The Battle For Your Soul

Certain Of What You Do Not See, #11 The words set your hearts literally mean to seek with your will and affecThe Battle For Your Soul
tions. Youre commanded to seek our In this last segment of Certain Of What We Lord Jesus with all the devotion and Do Not See, we want to discuss the battle- earnestness you can muster. ground on which spiritual warfare is being Many times were assured in the waged against the followers of Jesus. Scriptures that if we seek Him with all This is a spiritual battle over wholl influ- our heart, He will be found by us. ence your soul, which is your mind, will, and emotions. Will it be the Holy Spirit The command to set your minds literally means, to set your mind in a ceror the devil? tain way. It implies intense pursuit that Theres an important connection youll includes both your mind and your emomake in the spiritual battle around you. tions. You cant just ponder the concept First, the more you understand the reali- of things above. You need to aim your ty of whats arrayed against you, the mental purpose toward heartfelt obedimore youll appreciate the sacrificial ence to what youre commanded. accomplishment of our Lord Jesus. (Explore: Newsletter 1997-03 Salvation Second, youll increasingly depend on Leads to Action) the presence and empowerment of the Holy Spirit to keep transforming your Now lets consider what Satans trying to do within your soul. As we mentioned in character into the likeness of Jesus. an earlier segment, one of his most powBut, dont ever lose sight of the fact that erful strategies is deception. the whole issue of spiritual warfare is over wholl control your mind, will and Pauls heart was wounded that his beloved Corinthian family in Jesus emotions. might have yielded to Satans deception. If youre a follower of Jesus, you have responsibilities in this war. You need to I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived keep focusing on eternal values and ways by the serpent's cunning, your minds in which you can lovingly walk out your may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ (2 obedient trust. Corinthians 11:3) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, SET YOUR HEARTS on things If the Corinthian followers of Jesus could above, where Christ is seated at the right be deceived, we today can be deceived as hand of God. SET YOUR MINDS on well, if were not alert. things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden Christians Can be Demonized. True? or False? with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-3). As you read the title to this section, Christians can be demonized. True? or 1
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False?, what was your initial response?

The more literal rendering of this word is "DEMON-IZED". A demonized person Many Christians are afraid that demons may be afflicted, agitated, influenced or might influence or control them. Over tormented in some way by a demon or the centuries this fear has prompted a demons. number of denominations to embrace a satanic lie that Christians cant be influ- A good way for us to understand demoenced by demons! nization is through the English word cauterize. To cauterize a wound means The false assumption behind that state- that you sear it to keep it from becoming ment gives Satan an unconfronted infected. A hot iron is applied to an open foothold in the souls of so many follow- wound to stop the bleeding. ers of Jesus. Its only the wound thats cauterized, not Lets clarify an important interpretation the whole person! And the injured perfrom the Bible. This concerns the Greek son is certainly not cauter-possessed! word, daimonizomenoi. In the same way, demonization means This term is used in Scripture to describe the particular effect or impact of a demon the influence of evil spirits in the lives of on a certain area of someones soul. individuals. Its often mistranslated as demon possession. THAT AREA is one that isnt under the control of the Holy Spirit, so its fair For example, most translations state that game for Satan. As with cauterizing, the many who were demon-possessed were deeper the wound of sin, the greater brought to [Jesus], and he drove out the the effect of the demonization. spirits with a word (Matthew 8:16). The most severe case of demonic activity When Jesus was in the region of the reported in Scripture takes place in the Gadarenes, two men called demon-pos- man from the region of the Gerasenes. sessed came to Him from the tombs Even with a legion of demons plagu(Matthew 8:28). ing him, this man had enough free will to recognize Jesus and run to him (Mark And again, a man who was blind and 5:1-20). mute is referred to as demon-possessed by the translators (Matthew 12:22). In Now that you understand that the Bible each case the word daimonizomenoi is is not talking about demon possession, inaccurately translated demon-pos- you can better realize that demons affect certain areas of our mind, will, and emosessed. tions that weve yielded to them through This mistranslation conjures up a totality habitual disobedience. of demonic ownership and control thats more encompassing than the word really Demons, or unclean spirits as the Bible means. Demon-possession would indi- often calls them, can also interfere with the normal function of our bodies, as cate no free will, which isnt the case. 2
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with the demonized man who was blind are your needs, desires and motivations. and mute (Matthew 12:22). Your soul receives the temptation from You can see the difference between a your body. And because your soul is the demonized person compared to the tra- arena thats open to demonic activity, a ditional understanding of someone who battle begins. is "demon-possessed". Gods Word commands you to resist the Well deal with this a whole lot more in temptation, or flee from it! If you dont, Part 2 of our Freedom In Jesus series, youll not only give in to it and sin, but Demolishing Strongholds. youll also open your self up to demonic influence, oppression, and captivity of a The Process of Demonization of Your vulnerable area of your soul if this sin Soul becomes HABITUAL. Demonic influence can create problems that are spiritual, emotional, and even HABITUALLY GIVING WAY to temptaphysical. The difference of influence is a tion in particular areas of your soul will matter of DEGREE. prevent you from responding to God. You wont be able to receive from Him in A severely demonized person suffers the way He intends. His love and truth long-standing and frequent periods of will be blocked out by the demonic demonic manifestations. A mildly demo- stronghold that the demons establish in nized person may have only short bouts your soul. of agitation. You can go through a lot of religious activAgain, well deal with this topic much ities and programs, but you won't experimore in Part 2 of this series, Demolishing ence intimate relationship with God. Strongholds. But, right now we want to introduce you to how demonic activity, And those areas of your soul that are a very real feature of the unseen realm, blocked by a demonic stronghold will takes place in your soul. quench the work of the Holy Spirit. The first inroads are made through your body. The temptation to sin most often comes through one or more of your five senses. When you realize that the temptation you encounter is not something Jesus would think, say or do, your soul is in conflict. At this point, the temptation enters your soul. Entertaining Demons In Your Mind Youd be amazed how many Christians entertain demons in their mind! Many followers of Jesus listen more to the tantalizing or self-justifying voices of demons than they do to Gods Spirit. (Explore: Newsletter 1999-02 Counterfeit Church)

