Satan worshipping

1. Why people drift into Satan worship?

It is possible to find certain reasons why people are driven to worship Satan. However, the next reasons are perhaps the most common:

Friends. The influence of the circle of friends in drifting into Satan worship is common. It is indeed possible that a person drifts into many bad habits and Satan worship under the influence of others. None of us wants to look like a mamma's boy and probably everyone yearns more or less approval. Therefore, the influence of others on our lives can be very large. Who would like to be rejected by others, but on the contrary, everyone wants acceptance, appreciation and honor from others, as Jesus stated:

- (John 5:44) How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only?

The next verses describe a similar attitude. They show how we can regard praise from men to be more important than honor of God. We sometimes do things only because we do not want to be separated from the fellowship of others or because we want to belong to a gang. This is certainly true for many people:

- (John 12:41-43) These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.

42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Yearning for the supernatural can be one reason why a person drifts into Satan worship and practicing the occultism. According to the Bible, God has put eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and if this need is not fulfilled in a living relationship with God, it is possible that we will go looking for it elsewhere. The practice of spiritualism and different religions, and faith in reincarnation, are examples of this. We can turn to these things because we feel an emptiness in our soul, and because we have not experienced a relationship with God. We do not understand that a supernatural, loving God could exist and therefore we may turn to empty substitutes instead of approaching the living God:

- (Jam 4:8) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.

The following quote refers to the same thing. It deals with how people, in their emptiness, turn to deceiving forces and eventually drift into ever greater darkness:

Those who walk with Me will grow in the power that is in Me. I gave all people this ability: to grow both in natural and supernatural power. Those who do not walk with Me, feel an emptiness in their soul that yearns for this supernatural power. Those who do not walk with Me turn to the devil to get power to fill the emptiness of their soul.

   I gave My power to those who are wise and mature enough to use it. The devil gives his power to those who are silly and immature enough to yield to its use. There will come a time on Earth when everyone must choose whether they want to walk with Me or or being possessed by greater evil than the world has ever experienced before." (1)

Seeking power. Maybe the largest reason why people drift into Satan worshipping is that they seek power. If we feel inadequate and powerless, we may be tempted to seek knowledge and power from the dark side. We want to gain power over events that are otherwise uncontrollable and for people to admire us. If we do not experience this in normal life, then we may easily turn to Satan's counterfeits.

    The pursuit of power is about the same kind of addiction that some people can have to alcohol or drugs. These substances are used so that people can feel braver and stronger, and they can get rid of their feelings of inadequacy.  Generally, the more powerless and inadequate one feels, the deeper into these areas in question he or she probably will be driven:

I had wanted to be a witch. No one had forced me into a witch club. And I was very happy to be one of them. I wanted the powers I thought witches had, probably because all my life I had no power whatsoever. (2)

Even Anton LaVey, a man who was the high priest of the church of Satan, has brought out the truth of the matter. He states that selfish lust is the main reason why people drift into witchcraft:

White witches want to investigate witchcraft thoroughly, but are unable to detach themselves from the burner sign associated with it. That's why they call themselves white witches... Anyone who pretends to be interested in witchcraft for any other reason than to get personal authority and power is a hypocrite of the worst kind. (3)

What then is the teaching of the Bible on this matter, Jesus said very clearly that it is useless to try to win the whole world or people's admiration and appreciation. Otherwise we will lose our souls. Therefore, if His following words are true, and despite of everything we seek the esteem of others and only short-term worldly things, we are certainly not acting rationally. Then we are the biggest fools in the world:

- (Matt 16:26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

- (Matt 6:19-21) Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Music (and of course literature, which will not be discussed in detail here) is a huge gateway to Satan worship. Many have said that they drifted into it through Black metal music; i.e. music that openly brings up occult themes, satan worship and death, self-destruction and evil.

    The importance of music is that if we listen to it a lot, it will definitely affect our subconscious and our attitudes just like TV and newspapers do. Many bands are owned by Satanists, and if we listen to their music, we begin to accept as truth things that we may have previously considered false. We will become such what we are looking at and listening to. (2 Cor 3:18: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.):

The second side of the truth is the destructive power of secular music. Harry, the high priest of the Satanists, showed me several symbols in pop music records referring to commitment to Satan worshipping and being in its bonds. (…) He told that 85% of modern heavy metal and punk bands are “owned” by Satanists. The musicians have without their knowledge sold themselves to Satan worshipping to get fame and success. Only a few of these artists really practice Satan worshipping, but most of them are very deep in it and they also lead others astray by the ungodly message of their music. (4)

It is also interesting that for some, the effect of this kind of music can be similar to that of drugs and alcohol. For just as an alcoholic can feel momentary relief and self-assurance through these substances, some can experience the same by listening to aggressive and angry music. Here is the story of one such person:

At the same time, my relationship with my girlfriend broke down. I was overwhelmed by depression and hopelessness. I had low self-esteem, and I was extremely disappointed.

   In a group of friends, we were inspired to listen to black metal, which was on the rise in Finland at that time. There was something about it.

   I got really excited about the new, strong and powerful music I found and got my hands on all kinds of black metal music. It became my source of strength. I listened to loud music and devoured satanic words. That way I felt strong and powerful. (5)

Satan's deception. When looking for reasons why people drift into Satan worship, the biggest reason is Satan's deception and lies. The Bible says that the devil is “is a liar, and the father of it,” (John 8:44), “the prince of this world” (John 12:31) “which deceives the whole world” (Rev 12:9), and therefore we too may believe in his lies. That's why we too may believe its lies. The purpose is to separate us from God and lead us to damnation, and deception is one of the most important means. This can be seen, for example, in the next Bible verses:

- (John 8:44) You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stayed not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

- (2 Cor 11:14,15) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

- (2 Cor 4:3,4) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine to them.

- (Luke 8:11) Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

If we believe the lie, we are deceived. In fact, each of us has been or is in this state, unless God has opened our spiritual eyes. Only when we come into God’s light can we be gradually freed from the lies of the devil. Jessie Penn-Lewis has described this well:

DECEIVED. This word is truly repugnant, and very reluctantly and evilly, man allows it to be applied to himself, often without realizing that even more repugnant is the work of a tempter designed to keep the deceived ignorant of the truth and to prevent him from being freed from deception. If a man is so easily deceived by the deception that arises from his own fallen nature, how eagerly the forces of Satan desire to join in that same deception without wanting to diminish it one drop. They work anxiously to keep man in the chains of his old creation, from which sprout the most diverse forms of self-deception. The modus operandi of the forces of darkness are old and new. They are adapted to the nature, position and circumstances of the victim. The emissaries are full of hatred, meanness and bitter malice towards humanity and all that is good and do not neglect to carry out their plans tirelessly... (6)

How can we then know the truth? Is it possible?

    However, Jesus has already answered this, because He said that He is the Truth and that He speaks true. Therefore, it is clear that if His words hold true and are true, we must turn to Him if we want to find out about things. In the light of the Bible, only through Him is it possible for us to be freed from the devil's lies:

- (John 1:16,17) And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

- (John 8:45,46) And because I tell you the truth, you believe me not.

46 Which of you convinces me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe me?

- (John 14:6) Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.

Disappointment with Christianity and its representatives is one reason why people  drift into practicing the occultism. This may be caused by disappointment with some person close by or disappointment with the Church and “narrow-minded religion” in general. Many therefore cannot tolerate any talk of faith and God, but reject it sharply and rebel against it

  As for imperfection in people, it is true that it exists. It is true that few are good examples and even fewer can say in the words of Paul: ”Be you followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Cor 11:1). In the same way, religion can be of the kind that does not include spiritual life, but is hypocrisy. People fought against this kind of religion already during the early church and, for example, John the Baptist said to certain people:

- (Matt 3:7-9) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

As far as narrow-mindedness is concerned, it is a mistake to think that it appears only in certain places. On the contrary, everywhere where there are people, this attitude can also be seen. Sometimes those who claim to be free from it and who most powerfully preach against it are most tied to it. Paul wrote about this kind of an attitude:

- (Rom 2:1) Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are that judge: for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things.

It is also good to note that not everything that people deem narrow-mindedness actually is narrow-mindedness. When it is a question of such difficult issues as homosexuality, the views regarding it are not the invention of modern people – as if they decided it themselves – but what they have understood from the word of the Bible, which was already written almost 2000 years ago. Many modern people do not deem this thing wrong, but in the light of the Word, it is quite the opposite, and from that different opinions arise. In our society, we have nullified the word of God, not because of tradition as in the time of Jesus, but for the sake of polls, because we appreciate them so much. They are a greater authority than the words of Jesus and the Apostles. Jesus said about this type of attitude we can have:

- (Matt 15:6-9) And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

7 You hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8 This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

SEEKING PLEASURE. It is typical in this life that we seek happiness and pleasures. They can be such things as sex, money, property, hobbies, watching TV and sports, and a wide variety of things. We may use our time merely in these activities or in seeking them and not understand that when we find our life, we actually lose it:

- (Matt 16:25) For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

On the other hand, one characteristic feature of Satan-worshipping is pleasure-centeredness, which usually means sexual activity and using alcohol and drugs, because these things appear repeatedly in ceremonies. We can also see the same thing from Anton LaVey's Satanic Bible (The Satanic Bible), in sections 1 and 8 of which he emphasizes the importance of pleasure:

1. Satan emphasizes pleasure instead of continence!

8. Satan emphasizes all so-called sins, because they all lead to physical, mental and emotional satisfaction!

However, it is good to study this issue more closely, because LaVey emphasizes it. We should study it in the light of the Bible and practical life in order to get a better picture:

God created sex. First of all, it is a mistake to think that sex is an invention of the devil. This is by no means the case, but God created Adam and Eve as sexual beings, so that it, like all God's work of creation, was called good (Genesis 1:31). Nowhere in the Bible does it state that sex between a man and a wife is a bad thing, but it is considered a matter of course and a natural thing (1 Cor 7:1-5, Heb 13:4, Proverbs 5:18,19). In fact, Paul warned that any teaching that forbids marriage or eating foods created by God would be the doctrines of demons and Satan:

- (1 Tim 4:1-3) Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

In reality, many things that come before us are just distortions. The thing itself can be good, but it becomes completely different through distortions. They can be the following types of things:

• Complete denial of sex and the playboy life, where a man runs "from flower to flower", are both distortions. On the other hand, it is possible that an ordinary street guy can have sex with his spouse even more often than a playboy who has been with hundreds of women.

• Alcoholism and drunkenness are distortions of the usual drinking of alcohol. Wine in itself is not a bad thing as the Bible shows in many places. It was already used in biblical times and is still used as a drink today, because e.g. the shelf life of milk has been poor.

• Obesity and binge eating are distortions from eating and are known to be behind many diseases.

Conclusion. When Anton LaVey emphasizes the significance of pleasures, he does not point out the following important issues:

• Pleasure decreases. First, be it any pleasure or the like, we gradually get used to them. Whether it's a good spouse, sex, acquiring property, or recreational drugs, they gradually lose their luster. That's why a 40-50-year-old man who has had sex for more than 20 years doesn't feel the same anymore. He approaches it much more calmly and less passionately than when he was younger.

• Final result. Another thing to note is that when it is emphasized the role of drugs and alcohol in addition to sex, if they really bring happiness, then alcoholics and drug addicts should be the happiest people on earth. However, it seems to be just the opposite. Many of them lead a rather miserable life. 

• Thirdly, you should pay attention to eternity. Many things and pleasures are nothing compared to the eternal life that God offers us through Jesus Christ. If we only aim for them, but forget eternity, we have made a very bad decision. Therefore, do not neglect the matter of eternal life, but choose it instead of eternal death!

“If your love towards Me does not grow in the coming times, it will get colder. I AM the life. If you do not stay near to Me, you will lose the life which is in you. I AM the light. If you do not stay near to Me, your heart will get dark.”

   (…) ”On earth has been planted life and death, and life and death will be reaped. I came to give you life. Evil will give death. (…) Choose life so that you would live. Choose life by being obedient to Me. If you choose Me and the light in you is My earnest light, it will shine ever brighter every day. By this, you will know that you walk in My light. The seed that has been sowed on good soil will grow and increase forever: You are recognized by your fruit. (7)

2. Mentions of devil

When it comes to what the devil is like, the Bible is one of the best sources. It tells of his creation, his fall, his wickedness, his final destiny, and many other things connected with him, so that we can get a fairly accurate description of him. Let's look at some such passages in the Bible:

He is a created being. Firstly, the devil is a created being who has his beginning in some specific moment in history. He is not eternal and cannot be everywhere in the same way present than the Spirit of God can be; he has his own set limitations. We learn from the Bible that he was described at one point as, “the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty”, so we can assume that he was the most beautiful and wisest of God’s creatures:

- (Eze 28:12,13) Son of man, take up a lamentation on the king of Tyrus, and say to him, Thus said the Lord GOD; You seal up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

13 You have been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of your tabrets and of your pipes was prepared in you in the day that you were created.

He existed as a cherub or some kind of an angel before his fall. Cherubs are mentioned in other Bible passages (Eze 10:18-20: Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubim.)

- (Eze 28:12-14) Son of man, take up a lamentation on the king of Tyrus, and say to him, Thus said the Lord GOD; You seal up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

13 You have been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of your tabrets and of your pipes was prepared in you in the day that you were created.

14 You are the anointed cherub that covers; and I have set you so: you were on the holy mountain of God; you have walked up and down in the middle of the stones of fire.“

He fell, and he and the angels associated with him were hurled to the Earth:

- (Isa 14:12-15) How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!

13 For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also on the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

15 Yet you shall be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

- (Eze 28:15-17) You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, till iniquity was found in you.

16 By the multitude of your merchandise they have filled the middle of you with violence, and you have sinned: therefore I will cast you as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy you, O covering cherub, from the middle of the stones of fire.

17 Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty, you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness: I will cast you to the ground, I will lay you before kings, that they may behold you.

- (Rev 12:9) And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

He tempted Adam and Eve so that the Fall took place. He made them doubt God's word - "Has God really said?" - which is still his main purpose number one. He wants to make us doubt the Gospel so that we will not believe and be saved, as Jesus said:

- (Gen 3:1-5) Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, Yes, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

2 And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.

4 And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die:

5 For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

- (Luke 8:11,12) Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

The originator of illnesses and demonic possessions. When the devil was behind the Fall, from him and from evil spirits are also illnesses (this does not mean that every illness is accompanied by a special spirit of illness) and demonic possession - things that Jesus came to destroy. The Bible shows how Jesus and his disciples were able to free people from both destructive things:

- (Matt 8:16,17) When the even was come, they brought to him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses.

- (1 John 3:8) He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

- (Acts 8:6-8) And the people with one accord gave heed to those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

- (Acts 19:11,12) And God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul:

12 So that from his body were brought to the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Some may ask, “Can the devil do miracles and heal the sick?”

   Yes, he can. He can take away the disease he caused or perform miracles through his servants. We are told about the activities of Pharaoh’s magicians, a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future (Acts 16:16-19) and Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8), for example. However, the consequence of this kind of healing is that because of it, a person falls into even greater spiritual bonds and eventually perishes, if he does not understand in time to turn to God. The following example is a demonstration of this:

The devil can be a good healer of the body! If he can destroy one’s soul by healing the body, he is willing to give a temporary blessing of health!

   Witchcraft is not found only in heathen countries! I read recently about a little German girl who was constantly ill. Someone had given her an amulet, a little box that she had to keep on her. She was healed instantly. She was completely healthy after that, but in her heart there was darkness. She seldom smiled, and at the age of eighteen, she tried to commit suicide. One evangelist was asked to help. He inquired whether the girl perhaps kept some kind of an amulet. People had to persuade her for some time before she was willing to give it to the evangelist. And the girl said, “Never open it. He who gave it to me said that it would be dangerous to do that.” In spite of the warning, the evangelist opened the amulet and found a little piece of paper, on which it had been written, "I command you, Satan, to keep this body healthy until you possess the soul, who is condemned to hell!" They destroyed the amulet, and the child was freed, but became very sick immediately. Later on, she was healed through the laying on of hands in Jesus' name. (8)

He is a liar and the father of it, as Jesus said. His main purpose is that people would not believe and be saved. Such matters as the theory of evolution, religion without God, and ideas contrary to God's will in general come from him and the evil spirit world, even though people may regard them as their own thoughts. The purpose of these thoughts that seem to be wise is to prevent us from turning to God:

- (John 8:44) You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stayed not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

- (2 Cor 4:3,4) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine to them.

- (Luke 8:11) Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

In this context, we should look at a certain text. It tells about how awakenings and movements given by God break lies that people may have. This always happens when we understand things in the light of God and turn to the Truth or Jesus Christ:

Many doctors were also converted in the great revivals I have been involved in. I would think that their studies would make them prone to doubt and some kind of materialism. But they are sensible, and when the Gospel is presented to them as perfect, it is as easy to win them as any other person and they turn to God. It is true that their studies have not made them as ready to comprehend the moral principles of God as the study of jurisprudence, but I have, however, found them to be open to contrition, and they are not at all difficult to handle, as far as the great question of salvation is concerned.

   Universalism, Unitarianism and generally all kinds major mistakes of people have collapsed in these great revivals. I have learned again and again that people must only become thoroughly convinced of their sin by the Holy Spirit, and they will be ready immediately and forever to give up those views gladly. (9)

Murderer. The devil is a murderer who has come to steal, kill and destroy. His goal with every man is to destroy him and ultimately lead him to perdition. The help and "blessings" he gives are also pseudo-help, because through it it only binds a person deeper into deception and demonic ties.

    What is interesting and of course unfortunate is that these characteristics of the devil manifest themselves in the lives of people who have completely surrendered to him. As the devil is a murderer, a thief, a destroyer and the first rebel, the same things appear almost immediately in the lives of these people, i.e. self-destruction, self-mutilation, murder, curses and other features. This shows that the words of Jesus are really true, and that Satan even hates every person who surrenders to him:

- (John 8:44) You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stayed not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

- (John 10:10) The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

He will be bound for a thousand years. According to the Bible, Jesus has already defeated the devil on the cross, but his power has not yet been taken away. However, the Bible shows that when the thousand-year kingdom begins after the coming of Jesus, a mighty angel will seize Satan and throw him into the Abyss to keep him from deceiving the nations. After this, he will be released for a while, until the rebellion ends quickly:

- (Rev 20:1-3, 7-9) And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

His final destiny is damnation, or the eternal lake of fire, where all those whose names are not in the book of life will also go. The good news, however, is that Jesus came to save us from this place and we receive grace as soon as we turn to Him. He took upon Himself our evil deeds (Isaiah 53) and we can therefore receive forgiveness through Him (Acts 13:38: ...that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins.)

- (Matt 25:41-46) Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungered, and you gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you an hungered, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

- (Rev 20:10-15) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

3. Called to be free

Worshipping Satan and occultism in general is an enslaving yoke. Practicing of it always leads to demonic bounds and restlessness – such one did not expect to experience in his former, “normal” life and which did not bother him then. In addition, the most serious feature of practicing occultism is that it closes the doors of Heaven from us. We can see from the Bible how the magicians, witches, murderers, and others living in sin will not inherit the kingdom of God:

- (Gal 5:19-21) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, jealousies, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21  Contentions, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

- (Rev 21:7,8) He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

- (Rev 22:14,15) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves and makes a lie.

The good news, however, is that Jesus Christ can free us from all kinds of bounds and guarantee an access to Heaven. Next, we will study the issues that are important in this regard:

FREEDOM IN JESUS CHRIST

- (John 8:36) If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

Firstly, it is good to understand that only by Jesus can we be freed, because He came to set us free and because He destroyed the work of the devil by His work on the cross (1 John 3:8: … For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil). In the same way, we can see in the Bible how through Him we can get eternal life and peace to our inner soul. We cannot get eternal life in any other way:

- (John 5:40) And you will not come to me, that you might have life.

- (John 14:6) Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.

- (John 6:68,69) Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? you have the words of eternal life.

69  And we believe and are sure that you are that Christ, the Son of the living God.

- (John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

- (John 20:31) But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.

- (Matt 11:28) Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

- (John 14:27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

- (Phil 4:7) And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

TURNING TO GOD

- (1 Peter 5:6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time

Secondly, we have to turn to Jesus (and of course to God) and choose to follow Him. It means that we must give our whole life to Him and to search for His will. Unfortunately, many want only to find a way out from their present difficulties, but do not really want to give up their wrong occult “gifts” (you can pray yourself for God to take away all these kinds of imitation gifts and all wrong connections to the spirit world; you can also command all spirits causing it to go away in the name of Jesus) and to give up their sins, in other words they actually choose the eternal death in spite of the eternal life:

“If your love towards Me does not grow in the coming times, it will get colder. I AM the life. If you do not stay near to Me, you will lose the life which is in you. I AM the light. If you do not stay near to Me, your heart will get dark.”

   (…) ”On earth has been planted life and death, and life and death will be reaped. I came to give you life. Evil will give death. (…) Choose life so that you would live. Choose life by being obedient to Me. If you choose Me and the light in you is My earnest light, it will shine ever brighter every day. By this, you will know that you walk in My light. The seed that has been sowed on good soil will grow and increase forever: You are recognized by your fruit. (9)

In any case, when one really wants turn to God and follow Him, he can utter the next prayer, in which he breaks away from the devil and evil spirits and gives his life to Jesus Christ. If it is difficult to say, and one is afraid of losing his consciousness, he can command the devil to go away and to stay away, bound in the name of Jesus Christ. If necessary, the prayer can also be repeated as long as it is easy to utter it without any trouble:

"In the name of Jesus Christ I break away from your power, Satan, and from all the works of the dark with which I have been and which I have practiced. At the same time, I also break away from sorcery practiced by my ancestors and parents and give up my life to Jesus Christ who is now my Lord and Savior!”

CONFESSING ONES SINS

- (1 John 1:7,9) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleans us from all sin.

9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In the verses above, it is said that we must confess our sins in order to be forgiven and receive the cleansing through the blood of Jesus.

   This confessing of our sins and genuine godly sorrow is indeed the key when searching for freedom from the wrong chains. When the doors to the devil and evil spirits have been opened through sinning, these same doors can be simply closed by confessing our sins; i.e. through experiencing godly sorrow for the same things – it is this simple.

   An unclean conscience and darkness are always the base for evil spirits – they work in the dark – but if man brings the things he has done into the light, i.e. confess them to God, he will remove the legal right from these powers. They will not have the right to live in him and to affect him, and they can easily be driven away. This does not always require even a separate command: they will automatically disappear when man is broken enough before God, i.e. he is genuinely sorry for the things he has done.

   Corrie ten Boom points out the importance of confessing our sins. She states that when people understand based on, for example, Deut 18:10-13 that they have broken against God and when they confess their sins, they will be often immediately freed:

In the same way as Elisha sent 'the son of the prophet' back to the place where he had lost the axe and where the miracle took place (2 King 6:5,6), I too send people back to the place where they have, being guilty of sin, opened their hearts to the devil. I ask our Jesus our Savior to close the door where they have opened it. Firstly, it is necessary to convince people that they really have sinned! Deut 18:10-13 proves this. Confession is necessary, and afterwards we can claim that the precious promises of purifying belong also to us (John 1:7-9). How many people did I see freed when they acted obediently according to this word! (10)

So if you want to be freed from the chains of occultism or other matters, you must bring these matters before God, and then you can command the evil spirits to leave.

   Below are some of the most usual issues where the confession of sins and the command can take place.

   Among other things, the most usual occult sins are mentioned, such as spiritualism, spirit healing, and making our mind passive (making the mind passive is one of the greatest gates for the devil), but it includes also some very ordinary sins, i.e., bitterness and accusations against others as well as self-hatred – they must also be confessed as a sin to God in order to experience freedom.

   Another important issue is being freed from occult abilities and wrong connections to the spirit world. These wrong abilities and connections do not always disappear even in conversion, but one must ask God separately to take them away. That is, if one still continuously sees into the spirit world, continues to have out-of-body experiences or his family has practiced occultism, this kind of a prayer can be necessary.

   In any case, these commands and prayers can be uttered in, for example, the following ways:

"Oh Lord, Father, forgive me for taking part in spiritualism, spirit healing, etc.  Thank You that You forgive me and cleanse me of all unrighteousness through the blood of Your Son Jesus.

"Satan and you demons, I have confessed to God that I have taken part in spiritualism, spirit healing, etc. Now you have no more legal right in these areas, because through the blood of Jesus I have been forgiven. Therefore, I command you now in the name of Jesus Christ to leave me and my surroundings, and never to return!

_________

"Oh Lord, Father, forgive me for emptying my mind and driving it passive for it is not Your will. Thank You that You forgave me and cleansed me of all unrighteousness through the blood of Your Son Jesus.

"Satan and you demons, I have confessed to God that I have emptied my mind and driven it passive. Now you have no more legal right in this area, because through the blood of Jesus I have received forgiveness from God. Therefore, I command you now in the name of Jesus Christ to leave me and my surroundings, and never to return!

_________

"Oh Lord, Father, forgive me for my wrong connections to the spirit world! I ask You to take away those supernatural gifts and abilities that are not from You and also all such connection with the spirit world that is not from You. Thank You that You cleansed my body, soul and spirit of all unrighteousness through the blood of Jesus. In the name of Jesus, amen.

"Now, in the name of Jesus Christ, I command all evil spirits who gave me the ability to be in connection with the spirit world, to leave my life immediately and never to return!

__________

"Oh Lord, Father, forgive me for interfering with relationships outside marriage, pornography, and other such sins! Thank You that You forgave me and You cleansed me of all unrighteousness through the blood of your Son Jesus.

"Satan and you demons, I have confessed to God that I have interfered with wrong relations and pornography that are not the will of God. Now you no longer have a legal right in this respect, because through the blood of Jesus I have received forgiveness from God. Therefore, I command you now in the name of Jesus Christ to leave me and my surroundings, never to return!

__________

"Oh Lord, Father, forgive me for my bitterness and my accusations towards... Thank you that You forgave me and You cleansed me of all unrighteousness through the blood of Your Son Jesus.

"Satan and you demons, I have confessed to God that I have been bitter towards...  Now you no longer have a legal right in this regard, because through the blood of Jesus I have received forgiveness from God. Therefore, I command you now in the name of Jesus Christ to leave me and my surroundings, and never to return!

__________

"Oh Lord, Father, forgive me for my self-hatred, my suicidal thoughts, and my self-pity! Thank You that You forgave me and cleansed me of all unrighteousness through the blood of Your Son Jesus.

"Satan and you demons, I have confessed to God my self-hatred, suicidal thoughts, and self-pity. Now you no longer have a legal right in this regard, because through the blood of Jesus I have received forgiveness from God. Therefore, I command you now in the name of Jesus Christ to leave me and my surroundings, and never to return!

RESISTING THE ENEMY

In order to be freed, one must utter the prayer of giving up and confess the sins he has practiced. This is important, because true freedom can never be experienced before man wants to give up sins and wrong commitments with all his heart. If he do not do this, he may be in chains forever.

   On the other hand, another issue in freedom is resisting the devil, if necessary. The fact is that the enemy does not automatically give up disturbing people if he is given the chance, but he might still tempt them. (Also, many Christians can be pressed by the devil in the same way as Jesus in the desert, so that the pressure comes from the outside. On the other hand, in some situations it can be a question of the spirit of despair mentioned in the Book of Isaiah. This kind of despair that arises from the supernatural world, normally stops immediately when the spirit of despair has been commanded to go away in the name of Jesus, and after we have confessed our bitterness and other sins. Instead, if our despair arises from some other, ordinary reason, it will usually continue.)  Many symptoms in the lives of people are caused by the disturbance and attacks of the enemy. We can observe, e.g., the following symptoms, some of which are characteristic of false anointing:

- Great difficulties in praying and reading the Bible. One can even lose his consciousness.

