Mark 3:23-27

…Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house…

Today we’re going to continue talking about spiritual “strongmen” in our lives that prevent us from being everything God has made us to be. These strongmen hinder us from walking in complete freedom and victory in Jesus through the battlefield of our minds. The strongmen are spirits/attitudes/behaviors that we partner with under the influence of the enemy. We walk around carrying these strongmen on our backs like heavy weights. It’s time to be free! We can walk the path to freedom through the knowledge of God’s Word and renewing our minds to His principles and Truth. 

The word familiar is from the Latin familiaris, meaning a “household servant,” and is intended to express the idea that sorcerers had spirits as their servants ready to obey their commands. Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27; and Deuteronomy 18:9-14 refer to “mediums and familiar spirits” and forbids being involved with them, as they are an abomination to the Lord. Mediums are contacting demons who convince the mediums that they are “familiar” and can be trusted and believed.

Familiar spirits and spirit guides are under the control of their master, Satan. They influence people to spread lies and deceit in order to thwart the kingdom of God. To knowingly open oneself to the work of demons is an evil thing: “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12a).

Some avenues through which “familiar spirits” can gain entrance into a person’s life are divination, transcendental meditation, New Age visualization/manifesting, covenant vows, occults, ouija boards, reiki, necromancy/seances(trying to communicate with the dead), witchcraft, drugs and alcohol (drunkenness). These are all activities that believers are exhorted to avoid. Instead, we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, with love, with joy, and with the fullness of life that comes from Jesus Christ. We are also to be on guard, “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

Pray and ask Holy Spirit to shine His light on your soul. Have you opened a door in your life by participating in any of these activities, thus allowing the enemy to gain a stronghold in your soul? These familiar spirits are dangerous and unclean spirits in our temple that will hold us back. They seek to kill, steal and destroy and will keep us from using fully the gifts that God has given to each of us to use. These spirits must be called out into the open.

Steps to Break the Influence of Familiar Spirits:

1. Admit that you have participated in these activities and opened a door into your soul. 
2. Confess and forsake these activities.
3. Ask God to help you forgive anyone who opened up this door in you or exposed you to these spirits and forgive yourself for participating.
4. Renounce the spirit out of your heart. “I renounce (whatever familiar spirit you’ve been in agreement with) in the name of Jesus.”
5. Ask God to fill that place in you with His love and Holy Spirit, and show you your place in the work of the Kingdom.
6. Speak the promises of God’s Word over yourself.  

Remember, freedom is sometimes a journey…a daily walk with the Lord through His Word and the renewing of our minds. Even after the initial prayer of deliverance, we must continue to stand on the Word and maintain our freedom…just like mowing our grass or washing the dishes. It has to be done consistently and on a regular basis! We must also allow Holy Spirit to continue to show us the layers of gunk we have and allow Him to work it out of us in His time. We are continual works in progress and I’m so thankful He never leaves us where we are, but continually calls us to come up higher with Him! 

*** If you have been following along with our study on “Spirit, Soul & Body,” you will already have an understanding of where these spiritual strongmen or strongholds hide in our lives…in our souls. If you have not, I encourage you to watch the video series I made. ***