By Brother Rabbi Dani'el Rendelman ravemet@comcast.net
of Emet Ministries www.emetministries.com
BNAI YAHSHUA SYNAGOGUE OF PROSPERITY, SC
This year, American consumers spent over $5 BILLION on costumes, candy, and decorations for Halloween. Homes and even churches will be decorated with skulls, skeletons, mummies and monsters. Curiosity kills as thousands flock to haunted houses and scary movies to get thrilled or frightened.
The world is fascinated with the occult, demons, and spells. Kids used to play with sticks, dirt, and water to make mud pies. Today, they try to use their sticks as magic wands and trade the dirty mud for magic. Even 8 year olds read the 600 page Harry Potter novels. The internet has many sites devoted to tarot cards, spells, and demonology. Segments of mainstream Christianity are also heavily involved concerning the mysteries regarding demonic work. The Catholic priests have their rites, holy water and crucifixes. Charismatics use their books like "Pigs in the Parlor" and schools of ministry to explain possession. Some preach that there's a demon to blame for every problem, headache, or flat tire. Different groups use thirty page surveys to see how many demons a person has inside of them. Others use prayer mapping, blood claiming, and yelling to confront demonic forces.
Even Judaism deals with the issue of possession and demonic workings. It is from the Zohar that we get the idea of a Lilith demon who sleeps with Adam to create demons and evil spirits. And the Talmud tells us to use incantations, amulets, and formulas to keep the demons away. The Jewish Talmud actually states that demons reside in shadows, ruined buildings, and the latrine. Many are familiar with the works of Flavious Josephus and the "Antiquities of the Jews." Here's a quote from Book, Chapter 2, Section 5, "Now the sagacity and wisdom which G/d had bestowed on Solomon was so great, that he exceeded the ancients; and he left behind him the manner of using exorcisms, by which they drive away demons, so that they never return; and this method of cure is of great force unto this day; for I have seen a certain man of my own country, whose name was Eleazar, releasing people that were demoniacal in the presence of Vespasian, and his sons, and his captains, and the whole multitude of his soldiers. The manner of the cure was this: He put a ring that had a Foot of one of those sorts mentioned by Solomon to the nostrils of the demoniac, after which he drew out the demon through his nostrils; and when the man fell down immediately, he abjured him to return into him no more, making still mention of Solomon, and reciting the incantations which he composed. And when Eleazar would persuade and demonstrate to the spectators that he had such a power, he set a little way off a cup or basin full of water, and commanded the demon, as he went out of the man, to overturn it, and thereby to let the spectators know that he had left the man; and when this was done, the skill and wisdom of Solomon was shown very manifestly"
Is this really what YHWH wants for his people? Does the Almighty want us to be rebuking the adversary with every other breath we take? Should we really believe that there is a demon in our bathrooms?
Clearly, there is a lot of confusion regarding the subject of "Demons and Deliverance Ministry." Judaism says one thing while Christianity says another. Where is the truth? The messianic movement, as a whole, has little to say about deliverance from demonic oppression. For this teaching, our authority will be the life and ministry of Y'shua HaMoshiach. We will be traveling unchartered territory with Him as our guide. What did he teach about demons? How did he cast them out? We're going to learn the emet / truth about demons, deception, and deliverance.
THE TRUTH ABOUT DEMONS AND THE DEVIL:
The Bible clearly teaches that there is a spiritual realm beyond our world. In this realm is YHWH and His melechim or "heavenly messengers" we call "angels." There are also fallen melechim with "shadim" or "demons." However, there is little to no evidence in the scriptures regarding the adversary being kicked out of the heavens with a third of the angels. All we really know is that the adversary has a group of shadim that do his bidding.
Most people are familiar with the terms "devil" and "satan." The word devil comes to the English language from the Greek "diabolos," which means "liar, thief, accuser, and enemy." The word "devil" brings to mind a little red dude with a pointy tale and pitch fork. This is a wrong idea of the adversary. Indeed much Christian doctrine regarding the devil and hell is derived from Mesopotamian folklore and the classic book, "Dante's Inferno." We need to learn what the Bible really has to say about the enemy.
