Dearest children
Proverbs 25:28 "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control."
The inner nature of a person's personality is likened to a broken city. In a city, there are the sports arena, the banking sector... so in a person's personality, demons can have areas of residence in you. The areas are:
1) Emotions & Attitudes
If there are no spiritual defences which is the Word of God, the enemy can come in. Negative emotions like bitterness, anger, fear, self pity, etc can take up residence in your life. If you find bitterness, you will find a host of them like anger, resentment, violence, hatred & so on. They attract one another. Anger may not be caused by a demon but if it falls under any of the verbs discussed previously, then it is a demon of anger. There are certain root problems of which the rest of the negative emotions grow & i think the single root problem mostly is rejection & that leads to a whole series of negative emotions.
2) Mind
The mind is the battlefield. Characteristics that affect the mind are doubt, unbelief, indecision, confusion & insanity. You can call it emotional or mental but it is there.
3) Tongue
The main one is lying. I have met people who are compulsive liars. It is v deceptive & often the person does not even realise it. There are also criticism, gossip, exaggeration (which I have met many who exaggerate the truth), blasphemy, negative talking & the evangelistic demon.
4) Sex
Usually churches avoid this taboo topic. The people including the pastors & leaders are prudish & ashamed to talk about sex and without realising it, they create more problems with that attitude. So people with sexual problem may not want to talk about it. They cant find the solution coz it is not exposed so they are enslaved forever. The only church (I may be wrong) that dares to bring up this topic is the church I attend - FCBC.
The areas involved are compulsive sex, homosexuality, fantasy & other horrid perversions which I wont talk about.
5) Lust
This is a distinctive area which involves perverted desires & appetites. I believe that appetites were originally healthy but through sin & demonic influence, appetites have been perverted to become unhealthy. There are demonic powers that control the eye - lust of the eye (1John 2:16). Some men have to look at women in a special way. They are absolutely incapable of not doing it coz there's a demon that is focused in their eyes.
Gluttony can be a perverted appetite in which a mother takes food off her children's plates even though she has enough on her own plate.
6) Addiction
Every kind of addiction grows on frustration. If you want to deal with addiction, you have to deal with the frustration. If you merely deal with the addiction, you have not solved the problem. Eg - 2 women's husbands not only cheated on them but treated them badly as well. One is a non believer & in order to get some relief, she reaches for the liquor or beer. She turns into an alcoholic. The other woman is a church goer and for her to reach out for the bottle is out of the question. Instead, she goes into the kitchen, opens the fridge & eats non stop. She turns into a glutton.
Gluttony is just as much of a problem as alcohol. You cant be an alcoholic in church but you can be a glutton because it is more respectable. But really there is no difference between the 2. In order to help these women, you have to help them deal with their frustration which is their attitude towards their husbands.
7) Occult
I have spoken at length about the occult in Blessings & Curses. Every part of it is dangerous.
8) All False Religions
All false gods & practices are under this category.
Departure from Christianity faith is heresy.
1Timothy 4 "The Spirit (Holy Spirit) clearly says that in later times, some will abandon the faith & follow deceiving spirits & things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry & order them to abstain from certain foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving ..."
Over the years, I've met people who are constantly negative coz I think these people have been taught by deceiving demons to be negative. Egs of thoughts that are drummed into their heads - you are no good, you will not make it in your career, relationships or ministry, etc.
As for food, there are certain foods I dont eat because of health reasons but I dont make a religion out of it.
9) Area of our Physical Bodies
Epilepsy is normally treated as an evil spirit. If a person believes that it is so, then he can be prayed over & receive healing.
Many people do not want to talk about demons. They are either sceptical or they are fearful because they are afraid they might stir something up. However, you dont see that attitude in Jesus, he just treated it as a normal part of life & if He sees a person screaming under demonic oppression, He just command the demon to leave that person. When Christians understand the authority they have & the power of the blood, fear will have no place. I think many people have too much of the film Exorcist, Friday the 13th or what have you. In fact, I remembered that when I finally knew the authority I have in Christ, whenever there are spirits around, they always keep a distance from me unlike in the past. My friends' sentiments are exactly the same.
Some Christians are over spiritual, they blame the demonic too much when actually they should be dealing with their core character & exercising self discipline in their lives.
Everyone including me has to hold up our lives against the teaching of Christ & see if there are areas of sin where we need to deal with. If self condemnation comes, then it is from the demons themselves coz they know their control over your life is coming to an end & the only way to stop you from being delivered is to paralyze you with condemnation & unworthiness. Just as the fear of demons comes from the demon themselves.
The above knowledge is important for those who are in this ministry so that they can clear themselves before they help others. Understanding, knowledge, discretion (ability to tell right from wrong) & wisdom will keep one from the path of sin - sin hardens the heart & blinds the mind.
Proverbs 3:1-2 "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years & bring you prosperity."
xxx Mum
