“Satan has no power over you other than what you allow”. Is that a true statement? I want to share my perspective as a Christian counselor and deliverance minister who has seen the power of demons working in people’s lives. You need to decide what you believe so you can respond correctly.
Have you ever felt like your mind won’t shut off? Are you locked into a negative thought cycle that keeps repeating in your head? Are you easily distracted by intrusive thoughts? You are a victim of a mind-binding spirit that is purposed to destroy your peace!
“I feel so much guilt over all the time I’ve wasted.” “I made a mistake years ago, and it cost me my dream.” “It is too late for me. I am too old.” A spirit of theft steals your time to steal your purpose. Time belongs to God. Guilt over lost time belongs to the […]
“Whenever I challenge my spouse, he/she tells me I am crazy and turns it all back on me.” “My spouse’s controlling behavior leaves me confused and questioning myself.” “I have no voice in this marriage. I am a shadow of who I once was.” If you are married to a narcissist, you’ve probably screamed these […]
“I can do this by myself. I don’t need anyone’s help.” “I am the only one holding this family together. Everyone depends on me.” “I’m a research fanatic.” “I spend too much time in the details looking stuff up online.” Three perspectives of a Spirit of Humanism that report to a strongman of Anti-Christ are […]
Cancel Culture is an epidemic running rampant today, trying to erase people and history. It is a movement where a person or group becomes the judge, jury, and prosecutor without a fair trial. What is the spiritual threat of Cancel Culture? Here is a clue: it has to do with one of God’s most excellent […]
Do demons manipulate your holidays at family gatherings? Do your family members quickly ignite with anger because of old resentments? Are you already dreading a rerun of last year’s drama? You are not alone! Many clients come in for family counseling after all the holiday meltdowns. Feeling helpless in your own home is not an […]
We teach our clients about the power of the tongue and that taming and retraining it (for many) becomes a powerful tool for new victories in their life. I saw this play out personally with my wife, and I hope this will encourage you. Years ago, she hurt her lower back. I can’t remember the […]
Is Jezebel tracking you? Do you do the “2-step forward 3-step back” dance with controllers who continually sabotage you? Do jealous women or men always cause you trouble? Guess what? Your demons are attracting Jezebel.
Hordes of demons are ravaging our country using the COVID-19 Quarantine as an official invitation. The stakes are high. As heaven gets closer, demons are frantically harassing souls to capture them quickly for the kingdom of darkness or disable them from their purpose. As believers, our souls cannot be possessed. However, demons can rent space through […]
Do you feel like a failure even when things work out? Does the memory of your mother or father’s voice still demand perfection? Do you struggle with self-condemnation? Demons of legalism call you a failure to put you on trial and punish you.
Pastors love to use an illustration to make their point about demons. They will talk about darkness (a spiritual allegory for demons), turn the lights off, and then light a match to illustrate that when the light comes, darkness disappears. Effective. But is it accurate to extend that to God’s presence (light) driving away demons […]
Spirits of anxiety come from hell. Their target is your Achilles heel, the chink in your armor. They aim to get a hook in your flesh to dissipate your strength and corner you in continual warfare. The devil doesn’t need you to be anxious about the new Corona Virus or its financial impact, although that […]
Does your thought life sometimes seem like a runaway freight train? Or, is it more like a boat that is sinking – you try to bail out the evil thoughts, but it’s a losing battle as more rush in? Controlling one’s thought life rests at the center of a happy and contented life. As believers, […]
Familiar spirits of fear and depression are running rampant across this country right now with the panic incited by COVID-19 and 17- million people unemployed. Whether you are fearful of the virus or economic failure, spirits familiar from past trauma will jump on an opportunity to find a crack in your armor. As a counselor, […]
This article was originally published on April 19, 2010 but has been updated and re-released in 2020 Many Christians do not understand the spiritual dynamics unleashed when our tongue speaks words into the atmosphere. God created the whole universe using words and we are created in His image. He has delegated to us the power […]
Are you married to a narcissist? Have you tried everything to keep the boat from rocking? Have you lost yourself in the battle? There are demonic spirits behind what the secular world calls narcissism that make you feel like you are going crazy.
Do your holidays become more of a battlefield than a picture of good cheer? Does your family wrap you gifts of guilt, rejection, depression, bitterness, and frustration? Are you already dreading the drama of the family gathering? You are not alone!
“The devil just keeps coming against me, brother.” Every counselor has heard that lament many times, and many counselees have voiced the same complaint over my twenty years in ministry. I’ve had to help many try to sort out the root or roots of their problems. How can you determine if it’s Satan or you […]
Is spiritual warfare an Old Testament concept? Do Christians need to understand and engage the spirit realm today or did Jesus take care of that on the cross? These are important questions and what we believe has implications for how we live our daily lives.