The word "satan" is an exact Hebrew word that is now used in the English language. The adversary's name was NOT changed from the Hebrew. Though every other name from the Hebrew scrolls were changed, the translators and scribes kept the hideous name of the adversary the same. It is sad that the blessed name of YHWH was hidden behind the terms "LORD" and "GOD" while the name of our enemy remains intact. In Hebrew, he is called "ha satan" which literally means "the accuser" or "the adversary." Ha satan is like a prosecuting attorney that confronts and accuses believers in an effort to belittle them and render them powerless.
The enemy, may his name be blotted out, comes against us daily to wear down the saints. He accuses and he lies. He tells us lies about ourselves and lies about others. He is active in every type of rebellion. He is NOT responsible for sin and rebellion. BUT once a person steps out of the will of YHWH then that person is stepping INTO the will of ha satan. He looks for just a small opening so he can work himself into our lives. He knows that most believers are not going to murder, rob banks, and commit heinous sins. So, he attacks us at our points of weakness. Sometimes he attacks at our points of strength. The enemy attacks and accuses the saints. This is his job and he's good at what he does.
He fights against the Saints DAILY in small areas to make us fall and stay down.
He knows that he can render the believer useless and weak if he can oppress us in our soul, mind, thoughts, and attitudes. He knows that our spiritual power will be hindered if he can defeat our body with sickness, disease, and pain.
What if you could know his point of attack? What if you could ambush HIM to gain victory? What if you could thwart his plans by cutting them off before they come to pass? What if you could go from fighting him off - reacting to his attacks to being proactive and stopping them before they occur? What if you could be free from the power and bondage of the enemy?
This is possible by understanding how and where the enemy attacks us.
The main area of attack is in the mind.
Your mind is a battlefield of ha satan. Therefore, the mind is the greatest area of deliverance. Our thoughts open the door to ha satan to take control. Our thoughts control our emotions. Our emotions affect our attitudes. Our attitudes and emotions determine our actions. What you think about is what you do. Most people treat others according to the emotions of the moment. If you are thinking about eating a steak sandwich, you will not eat not eat a pork sandwich. You do what you think about. Ha satan knows that we are creatures of habit. When we think something long enough or when we act a certain way over and over again, the enemy establishes a "stronghold." The strongholds in our lives are the results of our thoughts and actions. It all starts in the mind with just a thought or desire. This is why we have to be so careful about what we allow to linger in our minds and thoughts.
The Eerdman Bible Dictionary defines a stronghold as "A place of refuge or defense such as a mountain fortress, guard tower, or hideout (Judges 6:2, 26; 1 Chronicles 12:8; Isaiah 33:16; "fortresses"), a strategic point on the walls of a city, Isaiah 25:12 "fortifications", or simply a well-fortified city as a whole (Psalm 89:40; Lamentations 2:2)."
A demonic stronghold is a fortified place of thought where a demon resides. 2 Corinthians 10 says that the "weapons of our warfare are mighty in Y'shua for the pulling down of strongholds." This clearly shows that we each can have strongholds in our lives AND that we can have victory over these satanic strongholds. To put it plainly, a "demonic stronghold is a thought pattern or habit of behavior that is not in accordance with the word of YHWH." The worst sins of pride and rebellion start with just a thought.
"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own desires, and is taken away. Then when desire has conceived, it births sin: and sin, when it is spread, brings forth death," Ya'acov / James 1:15-17. Psychologists tell us that an average person has 10,000 thoughts a day. That is 10,000 choices to walk in the spirit or give in to our lusts and sinful desires.
It is NOT sin when the thought FIRST comes to mind or when we are FIRST tempted by the adversary. Sin occurs when we make that thought our own by EITHER dwelling on the idea OR acting on the idea. When the door is opened to ha satan, the negative forces grow until the desire becomes normal behavior.
