There are many people in the world who are suffering in extreme ways. Every day, you see these individuals walking around, going to work, shopping, and generally operating in society as 'normal' functioning people. However, what you don't see behind the façade is the incredible pain, depression, torment, disease, emotional distress, and fractured souls. Most people are broken, suffering in silence, often caught in some form of addiction, and even potentially on the verge of suicide. Why are so many suffering?
Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
Romans 1:28
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
Simply put, we have abandoned our faith in God, and he has turned his face away from us. When God turns away from us, we become susceptible to the works of evil in the world, orchestrated by Satan and his demons. This is where deliverance counseling can play a crucial role in helping individuals break free from these strongholds.
Ephesians 6:10-12
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Without the armor of God, we cannot confront the enemy, who is not flesh and blood but rather all evil in the heavenly realm. These evil tormentors can gain legal rights to your mind, body, and soul because of sinning against God. When we sin against the one true God and deny his son Jesus Christ, we inadvertently give place to the devil.
The good news is that if we are faithful to God and accept what his son Jesus Christ did by sacrificing himself for our sins, we can be forgiven and restored. Through Jesus Christ healing, we can find hope and restoration.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Beyond understanding that evil forces (demons) cause much of the torment in our lives, it is more important to recognize that the ultimate goal of this evil kingdom is to take your soul to hell. Their main mission is to keep you in torment here on earth, steal, kill, and destroy you physically, emotionally, and spiritually, but through faith, we can set the captives free.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
