As a parent, you may have barked, “Stop Complaining” to your children when life wasn’t suiting them.  They were bored, they didn’t like the food you served them, they weren’t getting to do what their friends were doing, or their life wasn’t measuring up to what they “saw” cool kids doing on social media.  Maybe you also have said that to a spouse or a fellow worker.  Maybe someone has said it to you.

Scripture has a lot to say about grumbling or complaining.  Grumbling is simply complaining under your breath, muttering, or mumbling your complaint.  God is not pleased with either.

Paul commanded us, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life” (Phil. 2:14-16). Later, in his same letter, Paul wrote, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (Phil. 4:12).

He says in another place, “We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel” (1 Cor. 10:9-10).

The Old Testament is full of condemnation toward Israel for all their grumbling and complaining after God brought them out of Egypt…especially in the book of Exodus.  The issue was that, in their complaining, there was an imbedded accusation against God.  How often did they accuse God of bringing them into the wilderness just to let them die?  How often did they accuse God of shorting them in their provisions?  How often dd they accuse God of victimizing them by into a hostile wilderness after bringing them out of Egypt where they once had plenty to eat? Moses wrote, “The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, ‘If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna’’ (Num. 11:4-6)!

It’s amazing how quickly they forgot how they had been crying out to God to release them from the torment of their slavery. “The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering” (Ex. 3:7).  If life was as good as they remembered it, why where they crying out for deliverance?

Their complaints in the wilderness questioned the motives of God, the goodness of God, or his power to protect and provide. That is why God was angry.  He had demonstrated his good will and power over and over through plagues and a Red Seas crossing.  Manna is described in Psalms 78:25 as “the food of angels.”  Through manna, God provided for them each day, without fail, for forty years.  Apparently, it had every nutrient they needed for health.  It required no refrigeration and there was always enough.  Although God had delivered them from slavery with unprecedented miracles, had led them through the Red Sea, and had provided nourishment and water in the wilderness and although he promised to lead them to a land of “milk and honey,” they complained, grumbled, and accused God of not caring about them.

Yes, it is human to complain, but complaint is a trap from the enemy.  God calls us to thanksgiving and gratitude. It is not just about God, but about our own well-being,

I want to quote from an article I read based on several recent clinical studies about negative thinking and complaining.  The article entitled, “Stop Complaining,” says:

Here’s the catch: What feels harmless—or normal—can quietly take a toll. Every time we dwell on what’s wrong, every time we complain, we’re not just venting—we’re training our brains to focus on the negative. A small complaint can slowly hardwire a habit that shapes how we think, feel, perceive, and respond to the situations we encounter.

Habitual complaining subtly changes the way we perceive the world. Tension builds, irritability rises, moods dip, and even minor problems can start to feel overwhelming. People caught in this cycle often experience anger, anxiety, and a persistent focus on what’s wrong. Psychologists refer to this pattern as rumination—repeatedly dwelling on negative experiences.

Rumination and habitual complaining reinforce each other, locking attention on problems and amplifying negativity. More than a fleeting feeling, research has found that repeatedly focusing on negative experiences strengthens neural pathways, making it harder to regulate emotions and respond constructively.

Research shows that a repetitive focus on problems can alter the way the brain processes information. Functional MRI studies demonstrate that rumination is consistently associated with increased activity in brain networks involved in self-focused thinking, negative affect—defined as persistent unpleasant emotional states such as sadness, anxiety, or irritability…Rumination, then, is not merely “overthinking”—it biases attention, drawing focus toward negative information while pulling attention away from positive experiences.

Emerging evidence also suggests that the consequences of persistent negative thinking may extend into long-term brain health. Studies indicate that repetitive negative thinking is associated with increased amyloid and tau protein deposition, pointing to a potentially modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Related analyses show that higher levels of chronic negative thinking are linked to more rapid declines in global cognition and memory, and may even impair impulse control.

So, here is the thing.  We choose what we habitually think about.  Paul commands us to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).  Of course, we have random thoughts pop into our minds.  Some of those are ours, some come from the Spirit, and others are introduced by demons.  We choose which thoughts to agree with and which ones we nurture and begin to speak.  Our daily decisions about what we agree with shapes our minds, our attitudes, our perceptions, our health, and even our destiny. 

