Keys to Spiritual Freedom
Hi Friends,
I hope you are well. Today I am writing about a vision that the Lord gave me recently.
Life’s seasons can be unpredictable, and even difficult, but our faith in the Lord is our firm foundation. Even though problems may shake us, we know where to go for help. The Lord is always the answer to every problem and in every circumstance.
The Visions
The Keys
In this vision, I saw a set of keys wedged between two seat cushions of a sofa. The sofa was one with which I was quite familiar. It was the sofa in a common area where our prayer group gets together to pray on Saturday mornings and Thursday nights. I believe that the keys were mine, for that sofa is where I normally sit.
Keys represent our possessions, our transportation, our house or apartment, and our office, church or place of employment. Keys might represent a favorite pastime as keys to a boat, a motorcycle, or keys to a locker. Keys might also represent money as in keys to a lock box or a safe. Keys may describe whatever is most important in this stage of life.
There are also spiritual keys that the Lord has given us:
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19
The spiritual keys that the Lord gives us are used in prayer and in making declarations. We are to call and speak things into existence, calling those things that are not, as though they were.
“As it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” Romans 4:17
We have power.
“Power of life and death are in the tongue” Proverbs 18:21
We speak what we want to see. We should not automatically agree with the negative reports that come from a doctor, or other “expert.” Like most people, doctors, and other professionals see with their natural eyes. But we have a supernatural God who works in all realms, the natural and the supernatural. In faith, we use the power and authority that the Lord has provided to us, to speak and to declare what we would like to see manifested in the natural realm. We make these declarations over the situation, trusting in God to provide the power to heal, to save, or to set free.
“And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:22-25
The keys in the vision were wedged between two cushions, but not lost. In the vision, the keys were in the very place of prayer, where they can be used. The vision reminds us of how important these keys are. If we did not know they were there, we might ignore the keys and pray less effectively. Just as car keys are necessary to take us where we want to go, the keys to the kingdom will move and change, bind and loosen things and entities that must be diverted, controlled or disarmed.
Two of those keys binding and loosening are given, to show how the kingdom of God works or functions. After being accused of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, Jesus wanted to set the Pharisees straight:
“But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Luke 11:20
This is the context and his teaching:
“And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebub,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.” Mark 3:22-27
We can see what faulty reasoning the Pharisees used to make such an outrageous claim– that Jesus drove out demons by the power of Satan, and that he was possessed by Beelzebub! No, it is the power of God that drives out evil spirits, then and today. Jesus is God. He has full authority over all creation. And he gives us that same authority.
“And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22:29-30
On several occasions, the Lord sent out his disciples to do the work of the kingdom, giving them full authority to prevail over the natural and supernatural realms.
“These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.” Matthew 10:5-15
On another occasion, Jesus sent out 72 of his disciples. They returned with great excitement saying:
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” Luke 10:17
“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:19-20
When we have to bind up the spirits and loosen a friend or family member from bondage, we need to understand how to have and use this spiritual authority and declaration. We have to first have a strong relationship with the Lord. It is in our relationship that we are recognized as one having authority.
There is a well known passage of scripture in the book of Acts, about the seven sons of Sceva who tried to deliver without the proper authority:
“And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” Acts 19:11-20
We understand by this account that authority is received by those believers who truly know the Lord. It is not for those who seldom pray or fast or read the word of God. One must have a genuine relationship with the Lord. And it is through the keys of binding and loosening that the power to deliver or heal is made available. Not only is authority important but also, we need to be walking in holiness, with nothing that would hinder our prayers. If there is sin, unforgiveness or unbelief, then our prayers will be futile. If we have unconfessed sin in our lives, we should not even attempt deliverance for another person.
I have an example of a prayer gone wrong:
I was praying with a friend that I had known for maybe 4-6 months. She was a believer and attended and served at the same church that I attended. We were interceding for our community and against witchcraft and those who practiced divination, for there were several fortune tellers located on one of the main highways through town.
I had no idea that she had unconfessed sin in her life. She had gone to consult with a spiritist years earlier to “look into her future.” This open door of unconfessed sin, caused a backlash from the demonic realm. She became very paranoid, and started hearing voices and imagined that people were pursuing her. She spent time in a psychiatric ward in a hospital, and was on drugs to control migraines and seizures. I visited her in the hospital and prayed with her to be healed and delivered from migraines, seizures and paranoia.
I learned my lesson– Do not pray and intercede against anything having to do with the occult, with anyone who is not clearly walking with God or has open doors to sin. Only intercede with prayer partners that you know are “clean.” We don’t want any casualties. And always close these prayers with a prayer for no retaliation!
We must be living an uncompromised life for God. We cannot have one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom of God.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:15-16
So, let us live our lives to please God. Let us develop our relationship with him, by spending time in prayer, in fasting and in the word of God. Then. we will have the authority to cast out demons, heal the sick, and believe God for miracles.
