Stop The Bleeding – Christian Training Online

What is the first thing you should do for yourself or for someone else when you are attacked spiritually? Where can you begin immediately? If you come upon an accident scene the first thing to do for someone hurt is to stop the bleeding. That’s true spiritually as well. Stop the bleeding.

GET RIGHT WITH GOD. That meaSns stop any sin in your life for that is an opening demons use to attack and do their work. Remember that sin is anything you say, do or think wrong. It is also anything right you don’t do as well as good things you do for selfish reasons. Confess any sin you are aware of (1 John 1:9) and ask God to bring to mind anything else you may need to confess (Psalm 139:22-23). Confessing your sin means taking responsibility for it, admitting it is sin, recognizing that you are guilty of it. It does not mean making excuses or blaming others, but taking the blame yourself. Confessing means you want to give it up entirely, not just that you want to avoid any consequences for it. The child who gets caught with their hand in the cookie jar is quick to say they will never do it again, but that is motivated more by fear of consequences than anything else. Compare yourself and your action with a holy God. Think of what He thinks of the sin, and of what it cost Jesus on the cross to pay the eternal penalty for it.

To keep the bleeding from starting again a person must commit themselves to live for God every moment of every day. They must give their life, their home, their history, their relationships, their possessions – everything they are and have, to God. It’s been said that if you get rid of the garbage the rats will go away. It may not be quite that simple in spiritual warfare, but that definitely is a very important first step. Changes must be made so the garbage doesn’t return! Long term victory means regular times with God each day, being involved in a sound, evangelical church, living a disciplined life, growing in His Word, etc. But we are just talking about first aid in this article.

GET RIGHT WITH YOURSELF. When you confess your sin you must allow God to forgive you. You must forgive yourself, not punish yourself (Romans 8;1). Accepting God’s forgiveness and cleansing can be very difficult. However, if we don’t we leave the door open to Satan’s attacks – the bleeding will continue.

GET RIGHT WITH OTHERS. Along with getting right with God and yourself you must get right with others. Be willing to apologize to anyone you may have hurt or offended in any way (Matthew 5:23-24; 23:18-19). It also means being willing to make restitution where necessary. Then these things must be done as soon as possible.

It’s very important to forgive anyone who has wronged or hurt you as well (Matthew 5:7, 39-41, 43-48; 6:12-15; 18:21-35). Forgiving means giving up any right to see them hurt for what they have done to hurt you. It means leaving revenge up to God (Romans 12:19).

GET WRONG WITH SATAN. While it’s important to get right with God, yourself and others to stop the bleeding and take back access demons may claim to work against you, it’s also important to get wrong with them and with Satan. In prayer claim back any access you may have given them, any opening you’ve allowed them to have or any which they have claimed through your sin, your past relationships or family line (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9). Ask others to pray for you as well. If I can be of any help please feel free to write me at Jerry@ChristianTrainingOnline.org.

First aid is crucial. Stopping the bleeding is the first and most important step. But there must be follow-up care, perhaps operations, healing and rehab to be restored to full health. The same is true spiritually. Many of those who recognize demonic attacks in their lives take initial steps to stop it but as soon as the bleeding is even slowed a bit they stop and go back to the way they were living. Of course the attacks continue and get worse (Matthew 12:43-45). PLEASE get continuing help. Read the articles on this web site, especially the Spiritual Warfare Handbook (http://sw.christiantrainingonline.org/basics/spiritual-warfare-handbook/ or http://sw.christiantrainingonline.org/downloads/). Feel free to email me and we can counsel through email. I would be very glad helping you grow in your freedom and faith. You can contact me at Jerry@ChristianTrainingOnline.org

Here is a sample prayer you can use. It’s not the words that are special but that you mean them when you pray them. You can use any words you want but this gives you an idea of some things you can pray about at this time.

“Gracious God, I acknowledge that You are worthy of all honor, glory, and praise. I am thankful for the victorious work of Your Son, Jesus Christ at Calvary for me. I appropriate His victory for myself now as I willingly surrender every area of my life to Your will.

“Thank you for the forgiveness and righteousness that has been given to me as Your adopted child. I trust in Your protection and provision daily. I know that your love for me never ceases. I rejoice in Your victory, my Lord, over all the principalities and powers in the heavenlies. In faith, I stand in Your victory and commit myself to live obediently for You are my King.

“I desire that my fellowship with You become greater. Reveal to me those things that grieve You and enables the enemy to secure an advantage in my life. I need the Holy Spirit’s powerful ministry in my life; bringing conviction of sin, repentance of heart, strengthening my faith and increasing perseverance in resisting temptation.

“Help me to die to self and walk in the victory of the new creation You have provided for me. Let the fruits of the Spirit flow out of my life so that You will be glorified through my life.

“I know that it is Your will that I should stand firm and resist all of the enemy’s work against me. Help me to discern the attacks upon my thoughts and emotions. Enable me to stand upon Your Word and resist all the accusations, distortions and condemnations that are hurled against me.

“It is my desire to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, so that I will not compromise with the ways of the world, or yield to the enemy’s attacks, but be obedient to Your will.

“I draw upon those spiritual resources that You have provided me and I attack the strongholds and plans of the enemy that have been put in place against me. I command in the name of Jesus Christ that the enemy must release my mind, will, emotions and body completely. They have been yielded to the Lord and I belong to Him.

“Lord, enable me to become the person You created me to be. Help me as I pray to be strong in faith. Show me how to apply Your Word in my life each day. I know that I wear the full armor of God when I am committed to and stand firmly upon Your Word. I want You to have the supreme place in my life.

“I ask you put a hedge of protection around me this day and I forbid any of Satan’s forces to penetrate that hedge. I ask for your angels to surround and protect me, for your Holy Spirit to fill me completely, and for your Shekinah Glory to encompass me and all I do.

“I surrender myself completely to You, Lord. You are always faithful and You extend Your grace to me constantly, even when I do not realize it. I claim Your promise of forgiveness and cleansing in its fullness. In faith, I receive the victory today that you have already put in place for me. I do this in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior with a grateful heart. AMEN”