It is human nature to want to seek and follow the easy way. It is much easier to party, have fun and follow after the hedonistic lifestyle than to pursue those things that will produce maturity in our spiritual life and promote God’s Kingdom.
We are living in the end times. These are very dangerous days. Yet Christians are seeking comfort in their lives and want to fill their lives with entertainment, and the pleasures of life.
If Christians do not realize that we have a deadly enemy whose name is Satan and who is out not only to hurt Christians but to absolutely destroy them and cause them to backslide and lose out with God, they are living their whole Christian life in vain.
READ: DO WE HAVE HOLD OF A TRUE CHRISTIANITY?
So, we must prepare ourselves to fight the battles that are coming our way. Christians who seek the comforts of life will not find them. We only find peace, assurance, and life itself as we give up our lives to follow Jesus.
(Mark 8:34-35) “Jesus said, whosoever will come after me let him deny himself, and take up his cross (daily) and follow me. Whosoever will save his life the same shall lose it. But whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospels the same shall find it. For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul.”
READ: SEATED WITH CHRIST IN HEAVENLY PLACES
Can you see that this scripture is telling us that if we live selfishly we will die, but if we give up our life for the sake of Christ and for the sake of blessing others we will live?
Mary Baxter said that she heard Jesus prophesying in the heavens and shouting these words, “Satan must be bound if the prayers of the Saints are to be effective in these last days.
Many of our prayers are not answered, and we wonder why. It is because we have not bound Satan, nor do we understand how.
Have there been times when you’ve prayed and it seemed as though the heavens were brass, and it seemed like you couldn’t get your prayers through the ceiling?
READ: WEAK PRAYER, WEAK RESULTS, STRONG PRAYER STRONG RESULTS
Of course you have, and so have I. Satan is the great hinderer, and will block and stop our prayers if we don’t know how to stop him.
Have you ever seen a demon cast out of a person? Many Christians have been in church all their lives and never seen a demon discerned, challenged, and cast out. Christians are to cast out demons. This is what Christians do, at least in part. Casting demons out, is one of the signs of a believer.
Mark 16: 17 “And these signs shall follow them that believe, they shall cast out demons in my name.”
I’m sorry to say, that it would freak out most Christians if they saw a demon cast out in church. But stop to think about it for a moment.
READ: ARE YOU STRUGGLING SPIRITUALLY? LET ME HELP YOU.
If a person has a demon, and they are struggling in their life and can’t get victory in one or more areas of life and they do not understand it is a demon, they will become completely discouraged and may give up.
I’m not saying a Christian is possessed with a demon, but he may be oppressed and bound where he has no victory at all. You may say, a Christian can’t be touched by a demon much less bound.
So what would you say to a Christian who has anger and rage, fear and lust, and can’t overcome these things, and they’re getting worse by the day, and every Christian practice (except deliverance is utilized), and every Christian counselor’s advice only flies in their face?
READ: YOU HAD NO IDEA HOW VALUABLE TONGUES ARE, UNTIL NOW
I know this is controversial, but I also have seen believers who needed deliverance. They don’t have to be demon-possessed to be oppressed and bound in certain areas of their life.
To tell a Christian that they cannot have a demon, because they are a Christian or be oppressed is to say that, that person is either not saved when in fact they have truly, from their heart, repented of sins, and asked Jesus to come into their hearts as Lord and Savior, is to only add to their problem, taking away their assurance of salvation.
On the other hand, if you believe the person is a Christian, and you tell them what is happening is not a demon but just a work of the flesh which is a problem they must work out when nothing has been working, you only convince that person that there is no hope for them whatsoever.
That person has struggled so hard to get free and hasn’t been at all successful, when casting out those demons is so easy and the solution is so obvious.
When we see all these signs, it’s time to ‘SUSPECT INVADING SPIRITS‘.
READ: OUT OF 7.5 BILLION PEOPLE, DO I REALLY MATTER TO GOD?
You’ve done everything you know to get rid of your problem, but nothing has worked. You’ve prayed, you’ve quoted scripture, you’ve attempted to discipline your flesh. you’ve fasted, you’ve gotten the pastor and the church to pray for you, and still, you’ve not been set free. My friend, you need deliverance. Prayer is not deliverance. All the praying in the world will not deliver you.
You cannot faith a demon out of a person, you must ‘CAST THAT SPIRIT OUT’. Prayer is Godward. Casting out an ‘evil spirit’ is Satanward. Prayer is talking to God. Casting a spirit out is talking to the demon and is saying, “In Jesus name come out and go to where Jesus sends you, or go to the pit”
Several years ago in the church that I was pastoring I preached a message on deliverance. I invited anyone to the altar that felt they needed prayer over things they couldn’t overcome.
