Prayer to Renounce African Gods and Goddesses

This is a lengthy prayer that involves a lot of various gods and goddesses. I do have many people contact me from African countries that struggle with getting completely free. My other prayers are also listed under the pages section at the right, but they do not have all of these names of the various gods. I also recommend this prayer to anyone that has had involvement in Santeria or other forms of Voodoo and occult practices. A recent dream showed me an African woman trying to get free from Santeria but could not seem to dislodge a serpent connected to that particular type of witchcraft and sorcery. Some of those spirits are identified in this prayer that may be the missing piece of information for some people. I pray this latest prayer is a blessing to those with African heritage!

Dear Heavenly Father,

I repent on behalf of myself and my ancestors for turning to false gods, idols, cults,
and all forms of idolatry. I repent for rebellion to you, and I turn away from all worship and
false religious practices that are forbidden in the Word of God.

Even though my culture has taught me otherwise, I choose to accept by faith that Jesus Christ
is the Son of the One true God, my Creator and Father. I believe that Jesus Christ was
persecuted, rejected, falsely accused, and innocent of all wrongdoing when He was crucified
and died on the cross. I believe Jesus died in my place and took all my sins upon Himself so
that I can have a personal relationship with God and eternal life. I believe that through the
power of God’s Holy Spirit, Jesus was resurrected from the dead in victory and has made a
life of victory available for me through His sacrificial death and resurrection.

I thank You, Jesus, for being my Lord and Savior. I thank You, Father, for eternal life and for
the forgiveness of sins. I ask that Your Holy Spirit would come live within me and baptize me
with His Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen.

Now, Father, I renounce and repent for any involvement with false gods, idolatry and occult
practices. I renounce and repent for any occult activity, rituals, or witchcraft practices that I
have done or that of my ancestors; including being dedicated to demonic spirits, initiation into
witchcraft or ungodly religious ceremonies devoted to Satanic worship. I renounce Satan as
my spiritual father, as my god, and any spirits that represent the kingdom of darkness.

I renounce and DIVORCE the pantheon of gods and goddesses of my culture.

I renounce Adroa, also known as god in the sky, god on earth, creator god and river god that
rules over social order, law and death;

I renounce Akuj, that rules over divination;

I renounce Ala, also known as Ale and Ane, known as creator goddess and queen of the dead
that rules over community laws, morality, oaths and harvest;

I renounce Anayaroli, the river demon that rules over wealth;

I renounce Asa, also known as father god or the strong lord, that rules over mercy, help and
survival;

I renounce Asase, also known as Yaa, Aberewa, and Efua, “old mother earth” who is
described as the goddess of creation and receiver of humans at their death, who rules over
harvest and cultivation.

I renounce Behanzin the fish god;

I renounce Cagn, the creator god among the bushmen, who rules over shape-shifting and
sorcery;

I renounce Chiuta, also known as Mulengi, Mwenco, Wamtatakuya Tumbuka, known as the
creator god, the rain god, who rules over rain, help, agriculture and food;

I renounce Chuku, also known as Cheneke, known as creator, the earth goddess, the father
of Ale, who rules over help and goodness;

I renounce Danh, also known as the snake god or the rainbow snake that rules over
wholeness and unity;

I renounce En-Kai, also known as Parsai and Emayian, the sky god that rules over rain,
vegetation and blessing;

I renounce Fa, that rules over destiny;

I renounce Famian, who rules over protection, health and fertility;

I renounce Guana, also known as Gawa and Gawama that lives among the bushmen,
leads the spirits of the deceased, and rules over disruption, harrassment and death;

I renounce Ge, the moon god;

I renounce Gu, that rules over war, weapons and smiths;

I renounce Guruhi, the evil god that shows himself in meteors and rules over power and death
over enemies;

I renounce Heitsi-Eibib, the sorcerer god that rules over shape-shifting and magick;

I renounce Imana, also known as Hategekimana, Hashakimana, Habyarimana, Ndagijimana,
Bigirimana, "Almighty God " that rules over power, goodness, children and planning;

I renounce Ison, also known as Eka Obasi, Obasi Nsi, Ibibio, and Ekoi, the tortoise-shelled
goddess that rules over fertility of the earth;

I renounce Juok, also known as the supreme god Shilluk that created man;

I renounce Jok, also known as Jok Odudu and Alur that demands goats sacrificed in order to
produce rain, and that rules over rain;

I renounce Kaka-Guia, also known as Nyami, that brings souls to the supreme god;

I renounce Katonda, a strongman spirit also known as Lissoddene, Kagingo, Ssewannaku,
Lugaba, Ssebintu, Nnyiniggulu, Namuginga, Ssewaunaku, Gguluddene, and Namugereka
that rules over help, judgment, divination and oracles;

I renounce Kwoth, known as the great spirit god that rules over nature, help, compassion
and judgment;

I renounce Leza, the chameleon goddess that rules over protection and divination;

I renounce Mbaba Mwana Waresa, that rules over rainbows, rain, crops, cultivation and
alcohol;

I renounce Mawu, the supreme goddess and creator of all things, also known as a moon
goddess;

I renounce Mukuru, known as the supreme god and creator that rules over agriculture,
architecture and the harvest;

I renounce Mungo, the rain god;

