The Believer’s

Deliverance

Handbook

7 Levels

of Demonic Involvement

& How to Minister Deliverance

David Chapman

The Believer’s Deliverance Handbook:

7 Levels of Demonic Involvement and How to Minister Deliverance

David Chapman

Printed in the United States of America.  All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.  Contents and/or cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the expressed written consent of the Publisher.

All Bible quotations are from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Copyright © 2014

TRU Publishing

P.O. Box 201

Thatcher, Arizona 85552

Table of Contents

Demonic Involvement 4

1. Regression 11

2. Repression 17

3. Suppression 23

4. Depression 28

5. Oppression 35

6. Obsession 45

7. Possession 49

How Demon Possession Occurs  57

How to Cast Out Demons  67

Demonic Involvement

When one considers the subject of demons or evil spirits, the topic usually centers on what we term “demon possession.”  However, the Bible has much to say about demons and their varying degrees of involvement with both unbelievers and believers.  The purpose for this Deliverance Handbook is to educate believers in the devices of the devil and train them in the armor of God.  I Corinthians 2:11 advises us not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices:

I Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

A person does not reach a state of demon possession overnight.  With the exception of willful dedication to Satan, it a progressive takeover. There are definite stages in which the process can be reversed.  The seven levels listed in this handbook are generally accepted by full gospel scholars such as Lester Sumrall, Derek Prince and others.

The list is in no way exhaustive of Satan's workings, neither is it dogmatic in its order. It is simply a representation of how the devil and his kingdom of darkness operate.

Consider the demonization of Judas Iscariot. He did not go from being a disciple of Jesus to becoming a demonized betrayer overnight. There were definite points of advancement in Satan's takeover of his life. The list below reveals three definite levels of demonic involvement in Judas' life:

1. Regression to earlier behavior patterns – that of stealing. John 12:6: "This [Judas] said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief." Sin opens the door for further demonic activity.

2. Oppression and obsession had set in, for he was listening to and receiving the devil's lies of betrayal. John 13:2: "And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him." At this point, total possession had not occurred.

3. Possession occurred at the last supper, when Jesus spoke of one of them betraying Him. The amazing thing is that the disciples didn't know who it was.  The 11 had not detected any abnormal behavior from Judas at all. Scripture says they were "perplexed about whom He spoke" (John 13:22). There are many who are suffering from demonic problems who appear to carry out normal everyday lives, even in the church world. Judas was about to bring the whole ministry down and no one even knew it, except Jesus. John 13:27: "Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him.”

The Works of the Flesh

Before we get into the different levels of demonic involvement, I want to look at the works of the flesh and how they affect a believer. Galatians 5:19-21 lists 17 works of the flesh and these can't be cast out; they have to be denied and crucified. However, if left undealt with, they will open the door for demonic oppression.

There are four major classifications of the works of the flesh:

4 sins of lust

2 sins of Superstition and Witchcraft

9 sins of the temper

2 sins of the appetite

1. Works of the flesh that are Lustful and Sexual in nature:

1. Adultery – Greek: moicheia, unlawful sexual relations between men and women, single or married (Mt. 5:32; Mt. 15:19; Mk. 7:21; Jn. 8:3; Gal. 5:19, Mt. 5:27-28; Mt. 19:18; Mk. 10:19; Lk. 16:18; Lk. 18:20; Jn. 8:4; Rom. 2:22; 13:9; Jas. 2:11; Rev. 2:22).

2. Fornication – Greek: porneia, same as adultery above in addition to all manner of other unlawful relations (Mt. 5:32).  This may also include the use of pornography (porneia).

3. Uncleanness – Greek: akatharsia, whatever is opposite of purity – including sodomy, homosexuality, lesbianism, pederasty, bestiality, and all other forms of  sexual perversion (Mt. 23:27; Rom. 1:21-32; Rom. 6:19; 2 Cor. 12:21; Eph. 4:19;  Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5; 1 Th. 2:3; 1 Th. 4:7; 2 Pet. 2; Jude)

4. Lasciviousness – Greek: aselgeia, licentiousness, lustfulness, unchastity, and lewdness (Mk. 7:22; 2 Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 4:19; 1 Pet. 4:3; Jude 4); wantonness (Rom. 13:13; 2 Pet. 2:18); filthy (2 Pet. 2:7). Lasciviousness is the promoting or partaking of that which tends to produce lewd emotions, anything tending to foster sex sin and lust.

2. Works of the flesh that are Witchcraft and Superstitious in nature:

5. Idolatry – Greek: eidololatreia, image-worship (1 Cor. 10:14; Gal. 5:20; Col. 3:5; 1 Pet. 4:3). Idolatry includes anything on which affections are passionately set; extravagant admiration of the heart (Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:5).

6. Witchcraft – Greek: pharmakeia, (This word gives us our English word: Pharmacy)  sorcery, practice of dealing with evil spirits; magical incantations and casting  spells and charms upon one, including by means of drugs (this is not only illegal, but can be over the counter or prescribed drugs) and potions of various kinds (Rev. 9:21; Rev.  18:23; Rev. 21:8; Rev. 22:15; Lk. 12:29).

3. Works of the flesh that are related to Temper:

7. Hatred – Greek: echthra, (Lk. 23:12; Rom. 8:7; Eph. 2:15-16; Jas. 4:4). Bitter dislike, abhorrence, malice, and ill-will against anyone; tendency to hold grudges against or be angry at someone.