Are you fighting a battle with your teenager that seems demonic? Have they changed into someone you don’t recognize? Is your teen struggling with more than just healthy independence? I want to give you a preview of a new product to be released soon that I believe will help you: “Strategic Spiritual Warfare Training for […]
No one wants to be a doormat, especially for demons! Doormats get walked all over, they collect the dirt off everyone’s feet and go unnoticed. Doormats are passive. Passivity is defined as the acceptance of what happens without active response or resistance. In other words, what you allow will continue, and it will be done […]
The world calls it co-dependency but we call it the fruit of ungodly soul ties and I want to examine that topic from our perspective as ministers. Dictionary.com defines codependency as: “excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically one who requires support on account of illness or addiction”
Are you tired of the same spiral of torment that shows up during the holiday season? Were your family members being used to push your buttons over the Thanksgiving Table? Do you want a better result at Christmas? Good! Step one is recognizing the enemies “Top 10 List” of demons assigned to sabotage your holidays.
I’m sure you have said things like: “I am frustrated!” “I am angry!” “I am anxious!” But I bet you’ve never said, “I am going to let demons tell me how to feel today.” Here is an eye-opener–every time you connect the identity of a demon to God’s name of “I AM” you are giving […]
Have you reached the master-level status in a demonic mind-game of self-condemnation? Here is a clue, the invitation to play sounds like this, “Maybe God can forgive me, but I can’t forgive myself. I am not worthy.” You can almost hear a drum beat like the game of “Jumanji” begin calling your name. With your […]
God’s revealed truth in the Holy Bible presents a pathway to life for believers. However, the demonic realm has access to the same scriptures, and they know precisely where the boundary markers are for them.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil. He is talking about demons in our earthly realm as well as those in the second heaven. At Above & Beyond, we equip our clients with findings from the Arno Profile System (APS). This […]
Identity theft – it is the latest bogeyman thrown around by marketers in a calculated effort to scare and drive fearful consumers towards their safeguard product. Conventional and social media bombard us daily about the dangers of it and the need to protect ourselves against this pervasive evil.
Have you been frustrated to hear accurate prophetic words spoken over your life that did not come to pass? Tom, a friend of mine (and a deliverance ministry client) had a vision and passion for going to South Africa to build a training center. He had visited there and set the wheels in motion to […]
Where do you focus your attention? Are you distracted by trauma, living in the past, or consumed by the pain? The Bible tells us that the direction in which we focus our attention is the way in which we will go.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that we battle spiritual forces of evil on earth and in the heavenly realms. At Above & Beyond, we purposely avoid warfare in the second heaven (the heavenly realms) and focus on the ministry of deliverance. I want to explain the distinction and offer insights as to why you […]
Are you a Christian who adamantly defends Halloween? Do you base your position on happy childhood memories of candy and dressing up? Let’s face it there’s a big debate this time of year among Christians over Halloween’s safety and whether you are opening a door of torment for your children by taking them out to […]
“Why is this happening to me?” “I thought God was supposed to protect me?” Many leaders in the Body of Christ declare that the battle is the Lord’s and that our job is just to believe and trust. Others contend that we are to be actively involved in fighting the enemy. What is the truth?
“Satan has no power over you other than what you allow”. Is that a true statement? I want to share my perspective as a Christian counselor and deliverance minister who has seen the power of demons working in people’s lives. You need to decide what you believe so you can respond correctly.
What demons of control are dominating your promised land and keeping you bound in fear? Controlling spirits seek out those who cower under fear of rejection so they may increase while their victim dissipates. What you allow will continue!
Have you asked Jezebel to serve her favorite dish of revenge at your banquet table? Do you sense a dark cloud of demonic harassment hovering over your days? Do you feel victimized, slandered, and rejected by your friends and family? You are on Jezebel’s radar screen, and the root of your torment came from your […]
Are you aware that the words of your mouth can have control over your life? I hear people say that:
Church pastors are to teach, shepherd and protect the flock under their watch. The majority perform those tasks with diligence and integrity. Some seek to elevate themselves, but I have seen many of the sheep put their leaders on pedestals that are ungodly and unsustainable. The results are often disastrous.
What was going on in your mother’s life while she was pregnant with you? Was there trauma or chaos in the delivery room on the day of your birth? Were you a “surprise” baby? These questions expose the root of a demonic assignment from birth to kill, steal, and destroy your destiny! (John 10:10)
I hear it from clients all the time: “God answered my prayer, that was a divine appointment!”. They’ve met someone who showed up in their life at just the right time, or so it appears. A new relationship. A job offer. But all that glitters is not gold. How can you tell who orchestrated the […]
How many people that you know operate in the gift of healing and are struggling with chronic illnesses? The demonic kingdom targets the gift of healing and will try to build an infirmity stronghold right next to it to shut it down.
