In the summer of 1991 I was going to a class that was preparing a group for baptism and many people their were suffering from thoughts and feelings that they could not seem to control like they hoped. They were having repetitive thoughts that would bother them at the most inconvenient times and they were unable to remove them. It was almost as if those thoughts were forced upon them and because they were so unwanted the subjects believed that they were not their own but were being forced upon them by spiritual agencies. In fact I stopped to ask one young man how he was doing one evening and I’ll never forget the way he looked at me. Then he said that he had been struggling because he was having these dreams at night that he didn’t want to have so he would try to wake up and he would think that he was awake but thinking he was awake he would relax and find out he wasn’t really awake but had gone one step deeper into a dream that he desperately wanted out of.
Then again something would be occurring in the dream which he didn’t want to have anything to do with and so he would arouse his energies to try to awake then he would say, “o.k. I’m awake” but it was still all a dream and he would relax and go deeper into the dream. He described something so similar to what I was going through and said that his dreams were three levels deep. What was really happening?
When you give your life to Christ it is just the beginning. It is a new start and the new believer (or anyone) seeking freedom has to understand the rules of engagement in the spiritual realm because we are targets as Satan is seeking to overcome and destroy the whole human race. The bible says, “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman…. Rev 12:13-14.” So we have an angry devil who persecutes people and that persecution has never stopped. That persecution began with Christ and now that he can no longer touch Jesus, Satan seeks to cause the Creator pain by hurting those who God has made and redeemed. There is a spirit of all who become self centered and narcissistic they destroy what they can’t have and control. So if you have seen this malignant disease then you could understand to some degree the hatred Satan has for losing his position and authority in heaven.
Well I too was having these three tier dreams and had developed a special prayer because of it. Before sleep I would pray, “Dear Jesus, by your grace and power help me to bring every thought to the subjection of thee tonight and if I have any thoughts that are wrong please awake me that I may be able to call on your name and have them removed.” Many times I would have to call on the name of Jesus for the dreams to stop. I soon found out that I couldn’t stop the dreams but if I called out the name of Jesus that they would stop and awaken me out of the dream. Because there were areas in my life that were open for Satan’s occupancy before I became a Christian those became a battle ground to take back and I entered into a battle to take back ground that was once under his control.
It did require some effort and because I truly wanted to be a Christian I put forth that effort. In fact I wondered how I could be a Christian in the morning If I was having wrong thinking in the night. I was determined not to think wrong any more but I had been a movie watcher and day dreamer and it required some serious effort. How now I wished I would have never got involved in entertainment. I asked God to awaken me If I was having any wrong thoughts, and to help me to remember what the dream was. I would write them down and pray about them when I awoke because if I didn’t I might not be able to remember in the morning. I would also set my alarm clock through the night because if I would wake up suddenly and the first thing I did was try to remember what I was dreaming about I found that I was able to remember and I wanted to see If I was getting the victory over the wrong thinking that had been going on at night.
I found that there was power in the name of Jesus and He would give me victory, but it was a process and there were times I did fail. My thought processes weren’t perfect in the night season. I was going through a conversion but t I found out something wonderful and that was If before I entertained the thought, before I allowed it to root into my flesh, or before I gave way and it became a feeling that I acted upon that I could call on Jesus for help and He would step in and provide for me a new power, a holier experience with His joyful presence. There really is something wonder about getting the victory over wrong thoughts and feelings by the power of God and recognizing the sweet influence of Jesus empowering you with victory and coming off clean. It really makes you want to live happy and sin free. You don’t want to ever fall back into the dark again.
Here are twelve ways to stop demonic oppression by the authority of Jesus:
- Speak out loud and say, “In the name of Jesus I resist you Satan and all the powers of darkness and I command you to leave.” Your authority over Satan is found in James chapter 4 verse 7 that says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” You have to speak with courage and trust in God’s word tell him, “I command you in the name of Jesus and by the blood Christ shed for me at Calvary not to interfere with my rest and to leave now and not return.”
- You need to strengthen your faith in the power of God’s word and quote scriptures that prove to you that you have been paid for and bought from sin to cleanness and purity in Christ.
- Acquaint yourself with the power of the blood of Christ for victory. Here are two scripture verses:
“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:12-13.”