A lady came to the front and knelt at the altar. She started praying and all at once she looked up at me with a look of desperation and said, “Brother Leonard, would you pray for me. Something has been driving me strongly to commit suicide. Monday morning I am planning on committing myself into a mental hospital”.
I started to command the spirit of suicide out of her and the spirit spoke through her lips and said, “you must not stop me. Satan has commissioned me to destroy her. The work is almost done. I’ve worked so hard. You must not stop me.
Well, we did stop that spirit and we cast that spirit out of her, and she didn’t need to go to the mental hospital. She was a Christian, and was living for God, except for this urge to commit suicide. She had no idea she had this suicide spirit.
We also cast some other spirits out of her that morning. She had no idea that there were any evil spirits in her. The battle became very intense and I said to the congregation, “People, pray like you’ve never prayed before.
Speaking Through the lips of this lady the demon said, “No don’t pray. There are Angels standing by everyone in this building and your prayers are strengthening your Angels and your Angels are receiving reinforcements.
Then I used one of the most powerful weapons against the devil, the blood of Jesus. (Revelation 12:11) “And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Then I said, “Lord I plead the blood of Jesus over the sanctuary and over everyone in this building. Then the demon said, “no don’t plead the blood, you don’t leave us any place to hide do you?
Again the deliverance became very intense, and I prayed and asked the Lord, “Lord send your warring Angels to help us”, and within about 30 seconds this lady walked all across the front of the church in terror, with her arms out in front of her, as if trying to push back, and away the angel’s, saying, “no, no, not Michael, not Michael, go back go back”.
The demons in her were trembling and saying, “They’re not leaving, they’re waiting for us.
READ: ARE YOU UNDER A WITCHCRAFT ATTACK? I’LL SHOW YOU HOW TO BREAK IT.
This lady told me after the service, that when Michael the great archangel came, he came leading his whole army of angels. In the Spirit she saw them coming with him in the lead. She saw them as beautiful lights, row after row of bright warrior angels with the Chief archangel, Michael in the Lead.
Scripture says, that Michael is the great Prince that stands for and defends Israel. Many Christians, like myself, have seen and observed that in difficult situations with ‘the Powers of Darkness’, God sends His mighty, trusted Warrior to help free them.
(Daniel 12:1 ) “At that time, Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time, your people–everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered”.
(Psalm 103:20) “Bless the Lord, you His angels that excell in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word”.
This scripture tells us that these Angels listen to the voice of God’s Word, whether coming directly from God, or the Word coming from the mouth of Spirit filled Believers. Praise God, she was delivered, and God gets all the glory.
Now, talking about an attribute that all of us as Christians must have is an attitude of humility because God says in his word that he resists the proud but gives grace unto the humble.
(I Peter 5:6-7) says this, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due season. Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; Because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brothers that are in the world”.
READ: I SAW JESUS IN MY DREAMS
All throughout scripture we find references that tell us about our battles with the powers of darkness. God has always made provision for his people to defeat and overcome the devil.
Even before Christ came to this world, we read in the Old Testament that God gave his people victory over the powers of the devil. It is true however that in the New Testament we have total and complete authority over Satan and his demons because of the full work of Calvary. (Isaiah 53:5)
Jesus tells us in (Luke 10:19) “Behold I give unto you power to tread upon, or trample under feet serpents and scorpions (which are different kinds of demons) and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you”.
Dear friend, if you have ever been afraid of demons before, you can drop that fear. Just read that scripture again and see the authority that Jesus has given you as a believer.
READ; WHAT DO THE GOSPELS SAY ABOUT JESUS? HERE’S A SMALL SAMPLE
Now there is one point that I must make. If you are not walking in obedience to the Lord, and if there is any rebellion in your heart toward Him, your heart and soul are laid open to enemy spirits.
If you didn’t know this before I want to be very clear, sin is a door opener to the devil and to his demons. We must not do spiritual warfare with darkness in us. We must deal with the darkness and get it out of us. You ask, “What is this spiritual darkness that you’re talking about?
Well, the darkness I’m talking about is such things as bitterness, unforgiveness, anger and rage, envy, jealousy, fear, and pride.
READ: SATAN IS ENCAPABLE OF TELLING THE TRUTH, RIGHT? (SURPRISING ANSWER)
If these sins are in your heart and you haven’t dealt with them, nor repented of them, they not only have been hindering your walk with God, but they have separated you from God because sin puts a distance between you and the Lord your God.
(Isaiah 59:1) “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save: neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear”.
As a Christian, the first step to getting darkness out of you is to recognize what the darkness is. Is it bitterness and UN forgiveness?
