The Price Of Joy

As I looked at the boxes and the chair piled high, my eyes grew wide. My friend said she had some books to get rid of, but I didn’t know she had that many! There are two things that give me great excitement (not including my family), collecting plants and collecting books! My heart swelled as if I had just inherited a treasure. I felt as though I did because the library I was taking home had previously belonged to a spiritual mother of mine. Although she was gone, I was able to keep pieces of her life and teaching with me.

With so many options, I didn’t know where to begin reading. As I do with most other aspects of my life, I asked God to guide me in my adventure. The book I just finished reading was “The Secrets To Deliverance” by Alexander Pagani. Now, I’m not into seeking out demons or making a public spectacle of casting them out. However, I believe the Lord led me to this book, and prepared me for it, by first guiding me to listen to various sermons over the last year. When I finished the book, I thought I was done with the topic of deliverance…until I read my Bible one morning last week.

When my heavenly Father wants to communicate something, he does it in many different ways. Last week, he made a verse jump off the page at me. No, the words didn’t literally jump off the page. Still, as I read the verse, I couldn’t move past it. I couldn’t read on. I was fixated on what the verse said. I have read the Bible many times, but I am continually fascinated when the Lord makes me see something familiar in a new light.

In Acts chapter 8, Saul had just witnessed the killing of the first martyr, Stephen. This section is followed by Phillip telling the story of Christ in a pagan country, Samaria. Verses 7 and 8 say,

For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city. (ESV)

When we ask God for knowledge, he’s more than happy to answer. Our Lord showed me in those verses that deliverance came first and then there was joy. I believe he was telling me there can be no joy unless his children are completely free from their bondage first. This is not saying we will not suffer the limitations of physically living in a fallen world. I believe our Lord is saying though, that his children can be released from and protected from ailments or hindrances that originate from evil spirits. We can have joy in a world that does not, but first, we must be delivered.

What could we possibly need delivered from? After reading Mr. Pagani’s book, I’m surprised how many Christians are harboring evil spirits and don’t even know about them. We are taught to seek salvation in Jesus. We are taught to confess and ask forgiveness of our sins. We are taught to avoid temptation, but I don’t remember learning about how to be cleansed from my sins or their consequences. If I want the great joy I read about in the Bible, I’m learning I have to actually renounce my vices, personal desires and plans, anything I may have seen or heard that would displease my Lord, anything I may have participated in that would displease him, my narrow vision, my desire to understand before believing, my comfort zone. I need to renounce my relationship with the demons I’ve been carrying around.

Scripture explains,

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12 NKJV

The fact that Christians could host demons doesn’t make much sense to me. I can’t wrap my head around the possibility and when I try to, the thought of demonic presence scares me a little. Still, I know the Bible is right. Scripture is true and has been proven reliable. If there is joy after deliverance, then I want to be delivered, even if my mind cannot comprehend it. We need more joy in the world today, especially in the United States. Let’s pray for deliverance and expect joy!

But the man who isn’t a Christian can’t understand and can’t accept these thoughts from God, which the Holy Spirit teaches us. They sound foolish to him because only those who have the Holy Spirit within them can understand what the Holy Spirit means. Others just can’t take it in.

1 Corinthians 2:14 TLB