Within the soul, that is, your mind, will, and emotions, is your individual Why is this? Because theyve been taught that as Christians, the devil cant do personality. Within your mind, will and emotions anything to them.

They think this because of the mistranslation of daimonizomenoi. We agree that they cant be demon-possessed. But as weve shown, they can be demonized to varying degrees.

the Lords cup or share in His covenant, CANT mix that holiness with ways that are demonic.

If you want to live according to the world, your flesh and Satan, you cant If YOU want to live free in Jesus, you must partake of the table of Jesus in your heart. be aware that you can be demonized! A careful look at Paul's words to his people A vital principle here applies to you in Corinth gives us a clearer picture of the entertaining demons in your soul, which choices we must make in our soul. encompasses your mind, will and emotions. This principle pertains to who is The sacrifices of pagans are offered to really ruling your soul Satan or the demons, not to God, and I do not want Holy Spirit. Lets reword part of Pauls you to be participants with demons. You passage to the Corinthians: cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a You cant entertain thoughts of Jesus and part in both the Lord's table and the thoughts influenced by demons at the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse same time. The Lord and demons cant the Lord's jealousy'? Are we stronger occupy your soul together. Youll become like whomever you allow to participate in than he? (1 Corinthians 10:20-22). your thoughts and actions. Paul wrote this passage to followers of Jesus. What was he warning them about Remember, your soul is the battleground when he cautioned them, I do not want for the unseen world going on around you. You can live free in union with Jesus you to be participants with demons? to serve His purposes. The Greek term thats translated communion in the King James Version and Or, you can be demonized by the devil participation in the NIV is koinonia. and live in darkness in a particular area From this word we get the term fellow- or areas of your soul. The choice is yours. ship. This concludes Part 1 of our Freedom In Paul was emphatic when he counseled Jesus series. If you arent experiencing them, I do not want you to be partici- the love and freedom promised you by pants with demons. Lets rephrase this: Jesus, join us for Part 2, Demolishing I dont want you fellowshipping with Strongholds. demons! Living free to experience our Lords love What do you think it means for you to and to freely serve Him is what being a participate with demons? follower of Jesus is all about. Please join What is it that you do that has you fel- us for Part 2. lowshipping with demons? Paul warned that people who drink of