From the moment we are conceived, the enemy seeks to destroy us. We represent the very image and nature of God, and Lucifer was meant to carry the weight and sound of worship to Him. But when he fell, he fell outside of time because he is an eternal spirit. We are human, and inside of time. Therefore, we still have “time” to become redeemed. That is why satan hates us, because he is fallen eternally and can never be redeemed.

Even as a child in the womb, we are bent towards certain proclivities and iniquities due to genetics and curses in our bloodlines that the enemy has worked very hard to establish. We are susceptible to wounds from our own sin and the sin of others against us, and these wounds are like an infection. If not properly healed, one wound can disrupt our entire system. Wounds from this trauma attract evil spirits and allow them to exploit these weaknesses in our armor and manipulate our minds, wills, and emotions. These demons have a legal right to continue their activity, even after salvation, as long as those wounds stay unhealed. The process of stopping this demonic activity in a person’s soul so they can receive healing is known as deliverance.

The actual healing that God desires to bring to the wounds in our souls is done by Holy Spirit, but does not dwell in the spirit of an unsaved person. And as long as an individual remains unsaved, demonic activity is left unchallenged and new trauma is experienced creating an endless cycle of bondage. While you pray for an unsaved person, this evil activity is severely hindered and allows the gentle ways of Holy Spirit to cause peace and rest and healing in their spirit and soul. Once that person is open to the truth and power of Jesus and they receive Him, those bents and proclivities are weakened and begin to lose their grip. Holy Spirit is granted access to a person’s spirit and an intimate relationship can begin.

Wounds are still present, and evil spirits are still attracted to them if they are left unhealed. But your prayers limit the power of evil and aid in the process by providing rest from the pain of trauma and necessary healing.

This call to “stand in the gap” for another person is going to be one of the toughest, most exhausting things you have ever done. And if God be for you, who can stand against you? If God has begun this good work, He will bring it to completion! If He has given you this assignment, you cannot fail!

However, He has not only begun a good work in the person you are praying for. As you follow Him through this journey, Holy Spirit is also walking with you through your own deliverance. You have to yield to His soul surgery as He digs things up out of you that you did not even know were there.

Not only is your own deliverance taking place day by day, but the powers of darkness are going to be coming against you in every area that he is able to challenge. Your prayers for that person are stealing back a soul that the enemy has endeavored to steal for a long time, and he will not give them up without a fight, especially if they are important enough to the Kingdom that God has assigned as intercessor to them. You will fight against discouragement, your own emotions and feelings, others who are in your circle and who do not understand, and even physical illness. But keep this in mind: the eternal outcome of the person you are praying for, as well as their descendants, will be largely affected and determined by your faithfulness in this call to pray. So, as you take back enemy territory, remember these two things:

1) You can’t lose,

2) You don’t have any time to waste.