Battles & Breakthroughs Part 2: Closing the Doors to Demonic Influence

Christians cannot be possessed,

but they can be oppressed.

1 John 4:4 (NIV) You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Closing the Doors to Demonic Influence

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The Demonic Hierarchy

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Daniel 10:13 (NIV) But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

Ezekiel 28:12-14 (NIV) Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.

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Daniel 10:20 (NIV) So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come.”

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Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities…

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Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but…against powers…

Colossians 2:15 (NIV) And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

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Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but…against the rulers of the darkness of this age…

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV) The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

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Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but…against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

7 Ways to Guard Against Demonic Influences

1. Put on the .

Ephesians 6:11 (NIV) Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

2. Do not attempt to .

Leviticus 19:31 (NIV) Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.

3. you receive.

1 John 4:1 (NIV) Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

4. Stay .

Psalm 119:105 (NIV) Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

5. Remove .

Deuteronomy 7:26 (NIV) Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Regard it as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.

Acts 19:19 (NIV) A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

6. Do not give .

Ephesians 4:26-27 (LB) If you are angry, don’t sin by nursing your grudge. Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry—get over it quickly; for when you are angry, you give a mighty foothold to the devil.

7. quickly.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (MSG) The focus of my letter wasn’t on punishing the offender but on getting you to take responsibility for the health of the church. So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don’t think I’m carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I’m joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us. After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways!