1 BEING DELIVERED Dr. Kenneth W. Jones, Pastor, Practical Living Ministry
Sedated Entrapment 2 Most times when we think of Deliverance, we think of someone needing to be rescued from some type of violent oppression as the Jews faced in Egypt or someone who is struggling with addiction, strongholds, and yokes where they are struggling to be free However, the enemy can achieve bondage of God s servant through ignorance, deception, pleasure, and error Satan can capture you. And it says he can do it at his will. A lot of times he captures us in our minds by sedating us with false teachings, traditions, sensations and pleasures, a lie that is more pleasing to hear than the truth
Recovering Ourselves 3 2 Timothy 2:26 - And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 2 Timothy 2:26 - And that they may come to their senses [and] escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, [henceforth] to do His [God's] will. (Amplified)
What is This Snare? 4 The influence of error as producing sleep, stupor Why is this snare so difficult to see? Because it is manipulated by the spirit of error People are lulled by tradition, new age philosophies, false teachings To ensnare someone involves taking advantage of the prey 2 Corinthians 2:11 - To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions. Since the Garden of Eden, Satan has used lies to ensnare God s people and bringing them under the snare of sin and corruption (Genesis 2:7) Why has this New Age & Seeker Movement been so damaging? It is lulling thousands to sleep, from the error of truth that is more intoxicating and acceptable producing sleep
Here is Your Visual 5 While We May Recognize This Trap While We May Overlook This Trap Seducing Spirits Groovy Grace Yoga & Meditation Sickness Fear Addictions Oppressive Spirits Bitterness Church Traditions Remember in every mousetrap is a free piece of cheese Doctrines
To Recover Those 6 Recover means to be set free from the snare of the devil and return to a sound mind; to wake; to become sober; to regain one s senses or come to one s right mind Reference to awaken one who being lulled to sleep as one who is intoxicated To fall into temptation and a snare into foolish and hurtful lusts (James 1:13-15) it draws us away from God through enticement No one can "recover themselves out of the snare of the devil" without God's intervention or grace. This intervention comes by the Spirit of God that provides truth through a believer who is called to instruct others with God s Word
Snare of the Fowler 7 Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 124:6-8). Psalms 91:3 - Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. "The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts" (119:110). Fowlers were professional bird-catchers in the days before firearms. They captured birds by spreading a net on the ground and attaching it to a springed trap or snare. It is interesting to note that a fowler is known to scatter seeds that have been impregnated with some intoxicating drug. His intention is to lay the birds asleep and then draw the snare securely over them.
Snare of the Fowler 8 This person "feeds on lies" for a period of time - not knowing that he is being "drugged" by the devil for the "kill." When the appropriate time comes, the enemy throws the trap and pulls this person into a bondage that seemingly "screams" of no escape. Often in biblical days, a fowler would sew a captured bird's eyelids together and keep it caged. That way its cries would attract large numbers of birds. The sound of the bird's despair would pique other birds' curiosity, and when they came to investigate, they also would be snared. Satan enlists spiritually blinded Christians to lay his snares for people of God!
