13: Doorways : He Came To Set The Captives Free

Chapter 13: Doorways

Rebecca Talks:

The Scriptures are very plain. Any dealing with satan opens a doorway in a person's life for the inflow of satanic power and/or demon infestation. Whether the person is a Christian or a non-Christian makes no difference.

Leviticus 19:31 states, "Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God."

Although The Brotherhood is a very strong and fast growing cult, they are but a handful compared to the vast numbers held in bondage by peripheral involvement in the occult and other sins which have opened up their lives to satan's power. These doorways (created by sin) give satan legal ground, according to God's word (the Bible), to exert his power in their lives. Christians are not protected because the opening of these doorways involves their conscious participation in sin and/or ignorance.

"What then? shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

Romans 6:15-16 6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..."

Hosea 4:6 Not only does every person need to be aware of these areas of influence in his own life, but also anyone who desires to share the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ with others. Many, many are not able to accept Christ when He is presented to them because their will and mind is literally bound by the dark powers through some opened doorway in their lives either currently or in the past.

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

II Corinthians 4:3-4 Any dealings with the occult, no matter how lightly or briefly, is a doorway. I am referring to such things as playing with your horoscope, the curiosity visit to a fortune teller, tea leaf reader, palm reader, etc. How many of our school and church carnivals for fund raising have a fortune teller of some sort? None of these are ha mi less! Innocent young children are allowed to go to these people at such events for "something fun to do." How many of these children are then unable in their future life to ever accept Jesus as their personal Savior, or, if they are already a Christian, at some later date lose interest, or are just unable to grow to any depth in their Christianity? We would be appalled if we really knew the number of casualties from this source alone. I have personally seen more than I like to even think about. Again, the Scriptures could not be more plain:

"There shall not be found among you anyone that maketh his Son or his daughter to pass through the fire [a from of human sacrifice to a demon], or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee."

Deuteronomy 18:10-12.

Just one visit to a seance out of curiosity is enough to affect the rest of your life. So is studying books on the occult arts, playing with an ouiji board, trying out ESP, psychic experiences, astral projection, meditation of any kind that involves blanking out or "clearing" the mind, water witching, or divining for oil or minerals by using a dowsing rod or pendulum. Equally dangerous is participation in magic of any kind, using the art of levitation, I.e. movement of objects without touching that object physically, consulting a medium or spiritist in an attempt to locate some missing object, practice of any of the martial arts or yoga. And, of course, any practice of witchcraft through spells or incantations, etc. Any of this will open a doorway to the inflow of satanic power and demons.

Any use of, or abuse of street drugs, or repeated drunkenness are also doorways. Child abuse almost always results in demonic infestation. That is why abused children, unless delivered, usually turn out to be child-abusing parents. Any incident of severe emotional and/or physical trauma may serve as a temporary breakdown in the defenses permitting the entrance of demonic spirits.

This may occur in both children and adults.

Sexual intercourse is another big doorway.

Demons are passed from one person to another through sexual intercourse. This is because the two people involved become "one flesh."

What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh... Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commiteth fornication sinneth against his own body."

I Corinthians 6:16 & 18 The word fornication means any sexual intercourse between a man and woman who are not married to each other. (Definition from Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament

Words, p. 465.)

This is why God has given His people so many commands not to have sexual intercourse between anyone who is not man and wife. It is for our protection from this source of demonic infestation. Rape and violent sexual assault, particularly in children, is a doorway that I have come across repeatedly in my medical practice. This results in the demonic entrance of some of the strongest demons that I have ever met. Incest within a family and any participation in homosexuality always leads to demonic infestation. Also any of the corrupt sexual practices condemned in the Bible and used in the pornography of today.

I have frequently been asked about problems arising from sexual intercourse between a man and wife when one of the spouses is unsaved and participating in blatant sin. In these cases, I firmly believe that the believing spouse can stand on the promise given in I Corinthians 7:12-16:

"If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, 0 man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?"

In such cases, the Christian spouse need only ask the Lord to sanctify their marriage bed and their unbelieving spouse and close that doorway with the blood of Jesus so that the believing spouse will not become infested with demons from the other through their sexual intercourse.

Hypnosis is another big doorway. The person being hypnotized must so subject his or her will to the hypnotist that he then becomes open to anything the hypnotist chooses to put into him.

