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There is a battle going on in the realm of the mind. What part do lies and truth and the flesh and the devil play in this battle?
1. Social strongholds and thought structures
- (2 Cor 10:3-5) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
This writing reflects on the thought structures in people's minds, i.e. fortresses and reasonings, which Paul referred to in the previous verses. Paul specifically meant such thought structures that are against knowing God. They occur in every unbelieving person who has not yet turned to God and Jesus, and who has not allowed himself to be saved. However, believers who have already turned to Jesus also have false thoughts. We can have false ideas about God, salvation and ourselves - these are the most important areas. In addition, we can have wrong attitudes towards other people, such as bitterness and unforgiveness. They make it difficult for us to progress in our spiritual life until we discover these thought structures as lies and repent of wrong attitudes and actions. The subject of examination is also the influence of demons on people's lives. In this area, it is easy to go to two extremes, either to deny the influence of demons altogether, or to see demons everywhere. So we try to sail between these two extreme views. We will begin our investigation with social strongholds, that is, thought structures that are against the real knowledge of God. These thought structures appear mainly among those people who have not turned to God.
1. Social strongholds and thought structures
This writing reflects on the thought structures in people's minds, i.e. fortresses and reasonings, which Paul referred to in the previous verses. Paul specifically meant such thought structures that are against knowing God. They occur in every unbelieving person who has not yet turned to God and Jesus, and who has not allowed himself to be saved. However, believers who have already turned to Jesus also have false thoughts. We can have false ideas about God, salvation and ourselves - these are the most important areas. In addition, we can have wrong attitudes towards other people, such as bitterness and unforgiveness. They make it difficult for us to progress in our spiritual life until we discover these thought structures as lies and repent of wrong attitudes and actions. The subject of examination is also the influence of demons on people's lives. In this area, it is easy to go to two extremes, either to deny the influence of demons altogether, or to see demons everywhere. So we try to sail between these two extreme views. We will begin our investigation with social strongholds, that is, thought structures that are against the real knowledge of God. These thought structures appear mainly among those people who have not turned to God.
1. Social strongholds and thought structures As noted, some strongholds of the mind are societal in scope. Such are religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam, whose influence is enormous in the countries representing these religions. For example, Hinduism is a religion where millions of Hindus take refuge in self-made images of gods who cannot speak, see, smell or hear. These people do not think that objects made of wood, stone or metal are powerless to help them in their lives. The psalmist has pointed to the inconsistency and absurdity of such an action:
- (Ps 115:3-8) But our God is in the heavens: he has done whatever he has pleased. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 8 They that make them are like to them; so is every one that trusts in them.
What about social strongholds in Western countries? We are none the wiser. I myself once believed in atheistic theories of the origin of the universe and life, as well as the theory of evolution with its millions of years, and these are common beliefs throughout Western society. Everything is assumed to have arisen by itself from nothing, life is assumed to have arisen by itself, and all life forms are assumed to have been inherited from the same primordial cell. However, the following are not taken into account:
• It is impossible for anyhing to arise by itself. It is almost the same as someone having an empty box in his hand and claiming that millions of stars, sun, earth, moon, trees, birds, insects, elephants and people will come out of it. Would you believe this person or would you consider him/her insane? If you find his claims implausible, then why would you believe atheist scientists who present similar views? • The origin of life has not been proven. The reason is simply that it is impossible. Only the living God can bring about life. Atheists admit that the universe and life had a beginning, but they are deadlocked on the matter because they deny God's creation. They think they are scientific, but they are not, when they reject the clear evidence of God's creation. • Thirdly, no intermediate forms have been observed, which the theory of evolution would require, but all life forms in fossils and modern animals are always ready and fully developed. It does not refer to gradual development but to God's work of creation. Below are some comments from representatives of natural history museums. Natural history museums should have the best evidence for evolution, but they don't. First, a comment by Stephen Jay Gould, perhaps the most famous paleontologist of our time (American Museum). He denied gradual evolution in fossils:
Stephen Jay Gould: I do not want in any way to belittle the potential competence of the gradual evolution view. I want only to remark that it has never 'been observed' in rocks. (The Panda’s Thumb, 1988, p. 182,183).
Dr. Etheridge, world-famous curator of the British Museum: Nine-tenths of what evolutionists say is sheer nonsense, not based on observations and is not at all supported by facts. This museum is full of evidence of the extreme fallacy of their views. In this entire huge museum, there is not a single piece of evidence of the transformation of species. (1)
None of the officials in five large paleontological museums can present even one simple example of an organism that could be regarded as a piece of evidence of gradual evolution from one species to another. (Dr. Luther Sunderland’s summary in his book Darwin's enigma. He interviewed many representatives of natural history museums for this book and wrote to them aiming at finding out what sort of evidence they had to prove evolution. [2])
In Western countries, there have been and are also other fortresses of the mind and false thought structures. For example, in Germany, Nazism and the related Social Darwinism were such social strongholds in the 1930s. In 1939, just before World War II, more than 90% of German youth belonged to the Hitler Jugend. This shows how a wrong thought pattern can take root in society. Social Darwinism with its racial doctrines was a common ideology in other countries as well, but today it has been rejected in scientific circles as unscientific. But what false and contrary to God's will thought structures exist in Western countries today? Many of these thought structures are related to sexuality and morality, when God's commandments on these matters are no longer respected. It has been gone further and further away from the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. It manifests e.g. in the following matters:
• We accept cohabitation and sex apart from the marriage of husband and wife, even though the following verses teach the opposite. This ideology, which took root in society in the 1960s, the so-called in the context of the sexual revolution, rejects the Bible's teaching that sex is right only in a relationship between a man and a wife.
- (Hebr 13:4) Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
- (1 Cor 7:1-5) Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife to the husband. 4 The wife has not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband has not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud you not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
Pornography and its silent acceptance is also an indication of the development of society. Paul wrote about the people of the last days that they are "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;" (2 Tim 3:4), and this seems to have been fulfilled in the present day. In addition, pornography gives people a distorted view of sexuality and love. It involves the sin of lust, which easily binds a person. Among other things, the following verses refer to the topic:
- (Matt 5:28) But I say to you, That whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
- (Rom 6:12,13) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield you your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin: but yield yourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
- (Rev 2:21) And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
• In modern times, divorces are accepted and no longer considered wrong. Of course, there are situations where it is impossible to continue the marriage, e.g. because of violence or persistent infidelity, but in general people divorce very easily. They do not consider that God will judge adulterers:
- (Mal 3:5) And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, said the LORD of hosts.
- (Hebr 13:4) Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
• One of the strongest strongholds of the mind in modern times is a positive attitude towards homosexual behavior. This structure of thought has taken root in Western societies mainly only in the last few decades. It is thought that there is nothing wrong with it if two men or two women love each other and have sex with each other. It is not understood that love and friendships are always ok, but sexual relations are only ok between husband and wife in marriage. Homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God:
- (1 Cor 6:9,10) Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Many people have also marched for this cause, believing that they are thus helping these people. However, the homosexual lifestyle is dangerous for many, just like alcohol and drugs. Why so? The reason is that many of these people have more diseases than usual, such as AIDS and, as a new scourge, monkeypox. They have many times more of them than the rest of the population. (Etelä-Suomen sanomat reported on 9.10 about homosexual men in New York. They had contracted monkeypox as a result of sex between men, which is clearly the most common cause of this disease. In addition, three of the seven interviewed were HIV positive). In addition, their lifespan is about 10-20 years shorter than the rest of the population. In other words, those who march for the homosexual lifestyle are, in a way, marching for people to get sick and die earlier. Jesus said that ”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 (John 10:10).” This is how Satan wants to destroy people's lives, but Jesus wants to give us health and eternal life. Satan's ideology of destruction is also present in the acceptance of abortion and in the positive attitude towards divorces and extramarital sex. Children always suffer when parents follow these selfish lifestyles. Mental health disorders in children and young people have been on the rise long before the corona virus. In any case, Jesus is the friend of sinners (Matthew 11:19) through whom people from any circumstances can receive eternal life. The invitation to come to him should not be rejected:
- (Matt 11:28-30) Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke on you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
- (John 5:39,40) Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And you will not come to me, that you might have life.
- (Luke 15:2) And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them.
• Abortion was accepted in Western countries with the sexual revolution. However, it is a question of killing a child, even if it is claimed otherwise. Human life always begins at conception, not at birth. This was also acknowledged in a recent study that asked 5,577 biologists around the world when human life begins. 96 percent of them said it starts at conception (Erelt, S., Survey asked, 5,577 biologists when human life begins. 96 % said conception; lifenews.com, 11 july 2019). Aborted children also have the same body parts as adults: hands, feet, eyes, mouth, and their own heartbeats already at 3 weeks old and their own EEG, so there is definitely a child and a human being in the womb, just smaller than a newborn or an adult. This is factual information that is surely known to everyone. So the question is ultimately whether parents have the right to kill their own child, who is in the womb. If this is considered a human right, then one has gone badly astray. On the other hand, if the same argument was used as the one used by abortion supporters now, they would have to accept the killing of already born children as well. Fortunately, they haven't done this yet, which is a testament to their inconsistency. Yes, a child is a child both inside and outside the womb.
- (Mark 10:19) You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor your father and mother.
As for this current development, I have been thinking that the Western world is rapidly moving towards societies similar to ancient Sodom and Canaanite society. The promoters of this development in modern times consider themselves morally superior to others, but their ideology is quite similar to that of these two past societies. For Sodom was characterized by a wide acceptance of homosexual behavior, just as today in the West the same thing is welcomed. The Canaanites, on the other hand, sacrificed their children to the idols of Canaan, which is completely comparable to today's abortion practice. We know from the Bible that God's wrath met both societies. I do hope that people would think about these things more deeply. God has love for all people, including homosexuals or those who have committed an abortion. Everyone can have their sins forgiven regardless of their background. However, we should not call good bad and bad good, as is happening today (Isaiah 5:20 Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!). Among other things, the following verses are related to this topic:
- (Ps 106:38-40) And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood. 39 Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions. 40 Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, so that he abhorred his own inheritance.
- (Jude 1:7,8) Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
• The narrowing of freedom of speech is one consequence of changing morals. This happened in Nazi Germany, former communist countries, today in Russia, but it also happens in current EU countries. Why so? Why is freedom of speech narrowing in EU countries? There is a simple reason for this. When the teachings of Jesus and the apostles about morality are no longer accepted, this is especially attacked. People want to suppress all Christian teaching from this area. It means more and more censorship and lawsuits. This all happens in the name of human rights, when the sound teachings of Jesus and the apostles are rejected, keeping them, e.g. as hate speech. I have no doubt that Satan is behind all of this. The media, social media giants, and the judiciary are just intermediaries at Satan's disposal. I am sure that in the Western countries we will go to a totalitarian society similar to what is happening in today's Russia and what happened in the former communist countries. People reject Jesus just like the communists of the Soviet Union did 100 years ago and 2000 years ago when people chose Barabbas instead of Jesus. If we look at the former communist countries, there was no freedom of religion and the Bible was a forbidden book. In addition, as soon as the communists came to power in the former Soviet Union, they immediately pushed for the same things as mentioned in the previous paragraphs: divorce was made easy, sexual intercourse was supported without marital commitment, abortion and homosexuality were made legal. This Soviet family experiment had catastrophic consequences. Among other things, the number of street children grew explosively, as a result of which the direction of politics in the Soviet Union was changed back to the way it was before in the 1930s. The current rulers in the West are thus fully following in the footsteps of these early communists (just as they are following in the footsteps of Sodom and the Canaanites in the area of morality). They push the same morality and have the desire to deny freedom of speech to those who think differently and freedom of religion. So what is the cause of this development? It is because of satan's lies as I stated. These lies have influenced people's minds. Paul was writing about this kind of spiritual blindness, which the current Western leaders, the media and the judiciary are increasingly in power with all the time. These are the fortresses of the mind that are against the will of God, i.e. thought structures.
- (Eph 2:1,2) And you has he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:
- (2 Tim 2:24-26) And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
- (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.
• Xenophobia is also a common stronghold of the mind that I worry about. Many foreigners have to experience name-calling and even direct violence. In addition, some secular parties can be very xenophobic, although on the other hand they may support healthy family values. There is an obvious contradiction here. On the other hand, there are dangers in large-scale immigration and supporting it. It easily increases xenophobia, as happened in Hitler's Germany in the early 20th century. Therefore, it is worth proceeding with caution in this area. Among other things, the following verses tell about this topic:
- (Lev 19:33,34) And if a stranger sojourn with you in your land, you shall not vex him. 34 But the stranger that dwells with you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
- (Deut 10:17-19) For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regards not persons, nor takes reward: 18 He does execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loves the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. 19 Love you therefore the stranger: for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
- (Deut 24:17) You shall not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:
2. Are you in faith and saved?
When we start to deal with the strongholds of the Christians' mind and the influence of demons, it is good to ask ourselves the question: am I really in the faith and saved? Because there may be hundreds of people in the churches, perhaps children of Christian homes, to whom this matter is unclear. They assume they are in personal faith and yet they are not. Everything has remained unclear to them regarding salvation. So what must a person do to be saved? First of all, a person's attitude should be that he wants to follow God and Jesus with all his heart and is ready to give up all conscious sin. "No man can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24). In addition, Jesus taught about the meaning of the act of repentance: "but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3). In other words, every person must be ready to surrender his whole life to God and Jesus Christ. Half-heartedness is a bad starting point for the Christian life. However, no one is saved by his surrender to God or any of his actions. Through them no one attains eternal life. Instead, the essential question is: Do you have the Son of God? Have you accepted Him or not? John's letter says:
- (1 John 5:11-13) 11 And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life. 13 These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.
