MODULE #14 Theotherapy DISMANTLINGS STRONGHOLDS/BREAKING THE CHAINS THAT BIND 1. DELIVERANCE the action of being rescued or set free; a formal or authoritative utterance. Demons dwell in the structures of unforgiveness Francis Frangipane Often, our involvement in certain things over the course of our lives can have deep spiritual implications. Whether we were a willing participant or not, sometimes the things we experience open a door to the spiritual realm by creating a stronghold or place or bondage to a particular sin or thought pattern. The enemy (Satan) uses the wounds in our lives to establish strongholds of pain, depression, feelings of failure, sinful behaviors and fear. Stronghold a place that has been fortified so as to protect it against attack. A place where a particular cause or belief is strongly defended or upheld. Deliverance is sometimes needed to dismantle or uproot a spiritual or mental stronghold that has been established in an individual s life. What can create the need for deliverance? SIN the enemy dwells in darkness. Every UNCONFESSED sin is a dark place where he could potentially reside. A. Heredity: Generational CURSES can cause great struggles in your life. Family sins, struggles and addictions will be passed from generation to generation until someone STOPS it by REPENTING. I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me Exodus 20:5 B. Abuse or neglect that creates trauma and places of UNRESOLVED hurt and PAIN, are vulnerable to the enemy s attacks. 1
C. Inner vows or personal decisions: I will never Our inner vows HINDER God s work in our lives and keep us from being able to experience freedom in that particular area, enabling the ENEMY to have CONTROL over that part of us. Satan is a legalist and delights in holding us to our inner vows, especially if he can keep us in bondage because of them. Jesus called Satan Beelzebub the lord of the flies in order to communicate how Satan and his demons swarm around wounded, dark places in our lives and establish strongholds of sin, sickness and false beliefs. When this happens, sometimes deliverance is needed in order to completely uproot and remove the demonic oppression from that area of our life. 2. WHEN SHOULD DELIVERANCE BE PERFORMED? A. As the Holy Spirit leads, not just because it appears to be a good IDEA. Deliverance can be damaging and do more harm than good, if the person is not READY to fully cease their cooperation with the bondage. It is very important not to administer it apart from the LORD S LEADING. B. When the ROOT or creation of the problem has been uncovered. What has caused it? If it is heredity, you may have been cooperating with it without even being aware of it. In order for deliverance to be lasting, the ROOT of the PROBLEM must be dealt with. (How did the enemy gain access?) Once the root is exposed, as an act of our WILL, we must CHOOSE not to participate in that behavior again. C. When you are ready and willing to CONFESS whatever part you have played in COOPERATING with the bondage. If we only want to get rid of the spiritual pain, but do not really want to let go of the SIN, then the DELIVERANCE will not be lasting 2
D. You must GRIEVE the losses you have sustained as a result of your PAST bondage. You must put to death the idea that you can go back and change the situation or the history of it, or that someone OWES you something. E. If you have not properly grieved a loss, or surrendered your will to GOD in any area, then deliverance is counterproductive and may result in having to do deliverance more than once. To avoid this, do not do deliverance until the proper conflicts are RESOLVED. WHEN IN DOUBT, DON T. God is in control and He will set the captives FREE. 3. WHAT IS THE GOAL OF DELIVERANCE? A. To free us so that we can begin to allow the LORD to bring us into Christlikeness. Being Christ-like is not being more religious, it is being freer in allowing God to be central in all aspects of our lives. To be Christ-like is to love others, to walk in obedience to God s will and to choose to walk in forgiveness. B. To direct the FOCUS of our lives on GOD, instead of being tormented and accused by the lies swimming in our heads. When we know the truth it sets us free! C. To free our WILL to be able to choose GOD S way so that we will not go back into bondage. 3
Name: Lesson Number: Dismantling Strongholds Date: STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. When can deliverance be a bad idea? 2. What are some of the conditions necessary for deliverance to be effective? 3. Do you see any need for deliverance in your life? 4. If yes, in what areas? 5. Write a letter to Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to show you any areas of unconfessed sin in your life. 4
6. What losses have you not completely grieved that are preventing you from reaching Theotherapeutic forgiveness? COMMENTS OR CONCERNS: RESPONSE TO COMMENTS OF CONCERNS: Upon completion of these study questions please mail them to: Marcus Odom, GLF-President RMSI / 387496 / 6B-109 Nashville, Tennessee 37209 5