Used by permission from Bill Jack & Andrew Heister
• Witness with love! (2 Timothy 2:23-26)
• Remember that they are victims of Satan! Apart from God's grace, you, too, would be an unbeliever.
• LOVE THEM! Let the last thing they remember about you be your Christ-like attitude of compassion.
• Intentionally ask 4 key questions! (Matthew 21:23-27)
There are 4 basic questions you can ask:
1. "What do you mean by that?" (This makes them define the terms in their argument.)
2. "How do you know that to be true?" (This makes them explain the logic of their argument.)
3. "What difference does it make?" (This makes them defend the value for their argument.)
4. "What if you're wrong?" (This makes them think the unthinkable about their argument.)
How to use these questions:
For instance, if they say, "I am an atheist," you can ask these questions:
"What do you mean by 'atheist'?"
"Do you mean there is absolutely no God?"
"Do you mean that you don't know personally if there is a God?"
"How do you know that there is no God?"
"Have you been everywhere in the universe?"
"What solid evidence can you produce to prove your position?"
"What difference has atheism made in your life?"
"Has it given you a purpose to live for?"
"What fulfillment has it brought you?"
"What if you're wrong and the God of the Bible is real?"
"If you're right, I have nothing to worry about, do I?"
"But if you're wrong, what are the consequences?"
These questions can lead someone to the logical "end" of his/her system of thinking
Take the common ground! (Acts 17:22, 23, 27, 28)
In this passage, Paul uses a religious shrine as a conversation starter and quotes a secular poet to gain common ground with his audience. If the person believes in the truth of the Bible, take the common ground by showing him/her passages that differ with his/her beliefs. If the person doesn't believe in the Bible, try to use things that they believe in to support your position.
Negotiate the terms of your talk! (James 1:19)
"You talk for a few minutes and I'll listen without interrupting. Then I'll do the same. OK?"
Let them start. (Remember to keep the terms of the talk yourself and make sure they do, too!) Listen to their viewpoint. Don't just listen to argue. Listen to understand. Restate their viewpoint back to them with terms like, "so what you are saying is this...". Once you understand their viewpoint (and they feel you understand it), then you are ready to evaluate what they believe Biblically. James 1:19 reminds us to
"...be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to become angry."
Explain your story! (Acts 26:1-29)
Your salvation story (testimony) is personal and powerful!
There are 3 elements to a testimony:
1. What you used to believe you had to do to get to heaven.
2. What you found out you had to believe to get to heaven.
3. What you believed and how your life has been since.
Stick with the GOSPEL!
God created us to be with him.
Our sins separate us from God.
Sins cannot be erased by good deeds.
Paying the price for sin, Jesus died.
Everyone who trusts in Him has eternal life.
Life that's eternal means we will be with Jesus forever in heaven.
Note: Remember that your ultimate weapons are prayer and the gospel message! Don't get distracted from the gospel message! Your goal is not to win an argument, but to win a person!
Stay dependent on the Spirit! (Ephesians 5:18)
As you witness, trust in the Spirit to give you wisdom! (Matthew 10:19, 20) Remember that only as you yield fully to the Spirit of God can He truly take control of your mind and your mouth! Keep in mind that it is the Holy Spirit who convicts people of sin and converts people to Christ.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Opening Spiritual Eyes in Deliverance
A person’s spiritual eyes can be opened during their deliverance session due to different reasons and circumstances. The demonic can open our eyes as well as Holy Spirit.
Demons
1. Demons will throw up distorted or false memories or visualization. (which is in reality a type of sorcery or divination which has been used by shamans, witchdoctors, and sorcerers for thousands of years, and is specifically forbid by the Bible)
2. Sometimes a person will see and feel things as the demon leaves. (demons memory)
3. Demons can cause allusions. (Seeing can bring or empower fear causing confusion etc.)
4. Witchcraft spirits will allow a person to see what is happening in the spirit sometimes distorting truth and empowering strongholds that are being challenged.
5. Outside (Cosmos, collective pool) demons can cause sphere empowerment bringing confusion also causing illusions and deception to a person. (divination)
Holy Spirit
1. Gifts (Word of Knowledge, Discernment,) some have a gift that can be used at any given time. Others have gifts but can only use at certain times.
2. Anointing (brings us knowledge which helps us to see.)
3. He will reveal what need to transpire in order to achieve the deliverance (repentance, renouncement etc.)
4. Through Healing (seeing sometimes is necessary to bring healing)
There can also be stipulations to where neither the demons nor Holy Spirit can operate in opening a person’s spiritual eyes in deliverance. They are:
Blockages
1. Lack of Faith (unbelief)
2. Immaturity in Christ (depending on the situation)
3. Insecurity (fear)
4. Doubt (wouldn’t believe it if they saw it.)
5. Holy Spirit isn't opening a persons spiritual eyes because it is not His plan.
Guided Imagery
Praying for the Lord to open a person’s spiritual eye is a bible bases prayer. However, there should be some considerations before openly doing so.
It could open door for deception.
1. If it is not Gods plan to do so and the person is now ready to receive impression or revelation, the above things that we mentioned can happen.
2. It can be perceived at directed prayer in the realm of the person thinks they are expected to have some sort of image or revelation. They can fake or be deceived. (As in Laura)
3. Sometimes memories are not what the person needs and if Holy Spirit is not involved demons can overwhelm from the subconscious mind, as their always trying to come out.
Note: Everyone is different and the Holy Spirit should be in charge. Don’t put restrictions on God; He will guide a deliverance session if He is allowed.
Rather then saying “Open their eyes” or “I command Memories” it is better to ask God to ‘Speak His Truth” or ask “Holy Spirit to be in Control of all revelation given in this session” and for God to have His will. Never tell them what you think happened to them on the basis of the symptoms.
Opening ones spiritual eyes is the works of God. We have a responsibility to be spiritually filled and ready to accomplish what God has called us to do in the deliverance ministry. We are called to seek Him in all things. If we are faithful to do so He will guide us and lead us in all truths and quicken us to the schemes of hell.
When Jesus opens our spiritual eyes (and He does) during healing and deliverance it is an awesome and real experience. We are to be cautious and not fearful in fulfilling our call and He will give the discernment.
Demons
1. Demons will throw up distorted or false memories or visualization. (which is in reality a type of sorcery or divination which has been used by shamans, witchdoctors, and sorcerers for thousands of years, and is specifically forbid by the Bible)
2. Sometimes a person will see and feel things as the demon leaves. (demons memory)
3. Demons can cause allusions. (Seeing can bring or empower fear causing confusion etc.)
4. Witchcraft spirits will allow a person to see what is happening in the spirit sometimes distorting truth and empowering strongholds that are being challenged.
5. Outside (Cosmos, collective pool) demons can cause sphere empowerment bringing confusion also causing illusions and deception to a person. (divination)
Holy Spirit
1. Gifts (Word of Knowledge, Discernment,) some have a gift that can be used at any given time. Others have gifts but can only use at certain times.
2. Anointing (brings us knowledge which helps us to see.)
3. He will reveal what need to transpire in order to achieve the deliverance (repentance, renouncement etc.)
4. Through Healing (seeing sometimes is necessary to bring healing)
There can also be stipulations to where neither the demons nor Holy Spirit can operate in opening a person’s spiritual eyes in deliverance. They are:
Blockages
1. Lack of Faith (unbelief)
2. Immaturity in Christ (depending on the situation)
3. Insecurity (fear)
4. Doubt (wouldn’t believe it if they saw it.)
5. Holy Spirit isn't opening a persons spiritual eyes because it is not His plan.
Guided Imagery
Praying for the Lord to open a person’s spiritual eye is a bible bases prayer. However, there should be some considerations before openly doing so.
It could open door for deception.
1. If it is not Gods plan to do so and the person is now ready to receive impression or revelation, the above things that we mentioned can happen.
2. It can be perceived at directed prayer in the realm of the person thinks they are expected to have some sort of image or revelation. They can fake or be deceived. (As in Laura)
3. Sometimes memories are not what the person needs and if Holy Spirit is not involved demons can overwhelm from the subconscious mind, as their always trying to come out.
Note: Everyone is different and the Holy Spirit should be in charge. Don’t put restrictions on God; He will guide a deliverance session if He is allowed.
Rather then saying “Open their eyes” or “I command Memories” it is better to ask God to ‘Speak His Truth” or ask “Holy Spirit to be in Control of all revelation given in this session” and for God to have His will. Never tell them what you think happened to them on the basis of the symptoms.
Opening ones spiritual eyes is the works of God. We have a responsibility to be spiritually filled and ready to accomplish what God has called us to do in the deliverance ministry. We are called to seek Him in all things. If we are faithful to do so He will guide us and lead us in all truths and quicken us to the schemes of hell.
When Jesus opens our spiritual eyes (and He does) during healing and deliverance it is an awesome and real experience. We are to be cautious and not fearful in fulfilling our call and He will give the discernment.
Supernatural Intervention
One of my first studies and writings 3/2001
Messenger Angels
The word angel is used nearly 300 times in the Bible. Nearly always carrying the idea of messenger. The regular Hebrew word malak, translated angel, has several meanings.
One sent, a messenger, e.g., from a private person (Job 1:14); or from a king 1 Sam. 16:19.
A messenger of God, i.e, an angel (Exod 23:20) a preacher (Hag. 1:13) an intercessor or priest (Mal. 2:7) a chosen people like a nation ( Isa. 42:19)
To perform a ministry, work, service (Exod 20:9, 10). Since man is made, but a little lower than the angels, this meaning of malak implies both are to render a ministry, deliver a message.
Message – (Hag. 1:13). Here the root word for angel is the same as that used to form the word for the message of that angel.
Gabriel appears to Mary with a message from God.
Luke 1:26-38
“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth. 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came unto her, and said, Hail, thou that are greatly favored, the Lord is with the blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this could be.30 And the angel said unto her, fear not, Mary: for thou has found favor with the Lord. 31 And, behold thou shalt conceive in thou womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and He shall be called the son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his Father God. 33And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.34 Than said Mary unto the angel, How can this be, seeing I know not a man. 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also that Holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God. 36 and, behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her”.
We see in Luke 1:19 the messenger angel Gabriel is being sent to speak and to announce the good news. “To bring order.
In (Daniel 8:16) we read that the angels appear in visions with interpretation. We also see an example, were the angels have the ability to touch us, talk with us, and provide us with skill and understanding.
(Daniel 9:21-22) “While I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel whom I had seen in a vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly touched me about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 and he informed me, and talked with me and said, “oh Daniel, I am now come forth to give you skill and understanding”.
Ministering Angels
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted. He remained there forty days and nights without food. He was hungry and the tempter did come to tempt him. Despite the fact that He was hungry and Satan offered him all that he had to offer, Jesus resisted the enemy and Satan had no alternative but to flee from the presence of the Lord. After all of this had taken place the angels came and ministered (cared for) Jesus.
(Matthew 4:11) “Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. (Mark 1:13) and He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beast; and the angels ministered unto Him”.
Why did the Angels wait until the battle was over before they come to comfort and minister to Jesus?
Could it be that it was necessary to resist alone? Would the Angel have shared the honor of the victory?
Instead, they waited until the tempter was gone.
The angels were always near Jesus, hovering and waiting to intervene if they needed to. They were a bodyguard around the Lord as they are today around His people.
(Hebrew 1:4) “Are they all not ministering Spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
The Word of God gives us example of God using angels as messengers; Bringing into our lives instruction, direction, and order. (Matthew1:20) “An Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, Joseph thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”. Here an angel appears with instruction for Joseph.
(Matthew 2:13) an angel appeared unto Joseph again in a dream with direction. Saying, “arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until I bring thee word”.
Why was it necessary for the angels to come to Jesus? As a man he was hungry and exhausted. The strain of forty days of temptation must have been tremendous.
We can become tough and strong under stress, but when it is all said and done, we tend to stumble. (A good example of this is the story of Elijah).
God has appointed angels to watch over his own people. Jesus is our brother and is a partaker of the ministry of angels. He took our weakness upon Himself, and therefore needed and received the help that the Father has promised all Gods children.
The angels must loathe the fact that Satan could come near Jesus. And they feel the same about the children of God. It is in their character to protect and guard against those things that are not of God. They are eager, ready and capable of comforting and ministering today, the same way as they did in the wilderness for Jesus.
The angels can minister to us in many ways. In the sermon on Sunday, through reading the Word of God, and suddenly the page starts to burn and glow and your soul is warmed from the heat. They can suggest Holy thoughts to bring us comfort, and, yes, even today they can and do appear in the dreams and visions of Gods’ children.
There are many examples in Gods word of ministering angels coming and ministering to His children; Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, (Luke 39-44.) Lot in (Genesis 19:15) Peter in prison (Acts 12:7)And many more”.
Guardian Angels
(Psalms 91:11) “For he shall give his angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways”.
(Psalms 103:20) “Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, harkening unto the voice of his word”.
How do we get the angels to work on our behalf? We heed to the voice of the Lord. We ask the Lord to send the angels and we speak the Word and they harken to it.
Saying and speaking the word of God makes the angels perk up, stand, guard and protect. The angels desire to look into the things of the Holy Spirit. (1Peter 1:12).
A Guardian angel, released Peter from jail, after he struck him, he opened the prison Gates, and Peter was able to actually see the angel.
This was a supernatural intervention on behalf of Peter. (Acts 12:7-17)
(Psalms 34:7) “The angel of the Lord campeth about those that fear him, and delivereth them”. They assist in delivering us from world circumstances, from our own flesh, as well as demonic influence and evil spirits.
If we had bodyguards around us and we were in trouble we would no doubt call on them and expect them to do their job. Yet our Father has provided angelic protection for those who are heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:4) and we tend not to acknowledge they are even there.
Warfare Angels
“We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. (Ephesians 6:12). Most of us have no problem understanding this scripture. We have learned that there are supernatural evil influences that we are fighting against in our lives.
God has provided weapons to help us defeat the assignments from hell that come against us. They are the armor of God, (Ephesians 6:13) the word of God (truth), the blood of Jesus, and many others.
Scripture shows us by many examples that we have angels that war for us. This is a powerful weapon. Yet somehow the enemy has blinded the children of God from partaking this wonderful gift from our Father. We are being cheated from experiencing peace and freedom because of our lack of faith in the existence of the angels.
(Daniel 6:22, 27) “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me. 27 He (the Lord) delivers and rescues, and works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, He who has delivered Daniel from the lions den”. The angel was sent to deliver Daniel from the attack of physical lions. God uses the angels to work signs and wonders and to war on our behalf so that we can be delivered and rescued from the things that come to harm us. (Do you have lions in your life that need their mouths closed?)
Michael is referred to in Daniel as a “warring prince” he came to assist the angel Gabriel in the twenty one-day fight, against Persia. In (Daniel 12:1) He is a great prince that stands, defends, guards, and watches over the sons of God.
