Types of Demonic Harassment
Though you cannot see it with your natural eyes, in the spiritual realm, a conflict between light and darkness is taking place—angels against demons, Heaven against Hell, truth against deception. Your mind is the battlefield.
Though you cannot see it with your natural eyes, in the spiritual realm, a conflict between light and darkness is taking place—angels against demons, Heaven against Hell, truth against deception. Your mind is the battlefield.
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
While demons cannot dwell in believers, they can harass them. This isn’t a reason to be scared but rather prepared.
Here are 3 ways demonic beings attack the minds of Christians:
#1 - Fear
Demons aim to drag your thoughts to dwell on the worst-case scenario in every scenario. They torment your mind by suggesting what can go wrong. They even use irrational fears to keep you from enjoying the life God intended for you.
#2 - Accusation
Satan is the accuser, Christ is the advocate. Demons harass your mind by bombarding you with thoughts that bring forth guilt and shame from past mistakes. Sometimes, demons will even influence others to hold your past over you.
#3 - Temptation
If sin were a product, demons would be salesmen. While demons don’t do the sinning for you, they do try to persuade you to disobey God, as did the serpent in the garden. While tempting you, they minimize the sin, and once you give in, they magnify it. So then temptation and accusation can work together.
How can we be free?
Fear, accusation, and temptation can make you feel like you’re going crazy, but the solution is a simple one.
Spiritual warfare is simply the fight to believe God’s truth over the enemy’s lie. Deception leads to thoughts and feelings, which ultimately produce actions that become habits.
Instead of just dealing with the results of deception, we must be made aware of the roots of deception.
All forms of demonic harassment are rooted in deception. The enemy cannot defeat you unless He’s deceived you. Fear is based on the lie that God isn’t in control. Accusation is based on the lie that God isn’t forgiving. Temptation is based on the lie that God isn’t enough.
Once you know the truth, you’ll be free. The light of truth is what does away with the darkness of demonic harassment.
For more on this topic, you can watch my teaching, “If You're Seeing These Signs, You Need Deep Deliverance,” on YouTube by clicking here.
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The Spiritual World
There’s more to this world than can be felt or seen. Beyond the veil, there exists a realm energized by movement and life. That world, the spiritual realm, is more real than this world. And what happens in that world is more consequential than what happens in this world.
There’s more to this world than can be felt or seen. Beyond the veil, there exists a realm energized by movement and life. That world, the spiritual realm, is more real than this world. And what happens in that world is more consequential than what happens in this world.
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12, NLT)
Angels and demons exist. Angels are not just metaphors for good. Demons are not just metaphors for evil. They are actual beings that exist - with minds, wills, and feelings all their own. God exists. The Devil exists. Heaven exists. Hell exists. In the spiritual realm, it’s light against darkness. And a war is raging over your soul.
What happens in that realm affects what happens in this realm. And the choices you make in this life move through the eternal world.
I think that we live so fast-paced in this realm that we rarely allow for a moment’s pause to consider the other. This is why the Bible urges us to be vigilant.
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8, NLT)
Behind every lie, there is a liar. Behind every attack, there is an assailant. See with the eyes of the Spirit. Behind this world is another. The spiritual world is real, and it’s time we start living like it.
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The Holy Spirit Dominates Demons
The Holy Spirit doesn’t deal with demons; the Holy Spirit dominates demons. By His mere presence, the forces of darkness are exposed, overcome, and expelled. Just as quickly as light dissolves the shadows, so the Holy Spirit rids one of demonic influence. Like sand castles under a roaring ocean wave, the bondages of the enemy are destroyed.
Jesus cast out demons by the power of the Holy Spirit. He said so Himself.
But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. (Luke 11:20, NLT)
Much like healing, deliverance does not come by special procedure, a specific prayer, some superstitious ritual, or any man-made gimmick or technique. Quite simply, it’s the power of the Holy Spirit. There’s no complicated method to apply - that power is found in surrender. The more surrendered you are to the Holy Spirit, the greater will be the flow of God’s mighty power through your life.
