Harassment

[Dhitlor]

I have posted before about experiencing harassment by people who were doing so under the influence of demons that came into my life when I was in the new age. Well, God has helped me see that problems with unforgiveness kept these demons being able to harass me. After this, I began to theorize that making peace with these people who have been harassing me was the key to finally putting an end to this demonic harassment and have been trying to do so. Please pray for me about this. This is not going to be an easy or simple process as harmful things have been done on both my end and theirs and reaching out to reconcile has been nerve wrecking for me. There is also demonic activity involved affecting these people and causing them to behave out of the ordinary way they usually would in very evil ways in addition to some of them being unsaved/deceived by false teachings which could also impact how they respond to me. This has also caused concerns for me as I reach out. I am noticing that many of these people don't really actually seem as if they are trying to rebuild a relationship with me at a personal level apart from public perception. I'm also concerned because there are people in my life who under the influence of this same demonic activity were pressuring me to make peace with these people and they seem blind to the reality of the situation in multiple ways. It's like they're under some kind of spell. I really wish I had someone to talk to about this who could understand the kind of things happening here including the demonic activity. Maybe my pastor and elders might...Please pray. Please also pray that if I'm gaslighting myself by attributing these individuals' behavior to demons and not their true intentions, God would reveal it. Thank you.

 

[Articles]

We thank you for sharing this burden with us and for allowing us to seek the Lord together with you in Jesus name. We praise God that He has already opened your eyes to the seriousness of unforgiveness and to the reality of spiritual warfare, and we want to walk with you in truth and grace as you seek His will in this very difficult and tangled situation.

We hear your desire to obey God and to make peace, and that desire is good. Scripture calls us to forgive as Christ forgave us, for if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses Matthew 6:14-15. We are also taught to let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you Ephesians 4:31-32. Forgiveness is a command and a release we give before God, even when the other person has not repented. Reconciliation, however, is different from forgiveness. Reconciliation requires repentance and truth on both sides and cannot be forced by one person alone. That is why we are told if it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men Romans 12:18. The phrase as much as it is up to you reminds us that peace may not be possible if others continue in harmful or deceptive ways, and you are not failing God when you forgive yet still maintain wise boundaries.

We also take seriously what you have shared about coming out of the new age and about demonic harassment. Scripture is clear that our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places Ephesians 6:12. The enemy is a deceiver who masquerades as an angel of light 2 Corinthians 11:14 and who prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour 1 Peter 5:8. When doors were opened through new age practices, which God calls detestable Deuteronomy 18:10-12, those doors must be firmly closed through repentance, renunciation, and faith in Jesus Christ. We encourage you to specifically confess and renounce every new age practice, teaching, and spirit by name before the Lord, to destroy or remove any objects associated with it, and to declare your belonging to Christ alone. We are told to be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you James 4:7 and that greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world 1 John 4:4. Putting on the whole armor of God Ephesians 6:11 daily through prayer, the Word, and obedience is not optional in this season, it is essential.

We also want to gently address your concern about gaslighting yourself and about attributing everything to demons. It is wise that you are asking God for discernment. People are responsible for their choices, even when influenced by spiritual forces, and we must test the spirits, whether they are of God 1 John 4:1. Some behavior is human sin, some is demonic influence, and often it is both intertwined. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control 2 Timothy 1:7, and He desires to give you wisdom. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him James 1:5. We encourage you not to be pressured by others, even well meaning people, to rush into reconciliation that is not safe or Spirit led. It is right that you noticed that some people seem concerned only with public perception and not with genuine restoration, and that others seem blinded or under a spell. That blindness is real, for the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving 2 Corinthians 4:4, but you are not called to fix their blindness, only to obey Christ and to guard your heart with all diligence Proverbs 4:23.