We can and should strengthen the Angels by speaking the Word of God, by praying and helping them war against the things of hell. Then we thank and praising the Lord for having mercy upon us and providing this awesome intervention. (Psalms 103:
20 ) “Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, harkening to the voice of his word”.
Revelation is full of scripture referring to the angels and their assignments. (Revelation 12: 7,8) “And there was a war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels; and prevailed not, neither was there place found any more in heaven”.
Till the end of the earth the angels will war and defeat the enemy on our behalf. (Matthew 13:39) “The enemy that sowed them is the Devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels”. {They will throw all that was sown by the devil into the eternal lake of fire.}
Throne Angels
(Revelation 7:11) “And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beast, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God’. Angels have access to the throne of God. They are of great significance to God.
In (Exodus 25) we read about the mercy seat in which there were Cherubim’s of gold at each end. They covered the mercy seat with their wings. This is where God chose to meet and commune with the people of (Israel 22) “And there I will meet with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim’s which are upon the ark of commandment unto the children of Israel”.
Isaiah 6:1-3 “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphim’s; 3 one cried to another, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of host, the whole earth is filled with his Glory. At the throne of the Lord Angels are standing and worshiping and praising Him”.
Seraphim means fire, the angels of Gods’ fire, are standing with the Lord on the throne and are here on our behalf. (Psalms 104:4) “Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire”. They are given the power to become refining angels to assist us in taking away the iniquities in our lives.
Isaiah 6:4-7) And when the house filled with smoke Isaiah said, Woe, is me, for I am a man of unclean lips. Than flew one of the seraphim’s (angel of fire) unto me, having a live coal in his hand, he laid it upon my mouth, and said, lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thy iniquities is taken away, and thy sin purged.
Psalms 99:1 “The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he that sitteth between the cherubim’s; let the earth be moved”. There are many examples of angels at the throne complementing and praising the Lord.
Holy Angels
When the son of man shall come in His Glory and all the Holy angels with him, than shall He sit upon the throne of His Glory. (Matthew 25: 31) Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the Glory of His Father with the Holy angels. (Mark 8:38)
The word of God speaks of Holy angels. They are the host of heaven, mighty in strength and power, ready to obey the Lord on command and constantly working for the salvation and redemption of Gods children. We must learn to accept the ministry of angels and receive in full the potential God has for us through this wonderful gift.
Evil Angels
He will say to the ones on his left hand – depart from me ye everlasting cursed, into the everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41) He cast upon them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil, angels among them. (Psalms 78:49)
Spirits (modern)
Destroying (living)
Destroying (revised)
It is clear through the scripture that the devil has angels. They will be with him as he comes for the Cursed and unredeemed. God also has the authority to release the evil angels.
Ex. (Jude 1:6) “The angels which kept not their own estate, but left their own habitation He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the darkness of the great day”. The evil angels were once holy; they lived in the presence of God. They obviously made their own choice to follow Satan as the scripture says, “they left”. There is a place prepared for them because of their rebellion. “A place with chains and darkness”.
(Revelations 12:9) “And the great dragon was cast out. The old serpent called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out unto the earth and his angels were cast out with him”.
The devil and his angels were and are defeated. God is their creator and He has power and authority over them.
We also have the same power and authority through the blood of Jesus over the assignments of hell in our lives. God has provided us with weapons and supernatural intervention through His Holy and elect angels. They help provide us with skill and understanding, they minister to us. They are messengers from the Lord, they strengthen us, and war on our behalf, and they guard and protect us, and have charge over us and keep us in our ways.
We have to find the faith to receive the gifts of God for what they are. The Grace of God is His willingness to use his power and ability on our behalf even though we don’t deserve it. This includes Gods willingness and ability to give us the host of heaven to help and guide us.
Keep a healthy balance
(Colossians 2:18) Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding in those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.
Remember:
(Above the angels, far superior to angelic help is the Holy Spirit the Comforter.)
My prayer is that this teaching will bring to life the precious gift and weapon that God has given us. To help Gods children to understand the angelic ministry and develop faith in doing so. I do not worship angels or put them in the same category as God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit.
The word of God tells us to test all spirits. I urge you to do this at all time. As we get closer to the coming of Christ the enemy becomes more desperate and cunning I would suggest to double test not only spirits but people that claim to be spiritual.
03/15/01
Messenger Angels
The word angel is used nearly 300 times in the Bible. Nearly always carrying the idea of messenger. The regular Hebrew word malak, translated angel, has several meanings.
One sent, a messenger, e.g., from a private person (Job 1:14); or from a king 1 Sam. 16:19.
A messenger of God, i.e, an angel (Exod 23:20) a preacher (Hag. 1:13) an intercessor or priest (Mal. 2:7) a chosen people like a nation ( Isa. 42:19)
To perform a ministry, work, service (Exod 20:9, 10). Since man is made, but a little lower than the angels, this meaning of malak implies both are to render a ministry, deliver a message.
Message – (Hag. 1:13). Here the root word for angel is the same as that used to form the word for the message of that angel.
Gabriel appears to Mary with a message from God.
Luke 1:26-38
“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth. 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came unto her, and said, Hail, thou that are greatly favored, the Lord is with the blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this could be.30 And the angel said unto her, fear not, Mary: for thou has found favor with the Lord. 31 And, behold thou shalt conceive in thou womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and He shall be called the son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his Father God. 33And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.34 Than said Mary unto the angel, How can this be, seeing I know not a man. 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also that Holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God. 36 and, behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her”.
We see in Luke 1:19 the messenger angel Gabriel is being sent to speak and to announce the good news. “To bring order.
In (Daniel 8:16) we read that the angels appear in visions with interpretation. We also see an example, were the angels have the ability to touch us, talk with us, and provide us with skill and understanding.
(Daniel 9:21-22) “While I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel whom I had seen in a vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly touched me about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 and he informed me, and talked with me and said, “oh Daniel, I am now come forth to give you skill and understanding”.
Ministering Angels
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted. He remained there forty days and nights without food. He was hungry and the tempter did come to tempt him. Despite the fact that He was hungry and Satan offered him all that he had to offer, Jesus resisted the enemy and Satan had no alternative but to flee from the presence of the Lord. After all of this had taken place the angels came and ministered (cared for) Jesus.
(Matthew 4:11) “Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. (Mark 1:13) and He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beast; and the angels ministered unto Him”.
Why did the Angels wait until the battle was over before they come to comfort and minister to Jesus?
Could it be that it was necessary to resist alone? Would the Angel have shared the honor of the victory?
Instead, they waited until the tempter was gone.
The angels were always near Jesus, hovering and waiting to intervene if they needed to. They were a bodyguard around the Lord as they are today around His people.
(Hebrew 1:4) “Are they all not ministering Spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
The Word of God gives us example of God using angels as messengers; Bringing into our lives instruction, direction, and order. (Matthew1:20) “An Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, Joseph thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”. Here an angel appears with instruction for Joseph.
(Matthew 2:13) an angel appeared unto Joseph again in a dream with direction. Saying, “arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until I bring thee word”.
Why was it necessary for the angels to come to Jesus? As a man he was hungry and exhausted. The strain of forty days of temptation must have been tremendous.
We can become tough and strong under stress, but when it is all said and done, we tend to stumble. (A good example of this is the story of Elijah).
God has appointed angels to watch over his own people. Jesus is our brother and is a partaker of the ministry of angels. He took our weakness upon Himself, and therefore needed and received the help that the Father has promised all Gods children.
The angels must loathe the fact that Satan could come near Jesus. And they feel the same about the children of God. It is in their character to protect and guard against those things that are not of God. They are eager, ready and capable of comforting and ministering today, the same way as they did in the wilderness for Jesus.
The angels can minister to us in many ways. In the sermon on Sunday, through reading the Word of God, and suddenly the page starts to burn and glow and your soul is warmed from the heat. They can suggest Holy thoughts to bring us comfort, and, yes, even today they can and do appear in the dreams and visions of Gods’ children.
There are many examples in Gods word of ministering angels coming and ministering to His children; Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, (Luke 39-44.) Lot in (Genesis 19:15) Peter in prison (Acts 12:7)And many more”.
Guardian Angels
(Psalms 91:11) “For he shall give his angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways”.
(Psalms 103:20) “Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, harkening unto the voice of his word”.
How do we get the angels to work on our behalf? We heed to the voice of the Lord. We ask the Lord to send the angels and we speak the Word and they harken to it.
Saying and speaking the word of God makes the angels perk up, stand, guard and protect. The angels desire to look into the things of the Holy Spirit. (1Peter 1:12).
A Guardian angel, released Peter from jail, after he struck him, he opened the prison Gates, and Peter was able to actually see the angel.
This was a supernatural intervention on behalf of Peter. (Acts 12:7-17)
(Psalms 34:7) “The angel of the Lord campeth about those that fear him, and delivereth them”. They assist in delivering us from world circumstances, from our own flesh, as well as demonic influence and evil spirits.
If we had bodyguards around us and we were in trouble we would no doubt call on them and expect them to do their job. Yet our Father has provided angelic protection for those who are heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:4) and we tend not to acknowledge they are even there.
Warfare Angels
“We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. (Ephesians 6:12). Most of us have no problem understanding this scripture. We have learned that there are supernatural evil influences that we are fighting against in our lives.
God has provided weapons to help us defeat the assignments from hell that come against us. They are the armor of God, (Ephesians 6:13) the word of God (truth), the blood of Jesus, and many others.
Scripture shows us by many examples that we have angels that war for us. This is a powerful weapon. Yet somehow the enemy has blinded the children of God from partaking this wonderful gift from our Father. We are being cheated from experiencing peace and freedom because of our lack of faith in the existence of the angels.
(Daniel 6:22, 27) “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me. 27 He (the Lord) delivers and rescues, and works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, He who has delivered Daniel from the lions den”. The angel was sent to deliver Daniel from the attack of physical lions. God uses the angels to work signs and wonders and to war on our behalf so that we can be delivered and rescued from the things that come to harm us. (Do you have lions in your life that need their mouths closed?)
Michael is referred to in Daniel as a “warring prince” he came to assist the angel Gabriel in the twenty one-day fight, against Persia. In (Daniel 12:1) He is a great prince that stands, defends, guards, and watches over the sons of God.
We can and should strengthen the Angels by speaking the Word of God, by praying and helping them war against the things of hell. Then we thank and praising the Lord for having mercy upon us and providing this awesome intervention. (Psalms 103:
20 ) “Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, harkening to the voice of his word”.
Revelation is full of scripture referring to the angels and their assignments. (Revelation 12: 7,8) “And there was a war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels; and prevailed not, neither was there place found any more in heaven”.
Till the end of the earth the angels will war and defeat the enemy on our behalf. (Matthew 13:39) “The enemy that sowed them is the Devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels”. {They will throw all that was sown by the devil into the eternal lake of fire.}
Throne Angels
(Revelation 7:11) “And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beast, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God’. Angels have access to the throne of God. They are of great significance to God.
In (Exodus 25) we read about the mercy seat in which there were Cherubim’s of gold at each end. They covered the mercy seat with their wings. This is where God chose to meet and commune with the people of (Israel 22) “And there I will meet with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim’s which are upon the ark of commandment unto the children of Israel”.
Isaiah 6:1-3 “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphim’s; 3 one cried to another, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of host, the whole earth is filled with his Glory. At the throne of the Lord Angels are standing and worshiping and praising Him”.
Seraphim means fire, the angels of Gods’ fire, are standing with the Lord on the throne and are here on our behalf. (Psalms 104:4) “Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire”. They are given the power to become refining angels to assist us in taking away the iniquities in our lives.
Isaiah 6:4-7) And when the house filled with smoke Isaiah said, Woe, is me, for I am a man of unclean lips. Than flew one of the seraphim’s (angel of fire) unto me, having a live coal in his hand, he laid it upon my mouth, and said, lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thy iniquities is taken away, and thy sin purged.
Psalms 99:1 “The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he that sitteth between the cherubim’s; let the earth be moved”. There are many examples of angels at the throne complementing and praising the Lord.
Holy Angels
When the son of man shall come in His Glory and all the Holy angels with him, than shall He sit upon the throne of His Glory. (Matthew 25: 31) Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the Glory of His Father with the Holy angels. (Mark 8:38)
The word of God speaks of Holy angels. They are the host of heaven, mighty in strength and power, ready to obey the Lord on command and constantly working for the salvation and redemption of Gods children. We must learn to accept the ministry of angels and receive in full the potential God has for us through this wonderful gift.
Evil Angels
He will say to the ones on his left hand – depart from me ye everlasting cursed, into the everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41) He cast upon them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil, angels among them. (Psalms 78:49)
Spirits (modern)
Destroying (living)
Destroying (revised)
It is clear through the scripture that the devil has angels. They will be with him as he comes for the Cursed and unredeemed. God also has the authority to release the evil angels.
Ex. (Jude 1:6) “The angels which kept not their own estate, but left their own habitation He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the darkness of the great day”. The evil angels were once holy; they lived in the presence of God. They obviously made their own choice to follow Satan as the scripture says, “they left”. There is a place prepared for them because of their rebellion. “A place with chains and darkness”.
(Revelations 12:9) “And the great dragon was cast out. The old serpent called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out unto the earth and his angels were cast out with him”.
The devil and his angels were and are defeated. God is their creator and He has power and authority over them.
We also have the same power and authority through the blood of Jesus over the assignments of hell in our lives. God has provided us with weapons and supernatural intervention through His Holy and elect angels. They help provide us with skill and understanding, they minister to us. They are messengers from the Lord, they strengthen us, and war on our behalf, and they guard and protect us, and have charge over us and keep us in our ways.
We have to find the faith to receive the gifts of God for what they are. The Grace of God is His willingness to use his power and ability on our behalf even though we don’t deserve it. This includes Gods willingness and ability to give us the host of heaven to help and guide us.
Keep a healthy balance
(Colossians 2:18) Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding in those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.
Remember:
(Above the angels, far superior to angelic help is the Holy Spirit the Comforter.)
My prayer is that this teaching will bring to life the precious gift and weapon that God has given us. To help Gods children to understand the angelic ministry and develop faith in doing so. I do not worship angels or put them in the same category as God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit.
The word of God tells us to test all spirits. I urge you to do this at all time. As we get closer to the coming of Christ the enemy becomes more desperate and cunning I would suggest to double test not only spirits but people that claim to be spiritual.
03/15/01
Weapons of Warfare and How to Use Them
Five Divisions of the Devil’s Army
1. Spirits
Demons
2. Principalities – Fallen Angels
Chief Rulers
3. Powers
Authorities under chief rulers executing their will.
4. Rulers of Darkness
Both demons and men (Demon led - demon moved) influenced by demonic power – World (cosmos) (bound to the natural)
High authorities demonically influence.
5. Spiritual Wickedness in High Places - Fallen Angels
Seven weapons in Warfare to Apply the Word
Applying the Armor
1. Gird Your Loins
Paul the Apostle declared in “Stand having your loins girt about with truth that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and have done all to stand. Stand having your loins girt about with truth.”