The Gospel of John continues on the same topic. If a person receives, that is, welcomes Jesus Christ into his life, then he has received eternal life and has become a child of God:
- (John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
So, even if you were previously the most wicked person in the world, but now you have accepted Jesus, you want to believe in Him, follow Him and acknowledge Him as your Lord, you have eternal life (Rom 10:9 That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved). Don't look at yourself, your feelings or your actions, but turn to Jesus in prayer and put your trust or faith in Him. You don't have to feel any special feelings about this. Feelings may follow later:
- (1 Joh 5:13) These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.
- (Acts 16:31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.
When you turn to Jesus in prayer, consider the following words of Jesus. He said that in Him is eternal life. You receive this life as a gift the very moment you turn to Jesus in prayer and want to be saved:
- (John 5:39,40) Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And you will not come to me, that you might have life.
The prayer of salvation: Lord, Jesus, I turn to You. I confess that I have sinned against You and have not lived according to Your will. However, I want to turn away from my sins and follow You with all my heart. I also believe that my sins have been forgiven through Your atonement and I have received eternal life through You. I thank You for the salvation that You have given me. Amen.
3. The first battle of the mind
When it comes to a person turning to God, it is usually not a simple matter. Salvation is given immediately as a gift, but the problem is that every person has two opponents: his own flesh, or selfishness, and the devil. They would like to keep man away from God and salvation. Charles G. Finney, who was a well-known revivalist in the 19th century, and through whom thousands of people were converted to God, has described in his book Ihmeellisiä herätyksiä (p. 91) the battle of the mind that arises when a person should turn to God:
Revivals are sometimes accused of driving people insane. In fact, people are naturally insane in their relationship to religion, and revival rather heals them than makes them mad.
If we first think of man himself, it is natural why he resists salvation and turning to God. He understands that when he turns to God, he has to fix his life, give up wrong things or maybe confess the wrongs he has done to others and reach out according to God's will. This creates a struggle in the human mind. He would like to escape it and get rid of it (this is exactly what happens in the revivals that Finney was referring to). Of course, God would like us to turn to him immediately without conditions and everything would be simple that way, but man's own will and selfishness can keep him outside of salvation. Only when a person agrees to God's way of working and surrenders himself unconditionally to God, does he get peace. Many never take this step and therefore fall outside salvation. Here are the following serious words. Cowards and those who want to save their lives cannot be saved:
- (Matt 16:24-26) Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 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?
- (Rev 21:6-8) And he said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 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.
As stated, man also has another adversary: Satan and the evil spirit world. Satan wants to keep every person away from salvation and communion with God. It tries to plant lies in a person's mind, strongholds of the mind, that is, reasons why it is not worth turning to God. Such reasons and lies can be the following. The person himself may consider them his own thoughts, but many of them are lies fed by Satan. Jesus said of Satan that ”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 8:44).”
• There is no God, therefore there is no judgment after death • All roads lead to heaven, you can believe in anything • Jesus cannot be that important for salvation • It is important to turn to God, but you can do it later
There are, of course, other lies fed by Satan, because of which a person can resist turning to God and Jesus. Lies are the main way Satan works in people's lives. What then if a person nevertheless turns to God and allows himself to be saved? Is his life immediately after that just rest and peace? This can sometimes happen, so that some people's conversion is an uncomplicated process and they soon enter a state of rest and peace. However, this is not often the case. Especially in those cases where a person has been involved in witchcraft, spiritism and Satan worship, or these things have been practiced in the person's own family, the mental battles can start stronger than ever. There is a simple explanation for this: after conversion, a person has an enemy who tries to keep him away from God and bring him back from salvation. It is also about the fact that man has to reap the harvest of having previously sown seeds in the service of darkness. Therefore, it is more difficult for such people to turn to God and then remain in the faith than for other people. However, endurance in resisting the enemy and constant turning to Jesus Christ usually at some point brings a solution to the situation. In his book, Devil on the Run, Nicky Cruz has told about the struggles her mother had to experience after her conversion. She had previously worked as a spiritualist medium:
Things like this happened to my mother often after she became a Christian. She was more afraid than a normal woman, as she sensed a malevolent force behind the strange noises and unexplained incidents that happened to her. But she also knew the Savior who protects her with His own, mighty power. “I once lived in peace,” my mother told me before she died, “because the devil was sure I belonged to him. Now that I have come from darkness to light, Satan is like a roaring lion. Demons are always around me, but so are the angels of Christ, and Christ is stronger than all demons.” (3)
Kurt Koch has also described the mental struggle that people who have worked in the occult often face after they turn to God. When they have been in the service of darkness for a long time, they have to fight more than others to get full freedom:
This example shows a point that I have experienced many times: as long as a person burdened by occultism remains in the world, he can be completely at peace. It's only when he wants to turn around that the trouble starts. The rule is very simple: the devil will let man alone as long as man serves him. Only when the victim is about to run away from his camp does he start to resist. Many of these people burdened by occultism are brought to the brink of insanity in the tribulations that follow their conversion. Then, of course, unbelieving relatives and possibly also the doctor treating the patient come and say: "That's what you get when you pray so much. Now stay away from the church for a while! Leave reading the Bible for a while too." How often have I been told such advice! These advisers only show by their actions that they do not understand anything about the power relations revealed in the Bible. (4)
When one embarks on the path of faith and turns to Jesus Christ, it is likely that a person will experience a battle of the mind. Man's own flesh and selfishness, when it is difficult for him to submit to God's will, is another reason for this. Another reason is Satan and the evil spirit world. Satan tries to influence people so that they don't surrender their lives to God and repent of their sins. In addition, it tries with its lies to prevent a person who has already been converted from seeing his own position in Jesus Christ, especially the fact that through Jesus Christ, a person is under grace and not under the law. How do we get started on this? One of the key things is to look for and close the gates through which Satan and the evil spirit world can influence a person's life. It's basically a simple matter. That is, every sin is an open gate through which the devil can influence a person. Instead, the confession of sins and sorrow for the sin committed according to God's will is the key with which the same gate is closed. Confession of sins removes Satan's legal ground to be in and influence a person. It can be more easily banished after a person has first confessed his sins and wrongdoings to God. Confession of sins is talked about e.g. in the following verses:
- (Prov 28:13) He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.
- (Ps 32:1-5) Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD imputes not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledge my sin to you, and my iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD; and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
- (1 John1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The devil and evil spirits always work in darkness and wherever they are given a place. Unconfessed sin and living in impenitence means exactly this. A person must come to the light, that is, confess to God that he has done wrong, then the powers of darkness will lose their residence or the right to influence a person's life. Among other things, the following verses tell about this:
- (John 3:19-21) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are worked in God.
- (1 John 2:9-11) He that said he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loves his brother stays in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and knows not where he goes, because that darkness has blinded his eyes.
- (Acts 26:17,18) Delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send you, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Surrendering one's whole life to God and not wanting to keep the gate open to lust, sin and evil is the starting point for striving for freedom. Many keep this gate constantly open to the world of darkness by escaping e.g. to drugs, the occult, pornography, TV violence or being bitter. Only when a person is ready to renounce these sins can he experience freedom. Sometimes the open gates can also be hidden or the person doesn't remember them. For example, someone may have visited a fortune teller or a spirit healer years ago, and no longer remembers this. However, when a person turns to God, Satan still has a legal right to influence that person, and a battle may ensue. A person must confess these sins to God, only then does Satan lose the right to influence a person. You should be thorough in this matter. For example, you can write on paper the sins and wrongs that you have committed year after year, since childhood, and which come to mind (0-10 years, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24 ...). When everyone turns to Jesus, everything in the past is immediately forgiven, but with the confession of sins and the subsequent prayer for renunciation of Satan's actions, it is possible to experience freedom from the pressure of Satan and evil spirits. The usual open gates through which Satan can influence a person's life are listed next.
• Bitterness and unforgiveness is the most common gate (a topic we will explore later). Most people get tied up because they harbor hatred and unforgiveness in their minds. Getting angry at injustice is never wrong, but if a person remains bitter, it opens the door to the enemy:
- (Eph 4:26,27) Be you angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down on your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.
- (2 Cor 2:10,11) To whom you forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
- (Hebr 12:15) Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
• Self-hatred, self-pity and not forgiving oneself, even if God has already forgiven, are similar open gates as the fact that a person harbors bitterness towards others. It is understandable that if hatred towards others is wrong, it is also wrong towards the person himself. We will explore this topic later.
- (Gal 5:14) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
- (Col 3:13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.
• Previously, it was brought up how sex is right only in the marriage of a man and a wife. Sex in itself is not wrong and dirty if it takes place within these frameworks. God created human sexuality. Instead, all distortions of sexuality such as extramarital sex, practicing homosexuality, pornography, incest, sex with children, sex with animals or demons, open the door to the forces of darkness, the spirits of fornication.
- (Hos 4:12) My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declares to them: for the spirit of prostitutions has caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
- (Hos 5:4) They will not frame their doings to turn to their God: for the spirit of prostitutions is in the middle of them, and they have not known the LORD.
- (1 Cor 6:16-20) What? know you not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, said he, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. 19 What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? 20 For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
• Idolatry in some countries is one of the biggest gates through which people are bound. Paul referred to a related activity where people become partakers of demons:
- (1 Cor 10:19,20) 19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that you should have fellowship with devils.
- (Rev 22:12-15) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 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.
• Violent video games, horror movies, RPGs like Dungeons and Dragons, drugs, heavy metal music and oriental martial arts are gateways. In martial arts, people may use meditation and visualization and connect with invisible forces, which in reality are demons. Through them, a person becomes bound.
• The various functions of the occult are one of the greatest open gates. It includes witchcraft, spiritualism and channeling, Satan worship, different forms of divination (divination by hand, tea leaves...), astrology and horoscopes, Tarot cards, pendulum and magic sparrow, occult visualization such as Silva Mind Control, spirit guides, ouija board or letter board, hypnosis and making one's mind passive through e.g. TM and oriental meditation, telepathy, clairvoyance, automatic writing, levitation, crystal balls, iris analysis, astral projection, black and white magic (white magic has the same powers as black), spells and curses, spirit - and energy healing (there is no neutral energy in this area), laying on of hands through a demonic person (churches should act in such a way that only the elders and trusted persons of the church pray for others), acupuncture, yoga (in traditional Hinduism, the purpose of yoga is to connect a person with the Hindu god Brahman), ufo experiences, blood oaths, voodoo…
- (Lev 19:26,31) You shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall you use enchantment, nor observe times. 31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
- (Deut 18:10-12) There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination to the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD your God does drive them out from before you.
- (2 King 21:6) And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he worked much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
- (1 Chron 10:13) So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;
- (Isa 8:19) And when they shall say to you, Seek to them that have familiar spirits, and to wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek to their God? for the living to the dead?
- (Rev 21:6-8) And he said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 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.
• False religions and cults are common gateways. In some of them, lights are recited, as in Freemasonry and the Mormon religion. They can also bind offspring. Other religious groups include Unification Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Bahai, Children of God, Anthroposophy, Unity, New-Age, Scientology, Rosicrucianism, Theosophy, Hare Krishna, Divine Light Mission, Gurus, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Shintoism, Unitarianism , Christian Science, Kabbalah, Odd Fellows, Knights Templar…
- (Tit 3:10,11) A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sins, being condemned of himself.
• Objects that have been used in idolatry or occult use are an open gate for the forces of the enemy. This includes images and statues of idols (souvenirs may include such items), fetishes, magic drums, devil masks, talismans, amulets, magic tools, heavy rock records, ankh crosses, lucky charms, zodiac jewelry, ouija boards or writing boards. Similar objects associated with human superstition include pictures, statues and relics of saints. In addition, astrological, spiritualist and magical literature is one great avenue for the devil. The most famous of the books in this area is probably the 6th and 7th books of Moses, or the Black Bible, which contains a wide variety of spells, teaching about communicating with spirits and which actually has nothing to do with the Bible. Objects placed under the skin, such as metal needles, which are used e.g. in Satan worship or in the religious practice of natural peoples, can be one gate. Such objects should be removed by a doctor or asked the Lord to remove them, because they are a channel for spirit powers.