There are specific demons that hold open the doors for the on-going influence of the hypnotist. Hypnosis to stop smoking or control eating to lose weight is a demonic healing.

Acupuncture also is a from of demonic healing.

The Eastern religions are all various forms of demon worship. The public does not know that the needles used in acupuncture are blessed by various leaders of the Eastern religions before use and therefore are direct doorways for demonic entrance. I have seen a number of really strange infections coming from the needles of acupuncturists as well as demonic infestation. Any supernatural healing other than that which comes directly from Jesus Christ himself, is demonic healing and results in demonic infestation and/or bondage. God himself gave men the gift of the knowledge used by our medical doctors today. Remember that Luke, who wrote two books of the New Testament, was himself a physician.

Any involvement in the Eastern religions such as T.M. (Transcendental Meditation), Yoga, etc., will result in demonic infestation and/or bondage. Careful study comparing the teachings of any cult with God's word will quickly show their errors.

Most of the Eastern religions involve meditation. The topic of meditation is much misunderstood by most Christians and satan has authored much deceptive literature on meditation posing as Christian literature.

There are a number of references in Scripture to meditation, but there is a big difference between Godly meditation and satanic meditation. I think it would be well to point out the basic principles here.

One of the major Scripture references to meditation is found in Joshua 1:8:

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

I wish to emphasize that the meditation referred to in this Scripture involved the actiue reading, learning and memorizing of God's law given to the Israelites. Joshua was to learn the law so well that it would become a part of him.

David followed the same principle - he wrote about it in Psalm 119:9-11:

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: 0 let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."

Here again David was actively doing something - that is, learning and memorizing God's law so that he would not depart from it. At no time in Scripture is meditation something passive.

satanic meditation is passive. satan wants men to blank out their minds, attempt to clear their minds of all thoughts. This directly opens a door for demonic entrance and influence, because the simple fact is that God commands us to control our every thought, not blank out our minds! If you don't control your mind, satan will.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting doivn imaginations, and every high thing [thoughts, in other translations] that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." II Corinthians 10:3-5 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee..." Isaiah 26:3 This Scripture clearly demonstrates that we are commanded to control our minds, not blank them out. Any teaching about meditation that tells you to blank out your mind and clear it of all thoughts, or to repeat certain phrases over and over again to enable you to "clear your mind" is from satan.

"[Jesus speaking] But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do..."

" Matthew 6:7 ''But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." II Timothy 2:16 There is a dangerous teaching in some charismatic churches where members are told to repeat a certain phrase over and over, or to "blank out their minds and let the Holy Spirit take over." (This is especially done in reference to an effort to get someone to speak in tongues.) Any blank mind will be taken over by a spirit alright, but unfortunately, an unholy spirit not the Holy Spirit.

Another from of occult bondage that is very real, but little recognized, is the placing of a "hex" or "spell" or "voodoo" upon a person by another person. Even a Christian can be terribly damaged by witchcraft of this sort directed toward them. My own experience is a good example of this. I was unaware of what was happening until the Lord gave my pastor the revelation. I have since come across many patients afflicted in this way. Often, they knew a person, or had a person involved in the occult as a friend; then had a quarrel with that person, never suspecting that as an act of vengeance a "hex" or "spell" was sent their way.

For this reason it is imperative that Christians walk closely enough with the Lord that He can give them discernment in such cases.

Demons and demonic bondage are inherited.

The doorway of inheritance is an often overlooked one. Although we are no longer under the old law because of the new covenant in Christ's blood, we can find some very important principles by studying the Old Testament. We must also bear in mind that any sin not brought under Christ's blood by us is legal ground for satan.

There are many references in the Old Testament to the sins of the fathers being passed down to the sons. Some are found in Exodus 20:5, 34:7, Numbers 14:18 and Deuteronomy 5:9. Exodus 34:6-7 says:

"And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation."

We also find that every time there was a major revival in Israel, the people came together in fasting and prayer not only to confess their own sins, but the sins of their fathers also. For example, Nehemiah 9:1-2:

"Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities [sins or evil deeds] of their fathers."

Other references are II Chronicles 29:1-11 during the reign of King Hezekiah, II Chronicles 34: 19-21, and many other references as well.

