Please don’t be offended that I say one possibility for habitual sin is demonic attacks. And don’t think I’m giving you permission to say, “the devil made me do it” to absolve yourself from any responsibility.

If you have named Jesus your Lord, He has given you a new name and His authority. You don’t have to put up with supernatural cravings to sin. Here’s what you need to know.

Unforgiveness, hate, abuse, sin, unclean sex, illness, trauma, and fear are some of the doors that open for demonic attack.

Now without getting into theology or stories I want to give you enough information today to show you that you don’t have to be afraid or ashamed.

You may even be able to deal with the enemy that’s against you by yourself. If you can’t there are people who can help you.

Here are the steps you can use. You can also use “Steps To Freedom in Christ” by Neil T Anderson as a tool to help you focus on specific doors that need to be closed.

1. Forgive everyone you’re offended at.

Let the Spirit show you who that may be. The more specific you can be the better. Follow up forgiving with releasing the person to God and Blessing them in Jesus’ name. If you can’t choose to forgive, you need someone’s help to help cast off the spirit of unforgiveness.

2. Repent of your specific sin in the situation.

Reactions to hurt done to us are understandable and may seem excusable. But they are not from God and open the door for oppression by the enemy. You need to repent of the sins you’ve done in response to the offense you’ve suffered.

For example:

Father, I repent of the resentment, anger and bitterness I have felt towards _________ and I repent of having taken in feelings of rejection, loneliness, and despair over that situation. Help me to turn away from all these feelings and I ask for your forgiveness for them.

3. Renounce all the spirits involved

This is not a prayer to God, it is spoken to the spirit involved who is an enemy out to kill, steal and destroy. It needs to be out loud. For example:

“In the name of Jesus I renounce you spirit of rejection, loneliness, despair and hopelessness.”

4. Close the doors

Close the door to the spirits involved so that when they’re cast out the cannot return.

“In the name of Jesus and by His shed blood, I break the power of the spirits of ___________. They do not have any rights any longer. I will not accept their return.”

5. Cast out the demons

Simply cast them out. If you can’t because it sticks in your throat, or you feel sweat or a strain or you feel nauseated or get a headache, all the doors have not been closed. You can go back and ask the Spirit to show you who you need to forgive, or find someone with experience to walk you through the final steps.

6. Thank Jesus for His deliverance

If you’re free, this will be natural. If you can’t, it just means you need more help.

7. Invite the Holy Spirit to fill all the places now vacant.

If you really don’t feel you can do this – for any reason – ask someone with experience to help.

As a follower of Christ, you are a new creature.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version)

You don’t need to put up with the lies or attacks of the enemy. Put on the armour of God. Resist the devil and he will flee. I know this is a brief blog post, so please ask any questions and I’ll try to clarify.