I renounce Nenaunir, the rainbow snake known as an evil storm god;

I renounce Ngai, that rules over life and death;

I renounce Ngami, the moon goddess;

I renounce Njambi, known as creator god that rules over protection, justice, help, forests
and fertility;

I renounce Nyambe, that rules over restoring life;

I renounce Nyambi, known as the great god and the god over everything;

I renounce Nyame, the god of fate;

I renounce Nyami Ama, the rain and storm god;

I renounce Nzambi, the god of justice;

I renounce Oba, the Santeria river goddess;

I renounce Ochumare, the Santeria goddess of the rainbow;

I renounce Oddudua, the mother goddess;

I renounce Ogun, the god of iron and warfare that rules over iron, warfare, removing
difficulties, smoothing the path to a desired result, Justice, Smiths, Hunters, Barbers,
Goldsmiths and Steel;

I renounce Olorun, also known as Olofin-Orun and Olodumare, the sky god that rules over
Truth, control of the Elements, Foresight, Victory when the odds are against you, and Destiny;

I renounce Orisha Nla, chief of the dieties;

I renounce Pan, described as the son of the earth who rules over cultivation;

I renounce Rock-Sens, the sky god that controls thunder, lightning and rain;

I renounce Rugaba, also known as Ruhanga, Kazooba or Mukameiguru, described as creator
god, sun god and sky god that rules over life, healing, death, sickness, and judgement;

I renounce Ruhanga, described as the great god that rules over fertility, abundance, children,
animals, harvest, health, sickness, death, judgement, and rebirth;

I renounce Sakarabru, the god of medicine, justice and retribution;

I renounce Shango or Schango, known for carrying the double headed axe and that rules over
thunder, storms, war and magick;

I renounce Soko the creator god that rules over control over the elements, divination,
(communication with the dead) and witchcraft;

I renounce Tilo the storm god that rules over sky, thunder and rain;

I renounce Unkulunkulu, also known as Nkulnkulu, the earth god of fertility, organization and
order;

I renounce Utixo, the sky god that rules over thunder, rain, storms, rebirth and harvest;

I renounce Wele, also known as Khakaba or Isaywa, described as ‘the high one,’ or the sky
god or creator god that rules over  rain, storms, lightning, creation, prosperity, harvest and
celestial phenomena;

I renounce Were, the father god or the great god that rules over Birth, Death, Nature and
Judgement;

I renounce White Lady, knowns as the agricultural goddess that rules over agriculture and
fertility;

I renounce Xevioso, the storm god with a thunder axe that rules over rain and fertility;

I renounce Ymoja, the river goddess that rules over women and children.

I renounce any and all names of other gods or goddesses, false spiritual fathers and mothers,
spirit guides, and familiar spirits that have had legal grounds to operate in my family. I
renounce all soul ties to former lovers, shamans, witch doctors, sorcerers, and those they
have worked through. Let every part of my soul return to me, and any part of other people’s
souls return to them. I apply the blood of Jesus Christ to every sin that has been committed by
myself and my ancestors, closing the door to these spirits and the assignments that they have
had against me.

I renounce all lying spirits, all trickery, manipulation, fraudulent practices intended to deceive
and rob others. Let the blood of Jesus cleanse me from all unrighteousness.

I repent for the sins of shedding blood, human and animal sacrifice, selfishness, rebellion,
jealousy, contention, evil speaking, pride, and every sin that was caused by disobedience and
rejecting the Lordship of Christ. Let the blood of Jesus cover these sins in Jesus name.

Let my name now be removed from every ungodly altar and the evil altar destroyed in Jesus
name.

Let every demon that has been assigned to carry out a curse be cut off and sent back to the
abyss created for them in Jesus name.

Let the fire of God burn up every evil work in my life. Let the conviction of God’s Holy Spirit
keep me from reopening an old door that has now been closed in Jesus name.

Let the angelic hosts of heaven be assigned to fight on my behalf and release my restoration,
in Jesus name.

I forgive all those that have been an instrument in Satan’s service to cause pain, hardship or
ruin to me and my family. I also forgive myself for anything I have done that has brought guilt,
shame or condemnation upon myself. I ask You, Father, to bless those that have cursed me
or treated me wrong. I cancel their debt and forgive their sin in Jesus name.

Father, I stand upon the principle of James 4:6,7. Now that I am submitted to Your authority,
I command the enemy to take everything he has done to perpetuate a curse and leave me
now in Jesus name. I also command the thief to repay the losses of previous years with no
less than a 7-fold return according to Proverbs 6:31. I thank You for restoration, healing and
revival to my heart and life in Jesus name, Amen.

Prayer to Renounce Gods of Mexico

Dear Friends,

This is the first prayer in my new book Unmasking the Culture. The Spanish version of the prayers from the book are included in the book and also found in the mini booklet, Adios Diablo. 

A missionary ministry team recently returned from Mexico and shared on the numerous miracles and breakthroughs that occurred as a result of praying through the prayers in my book. Incredible! They saw healings, family restoration, marriages healed and so much more. They are still getting updates on how greatly the prayers and ministry affected the families in Tecuala.

The prayers and the teaching in Unmasking the Culture is powerful and effective. I encourage anyone with Mexican ancestry to get the book and see for yourself that they work! Each one covers a different area specific to Mexican culture.