The sins of our ancestors do have a grave effect on our own lives and the doorway of inheritance must be closed by prayer, confession, and the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Specific abilities and demons are passed down from generation to generation. A commonly accepted example of this is the ability to "water-witch." Especially damaging is any involvement in the occult, any idol worship which is really demon worship (I Corinthians 10:14-21), any demonic infestation, any oaths taken by parents or ancestors which are binding upon descendants (as are most occult, pagan, Mormon, Masonic oaths) etc.

One of satan's biggest tools in our country today is the occultic role-playing fantasy games which have become so popular. satan is using these games to produce a vast army of the most intelligent young people of this country; an army that the Anti-Christ will be able to tap into and control in an instant. Through their involvement in these games, people can be controlled demonically without them ever realizing what is happening. In many states such games are used as a part of the school curriculum for the more intelligent students.

Almost every school has extracurricular clubs formed to play the games. In essence, such games are crash courses in witchcraft.

Unfortunately the participants usually do not realize this until it is too late.

Most games have a leader who plans the overall outline for each game. The game is an adventure in which many battles are fought with various "monsters" and "beings," each one having certain abilities and characteristics.

There are numerous thick manuals available with pictures and many details about the abilities of the various characters. The players are supposed to "visualize" the action of the game in their minds. The better they become at "seeing" the action and therefore anticipating the moves of the various "monsters" and the other players, the more advanced they become in the game.

What people don't realize at first is that these monsters are actually real demons. What they think they are visualizing in their minds, they are in actuality beginning to see in the spirit world. The better they become at "seeing" the game, the more in-tune they are with the spirit world. The imagination is a key stepping stone to contact with the spirit world. I do not know at what point the players become infested with demons, but I have worked with many young people involved in the games and I have yet to meet anyone on the level of a game leader who was not indwelt by demons and knew it. They will, of course, lie about this. A number have told me that the demons would come and talk to them, and, to gain more power, they invite the more intelligent of the demons to come into them.

The more advanced manuals detail spells, incantations, and satanic writing that is used and taught to the witches and warlocks of The Brotherhood itself. All who play the games feel the strange fascination and power of them.

Few realize what a trap it is, they are completely deceived. How many of our young people who were once active and enthusiastic Christians have lost interest in the Lord as a result of playing this type of game? Untold numbers more will never come to a saving knowledge of Jesus because of the demonic bondage they have come under by playing these games.

Occultic influences are rampant in toys for small children as well as the cartoons on TV.

Small children are naturally very imaginative. satan knows that if he can direct their imagination to the spirit world they will quickly learn to see and communicate with his demons. Parents need to be extremely careful what toys they permit their little ones to play with, and what cartoons they permit them to watch on TV.

Biofeedback has literally exploded onto the medical scene within the last few years. Its growth has been phenomenal. It is used mainly for pain control, blood pressure control and to control drug and alcohol abuse. The Brotherhood used biofeedback for many, many years before it ever came into public use. They found that it was the most rapid method of training witches to gain conscious control of their spirit bodies and thereby to contact the spirit world. In essence, biofeedback trains a person to control those bodily functions and areas God has not ordained that we should control. It teaches him to consciously control his spirit body, which then controls and alters what is happening in his physical body. Again, very few people entering such programs ever realize what they are becoming involved in. Christians should never have anything to do with biofeedback. It is nothing more than modernized Yoga, satanic meditation and witchcraft.

Another area often overlooked, but very powerful, is that of rock music. Rock music is satan's music. Like so many other things, the whole movement of rock music was carefully planned and carried out by satan and his servants from its very beginning. Rock music didn't "just happen," it was a carefully masterminded plan by none other than satan himself.

As mentioned earlier in the book, Elaine has personally met a great number of the rock stars. They have all agreed to serve satan in return for money and fame. They have received all they wanted, but also much they didn't expect. Their very lives and souls are destroyed. These rock stars know exactly what they are doing. They are, step by step, teaching untold millions of young people to worship and serve satan.

Elaine attended special ceremonies at various recording studios throughout the U.S. for the specific purpose of placing satanic blessings on the rock music recorded. She and others did incantations which placed demons on EVERY record and tape of rock music sold. At times they also called up special demons who spoke on the recordings - especially in the various backmasked messages. Also, in many, many of the recordings, the satanists themselves were recorded in the background (masked by the over-all noise of the music) doing chants and incantations to summon up more demons every time one of the records or tapes or videos is played. As the music is played, these demons are called into the room to afflict the person playing the music and anyone else who is listening.