Taken Captive By Him 9 Who are taken captive by him at his will - Margin, alive. The Greek word means, properly, to take alive; and then, to take captive, to win over (Luke 5:10); and then, to ensnare, or seduce. This means that people had been ensnared by the arts of Satan (his devices and seducing spirits) that is, they were so influenced by him, that they complied with his will. And escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him: Those who are in opposition to God's work, whether they know it or not, are bound in a demonic deception
Clouding the Minds 10 Galatians 3:1 - You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? That ye should not obey the truth - The truth of the gospel. That you should yield your minds to falsehood and error. Who has bewitched you: Bewitched has the idea that the Galatians were under some type of spell, not literally, but their minds clouded with unbiblical teaching Spiritual Maturity Required: It is wonderful to have a soft, tender heart before God. But some people have softer heads than hearts. Their minds are too accommodating to wrong, unbiblical ideas, and they don't think things through to see if they really are true or not according to the Bible. This is a sign of spiritual immaturity, even as a baby will stick anything into its mouth.(guzik s Commentary) Acts 17:11
Current Church Mindsets of 11 Today Consumer Christianity: Seeking Products over being Productive Seeker Sensitive, but Spiritually immature Not Realizing that Christ should impact the Culture, not the Culture changing the message Spooky Spirituality
Can a Christian Be Taken 12 Captive? You can be taken captive by wicked thoughts or by error, but you can t be taken captive by him at his will unless you are willing Everyone to include believers can fall prey to deception and deceit Some people think they can approach a snare like an animal, feeling that they can operate in all kinds of environment and not be affected
13 How Does This Relate to Deliverance? Deception is a powerful stronghold Deception concerns wrong thoughts, words, and actions that a person receives or carries while having some knowledge that they are wrong Deception comes from deceiving truths - The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and doctrines taught by demons, (1 Timothy 4:1) Being deceived determines our actions: Adam and Eve lost their identity, severed their relationship with God, and an evil nature began to set in them until man mind s was on evil continually (Genesis 6:5) A lack of knowledge of God can lead to a lack of spiritual restraint. The children of Israel when believed that Moses wasn t coming down, immediately worshipped the golden calf (Exodus 32:6; 1 Cor 10:7) Satan seeks to restrain believers by seducing them with false teachings that may hinder their relationship with God and others. Many people are truly bound by ignorance.
14 Spirits/Strongholds Associated with Deception Pride An inflated sense that I am right and everyone else is wrong (Obadiah 1:3-4) Accusation Usually accusing others as being wrong, immoral without proof. We are to be more discerning than judgmental False Security Luke 12:19 The man in Jesus parable was deceived in to thinking to take life easy; eat, drink and be merry. The church of Laodicea was also deceived concerning their spiritual condition (Revelation 3:17) Deceitful thinking This word doesn t apply to you. i.e. Some religions or churches are deceived in thinking that their doctrine will save them and observances while masking over other strongholds such as unforgiveness, bitterness, slander, etc. Rejection harshly reject those who don t believe as they believe Bitterness By which not only will they resist God s word, but will succeed in injuring and corrupting others.
Example 15 Recently a well known charismatic preacher, a bishop and pastor of a congregation of six thousand made a startling announcement. He said that he no longer believed that a person needed to be saved and that there was no hell. It only existed here on earth. This man was on the board of regents of one of the most respected Christian universities in America. Sounds like someone lied to him! As the news went out about this man's new found doctrine of which he named the gospel of inclusion, the Christian community dumped him like a hot potato and deemed him a heretic. Needless to say, the man lost everything and fell into a deep depression, but still believed what the devil told him was the truth. One of the major networks did an interview with him and he told them a story of how his grandparents, both of which were Pentecostal preachers, had fallen away from the faith into adultery and became totally backslidden.
Two Books: 16 George Orwell, 1984 - is about the reign of Big Brother where all knowledge is being manipulated by the Ministry of Truth. Man is heavily oppressed and watched and if he resists, he is re-socialized (brainwashing technique) Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, is about a World State Everyone is happy and dies at Age 60 People are conditioned to technology and consumption ending is better than mending Caught up material goods Discouragement of individual action & initiative totally immersed in leisure requiring no thought Discouragement of critical thinking spending time alone is considered abnormal and taboo Educating children through subconscious messages Abolition of natural reproduction There is no bonding, sex is recreational, often as a group activity, and emotional relationships are mocked and obsolete Spiritual needs are met by mock religious services and a false symbol replacing the cross
Comparison of Both Books 17 Orwell 1984 People will be overcome by internally imposed oppression Feared when people will ban books Big Brother will seek to deprive us of information concealing truth Huxley Brave New World People will come to love oppression and to adore technologies that undo their capacity to think Feared that no one would desire to read a book Truth would become irrelevant due to an overflow of information (still controlled) We would become a captive culture & that what we hate will ruin us People are controlled by inflicting pain We would become a trivial culture where what we love will ruin us People will be controlled by inflicting pleasure
Before Huxley and Orwell 18 The Bible speaks of this: For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. 3 [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. 4 [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with selfconceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God. 5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].
