Deliverance Training Encountering God’S Presence

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

Deliverance Training “It was for freedom that Christ set us free.” Galatians 5:1

Love Opened the Heavens

Jesus Christ came to earth as the heavens were opened by LOVE – Perfect LOVE – HIS FATHER (I John 4:16) to redeem and to save all who would believe in Him and call upon HIS name. (Luke 1:26-38; Romans 10:9-13)

Understanding God’s heart and Why We Need Deliverance

God is love and He desires for all to come to Him. He is a good God, a loving Father, and gave His own Son to die for us all, as He desires that “none should perish”. (II Peter 3:9)

The Scripture is full of truth showing us our individual need for deliverance. We are born into sin and until we are born again, we live a sin filled life. We live in a dark world and are the target for the enemy to afflict and impose rejection, heart ache, pain, sickness, disease, and death.

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

Romans 5:12: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”

John 10:10: “For the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

When sin has been present, there are consequences that are evident. The consequences are slavery to sin or strongholds, and it is these consequences that really destroy our lives - the very thing we need deliverance from. (John 8:34- 35)There is a necessary process of leaving old things behind, and making Christ Lord over every area in our life, in both word and deed (Ephesians 4:22-24).

For instance, Israel was freed from the slavery of Egypt, but their 40 years in the desert proved that they had a lot of bondage that they were still caught up in and needed to get rid of, such as idolatry, unbelief, etc., (1 Corinthians 10:1-12).

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but He then commanded the people around Lazarus to take off the grave clothes that bound him (John 11:38-44). Jesus wanted more for Lazarus than just life. He wanted an abundant life full of goodness.

“Lazarus had been dead for four days, when Jesus commanded the tomb to open. The scripture states he was still bound with “grave clothes wrapped around him.” Even though there was life in him, he was unable to move freely. So, Jesus commanded the people around him to take off the grave clothes. This is just like us: when we are born again we have new life, born of God, but the old habits we had while spiritually dead sinners are still in place. They still have us bound. For us to be free to walk in the new life God has put within us, the deadly habits have to be removed.” (Paraphrased from Limitless Love by Ken and Gloria Copeland)

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

Rescued by Love

Jesus was anointed by God’s Holy Spirit to save, heal and deliver (Acts 2:36-39; 10:38). He came to God’s chosen people, Israel, as a promise fulfilled, as the Messiah, the Christ (Isa.9:6, 7; 53:4-6). It was this Christ that would save them from their sins, and bring the kingdom of heaven to earth.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted; To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-20

Jesus brought healing and deliverance to the family of God first. God’s heart is family. (Gen. 1:26-28; Gen. 12:1-3) He could not just go into the world, without first going to His covenant family Israel.

The Lord was sent to give Israel, God’s covenant people, hope and to reveal God’s love through the demonstration of the Spirit and power, in order to bring them to repentance and be restored to their Father. He preached, “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Through faith in Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah, they could receive salvation. (John 3:16-18) Salvation was truly the children’s bread. (Mark 7:24-30)

The Gospel of the Kingdom

The gospel that we have been taught and understood in the evangelical church is one of forgiveness of sins. It is interesting to note that Jesus’ gospel of the Kingdom went far beyond that teaching…

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:18-21)

“When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” (Matthew 11:2-5)

“As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:7-8)

“But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matthew 12:28)

The gospel of the Kingdom is about the complete rule and reign of God in our lives in and around us. When Jesus preached that the Kingdom of heaven was near, He was saying that it had literally shown up on earth, and that its function and fulfillment could be visible in our very surroundings and personal lives. God wants us to become how He had originally intended for us to be. Freedom was intended for every believer! God wants to remove ALL that would hinder intimacy and a pure relationship with Him. There are many examples in scripture of the need for casting out demons and defeating the work of the devil. It was an essential component in the Kingdom of God as taught and ministered by Jesus. Once you have been set free through Jesus Christ, you can freely give what you have received. FREEDOM!!!! Matthew 10:8

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

Matthew 4:23-25

Matthew 8:16-17

Matthew 17:14-18

Mark 1:14, 15

Mark 1: 32-34

Mark 3:10-11

This is important to know, because Jesus would commission those disciples who believed in him to do the same as He did, but He would eventually send them to the whole earth to reach all peoples. He commanded them to love, heal the sick, cast out demons, and to lead people to repentance.

Matthew 10:7,8

Matthew 28:18-20

Mark 16:15-18

John 20:21-22

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

It is the believer’s benefit and inheritance through Christ’s atonement to be forgiven, healed, delivered, and made whole. (Isa. 53:4-6; Psalm 103; Psalm 107:1- 9; Galatians 3; Gal. 5:1; James 5:13-16) Some do not believe that healing or deliverance is a part of God's salvation. Eternity was sealed when I was born again, but my salvation will continue as I am being transformed into His image.

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed or transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14

Upon Salvation we are given new life, but without deliverance one could soon fall back into old habits, sinful patterns and the new life will be blemished and broken in some areas. Deliverance ensures a new life, filled new habits and an abundance of freedom and inheritance from the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.

Without being set free from strongholds, we will not get to where Jesus has called us to be. We want people to be totally free of their past and free of the enemy’s hold, so that they can give themselves completely to the kingdom of God.

“…That he might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.” Eph. 5:27

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Ezekiel 36:25-27

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

”Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:17

Jesus Christ, the anointed one, lives within every believer. His anointing destroys yokes, and removes burdens. (Isa 10:27,Matthew 11:28-30; I John 2:20, 27)

What is Salvation

Many people think of salvation being only defined in terms of being saved from sins, and consequently saved from hell one day - the eternal facet of salvation. In reality though, salvation has a huge impact in affecting our lives for our time on this earth. As soon as we enter the kingdom of heaven, we are born again, and we become new creatures in Christ Jesus. We are freely given eternal life, healing, protection, wholeness and freedom, and Holy Spirit reveals Jesus Christ to us!

Saved and Salvation In the Greek: (Strongs 4991) SOTERIA - rescue or safety. KJV: deliver, health, save, saving, salvation. "…continue to work out your salvation [soteria]with fear and trembling…" (Philippians 2:12) "Therefore he is able to save [soteria] completely…" (Hebrews 7:25)

(Strongs 4982) SOZO - deliver, protect. KJV: heal, preserve, salvation, save, do well, be (make) whole. "For the Son of Man came to seek and save [sozo] what was lost…" (Luke 19:10) "Jesus came into the world to save [sozo] sinners…" (1 Timothy 1:15)

In the Hebrew: (Strongs 3444. YESHUWAH) – something saved, deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity. "…proclaim His salvation [yeshuwah] day after day" (Psalm 96:2)

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

Salvation (Strongs 3468. YESHA) – liberty, deliverance, prosperity. KJV: safety, salvation, saving. "The Lord is my light and my salvation [yesha] - whom shall I fear?" (Psalm 27:1)

Sozo – salvation for the spirit

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save [sozo] His people from their sins.” Mat. 1:21

“(the people were) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved [sozo].” Acts 2:47

Sozo – healing for the body

“And the prayer of faith will save [sozo] the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” James 5:15

“Daughter, your faith has made you well [whole-shalom]. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction”. Mark 5:34

“… (they) begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.”[whole-shalom] Mark 6:56

Sozo – deliverance

Luke 8:26-39

“They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed [sozo].” Luke 8:3

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

The Human Structure

“…That he might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.” Eph. 5:27

In understanding how strongholds or demonic spirits can influence an individual, we must understand the make-up of the human structure.

We are called the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16). The temple was made up of three parts, the Holy of Holies, The Holy Place and the Outer Courts. Jesus also drove the "robbers" out of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13).

Humans are a three part being: (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 4:12).

Spirit – where the Spirit of God dwells. Soul – comprised of Mind, Will, and Emotions. Body – having Senses (hearing, sight, taste, touch and smell)

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

Each specific part is brought into a state of God given perfection (made whole again). However, they do not all manifest this perfection immediately. Your spirit is made perfect the moment you confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior, because we are given the Spirit of God at that time (Ephesians 1:13). Your soul and body are being saved [sozo] as you walk out your salvation (Phil. 2:12). The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21).The Lord is renewing your mind through His word (Romans 12:1, 2) to think as He did and become as He is (I John 4:17). Through salvation [SOTERIA], your soul and body will receive increasing measures of freedom until the day the Lord perfects them in glory (1 John 3:3; Philippians 3:12).

…for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:9

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

The Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus

Righteousness: uprightness, morality; morally right or justifiable; virtuous; pure; integrity; being right with God; God’s way of doing things.

The Promise of Righteousness:

Abraham-

“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Rom. 4:3

David’s revelation –

“God imputes righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” Rom. 4:6-8

The Blessing

“And God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful (always producing) and multiplying (always increasing), fill the earth and subdue it (always in control of your environment).” Gen. 1:28 AMP

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

Promise to Abraham and his seed: Gen. 12: 1-3; 14:18-20; 15; 18:17-19

“God promised him that he would be an heir to the world through the righteousness of faith.” Paraphrased Rom. 4:13

“It is by faith through grace that all of his seed would receive the promise as an heir, and that he is the father of us all. “I have made you a father of many nations.” He believed God! God gives life to the dead and calls those things that do not exist as though they did. He believed, and did not grow weak in his faith, because he did not even consider his own body or Sarah’s, but knew God was able to perform what He had promised.” Paraphrased Rom. 4:15-25

Jesus Christ our righteousness – I John 2:1-2

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom of God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.” I Cor. 1:30

Jesus is righteousness and came to save sinners:

“I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17

“There is none righteous, no not one.” Rom. 3:10-18

“Now the righteousness of God is revealed…through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” Paraphrased Rom. 3:21-26

“Man is justified [guiltless] by faith.” Rom3:28

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

Justified by faith and reconciled with God

As soon as we believe in Jesus and the finished work of the cross, we are MADE RIGHT WITH GOD. WE BECOME RIGHTEOUS. WE ARE NO LONGER SINNERS, BUT SAINTS – CHILDREN OF GOD.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” Rom. 5:1

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8-11

“for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation [sozo].” Rom 10:10

“and the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Gal. 3:14

“For as many are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:26-29

“Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Gal. 4:7

Righteousness received – Rom 5:12 - 6

Adam – sin, death entered to all mankind through his disobedience.

Jesus – his obedience resulted in life and righteousness to all mankind.

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

“much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.” Rom. 5:15

“but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.” Rom. 5:16

“much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:17

“even so, through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.” Rom. 5:18

“so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” Rom. 5:19

“even so grace might reign through righteousness.” Rom. 5:21

“…you are the one’s slave whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or obedience leading to righteousness…and having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. For just as you presented yourselves as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present yourselves as slaves of righteousness for holiness.” Rom. 6:16, 18-20.

“for by what a man is overcome, by this is he enslaved.” II Peter 2:19

Awake to Righteousness – “Enter into His righteousness!”

“Awake to righteousness, and do not sin.” I Cor. 15:34

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” II Cor. 5:17

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” II Cor. 5:21

“and having put on the breastplate of righteousness” Eph.6:14

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

“I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation [sozo], He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness.” Isa. 61:10

Joshua the high priest – Zech 3

Forgetting what lies behind, and pressing forward to the upward call of God in Christ Jesus

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed, I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ Jesus, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by some means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:7- 14

“As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Thy likeness when I awake.” Psm 17:15

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

Authority

Authority - “the right and power to command, enforce laws; exact obedience. Determine, or judge. A person or group invested with this right and power. Power delegated: power to influence or persuade resulting from knowledge or experience.” The American Heritage Dictionary

The faith of the centurion in Luke 7:1-10 was one of the few things that amazed Jesus. His faith was based on his understanding of authority. It was not about holding a position of authority as much as it was a principle of being under an authority, of being a representative of the Real Authority. In other words, to have authority, we need to be under authority.

Authority (Strongs 1849. EXOUSIA) – privilege… delegated influence.

Jesus under authority

Mat. 8:8-13

John 5:19

John 5:30, 36

John 14:28

Mat. 21:24

Jesus taught with authority

Mat. 7:28-29

Mark 1:21-22

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Jesus ministered with authority

Mark 1:23-27

Luke 4:31-36

Jesus took back authority and gave it to His disciples

The believer’s authority comes from Jesus Himself.

“Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19

Matthew 10:1

Luke 10:1

Matt. 28:18-20

Col. 2:12-15

Rev. 1:18

Eph. 1:18-23

Eph. 2:6

Eph. 3:10-12

Eph. 6:10-18

James 4:7

Mark 6:7, 12-13

Mark 16:15-18

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

Col. 1:26-27

I John 4:17

We have the privilege of carrying Jesus Christ’s authority and influence.

The line of command goes like this: God  Jesus  Holy Spirit - Church. Ephesians 1:22-23 says that God made Jesus the head over everything for the church, “the body of Christ”. He also put everything under Jesus’ feet (also Psalm 8:6; Colossians 2:15), so that means, that as Jesus’ body, we have everything under our feet, including our enemies, in particular, Satan. He expresses His authority on earth today, through the church (see also Eph 3:10; Matthew 28:18-19). As long as we stay submitted to the authority and lordship of Christ, we will be protected by His authority. (Acts 19:13–16 tells about men who were not submitted to Christ)

As we begin to grasp the concept of the authority the Father has given us through Christ, we should continue to give all the glory to God and to rejoice above all that our names are engraved in eternity with the Father (Luke 10:17- 20).

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

Deliverance Q and A

Q: “Can Christians have demons?”

Christians cannot be “possessed.” However, a Christian can be “demonized.” Theoretically, to understand this concept better, we need to understand the various degrees of which the demonic spirit has influence over a person.

Degrees of influence can be defined as follows (Please do not get caught up on these terminologies - language is always a limitation! The concept of degree of inhabitation is what matters here):

1. Oppression: to "crush or burden". The enemy is looking for an open door to gain access. He works to weaken the defenses of the will (1 Peter 5:8), e.g. an enemy laying siege to a city. It can be practically viewed in terms of the climate or environment around you. You can still fight through a bad environment and live righteously, but the battle is always there. This usually comes in the form of temptations and persecutions, with temporary control in limited areas of the flesh. (In these cases, there is usually little or no need for deliverance – repentance and inner healing is often all that is needed.)

2. Inhabitation: The enemy has gained entrance and usually remains somewhat dormant, not wanting to be exposed. In this instance, there is enough spiritual strength and character to reduce the access that the demons have. The more active the Holy Spirit becomes in this individual’s life (when the individual gives Him full reign), the more uncomfortable the demon will get until it is eventually forced to show itself. Because they are already on their way out, these are fairly easy to cast out. If however the person continues to sin in this area, the demon will use the opportunity to get a stronger hold, and it will then start to gain greater control over that individual’s life.

3. Torment: "extreme pain/anguish, source of vexation". Here the enemy accuses and berates, "Look what you did! There's no forgiveness for you. You're alone. Nobody loves you. You may as well just do it again..." Practically, it can look like fear, depression and affliction where the devil has gained influence in

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

the person's life. The individual is led into things they really don't want to do, but their will has been weakened and they struggle to refuse or put up any resistance. The person has given over so much control of their life to the devil, that they are now manipulated. There is temporary loss of ability to control their bodies, will, mind and emotions (Mark 9:17-27).

4. Possession: "having/taking control”. The demon governs and dominates every area of this person, so that it thinks feels and acts entirely through the person. (Mark 5:1-16).

As a comparison to Christians of today, the people of God in Jesus' day (Israelites) were under the influence with similar demonic spirits. They even argued with Jesus that they were not slaves to anyone and therefore not in need of freedom (John 8:33). There are several accounts where Jesus casts demonic spirits out of people who were in the temple or the synagogues (Luke 4:33-36; Luke 13:10-16)

A Christian cannot be owned by a demon (Colossians 1:13). A demon cannot reside where the Holy Spirit resides. Instead they inhabit our soul and body. The issue for a Christian is, "who is in control", not ownership. If demons can control you, they do not need to own you. (2 Peter 2:19.)

Time of entry: Demons may have already been in a person before they got saved. Demons may have entered after the person became a Christian. All the epistles were written to believers and warn against the enemy's attacks (1 Peter 5:8-9; 2 Corinthians 11:4). We are vulnerable if we do not stay alert and self-disciplined (Proverbs 25:28). There is an ongoing need for obedience and holiness (Luke 6:46).

Q: “Is Deliverance for Christians?”

Building upon the general understanding that Israel/Children is often symbolic of the Church today (not a replacement, but symbolic) and that the Gentiles/Dogs of that day are representative of the unsaved read the following scripture:

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Mark 7:24 “From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. 25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro- Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her,“ Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs.”28 And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs.”29 Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.”

Who are the children and what was Jesus saying was for them?

Q: “Where is that in the Bible?”

This question is often asked after hearing a testimony or experiencing something new.

It can be difficult to believe what even what one personally experiences because believers are often very oriented to knowing Jesus primarily through the Word.

John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

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Q: "I thought Jesus can only cast out demons. Where does it say in the Bible that believers can do it?"

Mark 16:14 - “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe:

In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Matt 10:5 “These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (this shows who these things are spoken to- only believers are referred to as sheep) 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand. ’ 8 heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.”

Mark 3:15 – “and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.”

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Mark 6:12 – “So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.”

Btw, notice the link with healing and casting out of demons. Jesus was in no way vague here on what He commanded the disciples to do. Why is it that we will take some of what He told the disciples to do and claim it as a command from Him and follow it ex. make disciples, feed the poor and widows, etc., but not all of what He told them to do? Often, the problem stems from bad teaching, ignorance, fear, unbelief.

The question above is a great question and is fruit of the ignorance of our authority in Christ as well as antichrist spirit (anti-against Christ-anointing) and teachings. A religious mindset many come out of will balk at the idea that Father would actually give us that much responsibility. It will change your whole life when you realize He actually expects to really be "co-heirs" with Christ and rule and reign with Him now in power (dunamis-gun) and authority (exhousia-badge) vs. the sweet by and by. This is more of the understanding the gospel of the kingdom vs. the gospel of salvation.

Q: “I thought the sign gifts disappeared after Jesus ascended. Does is say in the Bible that they are still around?"

Not to be flippant, but, a question to answer a question: Where does it say they stopped?

A typical response to this question is found in 1 Corinthians 13:8. “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”

This theological stance is called Cessationism.

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence

That isolated scripture just doesn't hold water given the full counsel of scripture, what Jesus said, church history and personal experience. Especially given the context of the next chapter, gifts ceasing just doesn't flow at all with the theme of the whole book, much less the Bible. In keeping with the scripture all knowledge vanished as well! Paul wasn't confused when he went from saying that some day when perfection comes (some attribute it to canonization of scripture-which is incorrect, but even if that was the case, it just doesn't jive with the very Word that was canonized telling us to pursue gifts etc.) to telling us to pursue the gifts etc. He was referring to us growing and becoming more like Christ and as we see the end of the age etc. come.

The entire New Testament plus prophecies, types and shadows in the Old Testament completely contradict this view.

If they stopped, how do we hear from God to even interpret the Word? How is anyone called to do anything if Holy Spirit is limited to words on a page? How is anything we read confirmed but by at very least the inner witness if it is only the Word etc.?

Paul exhorts us to “pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that we may prophesy.” I Corinthians 14.

2Timothy 3:1 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self- control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Matthew 15:1 “Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”3

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He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, “Honor your father and your mother ’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death. ’ 5 But you say, “Whoever says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father or mother. ’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:8 ‘ These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.9 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. ’”

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Strongholds and Entry Points

And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. Isaiah 10:27

A STRONGHOLD SETS ITSELF UP AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. IT CAN BE UNDERSTOOD AS A SYSTEM OF THINKING THAT IS CONTRARY TO THE WORD OF GOD (2 CORINTHIANS 10:5).

It is also a place of fortification for the demonic spirits to hold onto. It is like a structure that we have built in our souls by patterns of unhealthy behavior or unscriptural choices. This is why, when someone goes through deliverance, it is ideal if they have follow-up discipleship and relationship with the body of Christ to help them in their journey of love. (Matthew 12:43-45).

Strongholds develop progressively, beginning with the first cooperation (voluntarily or involuntarily) with some activity from the demonic world. What we believe about the experience of that act of cooperation is what will a) secure and/or strengthen the stronghold (e.g. lies about ourselves and/or the Word of God), or b) tear it down (by identifying it and making it come into line with the Truth). Satan sets up rule in our lives by the lies he gets us to believe, keeping us from knowing God as He really is - a loving, powerful, and sovereign Redeemer.

God is our ultimate stronghold. When we are facing troubles and life seems to overwhelm us, He wants us to run to Him for safety and refuge. But too many of us find our refuge in the likes of Television, shopping, drinking, eating, people, busyness, etc. Satan has perverted our innate ability to run for protection by convincing us that these other things serve us better (Psalm 9:8-9).

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Intrusion

John 10:10 – “But the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy…”

Intrusion is when Satan just barges into your life though you haven’t done a thing to deserve it. He has no right to be there. Imagine your home as a picture of who you are. Sometimes Satan just bursts into your life because he hates you. But because he had no authority or right to come into your home you can use authority to help you make him leave.

When Satan intrudes into your life and you recognize what’s going on, you just run straight to Father. Since the devil had no right to do what he was doing, God will help you kick him out of your life!

Legal ground

This is when you or someone in authority over you has given the authority Jesus gave you back to Satan. This is like you inviting someone into your home even though you know better. This time, you have to confess what you did wrong and agree with your Christ that it was wrong in order to get them to help you kick your “friend” out.

There are five main open doors through which evil spirits have access to your life. These doors are disobedience, unforgiveness, emotional trauma, inner vows and judgments, and curses.

So let’s learn what the doors are and how to close them.

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Door 1: Disobedience (Romans 6:16; I Peter 2:19; James 1:13-15)

Sin - in Bible language, sin is when an arrow is shot and it misses the mark or target. So, when we miss the target Father set for us, it is called sin. Don't get me wrong, Father gives the empowerment and ability to hit the target. However, when we don’t know about the target or use the ability to hit it, we sin.

Disobedience - is when we sin on purpose. It's any action or attitude that the Bible tells you not to do or have, but you do or have it anyway. It is also anything the Bible tells you to do and you don't do it.

Disobedience includes some obvious things like getting drunk, stealing, lying, and cursing. But your attitudes, your heart, and your mind matter too. Disobedience starts small but grows. It follows a simple but deadly process. Fascinate. Meditate. Participate. Once you start thinking about sin, you can't stop yourself from sinning easily. The more you do it, the more you become sin’s slave. It is like you are bound or chained to it. That's called bondage. Sin will always take you further than you wanted to go and keep you longer than you wanted to stay. Do not mess around with willful sin.

You may have so many sinful attitudes or actions that you barely notice them and they seem natural to you. But you don’t get to be the judge of what is okay – God does! If you have willingly been disobedient to God, it is essential for you to repent.

Repent – (Matthew 4:17; Prov. 28:13; I John 1:9)

Repent means you are headed one direction, but you stop and go in the opposite way from where you were going. It also means you allow God to change how you think about the situation.

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Repenting is not saying," I'm sorry I got caught. I'll try to change." It is when you see how good Father God is, remember what Jesus did so you could be saved/sozo-ed, and recognize how much you were turning your back on what they did. These things happen in your heart, not your head alone. You know repentance is real when what you do afterward is different than what you did before. Repentance is real if God tells you to go correct what you did wrong, and you rush out to do it. Correcting wrongs may sometimes include going to someone, telling them you are sorry for what you did, and asking them to forgive you. It takes guts to do this, but it knocks the snot out of the enemy! In addition to asking for forgiveness, you may also need to renounce some of your ways of thinking.

Renounce - to renounce something means you come out of agreement with an action or way of thinking. It is like divorcing yourself from something or dropping someone's hand you were holding. You no longer have contact with it, and you consider it dead. You say, "I thought this was true or good, but now I know it is not."

So the open door of disobedience means you willingly held bad attitudes or did wrong things. To shut this door, you must repent of your sin and renounce it. Here's an example prayer you can use or fit to how you want to say it:

"Father, in Jesus' name, I agree with you that it was wrong to think about or imagine ______. I am sorry I (insert what you did here)______. It is sin, and there is no excuse. It was my fault. Please forgive me and cleanse me. I renounce my participation with the sin and any evil spirit connected to it. Every evil spirit must leave me now. Holy Spirit, blow like a whirlwind through me and clean me out. Holy Spirit, fill me up !