Your Loins deal with your mind. (1 Pet 1:13) The first thing you have to do is get the word in your mind. Fill your mind, influence, transform, and renew it with the word. That’s your first job as a believer.
2. Breast Plate of Righteousness
The breastplate covers your heart. The second thing you have to do is cover your heart. The second thing you need to do is cover your heart not just your mind. The word gets into your mind and then it begins to enter your being, your heart and begins to move you.
3. Feet Shod With the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace
Thirdly, it must affect your walk, your life. The word must be in your mind; the result will be in your heart and the result will be seen in your walk. It begins with your mind. You begin to read the word, you hear the word, and it begins to influence your heart; fill your heart; move your heart. The next thing you know you act upon it.
4. Shield of Faith
Take up the shield of faith in order to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Not only your walk but now your actions your faith and faith is your action.
The word must fill your mind, heart, walk and actions where faith is involved because faith is action, action is faith and with faith, the way you act you can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Stand with faith. Let nothing force you down. Let nothing push you.
5. Helmet of Salvation
The helmet of salvation deals with doctrine, it deals with balance. You see, once the Word is in your mind, once it’s in your heart, once it’s in your walk, and once it’s in your actions it will become your nature.
So the helmet of salvation deals with ones nature ones character their doctrine, what you believe is who you are.
Under the right doctrine you’re balanced, unmovable by error, not easily taken by false teaching and stable.
The helmet of salvation is the doctrine of the Word. It brings balance to our lives it keeps us walking steady and balanced with the Holy Spirit and in the Spirit.
6. Sword of the Spirit
The sword of the spirit is the Word of God. The Word of God is in every truth I just gave you (above).
Now you take the word and you’ve done five things that enable you to attack because now there is an offensive weapon in your hand. The sword is not a defensive weapon, the shield is. The sword is offensive.
You’ve done five things. You’ve affected your minds with the Word; your heart with the Word; you’re walk with the Word; your actions with the Word; you’re nature, character, and life with the Word. Now the doctrine of the Gospel has established you. Now your strong unmovable, unshakable.
Only now can you take a sword in your hand because you cannot be broken. Now you’re strong. People who are moved by every new teaching can not fight the enemy. They can’t hold a sword in their hand they’re too weak.
All the other positions are defensive. This one is offensive. Now the Word brings movement to your life. Now you’re able to go forward and attack and take new territory that belongs to you. Now you can go and take your family. Now you can go and take back you’re finances. Now you can go and take back you’re health because you’ve strengthened your self in the spirit.
7. Prayer
The final weapon is what keeps you for it requires praying with all prayer and supplication in the spirit.
These are seven pieces of the armor; seven weapons of war. The Word is in my mind, the Word is in my heart, the Word is in my walk, the Word is in my faith or my actions, the Word in my character, the Word in my mouth which is the sword of the Spirit, which is the offensive weapon and then prayer that covers like a mantel.
Seven Insights to Prayer
1. Confession
When ever you see prayer in the scriptures they begin to confess, not their sin, but to confess who God is. “Thou are the Lord God” the confession of sin comes before prayer. Many think confessing sins is praying. its repenting. There is a difference between repentance and prayer. Now you’re ready to pray after you’ve confessed you’re sins. Prayer begins with confession.
When Moses prayed he said, “Lord! You are the Lord God” When Peter prayed he said “Thou are the one who says”
Confess who God is. That is the way to begin prayer!
2. Supplication
Paul said, “Make you’re request known to the Lord “. Bring before Him your need your desires etc.
3. Worship
Worship is a form of prayer. You worship God. You adore Him, you exalt Him. That’s prayer.
4. Fellowship
You walk with God, fellowship with Him you continually stay in prayer. Fellowship is what Paul meant when he said, “Pray without ceasing.” That’s fellowship. You walk out of your prayer closet and that prayer life continues throughout the day.
5. Intersession
Intersession means you take the place of another and bring them into a place they ought to be in through that prayer.
Intersession has nothing to do with you or your need it’s got to do with someone else’s need that you can take to God.
6. Thanksgiving
When you look in the scriptures you will see them thanking the Lord before the answer ever came. That’s prayer. That’s declaring your faith the answer will come.
7. Praise
Praise is also prayer.
All seven of these revelations are prayer. The Word of God says. “With all prayer”
That’s what keeps you strong against the enemy; unmovable and stable in the spirit.
1. Spirits
Demons
2. Principalities – Fallen Angels
Chief Rulers
3. Powers
Authorities under chief rulers executing their will.
4. Rulers of Darkness
Both demons and men (Demon led - demon moved) influenced by demonic power – World (cosmos) (bound to the natural)
High authorities demonically influence.
5. Spiritual Wickedness in High Places - Fallen Angels
Seven weapons in Warfare to Apply the Word
Applying the Armor
1. Gird Your Loins
Paul the Apostle declared in “Stand having your loins girt about with truth that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and have done all to stand. Stand having your loins girt about with truth.”
Your Loins deal with your mind. (1 Pet 1:13) The first thing you have to do is get the word in your mind. Fill your mind, influence, transform, and renew it with the word. That’s your first job as a believer.
2. Breast Plate of Righteousness
The breastplate covers your heart. The second thing you have to do is cover your heart. The second thing you need to do is cover your heart not just your mind. The word gets into your mind and then it begins to enter your being, your heart and begins to move you.
3. Feet Shod With the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace
Thirdly, it must affect your walk, your life. The word must be in your mind; the result will be in your heart and the result will be seen in your walk. It begins with your mind. You begin to read the word, you hear the word, and it begins to influence your heart; fill your heart; move your heart. The next thing you know you act upon it.
4. Shield of Faith
Take up the shield of faith in order to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Not only your walk but now your actions your faith and faith is your action.
The word must fill your mind, heart, walk and actions where faith is involved because faith is action, action is faith and with faith, the way you act you can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Stand with faith. Let nothing force you down. Let nothing push you.
5. Helmet of Salvation
The helmet of salvation deals with doctrine, it deals with balance. You see, once the Word is in your mind, once it’s in your heart, once it’s in your walk, and once it’s in your actions it will become your nature.
So the helmet of salvation deals with ones nature ones character their doctrine, what you believe is who you are.
Under the right doctrine you’re balanced, unmovable by error, not easily taken by false teaching and stable.
The helmet of salvation is the doctrine of the Word. It brings balance to our lives it keeps us walking steady and balanced with the Holy Spirit and in the Spirit.
6. Sword of the Spirit
The sword of the spirit is the Word of God. The Word of God is in every truth I just gave you (above).
Now you take the word and you’ve done five things that enable you to attack because now there is an offensive weapon in your hand. The sword is not a defensive weapon, the shield is. The sword is offensive.
You’ve done five things. You’ve affected your minds with the Word; your heart with the Word; you’re walk with the Word; your actions with the Word; you’re nature, character, and life with the Word. Now the doctrine of the Gospel has established you. Now your strong unmovable, unshakable.
Only now can you take a sword in your hand because you cannot be broken. Now you’re strong. People who are moved by every new teaching can not fight the enemy. They can’t hold a sword in their hand they’re too weak.
All the other positions are defensive. This one is offensive. Now the Word brings movement to your life. Now you’re able to go forward and attack and take new territory that belongs to you. Now you can go and take your family. Now you can go and take back you’re finances. Now you can go and take back you’re health because you’ve strengthened your self in the spirit.
7. Prayer
The final weapon is what keeps you for it requires praying with all prayer and supplication in the spirit.
These are seven pieces of the armor; seven weapons of war. The Word is in my mind, the Word is in my heart, the Word is in my walk, the Word is in my faith or my actions, the Word in my character, the Word in my mouth which is the sword of the Spirit, which is the offensive weapon and then prayer that covers like a mantel.
Seven Insights to Prayer
1. Confession
When ever you see prayer in the scriptures they begin to confess, not their sin, but to confess who God is. “Thou are the Lord God” the confession of sin comes before prayer. Many think confessing sins is praying. its repenting. There is a difference between repentance and prayer. Now you’re ready to pray after you’ve confessed you’re sins. Prayer begins with confession.
When Moses prayed he said, “Lord! You are the Lord God” When Peter prayed he said “Thou are the one who says”
Confess who God is. That is the way to begin prayer!
2. Supplication
Paul said, “Make you’re request known to the Lord “. Bring before Him your need your desires etc.
3. Worship
Worship is a form of prayer. You worship God. You adore Him, you exalt Him. That’s prayer.
4. Fellowship
You walk with God, fellowship with Him you continually stay in prayer. Fellowship is what Paul meant when he said, “Pray without ceasing.” That’s fellowship. You walk out of your prayer closet and that prayer life continues throughout the day.
5. Intersession
Intersession means you take the place of another and bring them into a place they ought to be in through that prayer.
Intersession has nothing to do with you or your need it’s got to do with someone else’s need that you can take to God.
6. Thanksgiving
When you look in the scriptures you will see them thanking the Lord before the answer ever came. That’s prayer. That’s declaring your faith the answer will come.
7. Praise
Praise is also prayer.
All seven of these revelations are prayer. The Word of God says. “With all prayer”
That’s what keeps you strong against the enemy; unmovable and stable in the spirit.
Deaf and Dumb Spirit
As I was traveling toward a small town in Oregon, I saw a territorial spirit hovering over it. He had a long banner that read “Deaf and Dumb”. What I noticed more than anything was his attitude. He was arrogant and blissful as if he was well established in his place.
I have learned that understanding doesn’t always come with an experience. I didn’t understand why I was allowed to see this so I prayed about it for a few days in hopes that understanding would catch up to experience.
After a few days I mentioned what I saw to Brad and he encouraged me to continue praying and then asked me to come and share about what I saw and what the Lord has revealed to me concerning the spirit that I saw.
This spirit has many symptoms, but the one that causes the most perverse and detrimental effect is unbelief. Deaf and dumb spirit works at different territorial levels as well as having distinguishing trait in a person.
Territorial Levels
• The City – As a principality operating evil intelligence for the area by working against regional and city destiny.
• Church Level - By hemming in and defining the extent of spiritual knowledge, wisdom, council and prophetic activity.
• The Individual - A person can experience the effects as a residence of the city or by being tied to it generationally.
Distinguishing Traits
• Spiritual Symptoms
• Mental and Emotional Symptoms
• Physical Symptoms
Spiritual Symptoms
Spiritual symptoms are the most common but the least noticed.
Hebrew 11:5b “Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your [spiritual] hearing and sluggish [even slothful in achieving spiritual insight].
The scripture doesn’t say they were always dull. There was a slothfulness to rise up. To achieve any level of maturity, it is requires disciplining ourselves. Lazy, slothful people hate spiritual discipline.
A person can be excessively disciplined in the natural, yet, slothful in attending to their spiritual well-being.
If we are confused, disordered and dull in our mental training, allowing our minds to wander without restraints, we are limited in our ability to spiritually grow.
Soundness of mind is vitally important to good spiritual growth – meaning to think clearly, with our understanding ordered and conformed to the scripture.
He Plots – Every Christian is marked in the spirit (by the enemy) to become an object of conspiracy. A scheme of evil is set in motion to cause spiritual sluggishness.
He Plans – There are spirits on assignment diligently working to shut people up in dullness.
He Ploys – Causes frustration and the ability to retain spiritual things in a meaningful manner. (Maybe this is why some can set through years of sermons and messages and never fell convicted of their secret sins.) This causes dullness. Those who are dull in their hearing are weak in faith and slow to believe.
Ephesians 4:19 “In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity’ [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].
Symptoms: spiritual Dullness, spiritual lethargy, spiritual slumber or stupor, mental confusion, doubt, unbelief,
Mental and Emotional Symptoms
These are together because emotions will respond to the strong influence of thought patterns and belief systems. Deaf and dumb will block the development of emotions and thought patters to keep us in an immature state. A lot of the blockage is the not recognizing the encased dullness.
Flight Patterns
Flight – Running away mentally and emotionally to deflect or avoid something. Mental flight can form tracks in your behavior and response system. The mental realm can be filled with programs that we have purposefully or unintentionally downloaded.
When we are careless about our mental development, we are vulnerable to the assignments that are set against us as a person, church or area.
Tuning out - A person with the deaf and dumb spirit influencing their life will tune out conversations, sermons, or even parts of the Bible that they can’t or don’t want to embrace. This increases the deaf and dumb spirit to mask reality and truth.
His goal is to cause fantasy and reality to become mingled and the line between fact and fiction is lost.
It is important that we discipline our minds and emotions to stay in alignment with the Word of God. When we allow our mind to wander around in places, a process unknowingly begins that gradually takes one beyond reality.
2 Timothy 4: 3-4 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.
Denial – Denial lies hidden in the personal choice to believe unreality, while, refusing to acknowledge the real facts.
Matthew 15; 16 “And He said, Are you also even yet dull and ignorant [without understanding and unable to put things together]?
• Those in denial do not connect the pieces that give them the whole picture.
• Denial is believing a lie and wavering in belief.
• Denial brings comfort and works against awareness, sensitivity, and alertness.
Confusion – Confusion keeps people from landing on solid ground or embracing truth. It causes sluggishness and slow in learning and understanding.
Sorrow or Grief – comes from mental or emotional pain. In the case where deaf and dumb is working some will grieve over perceived hurts that are not real or were not intended to be injurious.
Like unbelief, grief is a ruling spirit under deaf and dumb. It opens the door to death.
2 Corinthians 7;10 “For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret; but worldly grief (the hopeless sorrow that is characteristic of the pagan world) is deadly [breeding and ending in death].”
Depression, hopelessness and despair can also be embedded in a stronghold of deaf and dumb.
Physical Symptoms
The more destructive aspects of the deaf and dumb spirit show up in the physical realm.
Mark 17b – 18 Teacher, I brought my son to You, for he has a dumb spirit. And wherever it lays hold of him [so as to make him its own], it dashes him down and convulses him, and he foams [at the mouth] and grinds his teeth, and he [ falls into a motionless stupor and] is wasting away. And I asked Your disciples to drive it out, and they were not able [to do it].
Here we see epilepsy, foaming of the mouth and gnashing teeth would be considered the mark of madness. These physical symptoms when dealing with deaf and dumb can stem from grief and death. Other physical symptoms are physical deafness or muteness, both physical and mental bruising. Natural and spiritual strength is sapped so they have difficulty rising up.
Speech Impediments:
• Auditory Aphasia - Don’t know what speech sounds like.
• Gibberish Aphasia – Speak words and Phrases that make no sense.
• Motor Aphasia – Know what they want to say but cannot utter the words.
• Amnesic Aphasia – Can’t recall certain words that are familiar.
