April 24, 2006

• Here is another entry that God has put on my heart to put up from Pastor Don Moore’s Discipleship Manual regarding demons. It comes from pages 153 and 154

  
  

  Setting the Captives Free
       When in a meeting where emotions are high and many manifestations of God’s power are shown (deliverances, healings, signs and wonders), know that demonic spirits, if present, are looking for opportunity to manifest and occupy. Deliverance meetings set people free, but freed spirits look for somewhere else to go – “watch and pray”, and protect. If a demon of depression is cast out in a meeting,  you can be sure that before leaving the building he scans the room for someone that has a problem with depression.
      In the Book of Acts, Chapter 19, we are told that the sons of Sceva were beaten by a demon possessed man when they tried to use the Name of Jesus improperly. The Scevas were not authorized by the Holy Spirit to use Jesus’ Name and the Holy Spirit was not present to protect them. Many Christians do not respect the laws of transference laying on of hands and anointing, and get into trouble. Personal sin cannot be present when we are going to deal with demons – sins must be confessed and forgiven or the demon can accuse and counter attack. Pride must not be the motive – “showing off” has no place in warfare.
       The unction (powerful leading) of the Holy Spirit must be present, as the Holy Spirit is the power to “protect us” and overpower the demonic. The demonic can overpower the natural, but not the Holy Spirit and the Name of Jesus.
      I remember once being told by a demon that the host (person) had invited the demon in and that the demon had his permission to stay. When the host’s will changed, then out came the demon.
      Another demon threatened me, “I’ll tear you up!” He snarled, “Who do you think you are?” I replied, “I’m nobody, but the Lord I serve is Jesus and you will do nothing to me!” The demon then made the host leave the room. The Holy Spirit urged me to follow him. I cornered him in another room and asked if the host wanted freedom. He responded, “Yes!” I then told the demon he could not speak and he had to come out – and immediately he did. This young man had been very violent and super strong, but now as a tender, graceful, loving teenager.
      I did not  touch him until after the demon was cast out. Notice in the Scripture that Jesus did not lay hands on any demon possessed person, yet I am appalled to see Christians “playing Bible” and touching anyone and everyone. This “religious tradition” is in error, and many people are opening themselves to attack. I saw a man who wanted to be noticed and praised as a prayer warrior so he, unaware, laid hands on and repeatedly prayed over a demon-possessed woman. They were laughing and “playing prayer.” My warnings were not heeded and the man picked up a spirit of depression that took about 6 months to get free of.
      We have two contrasting examples: In the first situation, I was under the unction and protection of the Holy Spirit and, though the young man’s demon had subdued many hospital orderlies, he feared and obeyed the Name of Jesus and that power. The other is an example of error upon error. We must fear God and respect the things of the supernatural. Touch can lead to transference and then warfare. Without a strong anointing, this is dangerous and improper.
       Finally, no one can stand for Jesus against satan without his sins confessed and curbing of the sins of their flesh. The accuser of the brethren, satan (Rev. 12), can gain legal right to attack and disable. The heart and the eye must be pure and focused on Jesus.
       We must recognize that most of Jesus’ great miracles were done in private or small groups with just a few people. This is because the unbelief of the group can hold back the blessing and limit faith. There is a place for public displays of power, but only as the unction leads. There is no normal way that patterns how the Holy Spirit will move. Sometimes command, sometimes pray, sometimes oil, sometimes spit, clay, laugh, touch, slap, etc. We are the vessel, not the master, and we must observe the laws and the leading.
      We must notice that Jesus sent out the 12 and the 70 and in some cases they got over their heads. Go to the Pastor or other elders and ask who to pray with and when. It is the elder’s job to know, and God has covered them with special anointing in their pasture. The Christian walk can be fun, but it is not a game. Never minister to people at a different church without the head Elder’s approval. The Spirit placed them there and will not override their authority, but satan will. Seek to come into agreement with the prayer leaders – Why are they here? What is the prayer need? What do they want from God? etc. (More on this later). God has laws of transference; know them and respect them.

  
  

  ***Heather’s extra note, and if a demonic force is cast out of a person remember to fill up the empty room with God’s word and discipleship, for Jesus told people that the demon will come back with friends and re-take possession of there is nothing put in place of the outcast demon’s abode.

  
  

  In the lecture that accompanied this passage

  
  

  Pastor Don pointed out about King Saul and the demons who possessed him, and how they were trying to destroy the anointed one, David.

  
  

  He also warned us that if we pound on the devil’s kingdom, he is going to try and get us back, so we have to have a committed will, we have to stay prayed up, we have to make sure we have confessed our sins, and at times the Holy Spirit will bring to mind sins that need confessing.

  
  

  He also pointed out that if you are in a room full of believers, it is good to ask the Holy Spirit if there is anyone who is vulnerable to that particular demon that needs casting out, if so  it would be better to pray with the person in another room. Pastor Don has said that he also tells the demon that he cannot enter any in the area, in the church, in the parking lot, and also he tells the demon to go where Jesus would send him. We cannot cast a demon to hell, even Jesus let the demons go into the pigs, we have to cast the demon out and make them leave the area.

  
  

  Remember demons are dis-embodied, and are looking for a host, so we have to make sure that we give them no inroute to oppress us – once we are saved and sealed by the Holy Spirit we can be oppressed by the demons, not possessed.

  
  

  It is also important to know when you are not trained for a particular spiritual activity, and reach out for the help of a pastor or elder. If you pray for a person, but pray with unbelief, and the healing or deliverance does not come, not only have you not done the person any good, but you may actually have put a barrier in their path, or made it harder for the person who follows to do the work necessary.

  
  

  Heather

  • 6:26 pm
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