The verse proves you were once far away from God but you are near him by the blood that Christ paid for you and the bible says so near that Satan will flee from you. Here is the verse for that, “…. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. James 4:7-8”. The authority of the believer is seen in James 4:7 but the power of that authority belongs to God. It is the power of Jesus and it is the blood that He shed for us on the cross. When we pray and command Satan to leave we have to do so by the power, authority and blood of Jesus Christ. I have been told that if we don’t come to an understanding of the infinite value, and mighty power of the blood of Christ that we are at a great disadvantage. In fact fallen angels seek to and enjoy mocking so-called Christians who don’t exercise true trust and faith in the name and sacrifice of Christ by the blood. But the bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13.” When we recognize we are in a spiritual battle the first thing we are to do is by faith call upon the might name of Jesus. It is by the blood of the lamb that we overcome Satan. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11.”
4. Memorize scripture so you can speak it out loud with the power and authority as you exercise trust and faith in Jesus. You need to have the authority of the word of God ready and in your heart when the moment comes that you need to use it and exercise its power.
5. Trust in Divine Power to do for you what you could never do for yourself:
What is the power and authority that is available to you in Christ Jesus? It is nothing less than the power which God used to create the world which He will use to re-create you and answer your prayers. How do I know that? Because as our Creator our God spoke this world into existence and when God said “Let there be light: and there was light. Genesis 1:3” And God will speak light into your life as He re-creates you into a new creature. As it is written, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7”. If you come to this light God will help you with all your problems and cleanse (remove, take away) your sins. Now trust in the word of God to do a work in you that requires creative power. “… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Php 2:12-13.” God promises to work in you. “Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. . Col 1:29.” He promises to powerfully work in you.
The next thing God did in creation is stated, “…and God divided the light from the darkness. Gen 1:4”. God will by His own power separate the darkness from your life and remove it from you so that the light will not be overcome by your problems, circumstances, issues, and bad habits but the light will empower you to overcome all the darkness in your life just as it is written, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended (comprehended means in Greek overtake, overcome) it not. John ch. 1:5 “. In fact just a few verses later in the same chapter John writes how you will be re-created by God’s power: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13”.
6. Believe God has by divine power spoken of you and to you in His bible promises. Believe you are a new creature and He is working in you with mighty power to save .
This is your 2nd birth or new birth, you where born into this world by being born of flesh and blood but now in Christ you are a new creation and by the power of God you are born again as His son. For the bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2nd Cor. 5:17”. You by the power of God by His own creative power God promises that He will do this for you and take away your old evil life and make you clean pure and new. David asked God to use this creative power and it is for us also. He said, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psm. 51:10”. God has committed to use creative power and re make you from the inside out. He simply ask you to consider it: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isa. 1:18”.
7. Take the time to make a living vital connection with Christ and daily hour by hour, moment by moment abide in Him without ever leaving. Remain in Christ.
And did you know that demons, devils, and Satan, and all the fallen host of evil angels know that once a human being trusts in Christ and makes an attachment to Christ that at that point that person is no longer just an ordinary person because that person is now connected to divinity. He is connected to the divine being Christ Jesus through His presence by the Holy Spirit Jesus abides (resides, lives) in us. Satan can and has all the power to be victorious over us if we are not connected to Christ but attached to Jesus Satan has no power over us whatsoever. Which is why the bible says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 Jn. 4:4”. Therefore James says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7”. How do you resist? “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rm 10:13”. For “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Pro. 18:10”. Every time, every single time I have called upon the name of the Lord in faith Jesus has met me where I was and delivered me and He will deliver us.
This is the reason that the first steps in the Christian life can be a little difficult. They may not be so easy because Satan knows if we win the battle here it will be much harder for him to defeat us after we are connected to Christ. We would have to let go of our hold on Christ for that to happen. So Satan seeks to cause people to neglect time alone with Christ, to get busy in the world with other desires, occupations, friends so they won’t take time to make a complete connection with Christ for outside of Christ we have no power. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Php 4:13.”; but Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Jn 15:5.”