The purpose of all of this? Mind control! Mind control not only to give the listeners understanding of the messages about satan conveyed to them by the music, but also to prevent them from recognizing their need for Jesus and the salvation He died on the cross to give us.

Many of the song lyrics are themselves actual incantations calling up demons when the song is sung. The purpose of this is two fold: to exert control over the listener and to provide the listener with actual incantations he or she can use to send demons upon another person. This is done to gain revenge by afflicting them with illness, accidents, etc. and also to help influence another person into the bondage of rock music itself.

We highly recommend the book The devil's Disciples - The Truth About Rock, by Jeff

Godwin, published by Chick Publications, Inc., for an in-depth study of rock music. This book is an excellent tool for parents to use to gain an understanding of the rock music their children are involved in.

All these doorways must be closed.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9.

If you have participated in any of these things you can simply close the door by a prayer such as the following:

"Father, I confess to you my involvement in _____.1 recognize that such a thing(s) is an abomination to you and detestable in your sight. I humbly ask your forgiveness for my sin in this area(s). I ask you to lift out any demonic entrance as the result of my actions and to cleanse me from my sins and close the doorway(s) forever with the precious blood of Jesus. I ask for this and thank you for it, in Jesus' name."

Then I recommend that you address satan and his demons out loud in a manner similar to the following:

"satan and you demons, I have asked my heavenly Father for forgiveness for participating in and have received it.

I nowr by faith close the doorway of that area of my life to you forever through the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross for me. In the name of Jesus I command you to go away!"

Cases of infestation with the stronger demons will often need to have help from another person or persons for deliverance. If you pray earnestly and desire deliverance regardless of the cost, the Lord will instruct you as to what you need to do, and He will set the captive free.

I will give some examples of people whom I have dealt within my medical practice who have been terribly affected by the opening of such doorways. All names have been changed to protect those involved. We Christians must understand an important principle that I have never heard clearly taught in any church. Many of the people with whom we share the gospel are literally bound by demonic spirits, either from within or without, so that their wills are not free. They cannot will to accept Jesus as their Savior and their minds are similarly bound so that they cannot understand the gospel message.

II Corinthians 4:3-4 These people will not tell you that they are bound, indeed, the binding is so complete, that in most cases they don't even know that they are bound. The excuses you will hear when you directly ask someone if they will pray with you to accept Jesus are: "I'm not ready yet," or "I'll do it later," or "I just can't right now, don't push me," and many, many more.

But Jesus came to set the captives free.

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me;... to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound."

Isaiah 61:1 We Christians need simply to take that power and authority that Jesus has given to us and use it to set such captives free. The following are some examples from my own experience.

# l) Jane is a 35 year old nurse from my home

town. I worked with her about 10 years before when I was myself still a nurse. I ran into her again some time ago. She was amazed by the change she saw in me and as a result I was able to sit down one afternoon and share with her what the Lord had done in my life.

Her response was:

"You know, I have had two other friends over the past five years who also committed their lives to Christ and changed dramatically from being dissatisfied and unhappy to joyful and filled with peace. I have often thought I would like to do the same, but I just can't, so I don't think about it anymore."

"Why can't you commit your life to Christ?" I asked.

"Well, I can see the benefits, but I just can't. In fact, I find myself getting very anxious and restless as we talk about it. I think we had better stop now, I don't want to talk about it anymore."

Not long before I would have stopped there.

But, praise the Lord, thanks to His training, I easily recognized all the symptoms. So I persisted.

"Let me ask just one more question - when you try to think about Jesus, is it kind of like you run up against a blank wall and it becomes such an effort to continue thinking about it that you just give up?"

"Yes that's it! How did you know?"

"Well, I have been in God's training school.

Tell me, what occult activities have you been involved in?" She reacted with shocked surprise.

"How did you know about that? I haven't done much, but I did visit a palm reader about eight years ago just for kicks. I've been back to palm readers and fortune tellers several times since then and recently have been doing my horoscope. But nothing really serious."