It’s no contest. In all the talk of principalities, strong demons, and curses, I think we sometimes forget that no matter how strong a demonic spirit is, there is no spirit on earth more powerful than the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t deal with demons; the Holy Spirit dominates demons. By His mere presence, the forces of darkness are exposed, overcome, and expelled. Just as quickly as light dissolves the shadows, so the Holy Spirit rids one of demonic influence. Like sand castles under a roaring ocean wave, the bondages of the enemy are destroyed.
Can you imagine the Holy Spirit being resisted by a demonic being? Do you imagine that a demon is powerful enough to struggle with or fight with the Holy Spirit? No way.
That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. (Matthew 8:16, NLT)
So if you’re a believer, rest assured that you carry within you the power to instantaneously overcome or expel any demonic being. Light is no match for darkness. Demons are no match for the Holy Spirit.
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Overcoming the Virus
Beyond the veil, lurking within the shadows of an unseen realm, demonic beings plot against the Church and plan attacks on God’s children. Whether you believe it or not, demons are real, spiritual warfare is real, and the supernatural realm impacts your daily life.
Beyond the veil, lurking within the shadows of an unseen realm, demonic beings plot against the Church and plan attacks on God’s children. Whether you believe it or not, demons are real, spiritual warfare is real, and the supernatural realm impacts your daily life.
Demons are not metaphors for evil - they are living, sentient beings with wills of their own.
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12, NLT)
May God open our eyes to see Hell’s agenda. Being unleashed by Hell upon the earth right now is a virus. This virus spreads from person to person, multiplying itself rapidly and bringing destruction wherever it goes. This virus has the power to shut down economies, upset governments, and intimidate people into cowering in isolation. Make no mistake: this virus is lethal. This virus can intensify over time. And this virus must be stopped. This virus is, of course, the spirit of fear.
Fear intimidates. Fear makes people pliable and easy to control. Fear makes people afraid to proclaim truth. And, if we’re not vigilant, fear itself will cause us to surrender freedom in the name of security. It will cause us to set aside faith in the name of wisdom.
Whatever happens in the natural realm, remember that it is being influenced in the supernatural. The enemy, that is the Devil and his demons, is testing the water, testing to see what he can get away with, testing to see if it’s possible to control you with fear. He is observing, watching closely. And if you allow fear to control you now, I promise you the enemy will use fear again and in increasingly suppressive measures.
Let those with spiritual eyes see. Let those with spiritual ears hear. I’m talking to you about a spiritual enemy.
The moment you allow fear to grip your soul, it will continue to tighten its grip until it brings you to the point of paralysis.
But I thank God for His truth. For greater than the spirit of fear, greater than any demonic spirit, is the Holy Spirit. He brings with Him peace and faith - the cures for fear.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV)
Get your spiritual fight back. Allow righteous indignation to burn within you. Put the enemy in his place. Declare the truth of God’s Word over yourself, over your family, over your home, over your region. Lay claim upon the peace that God has given to you. Let your faith soar to new heights - let it shatter the tethers of fear. Shine a light in the midst of the darkness.
Stand your ground against fear and remember this: If your father is the Father of lights, your future is bright.
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Rejecting Superstition
In order to become a real threat to hell and a real help to others, we must be loosed from the distracting nature of superstition and learn how to engage in true spiritual warfare. In the introduction to this book, I presented a caution about our approach to spiritual warfare and warned against the extremes of both skepticism and superstition. I now want to focus on avoiding superstitious thinking that can keep you from overcoming the enemy.
In order to become a real threat to hell and a real help to others, we must be loosed from the distracting nature of superstition and learn how to engage in true spiritual warfare. In the introduction to this book, I presented a caution about our approach to spiritual warfare and warned against the extremes of both skepticism and superstition. I now want to focus on avoiding superstitious thinking that can keep you from overcoming the enemy.
Before I go any further, I want to be clear. It is not my intent to be dismissive of demonic activity. My goal is to keep you from becoming bound to superstitious thinking that can make you fearful of casting out or confronting demons. If you can understand the liberating truth I seek to present here, you will approach spiritual warfare with the peace of God and not become inordinately concerned about demonic activity.
This is about becoming a threat to the enemy—defeating him. To become that threat, we must consciously avoid superstitions that make us paranoid about being influenced by demons.
What kinds of superstitions am I talking about? While doing my research for this book, I read a lot of material, carefully studied the Scriptures, and spoke with several people. Through those conversations and materials, I discovered many people were living in fear of demons despite their vast “knowledge” of Scripture. They were fixated on “rules” to keep demons from “attaching” themselves to them.
They had been told that they should pray when walking into buildings so demons wouldn’t latch onto them and then to pray when leaving so no demons would follow them home. In a few extreme instances some even came to believe that they should pray before loading every web page they visited lest a demon jump off the page and into their lives. They even feared rebuking demonic spirits lest they jump onto them.
They were constantly on guard. If they got angry, they’d pray against the demon of anger that may have entered their lives. If they came into contact with a drug addict, they believed that if they didn’t rebuke the demon they might become its next victim. If they accidentally touched a trinket from the occult, they’d think they had opened a door for an evil spirit to torment them.
Instead of living in the light of Christ, these believers were tediously working to counter every possible assault that could arise from almost any possible scenario. Though they were trying to remain vigilant against demonic attack, they were actually giving demons too much of their time and living in bondage to fear instead of in the freedom Jesus purchased for us on the cross.
This isn’t how we are supposed to live as followers of Christ. Of course, the Bible tells us to “be sober and watchful, because your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). So we should guard against temptation and opening doors that would give the devil legal access to influence our lives. For many of us, this means there are certain places we should not go. And obviously we should not participate in occult rituals. But greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world (1 John 4:4)! There is a difference between vigilance and paranoia. Vigilance in spiritual warfare is rooted in confidence in God and His Word and the authority we have in Him. Paranoia is rooted in fear. Vigilance is offensive; paranoia is defensive.
If you allow yourself to become paranoid about demons, you’ll constantly be looking around for demonic stalkers. We don’t see Jesus worrying about demons, and we don’t see the disciples living in that kind of fear. In fact, the apostle Paul allowed a demon-possessed girl to follow him around for several days before finally casting the demon out of her. And when he did cast it out, he took only an instant to do so.
“On one occasion, as we went to the place of prayer, a servant girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, shouting, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.’ She did this for many days. But becoming greatly troubled, Paul turned to the spirit and said, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out at that moment“ - Acts 16:16–18, MEV
Whenever you form a belief or embrace a concept, ask yourself this: Does this idea help me better live the lifestyle of Christ that we see reflected in Scripture? If it doesn’t, don’t embrace it. I want to see you operate in the authority that has been given to you through Christ.
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Demons & Fallen Angels
Through my observation and study of Scripture, I have come to believe, quite confidently, that demons cannot be fallen angels. Now, I know that idea will be rather jarring for some people. It may seem that I am not only challenging a widely held traditional view but also contradicting very clear teachings of the Bible. Well, the idea that demons are not fallen angels certainly contradicts tradition. But in no way does it contradict Scripture.
Through my observation and study of Scripture, I have come to believe, quite confidently, that demons cannot be fallen angels.
Now, I know that idea will be rather jarring for some people. It may seem that I am not only challenging a widely held traditional view but also contradicting very clear teachings of the Bible. Well, the idea that demons are not fallen angels certainly contradicts tradition. But in no way does it contradict Scripture.
The Bible speaks of demons, and it speaks of the fall of Lucifer and the co-rebellion of a third of the angels, but no verses actually link the two and define demons as fallen angels. The idea that demons are fallen angels is simply a long-held tradition. The Bible actually gives three subtle distinctions between demons and fallen angels, and I want to explore each one here.
Demons Need Bodies
Demons seek to possess bodies and seem rather uncomfortable being outside of them. Take for instance the story of a man possessed by an entire legion of demons. While being cast out, the demons in that story begged Jesus to send them into a herd of pigs:
There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine” - Matthew 8:30–31, MEV
Fallen angels, however, can appear in physical form and even interact with mankind. In Genesis fallen angels even procreated with women. The bizarre procreation resulted in the birth of giants.