Israel’s constant decision to agree with Satan in the wilderness cost an entire generation the promises of God he had established for them.  Satan is the accuser of the brethren and the accuser of God to the brethren.  The notion that God has abandoned me, is unfair, does not keep his promises, or that all my blessings come though my efforts rather than the grace of God are clearly demonic. Satan wants to convince us of those things because agreement will draw us away from God.  As he did with Adam and Eve, he wants us to slowly develop a picture of God as a  god who punishes instead of blessing; who can’t be depended on; who only keeps his promises some of the time; who actually enjoys sending harm and suffering our way rather than good things. Constant complaining makes us see ourselves as victims either because God has victimized us or because he refuses to deliver us from those who would victimize.  That agreement is unbelief and gives Satan authority to establish strongholds in our lives. 

Certainly, we go through difficulties in life.  We often don’t have everything we want.  Sometimes we face tragedy.  Sometimes people betray us. God has promised nothing less in a fallen world.  But he has also promised to never leave us or forsake us.  The Spirit instructs us to choose thanksgiving instead of complaint – to focus on what we do have rather than what we don’t have and to focus on what God has done rather what we think he should have done.  He calls on us to see ourselves as more than conquerors rather than victims in this life.

Thanksgiving, gratitude, and faith that God will see us through seasons of hardship or lack is the key to spiritual, relational, and physical health.  Complaining can become a habit.  It often become so habitual we are not even aware of our complaints. We often fail to realize that our complaints are an indictment of God that he does not truly care about us or care for us.

If we are constant complainers or even sporadic complainers, repentance is called for as well as a decision to become grateful instead of grumbling.  The key to Paul’s contentment in every situation was faith that God was giving him enough to sustain him and even the hardship would turn out for his good. If you have been a grumbler, it will take prayer, promptings by the Spirit, and intentionality to retrain your brain (renew your mind) towards thanksgiving.  You will also need to ask the people around you to kindly make you aware when you fall into the old ways of complaint. 

Our decision to complain will most likely cost us blessings God ordained for us, just as it cost Israel. This is actually serious, so I hope you will give it your serious consideration and remember the blessings of gratitude which is evidenced and sparked by thanksgiving. It opens the door to happiness, health, and blessing.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil.4:6-7).

How Angels Minister to God’s People


We have talked about the nature of angels, but in what ways do they minister to God’s people?

First of all, they are messengers. The term “angel” stems from the Greek word angelos, meaning “messenger”. Angels frequently appear in scripture to announce pivotal events and interpret visions, such as the archangel Gabriel announcing the births of John the Baptist and Jesus.  Angels in the empty tomb told Mary that Jesus had been raised from the dead, etc. Sometimes they appear in person and sometimes they appear in dreams and visions as with Daniel. Overall, this is, perhaps,  their most prominent ministry.

Although we may hear from God through the Holy Spirit, God still sends angels with a word.  When Paul was on a ship that had weathered days of a terrible storm, he said, “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you” (Acts 27:23-24). Paul certainly heard from God frequently as a prophet and an apostle, but at times God still spoke to him and others through angels.

Secondly, they serve and protect God’s people.  Remember, they are described as ministering spirits sent to serve God’s people (Heb. 1:14).  They protect, guide, provide, and comfort.  Sometimes we are aware of their presence, sometimes we are not.  An angel shut the mouths of lions when Daniel was cast into a lion’s den (Dan. 6:21). An angel protected Shadrach and his friends from harm in a fiery furnace (Dan. 3:25). An angel rescued Peter from a prison cell (Acts 12:7).  Angels ministered to an exhausted Elijah with food and water as he ran from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:5). Angels ministered to Jesus on the night of his arrest in Gethsemane (Lk. 22:43). An angel appeared to Cornelius in a vision and told him to send for Peter so that the Gentiles might receive the gospel (Acts 10:3).

