I remember vividly a time that I felt I was in a “boxing match” so to speak with my dad about our different religious beliefs. No matter how much we tried to avoid these conversations for the sake of peace, we would end up right back at square one. Our visits would always end up with both of us frustrated. One day everything changed, but it didn’t happen as you would think. Frustrating conversations were immediately exchanged for conversations of love. What happened may surprise you. Follow me for a moment.
Everything that occurs in the visible, physical world is directly connected to the wrestling match being waged in the invisible, spiritual world. So our BIGGEST problems are actually SPIRITUALLY ROOTED! When we with the help of Holy Spirit unmask areas of our lives that are not marked by freedom and victory we may see a completely different picture.
The Bible makes it clear that there are demons, or evil spirits, in the world that interfere in people’s lives (Ephesians 6:11-19). Evil forces, or powers, influence and control the minds of individuals, bring sickness and cause undesirable behavior, inability to function normally, and even suicide.
What was God’s answer?
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18, 19).
This prophecy concerning the Messiah was fulfilled in Christ, and the authority noted in Luke has been passed on to Christians! (Mark 16:17).
Jesus came to free those under demon bondage. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). The term “saved” or “salvation” includes your spiritual, physical and mental health.
So what happened with my relationship with my dad? I realized in an encounter with God that I had some major unforgiveness in my heart towards him. I was preaching Jesus but being influenced by something much different. Once I was set free and truly forgave no words needed to be said after that. Our very next conversation ended up with both of us crying. God completely restored our relationship.
QUESTIONS/PRAYER:
- Review the scriptures above, reading and discussing them.
- Do you have a similar story that Tasha had experienced?
- Do you still recognize areas in your life that have a great deal of frustration attached to it?
- Are you guilty of addressing those areas only in the natural? What can you start doing moving forward?
- Lay hands and pray for one another.