For every gift God gives, Satan tries to erect a stronghold right next to it to block it. One of my clients described her gift of service as a problem: “I have no boundaries. I would give you this shirt off my back if you asked me. I can’t say no. I loved to volunteer, […]
The topic of personal spiritual warfare tends to fragment rather than unify the church of Christ today. Are you part of a congregation with a healthy and accurate focus on equipping the saints for battle? Does your pastor ignore the topic or give it periodic lip service, with little content you can use?
For every gift God gives, Satan tries to erect a stronghold right next to it to block it! One of my clients described her gift of discernment as a negative gift. She told me she had a hard time connecting with people. “I just know too much about them the minute I meet them and […]
For every gift God gives, Satan tries to erect a demonic stronghold right next to it to block it! One client told me that she was the smartest most strategic business leader around, but that she never got a break. She knew she had a gift of leadership but could not see the spirit of […]
When it comes to teachings on demons and spiritual warfare, there is often more smoke than fire. I don’t want to sound negative–I am looking for solid food but find many are long on generalities and short on personal, practical tools to apply. From my perspective as a deliverance minister, I find much to be biblically accurate, but the […]
The term “spiritual warfare” is never used in some churches, preached a little in others and emphasized heavily in a smaller segment. Much of what is taught is fuzzy, incomplete and lacking in principles to help the listener apply them personally. Do you have a clear understanding of what spiritual warfare is and how to […]
Time can slip through your hands faster than water! You micro-manage it. You fret over it. You rearrange it. Then you watch it evaporate. There is a thief behind that disappearing act of time, and it is a spirit of addiction to distraction!
“I don’t know my purpose.” “I have no direction.” “God has not revealed my gifts and talents.” Behind these statements is a demon intent on hiding your purpose. It is the one demonic spirit that elevates you above God’s plan for your life or buries you under imperfection.
“My husband would rather look at porn than be intimate with me.” “I’ve lost my husband to the fantasy images on his computer.” “My husband has tried to stop looking at porn but it’s become an addiction he is now rationalizing.” I frequently hear these types of statements from wives seeking counsel because they have […]
The demonic realm’s mission is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). Do you understand enough of the enemy’s ways to resist him effectively, especially on the battlefield of your home? We have heard many stories over the years of how people are attacked not only by indwelling spirits but also those from the outside. […]
You know you are likely being hindered by a religious spirit if you find yourself saying: “I will never be as holy, anointed, or used by God as (fill in the blank). “I don’t have peace unless I pray certain prayers every day.” “I can’t find a church that Biblically lines up with what God […]
Do you feel stuck in your walk with God? You want to believe what the Bible says but feel consistently overwhelmed by guilt over past sins or fear about what lies ahead. What voices are you hearing and how can you begin to get out of the rut?
“You don’t understand! My home is the battlefield!” “How can I rest, when my spouse is my war?” “My mind never shuts off, I am never at peace!” If you have said these things, it’s time to move from battle fatigue to healing restoration!
“I never knew my father; he abandoned my mother when she got pregnant.” “My mom was illegitimate, it runs in our family.” “My mother hid her pregnancy, she was ashamed of me, and I was not planned and felt unwanted.” “I feel disconnected in church, I have trouble reading the Bible or entering into worship.” […]
Do you ever wonder where a specific thought is coming from? Is that “your” thought or is Satan planting his thoughts in your head? Many of our incoming counseling clients have self-obsessed on this question and if they are in our office, it’s because they are not winning on the battlefield of the mind. Many […]
“I feel like I am turning into my mother.” “Women in my family wind up bitter and joyless.” “It’s not my sin that has left me bitter; it’s the sin of others!” Spirits of bitterness that came in from sins of others will slowly kill its innocent victims! I hear it all the time […]
Mocking spirits are easy to discern and silence when you know the truth! Let’s start with a definition of mockery: verb: to mock means to deceive, delude, or disappoint. noun: a counterfeit, imitation, sham or fake Synonyms for mockery are to cheat, dupe, fool, or mislead.
I hear people who say they rebuke Satan or another demonic spirit. What does that mean? Is it necessary? I want to give you my perspective as a Christian counselor and deliverance minister and also give you another option that might be more helpful to you.
“I feel so overwhelmed!” “I am an emotional train wreck!” “My emotions are driving me crazy!” You cannot trust your emotions because demons can manipulate them!
