We are living in perilous times. We thank the Lord that His gifts have not ceased. We are privileged to witness the Lord move and touch us in ways unimaginable. It is glorious to experience His presence and have His Spirit indwell us. Nevertheless,sometimes we take things too far. People want to utilize the cross to relinquish the responsibility that rests on their shoulders.
As believers we get bound because the enemy sometimes utilizes underhanded tactics however, sometimes it is our fault. And when bound we want to be prayed for. We forgot to keep watch against sin that easily ensnares us. We forgot to pray and keep watch for the devil roams about like a lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet 1:8).Once that transpires we want deliverance prayer. We fail to listen to the Lord and we get ensnared and the first thing we seek after is a prayer line. Freedom is not free. It is expensive to live free in Christ. What do I mean by that? I mean we have to take responsibility over ourselves and it is unceasing . We can’t meditate on everything that lands in our minds. We do not possess the freedom as believers to utter everything we would like to. We have to learn to bridle our tongues. We can’t speak whichever way we would like to.We are not permitted to watch everything we desire to. Boundaries exist that determine what we listen to . We can’t maintain relations with certain individuals. We are prohibited to date or marry outside our faith. We can’t keep retain certain souvenirs or items in our home. Not everyone can minister, pray with us or over us. We can’t retain gifts from former lovers. When these issues are raised, people say we are taking the fun out of Christianity, that it all sounds too legalistic. That’s coming out of the mouth of someone who has a predilection for bondage. There are certain things that only thrive in our lives because we have made room for them. We have come into agreement with them. And as the bible says, can two walk together lest they be agreed ( Amos 3:3). Inquire of anyone who is experiencing freedom in Christ and they will tell you how they live. Some would be shocked at the boundaries that govern their lives.
We are called to live according to a higher standard:
Upon hearing something scandalous we do not pass it on for that would be committing the sin of gossip. When we witness something that can sow discord, we find a way of approach that will not give the enemy a foothold. We apply wisdom in our relationships. Someone says something spiteful and instead of retaliating in anger we are slow to anger. The word says be slow to anger( James 1:19) Be angry and sin not the Bible says. A friend shares about an injustice that transpired to them and due to not wanting to open the door to the spirit of offense we commiserate with them instead of spewing offended and angry statements to show that we care. We forgive when our flesh feels validated in remaining angry. See the pricetag?
To elaborate further:
1. Failing to listen to the Lord. Isa 42: 18-25) speaks about the Lord exalting His laws and teachings so that they could be obeyed but because the Israelites did not, they were locked in dungeons and hidden away in prisons, robbed and plundered (verse 22).
2. Failing to guard against sin and walk in integrity. Guard against sin that so easily ensnares or entangles us (hebrews 12:1) The sin which so easily ensnares us: The words easily ensnares translate a difficult ancient Greek word (euperistaton), which can be translated four ways: “easily avoided,” “admired,” “ensnaring,” or “dangerous.”
i. Let us lay them all aside:
· Some sins can be easily avoided, but are not.
· Some sins are admired, yet must be laid aside.
· Some sins are ensnaring and thus especially harmful.
· Some sins are more dangerous than others are.
ii. If such ensnaring sins were really the work of demonic possession or demonic influence in the Christian, this would be an ideal place for the Holy Spirit to address this. Yet we are never given reason to blame our sin on demons; the appeal is simply for us to, in the power of the Holy Spirit, lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us. – Enduring word commentary
3. We are not permitted to meditate upon everything that lands in our minds when it is against the word of God. We have to take it captive ( 2 Cor 10:5)
4. A believer’s words are not their own to scatter carelessly — they are subject to the divine ordinances of Scripture, which carefully govern every syllable we utter(1 Pet 3:10) says we must keep our tongues from evil. The heart of the righteous weighs its answers! ( Prov 15:28) The psalmist prays; set a watch over my mouth, a sentry at the door of my lips( Ps 141:3)
5. As believers, we are called to measure everything we watch and listen to against the standard of God’s approval, paving way for His Word to be the ultimate filter for what we permit into our hearts and mind ( Ps 101:3). Our senses are gates. Therefore we have to be heedful as to what we allow into them. Some Christians see no harm in listening to worldly music, watching worldy entertainment yet God is holy and He lives in you, remember that. We can grieve Him with the things we give our attention to.