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Door 2: Unforgiveness (Matthew 18:23-35; Hebrews 12:15; II Cor. 2:5-11)

Jesus once told a parable that shows us what unforgiveness looks like. In that parable, a master decided not to make his servant pay back a huge amount of money the servant owed. However, the servant refused to do the same thing for his fellow servants.

“Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." Matthew 18:32-35

Unforgiveness is refusing to let go of or excuse a debt owed by another person. It has been compared to drinking poison and hoping the other person suffers.

Forgiveness isn't just stuffing something down inside ourselves and trying to forget about it. Stuffing things down is like trying to hold several beach balls underwater - it takes a lot of time, energy, and focus to keep them under the surface. Trying to ignore things doesn’t solve the problem; it just wears you out. One the other hand, forgiveness takes all that pressure off of you. Forgiveness is allowing Holy Spirit to pop those beach balls up so He can get rid of them for you.

Another picture of forgiving versus not forgiving is when you get a splinter in your hand. Remember when you were little and your parents had to chase you around the house and hold you down to get a splinter out? Well imagine that a splinter represents when someone hurts you. Father wants to pull it out, but you want to run.

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What happens when you don't get a splinter out? Your hand gets red and infected. Imagine evil spirits and the demonic as germs. As long as you're wounded, they can grow and multiply. Eventually, a thick skin grows over where the splinter was. You begin to lose feeling in that part of your skin. Because you lose feeling, you are more likely to get another splinter. Wow. It becomes even more painful, and you aren't about to let Father touch it. The same thing continues until your whole hand becomes sore, infected, and unable to feel much other than the pain.

Now imagine that your heart is like your hand. The more painful things you go through, the harder your heart gets. Suppose one day you want to get all the pain out. Father is still willing to remove all of the "splinters," but it might hurt to go digging around in there amongst all the other splinters. The good news is that if you can stick it out and let Him do what He wants, it will be healed.

Forgiving doesn't mean what happened is ok. It means you aren't the one responsible for seeing that things are made right. Father God says it's His job to repay and make things right, and you sure don't want to try and do His job.

When you are praying to forgive someone, you will want to pray out loud. Not only does it help you keep track of what you are doing, but the enemy can also hear you, and they know for sure they are getting the door slammed in their face. It's also good to have another person there with you. You aren't praying to them, but they can help you stay focused and listen for other stuff you might need to pray about.

It is also important for you to be specific about how whatever happened made you feel. Emotions and feelings can be healed too. Have you ever heard someone say their feelings got hurt? If feelings can be hurt, then Jesus wants to heal them. Crying is often a great way to get emotions healed. Don't hold it in. Laughter is healing too.

When you forgive someone, don't say, "Jesus, help me forgive Jennifer." Jesus already died to give you the supernatural power to forgive.

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Forgiveness is your choice. You decide in your heart to let it go and you just do it. “Father, I forgive Jennifer!”

Sometimes after you forgive you still feel some pain. Remember the splinter-in- the-hand example? Even after you get the splinter out, it sometimes takes a while for full healing to happen. Getting the evil spirit out helps too, but we'll get to that in a bit!

If you are having a hard time deciding why you should forgive, check out the story Jesus tells in Matthew 18. The parable points out how much we've been forgiven and how it is only right to forgive others. Compare one thing or even several things they have done to you with every sin you've ever been forgiven of. This helps you see things how Father does.

Compare every bit of un-forgiveness to a rock in a backpack you carry around everywhere you go. As you forgive, your load gets lighter. Whatever it takes, just do it.

Here's an example prayer you can use to forgive someone:

"Father God, in the name of Jesus, it is my will and I choose to forgive (insert name here) ______for (insert what happened or what they said) ______. (If it is something they said, you should destroy the power of the words they said and command any spirit assigned to fulfill those words to leave you alone.) When they did what they did it made me feel (sad, hurt, angry etc.)______. I ask you to heal my emotions too, in Jesus' name."

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Door 3: Emotional Trauma

Trauma is anything that causes pain. Hospitals have trauma units to treat people who are in severe pain in their bodies. Emotions can also be hurt.

Emotional traumas are inner hurts that can be caused by sudden physical injury or emotional shock. There are two types: traumas we cause through disobedience (which means we must face the consequences of our actions) and those we had no part in causing. Sometimes other people may hurt us or accidents may happen, and those things can cause emotional trauma.

However, there is good news. Jesus came to heal us of both types of trauma. In Luke 4 the Bible tells us that He came to set captives free as well as prisoners. Captives are minding their own business and get kidnapped. Prisoners did something bad and deserve to be locked up and punished. Either way, Jesus wants them free. Remember, Jesus came to be our hero and to rescue us even though we didn't deserve it. That includes saving us from trauma.

When talking about trauma, it is important to realize people are different. Something might cause trauma in you, but not your brother, sister, or friend. For example, your heart may be trashed because your grandpa died, but your brother was only sad for a little while. While it is understandable that you want to be like everyone else and fit in, it is also true that there is no one else like you on the planet.

Here is one way of understanding how trauma works. What happens when you are shocked or scared? You suck in air through your mouth. Imagine that your soul sucks things in too.

Sometimes, in a bad situation, you may “suck in” an evil spirit. That’s not exactly how it happens, but it’s a good picture anyway. After you get over being scared, you take a deep breath and blow it out, and that helps you relax. But when it comes to trauma, people often don’t deal with it right when it happens. Over the years, the trauma sticks around and grows. So many adults are still dealing with traumatic things that happened when they were young.

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How do you deal with it? If it was because of someone else, forgive them. Good examples of this are divorce, car wrecks, being left alone, getting locked in somewhere like a car or closet, or almost dying. Moving towns, someone close to you dying, seeing something that scares you, being scared by someone and hurtful situations can also count as trauma. When you forgive whoever was responsible, don't forget to tell the evil spirit you "sucked in" to leave you. If you don’t make it leave, the evil spirit may remind you of the hurt. The enemy may even make you feel the hurt in your body or cause you to dream about it

If you did what caused the trauma, apologize to God and repent. Don't forget to forgive yourself. You are Father's child too, and He doesn't like you to mistreat His kids, even if it is you. When you forgive, you also give up the right to punish people for what they've done. You will not even punish yourself. When you punish and want people to hurt or know how badly they hurt you, the healing in your heart isn't finished yet. Remember to let the pain go, and if necessary, let yourself off the hook for it. Jesus does!

...Inner Healing. Only God can heal these areas of a person's life completely (Isaiah 61:1). This may take a lot of time, and it is essential that you do not rush it. It’s a choice about whether or not the individual wants to remain a victim their entire life. It’s time to start taking responsibility for a course of attitudes and reactions that may have been set off by these painful experiences.

1. Recognize the wound or pain (usually related to a lie or traumatic experience in their past) as they are praying or talking. 2. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the source of the pain. Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, God will bring the revelation needed to see that pain brought to the surface for healing over the wound and memory - it may be a word, a picture, etc. Be faithful to test it out with sensitivity, e.g. "Does this mean anything to you – a teddy bear with a green bow?”

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence 3. The person must be willing to let God reveal the pain and allow Him to take it from them (release the pain). Sometimes it is good to have them ‘give God permission’ to enter that place in their heart. 4. If there is a lie that has been planted in that memory (e.g. I am shameful because of what happened), allow God to speak His Truth to that individual. Our words, although based on Scripture, may not always be exactly what the individual needs to hear during that healing process. Allow time for God to speak to them – He wants to.

Another aspect of inner healing that one can look for is related to the way we view God. Our perceptions and experiences of parents and authority early in our lives shape the way we see God our Father. Sometimes, a particular area of our heart remains in unbelief about who God is because of experiences in our past, particularly with parents. If the correlation is there, have the individual confess the image of God that they have that is not lining up with Scripture, have them forgive their parents for that picture, and forgive God for the perception they’ve held because of His seeming absence. Then have them ask God for a new and accurate picture of who He truly is in that area of their heart.

Door 4: Inner Vows and Judgments

The fourth door of access for the enemy is the door of inner vows and judgments. The Bible gives us stern warnings about these things.

Matthew 7:1, 2

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”

Matthew 5:37

“Let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything more than this comes from evil.”

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These verses make it clear that whatever judgments and vows I send out will come back on me. To understand how serious that is, let’s see what these words mean.

Inner - means inside of you. It is not something that is visible or specifically to do with other people.

Vow - a promise you make to yourself, someone, else or even God. We usually make vows when we’re young, and they can affect us all our lives.

Often times we make vows in reaction to something we don’t like. We may say things like, “I’ll never drink beer like my dad,” or “When I grow up, I’ll never miss my child’s performance at school.” Sentences that begin, “I’ll never” or “I’ll always” are often good clues that you’ve made vows. It seems like you’re saying a good thing, but what is really happening is you are saying in your heart that you are in control of your whole life. The truth is you don’t know what will happen in the future. Only Jesus does. Besides, you don’t control your life anymore.

Remember, when we give our lives to Jesus, we’ve been bought, and we are no longer our own. It’s not bad to want to do right things, but a vow usually rides alongside with a judgment.

Judgment - when you decide you know what’s in the heart of someone else, usually accompanied with pride or haughtiness.

Thinking you know what is in the heart of someone else or that you know what they are thinking puts you in the place of God. He is the only one who knows what is truly there. Father can give us words of knowledge about what is going on, but when we base the information on what we think, we’re speaking from a

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human place, not a godly place. Can you imagine pushing Father off the throne in Heaven and taking over for awhile? Well, in a way, that’s what you are doing when you judge.

A judgment raises you up above someone because you think you are better and won’t blow it like they have. Sounds like pride to me. That’s the same thing Lucifer thought. He’s not the one you want to agree with. Things didn’t work out for him, and if you judge people, they won’t work out for you either. You see, Father set things up so that if you judge, you get judged the same way. How can that be? When you step off of the good path Father planned for you, you head out on your own into the unprotected woods.

Imagine judgment as shooting an arrow at someone. In the spirit realm, it is like there is a string tied to the arrow that is attached to you. The enemy gets to work in the place you shot the arrow. That’s bad enough, but that same enemy can walk on that string right back to you and work on you too. Curses work this way as well, but we’ll get to those later.

Imagine again that judgments are like eye glasses. What if my best friend forgets my birthday? It hurts my feelings, so I make an inner vow and judgment. I may say, “He’s so un-thoughtful. He wasn’t even thinking of me and only thinks of himself. I will never expect anything from him again so I don’t get disappointed.” Well, now guess what? Even if he does something wonderful and thoughtful for me, I can’t fully receive it or appreciate it because I will see everything he does through the “un-thoughtful” lenses I am wearing. I’ll likely decide what was going on in his heart and feel like he could never do enough to repay me for what he’d forgotten before. So he can’t make things right with me, and I can’t feel better about things.

The Bible says I’ll be judged in the same way I judged my friend. Because I’ve disobeyed Father and stepped off the path of righteousness, the enemy has the right to work me over and make me appear un-thoughtful to other people. It may not be exactly like the vow or judgment I made, but it will be similar.

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For example, I may not be judged for forgetting a birthday, but it will be something in the same neighborhood as that. I might be judged as un-thoughtful or mean because I didn’t show up for something. I didn’t mean to miss it, other things just distracted me. Where do you think the distractions came from? The enemy set me up! It wasn’t in my heart to miss it, I just blew it.

On a more serious note, what if child abuse or something ugly like that has led to a judgment? Can Jesus help that too? Of course, nothing is too terrible for Him to forgive or rescue you from. He sees you with love, just like He sees the one doing the sin with love. Nobody wakes up one morning when they are little and decides they want to hurt their children some day. No one ever says, “Gee, when I grow up, I want my kids to be scared of me.” It is usually the opposite. People make vows to do something good, and the enemy is empowered through the vows to do something bad.

Never forget that Satan and his demons are evil. Father is good, and love and is always working to rescue us. Remember, Jesus gave us the authority to destroy the works of the devil. It is time for us to live like Jesus paid for us to. It is time to repent, be rescued, be empowered, and go to war for other people.

If you want to stop the pain and ugliness in your life from judgments and vows, pray this or something like this from your heart:

“Father, please forgive me for judging (insert name here, often a parent) ______. Please forgive me for being so prideful and thinking I knew what was in their heart. Only You know that. I forgive them for ______. I renounce the judgment (what you thought and/or said) ______and destroy the power of those words. Please remove the glasses of judgment from me and show me Your TRUTH. Open my eyes to see them as you see them. Please heal me inside and out. In Jesus’ name, any evil spirit that gained access to me through this must leave! Holy Spirit, please fill me up.”

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Soul Ties A soul tie occurs when two individuals share a part of themselves with the intent of giving themselves to each other. It also applies when an individual needs or takes part of someone else to fill an insecurity or emptiness of their own. There is a possible sense of "drawing life" from the other individual, e.g., “I will die or not be able to go on if that person leaves me”. This can be in the physical or in the soul realm. . In the soul realm, this could look like a mother and daughter relationship, where although the daughter is now married and living away from home, she consults her mother on every issue and problem in her life instead of submitting those to her husband. Ungodly soul ties are usually evident if a person feels manipulated or controlled by another.

The most common soul tie is in the area of sexual relationships. All sexual contact unites two people into one flesh (1 Corinthians 6:15-18). By this people contract not only physical illness but also spiritual problems from the other person so that the spirits that dominate the one person can now dominate the other If an individual has had multiple sexual partners, sometimes it is necessary to release the ‘fragmented’ soul parts from the person(s) that were left in them, and to ask for God to fill up those empty places with His Spirit, and for the ‘part’ of them that was stolen or given away would be restored. If the individual you are praying for has suffered the loss of a loved one, you might hear this: “when they died, they took a part of me with them!” or “I’ll always have a part of them in me”, or “I could never get over them being gone.”

Soul ties can be good. In a Godly marriage, the two become one flesh. There is a joining of the two for a beneficial purpose (Genesis 2:24; 1 Samuel 18:1 – e.g. of friendship). If there is unhealthiness involved, then the unhealthiness is what is shared or taken.

Weakness and needs feed on someone else's "life". That is why God must be the strength and source of all life. Someone else's "life" in you does not add to yours.

If the individual is constantly reminded of, thoughtful of, or even fearful of someone in the past, the likelihood of a soul tie being present is high. A sexual relationship always results in a soul tie. Where control or manipulation is consistently received from specific people, soul ties can also be present.

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...Repent and destroy the soul tie. "In the name of Jesus, I destroy the soul tie between [name] and [name], mind to mind, body to body, soul to soul, it is severed and gone". Once again, there needs to be repentance of the unhealthy relationship and the confession must be specific. (Look for a spirit of guilt and shame that may have attached itself at this point.) The individual must realize that the nature and boundaries of that particular relationship, if it is ongoing, needs to change and become healthy.

Cords – Likened unto an umbilical cord, a cord is like a ‘life-line’ in the spirit, where they are connected to an individual through this cord of life/death. A person could have walked with a mentor for years, and then when it was time for them to ‘go out’, and minister, they could be connected with a cord to their mentors. This could manifest where the individual ‘sent out’ and ‘coming into their calling’, cannot go beyond their mentor; are in bondage to their mentors own personal way of ministering; wounds to /with those mentors; or they take on the mandates of their mentors, and are not able to break out into their own. Cords can be with any relationship, and need to be severed (as with a sword) and destroyed; loosing both from each other.( Eccl. 4:12; 12:6)

Door 5: Curses

Do you believe in blessings? What do you say when someone sneezes? Why is it that people talk all day about blessings and even thank Father for them, but we never hear of curses? I think the enemy has done a good job of making people think that curses are only hocus pocus from the movies. But if we believe blessings are real and for today, why wouldn’t curses be the same?

Blessing - an empowerment for good, usually spoken. Some blessings have conditions or rules you have to follow to get them. Other blessings you get just because. Imagine someone painting a target on your back for good things to hit. That’s a blessing.

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Curse - an empowerment for evil, often spoken. Some curses are allowed to work because of something someone in your family, city, or nation has done. Other curses you bring on yourself. Imagine a target on your back again. This target is for bad things to hit you and your life. That’s a curse.

Bowling lanes sometimes have little bumpers that pop out to keep your ball out of the gutter. That’s how I think of curses. If my aim is off, my ball bumps alongside them until it gets back on track. I set the ball in motion, and it goes where I caused it to go. The effect is that it bumps back and forth along the sides. It may eventually hit the pins, but it won’t knock as many down as it would have if I had rolled the ball straight. The bumpers rob my ball’s momentum.

Similarly, many blessings and curses are cause and effect. When you ignore Holy Spirit and go your own way, you are off target and the end result isn’t good. You get robbed of some of your power!

As we have discussed, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit created things to work in certain ways. According to God’s design, there are basically two worlds, or realms: the seen and the unseen. Each realm has its own set of rules, or ways things work. The realm we see works with things like gravity, time, colors, etc. But the seen realm is really just a kind of copy of the unseen realm.

The unseen world has ways it works too, such as giving, loving, or judging. One of the ways Father lets us know how the unseen realm works is by what He wrote in His Word. When Jesus came, He didn’t get rid of how Father made the realms to work. He lived by the rules of both worlds perfectly. We are expected to live by the rules of each realm, too.

Matthew 5:17-19

“Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”

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When we blow it and live outside of the ways Father set for us to live, that counts as a cause. The effect is a curse may come into our lives. When a curse is working in our lives, we may feel like that bowling ball, just bouncing back and forth with no real power. But you see, Jesus became cursed for us, so we don’t have to suffer the effects of our wrong actions. We can repent and remind the enemy that Jesus already paid the price for the curse we’ve been living with.

How do you know if you are living under a curse? If these things are happening in your life or your family a lot, there might be a curse:

Insanity, craziness, depression, confusion

Diseases or sicknesses passed down through the family

Trouble having babies or other female problems

Divorce or division in family relationships

Can’t make or keep money

Always having accidents

Suicide

Unnatural, early, or violent deaths

The good news is the Bible teaches us the reasons why these curses come upon us. Once we know the cause, we can get rid of the effect.

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Main Causes of Curses:

1. Disobedience or disrespect for parents. (Ephesians 6:1-3)

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise; that it may be well with you, and you may live long on earth.”

Notice, if you obey (there’s the cause) you get a good and long life (there’s the effect). By using logic, you can know the opposite is true. Disobey or disrespect your parents and your life will not be as long or as good as it was planned to be. I know it might be tempting to point out your parents’ shortcomings (by the way, this also applies to those acting as parents for you), but here’s the deal – Father wrote this knowing that no one would ever have perfect parents. There are no excuses and no exceptions.

By obeying this commandment from Father, you put your trust in Him. You are having faith in Father God rather than your parents. He is the one who made the promise of blessing, so He’s really who you are dealing with here. The issue is not whether your parents are correct or if they deserve to be obeyed. The issue is whether or not you will obey God! Now, don’t get me wrong – if your parents are instructing you to break the law or harm yourself or someone else, Father God knows what’s going on, and He will lead you in what to do. Other than that, we are instructed to honor God by obeying our parents. By the way, “harm” doesn’t include grounding you, spanking you appropriately, etc.

If you have blown it here, repent. Ask Holy Spirit to deliver you and destroy the curse over your life. Obey Holy Spirit as He teaches you what honor and respect look like. Another way the unseen realm works is what’s called sowing and reaping. That means what you plant is what grows and comes back to you. If you sow/plant respect and honor, soon you receive respect and honor.

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God doesn’t lie, and He promises this works. Put your faith in Him and give it a shot for a while.

Forgive your parents and close the doors we’ve talked about in the spirit. Let Father heal you and change how you think and how you experience Him.

2. Paying too much attention to or worshipping other gods (Exodus 20:1-3)

One reason God made us is to worship Him. If we worship other false gods, we’re setting ourselves up for trouble. Enough said.

3. Involvement with the occult or witchcraft. (Gal. 5:20-21)

There are only two sources of power in our lives. Good comes from Father and evil comes from Satan. So, if you can’t figure out where the power comes from, stay away from it. If you aren’t sure, ask Holy Spirit or someone who knows Holy Spirit really well.

4. Taking advantage of or hurting those weaker than you. (Deut. 27:17-19)

5. All sexual relationships that are out of line with what Father says. (Deut. 27:20-23)

6. Dishonoring God’s chosen people (Genesis 12:3)

This involves Israelites who were born Jewish. God loves those folks and you should too. Don’t even joke or laugh at jokes about Jewish people. Just so you know Jesus was Jewish. Your spiritual roots are Jewish.

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The church didn’t replace Israel, and if you bless Israel, you get blessed. Pray for Jewish people to recognize that Jesus is the Messiah they are waiting on. Pray for Israel to be protected and in peace.

7. Depending on human strength instead of God (Jer. 17:5-6)

8. Stealing and lying (Zech. 5:3-4)

9. Not tithing or giving (Malachi 3:8-9)

Tithe - giving 10% or more of your money to whoever teaches/feeds you spiritually

Basically, God gives you every good thing you have. He wants to give you a chance to show Him how thankful you are by giving money. The love of money is the root of all kinds of bad stuff. If you will give it back to God and remember that it is Him who supplies what you need, money loses its power over you. So, you can have 90% of your money and have it all blessed or have 100% of it and have all of it cursed.

10. Words spoken over you by people in authority (Gen. 31:32)

This includes words spoken by grandparents, parents, teachers, pastors, older siblings, and people like that. We are created in God’s image and given great power and responsibility. Father used words to create everything on the planet.

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That means our words have power, too. What do you use words to create - targets for good or for evil? If you’ve been cursed or targeted by someone in authority over your life, guess what? Jesus’ authority is higher than theirs, and what He says about you is what is real and true. Forgive those who curse you and renounce any partnership you have had in making the curse come true.

In Jesus’ name destroy the power of those words over you and destroy the assignments/arrows of evil over your life. Now, bless those who curse you and see amazing things happen!

11. Negative, empty words you’ve spoken against yourself. (Prov. 18:21)

Oftentimes, people say things about themselves when they’re hurt, discouraged, or angry. When you do that, you are cursing yourself. Guess what? Even those words you curse yourself with while you are mumbling under your breathe count. Examples of this are “I’m so stupid,” “I’m never going to make it,” “I’ll always be this way,” “I get a cold every January,” etc.

The Bible says every word you speak begins in your heart - every single word. So, even if think you are joking around and you “don’t really mean it,” the truth is that deep down you actually do mean it. Repent for cursing yourself and agreeing with the enemy. Ask Holy Spirit why it is in your heart and what you need to do to get it out.

12. Promises or agreements taken to join ungodly secret societies. (Exodus 23:32)

The fact that a club or organization has to be kept secret is a big hint that its source is wrong! If it was good, why would they want it kept secret? One very

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well known “secret society” is the Freemasons. Shriners are another. Most of the men who join this organization don’t realize what they are getting into. They are often godly men who just don’t have all of the information because most of it is kept secret! If you know of this in your family line, forgive your forefathers and repent for it being in your family. Demand every spirit be kicked out and leave you in Jesus’ name. Do not join up if you are ever asked.

13. Curses pronounced on you by those in the occult or witchcraft. (Ezk. 13:17-23; Exodus 22:18; Deut. 18:10-12)

Finally the one everyone knows about – or do you? This can include cultural things. Hispanic people go to “healers” or curanderos. African and Indian people go to witch doctors or traditional doctors. Some people go to raiki or natural energy healers. What’s the source? If God used a plant to make healing chemicals, would you worship the plant or the creator of the plant? The Bible says some people worship created things and not the creator. Crystals don’t heal you and magnets don’t love you. Worship the Master and Creator of all things. Why bother with lesser things?

14 .Cheap Talk about others while pretending to be lead by the Holy Spirit (James 3:24 – 4:15)

This happens when we gossip about others, but pretend it is for their good. It can also happen when you pretend you are just getting the facts straight and you seek out more information. This can happen anywhere – the lunchroom, locker room, before school, and even at church.