Mark 7 “32 – 35 “And they brought to Him a man who was deaf and had difficulty in speaking, and they begged Jesus to place His hand upon him. And taking him aside from the crowd [privately], He thrust His fingers into the man's ears and spat and touched his tongue; And looking up to heaven, He sighed as He said, Ephphatha, which means, Be opened! And his ears were opened, his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak distinctly and as he should.”
Unbelief – Principle Fruit
Unbelief is a stronghold of the thought life. However, God also speaks of unbelief as a spiritual sin.
Hebrew 3;12 “[Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God.”
Unbelief is a spiritual sin that sets up a stronghold in the mind that causes the person to feel emotionally distant from God.
Levels of unbelief:
General Dullness – Places a system of beliefs, that when analyzed by scripture, portrays the beginning of unbelief. It brings a cloud of oppression over the mind and memory, opening the door for doubt and unbelief.
Doctrinal – Brings deception in clearness to the Word of God.
• God’s willingness to do something in certain realms...Healing, Deliverance, Finances, ETC...
If we live in our experience rather than in the knowledge contained in the fullness of the scripture, then we believe in a partial Gospel.
Hardness of Heart – Deaf and dumb clouds the atmosphere. It attempts to frame within us a faulty belief system toward God and the kingdom.
Unbelief in strong religious forms will use doctrines of devils to support why God will not do things in this day.
Consequences of unbelief:
1. We bring upon our self the displeasure of God.
2. Then comes- estrangement from the Lord.
3. Then a revoking or cutting off from the promises of God.
Acts 28: 27 “For the heart (the understanding, the soul) of this people has grown dull (stupid, hardened, and calloused), and their ears are heavy and hard of hearing and they have shut tight their eyes, so that they may not perceive and have knowledge and become acquainted with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their souls and turn [to Me and be converted], that I may heal them.”
There is a call for the deaf to hear and the blind to see.
Destroying Deaf and Dumb
Start with the spiritual issues. Do these steps in all levels. Person, church and territory.
• Repent for dullness, slothfulness, and the sin of unbelief.
• Pray against strongholds and rulers that work with deaf and dumb. Especially unbelief.
• Release the host of heaven to surround the city, church and people.
• Forbid any outside interference from demonic forces that would come to empower the demons we are fighting against.
• Pray through and ask God to reveal the work of this spirit in the area. As he reveals it do the warfare that goes with the revelation.
Mental and emotional realm
• Deal with grief and sorrow.
• Check for unforgivness or resentment in the heart.
• Rebuke unbelief
• Do a spiritual inventory on yourself and ask God to reveal areas in your life that is influence by deaf and dumb, that have been blinded to you.
• Break every line of agreement that you have come into with this spirit or any spirit working with him. Personally and generational.
• Discipline yourself
Physical Realm
I have learned that understanding doesn’t always come with an experience. I didn’t understand why I was allowed to see this so I prayed about it for a few days in hopes that understanding would catch up to experience.
After a few days I mentioned what I saw to Brad and he encouraged me to continue praying and then asked me to come and share about what I saw and what the Lord has revealed to me concerning the spirit that I saw.
This spirit has many symptoms, but the one that causes the most perverse and detrimental effect is unbelief. Deaf and dumb spirit works at different territorial levels as well as having distinguishing trait in a person.
Territorial Levels
• The City – As a principality operating evil intelligence for the area by working against regional and city destiny.
• Church Level - By hemming in and defining the extent of spiritual knowledge, wisdom, council and prophetic activity.
• The Individual - A person can experience the effects as a residence of the city or by being tied to it generationally.
Distinguishing Traits
• Spiritual Symptoms
• Mental and Emotional Symptoms
• Physical Symptoms
Spiritual Symptoms
Spiritual symptoms are the most common but the least noticed.
Hebrew 11:5b “Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your [spiritual] hearing and sluggish [even slothful in achieving spiritual insight].
The scripture doesn’t say they were always dull. There was a slothfulness to rise up. To achieve any level of maturity, it is requires disciplining ourselves. Lazy, slothful people hate spiritual discipline.
A person can be excessively disciplined in the natural, yet, slothful in attending to their spiritual well-being.
If we are confused, disordered and dull in our mental training, allowing our minds to wander without restraints, we are limited in our ability to spiritually grow.
Soundness of mind is vitally important to good spiritual growth – meaning to think clearly, with our understanding ordered and conformed to the scripture.
He Plots – Every Christian is marked in the spirit (by the enemy) to become an object of conspiracy. A scheme of evil is set in motion to cause spiritual sluggishness.
He Plans – There are spirits on assignment diligently working to shut people up in dullness.
He Ploys – Causes frustration and the ability to retain spiritual things in a meaningful manner. (Maybe this is why some can set through years of sermons and messages and never fell convicted of their secret sins.) This causes dullness. Those who are dull in their hearing are weak in faith and slow to believe.
Ephesians 4:19 “In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity’ [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].
Symptoms: spiritual Dullness, spiritual lethargy, spiritual slumber or stupor, mental confusion, doubt, unbelief,
Mental and Emotional Symptoms
These are together because emotions will respond to the strong influence of thought patterns and belief systems. Deaf and dumb will block the development of emotions and thought patters to keep us in an immature state. A lot of the blockage is the not recognizing the encased dullness.
Flight Patterns
Flight – Running away mentally and emotionally to deflect or avoid something. Mental flight can form tracks in your behavior and response system. The mental realm can be filled with programs that we have purposefully or unintentionally downloaded.
When we are careless about our mental development, we are vulnerable to the assignments that are set against us as a person, church or area.
Tuning out - A person with the deaf and dumb spirit influencing their life will tune out conversations, sermons, or even parts of the Bible that they can’t or don’t want to embrace. This increases the deaf and dumb spirit to mask reality and truth.
His goal is to cause fantasy and reality to become mingled and the line between fact and fiction is lost.
It is important that we discipline our minds and emotions to stay in alignment with the Word of God. When we allow our mind to wander around in places, a process unknowingly begins that gradually takes one beyond reality.
2 Timothy 4: 3-4 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.
Denial – Denial lies hidden in the personal choice to believe unreality, while, refusing to acknowledge the real facts.
Matthew 15; 16 “And He said, Are you also even yet dull and ignorant [without understanding and unable to put things together]?
• Those in denial do not connect the pieces that give them the whole picture.
• Denial is believing a lie and wavering in belief.
• Denial brings comfort and works against awareness, sensitivity, and alertness.
Confusion – Confusion keeps people from landing on solid ground or embracing truth. It causes sluggishness and slow in learning and understanding.
Sorrow or Grief – comes from mental or emotional pain. In the case where deaf and dumb is working some will grieve over perceived hurts that are not real or were not intended to be injurious.
Like unbelief, grief is a ruling spirit under deaf and dumb. It opens the door to death.
2 Corinthians 7;10 “For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret; but worldly grief (the hopeless sorrow that is characteristic of the pagan world) is deadly [breeding and ending in death].”
Depression, hopelessness and despair can also be embedded in a stronghold of deaf and dumb.
Physical Symptoms
The more destructive aspects of the deaf and dumb spirit show up in the physical realm.
Mark 17b – 18 Teacher, I brought my son to You, for he has a dumb spirit. And wherever it lays hold of him [so as to make him its own], it dashes him down and convulses him, and he foams [at the mouth] and grinds his teeth, and he [ falls into a motionless stupor and] is wasting away. And I asked Your disciples to drive it out, and they were not able [to do it].
Here we see epilepsy, foaming of the mouth and gnashing teeth would be considered the mark of madness. These physical symptoms when dealing with deaf and dumb can stem from grief and death. Other physical symptoms are physical deafness or muteness, both physical and mental bruising. Natural and spiritual strength is sapped so they have difficulty rising up.
Speech Impediments:
• Auditory Aphasia - Don’t know what speech sounds like.
• Gibberish Aphasia – Speak words and Phrases that make no sense.
• Motor Aphasia – Know what they want to say but cannot utter the words.
• Amnesic Aphasia – Can’t recall certain words that are familiar.
Mark 7 “32 – 35 “And they brought to Him a man who was deaf and had difficulty in speaking, and they begged Jesus to place His hand upon him. And taking him aside from the crowd [privately], He thrust His fingers into the man's ears and spat and touched his tongue; And looking up to heaven, He sighed as He said, Ephphatha, which means, Be opened! And his ears were opened, his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak distinctly and as he should.”
Unbelief – Principle Fruit
Unbelief is a stronghold of the thought life. However, God also speaks of unbelief as a spiritual sin.
Hebrew 3;12 “[Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God.”
Unbelief is a spiritual sin that sets up a stronghold in the mind that causes the person to feel emotionally distant from God.
Levels of unbelief:
General Dullness – Places a system of beliefs, that when analyzed by scripture, portrays the beginning of unbelief. It brings a cloud of oppression over the mind and memory, opening the door for doubt and unbelief.
Doctrinal – Brings deception in clearness to the Word of God.
• God’s willingness to do something in certain realms...Healing, Deliverance, Finances, ETC...
If we live in our experience rather than in the knowledge contained in the fullness of the scripture, then we believe in a partial Gospel.
Hardness of Heart – Deaf and dumb clouds the atmosphere. It attempts to frame within us a faulty belief system toward God and the kingdom.
Unbelief in strong religious forms will use doctrines of devils to support why God will not do things in this day.
Consequences of unbelief:
1. We bring upon our self the displeasure of God.
2. Then comes- estrangement from the Lord.
3. Then a revoking or cutting off from the promises of God.
Acts 28: 27 “For the heart (the understanding, the soul) of this people has grown dull (stupid, hardened, and calloused), and their ears are heavy and hard of hearing and they have shut tight their eyes, so that they may not perceive and have knowledge and become acquainted with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their souls and turn [to Me and be converted], that I may heal them.”
There is a call for the deaf to hear and the blind to see.
Destroying Deaf and Dumb
Start with the spiritual issues. Do these steps in all levels. Person, church and territory.
• Repent for dullness, slothfulness, and the sin of unbelief.
• Pray against strongholds and rulers that work with deaf and dumb. Especially unbelief.
• Release the host of heaven to surround the city, church and people.
• Forbid any outside interference from demonic forces that would come to empower the demons we are fighting against.
• Pray through and ask God to reveal the work of this spirit in the area. As he reveals it do the warfare that goes with the revelation.
Mental and emotional realm
• Deal with grief and sorrow.
• Check for unforgivness or resentment in the heart.
• Rebuke unbelief
• Do a spiritual inventory on yourself and ask God to reveal areas in your life that is influence by deaf and dumb, that have been blinded to you.
• Break every line of agreement that you have come into with this spirit or any spirit working with him. Personally and generational.
• Discipline yourself
Physical Realm
Freemason (prayer)
Freemason (prayer)
I have prayed this prayer over several families. It has proven to release curses. It is important to take your time and release blessings as you pray
Pay close attention to areas that seem to be more of an issue for your family and invite Holy Spirit while asking for his discernment.
Pray can take a while. Feel free to break it up over a few days.
Coming Soon!
I have prayed this prayer over several families. It has proven to release curses. It is important to take your time and release blessings as you pray
Pay close attention to areas that seem to be more of an issue for your family and invite Holy Spirit while asking for his discernment.
Pray can take a while. Feel free to break it up over a few days.
Coming Soon!
What Is A Stronghold
WHAT IS A STRONGHOLD?
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the [pulling down of strongholds]" (2 Cor. 10:3-5).
All successful healing must begin by first removing the structures which defends the enemy. In speaking of spiritual warfare, the apostle Paul enlists the word "stronghold" (KJV) to define the spiritual fortresses wherein Satan and his legions hide and are protected.
• These fortresses exist in the thought-patterns and ideas that govern individuals and churches, as well as communities and nations.
• Before victory can be claimed, these strongholds must be pulled down and Satan's armor removed. Then the mighty weapons of the Word and the Spirit can effectively plunder Satan's house.
What is the biblical meaning of this word, "stronghold"?
In the Old Testament, a stronghold was a fortified dwelling used as a means of protection from an enemy. We find that David hid from King Saul in wilderness strongholds at Horesh (1 Sam. 23:14, 19).These were physical structures, usually caves high on a mountainside, and were very difficult to assault. It was with this imagery in mind that the inspired writers of the Bible adapted the word "stronghold" to define powerful, vigorously protected spiritual realities.
• A stronghold can be a source of protection for us from the devil, as is the case when the Lord becomes our stronghold (Ps. 18:2).
• A stronghold can be a source of defense for the devil, where demonic or sinful activity is actually defended within us by our sympathetic thoughts toward evil.
The apostle Paul defines a stronghold as "speculations,
A lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God" (2 Cor. 10:5).
We are now going to look at four major types of bondages and two types of camps that open doors and form demonic strongholds in lives. But first I want to give you a picture of your authority and position in partnering with Jesus in spiritual warfare.
1 John 3:8 (NIV) “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.”
Destroy = to break, loose, destroy, melt, dissolve or put off,
Revelation 13:8 (NIV) All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.”{So we know that Jesus came to redeem man kind from sin. He came to be the lamb}
• In Jesus’ first coming His primary objective was to fulfill His ministry as the Lamb of God.
After the resurrection had Jesus defeated sin, and now holds the keys of death and Hades. So upon the point of resurrection, now Jesus starts his ministry as the Lion.
Revelation 1:18 (KJV) I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
This means you are no longer going to hell. This means that hell no longer had dominion over you. Jesus Christ holds the keys firmly in His hand.
Jesus then ascended and sits at the right hand of the father and is operating His ministry; as the lion of the tribe of Judah. He is now in the process of putting all of God’s enemies under our feet.
Ephesians 1:20-23 (KJV) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all
That means Jesus Christ’s name is above every name. His advantage and seating place is above principalities, powers, and rulers. His name and seating is above every other name.
That also means that if we are seated with Christ in the heavenliest, and you are in a place of intimacy and communion with Him, you are going to look down and see things that hell can not overthrow because you have a higher vantage point.
As you spent time in intimacy with the Lord, He is going to give you a perspective above the enemies. You will see the things as the enemy is plotting. God will give you strategies of hell that are working against your life because you are seated with Him in heavenly places.
Mark 12:36 (NIV) David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."
Now you and I are now at Christ feet in executing judgment on his enemies.
Romans 16:20 (NIV) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
The responsibility is ours we are seated with Jesus to execute judgment on the enemies in our life. He has placed the responsibility, anointing and authority on your life to destroy the work of the enemies of God.
Psalm 149:5-9 (NIV) Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. [There is no joy in your life if you are being defeated] May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, [When we go into that place of high praises in worship we go into spiritual warfare and there is victory for the saints] to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, [To completely restrict the enemy from operating in your life] to carry out the sentence written against them. This honor has all his saints. Praise the LORD. *[Emphasis is put on us]
This is the written judgment, the Word of God that you are commanding to come into being. As you declare the Word of God you are literally proclaiming judgment.
The final Consummation of Jesus’ ministry as a lion will be when all of God’s enemies are judged and cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:10 (NIV) And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
When hell comes into your life to tell you you’re a loser, you’re nobody, God can’t forgive you; you need to just smile and remind him of his future. Demons tremble because they know that this judgment has already been set and it will be carried out by the Lord.
