Read Time:

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7-9 minute read

 

Prayer

 

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"Heavenly Father Yahweh (God),
We come before You in humility and awe. Open the eyes of our hearts to perceive the spiritual realities at work around us. Through the name and authority of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, grant us discernment to recognize when our battles are not flesh and blood, but spiritual in nature. Strengthen us by Your Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to walk in victory, truth, and freedom. May Your Word expose every lie of the enemy, and may Your light cast out all darkness. Amen."

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Introduction

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Have you ever faced a struggle that didn’t make sense? A burden that lingered, even when circumstances changed? Perhaps you've battled fear, addiction, chronic illness, or unrelenting discouragement. There are times when the battles we fight are not just emotional or physical—they are spiritual. Scripture makes it clear: some of our struggles stem not from what we see, but from what we do not see.

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Scripture Exploration

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Luke 13:11–13 (NRSV):

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“And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Yeshua (Jesus) saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’ When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.”

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Luke 13:16:

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“And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”

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​​​​​​​​Deep Dive ​​

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Yeshua (Jesus) identified this woman’s condition not merely as a physical ailment, but as spiritual bondage—a “spirit of infirmity” (Greek: pneuma astheneias – Strong’s G4151 + G769). While she may have sought healing, her freedom came through deliverance.

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This shows us a profound truth: not all afflictions are purely natural. Some are demonically driven, bound by unclean spirits sent to cripple, distort, or destroy the image of Yahweh (God) in us.

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The Greek term often mistranslated as “possessed” in the New Testament is daimonizomai (Strong’s G1139), which means “to be under the influence of a demon,” not necessarily owned or fully controlled. Even believers can have areas of their soul (mind, will, emotions) where they are demonized or oppressed, though their spirit belongs to Yahweh (God).

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This is why Yeshua’s (Jesus’) ministry was marked not just by preaching and healing, but by casting out demons—because He knew that many struggles required a spiritual confrontation, not just a comforting word.

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​​​​Relatable Scenario:

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Imagine you're trying to fix a computer that won’t start. You check the screen, keyboard, and cables—but nothing works. Finally, someone tells you to check the power source—and you realize the entire time the problem was at the source, invisible to your eyes.

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This is how spiritual bondage works. You can try everything externally—therapy, self-help, even medicine—but if the root is spiritual, only spiritual authority can bring healing.

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Core Message

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Many of our most persistent struggles have spiritual roots—and true freedom comes only through the authority of Yeshua (Jesus) to expose and expel the unseen enemy.

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​Life Stories

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The Silent Oppression:

• A pastor’s wife silently battled depression for years. Therapy and prayer helped, but nothing broke the cloud until a deliverance minister discerned a spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). After a simple but powerful prayer in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name, she experienced immediate clarity and peace—her spirit had been under assault.

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The Office Promotion:

• Samantha was a hardworking analyst at a tech firm. For three years, every promotion she pursued mysteriously fell through—missed deadlines, unexplained errors, or sudden changes in leadership. Frustrated, she began praying and fasting, seeking Yahweh (God) for insight. A friend unexpectedly reached out, saying they felt led to pray against spiritual blockage. As they prayed in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name, Samantha felt a release. Two weeks later, she received a promotion—and an apology. Her supervisor confessed that someone had been undermining her. What seemed like office politics was actually spiritual resistance, and Yahweh had broken it.

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Freedom from Addiction:

• A young man tried rehab multiple times for a porn addiction. Nothing worked until he received deliverance prayer and the spirit of lust was rebuked in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. The stronghold broke. What therapy touched, the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) completed.

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Common Experiences

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• Persistent emotional heaviness or fear with no known cause.

• Unexplained physical ailments or recurring sicknesses.

• Cycles of addiction or sin that feel impossible to break.

• Nightmares, oppression, or torment, especially at night.

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These can all be symptoms of spiritual influence that require more than just human effort—they require the power of Yahweh (God)

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​​​Everyday Challenges 

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• Misdiagnosing the battle: Many believers assume every issue is psychological or physical.

• Fear of spiritual things: The enemy uses fear to keep us from seeking deliverance.

• Lack of teaching in churches: Deliverance is often avoided or misunderstood in modern ministry.

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But take heart: Yeshua (Jesus) has given us authority over all unclean spirits (Luke 10:19). Through the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), we do not need to fear—we are equipped for freedom.

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Modern Connections

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• Use discernment tools like journaling, prayer, and fasting to identify spiritual patterns.

• Consider deliverance ministries that operate biblically and under the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit)’s guidance.

• Digital devotionals and apps (like Blue Letter Bible) can help you look up Greek/Hebrew meanings (e.g., Strong’s Concordance).

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Reflection & Application

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Reflection Questions:

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• Have I been fighting a battle in my life without recognizing the spiritual root?

• Where might I need to invite Yeshua’s (Jesus’) authority to bring deliverance?

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Application Steps:

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1. Pray for discernment and ask Yahweh (God) to reveal any spiritual sources behind your struggle.

2. Confess and renounce anything that gives the enemy access (e.g., bitterness, fear, sin).

3. Seek trusted spiritual counsel or deliverance prayer from mature believers.

4. Declare Scripture daily over your life, using the name of Yeshua (Jesus) with faith.

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Closing Prayer​

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Yahweh (God),
Thank You for shining light into the hidden places. Thank You for Yeshua (Jesus), who carries all authority and sets the captives free. We ask for discernment and courage to recognize the spiritual battles we face, and we declare that in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name, every stronghold must fall. Empower us to walk in truth, speak with authority, and live in the victory You have already given. Amen.

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Further Study:

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1. Ephesians 6:12 – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood…”

2. Mark 1:23–27 – Yeshua’s (Jesus’) first deliverance in the synagogue

3. 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 – “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal…”

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Key Takeaway:

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True freedom begins when we recognize that some battles are spiritual—and Yeshua (Jesus) has already won the victory over every unseen enemy.

 

Concluding Thoughts:

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You are not crazy. You are not weak. And you are not alone. Yahweh (God) sees your struggle—and He has already provided the answer through Yeshua (Jesus). Whatever your unseen enemy may be, His light is stronger than darkness, and His love will never let you go. Step into that light. Let Him set you free.