Breaking Agreements with Evil

CHAPTER SEVEN
Breaking Agreements with Evil

Anytime a person commits a sin, that person is saying no to God’s purpose and plan for his or her life, and yes to some kind of worldly or fleshly desire. Because all sin is a direct violation of God’s law, it becomes an open door for the devil. Once a sin has been committed, demonic spirits will continue their assault in an attempt to get that person to sin again. If the devil can get a person to sin once, he will use the same temptation to get that person to sin again.

Once a pattern of sin has been established, the devil will drive that person further away from God and deeper into bondage. The only way for a person to break free would be to denounce all sinful thoughts, words and actions in the name, power and authority of Jesus. After all sinful agreements have been broken, the next step would be to make a complete act of contrition.

To make a complete act of contrition, it will be necessary to see your sin the same way that God sees your sin. You will need to love God more than you love your sin. For example, if a young man commits the sin of fornication by having sex with his girlfriend, and then goes to confession, but has no intention of changing his behaviors, he has not made a complete act of contrition. What he is actually saying to God is, “I am sorry that your laws are in direct conflict with my behaviors.”

Because the man has not made a complete act of contrition, he will usually fall back into the same sinful pattern. He will have more sex with his girlfriend, and then he will go back to confession. His lifestyle will consist of sinning and confessing, and then sinning some more and confessing some more, until at which point the young man will grow so weary of going to confession, that he will stop going. When this happens, the devil will drive him deeper into bondage and further away from God.

In order for the young man to make a complete act of contrition, he will need to see his sin the same way God sees his sin. He will need to renounce the devil’s lies and renew his mind in Christ. In order for this to occur, the young man may need to stop watching worldly movies and television shows where premarital sex is glorified. He will also need the Holy Spirit’s help to understand how the sin of fornication is harming his relationship with God, and how it may be harming God’s plan for his marriage and future wife.

In order to make a complete act of contrition, it will be helpful to understand why God in his great love for humanity has given us his laws for our well-being and protection. It would also be helpful for the young man to realize how his sin harms other people and what would happen if he got his girlfriend pregnant outside of a God-approved marriage, or what would happen if he contracted a venereal disease, or was infected by the HIV virus and died of AIDS. Once a young man sees his sin the same way God sees his sin, he will be more motivated to change his behaviors, and turn back to the Lord’s loving guidance and protection.

Another example of making a complete act of contrition comes from a thief who stole his neighbor’s bicycle. If the thief were caught on a security video, he would probably say that he was sorry for his actions, but if the thief didn’t want to return the bicycle, then it would not be a complete act of contrition. The thief may be sorry that he was caught, but if he viewed his sin the same way God viewed his sin, then he would want to return the bicycle, because God loves and cares about his neighbor.

It is for this reason that 1 Peter 4:8 says, "Maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins." If the thief were truly sorry and loved his neighbor, he would have never stolen the bicycle in the first place. If the thief spent less time focusing on his own self-centered and selfish desires, and more time performing loving acts of charity for his neighbors, he would be making a complete act of contrition.

According to the Catechism, contrition is defined as the "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again." Contrition is the most important act of the penitent, and is necessary for the reception of the Sacrament of Penance.1 The Catechism also speaks about our need to repair the harm that our sins have caused other people. For example, we should "return stolen goods, restore the reputation of someone slandered and pay compensation for injuries."2

Because all sin is an open door for demonic attack that leads people deeper into bondage, while at the same time hindering our relationship with God and harming God’s beloved children, it may be helpful to review the following list of sins along with their corresponding Scripture passages. Once you identify any areas of concern, you may want to spend some time in prayer denouncing the sin of __________ in the name, power and authority of Jesus.

After you break all agreements with evil and ask for the Lord’s forgiveness, it will be beneficial to visit the Sacrament of Reconciliation for any venial sins, and necessary to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for any mortal sins. After you make a complete act of contrition, it would also be helpful to spend some time performing loving acts of kindness and charity. By doing so, you will be drawing closer to God, while at the same time, driving evil out of your life and sphere of influence.

