The bible says that when we know the truth we are free (john 8:32).
Free from what?
How about bondage of demonic oppression - obsession for one thing?
Have you ever been delivered from an obsessive thought or compulsion by the power of God? If you have, you definitely know about it. The torment leaves and you are FREE!
Sometimes God can do this and we don't understand it. It just happens because of His sovereign will.
Sometimes, we can seek God for years to take this obsession from us but it won't leave.
David said "I have kept myself from mine iniquity" Psalm 18:23
Just like King Saul was sent a tormenting spirit by the Lord (1 Samuel 16:14), David had some iniquities to deal with too. David loved the Lord enough to keep from working iniquity (Matt 7:23) but had the iniquity still in him.
Jesus was bruised for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5). He was wounded for our transgressions, but bruised for our iniquities. Bruises and iniquities are on the inside. Transgressions are on the outside.
A lot of people will say that Jesus bore that on the cross. Yes. He did. But what about when you don't feel delivered? What about when the iniquity doesn't leave? What about when the obsession stays no matter how long you seek God about it?
This reminds me of Paul's thorn in the flesh.
2Co 12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
Here we have another messenger of satan sent to keep Paul in check for his pride's sake. He asked God to take it away, and the Lord would not. Let that sink in against the popular doctrines of today.
Is this where you are? Are you desperately seeking God for deliverance, but the Lord is letting it remain?
I have good news!
First off. What are you learning from your experience?
Is this a problem developed from ignoring the Holy Spirit earlier in life? Is it a problem of pride? What is the root? What does the Lord show you when you look under the hood? Confession, humility, and repentance are a big key of personal deliverance.
I have had deliverance before. And you KNOW when you are delivered when it happens! It is FREEDOM! Jesus says we will KNOW THE TRUTH and we will be made FREE.
It is interesting that the same author of Corinthians talking about the messenger of satan also mentors Timothy on how to get free. This passage a talks about knowing the truth and recovering ourselves out of the snare of satan.
2Ti 2:20-26 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. (21) If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (22) Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (23) But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. (24) And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
There is a lot to chew on in this passage. Let's look at some things that i want to share with you now.
We are to purge ourselves. Purge out the iniquity. Flee lusts. You want to be used of God? Get rid of the stuff He doesn't want in your life.
We also may be opposing ourselves. We want to do the will of the Lord, but are beat up by the devil over and over again. We try to keep ourselves from the iniquity, but we slip from time to time. It is a vicious cycle.
Now here is the kicker that Paul talks about in the Corinthian passage. God is the one that grants repentance! You can seek repentance diligently with tears, but the bottom line is that GOD IS THE ONE THAT GRANTS REPENTANCE! In other words, God is the one that can call off the evil messenger like with King Saul in the Old Testament and Apostle Saul in the new testament.
Notice then that Paul talks about KNOWING THE TRUTH in verse 25? This is the same thing that Jesus talks about in
Joh 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
If we continue to seek God in His Word and seek him for repentance, He will grant it at one point. With one of my major deliverances that i experienced true freedom - I knew the truth. I didn't just see the text. I didn't just memorize the text. I knew the inspiration of the text and how it related in my life. And guess how that happened? God quickened the word to me so that I understood it in the very core of my being.
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Seeking God is more than just saying a few words like magic and expecting Him to perform at your will. He is the Lord. If God didn't take away a messenger of satan from the Apostle Paul, you may not want to think too highly of yourself. It is His will that is important. Lucifer wanted his will done in Isaiah 14, yet Jesus didn't push His will on the Father, but said, "nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done". Jesus is our example - not lucifer.
So, i want to encourage you. No matter what the popular doctrines say we need to seek what God says. What God prescribes in His Word.
I have had some major freedom in my life from things that i ignored the Spirit of God about in the first place. I dug my own pit so to speak. I reaped what i sowed. It really was a difficult hole to climb out of. But, i sought the Lord all the way in spite of it all.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
So if you are trapped in the bondage of iniquity and are seeking God diligently, take heart dear Christian. God will grant you the keys. He will deliver you. He did it for me - He will do it for you!
Don't give up!
#TeamJesus
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