Because of the strongholds in your life, you may be TOTALLY saved from eternal damnation BUT you may also be TOTALLY bound up by the enemy. The adversary and his shadim want to keep us defeated, oppressed, repressed, and in a mess. He wishes to render every believer to be so bound up with strongholds that we resemble a lunatic in a straight jacket fighting for freedom. Friend, the Battle for freedom begins in the mind!
Every single scripture in the Newer Testament that deals with Spiritual Warfare is in context to the thought process of the believer. Biblically, the subject and place of spiritual warfare is in the mind! If we could just have our minds renewed to the truth of Torah then we could experience freedom from demonic oppression. It's that simple.
The Bible says, "we war not against flesh and blood." We are in a spiritual battle. When Y'shua died on the tree, Y'shua "Spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it," Colossians 2:15. Each believer has authority and power over the enemy. Ha Satan has been defeated by the work of Y'shua on the tree. We, the army of YHWH, must exercise our authority and not allow the evil one to conquer us.
The emet is that the only power Ha Satan has over us is what we give him. The adversary takes his power through deception. Indeed, the ONLY power the adversary has is the power of deception. Yet, when he deceives; he controls.
EMET ABOUT DECEPTION:
Though Hollywood portrays the enemy with unlimited power and strength, the Bible is clear that deception is ha satan's ONLY power. This is how he attacks. And, he is really good at deception. Deception is tricky because a person doesn't know that they are being deceived. Deception blinds the individual from knowing and walking in the emet.
Know this: if Ha Satan can deceive us then he can have power over us. The Scriptures declare that ha satan has deceived the world - including most believers. Ha satan is the god of this world and Yochannan Alef / 1 John 5:19 says that the "whole world is under the influence of the evil one," GWT.
One of the biggest areas of his deception is in the area the adversary's power. The enemy tells us that we can not be free from his grip and that we can not change. YHWH says you are free and you can change!
The enemy tells us that our sins are too big and too ugly to be forgiven. YHWH says "what sin?"
The enemy tells us that it's too late to change; its impossible live holy / kadosh, and that you are just a victim. YHWH says that if any man be in Y'shua he is a new creation and all things have been made new!
The adversary is a defeated foe. The only power ha satan has is when we empower him through our thoughts. REPEAT -the only power ha satan has is when we empower him through our thoughts.
Sadly, much of what is called "spiritual warfare" in the church is actually vain actions that ONLY empower the adversary. Instead of stopping him, most Christians actually give him glory and power that he does not deserve. We actually empower him when we focus on him. You empower the adversary when you learn demon's names, give him more credit than he is due, and spend more time rebuking him than praying to YHWH.
Ha satan does not have the power and authority to stop us from walking in the abundant life Y'shua promised. But he sure does try through his power of deception. He blinds people to the commandments in the scripture and from submission to their spiritual leaders. Yet, the Torah says that Y'shua gave his life's blood and redeemed us from the curse of sin so that we could have eternal life NOW and not just in the sweet bye and bye
The salvation power extended to us when we were born again is still available for us to walk out our faith TODAY. We are more than conquerors through YHWH. No weapon that is formed against us shall prosper. If YHWH is for us then who can be against us? Qolesayah / Colossians 2:6 clarifies this, "As you have therefore received Moshiach Y'shua the Master, so have your halakha in Him." The NASB says, "Therefore as you have received Y'shua HaMoshiach the Master, so walk in Him."
We were born again by grace through faith - we were saved from our sins AND FROM the bondage of sin. This verse is telling us to walk out our salvation and to walk out our freedom. Just as we were saved by faith we should live by faith!
Y'shua died to set us free from the vices and influence of the evil one. "The thief comes not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have chayim, and that they might have it more abundantly," Yochannan 10:10
YHWH wants us free from demonic oppression and demonic attacks. Ha Satan wants to put you in bondage, deception, oppression, depression, worry, fear, doubt, lust, wickedness, negativity, unforgiveness, pain, pity parties, hurt feelings, loneliness, grudges, and the like. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty in which Moshiach has made us free, and be not harnessed again under the yoke of slavery," Galutyah / Galatians 5:1.