We are glad you mentioned speaking with your pastor and elders, and we strongly encourage you to do so. God has placed shepherds in the church to pray, to discern, and to protect. We are told to call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord James 5:14 and to confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed James 5:16. A trusted pastor who understands spiritual warfare can help you walk through repentance, forgiveness, deliverance, and wise boundaries face to face, which we cannot fully do from a distance. Seek godly counsel before taking further steps to reach out, especially where harm has been done on both sides and where you feel nerve wracked and pressured.

We noticed that your request speaks of God but does not mention Jesus Christ, and we want to lovingly remind you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and deliverance from darkness. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me John 14:6 and there is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved Acts 4:12. If you have not already done so, we encourage you to place your complete faith in Jesus Christ, believing that He died for your sins and rose again, confessing Him as Lord Romans 10:9. It is by His blood and His name that demons flee, that forgiveness is secured, and that we are made children of God. Every prayer for freedom, wisdom, and peace must be offered in His name.

So together with you we pray. Father in heaven, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, and we thank You for this dear one who is seeking You with a humble and honest heart. We thank You for revealing the trap of unforgiveness and for drawing this soul out of darkness into Your light. We ask You to search the heart and to help to fully forgive every person who has caused harm, just as You in Christ have forgiven us, and to release all bitterness and vengeance to You who judges righteously. We ask You to bring deep repentance where there has been sin on any side, and to bring healing where there has been wounding. Lord, we renounce in Jesus name every new age teaching, practice, and spirit that once had influence, and we ask You to close every door that was opened, to break every chain, and to cleanse by the blood of Jesus. We resist the devil in Jesus name and command every harassing spirit to flee and to go where Jesus sends it, for You have given us authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy Luke 10:19. We pray for Your protection, Your peace that surpasses all understanding Philippians 4:7, and Your armor to surround this life daily. Grant clear discernment to know what is human sin and what is spiritual attack, and to see truth without deception or self condemnation. Give wisdom to know when to reach out, when to wait, and when to set a boundary, and give courage to not be driven by fear or by pressure from others. We pray for the people who have done harm, that You would save those who are unsaved, open blinded eyes, and bring them to repentance, and for those who are pressuring without understanding, that You would give them clarity and compassion. Lead this dear one to a pastor and elders who will listen, understand, pray with authority, and shepherd with truth. Let Your will be done, let Your name be glorified, and let this life walk in freedom, holiness, and rest. We ask all this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and deliverer, amen.

We encourage you to remain daily in the Word, in prayer, and in fellowship, to walk in the light 1 John 1:7, and to trust that God will guide each step. He is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit Psalm 34:18. Do not rush what God wants to do slowly and thoroughly, and do not carry alone what God intends the church to help bear. We are standing with you, asking God to reveal His perfect peace and His perfect path forward.

 

[hostadmin]

Thank you for letting us know how things have unfolded. We can hear how much weight you are carrying as you try to sort through past hurt, your own part, and what reconciliation might look like now. Reaching out after harm on both sides is nerve wracking, and it makes sense you would feel torn when others are urging you to make peace quickly while you are noticing that the responses you are getting feel more public than personal.

One thing that may ease some pressure is remembering that choosing to forgive before the Lord and rebuilding a relationship are not the same step. Forgiveness can be a settled decision in your own heart, while rebuilding trust takes time, mutual willingness, and clear boundaries. You do not have to force the second when the first is still being worked through, and you do not have to sort all the spiritual questions alone.

You mentioned wondering about talking with your pastor and elders. We think that is a wise next step. If you can, ask for a time to meet, bring a brief written summary of what you have tried, what concerns you, and the very question you asked us about whether you might be misreading intentions as spiritual attack. Ask if one of them can walk with you over the next weeks so you have a steady, grounded voice and are not navigating pressure from others by yourself.

Father, we lift our friend to You. Grant wisdom, protection and peace, quiet the confusion and give clear discernment about each relationship and next step. Surround them with trustworthy counsel and remind them they are secure in Christ. In Jesus name, amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

We have read your letter with prayerful care and with sorrow for the weight you have carried. To be harassed, to feel pressed on every side, to be wearied by fear and by the memory of a former life in the new age, is a heavy trial, and we do not take it lightly that you have brought it before the Lord and before His people.

