Untouchable: The Shocking Truth About the Unseen Realm

By Chris Harrison

Are you tired of the doctrine that says Christians must struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil? What if I told you that you could become totally untouchable by the enemy?

With these questions, Pastor Chris Harrison begins a journey that takes the reader from living in fear and condemnation, constantly harassed by Satan, to a place of love, acceptance, and confidence in the grace of God. Follow along as Pastor Harrison presents biblical proof that believers arent supposed to battle the devil but are called by God to live securely in grace, shielded and untouchable.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512793109

Chris Harrison

Chris Harrison has been the host of ABC’s hit series The Bachelor since it began in 2002. He’s also the host of The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, and The Miss America Pageant. Chris has had the honor of hosting several Bachelor weddings and has spent his career helping men and women navigate their journey to love. He lives in Southern California with his two children and this is his first novel.

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Copyright © 2017 Chris Harrison.

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This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-9311-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-9312-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-9310-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017910389

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/25/2017

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. HCSB. Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB, and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 byThe Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Contents

Acknowledgements

What Others Are Saying About The Book

Foreword

Introduction

1     Do Not Be Afraid Of The Dark

2     Is Demon Possession Real?

3     The Spiritual Warfare Myth

4     Rightly Dividing Warfare Scriptures

5     How Satan Gains Access

6     The Enemy’s Devices

7     Applying The Blood Of Jesus

8     Satan’s Evil Nature

9     Resist Him

10   Becoming Jesus-Conscious

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I want to give a sincere thanks to several people who made this book a reality. To those who gave finances, helped with editing, and believed in this message, I would like to say thanks.

Thank you to

my wife, Heather, who endured my theological battle and change from a fear-based theology to a Christ-centered theology,

Carol Hallman,

Alaina Reid,

Connie and Philip Hilton,

Randy Corti,

Chris Reynolds,

and a special thanks in memory of my friend Hondo, who (during his life on earth) helped make the book possible.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE BOOK

Chris Harrison is a committed young pastor with a great heart for God, for people, and for the advancement of the Gospel in this nation and around the world. This is a book you will want to read as Pastor Chris shares his spiritual journey from fear, anxiety, and panic to the peace, freedom, and victory that only Jesus Christ can provide. He deals personally and biblically with darkness and light, demons and angels, the devil and God, and ultimate victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. You may not agree with all his conclusions, but you will be greatly blessed and challenged by this book.

-Dr. Paul Cedar, Chairman of the Mission America Coalition and former Crusade Associate with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Over the years, I’ve watched Jesus bring people into my life for different reasons and different seasons. I first met Chris Harrison as a young man in Bible school. It was evident that God’s hand and call was all over his life. I’ve watched his ministry grow and develop, and I still see God’s hand and call all over his life and ministry. I’m excited about this new book Chris has written because—just like everything he does—it’s going to bring glory to Jesus’s kingdom and cause believers to understand who they are in Christ and what Jesus has done to defeat the devil and provide absolute victory and freedom in Him.

-Dr. Jim Wideman, Family Ministry Pioneer, Author, and Ministry Coach

This is by far the best book I have ever read concerning Jesus’s complete defeat of Satan and how that defeat truly makes us untouchable. Get ready for a new level of freedom and victory in your life!

-Mark Machen, Lead Pastor at Life of Faith Church in Birmingham, Alabama

"Many people are either unaware of or preoccupied with Satan’s existence. Both are equally dangerous. In this book, Chris exposes Satan for the fraud he is and reveals that he gets more credit than he deserves. When we stop believing lies, we begin living as Christ intended: abundantly!

This book could have been titled NOT GUILTY!" Jesus’s kingdom is marked by forgiveness and second chances; Satan’s is ruled by fear and condemnation. I believe the redemptive truths in this book will melt the shackles of darkness that have held some in bondage for decades. ‘Whom the Son makes free is free indeed,’ and they are UNTOUCHABLE!"

- Rev. Kevin W. Cooley, Harvest Church, Mobile, Alabama

"Untouchable is a must-read if you have ever felt like a failure as a Christian or labored under the belief that you had to be good in order to have God’s favor. Chris Harrison, in his most recent book, lays out the facts—and the evidence—that the good news of the Gospel of Christ is that your sins (past, present, and future) have been forgiven, and there’s nothing the devil—or anybody else—can do about it. When you wrap your head around and believe the truth, then you also are truly untouchable!"

-Frank Anderson, CFO of Agape International and Church 212, California

FOREWORD

A s Chris Harrison’s father, I have personally witnessed Chris’ transition from a fear-based theology to a Christ-centered theology. Don’t misunderstand: he has been passionate about sharing the Gospel of Christ since he was a young teenager. Our church sponsored a mission trip for our youth group to Jamaica, and upon Chris’ return he was addicted to winning souls, but his own struggles with fear, night terrors, and various spiritual encounters drove him to an elevated view of Satan and his power. Some of the preachers to whom he listened only cemented this lofty view of the adversary. Of course, hasn’t this been the devil’s strategy: to exalt his throne above the stars of God (Isaiah 14:13, 14)? The devil still seeks this same elevation in the life of God’s children.

In this book, Untouchable, Chris has examined the biblical confines of Satan’s position after the work of Christ on the cross. Chris has faithfully studied the topic through both the Old and New Testaments and struck a balanced view of the devil’s limited domain and the superior authority of the believer over the enemy. This volume has unmasked Satan’s use of fear to dominate the world generally and Christians specially.

As always, there is a tension between the already and not yet of redemptive Scriptures. We ask a past/future question: how much has been already accomplished and what is yet to come? We live, in the words of Gordon Fee, between the times—between the finished work of Christ and the fullness of His Kingdom. But Chris has tackled this problem successfully and aids Christians to walk in their rightful freedom because of the finished work of Christ. His aforementioned Christ-centered theology serves the reader well in this book.

