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.
Jesus talks about the spirit of perversion in Matthew 15:19-20. He says, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
You may think the spirit of perversion is predominately a male issue, but please realize that females struggle with this, as well!
The spirit of perversion seeks to distort God’s design for human sexuality and relationships, leading individuals down paths of destruction and despair. This spirit includes any thought, desire, or action that deviates from God’s intended purpose for human sexuality. It manifests in various forms, including:
Sexual Immorality: This includes any sexual activity outside the confines of a marriage between one man and one woman, such as fornication, adultery, homosexuality, and pornography.
Idolatry: Elevating any person, object, or desire above God constitutes idolatry. The spirit of perversion often entices individuals to worship their own lusts and desires, leading them away from the true source of fulfillment.
Deception: The spirit of perversion thrives on lies and deceit. It whispers half-truths and distortions, convincing individuals that their sinful desires are natural and acceptable. This spirit is responsible for twisting the Scriptures and our understanding of God’s Truths. This unclean spirit influences people to do whatever they want and then twist the truth to justify their actions.
As Jesus taught, the heart is the wellspring of both good and evil. The spirit of perversion seeks to gain a foothold in our hearts/souls.
But, take heart! We can overcome and be free!
Here is how:
Guard Your Heart: Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “Guard your heart with all diligence; for out of it flow the issues of life.” We must be vigilant in protecting our hearts from the onslaught of ungodly influences, including media, entertainment, and toxic relationships.
Renew Your Mind: Romans 12:2 urges us to “Be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” By immersing ourselves in God’s Word and meditating on His truth, we can reprogram our thought patterns and resist the deceptive whispers of the spirit of perversion. We’ve talked a lot about this!
Seek Accountability: Sharing our struggles with trusted Christian friends or mentors can provide support and encouragement in our fight against the spirit of perversion.
Accept God’s Grace: When we stumble and fall, we can find forgiveness and restoration through the blood of Jesus.
Pray and ask Holy Spirit to shine His light on your soul. Is the spirit of perversion in there? The spirit of perversion is a dangerous and unclean spirit in our temple that will hold us back. This spirit seeks to kill, steal and destroy. It will keep us from using fully the gifts that God has given to each of us to use. This spirit must be called out into the open before it continues to wreak havoc in our lives.
Steps to Break the Spirit of Perversion
- Admit that it is in your heart.
- Confess and forsake the sin.
- Ask God to help you forgive anyone who opened up this door in you and forgive yourself for living this way.
- Renounce this spirit out of your heart. “I renounce the spirit of perversion in the name of Jesus.”
- 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.
- 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. ***
susieamicone.com 