The most powerful and affective way to fight spiritual battles is to declare the Word of God over our lives, and focus on the Good news of His Word, and who we are in Him. Not only because we need to hear it (faith comes not, but by hearing, and hearing the word of God …) but because the devil is a trespasser, and he operates illegally, he will surely take advantage of any double mindedness or vocalizations that fortifies the problem and not the answer. This is how that trespasser gets a foothold, to work where he really has no right. Life and death are in the power of the tongue, as the scripture says. A faith filled  report speaks of  the fruit  and its availability.

The evil report  focuses on the giants  in the land, that cannot be overcome. It is   the difference between obtaining the promises of the covenant, or wandering in the wilderness. If doubt and unbelief comes out of our mouth, then out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks … This is why we search the scriptures to know Christ, to understand what His will is for our lives, and to know the character of God. This is so  we will not align ourselves with the enemies lies. It is imperative that we fill our heart with God’s promise, so that when we are under pressure, his word will come out of us.

 Sins, Sicknesses, and Bondage.

I think we can get into bondage if we are constantly probing around trying to figure out some deep seeded reason for this or that, when all we need to do is tell the devil, and generational curses the buck stops here! We can declare: I am in covenant! I am a new creature! The failure of my fathers  will not have this generation! Why stumble around in the basement rummaging through old suitcases for an answer, when we can stand on the roof top, and proclaim HIs Word over are lives, and to the next generation? It just seems to be a better way. Believe me, I have witnessed the endless rummaging.  No sooner do they rid themselves of one thing, than they are after another. Have you ever met someone who has gone to counseling and therapy for years? Meetings after meetings for their addictions for decades and never seem to get free?  Dwelling on the problem can never be the answer. We can sweep the basement clean, addressing these things by name, but if we do not fill it up with the LIGHT of Gods word, (according to scripture) the unclean spirits will come back to the house they came out of with seven more stronger.  Mathew 12:43-45 We must live in the Word of God, and speak its truth into our lives, this dispels the darkness  and fills us with light  from the words of our mouth.

2 Corinthians 5:16-18 (New King James Version)

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation …

Isaiah 43:18 (New King James Version)
“ Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness. And rivers in the desert.

(He replaces our wilderness and desert with  RIVERS!) Out of YOUR belly shall flow RIVERS of living water!

Romans 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Like I have stated before the devil is a trespasser, his operations are illegal. If we let him, he will pass through generational lines. He will pass through them even if we are born again, because we have to assert our rights as believers. We must take possession of the promises of God full throttle, as the children of Israel had to take possession of Canaan. It is the way we deal with the enemy, and generational devils (better known as familiar spirits) that revisit family lines. These unclean spirits seek habitation to manipulate human weakness, error, and infirmity, in a (known to the familiars)  family tree. Even Godly family lines can carry on mind sets from one generation to the other, that  limit growth in the kingdom. Remember, the traditions of men can make the word of God of no effect, even good practices can hinder, when they are not God ordained direction for that season, or situation.

Mark 7:9 -13  New International Version (©1984) And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! … Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. 

What we have seen with our eyes and  touched with our own hands … the Word of LIFE!

Generational sin has left its carnage in the jails, prisons, and streets, where we have gone to minister. Men and women  incarcerated, whose parents were incarcerated, or laden with addictions, are carrying on the family tradition. Many of these people have suffered abandonment, rejection, attempts of suicide, and  mental illnesses; that have not only plagued them, but their  family lines as well. When you bring a deliverance ministry into those places with a (a zero tolerance for demonic activity)  there is more manifestation because the devil knows Jesus is coming to cast them out. Ministries who are assertive against demonic oppression, manifestations, and control, do not have to go looking for devils to cast out. “They” will cry out when the deliverer comes who is Christ in us. If you are not known in the spirit realm to cast out devils, then the unclean spirits have nothing to fear when you are around. It is when they learn of your reputation as being one that will drive them out, that bazaar circumstances will begin to present themselves around you. Jesus said, the works that I do you shall do also … and greater works shall you do because I go to my Father.

We know that devils cried out when  Jesus walked this earth, and they still do to-day, if you will only believe in his name, and discern when they manifest. Often they will play on your ignorance and comply with anything that does not bring attention to the fact that they are there, if they know it is not your habit to deal with them. In many of our churches today, they actually cater to the enemy, letting devils manifest and disrupt  services by odd behavior and distraction, yet the leadership does nothing about it.   On the other hand if you do as Christ did when he ministered in the cities, your reputation will ferret them out, even more so your discernment.  Jesus himself said, “these signs shall follow them that believe, in my name they will cast out devils … Mark 16:17.