 

 
Sinful Agreements with Evil
Scripture & Catechism References
 
Accepting a bribe
Exodus 23:8, Psalms 26:9–10
 
Acting arrogantly
Mark 7:22, Romans 1:30, James 4:16
 
Adultery
Exodus 20:14, Matthew 19:18, Catechism of Catholic Church 2380
 
Astrology
Deuteronomy 4:19 & 17:2–5, Acts 7:42–43
 
Bearing false witness
Exodus 20:16, Matthew 15:19
 
Being a hypocrite
Matthew 15:7–9
 
Being consumed by fear
2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:18
 
Being angry with others
Matthew 5:22, Catechism of Catholic Church 2302
 
Being ashamed of Jesus
Mark 8:38, Luke 9:26
 
Being associated with evil
Revelation 18:4–5
 
Being deceitful
Jeremiah 9:5–6, 2 Corinthians 11:13, Romans 1:29
 
Being disobedient toward parents
2 Timothy 3:1–2, Romans 1:30
 
Being hateful
1 John 2:9–11, Titus 3:3, Catechism of Catholic Church 2303
 
Being prejudiced
James 2:1–4 & 9
 
Bitterness
Acts 8:23, Ephesians 4:31, Hebrews 12:15
 
Breaking an oath
Numbers 30:2, Deuteronomy 23:21–23
 
Buying or selling spiritual powers
Acts 8:9–24, Catechism of Catholic Church 2121
 
Committing an abortion
Exodus 21:22, Jeremiah 1:4–5, Catechism of Catholic Church 2270
 
Complaining about hardships
Numbers 11:1, Jude 1:16
 
Consumed by the love of money
Hebrews 13:5, 1 Timothy 6:9–10, James 5:1–3
 
Coveting your neighbor’s property
Exodus 20:17, Catechism of Catholic Church 2539
 
Cursing and using profanities
Psalms 10:7, Romans 3:14, James 3:9
 
Denying Jesus as God’s Son
John 1:1 & 14, John 3:16, 1 John 5:10–12
 
Denying Jesus as the Christ
1 John 2:22, 1 John 5:10, Catechism of Catholic Church 161
 
Denying Jesus before others
Matthew 10:33, 1 John 2:22
 
Denying the resurrection of Jesus
Romans 10:9, Catechism of Catholic Church 14
 
Despising authority
2 Peter 2:10, Jude 1:8
 
Despising correction
Hebrews 12:5
 
Disobeying God’s commandments
1 John 2:3–4, Catechism of Catholic Church 2013
 
Distorting the meaning of Scripture
2 Peter 3:15–16, Galatians 1:6–8, Revelation 22:18
 
Divorce & remarriage (with some exceptions)
Matthew 19:9, Catechism of Catholic Church 2382–2386
 
Dressing indecently or immodestly
1 Timothy 2:9–10, Catechism of Catholic Church 2522
 
Dwelling on negative thoughts
Philippians 4:4–9
 
Eating or drinking blood
Leviticus 3:17, Acts 15:20
 
Engaging in senseless controversies
Proverbs 17:14, Titus 3:9, 2 Timothy 2:23
 
Enjoying evil and thinking it’s funny
Romans 12:9, Psalms 36:4
 
Ensnared by worldly ways
Mark 4:19, Luke 8:14
 
Entertaining evil desires
Colossians 3:5–6
 
Enticing others to practice witchcraft
Deuteronomy 13:6–10, Acts 13:8–12
 
Failing to accomplish God’s will
Matthew 7:21–27
 
Failing to acknowledge guilt
Jeremiah 3:13, Catechism of Catholic Church 1849–1850
 
Failing to admit that you’re a sinner
1 John 1:8–10, Catechism of Catholic Church 827
 