6.Certain careers that threaten our witness should be evaded. This is a sensitive one yet it is valid. They profess that they know God, but in their works they deny Him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate( Titus 1:16). I once heard a Christian actress share how the Lord permitted her to do a sex scene. That can’t be accurate as it promotes sin.Following the Lord will narrow our career options or atleast limit the scope of duties we may perform within them. The Lord said if we want to follow Him we must count the cost ( Luke 14 :28)
7. We can’t have relations with certain individuals in our lives. The bible says evil companion ruins good habits( 1 Cor 15:33 yet Christians will argue otherwise.
8.We cant marry outside the faith, that’s being unequally yoked (2 Cor 6:14-15).
9.Some items give the enemy a legal right to enter our homes.
Jewelry and art. Buddhas, Ankhs, Hindu deities, idols, yoga art, gargoyles, good luck charms, evil markings, mythology, and astrology items should all be destroyed. Dream catchers and specific evil Indigenous art must be destroyed as well. We can agree that there are wonderful native art pieces that have a cultural basis and history; however, some cultural items are things that invite demons into the home and were part of the culture before the gospel was brought to them. For instance, dream catchers invite demons to bring evil dreams and actual demons to you and your family. Idols, obelisks, Kachina dolls, totem poles and other items like this represent demons (sometimes even principalities) and call in demons to your dwelling place.
Witchcraft items. Ouija boards, fantasy crystals, demonic games, fortune telling items like tarot cards and tea leaf reading, Pokémon, astrology, Sanrio, Kurumi and Harry Potter. Items used in casting spells, water witching, creating watcher spirits, or doing any type of sorcery, divination, magic, or witchcraft.
Certain books, music, and videos. These can include books or videos of astrology, witchcraft, horror, vampires, divination, fortune telling, voodoo, any mythology, false religions, Kabbalah, New Age, homosexuality, pornography, freemasonry, and may include some children’s books. Worldly music, especially rock secular music should never be listened to as it can entice a person to do things that God does not want them to do and invites demons in as well and should be destroyed. The words of a song are key.
Idols. This can include posters, pictures, statues, masks, or other art that is idol related. It might be worship of celebrities or objects of Hinduism, Buddhism or New Age. If the love of money is worshipped, it is an idol. Ancestral worship is common in many cultures and many of those items should be destroyed, especially an altar to a dead loved one.
Certain oils and medicinals. Some oils used in massage or treatments, and incense need to be destroyed. These can be from certain countries or religions that bring sickness and curses. Have discernment and destroy as God leads.
Certain games and toys. Destroy all types of games of intense bloodshed and destruction, witchcraft, disrespect and killing of police, stealing, drug use and sales, voodoo. This might include card games, certain dolls, video games, card collections and evil dolls, Pokemon and Halloween items.1
With all of this said, utilize discernment. The Lord will unveil what you may need to discard and it may not be on this list. Last year I had to throw away a vase that had been in the house for many years. Outwardly, there was nothing demonic on it. It was ostensibly innocuous however, the Lord told me to discard it and I did.
10.We forgive when the flesh feels validated in being angry since we know that if we harbor unforgiveness we can’t even pray or bring offerings to Him. The word says if you bring an offering to the Lord but you remember that your brother has an offense against you, leave it at the altar and make right with them first. However, today Christians harbor unforgiveness and still pray or give to the Lord. This is deception. The Lord is rejecting our gifts. He will also give us over to tormentors(demons)( Matt 18:23-35). Unforgiveness opens the door to the enemy. It can bring sickness and even be a barrier to receiving healing. Forgiveness applies not only to others but to ourselves. It is imperative that we forgive ourselves for our past and current oversights.
- strategicprayercommandmin.com ↩︎