It is often argued in Christian circles that a Christian cannot be demon-possessed; they can only be demon-oppressed. Whether the correct term is “possession” or “oppression” is irrelevant. The reality is that people, including Christians, can become demonized and deeply tormented in their souls and bodies. We will examine how this happens, how to avoid it, and how to remain free.
The letter of James provides insight into how believers become vulnerable to demonic torment:
James 3:13–17(ESV) If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This wisdom does not come down fromabove, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy andselfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
When hearts become wounded, hardened, jealous, bitter, resentful, or self-seeking, we become targets of the enemy. Sometimes, we even become weapons he uses to harm others. James identifies this mindset as demonic wisdom: a reasoning that justifies jealousy, bitterness, and unforgiveness.
Matthew 6:14–15(NKJV) For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither willyour Father forgive your trespasses.
Bitterness, envy, and jealousy do not enter the heart accidentally. They are received through our thoughts, words, and actions. When embraced, they invite demonic influence and make us vulnerable to destruction.
1 Peter 5:8(NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Guarding our words is critical. The enemy attacks our thoughts, and we must respond with prayer and God’s Word rather than agreeing with lies.
Proverbs 4:23(NKJV) Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
Words carry creative or destructive power. When we are careless with our speech, demonic forces are attentive.
Proverbs 18:21(NKJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Matthew 15:11(KJV) What comes OUT of the mouth defiles a man. Not what goes into the man
Ephesians 4:29(KJV) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for edification.
Our words WILL MINISTER light, health, blessing, and life. OR, invite darkness, sickness, curse, and death. WE MAKE THE CHOICE.
2 Corinthians 10:3–5(NKJV) The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds and taking every thought captive.
Taking thoughts captive is about being slow to speak. We must taste our words before they are spoken.
James 1:19So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift tohear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
Job 34:3For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.
The principle here is clear:We must discipline ourselves to slow down.We need to give our hearts time to tell our mouths what to say.
Without consistent exposure to God’s Word, believers are ill-equipped for spiritual warfare. True strength comes from personally reading, studying, and internalizing Scripture.
Many Christians have head knowledge of God’s Word. They lack revelation because that Word has not sunk into their heart.
When the Word is in our hearts, we will respond subconsciously to the devil’s attacks. We will face life’s challenges with God’s perspective. Not fear, not worry, not desperation. The truth.
1 Peter 2:1-3(NKJV) As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.
It is a well-known fact that newborn babies need to be fed 8 to 12 times a day. This passage indicates that our maturity level does not change this need. We never grow out of this. We should continually nourish our spirits with God’s word throughout the day.
Abiding in God’s Word is the most important spiritual discipline we can have in place.
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Posted on07/19/2023|Comments Off on 5 Steps to Kingdom Manifestation
Revelation: Receiving the seed of the word of God in our hearts. This starts with receiving Jesus, the Word made flesh, and His instructions for our lives.
Declaration: Speaking God’s Word over our lives. Declaring His promises and provision. Declarations build faith for manifestation.
Dedication: Cultivating the revelation by abiding in God’s word. Continue speaking God’s Word. continue watering the seed, protecting the seed, and guarding the soil of our hearts. All these things become automatic as we abide in the Word.
Transformation: The Word eventually becomes flesh as we abide in Him and His Word. We become the Word we have received and cultivated.
Manifestation: Once transformation takes place, we will begin to demonstrate the Kingdom of God that has grown in our hearts. We demonstrate the Word we have become. Signs, wonders, miracles, healings, and gifts of the Spirit.
Romans 8:19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Mark 4:26-32And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” 30Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”
Posted on10/13/2018|Comments Off on Submission and Authority
Rom. 13:1-7Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
1 Peter 2:13-17Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme. 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
We must settle in our hearts that allgoverning authority comes from God, in whatever form. Not just our spiritual authority that we see in church leadership, (pastors, associate pastors, ministry department leaders, etc.) but the natural governing authorities as well. (Local government, state government, the president, law enforcement, commanding officers, bosses, teachers, parents, landlords, etc.)
All of these people are appointed and graced by God to fulfil a certain role in the lives of people. Not just Christians, but all people. Whether we agree with that authority or not, it doesn’t change the fact that God put them there for a specific purpose, to fulfil a specific role, and we are to honor that person as God’s representative. Yes, even the ones that you didn’t vote for, and the ones you think are evil.
