Hosea said, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (11 Timothy 2:15). "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11).
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith," (1 Peter 5: 8,9). "Resist the devil and he will flee from you," ( James 4:7).
PERFECT CHRISTIANS
Have you ever seen a perfect Christian?
Christians have problems also. Particularly if they are trying to serve Jesus with their past baggage of sins lingering and driving them daily to sin. As Bishop Kanco from Ghana, Africa says, "We kill their past when they get saved." He says that they cancel all generational curses as shown in Deuteronomy 28:45,46, and then restore them with prayer, releasing all the blessings.
"They have a chance if they receive deliverance at the time of salvation," he said. "Doing deliverance is simply giving them the freedom to enjoy and to serve Jesus."
Kanco goes on to say, "The real evidence that you have received real DELIVERANCE is, that your life changes and you become different. Those things (demons) that were controlling your life by harassing, driving, or tormenting are gone. If you stole, you will not steal. If you smoked, you will not smoke. If you were addicted to drugs or alcohol, you will not be addicted. If you were depressed, fearful, sick, these symptoms will leave and you will live in peace."
THE SPIRIT OF WORLDLINESS
The scripture teaches us in I Corinthians 2:12, that worldliness is a spirit. There is a spirit in the world and it is the opposite of the Spirit of God. This scripture reads: "Now we have received not the spirit of the world." The world is in sin that's what Romans 1 instructs us. We believers have not received the spirit of the world but we have received the Spirit of God. So we can see from this that worldliness is a Spirit! Furthermore, we see the spirit of worldliness can be received!
In the year 1517, John Tetzel came into Germany, representing the pope in the sale of indulgences. As a clergyman, Tezel would mount the pulpit and say, "Draw near and I will give you letters duly sealed by which even the sins you shall hereafter desire to commit, shall all be forgiven you."
It was a license to sin and encouragement to live loose, with an approval of worldliness. Although, John Tezel died many years ago, we still have those who are mounting the pulpits and are issuing a license to sin. The prophets of worldliness may not call their doctrines by the same name, but they have the same results. Worldliness and sin in the lives of believers are forbidden by the Scriptures. Whatever the doctrine is called today, if the results are an encouragement to live loose and worldly lives it is another form of Tetzel's license to sin. There is no place in God's Word that permits us to live like the unsaved and still be a child of God. There are no indulgences for sin in the Scriptures. There are no loopholes for the worldly and impure to enter heaven. There is no fine print whereby the unclean may slip into a back door of heaven. If anyone enters heaven without a holy life, it will be an exception that is not taught in God's Word. The Scripture teaches, " . . . and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
Our battle continually wages from the beginning of our experience unto the end of our spiritual walk in a constant spiritual battle between the spirit of the world and the Spirit of God operating in us. So, we use spiritual weapons in order to overcome. The Word of God, prayer and communion in the Holy Spirit are our weapons to use to combat the spirit of the world. These are our spiritual weapons and are the only kind of weapon that can possibly help us to overcome the spirit of the world.
We cannot possibly deal with worldly "things" and overcome worldliness. There are many things that we, as Christians, term 'worldly' such as pride, lust, immodesty, jealousy, bitterness, gluttony, covetousness, etc. To overcome "things" is almost impossible because the list is endless, because when one "thing" goes out of style. Satan will have another "thing" to indulge in. So, instead we deal with and overcome the 'spirit' that is behind worldly things. This spirit is the spirit of worldliness. (1)
The cure for this worldly spirit and the way to get rid of it is through the power of God. Repentance, turning away in sorrow, is the first step. Then deliverance from the spirit of worldliness is step two. Step three is killing your flesh by denying it to associate with the 'pleasure devils." Step four is working on your 'new man spirit' or your 'inner man spirit' inside of you, by using your spiritual weapons. Your spiritual weapons of reading the Word of God, prayer, and resisting the devil through the name of Jesus will prevail and you will experience victory over worldly things. You will walk in the Spirit of God when you get victory over the worldly spirit.
DELIVERANCE NEEDED
The deliverance ministry was successfully done by Jesus Christ! It was an important part of His ministry because he was able to rescue the most needy possessed or enslaved people from the powers of Satan. We are supposed to imitate His ministry and reproduce it for His glory! Take a look at the following verses . . .
Mark 1:23-26
Look at the confrontation of the evil spirit with Jesus as shown in Mark starting at verse 23: "And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24) Saying, Let us alone. What have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. 25) And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26) And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him."
Notice from the above verses that Jesus cast out a demon from a man, (presumably a Jew) in a synagogue. A Jew is an Old Testament believer. A Christian is a New Testament Believer. If there can be demonic activity in a Jewish Believer, why can't there be a fairly similar kind of activity (although short of actual possession) in a Christian Believer?