Deliverance
So in order to free someone in spiritual bondage to a demonic spirit, we have to first bind up the strong man that opressesses the person. We bind up the demons using the powerful name of Jesus. And we command the demon to loose the individual in the name of Jesus.
Once we have bound the demon, we must make sure that the individual wants his freedom. He must be willing to renounce any agreement he has made with the devil and his demons, and repent of and confess any sin that opened the door to the demonic spirit. He must be able to declare that Jesus is Lord and that the devil is not.
We want to make sure that the person wants his deliverance and will be able to hold onto his deliverance. Whoever gives into temptation and returns to his former sinful life, he will be much worse off than if no deliverance were ever attempted.
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.” Matthew 12:43-45
My close relative’s story describes this very thing. He was delivered of a demonic spirit that he would flirt with and talk with daily. The spirit tried to kill him, so we were able to deliver him. He received the Lord by repenting of his sin, and acknowledging what the Lord did on the cross to restore him to right standing with the Father. We prayed for him to be born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. However, after spending ten days with him, teaching him about God and warning him to not return to practicing “hocus pocus medicine,” (divination). He did not trust God with his finances so he returned to his “business,” and re-opened the door to the demonic. His situation worsened to the point where he claimed there were now 40 demons tormenting him. We got him delivered again by an African pastor. Then the very night, he went home and returned once more. Now he is not in his right mind, and is many, many times worse. We are praying and waiting for the Lord to open his eyes and give him a heart that will no longer want the things of the world and conversation with the evil spirits.
The Bible speaks of this in proverbs:
What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:22
Deliverance and inner healing is something that many people need. Unfortunately they do not realize that sin and sinful lifestyles will lead directly to bondage. But for those who are aware, and want their freedom, and are willing to give the Lord first place, they can be set free.
My Deliverance
After someone has surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus, and renounced the devil, then we command the demon to loose him, and leave his body, in the name of Jesus. No matter what the manifestation of the demon is sickness, pain or disease, we command it to go in the name of Jesus. We also want to loose the person from all wrong thoughts, attitudes, and lies that the devil has caused him to believe or accept as truth. We come out of agreement with the devil, and choose to acknowledge the truth of God’s word.
We declare out loud what is true:
“Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through him.” John 14:6
We declare what we believe about God and his word, a statement of faith.
Just before I was delivered, I went forward to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. And I made these declarations and said these vows:
Do you renounce Satan and all his works?
Do you renounce all sinful desires that oppose God?
Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Savior?
Will you trust him in all things?
Do you promise to follow and obey him as your Lord?
Do you believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary?
Do you believe that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried?
Do you believe that he descended to the dead, and on the third day he rose again, that he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father?
Do you believe that he will come again to judge the living and the dead?
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting?
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
And I said emphatically! Yes!!
Unlike my relative, I was able to keep my deliverance, because I was determined to not give the demon a foothold. I wanted to be right with the Lord more than anything in the entire world. And now that I came back to him, I was not going to let anything come between us. Hallelujah!
Being an Episcopalian, I didn’t know a thing about demons and deliverance and very little of the Word of God. But my sister who had been praying for me, asked me, “Didn’t you know that you could bind that thing?” I replied, “No! No one told me anything. They didn’t even give me a pamphlet!” So she told me that I could bind it in the name of Jesus.
I didn’t do exactly that, but I made it known that under no circumstances was I going to give into the demon. I would say, “Jesus is Lord, and you are NOT!” I would sing, “Oh the blood of Jesus, it washes white as snow.” The demon tried to return for about three days. But he finally gave up because I wasn’t going to give him an inch!
Jesus is my Lord! He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! We know that if God is for us, who can be against us? No one!
We are blessed to know him. When we seek the Lord, we discover that he is faithful and true. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is everything. He is all powerful, all knowing and all seeing. He is our provider, our healer and our deliverer!
I hope that if you or someone you know needs deliverance, or healing, or salvation. Just call his name!
“Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
When the priest couldn’t cast it out, he said to me, “You tell it to go!” I said, “I can’t!” Then I looked up at the ceiling and just said, “Jesus, Help me!” And that was all it took. Jesus ripped the thing right out of me!”
When I was going home, that is when the demon came back and said to me “You’ve got to invite me back!”
I didn’t know what to say, but the Lord gave me words: “Lord, send your Holy Spirit!” Suddenly I spoke in tongues and the demon took off!” I prayed in tongues, sang in tongues, for three and one half hours home. the Lord flooded my mind with faces and faces of people. I didn’t know them, but I prayed for them and every car and every house that I passed, I blessed.
There is so much more to this story, but God is good. He is faithful, and he has kept me under the shadow of his wing all these years! I am truly blessed to be called his own!
Thanks for reading. Please share with others this important post. God bless you and all your family and loved ones!