"Well, Jane, that 'superficial' involvement in the occult has been enough to put you into demonic bondage so that you can't accept Jesus. But I have good news for you. Jesus came to set the captives free and because I am His, He has given me His power and authority over satan and his demons. Now, you demons who are binding and blinding Jane, I bind you right now in the name of Jesus, you may no longer operate in her life!" Jane looked startled as if she wondered if I had taken leave of my senses. But I merely changed the subject and talked about something else for about 10 minutes. Then I asked:

"Jane, I asked you once before about accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior awhile ago. You know that's what you need to do, how about praying with me now?"

She looked surprised, then relief flooded over her face.

"You know, I would like to pray with you now. I can accept Jesus. I don't know why I didn't do so earlier."

We both knelt down together, and another captive was released from satan's kingdom of darkness and entered into God's kingdom. I then told her about the doorways she had opened, and she prayed and closed them to satan forever with the precious blood of Jesus.

# 2) A 20 year old girl came into the

emergency room where I was working one evening. Her complaint was that she was afraid that if she didn't get help she would commit suicide. She was depressed and afraid, she felt as if she had nothing left to live for, her life was empty and without meaning. After talking with her for awhile I told her plainly that what she needed was Jesus Christ and shared the gospel with her. She responded, "My parents are Christians and I was raised in a church. I know that what you say is true, but I'm just not ready for that yet."

"You demons binding this girl, I bind you now in the name of Jesus, you may no longer operate in her life!" As I said this she looked at me as if I were crazy, but quickly forgot about it as I changed the subject and talked about something else for a few minutes. Then: "Susy, you just admitted a few minutes ago that you knew that what I was saying was the truth, that you need Jesus in your life. How about praying with me now and asking Him to become your Lord and Savior and Master?"

"Yes, I'd like to do that. No one really asked me to do so before. Will you help me? I don't know what to say."

So Susy prayed with me and started on the road to eternal life. On further gentle questioning I discovered that the doorway opened in her life had been a brief, one weekend experimentation with street drugs at the age of 13 at a slumber party. That's all it took to bind her mind demonically. From the way she described her life I have no doubt that prior to the time I met her she had had many opportunities given to her to accept Jesus but was bound from doing so.

# 3) An 80 year old man was admitted to the

intensive care unit with a very severe heart attack during the time I was the medical resident in charge of the unit. After examining him I knew he probably wouldn't live for very long. He asked me how he was doing and I told him that he wasn't doing very well that he had had a very severe heart attack. He turned away and started to cry. The conversation went as follows:

"Oh doctor, please don't tell me that, I can't take it!"

"Sir, what is the matter, are you afraid to die?"

"Yes."

"Do you know what will happen to you after you die?"

"Yes young lady, I'm going straight to Hell!"

I was most surprised, as very few people are so straight forward. "Please, Sir, let me tell you how you can avoid going to Hell."

"NO, NO! I've heard it all before and it does no good. Don't bother."

"Well, want to or not, you ARE going to hear about Jesus one more time." I then shared the gospel in about four sentences. Brevity is a must in such situations.

"I know it all, I know that's right, but I just can't."

"Sir, just repeat three words after me: Jesus save me."

"I can't, I can't. Go away!"

"Sir, I know that you are being blocked, you're right, you can't say those words. Tell me, do you know who is blocking you?"

At this point he turned and looked me straight in the eye and said, "satan and his demons!"

"I have good news for you. Jesus came to set the captive free and you surely are a captive.

But I am a child of the King and I have been given His authority over satan and the demons."

I then, out loud, addressed satan and his demons and in the name of Jesus bound them.

I will never forget the joy that came over that old man's face. He took my hand and tears streamed down our faces as he prayed to Jesus asking Him to be his Lord and Savior. I could see the peace spread over him. He looked up and said, "Young lady, I have been longing and searching and wanting to come to Jesus for 50 years, but could not."

As I talked to him for awhile he told me that at about the age of 30 he was working as a sailor.

His ship stopped in the Philippines for awhile and during shore leave he had become involved in an argument with some of the local people.

They had placed a voodoo curse on him with the result that he had been seeking Jesus for fifty long years, but was bound from accepting him because no one he had talked with knew to make use of the tremendous power and authority Jesus has given to us or to recognize what had happened to him. The next day when I went in to see him he was much worse physically but he was radiant. His last words to me were: "Young lady, I have perfect peace."