8. Variance – Greek: eris, (Rom. 1:29). Dissensions, discord, quarreling, debating, and disputes.

9. Emulations – Greek: zeloi, envies, jealousies; striving to excel at the expense of another; seeking to surpass and outdo others; uncurbed rivalry spirit in religion, business, society, and other fields of endeavor. Zeal (Jn. 2:17; Rom. 10:2; 2 Cor.  7:11; 2 Cor. 7:1; 2 Cor. 9:2; Phil. 3:6; Col. 4:13), fervent mind (2 Cor. 7:7), envy 2 (Acts 13:45; Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor. 3:3; 2 Cor. 12:20; Jas. 3:14-15), jealousy (2 Cor.  11:2); indignation (Acts 5:17; Heb. 10:27), and emulation (Gal. 5:20).

10. Wrath – Greek: thumos, turbulent passions; domestic and civil turmoils; rage; indignation; determined and lasting anger.  (Lk. 4:28; Acts 19:28; 2 Cor. 12:20; Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8; Heb.  11:27; Rev. 12:12; Rev. 14:8-19; Rev. 15:1-7; Rev. 16:1; Rev. 18:3), (Rom. 2:8), and fierceness (Rev. 16:19; Rev. 19:15).

11. Strife – Greek: eritheia, strife (2 Cor. 12:20; Phil. 2:3; Jas. 3:14-16), Contention (Phil.  1:16; Rom. 2:8). Disputations; jangling, strife about words; angry contentions;  contest for superiority or advantage; strenuous endeavor to equal or pay back in  kind the wrongs done to one.

12. Seditions – Greek: dichostasia, divisions (Rom. 16:17; 1 Cor. 3:3) seditions, parties, and factions (Gal. 5:20). Popular disorder; stirring up strife in religion, government, home, or any other place.

13. Heresies – Greek: hairesis, (Acts 5:17), a choosing, hence, a sect. The word itself has no evil meaning. It refers to a doctrinal view or belief at variance with the recognized and accepted tenets of a system, church, or party. It only takes on an evil meaning when sound doctrine is rejected and fallacy is accepted and taught in preference to truth.

14. Envyings – Greek: phthonoi, Pain, ill-will, and jealousy at the good fortune or blessing of another; the most base of all degrading and disgraceful passions.  (Mt. 27:18; Mk. 15:10; Rom. 1:29; Phil. 1:15; 1 Tim.  6:4; Tit. 3:3; Jas. 4:5; 1 Pet. 2:1).

15. Murders – Greek: phonoi, (Mt. 15:18) to kill; to spoil or mar the happiness of another; hatred (1 Jn. 3:15).

4. Works of the flesh that are related to Appetite:

16. Drunkenness – Greek: methai, (Lk. 21:34; Rom. 13:13). Living intoxicated; a slave to drink; drinking bouts.

17. Revellings – Greek – komoi, (1 Pet. 4:3) rioting (Rom. 13:13) Lascivious and boisterous feastings, with obscene music, and other sinful activities; pleasures; carousing.

Seven Levels of Demonic Involvement

This is the list of the seven levels of demonic involvement:

1. Regression

2. Repression

3. Suppression

4. Depression

5. Oppression

6. Obsession

7. Possession

The first four levels of demonic involvement (regression, repression, suppression, and depression) do not require deliverance ministry as we have come to know it—the actual casting out of demons. These first four levels are very subtle in form and often undetected.

However, demon powers are at work in these first four levels in a large scale way.  Millions of Christians are defeated in these very areas. The deliverance ministry of Jesus is indeed needed in these cases, but it is practically applied upon one's self through the whole armor of God and the weapons of the Holy Spirit.

Before we begin this study, I want to reiterate that we are in no way "fighting to get the victory." We are   FIGHTING   FROM   THE   PLACE   OF VICTORY! Jesus already defeated the devil; our role is to demonstrate his defeat.

1. Regression

The first level of demonic involvement against a believer is that of regression. To regress means: “To go backward, to not press forward; to revert to an earlier behavior pattern.”

As Christians, we're in a Battle Zone. This zone does not permit us to remain stationary. We are either going forward or backward all the time. Some do not understand this and think that as long as they're not committing any gross sin, that they are all right. This is known as the Comfort Zone. Those in the comfort zone are actually prisoners of war, and they don't even know it.  Their comfort is only a figment of their imagination. As long as we are in this earth suit called flesh, we are called to fight the good fight!

Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul at the end of his life:

2 Timothy 4:6-7

The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

A good fight is one that you win! When I lost a fight as a boy, it was not a good fight. God has called us to win. Prisoners of war are not fighting the good fight; they are taken captive by the enemy. They are of no use to God and are no threat to the devil.  Notice that Paul said he was ready to depart to be with the Lord. Some people think that heaven is the promise land, sweet Canaan; many of the old hymns have taught us that. But how could heaven be Canaan when the Bible says that there are enemy giants in Canaan. No, right here and now is our promise land. We have to fight the good fight until the time of our departure, then our fighting is over, glory to God!

Another term for regression is lukewarm. When you are lukewarm, you are neither hot nor cold. God actually says that He would rather a person be cold than lukewarm!  If one persists in being lukewarm, look what God said He would do to them:

Revelation 3:15-16

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth.

Many have been deceived by Satan into regression and lukewarmness. He has duped many believers back into earlier behavior patterns, patterns that do not come from within (the hidden man of the heart), but from a conformity to the world (see Rom. 12:2). The Word tells us that it is the little foxes that spoil the vine (Song 2:15). When we allow the "little things" from our past creep back into our lives, it is an open door for the larger things. As Christians, we like to categorize sins. We place murder, adultery, stealing and drunkenness up at the top. But like Saul of Tarsus, the Pharisee, we can abstain from all of that without much difficulty. Then he read, "Thou shalt not covet" and Paul said, "Sin deceived me" (Rom. 7:7-11).

