Take Up Your Cross

The next step in deliverance after denying yourself is to take up your cross; that is, willingly embrace that the path to righteousness and sanctification—to perfection—includes suffering. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12). "Our cross is not that cantankerous person we have to deal with day by day. Our cross is not the employer we just can't get along with. Our cross is not that neighbor or work colleague who cuts across the grain in every single time of relationship. Nor is our cross the difficulties and infirmities that the flow of life brings to us beyond our control. Our cross is the point of our unlikeness to the image of Christ, where we must die to self in order to be raised by God into wholeness of life in the image of Christ right there at that point. So the process of being conformed to the image of Christ takes place at the points of our unlikeness to Christ, and the first step is confrontation. The second dynamic in holistic spiritual formation is consecration. We must come to the point of saying yes to God at each point of unlikeness. We must give God permission to do the work God wants to do with us right there, because transformation will not be forced upon us. ... There must be a consecration, a release of ourselves to God at each point of our unlikeness to Christ. When there is, the process of being conformed to the image of Christ begins."²⁸²

Glory in Tribulations

Knowing about the deception of sin is one thing; however, knowing all the areas in which sin has you deceived, is another thing entirely. God in his infinite wisdom allows tribulations (trials) in our lives to expose those areas. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Romans 5:1-5). Hence, a Christian maturing in the things of God truly begins to glory in tribulations; knowing that the tribulations that God allows in our lives are an expression of his love for us because he does not want us to continue being deceived. "For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (Proverbs 3:12). In addition, we know that "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; [Jesus has] overcome the world" (John 16:33). Moreover, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). "All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no" (Deuteronomy 8:1-2). Tribulation exposes areas of darkness in a person, which can be eradicated through prayer and fasting. "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil" (Proverbs 16:6). Thus, we will all be able to say, "the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me" (John 14:30).

Study To Show Yourself Approved Unto God

Knowing God starts with reading, studying, believing and obeying his Word: "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39). "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Through diligent study—careful examination or analysis of scriptures—and continuous meditation—focusing one's thoughts on: reflecting on or pondering over—we can begin the cleansing process of our minds and hearts. True knowledge requires faith and obedience to the Word of God. Obedience must be tested through suffering (Romans 5:1-5), and it is through obedience we tap into understanding. This process brings about transformation: "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness" (Romans 6:16)? Therefore yield yourself to God and his righteousness: study, believe and obey his Word. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Receiving the knowledge of the truth enables us to recognize sin and to avoid the deception inherent in sin. Oh Lord "With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:10-11). "I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one" (1 John 2:14).

Fast To Break Every Yoke

Due to the complexity, influence, control and deceitfulness of sins, strong holds, and devils, fasting is necessary to loose the bands of wickedness—to let the oppressed go free. "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke" (Isaiah 58:6)? In particular, deliverance from unclean spirits may require fasting. Jesus stipulates this in Mark Chapter 9:

And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not ... When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, This kind [an unclean spirit] can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. (Mark 9:17-18, 25-29)

Notice the disciples were told to fast—not necessarily the person needing deliverance. Like Christ "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves" (Romans 15:1). Fasting involves humbling your flesh by abstaining from eating, drinking, sex, and other fleshly desires (Exodus 19:14-15; Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9, 18; 1 Samuel 21:5; Ezra 10:6; Esther 4:16; Daniel 10:3) for a certain period of days (twenty-four hours) along with an increase in the amount of time spent praying (confessing sins) and studying the Word of God. Albeit, you may want to at least drink some water to alleviate dehydration. Fasting is a sacrifice of righteousness, it is an expression of faith in God: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Fasting is a voluntary denial of the physical things which we depend on for life and pleasure, in order to bring focus to the true spiritual food by which we as Christians truly live. "Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the LORD your God" (Deuteronomy 29:6). We recommend fasting at least seven days (Exodus 29:35, 37; Leviticus 13:50; Ezekiel 3:15-17; Ezekiel 43:26) regularly; however, one and three day fasts can also be helpful. For particularly entrenched or recurring problems, longer fasts may be necessary: ten, fourteen and even twenty-one days. Deliverance occurs over time. There can be layers upon layers of sins, strong holds, and devils. Growth in the Lord requires suffering and learning patience (2 Timothy 3:12). Therefore, do not think that one fast will cure all your ailments; therefore, "be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:12).