Who is it that you haven’t forgiven? Take it to the Lord and then from your heart , say to the Lord, “I forgive so and so, and call out their name. Then ask God to forgive you for holding a grudge against them.
Let’s acquaint ourselves with what Jesus had to say in the Lord’s prayer. That prayer is the disciple’s prayer because they asked Jesus how to pray and this is how he taught them.
Listen to Jesus’ prayer from chapter 6 beginning with verse 12 down through 15, “And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: for thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever Amen. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Do you understand what Jesus is saying here? Do you see the gravity of it all? Jesus is saying if you don’t forgive others, neither will your heavenly father forgive you.
And if you don’t forgive others that have sinned against you and hurt you neither will God forgive you.
And notice the consequences of Him not forgiving you. If He does not forgive you, he will not allow you into heaven. When we understand that, ‘THE FEAR OF GOD’ will kick in and we will not hold back any longer, but we will say, “Yes Lord, I fully and freely forgive them”.
What a load that takes off our heart and mind. What freedom that gives us. What peace we have in our hearts.
READ: DO YOU KNOW YOU MAY HAVE A HURTFUL SOUL-TIE? LET ME SHOW YOU HOW TO BREAK IT
The closer we get to God and the more mature we become the more the eyes of our understanding are enlightened and we begin to see that the Christian life is not just cake, pie and sweets, but it’s meat and potatoes and vegetables. it’s a balanced diet that we need.
Paul tells us in Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering (which is patience), gentleness, goodness, faith or faithfulness, meekness, temperance or self-control, against such there is no law.“
Dear friend, can you see it, the fruit of the spirit is the nature and character of Jesus, how beautiful. As Christians, these characteristics are what the Christian life is all about.
Walking in the spirit is walking according to these characteristics an attitudes.
These wonderful, beautiful and powerful, characteristics, are what makes us overcome the works of the flesh. These attitudes are more powerful than the dark evil characteristics and works of the flesh.
Let me read to you what it says about the flesh and the works of the flesh in the 5th chapter starting with verse 14.
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; you shall love your neighbor as yourself but if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed one of another.
This I say then, walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh for the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would. But if you be LED of the spirit, you are not under the law.
Now my friend, listen to what Paul says are the works of the flesh starting with the 19th verse of the 5th chapter of Galatians
“It says now the works of the flesh, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkeness, Revelry, orgies, and suchlike: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God”.
Take note that Paul is not talking to non-believers but to believers. Our security is walking in the Spirit, in faith, in obedience, and in love.
Second Corinthians 2:11 so that Satan does not take advantage of us and outsmart us, for we are not ignorant of his devices. We are not unaware of his schemes. Or are we?
Unfortunately, too many Christians are ignorant of his schemes and are unaware of his plans.
Why?
I’m sure, there are a number of reasons, but I suppose the main reason is that most Christians don’t want to even think about the devil.
Many believe that we should never think about the devil but should always keep our minds on the Lord, because to think on the devil, they feel, is to glorify Satan and deprive the Lord of the glory due to him.
Let me put it this way, we must major on the Lord, and minor on the devil. It is important for us to know what the devil is up to.
If we don’t know his plans and plots against us we will not be prepared to ward off his fiery darts, or fiery arrows. As a result of not being informed, we can be fatally wounded. God tells us in (Hosea 4:6) “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”.
it is important that if we’re going to be mighty prayer Warriors in the army of the Lord that we put on the whole armor of God. That armor is a must so that we may be able to stand against the Wiles, schemes, and tricks of the devil.
You can have powerful weapons to use against the enemy, but if you don’t have a means to protect yourself you can be fatally wounded with a shot to the head which would end it all. And that’s the reason you must have on the whole armor of God.
When we learn how to protect ourselves with the weapons God has provided, and we put on the whole armor of God, we are protected.
Added to that we are trusting God and His Word. We plead the blood of Jesus over ourselves and our families. We use the powerful name of Jesus, and the Word of God.
Many Christians are unaware that we may also ask God for his great protectors, His faithful, holy, and powerful defenders of the righteous. These protectors are none-other, but the mighty hosts of heaven, the faithful angels of God.
These angels are the ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who are the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14).
Now, that we are protected, we can live a life of power, of love, winning souls for the Master, and promoting God’s kingdom.
We can bring the word of healing to the sick, the word of encouragement to the discouraged, the word of deliverance to the captives that are bound, and healing to the broken hearted.
We also expect believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Only when we are filled with the Spirit are we equipped with the spiritual gifts, helps, and enablement’s to fulfill our callings, and rescue the perishing and care for the dying.
(Isaiah 61:1) “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because he 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 of the prison to them that are bound”.
I pray this has helped and blessed you.