Does ha Satan come at us physically with demons hunting our heads? How does the enemy really attack? How does he try to stop believers from the abundant life?
First, let us recognize that before salvation man is NOT a child of YHWH. The world says that we are all "god's children." But the Torah tells us that before a person is born again that he is a child of the adversary. People who are not born again are NOT children of YHWH but they are children of Adam and have the sinful adamic nature. People who do not know Y'shua are not led by his Ruach and "live according to the sinful nature," Romiyah 8:5
At the proclamation and acceptance of the besarot / gospel, then the person is taken from kingdom of darkness and adopted into the family of Light. The person's spirit / neshamah is dead to sin and is resurrected as a new creation. That new believer has the very power that raised Y'shua from the dead, living within them.
As a believer your spirit - your neshamah has been saved. Ha Satan has lost the war! BUT, he wants to win the battles of your every day life by keeping you in bondage and depression. Don't let him win! Recognize today that before Salvation you were NOT a child of YHWH and he couldn't stop you from getting saved. Now that you ARE a child of YHWH, he can't, HE JUST CAN'T stop you from walking in healing, power, and abundance. He may try but don't let him win! Freedom is promised for us and for all who believe.
Experience freedom by understanding that we were created three-fold - spirit, soul, and body. The adversary knows this and attacks us in these areas. At salvation your spirit is totally changed BUT your soul and body remain the same. The enemy has no power and no influence over our born again Neshamah. BUT he knows that if he can keep us sick in our body or oppressed in our mind then he can defeat us.
The body (or nefesh) doesn't change because a person accepts Y'shua as their master. Skinny people are still skinny after baptism. Fat people are still fat. And for most people, the soul doesn't change at salvation either. The soul or "ruach" of man usually doesn't totally change at salvation. The "ruach" of man is the mind, will, intellect and place of emotions. "There is a ruach in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding," Iyov 32:8.
It is here in the Ruach and in the Nefesh - in our soul and in our body that the enemy attacks us and tries to overcome us. Our Spiritual battle is not in heaven somewhere BUT right here on earth between our ears.
"He that hath no rule over his own ruach is like a city that is broken down, and without walls," Mishle 28:8.
This is why it is so important that we understand what Y'shua did for us on the TREE. We should search the scriptures and pray for a greater revelation of YHWH's love.
EMET ABOUT DELIVERANCE:
We are set free from the bondage of ha satan by one thing and one thing only. The adversary's grip is loosed by the EMET - the truth. It does not take a powerful exorcism to be free from the shadim. It only takes the devar emet - the word of truth.
John / Yochannan 8:31-3, "Then Y'shua said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Romans 10:17, "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of YHWH."
Y'shua used the truth of the scriptures to confront the adversary. He said, "It is written" and then quoted the Tanakh. Freedom comes the same way today. All areas of our life - thoughts and actions - need the freedom promised by Messiah.
Many people have wondered, "can a believer have a demon?" The answer is simply "no." A believer can not have a demon for a pet like a dog on a leash. But can a "demon have a believer?" Yes! Shadim can vex, offend, and oppress believers in our actions, theologies, thoughts, and areas of life.
We need to have our mind renewed and the deception decoded about deliverance. Truth be told, we have been deceived even in the area of deliverance.
Romiyah 12:1-2, "I beg you therefore, Yisraelite brothers, by the rachamim of YHWH, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, kadosh, acceptable to YHWH which is your act of reasonable worship. And be not conformed to this olam hazeh: but be transformed by the ongoing renewing of your mind, that you may discern what is that tov, acceptable, and even the perfect, will of YHWH"
The Catholic church doesn't have it all together concerning this issue, nor do the Charasmatics, or the Jews. To get the best Biblical understanding of deliverance ministry we need to look to the life and the ministry of Y'shua.
Judaism and Christianity focus on the methods of exorcism and deliverance. We are told to "say this_____" and do that. Some preachers even say we should talk to the demons and get to know their names and their hobbies. Y'shua's deliverance ministry was much MORE about staying free than just getting free. Y'shua was more concerned about the true freedom from demons than the methodology of deliverance. No holy water or strong hold exams required!