“There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown” - Genesis 6:4, KJV
For that procreation, God punished the “sons of God” by binding them in “everlasting chains” until the day of judgment (Jude 6). Keep in mind that every reference to “sons of God” in the Old Testament was a reference to supernatural beings or angels. Only in the New Testament does “sons of God” refer to the redeemed children of God. So we know that it wasn’t ordinary men, as some might suggest, who procreated with the “daughters of men.” Had those referred to in Genesis 6:4 been mere ordinary men, there would be no clear reason their procreation would produce giants.
Some also suggest that perhaps “sons of God” referred to a select group of people who were forbidden to procreate with a certain other group. Still, that would not explain why their union produced giants or why God punished their actions so harshly.
There are others still who say angels cannot breed, citing Matthew 22:30: “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels of God in heaven” (MEV). But that verse tells us only that angels do not marry. Angels can still have a gender and appear to mankind in earthly bodies. The book of Hebrews tells us that angels can actually walk around among us without being noticed.
“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unknowingly” - Hebrews 13:2, MEV
Consider also the angels at Christ’s empty tomb. “While they were greatly perplexed concerning this, suddenly two men stood by them in shining garments“ (Luke 24:4, MEV).
Also, the men of Sodom desired to have sex with the angels that appeared to Lot. How could that be unless the angels had bodies and looked like human beings?
“... the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them he rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. … Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. 5 They then called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, so that we may have relations with them” - Genesis 19:1, 4-5, MEV
From Scripture, we see that both fallen angels and holy angels have bodies. In contrast, demons greatly desire bodies because they do not have them. Demons are clingy, needy, angry, tormented creatures. That is the first distinction between fallen angels and demons.
Demons Wander the Earth
Demons are cursed to wander the earth while fallen angels still have the ability to stand before God in heavenly places. Though they were banished from heaven, the fallen angels still gave an account of their doings.
“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Adversary also came among them“ - Job 1:6, MEV
I’ll give you a few good reasons to believe fallen angels, and not just heavenly angels, were among those who stood before God in the story recorded in the Book of Job. First, the devil was no longer Lucifer, for the Book of Job refers to him as “Satan.” Second, we also know that Satan was in his fallen state because later in the story of Job he sought to steal from, kill and destroy Job.
As Jesus said, “The thief’s does not come, except to steal and kill and destroy … “ - John 10:10, MEV
Third, we know from the following verse that Job’s story took place after the great flood, which means it definitely took place after the fall of both man and Satan.
“Will you keep to the old way, that wicked men have trod? They were cut down before their time; their foundations were swept away by a flood” - Job 22:15–16, MEV
So if Satan in his fallen state was among the angels who had to give an account in Job, it is consistent to believe that other fallen angels were called upon as well. Fallen angels can appear in heavenly places. Therefore, fallen angels are not completely bound to earth. Demons, however, can only wander the earth or live in a body, as Jesus explained:
“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through dry places seeking rest, but finds none” - Matthew 12:43, MEV
Nowhere in Scripture do we see demons moving from the earth to God’s presence. Those accounts are always referring to fallen angels.
Demons Are Called ‘Devils’ and ‘Unclean Spirits’
When referring to fallen angels, New Testament scriptures do not use the terms demons, devils or unclean spirits. Instead, the Bible makes reference to fallen angels by simply using a negative description or context. For example, these verses clearly describe fallen angels:
For if God did not spare the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be kept for judgment …” - 2 Peter 2:4, MEV
“Likewise, the angels who did not keep to their first domain, but forsook their own dwelling, He has kept in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day” - Jude 1:6, MEV
“Then He will say to those at the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels'” Matthew 25:41, MEV
In these verses there is no mention of demons or devils. Instead, to make a distinction between God’s holy angels and fallen angels, the New Testament simply calls them the angels “that sinned” or “which kept not their first estate.”
Apart from the simple use of negative descriptions, the New Testament also uses context to draw distinctions between fallen angels and holy angels. An example of this is when, in Matthew 25:41, hell is described as a place prepared for the devil and his angels. The angels in that verse were said to belong to the devil, so it is obvious that they were fallen.
