RHEMA 12/01/08 STUBBORN MINDSET OR DEMONIC CONTROL?

QUESTION BY CLASS MEMBER 

How do you know or discern what is man's mindset that is not demonic control?

You said that battling demons are easy compare to man stubbornness. I heard this before but wonder who is in control.

SANDY’S RESPONSE:

2 Cor 10:4-6 AMP

For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,  5[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission and obedience [as a church] are fully secured and complete.

Usually the definition of a stronghold is the house that is built by man’s opinions and then the demons live inside the house.  A stronghold finds its strength because the strong will of the person is in agreement with the demonic, and visa versa.  The framework starts with a person’s opinions, critical judgments, negative thinking  and wrong assumptions that is not the heart of God.  When these thoughts are nurtured and not resisted, they become an open door for the demonic to enter into a house that is already built for them which is in agreement with their purpose.  

Once that happens, yes there is a daily battle of control between the person and the demon.  The fruit of all demonic activity is unrest.  They cause the person to not have peace in that area and the person wrestles with his thoughts and needs to find that peace and gain control. 

As to our conversations with them and our need for them to come into agreement with truth, it probably doesnt matter whether we discern if it is the person or the demon that is in control, because we can still use the authority God has given us.  When we are facing demonic manifestation in someone who is stubbornly resisting the truth, our best option is to quietly bind the demon from manifesting and command its influence to be bound in Jesus Name.  We loose the person into his right mind and ability to think correctly.  As an example, we can bind blindness, ignorance, confusion, distraction, divided mind, and loose open eyes and understanding, knowledge, clarity and focus in Jesus Name.   We can bind presumption and procrastination and loose wisdom and zeal to tackle a problem.  Whatever the obstacle we are facing in another person, we can free them up to align with right choices.

It may only be for a conversation, but we use our authority the best we can when calling upon someone in whom we need a reasonable response.   The way I interpret the above scripture is that our authority is not fully mature until we ourselves are also submitted in obedience to Christ and the true knowledge of God. 

We never bind the person’s will because that is witchcraft and God honors free will.  We only bind the spirits that are affecting the person’s behavior or will.

MORE ON NOT BINDING MAN’S WILL:

Probably the reason it is easier to deal with demons, is that they can be bound.  God does not honor binding man’s will.  Yes in witchcraft they do this, and there is a book out teaching Christians do this, but it is against scripture and God does not honor it.