Submitting to the Truth 19 1 John 4:6 - We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. They are of the world - This was one of the marks by which those who had the spirit of antichrist might be known. They belonged not to the church of God, but to the world. They had its spirit; they acted on its principles; they lived for it. And the world heareth them - The people of the world - the frivolous ones, the rich, the proud, the ambitious, the sensual - receive their instructions, and recognize them as teachers and guides, for their views accord with their own. The Believer is able to deliver himself from Deception by abiding in the truth and by renewing one s mind daily on the Word of God (Romans 12:2). The Word of God offers us instructions in righteous and daily living (2 nd Timothy 3:16)
Scripture 20 2 Timothy 3:13-17 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Evil men, being naturally inclined to vanity and errors, embrace far more readily what agrees with their natural disposition, and they are led, as captive slaves, at the will of Satan. Take time to study and know the Word of God. Ask God for discernment and pursue sound doctrine
Scriputures 21 Ephesians 4:14 - As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 2 Timothy 4:3 - For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; Mark 7:8 - "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men."
Good News 22 Psalms 91:3 - Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. God will deliver us from the snare of the fowler, from all the devices of Satan, and from all spiritual oppression if we would just trust Him God has given us His servants who will instruct us in the way of righteousness, even if we oppose ourselves, so that we may recover ourselves from the snare of the enemy Psalms 91:3 As we submit to God s Spirit, He will keep us alert, sober, and wake, able to discern the devices and snares of the enemy
23 Ways to Avoid Bondage by Deception Read the Scriptures yourself and Research the Truth Acts 17:11 - Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Read under the right lighting Try not to read and receive teachings under the influence of your carnality, selfishness, pride, complacency & compromise 1 Peter 3:4 - But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
24 Ways to Avoid Bondage by Deception Consistently submit yourself to spiritual examination 2 Corinthians 13:5 - Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test? If you are in doubt about what you hear or read, seek assistance to see if what you hear supports the foundation of truth that you know We need to submit various teachings that we hear to day under the scrutiny of what is God s will and purpose for us Practice Discernment over Being Judgmental Discern - to distinguish, to separate out by diligent search, to examine. Linked to spiritual wisdom and understanding through a transformed mind. A discerning person will acknowledge the worth of God s Word Being Judgmental is judging something using the wrong measure or in the wrong motive, spirit or attitude
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Areas of Deliverance 26 Deliverance from Addictions Is Addiction a spiritual thing? Ephesians 2:3 - Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind. 1 Peter 2:11 - Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul. The Power of Addiction wages war against our soul and through its urgings and cravings, it begins to dictate to our bodies and soul, overcoming the spirit of man Two kind of Addictions: Physiological and Process Addictions Addictions are rooted in not feeling loved or lack of faith that God is able to provide all that you need.