When I meet with a client the first time, I try to gain as much insight as I can on the presenting issues in their life that led them to seek help. I also want to understand their background and I’ve seen an unsettling spirit of idolatry at work that isolates many from the fellowship […]
“I hate my job!” “The people I work with are full of demons!” “Every day I pray that God will move me into a Christian workplace.” If these quotes reflect your feelings about your work environment, be hopeful! Are you aware that God gave you the spiritual authority to silence the demons speaking through your […]
Is cutting demonic? Does the Bible say anything about the origins of cutting and slashing the flesh? What are the warning signs I should look for if I suspect my child is cutting?
In Part I of this two-part series, I covered the biblical basis for Children’s deliverance. Read Part I In this article, I want to offer some insight that will help you discern if what you are dealing with is a demon manifesting in your child or a discipline problem.
Do you see behaviors in your child that concern and frighten you? Have your efforts of discipline resulted in defeat? Do you see patterns evolving that are common in your family tree? Do the doctors want to prescribe medications for something that you sense is a spiritual torment? Your child may be oppressed by a […]
Jesus dealt with the demonic realm a great deal in the gospels, primarily in the context of casting them out. He trained the disciples to do it also and said that driving out demons was one of the signs to follow believers. Paul teaches that there is a spiritual gift of discernment available to believers […]
Did you celebrate the victory of healing only to have the symptoms come right back? Did you walk in your healing for a long time and now recognize familiar symptoms manifesting again? It’s quite possible a familiar spirit of infirmity, pain, depression, fear, or anger that you have dealt with in the past is trying […]
The sword of the spirit is the word of God (Ephesians 6:12). You read it and meditate on it, but do you know how to wield it effectively in spiritual warfare? During years of counseling with clients, I’ve found that many do not use it as effectively as they might. In this article, I’ll outline a […]
Are you one who has a mind that never shuts off? Does it race the minute your head hits the pillow? If you are sleepless because of demonic thoughts or a mind that never stops, this article is for you!
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God is at work all around us and so is the demonic realm. Each person has a spirit man also and the dynamics of all three at work is truly “real life”. Wouldn’t you like to have a better understanding of how this unseen spirit world functions? Discerning of spirits is one of the spiritual […]
Has it ever occurred to you that an ungodly soul tie is what’s giving a spirit of addiction control over your life? Have you tried to stop using drugs or alcohol without success? Who was it that offered you that first drink, joint, or pill?
How could a spirit of depression be linked to America? What does God say about sin and how it affects the land? God is speaking to Adam in Gen. 3:17 and declaring that the original sin, of eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge, had cursed the ground. From that day on, the scripture […]
Were you bullied as a child by an abusive parent, classmate, or family member? Do you think in terms of revenge or getting even? Have you become the bullying spouse in your marriage? An ungodly soul tie may be at the root of your anger.
Have you repented of the same sin over and over again without gaining the victory? Do you recognize this sinful behavior as something that keeps repeating generation after generation in your family? Issues like fear, anger, rejection, debt, infirmities, or addictions continue cycling in your bloodline may be an indication of generational sin.
Has it ever crossed your mind that Satan and his kingdom are afraid of you? The demonic kingdom shakes in fear that you may one day realize you are a weapon of war, trained by God, in order to make the enemy a footstool for the return of Jesus Christ. In Genesis 1:27-28 God created […]
Do you feel trapped by fear? Tormented, paralyzed or overwhelmed? Christians pursue many avenues to gain freedom from an emotion that can be debilitating and physically damaging when it is full-blown. At the end of this article, I’m going to give you one action item you can do today to begin to move forward […]
While we don’t find the term “ungodly fear” in the Bible, there is a godly fear. There are at least three lessons we can learn about the other kind: the type that is unhealthy, damaging and not part of God’s will for our lives.
Knowing the land of your forefathers is fundamental to understanding the generational sin that is repeating in your family bloodline. Land is important to God. God’s children are His inheritance. God formed His inheritance from the land. From the dust of the land, we came, and to the land we will return (Gen 2:7).
Are you more loyal to your selfish way of living than you are to God? Have you openly rebelled against wise counsel and found yourself stuck in a rut, going nowhere? Does a war break out in your flesh every time someone in authority tells you what to do? If so, you have likely declared:
Medical experts tell us that excessive fear, worry or anxiety in a person’s life can trigger or worsen certain sicknesses of diseases. Are you aware that many sicknesses and diseases have a spiritual root, where the demonic spirits of fear (and others) enters to try to kill and destroy us?
Has your marriage turned into a battlefield full of hidden explosive devices? Do your conversations escalate into arguments rapidly? Has communication collapsed in fear of your spouse’s anger?