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15. Witchcraft Prayers (Prov. 28:9)

That’s what it is when you seek to control another person or situation while praying apart from Holy Spirit. While you pray, let your heart be tender to how the Holy Spirit wants to guide you to pray. Don’t try to manipulate or get you own way by slapping the cover of prayer on what you’re saying. Blaming others and people and accusations fall under this category, too. When you pray, remember that you are talking to a Holy God, and that His will is what is important.

16. Curse of Illegitimacy – 11 generations (Deut. 23:2)

Truth – Jesus became a curse for you and destroyed all curses from not being able to live perfect under the law.

Isaiah 53

Galatians 3

If you ask, Holy Spirit will show you where curses are working in your life. After He shows you, repent, forgive, and pray something like this:

“Father in Jesus’ Name, I destroy the curses over my life back to their beginning. I see where the enemy has stolen from me and I ask you to send the angels to get it all back for me. Every spirit that has worked in, on, or through my life must leave me now. Holy Spirit, angels, rescue me. Fill me up and minister to me please.”

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Know Your Enemy - Root Spirits

Ephesians 4:25

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” In this verse, “opportunity” is also translated “place.” That means that a devil, or evil spirit, can have a place to work in me if I let it. Does that help you see what is happening sometimes when you sin?

Matthew 7:19-20

“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.”

NOTE: Each spirit’s name is underlined, followed by Scripture references to show where that spirit is found in the Bible. The fruits they produce are listed after each Scripture.

Infirmity

“And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together and could in no wise lift up herself.” Luke 13:11

Allergies Arthritis Asthma Attacks on womanhood/manhood: “You are gay,” “You’ll never be a real man/woman,” Cancer

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Diabetes Female problems Fevers Fungus Heart disease High blood pressure Always sick Sinus Stroke Viruses Weakness/feebleness

Divination

“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.” Acts 16:16

Astrology - interpreting the stars (not astronomy - study of the stars) Channeling-letting a spirit use your body Crystal balls/8 balls Fortune tellers Mediums - letting a dead person’s spirit speak through you Demonic games (D&D, Pokémon) Horoscopes Rebellion Stubbornness Independence - “I don’t need anyone else. I’ll do it myself.” Hypnosis Ouija boards Palm readers Satanism, Wicca Mutterer Séances Mysticism

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Tarot cards, Goddess cards Transcendental meditation - Hindu meditation Drugs Manipulation - getting your way by lying, silence, crying, anger etc. Witchcraft Freemasonry- a secret club that looks like it does good, but evil at higher levels. All Freemasonry is bad. Trying to do deliverance that isn’t Biblical Migraine Headaches-terrible headaches where light hurts your eyes and you get sick

Python

“As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune- telling.” Acts 16:16

Deut. 18:10-12 Numbers 22:7 Witchcraft Addictions Drugs Over the counter drugs Apathy - you just don’t care anymore Prov. 29:18 Infirmity/death Control Heaviness Depression Suicide - killing yourself or trying to kill yourself Attempts to ‘squeeze’ the life out of individual Destroys excitement about your mission in life Divination

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Jezebel

“Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 1 Kings 19:2

Controlling Prideful Religious Threatening with words, looks, actions Uses people to get what it wants Manipulative - “works it” to get what it wants

Ahab

“And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.” 1 Kings 16:30

Wimpy Pouter Gets what it wants by using power of other people Where there is an Ahab, there is a Jezebel. Ahab acts like child, Jezebel acts like parent.

Whoredom

“They will not frame their doings to turn to their God; for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.” Hosea 5:4

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Sex with someone you are not married to Showing off your body Illegitimacy - born to parents who aren’t married. This is also a curse Sexual relationships within a family Lust Masturbation - sex by yourself, touching yourself sexually Molestation - wrong touching or sex with a child Molested as a child Secretly watching other people Pornography - watching or reading about sex in an ungodly way Sex-texting Rape Seduction - tempting or attraction to you in a wrong way. Flirting can eventually go here. Harlotry - paying or trading for sex, prostitute, chasing after other lovers All sexual sins Idolatry - love of money, possessions, position, popularity, power, etc. Or worship of anything other than God

Fear

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy1:7

Abandonment - being left alone Anxiety Worry Critical spirit - criticize everything, negative Faithlessness Fright Inadequacy - “I can’t do it” Inferiority - not good enough, smart enough, good looking, etc. Insanity - crazy Migraines

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence Nightmares Performance/Perfectionism -“I have to do it well to be loved or accepted.” Phobias-really strong fear that is out of balance with reality example: fear of heights Rejection/fear of rejection Self-rejection/Self Hate Shyness Muscle tightness always Stress (heart attack) Timidity Torment Schizophrenia - diagnosed as a disease where you often hear voices Paranoia - thinking everyone is looking at you, talking about you, after you Idleness - scared to do anything Lack of trust Fear of death, pain, failure, poverty, men/women, others’ opinions, success, authority, etc.

Anti-Christ( against the anointing)

“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not from God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is in the world.” 1 John 4:3

Denies the Holy Spirit & gifts Against the Bible Explains away the power of God-no more miracles Opposes Christ as God, victory & that He was human too Attempts to take the place of Christ Bullies the saints Kills the saints for what they believe Causes church splits Gives up on Christianity Judaism - Jewish people who don’t believe Jesus is the Messiah

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence Jealousy

“And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled; or the spirit of jealousy come upon him and she be not defiled:” Numbers 5:14

Anger, wrath, rage, murder Unnatural competition Covetousness - want what other people have Cruelty Distrustful Divorce/division Feels God loves others more than themselves Hatred Jealousy Insecurity Revenge Self-centeredness Suspicion Hard-heartedness Builds walls in person’s life - won’t let people close to their heart Abortion - cares more about themselves than the baby

Bondage

“Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

Addicted to possessions Alcohol Anorexia/bulimia - not eating to be skinny or eating and then throwing up Cigarettes Co-dependency - overboard friendships when it is out of balance and one controls the other

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Work Computers Internet Pornography Drugs Food TV Video games Sex Soul ties Superiority - addicted to self Wishing you had what someone else has so you could keep it all to yourself

Haughtiness

“Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” Proverbs 16:18-19

Arrogance Boastful - bragging Contentious - always in an argument Controlling Critical Extremely bossy Proud - it’s all about me Gossip - talking about other people even if it is true Judgmental -“I’m better than them. I would never do that.” Prejudice - thinking one culture, race or male or female is better. Mockery Rudeness Self-righteousness - “I behave well and don’t have anything wrong with me” Superiority - better than everyone else Vanity - overly concerned with appearance or things that don’t really matter Indifference -“I don’t care about your stuff”

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Overbearing - always wants things their way Scorn - thinking badly of people Lofty looks - looking down on people Stubbornness

Error

“We are of God; he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:6

Anorexia, bulimia - not eating to be skinny or eating and then throwing up Compromise - never taking a stand, always playing the middle man, agreeing even when you don’t Confusion Continuously make wrong decisions Cults/false doctrine False teachers/ prophets/preachers False tongues Doubt/unbelief Deception Immaturity Irresponsibility Inappropriate thinking/ behavior Anti-Semitism - against Jewish people Intellectualism - have to understand to believe

Heaviness

“To appoint unto them to console all who mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3

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Abnormal grieving - can’t get over a loss, (example: Grandma died and you cry for months) Defilement - feel dirty Depression Discouragement Hopelessness Loneliness Continual sadness Self-pity Shame Unjustified guilt Wounded spirit Continual sorrow Rejection Humiliation Whining Broken heartedness Gloominess Often dress in Goth and have hair covering their face. Shame - people often hide their face until the spirit leaves Think of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh books

Lying “Now therefore, behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil against thee.” 2 Chronicles 18:22

Condemnation - always feeling guilty Deception Exaggeration Flattery - fake compliments Excessive talking Hypocrisy - say one thing and do another Lies Emotionalism - using emotions to get your way Profanity - cursing, using bad language, never treating anything with honor

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Vain imaginations - imagining a whole situation before you get there or say something Religious spirit Lies about God Performance/Perfectionism - I have to do it well to be loved or accepted Financial problems (if one is tithing and still has them) Poor self image: “You’re ugly”, “stupid”, “worthless”, “never marry”, “no one wants you”, “you’ll never change”, “fat”, “whore”, “liar”, etc

Deaf and Dumb

“When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, “Though dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: And he was as one dead’ insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up: and he arose.” Mark 9:25-27

Accidents with drowning/fire Convulsions Diseases of eyes/ears Epilepsy Grinding teeth Insanity Seizure Stupor - to act like your brain is numb or you can’t feel anything Suicidal thoughts and attempts Schizophrenia Inappropriate and excessive crying Deafness

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Perverseness/Twisted

“The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof; and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunk man staggereth in his vomit.” Isaiah 19:14

False teachers/doctrine Homosexuality/Gay Twisted thinking Polygamy - married to more than one person Liking to hurt or be hurt Sexual deviations Error (especially in religious areas) Unreasonableness Abnormal crankiness Self lovers Stubbornness Twists Bible verses to get what you want or hurt people

Sleep/Stupor

“According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of stupor; eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear; unto this very day.”

Romans 11:8

Constant fatigue - always tired Draws back from life Human spirit is asleep Wish you have never been born Passivity/Wimp “Wallflower” Self-pity

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Procrastination - waiting until the last minute Success blocked

Death

Death isn’t called a spirit in the Bible, but it can act like one, and it certainly is a curse.

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14-15

Near death accidents Near-drowning Death curses, especially by parents Abortion Suicide attempts Freemasonry (Not necessarily a root spirit, but works closely with them.)

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Jezebel/Ahab

Key Scriptures

1 Kings 16-21

2 Kings 9,10

Revelation 2:18-through chapter

Remember, Jezebel and Ahab were ruling the Kingdom. This teaching is primarily focused on the work of Jezebel within the body of Christ.

Main Characteristics

The way a Jezebel spirit is most notably recognized is through rebellion/witchcraft, control, intimidation and manipulation. The counterpart to Jezebel is Ahab and often recognized as passive aggressive behavior, passivity, self pity, manipulation and compromise. Where there is one there will be the other in some form. This is not gender specific. Relationships where this often slips in: parents over children, spouses over one another, with money, by parents, bosses, debt, giving with expectations.

Generational

Jezebel’s father was a high priest of Baal. Baal is a god of Harvest and Fertility and married to Ashtoreth. Both deeply rooted in divination.

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Ahab’s father was Omri who walked in the ways of Jeroboam. Jeroboam started out as a man of valor, was brought to power in the midst of division and judgment, and unfortunately to draw people to his kingdom (seeking to control the people) set up idolatry in the land.

This spirit can be very difficult to be free of because it is so deeply rooted in not only spiritual aspects, but behavioral/personality traits. It is perpetuated by learned behavior; you get it by nature and nurture.

Control

Demonic or Abusive Control- exercised by one over another-to control their mind, will and emotions. Soul ties often occur.

Emotional Manipulation-uses tears, rage, silence, or rejection to get their way. As a generalization, men intimidate while women manipulate, but don’t be surprised to find either or both present regardless of gender.

Spiritual Manipulation-guiding or instructing with false prophecies, words, visions, or preaching/teaching to control not edify.

Words of Failure and Defeat, Unnatural Obligations, Guilt, Criticism, and Intimidation. Through prophetic revelation I have actually identified a “Curse of Obligation” which when broken allows individuals to reclaim some of the time once given to “busyness” and return them to enjoying God.

Religious Performance-(1 Kings 18:26-28) event, attendance, performance driven. “And where were you Sunday?” People affected by this are worn out and resent it if you are not “pitching in” or “carrying your load.” (This control can even come into play in an “accountability partner” who makes you beholden to them and keeps tabs on your behavior in place of relationship. “Ahabs” will often seek this out and request the control of them.)

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You will be “bewitched” into counting on works, flesh and effort as the work of the cross is occulted/obscured. (Galatians 3)

Your individual passion and adventure in life will be cut away. Jezebel surrounded herself with eunuchs. When you present something new (a revelation on scripture, a new perspective, even a more simple solution to a problem) there will be correction of your revelation (“that’s good, but here’s what the scripture really means”) and an effort to pull you back into the status quo. You will likely encounter a scheme (filled with scripture and law) to undermine this initially accepted “new” thing that draws individual to their inheritance in Jesus rather than obeying the authority/rule of Jezebel/Ahab.

Naboth wouldn’t surrender his inheritance and ministry (vineyard). Naboth was offered a “better” ministry (vineyard) or money. Jezebel will use flattery and seduction to bring you into compromise. Compromise will kill radical obedience and bring death to the inheritance, revelation, or vision. Next thing you know, Jezebel takes over your revelation, perverts it, only takes the parts that don’t challenge the spirit’s control. Your revelation becomes theirs and Jezebel seeks the credit for it. (1 Kings 21)

In true Jeff Foxworthy style…

You might be dealing with a Jezebel spirit if…

1. Refuses to admit guilt or wrong- “I’m sorry you were hurt” vs. “I am sorry I hurt you.”

2. Uses others to accomplish its agenda- stirs others to action while remaining hidden.

3. Withhold information- I know something you don’t

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence 4. Cloaks itself in confusion-never a straight answer without many words, talks in circles.

5. Volunteers for everything in order to establish control.

6. Excellent liar

7. Ignores people till they “come around” to their ideas or control. Utilizes the “silent treatment.”

8. Never gives credit or shows gratitude. Keeps them in power.

9. One-upmanship

10. Talks incessantly. Controls conversation and this keeps person being used by Jezebel from receiving input into their life.

11. Spiritualizes everything. “I prayed through it” vs. going and repenting and making a situation right.

12. Highly critical

13. Insubordinate-never submissive, unless it is a temporary action to make themselves look good. Main desire is for power and control. There is no conscience when an opportunity for recognition presents itself.

14.Clairvoyant. Knows things by another power than Holy Spirit

15. Uses the element of surprise. Shows up early or uninvited

16. Sows seeds of discord

17. Commands attention. Hates to see others recognized and needs to be the center of attention

18. Vengeful

19. Attempts to make you look like you are the Jezebel. If you contradict or confront one, get ready for backlash.

20. Insinuates disapproval

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence 21. Knows it all

22. Highly ambitious

23. Gives gifts or helps out as a form of manipulation. You owe them.

24. “My way or the highway”

25. Highly Jealous. Possessive of other people. Won’t allow you to have more than them for a friend.

26. Makes plans for someone without their permission.

27. Overly dominant and commanding. Their life revolves around nurturing and developing another human being

28. Like Elijah, you just want to run and hide out. You might even listen to suicidal “thoughts.”

29. Commanding and threatening or quiet and secretive.

You might be dealing with Ahab if…

1. You can feel happy until a signal comes from the controller/Jezebel, then you feel confusion and exhaustion.

2. You feel like you are running a race. You are trying to obey God but can’t seem to ever reach your goals.

3. Controllers/Jezebel likes to get you alone with them to program you. They have great convincing power and can convince you of what they want. When functioning in a group, they will convince them that they are not to mingle outside their group.

4. You feel a need to “check in” with that person before doing anything. If you do not, they will say you are not under proper submission to their spiritual or natural authority.

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence 5. You are having a good time in a group. The controller/Jezebel walks up and you lose your joy, peace and motivation.

How does Jezebel/Ahab enter?

Divination

Deep Insecurity

Rejection

Hurts and wounds-They want to control their world so it doesn’t happen again.

Generational- “nature and nurture”

They choose to be that way- desire for power

Pride or laziness

How do we get free?

Jehu was first a prophet and then anointed king. He had to be zealous and ruthless. He was bloody.

No one wants to name this spirit for what it is. It is Jezebel, rebellion, witchcraft, control, manipulation, and whoredom/idolatry. Jesus called it what it was in Revelation 2. So must we.

Allow Holy Spirit to convict and give you Godly sorrow. Confess-agree with God and repent-allow God to change how you think act and feel. If you are willing to admit and humble yourself in going public-this is a death blow to Jezebel. What fellowship does light have with darkness? As lead by Holy Spirit, make it right with others.

This is a deliverance issue, not behavior modification. Becoming acquainted with the fruit of this spirit leaves the possibility of knowing better than to let others

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see you exhibit these traits or trying to stifle them within yourself. You cannot educate this spirit out of yourself.

Dealing with this “on your own” has the propensity to lead to deception. Holy Spirit will lead you to those whom He will use. Submission kills independence.

Confrontation

Jehu took it to Jezebel where she was. Be direct. Notice as Jezebel knew confrontation was coming she changed her appearance. Don’t be surprised if this is the case when you confront. Loving but stern confrontation is necessary. Expect any of the following: flattery, complete denial, pointing out all of your faults-“okay, I do that, but what about when you do this?”, confusion, shifting of the blame, incessant talking, when tears don’t work to rage to indifference or any variation on the theme.

You will know true repentance when you see it. There will be fruit in keeping with repentance. (Luke 13:6-9)

Be strong and set your face as flint before you go into it. This is for their freedom and yours. Be warned, not all will desire to go on, nor should you in the same manner if there is no repentance. Holy Spirit will guide in how to proceed.

Walking it out

Fear will try to come in when you realize that there are things that must truly change. “I have always been this way. I don’t know any other way! What do I even do?” Good news! What you could not possibly do for yourself, Jesus has already accomplished. Holy Spirit will lead you and perfect what He has already established. You no longer have to lead. The pressure is off! Simply submit, trust and obey. He is so much bigger.

Jesus moves in the opposite spirit of every foul spirit. You can look at the lists above and see that Jesus Christ moved in almost exactly the opposite way. His

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love will overcome. 1 Corinthians 13 is always good. Enjoy knowing your God better as every hidden hindrance is uprooted and annihilated.

More to Consider

There are several instances where evidence of the Jezebel spirit is seen in scripture.

Haman, under the control of Jezebel, misused his authority to attempt to destroy the Jews. Esther 3:6

Jealous leaders and peers tried to destroy Daniel-Daniel 6:8-15

Religious leaders had Stephen stoned. Acts 6:8-15

Herodias had John the Baptist killed Mark 6:14-29

Jezebel will always come against the prophetic. We are a generation on which the spirit of Elijah is being poured out so it is no surprise that this is running rampant.

I believe one of the schemes of the enemy has been revealed through a prophetic dream I recently had. In the dream the three hags with an oracle from the Shakespeare play, Macbeth/Clash of the Titans, were being consulted. There were two kings seeking counsel. One king was a combination of Herod and Nero.

They represent respectively a political spirit (beware the leaven of Herod) and the antichrist spirit embodied by Nero, the actual ruler of Rome. The prophetic word/oracle was given by the three hags (divination). The actual oracle dropped to the floor and rolled to another room. There the Herod/Nero King character would not pick it up so his wife did. Enter Jezebel. She took the oracle and waited to hand it to the king, as he was changing clothes. After this, both kings headed toward their destination. One king was ahead of the other. I believe the second one to be a religious spirit. They were both kings and titans so that gives them great authority and dominion.

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Interesting how a false prophetic word was given after the kings sought information through divination. The word was taken by Jezebel and later given to the political spirit/antichrist to go first in attack. To be followed up later by a religious spirit. Seems like compromise to save position is established and that opens a door for rules and law to be set up in lives and ministries. I recommend reading Macbeth or a children’s version of it for more insight into Jezebel and Ahab.

We are in a real battle with real casualties. Follow the Captain of the Host to victory!

Much of the information I have used here comes from Christian Life Teachings from Bungoma, Kenya, Breaking the Threefold Demonic Cord by Sandie Freed, and Confronting Jezebel by Steve Samson.

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Understanding Dissociative Identity Disorder [D.I.D] in the Abused

Healing and Deliverance: Part 1 [Overview & Testimony]

by Robin Reynolds

This lesson is to give you a better understanding of how to pray, heal and deliver someone who may have suffered any kind of extreme abuse or traumatic event. Much of this lesson is from my own personal testimony of freedom and the revelation given by the Holy Spirit to me as I went through layers of healing and deliverance. This is in two parts. The first part covers the overview and my own personal testimony. Part two covers specific ways to have people pray and things to be aware of as you help someone get free.

If you were to ask a group of people if they have ever heard of Multiple Personality Disorder [MPD]; there’s a high probability that most would say “yes.” It seems that now days; so many people either have MPD’s, are bi-polar, struggle with depression, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, attachment disorders and the list can go on and on. Now, if I were to ask the same group if they’ve ever heard of Dissociative Identity Disorder [D.I.D.] there’s a good chance that many would have no idea what that is.

Dissociative Identity Disorder was once called Multiple Personality Disorder, until 1994, when the name was changed to reflect a better understanding of the condition; mainly; that DID is a disorder that’s characterized by a person having their identity fragmented instead of actual rapid progression of separate personalities. “DID is a severe condition in which two or more distinct identities, or personality states, are present in – and alternately take control of – an individual.” [Psychology Today

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Magazine-online]. This condition is usually, but not always, associated with some sort of severe trauma suffered in early childhood. This would include extreme physical, sexual and/or emotional/verbal abuse over a course of years.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DISSOCIATE AND HOW COMMON IS THIS?

In some ways; it seems that most of us have experienced a ‘form’ of dissociation sometime in our lives. On a broad spectrum; the two extremes are very different. For instance; have you ever been driving for some hours and as you were driving you began to just stare at the highway or the lines on the highway and maybe you even were “deep in thought” and then all of a sudden it’s as if you “snapped out of it” and realized you needed to pay attention! Or maybe there have been times where you were reading a really great book and you were so absorbed in the story of it that you “lost track of time” or even what was going on around you. Those were examples of extremely mild dissociation, where you lose awareness of your immediate surroundings. DID disorder is not about mild forms such as those examples.

At the other end of the spectrum is when a person cannot even function due to the manifestations of DID. When a person and especially a young child; experiences a traumatic event or abuse; their mind might not be capable of coping with the pain, the torture or the memory of what took place. Dissociation is the ability to escape “within yourself” during those times. It becomes a place of safety. It’s as if the person takes the memories, the emotions and the pain and saves them….within themselves…..as if it had never happened. It’s beyond just forgetting and it’s a much more advanced form of “repressed memories”. It’s rather ironic that it’s called a “disorder” because in many ways it’s a survival technique because of the way that it helps people endure the level of abuse that they are being subjected to. To dissociate can help them maintain some form of

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“normalcy” and often they can continue to function quite well. They can hold down a job; maintain a family; have many friends and appear normal to others.

However; the truth is that dissociative identity disorder will always come to light; one way or another and usually when the person is an adult and now what used to be a survival technique is actually destroying them and has truly become a disorder. So often it becomes exposed through triggers or certain experiences that shined a light on a “forgotten memory”. The person is now in a region of captivity that few can understand.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER

First; please note that some of the s/s listed below can be caused by other situations and not DID. If you see something on the list that you have or someone you know has; it doesn’t mean that you or they automatically have this. However; if you or someone you know does have something on this list; then know that it is BONDAGE and you or they need to be delivered!!! Here are some of the main ‘hitters’ that affect people with DID. They can experience any of the following: depression, suicidal thoughts, sleep disorders, mood swings, phobias, ‘triggers’ [to smells, sounds, taste, events], addictions, obsessive, compulsive disorder [OCD], eating disorders, hallucinations, FEAR; mumbling or talking to self, being filthy, being overly clean, focusing on objects, counting, perfectionism, cutting themselves and repetition.

ROBIN’S TESTIMONY

I have been healed and delivered from Dissociative Identity Disorder. No one has ever told me that I had it and I’ve never had an official diagnosis. I just knew it; but I didn’t know it until I was in the process of being healed and delivered and the Holy Spirit gave me the revelation.

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I actually had never heard of DID until I did some research on it just recently. I have always called it “Multiple Identities”! I never shared how it worked in me or even acknowledged that I had it until I was delivered. This occurred supernaturally; in about a 3-5 minute span of time. Before I get into that; let me back up and give you a brief history of why and how this disorder became a part of my life.

