The Bible teaches us that Satan is a real enemy. We should not be afraid of him, but neither should we be ignorant of how he works. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Jesus has already defeated Satan. The believer has been given authority in the name of Jesus to resist the devil and his works. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” The Bible puts the responsibility upon us to submit ourselves to God and resist the devil. There can be things in a person’s life that give the devil an opportunity to work. Unforgiveness is one of them. Jesus said, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any” (Mark 11:25). Forgiveness is not saying that what someone did was right. It is obeying God and refusing to hold that wrong against them.
A person may also have opened the door through involvement with the occult or other things connected with Satan. Those things need to be renounced. We cannot hold on to something that belongs to the devil and expect to be free from his influence. Christ has redeemed us from the curse. Galatians 3:13-14 says, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us… That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ.” We have a scriptural right to receive what Jesus provided for us.
The name of Jesus has authority over evil spirits. We do not have to beg the devil to leave. We resist him in the authority Jesus gave us. This is something the Lord has dealt with me about through the years. If there have been areas where the enemy has gained entrance or has been tormenting you, take time to deal with those things before the Lord. Pray this prayer from your heart and believe what you are saying.
Dear Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God and the only way to God, that you died on the cross for my sins and rose again from the dead. I come to you now for mercy and forgiveness. I believe you forgive me and receive me as your child. And because you receive me, I receive myself as a child of God.
And now, You know how demonic influences try to torment all of us. Lord, I want to meet your conditions and receive your deliverance. First of all, I forgive every other person who ever harmed me or wronged me.
Lord, I have forgiven all these persons. I have laid down all bitterness, all resentment, all hatred and all rebellion. And I believe you’ve forgiven me. I thank you for it. I also renounce every contact with Satan, with occult powers, with anything in Satan’s territory. I repent of ever being on the territory that I now turn my back on. I thank you that on the cross you were made a curse that I may be redeemed from the curse and receive the blessing.
And now I claim total release from the curse and I enter into the blessing of God. And now Lord, I come against any evil spirit that has tried to hinder me or my personality in the name of Jesus. I want to tell you Lord, I hate them. They are my enemies. I do not make peace with them. I will not compromise with them. They will have no more place in me in the name of Jesus. I turn against them now. And in the authority of your name, Jesus, I command them to leave me right now in Jesus’ name. Amen.