- Moments of forgetfulness and unconsciousness.

- Presence and pressure from foreign powers.

- Haunting and supernatural phenomena.

- Uncontrolled outbursts of anger, sexual daydreams, powerful fear or any sin and lust that is above normal. These things are a part of the sinful nature, but sometimes there may also be the enemy's effect in the background that has gained ground because of man's sins.

- Illusions, confusion, and visions are ordinary.

- Conditions of fear and pain.

- Self-destructive behavior and suicidal thoughts.

- Obsessions where an internal need drives man to say or do things that are contrary to his basic nature. Especially blasphemous thoughts and deeds may appear.

- Physical symptoms, such as headache, weakness, dizziness, feeling heavy, and general pain everywhere in the body are ordinary. Some diseases, such as epilepsy, deafness, and muteness can also occasionally be the attacks of the enemy and originate from evil spirits, even though there may be a medical explanation or injury that has nothing to do with the devil.

- Voices that are usually accusing, blasphemous or threatening, that order man to do something that will hurt him or something humiliating, are common. Often the voices may resemble our own thoughts or internal speech, and may be completely against what we would normally think.

- In pastoral care, one may experience threats, accusations or statements in his mind, "This won't work, get out from here, you can never be freed!” Internal resistance in these situations is powerful.

So, if you have the above-mentioned symptoms, you should not remain passive, but you should resist the enemy of our soul in the name of Jesus and based on the blood of Jesus. You may experience great weakness or helplessness, but you should remain strong because it is a question of your own deliverance.

   The following verses refer to this issue, i.e., to resisting the devil in the name of Jesus. The first of these verses (Jam 4:7) refers to the issue mentioned above: how we must first submit to God with our heart, and only after that can we resist the devil – this is always how it goes:

- (Jam 4:7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

- (1 Peter 5:8,9) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:

9  Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brothers that are in the world.

- (Mark 16:17) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues

- (Matt 4:10) Then said Jesus to him, Get you hence, Satan: for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.

- (Luke 10:17-20) And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject to us through your name.

18  And he said to them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

19  Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject to you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

- (Rev 12:11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives to the death.

The following example of Neil T. Anderson shows what resisting means in practice. He tells of a woman who suffered from snakes appearing in her life and how she hesitated to resist them in the name of Jesus. However, when she finally dared to do it, the snakes vanished from her life:

One of the first people with whom I dealt as comes to spiritual battles and demonic activity was Daisy, a 26-year-old hippie of the 60s. Daisy was in faith and she had a university degree, but she also had serious mental and emotional problems, which had developed after her father divorced her mother. Over the course of five years, Daisy had been in the hospital three times being treated because of paranoia and schizophrenia. When she had been at my place in pastoral care for three weeks, she finally got the courage to tell me about the snakes in her life.

   "What snakes?” I asked.

   "Well, they crawl on me at night, when I am in bed," she confessed.

   "What do you do when the snakes come?”

   "I run to my mother. But they always come back, when I am alone.”

   "I'll tell you what you should do,” I said. “When you have gone to the bed and the snakes come, say aloud, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to go away."

   "I can’t do it,” Daisy resisted. “I am not ready or strong enough.”

   "It is not a question of you being ready; it is a question of your position in Christ. You are as much entitled to resist Satan and force him to leave as I am.”

   Daisy wriggled before this thought. “Well, maybe I could do it,” she sighed and sounded like she had just promised to drink castor oil.

   When Daisy marched to my place the following week, she said, "The snakes have disappeared!”

   "Great! Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

   "Because I was afraid you too would get them. Now I understand that it was only another part of the same lie.”

     In the course of a few months, Daisy was freed from the demonic mess and was a part of the child work of the church. If her problem had been merely neurological or caused by a chemical imbalance in her system, ordering the snakes in the name of Jesus would not have helped. But in the case of Daisy, the problem was spiritual, and five years of hospital care and medical treatment did not work. (11)

AFTER-FIGHT

When one has been deep involved in occultism, he might have to fight for weeks, even months afterwards. Even though he had experienced deliverance, he might not be at peace but the devil would still be trying to harass him. It is a part of the mowing process that man may have to experience because he has driven his mind into passivity before, and has allowed room for the devil.

   A firm will and resisting the devil are of great significance in this regard. When man actively resists the devil and its disturbance and sustains a firm will, the evil powers will be forced to give up eventually. They will be forced to give up, because man will not offer any room for them. For example, Jessie Penn-Lewis said very well in her book "Pyhien sota" (War on the Saints), p. 83, concerning the firm attitude and activity of the will, "When the believer keeps his mind in a normal condition of action, he should sustain firm willpower, i.e. ‘I want my mind not to be passive, I want to completely control and use all my abilities, I want to be clear of all that comes from the enemy’. This shows that the person has made a choice and decided to give up these things. The powers of darkness do not care for mere choosing, but they will surrender powerless, when the willpower is manifested in a determined decision. God gives us power to walk to the right direction, if we choose the right way."

   In the same way, the following verses show what is the significance of resisting and enduring. If this is done, we can achieve true freedom:

- (Eph 6:13) Why take to you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

- (Hebr 10:35,36) Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward.

36  For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.

Another important thing is to separate faith and feelings from each other. Deliverance is always based on faith, not on feelings. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7), and feelings are often a total opposite of what we really own in Christ.

   It is especially normal for a freed person to turn to feelings when he experiences physical or other symptoms, the same kind as before. He may think that he has not really been freed and saved, but that the evil spirits have come back.