- (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.
Sometimes even neutral objects can be a channel for the devil if they are cursed. The following description is an example of this area. In it, the author of the book had received a cow's tail as a gift, which was cursed by the spirit of death. However, he was immediately freed from anxiety when he destroyed the witchcraft object by burning:
The prophet bowed his head in prayer and after a few seconds he asked, "I see on the wall of your home a stick but I do not understand what it means. Have you any idea what it can be?” Then his wife continued, "I also see a stick and on its end there are hairs!” "It is the tail of a cow, a gift given by a Mumuye man. I hung it on the wall of the hall.” "It is an object of witchcraft. Cursed with the spirit of death. Go and burn it, so you can be freed!” Think! No wonder Nabang had sensed in me "the smell of death". The prophet bowed his head in prayer. (…) My home was a hundred and fifty kilometers away but it was not difficult for the prophets to see it. In the dusk of the evening, I took that tail of a cow from the wall. I took some matches and my bag. When I was walking nonchalantly to the forest nearby, I felt a shortness of breath and the air felt as if I was under a stone. When I reached the place in the bushes I burned that tail. At the very same moment, the internal bandage broke, the distress that had lasted for months disappeared, and I was free again. The nightly attacks of the demons stopped and the feeling of death in my body disappeared. What else could I say than HALLELUJAH! (5)
5. Confession of sins and prayer of renunciation
- (1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- (James 4:7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Above we discussed the most common gates through which Satan and evil spirits can influence a person. Man becomes exposed to these forces of the enemy whenever he goes into the wrong areas, i.e. into sin. The practice of occultism in particular can drive a person into strong bonds. How then can man be freed? There are two important factors in this area: Man must submit to God's will, and then resist Satan and evil spirits, just as James wrote in the previous verse. Of these, the first thing, i.e. submission to God, is definitely more important. In many revivals, it is not always necessary to cast out the spirits, but they leave automatically when people have a sorrow according to God's will. (2 Cor 7:10 For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death), when they repent of their sins and confess them to God. Confession of sins takes away from Satan and evil spirits the legal ground to influence a person. Corrie ten Boom brings out the importance of confessing sins well. He states that when it dawns on people, based on e.g. Deuteronomy 18:10-13, that they have sinned against God, and when they then confess their sin, they are often freed immediately after this:
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 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 after it we can claim that the precious promises of purifying belong also to us (John 1:7-9). How many people I saw freed when they acted obediently according to this word! (6)
The book of Jeremiah refers to the same subject. A person must confess his wrongdoing and sin, and that is the door to freedom. Some people do not want to do this, and thus close the door to God's kingdom. They defend their sins, eg their bitterness and unforgiveness, living in adultery, homosexual relationships... and that prevents them from being saved. Another problem is that in a pastoral care situation, some people do not want to confess their past sins because they are ashamed of them. This is of course natural, but one can confess one's sins to God.
- (Jer 3:13) Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the LORD your God, and have scattered your ways to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed my voice, said the LORD.
Another area of deliverance relates to the prayer of renunciation. Satan and evil spirits need to hear how a person says to leave the service of the enemy and sinful things and intends to serve God. If a person has been involved, especially in witchcraft and the occult, the prayer of renunciation, resignation from all the works of the devil is important. Such people have made a voluntary covenant with the powers of darkness, and when they say the prayer of renunciation, they then dissolve that covenant and the devil's ownership of them. However, the prayer of renunciation can be used in all areas. If a person has sinful addictions, demons can have their own influence on them. Through the prayer of renunciation and resignation, these bonds can be dissolved. Each occult sin should be dealt with separately, first through the confession of sins to God, and then through the prayer of renunciation, forsaking each one by name. Sometimes the prayer of renunciation can cause difficulties. If a person has been deep in witchcraft and is under stress or has practiced passive meditation, he can easily lose consciousness and reciting the renunciation prayer can cause difficulties. Then this person can tell the enemy to leave so that he can recite the prayer. The renunciation prayer can be recited many times until it is recited smoothly. Kurt Koch, who has a lot of experience in this area, has stated the importance of the prayer of renunciation especially among occultly burdened people - that is, people who have been burdened either by their own actions or because of witchcraft in the family. He also states that if the strain is great, it may be difficult for a person to say this prayer:
As comes to the pastoral care of occultist people, the significance of the prayer of abandonment is great. Why? Every sin of sorcery is a union with darkness. When we get into sorcery, we give to the devil ownership of ourselves. This ownership can be formed when our parents or grandparents practiced witchcraft. The devil knows the first commandment "…I who will punish the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation". The powers of darkness take advantage of their ownership, and the descendants of those people who have practiced sorcery do not know anything about this because they may never have practiced sorcery. The devil expresses his rights when a man whom he possesses turns. In the prayer of abandonment, a person legally breaks off this ownership. The physician of the soul, who is present, or even a few brothers, can witness the breaking off of the ownership. Modern theologians laugh at these issues, but the devil takes them seriously. Hundreds of cases prove that he takes them seriously. (…) If the burden is heavy, the prayer of abandonment will raise great difficulty. (7)
The prayer of renunciation, i.e. resignation, should always be said out loud. The devil needs to hear that a person renounces sinful things, lights (e.g. in Freemasonry), bitterness, self-hatred, self-pity and all ties. Or if it is an addiction that the person has not been able to break free from, that should also be dismissed. It may be a demonic bond that holds a person in this sin. After a person has freed himself from the works of the devil, he can resist Satan and evil spirits, commanding them to leave. After the confession of sins and the prayer of renunciation, the forces of darkness no longer have the right to influence a person. The following practical example tells about a woman who had been dealing with witchcraft for a short time. He had allowed himself to be healed by demonic powers. The woman was freed when she recited a prayer of renunciation, and when the enemy forces were then ordered to leave. The example shows how reciting the renunciation prayer can cause difficulties. This is especially the case with those who have been deeply involved in witchcraft or who have made their minds passive (e.g. psychics and those who practiced oriental meditation):
That's when I got a glimpse of the development stage, which is more than just a desire for liberation. It is an active, aggressive resistance against all the minions of Satan that dwell within us. "Did you ever give up on that matter?", I asked her... … “How do I do it?” "Confessing it to God as sin." The lady bowed her head. “Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for indulging in Marianna and her witchcraft. Please forgive me.” Amen. He raised his eyes and looked at me. “I don't think it helped much.” "You admitted your involvement in that matter. You didn't actually stand against witchcraft. Why don't you do it more forcefully: "In the name of Jesus, I renounce all dealings with witchcraft." Mrs. Gigliano opened her mouth to speak but could not get a word out of her mouth. He took a deep breath and tried again. "In the name of Jesus..." I leaned forward, "Try again, I think we're getting there." “Je…Je…Je…” Drops of sweat trickled down her face as she struggled. She made one more attempt. "In the... name of Jesus... I... reject witchcraft." Instantly, her breathing became easier. Noticing that this prayer of renunciation must have been very important, because otherwise the demon would not have made so much resistance, I said: Again repeat your renunciation several times with fervor." Mrs. Gigliano obeyed, her voice growing louder and clearer as she uttered those words. Once more I spoke to the spirit: “You demon of witchcraft, you have been abandoned. I command you to come out in the name of Jesus.” This time Mrs. Gigliano rose from her chair and her head was thrown back. From his mouth came that drawn out, breathless wail I knew so well. She then slumped back into her seat with a sigh of relief. (8)
Above we discussed the most common gates through which the devil can influence a person's life. Read this list again, or maybe you yourself remember other things that are open gates for the enemy. For example, write down on paper or on the computer all the things and sins (year by year, the more systematic and precise you are, the better the open gates can be closed) that you remember committing. Also write a list of those people who have offended you and to whom you have been bitter. In addition, you can write the reasons why you have became bitter or rejected yourself after that (rejection, unwanted birth, rejection, physical or sexual violence, injustice, hurtful words, betrayal, neglect...). After that, confess the same sins to God and admit that you have done (reacted) wrongly in them. After this, you can declare to the devil and evil spirits that you are letting go of the false lights and sins you committed in the past. Similarly, if you currently have sinful addictions, you can also renounce the devil's work and tell the devil and evil spirits that you don't want to have anything to do with this sin (I resist, I renounce, I do not accept this sin and I command all the forces of the devil to leave...). Neil T. Anderson, who has much experience in human liberation, has stated:
We do the right thing when we confess our sins, but we have failed to follow the biblical pattern that would break the cycle. The biblical model is: sin-confession-resistance. We must resist Satan and tell him to go if we are going to have victory over sin. (9)
After all this, when you have confessed your sins and said the prayer of renunciation, you can command the devil and evil spirits to leave in the name of Jesus Christ. You can believe, if they have affected you earlier in your life, that they have gone away. Approach this matter by faith, not emotion. However, as stated above, Satan still tries to influence a person (from the outside), as for example happened in the life of Nicky Cruz's mother. Therefore, active resistance to the enemy is often necessary for a long time after this. The following are some models of how one can pray and then command the enemy's forces to depart. If necessary, you can repeat the same words several times when resisting enemy forces:
"Lord, Father, forgive me for participating in spiritism, spirit healing... Thank you for forgiving me and cleansing me from all unrighteousness through the blood of your Son Jesus."
"Satan and you demons, I have confessed to God that I have participated in spiritism, spirit healing.... I oppose these sins and do not accept them. Now you no longer have any legal right in these areas because God has forgiven me these things through the blood of Jesus. Therefore, I command now, in the name of Jesus Christ, get out of me and around me, and you will never come back!" __________
"Lord, Father, forgive me for emptying my mind and making it inactive because it is not your will. Thank you for forgiving me and cleansing me from 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 made it inactive. I resist this sin in the name of Jesus. Now you no longer have any legal right in this area because God has forgiven me through the blood of Jesus. Therefore I now command In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of me and around me, and you will never come back!" __________
"Lord, Father, forgive my wrong connections with the spirit world! I ask that you take away from me now those supernatural gifts and abilities that are not of you and that you also take away from me any connection with the spirit world that is not of you. Thank you for cleansing my body, my soul and spirit from all wrong through the blood of Jesus. In Jesus name, amen."
"Satan and you demons! I will not accept any false connection with the spirit world or supernatural abilities given by evil spirits. Now in the name of Jesus Christ, I command all evil spirits that give me the ability to communicate with the spirit world to leave my life immediately, and you will never come back!" __________
"Lord, Father, forgive my involvement in extramarital sex affairs, pornography and other sins in this area! Thank you for forgiving me and cleansing me from all unrighteousness through the blood of your Son Jesus."
"Satan and you demons, I have confessed to God that I have been involved in false relationships and pornography that are not God's will. I oppose these sins and do not accept them. Now you no longer have any legal right in this area because God has forgiven me through the blood of Jesus. Therefore, I command now, in the name of Jesus Christ, get out of me and around me, and you will never come back!" __________
"Lord, Father, forgive my bitterness and accusation against ....! Thank you for forgiving me and cleansing me from all unrighteousness through the blood of your Son Jesus."
"Satan and you demons, I have confessed to God that I have been bitter towards.... I renounce my bitterness and anger and do not accept this sin. Now you no longer have any legal right in this area because because God has forgiven me through the blood of Jesus. Therefore, I command now, in the name of Jesus Christ, get out of me and around me, and you will never come back!" __________
"Lord, Father, forgive my self-hatred, suicidal thoughts and self-pity! Thank you for forgiving me and cleansing me from 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. I oppose these sins and do not accept them. Now you no longer have any legal right in these areas because God has forgiven me these things through the blood of Jesus. Therefore, I command now, in the name of Jesus Christ, get out of me and around me, and you will never come back!"
As it turned out above, the influence of Satan and evil spirits does not automatically disappear upon coming to faith. A person must confess his sins to God, renounce them and all the works of the devil, and then he must actively resist the devil who tries to disturb him. Sometimes resisting can be a long process.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 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:
- (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.
Harassment by Satan and evil spirits can manifest itself in different ways: feelings of restlessness, torment, strong fear of death, compulsion to curse and do things one hates inside, inner voices, dizziness, headache, heavy feeling, severe depression, excessive sleepiness, confusion, suicidality, nightmares, hard to read the Bible and pray. In these cases, it is not always a question of personal features but of the influence of the enemy... If you suffer from these things, confess all the sins that come to mind, say goodbye to them and the influence of the devil. Also, actively resist the devil and the forces of the enemy as taught in the previous verses. In addition, it is worth remembering that Jesus was also tempted by Satan in the wilderness. Jesus did not give Satan any place, but opposed Satan, who had to flee.
- (Matt 4:8-11) Again, the devil takes him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shows him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And said to him, All these things will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me. 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. 11 Then the devil leaves him, and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.