At age 5 [at least that’s the earliest I can remember] until I was in my teens; I went through some very traumatic and horrific abuses carried out by relatives who had a lot of authority [military, government, and Catholicism] and who had a “hidden life” that most people didn’t know about. This happened every time I ever visited them or they came to visit my family. Not all of my relatives were bad of course; but there was a generational line of sin and iniquity being passed down through generations. Most of the extreme abuses were sexual, as well as emotional and verbal abuse. It was all very hidden, very organized, very secretive and continued for many years. I was introduced to the “occult and satanism” by cousins whom I barely knew as well as “players” and “uncles”. I didn’t get to choose whether or not I wanted to participate or “play”. Others chose for me!! I didn’t understand what “occults” or “satanism” was but I understood evil and I understood the demonic. Not only was I being subjected to all that I was in the physical; but in the spiritual realm this was very high level as well. Because of these “secret parties”, I was introduced to witchcraft, divination, anti-christ spirits as well as mind control!

I’ve always been told; from my parents, teachers, family friends, etc. that I had a ‘vivid’ imagination as a child. People used to laugh at me and say that I lived in “another world”! As a young child I was having dreams and visions and was already able to discern the “two kingdoms”. It seemed that I was extremely gifted with ‘creativeness’ and I was always thinking up things to do or play. When playing with my siblings or with friends at school; it seemed that I was always someone besides myself. I loved to take the role of the rescuer and the “tough one” and all I ever wanted to do was rescue people. I had a hard time fitting in with other kids and I was very thin, very quiet and always wanted to

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play alone. It wasn’t until I was about 10 or 11 yrs. old that this began to change. It might seem as if this paragraph was not that important to DID; but it’s actually very important as some examples of the “bad fruit” of DID.

When I was 6 ½ yrs old; I had my first experience with “dissociating” my mind. I had seen something happen and had participated in an event that was so terrifying that I couldn’t speak and it felt as if I couldn’t breathe or move. All of a sudden; it was as if I was in a different place than where I was and it was as if I was standing behind a large tree; hiding; yet I could still see myself about 10 feet away. But I was safe in this place. No one could see me, get me or hurt me here. Now for real; my physical body was not behind that tree. Instead; it was a fragmented part of my soul that was behind the tree; yet it felt as if it was real. This first encounter with dissociating due to the trauma; opened the door for more than half of my life being affected by this. It started a pattern within me of learning coping mechanisms and skills so that I wouldn’t have to feel pain; see others in pain; hear someone in pain and it kept me from seeing images over and over in my mind. It also caused me to learn to never show or feel emotions with the exception of the most basic ones. I even categorized the safety and depth of emotions.

This is how DID worked in me. I never had issues with having “multiple personalities”. If someone has multiple personalities; it usually means that they have different ‘people’; alters or identities of peoples in them. For example; a woman named Sally may have multiple personalities. So; at times; she is Sally; at times she is a little girl named Beth; at times she is a prostitute named Liz; at times she’s a man named Lee etc. etc. That’s extreme but you get the idea; she can become different people with the personalities of those people as needed and often it’s a switching back and forth between them. In me; I had dissociated at specific ages and on top of that; my dissociation occurred in two different states and that all played into it too. Because now; not only was I in captivity in my fragmented places of my heart and mind; but I was locked up in a region of captivity that was also territorial. I never became someone else or had a personality of another person. I was always myself; yet had multiple identities of

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‘myself/Robin” locked up inside of me. I was totally fragmented in my mind and in my heart. The fragmentation was of ages and identifying to those ages. It was as if parts of me as a little girl fragmented, dissociated and then never grew up. I was stuck in my soul and body to the age and event of what took place.

But in the real/physical; I did grow up into a woman and as I progressed through my adult life; my ‘survival techniques’ began to fail me and they leaked onto others and affected me physically, emotionally as well as affected others around me. I hated myself and I felt unloved [mainly because I couldn’t love myself]; I felt rejected [I also rejected myself]; I felt shame and dirty; felt weird and didn’t know how to relate to people.

I felt intimidated and shy; but I wasn’t. I felt unworthy and judged. I was angry; so angry inside; but I wouldn’t let it out because that’s part of the controlling the emotions.

In 1994 [interesting that it’s the same year that DID took the place of MPD’s]; I began to seek help and was just trying to find someone who could set me free. My pastor at the time; poured all that he knew and had into me. I would get some freedom at times; but then the bondage would come back and each time it was worse than the time before. A few years after that I went through some years of professional counseling as well as taking medications and then we hit a wall and couldn’t go any further and in order to cope through the disappointment of that; I began to dissociate even more. I felt as if I would explode and I’d just keep crying out to God; and with His help; I’d make it through. I would often feel at times as though I had to portray and be a certain way on the ‘outside’ for those who would be around and see me; but on the inside I was in torment and felt “disconnected.” I carried around so much guilt for being so messed up. It took nearly 12 years before the help came that I needed to have in order to get set free.

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On September 18, 2006; Brandy and my pastor took me through deliverance. It had already taken me one year to make the decision. Part of the reason that decision was so hard to make was two-fold. One; was because so many in my past had already tried and it had failed and I couldn’t handle the thought of it failing again. I’d been hopeless!! The second thing was that as much as I wanted to get set free; I was TERRIFIED and had much FEAR. When bondage and torment is all you know; as whacked as this sounds; it’s still scary to let it go. That’s so perverted!!! The deliverance that night was amazing and more than what I’d ever hoped, imagined or believed.

The breaker anointing [Micah 2:13] came and broke me out and Jesus became the lover of my soul. I encountered the Presence of the Holy Spirit for the first time and God……..but God…..He came and rescued me and showed me His power, glory and dominion. That night in September; I was truly healed and delivered; but it wasn’t complete and because of the depth of the traumas, levels, entrapment in my mind and my heart; it took 4 years and 3 months to become completely free from that past. God could have done it any way He wanted but He knew just how much I could handle at a time and then He in all of His grace and mercy met me every time and He used Brandy and my team to do it. Walking out of that double captivity was very costly and at the same time; the most freeing event; I’ve ever known in my whole life aside from making Jesus my Lord and Master.

During those four years of the layers coming off; there were specific behaviors and actions that I did that were manifestations of being trapped in DID. For instance; I can remember times in different deliverance sessions; where an event or trauma would come up and I can remember responding and manifesting as if I was the age that I was when it really happened. I would often feel the trauma and abuse take place in my body as these locked up memories would come forth. For example; one time; Brandy and I were discussing an event at age 9 [which was another really bad age for me]. I remember feeling the fear and pain of that 9 y/o child. I did not feel the fear and pain as an adult would. In other words; I wasn’t thinking about it from my age point;

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but it was as if I actually was re-living/experiencing that incident at that age. I was experiencing the traumatic memory as if it was really happening to me at age 9. Another time; we were talking about an incident that happened when I was 5 and I had been given all these threats if I ever told. The “bad guys” had trained me what to say or do if someone is trying to find out info. I would refuse to tell Brandy or speak out what she needed to know due to fear. I didn’t talk like a “child” as in my voice didn’t change to that of a little girl; but my thoughts, fears, actions and responses were of that age.

Prior to meeting Brandy and going through deliverance; I had still been using techniques much of my adult life to cope whenever I felt conflict, confusion, fear, fear of being controlled, etc. During deliverances; these ‘techniques’ manifest quite heavily and Brandy would ever so gently just put a hand on my leg or get me to look her in the eyes and reassure me that I was ok…..that it was safe. I had so much fear in anyone knowing and soon I was able to trust her, but it took years to trust others. I believe that I got delivered of these because of her love and gentleness that she showed me when they would manifest. However; the deeper we went the more intense the manifestations would become. At this point in regards to helping me with healing and deliverance; Brandy was being taught and led by the Holy Spirit on the spot. One of those “learn as you go” times. At times; the manifestations would become so severe that gentleness wouldn’t work and she would have to confront boldly what was going on in order to shut it down or take authority over it. These are some of the things that I did as a child and as an adult to dissociate whenever I needed to feel comfort, to feel safe or to calm down:

*I used to count things and then re-group or put them into categories; such as all of the lights on the light fixtures at my church. Or I’d count the ceiling panels and then count them according to rows.

*I loved to make patterns and sequence groups of objects.

*I would often hum to dissociate.

Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence *I would constantly tap my feet/legs up and down and then sometimes at the same time; I’d begin to tap a rhythm with my hands over and over.

*I’d all of a sudden have to have many pieces of gum or breath mints because I would panic at smell or taste.

*I began to cut myself more than I ever had

*I regulated my food

DELIVERED OF IDENTITIES ALL AT ONCE

One Sunday; in October of 2007; I had an encounter that would forever change me. I had been battling for 3 straight months, demonic attacks and oppression in a way that I never had my whole life. It was horrible and felt like hell at times. I felt fearful and angry. I felt as if I was split in two. There was the Robin who loved Jesus with all of my heart and wanted purity and righteousness and then there was this other part of me who still had evil and was opposing and coming against the anointing and love that was in Brandy as well as against the love of Jesus. There was something in me that kept opposing the anointing, the kingdom of Heaven and my destiny. I had just finished nearly 5 weeks of not talking to anyone on my team or Brandy due to the opposition, iniquity and sin that was still left and manifesting. I had been at church and had just had a run in with Brandy in which I [or the enemy at work in/through me] came against her. It was ugly and not good! I was horrified by all that had taken place. I had run outside to be alone and I begged God to show up and to show me why this was happening to me. I had so much fear and confusion and felt as if I wasn’t even in control of my own soul and body. Below is an excerpt of the testimony of what took place that morning directly after the confrontation with Brandy.

I went back into the sanctuary and stood by my husband [who was standing against a wall] and tried to “act” normal but I felt sick. I was still reeling from what

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had just taken place outside in the foyer as well as my time outside with the Lord. Some announcements were made and I think even a short video was shown, and I began to feel something coming up in my heart. It felt like brokenness or when you feel as if you need to cry. It felt and looked real hazy, kind of like the feeling you get when you are fixing to pass out. Everyone began to sing another song. All of a sudden; the whole scene morphed into an open-eyed vision. I saw myself standing in a doorway; yet I didn’t see the doorway; just knew it. I was afraid to move and somehow knew that I shouldn’t take a step forward. It was as if the congregation was morphed into this vision and for some reason; there were many empty spots on the pews. It reminded me of that Left Behind series, where people are present one minute and then absent the next. I noticed four individuals who I knew had a foot in each kingdom. As soon as I saw them; I felt this intense heat. All of a sudden [remember I’m still in the vision!]; I watched as one of the young men [in the group of those 4 people] ripped part of his forearm off; was grabbing chunks of flesh off of his arm and eating it. I began to look at the bodies that I was seeing in this room and the people were so thin, their bodies looked horribly decayed, they had bulging eyes and their veins were popped out. It reminded me of pictures I see from those who starve in 3rd world countries. Flesh was hanging off of people and it looked burned and it reminded me of patients who have 2nd and 3rd degree burns……….red and oozing and other parts of it looked white like charcoal that’s heated up. They were eating their burnt flesh. They seemed as if it was normal for them to do this. Then I heard these sounds that were scary and incredulous. They were non-stop groans, demonic sounding screams that kept getting louder and louder. I looked down at the ground and it looked as if it was foamy, oozing lava mixed with blood. I felt myself shaking and I felt as if I was on the edge of something really huge. I knew that I was looking into a part of hell. As if I was being allowed to see a glimpse of it. All of a sudden; I felt something on my arm and reached down and ended up pulling a piece of flesh off of my own arm, and as soon as that happened the sounds intensified more. Then all of a sudden a giant axe appeared over my head. It was massive and actually the only part of it I saw was the head of it. As I looked up; the axe came down with a thundering whoosh that overtook the other sounds that I’d been hearing. I could feel it slicing through my body from the top of my head all the way to my feet. I could feel it; but it didn’t hurt. It was as if it was

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a good burning; yet not! The axe cut through all of the multiple identities [DID] that had plagued me from my past and they were severed and destroyed for good. Instantly; I came out of the vision of hell. I knew that I had just been delivered of those identities and I felt this deep, deep godly sorrow and grief all together. Yet; I also know that I was crying deep tears of deliverance. The very last thing that I had seen as I was coming out of the vision was the cross with the blood of Jesus on it.

Why that happened the way it did; I do not know. All that mattered to me was that I was free from the entrapment with the identities. Once the Lord cut through all of the identities to the fragmented and trapped ages and states; then I was able to pray through these ages and get healed of the trauma of it all.

Sometimes we have to let suffering do its perfect work so that God can heal and restore the damage that the enemy has done. Jesus truly is the author and finisher of our lives. Satan thought that by ravaging my young soul and spirit; that he had destroyed the ability for me to receive God’s perfect and pure love for me. Guess he didn’t know that perfect love casts out fear [1 John 4:18]! Once God touched me with His heart; in the intimacy of healing; I was forever changed and the enemy got defeated for good. If you need to be healed and delivered yourself; then I invite you into the grace of knowing Jesus Christ; entering into His suffering with patient endurance and experiencing His resurrection power. His resurrection life awaits you.

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Understanding Dissociative Identity Disorder [D.I.D] in the Abused

Healing and Deliverance: Part 2 [How to Pray]

by Robin Reynolds

How can we help those suffering; in bondage and torment from extreme trauma and abuses [physical, verbal and emotional] get set free? What about those who have Dissociative Identity Disorder? Is it possible for them to be healed and delivered too? The answer is “yes”. With God; ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. It’s not up to you to make the healing happen. He is the Author and Finisher of their lives; not you! You just need to be a willing vessel that God can work through to deliver the miracle of healing.

In Part 1; of “Understanding Dissociate Identity Disorder [D.I.D.] in the Abused”; I gave an overview as to what DID is and how it manifests. I then gave some testimony as to my own experience in having this disorder; as well as my supernatural healing and deliverance. There are two important verses in the book of Revelation that I often use as I speak to people. First; in Revelation 19:10 it tells us; “Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Second; in Revelation 12:10; it says “And they overcame him [meaning satan ]by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives to the death.” What I have found is that often; just in releasing a testimony; people get healed. There is power in a testimony because it releases the power of Jesus.

In this next section, I will discuss how to help bring deliverance and healing to these individuals. I am not a doctor nor do I have a psychology degree; but I do have something that many don’t and that is the experience and the testimony! Much of what I share with you will be

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from my own personal testimony and how DID worked in me. I will share about my journey of healing. I will make you aware of things you need to pay attention to and watch out for. It’s important for you to know that this is my testimony, my experience and my own personal journey. It doesn’t mean that this is the only way to help bring healing and deliverance.

Trauma is trauma and it affects people in many different ways. Always remember that the trauma that person suffered was very real to them. Whether it’s a person who suffered trauma from being in a minor car wreck or watching a scary movie; to a person who suffered trauma as an innocent prisoner in the sex trafficking industry; they can all be healed and delivered. Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus came to bring life and that we may have it more abundantly [John 10:10].

HEART, SOUL, AND MIND

In Matthew 22:37 that says, “Jesus said to him, “you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’” In this verse; Jesus makes it very clear that we are to love God with all of our heart, with all of our soul, and with all of our mind. Why did He make the distinction between the 3? All of my life; I had been searching for and wanting to experience the love of Jesus but I never knew it really. This verse used to always catch my attention because of the fact that it said, “heart, mind and soul”. For me; this verse made sense in a ‘twisted’ way, because my heart, mind and soul were so separated and fragmented from each other. I had the understanding that each of these separate “parts” of me were to love God. Then why was it so hard? I was trying to love Him in a twisted, fragmented way; when He wants me to love Him as with all of my being……complete and whole. We will look at the heart, soul and mind a little more in depth. But first; here is what each of these words means in the Greek is this verse.

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Heart: Strong’s Concordance: 2588 kardia, n. GK: 2840 [2589, 4641], heart, mind [seat of thoughts and emotions]. The heart was thought to be the seat of the inner self [composed of life, soul, mind, and spirit], “Heart” is similar to “soul,” but often the “heart” has a focus on thinking and understanding.

Soul: Strong’s Concordance: psyche, n. GK: 6034[5594], life soul; heart; mind; a person; the immaterial [and external] part of inner person, often meaning the animate self, which can be translated by pronouns “my soul”,= “I, myself”.

Mind: Strong’s Concordance: dianoia, n. GK: 1379[1223+3563], mind, thinking, understanding, this is a part of the inner person that thinks and processes information and understanding, including the making of choices, the seat of which is the heart.

FRACTURED AND BROKENHEARTED

In Luke 4:18, it says; “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed.”

I have highlighted the words “heal the brokenhearted” so you could see that this is a command for us to do………to heal a broken or ‘shattered’ heart.

In Psalm 86; David cried out to the Lord, that he would have an undivided heart.

Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. Psalm 86:11-12(NIV)

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His meaning in these scriptures was that his heart would have no distractions or other allegiances but be wholly and fully surrendered to and on the Lord. However; it’s interesting that David uses the words “undivided heart”. That shows us that it’s possible; in the spiritual realm for our hearts to be divided and not whole or complete as one.

In the New Testament Greek; according to Strong’s Concordance and a few Lexicon’s; the word brokenhearted used in the scripture here in Luke means, “To crush completely, that is, to shatter [literally or figuratively]: -break (in pieces), broken to shivers,” and also, “the heart, that is, (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle: -(+broken-) heart(-ed).” Therefore; one can conclude that the human soul (heart) can become fractured into pieces!!!

It’s very important to bring healing and deliverance to the person’s heart. Due to the trauma; I had put layers of walls around my heart as a form of protection. Physically; at times; my heart actually felt as if it was trapped and bound. Anxiety, fear, isolation, bondage and torment lived in fractured places in my heart. Have you ever heard some say, “he just broke my heart.” or “I’m just brokenhearted” or “she took a piece of my heart.” That is an example of someone with a fractured heart.

SETTING FREE INNOCENT CAPTIVES [The Fragmented Soul]:

Bring my soul out of prison that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me Psalms 142:7

I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness; I will take hold of Your hand. I will keep You and will make You to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. Isaiah 42:6-7

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….and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:15

We know that we are made up of three parts: spirit, soul and body. Our soul includes our mind, will and emotions. “Our soul is so connected to our spirit and all it takes is a single fragment of the soul to capture us spiritually. The devil will cause a fragment to happen by causing deep fear, trauma, or acute pain. In addition, he can divide the soul through participation in the occult and sin. The devil does not need to possess the entire soul to take a prisoner in the spiritual sphere. He only needs a fragment to establish in it a region of his kingdom and from there afflict it.” [quote by Ana Mendez in her book Regions of Captivity; pg. 52]

As a child; parts of my soul became fragmented and then imprisoned. Therefore, as a child of God; I had never been able to develop past certain ages in certain areas of my life. I would get to a certain point but never could break through and go beyond. My soul would hear, feel, and see everything that surrounded it in the place where I was held captive but I could not break out. If something triggered this fragmented part of my soul; then it was as if my conscious, physical being would connect with my imprisoned soul and that would cause me to manifest from that place where I was trapped. This would frustrate people because of how it caused me to relate and respond to life situations. It frustrated me to and the biggest frustration is that I couldn’t seem to fix it and I didn’t have the understanding of what was going on. I can remember there being times; where I literally felt the oppressive, demonic spirits inside of me moving around. At times; it seemed as if I had even fragmented myself into “inside” and “outside in regards to feelings and emotions. I was being held a captive or an innocent prisoner in a ‘spiritual place’ that was being guarded and controlled by satan. When people are held captive the way that I was; it’s not just a simple fix of willpower to get over it and free our souls. It takes the power and authority of God to remove those forces of darkness. Not only was I held a captive in my own soul; but I was also held captive in

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“generational captivity” because of the imprisonment within my own family line.

If you end up praying with and taking someone through deliverance who has any of the following; then they probably have experienced a “fragmented soul” at one time or another: incest, rape, multiple sex partners, adultery, multiple marriages, homosexual relationships. I could add to the list but these are the main ones that we see. Fragmented soul ties can happen when we “give” a piece of ourselves to another and they “give” a piece of themselves to us. So many times; I have been in a deliverance with someone where they brought up past relationships and for some reason they “couldn’t get over” that person. That’s because there was an ungodly soul tie there and usually un-forgiveness too. In this situation; I would have them forgive if they were able and then I’d have them sever any ungodly soul ties between them and that person/perpetrators. In breaking a soul tie, I always explain that it's as if the person is holding one end of a rope and the other person they need to cut ties with is holding the other end. Then it's as if the rope is literally cut in two and I have them repeat after me; "I cut and destroy all ungodly soul ties between me and ____; body to body; mind to mind; will to will and emotions to emotions".....and then I just cover it with the blood of Jesus. The last thing I would do is have them pray and call for those fragmented pieces of their soul to return to their own body and that all fragmented pieces of the other persons soul to leave their body and return to where they came from. I usually then pray over them and seal it all with the blood of Jesus.

You can do the same thing with the dissociated parts. Have the person pray something like this: “….any parts of “myself” that have dissociated; I command them in the name of Jesus to come forth front and center.” or have them give Jesus permission to come in and heal each age/identity of dissociation. It was a choice that I had to allow the Holy Spirit to do this. It’s very important for the person to give permission and take authority over this as you cannot. We do have all authority in Jesus Christ over demons; however we do not have authority over another’s soul or parts of another’s soul.

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FRAGMENTED MIND

This next section on “fragmented mind” is a very sensitive area for me because there had been such a large separation between my mind and my heart. What I’ve experienced and even learned from others who’ve been set free; is that the mind is often the hardest to get free. I believe that’s why in scripture the mind and thoughts are talked about so often and that we need to renew it; have our minds set on things above; watch what we put in our minds etc.

frag·ment [n. frag-muhnt; v. frag-muhnt, -ment, frag-ment]

1. a part broken off or detached: scattered fragments of the broken vase. 2. an isolated, unfinished, or incomplete part: She played a fragment of her latest composition. 3. an odd piece, bit, or scrap. verb (used without object) 4. to collapse or break into fragments; disintegrate: The chair fragmented under his weightverb (used with object) 5. to break (something) into pieces or fragments; cause to disintegrate: Outside influences soon fragmented the Mayan culture. 6. to divide into fragments; disunify. 7. Computers . to split a file into smaller parts and store in non-contiguous sectors on a disk, resulting in fragmentation of both the file and available free space on the disk. Compare fragmentation def. 4 . [dictionary.com online]

As I said in Part 1; dissociating was a form of coping and a survival technique. At the same time; it was also a form of control. I used to tell Brandy that it felt as if I had compartments in my mind and I would place thoughts, ideas, visions, sounds, feelings, etc., in those compartments as needed. During my deliverances; there were specific things that I used to do that weren’t good; and then Brandy would show me the opposite of that which would be the right and good thing.

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Remember; satan always mimics and has a counterfeit or opposite of what God intends. It was quite common for me to be sharing with Brandy about an event or memory and it was just coming out of me. Then, all of a sudden; I would begin to pause or stop and think of another way to say what I was going to say that was safe or so that the whole truth wouldn’t come out. When I would do that; it was as if I had to go to that ‘compartment’ and make sure that I was saying it right first.

Pay attention to the ‘flow’ of when a person is sharing their past with you. If they are just sharing all and then they begin to shut down, take long periods of time to get something out or begin to change the topic; then you know that something is trying to stay hidden. There were other times; I would just start to shut down and all of a sudden I couldn’t remember. When I couldn’t remember; that was not an “identity” that was choosing not to remember; but was caused by a demonic spirit that was guarding the memory and didn’t want it to come to light. Brandy and I would have to deal with this, identify it, bind it up or cast it out so that I could go on. Each time either one of these patterns that I just described in the above paragraph would happen; Brandy would stop me and do very specific things.

From the time I was a young child; I learned to only speak half- truths, to only speak the bare minimum at times; to only speak what would keep me safe and to not reveal hurt, pain or any torment. I even compartmentalized how much to tell at home; at school, at church and around relatives and even the ‘what to tell and what not to tell’ had to come under the blood of Jesus. When this would happen in the deliverance; Brandy would back me up and tell me to tell her what I was seeing or describe what I was feeling at that very moment that I began to shut down and tried to “escape” from having to talk about it. Brandy would reassure me that it was safe to tell and that she was safe and nothing could hurt me.

