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Demonic Influence & Bondage According to God's Word Getting Free-->><<--Staying Free The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me... the Lord hath anointed me to preach... to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound (Isa. 61:1). Many people today live in prison. The cells may vary, the jailor's face may be different, but the result is still the same. They are bound by a force that they cannot control. They cannot touch the force nor can they see it, but it is real. It may be a chemical dependence, such as alcohol, heroin, cocaine or tobacco. It may be lust, envy, jealousy, gluttony, hatred, fear or mental torment. This force is not a respecter of persons, it attacks at will, sometimes rendering its helpless. Man for centuries has tried to control it. He has tried various cures, various treatments, and the advice of assorted experts. A separate science has been developed because of it, but for the most part the cure has eluded man. This force destroys everything it touches. It robs, it maims, it tears apart families, it kills individuals, and brings about the fall of a nation. This force is the power of Satan. The majority of people today are totally ignorant of Satan and the evil spirits, demons, that are under his control. On the other hand some people believe all human problems are the activity of demons, either extremes are dangerous and harmful, both to the church and the world. Looking for a demon around every corner has a tendency to bring skepticism from the world. While wholly ignoring the reality of spiritual beings that are warring against us - leaves some in a spiritual fog, unable to determine the exact cause of the difficulties. By and large, unsaved people are influenced by demon spirits. We see India, a nation with some 300 million, with many gods to worship, It is a place of starvation due to the fact they believe that certain animals may be ancestors reincarnated. Children are allowed to starve in order for an ancestor to move up the ladder of reincarnation. Such religions are started and promoted by demon spirits. In recent months mass murders have become common place in our society. These people, who kill at random with no apparent motive, are demonically controlled. For the most part these are extreme cases where Satan is allowed to run rampant in a nation or in an individual's life. What about the average person? Man is a sinner by nature of the Spiritual laws that are in effect. The Bible teaches that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. If you are not a friend of God, you are His enemy. You are either for Him or against Him. If you are against Him you could be under the influence of demon spirits. Even though the Spirit of God may also be dealing with you, the way man makes decisions, to some degree, depends on two basic sources. The first is himself, the Bible calls the old man, the flesh. Man gets himself into trouble where he desires something that is not good for him and then decides that he is going to obtain it or do something to achieve his desires. The second Is this outside force, the spirits, usually evil spirits under Satan's control. The old man is dealt with by giving one's heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ in a total commitment to Him. The evil spirits must be taken authority over in the name of Jesus and cast off or out. The popular phrase "the devil made me do it", or "l just couldn't help myself", is usually said in jest. Not knowing it may be the very reason. The old man is not cast out, but he is crucified with Christ (Rom 6:11). Demon spirits will not give up control of someone unless forced to do so. Knowing where the root of the problem lies is the most important point in helping an individual that is in bondage. If a person has given his heart to the Lord and is still struggling with areas in their life then deliverance from the demon influence is needed. This is not a case where an individual is constantly tempted within a certain area, but where the individual doesn't find or doesn't know how to use the power to resist the temptation and is falling constantly, due to the tremendous pressure from the outside forces. There are a number of areas where Satan will attack. In the last few years there seems to be certain places where his concentration is the greatest. One main area - is lust. Since the sexual revolution took place the pressure to fit in to a sexually liberated society is overwhelming. If you are not participating then you are "old fashioned" or "weird". We are constantly bombarded with advertisements with sexual tones. Any day or night of the week you can turn on your television set and see acts of premarital sex, adultery, and perversion. The quick stop shops are plastered with material that would make the most wicked blush. With these things taking place it is no wonder men and women alike are having trouble controlling their thought lives in this area. The person wrestles in themselves, with their own strength, trying to gain control, only to find themselves wearied and giving in to the thoughts and committing the act, either mental or physical, they know is wrong. Emotional