THE FIRST JUDGMENT THUNDER
By Bill Burns
June 25, 1999:
The Seven Thunders shall roar and the lightning bolts of the fire of the word in the mouths of God's witnesses will produce the spirit of burning and will strike the demon powers which rule over those in the church who are bound.
Unfortunately, many Christians have been taught that they cannot be troubled by demonic powers once they receive Christ as their Savior. This concept in itself is a doctrine of demons.
It is true that the spirit of the born-again believer who has truly made Jesus the Lord of their life is sealed by the Holy Spirit and is, therefore, protected (Ephesians 1:13-14). However, demons can afflict the soul (mind and emotions) and the flesh. The Apostle Paul had a messenger of Satan (demon) as a thorn in the flesh which afflicted him. Peter was sifted (tossed and shaken--vexed) by Satan. In Mark 16:17 the church is told to cast out demons as part of the Great Commission.
Unfortunately, because the church has not been faithful to do this, many in the church have remained bound and are, therefore, not living victorious lives and many are deceived.
Demon powers can be overcome in two ways as recorded in the scriptures: The first is recorded in James 4:7 "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Peter himself brings this warning in 1 Peter 5:8-9, "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." Every believer should understand that demon powers are seeking to gain a foothold in their lives and those powers must be actively and fervently resisted in faith. If we will resist the temptations that come, then the promise is that the devil will flee.
The second is for another believer to help the one who is bound by casting the demon out (commanding by the power of the Holy Spirit that the demon leave). Demon spirits can afflict people in different measures of oppression, obsession and possession.
Oppression can be resisted. Oppression is a demonic influence from without to tempt the soul (mind and emotions) to make a choice of agreement by giving in to the temptation.
Obsession comes by opening the mind, emotions, flesh--through the works of the flesh--and becoming obsessed with the problem, i.e. fear or lust. These people usually need someone to stand with, cast the spirit out and pray with them for a new infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Possession can take place in extreme cases, meaning that the power of demonic bondage is so great that the person cannot resist but continues to give into the controlling demons, and therefore, remains bound unless someone goes to war on their behalf.
Many in the Body of Christ must be set free if the redemption of the body is to be complete. These are the spirits found in the scriptures that are active against Christians: Anti-christ, deaf and dumb (spiritually), fear, divination (control, manipulation,, intimidation), jealousy, infirmity (inability or sickness), whoredoms (idolatry, religious spirits), lying, haughty (pride), bondage (addictions), perverse (defilement), unclean (lust), death (spiritual lethargy), heaviness and seducing. Experience has shown us that people become remarkably better when these demon spirits are bound and cast out.
Unity can never happen in the church until those who are bound are set free. Satan is able to keep the church divided because he is able to keep many bound with the spirits listed above. His plan is to divide and conquer, and so far, he has been very successful with this tactic.
Judgment will be pronounced upon these spirits, and they will be dethroned by the sons of glory as they are led by the Holy Spirit and empowered by faith to set the captives free. For this purpose the Son of Man came--to destroy the works of the devil and to set every captive free.
Those who are willing to be set free will be, and those that are not willing will not resist the devil; instead, they will cooperate with Satan's cause, and they will not seek help to be free. Those who refuse to be free will be separated out of the true church and become a part of the one-world church called Mystery Babylon, and she will be drunk with a desire to shed the blood of the saints. (Revelation 17)
Let the clarion
call go forth. Arise, saints of God, for it is time to contend
for the faith once delivered; it is time to set every captive
free; it is time to remember My word:
Luke 9:1, "Then He called His twelve disciples together and
gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure
diseases." And...Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give you the
authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the
power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
And...Mat 18:18 "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind
on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth
will be loosed in heaven."
Now, go forth in
boldness and strike the enemy, who binds My people, with fire of
the Holy Spirit, who puts My words in your mouth. Let the
lightning go forth and then the thunder will be heard, and My
people shall be set free. Beware, you pretenders, do you not
remember the fate of Ananias and Sapphira? When My glory is in My
house, it shall produce both life and death.