However, not all of man's problems are caused by his own sins. One gate can be sins and bad deeds in the family. If parents or Ancestors have practiced the occult, been immoral, recited lights (e.g. Mormon and Masonic oaths can affect offspring) or have allowed themselves to be healed by magic, the offspring may still be under the influence of these actions, even after conversion. The influence of inheritance is most clearly manifested in the area of occultism. Many have inherited occult abilities such as telepathy, clairvoyance, foreknowledge, spirit healing and a general spiritual strain. We sometimes hear about special seer families where these things are passed on as an inheritance. Even if a person himself has never dealt with these things, the spiritual strain often becomes apparent at the latest when he tries to turn to God. He can feel like a wall is against him and he can get into tough fights. The same behavior patterns, attitudes and diseases in the family are an indication of the influence of inheritance. Repeated patterns can include adultery, family breakdown, alcoholism, mental and physical illnesses (e.g. cancer, heart disease and diabetes are often inherited and run in the family), suicide, violence, lying, child abuse, disbelief, poverty, premature deaths, accident proneness and tendency to anger, rage, depression and fears are very common. Many who grew up in an alcoholic family, who when younger can swear never to drink alcohol or marry an alcoholic, often break their promises. The reason may be the influence of the spirit world, which guides his/her life and which has gained a place because of sin in the family. Similarly, many victims of violence either marry someone who abuses them as adults, or they themselves abuse their spouse and children. One example is also Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the sons of Jacob. Both Abraham and Isaac lied about their wives. The same pattern of behavior was repeated in Jacob's life; he was called a traitor, and fraudulently acquired the birthright for himself. Later, Jacob himself was betrayed through Laban. In addition, Jacob's ten sons lied to him about Joseph's death. Another example is King David who had weaknesses with sexual immorality exemplified by his fall with Bathsheba. His son Solomon was also weak in this area because he had an abundance of wives. The effects of inheritance become very clear in the following verses of the Bible. They show how the descendants can be influenced by the sins of their ancestors, suffer from them and how they themselves can drift into exactly the same patterns of life:
- (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.
- (Ex 34:6,7) And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children’s children, to the third and to the fourth generation.
- (Lam 5:7) Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.
- (Deut 30:19) I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live:
- (1 King 15:3) And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.
- (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:
In many places, the Bible also talks about curses and blessings. We can inherit both through our family inheritance. However, Jesus took every curse upon himself so that we could be blessed. We don't have to live under a curse or a negative inheritance:
- (Gal 3:13,14) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
- (Eph 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
As stated, turning to God does not mean that a person is automatically freed from all ties that have come through his own sins or the sins of his family. A person must first repent of his own sins, confess them to God, renounce all the works of Satan and resist him. The same is true of family sins. They too must be brought to light, i.e. confess to God and disclaim of them. We can ask God to forgive these sins as well as those that we are not aware of. (This does not mean that we can influence the fate of ancestors who have already died, but that we ourselves are free from the influence of these things.) In doing so, we cut off the base of the evil spirits who try to influence us through inheritance. We can also ask God to separate us from all the evil deeds of our ancestors. E.g., the following Bible verses talk about confession of sins:
- (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 when it comes to your own life, you can bring these things before God and confess them to him. You can say no to them and you can command all false powers to leave in the name of Jesus Christ and on the basis of his blood. Confession of sins and commandment can happen in the following way. Also, if you have inherited any illnesses, you can rebuke them in the name of Jesus and spread oil on the sick spot at the same time that you 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!
The experience described by author Denis Clark provide a good example of this activity. He wrote about a girl who was not freed until her parents’ sins were brought into the light and confessed. Maybe this young girl’s case is like that of many people today who are bound in the same way by family sins:
I will tell another case. When I was speaking in an Easter meeting, the preacher of the church asked whether I had ever driven out evil spirits. When I said that I occasionally had had a right to do so, he asked to bring inside a girl belonging to his church who was troubled by evil spirits. I demanded that everybody except the preachers must first leave the room. The girl was brought into the room, but three men were needed to restrain her. We stood around her, but as soon as the men loosened their grip, she turned and started coming towards me, her hands directed at my eyes. Her fingers resembled the claws of a hawk. The fight was soon in progress, but it was not won quickly. In fact, the fight continued for years after the events of that day. The pastor called preacher after preacher ‘to try their luck’ so that the girl would be freed from the evil spirit, but nothing helped. Every time the demon was controlled for a while but never completely overcome. One well-known preacher tried his fists 'against the demon’, and the poor girl was left with bruises after his treatment.
When I was visiting the church years from this, I asked to see the girl with another preacher. She was brought inside, but she looked like a frightened animal. It was no wonder, since she had experienced so much bad treatment. We assured her that we would not harm her in any way and that we only wanted to ask some questions. The most important question concerned her parents. As we listened to her, we understood that her background included several reasons for why she had this kind of trouble. We acted according to Lev 26:39-42, and we brought the sins of her parents and grandparents before the Lord. Without anything being driven out, the girl completely calmed down and went to the kitchen to help the women taking care of the food of the conference.
Can demons penetrate the life of people without the acceptance of God? If they can, they are easy to drive away. But if the demons appear with THE PERMISSION of God, as the Apostle Paul observed, who can then drive them away? It is impossible without the acceptance of God. In the case described above, the girl had to repent for her parents. Remember what happened to Job! That great man was not freed before he repented in dust and ash. Trial and error will get you nowhere. Are we not obliged to ask God why we cannot drive out demons? By no means is it enough to say loudly or quietly, "The one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world.” Has God not said that He will punish the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Him? What servant of God could break such a curse in any other way than relying on the atoning work of Christ, when He was cursed for us? In order to not regard God as unjust, let us remember that He is merciful to thousands of generations for those who love Him! What a merciful God! (10)
7. How do rejection and negative words of others affect a person?
Earlier it was brought up how a person can be bound because of his own sins or because of family inheritance (e.g. occultism in the family). One of the ways in which a person gets tied down or gets false/false thought patterns, i.e. strongholds in his mind, is also the rejection by other people, and their negative words. The eating disorder anorexia nervosa is a good example. In that, a person's image of himself is completely distorted. A person may imagine himself to be too fat, even if he is quite thin. Usually, anorexia starts from the words of others, when a person is pointed out that he has gained weight. It follows that a person's thoughts revolve around food and their own body. Here are a few of these people's own experiences and how they have reacted to what others have said:
I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa when I had just turned 14. It started with dieting. I was too fat: I weighed 60 kilos (132 pounds) and was 159 cm tall (5.2 feet). The boys teased me and told me that I’m a fatso…
I was in the 8th grade of comprehensive school when the public health nurse noticed that I had put on a few extra kilos. I took it as an offense. It was the last push towards anorexia nervosa. Immediately, I started a diet and I decided that nobody would ever tell me something like that again. In my opinion, my body was sturdy but others were of another opinion. (…) (11)
Another example of the influence of words and how it can create a stronghold in people's minds are people who do not accept their own gender. Many of them have heard in their childhood how their parents wanted a girl instead of a boy or a boy instead of a girl. They have experienced their gender as wrong due to parents' wishes and expectations. The following example shows the birth of this fortress in the human mind, i.e. how the words of parents can affect the mind of a child and later an adult:
Loren, an elegant, handsome forty-year-old man, had been openly homosexual since his youth. This had caused great conflicts between him and his father, and problems in his other relationships. He did not accept himself but defended his behavior passionately when arguing with his father. He understood that his homosexuality included a grudge and a rebellion towards his father, but he was never able to deal with these. This man had genuinely found Christ and salvation, but he often lost the battle against his homosexual tendency, until God brought into light his first memories. This happened when we asked the Lord to find that recollection that would expose the cause of the problem. During this prayer, he relived an occurrence that took place when he was only just born. He saw his father coming into the room where he had just been born. Disappointment quickly filled the room and heavily weighed on him. His father looked at him with disgust and said, "Boy again!” Then he turned and rushed away from the room. Loren was their third son, they had been hoping for a girl. Loren "saw" all of this and experienced it again – and this time, understood it both intellectually and emotionally. This rejection explained why Loren had later tried to become a girl, to the great astonishment of the family. He wanted to play with dolls and girls, not with boys. He unconsciously tried to be the girl his father had hoped for. (12)
In the previous example, it was told about a man who had resentment and rebellion in his relationship with his father. This is the background of many male homosexuals. Their relationship with their father has often been difficult, and many have also experienced opposition from their peers. This has left a void in their hearts so that they later start looking for acceptance and sexual relations with the same sex. To their thinking has come a fortress, because of their life experiences. What about female homosexuality? The most important factor seems to be the girl's difficult relationship with her mother or that she has lost her mother in childhood. One study found the following:
The study by Marcel T. Saghiri and Eli Robins (1973) was not based on a patient sample; instead, they recruited their homosexual interviewees through homosexual organisations. They noted that 27% of lesbians and 2% of heterosexual women had lost their mother before the age of 10. The relationship between lesbian women and their mothers had often been broken or was distant or indifferent. However, they had a warm relationship with their father. (13)
Sexual abuse in childhood is a gateway through which the devil can distort a person's thoughts. For example, a woman who has been sexually abused by her father in childhood, often finds it difficult to form a healthy sexual relationship with her husband. Sex may seem repulsive to him because he transfers his negative, traumatic childhood experience to his marriage. To move forward in the case, the woman should get rid of her anger towards her father and forgive. Similarly, Valitut Palat (Readers Digest) (6/89) told about a study related to sexual abuse in childhood. According to it, 45% of women who use drugs, 75% of female prostitutes and 80% of rapists have been victims of sexual violence as children. Sexual abuse in itself does not cause these things in an adult's life, but a person's own choices have a role in what their life turns out to be. The following quote from a newspaper article tells about how a person's life and thinking can go astray due to sexual abuse. The majority of child abusers have themselves been sexually abused as children.
Even a hardened criminal cannot be forced into treatment … On the bench of the accused in court sat on Thursday… a man who first pulled over the prison shirt to hide from the cameras. Fifty year old man is accused of exploiting nearly thirty children, and this is not the first time. He has been convicted of exploiting dozens of boys at least three times before. Last in 2012. … Lauerma does not comment on individual cases, nor on this. He says in general that one of the factors that predisposes to sexual offenses against children is becoming a victim of a sexual offense in childhood. - Quite a large part have been victims of sexual crime in childhood. Estimates range from 30 percent to 80 percent, meaning it’s highly contagious behaviour. Therefore, influencing it would be important because the multiplier effects are intergenerational. (ESS, 12 October 2018)
When difficult things happen to people in childhood and youth, the quality of character has a great influence on how each person reacts. All people feel both fear and anger, but one of them is the dominant trait in each person. People prone to fear and passivity usually react by drifting into self-pity, self-hatred, depression, despair and finally suicide. On the other hand, if the person's reaction to the rejection is aggressive, the person can drift into anger, rebellion, violence and finally murder. Rejection and rejection in themselves do not give rise to any of these feelings, but the person's own reaction. For example, siblings who grow up together basically have the same growth environment, but siblings who are more sensitive by nature, may experience rejection stronger. There are many examples of how a person's life and thinking can drift on the wrong track, and it is impossible to list them all. In general, it can be said that the unlucky in society, drug users, alcoholics and criminals have almost invariably suffered from a lack of love in their childhood or youth. Many of these problems arise in the family environment, but deep wounds can also occur in the school environment. Or maybe the parents have tried their best, but the child may feel that they have been left without approval. Perfect parents, perfect childhood and perfect growing environment can never be found in this world. Even a Christian family that wants to follow God's will and love its children can fail to some extent. It is possible because we are not yet completely free from sin. So what is the Christian view on the subject? It teaches that we live in an imperfect and fallen world, but everyone is responsible for their own choices. No one can influence what has been done to him in childhood and youth or in the present, but we ourselves are responsible for whether we want to forgive and move on or stay stuck in the past. One of the Bible's ten commandments says: ”Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you; that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you, in the land which the LORD your God gives you.” (Deut 5:16). This is not saying that only good parents - who deserve it - should be respected, but all parents. According to this principle, a person's life succeeds well for those who respect their parents, but not well for those who do not respect their parents. Most marriage problems, parenting conflicts, and moral and immoral customs are connected to this commandment. If it is not followed, but the child judges, despises and blames his parents, he himself has to experience difficulties in the same area. No matter what the parents are like – flawed or less flawed – what is essential is the child's reaction; does he forgive and want to respect his imperfect parents or not (most imperfect parents themselves often have traumatic experiences growing up)? If a child does not forgive his parents, he often follows in his own life the same footsteps as his parents. For example, alcoholics are usually children of an alcoholic family, or a child who grew up in such a family marries an alcoholic. Even those who are guilty of abusing their children have almost always experienced similar treatment themselves in their childhood. In addition, there would be other examples of how the sins of the fathers are repeated in the offspring. Only by forgiving the deficient parents can this cycle be broken. The law of sowing and reaping, i.e. when a person judges his parents, is evident from the following quotation. Those who have not forgiven their parents but judge them will find themselves in trouble in their marriages and other relationships:
When difficult things happen to a person in childhood, secular therapies try to deal with the person's past and accept it. This may be of some help, but the problem is that people are only considered victims, not guilty. If everything in the present is due to the past, and how people have been treated, then even criminals are not responsible for their actions. Besides, a person doesn't change much if we just comfort him about the past, but he doesn't take responsibility for his own bitterness, anger or wallowing in self-pity. The person being cared for may be left with the delusion that he has the right to be bitter and that keeps him in a bind. Instead, the teaching of the Bible is that no one is just a victim, but responsible for their own way of reacting. A person should repent of his wrong attitudes and bitterness. He should forgive everyone, which is one of the main things of the Christian faith. This is the area where most of us fail. It is easy to drift into bitterness if the person himself is mistreated and rejected. Many have experienced really bad things. We don't want to let go of our bitterness, but we bury the wrongs done by others and how they have rejected us. However, the Bible warns against unforgiveness and the root of bitterness. Also, if we do not forgive others, we cannot be forgiven by God. These two things are linked:
- (James 4:11,12) Speak not evil one of another, brothers. He that speaks evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law: but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who are you that judge another?