On most occasions, Y'shua shared the emet of YHWH, told the demons to be quiet and come out, instructed the delivered person to stop their lifestyle of sin and seek YHWH. That's it! No 40 day deliverance prayer book needed!
Luka / Luke 4:33-37, "And in the synagogue there was a man, who had an unclean ruach of a shad, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Leave us alone; what have we to do with You, Y'shua of Natzeret? Have You come to destroy us? I know You who You are; the Kadosh-One of YHWH. And Y'shua rebuked him, saying, Be silent, and come out of him. And when the s.a.tan had thrown him in their midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spoke among themselves, saying, What a word is this! For with authority and power He commands the shadim, and they come out."
Luka 8:2 says Miriam Magdala had "seven demons" cast out of her with ease. To others he said, "go and sin no more" or "go show yourself to the high priest." Y'shua's patter for deliverance is simple - share the truth in love, the person receives the truth and submits to YHWH, the demon is commanded to flee, and the person is to live in their freedom.
Ya'acov / James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to YHWH. Resist s.a.tan, and he will flee from you." This is pretty simple!
Y'shua's deliverance ministry was not about binding and loosing every unclean spirit in the world - he could have done that. He could have given out stronghold surveys and told people to wait until a group of trained deliverance ministers were ready, but He didn't. He wouldn't. In fact, the idea of "binding and loosing" is just a Hebrew idiom that has been totally misunderstood. This phrase meant that what we allow on earth should be what is allowed in the heavens. And what we prohibit on earth should be what is prohibited in the heavens. YHWH doesn't want us binding the spirit of darkness everytime we flip a light switch. Binding and loosing has been totally misunderstood without a Hebraic background.
Another misunderstood passage about deliverance ministry concerns fasting. Biblical deliverance is not about fasting to get power over more demons. Fasting does not give you any power over demonic forces. You ALREADY have power over all demonic forces because the power of Y'shua is in you. You don't need to fast and pray for certain demons to come out. We don't see Y'shua doing this NOR does he tell his talmidim to do this.
In Mark 9 a man comes to the Savior and says that the disciples could not help his son. The boy is vexed by demons. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. Y'shua's response is interesting. "O unbelieving generation," Y'shua, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." Notice that he didn't ask the talmidim if they had been fasting. Instead he confronted their unbelief. Y'shua asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." Y'shua replied 'If you can'? Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Y'shua rebuked the shadim and the boy was healed. Later, the talmidim came to Y'shua and asked "why couldn't we cast it out?" He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."
Read the text in context and see what "only comes out by prayer and fasting." In context, what comes out is NOT demons BUT unbelief! Demons must flee at the faith-filled command of the believer. It tells us in the book of Ya'acov / James that the demons know that YHWH is one and shudder. The shadim are scared of the truth! Unbelief is what was keeping the boy bound by the adversary. We must learn to pray like his father - "I believe BUT help my unbelief!"
Deliverance from ha satan is not about holy water, catholic rites. It's al about the balance EMUNAH and WORKS and declaring FREEDOM to the captives. Yesha'yahu / Isaiah 61:1, "The Ruach of the Master YHWH is upon Me; because YHWH has anointed Me to preach the Besorah to the meek; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the exiles, recovery of sight to the blind and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." This was Y'shua's ministry and this is our ministry today!
The crux and key to Hebraic deliverance ministry is not about flaking out during a service, or throwing up, or barking, or levitating, or any physical manifestation of a demon. Biblical deliverance ministry is about recognizing open doors to the enemy, declaring the truth of the scriptures, and living in freedom.