Prayer to Divorce False Gods

(Gods of Mexico and Aztec Ancestry)

Dear Heavenly Father,

On behalf of myself and my ancestors, I repent for having false gods, goddesses and the sins of idolatry. Please let the blood of Jesus cover these sins. Me and my family are guilty of rebellion and witchcraft. Please forgive us for our involvement in occult practices, for they are forbidden in Your word.

You alone are God, Lord Jesus. Only You can break the bands of slavery and deliver me from the power of the enemy. No other gods gave their life for me. They cannot redeem my soul from hell. No other gods can cleanse me from sin. You are the only true God, Jesus, and I renounce all false gods and goddesses. Your word in Exodus 20:3,4 tells me I am to have no other gods before you. Scripture says, “You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth.” 

Therefore, I renounce the false gods of my ancestors.

I renounce the god of the Mexicas and the Aztecs known as Huitzilopochtli or   Tenochtitlan, the god of war. I repent for any involvement that me or my family members participated in that involved murder, bloodshed, sacrificial dismemberment, cannibalism, and human and animal sacrifice.

I repent for worshiping the sun, moon and stars. I renounce all sun, moon and astral gods and goddesses and the false religious practices associated with them.

I renounce the feathered serpent god, Queztzalcoatl and his twin, Xoloti; I also renounce these demonic spirits that represent the wind and wisdom. I renounce all animal spirits associated with these spirits such as snakes, crows, eagles, bears, jaguars and macaws.

I renounce the false god Tezcatlipoca that represents enmity, discord, rulership, divination, temptation, sorcery, war and strife. I renounce the spirit of pride, voyeurism, pretense and lying spirits and that come from the spirit known as “Smoking Mirrors.”

I renounce the matron goddesses of fertility, life, death and rebirth known as Chimalma and Coatlicue, Itzpapalotl and Xociticlicue. I renounce Tlazolteotl, goddess of lust, carnality, and sexual misdeeds.

I renounce Tonocatecuhtli and Tonocacihuatl, and all fertility rituals and worship associated with false gods associated with lust, carnality, sexual immorality and all unnatural sexual practices; the serpentine spirit, the spirit of Python, divination, and the sin of seeking power and immortality through occult practices. I ask your forgiveness for the use of phallic objects and other inanimate objects used in unnatural sexual and religious practices. I renounce the sins of adultery, prostitution, sex slavery, spiritual whoredom, and sexual immorality. I command the spirit of Lilith, incubus and succubus spirits, the perverse spirit and all familiar spirits to leave me now and never come back, in the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let all ungodly soul ties that came from former lovers or forbidden sexual encounters, rape, molestation, incest and other sexual sins leave me now in Jesus name. I ask You, Father, to command all fragmented parts of my soul return to me and the fragmented parts of other people’s souls that have been attached to me, return to them. It is written in Psalm 23:3 that You restore my soul, and in Isaiah 53:5, “By your stripes we were healed.” Lord Jesus, You took all my sins upon Yourself when You went to the cross. I ask You to please make me whole again by the power of Your Holy Spirit that heals me.

I renounce all shamanistic rituals and false prophecy, and all familiar spirits associated with dark magic, witchcraft and sorcery. I renounce all traditions and indoctrination rituals associated with occult ceremonies, their priests and priestesses.

I renounce all patrons of war: Huitzilopochtli, Mixcoatl, Tialoc and Xiuhtecuhtli.

I renounce Xipe Toutec, (SHEE-pay TO-tec) the god of agriculture.

I renounce the Lords of the Day and Lords of the Night, also known as water, fire, earth and sky dieties:

Xiuhtecuhtli, god of fire and time.

Tezcatlipoca, (Tez-cat-li-PO-ca) god of providence, the darkness and the invisible, lord of the night, ruler of the North.

Piltzintecuhtli, god of the visions, associated with planet Mercury, and healing.

Centeotl, god of maize (corn).

Mictlantecuhtli, god of the Underworld.

Mictecacihuatl, goddess of the dead, ruler of the Underworld.

Tepeyollotl, god of the animals, darkened caves, echoes and earthquakes. Also known as Tepeyollotl, associated with mountains and high places.

of the twisted conch shell.

Xiuhtecuhtli, god of fire and time.

Huehueteotl, also known as Xiuhtecuhtli or Ometoetl; ancient fire god and creator.

Patecatl, patron of medicines.

Mixcoatl, the cloud serpent.

Huitzilopochtli, known as the hummingbird, the personal God of the Mexica, or Aztecs, and a god of war.

Tlaltecuhtli, old god of earth.

Chalchiuhtlicue, goddess of water, lakes, rivers, seas, streams, horizontal waters, storms and baptism.

Tonatiuh, god of the Sun.

Mictlantececuhtli, god of the dead. Nearly identical to the Greek God Hades.

Yohualtecuhtli, Lord of the Night and possessor of bones.

Quetzalcoatl, (pronounced Kayt-zal-CO-atl)  god of the life, the light and wisdom, lord of the winds and the day, ruler of the West.

Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, god of dawn.

Tzitzimitl, celestial demon goddess, goddess of the air.

Citlalicue, goddess of female stars (Milky Way).