stress and mental torment are areas where Satan is gaining the upper hand in the lives of Christians. "The peace that passes all understanding" is just not there. They are crying out for help and many simply don't know what to do. A third area is that of occult activity. This includes ouija boards, horoscopes, witchcraft, fortune-tellers, contacts with mediums and dealing in E.S.P. We have seen a rash of occurrences where houses have become "haunted" (inhabited by demon spirits). Interest in the supernatural has increased, while the church has pushed the supernatural out, people have gone seeking it in other places. God has set specific warnings about witchcraft in His word. The Jews were not to even suffer a witch to live, yet today, people openly boast their "Witch" status on national TV and radio. Today Christians readily pick up the morning newspaper for a look at their horoscope, while ignoring the Bible for their spiritual breakfast. Satan is out to control your mind, your life and to ruin your testimony for God. Many pastors are experiencing difficulty in counseling with members of the opposite sex without becoming emotionally and physically involved with them. We do not war against flesh and blood but spiritual wickedness in high places, our battle is not with society, nor with the conditions we grew up in, nor is it dependent on the circumstances we find ourselves in now. Our battle is with the prince of darkness, the god of this world system, Satan. He cannot be fought with material weapons or the mind. A man said one time that the hope for his state was in it's educational system. All education will do is make people smart sinners. Education deals with mind only, The spirit and the heart must be set free. It can only be set free by the power of an Almighty God, The God of the Universe who created you and me, who sent His Son to die for you and me on an old rugged cross. He shed His blood for our sin and our deliverance from the bondage of Satan. Jesus Christ is the only one strong enough to defeat Satan and set you free from the mental prison you are now in. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought to the obedience of Christ... (2 Cor. 10:4-5). Some of you are crying out now, saying this is me! I have struggled for so long and fought so hard but I just can't get rid of this thing in my life. It may be depression, discouragement, lust, alcohol, or drugs, whatever it is, you don't have to live in bondage, oppression or extreme pressure by any demon. You have authority over it, you can have the victory. The battle has already been won, Jesus Christ paid the price almost two thousand years ago. He paid the price so that you don't have to live life depressed, bound, discouraged, or broken hearted. He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Jesus gave you the power and authority, and said that He would fight your battles if you would just use the authority He gave you. Arise up out of that pit that you are in, shake the dust from yourself and walk in the Victory that He paid for with His precious blood! Complete, total deliverance is available. It is yours for the taking. Most importantly you must surrender your total life to God, right now. Give Him every area of your life. Follow this guideline. 1. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin and to come into your heart afresh and new. 2. Renounce the sin that has been holding you back. Tell God you don't want it anymore and ask Him to give you a deep hatred of it. 3. Command the demons to go in the name of Jesus (Luke 10:17), If the control is severe, it is important to have believers that are full of God's Spirit present to help pray. HOW TO STAY DELIVERED Staying delivered is the majority of the battle. Satan cannot force you to do anything. He cannot separate you from God's love or power (Rom 8:34-39). He will try to get control of your thought life. Philippians 4:8 tells us what to think on "...whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Father, I pray for those reading this tract desiring deliverance from the bondage the enemy of their soul has put them in. I rebuke every foul spirit and every demon that has tried to control their lives. Show them any hidden sin, wash them as white as snow, change them, and set them Free. May their lives never be the same again. May they walk in joy unspeakable and full of glory. Give them the peace they need, and the knowledge of how to use the power of your Spirit they need to walk a life of victory in Jesus. We thank You and praise You for it, in Jesus' name, Amen. "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Rom 8:37)." WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE DELIVERED.. JOEL 2:32 --------------- Reprint permission was granted to Computers for Christ #22 for the expressed purpose of posting this tract in electronic form. Please DO NOT modify this file nor distribute hard copies of this file. Printed copies for distribution are available from the Gospel Tract Society for a donation. The Gospel Tract Society is supported by our contributions. Please help them continue their work by sending them a contribution today. The Gospel Tract Society, Inc. P.O. Box 1118 Independence, MO 64061