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Could the Church Be in Need of Mass Deliverance?
The first book I ever read on deliverance was Frank and Ida Mae Hammond’s “Pigs in the Parlor: A Practical Guide to Deliverance“. My leader had instructed our entire church to read it and I’m glad I did because at the time I didn’t have a very good working knowledge on the subject.
I found the book was truthful in its claims to be, “a practical guide to deliverance” and can confidently say it acts as an exemplary introductory resource for those who haven’t studied any material on this topic, as well as a suitable tool for believers on any competency level.
In the book, Frank and Ida Mae Hammond succinctly explain how Christians can “have” demons before presenting their best practices for expelling them. Here’s an excerpt from the book:
Demon spirits can invade and indwell human bodies. It is their objective to do so. By indwelling a person they obtain a greater advantage in controlling that person than when they are working from the outside. When demons indwell a person, he or she is said to “have” evil spirits, to be “with” evil spirits, or to be “possessed” with demons (see Mark 9:17; Luke 4:33; Mark 1:23; 5:2; Matt. 4:24). The word translated “possessed” by the King James version is the Greek word daimonizomai. Many Greek authorities say this is not an accurate translation. It should be translated “demonized” or “have demons.” Much misunderstanding has resulted from the use of the word “possessed.” This word suggests total ownership. In this sense, a Christian could never be “demon possessed.” He could not be owned by demons because he is owned by Christ. (1)
DELIVERANCE IS A BENEFIT OF SALVATION
The Son of Man came to save us (2)! Sozo is the Greek word for save and its meaning is more multidimensional than you may think (3). When Jesus said He came to save us, this exchange wasn’t purely an offer of a better life in this world or eternal life in the one to come, but it was also given to deliver us from any existing peril. This includes the afflictions of demons.
REJECTION AS A GATEWAY DEMON
Gateway drugs like nicotine (4) and marijuana (5) are believed to increase a person’s odds of trying illicit drugs like cocaine. If there is a gateway spirit in Demonology, whose sole purpose is to open the door for more vile demons to enter, I would have to give that credit to the spirit of rejection, because like a gateway drug it opens the door to many things.
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The fruit of rejection manifests itself through sexual promiscuity, vanity, depression, jealousy, poor self-image, pride, addictions, fears, and much more. To overlook the root of rejection and opt to treat its symptoms only allows this strongman to have continual access to your life.
REJECTION IN THE LIFE OF KING SAUL
From his inception in the scriptures and all throughout his story traces of rejection can be found. Early on, Saul’s appearance and stature caused him to stand out as a king. Presumably, I believe it negatively impacted his self-esteem. When Saul was told he would be Israel’s first ruler he couldn’t believe it because of how he saw himself and even went so far as hiding during his time of promotion (6).
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REJECT REJECTION
Recently, I brought home a small surprise for my daughter. When she opened the bag her eyes lit up. She loves all sorts of trinkets and girly stuff, so the oversized hair bow I bought her was perfect. She made plans to wear it to school the next day and I was quite disappointed when she came home with the bow tucked away in her backpack.
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I asked her what happened and although no one had commented on her look, positive or negative, she’d chosen to remove the hair bow because she was uncomfortable with people noticing her difference.
Another adult in the room with us agreed with her actions, saying you don’t want them [school-age children] to “stand out.” To keep this erroneous thought pattern from setting in, I quickly reassured my daughter that it is absolutely okay to look different and that she has to be happy with her appearance. I then asked her, how did the bow make you feel? She replied good, so I said to wear it. *smiles*
Saul’s plight with the spirit of rejection naturally influenced his impressionability, caused him to buckle at the pressure of others and ultimately leads to his kingdom being stripped from him (7). Regardless of what Saul achieved, how much he obtained, or the odds he defied, he still couldn’t overcome rejection.
Are you suffering from rejection?
Rejection is the uninvited guest many people silently live and suffer with. As in Saul’s case, it’s waiting to take us out. It keeps us from healthy relationships and binds us to the toxic ones. It makes us compete against versus celebrate one another. It deceives us and causes us to deceive ourselves. It hinders intimacy with others and even intimacy with God.
Rejection will make you think people are talking about you or out to get you when honestly nobody is probably even thinking about you. Basically, the spirit of rejection prevents you from having God’s best for your life.
Did rejection visit you early in life? Did you think your battle with it was over until the pressures of life revealed its presence lurking? How many of your relationships have been aborted or destroyed because of it? How many lives have you damaged from it? How much of the church is living with the spirit of rejection or the residue of its touch?
Could God be preparing the body of Christ for mass deliverance?
DESTROYING THE SPIRIT OF REJECTION
The New Testament consists of the Gospels, the Acts of the apostles, the Pauline & non-Pauline epistles, and the book of Revelation. The epistles served to provide the early church with their doctrine. I venture to say, John Eckhardt’s books are like modern day epistles. Through this sent one, God is supplying today’s church with biblically sound teachings for her present day issues.
I venture to say, John Eckhardt’s books are like modern day epistles.
With the pending release of Eckhardt’s latest work, “Destroying the Spirit of Rejection,” dedicated to exposing, annihilating and resourcing total healing from this monstrous plague, I certainly believe God is up to something.
This topic is universal. It’s cross-cultural. Regardless of your sex, religious practice, ethnic background, marital status, education, geographic location, income, etc. you can find relevance in this book. We’ve all experienced the heinous sting of rejection, either as the accuser or the abuser. For those of you who feel you haven’t encountered it, you can be certain that rejection is seeking to find you and you will.
Facebook/John Eckhardt Posted 8.29.16
This subject is also extremely pertinent to today’s church considering many Christians are only experiencing life vs truly living life, with this unwanted guest. Often believers are rejected by the world, their families, and even worst the very churches they comprise.
With this knowledge, I encourage you to purchase a copy or two of John Eckhardt’s “Destroying the Spirit of Rejection: Receive Love and Acceptance and Find Healing“, for yourself and someone else!
This book is already a classic. Purchase here.
- Hammond, Frank, and Ida Mae Hammond. “Pigs in the Parlor.” Pigs in the Parlor: A Practical Guide to Deliverance. Kirkwood, MO: Impact, 2010. 9. Print.
- Luke 19:10.
- Thayer and Smith. “Greek Lexicon entry for Sozo”. “The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon”.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. Is Marijuana a Gateway Drug?Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-gateway-drug on August 29, 2016.
- National Institutes of Health. Why Nicotine is a Gateway Drug?Retrieved from https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/why-nicotine-gateway-drug on August 29, 2016.
- 1 Samuel 9:21; 1 Samuel 15:17; 1 Samuel 10:22-24.
- 1 Samuel 13:11-12; 1 Samuel 13:13-14.
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