Going in Grace

Welcome to Going in Grace, a podcast where we go beyond simply understanding God's word. We explore how to live it out daily, making a meaningful impact in our lives and the lives of those around us. Let's tune in to this week's episode.

Do you want to be free? I mean, truly free in your mind, in your emotions, in every area of your life. Well, Jesus offers this freedom to us. This week, we will discuss how to be free from oppression by considering unresolved trauma in our lives. We'll discuss how trauma can open doors to oppression and how time doesn't heal these wounds, but the blood of Jesus can. We'll also discuss the importance of allowing God to heal us from the root.

So what is spiritual or demonic oppression? Spiritual oppression refers to the negative influence and harassment of evil spirits on a person's life. Unlike possession, where an evil spirit takes complete control of a person, oppression involves external forces that cause emotional, mental, or physical distress. This can manifest as overwhelming fear, chronic negative thoughts, persistent temptations, or even physical ailments, as we saw in the case of the woman that Jesus healed after 18 years of being bent over in Luke 13, 10 through 17. Imagine carrying a heavy burden that weighs you down and it affects your ability to live freely and joyfully. That's similar to what demonic oppression does. It places a spiritual burden on a person, making it hard to experience peace and freedom. Demonic oppression can often enter our lives through traumatic experiences. When we experience pain, fear, or neglect, it can create wounds that leave us vulnerable to spiritual attacks. These wounds may become outright oppression if we do not address it.

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It causes parts of our soul to need healing. In Ephesians 4:27, it says, and do not give the devil a foothold. When we carry unresolved trauma, it can give the enemy a foothold in our lives. Demonic influences may lay low so that they can continue to affect our thoughts, emotions, and actions relatively undetected. Often it's not until we really begin to study the word and encounter Jesus that we realize our enemy has set up shop in areas within our mind and emotions. The beautiful thing to remember is that no matter how long we have dealt with something negative, Jesus brings freedom and healing when we come to him. Many of us may not realize that parts of our souls are in need of healing.

We might carry emotional wounds from trauma many introduced in childhood when we were most vulnerable. These hurts are often buried so deeply that we no longer even recognize them. Psalm 34:18 says, the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. God understands our pain and he's near to us in our brokenness. Jesus desires to heal every part of us, even hurts we may not be aware of. Evil spirits prefer to remain hidden, quietly influencing our lives without drawing attention to themselves. They thrive in secrecy, which is why it's crucial to bring our wounds into the light of Jesus' healing power. John 8:32 reminds us, will set you free. We all need the truth and we all need God's freedom. Achieving freedom from oppression involves several key steps. First, we have to acknowledge the wounds. We have to recognize and admit the areas of our life where we have experienced trauma or pain. Psalm 139:23-24 says, Test me and know about my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

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Second, we need to seek God's healing. We must come to God with a willing heart, ready to allow him to dig deep within us, even when it doesn't make sense. Sometimes we come to God telling him to heal our symptoms. In his wisdom, He brings us back to a moment or an event in our life that we feel we're over and we don't need to discuss that with him. He knows best. We are safe in his care. We will not break in the hands of Jesus. We must choose to trust him as our healer and follow his instructions. Jeremiah 17:14 says, Heal me Lord and I will be healed. Save me and I will be saved for you are the one I praise. Isaiah 61:1 says of Jesus, the spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.

Jesus came to bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives free. His desire is for us to experience complete and total freedom in him. When we submit to his healing process, we allow him to transform us from the inside out. Three, forgive and release. Forgiveness is a powerful step towards healing because unforgiveness opens a door wide for tormenting spirits. Read the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18, and you will see a firsthand experience of what happens when we don't release and let go. We have to release those who have hurt us, and we have to forgive ourselves for our part in it as well. Matthew 6, 14 through 15 says, for if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your father will not forgive your sins.

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Number four, we need to break agreements. We need to renounce any agreements or lies that we've believed that have given the enemy access to our lives. If you were young and someone spoke over you that you're stupid, you're never gonna be anything. And yet you allowed those words to go into your heart, to continue to replay in your mind, then now break agreement with that lie. It's not true. James 4:7 says, yourselves then to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. You've got to fight for your freedom. Number five, fill with God's truth. Immerse yourself in scripture and surround yourself with godly influences to fill the void that's left from the enemy.

You're not kicking evil out of your life to remain empty. You're making room for more of God's spirit. So fill up on his word. Philippians 4:8 says, finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. We should consider the following on our journey to be free from all oppression. And I think we should do a little more than consider it. We should be about it. One, daily prayer and worship. Make prayer and worship a daily habit to strengthen your relationship with God. Two, read and meditate on scripture. Fill your mind with God's word to combat the lies of the enemy.

Three, Seek support. Surround yourself with a community of believers who can pray for you and support you in your journey. When you need it, get professional help. Number four, stay vigilant. Be aware of the enemy's schemes and guard your heart and mind against negative influences. Number five, trust God's process. Trust that God's healing process, though sometimes painful, is for your ultimate good.

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Remember, God is committed to your healing and freedom. He knows you intimately and desires to set you free from every form of oppression. He sees every wound, every fragment, and he longs to heal you from the root. When we come to him with a willing heart, he will dig deep within us, bringing true and lasting freedom. John 10, 10 tells us, The thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I, meaning Jesus, have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly. Thank you for tuning in. If you found this helpful, please share. Let's be free. Let's stay connected to God and let's walk in everything that he has for us.

You've been listening to Going In Grace. Be sure to visit us online at brandistover.com.