He went into a coma and died shortly after that.

# 4) A 44 year old woman was brought to my

office by her friends because she was on the verge of committing suicide. Her friends brought her to me because they knew that I was a Christian physician and they hoped that perhaps I could help her. Her story was no different than so many I have heard. She was born to Christian parents who loved her and she knew that they did. But somehow, in her teens, her life began to go wrong. She began to run around with the wrong crowd at school, getting into all kinds of illicit sexual relationships. She remarked:

"I knew that what I was doing was wrong and deep down I really didn't want to do those things but I couldn't seem to help myself. I had been raised in church and I knew what was right and wrong. I never seemed to be able to bring myself to actually accept Jesus and commit my life to Him as my brothers and sisters did - I never knew why, I just wasn't ready I guess."

By the time she was 17 she had already had a baby out of wedlock which her parents made her give up for adoption. Later that year she nearly succeeded in committing suicide and spent three months in a psychiatric hospital.

The rest of her life had been spent in and out of psychiatric institutions, going to numerous psychiatrists and psychologists, taking innumerable drugs and tranquilizers. Nothing helped. She was unable to make any stable relationships or experience any love. She had a second child out of wedlock and ran away from home at the age of 19, fearing that her parents would make her give the second child up for adoption also. Finally, two years before she came to see me, she started attending a church and eventually accepted Jesus. Life improved then over the next year. She stopped drinking, and was able to hold a steady job. She found true Christian friends who spent much time with her, helping her to change and clean up her life. Her joy was reading the Bible and praying. Then suddenly one day: "I felt as if someone had slammed a door shut and all was darkness. I could no longer read the Bible or pray. I could no longer sense the Lord's presence. I was in great distress. I kept going to church because I knew that that was the only answer. I no longer had any joy. I have talked to many ministers who all told me that there must be some unconfessed sin in my life or that the Lord is putting me through a test. But I know that I'm being destroyed. I no longer have any desire to go on living. The only way out for me is suicide."

I asked her if she had ever felt as if there was something inside of her that was not her, but that controlled her actions and often her thoughts. She brightened.

"Oh yes, I often have. I really think that there is something inside of me that isn't me. I have asked several ministers if I could have a demon but they told me that 'Christians can't have demons.' I guess I'm just crazy anyway.

The psychiatrists told me that I was schizophrenic when I tried to tell them about this 'thing.'"

Alas, how ignorant so many people are! Sarah did indeed have a demon in her, a very powerful one with many lesser demons under him. The Lord instructed me to search for the key, the doorway that had been opened to the demon. At the Lord's leading I asked Sarah if she remembered any incident from her early childhood that was very traumatic for her.

After thinking a few moments she said: "You know, it's funny that you ask such a question. I do vaguely remember that my mother mentioned to me once that I was raped when I was a little girl. She would never talk to me about it, said it was best forgotten. I remember a man grabbing me and throwing me to the ground, but all I remember is lying on the ground looking up into a beautiful flowering crab tree. I don't remember anything else about the incident."

That was the doorway. The demon which entered into her while she was being raped had remained in her undetected for many, many years and had destroyed her life. He was of a particular class which I will discuss later, that can inhabit body, soul, and spirit, all at the same time. He has thousands of tentacles which he winds and entwines deep down into each area. He it was who slammed shut the door in her spirit so that she could no longer sense God's presence. The growth and take-over of the Holy Spirit was something that he could not tolerate so he tried to turn Sarah away from her commitment to the Lord.

But the Lord had held onto Sarah and over the next two hours, that demon and many others which were his subordinates, were cast out. At last, after many, many years, Sarah was set free. Again she experienced the sense in her spirit of the Lord's presence, read His word joyfully and for the first time in her life, began to live a normal, healthy life and experience the love of Jesus Christ our Lord. I was again reminded of Hosea 4:6 which says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..."

# 5) A well built, 35 year old man came to my

office with the following complaint: "My life is being destroyed, it is falling in pieces around me. I can't put my finger on any particular thing, but I know7 it is happening. I am dying."