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I would constantly hear “don’t tell…….don’t tell.” We even had to deal with a spirit named “Don’t tell”! Other times; it would feel as if my whole being on the ‘inside’ was screaming out to stop talking; but I had a choice in the matter. Brandy never forced me because it’s not the Lord’s character and it wasn’t hers either; but she could tell when I was beginning to dissociate and she would always stop me and then I would go ahead and tell; but there sure were battles over it. If I began to hum or count; she would say, “No, Robin……there’s no need,” and then I’d stop. So much of the dissociating was a “learned behavior” too and often I wasn’t even aware that I was doing it. I had to learn NOT to do it! Sometimes; she would reach out a hand and take mine. Most of the time; she would tell me to look her in the eyes; because when I did that; I was able to stop the dissociating and pay attention to what I needed to. In her eyes; I saw the love, tenderness and truth that I needed to deal with it all. The love of Jesus would flow from her to me.

Another very difficult part of this healing in my mind had to do with what I spoke out and told vs. what I actually knew or remembered. This part may seem very complicated and this is where the ‘higher level training’ in healing and deliverance comes in. Throughout those 4 years; and as the layers came up and the truth of what had happened to me came out; I had to even learn how to heal and overcome with what I was telling. When locked up memories begin to come out; it was so real in every way [because it was]; but then there was still a battle in my mind; because I didn’t want to believe what I was saying really happened. It was almost as if there were memories within memories. I could hear myself speaking all of what happened and it was just pouring out of me; but then I could feel myself thinking how wrong I was because I didn’t “really remember it”. There would be times; a day or two after deliverances; where I would think that I had made it all up or was lying or that I didn’t remember it right. Of course; that was not of God and it was the enemy trying to shut me down and keep me quiet. I still had so much fear in telling it all exactly right because details and exactness were very important to me or else I’d feel as if I was going to be punished.

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The love, compassion and tenderness that Brandy showed me made the difference in my healing and besides it being a miracle from the Lord; it’s what caused my fragmented soul to come back together and be made whole. However; the times where she needed to speak truth and speak hard to me were just as needed and also aided in my healing.

Brandy was always so good in this area and her being this way was a HUGE part of my being able to be released from the emotions and wounds. When I would be sharing with her in deliverance; she always loved me greatly with the love of Jesus and as a friend. She showed me compassion and acceptance. I can’t tell you how many times she would say, “Robin; I’m so sorry” and as I’d look at her; she’d have tears in her eyes. She would always give me permission to cry because for one; I didn’t know if I was allowed to cry or if it was safe and second was that I had to learn to cry so that I could release. Many times; as she put her arms around me so that I could cry it out; she was crying just as hard with me. I felt so safe with her and so accepted and never judged. There were times; where I needed healing from a sexual assault or other abuses and I would have such extreme shame and embarrassment over what had taken place and she would always take her hand, lift up my head and tell me to look into her eyes because there was no shame here. She never let me hide behind shame and it had to leave because shame can’t stay in the Presence of Jesus! This was often how healing came to these “identities that were trapped at certain ages.” I had to let go of the pain and torment of the little girl at those ages or else it would have hindered the work of the Holy Spirit and kept the “identities” from being healed. Brandy constantly; over and over; non-stop; every time we got together to pray; would speak to me about the love of Jesus and it was as if she would let those “identities” know that God’s desire and perfect plan was for me to be made whole.

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IS IT AN “IDENTITY” OR A DEMON?

In taking someone through deliverance who has suffered serious trauma or abuse as well as having Dissociative Identity Disorder; it’s very important for you to understand and know when you’re dealing with an identity and when you’re dealing with a demonic spirit. Don’t feel bad if you miss it a few times as it’s not always easy to tell the difference.

If you tell them or treat them as if their mind is demonic when the truth is; that there are pieces of their mind that is separated from the rest of the person; then you can actually cause more pain, hurt and wounds. Is it right to call a locked up part of a mind demonic? It’s the locked up part of the mind that is holding the trauma and needs to receive the healing.

Not to be made to feel bad or to think that they are “demonic” now or that their mind is demonic.

However; it’s also important to note and be aware that the fact that they dissociated, fragmented or have deep wounds there are usual what I would call a type of ‘demonic guard’ that would make sure the mind stayed fragmented or locked up. Demonic spirits will for sure work overtime to make sure that the person’s mind stays separate from the rest of their soul. We learn how to help people get healed and delivered as we go. The Holy Spirit is our teacher. Don’t let fear stop you from addressing anything that you may think is a demonic spirit. I would rather err on this part of it and make sure all demonic spirits are cast out instead of playing it safe because I wasn’t sure and then therefore the person still isn’t delivered.

Demons usually don’t have “human names”. From what I’ve learned; people with multiple personalities or alters will almost always have “human names” but not demonic names, but I’ve never dealt with that in that specific way. I had ungodly soul ties to people who had hurt me and that soul tie was still connected to the fragmented part of my heart or mind that I had

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dissociated. Those ungodly soul ties were also assignments to keep me bound. It was as if I could feel demonic spirits from them coming to me. Brandy learned to ask me lots of questions and even though I seemed overtaken by the trauma; I was able to answer the questions. Often; she didn’t know who or what she was dealing with. There were times where Brandy would sense that a demonic spirit had taken over and was manifesting and so she’d ask a name and the name would come out; which again, was not “human names”. Other times; she would ask where I was, what was going on. It’s very important to ask lots of questions so that you can know where the person is at and how to get them out. I can remember talking to her; yet it was as if I couldn’t see her and I would tell her the age I was and what was happening as I re-played the memory.

Even when we had to deal with dark side of it all and the demonic; I would see the demonic and I was able to tell her what was going on and where they were and in turn it helped her know how to pray and what step to take.

Part of the reason that it was so hard to get me completely out and free was not only due to the severe trauma of what I’d seen, participated in and had done to me; but also because it was so incredibly twisted and hidden and HIGH LEVEL. So not only did we have to deal with DID and the trapped identities in the ages and the regions/states; but also had to deal with a huge amount of demonic spirits that had entered through many open doors including generational sins, the occult, satanism, witchcraft, divination and the abuses. It was all so deep that I was majorly deceived with no knowledge that I had really participated with witchcraft.

I can remember the demonic spirits would try to play games and trip up Brandy or others who were helping me. Demonic spirits can switch back and forth in order to confuse anyone trying to help set a captive free. One day; while at work; I wrote out a paper and it was as if I

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was telling Brandy a key as to how this works so that she would know how to pray ahead of time. Guess you could say I gave the enemies secrets away!! The demons would switch back and forth; join up with another demon; hide; talk; multiply so that more than one demon was working; divide or morph in two or three so that they could scatter. So now; before I pray and start a deliverance session; I take authority over the deliverance in the name of Jesus Christ. I let the demonic spirits know what they cannot do and what they will do in the name of Jesus:

“I pray a shield of protection over me and all in this room and cover it with the blood of Jesus. Jesus has given me all authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing will harm me. I’m seated with Christ in heavenly places far above all rule, authority, power and dominions. I bind the strongman in ______in Jesus name. I cancel all previous assignments given to the demons within______. I will not allow the demons to split and I forbid the demons to rename themselves or go with a new group. I forbid the demons to put up any blocks for other demons. I forbid the demons inside to share their strengths with each other. There will no longer be any further exchange of satanic communication inward or outward. There will be no entry of new demonic spirits and no demon is allowed to hide. When I call a demon forth to cast you out, you will leave quickly and immediately. I bind all demons that have escaped the session, and those shared with another person who have divided or split, and those absent and all missing communicators. I forbid demons to bring harm, pain, violence, or backlash on anyone. You will not cause distraction and are not allowed to hurt me or anyone else, or our families. I bind all demons that are associated with each spirit, to that spirit and uproot you and cast you out together; no one can remain. I release the angels to carry out His word to perform it, and welcome their ministry to us as servants of God.”

I knew that Brandy had to use her authority in Jesus Christ to command in the name of Jesus that the demonic spirits would not be

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allowed to do any of these things and that she had to speak them out loud and that she had to tell them what was going to happen. There were times when the Presence of the Lord would come upon Brandy like fire and I knew that she meant business and wasn’t playing around. One of the best and most helpful things that she would do was she’d look me in the eyes and say, “Robin; I’m not speaking to you. I know your heart. I’m speaking to what’s at work and coming against me.” THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT. Because when she said that; I knew that she was not mad at “me” but that she was taking authority over the demonic manifestations. If she wouldn’t have done that; I would have taken it all personally and been more wounded by thinking that I was even more evil or wrong or doing something bad. Many times; Brandy would ask me who my Lord and Master was and she’d ask if I loved Jesus.

Even though I was subjected to the demonic and the dark as a child; I still loved Jesus almost my whole life. I loved Him the best that I knew how.

Demons; of course will not love Jesus or confess that He is Lord. So right there is a good example of how to tell whether or not you are dealing with a ‘demon spirit’ or a fragmented part/identity of a person’s mind or heart.

In my situation with DID; it was very important that the “identity to the age” that was being healed needed to be loved, understood, embraced and accepted. This is different than someone with a multiple personality. This is also totally opposite of how we would treat a demon. For instance; when Brandy and I were praying through a traumatic event at age 9; I needed for me; trapped at that age and in that event to be healed. I needed ‘Robin at age 9’ to know that at that age I was loved, accepted etc. I would wait on the Holy Spirit and sometimes it was a process. Yet; it was very important that once the healing came; then the door was shut and “Robin at age 9” was not allowed to rule me or come back. It wasn’t as if I would never think about it again; but the “age, identity and trauma” associated with it had no power over me anymore. Then it was important for me to ask the Holy Spirit to come and fill me up in its place. Often; Brandy would pray that part over me.

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When it comes to multiple personalities though; I am not sure that this would be the case as it’s quite a bit different. Also; I know that in MPD’s sometimes a person might have an altar or personality that is dangerous or not a good person. You would not want to ‘love or care for’ that altar!!!

MORE HEALING AND DELIVERANCE

I believe and know that there was a supernatural protection on me and my life from the Lord. At age 9; I asked Jesus to be Lord of my life and I got baptized. The baptism was actually due to two reasons. 1. I was overtaken with fear of the demonic and the devil. I had fear of going to hell and I knew that if I could just get into the “right” baptism tank then I’d be ok. 2. My dad and I had always been close.

He had been doing nightly devotions with me for over a year and would sing songs and pray with me. He was the one who led me to the Lord. Pay attention to those you pray with. Ask who Jesus is to them. Find out how and why they became believers or not. During the 4 years that it took me to get completely healed and delivered; the first two years were very difficult. There were times where it was really hard and I would have phases it seemed where I would manifest really bad such as binging/purging, cutting, etc. It escalated as light was being shown on the darkness; and then BAM; I’d be done with it and was delivered of it. I used to hurt myself on purpose as a child. I would jump out of tall trees; hit myself, got in fights with boys, etc. No one could understand why and with many of my ‘injuries’; I would lie about how it happened. Maybe I was attention seeking. I don’t really know. I occasionally cut myself as an older child and teen but not that often.

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However; it wasn’t until I’d been married for about 10 years that I began to seriously cut myself and several times it was so severe that I needed stitches. Cutting brought such shame and I never really could explain why I did it. I often cut when I felt that life was caving in; that too many people were trying to control me or that I couldn’t live up to people’s expectations. I had so much pain and inner turmoil and so the cutting was a way to transfer the inner pain to the physical. I needed to see blood [though that would be a ‘false blood’] and when I cut; then I was in charge and in control. As twisted as this sounds; it allowed me a way to release some of the torment that was inside. In reality; it’s not that much different than a person who needs another high; or a person enslaved to masturbation or rape; or a person who goes on a shopping high. This was just a severe manifestation and fruit of DID. What the enemy intended for evil with the cutting; God has turned it around for His glory. Quite often; the Holy Spirit will give me a word of knowledge about someone who is or has struggled with cutting. You would be surprised at the broad spectrum of people who do it as it’s not just confined to specific people. I have been able to show my scars and then share my testimony of cutting and being healed from that and it’s amazing at how people have opened up when they see that there is someone else who can understand what they are going through.

There are two areas that I believe caused me to keep from being healed for most of my whole life or at least until I went through deliverance. Both of them were open doors and legal ground for the enemy. Those two areas were fear and unforgiveness which of course were there due to the extreme trauma, hurt and pain that I could not cope with as a child. As you work with and pray deliverance with someone bound in DID or maybe they don’t have it; yet they went through some kind of trauma or abuse; it’s very important for you to be loving, understanding and compassionate as the identity or alters come to light and come forth. If the person feels any judgments or indifference from you; it will keep them from opening up or from trusting you.

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As you pray with someone to be healed and delivered of traumas and abuse or if it’s even someone who has dissociative identity disorder; you will need to pay attention to your spirit, soul and body. Pray ahead of time. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you, show you, guide you, fill you, etc. You will need to be strong in the Lord and not your own flesh. You will need to be bold and firm and to not let fear have a foothold.

Be prepared and alert for manifestations but do not let them rule you, take control of the deliverance or cause fear. Usually, if they are manifestations such as this then they will be demonic and you have authority over that. Often times; in my own healing; as the memories would come forth; I could actually feel the pain or the sexual assault in my body. Do not become focused on what you see and hear. Remember that you are dealing with an imprisoned soul who needs and wants to be set free. Make sure you deal with and cast out ‘being a victim’ and all spirits associated with it in Jesus Name. Also; it’s important for them to forgive themselves. It can be hard to listen to some of the stories and to watch the person in captivity walk out into freedom. Your heart will be filled with love and compassion; but as they get closer to walking out; you will feel the joy of the Lord and you will not want to quit until they are out. Again; remember; it’s the Lord who will do the finished work of the cross. Pray for the person to have the mind of Christ and decree that they do. Know that they do not know how to fully give or receive love and that they need to learn to love themselves so that they can love others. RELEASE THE LOVE OF JESUS!

“…………and having done all===== stand” Ephesians 6:13

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How to Minister Freedom

It is Jesus’ empowerment that destroys the hold of the enemy. One touch from God can change everything. Deliverance cannot be something you just do or say and don’t mean from your heart. I recommend getting with a mature saint with spiritual authority who knows about deliverance ministry. Spirits often show up in different ways, and you want to be with someone who knows what to do! However, each believer has the authority to pray for themselves and can pray for themselves in Jesus name and be freed. Give God all control over you and depend on Him to free you.

Some people shake, feel dizzy, sick to their stomachs, nervous, or they begin coughing, choking, crying, or yawning, etc. Some people don’t feel anything, and others just sigh a lot. Remember, it isn’t about what you do or don’t feel or see. However, there will be a sense of release or peace. When something leaves, remember to ask Holy Spirit to fill you up there.

If you are praying deliverance for someone who is not a Christian, it extremely important to lead them to Jesus so they can keep their freedom and the spirit not come back 7 times worse. Matthew 12:43-45

There are no rules or a ‘how to’ format, but the following can help you in your prayers of freedom.

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The Flow of Ministry

Deliverance sessions:

Before the session begins, invite the Holy Spirit to guide, illuminate, minister and reveal all that is necessary to bring complete freedom to the person. Confess Jesus as Lord and take authority over all that is not from heaven. Declare the victory Jesus achieved at the cross, and the submission of each individual to the Lordship of Christ. Just before getting started ask the individual and assistant to let you know if they receive impressions, mental pictures, or hear anything etc. during the session.

Before you begin the ministry, take time to listen to the person’s story and really hear from them what the overall battle looks like. They may not realize that there are other issues going on, so it is imperative to listen for other clues. They will tell you about the areas in their lives where they are struggling. Let the individual tell you the areas of bondage and pain and begin to ask questions as you go as the Spirit leads. It is not important that you hear every detail of their lives. Holy Spirit will bring to the individual’s mind and heart the things He wants them to bring up for freedom. The Holy Spirit will show you the root or origin of the bondage or wound as you ask Him.

During this interview, you can use the roots & fruits list to help discern the roots spirits and issues involved. It is also a good opportunity to discern whether or not this is really a deliverance issue or a need for more discipleship and application of the Word of God to the individual’s life.

There should be only one person taking authority in any session. If the assistant has a word, they should submit it quietly to the leader (e.g. write it on a piece of paper, tell them to the side). Authority can be delegated to the assistant if the leader so chooses, but it is essential that there be no confusion during the deliverance session.

If the person has a physical pain in body, ask, "Where does it hurt?" and then work backwards to find where the cause may be, "When did it first start? How did it begin?

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When have you felt this way before?" Don’t be afraid to keep asking all the way back to their childhood, because this is very often where the entry points occurred.

Learn to ask questions that help to clarify any particular situation, e.g. "What do you mean by that?", "How did that affect the way you saw yourself or what you believed to be true about yourself?" "When does/did the problem get worse?" etc.

A word of caution: there is no need to get every detail of the situation, just enough to recognize it as an entry point, to corner the spirit, and to pray over it accordingly. Also, some people may be very needy and tell you a whole lot of unnecessary details. Cut them off gently and get the focus back to where it needs to be.

Unscheduled Deliverance

Sometimes you will pray for others to be delivered and it is not a ‘sit down scheduled session’. When you visit with an individual about an area the Lord is bringing freedom to, just follow the same flow and just talk and ask questions as the Lord leads about their situation. Then you can proceed to pray accordingly. We want to bring the solution – Jesus – to them and in these situations; you do not have time to talk for hours. Holy Spirit will show you how to pray in the amount of time you have. As a believer, we should always be ready in season and out to minister to people and give life and healing to all who come to Him. Know that you must minister in Christ’s authority and not your own, and take complete authority over all sickness, sin and demons in Jesus name.

Here is an example of prayer in taking dominion and authority in a session.

“Father in Jesus name we worship you and thank you for all Jesus has done on the cross, and now I invite you to free______and in Jesus name, we declare that “you have given us all authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the devil, and nothing can harm us in Jesus name!” Luke 10:19

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Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence Closing Entry Points

Time to pray:

Unforgiveness

“Father would you show ______if there is anyone they need to forgive.”

As the Lord reveals people or organizations or conflicts or even themselves that they need to forgive, lead them to pray,

“Father, it is my will, I choose to forgive______for ______. I release them to you Lord and I release all offense in Jesus name.”

Healing and inner healing can occur as they forgive and many time spirits leave as they forgive. They should have peace in their hearts when it is done.

For those who do not want to forgive at all and they will not budge, then I will not continue in the session because of their willful choice not to continue. Sometimes they may sincerely struggle with forgiving because it is so traumatic or hard for them, and I always encourage them that Jesus has forgiven all and He lives within them, (Eph. 4:32) and to lean into His strength and ability and allow Him to give them the love and grace to forgive and release offenses. Give time for Holy Spirit to move upon their hearts.

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Repentance

Repentance of willful sin

“Father in Jesus name, I repent to you of ______. I am so sorry. I give you all guilt and shame and condemnation in Jesus name. I exchange my sin for your grace!”

Give them time to cry, or release any emotions they have over it. Again, healing and freedom can occur as they repent.

Repentance for vows or judgments

“Father in Jesus name, I repent for judging ______and I destroy the judgments I made and any word curses I’ve spoken over and against them in Jesus name and I bless them. I receive your forgiveness.”

“Father in Jesus name I repent for the vow I made ______and I ask you to forgive me and I destroy that vow in Jesus name.”

Soul ties

“Father in Jesus name I choose to sever the ungodly soul tie between ______and myself in Jesus name. Bring your sword and sever it, body to body, heart to heart, emotions to emotions, etc. I loose ______to You, Father. Any spirits transferred to me through______in this tie; I command to leave me now in Jesus name.”

Allow time for healing and release.

If needed, pray for all fragmented parts of their heart to be restored to them and for them to release anything they took from others to leave and return to them.

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Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence “Father in Jesus name, I command all fragmented parts of my heart,(he stole my heart; my heart was broken in pieces; my heart was crushed or shattered) those places stolen or those I gave to others to return to me now and that Lord you would make me whole! I release the parts of others I took from them back to them in Jesus name. Make us whole!”

Curses

“Father I repent for participating with the curse of ______and I forgive all forefathers for this iniquity of ______. I destroy all curses or specific curse of ______back to its beginning in Jesus name. I command all spirits that came through this curse to leave me now in Jesus name.”

Renouncing and Casting out Demon Spirits

Take authority over the spirit(s), bind and cut each individual spirit at its root, and then cast them out by name (if there is uncertainty about the root, then call out the spirit according to whatever the issue is that the individual has been dealing with). Do not stop to speak to the evil spirits. Silence them and command them out.

“Father, in Jesus name, I repent, and I repent on behalf of my forefathers for our participation with the spirit of ______. I choose to forgive all my forefathers for this iniquity. I command all curses of ______to be destroyed in Jesus name back to their beginnings.

“I command the spirit of ______and all spirits subject to it, to leave me now in Jesus name!”

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Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence Sometimes, however, there will be times where we ‘interrogate’ the demons, or command them to give their names/assignments for the purpose of removing them.

Check to see that there really has been a release – look into their eyes and ask the individual being ministered to, "Are you free? Do we need to keep praying?"

If they're not free, they will not be able to say they are free from the specific spirit, or they will hesitate, or you will see the uncertainty. Keep praying and watch for a sign of release, e.g. a sigh, cough, burp, blink, scream. (Don’t encourage them to do either of those, it will be spontaneous.) The individual will usually know when "it's gone". Also rely on the Holy Spirit to prompt you to keep praying or to move on. They will have a peace, an ‘inner knowing’ that all is well.

If the evil spirit is not leaving, ask the Holy Spirit for His leading and go back to deal with what needs to be renounced, repented of, etc. It is essential that all the doors be closed, that there is true submission to Jesus' Lordship, that the individual's motives are pure, and that they really want to be set free from the bondage. If it refuses to go, then I encourage all to go on, and allow God to speak more on it through prayer. (Mat. 17:21)

Manifestations

You can bind (forbid and declare illegal), gag (forbid to speak), and paralyze (forbid to move around or hurt individual) the demonic manifestations in Jesus name.

With all manifestations (where the demons take control of the individual in harmful ways), you have all authority to command the demon to stop. Bind the demonic spirit in Jesus’ name, and command them to be quiet or still. "I command you to submit in Jesus' name". It’s that simple (Luke 10:19). Do not physically wrestle with the person, you will end up hurting them or yourself. Your authority in Christ is enough to silence and still them. Use your authority with confidence.

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Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence Possible manifestations during a deliverance session:  Demons may inflict pain in the individuals.  Demons may cause headaches, chest pains, dizziness, nausea, sleepiness, confusion, lies.  While ministering to one individual, demons may manifest through others in the room. If this occurs, stop, bind the demon manifesting, follow the Holy Spirit's instructions, then go back to the other person. Bind all transference.  If they pass out, it’s probably not physical – don’t get distracted. Do not allow the demons to speak. They are liars and will distract you.

Possible Manifestations in a Service or Corporate Gathering:

If you’re witnessing a manifestation outside of a deliverance session, do not automatically cast the demonic out unless the person wants you to do so (remember, you cannot bypass a person's free will). First, bind, gag, and paralyze the demon so that you can call the individual back to consciousness if necessary and ask them if they want to be freed (Salvation and Lordship is necessary, get them saved if you need to!).

 Demons will manifest in the presence of the anointing. Where the Word of God is preached in power, demons may react in various ways.  Demons try to distract during the teaching or service – talking, getting up and down, constant interruptions.  Physical manifestations – arms raising up and down, necks contorting, nervousness, anxiousness, biting nails, can't sit still, falling out in convulsions, screams, laughter (mocking), falling asleep, etc.

Please do not take these demonic manifestations lightly. Speak the Word and use it as a sword to totally silence or destroy the demons and their power. Take authority quickly – whoever hits first has the opportunity to strike again.

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Sealing the Work of the Lord

Praise and thank God for the freedom given.  We declare this individual freed by the blood of Jesus!  Pray for the opposite of what the devil tried to do (e.g. Spirit of fear - pray for faith).  Dedicate soul and body to the Lord.  Ask Holy Spirit to fill them up!  Pray blessings over all present.  Allow a time for the prophetic as the Spirit leads.

Teach maintenance of deliverance. (Luke 11:24-26)

 Encourage the individual not to invite the problems back by re-opening doors and entry points. “Now go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11)  They need to get rid of the structures in their lives that invited the demonic spirits in initially.  Where the temptation used to come from within, now it will only come from without, because the enemy is outside the city walls. It will be a lot easier to not give in to temptation, and temptation will come, so teach them how to submit to Christ and resist the devil. (James 4:7)  Teach them about the necessity of leading a Godly life with prayer and Scripture reading. (John 14-17)  Encourage them to get linked up with the body of Christ, get involved in life groups, find someone to disciple them, learn to serve, etc.  Encourage them to share their testimony, using caution with people who may not fully understand the principles of deliverance.

