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Steps to Freedom in Christ
AUTHOR: a Kempis, Thomas
PUBLISHED ON: May 12, 2003
DOC SOURCE: CCN
PUBLISHED IN: Bible Studies

As a Southern Baptist pastor I was surprised when Michael (not his real
name) phoned me for a counseling session immediately that afternoon.
When he walked into my office I knew immediately that this was to be no
ordinary counseling visit. 12 minutes later Michael was gone from my
office and I was stunned to now understand and personally see a
demonized man. I immediately turned to my churches prayer ministry
and to sources I have now found to be of great help. Michael, the
following Monday, recieved a complete release from the demons
that had enslaved him for some time. The following is the approach
we took to this release.
                  Jeff Brumlow, Sysop CAB BBS (205) 808-0763

                  Steps to Freedom in Christ*

              Using the Truth of the Word of God
                  for deliverance from bondage
                      2 Timothy 2:24-26

(*Taken from  _Released_From_Bondage_, by Neil Anderson)

Step 1: Renunciation of Counterfeit Faith

    The first step to freedom in Christ is to renounce your
previous or current involvements with Satanically-inspired occult
practices or false religions or teachings. You need to renounce any
activity or group which denies Jesus Christ, offers guidance
through any source other than the absolute authority of the written
word of God, or requires secret initiations, ceremonies or
covenants. These give Satan a foothold in your life.

    You may not know of any sort of activity like this in which
there has been involvement. Ask God to reveal these to you, praying
only in the name and power of Jesus Christ.

    When these things are revealed by God, confess your
participation in them, ask forgiveness and then renounce the
activity or teaching as false.

Step 2: Embracing the Truth

    Truth is the revelation of God’s word, but we need to
acknowledge the truth in the inner-self (Psalm 51:6; Psalm 32:2).

    Dear Heavenly Father, I know that You desire truth in the
    inner self and that facing this truth is the way to liberation
    as your word has told me in John 8:32. I acknowledge that I
    have been deceived by the father of lies (John 8:44) and that
    I have deceived myself (1 John 1:8). I pray in the name of the
    Lord Jesus Christ that You, Heavenly Father, will rebuke all
    deceiving spirits by virtue of the shed blood and resurrection
    of the Lord Jesus Christ. By faith I have received You into my
    life and I am now seated with Christ in the heavenlies as
    Ephesians 2:6 has told me. I acknowledge that I have the
    responsibility and authority to resist the devil, and when I
    do he will flee from me. I now ask the Holy Spirit to guide me
    into all truth (John 16:13). I ask you to “Search me, O God,
    and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and
    see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the
    everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:23-24) In Jesus’ name I pray,
    Amen.

Choosing the truth may be very difficult if you have been living a
lie (or been deceived) for a long time. But faith is the biblical
response to the truth, and believing the truth is a choice. The
following is a doctrinal affirmation to help you group the truth
together.

                                Doctrinal Affirmation

    I recognize that there is only one true and living God (Exodus
    20:2,3) who exists as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and
    that He is worthy of all honor, praise and glory as the
    Creator, Sustainer, and Beginning and End of all things
    (Revelation 4:11;5:9,10; Isaiah 43:1,7,21).

    I recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Word who became
    flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1,14).  I believe that He
    came to destroy the works of Satan (1 John 38), that He
    disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public display
    of them, having triumphed over them (Colossians 2:15).

    I believe that God has proven His love for me because when I
    was still a sinner, Christ died for me (Romans 5:8).  I
    believe that He delivered me from the domain of darkness and
    transferred me to His kingdom, and in Him I have redemption,
    the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13,14).

    I believe that I am now a child of God (1 John 31-3) and that
    I am seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6).  I
    believe that I was saved by the grace of God through faith,
    that it was a gift and not the result of any works on my part)
    Ephesians 2:8).

    I choose to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of is
    might (Ephesians 6:10).  I put no confidence in the flesh
    (Philippians 3:3) for the weapons of warfare are not of the
    flesh (2 Corinthians 10:4).  I put on the whole armor of God
    (Ephesians 6:10-20), and  resolve to stand firm in my faith
    and resist the evil one.

    I believe that apart from Christ I can do nothing (John 15:5),
    so I declare myself dependent on Him. I choose to abide in
    Christ in order to bear much fruit and glorify the Lord (John
    15:8).  I announce to Satan that Jesus is my Lord (1
    Corinthians 12:3), and I reject any counterfeit gifts or works
    of Satan in my life.

    I believe that the truth will set me free (John 8:32) and that
    walking in the light is the only path of fellowship (1 John
    1:7).  Therefore, I stand against Satan’s deception by taking
    every thought captive in obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians
    10:5).  I declare that the Bible is the only authoritative
    standard (2 Timothy 3:15,16).  I choose to speak the truth in
    love (Ephesians 4:15).

