Continued…

is to seek the truth for ourselves in the Bible and pray.

Affliction

He can afflict us with illness, disasters, persecution in our business or finances. The book of Job is an example of all of this happening to one man.

Job 1: 13-20 tells of Job losing his possessions, his livelihood and his children.

Job 2: 7-8 Satan attacks Job physically. Satan afflicts him with boils from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head.

Job 2: 9 Job’s wife turns on him and tells him to curse God and die.

1 Peter 5:8 says, Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

The devil’s attacks are very real, but very well disguised by people and circumstances.

How do Christians unknowingly open themselves up to spiritual attacks or oppressions?

Past involvement in occult activity–Occult activity includes such things as Ouija boards, Magic 8 ball, tarot cards, astrology, séances, necromancy (contacting the dead), and divination. Examples are: Wicca, Long Island Medium.

Past involvement in false religion–False religions are, ultimately, doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1; Matt. 24:24).  To dabble in them is to directly dabble in demonic activity.

Drug Abuse–Drugs alter the state of the mind and can invite demonic activity since it promotes the loss of control of the mind as well as denying God’s intention for us to be sober minded. (Galatians 5:20; Revelation 9:21; 18:23).

Pornography–This is a sin of lust that can easily open a person up to having demonic influences and control.

Occult meditation techniques–Emptying the mind, centering prayer, repeating a single word or phrase for long periods, etc., are all practices that can induce an altered state of consciousness and can promote the loss of personal control of your mind.

Yoga is very popular right now and also very controversial. I’m not an expert on the subject, but from the research I’ve done I can tell you it comes from Hinduism and Buddhism.

Hindu gods – Dog, Fish, Mouse, Horse, Ram, Peacock, Bull, Tiger, Lion, Elephant, Moon, Men…

Poses – Downward-Facing Dog Pose, Half lord of the fish’s pose, Astavakra’s Pose, Astavakra the spiritual guru of King Janaka, Honorable Pose, Crescent Moon, Crescent Lunge, Cat pose…

Curses from other people–Sometimes people involved in occult activity will curse you or your family. It is not that you can actually be cursed as a Christian. Rather, those who are against Christ and His people can focus demonic activity on you (oppression).

Now for the Good News

Jesus said in John 16:33, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

There is nothing in this world—physically or spiritually—that Jesus Christ didn’t already overcome. And because he overcame the world, so too can we.

John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Matthew 26:28 – for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

In the Old Testament God made a covenant with the Israelites, in which God promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him.

Now in this present time through the crucifixion and the shed blood of Jesus Christ, we as believers are under His blood covenant and can freely partake in His victory.

We have Authority over Satan, his Demons and their Attacks

Luke 10:19 – Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.

1 John 4: 4 – You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Romans 6:14 – For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

As believers in Christ, we have the power of His Name and the power of His blood over us. Satan cannot penetrate this barrier of protection, but we must stand firm and believe it.

We have a Helper

John 14:26 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

What To Do

If you are experiencing a Spiritual Battle, don’t sit idle or go through it on your own! When my family needed help, we asked our Pastor and another couple (all experienced in battling spiritual warfare) to help us. We studied the Bible, and we bought books on spiritual warfare.

I encourage you to not only read Ephesians 6:10-20, but study it and take it to heart. Pray for guidance.

Ephesians 6:18 – With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints…

James 5:16 – The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

We have the same Spirit within us as Luke speaks about in Luke 4:18:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.

He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set free those who are oppressed.

Study the Bible verse of Ephesians 6:12 and all of Ephesians 6 to know and understand who your enemy is and how to defeat him.

For questions or prayer requests, please message me through our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MercyQuotes/

For daily inspiration and spiritual growth, bookmark our website at Daily-Bible-Verse.net

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