Are you stuck in a dying marriage? You’ve tried all you know to do and nothing’s working? You want the marriage to work, but your faith is waning, and hope is on its last legs. Maybe your spouse will not get any help at all, and you are at the end of your rope? I’m […]
Everyone knows that the childhood chant of “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is patently false. Words do hurt and wound, but most people do not understand that spiritual life and death flow from what we speak and what has been spoken over us.
Many people experience manifestations of demonic torment in their physical bodies. The nature of this torment varies greatly, but most are confident that the source is outside of them. It is our experience as deliverance ministers that most of the physical torment is from spirits inside the house.
When it comes to spiritual warfare and discerning the demonic realm, many presume that Jesus somehow had an unfair advantage that is beyond our capability today. That is not true; we can see and discern the demonic realm just like He did.
Christians routinely visit a sick friend or relative in the hospital. Some will stir up their faith and pray for healing while they are there, maybe even laying hands upon them. Would you like to step your spiritual warfare a notch or two? In this article, I’m going to suggest four bold tactics for you […]
Christians are exhorted, in James 4:7, to submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee. Great wisdom and direction for sure, but how exactly does one do that? Let’s begin with a clarification: the devil is not Satan! We understand that Satan is a devil, a demonic spirit who rules over many other […]
There is woefully little useful teaching about the demonic realm in the church today. God’s people are ignorant about the ways and means of the demonic realm and fall easy prey for destruction (Hosea 4:6). This article summarizes, from my perspective as a Christian counselor and deliverance minister, five common misconceptions Christians have about demons.
We all have prayers and petitions before the Lord. We are asking him to move in our life, family, work and church situations. We pray for direction and wisdom and then anticipate an answer. Have you made a life-changing decision based upon a perceived answer to prayer and then watched as the situation completely unraveled?
Have you ever thought, “I would be better off dead?” Do your prayers include a “death wish” to go home to be with the Lord? Do you find yourself disconnecting from life and praying to wake up in heaven?
Do you wonder what it would be like to go through a whole day without the tormenting thoughts of suicide? Do you dread waking up because those thoughts greet you the minute you awake? Have you considered that perhaps those are not your thoughts, and that a tormenting spirit may have entered into your family through […]
The medical profession is awash in diagnoses where the last word in the phrase is “syndrome” or “disorder”. New terms and categories are being created rapidly so that, once identified, a treatment plan (frequently involving medications) can be developed and implement. Many seasoned ministers and counselors in the Body of Christ contend that syndromes and […]
We know that Satan and the demonic realm hate God, hate Christians and hate the Bible. Fortunately for them, much of the church of Jesus spends little time teaching about their plans, schemes and modes of operation. There are many scriptures about demons we need to know, but I want to highlight two that are […]
Has your home become more of a battlefield than a sanctuary of peace? Are you on the defense the minute you get home because you know that a skirmish is looming? Is the spiritual atmosphere ominous and oppressive and you feel powerless to change it? You are not alone!
Are people close to you calling you an angry man? Your wife, girlfriend or family says you need help, but you are not convinced? You contend that if others would quit pushing your buttons you would be fine. Coming to grips with the reality of an anger problem is difficult for many men. Some recognize […]
Passages about Satan, demon spirits and spiritual warfare are interspersed throughout the bible. Many clients have an old-testament understanding of the demonic realm (much of it from the book of Job), that is incomplete and flawed. The reality is that things changed significantly when Jesus came on the scene and we need to correct that viewpoint.
Rebecca Greenwood authored a book called “Let Our Children Go”. I truly believe that every parent should pick up a copy. It’s cutting edge on evil influences and demonic harassment that is tormenting our children. Under the topic of video games she states: “… recent studies found that playing violent video games is a way […]
At our counseling center clients will often say something like, “I know I probably sound like everyone else to you. I bet you get tired of hearing the same things every day.” My reply is typically as follows: “You are unique and there is no one else quite like you. It is the strategies of […]
Do you know that you have two minds: a soul mind and a spirit mind? During our counseling sessions with clients, I am frequently amazed at how confused people are about the nature and progress of their “born again” experience. In this article, I want to clarify the issue and hopefully give hope to many […]
A spirit of death has one intention: to kill, steal, and destroy! It murders hopes, dreams, plans, and life. It may have entered your family bloodline through a curse of death or a murder, and be manifesting itself differently in your life through infirmities, victimization, suicidal thoughts, or abusive violence.
How do you know when demons leave a person? Over the course of the past few weeks, I have had several clients ask, with no small measure of fear in their voice, how the demons are going to leave and how I, when ministering deliverance, will know that they are gone?
