Let's begin with this Scripture about a man with an unclean devil that was worshiping God at the synagogue when Jesus showed up:

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Luke 4:33-40 "And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. 35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. 36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out."

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God commands: "DO NOT BE ENTANGLED IN SIN!"  If it’s okay, why tell us this?  This Scripture is NOT referring to “falling into” sin and repenting straight away (turning away from it). No, this is talking about committing WILLFUL CONTINUAL sin which gives the Enemy a "stronghold."  Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place [a/k/a foothold] to the devil.”  When we CHOOSE SIN, the Enemy gains a foothold.  Willful and continual sin creates a “stronghold.”  God doesn’t create that situation, WE DO.  

 

STRONGHOLD:  A fortified military stronghold, a strong-walled fortress

 

The majority of strongholds are created through UNFORGIVENESS, ANGER and BITTERNESS.  Check yourself for these SINS.  We think of these things as mere emotions. The Enemy has skillfully (wiles) put the world’s standards in front of us more often than we read/see the TRUTH of God’s Word – to where we come to believe what is actually SIN TO GOD is merely emotions. LIES FROM THE FATHER OF LIES!  UNFORGIVENESS, ANGER and BITTERNESS are all SIN!!

 

2 Corinthians 10:5 King James Version (KJV)

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”

 

We are commanded (not that God will do it) to: Cast down every thought – take each and every thought captive to bring ALL into 100% ALIGHMENT WITH GOD’S WORD.  Simple (or not).

 

God does not tolerate sin.  Indeed, we are His children, but He HATES SIN.  In certain instances even, God refuses to “listen” to our prayers if we are “practicing” sin.   SIN breaks the lines of communications down and damages our relationship with our Heavenly Father:

 

James 1:5-8 King James Version (KJV)

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.7 For LET NOT THAT MAN THINK HE SHALL RECEIVE ANYTHING OF THE LORD. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

 

James 4:3 King James Version (KJV)

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because YE ASK AMISS, that ye may CONSUME IT UPON YOUR LUSTS.

 

1 Peter 3:7 King James Version (KJV) (Husband, you who have ears let him hear): Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; THAT YOUR PRAYERS BE NOT HINDERED.

 

1 Peter 3:12 King James Version (KJV)

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THEM THAT DO EVIL.

 

Psalm 66:18 King James Version (KJV)

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, THE LORD WILL NOT HEAR ME”

 

1 Peter 5:5 King James Version (KJV)

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.

 

HEED ALL THESE VERSES TO MAKE SURE LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH GOD ALMIGHTY ARE NOT BROKEN DOWN!

 

2 Corinthians 2:8-11 King James Version (KJV)

8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye BE OBEDIENT IN ALL [how much is all??] THINGS. 10 To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 LEST SATAN SHOULD GET AN ADVANTAGE OF US: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

 

Christians CANNOT BE POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL OR ANY EVIL SPIRIT.  Why?  Because possession means ownership, and Believers are owned by GOD!  Jesus BOUGHT us back from slavery to the Enemy and SIN by and through the shedding of His blood to total ownership by God! Possession is a TOTAL OWNERSHIP situation and Satan cannot own anyone who has been washed in Jesus' blood!

 

A Christian/believer can be "DEMONIZED" through WILLFUL, CONTINUAL SIN. This act of our will opens spiritual doors that give the Enemy and his minions LEGAL RIGHT (because of choosing to go back into slavery to SIN) to inflict demonic interference/influence which includes, but is not limited to: all kinds of addiction (alcohol, drugs, gambling, sexual, smoking, etc.), acts born out of compulsion, anxiety, depression, despair, suicidal thoughts, suicide, inability to concentrate, sickness/disease, mental disorders, sleep disorders, financial trouble, relationship issues (spouse, family, friends), etc., etc.

 

Indeed a Believer has been bought us out of slavery to SIN and into eternal “security” with God through Jesus, there is no question your home, your residence is in Heaven!  Let me be clear: a Christian’s position with Christ is SECURE.  We are not talking about losing salvation.  Then what? 

 

The Enemy’s only has TWO MAIN OBJECTIVES which fall under the umbrella of the Enemy “comes ONLY to kill, steal and destroy” (John 10:10):

 

                               #1:  TO KEEP YOU AWAY FROM CHRIST (salvation)

                               #2:  TO RENDER ALL BELIEVERS INEFFECTIVE FOR CHRIST

 

These are the Enemy’s ONLY objectives. So, if you are SAVED, his objective is to render YOU INEFFECTIVE.  What can render a Believer ineffective . . . what is the ONLY thing that can do this? 

 

        SIN

 

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, our Enemy has “dummy downed” the Body of Christ for years (even centuries) to get us where we are today.  We have ministers who don’t preach/teach/offer deliverance . . . some actually STAND hard against it.  How can this be?  When Christ’s last words on this earth were:

 

Mark 16:17-20 King James Version (KJV)

17 And these signs shall follow THEM THAT BELIEVE (no exclusions); In my name shall they CAST OUT DEVILS; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." Amen!!!

 

Christ said that ALL believers would do these things.  Jesus did not distinguish “you, my disciples shall cast out devils” . . . this is for each and every believer and His last words spoken here on earth. 

 

Father, take the scales off our eyes so that we can clearly see, accept and resolve any demonic forces at work in us.  We desire to be restored back into right relationship with You.  Father, Your Word confirms that our relationship is broken while practicing willful continual SIN.  Please lead us into all truth so we can be restored and again rendered EFFECTIVE for Your Kingdom. May we seek deliverance when needed and not fall prey to the Enemy’s wiles of confusion, condemnation, and resistance.  In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

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GOOD NEWS:  If you have fallen into a cycle of willful and continual SIN, there is HOPE = DELIVERANCE!

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Setting the Captive Free,

Delann Conrad

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