Titus 3:1-2Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
In the last century we have lost much concerning honor and respect for authority. In our society today, people have no problem speaking evil about the President, their parents, teachers, law enforcement, or anyone else that they don’t agree with. It is dishonorable, unholy, and shows the absolute depravity of our generation, not to mention a complete absence of the fear of the Lord.
It is amazing to me how many “Christians” believe that they have the right to tear down anyone they do not agree with. The right to automatic respect, the right to speak any way, about anyone they choose. The fact is, you can be right in your position and sacrifice being righteousness altogether. Being right and being righteous are not always the same.
If we truly give our life to Christ, we lay down our personal rights and personal preferences. It’s no longer about us, it’s about God and others. It’s about Love that never seeks its own benefit or agenda. Being born again means that we were purchased, paid for, redeemed.
If we buy a house and pay for it in full, we have the right to move in and do what we wish with the house. God the Father purchased us with the precious blood of Christ so that He could come and live in us. He placed the Holy Spirit in us to clean up the house and prepare it for His habitation.The biggest thing that makes our house a defiled temple is the things that come out of our mouths.
Matthew 15:11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Obedience to God’s authority is just one of the things that enables us to host the presence of God. Look at what Jesus said to His disciples just before the crucifixion.
John 14:21He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
FAITH WORKS BY LOVE!
We can’t be completely submitted to Christ and refuse to submit to authority. They go hand in hand. To be submitted to one we must be submitted to the other. If we don’t submit to one, we are not submitted to the other. They are the same.
If we don’t come to this realization we will live a powerless, frustrated Christian life. The measure of Christ’s authority expressed in our life is in direct proportion to the authority we understand and are submitted to. If we are not under authority, we will have no authority.
Submission to authority is not submission to a person. It is submission to God. It is an act of love and honor for God and His appointed, delegated authority, as well as the anointing upon that person. It is an act of faith that shows our trust in God’s way of doing things.
1 Peter 2:18-19Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
Many Christians believe that they are submitted to authority and yet they speak negatively about their President, government officials, law enforcement, their boss, their pastors or leaders, and they think its ok. It is not! When we speak against authority, we speak against God Himself! We actually subvert our own authority when we speak against those over us.
Some of us may say, “I didn’t vote for that person so I don’t recognize their authority.” That just means that we don’t understand submission, we don’t understand authority, and we don’t understand who we are, and who’s we are.
Until we disagree with authority we don’t have the opportunity to practice submission. Submission can only occur when we don’t see things the same way as our authority sees them. Disagreement is when submission is tested.
To believe is to obey. Obedience is the act of faith. Disobedience is the act unbelief. Until we submit to our natural authorities, we will never have true spiritual authority. That means authority over sickness, devils, poverty, oppression, the elements, nature. Jesus had authority because He was in perfect submission. Even unto death! This is exactly what we are called to.
God has called us to maintain His authority through obedience. God’s plan is for us to submit to His authority and to all the authorities He has established. This covers our home, our government, our school, the church, and so forth.
Jesus established God’s Kingdom through submission. Whatever the Lord did on earth was entirely based on submission. He did nothing that opposed God’s authority. Everything was in submission, and in perfect cooperation with the authority of God. In this way the Lord set up the Kingdom of God. The church today must also allow God’s authority to have its way and manifest His kingdom through our submission.
There is no authority that is not of God. To resist authority is to resist God. God will not overlook this. Those who oppose will bring judgment on themselves according to Romans 13:2.
Faith in God is made evident by honoring His position as creator, His authority as our Lord, and by obedience to His word. When these conditions are met, the power of God becomes readily available, and easily accessible.
Honor releases the power that authority contains!
Authority creates boundaries and establishes identity.
Our submission defines our Authority
Submitting to authority empowers us to thrive.
Willing obedience to the King expands and increases the Kingdom within.
Opposition to authority is opposition to God.
Understanding authority, and functioning within authority enables great faith in God’s authority.
Submission to authority is simply coming into agreement with the authority above us.
All of man’s problems are due to living outside the realm of God’s authority.
Only those who submit to authority will have great faith.
When we disregard, despise, speak against, or deny authority, we sacrifice and subvert our own authority.
If the matter of authority is not settled, all other matters will remain unsettled.
The One above us is now INSIDE us because we declared belief in Christ and submitted to His authority.
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