   It is good to note, however, that one must only stand in faith, believing that the evil spirits have departed. If one has already confessed his sins, received forgiveness through the blood of Jesus and commanded the evil spirits, then they really have gone – it is a matter of faith, not of feelings.

   It is possible, however, that one experiences the same kinds of symptoms as before, but now on the outside – it is quite a different issue. Every believer can be attacked by the evil – even Jesus experienced it in the desert (Matt 4:1-11) – but it does not mean that man himself were under the power of evil.

   The following verses show Gods protection in this regard, for example. So if you are struggling with this now, you will be better off trusting the verses below than your feelings, which change and vary quite a lot:

- (1 John 4:4) You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

- (Ps 121:7) The LORD shall preserve you from all evil: he shall preserve your soul.

- (Rom 8:38,39) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

- (Col 1:13) Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

READING THE WORD

- (Eph 6:16,17) Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

The verses above refer to the shield of faith, with which we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, but also to the sword of the Spirit that is the word of God.

   The word of God may also be one tool of grace in deliverance and the fight. Whenever we read the word of the Bible – especially verses that concern our position in Christ and as a child of God – we can experience increasing freedom, when "the truth shall make you free", as Jesus said (John 8:32). This goes especially to understanding true righteousness and the grace of God, when we are freed from false self-accusations and enter a new level in our relationship with God.

   On the other hand, the word of the Bible can be of use also in being freed from occultism and other similar issues. Reading aloud, especially verses that speak of the defeat of the devil and his final destiny, has been found to be very good for this issue. (E.g., Rebecca Brown – who has worked among many people who were seriously bound – wrote in her book "Valmistaudu sotaan" (Prepare for War), p. 347, that chapter 18 and the last two chapters of the Revelation are especially good). The following verses where the defeat of the devil is discussed can be good, for example. If reading these verses is difficult for you and you fear that you may lose consciousness, you can immediately resist the devil in the name of Jesus and continue reading again:

- (1 John 3:8) ... For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

- (Col 2:15) And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

- (Luke 10:17-20) And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject to us through your name.

18  And he said to them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

19  Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject to you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

- (Luke 11:20-22) But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come on you.

21  When a strong man armed keeps his palace, his goods are in peace:

22  But when a stronger than he shall come on him, and overcome him, he takes from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divides his spoils.

- (Matt 4:10) Then said Jesus to him, Get you hence, Satan: for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.

- (Matt 25:41) Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels

- (Rev 20:10) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

- Chapters 18-22 of the Revelation

OBJECTS

- (Deut 7:25,26) The graven images of their gods shall you burn with fire: you shall not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it to you, lest you be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.

26  Neither shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be a cursed thing like it: but you shall utterly detest it, and you shall utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.

- (Acts 19:17-19) And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18  And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds.

19  Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

A barrier for deliverance may be different objects that have been in the occult. If there are many objects in our home that have been used in idol worshipping or have had spells recited over them, they may be the base for evil spirits. Many of these objects may be neutral in themselves but if spells are related to them, then they will incur a burden upon the home – a burden that will not disappear until the object in question has been destroyed.

   Below is a list of such things and objects that may be a channel for the devil into man’s home and which should be destroyed. We could also utter the prayer of giving up for every object before we destroy it:

- Astrologic, spiritualistic, and magical literature is one of the greatest channels for the devil. The best known in this area are probably the 6^th and 7^th books of Moses or the Black Bible that include an extensive selection of magic spells, teaching about communication with spirits and that have no real connection with the Bible. For example, Kurt Koch gives in his book Onko paholainen olemassa? (Between Christ and Satan) (p. 129-139) numerous examples of how this book has produced difficult family histories, mental illnesses and that it is difficult for these people and their descendants to later on turn to Christ.

- Many souvenirs such as idols and statues, fetishes, magic drums, and masks of the devil can be bases for evil spirits because many of them have been dedicated to idolatry and equipped with spells. Several people bring a curse to their home when they take home these souvenirs.

- Talismans, amulets, and magic tools that are thought to possess magical powers and which are believed to bring luck can also be a channel for the devil. Similar objects connected to superstition are the pictures of saints, statues, religious relics, and crucifixes.

- Heavy rock and other cassettes or CDs may be harmful. Many of these bands are owned by Satanists and have dedicated themselves to Satan worshipping.

- Objects placed under ones skin, such as metal needles, can be usual in, for example, the worshipping of Satan or in the practices of the religions of primitive people. One should have these kinds of objects removed at a doctor or ask the Lord to take them away because they are a channel for evil spirits.

- There are also non-occult objects, received as gifts, that may include a curse and may be difficult to acknowledge, unless God gives one a special gift of discernment. These objects themselves may be neutral, but the curse connected to them can bring a burden to ones home.

- Crystals that are especially used in the New Age movement can be harmful because they have been used in service of the evil. Otherwise they are completely neutral objects.

- Nowadays, children's toys and games may easily include signs and things relating to occultism. It is certainly worth while to discuss this with the children and explain to them why they must be abandoned and destroyed.  

CURSES

- (Pro 26:2) As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

Curses sent by others are also certainly included in the issues that can bind us. It is very possible that we may be sick and suffer from problems because of the curses of others which have been uttered upon us or upon our family by hostile people. The problem with these curses is also that they are not always easy to discover and it is not easy to know where they came from.