Furthermore, in the following verse, while making a strong point about the need to avoid false gospels, Paul the Apostle mentions angels “from heaven.”
“Although if we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you than the one we have preached to you, let him be accursed” - Galatians 1:8, MEV
Of course, it’s obvious that one should reject the gospel of a fallen angel, but it might not have been as obvious to the Galatians that they should reject a different gospel from even a holy angel. To drive his point home, Paul essentially warns, “Even if one of the angels from heaven should preach to you another gospel, do not be deceived.” In other words, “Don’t be swayed even if one of the good guys starts to preach a different gospel.”
Paul’s warning is an example of how the New Testament contrasts both fallen and holy angels. No special term is used to describe fallen angels; they are simply described in a negative way and/or placed in a negative context. Demons, on the other hand, are referred to as “devils,” “unclean spirits” and “demons.”
Excerpted from Truths About Demons and Spiritual Warfare by David Diga Hernandez (Charisma House, 2016).
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Dominion Over Demons
Dear reader, you don’t need to be a “demon expert” to be a threat to hell. Should you know the dynamics of spiritual warfare and demonic activity? Absolutely. But how much more do you really think you need to learn before you begin to exercise your authority over them? The ability to cast out demons and destroy the works of hell is not necessarily about how much you know about demons; it’s about how much demons know about Christ in you.
Just as I was preparing for a much-needed night’s sleep, I received an unexpected (and somewhat unwelcome) phone call. Tempted to ignore the relentless ringing of my cell phone, I glanced at my phone to assess the call’s importance. Despite my lack of enthusiasm, I reached out, perhaps by impulse, and answered the call. I immediately recognized the caller’s voice. He was a friend and fellow Christian leader. I could tell by his tone that he knew his call was an imposition. He was sincerely apologetic but frantic and panicky.
“Hey can I tell you something please?” he asked timidly. Still trying to commit my mind to conversation, I answered, “Yes, sure.”
He explained, “Well, I’m here at the home of a friend. I was ministering to the family who lives here, and this lady started acting very strange. She appears to have a manifesting demon. I think she is demon-possessed.”
“What makes you say that?” I asked.
“Well, when I started to pray for her, she started screaming, saying weird things, and shaking. And she—or maybe the demon—is mocking me. What should I do?”
I pulled the phone away from my face so I could sigh without the caller hearing me. I was frustrated that he was calling me because he was a Spirit-filled believer. Had it been a new convert or an inexperienced believer who asked me that question, I would have been more understanding of his nervousness. Internally I was praying for the Lord to give me patience. I mustered all the kindness I could in that late hour of the night, and I gently said, “Well, brother, you should cast the demon out of her.”
He paused for a moment. “I can do that? Are you sure you don’t want to do it? We’d rather have you do it. Can you come over? Am I allowed to do that? I don’t need a special anointing for that or something? Won’t the demon get on me? What about everyone else here?”
His frantic questions didn’t leave me even a second’s opportunity to respond. I waited for him to calm down. “My brother,” I replied, “you can cast the demon out yourself. The same Holy Spirit who lives in me lives in you.”
There was another moment of pause. His tone was one of both excitement and concern as he replied, “OK. Thank you. … but are you sure?”
My tone tipped slightly toward irritated. “Yes, my friend. You can cast the demon out.”
After reiterating that point for about a minute more, I ended the call with my friend. Then I began to think about what had just occurred. I thought to myself: How is it possible that a fellow Christian leader doesn’t know how to cast out a demon?
Say what you will about my frustration, but Jesus Himself expressed this sort of aggravation toward His disciples when they were unable to cast out a demon of a little boy (Mark 9:19). I know that some demonic beings rank higher in power and are more difficult to deal with. But I was astonished that my friend didn’t even attempt to cast out that demon.
Most believers have the same state of mind my late-night caller had. He was living righteously. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was walking with the Lord. Yet he hesitated to confront the powers of darkness.