I talked with him and questioned him for over an hour seeking the key. His health was excellent. He had no medical problems, did not feel ill in any way. He was a Christian, although he did not have a deep walk with the Lord. His marriage was happy, his children well, his relationship with his entire family good. He had a good job in which he was happy. Finally, as I questioned him about every body system he said: "I did used to have trouble with my sinuses until about three years ago, but haven't had any since." Interestingly, he had told me that it was over the last three years that he had had the feeling that his life was falling apart.

"What happened three years ago to cure your sinuses?"

"Oh, I went to Dr. ________,, and had acupuncture. It really worked. I've had no trouble since."

That was the key! During the physical examination I ran an electrocardiogram (EKG) on him. While the EKG machine was tracing out his heart beat, I suddenly felt an overwhelming presence of evil in the room.

Immediately the young man's heart stopped! I wasn't exactly sure what I was dealing with, but I rebuked the evil in the name of Jesus and his heart spontaneously started beating again. His heart had stopped beating for over one full minute! Afterwards the Lord revealed to me that the evil I had felt was the spirit of the acupuncturist. He was drawing strength from the patient, even to the extent of stopping his heart briefly. The Lord had allowed this to happen at that particular time for my instruction. Demonic doors had been left in this young man through the acupuncture needles to leave him open to the control of the acupuncturist similar to a hypnotist. The acupuncturist was drawing strength from this young man for his own use. That is why he had the feeling his life was being destroyed. It was!

I could not tell him what was happening. He would have thought I was crazy. He was a superficial Christian, not yet ready to accept the fact that demons even existed. I asked the Lord what I could do in such a situation.

"Use the most powerful tool you have," was His answer, "pray mightily for that young man."

Over the next year I fasted and prayed for that young man many times. Finally after a year the Lord spoke to me one day and told me that in response to my prayers He had delivered him without him ever knowing what had happened. Shortly after that I saw him again for a minor problem and he told me that he was feeling much better. Again, Jesus had set the captive free!

# 6) A 24 year old young man came under my

care because he had tried to commit suicide.

Rick had been raised in a Christian home in a loving family. He fully committed his life to Jesus during his teens and had had a very close walk with the Lord, hearing Him speak to him in his spirit. He was a very intelligent young man and after college had entered graduate school at a seminary to become a minister. The Lord was the joy of his life. Suddenly, about a year before I first met him, he was no longer able to commune with the Lord. He found it almost impossible to read his Bible or pray and was completely unable to sense the Lord's presence. He counseled and prayed with a number of people but received no help. He began to have much difficulty concentrating on any of his studies and his grades fell drastically. He finally became so despairing that he had dropped out of school entirely about a month before the suicide attempt. He felt he had nothing left to live for.

I questioned him, trying to find the doorway.

Finally, as I asked him to tell me about everything he had done shortly before the trouble began, he related the following story to me.

"Shortly before school started in the fall a year ago, I drove out to Denver, Colorado. My mother had called and asked me to come because her mother was critically ill in the hospital out there. I took a few days off from work and drove out. On arrival in the city I headed straight for the hospital. As I was driving through the city to the hospital I suddenly had the sensation of something dark, like a cloud, dropping down over me. It lasted for only a few seconds and then was gone. I didn't think anything more about it. When I got to the hospital I found out that my grandmother had died just a short time before I arrived. I stayed for the funeral, then returned home."

On further questioning he told me that his grandmother had been deeply involved in witchcraft. Many members of the family had tried to bring her to see her need for Jesus without success. That was the doorway inheritance. At the death of the grandmother, the powerful demons that inhabited her were passed on to another member of the family. Of course satan would choose Rick as he was preparing to enter full time service for the Lord. After deliverance he was again restored to full and free communion with the Lord. A simple prayer in faith by his parents breaking any lines of inheritance from Rick's grandmother would have protected him from such a thing - but they lacked knowledge.

I know that many people will say that Rick should have been protected from such a thing because he was a Christian. But the Bible states plainly that the sins of the parents will be passed down to the children even to the third and fourth generations. That is why God so strongly warned the Israelites against any involvement in the occult. Christians need to be aware of this. If they are aware of anyone in their family that has been involved in the occult in any way, they should ask the Lord to close that doorway of inheritance with the precious blood of Jesus both for themselves and their children.

I want to outline below the four basic steps a Christian can take to fight for the salvation of someone who is demonically bound. Many parents face this problem with their unbelieving children who are involved in rock music, occultic games, drugs, alcoholism, etc.

