VICTORY IS YOURS (written by 'Rev. Richard Herritt )
As a Christian, I don't understand why I can't live a victorious life.
I invited the Lord Jesus Christ into my life as my personal Savior. I pray regularly. I faithfully read my Bible and attend a Bible-believing
church. I tithe regularly. I have wept over my sins. I have gone to an altar of prayer many times. I have even asked the Holy Spirit
to fill me with His power. Nothing seems to work. I don't feel the joy of the Lord or His power".
WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?
Sound
familiar? It may be that you have done everything right. The problem may be deeper than you think. There is an answer. In John 10:10,
Jesus says, "The thief comes to rob, kill and destroy, but I am come that you might have life, and that more abundantly."
The
Bible teaches us that we have an enemy - the Devil. He hates God and he hates Christians. If he cannot block us from being saved,
he will try to rob us of peace, joy, hope, and assurance. He delights in bringing up our past sins, which have already been confessed
and forgiven at the cross two thousand years ago. I John 1:9 states that Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us all our sins and
cleanse us of all unrighteousness, if we confess Him as our sin bearer. If Jesus has forgiven us all our sins, then we should be able
to do the same. Why can't we?
1 have found through over 40 years of counseling, that while God has forgiven us of our sins, and
while there is no record of our sins in the courts of heaven, there may be demon activity which still controls us. Rock music, drugs,
alcohol, rape, incest, immorality, feelings of rejection, worthlessness, rebellion, hopelessness, hate, unforgiveness, depression,
and scores of negative attitudes may have been part of our life. We may have told no one of our true mental and emotional state because
of fear or pride. However in spite of intense desire to be free of such bondage, nothing seems to work.
Jesus says in John 8:36
that He came to set us free. Bondage is not of God (Hebrews 2:15).
Jesus gave a three-fold ministry to His disciples in Mark
16: 16-18 - preach the gospel heal the sick - and cast out demons. It could be that because of ancestral involvement, familiar spirits
are still present to hinder you. Or you may have given ground (permission) for demons to come into your life (Ephesians 4:27). What
happens to demons when you get saved? Do they leave? Some may leave; others remain: hence the need for deliverance. St. Paul instructs
Christians to put on the whole armor of God to protect them. What if we are not protected? Satan is a ruthless destroyer. I Peter
5:8 states that he relentlessly seeks to "devour or swallow whole" even the Christians to whom Peter is writing.
It could be
that demon activity is robbing you of being what God wants you to be or what you desire to be. This does not mean you are not saved.
Just as original sin has controlled you because of Adam's sin, so demons may have been passed on to you. You have inherited this bondage.
But Jesus Christ has both atoned for everyone of your sins, and He has destroyed the "works of the devil" (I John 3:8).
I John
4: 1 tells us to "test the spirits", meaning unholy spirits. Just as there is a test for physical problems, such as cancer, heart
disease, etc., so there is a test to see if demonic spirits are blocking our spiritual growth. Christians are not "demon possessed",
but can be demonized in areas of the mind, will, or the body. Negative attitudes, spirits of infirmity (which cause sicknesses) and
uncleanness, doctrinal demons, and many other kinds, can hinder our spiritual growth. When the demons are removed, instant release
occurs. Demons of doubt, unbelief, fear, depression and negativism are very common evil spirits.
I have worked with hundreds
of people, all Christians, who were in bondage years after they were saved. To have a demon is no worse than having original sin,
since sin and demons are both passed down through the family line. Some Christians had no assurance of salvation until demons of doubt
and unbelief were removed. A manic-depressive was set free after years of bondage, and has not been on medication since that time.
A man who had been in prison after losing his job, reputation and family, was set free from anger, bitterness, and violence. As a
five-year-old he, his brothers and a sister, witnessed their father stabbing his mother to death. The whole family was demonized.
Even
though they had given their hearts to Christ, the satanic powers were destroying each family member. Their family is in the process
of being set free. All types of miracles are taking place.
What must I do to be set free?
1. If you haven't received Christ into
your heart, ask the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive you of every sin, from birth until now. and invite Him into your life.
2. Take
back any ground given to Satan. How do I do that? Say, "Lord Jesus, if through any sins that I have committed, I have
knowingly or unknowingly, giver ground to any spirits of Satan, please forgive me. I now take back any ground or permission given
to any spirits of Satan.'
3. Command all spirits to leave in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, your Savior your deliverer, and
Satan's conqueror (You may name areas given to demons.)
4. Invite the Holy Spirit into your life in al] His fullness, and to
fill any areas tha1 were controlled by unholy spirits.
5. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the gift He wants you to have and to
give you the "fruit of the spirit" (Galatians 5:22,23) and to empower you.
6. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a hunger to read
the Bible, which He authored, and share it with others.
We have seen multitudes set free from satanic oppression. Sometimes
it takes a more in-depth "session", because of the magnitude of the satanic invasion. God intends us to be more than conquerors (Romans
8:37).
If reading this tract has helped you, or for assistance, contact
Pastor Richard Herritt
5100 Sunset Drive Harrisburg,
PA 17112-2436
(717) 545-4550