Citlalatonac, god of female stars (Husband of Citlalicue) - And any other names regardless of what name by which they are known.

I renounce Satan and the works of darkness, all other gods by any name which they are known, all familiar spirits, indoctrination rituals into the occult, its traditions and practices.

I break every covenant made with any of the spirits that I have named as well as any other demons that may be in my life. I repent on behalf of me and my ancestors for any and all agreements made knowingly or unknowingly with demonic entities that may still be legally enforceable in the spirit realm. I ask You, Heavenly Father, to break the power of those agreements and apply the blood of Jesus to them. Let them be unenforceable from this day forward in Jesus name.

Prayer to Unlock Finances

There are so many people that are financially stuck and cannot figure out why. I think this prayer may help a lot. As you read through it, take the time to gain understanding. The enemy is our adversary and always looks for legal grounds in order to enforce a curse. And, while it is true that every curse is broken through Jesus Christ, we must appropriate the finished work of the cross by enforcing it. We cannot enforce a spiritual law if we are guilty of breaking it.

If you examine the blessings and curses of Deut. 28, there is always a cause and effect. The spiritual principles still apply even in the New Testament, although they haven't worded it quite the same. Remember, God looks at the heart and judges us by the motive in our heart just as much as our actions. We are judged by the law of love. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself." On this hang all the law and prophets words. This tells us that we are judged by how well we love God and love others. So, based on that, we need to examine ourselves.

We may have sin, transgression or iniquity in our bloodline that has left us vulnerable to wrong mindsets, which have led us to some sort of failure to measure up against God's spiritual laws. Satan also knows this, and he understands when we have given him a legal right that gives him an advantage over us in the heavenly court. He is the accuser, the prosecuting attorney. Every prayer point included in the prayer below has been studied out in scripture. Each aspect of the various prayer points touches on some sin or transgression that either brings a curse or the loss of blessing. This prayer is written to help remove the legal grounds Satan uses to enforce poverty, robbery and thieving away our blessings. I pray it helps you to tap into the knowledge and understanding how to recover your losses as well as shut any open doors the enemy is using against you!

Protocol for entering God's courtroom:

1) Humility. 1 Peter 5:5,6
2) Thanksgiving and praise. Ps. 100:4
3) Blood Covenant. Heb.10:19, Rom. 5:2, Eph. 3:12
4) Confession & Repentance. 1 John 1:9

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come before You into Your heavenly court, seeking relief from the enemy and the wicked oppressor, the thief who has robbed me and my family from the ability to prosper according to Your word.

I come to You, O God, as the heavenly Judge of all heaven and earth. I do not approach You on my own righteousness, for I have none; I approach You based on Your goodness and mercy, and because the Blood of Jesus has been shed for my sins. I am a blood-bought child of God and Your word tells me that I can find help in the time of my need.

The adversary and accuser have sought legal grounds in order to indict me and enforce a curse of poverty, financial lack and an inability to prosper, thereby severely limiting my ability to influence others for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Therefore, I ask You to hear my petition before the court.

On behalf of myself and others in my family line, I ask You to forgive our sins, transgressions and iniquities. Please forgive any misappropriation of finances in our history.

Forgive us for poor stewardship, reckless spending, gambling, selfishness and greed. Forgive us for the times when we have had more than enough and we did not spend it wisely, and the times when we acted miserly.

Forgive us for having the wrong motive and asking for things that you could not bless because we asked for selfish intent.

Forgive us for the sin of hoarding; holding on to finances when You wanted us to be generous to others and to sow financial seeds.

Forgive us for having an attitude of entitlement, thinking that we were deserving of more when we had not proven we were trustworthy with finances.

Forgive us for having wrong expectations, expecting You to give us something when we had not wisely used what you had already given us.

Forgive us for neglecting to use our talents and abilities in the Kingdom of God, and for failing to recognize our responsibility to invest the gifts, talents and abilities so that they would bring increase for Your kingdom.

Forgive us for putting a monetary value on our service, and for failing to serve others because we could not see the reward in it. Forgive us for not serving You in joy and gladness, for the abundance of everything.

Forgive us for areas of unbelief and reluctance to release what’s in our hand because we have doubted Your goodness towards us.

Forgive us for serving and sowing from an attitude of stinginess and legalism rather than having an attitude of generosity and grace.

Forgive us for placing ourselves under Old Testament law instead of functioning in liberty and grace. Forgive us for transgressing and being unable to fulfill the law. Let us be released from legalism attached to our mindset and giving.

Forgive us for having an evil eye towards others. Forgive us for allowing jealousy, envy, covetousness, idolatry, judgmentalism and legalism to criticize others and pass negative judgments against them.

Forgive us for the pursuit of mammon, the sin of selfish ambition and attempting to set up an idol of self-importance and self-sufficiency in the secret places of our heart. Forgive us for attempting to build our own kingdom rather than Your kingdom.

Forgive us for the sins of pride and self-righteousness, treating others with contempt and dishonor, character assassination, and uncovering the sins of others.

Forgive us for unbelief and for the inability to see You as good, gracious and the source of all our blessing.

Forgive us for any areas where we have misled others and caused them to wander off the road of righteousness.

