...the vast majority of those who claim to be sincere Christians, who say that forgiveness without reconciliation is biblical. Such a thing makes zero sense to me...I have no idea why we have devalued what seemed so critically important to Jesus.
drivenfuture, overall, it sounds like you're nearly on top of this. But know that some of your issues don't necessarily originate with you; such can be (and probably are) generational. That simply means that those in authority over you at the time (usually parents), did not stand in the gap and as a result, they ignorantly allowed demons to access you and others/siblings under their authority. This reality is something that is often overlooked and causes much hemorrhaging in the body of Christ. Demons like to act out their wicked nature via a human host; they know alot about your relatives, your parents, your grandparents, your great grandparents - they know alot about how you like to spend your fun hour. Thus, they prefer to remain in the family line (aka familial/generational spirits).
And you're right about not placing trust in man. Scripture tells us many times to trust no man. Indeed, we should not trust any man, including ourselves. The Bible says, "Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom" (Micah 7:5). It also says "Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders" (Jeremiah 9:4), "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered" (Proverbs 28:26), "But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead" (2 Corinthians 1:9), "Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's" (2 Corinthians 10:7), "Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD" (Jeremiah 17:5), and finally, "Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit." (Jeremiah 7:8)
You and I are the "church" - it's called the
ekklesia - literally, "the called out ones," the assembly of believers. We have been CALLED OUT from the unclean thing. THIS is the "church" as we speak - where two or more are gathered together in his name.
Mainstream evangelical Christianity is in freefall. Instead of helping the afflicted, teaching each other how to cast out demons, they "cast out" the person from the church! This is abominable before the Lord, who
gave US the power to cast out demons and to do even
greater works:
Behold, I give unto you
power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and
over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12)
God's people are hurting, being destroyed for lack of knowledge. No more politics, high dramas, watered down versions, status-seeking pastors, canned sermons, building projects, covid pretexts,
ad nauseum. It's long overdue for us to "be about [our] Father's business" (Luke 2:49)
You are dealing not only with demons, but also with curses - some or all of which are not of your own doing (again, generational). You can crucify your flesh all day long, but you cannot crucify a demon! Nor can you cast out your flesh! So the order of events is this: First, you crucify your flesh, THEN you cast out the demon(s) (and their curses with them).
It's time to get set free. Are you motivated? Do you truly want to be set free? The question is not rhetorical. Recall the lame man at the pools of Bethesda (read John chap 5), who had his friends carry him to the pools annually, in hopes of being the first into the water after an angel had stirred it up. The first in, was the first to be healed. But he could never be the first one in, because others who were faster would always beat him to it. When Jesus saw him, the first thing Jesus said to him was "Do you want to be healed?" To us, it seems like an obvious thing, but IT IS VITAL that you WANT to be healed. Imagine the annual ritual, probably a great deal of partying and revelry, to make that trip with his friends to the pools every year. He had been infirmed for 38 YEARS. IOW, he had become "comfortable" with the trek; he had become habitualized to it all; maybe he didn't want to give it up...
This is not a game, this is spiritual warfare.
I prefer that deliverance take place among other true believers, because I want to be held accountable and I covet their support. But self-deliverance is also a possibility.
Short version:
Your words are the vehicle by which you can effect change in the spiritual realm; we live and die by them. So SPEAK THIS OUT LOUD, so there be no doubt, in a place of no distraction, in your prayer closet.
1- humility
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. So when you come to him, you must come with an attitude of complete humility. Ask the Holy Spirit to be present with you and to bring to your remembrance all that is necessary for deliverance.
2- confess
God already knows your entire story, but he requires that you bring it into the light. Confess all your sins, known and unknown, to the Lord. Call a spade, a spade - not an agricultural implement. IOW, keep it direct, simple and honest. Don't worry about your dignity; it will return later.
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech...Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Cor. 3:12, 17)
I keep what I call my "Laundry List" - a listing of my sins, everything I can remember, presently about 30 items/sins going all the way back. It's on my thumb drive. I call it a laundry list because laundry will eventually get washed clean! I pray over EVERY item.
3- repent
You must detest your sin. Tell the Lord you hate it. Turn completely away from it.
4-forgive
For most, this is the hardest part because some have been horribly harmed (e.g. rape, incest, etc.). But, if you do not forgive ALL OTHERS, God will not forgive you. Remember that this is NOT an emotion, it is a CHOICE. Yes, you may be holding a lawful I.O.U., but now you are CHOOSING to tear up that I.O.U.!!! Also remember to forgive your forefathers, your ancestors, your rellies, back to the third and fourth generations. Why? Because the sins of the forefathers i.e. those in authority over you, are visited down to the third and fourth generation i.e. to YOU. For example, do you know with certainty that there are no spirits of drunkenness or murder or adultery or witchcraft in your family line? No, you do not, so you must stand in the gap and FORGIVE THEM UNCONDITIONALLY nonetheless. Doing so closes the door to those generational demons. Don't forget to specifically address the pastoral issue. YOU ARE REMOVING THEIR LEGAL RIGHT TO TORMENT YOU AND YOUR OFFSPRING when you forgive your rellies. The first to forgive is the first to get set free.
Remember that God sees and records all. ALL will be held accountable for their own sins,
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Rom. 12:19)
5-claim and appropriate his authority, and EXPEL
Claim Jesus Christ as your Saviour AND Lord. Be absolutely certain that you are his.
There is only one thing more powerful that satan and/or his demons, and that is Jesus Christ. When we come into OBEDIENCE thru REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS, then we can effectively appropriate Christ's authority and deal victoriously with the enemy.
Now that you have proclaimed your Authority, you may call out i.e. EXPEL the unclean spirit. You do not need to know its name, but only what it does. Example: In Jesus Christ's name, demon of lust, GET OUT. ("Get out" is precisely the words that Jesus Christ said - simple and to the point.)
Demon of rejection, in Jesus' name, GET OUT; demon of pride, GET OUT; demon of
pharmakeia/drug use, suicide, sexual impurity; witchcraft; occult; vulgar language; envy; jealousy; fear; etc. etc.
After expelling, give the demon time to come out by not saying anything more, IOW, give it time to come out without blocking it. You can have BELIEVER friends there praying for you, quoting the word of God aloud. If you have friends with you, be sure they are of one accord, i.e. they must be in complete agreement, lest the enemy will take advantage of their lack of unity and perhaps stop the deliverance.
When a demon comes out, you might cough and/or bring up sputum, or yawn widely, or feel a great weight removed, or a brightness experienced, or perhaps nothing noticeable at all. Listen for the Holy Spirit, follow his guidance. Others may get a word of knowledge about the situation from the Lord.
Stay away from the drugs. They also open doors to the enemy, as intended. This is a spiritual battle; your weapons are not physical, but THE BATTLE IS AS REAL AS IT CAN GET. When you get clean (as per above), and appropriate the King's authority, even the demons must obey!
DO NOT TRUST MEDS; trust ONLY IN JESUS CHRIST. HE WILL REPAY. Come fully onboard with him and let him do the work for you. The victory is yours, so please come onboard.
-
