never said we dont have power through the HS to confront evil, but I am not talking about some generic evil like sin in your life or habital things. I'm talking about direct confrontation of Satan and his minions. We are not to actively confront Satan ... when we encounter him we passively submit to God and let Him do the warfare. And Im not sure how you figure that the 3 epistle passages constitute a strawman; I know you are familar with the three passages mentioned. Do a search on Satan, devil, demon, serpent, etc. and look at what is taught in the epistles and what relates to spiritual warfare (i.e., dealing with Satan). Its just the three ... there is a common theme: submit to God, allow yourself to be strong (passive voice in the Ephesians passage) resist/stand against the devil ... I really can't disagree with anything you said. When we submit to God, He is strong.
As you have alluded to, it is never about us, or any false power we think we might have - but His.
I do believe that His name, the name above all names, has power over evil. Because, behind that name, is His authority.
If this were not true, then John 14:13-14, John 15:16, John 16:23-26, and Luke 10:17 would be lies.
I think this is so obvious to any believer that I do not understand how there could be any confusion. But, it is good to sit down and reason with another on these matters.
The story of Cho, from the linked article on this thread, is but one example of the tangible power of the name Yeshua.
Ask any missionary who has worked in lands in bondage to paganism, demonism, animism, or occult mysticism.
This book by Merrill Unger, while written 37 years ago, is an amazing read. It is biblically based, well researched, and well written.
We may agree to disagree on some points here, but I want to commend you and thank you again for your thoughtfulness on this thread.
There is one poster in particular on this thread who didn't demonstrate that - and the difference in your posts, and those, is night and day.
Thanks.
Unfortunately I cant agree on this particular work of Unger. Merril Unger was an incredible man of God, a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, a prolific writer, a world class OT archeologist. He wrote the classic text on Biblical Demonology; I have it in my own library; it is a solid treatise on the subject.
But later in his life he began to teach and preach something entirely different. The result was this book Demons in the World Today. Why a second book on demonology when the first book was still available? Because he changed his mind on many things based on the testimony of charismatic missionaries. He began to substitute the experiences ... instead of solid Biblical teachings of Scripture.
We must all do well to heed the words of Paul and pay strict and close attention to the doctrine we are teaching.