Pray over the room and yourself as the Lord leads

 Command the evil spirits to leave the room or building.  Pray over your family. Pray a wall of protection around them.

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Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence  Pray for protection over your own mind. Do not let the enemy use some of the stories you’ve heard to become a problem for yourself.  Ask for the Holy Spirit to cleanse you and push up and out anything received from the session.  The Lord will honor you for serving Him in this way. You will be blessed.  If we carry the burden from them they become like rocks in a backpack on our backs and after a while it will bring us down, so we give all the burdens or things we have heard to Jesus.

Do’s and Don’ts

The person is your primary focus.

 This is a person-oriented ministry. The individual going through deliverance is who matters the most here, not your agenda to get rid of the demonic spirits. Check with them constantly to find out how they are doing, if they have any questions, if they need to take some time before continuing, etc. You don’t want them walking away from the ministry with more confusion and hurt than when they started.  Love, love, love.  This will always be a relationship building experience. You will hear stories that have never been told before, and you will hear the most personal issues of a person’s life. This requires sensitivity, compassion and ultimately, relationship. Don’t be ‘clinical’ or overly objective, let them see your heart and genuine concern for them.  Be appropriate. For example, if they are sharing about something that makes you uncomfortable, do not make a joke or side comment to relieve your own discomfort. Never judge or show surprise on your face when they confess the issues they’re struggling with. Don’t be ice cold either.

 Confirm and affirm them with your confidentiality. You have got to respect the depths that they are sharing with you.

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Do not give Satan a stage.  Do not have conversations with the demons. Silence them and command them out.  Do not allow manifestations. Bind them in the name of Jesus and command them out. When there has been repentance, and the entry points dealt with, the demonic spirits will have less power over the individual – they are less likely to manifest in these cases. If you demand manifestations or do not bind them, the individual ends up being very frightened.  Do not curse demons (2 Peter 2:9-11). A simple rebuke is enough.  Do not send demons to the pit. Jesus will be the one to dispatch them there at the final judgment (Matthew 25:41). This won’t hurt anyone if you do it, but there is no need to puff up our egos, taking over the role of Christ…

 Do not idolize one method or technique. Every deliverance session will be different. Some things you will bypass, other times you will hear the Spirit lead you to places you’ve never been before. Just because something worked “really well” with one person, this does not mean that it will apply to everyone else who deals with the same issue.  “A true healer responds to the hearts of both God and people.” – Mark Sandford.

Deliverance is not the solution for every problem we face as believers. It is merely part of the greater work of complete salvation; it is part of the process of our sanctification. Deliverance is also not a one-time-event in the life of the believer. The Lord will continue to deal with us as we grow to be more like Him, and as we grow in our maturity and understanding of how much we are in desperate need of Him to transform us and take absolute control of our lives. Do not allow yourself to ever get to a point in your life where you think you’ve arrived and you are no longer in need of any further ministry. After you’ve repented, we may well have to deal with a spirit of haughtiness! (Exodus 23:29- 30)

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In Summary

Five Components of Deliverance: 1. Conviction of entry points (Interview). 2. Confession/repentance and healing of entry points. 3. Deal with spiritual forces that resulted. 4. Confess corresponding Truth. 5. A lifestyle of guarding the Freedom.

Take authority. Declare Jesus’ Lordship. Welcome Holy Spirit. Yield to Holy Spirit fully. Welcome His healing presence. Forgiveness. Inner healing. Release of vows and judgments. Soul ties/cords. Destroy all curses. Repentance for all spirits/fruit. Cast out demons. Fill up with Holy Spirit. Seal it with the blood of Jesus

Trust the Holy Spirit to be your guide. Jesus is the deliverer, and He wants people set free. Remember to that you are dealing with a person, and they need to experience Jesus’ love.

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free!” Galatians 5:1

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Who I Am in Christ Jesus – Living Free and Victorious

I am the salt of the earth (Mt 5:13). I am the light of the world (Mt 5:14). What I say in faith without doubt I get (Mk 11:23--24). I ask and receive; I seek and find; I knock and the door is opened unto me (Lk 11:9-10). I have eternal life because I believe in the Son (Jn 3:36). Out of my innermost being flow rivers of living water (Jn 7:38). I am freed by the truth (Jn 8:31). I have peace (Jn 14:27). I am loved by Jesus (Jn 15:9). I am loved by the Father (Jn 16:27). I belong to God (Jn 17:9). I am protected by the power of His name (Jn 17:11). I have a full measure of joy within me (Jn 17:13). I am protected from the evil one (Jn 17:15). I have been sent into the world (Jn 17:18). Jesus is in me (Jn 17:23). I have forgiveness of sins (Ac 13:38). I have been freed from all things (Ac 13:39). I have peace with God through Jesus Christ (Ro 5:1). I have grace through faith (Ro 5:2). My heart is flooded by God’s love (Ro 5:5). I have been justified by His blood (Ro 5:9). I am not under law, but under grace (Ro 5:15). I reign in life through Jesus (Ro 5:17). I have died to sin (Ro 6:2). I walk in newness of life (Ro 6:4). I am no longer a slave of sin (Ro 6:6). His Spirit indwells me (Ro 8:11). Because I am led by the Spirit of God, I am a child of God (Ro 8:14). All things work together for my good (Ro 8:28). I am called of God. I am justified in Him (Ro 8:30). I and God’s love are inseparable (Ro 8:35). I am more than a conqueror through Him (Ro 8:37). I can never be separated from the love of God (Ro 8:38-39). I shall never be put to shame (Ro 10:11). I have a measure of faith (Ro 12:3). If I live or die, I am the Lord’s (Ro 14:8). I am full of goodness. I am filled with all knowledge (Ro 15:14). I have been given the grace and favor of God (1Co 1:4). I am enriched in everything (1Co 1:5). I am not lacking any gift (1Co 1:7). I have the mind of Christ (1Co 2:16). I am one of God’s fellow workers (1Co 3:9). I am the temple of God (1Co 3:16). The Spirit of God dwells in me (1Co 3:16). I belong to Christ (1Co 3:23). I am one with Christ in Spirit (1Co 6:17). I have been bought with a price (1Co 6:20). I can be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1Co 15:58). I am comforted by God (2Co 1:4). I am sealed with His Spirit (2Co 1:22). I am a sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ (2Co 2:14). I am a sweet-smelling fragrance to God (2Co 2:15). My sufficiency is from God (2Co 3:5). I am a servant of the new covenant (2Co 3:6). I have freedom, the Spirit being in me (2Co 3:17). I have received mercy (2Co 4:1). I have the Holy Spirit in my body (2Co 4:7). The inner me is being renewed every day (2Co 4:16). I walk by faith and not by sight (2Co 5:7). I make it my aim, whether present or absent to be well-pleasing to Him (2Co 5:9). I am a new creation in Christ. All things have become new (2Co 5:17). I am the righteousness of God (2Co 5:21).

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I have all sufficiency in everything (2Co 9:8). My weapons are not carnal, but spiritual, mighty in God (2Co 10:4). I have the power of Christ resting on me (2Co 12:9). I have Christ living in me (Gal 2:20). I am a child of God (Gal 3:26). I am an heir according to the promise (Gal 3:29). I have love, joy and peace. I have patience, kindness and goodness. I have faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22). I am a faithful saint (Eph 1:1). I have favor and peace (Eph 1:2). I am blessed with every spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3). I am chosen in Him (Eph 1:4). I am holy and blameless before Him (Eph 1:4). I am accepted in the beloved (Eph 1:6). I am sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph 1:13). I have a spirit of wisdom and revelation (Eph 1:17). I have all things under my feet (Eph 1:22). I am loved by God (Eph 2:4). I have been saved by favor through faith (Eph 2:8). I am His workmanship (Eph 2:10). I have Him as my peace (Eph 2:15). I am no longer a stranger and an alien, but I am a fellow citizen with the saints (Eph 2:19). I am of God’s household (Eph 2:19). I have the freedom and confidence to approach God (Eph 3:12). I know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge. I am filled with the fullness of God (Eph 3:19). I have been given favor (Eph 4:7). I can speak the truth in love and grow up in all things unto Him (Eph 4:15). I have put off the old man (Eph 4:22). I have been forgiven (Eph 4:32). I have a new self which has been created in righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:24). I am filled with the fruit of righteousness (Php 1:11). For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Php 1:21). God is at work in me (Php 2:13). The peace of God guards my heart and mind (Php 4:7). I share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light (Col 1:12). I have been delivered from the domain of darkness (Col 1:13). I have forgiveness of sins (Col 1:14). I have been made complete (Col 2:10). The debt for all my sins has been paid (Col 2:14). I have put on a new self (Col 3:10). I am taught to love others by God (1Th 4:9). I am a child of light and day (1Th 5:5). God has chosen me from the beginning (2Th 2:13). I am strengthened and protected from the evil one (2Th 3:3). God has not given me a spirit of fear. God has given me a spirit of power, love and a sound mind (2Ti 1:7). He has saved me and called me with a holy calling (2Ti 1:9). The Holy Spirit dwells in me (2Ti 1:14). I am thoroughly equipped for every good work (2Ti 3:17). I have a crown of righteousness (2Ti 4:8). I am purified for God’s own possession (Tit 2:14). I have been made an heir (Tit 3:17). I have in me the knowledge of every good thing (Phm 1:6). All things are in subjection to me and are under my feet (Heb 2:8). He is not ashamed to call me brother (Heb 2:11). I am holy (Heb 3:1). I have entered into His rest (Heb 4:3). I am saved forever (Heb 7:25). I have been sanctified (Heb 10:10). I have boldness to enter the Holy of Holies (Heb 10:19). My heart has been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and my body washed with pure water (Heb 10:22).

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I have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding me (Heb 12:1). I have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken (Heb 12:28). I am being made complete in every good thing (Heb 13:20). I am equipped in every good thing to do His will (Heb 13:21). If I lack wisdom, I can ask of God who will give it to me (Jas 1:5). I am the first fruits among His creatures (Jas 1:18). I have been born again to a living hope (1Pe 1:3). I am protected by the power of God (1Pe 1:5). I am holy (1Pe 1:16). I was redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (1Pe 1:18-19). I have been born again (1Pe 1:23). I am part of chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people (1Pe 2:9). I have been called out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1Pe 2:9). I am part of the family of God (1Pe 2:10). By His wounds I am healed (1Pe 2:24). I have the Spirit of God resting upon me (1Pe 4:14). I am cared for by Jesus (1Pe 5:7). I have been purified from my former sins (2Pe 1:9). My sins are forgiven (1Jn 1:12). His love is perfected in me (1Jn 2:5). I have received anointing from Him and it abides in me (1Jn 2:27). I should be called a child of God (1Jn 3:1). I am now a child of God (1Jn 3:2).I abide in Him and He in me (1Jn 3:24). I am an overcomer (1Jn 4:6). I am from God (1Jn 4:13).If I love others, God dwells in me. As He is so am I in the world (1Jn 4:17). I have overcome the world (1Jn 5:4). I have been born of God and thus have overcome the world. I can ask anything according to His will and He hears me (1Jn 5:14). I am in Him who is true (1Jn 5:20). The truth abides in me (2Jn 1:2). I have grace, mercy and peace (2Jn 1:3). My soul prospers (3Jn 1:2). I am presented faultless before the presence of His glory (Jude 24). I am loved (Rev 1:5). I am like a tree firmly planted by streams of water. Whatever I do will prosper (Ps 1:3). My help always comes from the Lord (Ps 121:2). I am like Mt. Zion, I cannot be moved (Ps 125:1). The Lord has made me the head and not the tail (Dt 28:13).

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RESOURCES USED IN THIS WRITING: Malone, Henry (1999) “Shadow boxing” Trophy Publishing (www.visionlife.org) (This is the main text used for the deliverance training ministry) Anderson, Neil (2000) “Victory over the darkness” Regal: Ventura, CA. Annacondia, Carlos (1998) “Listen to me, Satan!” Creation House: Lake Mary, FL. Bottari, Pablo (2000) “Free in Christ” Creation House: Lake Mary, FL. Prince, Derek (1998) “They shall expel demons” Chosen Books: Grand Rapids, MI. Sandford, John & Mark (1992) “A comprehensive guide to Deliverance and Inner Healing” Chosen Books: Grand Rapids, MI. Wagner, C. Peter (1997) “Praying with power” Regal: Ventura, CA. Wagner, Doris (1998) “Understanding basic issues in deliverance” Wagner Institute Publications: Colorado Springs, CO. (tape series and workbook) Caldwell, Lauren (2011) “There is No Junior Holy Spirit, A Supernatural Training Manual for Youth

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Deliverance Ministry Training Hispanic Culture

The Hispanic culture has many aspects. Mixture is lined throughout any Hispanic background. This happens because there are so many different people groups from different regions outside of the United States. Each region has migrated through different parts of America which has caused a mixture of cultures, superstitions, religions and witchcraft. In Texas we mainly encounter the regions of Mexico that have migrated through Texas. Cultures also change based on when the family group migrated to America and how often they return to their “homeland”.

 ENTRY POINTS  Entry points are the open doors through which the enemy gains access into an individual’s life.  When a person has a Hispanic bloodline, we must look at the background they have been exposed to with or without their knowledge.  Where was the family born? What country do ancestors originate? What part of the United States have the ancestors migrated through?  Does the person know of any Indian heritage in or out of America? What religions have ancestors practiced?  What type of memories does the person have of “traditions” practiced in their family? “My family always…….”  Lots of times the person is unaware that practices or traditions are out of normal. They have been raised in these ways and know them to be normal. Truth has to be brought to all areas.

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Almost every practice, ritual, superstition or religious act that is performed in Hispanic culture is performed out of FEAR. It is either performed pre or post.

Some acts are only performed by a Hispanic witch (bruja, currandero, currandera) Others may be done regularly by parents, family members or friends.

It is either done to protect and in fear that if you do not perform the act, then something will happen to you or it is done after something happens in correction or to “heal”. This is out of the fear that if you do not perform the act them it will not go away. There may be shame or persecution for not following the culture by others from that culture.

WHAT DO I LOOK FOR?

Key Words/Practices

Black magic Charms spells Divination Fortune telling Gypsy Incantation curses Occultic Idols Books Divining Contact with Movies Contact with Games Rod Dead (spirts) Corpses “healings” Teas Herbs White Superstitions candles Chanting Magic False tongues (Acts Broom Revelation Dia de los Joshua Flouring 16:16- s 21:8 Muertos (Isaiah 13:22 people 18) 8:19) Using the Cups or Photos Special Feathers coins Animals or bible for false bowls plants animal parts teachings

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Some examples of practices used in Hispanic Culture plant aloe vera if used with praying /chanting for protection a cure for headache is to put a slice of raw potato over each temple. voodoo dolls may be used and eradication of objects that were magically injected into the victim’s body, such as a lizard or a worm. May also use cotton balls in envelopes, which is placed in the persons mailbox love curses - use the ‘victim’s photograph are counteracted with rituals involving counter magic. The curandero may press the victim’s picture face to face with a picture of Christ. Or place it on a small altar and perform religious rituals, often using catholic symbols such as crucifixes, rosaries or holy pictures. to reduce the size of an overly large “energy field”. The curandero may beat the air around the patients head with a large feather, then roll an egg around the patients face before cracking it into a glass. they may try to balance a patient by bleeding for fevers or blood-let to get rid of excess blood. Superstition that a pregnant Mexican woman who goes out during a full moon or lunar eclipse will give birth to a baby with a harelip, features of a wolf, or other deformities. To prevent this, the woman would carry a bunch of keys around her waist so they hang over the baby in order to deflect the moonlight. key on a safety pin on underwear – for pregnant women is another version taking someone’s hair, to curse them-good, bad, love red thread – put a piece in your mouth, on child’s forehead to stop hiccups soft spot- soap and suction the top of head or hang the kid upside of feet and tapping the soles of their feet. deer eye – worn for healing tape a penny or nickel to umbilical cord to make it heal correctly keep or bury umbilical cord so your child will come back home emblems or saints or hanging things in your car – for protection so you won’t get in wreck sign of cross at passing of Catholic Church – superstition and fear that something happens if you don’t respect church or priest praying and pulling of arms and legs to make them the same length bloody mary- go to bathroom and turn off lights and say it 3 x’s then she comes at you through mirror an owl – sweeps down to take you away crucifixes – prayer with them, they are rubbed or motioned over your body, for fevers or other illnesses hail mary and other praying to saints- all bracelets, rings, necklaces, car emblems, candles, rosaries. Saving and burying the umbilical cord so that the child will never leave home or always come back. Yelling children’s name while crossing over an area of water so that La Llorona ("The Weeping Woman") doesn’t come and get them. Not cutting a child’s hair until after their first birthday Empacho and colic are ailments treated by massage and herbs. Empacho is a blocked intestine disease where the intestines are plugged by something. The curandera performs a massage where she pulls on the skin of the back right above the tailbone or stomach and then herbal tea is given.

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Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence herbs mixed with cologne and will put them around a person’s head, waist,and limbs with cloth plants used: morning glory and peyote. Prickly pear. The flat shaped stems are chopped and simmered down and it makes a brew that they treat heart problems and edema (swelling) with. Using any “item” (may be religious) for protection

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OJO

(a.k.a. Evil Eye; El Ojo; Ojo de Venado or Deer’s Eye)

THIS IS A HEX

According to the belief of Ojo…..there is power in the eyes. Upon seeing a person or thing and admiring it, one must touch what he has seen or admired; else the person seen will become sick or the object break.

Babies/young children are often the victims of the Evil Eye. When a person stares at the individual, the eyes of the person can drain the power and/or soul from the individual. The individual or victim cries inconsolably without a cause, fitful sleep, diarrhea, vomiting and/or fever.

The traditional cure for Evil Eye often involves a “curandero”, but may be practiced by anyone. They sweep a raw chicken egg over the body of the victim while chanting or praying to absorb the power of the person with the Evil Eye. The egg is then broken into a bowl or glass of water and examined. The bowl or glass may be placed under the bed of the person while they wait for it to “work”. It can also be cracked over the head of the person supposed to be suffering. {The curandero may look for eyes on the surface of the water and counts how many there are. The number of eyes on the surface determines the number of people that passed Evil Eye. The inside of the eggshell is examined too. Supposedly when it’s held up to the light the curandero can see the first letter of the person(s) who passed the Evil Eye. The curandero then dispenses the water at his/her command. This means the offender must go to the sick person, take a mouthful of water, and from his own mouth transfer it into the mouth of his victim. If the “offender” can’t be found than the curandera may roll an egg over the sick person’s body. That’s when they will then crack it, place it in a glass of water, and set it under the bed.} Sometimes a straw cross is made on top of the glass. Prayers are said during the ritual.

Many Mexicans/Hispanics will put a red bracelet on their babies/childrens wrist to wear when they go out in public. It’s a piece of jewelry that is to guard against “Mal de Ojo” (sickness).

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Explanation /Examples of:

CURANDERO/CURANDERA/BRUJA

They are said to be Spiritual healers. They can practice any of the examples listed above as well as others.

*Stories that have been told in ministry*

* A curandera dug a hole and sprinkled rose petals, salt, and holy water in it. After stomping in dirt, she waved the stick/and the hurt persons clothes over it. She prayed for her ‘spirit’ to return home.

*Curandero’s will often give a person a “limpia”, which is a spiritual cleansing. Also, they will have a person wear five beaded chains, each representing a different saint.

* One person was taken to a curandera when she was a child with a “fright”. This is often done as the belief is that “fright/fear” in the person causes illness, mental, etc. this is called, “SUSTO”. One cure for SUSTO is to have the person lie flat on their back while an old broom is held lengthwise just above the body. Meanwhile, the “sustoed” person must close their eyes and repeat the Lord’s Prayer once and the Hail Mary 12 times to drive away the Evil Spirit. Symptoms of Susto supposedly are: insomnia, diarrhea, extreme nervousness, sadness, depression, loss of appetite, lack of dreams, drawing back in life.

*LIMPIA’S: this is a type of healing session that’s a spiritual cleansing. Curanderas will use a variety of objects including herbs and spices, eggs, lemons, flowers, fruits, holy water, pictures of saints, crucifixes, candles, incense, and oils. Holy water is used for protection from evil spirits. Eggs and lemons are patted on the body to absorb negative energies. Rosemary, basil and rue branches are brushed on the body to remove negativity. Candles of different colors are used to absorb neg. energy and create a healing environment: red/strength; blue/harmony; pink/good will. Incense is used to purify the room, while garlic and oils are used as protection from neg. and bad spirits. Often the limpias are done by “sweeping” the body with a bundle of herbs or eagle

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feather…..then the egg rubbed over the body, broken and put into a glass of water. Soul retrievals are done.

This was taken from facebook. A Hispanic Lady asked a question. The responses show how “normal” currandero(as) are in Texas. Names and dates have been changed.

 Question: How many of you have ever consulted with a curandero? Have you heard of someone who has ?? LikeUnlike · · Share · December 13, 2011 at 5:46pm near San Angelo

Linda: We used to take my grandmother Josefina to a curandero somewhere in the valley. She had great faith in him.

Sally:I have a FB friend who lives in Calif who recently attended a limpia con canto y oracion

Laura: My dad’s tio lives near Acuna and he is a curandero

Jackie: I personally do not believe in the Curandero or voodo, thats my opinion

Jamie: Oh yeah....many folks i knew when i was younger..including my mom, madrina, gma & others....unfortunately a part of our culture.....it was kind of scary to me b/c they did positive & negative "stuff"..but the thing that always stuck me was how ugly the curanderos were! LOL!

Michael: Yea they are called Brujos too. A little freaky. LOL

Johnny: l was really into that - knew healers, etc. Lot of that is in the mind, but there might be something to it.

Vern: There are a lot here in the valley

Diane: Mi Guela would do the EGG Roll on me and the most relaxing thing is when she would do a sweeping and drape a white sheet over me and pray while running branches over me. As a child this was so mysterious.

Ernie: My mom & my aunts, on her side, often used those old remedies. Mostly, I remember the little suction cup treatments, to take out the "bad airs". That's lighting a candle sitting on a coin or something else, placed on your bare back. Then covering it with a small glass or jar. Used up the oxygen, made a partial vacuum, which of course sucked your skin up in a a hemisphere under the glass. Did it work...I guess. But one other, I had frequent bad earaches from swimming. I got a punctured eardrum as a child, and water would seep into the inner ear and cause a bad & very painful earache. I remember once, at my uncle Arturo & aunt Juanita's

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Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence house in San Antonio, back in the mid-1950's.... My Aunt called a curandera, who brought a mysterious dried herb. She placed it in my ear, then covered with a few drops of oil of cinnamon or clove (I can't remember). But within two or three minutes, no earache, none at all! As an adult and with some education, I realize that it must have been one heck of a strong topical anesthetic, curandera lidocaine or procaine or some such. But for most of my adolescence, my mom had it around, the herb and the wonderful-smelling spicy oil.

What does this mean for us as believers in Christ?

What does the bible say?

 Curses

 Iniquity (sin) passed down from generation to generation (Exodus 20:4-6). Iniquity can be defined as "a bentness toward, a rebellion, or perversity, or a moral evil; a system of behavior, or a way of life". It seems to possess a life of its own due to a strong propensity within us (a weakness) toward a particular problem in a particular. The individuals within that family may have a higher likelihood of falling into the same bondage as the generations before (e.g. alcoholism is very often inherited).  Words spoken by someone towards another individual; or someone could speak things over themselves and consequently curse themselves, e.g. "Your just like you sisters ", "You are stupid, lazy, and worthless", "You will never make it" (James 3:6; Proverbs 18:21; Matthew 12:36-37).  A result of objects in an individual's possession or home. Objects can carry with them attached assignments or demons, e.g. items cursed(may of said to be blessed) by currenderos, fortune cookies, horror movies, books, pornography, Indian idols, objects of New Age or mystic origin. All items of religion that are for protection or worship. All occultic objects must be burned (Acts 19:18-20).