Forgive us for illegally and unlawfully attempting to seize what belonged to another person. Forgive us for taking unlawful advantage over others.

Forgive us for taking a bribe, being a party to injustice and robbing others of justice.

Forgive us for iniquity in our bloodline and for anyone that made a covenant with demonic powers.

Forgive us for making a covenant with spirits of poverty, death and hell whereby we made lies our refuge. Knowingly or unknowingly, we made a covenant with the wrong entities believing that those things could protect us, provide for us, and we placed our trust in the wrong gods.

Forgive us for selling ourselves into bondage either through sin or ungodly peace treaties, covenants and contracts that have forced us into slavery, bondage and service to others.

Forgive us for any advantages that were gained through immorality, bribes, trading services, and ungodly agreements and covenants. I give back any advantages I may have received through demonic contracts and covenants. I ask You, Lord, to restore the blessings you have for me.

Forgive us for any sacrifices and shedding of blood that was offered through the sins of murder, abortion, character assassination, slander, gossip, and evil speaking.

Father, You are the just Judge in the courts of heaven. I ask my advocate and my attorney, the Lord Jesus Christ, to both intercede for me and speak on my behalf. I also ask that Holy Spirit be called to give testimony and bear witness on my behalf, that I stand before you now forgiven and cleansed of all unrighteousness, according to 1 John 1:9.

I ask the court to revoke the legal grounds that the enemy has used to indict me and enforce a curse. I also ask that all charges be dismissed.

I petition the court to pass a favorable judgment on my behalf that annuls every demonic contract and old covenant.

I petition the court for angelic assistance to tear down every evil altar with my family name on it. Let it be torn down now and our family name removed, in Jesus name.

I petition the court on behalf of any innocent blood that was shed; let the sacrifice be silenced and let all demonic portals be closed. I ask that the blood of Jesus would be applied to all altars, demonic thrones and portals and seal them shut in Jesus name.

Finally, Your honor, I petition the court for restoration and restitution to come forth immediately out of the enemy’s storehouse. According to Your law in Proverbs 6:31 the thief, when caught, must repay at no less than a 7-fold return and have to give up the substance of his house. Also, Your honor, I ask that I be granted speedy recompense, retroactive compensation for the years the enemy has stolen from me, according to 2 Kings 8:3-6, Joel 2:23-27 and Luke 18:1-8. Let the wealth that was once in my generational line be restored, and let it come into my hands now.

I ask You to bless us with creative ideas to create wealth and for prophetic insight to know how to move with wisdom in economic shifts. 

Father, I ask You to forgive my wrong mindsets and unbelief toward You. Help me to overcome limited mindsets connected to a spirit of poverty. I renounce all false gods, idols and wrong beliefs that limit Your ability to bless me. Help me to be financially free, to be a generous and joyful giver, to be a person You can trust with increase and prosperity, and to have the wealth that grants me influence for the sake of advancing the Kingdom of God. In Jesus name, Amen.

Note: this page is also located under the pages section at the right.

You've Been Acquitted!

Have you ever experienced that accusing voice from the past that wants to label you with accusation and shame? The voice of the enemy is always waiting, ready to launch a fiery dart when he sees an opportunity.

That sinister voice will tell you, “You’re not good enough.” Whether Satan accuses you to yourself using your own negative self-talk or perhaps memories from the past that remind you of a moment of failure or shameful behavior, it’s important to recognize the spirit at work.

“You’re a lousy mother.”

“You should just stay home. No one wants you around anyway.”

“You alone because you are incapable of being a good friend.”

“You don’t pay enough attention to your kids.”

“Your kids reject you because you are a bad parent.”

“You are a bad son/daughter.”

“No one loves you. You’re defective and unlovable.”

 “You will never recover from what you’ve done.”

“You haven’t really repented because others still won’t forgive you.”

“You will live under a curse because of what you’ve done.”

“God can’t forgive you yet; you haven’t earned it.”

“You’re a failure. You can’t do anything right.”

“After what you’ve done, you don’t deserve that blessing.”

“You are that person, you know…you did a lot of wrong things. People will never forgive or forget what you’ve done.”

“You caused people a lot of pain. You haven’t repented enough.”

LIES, LIES, LIES! It’s time to throw the spear and pierce the heart of those lies!

The enemy loves to bombard people’s minds with accusation, toxic shame, fear, and dread. He wants people to feel insecure, inferior, and intimidated because if they do, they spend all their time battling negative emotions rather than taking authority over the voice of the accuser and getting the victory.

The harder the enemy works to rage a battle in a person’s mind, the more determined they need to be to launch a counter attack. It’s like throwing the javelin right in the heart of the enemy.

When the enemy comes to remind you of your past – however he chooses to do it – enlist this visual aid as a form of help. See yourself walking into a courtroom. On one side, you are sitting behind a desk with your attorney. Who is your attorney? Jesus, of course! He is standing right beside you. Ask Him, “Jesus, what do You say?” Listen for Him to speak!

On the other side of the room, there are all your accusers. Say them out loud, one by one.

The judge has been seated. The court is now in session.

Out loud, say, “Your honor, these are my accusers. They are accusing me of _________________. (Say each name and what each person lists as charges against you.”)

