Good morning Lord Jesus, I begin my day hiding myself in the shelter of your wings.
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.” (Luke 11:24)
Yesterday evening I went to the house of a family that is battling against demonic activities and presence in their home. Paranormal events are taking place There young child is hearing and talking to a spirit who’s presence resides in a bedroom closet that it tell them to kill their pets, hurt others, and causes them it behave in in-human ways. Their dog sense the presence and barks at an empty room. There are many more details I will not go into.
I spent almost three hours in the home I talked with the family to try to discern the reasons, source and what has allowed this presence have access and manifest a presence in their home. I prayed over the home, anointing the whole house with oil, anointing and praying over the family with oil, declaring Scriptures and release over the home and casting out any demonic presence in the name of Jesus.
Yesterday evening was spent in intense spiritual warfare. For my reflection this morning I want to remind you that Spiritual warfare is real and exists. Ephesians 6 declares this truth. "For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places"
As we begin 2023 and we make resolution physically to make changes, lose weight, declutter and clean out our house, I want to encourage you to do the same spiritually. If there is anything you have entered into, brought into your house, or dabbled in that is not of God, get rid of it. If you have dabbled in Taro cards or any kind of paganism or with craft stop it, repent, receive forgiveness and release it. It you have been looking at websites of acult, paranormal, demonic, other such sites delete them from your screen, repent and release. If you have pulled up on the internet pornography, or any kind of violent or sadistic websites and watched them, delete them, repent, release and pray. If you have brought anything into your home, any form of idolatry, any form of other foreign religious statues of prints, Buddha’s, Hindu deities, or other items, get rid of them, repent, ask forgiveness and release.
And if this sounds a little “over the top” or sounds intense and serious to you, that is because it is. That is because there is an enemy, and adversary, Satan and his minions who are serious and intense in seeing that resembles Jesus, anything that is Good and holy to be perverted and destroyed. The enemy has to be allowed access, like a rat squeezing through a tiny hole. So discern these you may have entered into or brought into your life, remove them repent and release.
The enemy wants nothing more than to see good, sincere, loving. talented, gifted, and gracious people and families get destroyed or wounded, or help in the destruction or wounding of others. Because people: moms, dads, families; are trying to claim being a Christian. a follower of Jesus, claiming to be a beacon of light so needed in this dark world, that is also a beacon seen by the enemy who rages against the light, and he has placed a bullseye on it. They are claiming to be a follower of Jesus, a beacon, an outpost of the kingdom in spiritual warfare while they are not in a true covenant relationship with God and playing around with and entertaining other idols, religions or cults in their lives. Satan rages against the light in us. Satan has placed a bullseye over you, over your family and he rages against the light in you, the love in you for your family, others and Jesus; and your participation in the birth of more light.
“Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. Resist him, strong in your faith,” (1 Peter 5:8-9)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
My family, I pray today as you begin the new year you will “clean house” spiritually. I pray ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any thing you have entered into, allowed access to, or are entertaining that or not of God. I pray you will honestly admit to these things, remove them, repent of them, ask forgiveness of them and release them at the foot of the cross, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your comments and reflections on my post in the comment box below.
Resolve to Help in 2023
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Discipleship Training.
One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.
Would you like to receive my morning devotion blog?
Email your name and email address to garyl@onedirection.community and I will add you to my ODC Daily Message distribution list to receive an email of these reflection every weekday morning.