Repent and destroy the curse.

Jesus became a curse for us so that we might be redeemed from every curse and consequently be able to receive God's blessings (Galatians 3:13-14). Repent of participating with the curse. If possible, name the source (object, individual or

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family), or renounce the curse word for word, and have the person confess the truth about who they are in Christ. Confess the truth for as long as you need to, so that it can settle deep in your hearts.

Repent and break the soul tie. Sometimes there can be strong ancestral soul ties that are placed over and through us to carry on Ungodly Mantels. Ask Holy Spirit if there was any relative that you were extremely close to. If you were a “favorite” and if it was Ungodly, then break it and destroy the power that it carried. "In the name of Jesus, we break the soul tie between [name] and [name], mind to mind, body to body, soul to soul, it is severed and gone". Once again, there needs to be repentance of the unhealthy relationship and the confession must be specific.

Cords – Likened unto an umbilical cord, a cord is like a ‘life-line’ in the spirit, where they are connected to an individual through this cord of life/death. A person could have walked with a mentor for years, and then when it was time for them to ‘go out’, and minister, they could be connected with a cord to their mentors. This may also need to be done with anyone, religion or possession you put in God’s place. Cords can be with any relationship, and need to be severed (as with a sword) and destroyed; loosing both from each other.( Eccl. 4:12; 12:6)

Be careful regarding “guided imagery”. This is where someone else tells you what to see. This can be manipulation. Stay in complete submission to the Holy Spirit. Duet. 18:10-14; Gal. 5:17-25

Deut. 4:19 “and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all the nations under the whole heaven.”

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Rev. 19:10 “And I fell at his (possibly an angel) feet to worship him. And he said unto me, “see thou do it not; I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus; worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Spirit of anti-christ (1 John 4:3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (KJV)

 Acknowledging and worshipping false gods - Exodus 20:1-3  Involvement in the occult - Galatians 5:20-21  Anti-Semitism - Genesis 12:3  Dependence upon human strength, wisdom, goodness - Jeremiah 17:5-6  Words spoken by those in authority - Genesis 31:32  Oaths or covenants taken for admission to secret societies and ungodly organizations (free masonry) - Exodus 23:32  Curses pronounced by witches, warlocks, witch doctor, occultists – Ezekiel 13;17-23; Exodus 22:18, Deuteronomy 18:10-12  Manipulating prayers that accuse or seek to control other people – Proverbs 28:9

Spirit of Divination/predicting the future (Acts 16 :16-18) And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour (KJV)

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Prayer to Break Witchcraft

taken from Kim Daniels, Give it Back, p. 53

Father, in the name of Jesus, I bind the spirits of the wizard, all native American witchcraft spirits, and all other territorial witchcraft spirits. I renounce the religious spirit; the spirits of unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, anger, hate, and spite; the root of bitterness and malice; and any other hindering spirit in my life.

I blind the “third eye” of the mediums, all of their physical, psychic, and spiritual attacks against me and all that concerns me. Every assignment, operation, seeding, work, plan, activity, trap, wile, and snare is bound and blocked from my personal, family, business, and ministry affairs. All curses, hexes, vexes, bewitchments, enchantments, cantrips, ligatures, judgments of witches and warlocks, and acts of evil are cursed to the root.

[I also break and destroy all seals, shields, oracles and pyramids, circles and veils of protections, back to their beginnings.] from Ken Howerton’s prayer of renunciation

Witchcraft, sorcery, magic, candle magic, potion magic, black magic, white magic, contagious magic, and omens have no power working against my assignments in life. New Age, Santeria, or Yoruba forces cannot penetrate my barriers of protection. Every working of a curse, ritual, or sacrifice to Satan is counted as null and void.

I plead the blood of Jesus against every act and declare that no weapon formed against me will prosper. All demonic thoughts, threats, mental locutions, statements, and ideations are cast down and will not become strongholds for the devil’s use. I renounce all self-inflicted curses through negative confession, imagery, and magnification that I may have opened the door to.

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I cancel every demonic strategy against me and the ones I am called to be connected with, covered by, or called to cover. They will never manifest or come to pass and are cursed and destroyed at their root. I render them of no effect. They are judged by God, spoiled, and put to open shame.

Every plan of the enemy will never be seeded into my life and take root. No weapon formed against me prospers. As soon as the enemy attacks, the reinforcements of the Lord will be launched against him, and his seed dried up. I cast down every vain imagination. It is broken off my ministry, its people, and families immediately, completely, and permanently.

Confirmation to who I am:

I announce: My name is written in the Lamb’s book of Life. I am the Bride of Christ. I am a partaker of the New Covenant with Christ. I commit myself to know and do only the will of God and accept His guidance only.

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African (Kenyan) People Deliverance Teachings/Guides

African Traditional Religion

As we study this lesson weigh carefully if the things done in your family and in life are in agreement with the Biblical stand of a Christian- whether what you are doing is in agreement with the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Satan. Things in our lives that are not in agreement with the Kingdom of God must be changed.

God has His Corneliuses in every land and knows the heart of every man:

Acts Chapter 10

Let’s us not look back – live in the past

Let us not forgive all- live in the present

Get vision from God – live for our future

The Gospel was to be preached to all the nations.

Matthew 24:14 God id over all!

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It is God who sets up kingdoms and tears them down

Daniel 4:17

The earth is His and He is Lord over all the nations,

Kingdoms rise and Kingdoms fall but he rules over them all!

(Job 38, 39, 40, 41)

Exodus 19:5

2 Kings 19:15

Psalm 22:27-28

Psalm 24:1

Psalm 47:2-8

Isaiah 40: 15

Ezekiel 39:21-24

Acts 7:49-50

1 Corinthians 10:26

Today God is raising up mighty warriors from all nations and tribes to take the land for Jesus. We need to bring all things in our lives under the control of the Holy Spirit. All things in our lives that comes from our culture that are not in agreement with the Biblical stand for the Christians and the Kingdom of God must be changed.

Revelations: 9-10

Revelation 7:9

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Because there are over one thousand ethnic groups and no written records it is hard to speak of one African religion (it’s rather religions), but we will seek to give a basic overview.

Some say it has been influenced from outside sources like Muslim, Judaism and Christianity, others say no.

In Africa there is no Distinction between the sacred and the secular – religion is a part of life itself. Religion can be written on the hearts and minds of the community. It has no founder or reformer – they are born into it – it is thought that African religion has a long history because of the many proverbs of wisdom.

They believe in life after death but not in the Christian concept, man was not made for the future purpose with God, the important world is here and now. They have a greater concern for the day-to-day ritual than expressing intellectual systems of belief – if he becomes ill he believes that it is caused by some spiritual power. A person turns to God for his needs (rain, crops, and children) but not seek Him for His own sake. They have myths (stories) - many rituals at birth, becoming and adult (puberty) marriage seasons and death.

The five fundamentals elements of ATR are:

1. Belief in God

2. Belief in the divinities

3. Belief in the spirits

4. Belief in the ancestors

5. The practice of magic and medicine

 GOD

 DIVINITIES

 SPIRITS

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Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence  LIVING

DEAD MAN

AFRICAN CONCEPTION OF GOD

1. No one is shown or taught about God, but everyone just knows there is God. Some say he is too far away and cannot be knows, but the great majority believes the character of God can be known. They would pray and sacrifice to Him, believing He would hear them, but at the same time according to traditional stories, believed him to be too far away to be reached.

2. Most of his names describe him as the One Supreme Being, All Powerfull. Although some say Africans do not necessarily believe in one High God and have many deities. Some relate to him as the Father, others as a Mother or Friend.

3. Most saw him as God of justice and a God who is kind.

4. God is considered to be very old and so He was to be respected as all old people are respected in African culture. He is ‘One from the beginning ‘or believed to be eternal.

5. All over African God is known as creator .He is given the names of Molder, Maker, Excavator, Hewer, Carver, Originator, Inventor, Architect, Etc. That God crated everything from nothing. There are many traditional stories of Him creating.

6. One African tribal view of God was that He was first, always existed, and cannot die. If God should die all would collapse. He is the giver of rain and the ruler of the universe. The kingdom of the dead is subject to Him. He is also stringer than the power of magic. He is Lord over the storm, over the dead, over spirits, over creation. He cannot be fully described. He punishes those who talk or act wickedly or commit adultery.

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Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence 7. Many African myths about God and evil spirits, death, origin of evil, justice and morality or punishment of sin is very much in agreement with the Biblical concept. An exception to this is that evil is often relative to its effect on society or to the shame that it cause. It is also sometimes only judged as evil if a junior person does it.

8. If done by a senior person it is not judged as evil. Or it is evil by virtue of who does it is not punished because it is evil. (In the Christian concept someone was punished regardless of status as King David and King Solomon) First and Second Samuel. In the traditional thinking there is no objective code of right and wrong .if God does not punish it, it is not wrong (Example: They knew King David was wrong because His child died, not because God said murder is sin)

2 Samuel 12: 14-19

9. In African culture if a man is rich it is because he is good .If he is poor he must have done evil .If misfortune comes it is because he has done evil. Evil is not present where there is punishment. (They do not realize that God waits patiently for men to repent and turn from evil.)

1 Peter 3:20

John 8:58

Matthew 11:27

1 Samuel 5:2-12

DIVINITIES:

In East Africa they are little known and few, but in West Africa they are many. Divinities are like God and do things that God does or act on his behalf- are given names and identity- have powers over sun, rain, etc. Some were human who have been defied or promoted- most were not – in some cases is thought to have been

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created by God as part of the spirit world. In some cases as (Luo) they worship these divinities and in that case it is called Polytheism or the belief in many gods of who, has his own independent power and authority.

Isaiah 44:6

Deuteronomy 4:39

Spirits:

Spirits are a reality in Africa that must be reckoned with- they are too many to be ignored ‘of spirits in Africa there is no end’

Luke 11:14-26

Luke 4:31-36

They believe they are above men, but below God- they have considerable power but man can make bargains with them and to some extent control them with magic- they can be spirits left over after a human being has died (and been forgotten)- also from dead animals – some believe they were created by God.

They are thought to be everywhere. There is no area of earth, no object, no creature which does not have a spirit of its own or which cannot be inhabited by a spirit- they have special places in which to live, underground, air, trees, moon, horn of animals, etc.- they are normally invisible, but can make themselves visible in many different forms.

Some act in harmful ways so people see it to keep away from them-they are closely associated with witches who can order them around or come from the witches themselves and exert control over people with weaker characters. Some believe the right human specialists can manipulate the spirits to do their will- can use magic, rituals or sacrifices.

Some are thought good and –they say they can communicate with God –they can bridge the gap between God and man.

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They believe POSSESSION can happen by good or bad spirits- they can be induced by drumming or dancing so the spirits may speak through the possessed person who may collapse with exhaustion when as medium for the spirit to speak through- when the spirit possession causes torment so the person lives in the forest, jumps in fire, etc. A traditional doctor may be called to drive out the spirit- at times it can affect the whole community.

LIVING DEAD:

HOW AFRICANS MAY RELATE TO THEIR WORLD

Man is encircled –by God above him, ancestors and divinities that surround him. And magical powers, which are under him which he, can use for his benefit.

Man is the center of his universe, but is never far from the living dead ancestors and the power of the spirits. Therefore all events that take place have a spiritual cause – especially suffering and death. Man not only has living dead around him, he is also a part of a great living community of family, clan and tribe, so sees life as whole. God is experienced through the community and in the natural environment, which he both respects and fears. He uses medicine, magic and ritual to prevent the triangle of forces around man from doing him harm .He will make offerings of food, etc. to these ‘living dead’. They then act as guardians, bless family and warn them of danger. But they can also curse the family -They are considered mediators between God and man because they know both languages.

When pouring out offerings of food and drink to these living dead some say that this is just maintaining a relationship with the dead, others say it is considered worship. In either case it is not advisable for a Christian.

They believe a dead person can remain in ‘sasa’or now time, or among the living as long as his name is remembered by friends and relatives. They say he can reveal himself especially to older members of the family. This state is called ‘personal immorality’ and children will be named the dead person name so they

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will continue to be remembered and live. Marriage and the birth of sons then are very important because the head of the family is then assured a long personal immortality.

If a period of time the dead person is no longer remembered he moves from ‘sasa’ time to zamani time’ (collective immortality), and joins the community of spirits that function as intermediaries between God and man or as guardian spirits. Many are feared, so rituals are performed to get their help or to seek protection from them if they are angry...This then is man’s final destiny. Some of these ancestors become transformed into divinities- they believe the departed are more powerful than the living.

Land is very important because land gives meaning, a purpose in life and a relationship with dead ancestors-they will sometimes have problems when they move to the city as a traditional sense of security and contact with the past are removed.to make too many plans for the future is to presume on God and what he may have planned- they do not know what God has planned.

Millennial teaching plus the great interest in ‘sasa’ now time as being the most important time, may well have led to the formation of many small independent churches grouped around leaders who promise the immediate return of the Messiah or are thought to Messiah’s themselves.

Isaiah 25:8

John 11:25-26

REINCARNATION: Hindu reincarnation is different from the African

There is a belief that the living dead can be reincarnated in younger member of the family. Sometimes this is done in a formal way through the custom of naming children after their grandmother or grandfather. In other case of it’s informal and takes place when there is a resemblance between the living and the dead. Some believe they can be reincarnated in more than one person at a time, sex does not matter-in some places they believe you cannot be reincarnated in the

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form of snakes, rats, lizards, etc. which may not be killed. In most traditional beliefs there was no idea of judgment and reward.

Hebrews 9:27

WORSHIP:

There are no words in African languages for the word worship-all life was worship and therefore religious –it varies from place to place –but was usually but was usually done at special events. Informal worship in the home might include prayers o the living dead –at time to pray was usually in times of need and crisis-regular set times were not necessary though some prayed daily –set forms of ritual worship are used at initiation rites or sacrifices. Worship was seldom ever silent but was spontaneous, communal, with much singing and dancing – the living dead are considered mediators in worship as they can translate the prayers of man into the language of considered mediators in worship as they can translate the prayers of man into the language of God-if no priests were present then elders perform the religious ceremonious. The place is not important, as they have many different places and forma of worship.

Traditional prayer was sometimes in the form of a complaint, or trying to manipulate God or the spirits. Making God do what man wants as in magic. They also believed if the right words were prayed it would always happen. They believed God does not say no. If the prayers were not answered it was because of man’s sins. (This may or may not be true as it could be they prayed wrong, or blamed God.) They might also ask for a sign in response to the prayer as a cow urinating before the sacrifice takes place. (This can lead to moving out of faith and into divination or magic.) ATR tends to be man created.

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SACRIFICES:

Offerings are gifts made to God or to the spirits such as food or drinks-no killing of life is involved.

Sacrifice is when an animal or bird is killed and all or part of it is offered to God or to other spiritual beings. They may be offered when a man is sick, committed a sin wife is barren, birth of a first child or twins, initiation of sons, marriages funerals, after a murder or settlement of disputes, in time of war, ceremonies for the spirit of the living dead, plague of famine, lightening has struck, or a ghost, is causing trouble.

They can be made:

1. As substitution –or the animal or bird dies as substitute sacrifice and may be smeared with dung ash- oxen or cows are preferable as are highly valued.

2. As a gift-expressing goodwill or with the idea of buying something back from God –a bargain or an exchange.

3. As a propitiation and expiation –a sacrifice is made which please God and takes away His anger at man for his sin, so he does not bring famine, drought, etc.

4. As a communion-to restore friendship or fellowship with God, which has, been broken with God or neighbors?

5. As a thanks offering –given at a time of a job no danger-showing thanks for the blessings.

SACRIFIES MAY BE MADE IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER

1. Present the victim to God in prayer.

2. Consecrate the animal by rubbing ash dung onto its back.

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Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence 3. The sacrifice holds his spears in his right hand and calls on God. He tells him the intention of the sacrifice. This may be a long or short –he speaks to the people as well as to God.

4. The animals are killed, if an oxen it is speared, if a sheep or goat its throat is cut. The life and death of the animal are offered to God, but not the meat–the meat of the animal is cut up and distributed, cooked and eaten.

Hebrews 10:810, 11

1 John 2:2

MAGIC:

There is general belief in a power both visible and physical and also invisible and spiritual. This power both good and bad comes from God .It is involved in both religion and magic. Man knows he cannot live in the world without help from the outside himself.

Magic is what man needs to know or the technique by which he can gain control over this mysterious power at work. This technique works out automatically provided that the necessary taboos are observed and the right ritualistic words are used. By magical rituals and word he seeks to gain control over this power .He says essentially ‘my will be done’.

Christianity means trust, dependence and submission to God. He is to submit himself to God, build relationship with him and pray .He sees that only ‘God’s will be done’.

Order of power ‘Mana’ in Africa:

1. God-who who is original giver of ‘mana’ or power.

2. Spirits –who use power, for good or for evil.

3. Living dead-who use power, but often for evil.

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Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence 4. Religious or magical specialist –who have learned to use this power also.

5. Totem or sacred animals that symbolize or are associated with power.

6. Places and instruments used with power.

Mechanisms of Magic:

These cannot be explained by the means of modern science, their source is demonic.

 Sometimes the power of suggestion is so strong that a person who is told he is cursed and will die actually believes and so he dies.

 Some will make an effigy or likeness of an enemy and then stick needles into it or burn it on a fire; the victim will then suffer similarity.

 Some would find an enemy’s footprint and then stick it with needles dipped in poison or cut it with a poisoned knife. The enemy will then poison.

 Some believe in the constant repetition of a prayer, they believe the more repeated the more effective it will be (Hare Krishna, Islam) they are not concerned with the content of the prayer or the attitude or the spirit of the one praying as in Christianity.

The ones who use these methods of magic are called witches (women) wizards (men) they usually operate at night. Some are said to use ‘good magic ‘others ‘bad magic’. Sorcerers work during the day and are known as “day witches’ that will use poison in their magic. These people are greatly feared and the work of the medicine men is to protect his clients from their work.

SPECIALITS IN MAGIC AND RULING:

These were people who were to know how the power works. If used wrongly it could be harmful both to the specialist and to the client, so they needed to have special training. They also needed to be a person with a good character.

Medicine men-Herbalists:

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They were concerned with disease, sickness and misfortune. They act as both a pastor and a psychiatrists (spiritual problem) and a friend and a doctor (physical problem) They will use medicines, but will also use the words to and rituals and even jump over the patient or require him to offer a sacrifice –were used to use preventative medicine especially against curses and other evil uses of power – also used medicine to increase fertility.

Priests:

In Africa this term can apply to any religious leader –they can be men or women although the majority is men- must be well trained, learning the many prayers, rituals and sacrifices –may also sometimes act as a medium- may inherit the position or be called to it-their responsibilities overlap with the medicine men.

Prophets:

He is a mediator between the people and God. Not many have a prophet in Biblical sense, but do have some specialist who acted to some extent like prophets. He is a king-like person without political authority of a king but has the spiritual authority and can be looked at as God himself. He acts as a diviner and can go into a trance and dream dreams. He gives God’s blessings at planting, harvesting, initiation, war, etc. The symbols of his office are judgments eat a black bull-skin cloak, staff, a gourd of honey-beer and the ‘Kiragu’ (kept secret). The office is hereditary and his successor is trained from his birth. In the Meru tribe he must be a pure man, married, good character and family, not to kill any animal or do anything harmful all life.

Kings, Queens, Rulers:

Not all have kings but if they did they were considered almost divine and holy and the people must always speak well of them, respect them, and bow or kneel before them. They had the power of life and death and could levy taxes. The death of a king was a great disaster and often kept secret until the new ruler was chosen. If his blood fell on earth it could bring sickness to all –this rule thus discouraged murder.

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Rainmakers:

Their work was to bring rain when needed or stop it when there was too much rain. They are often medicine men and diviners as well.

They offer sacrifices, pray to the spirits of the living dead, use ‘rain stones’ burning of rain ‘leaves’ or ‘water sprinkling’ in their rituals. Some women are not specialized rainmakers, but when they go without rain for a long time, these women-usually elderly and teenage girls get wooden cooking sticks, put ashes on it and go to a water body, go around it singing for about 7 times or so. They do these in the evening as soon as darkness falls, naked. After going round and round and round singing they toss their cooking sticks with ashes on top of them into the water body and run as fast as they could without looking back. The rains supposedly start in a weeks’ time.

Mediums:

Were often female and act as a, link between the living and the dead or the spirits. They would be induced into a state by the beating of the drums or the singing of music or clapping of hands in a rhythmic manner. If possessed will speak in ‘another voice’

Diviners:

They are often men and work closely with mediums. They use divination stones, nuts, gourds shells, numbers, palm reading, water pot reading, rubbing sticks together etc. They may find where a lost article is or who stole it, someone lost or the cause of illness-were consulted as comforters, advisers, and judges when a crises or a problem arises. They also would tell what someone, a family has done or involved even if it was a secret, they will be able to know.

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Other Specialists:

Include elders who perform rituals, operators of initiation rites, and person like twins, hunchbacks and mad people who are considered ‘touched by hands of God’ and are some areas treated with respect.

Acts 16:16-19

Revelation 16:13-14

CHARMS:

Charms are used or worn for protection, in war, against fierce wild animals, etc. The person goes to the magician or manufacturer of charms – he may take powders, mixes them with other magical items-put these in a small narrow horn –recites a magical formula while swinging the horn around his head. He then seals it and the person is to wear the charm and never part with it. They are usually worn like a necklace, bracelet, or around the wait most of the time where no one can see. They sometimes burry it in the ground. Other magical charms are for:

a. Hate or despising magic

b. Love magic

c. Defensive magic

d. Destructive magic/witchcraft

e. Healing magic

f. Enticing and attracting magic

g. Silencing and surprising magic

h. Fertilizing magic

i. Wealth and agricultural magic

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The power of the charms resides in two things:

1. Words used with the charms. These words of blessings or curses have great power and effect.

2. Powers take residence in the special materials used as lion dung, certain herbs and plants, dried reptiles, skins, bones, insects, etc.

The concept of things of God being holy is a Biblical concept .In the Bible as these objects were anointed and consecrated to God, they were considered holy objects.

Exodus 30:25-29

Exodus 40:9-11

The presence of the One True Living God makes a thing or a place holy.

Exodus 3:5

MEDICINE:

It is sometimes hard to separate charms from medicines, but basically charms are calling on supernatural powers for protection, etc. And is magic. Medicine is used for healing and can be scientifically studied. In the past the medicine (herbs) was combined with prayer to God and the ancestors to make the medicine effective.

God has given us doctors and natural remedies for healing of the body. These are good. God also heals supernaturally. We need to be aware of the source of supernatural power as we also realize the devil is very deceptive.

Luke 10:34

Matthew 4:23

Acts 10:38

Psalm 10:2-3

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TABOOS:

Taboos are anything, which is considered sacred and therefore forbidden to be touched or used.

 Kings, chiefs, priests, medicine men because they have powers to curse are taboo. One was not to harm them. It was a taboo for priests to indulge in sex before or after sacrifices or they would have no effect.

 Places and instruments used associated with God were not to be touched. Certain things were considered polluted as dead bodies, blood etc.

 Social taboos were: menstruating women, nursing, twins, widows, not eating in a wife’s parents home, or appearing naked before them, women and boys must milk the cows, do the dishes, take care of little one not the men, men do not go to the kitchen and don’t cook, jumping across someone, etc.

 Toteism is sometimes associated with power like taboos are. Is belief in a favorite spirit, which would take the shape of an animal? This animal becomes sacred (as the cow in Hinduism)

SOCIAL STRUCTURE:

Tribe:

A group of people who have:

1. Common language

2. Live in a certain geographical area

3. Share a common culture

4. A common social and political organization

5. Common religion

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Other Horizontal group structures are:

1. The household structure-father, mother, and immediate children .If he has two wives he has two households.

2. The family structure (can consists of several homesteads) they come from one family ancestor. Consists of children parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters all of whom may have their own children. This forms the extended family.

3. The clan structure- comes from one common ancestor in a sub-division of a tribe. They can also have sub-clans or gates.

4. The age set –unites the clans – all who are initiated/circumcised together form this bond and kinship group. They are expected to help each other even in different parts of the community.

