Although this world is filled with despicable men whose characters are so callous that they will never be reasoned with, among the most sinister work in this world is the determination of demonic forces to lead the children of GOD to hurt themselves. And while these temptations come in a thousand forms, through drugs, booze and junk food, there are some extremes that stand so far outside of reason that it makes one wonder of the steps in their thoughts that led to such levels of self-abuse.

     The Bible gives only three examples where this kind of behavior took place. And each time it is recorded, evil spirits were involved. First, when the prophet Elijah stood alone against the four hundred prophets of Baal:

“And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made…And they cried aloud, and cut themselves AFTER THEIR MANNER with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.” I Ki.18:25-29

     The second example is seen when Jesus Christ came on the scene. In this passage we see how demons can physically throw GOD'S children in the path of their own destruction:

"And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes IT HATH CAST HIM INTO THE FIRE, AND INTO THE WATERS, TO DESTROY HIM: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose." Mk.9:17-27.

      "Help thou mine unbelief" is among the most precious prayers that a soul can send to heaven.

      The other example is when the Father led Jesus to a distant coast to show the power of salvation:

“And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, CRYING, AND CUTTING HIMSELF WITH STONES. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting , and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” Mk.5:1-20

     How profound is the lesson in this passage! When the man tried to speak, only the demons’ words were heard from his lips. By the power of those devils the man had no will of his own. But Jesus saw in that poor soul the desperate cry for deliverance, and He spoke "the Word" and delivered him from the affliction and oppression from the legion of devils (as many as 6000). And so it is with those today who abuse themselves. Many have no will of their own. And so it rests with today's disciples of Jesus Christ to intercede on their behalf as it was in Christ's day: "And at even, when the sun did set, they [those who cared and interceded for the afflicted] brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed [the] many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils." Mk.1:32-34.

     Multitudes of peace loving people desire heaven’s deliverance from the bonds of life in a sinful world. And there is a GOD in heaven who commands “his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word” who will come and overpower the devils and set the captive free! Ps.103:20. At the petitioner’s requests GOD always sends the rescue as it is written of all who look to Christ for their deliverance: “Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Ps.107:18-20.

     The man who became the great Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther, used to abuse himself with a whip. So severe were the lashings he gave himself he would collapse in unconsciousness to the floor after an episode. Being an Augustinian monk, the church in which he belonged stood so illiterate to the doctrines of Christ and salvation that Luther felt himself totally lost before GOD. While the church of Rome claimed the power of salvation over every man, Luther’s inherent humility and wisdom stood above the pride on which the church of Rome stood, and he would not enter the pride that was so common, and that displayed such cruel indifference to the people’s practical needs. If the priests stood in darkness, how much more would the common man under their rule.

Then one day, Martin Luther read the words of Paul, “The just shall live by faith.” Rom.1:17. It was faith in Jesus Christ as “the Saviour of all men” that set him free, as Jesus said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Jn.8:36. The more Martin Luther explored the Scriptures the more the Devil’s hold on him was removed. The words of the great Apostle Paul repeatedly cemented Luther’s faith in Christ while exposing the fallacies of Roman Catholicism as it is written, “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” I Tim.4:10.

     To this day, the doctrines of Catholicism promote the bondage that Luther suffered under. The most beloved pope of modern history, Pope John Paul II is said to have whipped himself in his private chamber. The Swiss Guards at his door could hear the self-torture from the leader of the single-most powerful entity on Earth. The great lesson of Christ's deliverance seen in the life of Martin Luther never took hold in the pope’s life.

     But when one reads the words of Jesus and follows His calling on the heart there is no need for self-chastisement beyond the convictions of conscience that command us to do what we can, where we can, and when we can for our fellow man. We build ourselves up, not for our own profit, but for those we have the power to help and to bless. The single greatest joy in life is to bless the lives of others. This was the virtue that Jesus Christ lived by, died by, and lives by today interceding His virtue to redeem all men: those who of their own free will look to Him and His virtuous life to stand in their place: to be their righteouness, their virtue—their salvation. The volunteers around the world understand this joy from that virtue. And as our wisdom in this worthy work grows, GOD provides increasing ingenuity to accomplish what little we are able to give to that end, just as the LORD said, “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two…After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matt.25:14-23.