Notice also in verse 25, that the Lord commanded the demon to be quiet. In other words, He did not accept the testimony of the man "possessed" by the evil spirit (even though it may be true). In like manner, we must also not readily accept the testimony of any Christian with evidence of demonic activity.
Look at John 6:70,71 - 70) Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71) He spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve chosen apostles (personally chosen by our Lord). If the seventy-two disciples in Luke 10:17 had their names written in heaven, it would be logical to assume that Judas Iscariot also had his name written in heaven (at least initially.)
They had a mountain-top experience. Jesus taught them that they could have the same power as Jesus did by using His name...
Luke 10:17-23 -- 17) "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19) Behold, I give unto 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 unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 21) In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. 22) All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. 23) And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:"
Later on you will find that Judas fell from grace BUT [this was] a result of his own wrongdoing . . .
John 12:4-6 -- 4) "Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5) Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6) This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein."
Matt 26:14-16 -- 14) Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15) And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16) And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him
The Bible says that the Love of Money is a root of all kinds of evil and causes SOME TO WANDER FROM THE FAITH. Judas was one of them.
1 Tim 6:10-11 --10) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things. Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."
Judas willingly allowed himself to be the subject of demonic activity and in so doing breached the hedge of God's protective covering . . .
Eccl 10:8 "He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him."
Satan himself personally entered Judas Iscariot before Jesus died. Temporary demonic activity if allowed to continue can result in a permanent state of affliction!
John 13:27-- John 13:27 "And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him that thou doest, do quickly."
"...within the professing Christian Church at least as many people need deliverance from evil spirits as need healing from sickness and that's about 80 per cent." Transcribed from Derek Prince's audio entitled "How Jesus dealt with demons".
The word "possessed" [by demons] is probably not so appropriate when applied to Christians. The Greek word actually means "to be demonized," that is to be in some way or another under the influence or attack or control of the enemy (Adapted from Derek Prince's audio entitled "Nature of Demons").
Here are some examples from Apostle Paul's teachings . . .
2 Cor. 11:3-4 -- 3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."
Eph. 4:27 "Neither give place to the devil."
Notice from 2 Cor. 11:4, that a Christian can receive a different spirit [a spirit other than the Holy Spirit]. Verse 3 says that DECEPTION opens the door for the wrong spirit to "afflict" the believer. Ephesians Chapter 4 verse 27 speaks of the devil gaining a foothold in the believer. When a wrong spirit `takes hold' of a believer, he (the demon) begins to want to control more and more areas of his life.
Gal. 3:1--- 1 "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?"
Notice that the Galatians who were Christians were "BEWITCHED."
Nelson's Bible Dictionary defines [to] "bewitch" as follows: BEWITCH - To hypnotize, charm, charm or cast an evil spell . . . To be "bewitched" therefore is to be under the influence or power of an evil spirit. (2)
The apostle here declared that the experience of his readers, starting with faith in Christ crucified and certified by the gift to them of the Holy Spirit, lay completely outside the sphere of the Law. Would they now renounce the perfection of the divine provision, he asks, for the folly of their own efforts? (3)
"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" (Galatians 3:1-5). The apostle was talking to Believers! Verse 1-5. They must have become bewitched. Victims of an evil spell (demon) (cf. Gal 1:7). In view of his dramatic preaching of Christ crucified when he was among them (cf. 1 Cor. 1:23; 2:2), their change in attitude seemed strange. Had they forgotten their first vivid impression? 2,3) After the reception of Christ came the gift of the Spirit (cf. Gal. 4:4-6; Eph. 1:13), not at all based on law-keeping as an effort of the flesh (cf. Gal. 5:18-19). 4) " Suffered" probably does not refer to persecution or the burden of law-keeping, but is used in a good sense - experienced. This interpretation is favored by the continuing mention of the Spirit in the next verse... 5) The ongoing work of the Spirit in miracles, like his advent into the hearts of the Galatians, depended not on works but on the hearing of faith, i.e., a faith response to the Gospel message preached to them.
The apostle asked these following questions in astonishment: "Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:3-5), verse 4 -"Have ye suffered so many things in vain? If it be yet in vain." In verse 5-" He therefore that ministers to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?"
The New Treatment is filled with people who went back on the Lord and became demonized. BE WARE, CHRISTIANS CAN BE DECEIVED AND CAN DEFINITELY BE DEMONIZED - particularly if they are not living for Jesus or have been improperly taught the Word of God!.
Christians are not to be ignorant of Satan's tactics according to II Corinthians 2:11. "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."