The terms “spiritual warfare” and “deliverance ministry” are bandied about frequently in the church. One in particular can evoke strong emotions and the divergence in views and understanding is as broad as the Red Sea! What follows is my perception of the linkage between the two. The best definition of spiritual warfare is given by […]
In Numbers 1:2 in the bible, Joshua was told to lead the people into the Promised Land, to go in and take position of what the Lord was giving them. The modern day ministry of deliverance is similar in many ways and this article explores that connection. In the natural, Joshua led the people in […]
I felt impressed to develop a series of articles looking at the issues of ethnic generational curses and demonic torment common to different groups. There are many open doors for demonic oppression in a person’s life. However, over the course of ministering deliverance to thousands of people, we have seen recurring themes based upon their […]
Over a span of more than fourteen years in deliverance ministry, I have witnessed a broad spectrum of results from time spent with clients and seminar attendees. There have been many wonderful testimonies, partial victories and (sadly) sometimes little or no good fruit that results.
The topic of spiritual warfare is ignored or minimally addressed in most churches. When it is mentioned, the context is typically muddy, the practical advice is minimal and people are left with little help on when, where and how to do this warfare. How can you fight an enemy you cannot see? Part of a […]
As a Deliverance counselor I have been asked by overweight clients to cast out the spirit of gluttony that they thought was causing them to overeat. However, what we have found is that gluttony is not always the common culprit. It seems that what is lurking behind overeating can be the provoking spirit of seduction!
I have occasion to minister to couples who are into their second (or more) marriage and there is a typical common assessment of the difficulties they are encountering. The phrase, “we’ve each got baggage” or some facsimile thereof is a common refrain and here is what I hear when they say that: “We brought demons […]
Our counseling clients and seminar attendees often wonder why they have certain “issues” working in their lives that they cannot get the victory over. Counseling has had limited effectiveness and many have little understanding of the demonic realm which is working to kill, steal and destroy.
While I am immersed almost daily in the realm of Christian counseling and spiritual warfare (deliverance) with clients, I recently had the “opportunity” to stand up and engage first hand a direct physical attack from the demonic realm. I experienced my third kidney stone torment last Friday night and here’s the account of how that […]
There are truisms that we adhere to our ministry: you cannot counsel demons out of people and there are not demons behind every problem! Many people spend years in counseling with minimal lasting growth because they need deliverance. Others see deliverance as a “quick fix” and refuse to walk it out afterwards. They have little […]
Christians should not be afraid of demons. We are called to discern, resist and also drive them out during deliverance ministry. Although we take safeguards, occasionally one will manifest in physical strength against us and it can be disconcerting. This is one such account during one of my sessions many years ago.
►Last of a 6 part series In the first part of this series, we explained how people’s temperaments (based upon the Arno Profile System) affect how their minds function and how each needs to wage spiritual warfare differently in this area.
►Part 5 of a 6 part seriesIn the first part of this series, we explained how people’s temperaments (based upon the Arno Profile System) affect how their minds function and how each needs to wage spiritual warfare differently in this area. We looked at melancholies, sanguines and cholerics in previous posts and will now consider phlegmatics.
►Part 4 of a 6 part series In the first part of this series, we explained how temperaments (based upon the Arno Profile System) affect how mind functions and how each type needs to wage spiritual warfare differently in this realm. We looked at melancholies and sanguines in previous posts and will now consider cholerics.
►Part 3 of a 6 part series In the first part of this series, we explained how people’s temperaments (based upon the Arno Profile System) affect how their minds function and how each needs to wage spiritual warfare differently in this area. We looked at melancholies in a previous article and will now consider sanguines.
►Part 2 of a 6 part series In the first part of this series, we explained how people’s temperaments (based upon the Arno Profile System) affect how their minds function and how each needs to wage spiritual warfare differently in this area. In this article, we look at the melancholy temperament.
►Part 1 of a 6 part series A person’s spiritual temperament and associated thinking patterns are an important element of waging effective spiritual warfare. As Christians better understand themselves and how the demonic kingdom works on minds they can win more spiritual battles.
Did you know that deliverance needs to be walked out? As Paul said about working out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12), in a similar manner we must recognize that deliverance is not a singular, isolated event.
Fear and rejection are common entry points for demonic oppression, but what keeps their legal right to stay and torment is often hidden. God continually intervenes as we minister deliverance to bring revelation to us and what follows is one such encounter.