Preaching on the blood will get a reaction.
Once when I was preaching on the blood of Jesus in an institution, a man who had lived in a  catatonic state, began to roll his wheel chair from the back of the room towards me shoving through every one in  his way until he was able to ram himself  into the speaking podium I was standing behind. He rolled back and came at me again with eyes glazed over  in a fixed stare.  We bound the unclean spirit that was manifesting through this man, finding out later that he would reach out and grab hold of some of the patients, and not let go. His eyes and facial expression remaining in a fixed state. After we prayed for him this violent and unusual behavior stopped. Our team gained a reputation for solving some of the odd  incidences that would take place in this institution, and we began to be sought out by the nursing staff for our help. We were asked to pray through the rooms vacated by some of those who had died.  The nursing staff  began to notice insanity was acting like a virus, when patients would begin to parrot  vocal similarities, of a tormented person, who had died in the room before them.  They would cry out the same words, or act out non verbal expressions. The nurses finally began to realize that this was demonic activity. Thankfully, God had positioned people with discernment to work there.

Your reputation will proceed you.
In one particular visit  in this facility, we walked into the building from the west wing and heard a patient crying out our family name on the east wing. No one could have possibly known we were there.  As we passed the nurses station one of  them hurried over and pulled us to the side, she was upset and asked us if we believed in  demon possession. We explained to her that we have been commissioned by Jesus Christ to go into all the world, and preach the Gospel, casting out devils was part of that ministry, as well as laying hands on the sick. She began to explain to us that one of the patients was demonstrating very curious  behavior, when nurses would check on her she would seem to have expired. The nurses would run out and signal a code-blue only to find her sitting on the edge of her bed laughing with a hideous, animated laughter. They could not understand how she was controlling her vital signs, appearing to be near death. The nurse said she was having a hard time getting other nurses to check on her. She asked us if we could do something, we had already met her in our other visits and had already suspected that she was heavily tormented.

When we entered into her room she immediately reached over to the draperies on the window and attempted to climb up the draperies. This frail woman in her 80′s probably weighed a 100 lbs. Her strength was beyond natural, as she began to lift herself up the curtains. The nurses helped her back down, rolled her into the middle of the room and hurried out the door leaving me alone with this poor woman. As I looked into her eyes I saw the demon  manifest a shadow face over her own, looking like an extreme insomniac version of herself. I said, “You have not been able to sleep have you?” With a pitiful whisper she said,” No I haven’t. I said “You have been up for days haven’t you?” She said, “Yes, I have”.  I said,” Well, that is going to stop now, and then I spoke to the unclean spirit and commanded it to  leave her now in the name of Jesus Christ.  Immediately, I felt peace come into the room. It was that simple. This woman who was once a pastor’s wife that had pastored a church in that city many years earlier, was now able to pray with me in the name of Jesus, I left her alone thanking Him. Few deliverances  have been that simple but in this instance it was.

Interestingly enough, this was my last visit there. I was about to take a maternity leave off from the ministry to focus on our new baby who was due in just days. One year later we walked into the institution, went to the nurses desk and the first person I asked about was Mrs. ______    the nurse said, “Oh well, you must have walked right past her she is over there”. I turned around and saw the same woman we encountered a year earlier. She literally looked 10 years younger! Not only was her hair done up, but she was wearing a nice dress sitting  quietly and composed. She did not recognize me but she seemed very peaceful and content. We saw lives changed in forgotten places, because we dared to believe in the full gospel of Jesus Christ. To often ministries go into these places just to comfort. Of course comfort is a big part, but that is not the full package deal. Go ye!  If you can’t go then support some one who can it is just the same! But make sure they are bringing that great commission of Christ to the lost, that they be utterly healed, set free, and filled with His Holy Spirit.

First bind the strongman then spoil his goods.
We have seen revival break out in prison, to the extent that guards were set inside the doors of the sanctuary of the chapel; an unusual sight being that the chapel would normally be occupied by a handful of inmates with one guard watching through the window. We were not afraid to interrupt the meetings with prayer when we felt opposition in the atmosphere. In most services ministers, usually, just plow through the hard ground and try to eek out a formidable attraction. We learned to stop and take authority over that kind of atmosphere, and would nail it all night if we had to. After all it is not a performance we were there for. Our whole reason for being in these places was to fulfill a mandate to reach the lost. If you have to stop and war to do that, well, that just comes with the territory.