- (Matt 6:12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
- (Matt 6:14-15) For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- (Matt 18:32-35) Then his lord, after that he had called him, said to him, O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you desired me: 33 Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due to him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
- (1 Cor 13:4-5) Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity braggs not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil
- (Hebr 12:14,15) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
- (1 John 3:15) 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
Why is forgiveness important? It is important because unforgiveness closes the door to the kingdom of God. Also, if we harbor anger and bitterness and judge our neighbors, it opens the door for the enemy (Eph 4:26,27). Unforgiveness is the most common gate through which Satan can influence people's lives. People who have done soul care and evangelism work will tell in the following how Satan can bind people through unforgiveness, and how it can sometimes be an obstacle to physical healing.
Neil T. Anderson: I have found in my pastoral work that unforgiveness is the main avenue that Satan uses to enter the lives of believers. (15)
Nicky Cruz: Wherever I go, people continually ask me to pray that they would be healed, would get over an economic crisis or would be freed from continuous attacks of the devil. Instead of immediately praying, I now first ask whether they have forgiven. It is amazing how ugly issues come up to the surface when I test them a little. Is it useless to pray on their behalf if there is an unforgiving mind in the background. An unforgivable mind lets the devil in our life and will threaten everything we love – our family relationships, career, work, physical and mental health. (16)
Carlos Annacondia: Seventy percent of the people who suffer with spiritual problems and end up in our deliverance tent have hatred, anger, and bitter roots in their hearts. These are the main causes for illnesses and distress in people’s lives. The majority of them will heal physically, once they find inner reform through forgiveness. Inspect your own heart. You might find anger towards your spouse, cousin, relative, neighbor, brother or sister. Anger and grudge bring about punishment. Many times, they are the reason for illnesses, which seem to not come out of nowhere. Whatever your anger might be, Jesus forgave and told us to do the same. If we refuse to do so, we are disobedient towards His word and we will be condemned. Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a decision. If you want to forgive, the Lord will help you do so. I have prayed for people broken down by illnesses, and they have become healthy the moment they stopped praying and decided to forgive. It is tremendous how the power of God works through forgiveness. Do not let the devil use your feelings to bring sickness into your life. (17)
The previous quotes showed how bitterness opens the door to the devil. If a person does not agree to forgiveness and judges others in his mind, he himself becomes bound. Getting rid of the root of bitterness is therefore key to liberation. For example, John and Paula Sandford, who have been doing soul care work with bound people for decades, say in their book Sisäinen muuttuminen (p. 146, Transforming the Inner Man) that soul nurses should look for bitter roots in the hearts of all those being cared for in every soul care visit. These roots and the judgmental mind are an obstacle to liberation. A good example of the importance of forgiveness is in the book Elämä kuninkaan perheessä (pp. 42,43 Kris Vallotton & Bill Johnson: Supernatural Ways of Royalty). In it, a woman was under the influence of demons and it was not possible to free her. The woman was then asked if she had forgiven her father. The woman started screaming: "I hate him". Her father had sexually abused her. However, the woman finally agreed to forgive. When the demons were then ordered to leave, the woman was immediately freed. The example shows that if we do not meet God's conditions, it is impossible to experience freedom. Another example suggests the same thing. Neil T. Anderson has told about a woman who had been in a mental hospital three times due to paranoid schizophrenia. At first, Anderson looked for a solution to the problem from the wrong direction, but eventually he realized that the woman's unforgiveness towards her father was behind the problems:
I met Daisy after I had just graduated and when I was working as a student for a very large church. (…) But when the leader of the group heard that Daisy had been in a mental institution three times over a period of five years because of paranoid schizophrenia, he felt he was completely inadequate to help her. He asked me if I could meet Daisy. Even though I have not had any formal training in pastoral care, I agreed to speak to Daisy. (…) We started meeting every week. I assumed that her difficulties were the result of her moral fall or her being the subject of something similar or of her having practiced occultism. I asked her about moral issues and I did not find any problems. I asked her whether she had ever practiced occultism. She had never even read a book about it. Now I was really beginning to scratch my head as I was not able to find the source of her serious and clearly spiritual conflicts. Then one day we started speaking about her family. (…) "Let's talk about your father.” I suggested. "I don't want to speak about my father,” Daisy said. "If you speak about my father, I’ll scram." "Wait a minute, Daisy. If you won’t speak about your father here, where can you then? If you do not deal with these questions here, where can you?" (…) Daisy started facing her unresolved emotions towards her father, and to work with forgiveness. This was the root of her problems. In a few months, this young woman with whom the psychologists had lost all hope showed enormous progress and started doing child work in our church. (18)
As stated, forgiveness is fundamental to the Christian faith. If a person remains in bitterness, it opens the door to the devil. The other side of the matter is that those we condemn for their bad lives tend to stick to their sins. It will be easier for them to break free if they see that we accept them as people, whether they have changed or not. Such people can be a close spouse, children, alcoholics, homosexuals... If, for example, a spouse demands that the other change and that the he/she admits his/her mistake, a judgmental and blaming attitude is an obstacle to the change of the spouse. Therefore, give up all demands on your spouse and try to be a better spouse to him than you were before! Focus on changing your own life, not someone else's! And how do you get rid of bitterness? When a person is bitter, it is difficult for him to change his feelings. However, forgiveness is always a choice of the will, not a matter of feeling. A person can decide to forgive through his will, even if the feelings do not immediately follow. It would be nice if the heart started experiencing positive emotions right away, but usually it takes time. Love and forgiveness is above all a matter belonging to the domain of the will, where emotions come in the back train. Someone has said that don't think about whether you love someone with your feelings, but act like you would if you did. This is good advice. Therefore, instead of cursing, start blessing the people who have offended you (Rom 12:14 "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and Curse not.") and start praying for all the good to their lives. In addition, it is worth remembering that God can remove bitterness. It is often impossible for humans, but God's grace in Jesus Christ comes to the rescue. Therefore, look to Jesus Christ, give Him your bitterness, admit your powerlessness and ask Him to work a miracle in your life. He can do what is impossible for you. He can give us His peace so that the accusing mind is removed:
- (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.
People can have really difficult experiences in their lives. Some have been born unwanted, some have experienced severe domestic violence, some have grown up in an alcoholic family, and some have been sexually abused. Many have also been bullied at school or experienced name-calling and belittling: stupid, ugly, you don't know anything... What are the implications of these experiences? The effect manifests itself in at least three ways: 1) People develop bitterness towards the people who have harmed them 2) People begin to hate themselves and have a negative self-image 3) The perception of God becomes distorted; if a person turns to God, he may see God as harsh and merciless towards him. If you think about these three ways of a person's reaction, it is not the past or current circumstances in themselves that cause a person to become bitter, start to hate themselves or that their image of God is distorted. Instead, how we interpret past or present events is the key factor in how we feel. Negative circumstances are not the most important factor, but our own reaction. We make ourselves unhappy, angry, fearful, depressed, or self-pitying because we choose to react to circumstances that way. Miserable starting points are not the cause of our feelings, but a reaction to them. In fact, we could be the most contented and happiest people in the world if we could change our thinking. We could rejoice in our circumstances like Paul, who had learned to be content with his circumstances. He wrote about rejoicing, e.g. in the following verses:
- (2 Cor 13:11) Finally, brothers, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
- (Phil 2:17,18) Yes, and if I be offered on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same cause also do you joy, and rejoice with me.
- (Phil 3:1) Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
- (Phil 4:4) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
What if a person has a stronghold of self-hatred? It means that through past experiences, a person learns to hate himself, and can call himself: "nobody cares about you, you're hopeless, you're worthless, you don't know anything, it's better for you to die...". A person rejects himself because he too has been rejected before. How do you get rid of the stronghold of self-hatred? First, we must understand that self-hatred, self-pity, and suicidal thoughts are sins. Just as hating and judging others is wrong, so is hating oneself and judging oneself wrong. Both attitudes are equally damaging. Therefore, confess to God your self-hatred, self-pity and suicidal thoughts, so that your sins will not be an obstacle between you and God. After that you can tell Satan to leave these areas. You can say a prayer and a command, for example, in the following way:
"Lord, Father, forgive my self-hatred, suicidal thoughts and self-pity! Thank you for forgiving me and cleansing me from 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. I oppose these sins and do not accept them. Now you no longer have any legal right in these areas because God has forgiven me these things through the blood of Jesus. Therefore, I command now, in the name of Jesus Christ, get out of me and around me, and you will never come back!"
Secondly, it is good for a person who is in self-hatred and self-pity to understand that even though he himself is telling himself: "no one cares about you", this is a lie. It is a lie because the creator of the universe has loved every person, even the person in self-pity and self-hatred. We should believe in this truth and not doubt it.
- (1 John 4:9,10) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
- (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.
- (Rom 5:8) But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
- (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.
- (Eph 2:4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
Thirdly, we need to check what things we value in this life. Many people build their value on external things: appearance, success at work, number of followers on the internet, wealth and many different things. However, all these are fleeting things. Appearance deteriorates, and after death, wealth and worldly achievements have no meaning. Why do you pity yourself for the things that disappear? Consider the following verses that put things in the right order of importance:
- (2 Cor 4:16) For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
- (1 Peter 1:24,25) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass wither, and the flower thereof falls away: 25 But the word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached to you.
- (2 Cor 5:1) For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
- (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?
The problem of a person who is depressed and wallowing in self-pity is also self-centeredness. If we are in this state, we only think about ourselves and our unhappiness, and we cannot get out of this state. Everything seems hopeless because we are only focused on ourselves. The sin of self-centeredness makes us unhappy. That's why this sin should be confessed to God, so that he could deliver from it: "Lord, Father, forgive the sin of self-centeredness and that I only think about myself. Thank you for forgiving me and cleansing me from all unrighteousness through the blood of your Son Jesus." We should therefore start thinking more about the people around us. Think about their needs, think about what you can do to help them, think about what you can do for the salvation of your neighbors so that they don't die in their sins! There are probably people in the world in a much worse position than where you are and millions of unsaved people. Think more about them than your own comfort and future! Often the underlying cause of depression and fear of the future is that we focus too much on preserving our own lives. (Yes, Paul was also depressed and afraid at times. He was as human as we are, because he wrote: ”For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fights, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforts those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus”, 2 Cor 7:5,6). We lack the fear and reverence of the Lord and instead think about the opinions of others, future failures, and how we will fare. We do not consider the fear of God and how he has promised to be with us:
- (Luke 6:26) Woe to you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
- (John 5:44) How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only?
- (Ps 27:1) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
- (Isaiah 51:7,8) Listen to me, you that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear you not the reproach of men, neither be you afraid of their revilings. 8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
- (Isaiah 51: 12) I, even I, am he that comforts you: who are you, that you should be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; 13 And forget the LORD your maker, that has stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
If a person has been insulted and defamed, it can leave heavy memories. Or if a person has been in a tragic accident, the memories of what happened can swirl in the mind and take away the peace of mind. Sometimes these memories or the pain caused by them fade away immediately when a person turns to God, but this does not always happen. What must be done then? We can leave these things to Jesus, who is the good shepherd (John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.) and an high priest who understands us (Hebr 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.). So, when you have heavy memories, hand them over to Jesus. Tell him what you've been through, how you feel now and give him your tormenting memories. (Before this, of course, you must confess your sins to God and forgive those who hurt you). Look at the following Bible promises. The first is the prophecy about Jesus, who came here on earth. One of his duties is to bind up broken hearts:
- (Isaiah 61:1) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
- (1 Peter 5:7) Casting all your care on him; for he cares for you.
- (Matt 11:28) Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
- (Joh 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.