In one of my earlier deliverance ministry encounters, I met with a “Mary” , a married mother of two who had been who had been an exotic dancer in the past. That part of her life had been had been spiritually dark and painful for her and the fruit of that, and other aspects of […]
If you see a cockroach in your house and go over and squash it, what is your reaction? Are you relieved you killed the intruder or are you purposed to go after all its comrades you know must also be in proximity? The “demons-are-like-cockroaches” analogy, as it relates to deliverance ministry, has three major aspects […]
Every year the war over Halloween begins to surface. There are those who staunchly believe it’s okay to give candy to a fun-loving bunch of ghouls and others who want to condemn you for even buying candy. So where is the truth in all of this?
The tongue is one of the post powerful weapons so why don’t more Christians use it more frequently to speak to the demonic realm? Spirits cannot read our mind or understand prayer languages (speaking in tongues) but they certainly can hear and we need to talk to demons properly. If the truth be known, the demonic […]
At the “Head of the Year” gathering last week, Chuck Pierce stated: “The superstitious spirit that comes into a family bloodline to keep a person bound from warfare has to go in order for us to prevail in this next season.” I found the timing of that statement interesting, as I had a client recently tell […]
When a crisis occurs, and you cannot think quickly enough to avert disaster, what do you do? I want to relate an instance where I know that a heavenly host of angels were there for me! Two years ago, I fell off a dining room chair while trying to hang Christmas swag hook over a […]
Have you noticed how the cable networks are airing more and more reality shows directed at teens that focus on drama, chaos, confusion and sexual immorality? Could it be a demonic agenda to kill, steal, and destroy Gods best for our youth? Could shows like Teen Mom, Bad Girls Club or Real World be teaching our […]
You might be surprised if you could see the size of a demon compared to a warring angel sent to guard a believer. I had a clear picture of that size differential one night driving home from an anointed teaching on spiritual warfare. As I got near home, a car pulled up next to me, and […]
Leaning on our own understanding can cause major stumbles in our lives! It hinders our growth with Christ, causes heartache and often leads us down unintended rabbit trails. Many years ago God showed me a picture of what it looks like to him when we lean on our own understanding.
The issue of a person’s salvation is obviously paramount for their eternal destiny but in deliverance ministry it is a vital concern because demons do not want to relinquish a soul! I ministered to a man a few years back who came from out of state for deliverance ministry. He had been raised in an […]
Should you talk to demons? Can you get truthful answers from them? There is some level of debate among deliverance ministers as to whether or not one should speak to, or ask questions of demonic spirits during deliverance.
I saw a t-shirt recently that said “The voices in my head don’t like you” and it reminded me of people who we’ve ministered to who have had the voices silenced. Some number of clients we see are on psychotropic medications for various afflictions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and more. The overwhelming majority […]
Discerning of spirits is one of the least understood spiritual gifts in the Body of Christ. We strongly believe that everyone can (and needs to!) operate powerfully and effectively in that gift to wage spiritual warfare effectively. It is less understood then most of the others because, as with deliverance and the demonic realm in general, […]
Have you ever noticed that the demonic kingdom often shows up to persecute you right after God has used you to bless others? They want to steal your joy. I was given fresh insight to this demonic agenda several years ago at a womens retreat that I was privileged to organize. We had planned a […]
During the course of my years in counseling and deliverance ministry, I have had occasion periodically to minister to men who have been involved in child molestation. In every case, the legal authorities were aware of the crimes involved so there was not a “need to notify” issue for me which I was thankful for.
Our initial counseling session with clients involves an interview. One bit of information I always gather is an understanding of how much the person knows about the demonic realm. How much teaching have they had about spiritual warfare? Many view the term “deliverance” in a very skeptical, guarded way or happily attach a generic non-threatening […]
As far back as I can recall, my mother would not permit discussions about hell in our home. From her point of view, in order for hell to exist, there would need to be rescuer or savior or at least a path available by works. My mother instead adopted the new age approach that all […]
I had a dream recently about striving and works that accompany a religious spirit. It represented the checklist that many “task -minded” people try to accomplish in order to get into the presence of God. In this dream, I had purchased a ticket to ride a special elevator that was going to whisk me into […]
A spirit of apathy is a self-defense mechanism from the pit of hell. It closes your mind, hardens your heart, and partners with impatience in order to breed failure. It causes you to say things like, “I just give up!”, “I don’t care anymore!”, and “Whatever!” If these statements are coming out of your mouth, […]
Have you ever had someone close to you make a comment that just pushed every one of your buttons all at once? Maybe it’s just a “flesh” issue at times–we are simply tired or hurt or wounded– but often times, at that moment the demonic realm is filling your head with thoughts so you can […]
Do you find yourself tossed to and fro emotionally, like a leaf on a wave? When I was a young child growing up in Connecticut, all the kids in the park wanted me to play with them on the see-saw. Not because of any particular skill I had, but because I was always at least […]
I had a client say that to me recently, “I am sure you have seen this same thing a thousand times before and I am just like everyone else that comes in for counseling.” I told her part of that statement was correct. The plans and schemes of the demonic kingdom are not that unique. […]
An important aspect of our five-session deliverance ministry process is the fifth session. During that time, we assess progress and also show the client how to stay free from demonic spirits when they return. We show them how to stayon the narrow road that leads to life (Matt 7:13-14).
