches with their multi-million dollar budgets, and I’m just one guy. I am so grateful for all you have done for me. Lord, You know my heart, I am not whining and ungrateful." My heart became heavy as soul began to cry. "Oh God, Would you do a new work in my life for a new work in our churches?" I long to see real revival in my lifetime. Even now I remember confessing to our Lord that I didn’t even know what I was asking of Him. I just knew I needed for the Lord to do a new work in my life for a new work in the churches where I would serve as an evangelist.
Had I known what I was praying, had I known what my family and I was going to go through in the next three years, I would have never prayed that prayer. My dear friend, I’ve seen things I didn’t want to see. I’ve heard things I didn’t want to hear. I’ve learned things I didn’t really want to know. There were times I didn’t believe we would survive the battle with the powers of darkness. There were days I was convinced I would be buying a casket for one or more of my family members or they would be buying one for me.
As soon as I became aware of the Enemy’s evil intent and the work of demons and their unholy assignments against my family, I told the Lord two things. Number one: I would distance myself from the highly emotionally charged charismatic world to learn of these matters. Although, I have great love and respect for our charismatic brothers for their zeal in evangelism, I believe way too much deception has characterized the most recent charismatic movements. I didn’t need any more confusion in my life concerning these spiritual truths. Number two: If I was to learn anything, I would learn it from God himself. I claimed that He alone would be my guide into all truth. I told Him that He would have to teach me the truth that would set men free. I took a red highlighter and marked every passage in the Bible that related to our spiritual battle. I began to pray and study over each of them to allow the Lord to teach me about the "invisible war."
God’s Answer to my prayer,
"Do a new work in my life for a new work in Your Church."
After months and months of battling for my son’s spiritual cleansing, The Lord came to me and said, "It’s your turn. There is a work I need to do in your life." I had learned enough concerning the invisible war to know that no one is exempt from the deceptions and lies of the Enemy. So I willingly said, "Yes, Sir. What do You want me to do?" The Lord instructed me to go before Him and He would show me the areas of deception in my life. He would show me the times I had believed Satan’s lies. He would show me the times I had been unwilling to believe God’s truth.
With pen and pad in my hand, I humbled myself before Holy God. I went into His presence with fear and trembling in obedience. He told me that I did not have to come up with the list. That He would show me every time I refused to believe God. The list began to fill with all matters of unbelief. As soon as the Lord would bring them to my attention, I confessed them to Him. I asked Him to cleanse me of these matters that had separated me from Him and His will in my life. When the list was finished, I looked up and more than two hours had gone by. I was exhausted. This was extremely difficult especially to my flesh. The flesh doesn’t like any of this. I was so tired I went to bed to take a nap.
In my sleep, the Lord woke me up and said, "We’re not done yet." I told the Lord I didn’t believe I could take any more. He assured me I could and that this work of cleansing was not finished. He said, "I want you to come before me again and I will show you every time you let the sun go down on your anger. There you will find the work of the Enemy in your life." Eph. 4:26-27 says, Be angry, and yet do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the Devil an opportunity. I had learned in my study of the invisible war that the Devil exploited the times of anger when that anger was not turned over to our Lord through confession.
So obediently, I went before the Throne of God and into His Holy presence. With the same pen and pad in my hand, The Lord began to show me the times I had joined Satan’s rebellion by not trusting the Lord to take care of matters that had hurt me and those I loved. He showed me the time as a teenager when I became so angry at my Mother I wanted to hit her. I couldn’t hit her, so I rammed my fist through a door in our house. He reminded me that I never asked Him to forgive me of that sin. I told Him I was so sorry, and confessed these areas of disobedience to Him. It was a precious time, but also a painful time before Holy God. Once again the flesh, our pride wants nothing of holiness. When this time was done before the Lord, several more hours had passed. I was completely emptied of all my strength. I crawled into bed for a nights rest.
Early the next morning, the Lord woke me again and said, "We’re not done yet. I want you to come before me again." I began to cry out to Him and say, "I can’t take it any more, Lord. I don’t believe I can survive any more of this." He assured me once again that I could and that His work of cleansing was not finished. He told me to go before Him and write down the armor of God. And under each piece of His armor, He would show me the times when I did not have on my spiritual armor. He said, "There you will find the work of the Enemy in your life."
So I went before Holy God again. I did as He had instructed me to do. I wrote down each piece of the armor in Eph. 6: Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Shoes of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace, Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation, and Sword of the Spirit — Word of God. Under each piece I began to write what the Lord was showing me. He showed me every time I refused to believe what He said was true. He showed me the times in my life when I relied on my righteousness instead of His. He showed me those times in my life with I was unwilling to be a peace with Him and with others. He showed me each time in my life when I walked in the flesh instead of faith. Everything He told me, I wrote it down on the pad. Each time I asked Him to forgive me for my disobedience. I thanked Him that through Calvary I had His full forgiveness. I quoted I John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He showed me the times when I chose to walk in selfishness instead of the Spirit of Christ. He showed me the times in my life when I did not trust His salvation and all that He had done for me on Calvary. He showed me the times when although I proclaimed to believe the Bible, I didn’t walk in its truth.
