Maybe I should start a new thread, but this one is aptly named
What I'm going to write are for those that know they have something not quite right in their lives. Those that think they're perfect, or disagree, I'll ignore. I'm here to help those with faith in living rightly day in and day out, not to spiritualize everything and live under the harsh thumb of dogma, and remain in their sins. This is for Christians who are fed up with their sin and want to do something about it.
Satan... the accuser. What is his job - to thwart anything of God's. So what is it to be possessed? I dislike the word because it implies ownership. The only Owner is Jesus, 1 Cor 6:20. In the Greek δαιμονίζομαι (Daimonizomai) means
to be under the power of a demon. So I prefer the second definition of "mastering someone." Demonization works too. We've all said things we later ask ourselves "where did THAT come from!?" These are telltale signs of demonic activity. We have our natural bents - likes and dislikes. I'm not talking about those. I'm talking about your inability to stop cursing; can't stay away from the fridge even after having just eating dinner; hating yourself for masterbating; judging people with a visceral hatred of those that do what you do; can't keep your mouth shut about what you saw your neighbor do; self pity; rejection; depression; rage; adultery; rebellion, religious stuff like hypocrisy, superiority complex, high minded, ... and on and on and on. Ask yourself, as a Christian, are these characteristics of a follower of Jesus Christ? No.
These are actions of the devil, manipulating you, mastering over you. Yes, yes, yes, the Holy Spirit is in you, but your actions tell others something different. YOU decide who has mastery over your life, Eph 4:30. We're not talking about ownership, we're talking about perpetual sinning, 2 Peter 2:14, that we cannot seem to overcome even through prayer and fasting and surrender. Some of us have very deep rooted issues. So, how do these things come to be:
- You could inherit them, Exo 34:7. Why do you think doctors take family history. Familiar spirits... The sins your parents, great grandparents and great-great grandparents can fall to you, if they do not deal with it before you're conceived. If you don't deal with your sins, they could be passed down to your kids!
- They can come by something you do, via invitation: reading the daily horoscope. Divination is witchcraft, 1 Sam 15:23. If you play with fire, you're going to get burnt. See a cute Buddha statue, an evil eye, or some other object, buy it, and take it home, and you're inviting demons into your life. Symbols have power, so why bring into your life with all their superstitions too, Exo 20:4.
- When you're weak and your spiritual or physical defenses are down, they can walk right in, Pro 25:28.
While the means they get permission to oppress vary, you have to understand that you need not remain in this affliction. Many of us are legalist, so this should make sense. If you invite a known thief into your home and he takes your stuff while you're staring at him, do you have a right to stop him? If you slit your wrists alone in the bathtub when no one is home, and death comes, do you have a right to stop dying? Of course you do! But YOU have to do something about it. Stop the thief! Throw him out of your house! Bandage up your arm! Call for help and get to the hospital! These are no brainers, but if you know you shouldn't do something and you don't want to do it, but seem powerless to stop, then you have to admit you have a problem, a demonic problem. If you don't deal with it, you're giving the thief and death permission, 1 Tim 1:20. Search for all the verses about Satan after the Gospels and you'll see they deal mostly with Christians!
This leads to these steps towards deliverance:
#1 Be humble - admit you have a problem.
#2 Be honest - confess it, call the sin by name - lust, masterbation, gluttany, anger, envy, whoremonger
#3 Confess your faith in Christ - He is our High Priest
#4 Confess the sins of your parents and grandparents as best you know - mine were into Freemasons
#5 Repent - remove all objects of the occult, objects of sin (including magazines, movies, music, etc.)
#6 Break all contact with the occult and those that are part of your sin (a best buddy that likes porn, a flirtatious "friend", church affiliation, etc.)
#7 Forgive all, even yourself
As a Christian, you have to see these insurmountable weaknesses for what they are, demonic activity. The Holy Spirit will show you what you the truth. You cannot overcome something you don't know is a spiritual battle. These issues do NOT mean you're not saved, it means you have work to do, Phil 2:12.
Here are God's promises:
Joel 2:32 (KJV)
And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Luke 10:19-20 (KJV)
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
1 John 3:6-10 (KJV)
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Colossians 1:9-14 (KJV)
For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:
Now it's up to you to believe the word of God (you already know the truth about your life) so claim the power of the Holy Spirit and do something about the sin in your life. Sometimes sin is an addiction and the thing you learn in rehab is to avoid the triggers that set you off. Listen to the Holy Spirit to learn what your sin triggers are and avoid them. Yea, time to go to work.
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