8. Believe in the faithfulness of God by considering what He has marvelously provided in the natural world to meet all our needs:
God encourages us to call upon him for help: “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Psm 50:15.” You can trust your Creator. He has promised all the help you need. He loves you more than we could ever understand the value of ourselves and He will be here for us when we call unto Him. You know God has never failed calling the Sun to rise in the morning and He has never failed calling it to set at night. “The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Psm 50:1”. God will be on time for you and He will answer your call for help.
He is faithful. He as the Son of Right doing will shine on you and answer your call for help. “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psm 84:11”. If you come to Jesus, and you want to walk aright then He promises not to withhold anything that’s good for you but He will give you all things. “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Cor. 1:9.”
9. Count your Blessings:
This next verse that Jesus gives you is so powerful, and it is giving you everything you need by His divine power for victory over sin, self, and Satan. It says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 2 Pt 1:3”. Did you see that, God’s “divine power” is given to you for everything you need. Paul says it this way: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Eph. 1:3”. How many blessings did Paul say God give? He said “all spiritual blessings”. But how do I know that God means me? Because God chose you before the world was ever made He chose you. Look what this says in the very next verse, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Eph. 1:4”. Before God made the world he chose you it says. Why, because He loves you. God is love and He loves you as it says, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 Jn. 4:16”.
10. Call upon God:
Will you call upon God for help… there’s no one else… Jesus will be there for you… He has promised… You can trust Him… He not only chose you before the foundation of the world as we say in Ephesians chapter one verse four but Christ died to pay the penalty for your transgressions and sins from the foundation of the world as it is written: “…in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Rev. 13:8”. Why was Christ slain before the foundation of the world? It was to credit you in advance, and I and ever sinner that has ever lived with His perfect life and fill our bankrupt account with His perfect infinite unlimited value. Once you partake of Christ the Lamb of God then Satan cannot overcome you as long as you abide in Christ and do not come out of His protecting presence.
We read first Peter chapter one and verse three about two paragraphs above but we didn’t look at the next verse. Lets read it for it says, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2nd Pt 1:4.”. Do you see how great this promise is for by exercising faith in it you become a partaker of divinity. Divine power to make you be able to accomplish more than you ever could before because you never exercised trust in divine power before. Before it was just you and the devil but now it you and the divine power of the living God against the devil and the devil is not a match for that power. He will flee the power of the living God. Satan and all the angels are in total subjection to the power of the Living God! Therefore “resist the devil and he will flee from you Jms 4:7”.
Do you ask how am I to get close to God, that close so He will help me like that. That really is a simple part of the process. The next verses state:
Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Jas 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
11. Come to God:
We need to come to God, confess our sin, and confess our need of a Savior. For we have a need of a power out of and beyond our-self to battle against our self and Satan and we should be sincere, contrite, humble, genuine, uniquely our-self before him, honest, and truthful about our condition. When we come to God don’t wait to change first. Come to Christ just as you are, and read His word get to know Him. Don’t try to change first ask Him to do for you what you can’t and just come. One of the best books I ever read outside the bible was the book “Desire of Ages” on the life of Christ. It really helped me trust in Jesus.
The Lord says:
Isa: 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
Isa: 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
Isa: 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
12. Completely Yield:
When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding place. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.
Friend, let the divine, Supernatural power of Christ change your life. Others before you have and it saved them from all their problems and distresses. One night Peter and the disciples were in a terrible, terrible storm, they really thought that it might be over for them, for their ship was tossed this way and that and taking on water. It was bad and then they thought it got worse. As they look into the stormy waters they think they see an omen that is a sign of death. It appears to be a Spirit walking on the water. But it was Jesus, and Peter was so encouraged upon seeing Jesus in the middle of that death storm that he calls upon God and says, “Lord if it is you then call me to come and walk on the water with you”. And Jesus said, “come” and I can imagine poor Peter taking his first step not so securely on that water as he stepped out of the boat but his right foot holds firm, like a rock but on the troubled sea. I’m sure a huge smile begins pouring over his once fearful, storm driven face and then Peter takes the next step right out of the boat onto a storm ragging sea and his foot holds firm. He is walking on water and you know that takes divine power and Peter knew it was the power of God. By the Power of God Peter began to think I am walking on water!
