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Spiritual
House-Cleaning
Spiritual
house-cleansing is a much neglected part of "cleaning up our act."
We need to realize there are material things that can spiritually
contaminate our home.
Many
Christians -- and unbelievers as well -- without realizing it, have
opened themselves up to demonic influence through images they have
brought into their houses.(1) Such objects can attract evil spirits
or may already be infested. Until we get rid of these objects, we
risk being affected by their presence.
This lesson
covers:
What Does the
Bible Say About Making or Possessing Images?
Are
"Christian" Objects an Exception?
Is It OK To
Keep Such Objects If We Do Not Worship Them?
Can Material
Things Carry Spiritual Power?
How Are We
Affected By The Presence of Evil Powers?
What Are
Typical Object We Should Look For?
How Should We
Dispose Of Objects That Fall Into This Category?
Should We
Attempt To Salvage Anything Of Value From Them?
What Else
Should Be Done?
How Do We Do
This "House-cleaning?
The Covenant
Of The Blood
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT MAKING OR
POSSESSING IMAGES?
Notice that when God
appeared to man He was not in the form of an
image.
[Deut.
4:15-26] You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you
at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very
carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for
yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a
man or a woman, or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies
in the air, or like any creature that moves along the ground or
any fish in the waters below. And when you look up to the sky and
see the sun, the moon and the stars-- all the heavenly array-- do
not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the
LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. But
as for you, the LORD took you and brought you out of the
iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his
inheritance, as you now are. The LORD was angry with me because of
you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and
enter the good land the LORD your God is giving you as your
inheritance. I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan;
but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good
land. Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God
that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the
form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. For the LORD
your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. After you have had
children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long
time-- if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing
evil in the eyes of the LORD your God and provoking him to anger,
I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you
will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan
to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be
destroyed.
[Deut. 7:25-26]
The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet
the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or
you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your
God. Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like
it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest
it, for it is set apart for
destruction.
ARE
"CHRISTIAN" OBJECTS AN EXCEPTION?
[Acts
17:29] Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think
that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone-- an image
made by man's design and skill.
IS IT
ALL RIGHT TO KEEP SUCH OBJECTS IF WE DO NOT
WORSHIP
THEM?
Many will argue that, since they do not
worship these objects, they are harmless. Because they "fit in" with
the decor, or are artistically pleasing to the eye, or have been in
the family for a long time, or have some intrinsic value, they are
reluctant to destroy them. In view of many testimonies and personal
experiences about the possible evil influence of such objects, we
would do well to ask God if He agrees. Possessing such things is a
visible advertisement to the powers of darkness that we are willing
to risk their effect because we covet them. In any event, we are
being disobedient to God's command. In the following scripture we
have a statement that to covet is to idolize!
(Col.
3:5-6) Mortify therefore your members that are upon the earth;
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil
concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of
God cometh on the children of disobedience:
(KJV)
There is a
very enlightening story in the Old Testament about a soldier named
Achan. It illustrates this point.
[Joshua
7:1-26] But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the
devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of
Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord's
anger burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to
Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them,
"Go up and spy out the region." So the men went up and spied out
Ai. When they returned to Joshua, they said, "Not all the people
will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to
take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are
there." So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed
by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased
the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and
struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people
melted and became like water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and
fell face down to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining
there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and
sprinkled dust on their heads. And Joshua said, "Ah, Sovereign
LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to
deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only
we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! O
Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its
enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will
hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name
from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?"
The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up"! What are you doing down on
your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant,
which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the
devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put
them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot
stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because
they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you
anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to
destruction. "Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, `Consecrate
yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD,
the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O
Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.
"`In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe
that the LORD takes shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that
the LORD takes shall come forward family by family; and the family
that the LORD takes shall come forward man by man. He who is
caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along
with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the
LORD and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!'" Early the next
morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was
taken. The clans of Judah came forward, and he took the Zerahites.
