Essential Guide to Deliverance , livre ebook

Baker Publishing Group - Larry Richards

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104 pages

English

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Practical, Everyday Introduction to Deliverance for All ChristiansFor most Christians, the word deliverance often brings negative connotations to mind: lots of yelling and holy water and darkness--maybe even something from a Hollywood horror movie exorcism. But deliverance is not about shouting or showmanship. It is about the simple act of asking Jesus for help, for freedom, and using his authority over the enemy.In this accessible and practical guide, evangelical leader and bestselling author Larry Richards walks you through the who, what, when, where, why, and how of deliverance. In everyday language, he shows how you can apply this information to your life and the lives of your friends and family.As children of God, we have been given access to Jesus' death-defying power to help free ourselves and others from evil. You don't have to continue to struggle with persistent problems or strongholds. Your loved ones can be freed from the lies or addictions that hold them back. There is hope in Christ--you can live in freedom!Includes an extensive glossary of terms and appendixes with prayers and even more practical resources.

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Philosophie et théologie

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Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	04 octobre 2016
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781441230324
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	2 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0560€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2016 by Lawrence O. Richards
Published by Chosen Books Minneapolis, Minnesota www.chosenbooks.com
Chosen Books is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2016
Ebook corrections 09.22.2016, 01.03.2024
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016938478
ISBN 978-1-4412-3032-4
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identified NASB are from the New American Standard Bible®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)
Scripture quotations identified AKJV are from the American King James Version of the Bible.
Cover design by Gearbox
Baker Publishing Group publications use paper produced from sustainable forestry practices and post-consumer waste whenever possible.
Contents
Cover 1
Title Page 3
Copyright Page 4
Part 1: Understanding the Problem 7
1. Demons at the Dinner Table 9
2. Demons on Screen 15
3. Diagnosing Demonization 27
4. Will the Real Demons Please Stand Up? 39
5. Interview with a Demon 49
6. The Enemy, Up Close and Personal 59
7. Just Go Away 69
8. Knock, Knock 79
9. Soul and Culture 91
10. Meet the Savior 103
Part 2: A Deliverance Dictionary 115
About the Author 201
Books by Larry Richards 202
Back Ad 204
Back Cover 205
Part 1 Understanding the Problem
1 Demons at the Dinner Table