If we were faithful not to bow under the atmosphere, God was faithful to show up every time with a move of His Spirit, where people were falling out, getting healed, and filled, right where they were sitting. Many times, when we stopped the service to pray we would take authority over witchcraft, and all most every time we would have a runner that would flee the sanctuary. This became a signature move of the Holy Spirit in our meetings. A sign to those in the jails, and prisons that the power of God was present, normally those who would run out were exercising controlling powers over other inmates and was there to keep tabs on them. You see, a lot of people would be upset that two or three people would jump up and run out of their service. But I fully enjoyed the wolves who have no wish to do anything but devour the sheep, were being chased out of the flock. That proved to me that the Good Shepherd was in charge. People will do one of two things in the presence of the anointing. They will run to it, or run a way from it. It is when they run to it that their devils cry out. The unclean spirits are suddenly brought into the presence of almighty God and they start acting up, because the heart and the will of the one they are tormenting, is turning themselves over to God.

Walking in the Glory
To be affective in what God has called us to do is to command that kind of atmosphere around us in the Spirit, where the glory of the Lord is so strong that spiritual awakenings are able to rock the unseen world every where our feet tread the ground. We should have a zero tolerance for demonic activity all the time. We should pull upon heaven until it fills our world with God’s Glory. Living this way is definitely not boring. Something as simple as going to a restaurant, or walking downtown, will draw out the desperation of those who need deliverance. The less there is of us the more there is of Him. Christ will be recognized! And the devil will be exposed!

No harm will come to you.
Years ago we were having meetings in our home,(and this was during the time when we had just begun homeschooling our children) there was a new face in the crowd she was a rather large woman and very severe looking. I felt a check in my spirit regarding her. I was told that she worked for the state in child protection services, by a friend, and as the meeting went on, I noticed that she was not participating with the rest of us in worship and just didn’t seem to act like one of the sheep. I began to wonder if she was taking advantage of our open home, to sniff around over this home schooling thing, and I felt uneasy. We continued to worship the Lord, and I lifted it all up to God, and pretty soon the glory began to fill our living room as we all became lost in worship. The next thing I know, I hear this tremendous thud hit the ground, and an awful groan. I opened my eyes and this woman who was in the back of the room, was now in the front of the room just inches away from me. She was on her hands and knees, and moaning. She stood there like that for the rest of the night shaking, sobbing, moaning, and crying. A couple of sisters continued to pray with her until the end of the service. They helped her out the door and to her car. I never saw her again, and until this day I do not know her story. Who was she? Why was she there? All I know is that God had his way that night. Not man. Not devils.

… and He escaped out from the midst of them … 
More recently, I walked into the post office to check our mail box when all of a sudden I was ran up upon by a man and a deranged woman in her 30′s, she was tall, and had her hair in dreadlocks. There was absolutely no one around, I tried to keep it cool and walked them out towards my car, to get out in the open. I briefly spoke to the man and bound unclean spirits off of him and then blessed him, he immediately left on down the sidewalk. The woman approached me after him, as she stared me down with a murderous gaze, nose to nose, she asked me for the exact change I had in my hands. How did she know how much money I had in my hand? I was dealing with a powerful spirit, and began to pray in tongues, she began to chant in gibberish. The spirit of the lord moved me to raise my hand level to her forehead and say (with authority) “Peace be still in the name of Jesus Christ”. When I did this, peace filled  the space between her and myself, she dropped her head and shoulders, closed her eyes and let out a sigh. The woman then put her hands in a praying position as a “hush” over her lips. For several seconds she seem to come into composure, and back to her senses, turned around and moved away like any normal woman walking down the street. We must be instant in season and out, always. Only God knows what we may encounter on any given day.

