Do you know anyone having trouble with demons?

[John Zain]

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Please see next post
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[John Zain]

Christians (those who have the precious Holy Spirit inside of them)
have ALL power and authority to gain victory over Satan and his demons!

All we need to do is BELIEVE this Scriptural truth ... and ACT on it.

To help you in your fight against Satan and his demons, it is important to realize that:

1) Satan and his demons are fearful of (and hate) the name of JESUS
... when "Jesus" is obviously referring to the Messiah-Redeemer-Savior-Son of God.
Verbally, pray "in the name of Jesus" and control demons "in the name of Jesus".

2) Satan and his demons hate it when believers talk about the BLOOD of Jesus
... when "blood" is obviously referring to that of Messiah-Redeemer-Savior-Son of God.
For example: you can clear all demons out of a room simply by "pleading the blood".
Verbally, soak and drench the whole inside of the room with Jesus' precious blood.

Then, when you combine these 2 powerful words, you have a TON of spiritual power.
But, of course, your BELIEF-FAITH-TRUST in this authority is of utmost importance.
There is a whole lot more, but this is a good beginning.

 

[Pard]

Truth!

2 Corinthians 10:3-5, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

When one of these thought strongholds arise in my mind I call out to God and just ask "Lord, tear down this house of Satan, lest he live in my mind any longer!" It works, that ill thought goes right away and generally it never comes back. Sometimes it does, always weaker, and I do feel a different stronghold entirely, just a similar one. My sinful ways filled my head with many strongholds, so there are many that need to be torn down yet.

In my heart I have a desire to speak to the Lord and for Him to speak with me. We expand our love through commitment and relationship, and I desire this expansion of love, and so I desire a relationship, which means a back-and-forth. In working towards this I have begun to recognize the various voices in my head and the ones that whisper into my ears. The ones in my head are few. There is myself, there is God, there is the Spirit, and there are these strongholds (which truly are like pre-recorded messages left by Satan from past sins and failures). But outside of my head there are demons who whisper. I've realized that they are not inside of my head, they only tempt, cast doubt, and accuse from outside. I can tell them apart and when I recognize one I tell them as such and I tell them to leave and I ask God for them to leave and I prove their doubts wrong with the words that God has given me, for an increased faith.

 

[John Zain]

2 Corinthians 10:3-5, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

When one of these thought strongholds arise in my mind I call out to God and just ask
"Lord, tear down this house of Satan, lest he live in my mind any longer!"
It works, that ill thought goes right away and generally it never comes back. Sometimes it does, always weaker, and I do feel a different stronghold entirely, just a similar one. My sinful ways filled my head with many strongholds, so there are many that need to be torn down yet.

In my heart I have a desire to speak to the Lord and for Him to speak with me. We expand our love through commitment and relationship, and I desire this expansion of love, and so I desire a relationship, which means a back-and-forth. In working towards this I have begun to recognize the various voices in my head and the ones that whisper into my ears. The ones in my head are few. There is myself, there is God, there is the Spirit, and there are these strongholds (which truly are like pre-recorded messages left by Satan from past sins and failures). But outside of my head there are demons who whisper. I've realized that they are not inside of my head, they only tempt, cast doubt, and accuse from outside. I can tell them apart and when I recognize one I tell them as such and I tell them to leave and I ask God for them to leave and I prove their doubts wrong with the words that God has given me, for an increased faith.

Thank you for sharing your testimony ... even though I'm sure it is not finished.
Yes, Satan's demons put thoughts into everyone's mind, but they cannot read our thoughts.

 

[celo]

About 4 years ago, I had a life-and-death struggle with a demon. This demon took control over my life, and caused me to violate many things that I considered to be right and moral. This demon turned me away from those who love and cared for me, and turned me away from myself, my aspirations, and my self-respect.

This demon has many names, but is most commonly known as heroin.

I did try time and again to get clean, but the drug kept calling me back, with temptation, loneliness, and depression.

About 4 years ago, I was sitting for the first time in a jail cell, after being arrested for possession following an overdose. (Cops always follow the paramedics in drug ODs). I was also withdrawing, which is indescribably horrible. All of a sudden, I knew that this was it. I knew that I was going to get clean this time, once and for all. I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and encouragement, with the knowledge that I was done, and in spite of my horrendous circumstances. 5 days later, after I was released on reconnaissance following my arraignment, I went to a Jewish inpatient rehab facility that specialized with 'end of the line addicts' (for example, people coming out of prison, and people who couldn't afford a 'nice' rehab).

