I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only one who wondered if I needed deliverance. When you’re experiencing pressures that are beyond what you can handle, your reactions aren’t always … pure and holy (to say the least).
Are You Possessed or Oppressed?
Acts 10:38 (NKJV) says, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
There is a huge difference between being oppressed and being possessed. If you look in the Strong’s Concordance for the word “oppression,” you will learn that it is someone exerting harsh control over you. This is very different to passages that speak of demon possession where the person is controlled by the demon against their will.
So just because you had a bout of road rage or posted a rant on Facebook doesn’t mean you’re possessed by a demon! What it means is that the enemy is out to get you! He’s exerting pressures on you that are meant to rattle you. He wants nothing more than to make you stumble.
For those taking notes for your own study, let me make it clear for you.
Demonic Oppression: Demonic oppression is the enemy exerting a force on you from without. The purpose is to trip you up and get you to sin.
Demonic Possession: Demonic possession is when a demon has been given residence in your soul to take control over your mind, emotions and will.
So then, how do you know if you are possessed? Well, that is what Craig and I took time to share in our podcast, How to Know if You Need Deliverance. I don’t want to leave you hanging though. So, let me conclude with seven clear signs for you to tick off. Do you see three or more of these signs in your life (or in others)? Then it’s very possible you need deliverance!
7 Signs You Need Deliverance:
Sign 1: You physically battle demons when you’re asleep or awake.
Sign 2: You are often visited by angels that are surrounded by bright lights and hide their face from you.
Sign 3: You cannot recall hours or sometimes days. You seem to black out. (I’m not referring to memory loss but rather to often experiencing seasons where you “snap out” of an episode, not remembering anything you did.)
Sign 4: You experience physical manifestations that you cannot control. (Shaking, rolling, screaming … Being that you are reading this in a charismatic magazine, I’m guessing you know what I mean when I refer to obvious demonic manifestations!)
Sign 5: You have vivid visions or dreams of terrible things happening, and they come to pass. (This also falls into the category of divination!)
Sign 6: You battle with uncontrollable anger. The kind where you lose control, damage property or hurt others.
Sign 7: You lie uncontrollably. This is usually accompanied with not remembering that you lied. Being that the enemy is the father of lies, I recognize that someone who’s possessed often lies uncontrollably.
Like I said, if you recognize three or more of these signs, then ministry is required! First, please go and listen to our podcast episode of Next Gen Prophets on Charisma Podcast Network called How to Know if You Need Deliverance to get clarity. Then, reach out for counsel! There is no shame in admitting you need help. We’re a body, and it’s time we take back the land Satan has stolen in our lives. {eoa}
Colette Toach of Toach Ministries International, is the author of 40 books including the widely popular I’m Not Crazy – I’m a Prophet and Prophetic Counter Insurgence. She works alongside her husband, Craig Toach, training their passionate Next Gen Prophet Team with divisions in South Africa, Switzerland, Mexico, and the United States.
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