We had just finished Sunday dinner when the subject of demons came up.
The two couples with us attend a Sunday school class my wife and I teach. Dave and Sharon and Steve and Linette are all in their late fifties, pushing sixty. They have been regular churchgoers and are serious about their faith. But as we talked it was clear they knew almost nothing about demons.
That is not surprising. The churches they had attended, like most churches today, had never taught about demons or the influence they seek to have in Christians’ lives. Our friends trust the Bible, and they know that Jesus confronted demons and evil spirits. But they were totally in the dark about what demons do today. They did not trust Hollywood’s portrayals of demons. Somehow the gruesome scenes of supposed demonic possession in such movies as The Exorcist did not ring true. And they wondered: What do demons do? Can Christians be “possessed”? How do demons gain a foothold in a person’s life? Do you have to be a priest or minister or have special training to get rid of demons? What is involved in getting a demon out of someone’s life?
For the next hour or two I answered their questions and tried to give them a clear and simple picture of demonization and spiritual warfare. I know that many, if not most, Christians here in the West are as unaware of demonic influence and activity as our friends. And I can understand why.
After four years in the Navy and completing my B.A. at the University of Michigan, I went to what I considered the finest seminary available: Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas.
Unlike many seminaries, Dallas had a rigorous four-year program leading to a master’s in theology. Each semester we had to carry eighteen to twenty hours of classes, including Greek and Hebrew. In those four years we studied every book of the Bible, as well as attended classes on preaching, Christian education, theology, hermeneutics and all the other subjects the seminary considered necessary to equip graduates thoroughly for ministry. But we did not have even one class that dealt with spiritual warfare or the nature of demonic activity in today’s world. We had a text that covered what the Bible says about demons and evil spirits. But we had no training in recognizing demonic activity or in ministering to those who were under demonic attack.
My seminary experience was not unusual. Training in this area is not common in our seminaries, although there are one or two notable exceptions. As a result, most pastors today are inexperienced in spiritual warfare. It is hardly surprising that our friends had never heard sermons or been offered classes in demonization and deliverance.
Adding to the problem, too many in ministry are afraid to look deeply into this area. In another dinner table experience, this time in California, several pastors were talking about their ministries. One of them confessed that he was dealing with deep depression that he could not throw off, even though God was blessing his ministry. As he continued to share, a longtime friend of mine who has a deliverance ministry noted that what was happening to the pastor had all the earmarks of demonic oppression. The pastor was horrified. So my friend asked, if you were under attack by demons, wouldn’t you want to know? So you could be delivered? The frightened pastor shook his head. No! He would rather go on suffering than even consider the possibility of demonic influence.
I can understand how he felt. When I graduated from seminary, getting involved with demons was one of two things I determined never to do. Later I visited a classmate who had a church in Seattle and was dealing with the demonic regularly. He shared his stories with me, but I still wanted nothing to do with demons or deliverance. I continued to feel this way for many years. After all, I had been called to teach Christian education and Bible in Wheaton College Graduate School. I had published several influential textbooks. I was in demand as a speaker and often taught courses in my field at places like Princeton Theological Seminary and Talbot Seminary.
Then some ten years ago, I was led to start a series of fiction books tracing the war between angels and demons from Creation to history’s end. While the books are fiction, they are deeply rooted in Scripture. But as I wrote the novels, it was clear that both I and my family were under some sort of spiritual attack. Apparently Satan did not approve of my subject matter. At that point it was clear I needed to learn more about demonization—how to recognize it and how to deal with it.
I renewed my focus on exploring the Bible, and found that the subject of demonic activity is clearly present in the Old Testament and the epistles, as well as the gospels. It appears more evident in the gospels, where terms like demon and evil spirit are commonly used. But I realized that the epistles adopt the vocabulary of Greek culture and refer to spirit beings with words like powers , rulers and authorities . There was far more in Scripture about demonic activity than I had realized, despite my intense seminary education!
Along with studying Scripture I began to read books on spiritual warfare. To be honest, some of them seemed to take the Hollywood approach and feature only the most unusual manifestations. But other books shared principles and practices that reflected an everyday rather than sensationalized approach to deliverance from demonic influence. I talked with reliable people who had deliverance ministries. As I learned more and more, I began to share what I was learning.
The turning point came when I was invited to teach a course on the spirit world at a seminary in California. The one-week course culminated in what I call a Freedom Workshop that is open to the public. My students were there, ready to counsel and pray with anyone who was concerned about possible demonic influence in his or her life.
Freedom Workshops are an intensive study of Ephesians, which, I have come to realize, is a handbook on spiritual warfare that Paul developed for young first-century churches. At the end of the day-and-a-half workshop, a number of people asked for counseling and prayer. Some of them were clearly bound by demonic activity. That last afternoon truly became the first step toward freedom for some of the men and women who attended.
To continue to support those who were being delivered, several students met in small groups to study together and support each other. I sent them curriculum every week. During this time I heard from both my students and those they ministered to that people were being delivered and finding freedom from demonic oppression. If you care to look, what I teach in Freedom Workshops, including a study guide for small groups, is covered in the book The Full Armor of God (Chosen, 2013).
By this point I was fully convinced. Not only are demons and evil spirits real, they are active in the lives of believers and unbelievers alike. I was also convinced that Jesus can and will deliver those who are under the influence of demons. Victims truly can experience freedom from oppression!
Since that first Freedom Workshop I have taught many more. I have experienced the privilege of casting demons from hurting people and seeing them step into freedom. I do not have a “deliverance ministry.” In most ways I am like the four friends gathered with us for that Sunday dinner. But now when God brings people who are oppressed into my life, I know how to recognize and deal with the demons involved.
That is why Chosen asked me to write this book. It is a book for the average Christian, who knows little or nothing about demons and deliverance. It is exciting for me to be able to share with you what I have learned and experienced. It is exciting because I know with certainty that you will at some point have to deal with demonic influence on yourself or come into contact with the demonized. People who have written to me, and many whom I have spoken with, tell of their fears for family members and friends or themselve