We are all called to battle.
Mark 16:17-18 (NIV) And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
Note: Jesus said “They Will” Not maybe or should…but WILL.
You are a warrior! God has called you. These ministries are to be a standard operating procedure for every New Testament believer.
• There are different callings and anointing but all believers are called to these ministries.
We are focusing on the fact that…You are a warrior. God has called you to fight. And He has set you in an advantage point with Him in the heavenliest to do what He has commissioned you to do. This is to destroy all forms of evil.
Strongholds
Jesus uses this foundational prophetic scripture spoken from Isaiah 61 to show the four major types of bondages that people become enslaved to.
All strongholds will form out of one of these four types of bondages.
Luke 4:16-21 (NIV) He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, [qualification for ministry] because he has anointed [commissioned] me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Jesus had the spirit without measure or limit.
John 3:34 (NIV) “For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.”
Jesus spoke as no other prophet spoke. Old Testament prophets had a measure of the spirit that was given to them.
2 Kings 2:9-10 (NIV) When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied. "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not."
Jesus Commissioned Ministry
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
He is saying…I am Hear! This is what I am called to do and this is what I am now releasing!
Two Types of Camps
We can classify demons into two camps.
Angels and demons and we should always be on assignment. When you are in the military on a job you don’t go where you want to go; you go where who ever is in charge of you orders you to go. So it is for spiritual being, they are on assignments. They have literally been given a set of orders.
Tempters
The tempters assignment is to deceive you into believing lies that resist the fullness of God’s word. To the level in which he had lured you into his deception, is the level in which he has established a hold in your life.
You can some times discern how strong that stronghold is by how long a person will hold out in that argument. The strongest strongholds make a person thing that he is their own thought and their own personality.
Tormenters
The tormenters assignment is to systematically torment your state of emotions, physical body, and overall sense of peace. The tormenter doesn’t care about tempting you. He enjoys beating pummeling you beating you up and literally bruising you. That is his focus in life.
Those are the two loose camps and now let’s look at:
Four Major Bondages
1. The Blind
This is the hardest bondage to break because you can’t see it.
• Others can see areas of deception in your life but it is hard for you to embrace.
• Everyone has levels of blindness
They can be exposed by
Revelation
Leaders
Examples of spiritual blindness
• Believing that you won’t reap what you sow Galatians 6:7
• Hearing God’s Word but not doing it. James 1:22
• Believing I am wise in my own eyes. 1 Corinthians 3: 18-19
• Believing bad company will not corrupt you. 1 Corinthians 15:33
• Believing you have no sin in your life. 1 John 1:8
• Heading the teachings of false prophets and false teachers. 2 Peter 2:1-3
• ECT…..
Self defense mechanisms to guard self deception
• Denial and not being able to face truth
• Outburst of wrath
• Shifting blame
• Excuses
• Living in an altered reality
• Intimidation
• Attacks on others
Some demons that may be found in this stronghold
Deception
Lying
Religious
Darkness
Self Hatred
Denial
Pride
Contempt
Fear
Fantasy
Arrogance
Doubt
Mental Illness
Superiority
Blindness
Vanity
Distain
Disgust
Self Righteousness
Self Defense
Confusion
Ritualism
Legalism
Hypocrisy
Intellectualism
Keys to destroying spiritual blindness in our life
• Ask the Lord to reveal to you where the Lord has blinded you. He will be faithful to show you.
• Eph 1:18
• 2 Cor. 4:4
2. The Broken Hearted / Burst Open (H)
This bondage is created when a wound has been inflicted in a person’s life. These wounds create an open door for demons to begin to come and torment.
In order to destroy these types of strongholds, a believer needs a combination of deliverance and healing appropriated in their life.
These bondages can also be inhabited by demons that have come in through past generations. This is possible through generational curses that are enforced through familiar spirits.
This type of stronghold affects the persons self esteem and self image. Over time it will affect the physical body resulting in sickness and infirmities.
Acts 10:38 (NIV) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
After deliverance, there needs to be a drawing down of the healing properties of the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
In our soul there are literal wounds. Many times we will guard and cover these wounds with shields.
Shields of pride and denial
• It really didn’t hurt
• I am a survivor (This puts your identity in the wound instead of Christ)
• I don’t need any help
List of wounds that may open the door to this type of bondage:
• Rape
• Molestation
• Divorce
• War
• Death
• Hurtful Words
• Accidents
• Rejection
• Abandonment
• Slavery
• Racism
• Disappointment
Some demons that may be found in this stronghold
• Bitterness
• Unforgiveness
• Hurt
• Pane
• Rage
• Abuse
• Sadness
• Sorrow
• Rejection
• Hatred
• Torture
• Abuse
• Distress
• Morning
• Marred Self Image
• Insecurity
• Trauma
• Fear
Most of the time to maintain deliverance in this area, it will sometimes require revisiting the hurt and broken placed and allowing the Holy Spirit to bring healing and truth to that area.
3. The Prisoner/ Prisoner of war (g) (People that have literally been taken captive)
Demons do not only reside in our soul the also reside in our flesh. They are linked to our fleshly sinful nature. The Bible contains a list of what is called the works of the flesh.
Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV) The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
You see some of these areas that you participate in STOP. Don’t rationalize it. It’s a work of the flesh.
Destroying this stronghold
In order to destroy this stronghold there must be a combination of deliverance and discipleship. There must be a daily dyeing to you old sinful nature.
Galatians 5:24 (NIV) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
Demons are attracted to sin.
Example: Pets poop in the back yard. This attacks flies. You wouldn’t go out there and swat each fly. You would remove the poop and the flies would leave.
It is the same way in our lives. As we allow the Lord to remove sin in our lives the demons go because they have nothing to feed on.
Remember what Jesus said. “The devil has come but has found no place in me” There was no feeding ground.
After a deep repentance there must be a willingness to cut all ties to the things that have caused us to fall.
Matthew 18:8-9 (NIV) If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
• Cut the area of sin out of your life
If you are not willing to be a disciple (disciplined) you retain great deliverance. They have to be partnered together.
Some of the demons that reside in this stronghold
• Lust
• Perversion
• Food Addiction
• Envy
• Covertness
• Evil Speaking
• Criticism
• Cruelty
• Fault Finding
• Lust for Power
• Witchcraft
• Bitterness
• Unbelief
• Lust for Knowledge
• Hatred
• ECT…
4. The Oppressed /to crush, to bruise
This stronghold originates through an open door. We have to close the doors. The demons will come and try to reestablish a door that has been closed.
In the oppressed the enemy gains legal rights to attack. He may use multiple entry points such as;
• Depression
• Sin
• Generational Curses
• Soul Ties
• Word Curses
This strongman is a tormenter. His goal is to literally crush the person. He loves watching people suffer.
Some of the demons that inhabit this stronghold
• Infirmity
• Sickness
• Disease
• Infection
• Pain
• Epilepsy
• Nausea
• Crippling
• Asthma
• Fear
• Self Mutilation
• Self Rejection
• Low Self Esteem
• False Burden
• Schizophrenia
• Rejection
• Guilt
• Shame
• Condemnation
• Self Hatred
• Forgetfulness
• Insanity
All strongholds originate from these four sources. However, these strongholds can be intertwined.
Remember that you can’t get free in one day. The goal is not just to get demons out it is to keep them out. There is a time and a season for all things. Trying to figure it out all at one is religion and false burden.
There are two walls that guard strongholds
Pride and Rebellion
• These caused Lucifer to fall. His heart was lifted up because of his beauty and then he rebelled against heaven.
• Any time you have pride in your heart...rebellion will come right after.
Define: Rebellion is active defiance and opposition to authority.
1 Samuel 15:23 (NIV) For rebellion is like the sin of divination, [witchcraft] and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."
Hebrew 3: 7,8 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness,
Established lines of authority
• God - Daniel 9:5,9
• Parents – Ephesians 6:1-3
• Spouse – 1 Peter 3:1-7 Ephesians 5:21
• Church Leaders – Hebrew 13:17
• Local state and federal authorities – Romans 13;1-7 1 Peter 2;13-17
• Employer – 1 Peter 2:10 -23
Pride
Defined: Pride is a conceded sense of one’s superiority.
When we look at how the Bible uses the word pride we see that pride is substituting our own authority, our plan, our greatness, our human goodness in place of God's. The proud person looks at himself differently than God looks at him.
• Pride is mental attitude sin. (Prov 6.16-19)
• As one of the seven worst sins (Prov 8.13; 30.13; Ps 131.1; Mark 7.20- 23; 1 Tim 3.6).
• Pride is a part of ungodliness (2 Tim 3.2)
• Pride is the opposite of humility (Prov 11.2; 29.23; Dan 4.37; James 4.6; 1 Pet 5.5-6)
Thought process of pride
• Believing you can be successful by your own strengths and recourses.
• Believing your ideas or opinions are usually or often than others.
• Finding it difficult to admit being wrong or taking responsibility.
• Not humbling or submitting before God or those in authority.
• Seeking recognition, even at the expense of others.
• Being unteachable
• Believing...I know it all...therefore I am.
Formula to destroy pride
• Focus on God’s holiness Isaiah 6:1-8 9 (Isaiah in the presents of the Lord)
• Focus on God’s righteousness Philippians 3: 4-9 (Paul sees himself as rubbish)
• After you focus on God’s holiness and righteousness then compare them to your simpleness. Jeremiah 17:9
• God is perfect in thought, Word and deed!
The result to this equation is that WE NEED GRACE!
Practice ways to live in humility
• Put on humility Colossians 3: 12
• Be clothed in Him 1 Peter 5:5
• Walk in humility Ephesians 4:12
• Avoid false humility Colossians 2:18-23 James 4: 13-16 (doing something to appear to be humble)
What does this look like?
You become so focused on Him and His people that you just forget about YOU!
You die to self!
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the [pulling down of strongholds]" (2 Cor. 10:3-5).
All successful healing must begin by first removing the structures which defends the enemy. In speaking of spiritual warfare, the apostle Paul enlists the word "stronghold" (KJV) to define the spiritual fortresses wherein Satan and his legions hide and are protected.
• These fortresses exist in the thought-patterns and ideas that govern individuals and churches, as well as communities and nations.
• Before victory can be claimed, these strongholds must be pulled down and Satan's armor removed. Then the mighty weapons of the Word and the Spirit can effectively plunder Satan's house.
What is the biblical meaning of this word, "stronghold"?
In the Old Testament, a stronghold was a fortified dwelling used as a means of protection from an enemy. We find that David hid from King Saul in wilderness strongholds at Horesh (1 Sam. 23:14, 19).These were physical structures, usually caves high on a mountainside, and were very difficult to assault. It was with this imagery in mind that the inspired writers of the Bible adapted the word "stronghold" to define powerful, vigorously protected spiritual realities.
• A stronghold can be a source of protection for us from the devil, as is the case when the Lord becomes our stronghold (Ps. 18:2).
• A stronghold can be a source of defense for the devil, where demonic or sinful activity is actually defended within us by our sympathetic thoughts toward evil.
The apostle Paul defines a stronghold as "speculations,
A lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God" (2 Cor. 10:5).
We are now going to look at four major types of bondages and two types of camps that open doors and form demonic strongholds in lives. But first I want to give you a picture of your authority and position in partnering with Jesus in spiritual warfare.
1 John 3:8 (NIV) “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.”
Destroy = to break, loose, destroy, melt, dissolve or put off,
Revelation 13:8 (NIV) All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.”{So we know that Jesus came to redeem man kind from sin. He came to be the lamb}
• In Jesus’ first coming His primary objective was to fulfill His ministry as the Lamb of God.
After the resurrection had Jesus defeated sin, and now holds the keys of death and Hades. So upon the point of resurrection, now Jesus starts his ministry as the Lion.
Revelation 1:18 (KJV) I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
This means you are no longer going to hell. This means that hell no longer had dominion over you. Jesus Christ holds the keys firmly in His hand.
Jesus then ascended and sits at the right hand of the father and is operating His ministry; as the lion of the tribe of Judah. He is now in the process of putting all of God’s enemies under our feet.
Ephesians 1:20-23 (KJV) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all
That means Jesus Christ’s name is above every name. His advantage and seating place is above principalities, powers, and rulers. His name and seating is above every other name.
That also means that if we are seated with Christ in the heavenliest, and you are in a place of intimacy and communion with Him, you are going to look down and see things that hell can not overthrow because you have a higher vantage point.
As you spent time in intimacy with the Lord, He is going to give you a perspective above the enemies. You will see the things as the enemy is plotting. God will give you strategies of hell that are working against your life because you are seated with Him in heavenly places.
Mark 12:36 (NIV) David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."
Now you and I are now at Christ feet in executing judgment on his enemies.
Romans 16:20 (NIV) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
The responsibility is ours we are seated with Jesus to execute judgment on the enemies in our life. He has placed the responsibility, anointing and authority on your life to destroy the work of the enemies of God.
Psalm 149:5-9 (NIV) Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. [There is no joy in your life if you are being defeated] May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, [When we go into that place of high praises in worship we go into spiritual warfare and there is victory for the saints] to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, [To completely restrict the enemy from operating in your life] to carry out the sentence written against them. This honor has all his saints. Praise the LORD. *[Emphasis is put on us]
This is the written judgment, the Word of God that you are commanding to come into being. As you declare the Word of God you are literally proclaiming judgment.
The final Consummation of Jesus’ ministry as a lion will be when all of God’s enemies are judged and cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:10 (NIV) And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
When hell comes into your life to tell you you’re a loser, you’re nobody, God can’t forgive you; you need to just smile and remind him of his future. Demons tremble because they know that this judgment has already been set and it will be carried out by the Lord.
We are all called to battle.
Mark 16:17-18 (NIV) And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
Note: Jesus said “They Will” Not maybe or should…but WILL.
You are a warrior! God has called you. These ministries are to be a standard operating procedure for every New Testament believer.
• There are different callings and anointing but all believers are called to these ministries.
We are focusing on the fact that…You are a warrior. God has called you to fight. And He has set you in an advantage point with Him in the heavenliest to do what He has commissioned you to do. This is to destroy all forms of evil.
Strongholds
Jesus uses this foundational prophetic scripture spoken from Isaiah 61 to show the four major types of bondages that people become enslaved to.
All strongholds will form out of one of these four types of bondages.
Luke 4:16-21 (NIV) He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, [qualification for ministry] because he has anointed [commissioned] me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Jesus had the spirit without measure or limit.
John 3:34 (NIV) “For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.”
Jesus spoke as no other prophet spoke. Old Testament prophets had a measure of the spirit that was given to them.
2 Kings 2:9-10 (NIV) When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied. "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not."
Jesus Commissioned Ministry
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
He is saying…I am Hear! This is what I am called to do and this is what I am now releasing!
Two Types of Camps
We can classify demons into two camps.
