Christians are in a warfare. The Bible says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places. Civilization is fighting its final spiritual warfare before the Battle of Armageddon. In Demons and Deliverance I, Dr. Lester Sumrall exposes the power of Satan and explains how to overcome it.

Welcome, students, to one of the most important and exciting series of lessons we will ever give. These lessons on demons, deliverance, principalities, and powers are crucial. Because of their importance, they are available in multiple formats: audio recordings, a book for your library, videotapes to watch on your television, and, best of all, a comprehensive teaching syllabus. We are approaching this subject in the most thorough way possible, engaging all methods of learning—reading, hearing, and seeing.

In the world we live in today, with the occult growing in unprecedented ways, there is no topic more important. As spiritual guides, leaders, and spokesmen for the Most High God, it is vital that we inform our people. We cannot force anyone to do anything; we can only inform. We are ambassadors for God. An ambassador represents his nation's beliefs and expectations to another country, and there his responsibility ends—he cannot force them to comply. Similarly, we represent the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. We can only present what God wants us to know, to be, and to do.

It is crucial that we teach these things, not just know them. The Word of God plainly says, "Freely you have received, freely give." We are not meant to be storage tanks. I am not supposed to acquire vast knowledge about this subject from my travels around the world and keep it to myself; I am called to share it so that you may understand. The Bible is the account of what God has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. It is then up to you to make your decision whether to believe, accept, and understand His divine revelation.

These pertinent lessons—perhaps the most important I have ever developed—focus on the unnatural power and dominion that forces of another world seek to exert over human life. This is not isolated to one part of the world. Having lived in over 100 nations, I have seen that the devil wants to harm people in India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia just as much as he does in Europe or America. The scope of these studies is universal. It concerns not only this planet, but also heaven, hell, and eternity. We are dealing with a subject as vast as the universe itself. While no single man has all the answers, together we can seek them sincerely, in-depth, with God's help.

The devil has no respect for race, nation, person, society, or culture; his sole desire is to harm every human being on earth. Whether dealing with a primitive tribe in the jungles of New Guinea or diplomats in the United Nations, the devil is the same. His approach may differ between someone in Afghanistan and someone in Paris, but the end result is identical: to destroy that person's relationship with God, ruin their faith, and keep them from the truth that sets them free.

These studies are especially imperative at this point in time. Thirty years ago, I was ahead of my time. I exposed these truths and documented the deliverance of a girl in the Philippines who was set free from demonic power by Jesus. Back then, some Christians in America were too afraid to watch the film. I noted how tragic it was to be afraid of the victory, let alone the battle. If we are afraid of victory, how will we stand in a day of war?

My early work established me as a pioneer in understanding demonic phenomena. Today, the time has come when everyone must know this truth. Millions are searching for it, and by teaching this class, we are disseminating the divine truth needed for our prophetic day. Let this truth ring deep in your heart and soul.

Furthermore, we must understand that we are called to be deliverers. You have no right to sit comfortably and say, "I am free from the devil's power, so everything is fine." What about your neighbors? What about the boy whose mind has been destroyed by drugs, or the girl trapped in sin and controlled by destructive addictions? These people need love, understanding, and the knowledge that Jesus can set them free. There is nothing the devil has ever done that Jesus cannot undo, and there is no power the enemy has demonstrated that Christ cannot subdue. He is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the Deliverer.

Our world is changing rapidly and drastically in its relationship to supernatural powers. We are being attacked by occult forces. We are seeing one of the greatest resurgences of magic and the occult in human history, with unprecedented book sales, meetings, and public acceptance.

This would be distressing if it weren't for the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ predicted it. In 1 Timothy 4:1, the Apostle Paul writes, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." In these lessons, we will study these dynamics and grow in our understanding of God's Word, which sets people free. Millions of people today are bound by forces outside of themselves and cannot free themselves. They need the Lord Jesus Christ to deliver them, and the time to act is now.

Satanism and occultism are springing up in every city and town throughout our land, not just in major metropolitan areas. These studies, prepared for our Bible Training Center in South Bend, Indiana, are shared worldwide through audio, video, and print. Many church leaders share this concern. For instance, Pope Paul VI stated that whole societies have fallen under the domination of the devil. Such a statement from the Vatican reveals a deep concern for the spiritual state of the world. He made it clear that we need a defense against the evil we call the devil.

