Deliverance is not the end; it is the beginning. We receive deliverance from past hurts, wounds, and bondages, and then we press on toward the goal. As we do so, we need to understand that no matter what our nationality or where we are from, we have a new citizenship. We are no longer of this world; our citizenship is in heaven and we are just travelers passing through this world. Knowing this will help us to keep our focus on the goal. We should also note that the enemy is not going to give up. There will still be temptations, trials, tests, and attacks. When we are under an attack, we need to know that it will pass (2 Cor. 4:17).
To stay free after being delivered, a couple of scriptures come to mind. The first is Matthew 12:43-45, where Jesus says: “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.”
We want to make sure when that spirit returns—and they will return seeking reentry—that they find the house full of the Holy Spirit and the power of God. To do this we must be baptized in the Holy Spirit and full of the Word of God.
The next scripture is John 5:1-15, which is the story of the man at the pool of Bethesda. In verse 8, Jesus said to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
The man was instantly cured, and in verse 14 the Bible says, “Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
Most bondages come in through sin, and most spirits and strongholds are fed by sin. So to walk out our deliverance, and to stay free, we too should “sin no more!”
Having made the decision to forgive is huge, as it pertains to maintaining deliverance, as Satan will attempt to get you to undo that decision and open you up to a root of bitterness.
We should also change old habits. Bad habits, as well as sin, open the door for the devil to put hooks in us. We need to ask God to show us any and all bad habits so we can break them. To walk in freedom, we must choose to walk in the truth of the Word of God and not by feelings. Feelings are up and down, and if we walk by our feelings, we too will be up and down. We need to walk by faith, and in the Spirit—then we will walk in freedom.
Rev. 12:11 says, “we are overcomers by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.” Our testimony reminds us of where we came from and what God has delivered us from.
Suggestions for after Your Deliverance
1. Cleanse your home: remove all ungodly music, movies, books, pictures, magazines, letters, photos, knickknacks, idols, witchcraft items, Masonic items and jewelry, and any articles of affection from an affair or an ungodly relationship. The delivered person should ask the Holy Spirit what should be thrown out, and a good rule of thumb is—when in doubt, throw it out.
2. Follow the practices that would be recommended for a new Christian, because you need to restore the foundation in your life.
3. Learn how to use the armor of God (Eph. 6:10-20).
Daily Prayer and Declaration
Heavenly Father, I praise you and honor you as my Lord. You are in control of all things. I thank you that you are always with me and will never leave me nor forsake me. You are the only all-powerful and only wise God. You are kind and loving in all your ways. I choose not to love the world or the things in the world, and I crucify the flesh and all its passions.
Thank you for the life I now have in Christ. I ask you to fill me with the Holy Spirit so I may say no to sin and yes to you. I declare my total dependence upon you and I take my stand against Satan and all his ways. I choose to believe the truth of God’s word despite what my feelings may say. I refuse to be discouraged; you are the God of all hope. Nothing is too difficult for you. I am confident that you will supply all my needs as I seek to live according to your word. Thank you that I can be content and live a responsible life through Christ who strengthens me.
I now take my stand against Satan and command him and all his evil spirits to depart from me. I choose to put on the full armor of God so I may be able to stand firm against all the devil’s schemes. I submit my body as a living and holy sacrifice to God, and I choose to renew my mind by the living word of God. By so doing I will be able to prove that the will of God is good, acceptable, and perfect for me. In the name of my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bedtime Prayer
Thank you, Lord, that you have brought me into your family and have blessed me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Thank you for this time of renewal and refreshment through sleep. I accept it as one of your blessings for your children, for you guard my mind and my body during my sleep.
As I have thought about you and your truth during the day, I choose to let those good thoughts continue in my mind while I am asleep. I commit myself to you for your protection against every attempt of Satan and his demons to attack me during sleep. Guard my mind from nightmares. I renounce all fear and cast every anxiety upon you, Lord. I commit myself to you as my rock, my fortress, and my strong tower. May your peace be in this place of rest now. In the strong name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
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