I decided that my thinking was broken, and I couldn't think for myself for a while if I seriously wanted to get better. So, I literally took in everything that was told to me, and tried out everything that was suggested. Being a Jewish facility, we did all the religious stuff like daily Torah readings, and weekly Shabbat services.

I was amazed to find that giving myself fully to an external 'entity' and that by following an external set of rules, values, and actions, I got better. In fact, I was better the day I walked in. The relief I felt by not having to live life my way was amazing. I lived by the religious principles of Judaism, and the semi-religious principles of the Anonymous program.

And I been good ever since. Have not touched the stuff, which is a requirement. But more importantly, I have not been tempted or have even considered using again. It was like my attraction and desire for the drug was completely lifted.

Fast forward to now.

Learning from my mistakes, I do not subscribe myself totally to Judaism or the Anonymous program anymore. I live the way I want to live, which is first checked by my learned system of morals, values, and cognitive 'checks and balances.' (for example: "Ok,I want to do this. Is this right? Will this hurt me? Will this hurt others? Will this lead me to a slippery slope? Is this something I want, or need? Am I fooling myself?)

I still feel good and have a good, healthy, and productive life. But part of me wonders if turning away from the organizations (NOT VALUES!) that saved me was right?

Another part of me wonders if that amazing spiritual awakening I experienced 4 odd years ago was God 'talking to me.' I never heard a voice in my head, or any indication of an external entity entering my mind, thoughts, hopes, and will. It was more like a revelation that I could beat this, and live a happy and productive life if I wanted to. Sort of like, I got the power, not the heroin!

Correct or not, I have always looked at organized religion as a channel for spirituality. If there is a God out there, it is also this man's opinion that spirituality is what is important. Or at the very least, a requirement having a relationship with God, whether I know it or not. As an analogy to my opinion, spirituality is the work, and religion is the currency that represents that work in a form accepted by so and so God. One can be a spiritual Muslim, for example, yet the Islamic currency is not really accepted by the Christian God, despite there being a sense of spirituality.

Another big reason I registered with this community. I love to get lost in debate, but my real purpose here is to get a better idea of Christianity.

In a sense, I am wondering if I should look for a specific 'currency' to cash in my spiritual work, in line with my analogy.


So one question I had, is how did you all know that it was the Christian God speaking to you? Did you have an 'awakening' like myself, but for some reason knew it was Jesus specifically? I cannot really say where mine came from whatsoever, as it was more an emotional and intellectual revelation that I could be a successful member of the human community.

 

[Pizzaguy]

About 4 years ago, I had a life-and-death struggle with a demon. This demon took control over my life, and caused me to violate many things that I considered to be right and moral. This demon turned me away from those who love and cared for me, and turned me away from myself, my aspirations, and my self-respect.

This demon has many names, but is most commonly known as heroin.

Wow, I thought you were describing the $%# I work for. I believe Satan is winning in his struggle to command the life of my boss.... and it's bringing me and others down.

But today, I finally went to the corporate V.P. and offered to quit over it. The V.P. is now involved in my struggle. ;)

 

[John Zain]

So one question I had, is how did you all know that it was the Christian God speaking to you?
Did you have an 'awakening' like myself, but for some reason knew it was Jesus specifically?
I cannot really say where mine came from whatsoever, as it was more an emotional and intellectual revelation that I could be a successful member of the human community.

My heartiest congratulations.

IMO, it was Almighty God who gave that revelation of hope to you.
You have been chosen and called ... you are one of God's elect.
The next step is for Him to give you enough faith to believe in Jesus and His "good news".

As for Christians, they hear the gospel of Jesus Christ,
the Holy Spirit convicts them that this is the truth, and they believe.
They have responded to the Christian gospel, so now they believe in Christianity.

Jesus says that he is THE ONLY WAY to the Father in heaven.
So, that simply means all other religions, sects, cults, etc. are false.
And about 10 verses say that He is the Giver of eternal life.

 

[Pard]

So one question I had, is how did you all know that it was the Christian God speaking to you? Did you have an 'awakening' like myself, but for some reason knew it was Jesus specifically? I cannot really say where mine came from whatsoever, as it was more an emotional and intellectual revelation that I could be a successful member of the human community.

Praise God! Drugs are a terrible curse on our world, truly the agents of Satan.