I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. (Exodus 23:27-30)

Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof (Judges 3:1-2)

"What the Church has lacked is day-by-day death and rebirth in Christ ... The blood of Jesus washes away sins, and the cross redeems, justifies, and atones, while resurrection restores and gives new life. But it is our own daily taking up of our own cross which continues the necessary slaughter of our old man. Only as that daily work of continuing sanctification happens to the fullest does the mature man of faith appear, whether that be an individual or the corporate Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:16)."²⁸³

Pray That You Enter Not Into Temptation

Now armed with wisdom and understanding we, through prayer, can cleanse ourselves from curses, sins, strong holds and devils: "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). We do this by first identifying our transgressions and then breaking curses, repenting of and denouncing sins, renouncing strong holds and casting out devils. Before we get into the specifics, however, there is one universal prayer (some of the sins listed may not apply) that should be offered by all born again believers:

Father, in the name of Jesus, please forgive me for not believing you in all areas, for judging you, and for rebelling against you. I recognize that, like Eve, I have agreed with Satan and believed his lies against you. I recognize that because I have been disobedient and have not studied to show myself approved to you, I have willingly operated in ignorance of you and your holiness. I have not embraced life eternal by getting to know you and Jesus Christ whom you sent through seeking the wisdom that comes from you. I denounce the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of devils. What's more, I have not loved you with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength. I have not kept all your commandments. I renounce that I am rejected and not loved, and I renounce my judgments that you have lied to me, that you don't love me and that you have been unfair to me. I also renounce my judgments against others and forgive all others their transgressions against me. Therefore, I renounce Roman Catholicism, Calvinism, Pentecostalism, Legalism, Capitalism, Racism, and Sexism. And I repent of the following sins: abdication [evading responsibility as a husband, pastor, parent, or Christian], adultery [breaking covenant either with the Lord or with my spouse], anger, antichrist [believing I am a god], anxiety, bitterness [unmerciful], blasphemy, contentiousness, covetousness, discontent, disobedience, distrust, doubt, emulation [comparing myself to others and partaking of their sin], entrepreneurship [believing I can accomplish anything by my own power and might], envy, fear, guile, hate, haughtiness [believing I was better than someone else], hypocrisy, idolatry, impatience, injustice [judging God or others as unfair], intemperance, jesting, judgment, lust, lying, malice, pornography [believing in what I see—walking by sight not faith], premeditation, pride, rebellion, rejection, sedition [usurping the authority of Christ or another in authority], self-righteousness, shame, sorcery [manipulation], strife, stubbornness, tradition, unbelief, vengeance, witchcraft [speaking on behalf of God when not sent by God: calling evil good and good evil], woundedness [holding on to hurts], wrath [vengeful anger], drunkenness, revelling, gluttony, fornication [sex outside a marriage covenant: includes nonconsensual masturbation], lasciviousness [sexual immorality], and uncleanness [homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality].

Break Curses

In Christ, curses are broken through the authority vested in every born again believer by the Holy Ghost. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law" (Galatians 3:13); and "How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied" (Numbers 23:8)? It takes, however, the power of God which comes to the believer baptized with fire to cast out the associated unclean spirit. "There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor. Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down ... For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder" (Nahum 1:11-13). For the former, with authority, a simple prayer of faith can nullify curses: "In the name of Jesus, I break every curse attached to me and my family." A nullified curse stops operating—the associated unclean spirit has lost its assignment (authority); however, the associated unclean spirit will still need to be cast out by someone with power. Left alone, the associated unclean spirit in the person will be reassigned to a future curse, sin, or strong hold. For the latter, with authority and power, a powerful prayer of faith can not only nullify the curse but also remove the associated unclean spirit: "In the name of Jesus, I break every curse attached to me and my family and I command all associated unclean spirits to come out of me and each member of my family." If curses, however, are the result of your own sins, as opposed to sins of your parents or ancestors, you must also repent of the sins.

