When We Are Delivered

How Do We Know When We Are Delivered?

For those of us who are suffering from physical infirmity, which has been caused by demons, such as arthritis, headaches, pain or some addiction such as smoking, or alcohol, we will know when we are delivered. There will be no doubt in our mind because we will have felt the demon go and we will know our physical improvement.

Again, with spirits of oppression we will feel completely free when they have gone. Let us remember, however, the words of Jesus "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

"Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.

"Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. so shall it also be with this wicked generation."(Matt. 12:43-45)

REFILL HOUSE

If we do not ensure that the house is totally filled with the Holy Spirit and we are totally surrendered to the Lord, there is a danger of the demons re-entering.

In other cases, where demon activity has been less pronounced or more subtle, such as in the case of rejection, fear, anger, depression we will also sense the departure of demon activity.

The great danger then is for Christians to say that they are totally set free and Satan gives them the impression that they are not under attack on a future date.

We are engaged in spiritual warfare:

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph. 6:12)

Satan will not leave us alone but will attempt to throw darts at us at every opportunity. One of his chief weapons is pride, followed by deception and rebellion. It is therefore very important that we keep a humble attitude at all times, remain open to the counsel of others, particularly the members of the body of Christ, and ensure that the FRUIT of the Holy Spirit is operating in our life.

THE OLD MAN

As the Apostle Paul said, we need to die daily, that is we need to place our old man on the cross and crucify him. Our old nature will seek to rise up in us and take over and with it the demon forces will try and re-enter. Old habits die hard. The old nature will seek to reassert itself at every opportunity unless it is well and truly crucified. For example, the way in which we speak to other people, the way in which we relate to them, can be evidence as to whether the new nature has really taken hold within us... that is the new nature of Christ. If we remain unforgiving or hold wrong attitudes, then obviously the old nature is re-asserting itself and we are in danger of allowing demon activity to re-enter again.

Let us face it. The battle will continue until the very day that we go to be with the Lord. This is why I keep speaking of the need for daily repentance and the need daily to make Jesus Lord of every part of our life and to be continuously filled with the Holy Spirit. If we walk humbly and carefully before the Lord then the opportunity for Satan to attack us is greatly diminished and we can walk in true victory.

"And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. (Eph. 5:18,19)

Let us remember and name clearly the lusts of the

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissension's, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revels, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practise such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)

"THE FLESH LUSTETH AGAINST THE SPIRIT AND THE SPIRIT AGAINST THE FLESH"

We must seek daily the fruit of the Holy Spirit to operate in our lives as we yield to Jesus Christ, namely love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control, meekness, temperance. When this fruit of the Holy Spirit is operating and is flowering in our life, there is little opportunity for demon activity to manifest.

Remember the scripture from I Peter:

"If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (I Peter 4:18)

NARROW WAY

Yes, the way is a narrow way, and although many are called, few are chosen because they do not allow Jesus to be Lord of their lives. Many succumb to the old ways and go back into the world. While we are in the world we are not of the world, and although we must maintain an attitude of love at all times towards all people; let us not fall into the trap of becoming part of the world, thus allowing the spirit of Satan to gain ascendancy again in our lives.

Jesus has won the victory for us, but we must appropriate it, maintaining a daily holy walk with the Lord. We cannot do this in our own strength, only in the strength which the Holy Spirit gives. In this way we will know true joy and peace in our hearts.

When people enter our home, they should sense peace, the peace of the Holy Spirit in it. Where there is that peace, there is little opportunity for Satan to manifest his hatred and disruptive tactics.

Summing up then it must be a witness of the Spirit on the part of the person being delivered that they are indeed set free. They will know whether in fact the driving, compelling, tormenting demon has left and taking with it restlessness. Only God knows the true state of the person's heart and therefore it is a matter between that person and God himself.

I am careful about telling people that they are completely set free. I can certainly witness with them to their freedom from a particular demonic power with his host but that person must seek their assurance from God himself. If we are to precipitate in telling people that they are completely free then they could be blinded to other forces still present within them which have not gone.

It is good to remind a person that while the main demonic force has left with his hosts, there may be some demons still staying around waiting to re-enter or others which have still to leave. Therefore the person should keep their heart open before God in true repentance over the next few days, in particular, so that they can be sure of their deliverance in the expelling of any further demonic powers within them.