And that’s just how we get the victory over sin, self and Satan, by the power, the divine power of God that causes a man like Peter, like you and I to do what we could never do on our own. I could never have gotten the victory over all the things I was doing wrong when Christ delivered me during that conversion. I would have never even attempted it. It was too much and I was too far gone. In fact I told the Lord so, I told Him that I was possessed by my possessions and couldn’t stop doing the things I was doing even if I wanted to and that he was going to have to help me. And I knew I couldn’t do it. But I think that’s where God wants us. He wants us to not trust our self but to trust in His might power to save. Why should we trust the flesh? Look where it has got us so far? Has it done anything good for you? Trust in Jesus.
Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Php 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
Php 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Php 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
There was no power in Peter to walk on water if there was he could have said to the other disciples come on were going home lets get out of this storm. But alone in the ship without Jesus they weren’t able to penetrate the dark clouds and boisterous sea. I’m not saying that they couldn’t have exercised faith in the divine power of God and done so. They could have but they were fighting the storm in their own strength and if you read the account in Matthew chapter fourteen you will find that they had been rowing and battling the storm until the fourth watch of the night. That was a long night, they were worn out. We know it because the night from sunset to sunrise is 12 hours and it is divided into 4 watches which are three hours each. So the fourth watch is from 3 Am to 6 Am.
And by this time they gave up, and those arms of steel that fought for life dropped the oars and gave up the battle, They were lost at sea and had no idea where they were are what to do. And isn’t that when Jesus comes to help. It is not until we give up on ourselves and know we can’t fight the battle that we do cry out for a power out of and above ourselves. One brother said, “The Lord lets us struggle that we might recognize we don’t have the power to save ourselves. So that we might see our nothingness and learn how to trust in Him because the greatest determinant to a Christian having victory is trusting in self and not in Christ. So Jesus lets us battle with our obstacles until we are willing to give up and allow him to do what we never could do and we call on Him not just to help but to save us. Can you imagine Peter calling out to Jesus to help him a little on that sea that he just needs a little balance and everything will be alright as he begins to sink. No, that’s not what a 200 pound man sinking beneath big waves does as he begins to drown. As the wave comes between him and Christ and he is blinded by ocean water Peter knows his condition. He knows this is it. I’m done unless something happens fast and Peter cries out “Lord save me!”.
“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Mat 14:30-31.”
Would you have done any less? Why do we find it so hard to trust fully in Christ? Is it because we trust in self so much that we are going to hang in there until we have exhausted every possibility. Until the 4 watch of the night?
Friend he couldn’t even see Jesus any longer, and that’s why they failed in the boat. They lost connection with Christ in that boat. For they had left the land where Christ had feed the multitude and as hopes were high and they wanted to anoint Christ as King just then Jesus in authority says this is not the Father’s plan and he disperses the crowd who want to set him on the throne of David and sends the disciples out in the boat . And as they get in the boat they aren’t happy about the devaluing that they just got as Christ rejects the offer of a temporal kingship and they start a stormy discussion in the boat about their whole predicament. So as they have a thought battle over the whole thing Jesus allows them to wage a war with a storm that really occupies all their energies.” Are you facing a horrible battle that has caused you to exert your greatest energies and still you haven’t won that fight. Would you lay it down and give it to Jesus. He promises to help you and his promises will never fail.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jer/ 29:11.” You know a terrible thing… while Christ was thinking thoughts of saving us (delivering us), humans were thinking thoughts of delivering Christ to destruction. “And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.” Yes, humans sold Christ and crucified Him but His thoughts toward us were only love. Dying on the cross while suffering the cruel pain Jesus’s thoughts were on us as He cried, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” Lk 23:34.
Isn’t that something… do you think you can trust that kind of love. Amidst torture, for a world that reject and crucified him he cries out to God for our forgiveness. Is that what your prayers are like? Is it? When you’re being mistreated you immediately think of the need of others and cry a prayer for their forgiveness. I know that’s not natural for me. In fact it’s taken me a whole lot of effort to forgive some things. How could Jesus do that? That’s what divine love is all about and that’s why you can trust it.
Have you ever heard that song, “Till the Storm Passes By“, if you feel there’s no where to hide and a storm has hold of your life consider listening to the song and calling on Jesus for help… Till the Storm Passes By
God Bless you friend!
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