Angels and demons and we should always be on assignment. When you are in the military on a job you don’t go where you want to go; you go where who ever is in charge of you orders you to go. So it is for spiritual being, they are on assignments. They have literally been given a set of orders.
Tempters
The tempters assignment is to deceive you into believing lies that resist the fullness of God’s word. To the level in which he had lured you into his deception, is the level in which he has established a hold in your life.
You can some times discern how strong that stronghold is by how long a person will hold out in that argument. The strongest strongholds make a person thing that he is their own thought and their own personality.
Tormenters
The tormenters assignment is to systematically torment your state of emotions, physical body, and overall sense of peace. The tormenter doesn’t care about tempting you. He enjoys beating pummeling you beating you up and literally bruising you. That is his focus in life.
Those are the two loose camps and now let’s look at:
Four Major Bondages
1. The Blind
This is the hardest bondage to break because you can’t see it.
• Others can see areas of deception in your life but it is hard for you to embrace.
• Everyone has levels of blindness
They can be exposed by
Revelation
Leaders
Examples of spiritual blindness
• Believing that you won’t reap what you sow Galatians 6:7
• Hearing God’s Word but not doing it. James 1:22
• Believing I am wise in my own eyes. 1 Corinthians 3: 18-19
• Believing bad company will not corrupt you. 1 Corinthians 15:33
• Believing you have no sin in your life. 1 John 1:8
• Heading the teachings of false prophets and false teachers. 2 Peter 2:1-3
• ECT…..
Self defense mechanisms to guard self deception
• Denial and not being able to face truth
• Outburst of wrath
• Shifting blame
• Excuses
• Living in an altered reality
• Intimidation
• Attacks on others
Some demons that may be found in this stronghold
Deception
Lying
Religious
Darkness
Self Hatred
Denial
Pride
Contempt
Fear
Fantasy
Arrogance
Doubt
Mental Illness
Superiority
Blindness
Vanity
Distain
Disgust
Self Righteousness
Self Defense
Confusion
Ritualism
Legalism
Hypocrisy
Intellectualism
Keys to destroying spiritual blindness in our life
• Ask the Lord to reveal to you where the Lord has blinded you. He will be faithful to show you.
• Eph 1:18
• 2 Cor. 4:4
2. The Broken Hearted / Burst Open (H)
This bondage is created when a wound has been inflicted in a person’s life. These wounds create an open door for demons to begin to come and torment.
In order to destroy these types of strongholds, a believer needs a combination of deliverance and healing appropriated in their life.
These bondages can also be inhabited by demons that have come in through past generations. This is possible through generational curses that are enforced through familiar spirits.
This type of stronghold affects the persons self esteem and self image. Over time it will affect the physical body resulting in sickness and infirmities.
Acts 10:38 (NIV) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
After deliverance, there needs to be a drawing down of the healing properties of the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
In our soul there are literal wounds. Many times we will guard and cover these wounds with shields.
Shields of pride and denial
• It really didn’t hurt
• I am a survivor (This puts your identity in the wound instead of Christ)
• I don’t need any help
List of wounds that may open the door to this type of bondage:
• Rape
• Molestation
• Divorce
• War
• Death
• Hurtful Words
• Accidents
• Rejection
• Abandonment
• Slavery
• Racism
• Disappointment
Some demons that may be found in this stronghold
• Bitterness
• Unforgiveness
• Hurt
• Pane
• Rage
• Abuse
• Sadness
• Sorrow
• Rejection
• Hatred
• Torture
• Abuse
• Distress
• Morning
• Marred Self Image
• Insecurity
• Trauma
• Fear
Most of the time to maintain deliverance in this area, it will sometimes require revisiting the hurt and broken placed and allowing the Holy Spirit to bring healing and truth to that area.
3. The Prisoner/ Prisoner of war (g) (People that have literally been taken captive)
Demons do not only reside in our soul the also reside in our flesh. They are linked to our fleshly sinful nature. The Bible contains a list of what is called the works of the flesh.
Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV) The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
You see some of these areas that you participate in STOP. Don’t rationalize it. It’s a work of the flesh.
Destroying this stronghold
In order to destroy this stronghold there must be a combination of deliverance and discipleship. There must be a daily dyeing to you old sinful nature.
Galatians 5:24 (NIV) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
Demons are attracted to sin.
Example: Pets poop in the back yard. This attacks flies. You wouldn’t go out there and swat each fly. You would remove the poop and the flies would leave.
It is the same way in our lives. As we allow the Lord to remove sin in our lives the demons go because they have nothing to feed on.
Remember what Jesus said. “The devil has come but has found no place in me” There was no feeding ground.
After a deep repentance there must be a willingness to cut all ties to the things that have caused us to fall.
Matthew 18:8-9 (NIV) If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
• Cut the area of sin out of your life
If you are not willing to be a disciple (disciplined) you retain great deliverance. They have to be partnered together.
Some of the demons that reside in this stronghold
• Lust
• Perversion
• Food Addiction
• Envy
• Covertness
• Evil Speaking
• Criticism
• Cruelty
• Fault Finding
• Lust for Power
• Witchcraft
• Bitterness
• Unbelief
• Lust for Knowledge
• Hatred
• ECT…
4. The Oppressed /to crush, to bruise
This stronghold originates through an open door. We have to close the doors. The demons will come and try to reestablish a door that has been closed.
In the oppressed the enemy gains legal rights to attack. He may use multiple entry points such as;
• Depression
• Sin
• Generational Curses
• Soul Ties
• Word Curses
This strongman is a tormenter. His goal is to literally crush the person. He loves watching people suffer.
Some of the demons that inhabit this stronghold
• Infirmity
• Sickness
• Disease
• Infection
• Pain
• Epilepsy
• Nausea
• Crippling
• Asthma
• Fear
• Self Mutilation
• Self Rejection
• Low Self Esteem
• False Burden
• Schizophrenia
• Rejection
• Guilt
• Shame
• Condemnation
• Self Hatred
• Forgetfulness
• Insanity
All strongholds originate from these four sources. However, these strongholds can be intertwined.
Remember that you can’t get free in one day. The goal is not just to get demons out it is to keep them out. There is a time and a season for all things. Trying to figure it out all at one is religion and false burden.
There are two walls that guard strongholds
Pride and Rebellion
• These caused Lucifer to fall. His heart was lifted up because of his beauty and then he rebelled against heaven.
• Any time you have pride in your heart...rebellion will come right after.
Define: Rebellion is active defiance and opposition to authority.
1 Samuel 15:23 (NIV) For rebellion is like the sin of divination, [witchcraft] and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."
Hebrew 3: 7,8 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness,
Established lines of authority
• God - Daniel 9:5,9
• Parents – Ephesians 6:1-3
• Spouse – 1 Peter 3:1-7 Ephesians 5:21
• Church Leaders – Hebrew 13:17
• Local state and federal authorities – Romans 13;1-7 1 Peter 2;13-17
• Employer – 1 Peter 2:10 -23
Pride
Defined: Pride is a conceded sense of one’s superiority.
When we look at how the Bible uses the word pride we see that pride is substituting our own authority, our plan, our greatness, our human goodness in place of God's. The proud person looks at himself differently than God looks at him.
• Pride is mental attitude sin. (Prov 6.16-19)
• As one of the seven worst sins (Prov 8.13; 30.13; Ps 131.1; Mark 7.20- 23; 1 Tim 3.6).
• Pride is a part of ungodliness (2 Tim 3.2)
• Pride is the opposite of humility (Prov 11.2; 29.23; Dan 4.37; James 4.6; 1 Pet 5.5-6)
Thought process of pride
• Believing you can be successful by your own strengths and recourses.
• Believing your ideas or opinions are usually or often than others.
• Finding it difficult to admit being wrong or taking responsibility.
• Not humbling or submitting before God or those in authority.
• Seeking recognition, even at the expense of others.
• Being unteachable
• Believing...I know it all...therefore I am.
Formula to destroy pride
• Focus on God’s holiness Isaiah 6:1-8 9 (Isaiah in the presents of the Lord)
• Focus on God’s righteousness Philippians 3: 4-9 (Paul sees himself as rubbish)
• After you focus on God’s holiness and righteousness then compare them to your simpleness. Jeremiah 17:9
• God is perfect in thought, Word and deed!
The result to this equation is that WE NEED GRACE!
Practice ways to live in humility
• Put on humility Colossians 3: 12
• Be clothed in Him 1 Peter 5:5
• Walk in humility Ephesians 4:12
• Avoid false humility Colossians 2:18-23 James 4: 13-16 (doing something to appear to be humble)
What does this look like?
You become so focused on Him and His people that you just forget about YOU!
You die to self!
Breaking Word Curses (prayer)
Breaking Word Curses (prayer)
The prayer and scriptures below are used to break curses that others have spoken to us or spoken over us.
Prayer:
Thank you Father for the blood of Jesus.
Jesus. We request the dispatch of warring angels, at your discretion, to war on our behalf to create an atmosphere of Your will being done in our lives. We bind our hearts and minds to Your blood Jesus. Father, we take the authority that You have given us in the name of Jesus to negate all negative word curses spoken over:
(insert person and business names here)
our homes, property, vehicles, pets, marriage, ministry, finances, prosperity, businesses, workspaces, relationships, health, emotions, thoughts and actions.
We curse the seed, the root and the fruit of word curses spoken over us in the name of
Jesus. We render them powerless and ineffective against us. We break the word curses at the point of origin.
We bind up every evil spirit released to carry out these curses, cancelling their assignments and cast them out to the dry, void places. We ask You, Father, to dispatch warring angels with flaming swords to destroy everything they are using as points of contact. We forgive these people and ask You, Father, for a spirit of conviction to fall all those who choose to speak word curses against us. We pray that they see the error of their ways and turn to You for forgiveness and salvation. We bless them. We cancel all prayers and words of agreement we may have spoken that put us in agreement with these assignments of witchcraft. We bind up the spirit of death and destruction over:
(insert person and business names here)
in the name of Jesus. We bind up the spirits of envy, unforgiveness, anger, retaliation,
sabotage, ambush, counter-attack, backlash and distractions from operating against us
and everything that pertains to us, in the name of Jesus.
In the name of Jesus, we blind all watchers of the enemy, deafen all listeners of the
enemy, forbid reporting spirits to operate, forbid astral travel. We cancel every scheme,
plot, plan, purpose and assignment of the enemy against our homes, property, vehicles,
pets, marriage, ministry, finances, prosperity, businesses, workspaces, relationships
health, emotions, thoughts and actions.
We bind up every evil spirit released to carry out these assignments, cancelling their
assignments and cast them to the dry, void places in the name of Jesus. We use the shield of faith to cover everyone and everything that God has entrusted to us for our
stewardship. We dwell in the secret place of Most High God. We thank you Father for
hearing and answering our prayer. We thank you Jesus for dispatching angels as needed
and we thank you Holy Spirit for living in us. In Jesus Precious Name. Amen!
Five things to cover in breaking word curses.
(1.) Forgive them for saying the curse
(2.) If you judged them with condemnation, you must ask God to forgive you too.
(3.) If you blamed God for their behavior, you must ask God’s forgiveness.
(4.) If you returned evil for evil, you must ask for forgiveness for your own sin.
(5.) If you believed the lie, you must forgive yourself for believing the lie as well.
Scriptures:
Numbers 6:22-27
Deuteronomy 28:13
Psalms 23
Proverbs 3:4-8
Isaiah 54:17
Matthew 5:43-48
Matthew 17:14-20
Matthew 18:19
Mark 11:22-25
Mark 12:28-31
Luke 6:22
John 3:1-8
Ephesians 6:11-17
The prayer and scriptures below are used to break curses that others have spoken to us or spoken over us.
Prayer:
Thank you Father for the blood of Jesus.
Jesus. We request the dispatch of warring angels, at your discretion, to war on our behalf to create an atmosphere of Your will being done in our lives. We bind our hearts and minds to Your blood Jesus. Father, we take the authority that You have given us in the name of Jesus to negate all negative word curses spoken over:
(insert person and business names here)
our homes, property, vehicles, pets, marriage, ministry, finances, prosperity, businesses, workspaces, relationships, health, emotions, thoughts and actions.
We curse the seed, the root and the fruit of word curses spoken over us in the name of
Jesus. We render them powerless and ineffective against us. We break the word curses at the point of origin.
We bind up every evil spirit released to carry out these curses, cancelling their assignments and cast them out to the dry, void places. We ask You, Father, to dispatch warring angels with flaming swords to destroy everything they are using as points of contact. We forgive these people and ask You, Father, for a spirit of conviction to fall all those who choose to speak word curses against us. We pray that they see the error of their ways and turn to You for forgiveness and salvation. We bless them. We cancel all prayers and words of agreement we may have spoken that put us in agreement with these assignments of witchcraft. We bind up the spirit of death and destruction over:
(insert person and business names here)
in the name of Jesus. We bind up the spirits of envy, unforgiveness, anger, retaliation,
sabotage, ambush, counter-attack, backlash and distractions from operating against us
and everything that pertains to us, in the name of Jesus.
In the name of Jesus, we blind all watchers of the enemy, deafen all listeners of the
enemy, forbid reporting spirits to operate, forbid astral travel. We cancel every scheme,
plot, plan, purpose and assignment of the enemy against our homes, property, vehicles,
pets, marriage, ministry, finances, prosperity, businesses, workspaces, relationships
health, emotions, thoughts and actions.
We bind up every evil spirit released to carry out these assignments, cancelling their
assignments and cast them to the dry, void places in the name of Jesus. We use the shield of faith to cover everyone and everything that God has entrusted to us for our
stewardship. We dwell in the secret place of Most High God. We thank you Father for
hearing and answering our prayer. We thank you Jesus for dispatching angels as needed
and we thank you Holy Spirit for living in us. In Jesus Precious Name. Amen!
Five things to cover in breaking word curses.
(1.) Forgive them for saying the curse
(2.) If you judged them with condemnation, you must ask God to forgive you too.
(3.) If you blamed God for their behavior, you must ask God’s forgiveness.
(4.) If you returned evil for evil, you must ask for forgiveness for your own sin.
(5.) If you believed the lie, you must forgive yourself for believing the lie as well.
Scriptures:
Numbers 6:22-27
Deuteronomy 28:13
Psalms 23
Proverbs 3:4-8
Isaiah 54:17
Matthew 5:43-48
Matthew 17:14-20
Matthew 18:19
Mark 11:22-25
Mark 12:28-31
Luke 6:22
John 3:1-8
Ephesians 6:11-17
Understanding Deliverance
Understanding Deliverance
2/11/10
Can A Christian Have a Demon?
When you go into the ministry of casting out demons (Mark 16) you will inevitably be challenged with the question: 'Can a born-again believer have a demon?'
In charismatic circles the question is: 'Can a believer who is baptized in the Spirit have a demon? Absolutely not!' is the standard answer. 'The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in the same body as a demon!' This is often spoken with the insistence of a slogan, to close the mind to further inquiry.
