Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2 v 14: "Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place."
There are times when we fail to grasp the enormity of changes throughout the world in these end times. The devastating fires in China and Canada and California/Oregon; another disastrous earthquake has hit Haiti; floods in Europe; the pandemic and its deadly variants, the Siberian problem in Russia. The economic warnings from Wall Street and the rise of Marburg Fever in Africa paint a gloomy picture.
If we walk in His ways and obey His statutes, the individual guidance and direction, He will always cause us to triumph over adversity. He gave us the Holy Bible to lead us in the truth, which often means revising our attitudes, lifestyles and ambitions to fit in with His plans for us.
In the world we have to take our chances and there is not always a certain victory; life in the world is a gamble and many try to find guidance from astrology, horoscopes, mediums, psychics and other such people and practices. This is dangerous territory for the unwary and can lead to demonic oppression and bondage to the occult. One of the strong evidences of bondage to the occult is depression. The deeper your involvement it will be linked to your own depths of depression. This can also be inherited from previous generations.
Oppression and bondage can be described as compulsive behaviour; things you cannot control anymore because suddenly, and without warning, you go from a dabbler to unrelenting pressure to perform. It is persistent and out of your control. You are now a captive and the only way to successfully break this demonic control is through commitment to Jesus. He died to set the captives free.
Bondage or demonic control is manifested when you cannot break a bad habit like drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, sexual lust, porn, anger, lies, visiting mediums, gambling. There are always triggers that set people off and once you have found the inner signal you can, by prayer and ministry, overcome it. Bitterness and unforgiveness are very common roots of problems like addictions, and can also be inherited. An example is family feuds, or other feuds like gangs, that continue for generations.
All of these problem areas become blockages to your spiritual growth and need to be confronted and overcome. Do not ignore or neglect to work through them or think that its just human nature. Human nature is fallen nature which needs to be crucified with Jesus. Our new nature is the New Creation which is no longer "only human" but pure and holy before Almighty God.
Those who are "possessed by demons" are serial serious offenders like rapists, murderers, molesters, wife-beaters, psychopaths, fanatical militants, religious maniacs, cult leaders, the hopelessly insane. Every one of these can be completely set free by Jesus but very few ever seek that freedom for their lives.
Those who have chosen to follow Jesus will always triumph over evil. First we have to get the log out of our own eye before we deal with someone else's splinter. This is not just a one time prayer session but an ongoing process as we deal with bitterness, rejection, memories of hurts, tragedies, loss, shock, fear and every other thing we experienced before Jesus became our Lord.
The more free we become from religion to the blessing and joy of life in Christ, the more will He use us to help others. His fragrance will permeate everything we do and travel to the ends of the Earth in testimonies.
Years ago a man came to me for healing of psoriasis, a bad skin disease, and his neighbour drove him to my house. While praying for this man I felt a strong pain in my back. I asked him if he suffered from some problem in his spine. He said No but his neighbour said he had been boarded from work 19 years before after a spinal injury. Jesus set him free and healed him. He was back at work the following week. Many people came to know Jesus through him.
So let us give thanks to the Lord for He has the victory over every situation. We may not understand why we are going through a time of trouble in our lives, but Jesus has measured it, and allowed it, for our opportunity to triumph over adversity. He holds our future in His steady hands and we are grateful He does.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise and thank You for Your love and care for us. We find ourselves in predicaments without human solutions and You cause us to triumph over them so You may be glorified. You dwell in the praises of Your people and we can only rejoice as the savour of the knowledge of Jesus goes far and wide. In Jesus' name. Amen.