Monthly Archives: December 2009

December 4, 2009 · 7:45 am

Lord, Why Not Call Bill Instead of Me? (Part 8)

Click on following for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 and Part 7.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12 NKJ)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside [cast off] every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus…(Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJ)

Have you ever undergone a deliverance from demons? I have. Many times. Most were not sensational, but then again, one was.

“Wait a second!” you say. “How can a believer be possessed by demons?”

I don’t believe a Christian can ever be fully possessed by demons. In order for that to happen, the works of the cross would have to be set aside so darkness and light can dwell together in a person’s inner man (or spirit). That’s not happening! Ever!

But what I do believe is that demons can have influences, or what I call hooks, into our soul and flesh.

Bear with me a little, okay? Visualize a man walking around with a beautiful treasure deep within him. It is glorious and pure. But at the same time, you notice ugly fishhooks attached to different points on the man’s flesh and to his mind. These fishhooks have long strings attached to them with heavy weights attached at the opposite end. These weights represent demonic influences which can manipulate our actions and thoughts so that we make mistakes.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind [or soul], so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Now, most of our deliverances will come about as we mature in our walks with Jesus. This happens through studying the word, praying and just allowing the Holy Spirit to live in us. Therefore our mind is renewed so that it agrees with the Lord, and not with Satan or our selfish flesh.

But sometimes, we need the demonic weights cast off by other believers who have some power and authority.

After I had been saved for four years, and had given hundreds of prophetic words, a woman noticed something in my prophetic words. There were a few glitches here and there, causing confusion for people.

The woman happened to be a prophetess who prayed six hours a day. So, she sought the Lord and saw the problem. She then relayed her discovery to a few friends of mine.

The friends called me over on a Sunday afternoon. When I arrived, they presented what the prophetess had seen – a demon. “Get rid of it,” I replied.

As they began praying in tongues, I was thrown to the floor. And then tossed back and forth across the floor from one side of the room to the other. It was a wild ride. I was flying all over the place.

Wow! I hope someone knows what they are doing, I thought to myself as I bounced around.

Finally, it was over and I was set free from the demon’s influence. I was tired and went home.

What type of demon was it? I believe it was a religious spirit, one which had been a part of my life for years, long before my salvation. It had become so ingrained and entwined in my personality that I thought it was the real me.Thank God, it wasn’t.

My personal belief is that we believers absolutely need to get free of every weight and sin. Who really cares if we are humbled and embarrassed? Let’s just get free so that we can love Jesus more and more and more.

So, how was I finally released from the prison with a steeple on the roof?

(Continued in Part 9.)

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December 2, 2009 · 8:17 am

Lord, Why Not Call Bill Instead of Me? (Part 7)

Click on following for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6.

Even the most godly leader in the Body of Christ struggles with control issues with other believers or his spouse or his children. Sadly, this is a part of our fallen human nature and must be wrestled against on a daily basis…sometimes on an hourly basis.

But when a leader is an apostle or prophet, a new problem can arise which may be more damaging to people than control ever is. Prophetic bondage.

Why?

Apostles and prophets have their greatest level of authority in the spiritual realm, fighting against demonic principalities and powers. This is where their spiritual DNA is equipped to work best.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Who was Paul referring to with his usage of the pronouns we and our in the above scriptures? It can’t be the whole Body of Christ because of how verses one and two are written. These only refer to the apostle Paul. Thus, the we and our pronouns have to refer to an apostle (in this case, Paul) and the apostle’s group.

And what callings did Paul team up with on his travels? Other apostles and prophets.

Now consider this: it’s tough for apostles and prophets to rise up everyday and fight demons. There are no days off. No vacations. No R & R. Everyday it’s the same-o, same-o. Fight! Fight! Fight! And it matters not what family members or others do, because apostles and prophets are spiritual warriors and must fight.

Let’s say that an apostle or prophet backs off his  spiritual warfare duties and decides not to engage the enemy in battle. And maybe this happens because of personal hurts, spiritual wounds, weariness, not spending enough time worshipping Jesus or whatever.

But if he does back off, and still tries to minister in his calling to others, problems can arise. Look at what Paul said he was fighting against in 2 Corinthians 10:5 –

...speculations…lofty things raised up against the knowledge of God…disobedient thoughts.

And not only is the apostle and prophet open to speculations, lofty things and disobedient thoughts, Paul mentioned something else when he was talking about false apostles in 2 Corinthians 11:4

For if one [an apostle] comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. (2 Corinthians 11: 4)

An apostle or prophet who stops fighting demonic principalities and powers is not sitting on a neutral sideline, safe and sound, protected by a heavenly shield. Not at all. He’s still in the battle. You see, Satan’s army never takes a day off and never quits attacking the ones they recognize who can cause them the most damage.

And who can cause principalities and powers the most trouble? Apostles and prophets.

So, if an apostle or prophet does not fight, the enemy will come and own a piece of him. And what piece will the enemy own? A part of the prophetic side of the apostle and prophet. Maybe just a small piece, but it may be  enough to place other people, especially callings, in prophetic bondage.

Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel…but David stayed at Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 11:1)

Because King David, a prophet, did not go to battle, he committed adultery, murder, lost his kingdom for a while and caused the House of David problems for hundreds of years.

So, how was I finally set free from the prison with a steeple on the roof?

(Continued in Part 8.)

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