What are some of the Biblical means of helping people be freed from demonic oppression?
1. Paul, the apostle, gives us a great formula for fighting every good fight of faith in Ephesians 6.
Paul writes, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm, then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Eph. 6:10-18)
Application: Be sure that you consistently equip yourself for every spiritual battle. Be confident in the Lord’s ability to fight every battle in, through, with and for you !
2. Ask the Lord to help you resist temptations by submitting to the Spirit’s control. Paul writes,
"So I say, live the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal. 5:17,19-21)
Be aware of how demonic spirits use the impulses of our sinful human nature.
3. Utilize every aspect of John’s formula for overcoming evil. John writes, "They overcame the devil by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Rev. 12:7)
Application: When you sense a wave of demonic attacks, call on the powerful name of Jesus and be willing to do whatever He ask you to do. He will give you protection, victory and faith to conquer every opposition.
4. Teach, preach and remind others of the fact that God’s power that lives in you, in the person of the Holy Spirit, is greater than any other force. John writes,
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (I Jn. 4:4)
God is greater than any problem. Appropriate that fact by being strong in the Lord and asserting His power over the world, the flesh and the devil. Go in the power, confidence and certainty of blessings for all those who trust and obey.
5. Consider yourself dead to the evil desires of the human nature and live for Christ’s purposes. Paul writes,
"You were dead in your transgressions and sins in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. . . But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. (Eph. 2:2-5)
Application: Thank God that you have died to sin. REnounce all that is evil and repress all that is evil with replacement thinking. Replace that which is evil with what is good; replace whatever is depressing with what is victorious with songs of the joy in the Lord.
6. Be willing to express your fear of God by exposing all known sins before those you trust. Paul writes,
"Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." (Eph.5 :1)
Application: Work together with a friend to keep you spiritually and morally accountable.
7. Determine in your mind not to love the world with all of its pleasures since it deters us from loving our heavenly Father. John writes,
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world." (I Jn. 2:15,16)
Application: Fill your thoughts with things above rather than things that are on the earth. Be so focused on His purposes, power and processes that you are not distracted by the temptations below.
8. Ask the Lord’s help in overcoming any tendency to give in to demonic led enticements of pride, envy, jealousy, anger or lust.
Application: The greatest preventative medicine to demonic led temptations is a holistic love for the Lord and His processes. Love the Lord as you love yourself and then get busy showing your love for another by serving them.