If one is living a spiritually compromised life, then hesitancy in the face of demonic activity is expected. But just as the compromising Christian can be too confident, so the battle-ready believer can be too doubtful. I don’t care what anyone says; the Bible tells us that “those who believe” the gospel message will be endued with the power to drive away demonic forces from enslaved souls.
“He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved. But he who does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues” - Mark 16:15–17, MEV
Who will the signs follow? He who believes! He who believes what? He who believes the gospel message preached by the disciples of Christ. The moment you believed is the very moment you received authority over demonic forces.
Dear reader, you don’t need to be a “demon expert” to be a threat to hell. Should you know the dynamics of spiritual warfare and demonic activity? Absolutely. But how much more do you really think you need to learn before you begin to exercise your authority over them? The ability to cast out demons and destroy the works of hell is not necessarily about how much you know about demons; it’s about how much demons know about Christ in you.
While the “inexperienced” believer may not always be able to discern the difference between a genuine demonic manifestation and emotional hype, that individual still has the ability to cast out demons. Might the one who is unfamiliar with casting out demons do some foolish things? Of course. But his ability to cast out demons is still there.
For example, I’ve heard of some believers who, while trying to perform deliverance, smack the demon-possessed individual in the face with a Bible. The enthusiasm is good, but the actual act of hitting a person in the face is not. We know that while there is power in the Word of God, there is no actual power in a book’s leather, paper or ink. We also know that we “wrestle not” against the flesh or against people themselves. So smacking the flesh with a leather-bound book serves no actual spiritual purpose. You may even be able to expel a demon while using such silly methods, but the exorcism would have to succeed despite the foolishness, not because of it.
As believers grow, they will move beyond hype, bizarre methods, unhealthy fear of demons and superstitious thinking. But regardless of any need for growth, every Spirit-filled believer has the power to cast out demons. How effectively they exercise that authority depends upon their spiritual maturity.
My caution here would be to tell you that if you are compromising in sin, demonic beings will be able to resist your commands. They may even retaliate against your attempts to expel them. However, I am compelled to remind you that there are limitations to a demon’s attacks on a believer.
The Believer’s State of Being
Authority flows from the top down, so you need to be positioned under authority in order to exercise authority. For example, a police officer has authority to enforce certain laws. He can command you to do many things, but the moment he commands something outside the scope of what the law allows, he loses legal authority to give orders. An employer has the authority to make demands of his employees, but if that employer steps into the home of one of his employees, he loses the right to make certain demands.
Government leaders have the authority to enact laws upon their citizens, but the moment those leaders step foot outside sovereign soil, they lack the authority to command the people of that different country. If you want spiritual authority, then you need to remain in your spiritual place of authority. Once you step out of the Spirit, you step outside your jurisdiction.
Speaking analogously, a police officer with a California badge can’t enforce the laws of Florida. A police officer with a U.S. badge cannot enforce American laws in the country of Japan. It doesn’t matter if you have a badge if that badge isn’t used in your place of influence. Jurisdiction is the key to having authority.
In the spiritual realm for the believer jurisdiction isn’t found in a physical place—it’s found in a state of being. The believer has jurisdiction in the state of righteousness, in the state of peace, in the state of faith and so on. When you live a lifestyle of compromise (the state of unrighteousness), you step out of the state in which you have dominion. You don’t lose your badge (your authority), but you do leave the state where that badge works.
How can you command a spirit of perversion to leave when you’re in the state of perversion? How can you rebuke a spirit of fear when you live in the state of fear? When you leave your jurisdiction, it’s not that you don’t have authority; it’s that you’re walking in the wrong state.
When you walk in holiness, everywhere you go is God’s dominion—and when you live in dominion, your authority works to its fullest. Simply put, this dominion, this full realization of authority, is found in the state of submission to the Lord. Our authority is fully realized in submission to God. And that submission to God precedes our ability to resist the enemy.
”Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” - James 4:7, MEV
God’s authority upon you will always work when you’re living in the right state of being. This is why you can have authority everywhere you go: Dominion goes with you! Your authority over fear works in the jurisdiction of faith. Your authority over demonic beings works in the jurisdiction of righteous living, and so on. The key is in remaining in the right jurisdiction.
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