He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and
Zimri was taken. Joshua had his family come forward man by man,
and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the
tribe of Judah, was taken. Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son,
give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give him the
praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me." Achan
replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of
Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a
beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a
wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden
in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath." So
Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it
was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. They took the
things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the
Israelites and spread them out before the LORD. Then Joshua,
together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the
robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys
and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor.
Joshua said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD
will bring trouble on you today." Then all Israel stoned him, and
after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they
heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then
the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has
been called the Valley of Achor ever
since.
Notice that it is never mentions that
Achan worshiped these things, but he did covet them! God had
forbidden them to have anything to do with the heathen nations or
their possessions.
CAN
MATERIAL THINGS CARRY SPIRITUAL
POWER?
Yes! From the text above, and also
from the following one, The Scriptures clearly says material
articles can carry both good and evil power.
[Acts
19:12] God did extraordinary miracles through Paul. Handkerchiefs
and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their
illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left
them.
It does not
say that the person being healed had to worship the handkerchiefs or
aprons to receive the blessing. Is it reasonable, therefore, to
agree it would not be necessary to worship forbidden material
objects to receive the curse?(2)
HOW
ARE WE AFFECTED BY THE PRESENCE OF EVIL
POWERS?
There are many ways in which they may
make their presence felt. The most obvious are the kinds of activity
that would cause a house to be regarded as haunted. These can be the
appearance of apparitions, unexplained temperature changes, foul
odors, unexplained noises, etc. Less obvious, are feelings of
oppression, heaviness, gloom, and fear. Still, the absence of all or
any of the above manifestations does not justify disobeying what God
has commanded. He forbids us to bring such objects into our
house.
[Deut.
7:25-26] The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do
not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for
yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to
the LORD your God. Do not bring a detestable thing into your house
or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor
and detest it, for it is set apart for
destruction.
WHAT
ARE TYPICAL OBJECTS WE SHOULD LOOK
FOR?
Look for little Mexican sun gods, Tiki
dolls, images or pictures of frogs and owls.(3) Also look for amulets, fetishes, idols,
incense, Buddhas, hand-carved objects from heathen
cultures,(4) or Ouija boards. Anything connected
with astrology, horoscopes, fortune telling, handwriting analysis,
and so on, should be destroyed. Books, records, tapes, or objects
associated with witchcraft, or the cult religions (metaphysics,
Christian Science, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc.), are no-nos. Rock and
roll records and tapes fall in the category of items that often are
loaded with evil spiritual powers. Other things are so-called
good-luck objects.(5) These include rabbit's feet,
horse-shoes, and four-leaf clovers. Some jewelry, such as crystals,
copper bracelets, charm bracelets, Masonic, fraternity, or sorority
pins and rings(6) are highly questionable.(7)
If in doubt,
ask the Holy Spirit to show you anything specific. Sometimes it can
be something that we would otherwise overlook. I read of one case
where getting rid of an arrowhead collection solved a problem. Be
reminded that the American Indians -- as well as many foreign
cultures often worshiped idols.
HOW
SHOULD WE DISPOSE OF OBJECTS THAT FALL INTO THIS
CATEGORY?
Burning is
recommended, if that is practical.(8)
Otherwise,
destroy or dispose of them in a way that will prevent them from
falling into someone's hands. To sell them, no matter how valuable,
or to give them away, is to transfer the evil influence from
yourself to someone else. They may have been expensive purchases or
gifts, but it doesn't cost anything to destroy
them.
SHOULD WE ATTEMPT TO SALVAGE ANYTHING OF
VALUE FROM THEM?
Scripture is clear
that we should not try to salvage any investment in
them.
[Deut.
7:25] Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and
do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it
is detestable to the LORD your God.
WHAT
ELSE SHOULD BE DONE?
It is well to
cleanse the house(9) itself, since former owners may have
been involved in occult practices. If they were involved in such
activities or were in serious bondage to sin, there is reason to
suspect that evil spirits remained behind. These spirits can and
will cause trouble for the new owners. Used cars fall into this
category, since the activities of previous owners could be
spiritually contaminating.