We often get asked by clients about how effective deliverance ministry is… that is, will it “work” for them? We’ve seen deliverance ministry over-emphasized as a solution to people’s problems but we believe that is really just a special type of counseling therapy and the requirements for success are quite similar in some respects as […]
(Or do you have God’s Premium Security Software System of Faith Installed?) Fear is a virus that contaminates your thinking and shuts down Gods truth with a lie. Sin originated with satan’s lies. He contradicted Gods word and told Eve she would not die, but gain Gods wisdom if she ate the fruit from the […]
The bible teaches that man is indeed beautiful. That is, he is created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26) and we would all understand and believe that God is good and there is no evil in Him. We know that God in His wisdom gave us a free will so that we might make […]
That is an interesting question, isn’t it? When I call that spirit out during a deliverance session, my clients are usually quite surprised at its presence. I frequently hear, “Where did that come from? I have never stolen anything in my life.” Perhaps a better question is: what has been stolen from you? A spirit […]
Growing up in a small beach community in Connecticut with two older brothers provides me with many memories of forts, barrier walls, and weapons of warfare. My brothers were skilled snowball warriors, planning strategies while I was still in diapers. Consequently I was usually set under an apple tree with my dolls while they planned […]
How can a pastor, friend, family member or anyone else know if a person needs deliverance? In previous articles, we have talked about the fact that deliverance ministry is real and is for today. It is not a “magic bullet” for everything wrong in a person’s life. Put simply, deliverance involves driving/calling demonic spirits out […]
Forgiveness and releasing judgment against those who have wronged us are important teachings as we counsel and prepare people for deliverance ministry. Jesus makes it clear that unforgiveness gives the demonic kingdom a legal right to torment us. In Matthew 18:34, He states that unless we forgive with our whole heart, we will be turned […]
When you hear the word Christian deliverance of just deliverance, what do you think of? (Try googling it!) The word is used liberally in the Old Testament. Depending upon your translation, the word appears only one or two times in the new testament and in all instances it is generally interpreted in the context of […]
If you are prone to being depressed after reading casualty statistics, then turn away now. The demonic kingdom seeks to kill, steal and destroy our youth and families by seducing them away from their parents and from God. The statistics are in, and they are alarming. We see the fruit of this on the front […]
Are your children getting educated on the spirit realm by Jesus or Harry Potter? Where are they getting their most effective spiritual training? I always find it interesting when parents bring their teenagers into our counseling office and those young people have an interest in learning about spiritual warfare and deliverance. Their parents have typically brought […]
One of the tactics that opponents of deliverance ministry will use is to attack those who minister. They will say derisively that practitioners see demons everywhere and behind every problem in a person’s life. I will be the first to say that there are some very unorthodox views and practices in the field (is it […]
How long does it take the sins of the father to visit the third and fourth generations as it is written in Exodus 20:5? I know that there is great debate about this verse and how it can manifest in a Christian’s life but I believe that God gave me that answer the night […]
For many in the world, indeed for many Christians(!), it is a preposterous notion that demons cause sickness. The fact is that the bible explicitly points this out! Luke 13:11-13. On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. […]
The most common objection I hear as a counselor/deliverance minister against the idea of a believer having a demon is 2 Cor 6:14. Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness. Reading this verse in context, which is extremely […]
Proverbs 26:12(NIV) say: “ Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.” If a child’s teacher is word cursing him, a spirit has been assigned and is looking for an open door.
Soul ties involve bondings with living beings..that is, with those things that have a soul. Webster’s defines soul as: “the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life”. A being has a soul in that it can think and have emotions.
I had a counseling client recently (let’s call her “Jill”, not her real name) who was a beautiful young woman of God who had spent her life in the church and had recently graduated from Massage Therapy School. I listened intently as she spoke of the doors for demonic oppression she felt had been opened […]
What are demons like, what is their nature? Demons are evil of course; we know that and that they come to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10)! There are many scriptures about demons two scriptures in particular that gives us great insight.
As a Christian counselor and as someone who is very active in deliverance ministry, I have read of a lot of materials and resources that speak about spiritual warfare. I have learned a lot over the years from others who have gone before. Sometimes discussions and teachings can seem murky or unclear and we purpose […]