Throughout scripture, angels watch over God’s people to protect them, warn them, provide for them, encourage them, and rescue them. If you ask a group of believers today if they believe angels have kept them from harm, most will say they believe angels have protected them in the midst of a car accident or near accident or gave them some direction as a stranger who just happened by when they needed to know where to go. Our seers often see angels present on Freedom Weekends when we are about to minister deliverance to believers.  They are there to partner in what we are doing.   In the end times, angels will place a mark on the foreheads of God’s people to protect them from judgments released on the earth (Rev.7:3), When Jesus returns, the angels will gather his people from the four corners of the earth (Mt.24:31).

Though powerful and awesome, angels are not to be worshipped.  In the Book of Revelation, in a moment of awe, John fell down to worship an angel.  The angel declared, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!” (Rev. 22:9).

Thirdly, they carry out and impose the judgments of God.  Angels act as instruments of God’s justice and wrath. Instances include the execution of the plagues in Egypt.  We are told in Psalms the plagues were released by a band of destroying angels (Ps. 78:49).   Two angels were involved in bringing destruction upon Sodom and Gomorrah.  We see an angel suspended between heaven and earth with his sword drawn releasing a plague over Jerusalem in judgment (1 Chron, 21:16). In Acts 12:23 we are told that an angel struck down Herod because he did not give glory to God and we see them throughout the book of Revelation releasing God’s judgments on the earth.

Finally, they partner with God’s people in carrying out God’s will on the earth.  Remember when John fell down to worship an angel and the angel rejected his worship saying he was a fellow servant with John and the other followers of Jesus (Rev. 22:9)?  As you serve God, angels may well be handling things or clearing away resistance in the spiritual realm while you are handling things in the natural realm. One of the most fascinating examples of this is found in the book of Daniel. 

In Daniel 10, we are told the prophet received a revelation that concerned a great war. He was deeply troubled by the revelation so he began to fast and pray, asking God to give him understanding of the vision. The text says, “Then he (an angel) continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come” (Dan. 10:12-14).

Scripture reveals that demonic spirits often resist the answers to our prayers.  An angel had been dispatched as soon as Daniel asked for understanding, but a demonic prince, the Prince of Persia, resisted the angel. They fought against one another in some cosmic battle for twenty-one days until Michael, the archangel, came to take up the battle so Daniel could receive understanding of the vision.

It was clearly important that Daniel receive a proper interpretation of the revelation he had received and that Satan had sniffed out the importance and attempted to keep that prayer from being answered.  Daniel prayed, the angel came, and the angel fought a demonic prince to get the message to God’s prophet.  Apparently, God does not simply wave a magic wand when we pray to answer our requests.  Often angels are involved even to the extent of fighting Satan in order for our prayers to be answered and the will of God to be done on earth. If God’s will were automatically done, Jesus would not have instructed us to pray for his will to be done on earth as in heaven.  This is not a limitation on God’s power, but is simply how he has decided to exercise his sovereignty on this planet.

Although it is not specifically stated in the text, I believe if Daniel had stopped praying for the interpretation of the revelation, Michael might not have been dispatched and the angel carrying the answer to Daniel’s prayer might not have ever delivered the message. Angels often partner with us in fulfilling God’s will in our lives, and our prayers, our declarations, and our commands assist those angels in fulfilling their part.  So…keep praying and declaring God’s word over the situations you are involved in.

Finally, angels are often seen in scripture surrounding the throne of God in worship.  We will be co-worshippers with them and are already.  The seers I know (those who have the gift of seeing into the spiritual realm) often see angels in church when we are gathered worshipping with us.

In closing, one question we often ask in regard to angels is, “Are their guardian angels?” If we mean are their angels assigned to us our entire life to watch over us and guard us from harm, scripture does not say.  We know from Biblical accounts that angels are often sent or dispatched to care for God’s people, but that doesn’t seem to be a lifelong, every-minute assignment.  Jesus does say, however, “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” (Mt. 18:10).

We do not become angels when we die, so these angels must be assigned to children and always have immediate access to the Father on their behalf. Maybe they are assigned to all children or the children of those in a covenant with God. Perhaps, they are assigned when parents pray for that assignment.  We cannot be sure from scripture but we can know that angels were created to minister to those who will inherit salvation and that is you and me.