Jesus: “Excuse me, Your Honor, but I shed My blood for my client. I became sin for my client. Everything that the accusers list as charges against my client, I became for (insert your name) when I took his/her sin upon the cross.

Jesus: “I became a bad parent. I took on the role of the rebellious, disrespectful child. I became an alcoholic, a gambler, a pedophile, a thief, an adulterer, a rapist, a drug dealer, a murderer. I became a failure. I became a source of pain to others. I became every one of their weaknesses, failures, and sins. I became the curse on behalf of those for which I died. I was called every foul, shameful name people could muster up. I was accused of every sordid, wicked thing that people did in secret. I became despised, rejected and an outcast – for them. I willingly took it all upon myself, and every sin and sick, evil deed was absorbed into the power of My cross. I paid the price for them with My life and My blood. I insist that You must acquit my client!”

Judge: “Granted. Defendant is acquitted of all charges. Case dismissed!”

I love what Jesus said in John 3:16-18. This is from the Message Translation:

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave His son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in Him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust Him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the One-of-a-kind Son of God when they were introduced to Him.”

When the enemy comes to remind a person of their past, it’s not a reflection on the individual as much as it is an accusation against the cross of Christ. 

Verses 19,21 say this: "This is the crisis we're in: God-light streamed into the world but men and women everywhere ran to the darkness. They ran for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so that God-work can be seen for what it is."

We either live in the light and the truth of God's word, or we reject it, embracing lies and self-deception. Sometimes those lies come from others that have not yet worked through their own ability to process things that we may have done that affected them. Everyone has the ability to take whatever time they need, but delayed obedience to the word of God can also have consequences. A failure to fully forgive others, entertaining self-pity, blaming others and other negative behaviors can put people in a spiritual prison.

When someone's pride gets offended, the first thing they do is form a negative judgment. Pride will cause a person to sit in the place of prosecuting attorney, judge, jury and executioner towards others. That puts them in alignment with the accuser instead of God. But, if someone is going to hold another person accountable to the law rather than extending grace, the law of reciprocation demands that they also be placed under penalty of the law. Is that what any of us want? Absolutely not! When someone brings up your past, it is usually because there is something that is still offended in them. Retaining judgments against others places those who are guilty of them under judgment themselves, according to Matthew 6:15 and 7:1.When a person carries a grudge against someone else, they are the one that stands guilty before God, because they fail to believe in the power of Jesus’ blood to redeem that person from sin. Therefore, the Father must judge them according to His word. Perhaps someone else feels you are not truly forgiven until you jump through their hoops or pay some form of penance that makes them feel better. Perhaps they are trying to avoid conviction concerning other matters of their life. Many times it is because they fail to recognize their own need for God's mercy or forgiveness.

On the other hand, sometimes we simply need to believe God's word and take it by faith that we truly are forgiven, then move forward. We have just as much a responsibility to take authority over the voice of the enemy when it attempts to work through a spirit of guilt, condemnation, discouragement, and unbelief towards the promises of God. It's our responsibility to BELIEVE GOD and put our trust in Him. We must put on the helmet of salvation and trust the blood of Jesus to cleanse our thoughts and renew our mind of constantly thinking we're under condemnation. If we are around others that place us under a false burden of guilt, then that too, is something we need to deal with and cut off. Discern what spirit is at work! Don't let the enemy feed you with lies, because he is coming against your identity in Christ.

God doesn’t point accusing fingers, telling people how bad they are. He doesn’t remind them of their painful past. He doesn’t continue to place negative labels on people or cover them with toxic shame. He never reminds people of their past because Jesus became every sin, every failure mankind would experience. The scripture in James 2:12-14 reminds us,

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. What good is it, my brethren, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?”

Take the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Hammer away at the lies. If the enemy is using someone to accuse you, even if it's in your own heart, accusing you to yourself, stop and take authority over those lies. Throw the spear of truth into the heart of the enemy. Remember that you have an advocate and an attorney that stands with you – and for you – against every accusation. It doesn’t belong to you; Jesus paid for it all! Let the cross of Christ absorb the pain, the wounding, the word curses, the negative labels that you’ve worn. Every person has the right to experience genuine forgiveness and wholeness. Every person should be able to live free from the labels that others try to force them to wear. Every person should be able to live out from under toxic shame and other debilitating emotions. Jesus Christ can do that for each and every one of us. His blood and His love are that powerful! Let God renew your mind and remind you that you are not what others tell you. Your identity is not tied to the past. You are made in the image of God and the blood of Jesus acquits you. Just remember, freely you have received; freely extend the grace of God to others as well. May His grace empower you to free those ensnared by their own judgments and set the captives free!

Let the Holy Spirit Out of the Closet!

God is visiting His churches. With so many of them, it is a Revelation 3:20 experience. The question is whether or not people can discern His voice. Visitation doesn’t always come packaged the way people might think. Sometimes He shows up in joy and laughter, a river flowing with healing, or a warm blanket of love. But, sometimes Jesus shows up to challenge people, provoking them towards change.

“Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

God’s love demands that He confront the lukewarm heart. His mercy compels Him to confront the self-satisfaction of those that have no conspicuous vices but have settled for a passionless relationship with their Lord.