Failing to attend church
Hebrews 10:25, Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, Catechism of Catholic Church 2180
 
Failing to attend confession
1 John 1:9, James 5:16, Catechism of Catholic Church 1457
 
Failing to do the right thing
James 4:17
 
Failing to give God praise
Ephesians 5:19–20, Colossians 3:17
 
Failing to give God the glory
Luke 17:17–18, Romans 1:21
 
Failing to honor your father and mother
Exodus 20:12, Matthew 19:19
 
Failing to seek first the kingdom of God
2 Chronicles 7:14, Matthew 6:33
 
Failing to submit and serve the Lord
Luke 19:11–27, James 4:13–16, Ephesians 2:10
 
Failing to teach God’s Word to your children
Deuteronomy 6:5–7
 
Failing to worship God in spirit and truth
John 4:24
 
Filthy conversations
Colossians 3:8, 1 Peter 2:1
 
Following desires of the flesh
Romans 8:5–8, Galatians 5:16–24, Ephesians 2:3
 
Foolish conversations
Matthew 12:36, Ephesians 5:4
 
Fornication or premarital sex
Mark 7:21, 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8, Catechism of Catholic Church 2353
 
Fortune-telling
Deuteronomy 18:10–12, Acts 16:16–18
 
Getting drunk
Proverbs 20:1, Romans 13:13, 1 Corinthians 6:10
 
Getting entangled in worldly ways
2 Timothy 2:4, James 4:4
 
Getting involved in senseless controversies
2 Timothy 2:23, Titus 3:9
 
Gluttony and overeating
Proverbs 23:20–21, Philippians 3:19
 
Gossip and spreading lies
Romans 1:29, 1 Timothy 5:13
 
Greed and selfishness
Luke 12:15, Ephesians 4:19, Colossians 3:5–6
 
Hardness of heart
Hebrews 3:8 & 15, Ephesians 4:18
 
Harming another person’s reputation
Psalms 101:5, Mark 7:20–23, Catechism of Catholic Church 2477
 
Hating your neighbors
Proverbs 14:21, Luke 18:9
 
Holding a grudge
Colossians 3:12–13
 
Homosexuality
Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:24–28, Catechism of Catholic Church 2357
 
Husband who does not honor his wife
1 Peter 3:7, Ephesians 5:25–33
 
Idolatry
Ezekiel 16:1–42, 1 John 5:21, 1 Corinthians 10:20
 
Inviting cult members into your home
2 John 1:10–11
 
Kidnapping
Exodus 21:16
 
Lack of compassion
1 Peter 3:8
 
Lack of forgiveness
Matthew 6:14–15, Mark 11:25–26, Luke 17:4
 
Lack of love for others
1 Corinthians 13:1–7
 
Laziness
Proverbs 6:6–11, 2 Thessalonians 3:10–13
 
Letting the sun go down on your anger
Ephesians 4:26–27, Catechism of Catholic Church 2302
 
Living for pleasure
1 Timothy 5:6, James 5:5, Titus 3:3
 
Living for worldly and fleshly desires
Romans 8:6–8, Romans 13:14
 
Loving pleasure more than God
2 Timothy 3:4
 
Loving the ways of the world
1 John 2:15–17
 
Lukewarm for Jesus
Revelation 3:15–16
 
Lust
Matthew 5:27–30, Colossians 3:5–6, Catechism of Catholic Church 2351
 
Masturbation
Romans 13:14, Galatians 5:16, Catechism of Catholic Church 2352
 
Murder
Exodus 20:13, Matthew 19:18, Catechism of Catholic Church 2268
 
Neglecting the poor
Ezekiel 16:49, Matthew 25:31–46
 
Not being content with what you have
Hebrews 13:5
 
Not keeping the Sabbath’s day rest
Exodus 20:8–11, Catechism of Catholic Church 2185
 