Many today are allowing sin to deceive them. They do not even realize that the power of God is waning from their life. Like Samson, they are flirting with the world and abusing the anointing of God in their lives. Three times in Judges 14 and 15 we read that "the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson" (14:6, 19; 15:14). He was doing mighty works by the anointing of God.  But Satan’s assignment is to entice:

Judges 16:4-5

Now afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, "Entice him and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him and afflict him.

There is an all-out attack from Satan against those with the anointing of God upon their lives.  He entices God's servants with the “three G's”:

1. The Glory

2. The Gold

3. The Girls

If you examine the recent collapses of major ministries, you will find these three allurements at the center. Satan's methods have never changed. He uses the same bait as he did six thousand years ago.

In Judges 16, we read once again of three supernatural feats, only this time it does not say, "The Spirit of the Lord came upon Him." The anointing was gone; all that remained was the lingering Spirit for the purpose of repentance (see Psalm 51:10-12). Samson was mistaking the Holy Spirit's lingering presence, for the purpose of repentance, for the anointing for the supernatural.  He was squandering God's holy presence on feats that were more suited for a side show! He was playing with Delilah.

Satan's attacks for the purpose of regression are relentless. "And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death" (Judges 16:16). Do not try to hold on to the world with one hand and God with the other. It is hard to live easy for God, but it is easy to live hard for Him!

Some have regressed to the point that they don't even know the Holy Spirit's anointing has lifted from their life. They have been too busy amusing themselves with the attractions of this world. One day Samson came to a rude awakening:

Judges 16:20-21

And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!"  But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.

This is one of the saddest stories in the entire Bible. I am not saying that all who regress will end up in this destitute condition.  My warning is, when you're playing games with God, flirting with the world, there comes a point where you don't realize your true spiritual condition. At that point, Satan may already have his hook in your jaw.

Samson presumed that he would go out and shake himself as before and the power of God would come. When the anointing is gone, the old formulas don't work!

The LORD had already departed from him, including the remnants of what once was. Samson was not a muscular man as some portray. If he had looked like Mr. Universe, they would have known where his power was coming from. His strength was not in his hair, but in the covenant it symbolized. Without the anointing, he was an ordinary man. Don't ever begin to think that you are incapable of falling.

They put out Samson’s eyes. The losing wrestler in the Greek wrestling matches that Paul wrote about in Ephesians 6:12 had their eyes gouged out. There was no discernment left in Samson's life, now he had lost his physical eyes as well.

He was bound and made a grinder in the prison.  He had gone from being a mighty champion for God to becoming a prisoner to his enemies. It all began with regressing and taking his affections off of Yahweh.

Regression is not a stronghold, but a foothold. However, a stronghold begins with a foothold. Ephesians 4:27 says, "Give no place [opportunity] to the devil" If you give the devil an inch, he will take a mile. Satan is very subtle; it can all begin with missing a couple of church services, or missing your time of morning prayer. After the first few times, it gets easier and easier to miss.

Ask the Holy Spirit right now if there is any area in which you have regressed and given the devil place. Ask God for forgiveness and do a 180 degree turnabout! Don't let another day go by in this backward condition!

2. Repression

The second level of demonic involvement is repression.  To be repressed means:  “To be hindered or restrained from spiritual expression (e.g., joy, praise, tongues, witnessing, etc.), literally, to squeeze."

Satan desires to hinder freedom of expression in a Christian's life, for he knows that the believer's freedom of expression is an expression of freedom! The devil knows the great deposit of power placed in the believer's spirit; he desires to hold that back from manifestation. He wants to squeeze upon the Christian and hold him back in defeat. Satan's methods of repression begin early in life as he tries to repress our God given personalities.

With some people, shyness or timidity is a small part of their makeup, but with others, it controls and dominates them; they have no ability to open up in a relationship and be themselves. This is a tormenting existence. Some are stricken with fear around new people or unfamiliar surroundings. Those who are extroverted in their personality cannot understand what it feels like to be in this inner prison, wanting to come out, yet feeling bound. Listen to what 2 Timothy 1:7 says:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear [timidity], but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

This spirit of fear or timidity does not come from God. It is not a part of your God-given personality. Therefore, if it is not from God, and it is a spirit, it must be from the devil.  Now let's read this same verse from the Amplified Bible:

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity – of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear--but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

Paul was writing this to Timothy, who because of his young age was drawing back from his calling and repressing the gifts of God in him. Paul told him in the previous verse (v 6) to stir up the gift of God in him. Timothy had allowed Satan to falsely accuse him because of his inexperience. He had begun to hold back the full expression of what God had called him to be. With repression comes shame (v 8) because of the knowledge one has of not doing the will of God.

It will not be long after one has regressed that repression begins to manifest. Listen to the sad words of the Psalmist concerning Israel's captivity to Babylon:

Psalm 137:1, 4

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion… How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a foreign land?

Repression steals your song; it robs you of the freedom you once knew in Christ. Inwardly you weep because you know where you should be. You remember Zion and its freedom and joy, but now that seems a million miles away. Such is the case when one is under the spirit of repression.

Like being by the rivers of Babylon brought only sadness, there is a link between repression and our environment. Have you ever been in a place where you felt bound, not free in the spirit? This is an indication and symptom of demonic activity. I have been in homes, churches, and entire cities and experienced this. This is a form of repression. Repression is difficult to put your finger on many times because you may not know where it's coming from. Other times, the source is quite obvious.

