Other ways, that demons can come into your life!!
III. ( page 4C )
Have you ever stopped to wonder why the body of Christ is weak and defeated today? Many believers are sick in the body, emotionally hurting, carrying unforgiveness, depressed, or feeling guilt and condemnation about their past. Many feel insecure and inadequate with a low self-image, are held captive to addictions of alcohol, nicotine, drugs, or pornography, are driven by lusts and perversion, and are just plain defeated in life.[1]
Rom 13 (v. 14) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
....see also [Eph 4:27 and do not give the devil an opportunity....]
Satan can accomplish this work through demonic spirits operating in the lives of believers who do not abide in Christ, thus making a provision in the flesh.[1] Opportunity occurs when you make a provision in your flesh through sin and disobedience. This may be either willfully or out of ignorance. When you make provision in your flesh and obey its lusts, you are enslaving yourself to satan's kingdom. The bible says we become a slave to the one we obey.[2]
Image #1
Luke 4 (v. 31) Then He went down to Capernaum.... (v. 33) Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice saying, (v. 34) “Let us alone! What have we to do with You....” (v. 35) But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”
The cause of this man's affliction also was in his own life. He had been fascinated with the pleasures of sin, and had thought to make life a grand carnival. Intemperance and frivolity perverted the noble attributes of his nature, and Satan took entire control of him. Remorse came too late. When he would have sacrificed wealth and pleasure to regain his lost manhood, he had become helpless in the grasp of the evil one.[3]
These same events that happened to people back then, can also happen to unsuspecting people in our day!
Deliverance for Those in Need Today. There are multitudes today as truly under the power of evil spirits as was the demoniac of Capernaum. All who willfully depart from God's commandments are placing themselves under the control of Satan. Many a man tampers with evil, thinking that he can break away at pleasure; but he is lured on and on, until he finds himself controlled by a will stronger than his own. He cannot escape its mysterious power. Secret sin or master passion may hold him a captive as helpless as was the demoniac at Capernaum.[4]
The only hope of deliverance is from Jesus!!
Yet his condition is not hopeless. God does not control our minds without our consent; but every man is free to choose what power he will have to rule over him. None have fallen so low, none are so vile, but they may find deliverance in Christ. The demoniac, in place of prayer, could utter only the words of Satan; yet the heart's unspoken appeal was
heard. No cry from a soul in need, though it fail of utterance in words, will be unheeded. Those who consent to enter into covenant with God are not left to the power of Satan or to the infirmity of their own nature.[4]
But what happens to most of us, is that we fall into a "rut" created by the devil to trap us.
Notice however, what normally happens: We come to recognize an evil in our lives, come under conviction about it, and accept God's correcting; but instead of letting God continue dealing with it, we take it back into our own hands to manage, and fall back into temptation again....When we turn away until it becomes a joy to obey God in whatever area He is bringing conviction, we too will gain the victory.[5]
We find the following instructive quotation in W.W. Prescott's book, Victory in Christ:
For a long time I tried to gain the victory over sin, but I failed. I have since learned the reason. Instead of doing the part which God expects me to do, which we have learned is abiding in the Vine....and which I can do, I was trying to do God's part, which He does not expect me to do, and which I cannot do. Primarily, my part is not to win the victory, and produce the fruit; but to receive the victory, receive the Holy Spirit and let Him produce the fruit; which has already been won for me by Jesus Christ (when He took the place of Adam and day by day developed the character which Adam failed to acquire). Jesus won the victory; He won the victory over satan and sin.[6]
Jesus wants to give us His victory, but He's having an awful time getting us to accept it. Why? Because we are unwilling to do our part, which is abiding in Him, and allowing Him to accomplish the pruning, which will result in the development of His character in us.[7]
Pray and ask the Lord: “Lord, give me the spirit of prayer,” so your inner man can be renewed daily and touched by God. The only way we can have this incredible blessing is by making lifestyle changes. Are you aware beloved, that the enemy knows this so well,…That’s why he makes it his business to keep us busy. We think that being busy make us productive, but in actuality it keeps us away from the prayer closet. Many times we are tired, lazy, and even sleepy. It’s so important to keep watch over our spiritual life.…Please hear me on this: satan laughs, even applauds, when we are too busy living for the flesh….[8]
Another way that demons can come into your life!!
Col 2 (v. 8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
I was directed to this scripture as especially applying to modern Spiritualism. (Col. ii, 8) ....Thousands, I was shown, have been spoiled through the philosophy....and have been driven into infidelity. If the mind commences to run in this channel, it is almost sure to lose its balance, and be controlled by a demon. "Vain deceit" fills the minds of poor mortals....Their principles and faith are....not after Christ." Jesus has not taught them this philosophy.[9]
Image #2
Col 2 (v. 18) Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility.... ....intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.
Especial warning is given in (verse 18). The teachers of Spiritualism will come in a pleasing, bewitching manner to deceive you, and if you listen to their fables you are beguiled by the enemy of righteousness, and will surely lose your reward. When once the fascinating influence of the arch deceiver overcomes you, you are poisoned, and its deadly influence adulterates and destroys your faith in Christ's being the Son of God, and you cease to rely on the merits of his blood.[9]
The above picture shows just how deeply rooted the deceptions of the devil can be ingrained into our lives at the deepest level. The fragile human soul longs to be comforted during times of deep emotional distress. By taking on our human nature, Jesus was able to feel this need through our humanity, while living on this earth; and we read from the following quote:
The human heart longs for sympathy in suffering. This longing Christ felt to the very depths of His being. In the supreme agony of His soul He came to His disciples with a yearning desire to hear some words of comfort from those whom He had so often blessed and comforted, and shielded in sorrow and distress. The One who had always had words of sympathy for them was now suffering superhuman agony, and He longed to know that they were praying for Him....[10]
Mark 14 (v. 32) Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” (v. 33) And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. (v. 34) Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”
(v. 35) He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. (v. 37) Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?”
