Healed, Delivered and Set Free
When I first felt that the Lord wanted me to write this post I kindly declined. No, no I didn’t outright tell the Lord “no.” I couldn’t do that. I took the much more subtle approach. “Oh, I don’t think that was really the Lord.” But slowly the confirmation sunk in as it so often does and I felt there just might be someone out there who needed to hear this.
I had a demon. Now, hold on. Don’t stop reading. I’m not a crazy, wacky lady with blue hair and no, I will not be sacrificing chickens later (except for maybe fried chicken lol. What can I say all those years of teaching junior high gave me a warped sense of humor.) Anyway, back to the point. I had a demon. It was a Spirit of Fear. And I was totally set free. I know this because no amount of human effort, rationalization or reasoning worked. What did work? Prayer. And, it wasn’t even persistent prayer over a long period of time. It was one faith-filled prayer by an individual who had experience in deliverance ministry and the demon was gone. I was better.
The most AMAZING freedom came over me! I was TRULY a new creation!!!
About 10 years ago I walked in on my husband molesting a 16-year-old adopted daughter. Even through God did a great work of renewing in my heart and life (you can read about in Jill’s Story), I was left with a complete and utter inability to trust. Worst of all, the people I loved the most, people I knew were good, safe, godly people were the ones I had the most difficult time trusting. It was as though the Enemy had used that moment of trauma to sink his claws into me and he wasn’t letting go. In my head I knew my mistrust in those I loved (other than my ex-husband, obviously) had no logical grounds, but in my heart I was in panic mode - and convinced I would have to live with that fear for the rest of my life. Oh, the Enemy is truly the Father of Lies.
I grew up going to the Catholic Church and later moved into more Protestant circles but always in rather traditional western-style churches. WE have done many things right in the western church. We try to promote godly living, have great kids’ programs, study the Bible, form deep friendships, emphasize prayer, build up families. But, one thing we have not done well is to create an environment that fully embraces the POWER OF GOD. God is not a social program run by a committee and quite frankly, neither is the devil. Put one foot in a Spirit-filled church and you will suddenly be hit with two thoughts.
1) This is weird.
2) They might be right. (This one comes later after you get to know some folks and see some miracles with your own eyes happen to REAL people who AREN’T crazy.
It’s weird, not because its ungodly or unbiblical, but simply because it’s not what we’re used to. It’s not how church is done in America. However, if you take a moment to puruse the Bible it appears it just might be close to what they did in the 1st century in Jerusalem, or maybe Samaria or, who knows, maybe to the ends of the Earth. We just somehow lost that earthiness in the modern refinement and perhaps with it a bit of the Power,
Well, that Power was exactly what I needed. I could not be set free by a casual Bible study with brownies served afterward or a well-meaning prayer from a friend, “Lord, if it be your will…” I needed someone to tell that demon to get the hell out me (quite literally…though, for the record, they did not use those words. And, fear not, there were no chickens sacrificed afterward either. (There’s that warped sense of humor again :-) I digress…
The Bible says:
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 NIV
For some reason, I believe it.
The take-away. If you are struggling in some way that you just can’t seem to “get over,” find a Bible-based church that has a ministry focusing on deliverance and healing or a SOZO ministry and get help. Life is too short and you are TOO VALUABLE to the Kingdom of God not to.
