Luke 4:18 (ESV) 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, If we ignore the battle, we will misdiagnose the struggle. And when we misdiagnose the struggle, we will reach for solutions that never actually set us free. • The Problem of Incomplete Understanding “Humanity falls into two equal and opposite errors concerning the devil. Either they take him altogether too seriously or they do not take him seriously enough.” CS Lewis Possession- refers to total control where an individual is completely overtaken and governed by the demonic. Luke 8:27–28 (ESV) 27 When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” 1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV) 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, Colossians 1:13–14 (ESV) 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Oppression- describes external pressure. This is the daily reality of spiritual warfare Luke 13:11 (ESV) 11 And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. Occupation- are areas of a believer’s life where influence has been allowed through agreement with sin, lies, or unresolved surrender. • Understanding the Fiery Darts of the Enemy Ephesians 6:16 (ESV) 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; Stop believing the Lies about Yourself: You are not your addiction You are not your depression You are not your disease You are not your divorce You are not your trauma You are not your anger You are not your moral failure You are not your orientation You are not your abortion You are not what was done to you You are not your failed business Satan points to your scars to define you; Jesus points to His scars to redeem you. A single thought, if unchallenged, becomes a belief; belief shapes identity; and identity ultimately directs behavior. John 10:27 (ESV) 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. Voice of The Holy Spirit Voice of Satan Convicts specifically Condemns through accusations Leads to repentance Generates guilt and shame Provides hope Brings despair Brings Transformation Paralyses without a path forward Any voice that ultimately drives you into hopelessness does not originate from God. • Get Someone Stronger to Take Over Luke 11:21–22 (ESV) 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Our freedom is not found in becoming stronger; it’s found in surrendering to the One who is stronger. Luke 11:24–26 (ESV) 24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.” Removal without replacement leaves the door open. James 4:7 (ESV) 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Steps to Freedom: Identify the lie Expose the lie to the Truth Break your agreement with the lie Replace the lie with God’s Truth Freedom isn’t achieved through effort it’s secured through Christ. John 10:10 (ESV) 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.