- (Ps 147:3) He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
When a person turns to God, he does not automatically understand his condition in relation to God. For example, Martti Luther struggled for years to understand grace and how he is righteous through Jesus Christ. Luther had a false belief / stronghold that getting God's approval is up to the person himself. Thousands of other believers are in the same state. They may think based on their past experiences: "If people have not loved and accepted me, how can God accept me?" They see God as angry, distant, impatient and disappointed in them because they see only their own inadequacy. Nor do they understand that no one gets eternal life by their actions: by witnessing more, by praying more, or by living a holier life. These can be good consequences of salvation, but they cannot influence salvation itself, because none of us is perfect in ourselves. Salvation is only in the atoning work of Jesus and relying on it, and not in anything else. Why does this satanic lie bind so many people? The reason is that we are looking in the wrong direction. We look to our own feelings, change or actions, but not to Jesus Christ, who has come for us as righteousness and redemption (1 Cor 1:30: But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption) ja jonka kautta armo on tullut (John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ). Because as long as a person looks to himself, he does not get assurance of salvation and assurance of God's approval. It remains missing, even though a person has been saved and forgiven all along when he turned to Jesus. The following verses show how assurance of salvation and assurance of God's approval can be found. It is found when a person puts his trust outside of himself, that is, in Jesus Christ and his work on the cross, and not in himself. Jesus took all our sins to the cross. Therefore, instead of ourselves, we must look to his work and not to ourselves. This is the only way to find assurance.
- (Gal 3:1) O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
- (Hebr 12:2) Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- (John 1:29) The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
Second, we must realize that we are under grace every moment, even in the days of failure and falling as in the days of success. Our success in the walk does not in any way affect our being in grace. Both the most sanctified and the weakest Christian, who wants Jesus to be the Lord of his life and to follow Him, are on the same foundation of grace. Paul and Peter could neither refer to their own actions in the matter of salvation, but the basis of their salvation was grace from the beginning:
- (Rom 6:14,15) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
- (1 Peter 5:12) By Silvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein you stand.
We are looking at a quote related to John Bunyan. He too struggled for a long time with the fact that he would understand God's grace and righteousness, which comes to us through Jesus Christ. Bunyan's problem was that for a long time he looked to himself, and not to the promises of the Word about how Jesus has come to us as salvation, mercy and righteousness. Finally, he understood that we are as righteous as Jesus himself, because "we are members of his body" (Eph 5:30) and branches of his vine (John 15: 5 I am the vine, you are the branche.…):
There… was my righteousness; … So God could not say that he required my own righteousness from me, because it (righteousness) was in front of Him. At the same time I understood that the good quality of my heart did not make my righteousness better, nor did my wickedness make it worse; my righteousness is Jesus Christ Himself, who is "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8). … The Lord led me to understand also the secret of what communion with the Son of God means … This confirmed my faith in Him as my righteousness; for if He and I are one, then His righteousness is mine, His merit is mine, and His victory is mine. Now I can see myself in heaven and on earth at the same time: in heaven through my Christ, my Head, my righteousness and my life, even though I am on earth for my body and person. (19)
One of Satan's lies is also that a person believes he has committed an unforgivable sin. This has led many to depression and despair, even to the hospital. However, only those who completely turn their backs on Jesus Christ can be guilty of this sin. Such people don't even care about salvation. Such were e.g. The Pharisees of Jesus' time, who rejected Jesus and his teachings. A believer can indeed fall into sin, grieve the Holy Spirit by his actions (Eph 4:30) and he can quench the Spirit (1 Thess 5:19), but none of them is an unforgivable act. Instead, Paul showed that when someone confesses Jesus as Lord, it is an act of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, a person who acts like this cannot be guilty of mocking the Holy Spirit. The unpardonable sin is not that God rejects us, but that we reject God. Only a person who constantly lives with a hardened heart and does not at all long for the salvation of his soul can commit this sin. The sin against the Holy Spirit is more than uttering such words. It is a complete turning of the back on God and never caring about him again.
- (Rom 10:9,10) That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. 10 For with the heart man believes to righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.
- (1 Cor 12:3) Why I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
A person who relies on Jesus from his heart should also understand where the false accusations come from. God can rebuke us for our sins so that we would repent and turn to him, but He will never make His own children despair of salvation. Instead, Satan is an accuser, a bully and a liar who tries to confuse believers with his lies (when many hear accusing and bullying voices, they are also Satan's lies and accusations.):
- (Zec 3:1) And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
- (Rev 12:10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brothers is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
- (John 8:44) 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.
The main reason why a believer despairs about his salvation is the lies of Satan. If we believe in them, we are bound to despair. So these lies must be replaced with the truth. We need to understand the truth about how when we turn to God we are forgiven of everything. After all, Jesus said that when we come to know the truth, it makes us free:
- (John 8:31,32) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
We look at the quote, how the truth can set a person free. In it, the well-known preacher from the 19th century, Charles G. Finney, tells how a woman had drifted into mental illness and despair in her relationship with God. He believed Satan's lies that there was no forgiveness for him. However, when Finney brought out the truth about the matter in his declaration, the woman was freed.
There were quite a few interesting conversions, and a few in which a mental illness got better in just a blink of an eye. Once attending a Sunday afternoon gathering, I saw a few ladies sitting in the pew next to a woman dressed in black who seemed very uneasy. The others held her down and prevented her from leaving. After stepping in, one of the ladies came to me and told me that the woman was mentally ill. She thought she had been casted away from grace; it had led to despair and eventually to a mental illness. …For some time, I heard her trying to leave, but before I stopped, she became calm and the whole audience was silent. The Lord gave me the spirit of prayer and the text, as I had not chosen it beforehand. My text was from the Hebrews: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” My aim was to strengthen our faith, ours as well as hers, and our faith for her. When I began to pray, she tried to leave at first. But the ladies gently held her down, and eventually she sat silently, but held her head down and seemed to have decided not to heed my words. But as I continued, her head began slowly raising up and she glanced at me under her black hat. Her gaze was more directed towards me, until she was sitting straight and looking into my eyes devoutly serious. I urged people to stay strong in their faith, rely on God, and to give themselves completely to Him through our Highest Priest’s atonement. Then she all of a sudden frightened the whole congregation by letting out a loud scream. She almost threw herself out of the pew, lowered her head down, and I saw her shivering. The women who were with her in the pew practically held her and they seemed to follow her with compassion and prayer. As I continued my speech, she began to raise her gaze again. Soon, she was sitting straight again, her face miraculously changed with a triumphant joy and peace on her face. I have rarely seen such glow in someone’s face. Her joy was so immense that she could barely control herself until the gathering was over. Then she announced her liberation to everyone. She praised God and rejoiced with miraculous glee. About two years later I met her, and her heart was still filled with that same joy and peace. (20)
If a person has experienced strong rejection, his self-image is easily distorted. He sees himself in a negative light and begins to hate himself. This is a common consequence of rejection, because rarely is anyone able to think rationally enough by shruging off others' rejection. False guilt and shame is also a common consequence. Even if a person is completely innocent of how he was treated as a child and youth, he experiences these feelings. For example, in sexually abused children and young people, feelings of false guilt and shame can be dominant. The following quote refers to this. It is told by a girl who was sexually abused by her father, but who eventually freed herself from her past through forgiveness:
Because I was ashamed of who I was as a child, I hid my true self from everyone and needed a lot of help. My soul nurse explained that the Holy Spirit must take a root brush and wash away from my wounded heart the stains that have settled there over the years. He must get to the bottom before the healing process can permanently begin… - The next step is forgiveness, said the nurse to me, Trish said. - I asked Heavenly Father to help me and forgive my parents for what they did. After that I confessed my sin and asked him to forgive me the bitterness I had harbored for so long against father and you. Another heavy burden was lifted from my shoulders: the Holy Spirit helped me understand that I was not responsible for what happened, that I could not be blamed and that I did not need to be ashamed. I could hardly believe it at first - I was so consumed with guilt. (21)
The previous example was about false guilt and shame. However, a person can also be in a state where he himself has committed real sins, but denies himself forgiveness. What should be done in this situation? First, if you can, try to work things out with the people you've wronged—unless you put an even bigger burden on the person you have hurted. Second, you need to stop judging and blaming yourself because Jesus has already borne all the sins of the world on the cross – both the biggest and the smallest sins of the world, every single sin. So, if you have received Jesus into your life, all your sins are forgiven. Accept God's forgiveness and don't try to undo it, but give thanks for it. Paul was also a blasphemer, a persecutor and injurious, but he was forgiven for his bad deeds, just like you are forgiven: And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief (1 Tim 1:12,13:). It is also worth remembering that Jesus is a friend of sinners (Luke 7:34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and you say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a drunkard, a friend of publicans and sinners!) and receive sinners (Luke 15:2: And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them".). The following verses tell more about the topic, forgiveness. Believe in them and not in your own accusing feelings:
- (Col 2:13) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
- (Col 3:13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.
- (Isaiah 43:25) I, even I, am he that blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember your sins.
- (Isaiah 1:18) 18 Come now, and let us reason together, said the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
If a person has experienced rejection in his past, it is likely that his image of God is distorted. A person may experience God as merciless, harsh and indifferent. He is unable to believe in God's good will and love for him, but transfers the negative experiences in his past to his relationship with God. The knowledge of God's goodness remains only a superficial knowledge that never reaches inside the human heart. Especially a difficult relationship with an earthly father and parents may have caused God to be seen as indifferent. People do not see him as Jesus has revealed him, but reflect everything through what they have experienced themselves. This is illustrated by the following example, where a girl was sexually abused by her father:
But how could I have trusted my Heavenly Father when my earthly father had completely destroyed my emotional life? The burden put me on the defensive and I was afraid that I would be hurt again. I became critical, perfectionist and hard on myself and especially my loved ones. Deep down, I felt like an outcast, a leper. (22)
The second quote is about a man who drifted into homosexuality. Almost all male homosexuals have a difficult relationship with their father, because of which they can reject their own masculinity. It is understandable that when a person turns to God from these circumstances, it takes some time before his perception of God becomes more positive:
Unlike many children, I never wanted to imitate my father, because I did not see any admirable qualities in him. He not only left me unconfirmed as a man, but also demeaned and mocked my emerging masculinity. As a result, I suppressed my masculinity and distinguished myself from everything that my father practically stood for. I even remember the inner oath that I would never become like him... … My own father's glances at me never expressed love or support; they were often full of cruel mockery. One of my father's workers once said to me: "Mario, your father is the only man I know who can turn another man upside down with one evil look." (23)
But what is God really like? It is true that he is a holy God who hates iniquity and sin, but he is also a loving father. Jesus' parable of the father of the prodigal son is an excellent example. His son had gone astray, but then turned to his father. How did the father receive this boy? In his parable, Jesus said that the father took pity on his son, ran to meet him, fell on his neck, kissed him and started the party. This describes how the heavenly Father receives the person who comes to him.
- (Luke 15:17-24) And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you, 19 And am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring here the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Second, God is just like Jesus. The Gospel of John contains Jesus' words about how the one who has seen Jesus has seen the Father. In other words, Jesus is the perfect image of God the Father (2 Cor 4:4, Col 1:15, Heb 1:3). Therefore, when we think of God, we should see him through Jesus. It is the truest picture of what Heavenly Father is like. So when Jesus received sinners, took children in his arms and blessed them and is a good shepherd, trust that the heavenly Father is the same. Do not trust your own feelings, but the following words of the Bible.
- (John 10:10,11) 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. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
- (Mark 10:13,16) And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them.
- (Col 1:14,15) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
- (Hebr 1:3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
- (John 14:7-10) If you had known me, you should have known my Father also: and from now on you know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffises us. 9 Jesus said to him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father; and how say you then, Show us the Father? 10 Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak to you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works.
Why then do people have the wrong idea about God? The reason is simple: they do not know God as he is. We do not have the same knowledge of God as, for example, the apostles had. For example, the apostle John, who was one of Jesus' closest disciples, wrote that "God is love" (1 John 4:8 He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.). Likewise Paul, who said ”I know whom I have believed” (2 Tim 1:12: 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day.), Likewise, Paul, who said, wrote about God, how God is the God of comfort, peace and love and the Father of mercies. We should trust these words because the apostles certainly knew God better than we do:
- (2 Cor 1:3,4) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God.