Cut  the chase!
It saddened me to go to a convention of world renown ministries, and see the people there unable to handle a demon possession that the deacons carried out of the sanctuary and into the lobby. I’m not saying it was any one of these ministers, but rather those that were  in charge of the altar work. The first mistake they made was taking her out of the presence of the anointing. Unless the altar workers are able to carry over the same anointing that exposed the demon in the first place, it is serious error  to take them out of it.   Pastors and church leadership from all over the world were attending these meetings. Several names known from television were preaching. We happened to be there waiting for our van to take us to the air port, when a commotion came crashing out the doors of the sanctuary, right at our feet this woman landed, snarling, vomiting, and thrashing around, she had at least six men and women right on her, praying in tongues, praying: “Oh Jesus” “Oh Jesus”, she jumped up and ran a muck through the lobby, and into the women’s bathroom. They drug her out of the bathroom, and she ended up on the floor in the lobby again. I thought if they keep praying like that they might as well call the paramedics. It’s a wonder she didn’t leave a couple of them naked. It’s a wonder she wasn’t naked. That evil spirit was in control and he was running the show! They kept praying “Oh Jesus”, “help her Lord, help her Lord”. I could not believe what I was hearing, but I had to stay out of it. I was not invited into it, and theses places have their order. I don’t think Jesus would do that. You can see for yourself  He rarely barged in on other people’s business. I thought, I’m staying out of this. But it wasn’t to long into this fiasco that the Lord began to speak to me a word of wisdom. He said, “Don’t turn around, don’t look at them, don’t posture yourself one bit, just yell out above the noise and command the evil spirit to leave the woman”. So I did, I yelled at the top of my voice, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you unclean spirits leave this woman now!” It got quiet for a moment, some one caught on, pretty soon they all began to directly address the unclean spirits in Jesus name, and command them to leave. They didn’t even know where that voice came from. The power of God came in, she began to settle down, and they were able to bring order into the situation. About that time our van came. Praise God in the Highest! For that name that is above every name!

Acts 19:13-19 (New International Version, ©2010) Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

Why do you look for Him here among the dead? He is RISEN!

. 1 Corinthian 10:3-7 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ …

I have seen ordinary christian people who know a lot about psychotherapy, and very little about the word of God. They have come to us for ministry yet chose to continue to dwell on the curses, instead of dwelling on the CROSS of Christ where ordinances written against us were nailed! If only they would stand and point to the Lamb, and say. “Satan, Christ bore my curse”. We have to get ourselves full of God and his word! This is the LIGHT that displaces darkness. Text book knowledge and deep studies are not going to do it. We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the WORD of our testimony (profession). I would rather tell people how to stand in their freedom in Christ, and how by the sword of the Word you can sever generational bondage (calling them by name, and telling them they cannot have you.) Rather than the alternative, which to me has been reduced to nothing more than sessions upon sessions of psychological witch hunts. Inner healing ministry gone viral. Balance is the key here. Word based and Spirit lead. The key to it all is believing that God really loves you, and that his thoughts toward you are for good and not for evil. That he will fulfill every bit of the covenant he has made with us, sealed by blood. In Christ set free healed and delivered. It is already done, we just need to contend for what is ours and walk in it.

How do we prepare ourselves to become dragon slayers in a possessed society?

How we affect the world in our prayer closet is how we will impact the world in the market place.  You see, in the spirit realm we live up to our reputations, real or devised. In the world we can hide what we really are if we are not true to ourselves, and honest with God, and man. We can dress for success and have an appearance of power. We can give ourselves titles that cause men to tremble in our presence. We can use our money to buy prestige and favor. However, kingdom authority cannot be achieved in any of these ways. Even the disciples could not cast out some devils. Jesus rebuked them for their doubt and unbelief, but also, reminded them, “these come not out but by fasting and by prayer“. In fact, there are many who stand behind the platforms and pulpits of christian churches today who occupy the offices of church authority, work in ministries, and services, that would be shredded alive had it not been for the dragon slayers, who cover them in prayers, those behind the scenes intercessors weeping before the throne, wrangling in battles of life, and death, for those whose prayer lives do not match their call. These warriors, these unassuming, untitled, so-called unauthorized, are changing the world around them …they are those, known in the spirit realm by name, of whom the world is not worthy … they are the unsung heroes that are impacting the earth in ways that will never be understood, this side of heaven. They are bearing fruit by investing in others  and their fruit will remain. This is why no man can glory, only God knows all that is involved in our victories. Nevertheless, a true and effective ministry will not shrink back from casting out devils, but will find many healings attached to taking authority over unclean spirits. Don’t be deceived, there is a devil behind most of the ills of mankind, and you will see more success in your ministry if you take authority over them.

Luke 6:17-19 (New King James version)who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,  as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.  And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

John 14:12 (New International Version (©1984)
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.         

Deana Barnes             If you were following  a link from NeWine Pouring  you can return to that page here.