SATANIC BONDAGES
"We know that we are God's children, and that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one" - 1 John 5:19. St. John says that the whole world lies under the bondage of the devil. Only Jesus Christ who defeated the devil has the power to deliver the world. Jesus defeated satan and death on the Cross. So He has the power to cast them out. Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" - Matt 28:18. The name of Jesus has authority in heaven and on earth. He has given this authority to his disciples. This authority is available to those who believe in Jesus. "Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for some one to devour" - 1 Peter 5:8.
Therefore, we must know how to fight and defeat satanic powers. Devil has no authority or influence over those who believe in Jesus. Demons flee when they hear the name of Jesus. The sons of Sceva adjured demons in the name of Jesus. "Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying 'I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims'. Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this" - Acts 19:13-14. It shows that even those who had not accepted Christ had been adjuring the demons using the name of Jesus. We, who believe in Christ, cast out demons by using the authority of the name of Jesus.
a. What is satanic power?
The Bible says that demons are those angels punished by God for being proud. Lucifer and his followers were punished. They became the evil spirits. "God cast them into hell and committed them to chains of deepest darkness to be kept until the judgment" 2 Peter 2:4 / Jude 6.
b. Why God does not destroy the devil?
Angels are spirits. They have a beginning; but no end. The human spirit has a beginning; but no end. God is Spirit. But God has no beginning or end. God is. God creates all other spirits. The characteristic of the spirit is that it exists from creation and forever. Though human spirit perishes due to sin it will live eternally. It is not the nature of God to destroy spirit, because God himself is spirit. To destroy spirits is against God's nature. So the spirits exist forever. The cursed angels live eternally as evil spirits. God does not destroy them. God has given us the supernatural power to subdue the evil spirits. He has given us the spiritual weapons too - Eph 6:14-17.
Jesus defeated satan using the Word of God - Matt 4: 11. Jesus has revealed to us the means to defeat the devil. The Church teaches us to pray for protection from evil spirit and his hosts (Eucharistic Liturgy). Jesus taught his disciples to pray "And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one" - Matt 6:13.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm" - Eph 6:10-13. We can thus stand firm in the day of evil and perform our duties. St. Paul speaks of the six spiritual weapons in his letter to Ephesians. "Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breast plate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet, put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" - Eph 6: 14-17.
c. Who is the Devil or Satan?
Lucifer was one of the leaders of the angels. The meaning of the word 'Lucifer' is 'carrier of light'. When he sinned against God and was punished by Him, he became 'satan'. The word also means, 'one who stands against the plan of God'. Jesus said to Peter "Get behind me, satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." (Matt.16: 23).
d. Who are demons, or evil spirits?
Those angels who were punished with Lucifer are called evil spirits. "They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of Gerasenes. And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him." (Mark5:1-2). He had a crowd of evil spirits in him. "Then Jesus asked him 'what is your name?' He replied, 'My name is Legion; for we are many.'" (Mark5:9).
e. Evil spirits are not the spirits of the dead.
There is a superstition that, the spirits of the wicked dead will be changed into demons. But the spirits of the dead do not change into demons. Sometimes, the demons appear in the garb of some wicked dead. It is a deception of satan and the demons. It is the trick of satan to create fear in man and to enter into him. But the Spirits of the wicked wait for the Last Judgment in darkness and bondage, which are expecting the compassion and salvation of Jesus. "In (Spirit) also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison"(1Peter3: 19) (Ref: Matt.25: 31-32). They have not come into the heavenly presence of God.
f. How do the evil spirits enter one's body?
The evil spirits enter people through the doors of fear, frustration and unforgiveness. "Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil" - Eph 4:26-27. When man sins, the protection from God is lost and the devil gets an opportunity to enter into him.
There are other means through which people have afflictions such as:
1. Witchcraft
2. Black magic
3. Devil worship
4. Possession (devil selects somebody at random to torment without any reason. E.g. Book of Job).
g. What do satan and demons do?
1. Cause sickness
Satan causes sickness in men and animals."Just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for 18 years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand straight" - Luke 13:11. "And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom satan bound for 18 long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?" - Luke 13:16. So satan went out from the presence of the Lord and inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head" - Job 2:7. "So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea" - Mark 5:13.
2. Tempt
Satan tempted Jesus three times. "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil" - Matt 4:1.
3. Deceive
Satan deceived Eve and made her sin - Gen 3:1-7 and 1 Tim.2:14. "And do not bring us to the time of trial but rescue us from the evil one" - Matt 6:13.
4. Cause bodily disabilities
"Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke and the crowds were amazed" - Luke 11:14. There are evil spirits that cause physical disabilities and sicknesses. Some others cause blindness, muteness and paralysis.
5. Bind people in bad habits
Evil spirits may be behind some bad habits. Drinking, smoking, drug addiction, masturbation, homosexuality, sexual addiction, bestiality, persistent lustful thoughts, other sexual perversions, judgmental attitude, slandering, gossip, laziness, gambling, destructive mentality, chronic anger and other bad habits are caused by satanic bondages.
6. Cause guilty conscience and leads to suicide
7. Cause loss of conviction of sin thus leading to spiritual blindness.
8. Create fear.
9. Create blocks in spiritual and temporal affairs.
10. Cause destruction of and annoyance to human beings, animals and properties - Job Chapter-1.
How to be Liberated from Satan - Remedies
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Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Believe in God more and more - Num 23:23.
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Ask Jesus Christ to cover you with his precious blood and protect you under the shade of the Holy Cross.
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Renounce satan and his ways.
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Keep away from all kinds of sin.
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Everyday, say the deliverance prayer, which is given at the end of this topic.
Command the powers of darkness to leave after seeking authority of the name of Jesus, power of the precious Blood and protection of the Holy Cross. Pray also to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Then thank Jesus for three or four minutes. There may be satanic bondage behind some illnesses. Some sickness which some consider as a satanic bondage, may not be so. We need the grace of the Holy Spirit to discern all this.
Binding and Casting out Prayer
I bind you the wicked spirit of ........... in the name of Jesus, and cast you out from me, and put you under the feet of Jesus (Her 10:13), until the second coming of our Lord, let the Lord do justice to you. (Jude 1:8)
Do this prayer for you and others up to first degree consanguinity. For rest of the people teach them how to do this prayer.