This great book is a necessary read for every believer. It can be used in small groups, Bible schools, preached as a sermon series and especially read by Christians for individual spiritual growth. I highly recommend Untouchable as a must read to inform, inspire—and more importantly—impart biblical truth to live an overcoming faith-filled life.

Your Servant in Christ,

Pastor Mike Harrison M. Div., D. Min.

INTRODUCTION

A re you tired of Satan running over the affairs of your life? Have you had enough of feeling that you are doomed to a life of constant warfare? Are you worn out with the broken-record doctrine that as a Christian you must struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil? What if I told you that there is a place in God where the wicked one cannot touch you? What if I told you that you could become totally untouchable by the workings of the enemy?

I am telling you this because I want you to discover the secret to walking free of constant fear, tormenting thoughts, and hours of desperation, praying for breakthrough. You can begin to live the life that God has intended for you—a life of total peace and freedom from all oppression—and you can do it today.

It seems almost radical, doesn’t it? That you, as a Christian, don’t have to fear or struggle with the unseen. Doesn’t this contradict what you’ve been taught from the beginning? That there are unseen forces that you must constantly battle, conquer, and overcome in order to live a victorious life free from fear and bondage? Well, it’s a lie. If Satan cannot get you to reject God’s truth, then his next attempt is to sabotage your Christian walk by lying to you and distorting God’s truth. (Big surprise, right?) In essence, he uses the very Word of God against you. (Shocking!) It makes perfect sense. If Satan can’t get you to be an unbeliever, he will manipulate the way the Word of God is taught in order to confuse you. The result is that you spin your wheels until you are worn out, desperate, and hopeless—all in the name of God, faith, and Christianity. (See how he works here? If he cannot convince you that God is not real and His Word is not true, then he will manipulate you into believing the wrong things about the Word of God.) If Satan can label a lie Christian, he is certain to fool many, and he does. I am here to tell you the truth. I am here to set you free if you are willing to judge this lie by the actual Word of God.

The New Testament deals in the already-but-not-yet tense. I John 5:18-19 says: "We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one" (NLT). In this verse, John is very cut and dry. In addition, the writer of Hebrews speaks of everything being put under Jesus’ feet (Hebrews 2:8), yet it is not seen that everything is under His feet. It has all been finished, but it is not all complete yet. Legally, Jesus paid for total victory, but as believers, we still must walk it out every day. We read this all throughout the Bible.

Here is a good example. I can purchase a house. When I purchase the house, I legally do everything they ask me to do. The house is mine. There is one problem though: the people still live there. They have not moved out yet. Even though the house is mine, I still have to wait on them to move out. Then I must take the time to move my things in and get everything put in my name. Legally, it was all mine, but in the present, I did not see the reality of this. I had to walk it out. I had to take steps to practically walk out what was already done. Satan has been put under the feet of Jesus. It is a finished work. As an ambassador of Jesus, I must walk out this truth.

Earlier in 1 John, we are told that the purpose of John’s writing was that Christians would not sin (1 John 2:1, NLT). Just a chapter later, we are told that no one who is born of God sins (1 John 3:9, NLT). Immediately following his statement about how he is writing this so that we will not sin, he then says, But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father (1 John 2:1, NLT). He is teaching the already-but-not-yet. He says that if we are born of God, we don’t sin; however, he is aware that we will not always follow our new nature. If we do sin, we have someone pleading our case and standing in the gap for us: Jesus Christ. This act is constant. He emphasizes that if we are born of God, then Jesus will protect us so that the evil one will not touch us. However, it seems that the evil one does touch many people, so is John lying? No! He is speaking by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He is showing us the already-but-not-yet principle. He is saying that we are absolutely protected. The wicked one cannot touch us because of the New Covenant.

Why is it then that all Christians must deal with Satan? Is it possible to get to a place where Satan doesn’t touch us? I believe so. It sounds radical, I know, but just hang in there. In 1 John 2:14, he commended the young men of the church because they were spiritually strong. The Word of God did abide in them, and they had won their battle with the wicked one (NLT). They had gotten to a place of total victory over the devil.

I want to give you good news that you can rest in. It is the finished work of Jesus. We are not called to be in a constant struggle; we can overcome and be in a place of peace. I know this because I have been on both sides. I have seen what it is like to struggle in warfare all the time. It’s not fun. I have also seen what it is like to rest in the Cross of Jesus and stop the constant battle and struggling. I have enjoyed being untouched by the wicked one. This book was written with that in mind. The wicked one cannot touch you. By exposing this long-standing lie of Satan, it is my sincere hope and belief that we will start a movement of Untouchables.

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DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE DARK

T here isn’t anything good about the darkness. Most evil happens in the night. Thieves break in during the night. Murders, adulteries, drunken parties, drug binges, filthy imaginations, bad decisions, anxieties, fears, tormenting thoughts, regrets, and many other evil things seem to happen more often in the darkness rather than the light. We do not even have to teach our children to be afraid of the dark. People naturally associate evil with darkness and good with light. This is by design. God calls Himself light, and He calls the enemy darkness. 1 Peter 2:9 says, But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light ( NIV). The good news is that God has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.

The opposite of darkness is light. Satan is darkness. Therefore, it makes sense that his kingdom operates in spiritual darkness. He hides in the shadows. He is cunning, crafty and wishes to impose his will upon all who will allow it. He dominates with fear, anxiety, depression, sickness, disease, poverty, lack, depression, hopelessness, anger, hatred, panic, divorce, relationship