HOW
DO WE DO THIS "HOUSE-CLEANSING?"
Win
Worly(10) suggests that two believers undertake
this, with Bible in hand. Appropriate verses from Scripture may be
read aloud in unison or separately. Prepare by praying for the
discernment of spirits and the word of knowledge to help the
process. Verbally denounce(11) Satan and his power and all his demon
hosts. Claim your authority as a believer-priest(12) in the name of Jesus Christ, and the
authority of His shed blood. Let the believers take turns reading
Scriptures(13) (preferably in every room in the
house). Claim the cleansing of the area by demanding,(14) in Jesus' name, that the spirits leave
and never return. Do not overlook the dark places where spirits like
to hide. Closets, attics, basements, crawl spaces, and cupboards are
examples.
Finally,
anointing the top and sides of doors and windows and declaring them
to be spiritual locks, in the name of Jesus, is practiced by some.
Each room and area should be claimed as ground for the Lord and
taken back from Satan and his demons.
Each occupant
should renounce any known sins or occult connections, involvement
confessed as sin, and ask God to forgive them. Any specific areas of
demonic activity or influence of which you are aware should be
renounced by name.
The following
declaration is very effective:
Dear Lord, I
have a confession to make; Through ignorance, or willfulness I have
sought supernatural experiences apart from You. I have disobeyed
your Word
[Deut. 17:2-5; 18:10-12] and I ask you
to deliver me as I renounce these things. Cleans me in body, mind,
soul, and spirit, I pray
I now
renounce, forsake, turn away from, all contact with witchcraft,
magic, ouija boards, and other occult
games;
I renounce all kinds of fortune telling, palm
reading, tea leaves reading, crystal I renounce all crystal balls, Tarot and other card
laying!
I
renounce all
astrology, birth signs, and horoscopes!
I
renounce the
heresy of reincarnation, and all healing groups involved in
metaphysics and spiritualism!
I
renounce the
practice of hypnosis under any excuse or
authority!
I
renounce all
rock music that is not consistent with the Word of
God.
I
renounce all
transcendental meditation, Zen, and all other eastern cults and idol
worship!
I
renounce all
martial arts, including Judo, Kung Fu, and Karate!
I
renounce all
water witching [or dousing], levitation, table-tipping, body
lifting, psychometry [divination through objects] automatic writing,
and handwriting analysis!
I
renounce all
literature I have ever read and studies in any of these fields and
promise I will destroy all such material in my
possession!
I
renounce astral projection, soul and out-of-body
travel and other demonic skills!
I
renounce, in
the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, all psychic heredity that I may
have. I break any demonic hold or curse on my family line back to
ten or more generations on both sides of the
family!
I do now
renounce and forsake every psychic and occult contact that I don't
know about, also well as those I know about!
I
renounce every cult that denies atonement through
the blood of Jesus Christ and every philosophy that denies the deity
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
[Note: If you
have difficulty renouncing any of the above, ask yourself why.
Experience has taught that such items may be the very thing that
should be renounced. In any case, go ahead with the list. Ask the
Holy Spirit to confirm those items that you take exception
to.]
I break any
curse that may have come upon this household by my disobedience or
the disobedience of my ancestors back for ten generations on both
sides of the family in the name of Jesus!
Now Satan, I
close any door I may have opened to you through these
contacts.
The following
declaration is recommended for personal deliverance. However, it is
equally effective for house-cleansing.
THE COVENANT OF THE
BLOOD
*Satan! I testify to you personally what
the Word say the BLOOD does for me!
Revelation 12:11 - They [the
believers on earth] overcame him [Satan] by the Blood of the Lamb
[Jesus Christ] and the word of their testimony. [That is, they
testified to what the Word of God says about the Blood of
Jesus.]
