Invisible Enemies

by Jim Croft

  Specify to the Lord how the misinformation you are identifying makes you feel. Then ask Him to speak to you about it. The voice of Jesus Christ within you will specifically address and dispel the lies the enemy has planted, providing His perspective in place of the enemy’s distortions.

  Be patient while listening for His voice. Do not readily accept familiar religious clichés or verses you have memorized as the Lord’s voice to you. They will not satisfy your soul or give lasting liberation. Authentic words from the Lord will harmonize with the Bible, but will be specifically fashioned as a direct message to you.

  If what you hear sounds like a rehash of the condemnation you have already experienced, the voice is likely that of a mimicking evil spirit. Do not panic. Just “switch to another station”—the Lord’s authentic voice speaking to you. The Lord has promised to guide His sheep by His voice. It will emerge in your normal cognitive processes by a distinctive mental picture, a specific phrase or a clear sensation.

  There are times when people listen so intensely that their spiritual systems shut down. If you do not hear anything within about twenty minutes, stop the process. I can almost guarantee the Lord will speak to you at a later time, maybe even when you are preoccupied with other pursuits. The Holy Spirit has multitasking capability and so does your inner spirit. I have heard of numerous people who were delivered outside of the context of a ministry setting. Trust God by cooperating with His method and timing.

  A Process of Sanctification

  At various times in my life, I have pondered the question of why I have experienced so many deliverances. The Lord told me that it is a matter of ongoing sanctification with me. The biblical process known as sanctification can be defined as becoming experientially holy in word and deed (see 1 Peter 1:15). I take comfort in the comments of the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:8–10, when he spoke of a period of extreme pressures. His words imply that a person can have past, present and future episodes of deliverance by trusting in God “who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us” (verse 10).

  I want to encourage anyone who wrestles with the same question I have faced about multiple deliverances. It is not that we necessarily have more struggles than other people. It is just that more of our problems have demonic roots. Jesus is using deliverance as part of our sanctification process to cleanse us of every spot and wrinkle.

  We should be content to flow with the uniqueness that the Creator has allotted to us. Whatever frequencies of deliverance might be appropriate for us are designed to give us a better life both now and in the age to come.

  Now we turn to denouncements and vows. Few people go untouched by the power of words spoken in this manner. Whether someone rails against us or we use words to our own harm, we can be set free from the power of these spoken curses by the means of deliverance.

  The matter of denouncements is a somewhat slippery one to get a handle on. Quite often, negative statements we make about ourselves or that others make about us are detrimental to our lives, but there is no hard and fast formula for determining when they will affect us and when they will not. Vows are equally challenging. Godly vows that we fail to keep, and flippant vows that we never should have made, can also be hazardous—but they might not be. Love covers a multitude of sins, and God does not permit reprisals in every case.

  Still, many, many people suffer the effects of denouncements and vows—which are forms of curses. In cases where this does happen, curses are crucial to the topic of deliverance because demons often attach to them and intensify their detrimental effects. The curses attached to these denouncements and vows can influence finances, productivity, interpersonal relationships, children, physical health and emotional stability. If left unattended, they can go to seed within a person’s life and can replicate their miserable crops throughout a lifetime. Prudence and I both needed deliverance from childhood denouncements from other people—intentional or not—that opened doors to demonic influence.

  To prevent demons from continuing to grow their evil fruit, divine “crop failure” interventions are needed. The cross of Christ cancels curses attached to denouncements and vows. The blood of Jesus is the active ingredient that serves as God’s “defoliate” to bring about merciful ending to the pain. I will explain how we ought to apply the blessed herbicide at the end of this chapter, including a pattern prayer that you should find helpful.

  Denouncements Spoken by Another Person

  Verbal denouncements are statements of condemnation spoken against a person’s life, character or actions by a recognized authority figure such as a parent, a guardian, a spiritual leader—sometimes even a closely bonded boss. Verbal denouncements spoken by others, when internalized, carry great weight.

  Parent/child relationships are the most common arena in which denouncements take place. Children are particularly susceptible to believing that what the authority figure says is true. Some parents fully intend to inflict harm on their children. But even parents who are usually positive and mean no harm to their children can speak rash statements that inflict damage without anyone realizing what is happening.

  If these hurtful words are allowed to take root, the effects can become evident all the way into adulthood. In the paragraphs that follow, I provide an example of how a parental denouncement evolved into demon-incited destruction in a man’s life. This story also speaks of how mutual forgiveness and a parent’s withdrawing the harsh words bring about a welcome “crop failure.”

  When Luke was in his early forties, he became seriously ill. The symptoms he experienced were much like those of a heart attack: shortness of breath, pain in his chest, pain down his left arm. On numerous occasions, he was rushed to emergency rooms due to these symptoms. Each time, his heart checked out fine and the physicians were unable to identify the source of the problem. His doctor suggested the condition was psychosomatic, existing only in his head. Because Luke had a relationship with the Lord, he sought healing from reputable ministers of faith. But every attempt toward healing and relief was to no avail.