   The following letter illustrates this well:

I have just recovered from a terrible attack of the enemy. Bleeding, heart disease, heart beating and exhaustion. My whole being is in a state of collapse. Suddenly, I remembered in prayer to pray against all psychic powers focused upon me (psychic 'prayer'). In faith and by the power of the blood of Jesus, I cut myself off that, and the result was surprising. Suddenly my breathing was normal, the bleeding stopped, the exhaustion disappeared, all the pain left and life returned to my body. Since that moment, I have been refreshed and become stronger. God let me know that my condition was due to a group of betrayed souls in opposition against me who directed their 'prayers' against me. God has used me to release two of them, but the others are still in a terrible abyss... (12)

So if you suspect a curse is the cause of your problems, you can be freed from these bonds. You can simply command the curse to break and the evil powers causing it to leave in the name of Jesus Christ. In the same way, you can ask God for special protection against hatred, and that God would break all ties between you and the attacks of the spirit world. This can be done in the following way, for example:

"In the name of Jesus Christ, I break all curses that have been uttered against me. At the same time, I command all demonic powers and illnesses in the name of Jesus Christ to leave me and my surroundings and my family, never to return.

   And Oh Lord, beloved Heavenly Father, I ask that You would give me protection against hatred and that You break all ties between me and the attacks of the spirit world. In addition, I want to bless those who have spoken ill about me and cursed me. In the name of Jesus, amen.

INHERITANCE

- (Lev 26:38,39) And you shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.

39  And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.

- (1 Peter 1:18,19) For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

An issue to which we do not always pay attention is the effect of the spiritual inheritance on the lives of people. The effect of this spiritual inheritance becomes apparent in that we inherit both positive and negative matters in the spiritual world, both blessings and curses that can affect our life. Often, these matters that have come to us as an inheritance can cause consequences to the third and fourth generation (Ex 20:5) and even further down the line.

    In the most clearest way, the effect of the inheritance probably appears in the area of occultism. For many may have inherited occult abilities, such as telepathy, clairvoyance, spirit healing and common spiritualistic burden. We can also hear about seer families in which these matters are handed down from generation to generation. Same kinds of bandages can also be Mormon and freemasonry oaths or parents who have allowed to heal themselves magically.

   Remarkable in the previous kinds of bounds is that even if even has never practiced occultism, the spiritualistic strain will appear at the latest when he tries to turn to God. He can feel like there is a wall in front of him and he may be faced with hard battles. Many problems of the believers come from these bounds, because we have not understood to take them into the light of God. They can still affect our lives.

   However, we can destroy the effect of the inheritance by bringing these things into light, i.e. confessing them to God. We can ask Him to forgive us these sins (this does not mean that we could affect the destiny of our dead forefathers, but that we ourselves will be free from the effect of these issues) and also those sins of which we are not aware. In this way, we will destroy the base of the evil spirits who try to affect us through the inheritance. We can also ask God to separate us from all the bad deeds of our forefathers. The following verses in the Bible refer to this:

- (Lev 26:39-41) And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.

40  If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary to me;

41  And that I also have walked contrary to them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:

- (Dan 9:16,17) O LORD, according to all your righteousness, I beseech you, let your anger and your fury be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people are become a reproach to all that are about us.

17  Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of your servant, and his supplications, and cause your face to shine on your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.

- (Neh 9:2) And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

- (Jer 14:20) We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against you.

So, as comes to your life, you can bring these things before God and confess them to Him. You can break away from them and command all the evil powers to leave in the name of Jesus Christ and on the basis of his blood. Confessing your sins and the command can be uttered in, e.g., the following way. Also, if you have inherited diseases, you can rebuke them in the name of Jesus, spread oil on the sick spot and at the same time ask the Lord for healing:

"Oh Lord, Father, I confess to You all the sins of my ancestors and parents such as witchcraft, spiritualism, spirit healing, immorality, false oaths, etc. and I break away from them. Thank You that I may be free from the effect of these sins and from all the evil spirits through the atoning work of Jesus. Thank You that my spiritual inheritance comes from Christ and not from the sins of my ancestors. Amen.

"Satan and you evil spirits, I have confessed to God the sins of my ancestors and parents and the false oaths and broken away from them. Now you no longer have any legal right in this regard, because through the blood of Jesus these matters have been forgiven and their effect has been broken. Therefore, I command you now in the name of Jesus Christ to leave me and my surroundings, and never to return!

REFERENCES:

1. Rick Joyner: Soihtu ja miekka (The Torch and the Sword), p. 45, 46

2. Audrey Harper ja Harry Pugh: Tanssii saatanan kanssa (Dance with the Devil), p. 64

3. Anton LaVey: The Satanic Bible (New York: Avon Books, 1969), p. 18

4. Neil T. Anderson: Enemmän kuin voittaja (The Bondage Breaker), p. 130

5. Päivi Niemi: Stooreja varjojen maasta, p. 97

6. Jessie Penn-Lewis: Pyhien sota (War on the Saints), p. 13

7. Corrie ten Boom: Lyöty vihollinen (Defeated Enemies), p. 31,32

8. Charles G. Finney: Ihmeellisiä herätyksiä, p. 296

9. Rick Joyner: Kutsu (The Call), p. 42,44

10) Corrie ten Boom: Lyöty vihollinen (Defeated Enemies), p. 11,12

11) Neil T. Anderson: Enemmän kuin voittaja (The Bondage Breaker), p. 61,62

12) Quote from Sielun piilevä voima (THE LATENT POWER OF THE SOUL), Watchman Nee, p.46,47. Initially in Soul and spirit by Jessie Penn-Lewis, p. 58

More on this topic:

Wicca and witchcraft. What do the Wicca cult consist of and what power  influences behind it? Wicca members and witches do not consider the possibility of fraud

Spiritualism. Mediums, channeling, ghost phenomena, automatic writing. Read why it is not worth believing that the forces behind these phenomena are good, but that it is a case of deception

Which power influences you? It is possible that man thinks he is acting in the power of God, but he is not. What are the characteristics of such lubrication from the wrong source?

Slips. How can one identify whether a teaching, guidance or experience is of God or a lying spirit? Missteps should be avoided