Shut The Front Door!

Did you realize you can open yourself up to demonic oppression? In my last post, "While You Were Sleeping" we talked about spiritual warfare, and demonic oppression while we sleep. This begs the question: How can a person who is a child of God, someone saved by Jesus be oppressed by a demon while they sleep, or awake for that matter? It's a great question, so let's ask God's Word!

"That you put off concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." Eph. 4:22-24

"As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:14-15

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8

"Nor give place to the devil" Eph 4:27

If we give the devil a place in our lives through sin we open the front door of our lives to him. Similarly, we also give the enemy access by willfully being disobedient to His Word. We must shut the front door to the enemy, and quit giving him access to our lives. We shut this door through repentance. Repentance is one of my favorite words in the Bible. Repentance is Great News!!! It's got a bad stigma behind it because of TV Shows with crazy men, dawning straggly beards, barely clothed, and standing in the middle of the street with signs reading, "REPENT!!!". But in reality it's great news, and shuts the door to the enemy straight away. Repentance is not just a one time thing, but should be a daily part of our lives.

My favorite discipleship book, The Purple Book by Rice Broocks and Steve Murrell, explains repentance perfectly. They say, "Repentance in essence is being truly sorry for our sins and desperate to restore our relationship with God, our heavenly Father. Repentance produces real change in our hearts and is the fruit of God's grace truly working in our lives. It means to "turn around". Regardless of how bad things have gotten or how far away you may feel from God, when you repent(turn), you instantly find God's love and mercy waiting for you."

Repentance is truly humbling if done in a genuine way. If you're just repenting because you're sorry you got caught(worldly sorrow) this will produce death. If you're repenting out of a genuine heart of humility(godly sorrow) this will produce salvation and diligence. 2 Cor. 7:11-12

Does someone who is oppressed or paralyzed with a Spirit of Fear mean that they're living in sin, and need to repent? No it doesn't. But if you're battling this kind of Spirit evaluate your life, and see if there are any areas of your life that you need to genuinely repent and turn back to God. Don't give the enemy a place, or foothold. If you give him an inch, he will kill, steal, and destroy from you until repentance takes place because he has access.

" Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." 1 Peter 5:10

BE ENCOURAGED, YOU'RE NOT ALONE!!!
God is with you, and His arm is not too short to save. He loves you, cares for you, and is able to rescue you. You are more than a conqueror. With Him all things are possible. No weapon formed against you will prosper. With Him you can scale a wall, and run against a troop. You have authority to resist him, and be full of faith. This is how we overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony. The Blood of Christ covers you, and protects you. No evil shall come near your dwelling place. A 1,000 may fall at your side, and 10,000 at your right hand but it will not come near you. The same Spirit that rose Christ from the dead lives in you. You have the Power of the Holy Spirit, The Blood of Jesus Christ, and God The Father! I think you will win! You can't lose!