I have noticed that your magazine has published an article claiming that Christian's can't have demons, and I want to write to you because I have a testimony contrary to the view that some Christians have about this. I would like to share it with you. I was born again about 24 years ago, I had a love for the Lord ans soon after my conversion, through my passion for Him and speaking about Him, 2 people in my close circle soon also believed on Him & came to know Him and another friend soon after. Despite my love for Him & desire to read the word, I lived a defeated Christian life. There was much from the past, especially my early childhood that held me back, I was broken and a mess through sin when I came to know Him, the areas of bondage didn't just go after I believed. I couldn't understand how it was that you could be a Christian & battle so much ...where was this Joy & peace & victory that was spoken about. I found there were certain areas of sin in my life that no matter what, I couldn't overcome. Lust, adultery, fear, rejection & rage were the big ones in my life.
I was in a traditional church, very involved & my husband an elder. There was no teaching in this area other than comments often made by the pastor /s & their wives & elders (as we moved to different towns ), that Christians can't have demons & we can't blame demons for our actions. Yes, we can't blame demons for our actions, we must always take responsibility for the ultimate choices we make, but their influence in our lives make it difficult, especially when they have legal right because of the sin we dabble in OR the sin of others put onto us through trauma, abuse etc.
I was in the same camp as these believers, that Christians couldn't have demons, their argument was so convincing, their reasoning's seemed justified & to be quite honest, I just couldn't face the thought of having demons inside me, so it was easier to just go with this flow of thinking. Hmmm, but this just left me continually with the same problem of bondage I had.
I often felt my mind was going to leave me, the trauma of it all was so great. The torment of my sin, even though I'd confessed & repented, but still racked in the shame of it. I saw what my sin did to me, my husband, my kids my testimony had been completely blown out the window. I had been such a hypocrite, acting all holy & together in front of the people that counted but behind doors, my husband & I were two different people...... I got desperate, there had to be a solution to this all, especially as a Christian!
I heard about a course on healing & deliverance, which I thought I'd attend. The man spoke about demons in Christians. No way! I couldn't accept this, this is the thing that all the pastors I had known from years gone by said was not true...they should know, they went to Theological College, they were men of God, they heard from God, they knew the truth surely! I didn't want to get embroiled any any funny stuff like this...I was weary & afraid of this teaching...it couldn't possibly be true, to many good arguments against it. I didn't want to be lead theologically off track. That was that, I left after one morning of teaching & didn't return to the course. This was nearly 8 years ago now.
After my husband divorced me & kids went to live with him, I sought after God, I pressed into Him, He had to be my all now. I heard His voice one day at a Christians ladies Conference, telling me to "Seek righteousness", over & over I heard these words in my head. Vaguely I remember someone mention something about demons in Christan's in the meeting. I needed help, I needed to talk to someone who knew about this, If this was going to help I would go with it . I was now desperate!
I spoke to a lady & spoke frankly about some of my sin areas, there was no hiding anything. I took responsibility for my actions, I didn't justify myself. She addressed the demons & told it to go in the name of Jesus, my jaw started to tighten & I started to growl like a dog. It was so weird but I couldn't control it & was aware of what was happening. Afterwards I felt unbelievable, so light, it was almost unreal.
In this particular area that was addressed with this lady, there has been absolute freedom! My rage has gone, the blinding temper has never returned.
Years later I went to another course on healing, held by this same man who's course I attended about 8 years ago! (6 years between courses to the day). After having had experience the deliverance that one time, I no longer defended my previous stand because others insisted that it was so....I had a testimony, I experienced the difference immediately. I knew it was true now, demons could be in Christians. I listened to the whole teaching now with a teachable spirit. I experienced more deliverance this time in other areas. I learnt that healing & deliverance was an ongoing thing, not a once off. The enemy doesn't stop after you get delivered....no he's out to destroy you & others through you.
I have since been freed from the area of lust that so dominated my life, shame, rejection & I'm so unbelievably grateful to My God because for the first time in my Christian walk, I know what joy & peace is. Now there is victory in my walk with God. It is all to wonderful.
You only really know the difference once you have experienced this healing / deliverance, it is like night & day. If the enemy can keep you in bondage he will use anything he can to keep you there. You see......a free Christian is more effective in the Kingdom of God, and the devil knows this. If only I'd had believed sooner!
Kind regards
Fiona |