Be encouraged when you seem to be in a battle.  You are not alone.  Pray for the ministry of angels in your family, your church, and your circumstances.  We actually have so much more at our disposal that Satan can bring against us.  We have Jesus as our perfect sacrifice, our High Priest and our mediator.  We know that he is in us and is greater than he that is in the world.  We also have the Holy Spirit who reveals, prays for us, leads us, and gives us power to overcome the enemy.  We have one another so that when two or three agree together on anything, it will be done.  And we have myriads of angels partnering with us, watching over us, providing for us and fighting for us.  And if God is for us, who can stand against us!!!  We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.  Be encouraged!

After considering the dark side (the demonic) for several weeks, we should be encouraged by the help we can receive from heaven  –  specifically through the activity of angels.  We see their involvement with the people of God from Genesis to Revelation.  Many of our prayers are answered through the activity of angels, so lets look at their nature and ministry as revealed through scripture.

The writer of Hebrews wrote, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14)?  This is the overarching purpose of angels. They are spirits who serve God’s people in various ways.

The Nature of Angels

Angels are spiritual beings who were created.  Genesis says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). Jewish and biblical thought describes three heavens.  The first we call the atmosphere.  The second, we call space.  The third heaven, however, is the spiritual realm…what is often called “the heavenlies.”   What we now think of as heaven or Paradise is in the third heaven. It seems that all spiritual beings exist in that realm. When God created the heavens and the earth, he created all things physical as well as spiritual. It was probably then that God created angels.  Paul confirms that the unseen realm was created just as the natural realm was created.  “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:16-17).

In Ezekiel 28, the prophet takes up a lament against the King of Tyre. It seems that he is drawing an analogy between the king’s pride and Satan’s pride the got him expelled from heaven. The text says, “You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you…Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. …So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor” (Ezek. 28:12-17). Most scholars believe this is a reference to Satan…a created being who lost his place in heaven.

It also seems the spiritual realm functioned before the natural realm was created. When Job was being questioned by God, the Lord said, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy” (Job 38:4-7). It appears the angels were witnesses to the creation of the world.

Angels, then, are created beings.  Because they are spirits, they are not subject to death, but have limitations.  They are not omnipresent nor all-knowing.  In fact, things the angels have longed to know have been revealed and announced to them through the church (1 Pet. 1:12).

Clearly, angels are awesome.  When seen in their heavenly glory, they are powerful and majestic.  When appearing to men, their first words are usually, “Do not be afraid.”  In Daniel 10, the prophet saw an open vision of an angel who had come to give him a message.  Even Daniel, who had seen so much and had been delivered from lions by an angel, trembled.   The men with Daniel were terrified, even though they didn’t see the angel, and Daniel fell to the ground. The text says, “A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel” (Dan.10:10-12). The good news is that these powerful heavenly beings were created to minister to you. How many angels are there? In the book of Revelation, John states, “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand” (Rev. 5:11).

We also know that angels, like mankind, have free will.  They can choose to serve God or rebel.  We know from various scriptures that Satan, who was an angel that desired to take God’s throne, led a rebellion in heaven in which a third of the angels joined and were driven out of heaven.  “And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him” (Rev. 12:7-9).

For rebellion to take place, the angels must have free will.  Like men, they choose to serve God or reject him. That passage also reveals that God and those who serve him are more powerful than those who serve Satan. Every instance of deliverance in the gospels reveals that Jesus had authority over the demons and over Satan.  Jesus even gave us authority to trample on snakes and scorpions (demons) and to overcome all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). James tells us when we submit to God and resist the devil, he will flee (Ja. 4:7). Because of Jesus, we have no need to fear the demonic but we need to be wise and equipped to fight if need be. 

Scripture also reveals that angels can work unseen, appear as angels, or can manifest as humans. The writer of Hebrews charged believers, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (Heb. 13:2).  There are numerous passages in scripture where people thought they were dealing with men, but then discovered they were face to face with angels.  For instance, in Judges 6, Gideon is met by a “man” who tells him that he will lead his people in victory over Midian. It is only at the end of the conversation that Gideon realizes the “man” was indeed an angel when the angel touched a rock with his staff and fire came from the rock while the angel disappeared. The Lord and two angels walked into Abraham’s camp, visited with Abraham, shared a meal, and only as the two angels went ahead to Sodom and Gomorrah does the Lord stay behind and reveal who he was and that the two men were angels (Gen. 18). As the angels entered Sodom to judge the city, Lot and the citizens of Sodom assumed they were mere men until they struck a number of wicked men blind.