    I choose to present my body as an instrument of righteousness,
    a living and holy sacrifice, and I renew my mind by the living
    Word of God in order that I may prove that the will of God is
    good, acceptable and perfect Romans 6:13;12:1,2).  I put off
    the old self with its evil practices and put on the new self
    (Colossians 3:9,10), and I declare myself to be a new creature
    in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

    I ask my heavenly Father to fill me with His Holy Spirit
    (Ephesians  5:18), lead me into all truth (John 16:13), and
    empower my life that I may live above sin and not carry out
    the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).  I crucify the
    flesh (Galatians 5:24) and choose to walk by the Spirit.

    I renounce all selfish goals and choose the ultimate goal of
    love (1 Timothy 1:5).  I choose to obey the two greatest
    commandments, to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul
    and mind, and to love my neighbor as myself (Matthew 22:37-
    39).

    I believe that Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth
    (Matthew 28:18) and that He is the head over all rule and
    authority (Colossians 2:10).  I believe that Satan and his
    demons are subject to me in Christ since I am a member of
    Christ’s body (Ephesians 1:19-23).  Therefore, I obey the
    command to resist the devil (James 4:7) and command him in the
    name of Christ to leave my presence.

Step 3: Dealing with Bitterness through Forgiveness

    We need to forgive others so that Satan cannot take advantage
of us (2 Corinthians 2:10-11). We are to be merciful just as our
heavenly Father is merciful. Ask God to bring to your mind those
people whom you need to forgive by expressing the following prayer.

    Dear heavenly Father, I thank You for the riches of your
    kindness, forbearance and patience, knowing that Your kindness
    has led me to repentance (Romans 2:4). I confess that I have
    not extended that same patience and kindness toward others who
    have offended me, but instead I have harbored bitterness and
    resentment. I pray that during this time of self-examination
    You would bring to mind only those people whom I have not
    forgiven in order that I may do so (Matthew 18:35). I ask this
    in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

    Forgiveness is not forgetting. Forgetting may be the result of
forgiveness but it is not the means. Forgiveness is a choice. It is
a crisis of the will. Forgiveness is also not an issue between you
and the offender. It is an issue between you and God. Forgiveness
if agreeing to live with the consequences of another person’s sin.
Forgiveness is costly because you agree to pay the price of the
evil done against you without retribution.

    When God reveals the names and experiences from which you need
to be released through forgiveness, allow Him to bring them back to
your memory even if they are painful. When they are clearly in your
mind, pray to the Lord proclaiming your forgiveness to the person
and the situation.

Step 4: Dealing with Rebellion

    Rebelling against God and His authority gives Satan an
opportunity to attack. The Lord calls us to follow Him where he
will not lead us into temptation but will deliver us from evil
(Matthew 6:13).
    There are two biblical responses in regard to authority
figures: Pray for them and submit to them. The only time God
permits us to disobey earthly leaders is when they require us to do
something morally wrong before God. The following prayer is meant
to announce our submission to Christ and to authority:

    Dear heavenly Father, You have said that rebellion is as the
    sin of witchcraft and insubordination is as iniquity and
    idolatry (1 Samuel 15:23). I know that in action and attitude
    I have sinned against You with a rebellious heart. I ask Your
    forgiveness for my rebellion and pray that by the shed blood
    of the Lord Jesus Christ all ground gained by evil spirits
    will be canceled. I pray that You will shed light on all my
    ways that I may know the full extent of my rebelliousness, and
    I now choose to adopt a submissive spirit and a servant’s
    heart. Amen.

Step 5: Dealing with Pride

    Philippians 3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who
worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who
put no confidence in the flesh–. Humility is confidence properly
placed. We are “strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His
might” (Ephesians 6:10).

The Scriptures state that spiritual conflict follows pride.

James 4:6-10 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture
says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

[7] Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will
flee from you. [8] Come near to God and he will come near to you.
Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-
minded. [9] Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to
mourning and your joy to gloom. [10] Humble yourselves before the
Lord, and he will lift you up.

1 Peter 5:1-10 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder,
a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the
glory to be revealed: [2] Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under
your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because
you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but
eager to serve; [3] not lording it over those entrusted to you, but
being examples to the flock. [4] And when the Chief Shepherd
appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade
away.

[5] Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are
older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one
another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the
humble.” [6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand,
that he may lift you up in due time. [7] Cast all your anxiety on
him because he cares for you.

[8] Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls
around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. [9]
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your
brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of
sufferings.

[10] And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory
in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself
restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

    Dear heavenly Father, You have said that pride goes before
    destruction and an arrogant spirit beware stumbling (Proverbs
    16:18). I confess that I have not denied myself, picked up my
    cross daily and followed you (Matthew 16:24). In so doing, I
    have given ground to the enemy in my life. I have believed
    that I could be successful and live victoriously by my own
    strength and resources. I now confess that I have sinned
    against You by placing my will before You and by centering my
    life around myself rather than You. I now renounce the self
    life and, by so doing, cancel all the ground that has been
    gained in my members but the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ.
    I pray that You will guide me so that I will do nothing from
    selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind I will
    regard others as more important than myself (Philippians 2:3).
    Enable me through love to serve others and in honor prefer
    others (Romans 12:10). I ask this in the name of Christ Jesus
    my Lord. Amen.