  As the symptoms continued, Luke also began to have panic attacks in which the fear of impending death would paralyze him. He was so terrified, he could not bear being out of earshot of his wife. Their home was large and she frequently ran its distance to comfort him. As a Christian, he knew that heaven was his eternal destiny. But try as he might, he could not understand why he was acting like a hell-bound coward. His failure caused him tremendous guilt and shame.

  An endoscope exam revealed that he was suffering from acute gastritis. Luke was relieved that he did not have a heart condition, but the panic attacks and fear of death did not subside. Nor did the symptoms.

  One time, as Luke was praying about his dismal situation, the Lord reminded him of an incident with his mother that had occurred in his teens. She was subject to fits of frenzied anger, and she was also prone to shouting rebukes at any family member who crossed her.

  As he recalled this incident, Luke remembered that his mother had asked him to retrieve her silver punch cups that a neighbor had borrowed. On the walk home, he accidentally dropped one of the cups on the gravel road, putting some small dents in it. When Luke arrived at home, his mother spotted the dents immediately. She went ballistic.

  “I hate you, Luke!” she screamed. “I wish you had been born dead.”

  The more Luke apologized, the more intense her rage became. At that moment, he was not aware that he was internalizing her awful denouncements. As with other such occasions, Luke had borne the flagrant curses in sullen silence. By bearing the brunt of her words without responding, Luke had mistakenly assumed that he was making himself immune to any wounds. Little did he realize that his mother’s repeated outbursts were taking a cumulative toll on his emotions. And that day, when she declared that she wished he had been born dead, the demon of the fear of death had entered him.

  Luke related this to me when he came to me for help, and my first advice to
him was to pay his mother a visit and explain the outcome of her words. He agreed to do so.

  As he sat with his mother, Luke explained his terrible plight and requested that she recant concerning her denouncements. She apologized profusely to Luke and asked him for his forgiveness. He gave it freely and embraced her. Next, Luke asked his mom to lay her hands on his head and speak a blessing over his life. She gladly did so.

  Luke later testified of a tangible feeling of the fear of impending death moving out from his head as his mother blessed him. Within a week, all symptoms of gastritis and heart attack had vanished. From that day onward, Luke never experienced another panic attack of any sort.

  Breaking Godly Vows

  Any time we take a biblical vow, and then fail to keep it, we open ourselves to demonic affliction. We will look here at two in particular—baptismal vows and marriage vows. People make these godly vows and swear in the presence of both God and man that they will keep them. Even a conservative estimate of the number of people who are suffering the consequences of failing to take those oaths seriously is frightening.

  Baptismal Vows

  It is the practice of both Roman Catholic and Protestant churches to speak vows at baptisms. If children are not old enough to speak for themselves, oaths are taken by parents and godparents, and the vows are later confirmed by the children themselves. As often as not, the participants are oblivious to the ramifications of not adhering to the vows they made.

  Here are some of the components that are affirmed by the candidates for baptism. At infant baptisms, the guardians of the child swear these oaths on behalf of the child:

  I renounce the devil and all of his works. I renounce the sinful desires of the flesh and will not follow them nor be led by them. I accept Jesus as my Savior and Lord. I will obey God’s will and commandments and with God’s help will walk in the same all the days of my life.

  How many people who have sworn that oath—either in baptism or as guardian—have totally reneged on what they promised?

  If we consider the number of children who are living unrestrained lives, we realize that it is not only the young people who are suffering. The parents and guardians who swore to teach those children the principles of godly living are equally afflicted for not keeping their vows.

  The prophet Malachi stated that the hearts of fathers must focus on the children for whom God holds them responsible lest the earth be smitten with a curse (see Malachi 4:6). Many nations seem to be staggering under the weight of that curse.

  In fact, I have no doubt that tied up in the whole package of neglecting baptismal vows are the heartaches of teen suicides, the growing number of teen pregnancies, and the economic and health struggles that so many children and adults face in society today.

  Marriage Vows

  The divorce rate among Christians almost equals that of non-Christians. In addition, some polls indicate that as many as 50 percent of married women and 60 percent of married men have engaged in extramarital affairs.

  Traditional marriage vows remain the most common forms used in ceremonies. They contain vows to marital fidelity that include the phrases until death do us part and as long as we both shall live.

  How rampant are the consequences for breaking marriage vows in our modern society?

  Divorce does not disentangle couples who have small children. Rather, it often complicates and amplifies whatever grievances the couple might already have. As long as we both shall live is indeed a harsh reality, as estranged parents are forced to interact to deal with the hard issues of child support, visitation and child rearing issues.