I’m calling every believer to fight.…and never give up, through prayer, fasting, and mixing your faith with the Word of God. Stand strong in Christ and Christ alone.…Be watchful to the end with perseverance.…Let’s stop taking the devil lightly. He is the number one enemy of our soul. God is calling His church to war against every demonic spirit out there. One of the things that hurts my heart is that I hear the Church saying, “If we don’t mess with the devil, he won’t mess with us.” Thank God not all churches are speaking this lie.[11]
Some other ways that demons can come into your life!!
Watching pornography, murders, hauntings, Harry Potter movies, anything adulterous, or anything regarding witchcraft on television; this will open the door to demonic activity in your life.[12]
Image #3
Salacious Novels and Pornography. Impure pictures have a corrupting influence. Novels are eagerly perused by many, and as the result, their imagination becomes defiled....photographs of females in a state of nudity are frequently circulated for sale....This is an age when corruption is teeming everywhere. The lust of the eye and corrupt passions are aroused by beholding and by reading. . . .The mind takes pleasure in contemplating scenes which awaken the lower and baser passions. These vile images, seen through defiled imagination, corrupt the morals and prepare the deluded, infatuated beings to give loose rein to lustful passions. Then follow sins and crimes which drag beings formed in the image of God down to a level with the beasts, sinking them at last in perdition.[13]
I Tim 6 (v. 9) But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
The body of Christ is experiencing major suffering: broken homes, sickness, mental illness, even spiritual Luke-warmness. Many Christians have given up; even pastors are closing down their churches. Fornication spirits, adultery spirits, and many other demonic forces are being unleashed on the Church at large.…It’s time to wake up and be the Church of Jesus Christ. I believe we are in the generation of the Lord’s return; we are in the beginning stages. I truly feel this in my spirit because of all the escalations of occult activity, all the rage in satan’s heart today against believers. .…Help us Lord, to be like the Church in the book of Acts.[14]
Our team tries earnestly through prayer and research to find answers for the many topics that concern people. See this testimony video below, about a man who got the victory through Jesus Christ.
Warning: When a christian commits willful, repetitive sin, and fails to respond to God’s chastening in confession, he opens himself to oppression; first from the outside and finally, to invasion within.[15]
Don't pursue freedom, instead pursue Christ!! video ref. [16]
A recent survey conducted by the Barna Group found that approximately two-thirds (64%) of U.S. men view pornography at least monthly.[17] The results were not that much different for non-christians: but a higher percentage (71%) of non-Christians report doing this.[18]
Even the clergy are affected by this epidemic as reported: Patrick Means, author of "Men’s Secret Wars," revealed that 63% of pastors confirmed that they struggle with sexual addiction or sexual compulsion.[17]
Our Lord is put to shame by those who claim to serve Him, but who misrepresent His character....Any habit or practice that would lead into sin, and bring dishonor upon Christ, would better be put away, whatever the sacrifice.[19]
I Thes 4 (v. 3) For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
(v. 4) that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, (v. 5) not in passion
of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God.
Back To: Page 4B
Go Back To:
References:
1. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.23, Real Deliverance Ministry.
2. Bill Niland, (2004). The War Manual, p.27, Real Deliverance Ministry.
3. E.G. White, Temperance, p.122, par.3
4. E.G. White, Temperance, p.123, par.2
5. Dan Augsburger, (2009). The Branch and the Vine (sermons by Frank B. Phillips), p.43, Booklet.
6. W.W. Prescott, Victory In Christ, p.17. Review & Herald Publishing Association.
7. Dan Augsburger, (2009). The Branch and the Vine (sermons by Frank B. Phillips), p.44, Booklet.
8. John Ramirez, (2015). Unmasking the Devil, p.101, Destiny Image Publishers.
9. E.G. White, Spiritual Gifts (vol.4b), p.87, par.1
10. E.G. White, The Desire of Ages, p.687, par.3
11. John Ramirez, (2015). Unmasking the Devil, p.102, Destiny Image Publishers.
12. http://www.greatbiblestudy.com
13. E.G. White, Mind, Character, and Personality (vol.1), p.229, par.2
14. John Ramirez, (2015). Unmasking the Devil, p.94, Destiny Image Publishers.
15. Ken Thornberg, (2016). Victory Over Spiritual Conflict, p.32, Freedom Encounters.
16. James Testimony “Freedom from Pornography.” Online video. YouTube, 21 Nov 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1leTC8JYOE&feature=youtu.be
17. The Huffington Post (2014), The BLOG, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elwood-d-watson/pornography-addiction-amo_b_5963460.html
18. The FIX, Addiction and Recovery (2014), https://www.thefix.com/content/is-jesus-watching-the-many-christian-porn-addicts-users-guilt
19. E.G. White, The Desire of Ages, p.439, par.1
20. E.G. White, Testimonies for the Church (vol.5), p.471-472, par.1
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