Many people live in an environment of negativity; this itself can cause repression to attack a person. When a person is around someone that is constantly negative, cynical or critical, it has an effect upon the spirit. This type of environment represses the victory of God in a person. This is produced by the transference of spirits.  As a pastor, I have walked into homes — of Christians – and felt this spirit there so strongly you could cut it with a knife. Then they wonder why they're not receiving their healing. God is not free to move in an environment like that.

A person can only be around bitter water so long before it starts to affect them and contaminate the sweet water. Our life is like a fountain that springs forth from the inner-most man. James asks the question: Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? (James 3:11).

If God has placed sweet water in you, don't jeopardize it by yielding to the bitter. If you give place to bitterness, envy and self-seeking then the sweet water of God's presence is going to be repressed.  James carries through with this thought by saying:

James-3:15-16

This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there.

Notice the progression of activities unto a demonic state. No one starts out this way, but this is where it leads.  First, earthly;  second, sensual (Lit. "soulish"); Finally, demonic.

1. Earthly

2. Sensual

3. Demonic

Also note the use of the words "where" and "there." James says that where this bitter water is, there is confusion and every evil thing in that place. Confusion is another symptom of repression. Confusion makes the mind feel that it is being "squeezed upon."

Paul had an experience with repression in Acts chapter 16. Verse 16 says, “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us.” The Greek word for "divination" is "Pythos," the same word that we get "python" from.  She literally had the spirit of python and it was controlling the whole city. A python does not bite its victims; instead it wraps itself around the victim and gradually squeezes the life out of them. Remember, repress means to squeeze upon.

This girl followed Paul's ministry team for several days, undetected. She was saying all the right words: “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us  the  way  of salvation” (v 17).   Yet Paul was grieved and repressed in his spirit. Still, he could not put his finger on it in the natural. This spirit of python was squeezing upon his ministry team gradually, trying to suck the life out of them before they realized what hit them. This type of activity goes on in churches all the time. As a matter of fact, it is often a requirement in Satanic orders to be a member of a church, to infiltrate and work havoc from within.

Finally, the gift of discerning of spirits manifested through Paul and he  dealt directly  with  the problem:

Acts 16:18

And this she did for many days.  But Paul, greatly annoyed , turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour.

Due to this deliverance, after a short time of persecution, the city opened up to revival! If you are going through a time of repression, a time of squeezing, a time of hindrance, ask God for the gift of discerning of spirits. This may be for you individually, for your church, or for your city. Write down what God shows you and begin to take authority in the spirit realm. Command the spirit of python to loose your mind, your home, your church, and your city!

The Lord will also reveal areas in which you have given the devil place.  This requires repentance and cleansing. When washing Peter's feet, Jesus said, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me" (John 13:8). Peter responded by telling Jesus to wash his hands and face too. But Jesus said, "He who is bathed [clean] needs only to wash his feet" (v 10). You don't need to get saved all over again, just get free from the contamination that has defiled and repressed.

3. Suppression

The third level of demonic involvement is that of suppression. To suppress means: “To bury or suppress, especially in regards to hurts and wounds (unforgiveness), allowing it to fester and spread.”

So many Christians fail to guard their heart in the area of forgiveness. Unforgiveness is one of the biggest tools of Satan in defeating a Christian. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life." Satan wants to get us in strife with another brother or sister in Christ. As Christians, we have to continually check our hearts to see if we are walking in love. Some want to say that they're walking by faith, but faith  works  by  love (Galatians 5:6).  The Greek word for “love” is agape, which means “the unconditional love of God.”

Listen to some of the attributes of agape love as found in I Corinthians chapter 13:

Longsuffering (v 4)

Kind (v 4)

Not envious (v 4)

Does not parade itself (v 4)

Is not puffed up (v 4)

Is not rude (v 5)

Is not self-centered (v 5)

Is not provoked (v 5)

Thinks no evil (v 5)

Does not rejoice at others’ sin (v 6)

Rejoices in the Truth (v 6)

Bears all things (v 7)

Believes all things (v 7)

Endures all things (v 7)

Agape Love never fails (v 8)

Satan is constantly attacking this testimony of Christian love. For Jesus said, "By this [love] all will know that you are My disciples" (John 13:35). A believer must protect his spirit from allowing anything in that  would  defile  and suppress the spirit. Proverbs 18:14 says: The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? (KJV).

In other words, protect your spirit and your spirit will protect you. A spiritual wound is subject to infection (unclean spirits) if not properly cleansed, just like a physical  wound.  This cleansing  is  accomplished primarily through forgiveness. If the spirit is protected, it has the ability to heal any hurt or rejection that comes against the believer. However, when the hurt is meditated upon and mulled over – when there has been no forgiveness released to the other party – it opens up the spirit for infection. Though the born again spirit cannot produce sin (I John 3:9), it can be defiled by it:

2 Corinthians 7:1

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

When bitterness is harbored in the spirit it can leave devastating effects upon the spirit, soul, and even body of a person. Hebrews 12:15 says that the root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble and defilement to many. I personally know of many incidents of bitterness  causing  physical sickness and disease. James 5:15-16 speaks of receiving healing and confessing your faults and receiving forgiveness of sin all in the same context.  Solomon wrote, "A wounded spirit who can bear?" Its effects are far reaching. Some, knowing the root of their problem, still refuse to let go. Satan has infected that wound to the point that they would rather die in that condition than to forgive and be healed.

A person  suffering  from   suppression   often manifests  a  spirit  of  rejection.  From their perception, they are a victim in every incident. They do not bear a consciousness of their own responsibility and accountability before God. As long as these wounds and offenses are suppressed and buried within an  individual,  Satan  will continually poke at them through rejection.