Deliverance From Addictions 27 Will Thou Be Made Whole? Addiction eats at the will of a person: The urge and craving becomes so strong and debilitating that it becomes one s will in a sense Addictions represent a stronghold, other spirits are usually lodged within the person through the addiction (i.e. substance abuse could lead to delusions, anger, fear) This is why the person desiring deliverance, must submit oneself unto God Commitment without Submission is Defeating Example: Alcoholics Anonymous 10% Success Rate Disease Model
Bondage to Addiction 28 Addiction is oppressive in nature and reflects bondage for you become subdued to your addiction Oppression means to exercise harsh control over Oppression is imposed domination of a person or influence in order to control them mentally, physically, emotionally, and the worst of all, spiritually, in order to render them defenseless or incapacitated in their spirit Jesus who was anointed by the Holy Spirit, delivered those who were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38) Since during addiction we find ourselves submitted and controlled by our urges, to be delivered we must come to a place where we submit to God and pray for God s power to release Addictions
29 Deliverance From Oppressive Spirits Proverbs 15:13 - A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 18:14 - The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? Examples or Basic Symptoms Fear, phobias, anxieties Irrational guilt, anger and agitation Uncontrollable or besetting thoughts to include self-destructive thoughts Acute low self image and feelings of worthlessness, shame Periods of drowsiness, complacency, low energy with inability to concentrate or focus Insecure feelings such as rejection, unworthiness Hatred and bitterness towards people for no reason Suicidal thoughts
Types of Spirits 30 I believe that there are oppressive spirits and influences A person may also submit to the influences of this world, one s thoughts as well as spiritual entities Types of spirits Unclean spirits Acts 8:7, Mark5:8,9 Familiar spirits Come into contact when people go to, in order to know the future (Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6) Spirit of Divinations Stronger than familiar spirits, but much like it (Acts 16:16) Deaf & Dumb spirits Requires fasting and prayer to remove (Mark 9:25-26; 29) Evil Spirits Associated with infirmities (Luke 7:21; Luke 8:2)
Types of Spirits Cont d 31 Spirit of Whoredom Leads to idolatry, fornication, and adultery (Exodus 34:14-16; Ezek 14:3-5; Hosea 4:12-13) Spirit of Jealousy Causes a lack of trust, and suspicion of everyone. It can cause a person to become violent and have fits of rage and anger (Proverbs 29:22) A Lying Spirit: causes habitual lying (Prov 6:16-17; Prov 12:22) A Spirit of Fear 2 nd Timothy 1:7 A Spirit of Infirmity linked to sickness and diseased when delivered they usually get healed (Luke 13:11-13) A Blind Spirit- Matthew 12:22 A Spirit of Anti-Christ (1 st John 4:3) Refusal to confess Jesus as Lord A Spirit of Error (1John 4:5,6) A Haughty Spirit Associated with and Self-assurance (Prov 16:18) Seducing Spirits Associated with false doctrines and leading people away from the faith (1 st Tim 4:1)
The Story of Two Wolves 32 One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all" "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed". We have God s nature and Spirit on the inside of us. We must be careful
Example: The Spirit of Heaviness 33 Isaiah 61:3 - To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Spirit of heaviness a heavy, burdened, and oppressed spirit; a faint, feeble, or weak spirit; a desponding heart The spirit of heaviness and oppression affects the nervous system and is referred to as depression. That means your seritonins are low causing the depression, grief and sorrow. Manifestations: sorrow, grief, sadness, troubled spirit, despair, wounded spirit, hopelessness, loneliness, discouragement, self-pity, gloominess
Deliverance from Heaviness 34 Recognize it know that God has not given you the spirit of heaviness, but the garment of praise Cast down imaginations (2 nd Cor 10:4,5) Don t believe anything negative you think under its influence Effects of a spirit of heaviness: Feeling of hopelessness; long periods of depression Feeling like one is all alone Oppressive feeling, quenching our faith Repent and Renounce for participating with a Spirit of Heaviness Reject Heaviness by putting on the garment of Praise (Isaiah 61:3)
Deliverance What is 35 Required? Reading/Hearing & Receiving God s Word (Romans 10:17) Faith & Trust in the Spoken Word/Promise of God (Matt 9:35; Matt 4:23) Will thou be made whole? A decision must be made to receive God s Word in faith and desire to be released from one s affliction/circumstance/oppression What Hinders Thee? Repenting, Rejecting, and Renouncing sins, attitudes, & oppressive spirits that blocks you from receiving your deliverance Go and Sin No more, so that nothing worse happens to you. Maintain your deliverance through a redeemed and transformed lifestyle (John 5:14)