The Gospels show us the correct pattern of deliverance ministry. To the reader of the Newer Testament it seems that Y'shua was really into deliverance ministry. He is seen casting out demons everywhere he goes. Y'shua calls his disciples to "cast out demons" as part of their calling and even the great commission
The great commission from Yochannan Moshe / Mark 16: 15-20 says, ""And He said to them, Go into all the olam hazeh, and proclaim the Besorah to every creature. He that believes and is immersed shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be condemned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My Name shall they cast out shadim; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after Y'shua had spoken to them; He was received up into the third shamayim, and sat down on the right hand of YHWH. And they went out, and proclaimed everywhere, YHWH working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amein."
Y'shua's final command included the proclamation to: go and proclaim the good news of YHWH; repent and receive the forgiveness promised in the Scriptures; and be immersed in water for salvation from destruction. And then as a person accepts Y'shua they should continue on with their faith. The true gospel is NOT just about salvation but walking in freedom and deliverance. We shall cast out shadim, speak in new tongues, take up serpents, drink deadly poison without death and lay hands on the sick and the sick shall recover
The great commission in Mark is passed over for other versions of the evangelistic only Great Commission in sefer Mattitiyahu, which does not mention casting out demons. Baptists don't want to talk about this. Methodists and Messianics don't want to mention demons. BUT this call from our master reveals much about how the Spiritual life of the believer is to be lived.
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My Name shall they cast out shadim; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." The order in this text is important and not listed haphazardly. First there is the proclamation and reception of the besarot. The neshamah is saved and totally changed. Then with water baptism, the Nefesh comes under subjection to the Word. THIS IS WHERE MOST PEOPLE STOP. BUT THERE IS MORE TO SPIRITUALITY THAN JUST SALVATION! The next parts of salvation include casting out demons for deliverance and spiritual freedom. Speaking with "new tongues" is symbolic of the baptism in the Ruach HaKadosh. Taking up serpents, drinking deadly poison, and laying hands on the sick is a description of our daily walk with Y'shua after salvation and baptism.
Our call as believers is to cast out demons and walk in freedom of Y'shua. Our MIND must be renewed to the EMET of Demons, Deception, and Deliverance. This occurs by continual deliverance by the word! Deliverance ministry is simply coming face to face - confronting patter of thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, sin and proclaiming the EMET of the Torah. "Submit yourselves, then, to YHWH. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to YHWH and he will come near to you" (James 4:7-8 NIV)
SALVATION IS NOT A ONE TIME EXPERIENCE. We are told to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," Phylypsiyah / Philippians 2:12. Our spirit has been totally saved BUT our soul and body have to fight against the attacks of the enemy until we get to a place of effortless faith. A believer can arrive at a place of "effortless" faith to which the attacks of the enemy are few and far between AND can be overcome.
When a person is saved, ha satan goes on attack to stop the flow of obedience and blessing in their life. One must bring the ruach under the control of the Ruach HaKadosh. Tehillim 51:17, "The sacrifice Elohim desires is a broken ruach: a broken and a contrite lev (heart), O Elohim, thou wilt not despise."
In Psalm 89:40 it declares, "You have broken down all his hedges and his walls: You have brought his strongholds to ruin." This is what YHWH does in DELIVERANCE. If you need deliverance from strongholds or sin in your life then seek YHWH and believe what His word says. Pray for the Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKadosh to open your eyes to the strongholds in your life. Recognize the open doors to Ha Satan. What thoughts and actions create open doors to his power? Seek YHWH to show you the deception in your life. Repent of these areas through prayer.
Declare your freedom as found in the scriptures. You can meet with others for prayer but this is not always necessary. Deliverance can happen as you worship, sing, dance, read the Scriptures, give offerings, obey the word, etc. Stand with the full armor of YHWH upon your life and be strong in Him.
Begin resisting the actions, attitudes, and atmospheres that are not healthy to your Spiritual life. "Take every thought captive to the obedience of Moshiach," 2 Corinthians 10:5. Memorize at least one new Bible verse every week and when the temptation or thought comes, simply say "It is written..." You may have to do this one million times a day until you have full freedom. Begin to meditate on the Scriptures and seek YHWH daily through singing and study. Learn the truth about demons, deception, and deliverance. Experience true freedom though the emet and then live in that freedom.
Visit www.emetministries.com to learn more