This can be illustrated by the proverbial stone in the shoe. Hurt, unforgiveness and rejection are all the stone. It is constantly felt and constantly has a crippling influence. Denial says that there must be something wrong with the path – it does not want to look inward.  They are always changing jobs, changing churches, even changing spouses, trying to find the right path. The problem is not the path but the stone in the shoe, or the unforgiveness and rejection within. When this is dealt with, God's path for that person's life becomes a joy.

Once the protective system of the spirit has been torn down and the spirit has become wounded, one loses rule of his spirit.  Proverbs 25:28 says, "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls." The person becomes broken down without walls of protection. Then it becomes a matter of falling right into Satan's trap. One erects the false walls of self-rejection to protect an already wounded spirit. This is Satan's counterfeit of the spirit's protection. A person begins to reject people before they have a chance to be rejected. However, these same false walls the keep further hurt from coming in also keep out the healing that God tries to send.

This root of bitterness that Hebrews 12:15 said would spring up and cause trouble, will be like a magnet drawing trouble and further hurt unto itself. The walls of self-rejection cannot truly protect a person. Jesus told a parable about an unforgiving servant (Matt. 18:21-35). This man was forgiven much by the king, but he responded by holding a grudge against someone that owed him just a little. He had that man thrown into prison. When the king heard about it, he had the unforgiving servant delivered to the tormenters. Unforgiveness is a prison house of torment.

Jesus said that He came "to heal the broken hearted" (Luke 4:18). You may not be able to set yourself free from this prison of unforgiveness and rejection, but the anointing of God will break the yoke (Isaiah 10:27)! But the anointing can't flow and break the yoke until forgiveness is extended. As long as you are regarding or retaining iniquity in your heart, the Lord will not hear you (see Psalm 66:18). Listen to the words of Jesus as He was teaching on receiving from God:

Mark 11:25 Amplified Bible

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop – leave it, let it go – in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.

If you have been wounded or hurt deeply in the past, there are no magic formulas for healing. Healing may come like peeling an onion, undoing layer after layer. Some have suppressed and buried things so deep and for so long that they don't even acknowledge their influence anymore. But know this, if you haven't forgiven and let go, it's still hanging on! Burying things within doesn't make them go away.

I'm not talking about healing of the memories or any of the other inner healing techniques either. I'm talking about letting the Holy Spirit lead you through a time of repentance for walking in unforgiveness and a time of forgiveness toward all that have wronged you – releasing and letting go. Letting the anointing come in and break every yoke!

Forgiveness and healing is waiting at the feet of Jesus. Receive deliverance from all of the infections of your open wounds. Scars will remain, but they will only serve to remind you of the power of God that delivered you.

4. Depression

The fourth level of demonic involvement is that of depression. To be depressed means: “To deviate from your God-even personality and spiral downward in despair and hopelessness.”

Occasional, temporary depression tries to attack most people. Moses got discouraged and asked God to kill him (Numbers 11:14-15); he said, "The burden is too heavy for me." Elijah had a pity party under the juniper tree; he too asked God to kill him: "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life" (I Kings 19:4). Jonah too said, "It is better for me to die than to live," as he sat under a gourd (Jonah 4:8). These were all mighty prophets of God, but still human just like us. I would say that asking God to kill you was an attack of depression, wouldn't you?

Have you ever felt that the burden was too heavy, or that you had indeed had enough and couldn't take anymore, or that it was better for you to die than to live? These three men of God all made it through their temporary depression, though we're not quite sure what happened to Jonah. Depression causes you to see things differently from what they really are. It causes you to see everything in a negative light, adding with it the emotions of despair. And while this type of depression tries to attack all of us at times, there are some that constantly   live   under   the   dark   cloud   of hopelessness and despair. For them depression is a way of life.

It is easy to understand how an unbeliever can suffer from depression, for there is no hope in Christ. Yet as the examples of Moses, Elijah and Jonah showed us, it can happen to children of God as well. While theirs was temporary, many others do not resist the devil, and allow depression to become a way of life. They accept depression as if it is a natural and normal part of their lives. It is neither natural nor normal; the Bible identifies it as a spirit! Isaiah 61:3 calls it a "spirit of heaviness."

It is evident that one’s status in life has no bearing upon this terrible state. Many who are rich and famous suffer terribly from depression. Suicide rates for movie stars and rock stars are proportionately high. All of the exterior things that we think will make us happy only further the emptiness within. Proverbs 14:12-13 says, "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Even in laughter the heart may sorrow."

I can personally identify with these verses. Before I came to Christ, I sought happiness through drugs and alcohol. I would smile and laugh like everyone else at the parties, but inside, my heart was sorrowful.  I took the drugs to  escape  my depression, but they only brought me to a further depressed state. Thoughts of suicide constantly barraged me. I felt there was no reason to live. My depression caused me to hate myself. I felt like I was in a black hole and there was no way of escape. When Christ saved me, I was at the end of my rope. Praise God! He filled me with His love! For the first time in my life I felt peace, love and joy! I have much sympathy for those who are in a depressed state. I know what it feels like, but like me, you can be free!

I would like to be able to say that I have never had another depressing moment, but that would be lying. I am still human, and as a preacher, I too, like Elijah, have went and sat under my “juniper tree” and had a pity party. However, when you experientially know the truth (see John 8:32), it will prevail against the darkness trying to beset you!

There is such a thing as a demon of self-pity. God has given me an entire message on this subject. This demon carries a message of self-preservation. Christ said "lose yourself," but this spirit says "save yourself." It was this type of demon that had been assigned to stop Jesus from going to Calvary and dying. This demon of self-pity even used one of Jesus' disciples to try to stop him:

Matthew 16:22-23

Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen  to  you  [Greek: "Pity yourself")!" But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are  an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.

