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I’ve written three books to help people overcome addictions. While writing I offered biblical truth along with current scientific knowledge. I did this because I view all truth as God’s truth. But the foundation of everything I believe about spiritual, mental, emotional and physical freedom rests on a believer’s identity in Christ.

In Christ we are new men and women (2 Corinthians 5:17).

In Christ we are seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1-3).

In Christ we are crucified, buried and raised from the dead (Romans 6).

And perhaps the most relevant to this post, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

Just as my understanding of what it means to be “in Christ” has grown, so has my understanding of demons. I always recognized these fallen angels and wrote about them in my books. Aware of their danger, here’s what I wrote in my bestselling book, When Good Men are Tempted:

The really bad news is that behind your obsession with sexual immorality lurks an idol and behind the idol prowls a demon.

It’s easy to deny or ignore this truth because we tend to think of an idol as some sort of stone or metal image in the shape of a man, like the fat Buddha. But an idol is anything we trust besides God to meet our deepest needs.

In I Corinthians 10: 19-20 the apostle Paul said, “Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.”

Paul pulled the disguise off the ancient pagan idols and revealed a controlling demon.  Those who offered sacrifices to stone images were worshiping the demon behind the idol. This truth is spooky enough to come from a Stephen King novel. But it’s not fiction. When men and women offers themselves to an object of sexual lust, or any other addictive process or substance, they’re embracing the demon behind the idol. They’re cohabiting with an evil spirit.  I believe that’s one reason addictions control us (adapted from When Good Men are Tempted p. 107-108).

I look back on what I wrote and I’m disappointed that I never told the reader how to get rid of a demon. Why? Because I didn’t know how. I could teach a class on demonology but not one on destroying strongholds and evicting evil spirits. Over the next few months I’m going to share what I’ve learned about spiritual strongholds and how they’re destroyed. If it’s lasting freedom you want for yourself and those you love, stick with me during this series of blogs.

 

There is 1 comment

  1. Joey Paniagua

    You Spoke at a men’s conference from my church a couple of years ago, I have subscribed to your vlogs since then. After reading today’s article it really related to me. I pray that the demon I have been idolizing and neglecting and betrayed my wife’s trust for will forever be gone from me, so I may love ,y wife in a way God would be proud.
    Thank you for all your articles.
    God bless
    Joey Paniagua


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