I am going to teach you what those spiritual defenses are. There is no infernal power you cannot overcome. You have as much right and responsibility as any apostle, prophet, or pastor to set others free. The Great Commission belongs to every believer.

The Pope also noted that the world is under an "obscure domination." Only the church can expose this and offer the hope and power of God. Our goal in this introductory lesson is to stir up your minds and encourage you to rise up. The Pope identified Satan, the prince of this world, as the number one enemy we must fight. This calls us to stop fighting over denominational doctrines and focus on our true spiritual adversary.

On the Protestant side, Dr. Billy Graham wrote that the devil is actively engaged in combating America's growing religious revival. There is a genuine revival happening in our land today, though it is often misunderstood and ridiculed by the mass media. The devil opposes this revival, not mere denominationalism, and uses various channels to fight it. Dr. Graham pointed to the growing interest in the occult—including astrology, tarot cards, Ouija boards, palmistry, fortune-telling, and witchcraft—as proof of the devil's work.

Dr. Graham also stated that it is perfectly obvious to anyone in spiritual work that people can be possessed, harassed, or controlled by evil spirits. He issued a challenge that should reach everyone today: more and more ministers must learn to use the power of God to release people from these demonic possessions.

While Dr. Graham spoke specifically of ministers, I want to take it a step further: every layperson has this same right. In the Great Commission, Jesus did not restrict this authority to pastors or missionaries; He said, "Those who believe will cast out demons." If you believe, you can do it. This authority is placed in the hands of every believer. Of course, ministers must lead the way. They are the spiritual leaders of their congregations, and unless this truth is deeply instilled in them, laypeople will struggle to carry it forward on their own. The minister must preach it from the pulpit, believe it, and pray over the people.

It is very simple to set someone free from demonic power. You command the spirit to leave, and as you believe, it will be so. It is not a complicated struggle; it is simply the walk of a spiritual life. When you confront evil, you resist it, and it must flee. We have the authority because "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." We are not to be pushed back. We have been commissioned by the General of heaven's armies, Jesus Christ. This is not optional; it is a direct command from our Lord to bless and deliver our neighbors.

To do this, we must have compassion. During my travels in the backlands of Brazil, I saw a man tied to a post in a village. He was naked, his hair matted, screaming and cursing like an animal while the local people laughed. Because no one could control him, they tied him up like a horse, and people threw him fruit which he ate off the ground. When I got back on the bus, my heart broke. I cried out to God, remembering that this man possesses an immortal soul. I thought about how tragic his life was on earth. We must realize that no one goes to hell by accident; people choose to go there through deliberate disobedience. My compassion for that man was overwhelming.

Similarly, in the Philippines, I prayed for Clarita Villanueva in Bilibid Prison in Manila. I saw deep teeth marks on her body from where an invisible demonic entity had bitten her, leaving her bleeding. The case had been in the local newspapers for three weeks, and doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists were unable to help. Seeing her suffer and faint into a coma made me deeply angry at the devil. That day, through the power of Christ, we set her free, and she remains free to this day.

You must have compassion. When Jesus saw people hurting under demonic oppression, He was moved with compassion. Unfortunately, much of the church today—including many preachers—responds with fear rather than compassion. In our own town, a woman went to a pastor because her husband was suicidal. The pastor simply told her to put him in an asylum. Distressed, she came to me. When I visited the husband, he was in absolute despair, convinced he was lost and worthless. Through patient ministry, we led him out of that darkness, and he is now completely restored. We must know and walk in the power of God, driven by deep love.

As we introduce these studies, our goal is for you to know the power of God. This power is accessed through deep compassion. If Jesus had not had compassion, He could not have set captives free. Unless the church falls on its knees and develops this same heart, we cannot deliver this generation.

Millions of people today have lost their mental and emotional balance. They need love and compassion, not mere sympathy. True love is disciplined and strong. Deliverance is about the power of the Most High God setting a mind free, stabilizing it, and commanding any demonic interference to leave permanently. This authority is based on Christ's sacrifice on Calvary. It works. We want to wake Christians up to the reality of the world we live in. I have been criticized for sharing these truths, but you must be willing to accept criticism, mockery, and misunderstanding to carry out God's will.