In 2 Kings 6, Elisha and his servant are surrounded by the army of Aram sent to arrest him.  His servant was greatly alarmed while Elisha was unafraid. Elisha prayed that God would open the eyes of his servant.  The Lord did so, and the servant suddenly saw angels in chariots of fire surrounding them ready to fight on their behalf. No one else could see the angels but they were there to battle for Elisha.  At many other times, angels appear to God’s people in visions, in the empty tomb, etc., and they know they are engaged with angels.

We also know that angels are incredibly powerful.  In 2 Kings 19:35, we are told that one angel went out against the Assyrian army encamped around Jerusalem and killed 185,000 men in one night.  We discover in Psalms that it was angels who released the destructive plagues on Egypt (Ps. 78:49) and we see another angel release a plague on Israel that killed seventy thousand men (1 Chron. 21:12).  Men cannot stand against the power of God wielded through his angels.    Now remember, these angels are sent forth to minister to God’s people – which includes you!  Next, we want to consider how God’s angels minister to us.

Next Week:  How Angels Minister to God’s People

In this four-part discussion on deliverance, we have seen that Satan is always in search of a legal right to afflict God’s people.  For those who are not in Christ, he needs no permission from heaven.  Paul wrote, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:13-14). If we have not been rescued, redeemed, and forgiven, we are still under the dominion of darkness and under the authority of the evil one so he needs no ruling from heaven.

Satan may gain entrance into believers through unrepented sin, the sins of our fathers, word curses and, sometimes, trauma.  When we participate in the things of Satan – especially idolatry and witchcraft of all forms – he can enter into us because we have joined him by our participation (See 1 Cor. 10:20).  We have come into agreement with him. If we have done so before coming to Christ, we may have taken away his legal right when we were saved, but we may still have to drive him out by the authority of Jesus.  Demons are like bad renters. You may have an eviction notice in your hand, but a bad renter may still not leave until he is forced out by the sheriff.  Sometimes, you or other believers ministering to you will have to be the sheriff.

It is important to know that not everything you struggle with is demonic.  We live in a fallen world full of imperfect people who carry their own brokenness. We live in a fallen world where disease and infirmity can impact us without demonic assistance.  But if a problem has a demonic root, the problem will not go away until the demon is dispatched. If it does not have a demonic root, go to a doctor, a pastor, or therapist.  If it does, get busy fighting.

The reason it is sometimes difficult to determine what Is demonic or not, is that demons mimic conditions that exist in the natural realm.  In the gospels, we see deaf people healed by the touch of Jesus, but also see deaf people healed when a demon is cast out. We find blind and mute people healed by the touch of Jesus, but also healed when demons are driven out. Scripture describes epilepsy as a physical condition healed by the power of Christ, but we also see demonized people falling on the ground with seizures, healed through deliverance. We see a man with many demons who would be diagnosed as insane today, but after a legion of demons were cast out, he immediately sat clothed and in his right mind. 

What, then, are some indicators that you may be demonized?

1.  There are parts of your emotional or physical well-being that hinder your life, keep you from succeeding, consistently damage relationships, or that compulsively drive you to sin or destructive behaviors. You have sought help but have seen little or no improvement.  Doctors or therapists have found it hard to diagnose your problem and treatments have been largely ineffective.

2.  You have compulsive ways of thinking that are not aligned with God’s truth.  When you resist the thoughts, they do not diminish, but actually press in harder.

3. You have participated in activities or been part of organizations or religions that were submitted to Satan…especially where witchcraft or occult activities were practiced. These would include psychic readings, tarot cards, horoscopes, Ouija boards, seances, mediums, Eastern religions, Wicca, new age, Freemasonry, Mormonism, etc.

4. You recognize destructive patterns in your family line…financial failure, divorce, extreme anger, violence, addictions, depression, suicide, sexual sin, premature deaths, and other tragedies, etc.