Not living by faith
Hebrews 11:6, Romans 14:22–23, Catechism of Catholic Church 2087
 
Not loving God with all your heart
Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37
 
Not obeying governing laws
Romans 13:1–2, 1 Peter 2:13–14
 
Not paying taxes
Luke 20:25, Romans 13:6–7
 
Not producing good fruit
Matthew 3:10, Luke 13:6–9
 
Participating in evil
1 Thessalonians 5:22
 
Pornography
Matthew 5:28, James 1:14–15, Catechism of Catholic Church 2354
 
Pride
Proverbs 16:18, Luke 18:9–14, James 4:6
 
Promoting strife
Proverbs 16:28
 
Provoking your children to anger
Ephesians 6:4, Catechism of Catholic Church 2223
 
Reading New Age and metaphysical books
Colossians 2:8
 
Receiving communion in unworthy manner
1 Corinthians 11:27–30, Catechism of Catholic Church 1385
 
Reciting meaningless prayers to God
Matthew 6:7–8, Catechism of Catholic Church 2608
 
Refusing to be baptized
Luke 7:30, John 3:5, Catechism of Catholic Church 1257
 
Refusing to pray for your enemies
Matthew 5:43–44, Luke 6:27–28
 
Refusing to repent
Matthew 4:17, Luke 13:3–5, Acts 2:38
 
Rejecting God’s calling
Matthew 22:1–14, Acts 7:51
 
Rejecting the Lord’s teachings
John 12:48–49
 
Rejecting the Word of God
1 Samuel 15:23, Jeremiah 8:9, Catechism of Catholic Church 105
 
Resisting God’s discipline
Hebrews 12:7–8
 
Resisting the Holy Spirit
Acts 7:51
 
Seeking after false teachers
Matthew 24:24, 2 Timothy 4:3–4
 
Seeking signs and wonders
Matthew 16:4, Luke 11:29
 
Selfish ambitions
Philippians 2:21, James 3:16
 
Sex outside of God-approved marriage
1 Corinthians 6:15–20, Ephesians 5:3, Catechism of Catholic Church 2390
 
Smoking
Romans 13:14, 1 Peter 1:15, Catechism of Catholic Church 2290
 
Sowing discord within a family
Proverbs 6:16 & 19
 
Speaking bombastic nonsense
2 Peter 2:18
 
Spreading false information
Exodus 23:1, Catechism of Catholic Church 2477–2485
 
Stealing
Exodus 20:15, Mark 7:21–23, Catechism of Catholic Church 2408
 
Swollen with conceit
1 Timothy 3:6, 2 Timothy 3:2–4
 
Taking the Lord’s name in vain
Exodus 20:7
 
Talking too much
James 1:19, 1 Timothy 5:13
 
Tattooing marks on your body
Leviticus 19:28
 
Teaching demonic doctrines
1 Timothy 1:3–4, 4:1
 
Telling lies
John 8:44, Revelation 21:8, Catechism of Catholic Church 2483
 
Watching immorality on television
Psalms 101:3–4, Catechism of Catholic Church 1809
 
Wearing transgender clothing
Deuteronomy 22:5
 
Witchcraft
Deuteronomy 18:10–13, Exodus 22:18, Galatians 5:20
 
Withholding tithes and offerings from God
Leviticus 27:30, Malachi 3:8–10
 
Worrying about everything
Philippians 4:6
 
Worshiping angels instead of God
Colossians 2:18–19, Revelation 22:8–9
 
Worshiping false gods
Exodus 20:3, Psalms 81:9, Catechism of Catholic Church 2113
 
Worshiping graven images
Exodus 20:4–6 & 32:7–8, Deuteronomy 7:25–26

 

Notes
Excerpts from the second edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America, copyright © 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.—Libreria Editrice Vaticana. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica copyright © 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.—Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
1. Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1451, Council of Trent (1551): DS 1676 & p. 872.
2. Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1459.