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- Apr 25, 2006
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Living for the Call Ministries
Demonology 101
Michelle Molina
Nov 14, 2007
"It is no use to talk of leaning on God while at the same time we are, in one way or another, looking to some poor mortal to help us." ~ Charles H. Mackintosh (1820-1896)
DEMONOLOGY 101
It would be fair to say that I have cast out demons on a pretty regular basis. Some have asked me if it is more than 50. I said yes. They ask if it is more than 100. I said yes. But I don't want to count demons, but rather souls set free and living for God. That is the important thing. But I find people react to demons the same way many react to snakes. They would rather not touch them and call someone who handles them without fear to deal with the matter. The truth is that Jesus left this awesome ministry to ALL believers so that we can ALL continue the work He began; liberating those who are sick, demonized or bound to sin.
I was impressed by the Holy Spirit to take several devotions and talk about strongholds and getting free. One thing we don't talk about much in the church is demon possession. I believe it is for several reasons. There have been so many extremes – a demon behind every action or bush or the other extreme teaching that no Christian can be demon possessed. Without going into theology, because I refuse to argue with anyone over things like this, I will simply state the facts. One, no one should have demons cast out of them until they are saved because if you try and succeed and the person doesn't accept Jesus as Savior, that person will be worse off in the end than they were before deliverance. The demons WILL come back 7 times worse and destroy them. Secondly, I have seen too many believers go through deliverance, get free and burst forth in growth spiritually, myself included.
The one thing I will say is that the Bible only recognizes or calls by name fourteen demons. They manifest in different ways. Over the next couple of days, we'll talk about each of them and discuss the ways they bind and manifest the bondages in peoples lives. By seeing the way they operate (as the Bible says "Do not be ignorant of the devil's ways), we can not only overcome personal strongholds in our lives, but truly help others we know get set free and stay free.
The first one is the "Spirit of Heaviness". This spirit is found in Isaiah 61:3. The way it manifests in the lives of it's victims is depression, abnormal mourning, continual sorrow/abnormal grief, despair, hopelessness, loneliness, shame, defilement, discouragement, rejection, self pity/whining, gloominess, a wounded spirit, unjustified guilt, and broken heartedness.
Before you see someone and think they have a spirit of heaviness, you have to approach it with a balanced and understanding heart. All emotions are God given. Jesus felt every one of them. He felt grief but was not being harassed by a demon. Lazarus had died and Jesus and the family grieved. What you have to ask is whether it has passed being normal and has become debilitating; changing the way you live.
Everyone experiences rejection. But if that rejection has become life controlling by changing the way you treat or respond to people, then there is a possibility that a demon is present. If you have gone through a death or divorce, grief and mild depression are normal; even healthy. It is part of the natural healing process. But if your pain has caused you to withdraw from everyone and driven you to live isolated from what you used to love, then you may have crossed past normal grieving and accepted the demonic suggestion that it is hopeless and you will never be happy again. In that place you have opened the door for the enemy's torment.
Satan and his minions always come to your mind and talk to you in first person. You never hear in your head, "You are not going to get past this," or "No one understands you". What you hear is the enemy, imitating your voice and saying, "I am never going to get past this" or "No one understands me". Anything he places in your head is still subject to your approval. That's why we are taught to cast down every high thought and vain imagination that exalts itself against the will or word of God. It is against the will and word of God that you will be downtrodden and misunderstood and need to retreat into yourself for survival. The truth is you can do or face all things through Christ who gives the strength for you to do it. I am talking from experience. I have faced utter destruction in my personal life that, in the natural, looked like I would be better off dead And the enemy was right there feeding my mind with every "I" statement he could to draw me into darkness and hopelessness.
Maybe this year you have decided to break free of the despair, loneliness or depression. Perhaps it is some other symptom that has gripped you. Maybe you have a wounded spirit because when the rejection or wound came to you, you failed to forgive and the demon infected you with bitterness and grief and depression. That is not anywhere near the life abundant and free that Jesus died and defeated Satan to give you.
A man, saved but in so much bondage, was attending a rock concert. He had lived in bondage to prescription drugs and depression for many years. But one person had been praying for him. That person had been demanding that the spirit of heaviness loose him so that the light of the life and hope of the gospel could reach him. At that rock concert, he heard a voice audibly speak to him. He said it told him, "A higher authority has commanded I loose your mind now" and he felt loosed. Suddenly the words of those witnessing to him became clear and he went to that person and got saved. Today we are praying for all of you who want to be free of this spirit today. It is the life Jesus wants for you to have. Choose to obey His word and break that tie. Refuse to listen to the demons voice that you have accepted as your own. Listen to the word of God. It is the truth that will set you free.