  As long as we both shall live also frequently includes the curse of developmental trauma that divorces spawn in kids. Those same problems associated with divorce inevitably increase financial stresses. Without the intervention of God, the divorced couple and their children languish in a hostile relational environment, causing everyone involved to experience emotional wounds and trauma.

  Regarding infidelity, Hebrews 13:4 gives strong warning that those who defile the marriage bed through adultery will be judged. In Malachi 2:13–16, the prophet denounced spouses who deal treacherously with the marriage partner of their youth, saying that even their blessings will be cursed because of their unfaithful behavior.

  The problems attached to infidelity manifest far beyond exasperating arguments and ruined relationships. The apostle Paul warned in 1 Corinthians 6:18 that those who engage in immorality are actually committing sin against their own bodies. Could that be a contributing factor to the rampant number of men and women plagued with cancers in their reproductive organs? Sexual dysfunctions affect both sexes to the point where individuals cannot enjoy marital intimacy. Truly, the breaking of marriage vows through divorce and infidelity produces ghastly repercussions.

  We must be certain that we mean what we say. Consider this other common area where vow making can be as detrimental as any of these mentioned so far—and it also happens in church. They are the vows we make to God when singing hymns and choruses. It is rather scary to think what so many vow to do, with hands raised to God, and then promptly forget when exiting the service. As the angel told Daniel, “I have come for your words.” It is foolish to sing words in worshipful tones that we do not intend to keep.

  Making Ill-Advised Vows

  Jesus warned us clearly that we are not to swear oaths or make vows of our own invention. Many people habitually utter oaths with spontaneity in their daily conversations. When we make oaths in God’s name, we do so to give our own words more credibility. A frustrated mom tells a teen, “I swear to God, if you do that again you’ll be grounded for the rest of your life!” Such vows put God’s name to momentary exaggerations. Primarily, it is a form of taking God’s name in vain.

  Jesus said we will be either justified or condemned by the words we speak. The apostle James reiterated this warning in his epistle. Because our lives are like vapors, he said, we really do not know what the future holds. We should speak humbly about what we will and will not do, making sure to consider God’s will as we go about our plans: “You ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that’” (James 4:15).

  The implications of an oath suggest that we have the ability to control the future. To make an oath and not keep it is one and the same as swearing falsely. Jesus and James both advised that our statements should stand on their own merits. Anything beyond a yes or a no is an evil statement inspired by the evil one. (See Matthew 5:33–37; 12:37; James 4:13–16; 5:12.)

  In recent years, many believers have become aware that it is unwise to connect with organizations through oaths, and have severed their connections. Oaths taken in Masonic Lodges and college fraternal orders are just two examples.

  As an example of vows that we should not take, let’s look at oaths demanded by some spiritual leaders. There are pastors who solicit lifetime vows of loyalty from their members, and some believers naïvely engage in that degree of commitment. Some believers who have made vows of that sort speak about their pastor’s value in their lives in a manner that is normally reserved for Christ.

  The Lord is jealous for His people’s affections. He will not tolerate a human vessel receiving glory and credit for blessings He alone has wrought in people’s lives. I know of a number of people who are encountering self-inflicted curses for making unscriptural vows to their pastors.

  Some people wake up to this inappropriate loyalty, discovering that they are living without the freedom and abundance promised to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Sometimes that recognition prompts them to leave those situations, facing the possibility of being saddled with a curse from the jilted pastor and fellowship. In too many cases, the roots of identification with their pastors run inordinately deep, and they find it almost impossible to leave.

  Christians who are able to break these ungodly vows often find it hard to resettle in authentic Christian fellowships. The result is significant withdrawal from any form of church inv
olvement.

  Whenever people in such situations are willing to face their former pastors, I recommend they seek release. In all cases, I lead the individuals in repentance and renunciation of the inappropriate vows they made.

  There are extreme situations where it is necessary to break the demonic image of the leader that has been imprinted upon a parishioner’s psyche. It requires the courage to shatter the inner images of their former leaders with the hammer of the authority of God’s Word. Those kinds of inner images are reminiscent of what Ezekiel 8:3 defines as the image that provokes God to jealousy. Christians are to be conformed to the image of Christ, not to the personality or lifestyle of a particular leader.

  Divine Help for Crop Failures

  The good news is twofold. First, the love of God covers a multitude of sins and people do not suffer consequences for every vow and oath. Second, where consequences have taken root, the effects of the words can be broken and dramatic reversals can take place in the lives of those who are being affected by them. God is more than willing to intervene in all of the situations we have described where the seeds of a potential curse have been planted. The Lord will graciously facilitate merciful “crop failures” on whatever negative harvests are sprouting in your life. The means He employs to enact those crop failures will be your confession about what the Bible says the blood of Jesus accomplished for you at Calvary.