Step 6: Finding Freedom from Bondage to Sin

    The next step to freedom deals with habitual sin. People who
have been caught in the trap of sin, confess, sin, confess may need
to follow the instructions of James 5:16 “Therefore confess your
sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be
healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
Seek out a righteous person who will hold you up in prayer and to
whom you can be accountable. Others may need only the assurance of
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and
will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

    Dear heavenly Father, You have told us to put on the Lord
    Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to
    its lusts (Romans 13:14). I acknowledge that I have given into
    fleshly lusts which wage war against my soul (1 Peter 2:11).
    I thank You that in Christ my sins are forgiven, but I have
    transgressed Your holy law and given the enemy an opportunity
    to wage war in my members (Romans 6:12-13; James 4:1; 1 Peter
    5:8). I come before Your presence to acknowledge these sins
    and to seek Your cleansing (1 John 1:9) that I may be freed
    from the bondage of sin. I now ask You to reveal to my mind
    the ways that I have transgressed Your moral law and grieved
    the Holy Spirit.

    If you are dealing with habitual sexual sins, ask the Lord to
specifically reveal every occasion where you used your body
sexually as an instrument of unrighteousness. As God reveals each
incident, renounce each specific use of your body and ask the Lord
to forgive you. If your body was used by others for sexual
purposes, then just renounce each use of your body in this way. The
deeds of the flesh are numerous. You may want to open your Bible to
Galatians 5:19-21, and pry through the list asking the Lord to
reveal the ways you have specifically sinned. Confession is not
saying “I’m sorry”; it is saying “I did it”. After you confess sin,
pray:
    I now confess these sins to You and claim through the blood of
    the Lord Jesus Christ my forgiveness and cleansing. I cancel
    all ground that evil spirits have gained through my willful
    involvement in sin. I ask this in the wonderful name of my
    Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Step 7: The Sins of the Fathers

    This last step to freedom is to renounce the sins of your
ancestors and any curses which may have been placed upon you. In
giving the Ten Commandments, God said:

    “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of
    anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in
    the waters below. [5] You shall not bow down to them or
    worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God,
    punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the
    third and fourth generation of those who hate me, (Exodus
    20:4-5)

    Demonic strongholds can be passed from one generation to the
next. This is not to deny that many problems are transmitted
genetically or acquired from an immoral atmosphere. All three
conditions can predispose an individual to a particular sin. When
you tear down a demonic stronghold which has been established in
your family, you may have some resistance. In order to walk free
from past influences, verbally make the following declaration, and
then pray the following prayer:

                                Declaration

    I here and now reject and disown all the sins of my ancestors.
    As one who has been delivered from the power of darkness and
    translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son, I cancel all
    demonic working that has been passed on to me from my
    ancestors. As one who has been crucified and raised with Jesus
    Christ and who sits with Him in heavenly places, I renounce
    all Satanic assignments that are directed toward me and my
    ministry, and I cancel every curse that Satan and his workers
    have put on me. I announce to Satan and all his forces that
    Christ became a curse for me when He died on the cross. I
    reject and every way in which Satan may claim ownership of me.
    I declare myself to be eternally and completely signed over
    and committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. By the authority that
    I have in Jesus Christ, I now command every familial spirit
    and every enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ that is in or around
    me to leave my presence forever. I commit myself to my
    heavenly Father, and to do His will from this day forward.

                            Prayer

    Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You as Your child, purchased
    by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are the Lord of the
    universe and the Lord of my life. I now ask You to fill me
    with Your Holy Spirit. I submit my body to You as an
    instrument of righteousness, a living sacrifice, that I may
    glorify You in my body. I commit myself to the renewing of my
    mind in order to prove that Your will is good, perfect and
    acceptable to me (Romans 12:1-2). All this I do in the name
    and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Resources for help:

Doug Shelton,
Home Mission Board Consultant, SBC
SHARE MINISTRIES
1-205-341-8338
Mobile, Alabama

Share Ministries is a ministry to those demonized and as an
excellent resource for this area. Doug brings first hand
knowlede to this ministry.

Books by Dr.Neil T. Anderson:
_The_Bondage_Breaker_
_Victory_Over_the_Darkness_
_The_Overcomers_
_Released_From_Bondage_

Dr. Anderson brings personal knowledge and insight into the Scriptural
approach of the Truth Encounter. These books are highly recommended and
provide much more insight than this short text file contains.

                The Christian Apologetic Board
                      Birmingham, Alabama
                  1200-14400 Baud  24 hrs a day
                        (205) 808-0763
                      Jeff Brumlow, Sysop

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