- (2 Cor 13:11) Finally, brothers, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
- (Eph 2:4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
So God's goodness and love are always there, but a person's spiritual vision can be blurry, e.g. because of past traumatic experiences. This can be described as the sun shining all the time, but the clouds - past experiences - can prevent this from being seen. However, our spiritual vision can be sharpened as we learn to better feel God's love and goodness towards us. Therefore, e.g. the apostles spoke several times about knowing God. They knew God's love and goodness more intimately than we do:
- (Eph 1:17,18) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, - (2 Peter 1:2) Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
When a person turns to God, he must understand that God loved this person when he still lived in his sins (Rom 5:8 But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.), and this love has not diminished at all after man turned to God. God still loves this person, even if the person himself does not feel it in his feelings. He should believe in this truth and not doubt it in his heart. The following prophecy relates well to the subject. It has been given to Wendy Alec, who with her husband founded Europe's first Christian TV network, GOD TV. The prophecy shows God's good plan for homosexuals, but the same applies to all people. In the prophecy, God's good will towards people comes to the fore. He has love for all people, but he does not want us to live in sin. It takes us away from God and eternal life:
For those bound by homosexuality
My dear, don’t you know? Can’t you see? When searching for love, you really search for Me. My dear, I say to you, although the congregation follows the principles of the Bible, it does not often function as the instrument of my heart and grace. I stand before you with my arms stretched out for you, not with judgement but with mercy, my dear son and daughter. Now, I stand before you, not cursing but redeeming, loving, and missing your company relentlessly. I was there when your body encountered its first abuse. I was there when you were mocked and your friends rejected you, when the mockery hurt your vulnerable heart – the same heart I designed to love and worship Me, the heart that is meant to reach out to Me. I was there when the father of lies began whispering into your heart: You are not like other men; you are not like other women… you believed the lie. You found others bound by the same lie, struggling with the same fight, and so the lie was implanted in your life and became a lifestyle. I feel your crumbled soul. I was there when your heart was crushed and scarred when others did not understand. Truly, I am the one who sees and knows. Wasn’t I misunderstood and rejected, too? Wasn’t I mocked and abandoned by people, too? Oh, my son, daughter, please forgive my congregation. Forgive my followers who condemned you. They do not truly hear the voice of My Spirit, although they know My Word. My voice is quiet, full of mercy, and redemption. I reach out to embrace you and to have you with Me when you search for fulfilment for your body and soul. I embrace you, I cry for you, my son and daughter. I cry for you, as I cannot hold my tears. I cry when I see you cause something irreversible to yourself when you break against the eternal law set by My Father, for the consequences of breaking the eternal law cannot be reversed. My judgement is my grace. Take heed, my dear, take heed and listen to my voice. Oh, my dear, do you think I cannot see you searching for ointment for your human heart, ointment that only I have. You cannot find peace for your restless soul from anyone else in the Heavens and on earth. (24)
One proof of God's love is that when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, as the apostles were, he gets love for people. Paul wrote that "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us" (Romans 5:5). This was especially true in the life of Paul himself. He used to be hateful and cruel, but he changed completely when God saved him and filled him with the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit of God, he received a strong love for people. He did not produce this love by himself, but God gave him strength. Among other things, the following verses tell about this.
- (2 Cor 12:14,15) Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
- (2 Cor 2:3,4) And I wrote this same to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly to you.
God's love through Paul is thus a good example of what God is like. God changed an angry and violent person, and Paul was filled with God's love for other people. It is a small demonstration of God's love. Of course, the same thing was best manifested in the life of Jesus, but the same spirit of God can also affect his followers, as it did in the life of Paul. This issue is also related to the teaching of the Bible, according to which love for neighbors and God is the greatest commandment (Matt 22:36-40), that love is the first of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22,23) and that Paul considered love more important than, for example, miracles ( 1 Corinthians 13). We also look at more recent examples of the effects of God's love in people. D. L. Moody in the 19th century, T.B. Barratt, the Pentecostal apostle at the beginning of the 20th century and the Finnish Niilo Yli-Vainio were all greatly used by God (through Yli-Vainio there was a revival in Finland in 1977-1981). As they renewed in their faith, they all gained an even greater love for people. As a result, people began to be saved in large numbers. The underlinings have been added afterwards:
D.L Moody: The blessing came upon me like a flash of lightning. I remember walking the streets of New York, and right there on the street the power of God seemed to come upon me in such a wonderful way that I had to ask God to stay His hand. I was filled with a sense of God's goodness, and I felt as if I could take the whole world into my heart. (25)
T.B. Barratt: It took place yesterday, Sunday, October the 7th, between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., and now I will tell you all how it happened. My soul is burning! I feel as if I was the happiest man in the world. Everything has become new. I am full of joy, peace, and love towards God and all people! Through the days he has led me, my heart continually shouting, “Forward! Forward!” Since my difficult illness over 20 years ago, there have always been forces, good forces, which have driven me forward. The question of sanctification has been my dearest subject; I have fought for it, even though I have not experienced it. (…) But how wretched I felt in my own eyes before the purity and holiness of God! I saw my own ambition, selfishness, stubbornness, and carnality. Oh, my God, I saw so much, so much that would grieve the Holy Spirit! I was broken and bent to the ground over and over again. (26)
Niilo Yli-Vainio: That the love of God's Holy Spirit has gained such a place in me that I have now promised God: as long as my thumb moves and my blood circulates, I, Lord, will proclaim your mercy to people... They are looking for a gate out of hell - and I know to my bones, to the roots of my heart, how they feel. To me, no one needs to start justifying and explaining what it's like for a person to be in distress, illness, fear of death, helplessness, depression... And every time I feel that their issues go right through me. And I pity, pity, pity, so that it makes you tired, so that your eyes roll. (27)
When it comes to believers who have turned to Jesus, the question often arises as to what is behind a person's problems (mental health problems, etc.). Is the cause of man's problems only his own flesh or Satan and evil spirits? Certainly most problems stem from both. Man's own flesh and sinful attitudes are the root cause, but they open the gate for the devil to influence man's life. For example, Paul wrote in Galatians about the works of the flesh, one of which is witchcraft. If a person practices witchcraft and spiritism, it certainly opens the door to the devil and evil spirits. The act of the flesh gives the devil the legal right to influence a person's life:
- (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.
In the previous verses, Paul mentioned other works of the flesh such as hatred and wrath. These too, and the associated unforgiveness, are gateways through which the devil can influence people's lives. Many who have done soul care work have noticed that unforgiveness is the biggest factor that the devil can use to influence people's lives. However, people's problems are not always caused by their own sins, but by the fact that they believe lies or wrong things. This is the case, for example, with those who think they have committed an unforgivable sin and are outside of God's grace. They do not understand that when a person turns to Jesus and wants to follow him from his heart, he cannot commit such a sin. It is a lie of Satan. Martti Luther also initially believed in a lie. He thought that he could influence salvation by his own actions. Only when he understood that Jesus Christ has come for us as righteousness and salvation, and that salvation is based entirely on God's grace, was he freed. Thousands of other believers have the same problem: they are truly saved, but they do not understand the truth of the Word on this matter. They should look to Jesus Christ and his work on the cross for them, and not to themselves. Only then will they be assured of their salvation:
- (John 1:29) The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
If a person has been bound because of his own sins (sometimes also because of family sins) or because of lies, how can he get free? There are two main things here: repentance and believing the truth of the gospel. They are summed up in the following words of Jesus:
- (Mark 1:14,15) 14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel.
What does the former mean? If a person has lived in witchcraft, bitterness or other sin, he must repent of his sins and confess them to God. This takes the devil's legal ground to influence a person's life. Often no exorcism is even needed if a person has a grief according to God's will. The conditions that made it possible for the devil to influence man's life have changed. (In this area, you should be thorough; the more systematically a person deals with sinful areas of life, sinful actions in the past, confesses them to God, and forgives every person who has offended him, the easier freedom is achieved.) Second, if a person has believed a lie, the lie must be replaced with the truth. The truth sets man free, as Jesus promised. In particular, this concerns the fact that a person understands that through Jesus Christ he is completely forgiven, accepted and loved. When we have received Jesus Christ, we are in him, Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:30 But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:). It means that we have his righteousness, and we are as righteous and pure in the eyes of God the Father as Jesus himself is. It is not about our own goodness, but about the goodness of Jesus Christ, and because we have been put in him.
- (John 8:32) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
There is also a third step in freedom that should be taken: resisting the devil and evil spirits. Especially if a person has been deep in witchcraft and has given the devil a place, this may be necessary, because the devil does not want to give a person up easily. Sometimes resisting can be a long process, where the person's own, active will is decisive. However, if it is a question of other sins that have bound a person, a person can -- after first confessing his sins and having renounced all the devil's works (prayer of renunciation) -- command the devil and his forces to disappear in the name of Jesus Christ. The person himself needs to be active in this area, because the devil does not want to give anything away for free. The apostles would not have written about it for nothing if it had no meaning:
- (James 4:7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
- (Eph 6:13-17) 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. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 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:
- (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.
- (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.
- (Acts 16:18) And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
- (Luke 10:17-20) 17 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.
The example told by Neil T. Anderson also shows the importance of resistance in practice. In it, he tells about a woman who suffered from snakes appearing in her life and how she hesitated to resist them in the name of Jesus Christ. However, when he finally got up the courage to do this, the snakes disappeared from his 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. (28)
What can be concluded from the above? It is possible that someone who is already in the faith can also be bound in some area. It does not mean that the devil owns this person, but it can put pressure on him, just like Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. If the influence of the devil and the evil spirit world is completely excluded, there are only two options left: all problems and diseases are caused either by God or by man himself. However, this is not the teaching of the Bible, but the devil and his forces also influence people. It can also affect believers as much as a person himself lives in a lie or conscious sin. On the other hand, some problems with a demonic background can be caused by family sins or traumas that the person himself could not influence. However, God can deliver from all of them. On the other hand, if the background of the problems is an evil spirit world, we should not focus on the enemy but on people's relationship with God. Or if you try to help a person to freedom who is not ready for repentance and a change of heart, seven worse spirits can take their place, as Jesus taught (Matthew 12:45). That's why you shouldn't progress in soul care if the person's attitude is wrong. A person must first come to a place where he is ready to give his whole life to God and give up bitterness and other wrongdoings. Maybe that time will come later. The following quote from the book of Neil T. Anderson, who has been doing soul care work for a long time, tells more about the topic. It shows that you should work with people themselves, and not focus on spirit powers. Interestingly, when the influence of the enemy appeared earlier, Anderson immediately tried to gain control of the demon and told it to go away. However, he understood that if man himself is not ready to act according to God's conditions, liberation may not be realized or may not be permanent. Instead, if people are guided to confess their sins themselves, to forgive, to believe in their new identity through Jesus Christ, and to resist the devil's harassment, the results are more permanent:
Believe in the truth of God’s words, preach it and act accordingly, and then you will defeat Satan’s strategy. This piece of advice has greatly impacted my spiritual support work. Before, when a demonic influence was detected during a spiritual support session, the situation changed into confronting the spirits. During this process, the attended became catatonic (a form of schizophrenia), ran out of the room and suddenly became incoherent, and I tried to get the demon under my control. I approached the demon first by attempting to have it reveal itself and then telling it to leave. This conversation often left my attended with many injuries. Although there was some progress, usually the same process had to be repeated. But I have learnt from the Bible that the truth is a liberating factor, which has proven out to be the case in every successful spiritual support feat. Jesus is the truth, and He releases the captive. Believer receives strength by knowing and choosing the truth. We must strive towards the truth, because we already have all the strength we need in Christ (see Eph. 1:18,19). People chained in slavery are not liberated by what I do as a pastor/spiritual support giver, but by what they decide to believe, confess, what they decide to let go of, and by what they decide to forgive. (29)