However, this answer cannot be supported by scripture. In fact, it is an extra-scriptural piece of logic that rests on an assumption. It is dangerous to assume that Satan and his demons have some kind of hands-off policy when it comes to believers while the truth is that believers are the very objects of their wrath and attack.
In the New Testament, the Greek word 'daimonizomai' is used to express the presence of demonic spirits within a person. What this word means is: 'to be demonized; to be under the power or influence of a demon in certain areas; to have a demon.'
In the King James Version of the Bible this particular Greek word is translated 11 times as 'to be possessed with devils'. The word 'possessed,' however, is a misleading translation for this Greek word. To English speaking people the term 'possessed' implies total ownership of something. This concept, as pertaining to the relationship between a demonic entity and a person, has no support in the scripture or in the original intent of the Greek word. There is no suggestion in the scripture that a demon has totally taken over a person as the word 'possessed' implies. Even the Gaderene demoniac had enough humanity to cry out to Jesus for help.
Rather, after close scriptural study, it can be seen that the effect of demons upon people was usually in one or more areas of the personality - not the whole person. The best translation of this Greek word is: 'to be demonized' or to 'have a demon.'
While a believer may profess Jesus Christ as Lord of their life, it's quite possible that certain areas of the life may be under the domination and controlling influence of demonic spirits, i.e. an area of jealousy, lust, or annoying and compulsive habits.
Because of a scriptural misunderstanding of exactly what occurred at their spiritual rebirth, many believe that they are somehow immune, or instantly free, from the strongholds, bondages and curses accumulated during a lifetime or generations of sin.
A careful study of the New Testament will reveal that our spiritual rebirth was just that, a 'spiritual' rebirth. Jesus said in the third chapter of John; 'That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.' It was the human spirit that received life when we confessed our sins and were born again. God told Adam that in the day he ate of the forbidden fruit he would die. Yet he went on to live for many hundreds of years. What died in Adam when he fell into sin? Obviously it was that same part of his nature that Christ came to bring back to life - his spirit.
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The Whole Man
The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 that man is a tripartite being: spirit, soul and body. For these tri-parts (created in the image of God) God has provided a threefold liberty. When a person is born again, the spirit of man (composed of conscience, intuition, and communion) is infused with the very life and presence of God. This burst of inner life (called justification) often serves to liberate the person from bondages in the soul and, sometimes, even sicknesses in the body. However, regeneration in the spirit does not mean complete liberation and perfection for the soul or body. This is evident in any believer's experience.
The second-fold of God's salvation involves the daily process of cleansing, changing, conforming and renewing the soul into the likeness of the Lord. The soul (composed of a man's mind, will and emotions) is far from perfect. It is in this realm where the habits, patterns and bondages of the past may still be found. By careful and consistent conformity to the will of God, directed from the presence of God in the human spirit, the soul is slowly transformed to become a pleasing habitation of the Lord. This process is called sanctification (or 'set apart' unto holiness).
Finally, the third part of God's salvation involves the body composed of blood, flesh, and bones.) When Christ comes again, the scriptures tell us that we shall be changed and shall receive new bodies like unto the Lord's new body after his resurrection. This is called glorification.
In justification (our past salvation) we were delivered from the penalty of sin (eternal separation from God). In sanctification (our present salvation) we are being delivered from the power of sin in our lives each day. In glorification (our future salvation) we shall be delivered from the very presence of sin.
The scriptures are full of pictures, analogies and parables depicting the teaching of man's tripartite being with God's provisions of salvation. When Jesus cleansed His Father's temple, full of wrath against the men that had turned a house of prayer into a den of thieves, He was revealing God's heart. We too, are the temple of God and thus need the invading presence of the Holy Lord to cleanse us from the 'thieves and robbers' within.
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Scriptures Supporting That Christians Can Have Demonic Influence in Their Life
• Matthew 15:22-28 Deliverance is the 'children's bread;' and is therefore particularly reserved for believers
• Matthew 16:22-23 Jesus rebuked the spirit of Satan speaking through Peter
• Mark 1:23 A man with an unclean spirit 'in the synagogue'
• Mark 1:39 Jesus cast out demons 'in the synagogues'
• Luke 9:52-56 Jesus told James and John, '...you know not what spirit you are of'
• Luke 13:11-16 A 'daughter of Abraham' was bound by a 'spirit of infirmity'
• Acts 5:3 Satan 'filled the hearts' of two believers to lie to the Holy Spirit
• Acts 8:13, 20-24 Simon, a believer, needed deliverance from the occult
• 1 Cor 5:1-5 Speaks of a believer filled with a spirit of lust and as a result, delivered over to Satan
• 2 Cor 2:10-11 Satan can 'get advantage' over a believer
• 2 Corinthians 11:4 Paul rebukes believers for receiving 'another spirit'
• 2 Corinthians 12:7 Paul was tormented by a 'messenger from Satan'
• Galatians 3:1 Paul rebukes believers for being 'bewitched'
• 1 Timothy 1:19-20 Speaks of two believers who were delivered over to Satan for blasphemy
• 2 Timothy 2:24-26 Believers can be snared and taken captive by the devil
• 1 Timothy 4:1-2 In latter days believers will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons
• Ephesians 4:25-27 Lying and anger can 'give place' to the devil in a believer's life
________________________________________
Consequences That Follow Denying Demonic Influence
• The old sin nature becomes active whenever there's a compulsive problem in the life.
• All problems in a person's life are taught to be due to their continual 'lack of surrender and control.'
• All inherited characteristics and personality quirks are thought to be unchangeable.
• Psychology, mental health programs, and psychotic drugs are supported and relied upon for complete cure.
• Despair, hopelessness and at times even suicide are fostered within the demonized.
• Demons are given legal ground to stay when a person denies a Christian can have a demon.
• Spiritual pride is reinforced in leaders and keeps them from reexamining their teachings and retracting error.
• Gives ground to accept without question and as law all medical diagnosis and medication.
• People are left open to be snared into cults and religious deception by angels of light. After all, if a believer can't be demonized, aren't they 'safe?'
________________________________________
Define: Deliverance
The term “deliverance” as used for both the process and the result of one's liberation from demonic bondage. Deliverance is achieved by (casting out) driving out evil spirits, using the authority of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, 'In my name they [believers in Him] will drive out demons' Mark 16:17. (There are other extended factors in deliverance such as healing, mind sets, self etc. But for the sake of the topic, we will address the actual subject matter.)
Since some readers may not be familiar with the scriptural grounds for deliverance, we wish to acquaint them with the basic principles of deliverance. Although there are those that are called to different levels, deliverance is a principle of God that we are all, as Christians, called to do.
Deliverance
1. rescue from moral corruption or evil; salvation
2. rescue from bondage or danger.
First meaning of "deliverance" is "to deliver out of the hands of..., to escape." This meaning illustrates God's rescue of His people from the dominion of Satan and the world system. An example is found in the Hebrew word Natsal (Strong's #5337) which is defined as "to snatch, take away; to snatch out of danger, preserve, deliver anyone from danger." For an example: The Israelites etc...
Second, The term deliverance describes the process by which a person, believed to be under the control of an evil supernatural entity (demon) is set free - delivered - from the control of demon or demons. In the New Testament, Jesus and some of His disciples casted out demons from individuals, and delivering them from demon activity.
________________________________________
Now it’s Your Turn
Start with the Basics
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke abound with accounts of Jesus casting demons out of people. A major part of His earthly ministry, perhaps as much as one-third, was devoted to deliverance. His purpose in becoming man, dying on the cross and conquering the grave was to defeat Satan in our behalf. “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work” I John 3:8.
Jewish religious leaders were amazed at the authority Jesus exercised over demons. They said, “He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him” Mark 1:27. He did not use incantations or any sort of paraphernalia; He merely spoke to these real yet invisible beings and they obeyed Him. “He drove out the spirits with a word...” Matt. 8.16 Furthermore, Jesus trained The Twelve plus seventy-two other disciples and commissioned them to cast out demons.
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits...The Lord appointed seventy-two others...The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Matt. 10:1; Luke 10:1, 17
Prior to His ascension into heaven, Jesus commissioned His Church to preach the Gospel throughout the world, confirming the Word with signs following. The first sign mentioned is deliverance: forcing demons to depart from a person in the Name of Jesus. “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out devils.
Power of Attorney
Believers in Christ have been entrusted with a spiritual “power of attorney”: authority to act in the absence and interests of another. All authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Jesus (Matt. 28:18), and He has given us complete power over Satan and the demonic kingdom. Jesus said: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions, and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you” Luke 10:19
________________________________________
Basics for Deliverance
The Word of God lays down three absolute prerequisites for those who seek deliverance from oppressing evil spirits.
First, one must repent. Repentance is a firm resolve in the Lord to forsake sin and turn about to walk in the ways of God. Ongoing sin in one's life is an open invitation to demons. Yielding to sin is yielding to a 'whom', a person: namely, the devil. 'Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are the one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?' Rom. 6:16
Second, there must be forgiveness toward all others no matter what they have done, how many times they have done it, or whether they continue to offend.
Forgiveness of oneself is also mandatory. Anyone who has any reservation about forgiving any other person is turned over to tormenting demons until he pays the debt of love's forgiveness. 'In anger his master turned him [the unforgiving servant] over to the jailers until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart' Matt. 18:21-35 (Brackets ours).
Third, there must be a complete separation from every association no matter how casual with the occult, cults and Eastern Religions.
This separation includes the destruction of all books and paraphernalia associated therewith. (Deut. 7:25-26; 18:9-13; Acts 19: 19-21).
________________________________________
Three Offensive Weapons
The name of Jesus.
”Jesus” is the name of absolute authority. His name is above all other names. The authority of Jesus' name is given to everyone who believes in Him for salvation through the forgiveness of sins. Thus, every believer has the right to say to demons, 'Go! In the name of Jesus’.
The power in His blood.
The blood that Jesus shed on the cross is incorruptible - it never dies and never loses its power. To use the blood of Jesus as a weapon, tell the devil and his demons what His blood has done for you. It has ransomed, redeemed, atoned, justified and sanctified you.
The Word of God.
His Word is called 'the sword of the Spirit' Eph. 6:17. We use the Word in warfare when we read or quote aloud applicable scriptures to the devil This is what Jesus did in the time of His wilderness temptations. He said, “Satan, it is written....'”
In times of battle against the devil, the anointing of the Holy Spirit should be sought and anticipated. The power channels for the Holy Spirit's anointing are the gifts of the Spirit. Of special importance in spiritual warfare is the gift of 'discerning of spirits'. By means of this gift there comes a supernatural insight in the spiritual realm so that a person is able to know the presence, nature and activities of evil spirits. The gift of discerning of spirits guides the deliverance minister in his work. We need to be careful calling upon lying spirits to identify themselves and the problems of their victims, for the Holy Spirit can and will reveal to you who they are. Acts 1:8; I Cor. 12:7-11.
Furthermore, the gift of 'faith' arms one with strength to speak to evil spirits with absolute assurance of victory over them. Jesus taught that by speaking in faith one can remove a mountain. Demons indwelling a person represent a mountainous problem that demands removal. The Bible says, 'Covet earnestly the best gifts' and 'desire spiritual gifts' I Cor. 12:31; 14:1.
An effective way to begin a deliverance ministry is for the person seeking deliverance to verbalize specific prayers and confessions. Such prayers will affirm their relationship with Jesus Christ, make definite request of God for deliverance and serve the forces of darkness their eviction notice. (Defensive weapon is prayer. More on that later)
________________________________________
Keeping the Balance
Not every problem is demonic. For example, Jesus healed people without casting out demons. Not every demonic problem is exclusively demonic; there are also fleshly attitudes, mind sets and activities which must be crucified. Corrupt flesh and unclean spirits are companions; you rarely find one without the other. Anyone who receives deliverance cannot expect to retain his deliverance apart from disciplined living. His tongue, mind, emotions, will, physical appetites, finances and his spirit-man must remain rigorously disciplined. 'Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control' Prov. 25:28. The enemy has ready access to the life of one whose walls of discipline are not solidly constructed.
Many times inner healing and council is needed in the progression of self discipleship. It is important to keep a balance of the whole man when administering deliverance; bringing deliverance, healing, and discipleship to a person in part only provides temporary freedom.
There are as many ways to approach healing and deliverance as there is people. Learn from others. See what God it teaching other ministers and pray about what and how to apply new revelation to your ministry. Don’t fall in deception thinking your way is the only way. (Putting God in a box) Always pray and seek Holy Spirits guidance.
Carol Crook 2/11/10
________________________________________
2/11/10
Can A Christian Have a Demon?
When you go into the ministry of casting out demons (Mark 16) you will inevitably be challenged with the question: 'Can a born-again believer have a demon?'
In charismatic circles the question is: 'Can a believer who is baptized in the Spirit have a demon? Absolutely not!' is the standard answer. 'The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in the same body as a demon!' This is often spoken with the insistence of a slogan, to close the mind to further inquiry.
However, this answer cannot be supported by scripture. In fact, it is an extra-scriptural piece of logic that rests on an assumption. It is dangerous to assume that Satan and his demons have some kind of hands-off policy when it comes to believers while the truth is that believers are the very objects of their wrath and attack.
In the New Testament, the Greek word 'daimonizomai' is used to express the presence of demonic spirits within a person. What this word means is: 'to be demonized; to be under the power or influence of a demon in certain areas; to have a demon.'
In the King James Version of the Bible this particular Greek word is translated 11 times as 'to be possessed with devils'. The word 'possessed,' however, is a misleading translation for this Greek word. To English speaking people the term 'possessed' implies total ownership of something. This concept, as pertaining to the relationship between a demonic entity and a person, has no support in the scripture or in the original intent of the Greek word. There is no suggestion in the scripture that a demon has totally taken over a person as the word 'possessed' implies. Even the Gaderene demoniac had enough humanity to cry out to Jesus for help.
Rather, after close scriptural study, it can be seen that the effect of demons upon people was usually in one or more areas of the personality - not the whole person. The best translation of this Greek word is: 'to be demonized' or to 'have a demon.'
While a believer may profess Jesus Christ as Lord of their life, it's quite possible that certain areas of the life may be under the domination and controlling influence of demonic spirits, i.e. an area of jealousy, lust, or annoying and compulsive habits.
Because of a scriptural misunderstanding of exactly what occurred at their spiritual rebirth, many believe that they are somehow immune, or instantly free, from the strongholds, bondages and curses accumulated during a lifetime or generations of sin.
A careful study of the New Testament will reveal that our spiritual rebirth was just that, a 'spiritual' rebirth. Jesus said in the third chapter of John; 'That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.' It was the human spirit that received life when we confessed our sins and were born again. God told Adam that in the day he ate of the forbidden fruit he would die. Yet he went on to live for many hundreds of years. What died in Adam when he fell into sin? Obviously it was that same part of his nature that Christ came to bring back to life - his spirit.