Repent of Sins

As we discussed earlier, sin opens the door to evil spirits; therefore, repentance of sins must include casting out of devils. For instance, if you sin by judging someone, not only do you have to repent of the sin of judgment but you also have to cast out the spirits of judgment. In addition, sins can combine to create new sins: "for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased" (Jeremiah 30:15). For instance, the iniquity of anger combines the sins of pride, lust, and judgment. Thus, for deliverance, repentance must be sought for the sins of pride, lust, judgment, and anger. In addition, the spirits of disobedience, pride, lust, judgment, and anger have to be cast out. Once repentance of sins is accomplished, the door to darkness is closed. Repentance has two parts: confessing and forsaking the sin (stop doing it and turn away from it) with contrition. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). "Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin" (Proverbs 20:9)? We must guard against being "hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13), therefore, it is a good practice to ask the Lord daily to reveal any sins that are in our individual accounts. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24). Confessing sins includes asking for forgiveness, and forsaking sins requires that we change our mind about the sins, cleanse our heart of the idols that propagate the sins, and stop any activity that supported the sins. Feeling sorry about a sin does not fulfill the requirements of repentance. Many people are sorry for some transgression; however, they still continue to do it: this is not repentance. "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter" (2 Corinthians 7:9-11).

If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. (Leviticus 26:40-42)

For the born again believer, forgiveness should be proactive rather than reactive (Luke 17:3-4). Being unmerciful is a device of Satan and is the manifestation of a spirit of bitterness. Do not hesitate to forgive others quickly. Go to them, if possible, and make things right: even if they are at fault. "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Corinthians 2:11). "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift" (Matthew 5:23-24). Of course, asking for forgiveness from God requires that we forgive all others and that we continue to forgive them. "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses" (Mark 11:25-26). Forgiveness of another person not only includes releasing them from the "debt owed to you," but it must also include releasing the judgments you invariably made of them. For instance, when forgiving someone that has lied to you, you also probably need to ask God to forgive you for judging that person as a liar. The prayer would be similar to this, "Father, in the name of Jesus, I forgive Tom for lying to me and I ask you to forgive me for judging him as a liar. For I realize that while he has lied to me many times in the past, I have judged him by labeling him as a liar and thereby disallowing, by your grace and mercy that he can change. I therefore command all spirits of judgment, hate and bitterness to come out of me and not return." Or, as another example, "Father, in the name of Jesus, forgive me for operating in rejection and judging that my dad doesn't love me and that he has been unfair to me. I renounce those judgments and I forgive him for the things he has done against me, knowing that he was used of the devil, just as I have been used of the devil. I command all spirits of judgment, bitterness, hate, discontent, injustice, distrust, hypocrisy, and fear to come out of me and to not enter back in." Finally, forsaking sins may require sins to be denounced—proclaimed as evil. This is especially true for sins that we took or take pleasure in. We will continue to disobey God until we acknowledge that our pleasurable actions/thoughts are sin and "have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty" (2 Corinthians 4:2). For example, "Father, in the name of Jesus, have mercy on me and forgive me of my sins of lust, pornography and adultery. I denounce them all and command all spirits of lust, pornography and adultery to come out of me and not return." John and Paula Sandford offer the following on repentance:

Repentance is not a feeling; it is action. It will not effect much change to feel sorry. Change happens in relationships only as the cycle of hatred is broken and transformed by the stimuli of love. Change can happen only in individuals, one by one, in relationships. Change happens in individuals only as those structures which stimulate wrong actions and which respond to them are crucified on the cross. Without that crucifixion, battle scenes will be repeated in endlessly varied forms.²⁸⁴

Comprehension of crucifixion is crucial to the maturation of the body of Christ. Note therefore a difference: Physical death is apt to be something easy and quick, but crucifixion is slow and painful. Evolvement is even more slow and painful. As there are no instant saints, neither are there sudden transformations.²⁸⁵

Repentance is crucial. Sins separate us from God: "your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20). "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die" (Ezekiel 18:21). "Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14).

Renounce Strong Holds

Once sins have been dealt with, strong holds have to be renounced (cancelled, disallowed, rejected, cast down, pulled down)—made void. Strong holds, also called idols of the heart (Ezekiel 14:1-11), are evidence that we are in agreement with Satan in some area. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed" (Amos 3:3)? These "high things" (mental altars, pillars, groves, and images) are knowledge (information), thoughts, opinions, preferences, decisions and thought structures (beliefs, practices, and identities) that are in contradiction to the Word of God. They are things of the world and not of God. Spiritually speaking, strong holds in our minds and hearts are the high places that devils—spiritual wickedness—inhabit. "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" (Ephesians 6:12).

Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. (Deuteronomy 12:2-3)

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

The process to breakdown these high places is, firstly, continuous study of, belief in, and obedience to, the Word of God. Secondly, commune with God—pray—to obtain mercy and find grace to help. Thirdly, fast to loose the bands of wickedness: at least seven-day fasts are recommended. Fourthly, start examining yourself, specifically your practices: the things you do or do not do. Do your practices line up with the Word of God? Are there practices you need to stop or are there practices you need to start? Fifthly, seek intercession from other saints who can declare to you the counsel of God; this is not an occasion to let pride block your deliverance. Sixthly, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God. Ask the spirit in your mind, "do you confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh?" An answer of "no" means that the spirit is not of God—it is a devil, cast it out. And, finally, continually deny yourself and your carnal—worldly—thoughts.

When strong holds were originally pronounced or erected, they bound the person's soul; however, through the power of God the bond can be broken with a simple renouncement that reverses the original pronouncement. "If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth" (Numbers 30:2). John and Paula Sandford add the following with respect to deliverance from strong holds:

How do we find inner vows? By asking. [Christian] counselors should look for inner vows behind stubborn practices in the old nature. Compulsive behavior may (or may not) indicate inner vow at their root; other factors may be at work. We must discern in each case whether a vow is in fact at the root of trouble. Where inner vows do lie at the root, seldom are they the sole factor even if major. They work in tandem with bitter roots [judgments], hidden resentments and fears, etc. The crucial factor concerning inner vows is that if they are at the root, they are often the key. Their stubborn resistance to change, until seen and repented of, may be what blocks release from all other areas, seen or unseen. Especially whenever counselors find themselves puzzled by continuing lack of change in a counselee, most specifically when many factors have already been discerned and repentance should already have accomplished freedom, inner vows ought to be suspected and ferreted out.

Again, power (dunamis) such as would be needed to heal the physical body is not needed, but only the power (exousia) of authority. The least Christian who understands his authority (exousia) in Christ can break any inner vow. The prayer should not be merely hortatory, not "Help him, Lord, to overcome this inner vow," nor petitionary, "Please take away this inner vow, dear Lord." These will accomplish little if anything. The situation requires prayer in first-person authority: "In Jesus' name, I break this inner vow." It cannot be said as a magic ritual, by one who does not truly know the Lord nor believe his own authority in the Lord ... A counselee is set free only if his counselor has his own personal faith in the power and will of the Lord to act ... The prayer should be voiced fully, expressed several ways for the sake of the inner child of the other.²⁸⁶

Cast Out Devils

The final step in a prayer for deliverance is to cast out devils; that is, command the devils to come out of the person and not enter back in. Devils have "names" or "titles"; their names represent their function or, more appropriately, their authority (principality) and power. "For in [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power ... And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:9-10, 15). Just like the devils attached to curses (Psalm 109:6, 17-19), their function is their name (1 Kings 22:21-23). Although it is not always necessary to know their names to cast out devils, with unclean spirits it certainly helps. "When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him" (Mark 9:25). Moreover, devils have specific geographic principalities—territories or regions (Daniel 10:13, 20; Matthew 12:24; John 14:30; and Ephesians 2:2)—they inhabit or control. Examine the scriptures below for examples of casting out devils.

For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. (Mark 5:8-10)

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. (Luke 4:35-36)

And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. (Acts 16:18)

Conclusion

We have to be diligent and truthful in daily self-examination: "let a man examine himself" (1 Corinthians 11:28). Pray without ceasing means a continual conversation with God and a readiness to shun self-deception and embrace self-knowledge. As events happen throughout your day, evaluate yourself against the standard of the Word of God and deal with your transgressions as they occur. "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:26-27). Of course, our duty in Christ lies in our loving others; thus, praying for others, intercession, can bring deliverance because "effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Oswald Chambers puts it his way:

If you are not getting the hundredfold more, not getting insight into God's word, then start praying for your friends, enter into the ministry of the interior. "The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends." The real business of your life as a saved soul is intercessory prayer. Wherever God puts you in circumstances, pray immediately, pray that His Atonement may be realized in other lives as it has been in yours. Pray for your friends now; pray for those with whom you come in contact now.²⁸⁷

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