These steps can also be applied by any Christian to anyone for whom he/she has a burden and is willing to fight for, to bring them to the Lord Jesus Christ.

# l) If the unsaved person is living in the same

house as the Christian, the first step must be to clean out the house, that is, if the Christian is in a position of authority in the household.

Children cannot, obviously, do this if they are minors still living at home with their parents.

This situation will be handled at the end of this section.

All objects used in the service of satan (occult objects, rock records, occultic role-playing fantasy game material, etc.) are "familiar objects." (See chapter 20.) These must be removed from the house as they provide legal ground for the demons to use to bring a continuing evil power into the house.

In the case of Christian parents dealing with their rebellious teenagers, I would warn you that you cannot just go into your child's room and make a clean sweep of everything that you feel is a familiar object. You must communicate with them first. Bind the demons in them, then sit down and talk with them.

Listen to their rock records with them, carefully examining the lyrics. I guarantee your kids will be embarrassed because they know in their hearts that rock music is rotten. If they are into occultic games, sit down and look at the manuals and study the game with them so that you gain an understanding of what they are doing and can then point out to them scripturally why it is wrong. After you have done all this, then destroy all the records, tapes, game materials, etc.

As mentioned above, Christian children who are minors can, in faith, ask the Lord to seal such familiar objects so that the demons can no longer operate through them.

Intercession: Standing in the gap as a spiritual bridge for others.

# 2) You must realize that your loved ones are

demonically bound and blinded. You can talk to them for years telling them of their need for Jesus, but they just won't understand you. They can even repeat back to you what you are saying, but it is as if there is a "scrambler" between what you are saying and their brain so that they cannot really understand the concepts. The "scrambler" is a demon. Also their wills are bound so that even if they do understand their need for Jesus' salvation, they cannot will to ask Him to become their Savior and Lord.

If they are living in the same house as you, each day, out loud, take the aggressive against the demons in them. You can do this in another room where they cannot hear you. Don't forget, demons have very sharp ears. Say something like this:

"You demons bindings ___, I take authority over you in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord. I bind you in the name of Jesus, you may not afflict ____ today. My house is committed to the Lord and is holy ground. You are a trespasser and may not function here. I bind you and command you to leave in the name of Jesus!"

This battle will be a daily thing. I cannot tell you how long the battle will take, only the Lord knows in each case. Be alert to the fact that the demons can speak through the other person, often being very rude and insulting to you to try to drive you away. In many cases it becomes necessary to rebuke the demon directly as he is speaking through the other person and command him to be silent. The Lord will guide you.

# 3) You can ask the Lord to let you "stand in

the gap" for the unsaved person. This will be discussed in more detail in Chapter 14. See Ezekiel 22:30-31. Ask the Lord to let you stand in the gap for this person in order that their eyes may be opened and their will set free to accept Jesus.

# 4) Lastly, you must understand the

wonderful position of power our Lord Jesus has placed us in. Hebrews says:

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16 Scripture shows us that satan comes before God and petitions Him for people. The account given in Job chapter 1 clearly demonstrates this. Also satan obviously petitioned God for Peter.

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou are converted, strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22:31-32 satan is not finally thrown out of Heaven until the 12th chapter of Revelation.

"And there was war in Heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in Heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." Revelation 12:7-10 You must understand that satan stands before the throne of God petitioning our heavenly Father for our unsaved loved ones. satan points the accusing finger and says, "See, soand-so is participating in rock music (or whatever), therefore I have a legal right to his/her soul and to influence his/her life and to send my demons into him/her."

Because God is absolutely just, He must grant satan his petition if it is uncontested. But we as heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ have more right to petition God the Father than satan does. We must "boldly" go before the throne and counter-petition satan. We can pray something like this:

Seeing the spiritual reality behind the physical world.

"God and Father, I counter-petition satan.

I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and lay claim to this person. I claim him/her as my inheritance which you promised to give to me (if the person is your child, or spouse). satan may not have him/her. I ask you to open his/her eyes so that they can see the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

If the person you are petitioning for is not a relative, you can petition on the basis that Jesus Christ commanded us to make disciples of the whole world and we can claim that person for a disciple of Jesus Christ. Again, you must understand that this is a real battle. You will not win overnight, but you do have the power and authority in Jesus Christ to win in the end.