Deliverance

Demonic entities…scary…let’s not go there.  If I stick my fingers in my ears and repeat over and over “they do not exist or at least they’re not in this country” they won’t bother me, right?  Great idea, if you were never even tempted to sin.  But since that has nothing to do with reality, let’s get on with the facts of living in a fallen world whose dominion has temporally been given over to the evil one.

“They scare me.  They seem more powerful than me.”  Yes, they are more powerful than you.  But your Hope is not in you.  You are not your redeemer, God is.  You know, the Guy who holds the universe in His hands.  “Well I’ve never been an ax murder, nor has my head turned green and spun around, so I don’t need deal with this.”  Well, that’s wonderful, but I bet you can’t say the same thing about lying, fear, despair, and haughtiness (1 Kings 22:22, Romans 8:15, Isaiah 61:3, Proverbs 16:18).  Have you ever been intimidated?  Check out 2 Timothy1: 7  “ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”  Considering the plethora of spirits referred to as unclean or evil that Jesus cast out in the Gospels, it would not be logical to assume that we don’t have to face similar problems.  And if you think that redeemed people don’t have “those kinds of problems” remember that Paul was writing to Pastor Timothy when he was warning Timothy not to abide by the spirit of timidity.

            Are all our problems with sin related to demonic activity?  Of course, not.  Our flesh is often much more in control that we admit to ourselves.  The flesh must be denied.  And forced to die.  But we, at times, have had to face sinful behavior that cannot be denied.  We are no longer in control.  They must be cast out.  Let’s say you’ve had a chronic problem with lying, even lying for trivial things.  First, you apply the blood of Jesus over yourself, because it was by the blood of Jesus that you were redeemed.  Then since Jesus has redeemed you, you know that no unclean spirit should have dominion over you.  “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” 1 Thessalonians 4:7.  Say out loud something like the following: “I command and require you unclean lying spirit (and any cohorts) to leave me and my household in the Name of Jesus, for the Blood speaks more powerfully than any sin or curse.  The Lord rebuke you!” Then humble yourself before the Lord and open your heart. Ask for the healing power of the cross to be released and allow Him to heal your heart from any wounding related to or causing you to give yourself over to that lying spirit. When you ask Him, memories often will come to mind from your past.  The most common response is, "that's really no big deal."  Don't rely on your own understanding!  You prayed and now that God is answering you, accept that He knows more than you.  It is a big deal or He wouldn't have brought it up. Confess that you are hurt and need to be healed.  Repent for unforgiveness towards the offender and usually yourself, as well.

 Seek His leading to see if there is anyone you wronged that you need to repent or make retribution to. Once again, let the Lord be in charge of any actions with others. Then as you submit to His leading you will be released into the freedom of Holiness.

 “’But you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.  And you will go out and leap like calves released form the stall.  Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Emphasis is mine) Malachi 4:2-3.

For those of you that the idea of the demonic is a new or frightful consideration, ponder what the name Lord Almighty means.  For those offended by the suggestion that one as “holy” as you could possibly have demonic associations, remember that were there is manure (sin) sooner or later there is bound to be flies (demons).