Jesus ministry, when He was on this earth, consisted mainly of teaching, healing the sick, and casting out demons. Casting out demons was roughly one-third of Jesus ministry. As people were set free from demonic oppression, they were healed of blindness and inability to speak (Matthew 12:22), epilepsy (Matthew 17:14-18), being physically crippled (Luke 13:11), and mental insanity (Mark 5:5). Not all people with these types of afflictions have demonic problems, but many do. Today most churches will not even try to help these people. We send them to psychologists and doctors who try to counsel them and cure their problems with drugs.

Since the days of the early church, most ministers will not even talk about demonic bondage, let alone seek to cast out demons. In our modern world it is considered foolishness to even talk about such things, at least in civilized countries. As a result, many people are suffering from seemingly incurable physical and mental afflictions. Christian song writer Keith Green said it well when he wrote of Satan speaking the words “My job keeps getting easier, because no one believes in me anymore.”

The fact is that Jesus and his disciples spent a large portion of their hours in ministry casting out demons. This tells us that demons exist and that they can inhabit and afflict people. The Greek word describing most of these people is DAIMONIZOMAI, which literally means demonized. Not everyone who is demonized runs around screaming and attacking people. Some are depressed and consumed with guilt and shame. Some suffer from insomnia and paranoia. Many are caught in various addictions, and feel helpless to ever be able to change. Jesus said that the thief (Satan) “comes only to steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). Demons, as part of Satan’s kingdom, come to steal our peace, our health, and everything that is good in our lives. We have come to accept these afflictions as just a normal part of life.

What is particularly troubling is that Christians seem to suffer from nearly as many of these afflictions as do unbelievers. People, including ministers, are quick to point out that Christians cannot be demon possessed. I basically agree with that statement. The clarification that I would give is what I stated above: the Greek word often translated “demon possessed” would be better translated “demonized.” I believe that we humans consist of three parts: our spirit, our soul, and our body (see 1Thessalonians 5:23). One way to define these is that our body is our world consciousness, our soul is our self-consciousness, and our spirit is our God consciousness. 1Corinthians 6:17 says, “He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (KJV). If we are born again, we are one with the Lord in our spirit. There is no way that a Christian can be possessed by demons at spirit level. On the other hand, it appears from scripture and observation that demons can afflict our body and our soul. Yes, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Corinthians 6:19), but there is no way that we can say that our bodies are completely holy and or that our deeds are always righteous. Christians CAN be afflicted by demons in their souls (minds) and in their bodies. When Christians have ongoing mental and behavioral problems, it would be wise to consider whether doors have been opened to demonic spirits.

How are doors opened to demonic spirits? Scripture is not clear on this subject, but ongoing, unrepented sin seems to be the best answer. As early as Genesis 4:7, God said to Cain, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” In Exodus 20:5, after giving the Second Commandment, God implies that sins of idolatry can bring punishment to the third and fourth generation. It is possible that this might be in the form of demonic bondage. It is possible that part of the reason that sins run in families from generation to generation is because demons are passed down through those families. In witchcraft and many false religions, people openly invite demonic spirits to work in their lives. They may think that they are asking for knowledge, power and blessings, but they are actually opening themselves to spirits that want to destroy them. Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says that the word translated “sorcery” in the New Testament is the Greek word PHARMAKEIA, from which we get our English word “pharmacy.” I believe that mind-altering drugs can open us up to demons. Alcohol is often called “spirits,” because getting drunk can open us up to demonic influence. That is the bad news.

The good news is that Jesus died to break the curse of the broken law (Galatians 3:13). We can break the chain of demonic influence passed down through our families. Jesus died for all of our sins. We are forgiven and our bodies ARE the temple of the Holy Spirit. Satan and his demons no longer have a right to work in our lives. In Revelation 12:11 we are told that “they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” I believe that, when we are thinking of sinning, Satan says to God, “See, that person wants to sin. Let me go down and help him.” Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” I believe that we can “Nip the problem in the bud” if we will say when we are being tempted, “Lord, I do not want to go down this path.” This is the word of our testimony. “Lord, I claim the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of all my sins.” This is the blood of the Lamb. You might also want to say, “In Jesus name, I take back all of the ground that I have given to the enemy in this area of my life.”

When we suspect that we are already “demonized” in an area of our life, again there is good news. Jesus said in Luke 10:19,

“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy.”

 In Mark 3:15, Jesus gave his twelve disciples “authority to drive out demons.” In Luke 10:17 we are told “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’ “ In Acts 16:18 Paul said, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her.” The next sentence says, “At that hour the spirit left her.” In Acts 8:4-8 we read, “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city.” Philip was not an apostle, yet he cast demons out of many people. We should also remember what Jesus said in John 14:12,

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.”

As you can see, everyone who trusts in Jesus has authority to cast out demons. The only method of deliverance laid out in scripture is casting out demons in the name and authority of Jesus.

Some people think that only unbelievers can be demonized, and the only people for whom we should be praying for deliverance are unbelievers. I would say that the only people for whom we should pray for deliverance are believers, or those who are coming to Jesus wanting to be saved. In Matthew 12:43-45 Jesus teaches, “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through dry places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” Even though Jesus is making a point about the people of his day, I believe that his teaching concerning demons is true. If demons are cast out of someone and that person does not repent and fill their life with good, the demons can come back. An unbeliever who is delivered of demons and does not turn immediately to Jesus will be found by the demons as an empty house with a “Welcome” sign. Besides this, it is very difficult to cast demons out of an unbeliever who is not right then turning to Jesus. The demons have a right to be there.

 

So, how can we be delivered? Renounce your sins in that area of your life, and command the spirits to leave in Jesus name. In most cases, it is helpful to have a trusted, spirit-filled  brother or sister command the spirits to leave. The Lord may show you or them more areas of your life where you need to change your thinking and renounce sins. The Bible is our light. After commanding spirits to leave, just reading scriptures relating to that area of your life may cause the spirits to leave. The “sword of the Spirit is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).

We read above in the account of Philip in Samaria that the spirits came out with “shrieks.” Both the Greek for spirit (PNEUMA) and the Hebrew word (RUACH) can also mean wind or breath. It is logical that breath would be associated with the leaving of a demonic spirit from our bodies. Sometimes people scream. Sometimes they cough, or burp, or yawn, or cry. In extreme cases people may convulse. You may need to spend minutes or even hours commanding spirits to leave. This is not a waste of time. As stated in the last paragraph, the Holy Spirit will often bring to mind additional areas in a person’s life where they need to repent. Let’s look at an instance in Jesus’ ministry. In Mark 5:8 the Greek is in the present continuous tense and could be translated, “Jesus was saying to him over and over again, ‘Come out of this man, you evil spirit’ “ (See this verse in the ESV translation). Even Jesus, the Son of God, took a while casting the evil spirits out of a man. It might take us a while, but be persistent. Do not give up! From my experience, it seems that spirits try to hide so we will doubt that they are truly there. With repentance and persistence, the demons will be forced to reveal themselves. Once this happens, both you and the person for whom you are praying will know that demons are real. You will be encouraged to seek understanding, and you will keep on commanding them to leave. On the other hand, whether you see outward manifestations of demons leaving or not, believe that spirits must leave when we command them in Jesus name. You are doing damage to Satan’s kingdom, and you are setting the other person free. Trust that God’s angels are all around you, protecting you. You have authority and power in Jesus’ name!