Jesus was rebuking Satan himself, not Peter. The devil was trying to get Jesus to pity himself and not go to the cross. Jesus immediately recognized this attack and put Satan to flight. Self-pity is never mindful of the things of God, it caters to the flesh and self. Those who entertain the demon of self-pity never do anything for God; they are too busy trying to find it in their hearts to "forgive God" for the bad deal He has given them. Their life revolves around themselves, therefore there is no time to help others and serve God. In verse 24 Jesus gave the cure for self-pity:

1. Let him deny himself

2. And take up his cross

3. And follow Me

Unto the end, Satan was trying to get Jesus to reject the Father's will of dying on the cross. Even while on the cross, Satan was screaming "Save Yourself!" (see Matt. 27:40). Jesus rejected the demon of self-pity at every turn. Jesus did not come to save Himself, but to save the world. But for Him to save you, you first must lose yourself:  "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matt. 16:25).

Depression, self-pity and heaviness are spirits, to deal with them in the natural is to ignore the root. Isaiah 61:3 tells us what to do with the spirit of heaviness; it tells us to "put on the garment of praise" in its place! The garment of praise is something that must be "put on." God is not going to do it for you. A depressed person might say, "I don't feel like praising the Lord." That is why he stays depressed – he is ruled entirely by his feelings. As long as the spirit of depression is tolerated, it will remain. Some are what is called manic depressive. When they are up, they are all the way up. But when they are down, they are all the way down. I have witnessed many Christians in this place of defeat. For these people, praise must become a lifestyle. Depression and praise cannot co-exist together.

With depression, a person is still at a level where he can free himself through the power of praise. One thing that depression has been designed for is to steal the praise that belongs to God. Deep within, our  spirit  longs  to  praise  God  and fellowship with Him. Depression clouds out the wonderful things God has done for us and casts despair over our lives. Without a praise oriented life, a person is prey to the spirit of depression. Hebrews 13:15 says to offer up the "sacrifice of praise." It must begin as an act of faith, for with depression, trusting God is really a huge factor. At the core of a Christian's depression is his inability to trust God. We know what Romans 8:28 says in our head, but it must get into our heart.  God will work all things together for our good!

People in depression often enter a shutdown mode where they cease to care about anything. Their family, their career, even their relationship with God – they are all casualties of depression. This high level of depression is an open door for further demonic activity in an individual, for our passivity is all the devil needs to begin to oppress.

Lying spirits operate strongly in the area of depression.  Revelation 12:10 calls Satan “the accuser of the brethren." Remember, the devil is the father of lies (John 8:44). The only way he can defeat a Christian is through lies. What did he do with Eve? Deceive. What did he do with Job? Accuse. The devil lies to convince the child of God that God doesn't love him and that the Word won't work for him. Revelation 12:11 tells us how to overcome the accuser. It gives us three steps that I believe will also break the spirit of depression off of a Christian's life:

1. Overcome by the blood of the Lamb. The blood of Jesus is given  as  protection  and deliverance for you. Plead the blood whenever attacked with depression, and command it to leave!

2. By the word of their testimony. You've got to begin to change your confession from negative to positive, from the lies of Satan to the Word of God. The Word is the sword of the Spirit when spoken from our spirit out of the mouth!

3. By loving not their lives to the death. This is the part most people leave out when quoting this verse. You've got to stop feeling sorry for yourself. Self-pity is destructive; it never accomplishes any good for the Kingdom of God. Some people say, "I hate myself… I'm so ugly." That isn't true, if you hated yourself, you'd be glad you were ugly. I say that in humor because you've got to begin to laugh at yourself and see things clearly. Right now, put on the garment of praise and begin to rejoice before God and watch sorrow and depression flee away!

Deliverance Ministry

The final three stages of demon activity: oppression; obsession; and possession, need some type of deliverance ministry outside of the individual.  Though there are certain types of oppression that one can free himself of. Isaiah 10:27 says that it's the anointing that breaks the yoke. If we are dealing with a person who has walked with Christ in the past, then much ground has been given up to Satan. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:22-24:

The lamp of the body is the eye, if therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad   [margin: evil or unhealthy], your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Before we look at the three levels individually, let me say this: it is quite common to find a Christian oppressed in some area – not normal, but common. It is quite rare to find a Christian who is obsessed, that is, driven by compulsive behavior. You will never find a true Christian who is demon possessed. Possession means ownership and God owns the Christian, not the devil. However, in the realm of oppression and obsession, there will quite often be demonic manifestations during deliverance.

5. Oppression

Oppression   is   the   fifth   level   of demonic involvement. To be oppressed means: “To crush or overwhelm, to overpower in the physical, mental or emotional realm.”

The Physical Realm

Let us begin our study on oppression by discussing the most visible form of oppression, that of physical sickness and disease. This is a category of Satan's work all to itself. Jesus spent about one-third of his time during his earthly ministry healing the sick (see Matt. 9:35). He considered sickness to be the work of the devil and militantly and powerfully opposed it!

All disease has its origin with sin and Satan. By "origin" I mean tracing it back to Adam, not necessarily personal sin, though that may also be an issue. While all disease finds its origin with sin and Satan, some has direct involvement with demon power, and in fact needs cast out.