Living for the Call,
Michelle Molina
Demonology 101
Michelle Molina
Nov 14, 2007
"It is no use to talk of leaning on God while at the same time we are, in one way or another, looking to some poor mortal to help us." ~ Charles H. Mackintosh (1820-1896)
DEMONOLOGY 101
It would be fair to say that I have cast out demons on a pretty regular basis. Some have asked me if it is more than 50. I said yes. They ask if it is more than 100. I said yes. But I don't want to count demons, but rather souls set free and living for God. That is the important thing. But I find people react to demons the same way many react to snakes. They would rather not touch them and call someone who handles them without fear to deal with the matter. The truth is that Jesus left this awesome ministry to ALL believers so that we can ALL continue the work He began; liberating those who are sick, demonized or bound to sin.
I was impressed by the Holy Spirit to take several devotions and talk about strongholds and getting free. One thing we don't talk about much in the church is demon possession. I believe it is for several reasons. There have been so many extremes – a demon behind every action or bush or the other extreme teaching that no Christian can be demon possessed. Without going into theology, because I refuse to argue with anyone over things like this, I will simply state the facts. One, no one should have demons cast out of them until they are saved because if you try and succeed and the person doesn't accept Jesus as Savior, that person will be worse off in the end than they were before deliverance. The demons WILL come back 7 times worse and destroy them. Secondly, I have seen too many believers go through deliverance, get free and burst forth in growth spiritually, myself included.
The one thing I will say is that the Bible only recognizes or calls by name fourteen demons. They manifest in different ways. Over the next couple of days, we'll talk about each of them and discuss the ways they bind and manifest the bondages in peoples lives. By seeing the way they operate (as the Bible says "Do not be ignorant of the devil's ways), we can not only overcome personal strongholds in our lives, but truly help others we know get set free and stay free.
The first one is the "Spirit of Heaviness". This spirit is found in Isaiah 61:3. The way it manifests in the lives of it's victims is depression, abnormal mourning, continual sorrow/abnormal grief, despair, hopelessness, loneliness, shame, defilement, discouragement, rejection, self pity/whining, gloominess, a wounded spirit, unjustified guilt, and broken heartedness.
Before you see someone and think they have a spirit of heaviness, you have to approach it with a balanced and understanding heart. All emotions are God given. Jesus felt every one of them. He felt grief but was not being harassed by a demon. Lazarus had died and Jesus and the family grieved. What you have to ask is whether it has passed being normal and has become debilitating; changing the way you live.
Everyone experiences rejection. But if that rejection has become life controlling by changing the way you treat or respond to people, then there is a possibility that a demon is present. If you have gone through a death or divorce, grief and mild depression are normal; even healthy. It is part of the natural healing process. But if your pain has caused you to withdraw from everyone and driven you to live isolated from what you used to love, then you may have crossed past normal grieving and accepted the demonic suggestion that it is hopeless and you will never be happy again. In that place you have opened the door for the enemy's torment.
Satan and his minions always come to your mind and talk to you in first person. You never hear in your head, "You are not going to get past this," or "No one understands you". What you hear is the enemy, imitating your voice and saying, "I am never going to get past this" or "No one understands me". Anything he places in your head is still subject to your approval. That's why we are taught to cast down every high thought and vain imagination that exalts itself against the will or word of God. It is against the will and word of God that you will be downtrodden and misunderstood and need to retreat into yourself for survival. The truth is you can do or face all things through Christ who gives the strength for you to do it. I am talking from experience. I have faced utter destruction in my personal life that, in the natural, looked like I would be better off dead And the enemy was right there feeding my mind with every "I" statement he could to draw me into darkness and hopelessness.
Maybe this year you have decided to break free of the despair, loneliness or depression. Perhaps it is some other symptom that has gripped you. Maybe you have a wounded spirit because when the rejection or wound came to you, you failed to forgive and the demon infected you with bitterness and grief and depression. That is not anywhere near the life abundant and free that Jesus died and defeated Satan to give you.
A man, saved but in so much bondage, was attending a rock concert. He had lived in bondage to prescription drugs and depression for many years. But one person had been praying for him. That person had been demanding that the spirit of heaviness loose him so that the light of the life and hope of the gospel could reach him. At that rock concert, he heard a voice audibly speak to him. He said it told him, "A higher authority has commanded I loose your mind now" and he felt loosed. Suddenly the words of those witnessing to him became clear and he went to that person and got saved. Today we are praying for all of you who want to be free of this spirit today. It is the life Jesus wants for you to have. Choose to obey His word and break that tie. Refuse to listen to the demons voice that you have accepted as your own. Listen to the word of God. It is the truth that will set you free.
Living for the Call,
Michelle Molina