My time of spiritual cleansing was now in its second day. When we were through, I literally couldn’t walk. My strength was gone. I truly thought that I might die. It was like major surgery. My wife, Pattie walked into the room. She asked, "Honey, what’s hurting you?" There it was. When my sin and disobedience had been cleansed by the Lord, underneath was the "Big Lie" that the Devil had been able to use in my life. I saw a young boy who believed he had been abandoned by everyone. Oh, I hadn’t been. But I believed I was. Remember, all of Satan’s work is based upon lies. It doesn’t have to be true; you just have to believe it.
Tears began to roll off my face in ways I have never known. These tears were almost like molasses. I began to see clearly how I had set up my life and ministry so as not to be abandoned. I had smothered my friends so I wouldn’t loose them. All the while, I had lost most of them. The Enemy had used this lie to manipulate my life all these years. All kinds of fears and the desire to fix my family’s name because of my parent’s divorce came up. Only the Lord justifies and forgives. Forgiveness is only found in the work of Christ on Calvary. To believe or practice otherwise is to join Satan’s rebellion.
After two days of cleansing in my life. I told my wife that she didn’t need to miss the movement of God in her life. Since we were "one flesh" before Him, no doubt there was a work of cleaning He wanted to do in her. That began three more days of spiritual cleansing in the Randall home. Our lives will never be the same. The Lord has taught us how to pray. Our prayer time is not just a few minutes as it used to be. Now our time before our precious Lord can be hours. The Lord has taught us how to trust Him. The Lord has taught us to believe in His Holy and living Word. Our Lord has taught us about Himself. There is no one like Him. There is no one who is more faithful than Christ. There is no one who is worthy of all praise but Jesus Christ.
Through it all, our Lord has taught us how to walk in the victory that is ours in Christ. He has revealed Himself to me in ways I had never known. Our Lord is faithful! Our Lord is great and mighty to save! Our Lord is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us! I have always been a praying Christian. However, now the Lord has taught me how to listen to Him when He speaks. In the Randall Home we have learned you can trust the Lord! We can trust Him to do what He said He would do! In the churches we are seeing real revival cleansing from our Lord. Heaven is pouring out revival rain in most all the churches now where we serve. Praise the Lord! There is nobody like our Lord Jesus Christ! He is Lord of all! His Word is alive and more powerful than we can imagine. No matter what wicked schemes our Enemy, the Devil hurls our direction, thanks be unto God who always causes us to triumph in Christ (2 Cor. 2:14).
The following pages are the fruit of our three year journey. It is the fruit of the answer to my prayer requesting God to do a new work in my life. I present this work on "The Invisible War" to you with the prayer that through it our Lord will teach you to walk in His victory. It will be necessary for you to get your Bible and study the Scriptures as you read this book. When you come to the end of a section, meditate upon the Word of God and pray the Holy Spirit will use His Word to guide you into all truth. Our Lord will teach you in His Word how to live in His Victory. He came to set the captives free. He came to destroy the works of the Devil. Welcome to the "Invisible War."
Spiritual warfare is not about demons, although they are involved in the evil workings of the Enemy. Spiritual warfare is first and foremost about the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church and through the Church to accomplish His will on the earth as it is in Heaven. The Invisible War is not about the Devil or demons. It’s about our mighty God who is Lord of all. The Invisible War is not about sin and sorrow. It is about the One who has given His life that all might be forgiven. The Invisible War is not about us, it’s about Christ. It’s all about Him. God created us for Him. We exist for Him. We live for Him. We preach for Him. Our song is about Him! We breathe for Him. He is Lord! He has come to set the captives free! He came to free us to Himself; free to do His will! Free to be what He has created! Praise His Holy Name!
All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all!
Let every kindred, every tribe, On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe, And crown Him Lord of all!
O that with yonder sacred throng We at His feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song, And crown Him Lord of all!
In any study of the supernatural, it is necessary that the terms used be clearly defined. There are words such as demon, blasphemy, cult, etc. that carry different meanings to different people. When you encounter such terms in this book, please refer to the glossary provided on page 251 in the back of the book. This list will give a clear understanding how these terms are being used in this study.
This book on "The Invisible War" should be studied not to duplicate as a program this or any specific approach as the only way to engage the Enemy. On the contrary, my prayer is that this book will so engage your heart to help you study the Word of God concerning these eternal matters. It is through the Word of God we learn the real truth concerning the invisible war. It is through the Word of God we learn how to engage the Enemy. It is in the Word of God we learn the TRUTHS that set men free. The Holy Spirit alone is our guide into all truth (John 16:13). Through your study of His Word, may God develop in you a willingness to be led and used of Him as He comes to set the captives free.