________________________________________
The Whole Man
The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 that man is a tripartite being: spirit, soul and body. For these tri-parts (created in the image of God) God has provided a threefold liberty. When a person is born again, the spirit of man (composed of conscience, intuition, and communion) is infused with the very life and presence of God. This burst of inner life (called justification) often serves to liberate the person from bondages in the soul and, sometimes, even sicknesses in the body. However, regeneration in the spirit does not mean complete liberation and perfection for the soul or body. This is evident in any believer's experience.
The second-fold of God's salvation involves the daily process of cleansing, changing, conforming and renewing the soul into the likeness of the Lord. The soul (composed of a man's mind, will and emotions) is far from perfect. It is in this realm where the habits, patterns and bondages of the past may still be found. By careful and consistent conformity to the will of God, directed from the presence of God in the human spirit, the soul is slowly transformed to become a pleasing habitation of the Lord. This process is called sanctification (or 'set apart' unto holiness).
Finally, the third part of God's salvation involves the body composed of blood, flesh, and bones.) When Christ comes again, the scriptures tell us that we shall be changed and shall receive new bodies like unto the Lord's new body after his resurrection. This is called glorification.
In justification (our past salvation) we were delivered from the penalty of sin (eternal separation from God). In sanctification (our present salvation) we are being delivered from the power of sin in our lives each day. In glorification (our future salvation) we shall be delivered from the very presence of sin.
The scriptures are full of pictures, analogies and parables depicting the teaching of man's tripartite being with God's provisions of salvation. When Jesus cleansed His Father's temple, full of wrath against the men that had turned a house of prayer into a den of thieves, He was revealing God's heart. We too, are the temple of God and thus need the invading presence of the Holy Lord to cleanse us from the 'thieves and robbers' within.
________________________________________
Scriptures Supporting That Christians Can Have Demonic Influence in Their Life
• Matthew 15:22-28 Deliverance is the 'children's bread;' and is therefore particularly reserved for believers
• Matthew 16:22-23 Jesus rebuked the spirit of Satan speaking through Peter
• Mark 1:23 A man with an unclean spirit 'in the synagogue'
• Mark 1:39 Jesus cast out demons 'in the synagogues'
• Luke 9:52-56 Jesus told James and John, '...you know not what spirit you are of'
• Luke 13:11-16 A 'daughter of Abraham' was bound by a 'spirit of infirmity'
• Acts 5:3 Satan 'filled the hearts' of two believers to lie to the Holy Spirit
• Acts 8:13, 20-24 Simon, a believer, needed deliverance from the occult
• 1 Cor 5:1-5 Speaks of a believer filled with a spirit of lust and as a result, delivered over to Satan
• 2 Cor 2:10-11 Satan can 'get advantage' over a believer
• 2 Corinthians 11:4 Paul rebukes believers for receiving 'another spirit'
• 2 Corinthians 12:7 Paul was tormented by a 'messenger from Satan'
• Galatians 3:1 Paul rebukes believers for being 'bewitched'
• 1 Timothy 1:19-20 Speaks of two believers who were delivered over to Satan for blasphemy
• 2 Timothy 2:24-26 Believers can be snared and taken captive by the devil
• 1 Timothy 4:1-2 In latter days believers will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons
• Ephesians 4:25-27 Lying and anger can 'give place' to the devil in a believer's life
________________________________________
Consequences That Follow Denying Demonic Influence
• The old sin nature becomes active whenever there's a compulsive problem in the life.
• All problems in a person's life are taught to be due to their continual 'lack of surrender and control.'
• All inherited characteristics and personality quirks are thought to be unchangeable.
• Psychology, mental health programs, and psychotic drugs are supported and relied upon for complete cure.
• Despair, hopelessness and at times even suicide are fostered within the demonized.
• Demons are given legal ground to stay when a person denies a Christian can have a demon.
• Spiritual pride is reinforced in leaders and keeps them from reexamining their teachings and retracting error.
• Gives ground to accept without question and as law all medical diagnosis and medication.
• People are left open to be snared into cults and religious deception by angels of light. After all, if a believer can't be demonized, aren't they 'safe?'
________________________________________
Define: Deliverance
The term “deliverance” as used for both the process and the result of one's liberation from demonic bondage. Deliverance is achieved by (casting out) driving out evil spirits, using the authority of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, 'In my name they [believers in Him] will drive out demons' Mark 16:17. (There are other extended factors in deliverance such as healing, mind sets, self etc. But for the sake of the topic, we will address the actual subject matter.)
Since some readers may not be familiar with the scriptural grounds for deliverance, we wish to acquaint them with the basic principles of deliverance. Although there are those that are called to different levels, deliverance is a principle of God that we are all, as Christians, called to do.
Deliverance
1. rescue from moral corruption or evil; salvation
2. rescue from bondage or danger.
First meaning of "deliverance" is "to deliver out of the hands of..., to escape." This meaning illustrates God's rescue of His people from the dominion of Satan and the world system. An example is found in the Hebrew word Natsal (Strong's #5337) which is defined as "to snatch, take away; to snatch out of danger, preserve, deliver anyone from danger." For an example: The Israelites etc...
Second, The term deliverance describes the process by which a person, believed to be under the control of an evil supernatural entity (demon) is set free - delivered - from the control of demon or demons. In the New Testament, Jesus and some of His disciples casted out demons from individuals, and delivering them from demon activity.
________________________________________
Now it’s Your Turn
Start with the Basics
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke abound with accounts of Jesus casting demons out of people. A major part of His earthly ministry, perhaps as much as one-third, was devoted to deliverance. His purpose in becoming man, dying on the cross and conquering the grave was to defeat Satan in our behalf. “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work” I John 3:8.
Jewish religious leaders were amazed at the authority Jesus exercised over demons. They said, “He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him” Mark 1:27. He did not use incantations or any sort of paraphernalia; He merely spoke to these real yet invisible beings and they obeyed Him. “He drove out the spirits with a word...” Matt. 8.16 Furthermore, Jesus trained The Twelve plus seventy-two other disciples and commissioned them to cast out demons.
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits...The Lord appointed seventy-two others...The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Matt. 10:1; Luke 10:1, 17
Prior to His ascension into heaven, Jesus commissioned His Church to preach the Gospel throughout the world, confirming the Word with signs following. The first sign mentioned is deliverance: forcing demons to depart from a person in the Name of Jesus. “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out devils.
Power of Attorney
Believers in Christ have been entrusted with a spiritual “power of attorney”: authority to act in the absence and interests of another. All authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Jesus (Matt. 28:18), and He has given us complete power over Satan and the demonic kingdom. Jesus said: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions, and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you” Luke 10:19
________________________________________
Basics for Deliverance
The Word of God lays down three absolute prerequisites for those who seek deliverance from oppressing evil spirits.
First, one must repent. Repentance is a firm resolve in the Lord to forsake sin and turn about to walk in the ways of God. Ongoing sin in one's life is an open invitation to demons. Yielding to sin is yielding to a 'whom', a person: namely, the devil. 'Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are the one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?' Rom. 6:16
Second, there must be forgiveness toward all others no matter what they have done, how many times they have done it, or whether they continue to offend.
Forgiveness of oneself is also mandatory. Anyone who has any reservation about forgiving any other person is turned over to tormenting demons until he pays the debt of love's forgiveness. 'In anger his master turned him [the unforgiving servant] over to the jailers until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart' Matt. 18:21-35 (Brackets ours).
Third, there must be a complete separation from every association no matter how casual with the occult, cults and Eastern Religions.
This separation includes the destruction of all books and paraphernalia associated therewith. (Deut. 7:25-26; 18:9-13; Acts 19: 19-21).
________________________________________
Three Offensive Weapons
The name of Jesus.
”Jesus” is the name of absolute authority. His name is above all other names. The authority of Jesus' name is given to everyone who believes in Him for salvation through the forgiveness of sins. Thus, every believer has the right to say to demons, 'Go! In the name of Jesus’.
The power in His blood.
The blood that Jesus shed on the cross is incorruptible - it never dies and never loses its power. To use the blood of Jesus as a weapon, tell the devil and his demons what His blood has done for you. It has ransomed, redeemed, atoned, justified and sanctified you.
The Word of God.
His Word is called 'the sword of the Spirit' Eph. 6:17. We use the Word in warfare when we read or quote aloud applicable scriptures to the devil This is what Jesus did in the time of His wilderness temptations. He said, “Satan, it is written....'”
In times of battle against the devil, the anointing of the Holy Spirit should be sought and anticipated. The power channels for the Holy Spirit's anointing are the gifts of the Spirit. Of special importance in spiritual warfare is the gift of 'discerning of spirits'. By means of this gift there comes a supernatural insight in the spiritual realm so that a person is able to know the presence, nature and activities of evil spirits. The gift of discerning of spirits guides the deliverance minister in his work. We need to be careful calling upon lying spirits to identify themselves and the problems of their victims, for the Holy Spirit can and will reveal to you who they are. Acts 1:8; I Cor. 12:7-11.
Furthermore, the gift of 'faith' arms one with strength to speak to evil spirits with absolute assurance of victory over them. Jesus taught that by speaking in faith one can remove a mountain. Demons indwelling a person represent a mountainous problem that demands removal. The Bible says, 'Covet earnestly the best gifts' and 'desire spiritual gifts' I Cor. 12:31; 14:1.
An effective way to begin a deliverance ministry is for the person seeking deliverance to verbalize specific prayers and confessions. Such prayers will affirm their relationship with Jesus Christ, make definite request of God for deliverance and serve the forces of darkness their eviction notice. (Defensive weapon is prayer. More on that later)
________________________________________
Keeping the Balance
Not every problem is demonic. For example, Jesus healed people without casting out demons. Not every demonic problem is exclusively demonic; there are also fleshly attitudes, mind sets and activities which must be crucified. Corrupt flesh and unclean spirits are companions; you rarely find one without the other. Anyone who receives deliverance cannot expect to retain his deliverance apart from disciplined living. His tongue, mind, emotions, will, physical appetites, finances and his spirit-man must remain rigorously disciplined. 'Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control' Prov. 25:28. The enemy has ready access to the life of one whose walls of discipline are not solidly constructed.
Many times inner healing and council is needed in the progression of self discipleship. It is important to keep a balance of the whole man when administering deliverance; bringing deliverance, healing, and discipleship to a person in part only provides temporary freedom.
There are as many ways to approach healing and deliverance as there is people. Learn from others. See what God it teaching other ministers and pray about what and how to apply new revelation to your ministry. Don’t fall in deception thinking your way is the only way. (Putting God in a box) Always pray and seek Holy Spirits guidance.
Carol Crook 2/11/10
________________________________________
Questions from a broken heart
02/14/01
Questions from a broken heart
Can a heart in so many places be mended?
Isaiah 60:1 The Spirit of the Lord is up on me; because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening to the prison to them that are captive.
Luke 4:18 He was sent to heal the brokenhearted.
Can the wounds of a shattered soul heal?
Jeremiah 6:16 Walk in the good way and you will find rest for your soul.
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and You will find rest for your soul, for I am meek and humble in heart.
Psalms 34:22 The Lord redeems the soul of his servants; all those taking refuge in him shall be free, desolate, freely pardoned, without condemnation.
Psalms 49:8 for the redemption of their soul is precious and it ceaseth forever.
Psalms 116:7 return to your rest, oh my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
Psalms 147:3 He binds up the brokenhearted and heals their wounds.
Can the pain of all the years be expressed?
Psalms 73:16 When I pondered to understand it was too painful for me.
Psalms 25: 18 Look up on all my troubles and afflictions and forgive my sins.
Psalms 47:6 Fear took hold of them there and pain as a woman in travail.
Isaiah 13:8 And they shall be afraid; pains and agony shall seize them.
Romans 8:22 For we know the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
Revelation 21:4 God shall wipe away all their tears and there will be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away.
Are there enough tears to cry?
Exodus 3:7 I hear the afflictions of my people I have heard their cries and know their sorrows.
Psalms 17:1 do hear what is right oh Lord! Listen to my cry.
Psalms 18:6 in my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even onto his ears.
Psalms 40:1 I waited on the Lord and he heard my cry.
Can the ache of the empty years be filled?
Psalms 71:8 let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honor all day.
Psalms 72:19 let the whole earth be filled with His Glory. Amen
2Corinthians 7:4 I am filled with comfort.
Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with the fullness of God.
Can the fear of a terrified child be comforted?
Matthew 18:5 who ever receives one such little child in my name receives me.
1Corinthians14: 21 All will be comforted
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those that mourn for they shall be comforted.
Isaiah 14:3 And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give you rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou was made to serve.
Is there enough love to go around?
Romans 5:5 and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed Ghost which is given to us abroad by the Holy.
2Corinthians 13:14 the grace and love of God be with you all
Questions from a broken heart
Can a heart in so many places be mended?
Isaiah 60:1 The Spirit of the Lord is up on me; because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening to the prison to them that are captive.
Luke 4:18 He was sent to heal the brokenhearted.
Can the wounds of a shattered soul heal?
Jeremiah 6:16 Walk in the good way and you will find rest for your soul.
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and You will find rest for your soul, for I am meek and humble in heart.
Psalms 34:22 The Lord redeems the soul of his servants; all those taking refuge in him shall be free, desolate, freely pardoned, without condemnation.
Psalms 49:8 for the redemption of their soul is precious and it ceaseth forever.
Psalms 116:7 return to your rest, oh my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
Psalms 147:3 He binds up the brokenhearted and heals their wounds.
Can the pain of all the years be expressed?
Psalms 73:16 When I pondered to understand it was too painful for me.
Psalms 25: 18 Look up on all my troubles and afflictions and forgive my sins.
Psalms 47:6 Fear took hold of them there and pain as a woman in travail.
Isaiah 13:8 And they shall be afraid; pains and agony shall seize them.
Romans 8:22 For we know the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
Revelation 21:4 God shall wipe away all their tears and there will be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away.
Are there enough tears to cry?
Exodus 3:7 I hear the afflictions of my people I have heard their cries and know their sorrows.
Psalms 17:1 do hear what is right oh Lord! Listen to my cry.
Psalms 18:6 in my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even onto his ears.
Psalms 40:1 I waited on the Lord and he heard my cry.
Can the ache of the empty years be filled?
Psalms 71:8 let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honor all day.
Psalms 72:19 let the whole earth be filled with His Glory. Amen
2Corinthians 7:4 I am filled with comfort.
Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with the fullness of God.
Can the fear of a terrified child be comforted?
Matthew 18:5 who ever receives one such little child in my name receives me.
1Corinthians14: 21 All will be comforted
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those that mourn for they shall be comforted.
Isaiah 14:3 And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give you rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou was made to serve.
Is there enough love to go around?
Romans 5:5 and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed Ghost which is given to us abroad by the Holy.
2Corinthians 13:14 the grace and love of God be with you all
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