Through the discernment of the Holy Spirit, Jesus always knew how to deal with each case. He knew whether it was demonically related or not, and ministered accordingly. He would cast out deaf spirits  and  dumb  spirits (see  Matt.   9:32-33: 12:22), but not with all who were deaf and dumb. This is not to say that all of the afflictions were not of the devil, for the Bible says that Jesus came for the express purpose of destroying the devil's works:

1 John 3:9

For  this  purpose  the  Son  of  God  was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

There are certain diseases that I would more readily classify as demonic. Cancer is one of them. Cancer is a totally destructive force that steals, kills and destroys. I am not saying that in each case that the cancer is definitely a demon, but I believe that to be true with a large number of the cases (again, I’m not saying that the person with cancer is demon-possessed). Whether a demon is directly involved or not, spiritual warfare is required in all cases of cancer. The Holy Spirit is able   to   grant   supernatural   knowledge   and discernment in how to pray for all diseases. He must be relied upon for guidance.

There is one case in the Gospels that we can glean much insight from concerning the physically oppressed. It is found in Mark chapter 9:

Mark 9:17-18, 28-29

Then one from the multitude answered and said "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever he seizes him, he throws him down; and he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast him out, but they could not." ... And when He had come into  the  house,  His  disciples  asked  Him privately, "Why could we not cast him out?" So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

This boy was tormented by demons. He had a deaf and mute spirit, and also a demon of epilepsy (v 25). The demon would actually throw his body down in seizures and cause great personal injury to him. The disciples, the nine that weren't on the mount of transfiguration with Jesus, tried but couldn't cast the demons out. They were so busy releasing the power that they forgot to stay connected to the Power Source. Jesus cast the deaf, mute and epileptic demons out and the disciples wanted to know why they could not. Jesus said, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting." In other words, spiritual warfare must precede the actual deliverance. When dealing with demon powers that are manifesting as physical diseases, it takes more than a little prayer of faith. It takes spiritual warfare through prayer and fasting.

The anointing of the Holy Spirit is available to minister to all that are physically oppressed of the devil. Sickness and disease are from the devil, they are in no way, shape or form from God! If they were then Jesus was out of the will of God by healing the sick. Twenty-three times in the gospels it declares in one way or another that JESUS HEALED THEM ALL! There were times when Jesus would heal an individual in the midst of a crowd, but it cannot be found where Jesus turned one person away for healing.

Acts 10:38

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, Who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

The same Holy Spirit is anointing believers today to do the same works as Jesus (John 14:12). If you are not in a church that teaches this then move out into a place that preaches a healing Jesus. God cannot move where the Holy Spirit is quenched.  Jesus will still heal today, all who are oppressed of the devil.

There was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for 18 years; she was bent over and in a hopeless situation (Luke 13:11-16).   Often, a spirit of infirmity moves throughout the body with chronic pain and/or maladies. Jesus told this woman that she was loosed from her infirmity! After the religious people had their theological fit, Jesus said to them: “So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” (Luke 13:16).

Jesus says the same thing to you today.  Isn't it time you were loosed?

The Mental Realm

The mind is the most common  area  of oppression. The mind is a battlefield. The mind must be renewed to God's Word (Rom. 12:2). As a man thinks in his heart, so he is (Prov.23:7). A stronghold in the mind is a level of demonic oppression. It is a demonically induced pattern of thinking. Let's examine II Corinthians 10:3-5:

II Corinthians 10:3-5 (KJV)

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself  against  the  knowledge  of  God,  and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

As with depression, oppression can be on a temporary basis. It does not have to be of a permanent nature.  I believe all Christians are attacked in this area at one time or another. The fiery darts of the enemy come against all of God's children. Though we shouldn't, there are times that we vacate our spiritual armor. Satan seizes these opportunities to attack the mind. New born babes in Christ are especially prone to these attacks.

When I was first saved, I was on cloud nine. The first week was like heaven on earth. I didn't even know the devil was anywhere in the picture. He stood for all that was in my past. I thought our relations were over, terminated. One night while lying upon my bed thinking of the blessings of God and all that He'd done for me, blasphemous words came pouring into my mind, blaspheming God and cursing His name. I was paralyzed in fear. Why would I be having such thoughts I reasoned. It totally devastated me. I spent the rest of the night asking God to forgive me, not realizing that the words and thoughts  weren't my  own.  I  was determined to never let that happen again. Over the next month it did happen on a continued basis.

I gained a little insight into where it was coming from, but still felt helpless. No one was teaching me about my authority in Christ. One Baptist preacher told me that it was all in my head. Well, he was partially right; my head is where the battle was taking place. But I needed some knowledge on how to win the battle. One night, after one of these attacks,  I  called  a  prayer  line  and  told  the counselor of my situation. This lady prayed for me in the authority of Jesus' name and the power of the Holy Spirit. Immediately, it was like liquid fire going through my whole being. I was free! Satan did try to come back in this area, but each time the thoughts would come, the fire of the Holy Spirit would come over me and drive it out! Praise God, I did learn my authority in Christ, but I still have to put the devil in remembrance of that fact when he throws his fiery darts.

Mental oppression is like a vise grip upon the mind, squeezing the mind beyond what's bearable. Stress is a major cause of health and mental problems. In our fast-paced, complicated, highly pressurized   society,   stress   is   becoming   a formidable enemy. Financial pressures are a major problem and drive people to do unethical and immoral things. The Bible says: "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:7-8). Who are the ones that Satan can devour? The ones who aren't casting their cares and anxieties over to God.

Satan likes to attack the mind because he knows the principle of sowing and reaping:

Sow a thought... Reap an action.

Sow an action... Reap a habit.

Sow a habit... Reap a destiny.

Emotional Realm

Split personalities are a big problem in the mental health arena. People have the ability to be emotionally complex. Feelings and emotions are the most changeable force in one’s life. Anything that has the capacity to fluctuate as much as emotion is a certain target of the devil. Early on in the Christian walk, we must learn to walk by faith, not by our feelings.