Vertical structures are with the living dead and those not yet born.

RITES OF PASSAGE:

Practice rites of passage are observed. They are:

1. Pregnancy, birth and naming

2. Initiation/circumcision into adult life (puberty)

3. Marriage and procreation

4. Death and life after death

Pregnancy:

The child belongs to the whole community and is received with joy. With the first-born child it states this is true marriage. During pregnancy there were certain taboos as refraining from sexual intercourse, certain food, work, use of iron tools or fire etc. They were to practice good behavior or they thought this

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could harm the unborn child. Pregnancy outside of marriage was punished severely in most places.

Birth:

The birth of a child was usually in the home helped by the midwife. They were not to cry out or this could bring disgrace. Sometimes the placenta was buried or made into charms-some would go through purification rights after the birth of the child-in some places twins are a disaster and are killed and the mother also. Other places twins or triplets are treated with respect.

Naming:

A child is considered a thing until named which gives it an identity. This ceremony includes prayers and sacrifices. The name may be linked to an important even, time born or named after grandparents and other relatives.

Revelation 3:12

Matthew 1:21

Philippians 2:9-11

Initiation:

This is the most important of rites of passage .In some areas it is simply a ritual washing or the body, but many rites involve the trimming of the sexual organs, some just male others female as well. Some groups inflict very great mental and physical pain upon the candidates, especially boys, in addition to the circumcision rites; they can be whipped, chocked with smoke, bitten by ants etc. Some practice the cutting of the skin of the body to give permanent tribal marks on the back, chest, shoulders, face or other parts, and some pull out teeth. The pain is to test the bravery of the boys and prepare them for adulthood, and for the girls to prepare them for the pain of childbirth. Usually great feasting and dancing, sometimes, sexual immorality and drunkenness accompany this ceremony. Sometimes the candidates withdraw from the community to the forest or to a special hut. Special teaching may be given at this time about sex,

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marriage procreation, family, and community responsibilities. Presents can be given with which they can begin their material possession for the future bride- wealth payment at marriage.

Meaning of initiation:

The initiation is very necessary to continue as part of the community. No one can ‘opt out’. Individualism is not possible, as it would break the rhythm of live. It is religious in nature and it means to:

1. Die to old childhood life and rise to new adulthood life.

2. The shedding of his or her blood into the ground is a libation to, and link with the living dead. (Who we understand to be demonic forces)

3. He is now an adult and be able to marry and able to perform a sacred duty of transmitting life to a later generation.

4. He is now allowed to own property so he can have his own family.

5. He can be able to fight in a war.

Is this practice Biblical? Is it still necessary to practice circumcision? Biblical differences follow.

First, is it still necessary to practice circumcision? Biblical differences follow. First, Biblical circumcision was done on the 8th day of life not puberty.

Leviticus 12:3

Secondly, it was a sign of covenant with God or (God centered) not a sign of adulthood (man centered) Biblical symbolized (cutting away of the flesh or selfishness) it was to show the Jews separation from the Gentiles and having a unique relationship with God.

Genesis 17:9-14

Today as a Christian we accept the fact that Christ was the great sacrifice that he died and shed his blood for us and it is longer necessary to shed an animal’s blood

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or ours. (In actually it is an abomination and we are saying Christ blood was not good enough) Now we go on to cleansing (water baptism) as symbol of our covenant with God. In the tabernacle first was the altar of sacrifice then the cleansing laver. We now pass by the altar of sacrifice (we accept Christ’s great sacrifice) and we go on with the Holy Spirit for His cleansing. In some countries circumcision is done for health reasons.

The Bible says circumcision is not necessary for salvation.

Acts 15:1

Paul argues against continuing circumcision, that it was abrogated, cancelled or formally and officially revoked.

Acts 15:5-11

Romans 2:25-29

Romans 4:9-11

1 Corinthians 7:18 -20

Galatians 2:3-4

Galatians 5:2-12

Galatians 6:12-15

Ephesians 2:11-15

Colossians 2:11-12

The Bible instructs us that we are not cut our skin or shave our heads for dead.

Deuteronomy 14:1

Leviticus 21:5

The Circumcision into adulthood practiced in Africa is not Biblical!!

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MARRIAGE:

Marriage was economical, social, and religious. It is religious because marriage forms a link with the living dead. The names which children bear a link them with their grandparents. The bearing of children is the attempt to re-capture man’s lost immortality. He knows that he will die, but through marriage and the procreation of children, that he will go on living. It is the social duty to have children and the marriage is not complete until the first child is born. The unmarried person is thought to have rejected society and his religious duty, and may be shunned and thought unnatural. An ideal wife has at least four children, is strong, a good cook, able to teach her children, to hunt well, to herd cattle, protect the home, and be loyal to the clan. It is economical because of bride wealth payments .In some societies they were free to choose their mate, but in others relatives arranged marriages. Engagement ceremonies were associated with drinking beer and part payment of the bride wealth, Marriage ceremonies are many and varied .In some virginity was highly prized in others they did not expect it.

Bride wealth:

This was a surety payment for good behavior of both the husband and wife. Was compensation for loss of her labor and the cost of raising her. It gave her husband a legal title to the children and made the marriage legal. Animals bought with bride-wealth reminded

parent she was still alive, some societies have fixed prices to avoid exploitation, others do not. Should this practice continue today or is exploitation happening?

Biblical examples are Jacob and Laban with Rachael and Leah.

Genesis 29:15-30

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Polygamy:

This means many marriages, but interpreted today as one man with many wives.

Benefited Society- if one woman was ill or giving birth, another was there to help. It prevented a large number of unmarried women as wars were common and men were killed. Many children provided security in old and labor to cultivate the land.

Benefited the Husband: Greater wealth and status the more wives he had. He had more farm managers. If the first wife was barren others were taken to have children. More children to remember him and keep him among the living dead.

Benefited Wife: The first wife was given higher status of the chief wife. Extra wives gave them greater freedom to travel and visit as other were at home to take care of the land and children. If one wife died there were the others to take care of the children. Women could not inherit property so had no status unless were married. The negative benefit was a jealousy if not treated equally by the husband.

Today there are many pressures of polygamy. It is really needed today? What is the motive behind it today? What is the attitude towards the wife, is she just a farm manager, property? Does it devalue her as a person? Economically is it feasible today? Most can only afford one wife today and many children are a burden rather than an asset economically.

Christian teaching stresses one bride for one husband, and a man and wife becoming one flesh .In the beginning God made one Eve for one Adam. Polygamy begins in Genesis 4:19 and is this because of sin?

Genesis 2:24

Mark 10:1-12

Ephesians 5:21-32

Ephesians 4:4

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Timothy 3:2& 12

Revelation 19:7

Revelation 21:9

Levirate Marriage:

When the brother of a man who dies marries his widow-she may or may not have children. This protected the widow and gave her security. The practice was followed in the Bible. Today with AIDS this practice could be deadly and should be reviewed.

Deuteronomy 25:5-10

Ruth 4

Divorce and separation:

Marriage in the African society was a long process and was not complete until the bride-wealth was paid and the first child born. Divorce did not often take place. Reasons for divorce were failure to pay bride-wealth in full, failure to have children, the bride was not a virgin (not all were concerned), adultery, unfaithfulness, desertion, continued cruelty, practice or suspicion of witchcraft, continual drunkenness, and breaking of traditional marriage taboos. Separation was more common than divorce.

Fornication and adultery:

I some societies fornication was not considered seriously. Adultery in some acts was acceptable as giving of night hospitality to members of one’s husband age set or raising up children on behalf of an important husband; if adultery was discovered outside these accepted customs it was usually severely punished. Sometimes with death, whipping, the body mutilated, compensation payment demand. If a child were born it would be the property of the wives husband. In some places ceremonies of cleansing and rituals may be imposed.

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MAN AND THE UNSEEN WORLD OF DEATH:

Life is considered a journey-death is a long journey. When a person dies, some bury them with possessions, some slaughter a cow for them to eat, some burry in the ground in their land, or in their house. Others exposed them for the wild animals to eat. It was important for ALL the members to attend, because if one does not attend the funeral he might be accused of causing the death or be pleased that the death has taken place. In some societies a second funeral ceremony would take place some months later when a feast would be held and contact with the death person was renewed through the offerings that were made. They could even involve part of the dead person. Which was saved for this occasion. If the person was unmarried they were considered an inferior being, they would be buried their heads facing West, instead of east (sunrise) and the second ceremony was omitted .A woman with only 2 children would be returned to her parents with the bride-wealth, because more than two children were required for a real marriage.

Origin of Death:

In most tribal myths they say that death came as a result of failure and disobedience. In the Luhya tribe the story mentions the chameleon, which asked the son of the first Luhya ancestor for food but he refused to give it to him. So the chameleon cursed him with death and went and promised life to the snake, which became immortal by changing its skin. In this story the chameleon is not so much to blame as the son who refused to give the food to the chameleon.

Causes of Death:

Other spiritual reasons for each individual cause of death were:

1. Magic, sorcery witchcraft, or poison used by an enemy.

2. A curse was pronounced by a families living dead relative because of failure to show them or to carry out their wishes.

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4. Warfare or quarrelling –they believe that if they die in warfare it is because they have broken the traditional taboo.

5. Dishonoring God.

6. Breaking a binding oath-especially a court case.

7. Gods own will, either through old age or through some unexplained circumstances like lightening or an accident. (This reason says sometimes death is inevitable)

John 10:17-18

John 11:25-26

Hebrews 9:27

Isaiah 25:8

Hosea 13:14

SOME AFRICAN CULT AND OCCULTIC GROUPS:

You may encounter some of these in your walk. You may need to know many of these things they profess are not Biblical and some are occult and cultic in their beliefs and activities.

Legend Maria, Kenya Roho Msalaba Lost Israelites, Dini Ya Musambwa, African Israel Church Ninevah, Zayuni, Friends Obulafu, Free Line, Jerusalem Church, Neno Akorino, End Time Message. There may be others not listed here.

CONCLUSION:

As Christians we must follow and live after the word of God (the bible). If there is anything in our culture or life that disagrees with the word, we must go to God in

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a spirit of repentance and renounce any covenants we have made in the past. Blood covenants especially are very strong and must be renounced .If you find you have been involved or have been influenced by any occult practice you may need sister and brothers in the Lord to pray with you for deliverance. (See the Renunciation Prayer).

Briefly we can say that Christians are called upon to preach the gospel of the one whom the demons and the unclean spirits recognized as having the power to destroy them.

Luke 4:31-37

Whose message was the He had overcome the world.

John 16:33

Who also said, “fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living One; I died and behold forevermore, and I have the keys of Death in Hades” Revelation 1:17-18.

His apostles also warned Christians to put on and use the whole armor of God in the battle against the evil spiritual powers.

Ephesians 6:10-18

And to use the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised to give to all of His followers who believe in HIM.

John 7:37-38

This is the same God of our ancestors .We can say” The Lord, the God of your fathers…has sent me to you. Exodus 3:15

Therefore we are sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39.

*Taken from Christian Life Teachings, Bungoma, Ke

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Deliverance- Parents/Adults to Children

In any deliverance session, the number one instruction is always “LISTEN TO HOLY SPIRIT”. There are too many examples of all the different things Holy Spirit can prompt you to do, the ones we have experienced are too numerous to list. What is compiled here are practical things you can do while in deliverance session with a child.

These are a few tips from our experience in working with children

 Authority: Parents have God given authority over their children. This is important in the supernatural. From birth to around 3(depending on maturity), parents have spiritual authority to lay hands on their children and “go to work”. They can cast out demons, break curses, etc. After the age of three, the child must be a willing participant. o If you are not the parent, you can help walk the parent through this process. o For all ages: If you are not the parent, you MUST have parental consent.  Discipline: Deliverance is only a part of raising up a child and making sure their struggles are broken. It is the spiritual aspect of life. The physical and habitual aspect of life has to be handled with proper discipline from the parents. If there are issues with discipline, pre or post deliverance, this will affect the child’s struggles.  Time: The average time for a child’s deliverance is 1 hour. Some will be able to endure a longer amount of time, and for others, a 15 minute increment is all they can handle. Just be aware of the attention you are getting from the child. This does not depend on the age. This is based on each individual child. If you are losing them, it might be a good time to take a break, or stop for that day. Caution though: that you are not being fooled by the enemy trying to keep you from pressing in to a stronghold (ask Holy Spirit).

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Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence  Hands on! Manipulatives, visual aids, pictures…kids do better if they have something to look at, play with, etc. A material object can help solidify a spiritual concept.

 For example…an actual door when going through the 5 doors. This could be a doll house door, but a door they can actually see, and close when they are done with each one. Other examples: boomerang=curses and vows, keys=closing doors or asking God for a key, sticky items such as Velcro or darts=forgiving others by removing unforgiveness, pouring water into cup until it overflows=Holy Spirit.  Hands busy: Most children can concentrate better if they are playing or doing with something in their hands. Play dough, Legos, squishy ball, coloring, drawing; etc.

 Teach and then do: Do not give them too many concepts to hold on to at one time. For example, teach about forgiveness and then lead them through forgiveness before moving on to other open doors. The younger the child, talk about one area at a time. (They really are only able see a single tree, not the whole forest.) As children mature, you will be able to give an overview of all that deliverance entails, then break it down into individual parts and do. (Give them the forest, and then look at each tree.) Ministering to a mature child is similar to ministering to adults.  Looking past what I see: If the child you are working with is one close to you, say your own child, a family member or neighbor, be careful not to set your own agenda. Example: If I want my child to play football, but fear is keeping him back. My goal in doing deliverance is to get rid of the fear, so my child will play football, like I want him to. My ambitions are selfish at that point. Just as with adults, you get to keep what you want to keep, kids do too. If you try and force or talk a child into giving up something they are not ready to, it will be worse for that child in the long run.  Heart Check: Always do your own heart check before doing deliverance with anyone. No judgments, criticism, etc. in yourself. Pray for Holy Spirit to help you love the child and see his/her hurts from a child’s eye.  Kids DON’T have it easy: Never minimize or talk down to the struggles they are facing. It may seem ridiculous to you, but if it’s causing anxiety, fear, depression in their life, it obviously is a big deal to them and needs to be dealt with.  How’s it Going? Check with them regularly to see how they are feeling. If they get a head ache, they may not tell you. If they feel something weird happen in their body, they do not always express that. However, if you ask, they most likely will bring it up. You can also ask if they are seeing or hearing anything. This should be explained at the beginning of the session.

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Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence  Watch: Watch their appearance, eyes, hands, etc., to pick up on what’s going on inside. Body language speaks loudly.  Are we done yet? Kids like to know they are making progress. Have a check list to show, we are going to close 5 doors tonight, and check each one off as you go. Have 5 keys and give them one each time you finish a door. Five pieces of paper that represent each of the five doors, when done with a door, they can then roll up and shoot in a trash can. Something that makes them feel they have accomplished something.

How to Speak to a Child

 Squirrel: Sometimes children like to take you off track. Gently help them to stay focused and on task. If they are looking outside and want to start talking about the hummingbird flying by the window, acknowledge the bird, but then move right back into what you were discussing. You may want to allow for time before and after the session for open talking. Children really want someone to just listen to them. They know adults are busy and often feel unimportant.  Wait time: Children take longer to process questions and many times they don’t fully understand the words you have spoken. They may appear like they comprehend the words and may use them in context but do not fully understand them. Anytime a child uses a word that seems too mature for them, you can ask them to help you understand. “So help me understand that.” Or “What does that word mean?” Don’t be afraid of silence; people do not like silence. In fact, with children under the age of 6, after asking a question, count to ten to give them time to hear - process - respond.  Pleasers: Children instinctively want to please you and may tend to answer the questions in the way they think you want to hear. This is more prominent in younger children. So in order to combat that tendency you must ask OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS. For example: you know they play soccer because they mentioned it earlier. So you would say, “You told me earlier that you play soccer. Tell me all about…/tell me everything about playing soccer.”  Multiple Choice Questions: Example: did that make you feel sad, mad OR SOME OTHER WAY/OR SOMETHING ELSE? Have the child describe their feelings on their own. Giving choices will help you know how the child felt. Colors can also be indicators. For example: If they have two friends and they are having difficulty telling you about those two friends, ask them to assign a color to the friend. One friend they may describe as red and one as blue. Ask the child what the colors mean to them. Red may be a bad feeling, mean, deceptive but blue may be a softer feel, calm, nice.  Follow Up: Follow up every question with, “Tell me all about that.” The point is to help the child tell you their story using their words without giving them any info.

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 Dead Ends: Asking kids questions where they can answer yes or no is very closed and limits the amount of information you may be given. You want the child to elaborate. If you ask them a yes or no question you can open it back up by saying “tell me all about that.”  Prophetic Words: In a children’s deliverance session you may get a prophetic word. Do not elaborate. Tell them only what they need to know and then ask them about it. “I just saw a picture in my mind of a red wagon. Does that mean anything to you?” (Yes). Tell me everything that means to you.” If it pertains to their destiny or future, do not put them in a box. Do not say: “God just told me that you are going to be a pastor.” Instead say, “God just showed me a gift that you have with people. You are: (give examples of a pastor- caring, loving, like a Sheppard, have a heart for people) Close by letting them know that God will use that gift throughout their life.

Powerpoint and Illustrations to accompany

Deliverance-Parents/Adults to Children

(See Appendix A after Glossary)

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“SPIRITUAL” TERMINOLOGY

(Wiccan, Occult, Satanism)

Divination/Occultic Practices/New Age Health Practices

*AMULET: an object that deflects negative energy; usually worn on a person.

*ASTRAL PROJECTION: 1. Projecting one’s consciousness into the spirit world. 2. The practice of separating the spirit from the body and having that spirit move around the world.

*ASTROLOGER: To be a horoscopist, which is the ancient art of consulting the planets, stars, and heavenly bodies of the Zodiac and then predict accordingly.Isaiah 47:13 2. The study of the stars and how their position affects personality and future events.

*CANDLE MAGICK: the use of candles in spells and rituals……bending, spinning or turning on.

*CENTERING: to focus your thoughts and energies.

*CHALICE: a cup used in rituals that can contain wind, water, or other liquids.

*CHANNELING: 1. A person who allows a spirit to temporarily possess his or her body in order for the spirit to be able to communicate with the living. 2. the practice of allowing another spirit to speak through you. 3. A person who is in a trance state who spews out, audibly, revelations or prophecies from a spirit guide which has full possession of that person at that time. Those who channel exhibit great amounts of fatigue after a channeling session; in contrast to God’s prophets who exhibit mighty spiritual strength after they received God’s revelations.

*CHANTING: the use of repetitious words and or rhymes designed to induce an altered state of consciousness.

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Deliverance Training Encountering God’s Presence *CLAIRSENTIENCE: the feeling or sensing of a spirit’s message.

*CLAIRVOYANCE: the ability to see objects or events that others can’t.

*CLEANSING: removing negative energy.

*COVEN: a group of Wiccans. A group of witches, usually numbering 13.

*CRAFT: another name for Wicca.

*DEITY: a god or goddess, a particular view about a god or goddess held by a wiccan.

*DIVINER: one who uses magical arts, superstitious incantations, or natural signs interpreted. Jeremiah 27:9

*EASTERN MYSTICISM: any eastern religion which includes meditation, ancestral worship, chanting, etc.

*ELEMENTS: the building blocks of the universe are the four elements: earth, fire, air and water.

*EQUINOX: occurs two times a year on March 21 or Sept. 23 where the day and night is of equal length……(I think!!!)

*NECROMANCY: one, who by incantations, calls up the dead (demonic deception) to consult them concerning things unknown to the living. Isaiah 8:19

*ORBS: a phenomenon in the shape of a floating ball of light, often thought to be souls or spirit energy.

*PAGANING: a ceremony where an infant is presented to the circle and to the God and Goddess.

*PENTACLE: an object used in rituals upon which a pentagram (5 pointed star in a circle) is engraved or inscribed.

*PENTAGRAM: five pointed star.

*SCRY: to look upon an object intensely as in a meditative state and opening oneself up to visions………a form of ESP…………mind-reading.

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*SOOTHSAYER: He was the pagan counterpart of the prophet, predicting future events, or professing to do so by various arts. They were under demonic control. Joshua 13:22

*SORCERER: one who professes to tell the lot of others and have power with demons. They also advocate drug usage. Revelation 21:8

*SPIRIT WORLD: the place spirits go after death.

*SPIRIT GUIDES: supernatural creatures which guide your daily life, pretending to be your caring friend but in reality is a demon which is cultivating your destruction.

*TELEPATHY: communication using the mind as opposed to other senses.

*THREEFOLD LAW: all the good you do will return to threefold in this life. Likewise, all the harm you do will return to threefold also.

*TRANCE MEDIUMSHIP: a form of mediumship in which the medium shares his or her energy with a spirit through the use of trance.

*TRANSMISSION: receiving messages from demons.

*TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION: a Hindu religion that invites demonic possession by chanting and meditation. It is demonic in all phases.

*VORTEX: a tornado like mass of air, water, or energy that spins around very fast – creating a vacuum to pull objects into its empty center. In supernatural; a vortex is an energy mass that is a temporary opening to the other side, this can be the result of spirit energy in motion.

*WIDDERSHINS: movement that is counterclockwise.

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Divination

Divination is biblically defined as “a soothsaying spirit or the spirit of false prophecy.” Please note that the suffix – mancy means “divination”.

Aeromancy – divination by observing atomospheric conditions or ripples on the surface of the water. This is also called water witching.

Anthropomancy – divination by examining the intestines of a dead person, esp. inhuman sacrifices.

Apantomancy – divination by means of an object that happens to meet the eye. (some people move objects with their eyes)

Arithmomancy – fortune-telling by use of numbers

Belomancy – divination by arrows

Botanomancy – divination by plants and herbs

Cartomancy – divination by use of cards (tarot cards)

Ceromancy – interpreting shapes and positions assumed by melted wax dropped on the floor.

Crystallomancy – Gazing at a mirrow or a shiny surface.

Crythomancy – divination by sprinkling flour, esp. in connectin with sacrificial rites.

Daphnomancy – divination by throwing a laurel branch into fire and interpreting it through the flames.

Stolismancy – divination by wearing articles of clothing a certain way.

Halomancy – a form of divination by using salt.

Geomancy – Divination by random figures, formed when a handful of earth is thrown to the ground.

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Nephelomancy – divination by observation of the clouds.

Necromancy – the practice of communicating with the dead; also, the practice of predicting the future by communication with the dead.

Oniromancy – divination by dreams and dream books.

Rhabdomancy – the practice of using the divining rod or stick.

Clidomancy – divination by use of the Bible.

Chiromancy – divination by uses of the palms.

Bibliomancy – divination by use of scriptures.

Lecanomancy – divination by throwing a stone into a basin of water and interpreting the ripples; sometimes oil is used.

Ornithomancy – a method of divination that interprets the flight patterns of birds; also refers to the divination of the songs of the birds.

Tasseomancy – the art of reading tea leaves; some readers use coffee grounds.

Types of Magic

Protective Magic – any act or formula put together to avert or overcome evil.

Sympathetic magic – an occult belief that when a person is separated from someone with whom he or she had a relationship, it can continue to exist though soul ties. This type of magic keeps a link between two individuals even after they are separated. It is a type of a long – distance control where natural connection is not connection. The knot of the tie is self-pity. Even if one party wants to break the tie, self-pity is the glue that keeps it together.

Contagious magic – belief that whatever you come in contact with will have influence on you after you leave (transference of spirits); this can occur through sexual intercourse, drug usage, casual acquaintance, telephones, and television.

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Defensive magic- magic used to overcome other magic.

Phone voyance – when people can see through phone lines through supernatural powers.

Mimpathy – to experience the suffering of anther; this usually involves pity or sympathy.

Clairoyance – Transcendental vision that gives a person ability to see in places that they are not physically in contact with.

Clairaudience- transcendental hearing that gives a person a supernatural ability to hear.

Clairsentience – the ability to see things in the spirit by demon powers (false prophecy). P. 21-23 taken from, Kim Daniels, Give it Back, pp. 49-52

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Appendix A: Deliverance- Parents/Adults to Children

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