Every culture, language, ethnic group, and many unbiblical religions have celebrations and traditions which have specific localized origins and all kinds of material (physical) trappings. These traditions are ingrained and socialized across many generations. These celebrations look innocent and informative and sometimes serve as a bridge to engage curious outsiders who want to be politically correct or ethnically sensitive.
The problem is, these traditions often overshadow the preeminence of the Bible. If one is not car
eful, those cultural celebrations and traditions will preempt the authority of the Word of God and get families, even entire communities, under the power and burden of unwanted spiritual influences.
From these unwanted spiritual influences flood a torrent of addictions, psychotic behavior, suicides, abuses, fears and phobias, greed, a feeling that these influences cannot be shaken, uncontrollable emotions or lusts, and predisposed medical conditions, among other problems.
Single Christians often date and marry persons who are in spiritual bondage to these entities and don’t know it. They are startled after the wedding to find that these spiritual problems are now impinging on their own lives. They don’t know how to deal with these issues or help their new spouses. They freak out when these influences show up in their children.
I have dealt with families, both personally and professionally, who were in bondage to demonic influences. Many of these individuals knew something was wrong, but they couldn’t exactly identify what the problem was, or even when it started. They could tell me, “Uncle so-and-so always had this problem with xyz, and so did grandpa.”
I get that it’s easy to identify with the families, communities, cultures, languages, ethnicities, and religions/churches that we grew up with. It’s all we could see growing up. Yet, as followers of Jesus, we are obligated to honor the Word of God and identify primarily with the blood of Jesus above all, not the blood of our relatives and ancestors.
Unless our ties to the blood of Jesus become stronger than our family ties, we will never be able to get free of these horrific spiritual burdens.
Let me reiterate the enemy’s agenda. It’s very simple: they only want to kill, steal, and destroy any and everything that the Lord made, John 10:10. These demons especially hate humans because we are the only living beings God ever made that were created in His image.
They don’t fight fair. They will use your family, your unbiblical religious background, your culture, community, ethnicity, language, and even the trinkets associated with any of these to fight against your freedom and nullify your effectiveness for God’s kingdom. Demons will use statues, tourist souvenirs, jewelry, skulls, paintings, old haunts—basically, anything—that will tear your life apart and bring it under their control.
To avoid this or get out of this, I suggest you follow the link to the article in the References section and prayerfully read what is explained there.
For a more thorough treatment, get John Dawson’s book Taking Our Cities for God, also in the References section. I posted a review about Dawson’s book on a separate page on my blog’s site, if you want further information.
You do not want to go into a relationship with cultural baggage hanging onto you, or with it hanging onto someone you start dating. Determine you are going to fight and win this battle of spiritual identity and removing all “legal rights” for the enemy to enter and stay in your life and the life of your potential spouse.
There is no need to fear or obsess about your enemy. Jesus died to give you all the tools and weapons you need to win this battle.
Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged. Deuteronomy 1:21 NKJV
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NKJV
Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. 2 Kings 6:16 NKJV
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 NKJVFear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 NKJV
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20 NKJV
…nor give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:27 NKJV
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 NKJV
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7 NKJV
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9 NKJV
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 NKJV
You are of God, little children, and have overcome therm, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 NKJV
Go out there and fight for your future, my friend.
REFERENCES
Bradley, Michael. Dealing With the Legal Rights of Demons. Article for bible-knowledge.com, undated. https://www.bible-knowledge.com/dealing-with-the-legal-rights-of-demons/ accessed 10/27/17
Dawson, John. Taking Our Cities for God: How to Break Spiritual Strongholds. Revised 2001. Charisma House, Lake Mary, FL
