SPIRITUAL WARFARE - Part 7: The Road To Deliverance

 

 

 

Perhaps, as you have been reading, you have recognized that there are demons at work within you. You did not previously understand the pressures you were enduring, but now you have been able to identify them. Thank God! You no longer need to endure those pressures passively. The sacrifice of Jesus on your behalf is the one all-sufficient basis on which you can claim a full release from every demonic force Satan has directed against you. If you decide to claim the deliverance God has provided for you, you have two options: to seek ministry from your pastor or fellow Christians, or turn directly to the Lord for the help you need. If you have access to a church or other ministry willing to help you, then by all means seek their help. It is important to make sure, however, that they are sincere, Bible-believing Christians and that they understand what is involved in dealing with demons. If you, as a Christian, approach them and discover that they do not believe a Christian can have a demon, then obviously they will not be able to help you.

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; (Matthew 9:36,37)

This ministry of deliverance is a harvest field in which many properly equipped workers are needed. I realize, therefore, that many who read this may not have any human source of help to whom they can turn. But thanks be to God, the way is always open to the One who is the Deliverer... Jesus! If you decide to take this route, I have outlined for you a series of steps that can lead you through to the deliverance and victory you need.

1: PERSONALLY AFFIRM YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST

He is the High Priest of our confession. Cause the words you speak in prayer to line up with what the Scriptures proclaim. Say what Jesus says. Proclaim what Jesus proclaims. Don't just think it. You must open your mouth and say it.


2: HUMBLE YOURSELF

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (1 Peter 5:5,6)

If we approach God with an attitude of pride, God will resist us and we will have no access to Him. So our first step toward God must be to humble ourselves. . . to say of a truth to God, "I need you." Do not just "think" it, speak it.

God never offers to make us humble. Throughout the Scriptures He places the responsibility on us. If we are willing, then God will supply all of the grace we need. When we seek deliverance from unclean spirits, there may come a point when we must choose between dignity and deliverance. If dignity becomes more important than deliverance, we have not really repented of our pride. If you are not prepared to humble yourself, you will not be willing to take the steps that follow.


3: CONFESS ANY KNOWN SIN

Nowhere in the Scriptures does God commit Himself to forgive sins that have not been confessed. But for those that confess, His promise is clear.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

If you are troubled about some specific sin be honest about it. Do not call it by some fancy psychiatric name. Most of the names for our basic sins are not pretty. And God forgives them only when we acknowledge them as sins. He never promises to forgive "problems." Remember, to, that once you have told God the worst about yourself you haven't shocked or surprised Him. It's not as if anything can be hidden from Him. He knows it all and can see all things clearly. . . and He still loves you.

4: REPENT OF ALL SINS

It is necessary to confess your sins, but that by itself is not enough. You must also repent of your sins.

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)

Confess those things and then stop doing those things! However, this goes much deeper than merely turning away from sin. They must be forsaken completely. You can discipline yourself to abstain, but as long as you still enjoy and desire it in your heart God will not deliver you. He desires truth in the inward parts. . .

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:6,7)

Remember, God sees your heart clearly, and knows it better than you do. If you want deliverance you must be honest with Him and not lie. If you truly desire to love Him. . . yet there are other things in your life that you're in love with that deep down inside you know are not of God, and that He hates them. . . then ADMIT IT!! 

Tell Him. Not only will He respect your honesty, but He will still love you. 

You must be willing to ask Him to change your heart. . . to give you a spirit that is right with Him.

 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

You must be willing to ask Him to help you to see and understand the truth of all the other things in your life that you love and He hates. . . that you may begin to see things from His perspective, and accept whatever truth He reveals to your heart. And when you begin to hate these things as God hates them, then sin will no longer have any power over you and God will deliver you by the power of the Holy Spirit.


5: FORGIVE ALL OTHER PEOPLE

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mark 11:25,26)

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (Matthew 18:23-35)

Remember, forgiving another person is not primarily an emotion. It is a decision of the will. First you must make a firm decision. Then you must verbalize it. Speak it out. . . "I forgive So-and-so of all the wrong he [or she] did to me. I lay down all bitterness, all resentment, all hatred." But as with repentance, there is a deeper level to this. Some hurts run deep and have become like an infected wound spreading poison to every part of their life. Some things can only be forgiven through the love

of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. You must be willing to ask God to help you to forgive as you have been forgiven. Making a conscious decision and verbalizing that decision are only the first steps. Understand that many people are cold, hateful, bitter, resentful, unaffectionate, and almost impossible to love because they have a fortress built up around an old hurt that has never been healed. . . and while they consciously forgave on the surface, they never truly forgave from their hearts. . . and they don't even realize it. This is why you must be willing to ask God to search your heart. He will bring the hidden things to light so that He may help you to forgive not only on the surface but from the heart.

6: BREAK WITH THE OCCULT AND ALL FALSE RELIGION

If you want to draw near to God, you must sever all contact with Satan. This includes removing from your possession, and from where you live, anything that in any way links you to the occult or to the satanic. This includes books, souvenirs, charms and objects of art. Remember Moses' warning to Israel.

Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing. (Deuteronomy 7:26)

The best way to dispose of such things is, if possible, to burn them. Remember, this is how the Christians in Ephesus responded when they realized their occult scrolls linked them to the power of demons. Follow their example! If your circumstances prevent you from doing this immediately, make a commitment to God to do it just as soon as you have the opportunity.


7: TAKE YOUR STAND WITH GOD

TO BE CONTINUED. . .