My brother, for I will call you a brother because I believe God has called you from reading your testimony, my coming to Christ was a long one. Now I didn't have an addiction to something in a needle or a pipe or a table, but I was an addict to pornography and my sexual desires. I did not go through nearly the amount of physical pain that you did (however it did lead to some physical pain). Mostly my pain was on the inside, a constant torment. I didn't enjoy my time with anyone or doing anything (though at the time I truly thought I was enjoying life) because I could never get those disgusting images out of my head. They were with me day and night, night and day. Not even in my dreams could I escape them! And through His workings He has delivered me from that awful sin and by renewing my spirit and awakening the Spirit within me He flushed it out of me, along with so many other idols!

I tell you this so that we may have some common ground, though surely your struggle was of a greater magnitude, because common ground, level ground, is a great place to start off anything worth while!

Well, I knew about "this Jesus guy" for as long as I can recall. I went to a "church" as a child. My grandparents were VERY Christian (in the best way possible! The most loving people I have ever known!). I didn't really get it, believe it, whatever. When I was 18 I bought a Bible because I figured I should be a Christian. I was a conservative and a very active conservative, so I figured I ought to be a Christian because most conservatives were. Well, I bought a Bible and figured if I started reading it and telling people I was a Christian and telling myself I believed in Christ than I'd bee a Christian.

Goodness I fell in love with "being a Christian"! I put aside my political endeavors and started learning about the Bible. I decided I'd be a pastor and that was that! But I didn't really "get" Christianity and I didn't "get" Jesus and I didn't "get" His teachings and I didn't have Him in my heart and His Spirit wasn't in me! Then my addiction caught up to me and things got really bad, from being the "average" Joe's experience with pornography to being a very habitual and required activity for my daily survival. Well, somewhere along the line it clicked for me that I needed God, I needed Jesus, and Jesus filled me up with His Spirit. I tried to get right and to get on that narrow way, but it isn't that easy. I eventually learned my heart was in the right thing for the wrong reason.

I started all over again. And then I got it. The Spirit started to work in me with a great power. It flushed all the idols out of me. I am, today, free of pornography and sexual desire, and I am pretty much done with all lusting entirely.

I tell you all this because I want you to see we are similar. God worked in my life. I had to become a conservative and to buy that Bible and desire to be a Christian for all the wrong reasons in order that I could get to God for the right reasons. The same way, God came to you and led you to sobriety and began to touch you with His Word because you are His child and He is leading you back to the pen. Trust me, when you get to the pen He will be more joyful for your return than for all the other sheep that are in the pen already! It's a great thing to be loved by God with such an overwhelming amount of Joy. I don't even understand nor can I truly even appreciate it to its fullness, but it is a point that I desire to work towards.

Lastly, I am working on getting God's voice to ring clear in my head. I have had Him there a few times. It's hard to describe, but all I can say is you know. You know because it isn't your voice. You know because it isn't the demons. What I can say is that I have never had a dialogue in the human-sense of the word with God. I dialogue with me, because that is how we communicate, and He, in turn, plops entire, fully realized and developed thoughts into my head as a response. He doesn't always respond on your time, He responds on His time.

And now really lastly, I see that your "God-plop" was a realization of being a "successful member of the human community". Perhaps you were being called to be a "successful" "human" and a "member of" HIS "community"? It is only through Christ Jesus that we can be successful humans, after all, and when He comes to you He does so because He wants you to come back with Him to His community in Heaven. Humans are designed to praise God and to enjoy God, it's that simple. I am going to pray that He continues to work in you and that He continues to lead you back to the pen of Jesus Christ!

 

[John Zain]

Wow, I thought you were describing the $%# I work for. I believe Satan is winning in his struggle to command the life of my boss.... and it's bringing me and others down.
But today, I finally went to the corporate V.P. and offered to quit over it.
The V.P. is now involved in my struggle. ;)

Have you considered using the info in the OP?

 

[evenifigoalone]

So one question I had, is how did you all know that it was the Christian God speaking to you? Did you have an 'awakening' like myself, but for some reason knew it was Jesus specifically? I cannot really say where mine came from whatsoever, as it was more an emotional and intellectual revelation that I could be a successful member of the human community.

First of all, thanks for sharing all that.

When God spoke to me, I knew it was Him, because He was reassuring me that I was on the right path. I had been wondering if Christianity is really real or not, and almost left it. But when God spoke to me I knew it was real.
It was largely an emotional impact, but He spoke to me too, just not out loud.
And then there are the times after that that I was getting closer to God, and through prayer and studying my Bible I discovered that a personal relationship with Him is possible. You can talk to Him the same way you'd talk to a friend.