Dealing With The Demonic - Lesson 7 Series

There are many areas in which the enemy can use as a stronghold against a Christian to harass, oppress or depress. It could be physical, emotional, or spiritual assaults that have or are being made. Finding complete healing for your body, mind, and spirit may require that these strongholds be exposed so that you can be delivered from the damage that has been caused.

A. Fear

The enemy is a master at using our fears. Fear is one of his primary weapons

1. Satan uses two common fears to causes many people to never start or try anything to make us ineffective in our witness

a. The fear of failure can cause you to put things off. You will do everything you can to avoid facing the possibility of messing up.

b. Fear of rejection will make you afraid to do anything that could draw criticism or give someone a chance to laugh at you.

Ex: What will they think of me?

What if I turn them off?

What if I mess up?

They probably won’t listen to me anyway!

You’ve failed many times, although you may not remember. You fell the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim, didn’t you? Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat? Heavy hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot.

B. Sins of the Family

Strongholds could be found in generations past if there was a family history of some form of idolatry such as found in such religions as Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism, etc. Rebellion, the breaking of vows, greed, immorality, impurity, or gluttony can create strongholds as well. Mind-altering drug use, the practice of participation in such things as séances, fortune-telling, astrology, Quiji Boards, Voodoo, or Astral Projection can all create strongholds that can be difficult to detect.

Paul wrote to the Galatians, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (Galatians 5:9). The enemy crouches in wait as a wild animal ready to kill its prey when the opportunity presents itself. “But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (Gen 4:7 NIV) You need to clear your conscience from family sins of the past and personal sins committed, whether years ago or just moments ago, even if they seem small or trivial. Generational sins of the past are often a source of current demonic oppression. Even those personal little “trivial” sins are often overlooked as a foothold from which attacks can be made.

C. Pride

Pride emphasizes what you have done and fails to acknowledge all those who made it possible, makes us vulnerable. To humbly acknowledge God and others in every success will help protect you against spiritual attack. The Scripture solemnly warns that "pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Prov 16:18 NIV)

Jesus sent out 72 of His disciples to go into all the towns ahead of Him to fulfill the Great Commission. They came back with great joy because they had healed the sick and cast out many demons. But Jesus warned them of the danger of becoming proud because of the authority He had given them “to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy.” He admonished them not to focus on what they have done but on worshipping God; “do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:17-20 NIV)

D.Gossip and Malicious Talk

Gossip and malicious talking are warned against in 1 Tim 3:11; 2 Tim 3:3, and Titus 2:3. If you want to keep the demonic attack from your life, you must avoid malicious and derogatory remarks about anyone.

1. If you want to keep a demonic attack from your life, you must avoid malicious and derogatory remarks about anyone. Solomon declared,

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit" (Prov 15:4).

2. What you say can bring either a blessing or a curse. It is very important to watch what you say and how you say it.

Jesus said, "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words, thou shalt be condemned" (Matt 12:36-37).

If you have been hurt by gossip or malicious talk, and the memory is still vivid and painful, forgiveness is the only remedy that will bring healing and deliverance.

3. Words can cause wounds that “go down into the innermost parts of the belly" (Prov 18:8) and be hidden from conscious memory.