5. You simply know that you are under demonic attack…you sense it, see demonic manifestations, or hear a voice that you identify as demonic.  You may also have people you respect suggest you may be demonized. Sometimes others see what we cannot see in ourselves.

6.  You have addictions that you hate, but counseling, support groups, and rehab centers have not given you any lasting victory.

Steps to Deliverance

If you know or suspect that you have been demonized, there are a few simple steps to gain your freedom. That begins by removing the legal grounds Satan has to afflict us. You may drive out a demon, but if the demon has legal grounds he will return soon or another spirit like him will gain entrance.  Let me be clear…if you truly do not want to be rid of an issue or have not genuinely repented of a sin (unforgiveness, gossip, judging others, a sexual relationship you don’t want to give up, etc.) you are giving the enemy a legal right to remain where he is or to come back quickly if he is driven out.  James said, Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Ja. 4:7).  First, you must submit to the Lordship of Jesus before resisting (oppose, be hostile toward, push back) the devil, if he is going to leave or flee. Half-hearted deliverance is ineffective.

Step 1:  You need to acknowledge any sin or brokenness in your own life.  You need to confess it to God and to other trustworthy believers who will not judge you but support you (see James 5:16). Too often we deny our own issues, blame others, or rationalize our sins.  Writing to believers, John said, “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). When we deny sin or blame others, we come into agreement with Satan and that continues to give him legal access to us.  You must confess the sin, repent of it, and renounce it verbally as one testifying in court.  “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Pr. 28:13).

Step 2: Do the same thing on behalf of your bloodline.  If you know of or suspect unrepented sins in your bloodline – confess, repent and renounce those sins on behalf of your bloodline. 

Step 3:  Plead the blood of Jesus over those sins…yours and your ancestors.

Step 4: In the name of Jesus and by his authority, command any unclean or demonic spirit to leave immediately and never return. Recognize who you are in Christ and the authority he has given you as a believer to tread on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy (Lk. 10:19; Mk. 16:17; Jn. 14:12).In the name of Jesus and by his authority command any unclean, demonic spirits to leave you or the one you are praying over.  In the name of Jesus, cancel their assignment against you and command them to leave immediately and never return. You must command rather than ask or beg.  Most spirits do not leave immediately.  They hang on for a while, hoping you will give up.  Those that have been present for years are most resistant.  They have established a stronghold. It may take a while to batter down the walls. Keep commanding. 

If a spirit is present, as you command you will feel things in your body or hear his voice telling you that you are powerless against him. These spirits manifest when being driven out in an effort to intimidate you or discourage you so you will give into their presence.  Keep commanding until that spirit leaves.  Most often you will feel it leave and any manifestations will cease. If, after doing all those things, you feel or experience nothing out of the ordinary, you most likely did not have a spirit attached to you.  Sometimes it is hard to know whether or not a spirit is operating. The old axiom goes, ”When in doubt, cast it out.”  If you are unsure, go through the process and see if anything manifests.  If it does not, you have lost nothing.  If it does, you have gained your freedom. 

If a spirit manifests (reveals its presence), but does not leave after a reasonable time of confessing and commanding, ask the Lord to show you if there is something still giving Satan a legal right to afflict you that you are unaware of.  Sometimes, there is something in our bloodline that needs to be revealed or something in us that we have not recognized as sin or have not truly wanted to give up.  If you are confident that you are being afflicted by a demonic spirit but have not been able to get rid of it, seek out some believers who are experienced in deliverance to minister to you.

Transformed

If you want more detailed information and detailed steps to deliverance, you can check out my new book Transformed.  You can pre-order the book now, but it will be available on Amazon and most other book outlets in early August.  It is an update of an older book I wrote called Born to be Free, but with some significant additions.  The Lord continues to teach us new things about deliverance and I have added those to the new book.  The book will give you a more extensive theological basis for deliverance, help you discover who you truly are in Christ, help you understand the sources of your brokenness, help you identify demonic activity and curses operating in your life and will walk you through a process of breaking curses and soul ties. It will then direct you in driving out specific unclean spirits. I think it can be very instructive for any believer. 

Next Week – The Ministry of Angels