*Through the BLOOD OF JESUS, I am
redeemed out of the hands of Satan!
Psalm
107:2 - Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed
from the hand of the enemy.
Ephesians 1:7
- In whom we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the richness of His grace.
*Through the BLOOD OF JESUS, all my sins
are forgiven!
Col. 1:12-14
- Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who has
delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into
the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his
blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
*The
BLOOD OF JESUS is cleansing me now from all
sin!
1 John 1:7 -
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son
cleanses us from all sin.
*I am
justified, made righteous, just-as-if-I'd never sinned, through the
BLOOD OF JESUS!
Romans 5:9 -
Much more then, now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from
wrath through Him.
*Through the BLOOD OF JESUS, I am
sanctified, set apart to God!
Hebrews
13:12 - Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people
with his own blood, suffered without the
gate.
*My
body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, redeemed, cleansed, sanctified,
through the BLOOD OF JESUS!
1
Corinthians 6:19-20 - What? Know you not that your body is the
temple of the holy Spirit, which is in you, which you have of God,
and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are
God's.
*I
belong to Jesus Christ, God's Son, spirit, soul, and
body!
His
BLOOD protects me from all evil!
Luke 10:19
- Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions,
and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any
means hurt you
BLOOD OF JESUS, Satan, you have no
place in me, and no more power over me! I renounce you and your
hosts completely, and declare you to be my enemies! Jesus said,
"these signs shall follow the believer. In my name they shall cast
out devils." [ Matt. 16:17] I am a believer! In the name of Jesus
of Nazareth, I exercise my God given authority to expel all evil
spirits from this place. I command them to leave now, according to
the Word of God, and in the name of Jesus! And now, Lord Jesus, I
ask you to fill all vacated areas will your Holy
Spirit.
The
following is a suggested closing prayer.
[II
Sam 7:29] Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that
it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign
LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of
your servant will be blessed forever
Endnotes:
1 If you are living in someone else's
house, or the object is not your own, anoint it with oil and
command any evil spirit to leave in the name of
Jesus.
2 If you feel that a curse may have
come upon you household, it can be broken.
3 Experience has determined that frogs
and owls seem to have a strong attraction for demons. Some ask, "
aren't they part of God's creation?" Yes, although they were not
created in a fallen state. He created the serpent that appeared to
Eve. I was involved in a case where a four-year old girl had
chronic nightmares. The Holy Spirit revealed to me that a large
stuffed toy frog named Kermit was the cause. When it was removed
the nightmares immediately ceased.
4 Actually, this refers to any heathen
culture. The American Indian would be a very pertinent
example.
5 If we believe in luck, and we believe
objects can bring us good luck, in whom are we placing our
faith?
6 If secret vows were made as a part of
receiving these things, it may be necessary to renounce those
vows. Examine them in the light of what scripture says we should
vow. Any vow contrary to our singular allegiance to Christ is
trying to serve two masters. Above all, my brothers, do not
swear--not by heaven, or by earth, or by anything else. Let your
"Yes" be yes, and your "No" be no, or you will be condemned.
[James 5:12]
7 if you have removed the obvious items
and there is still not a sense of peace in the household, consider
the less obvious things that you have been reluctant to give up.
Remove them to some other location and see if that solves the
problem.
8 There are testimonies that when some
objects [like an ouija board] were burned, a loud scream was
heard.
9 Second-hand cars may also need to be
cleansed. Don't forget to eliminate any St. Christopher
metals!
10 Win Worly, a native Texan, is an
ordained Southern Baptist minister. He is now pastor of Hegawisch
Baptist Church in Lansing, Ill. He has been involved in
deliverance ministry for nearly thirty years and is the author of
many books on the subject.
11 This is not prayer. Do it with
authority, and in a firm voice. Let the enemy know you mean
it!
12 See the Covenant of the
Blood.
13 The 91st Psalm is a good
example.
14 If you have the ability to speak in
tongues, exercise it. The demons hate to hear
it!
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