One of the most attractive ways to build a church is the attempt to duplicate what others have done, attempting to create the image of success. Success in the eyes of God can be very different than what man esteems as his picture of success. Large buildings, increasing attendance rosters, worship services that are targeted to entertain the masses rather than take them into the throne room of God are all simply vain imaginations. Many churches have exchanged the glory for simply what appears good. They have traded in the presence of God for the purpose of appealing to seeker sensitive and more traditional mindsets. This is one of the deadliest attitudes because it has the ability to lull people to sleep under a false sense of security. The reason it is a deadly attitude is that God tells us what He will do to those that are lukewarm.

“So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of My mouth.” Rev. 3:16

Ministries that quench the Spirit are in danger of having the finger of God write ‘Ichabod’ on the door of the church. Ichabod means the glory has departed. There will always be a sacrifice of something, but when churches sacrifice the presence of God due to the motive of building up the numbers or appealing to more people, they have put themselves in the position of being controlled by popular opinion rather than yielding to the authority of God’s Holy Spirit. It is the difference between building with wood, stubble and hay (symbolic for works of the flesh) or allowing God to build His church. God’s true church is built upon the revelation of Jesus Christ, established by the apostles and prophets that lay the foundation.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus told Peter that He (JESUS) would build HIS church, and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. When man attempts to build God’s church, the results are not guaranteed.

Apostles set things in order, give direction and move the church in the right direction so that the church does not remain stagnant. Prophets reveal the heart of God and expound on what God is saying to His people. They breathe life into the body. Apostles and Prophets are gifts to the church because they walk in the power, presence, and authority of God. They operate as vessels yielded to the Holy Spirit and surrendered to the authority of God to do with them as He pleases. They are messengers of God to His church to bring clarity, correction, healing and stability. They also provide direction and help keep the ministry on course. Without the influence and participation of apostles and prophets, the church becomes like a ship without wind in its sails. There is a nautical term that’s called being ‘in irons’ when a ship loses all forward motion. The term originates back from the times when slaves were kept below the deck shackled in leg irons and unable to move. Likewise, the ship is trapped in a ‘no go zone’ and becomes tossed to and fro on the waves without any ability to move forward.

Ministry leaders can become so intoxicated with thoughts of building their own kingdom that they fail to discern they are no longer building God’s kingdom. The church becomes business as usual: predictable and palatable, but powerless and ineffective when it comes to moving deeper into the things of the Spirit. Holy Spirit is bound, gagged and thrown in a closet, only to be let out, perhaps if at all, in the privacy of small group meetings some other day of the week.

How can people think they are going to impact their communities with the power of God during the week when the power and presence are absent in a corporate setting on a Sunday? If people are out slaying dragons and walking in power and spiritual authority during the week, then why do some Christians think it is ok to be different on a Sunday during service? We must be true to who we are regardless of what day of the week it is.

In Galatians 2:11-21, the Apostle Paul rebuked Peter for his inconsistent behavior because it was hypocritical. When Peter was with one group of people he acted a certain way, but then when he was with another group of people, he acted differently. Peter needed clarity between the law and the new way of thinking under grace, but he was also afraid of rejection. This is clear because anyone that changes how they act depending upon who they are with is motivated by fear of rejection. In short, Peter had a few things to learn about confronting the fear of man. Peter was still learning to walk in a new identity, but nevertheless, Paul called him out in front of everyone, exposing his hypocrisy. First and foremost, Peter’s ways were inconsistent with everything the Lord Jesus represented. Secondly, because Peter’s actions led other believers into following the wrong example.

Jesus did nothing without displays of His power. The disciples He trained learned to operate in power and authority. The Apostle Paul had a few things to say about this subject. In 1 Cor. 15:18-20 Paul said that he led the Gentiles to obedience by his example to teach both in word and in deed. He went on to say in verse 19 and 20,

“...by the powers of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. In this way, I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation…”

Whose foundation are you building on?

Jesus knew that there would always be the necessity of power encounters to prove the reality of His kingdom and that His power and authority were superior to that from the demonic realm. Jesus never operated in less than His full authority. He didn’t compromise His true identity, His gifts or the displays of His power depending on who was watching, and quite honestly, neither should we. People are hungry for the supernatural, and if the gifts of the Spirit, prophecy, and ministry of the Holy Spirit aren’t present to satisfy the hunger of the people, a different spirit will fill that void with something counterfeit. There is a power struggle for dominion in the world. Jesus encountered it all the time. Everywhere He went, His ministry was one of power encounters. He understood that people’s hearts were hardened in worldliness and they needed to see the reality of His kingdom; something greater than what those practicing dark magic could produce. People then and now need something to believe in, and signs and wonders pointed the way to a powerful king – a king that was powerful enough to save their souls and show them a more excellent way to live. In John 4:48 Jesus said,

“Unless you people see signs and miracles, you will never believe.”

Believe in what? The truth that He was who He claimed to be; a king from a different kingdom, and the only true and living God. Signs and wonders simply point to the truth - Jesus was powerful enough to deliver their souls from the eternal consequences of their sin.

