Question from a reader:
I am really struggling with some specific sins in my life. I’ve discerned the spirits of addiction, idolatry, lying and pride. What is your advice?
Answer from Eternal Perspective Ministries:
One website we appreciate and often recommend is Got Questions. Here is part of their answer to, "What does the Bible say about deliverance?"
Deliverance is often sought from evil spirits or the spirit of lust, jealousy, etc. It’s important to understand that, as believers, we already have eternal victory over Satan and demons. But we can be delivered from their influence in our lives by using two weapons God has given us as part of our spiritual armor with which we battle 'against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms' (Ephesians 6:12-17). The believer defends himself with the shield of faith and uses the offensive weapon of the Word of God. Against these two, no spirit can prevail. By holding up the shield of faith, we extinguish the flaming spiritual arrows they send against us, arrows of lust, doubt, guilt, jealousy, evil speech, and all manner of temptations. With the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, we overcome the evil one by proving his temptations to be lies because he is the father of lies (John 8:44). John’s second letter commends the young Christians whose spiritual strength came from the Word of God living in them. By the offensive weapon of the Truth, we overcome the evil one (1 John 2:14).
In Romans 7, the Apostle Paul wrote about the struggle against sin:
"For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. ...For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (v. 19-24).
Victory is possible through Jesus Christ as He transforms us—it is not necessarily instant, but it is always possible through Him! Ed Welch writes, “Sanctification is like taking a slow, clumsy walk rather than flicking a light switch from off to on. But by God’s grace, we grow.”
Randy added these thoughts: “Deliverance to some people is a shortcut to doing the hard work of coming to grips with one's own sin or laziness or lack of initiative. Rather than getting exercise and going on a diet and showing up for church, some people pray to be delivered from the demon of gluttony or sloth or spiritual indifference. Prayer is essential, but so is taking action. The action of being involved in a church can lead to the kind of community with accountability where believers are stimulating one another to love and good deeds.”
We pray that you will experience the freedom of walking with Jesus, and victory over sin by His Holy Spirit and the power of His Word. Do you have a local church you attend? Perhaps you already have, but we'd encourage you to talk with your pastor or another church leader about this to get their support and encouragement (assuming they are not steeped in unbiblical “deliverance theology”).
May God bless you and fill you with all joy and peace by His Holy Spirit, so that you overflow with hope (Romans 15:13).
