Kenneth Copeland Ministries has been publishing the Believer’s Voice of Victory magazine for more than 40 years. Receive your positive, faith-filled magazine FREE each month, subscribe today at www.freevictory.com.
Issue link: http://magazine.kcm.org/i/489400
As I continued through the prayer line, praying for first one and then another, I could visibly see from a distance that this particular young man was sending forth spiritual signals of a very strong, evil presence. As I came nearer to him, I sensed that he had been involved in some type of occult activity. When I finally reached the young man, he looked up through eyes that were tightly squeezed together like little slits in the front of his head. I looked into his eyes, and it was as if a demon was looking back at me from behind his face. When I saw this, I knew that this young man was serious about being helped. It had taken a great deal of determination for him to shove aside that manipulating force and forge his way down to the front of the church auditorium. As I laid my hands on the young man that night, his body began to react violently to the power of God. Trembling under the weight of God’s power, he crumpled to the floor, landing in a heap next to my feet. Lying there engulfed in the electrifying power of God that was surging up and down his body, the young man quietly moaned, “I’m afraid to leave them [the satanic group in which he was involved]. They said they would kill me if I left the group!” I leaned over to pray for him a second time, and as I did, the horrible demonic influence that had held his mind captive immediately released him and fled from the scene. Oh, yes, I definitely believe in genuine spiritual warfare! Spiritual Hostages There are multitudes of people in the world today who are held hostage by the devil in their minds. First John 3:8 says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” The word destroy is taken from the Greek word luo, and it refers to “the act of untying or unloosing something.” It is the exact word we would use to picture a person who is untying his shoes. In fact, the word luo is used in this exact way in Luke 3:16, when John the Baptist says, “but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose.” Thus, Jesus Christ came into the world to untie and unloose Satan’s binding powers over us. At the cross, Jesus unraveled Satan’s power until His redemptive work was finally complete and our liberty was fully purchased. Furthermore, Peter told the household of Cornelius, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38). We know from both of the above verses that setting people free from Satan’s power is a primary concern of Jesus Christ. Since this is His concern, it should be ours as well. In order to free people from demonic oppression, we must learn how to recognize the work of the enemy and how to overcome his attacks against the mind, for the mind is the primary area he seeks to attack. Satan’s goal is to plant a stronghold of deception in some area of an individual’s mind. If he is successful, he can then begin to control and manipulate the person from that lofty position. ***article continues on p. 25******* BVOV : 23