Paul wrote, “My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” 1 Cor. 2:4 and,

“The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” 1 Cor. 4:20

Many churches today are struggling with identity issues. They don’t know who they are or what they are supposed to look like. They want to be known for their ability to appeal to the masses, but in the process, they have surrendered their true identity. While the programs and many other things about church life are necessary to keep things running smoothly, there is nothing that can replace the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is our counselor, our friend, our helper and the Spirit of Truth. He is also the Spirit of Prophesy, revealing God in our midst. He is the source of words of knowledge that can heal and restore a person’s soul. He is the source of resurrection power. It is this power that delivers people from demonic oppression and raises the dead back to life. He alone is the power that heals! Holy Spirit is a vital part of the Godhead that cannot be separated from God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the third person of the Trinity, and as such, He should be treated with respect, dignity and embraced. He should be given HIS place to minister to God’s people every time people come together in the name of Jesus.

A church’s identity should look like Jesus, and no one (including individual churches) can be transformed to look like Jesus without a relationship with Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 15:5,

“I Am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing.”

When God births a ministry, it should look like Jesus, not man. If a ministry’s ability to sustain itself revolves around the personality of a particular leader then the ministry will, at some point, go through an identity crisis. God will eventually confront those leaders as to whose image it bears because if it reflects man’s image and man’s kingdom, it is a form of idolatry. Idolatrous structures must operate by the spirit of control in order to maintain the status quo. Every church or ministry must choose whose image they will reflect. They must choose to either make room for the Holy Spirit to move or to sacrifice the presence of God. They must choose what they want to be known for, and whether or not that is their true identity. We are to reflect the image of Christ, and that includes not just his humility and character, but also His power and authority, advancing God’s kingdom here on earth. We cannot do that if we hinder the Holy Spirit.

This brings me back to my point from the beginning. Can people discern when God visits them? Can people discern when God is standing at the door of His church, knocking, seeking entrance? He is looking for a meaningful relationship, and for those that will challenge themselves to overcome whatever things hinder the flow of the Holy Spirit. The enemy will always attempt to come against the Holy Spirit because Satan knows that there are things that will be birthed out of the presence of the Lord.

“In the last days, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.” Acts 2:17.

The enemy doesn’t want that anywhere. He doesn’t want the movement of the Spirit because it will bring about new births of God’s Spirit! If God comes as a challenge to change the current model for ministry, to restructure the way things are done, and to make room for Him to move, will people reject the Holy Spirit and keep Him locked away in a back room, or will they drop everything and run to the opportunity to change, excited that God has sought them out for His habitation?

Jesus never attempted to compartmentalize his gifts because He couldn’t separate His power from His presence. Jesus himself said He only did what He saw His Father doing, so then why isn’t His church? Why is the emphasis on making Sunday mornings comfortable and entertaining for people rather than on building a throne for Jesus to inhabit? What are we trading in exchange for His presence, power, and glory? People are hungry for more of God, and quite honestly, a church may only get one shot to reach people when they walk through the doors on a Sunday morning. If a person comes to church with a desire to have their hunger for God met, but the church looks just like every other church – they are not going to stay. They will look for something to meet their need. 

There are those hidden among the masses that have tasted the goodness of the Lord. They want more, and they won’t settle for less. Something inside of them is grieved when Holy Spirit is not moving among His people. Once you’ve been ruined by the presence of God and touched by His Spirit, you won’t want to settle for anything less, and that creates two very different streams of people. One group may be content with the old wine, where church looks like business as usual; while others are searching, even creating places where the river of God can flow, and the ministry of Holy Spirit is let out of the closet.  

Challenges confront old ways of doing things, old mindsets, wrong attitudes, and old wineskins. Jesus can’t pour in new wine where there is resistance to change and people stuck in old ways. Jesus said that pouring new wine into old wineskins would cause them to rupture. Whenever you find two groups of people that are going different directions, if that situation isn’t addressed, eventually it will cause a split. Sometimes that is necessary. God does indeed come to challenge His church to change, to stay in the flow of what He is doing, and to adapt to let Him take the lead, but He won’t force people to change. He will let them remain in irons if that is their choice, but those that desire to move with His Spirit will follow Him.

If you hand a thirsty person a cup, they don’t care how beautiful the cup is; they want something to quench their thirst. Jesus met a thirsty woman by a well long ago, in John chapter 4. He promised to give her the living water that would quench her thirst, and she eagerly accepted his offer.

Jesus: “I offer water that will become a wellspring within you that gives life throughout eternity. You will never thirst again.”

Woman: “Please, Sir, give me some of this water, so I’ll never be thirsty and never have to come to this well again.” John 4:14,15

Jesus met her with words of knowledge about her current situation and that opened her heart to receive more from His Spirit. He could have done neither of those things without the Holy Spirit. If the church is the well, but the well is dry, how will the people drink? If the well is dry, then there are things that must be dug up, the debris and stones removed so that the well will flow again. Digging out stones speaks of cutting away at the hard things, including hard and resistant hearts that are content to remain unchanged. Jesus knew about hard attitudes, too. He confronted social customs and traditions of His day in order to meet the need of a thirsty woman. As He did, she left her old water pot behind and ran to town to tell everyone what she had just experienced, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, an evangelist was born. This is the ripple effect created by the partnership with Holy Spirit and letting Him take the lead. When people yield to Holy Spirit, there can’t help but be new births and displays of God’s glory. May you find the conviction to dig deep until living water flows again, and may every dry place be saturated by the rain of His presence!