Demons Always Seek to Return to Their Victims
John 10
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
The world of demons never gives up. They can be driven out in defeat and they can be barred at the door but that does not end their plans. They constantly look for a doorway to return and recapture. Look at this breathtaking scripture: “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” (Matthew 12: 43-45) The only absolute power that Satan cannot overcome is the blood, the Word, and the Holy Ghost.
Please read carefully. There are many ways Satan takes people unawares. It can be anything from hatred, vengeance, jealousy, and lying spirits to murder, sodomy, or a list without end. Jesus is an absolute victory over everything that Satan may try. Look at this event recorded in the Book of Luke: “And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.” (Luke 4: 32-37) Do not say that this kind of power over Satan ended at His death and ascension. He plainly has made this power available in His Church. The Holy Ghost does exactly in the anointed saint what Jesus did in person. Very few of God’s ministers are prepared for such a great victory over the world of Lucifer.
The Nature of Evil Spirits
- Demons are paranormal in power, second only to supernatural power.
- Whatever a demon does it is to capture and destroy.
- A demon miracle is temporary and destructive.
- The demons are organized and always seek for a bigger place in Satan’s realm.
- They look for a sign from you of your willingness to submit.
- A feminine man is a sign to demons of weakness.
- The same is true of a masculine looking or dressing woman.
- People dressing with immoral appearance are sitting ducks to a fornication demon.
- The only lasting protection is the power of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 14
9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?
11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.
The church world as a whole has been captured by evil spirits to almost the same degree as the secular world. This bondage by the antichrist spirit world has reached a level that guarantees God’s judgment must be at hand. Remember those words of our Lord in St. Matthew chapter twenty-four, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24: 12-13) The level of deception is so intent and even beyond the discernment in the church that survival is scary. Men and women that have been “rocks” of spiritual courage are being deceived. Many are wondering if the church can survive. Our enemies are declaring the end of Biblical Christianity.
The only possible answer is the powers given to the evil design of the Antichrist to invade the world with strongholds. We used to see a person occasionally that was bound with bondages of unbelief or some unbiblical idea. Now it is like the whole world is off in some confused state. There are multitudes of excuses or arguments against Biblical living. Seeing souls weeping at the altar of repentance and arising a new person has become rare.
The Lord stated how dark and wicked the world would be just before He comes for His saints. “And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.” (Luke 21:16-17) Families that were once bound together in faithfulness to share their burdens are being torn apart. Little differences become excuses of hatred. Most of the church world has forgotten, “…charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” (I Peter 4:8b) Strongholds of Satan are always full of self, selfishness, and self love. Look at every action that separates you from your church family or your personal family and every time you will see “self” with a capital “S.”
The Strongholds of Hell Have Never Been So Blatant
- How to Recognize Your Emotional Stronghold
(A) They make you hate someone. The power of Jesus Christ in your life will not allow hatred.
(B) They make you irritable and quick tempered. A true faith in Christ will not allow you to bite and devour.
(C) You become stressed, red-faced, and unkind. Self-control is one of Christ’s fruit of righteousness.
(D) Strongholds will strip almost every creative thought from your mind. These kinds of captive imaginations will make you fuzzy minded.
(E) Reading the Bible becomes academic and powerless. There is no Holy Ghost joy in Bible study, preaching, or reading. Your Hallelujah is gone.
- How to Recognize Your Strongholds in Discipleship Living. Compromise of Biblical Standards is at Crisis Level.
(A) Old landmarks of Godliness start slipping away.
(B) There is a growing desire for the soft life and worldly things.
(C) Old fashioned praying until you “pray through” is either gone or going.
(D) Compassion for the lost until weeping is a lost emotion.
(E) The Bible becomes a pick and choose experience. It is no longer absolute.
1 Peter 2
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
III. How to Recognize Your Stronghold in Your Relationship With the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
(A) Worshipping until your soul is in rapture is no longer possible.
(B) Excitement and ecstasy over the soon return of Christ is gone.
(C) Once the House of God was close to Heaven, now it is a burden.
(D) The Pastor and First Lady were two people for whom you would demand respect. That’s over.
(E) Working freely for the Kingdom of God or giving until it hurts is a past joy.
- How to Recognize Strongholds of Unclean Living.
(A) The opposite sex causes emotions that are clearly wrong and impure.
(B) Dressing modestly has slowly given over to revealing clothes.
(C) Stopping at a dirty picture on TV or Internet has become easy and intriguing.
(D) Your interest in your wife or husband has vanished.
(E) Unclean thoughts have become a losing battle.
Losing the fires of Godly living is the sad state of a multitude in our church world. The enemy has slowly and methodically stolen the great hope of Jesus Christ from these lives. While they may still attend a church, they only profess what they once loved. The Bible speaks of this sad state. Simon Peter actually said this in his position as one of the twelve apostles. “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” (II Peter 2:20-22)
Satan’s Final Hour Has Arrived
Unless we understand that Satan is on his final barrage, we will allow ourselves to be in grave danger. While we are yet on the hopeful side of the Rapture and Satan’s final seven years of his One World Order, he is desperate. You cannot look at the slaughter of the unborn and the rise of sodomy and its dark “Rainbow Coalition” without seeing the final picture. The slaughter house of Planned Parenthood has now been exposed for selling baby parts on the open market. Our world is so close to hell that you can almost smell the smoke.
Why do we forget great warnings like Apostle Paul said would occur in the last (last of the last) days. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (II Timothy 3:1-5) As you read these words, you can see the powerful effect of the strongholds that Satan has taken the church world captive.
Please note two powerful verses, one before and one after, in the warning above. This reveals the presence of Satan and his demons in these strongholds. The preceding verse says, “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” (II Timothy 2:26) The verse after this warning reveals the spirit world and calls these spirits “creepy spirits,” clearly demons. “For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.” (II Timothy 3:6) These warnings make these strongholds what they really are, “the powers of hell” taking the world and the church captive.
1 John 5
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Our wicked secular world is nothing but a picture of what has happened to the church world. The mighty Holy Ghost flowing out of a Bible-centered House of God is the only hope of the world. The early church was accused of “turning the world upside down.” Of course to the church that means turning the world right side up. Our present church is utterly bound by Satan’s strongholds. The modern church leaders are possessed by the pleasures of the world. Even churches that claim conservative values know almost nothing of Holy Ghost power.
You Can Break the Spell on Your Life
The dynamic powers of the Word of God, the victorious cross, and the Holy Ghost are not one iota weakened. They are three dynamic forces that Satan can never defeat. “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.” (I John 5:7-9) Daniel by the Spirit looked right down to this hour. Here is what the Holy Ghost said, “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” (Daniel 11:32)
There is no victory in self life. The only hope of any person is found in the great Book of Romans. Many call this book the “Romans Road,” but pick and choose what applies. Here is the heart of the book that absolutely promises victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil. “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (Romans 8:5-9) This is perfect victory over the strongholds of hell. Satan does not have a clue of defeating a Spirit-filled life.
This final verse is the victory you can enjoy while you watch the destruction everywhere. “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Romans 8:11) This quickening of the Holy Ghost is the sweetest life on earth. The Spirit is the mighty power of the Father and the Son, and all the redemptive powers of Calvary are vested in Him. Self is spelled today with a capital “S.” Self life must be defeated or you remain subject to Satan’s stronghold. Apostle Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) Hallelujah can be your song if you surrender to Jesus Christ.