At the end, I will tell you something about myself and my experiences. I turned to God and Jesus in 1983. I was 18-19 years old then. I don't know the exact day of salvation, but it was sometime that year. No one in my close circle had talked to me about spiritual things, but I found faith through the books I borrowed from the library and the Bible. Through them I feed my faith. It was actually four years before I met other believers from this point. It wasn't until I moved into my own apartment in 1987 that I started meeting other believers. My own spiritual growth has been quite slow. I believe that God can work in the lives of many others much faster than what has happened in my case. This often happens in revivals, where young believers have grown much faster in their faith than I have. An indication of how slowly everything has happened for me is also the fact that I only discovered my own spiritual calling, writing, after I had been in faith for almost 20 years. I had received prophecies on the subject through others earlier (e.g. one prophecy said: "Research, study, read, research, study, read... I can use your gifts), but only after 20 years did my texts start to be readable. I have corrected many old writings afterwards and I have gradually improved in writing. Usually, I don't experience anything supernatural in writing, but however, I have a strong idea that I wouldn't have accomplished anything in this area without God's help and grace. First I research a topic thoroughly and then I put all the thoughts in a logical order. I personally understand that this is how the gift of teaching usually works. For me it works through writing, others are good at oral teaching. It is noteworthy that e.g. such well-known teachers as Watchman Nee and David Pawson do the same. Both were diligent readers and researchers, reading many books. I myself have a couple of thousand spiritual books. In the early stages of my faith life, I remember experiencing many kinds of struggles. First, there was the struggle with the reliability of the Bible. There were two reasons for this: evolution theory and liberal theology. I myself had been an atheist before my conversion, and atheists almost invariably believe in the theory of evolution and have not studied the reliability of the Bible. This was also a problem for me for a long time, but gradually I realized that there is a huge amount of evidence for the reliability of the Bible, and that atheist scientists and liberal theologians are themselves mistaken and in the grip of spiritual blindness. I myself have written quite a lot about these topics so that I could help those living with the same struggles. Another struggle was related to assurance of salvation, as happens with many young believers. I don't remember when I got full clarity about salvation, but it took time. Part of the reason was certainly that there were no others close to me in the beginning to guide me in this matter. However, books and reading the Bible helped with that as well, and I gradually came to the realization that the assurance of salvation can only be found in not looking at one's own shortcomings but at the atoning work of Jesus. When I moved into my own apartment at the beginning of 1987, I was bothered for a few months by a very mundane thing: I was not satisfied with the interior and looks of my apartment. As a result, the wallpaper in the apartment had to be changed a couple of times. So I was annoyed and anxious about a very mundane thing, but even this depressing phase passed. Then in the fall of 1987, I fell into a deep spiritual valley. I had prayed several hours a day for many months, but that fall I was attacked and pressured by the devil. I was in this state for a couple of months. The devil tried to tempt by doing e.g. suggestions: "Sell your possessions and start living by faith" and the like. I felt an evil presence around me, even though I had never participated in anything like the occult. With this experience, I understand how Satan tries to pressure believers to make wrong decisions in their lives and so that a person would disgrace himself in the eyes of others. For example, in the article "The question of guidance" I have discussed this topic and how God does not lead us. Anyway, I was in this state for a couple of months. It is a somewhat similar experience to what Paavo Hiltunen wrote about in his book "Siunauksia syvyydestä". His ordeal also lasted for a few months, and he believed that he was possessed by evil forces, even though that was not the case. (The fear of evil spirits is one of the devil's schemes. Many believers are afraid for nothing. They should understand that Jesus Christ has defeated the devil and all his forces on the cross (Col 2:15). They fear the name of Jesus and that we oppose them.) In 1988, I received a prophecy that I would enter the potter's room. (Also in the same year, I received from Risto Santala as a gift his book "Savesta astiaksi", in which Risto tells about his own experiences at the school of tests. It happened when I was delivering mail to him and his wife. Risto knew nothing about my own life and life situation when he gave this book). This prophecy really came true because in 1988-1992 I was in a "low pressure". There weren't any big serious things in my life per se, but I remember being in a rather "gray state" where there wasn't much joy. So when did the change happen? I remember one time I was driving home from Helsinki, and suddenly the depression went away. There was a kind of change in the atmosphere, and I felt it immediately. I was no longer depressed! In retrospect, I understand that it was the spirit of depression that had been troubling me. I didn't do anything to get rid of it, but suddenly I just noticed a change. Maybe it was just God's time for the probationary period to end. Sometime around the same time, I also received a prophecy that "the trials will end" and this really happened. Actually, from then until now, I have lived quite bright years. One of my experiences is related to health and evil spirits. I've always been quite healthy, and I haven't had to take sick leave from work. However, it happened once, when I had promised to go help grandma pick potatoes, that I suddenly felt very weak and bad. I didn't immediately know where it came from, but I called my grandma that I wasn't coming. But then, after the call, I said out loud that "these symptoms are lies, because I have been healed through Jesus". At the same time, as I remember, I told the devil to leave. What happened? I immediately felt normal. Now in hindsight I understand that it was the devil or some evil spirit that made me feel difficult. I immediately called my grandmother again and said that I would come to pick up potatoes after all. Only about 15 minutes passed between these two calls. Based on my experience, I believe that some diseases, but not all, are related to the devil's activities, just as Satan struck Job with boils (Job 2:7), and when the New Testament side talks about e.g. from a spirit of weakness or a deaf and dumb spirit (sometimes, for example, deafness can be caused by a completely different reason, such as physical injury). We can resist such activities of the devil in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus also rebuked the fever in Peter's mother-in-law. One of my experiences has to do with sexuality, which I've struggled with because I haven't had a wife myself. I have lived alone my whole adult life, because I myself have a pretty strong gift of being alone. If a person is married, it is easier for him to release his pressure with his partner. Well, anyway, I've had my share of temptations in this area, one example of which was when I fell to looking at pictures of scantily clad women on my work phone. However, the change happened when I renounced this sin and ordered the evil spirits associated with the area to leave. I said something like this: “I reject this sin and resist it. In the name of Jesus Christ, I command all spirits of lust, debauchery and self-pleasure to leave!" (I don't know if there are spirits with this name, but I named them according to the activity). I recited this a few times and since then I've been much freer in that area. Yes, the temptation is still there, but it is much easier to resist it. Based on this experience, I understand that behind many sins there is a demonic influence that binds a person. I believe that any kind of strong compulsion, and that a person does not control his thoughts and actions, is an indication of demonic influence. On the other hand, if a person is freed from demonic influence, his flesh still remains, which he must keep under control. However, it is much easier after the demonic influence has faded. One memorable experience is related to how a friend of mine got rid of bitterness a long time ago. I was a guest at his house, and he vented his bitterness against certain persons. He was in the faith, but had drifted into such a state. When I noticed my friend's condition, I started reading him passages from the Bible related to judging and forgiving others, such as "but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses", "speak not evil one of another ... who are you that judge another ”, “ looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of Bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled". I read such passages of the Bible to my friend, and what happened? Sven Reichmann has described this state well in one of his books:
Brokenness is a state that you recognize in your own spirit. Most of the time, you can also see from a person's face when they start to break down. He can suddenly become very serious and quiet. Many begin to cry, but the tears are not a sign of humiliation, bitterness or anger. It is a soft silent cry. All this can happen in peace. It is the work of the Spirit, and the pastor should not interfere with it. (30)
What did the previous description teach? I could have uttered the same words to some other bitter people, but it might not have had any effect. However, my friend was ready to repent, and he was freed in no time. We cannot always know in advance how people will react. Others justify their bitterness by saying, “I have a right to be unforgiving and bitter,” and there is not much we can do to help such people. Instead, such a person can get help in a moment, who is ready to repent and ready to forgive. If it's the spirits of bitterness or any spirits, it's easier to get rid of them if a person first sees his own sin and repents of it (I don't think that the spirits are necessarily always inside a person. I believe that in the case of believers, they rather try to pressure and disturb from the outside.) . No exorcism is always necessary, but the spirits leave when a person experiences sorrow according to God's will (2 Cor 7:9,10). Therefore, people should be led into a right relationship with God and repent of their sins. After that, the enemy no longer has a legal right to act in the person, and is easier to banish or it automatically leaves when the person's condition changes. Or if we first go in search of spirits and expel them, it is of no use if the person does not want to give up his bitterness or other sins. We must obey God's terms in this area. One of my experiences is related to understanding the truth. I once met a young believer who had not properly understood God's grace. He was under the law, so to speak, and uncertain of his salvation. What did I say to this young believer? Of course, I was talking about the fact that his problem is that he looks to himself in the matter of salvation and not to Jesus Christ and his work on the cross for us. I brought up e.g. the following verses that talk about looking to Jesus Christ and not to ourselves:
- (Gal 3:1) O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
- (John 1:29) The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
What happened? This young believer became silent in an instant, like my previous friend, and saw the simple truth of the Bible about the atoning work of Jesus. I personally understand that thousands of believers are in this state, where they still look to themselves in the matter of salvation. Only when they understand that they are fully accepted, loved and under grace through Jesus Christ, they can reach freedom and a clear certainty of salvation. In the language of the Bible, the truth makes a person free, as Jesus said (John 8:32). Therefore, there should be enough teaching in the churches about how through Jesus we can immediately participate in God's grace. Of course, everyone should repent of their sins, but no one is saved through that or through works. Salvation comes only by grace through Jesus Christ, and when a person receives him. Then a person enters the state of grace, which means that he is always accepted despite his shortcomings. Every person should understand that Jesus and his sacrifice for us on the cross is enough for the following needs:
• It is sufficient for the atonement of sins: Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10).
• It is enough that it is possible to be cured of diseases: 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: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses (Matthew 8:16,17).
• It is enough for us to have peace in our minds: 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 (John 14:27).
• It is enough for the victory over the devil so that we can in the name of Jesus command the devil's troops to leave: For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2 :14).
REFERENCES:
1. Thoralf Gulbrandsen: Puuttuva rengas, p. 94 2. Cit. from "Taustaa tekijänoikeudesta maailmaan", Kimmo Pälikkö ja Markku Särelä, p. 19. 3. Nicky Cruz: Juokse henkesi edestä (Devil on the Run), p. 177 4. Kurt Koch: Voitto on sittenkin meidän (Heilung und Befreiung), p. 36 5. Vanhaparta, Operaatio Mumuye jatkuu, p. 184, 185 6. Corrie Ten Boom: Lyöty vihollinen (Defeated Enemies), p. 11,12 7. Kurt Koch: Voitto on sittenkin meidän (HEILUNG UND BEFREIUNG), p. 106,107 8. Don Basham: Päästä meidät pahasta (Deliver Us from Evil), p. 201,202 9. Neil T. Anderson: Enemmän kuin voittaja (THE BONDAGE BREAKER), p. 151 10. Denis Clark: Herkkäuskoisten harharetket, p. 35,36 11. Eeva Riihonen: Syömishäiriöitä, p.115, 130, 132, 133 12. Leanne Payne: Särkynyt minäkuva (The Broken Image), p. 84, 85 13. Ari Puonti: Homoseksuaalisuus – hämmennyksestä selkeyteen, p. 101 14. TimLaHaye: Luonteesi ja sen mahdollisuudet (Your Temperament Discover It’s Potential), p. 206,207) 15. Neil T. Anderson: Vapauttava totuus (Realizing the Power of Your Identity in Christ), p. 207 16. Nicky Cruz, Juoksu jatkuu, p.88 (WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I WAS HURTING?) 17. Carlos Annacondia: Kuuntele minua saatana! (Listen to me, satan!), p. 100,101 18. Neil T. Anderson: Vapauttava totuus (REALIZING THE POWER OF YOUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST), p.181-184 19. Uuras Saarnivaara: He elivät Jumalan voimassa, p. 275,276 20. Charles G. Finney: Ihmeellisiä herätyksiä, p. 89-91 21. Meridel Rawlings: Kunnioita isääsi? (The Secret World of Incest), p. 158,159 22. Meridel Rawlings: Kunnioita isääsi? (The Secret World of Incest), p. 158,159 23. Mario Bercner: Rakkauden Uusi suunta (Setting Love in Order), p. 59,100 24. Wendy Alec: Tuntemattoman profeetan päiväkirja (Journal of the Unknown Prophet), p. 48,49 25. Dwight L. Moody – biography 26. Martin Ski: T.B. Barratt - Helluntaiapostoli, p. 108-110 27. Mauno Saari: Saarnaaja, p. 132, 270 28. Neil T. Anderson: Enemmän kuin voittaja (The Bondage Breaker), p. 61,62 29. Neil T. Anderson: Enemmän kuin voittaja (The Bondage Breaker), p. 26,27 30. Sven Reichmann: Vapauteen kutsutut (Kallad Till Frihet), s. 198
The Truth shall make you you free. Understanding the truth is a key factor in a relationship with God. When a person understands the truth about his position in Christ, it brings freedom into his life Find the assurance of salvation! Assurance of salvation; why is it missing and how to get it? If someone stares at himself and his own deeds, and not at Jesus, he never gets assurance Mental health and belief. Christian faith, when one understands God’s love and grace for oneself, has a positive effect on mental health Be freed from your past! Heavy experiences and memories of the past guide people’s lives and self-image. Read how you can get rid of the burdens of the past Deliverance from bondage. When a person is saved, he is not always released from all bonds. Satan may still disturb him, and he may lack the peace promised by Jesus Will there be any change? There is or there should be a constant change in a Christian after his salvation. This writing addresses this topic Healing. Healings were common during the time of Jesus and the apostles. However, God was the same then as now, so we can expect the same in modern times
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Jesus is the way, the truth and the life
Grap to eternal life!
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The Truth shall make you you free. Understanding the truth is a key factor in a relationship with God. When a person understands the truth about his position in Christ, it brings freedom into his life Find the assurance of salvation! Assurance of salvation; why is it missing and how to get it? If someone stares at himself and his own deeds, and not at Jesus, he never gets assurance Mental health and belief. Christian faith, when one understands God’s love and grace for oneself, has a positive effect on mental health Be freed from your past! Heavy experiences and memories of the past guide people’s lives and self-image. Read how you can get rid of the burdens of the past Deliverance from bondage. When a person is saved, he is not always released from all bonds. Satan may still disturb him, and he may lack the peace promised by Jesus Will there be any change? There is or there should be a constant change in a Christian after his salvation. This writing addresses this topic Healing. Healings were common during the time of Jesus and the apostles. However, God was the same then as now, so we can expect the same in modern times
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