There is forgiveness with God, and that truth must stand at the foundation of all else. It is a divine forgiveness, I even I am He that blotteth out thy transgressions. It is not the forgiveness of man, which may be withheld or uncertain, but the forgiveness of the Lord Himself. Were all men to hiss at you or to withhold their pardon, you could still enter heaven if you have His. It is a surprising forgiveness, so free and full that it seems to surprise even the declaration of it, and it is a complete forgiveness. If you come to your creditor and say I have nothing to pay, He does not forgive a part and leave a part, He blots out the whole debt. However sinful your life may have been until now, even with the open sins of the new age and whatever harmful things have been done on your end or theirs, there is forgiveness with Him through Jesus Christ His Son. That forgiveness is not only for the first moment of faith, but it is a continuous and an eternal forgiveness, perfect and divine, because it rests upon a ransom that God Himself has found. When a soul was going down to the pit, the Lord proclaimed, I have found a ransom, and His own Son has borne the penalty. Your deliverance, therefore, is solely by the power of God. It is not of him that wills nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy. He brought forth Israel with silver and gold, and He brings forth His people still, not by their theorizing or their striving, but by His own effectual arm. We have been delivered from worse enemies than any mortal harasser, and saved by a greater salvation, and for that we give thanks.

Concerning the burden you feel about unforgiveness and making peace, hear the Word rightly. The Scripture says, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. It is a joint work of mutual forgiveness among Christians, and it ought to be as natural as to open our hands, for we have had so much forgiven. Yet the Lord also teaches us that forgiveness in the heart before God, and reconciliation with others, are not always the same thing. As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. You are to forgive freely, fully, and from the heart, because you have been forgiven, and to release all bitterness and desire for revenge into the hands of God. But rebuilding a relationship, especially where harm has been done and where you discern evil influences and deception, requires wisdom, safety, and godly counsel, not mere pressure from others and not concern for public perception.

You have wisely desired to speak with your pastor and elders, and we urge you to do so without delay. Bring this whole matter into the light before mature and trusted shepherds who can pray with you, test what is of the Spirit and what is not, and help you discern between true conviction, demonic harassment, and the ordinary sinfulness of unsaved or deceived persons. Do not walk this nerve wracking path alone, and do not be driven by those who seem blind to the reality or who press you while themselves appearing to be under a spell. Try the spirits, keep to the Word, keep to prayer, and keep to the fellowship of the church. If others do not truly seek peace at a personal level, you are not to force what God has not wrought. Your part is to have a forgiving heart and to be willing for peace, your deliverance and your peace with God do not depend upon their response.

You also asked for prayer that God would reveal it if you are attributing to demons what is in truth the intention of men. That is a humble and right prayer. The enemy indeed shoots this arrow often, to make you fear that God's ear is shut or that you must appease men to be free. Yet God is not shut, and Christ is your deliverer. Ask the Lord for clear sight, for a sound mind, and for the peace that comes from knowing there is forgiveness with Him now, at this moment, for you.

We will pray for you.

Our Father, we come through Jesus Christ Thy Son, in whom alone is salvation, and through whom alone there is forgiveness. We ask for this dear soul, that Thou wouldst give a deep and settled sense of Thy complete and eternal forgiveness, that despair may be driven away. Grant deliverance from all evil, from the archers that harass, and from the pit. Let Thy power be seen, for Thou alone canst bring forth. Give wisdom to forgive as Thou hast forgiven, and wisdom to walk in peacemaking without being ensnared by pressure or by mere public show. Grant discernment to know what is of Thee and what is not, and if there be any self deception, reveal it in mercy. Lead to faithful pastors and elders who will understand and bear this burden, provide a friend to talk with, and guard from fear. Keep this one in Christ, enriched with Thy grace, and cause songs of deliverance to be heard. In the name of Jesus our ransom, Amen.