Promiscuity is a major cause of emotional oppression. God made us to have one mate. To join physically with another person is to join spiritually as well. The personality becomes like a jig saw puzzle, with pieces broken off everywhere. This brings us to the matter of soul ties. The soul is the personality. When we mate or have close associations with emotionally unstable people, we are making ties in the soul realm. Why is it that a woman can get out of an abusive relationship and go out and find another man just like him? She has a soul tie to that type of personality. The blood of Jesus can break that tie!

Fear is another emotion that is oppressive. I John 4:18 says, "Fear has torment." Fear is False-Evidence-Appearing-Real. Fear is not rational; if it was, we would all fear the same thing. Fear can have a paralyzing affect upon a person. It is like a magnet that draws unto a person the very thing they are fearful of. Job said, "For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me" (Job 3:25).

Fear was not given by God into the personality of man. Fear came in with the fall of Adam. When God came into the garden after the fall, Adam and Eve were stricken with fear (Gen. 3:10). Fear is a direct result of sin. It was the first sign that man was separated from God. This is why Satan still likes to place fear on people today – it robs us of true fellowship with God. It has been said that there are 365 "Fear not's" in the Bible – one for every day of the year.  I could not verify this, however, even if there was just one, it would be enough to cover us for every day of the year. When we receive Christ, fear is to have no longer place in us, for it is a sign of separation from God. In Christ, we are one with the Father through the Spirit of adoption:

Romans 8:15

You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

Fear is bondage, just ask anyone who is bound by it. Medical science has listed over 40 fears or phobias  ("phobos" is one of the Greek words translated fear in the N.T.) which include:

Algophobia: fear of pain

Androphobia: fear of men

Autophobia: fear of being alone

Demophobia: fear of crowds

Ergasiophobia: fear of responsibility

Gamophobia: fear of marriage

Gynephobia: fear of women

Pantophobia: fear of the future

Peccatiphobia: fear of committing social errors

Scotophobia: fear of the dark

God hasn't given us the spirit of fear (II Tim. 1:7). The Bible says, "Perfect love casts out fear" (I John 4:18). Let God's perfect love for your life deliver you from all fear today!

Religious Oppression

Before closing this section on oppression, I must add that it is possible to be religiously oppressed. Not only is it possible, but millions of professing Christians are oppressed with religion, not to mention the billions who are in false religions. Paul wrote that there would be a great falling away in the last days (II Thes. 2:3). Numerous mainline denominations have denied the faith.   Some are ordaining homosexuals and performing same-sex marriages. It is an abomination in the eyes of God.

The more subtle form of this oppression however is through the tradition of men that makes the Word of God of no effect (Mark 7:13). Listen to what Paul told Timothy about the times in which we are now living:

I Timothy 4:1

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving  spirits  and  doctrines  of demons.

In these last days, we are going to see more and more of it just as prophesied. Don't let anyone tell you (for you) what the Word of God says. God gave you the ability to read the Bible; you make everything you hear and read line up to the Word.

Deliverance

In closing, Christians can be, and many are, oppressed by demon power in one or more of the areas listed above. It is not the spirit of man that is oppressed, but the soul and body. An entry-level type of deliverance is necessary for oppression. There may be some type of demonic manifestation (see Mark 9:26-27); but  that  does  not  mean  they  are possessed, for that is ownership of the spirit.  Oppression  is  not  ownership,  but  torment. Oppression is not in the spirit, but the soul and body. Christian, if you are oppressed, get help immediately!

Psalm 72:4 He shall break in pieces the oppressor.

6. Obsession

The sixth level of demonic involvement is that of obsession.                                              Through oppressive demonic involvement, the individual now believes that this thing in his life is beyond his ability to cope with. In his own mind, this thing now controls him. The person becomes driven by compulsive behavior. An example would be an addiction, whether to alcohol, drugs, pornography or some type of perversion.

At this stage, it can be difficult to tell whether an individual is obsessed or possessed, for the demonic involvement is so strong. I John 4:1 says to test the spirits. It is also possible to test what level of involvement a person is suffering. Verse 3 of I John chapter 4 states: “Every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist" Though bound and obsessed, a person that is not possessed will still be able to confess Jesus.

Professing Christians and church attendees are open to this level of attack. When the sin problems are not dealt with, there is an open door. When you play on the devil's turf you can expect to get snared. This is how preachers can become driven by lust and uncleanness. When the door is opened to pornography, an obsession takes place in the mind that is a compulsive force of destruction.

There have been Christians commit suicide; this is definitely the work of demon obsession. Demons so convince a person that there is nothing left to live for that they are hopelessly driven to despair and suicide. It is rare for a Christian to take his own life, and I believe that when that happens, each case is judged individually by God as to their state of mind. However, millions of unbelievers take their lives; these people are definitely in a demonically obsessed state.

Demonic obsession is such that a person begins to oppose himself. The Apostle Paul wrote Timothy about such cases:

2 Timothy 2:25-26

In  meekness  instructing  those  that  oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will [to do his will].

Several points can be taken from this passage concerning the state of demonic obsession:

1. The individual opposes himself. He has had control  over  his  lifestyle  to  the  extent  that opportunity  was  given  for  repentance  before obsession occurred. In Revelation 2:21 concerning Jezebel, Jesus said, "I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent."

2. The individual must acknowledge the truth before true repentance and deliverance can come. In all cases of obsession, the truth becomes perverted. Romans 1:28 talks about the reprobate mind which is void of sound judgment. Deception is a key factor in demonic obsession. Jesus said that the truth we know would set us free (John 8:32)!

3. The individual may recover himself from the snare of the devil. With the help spoken of in verse 25, a person can recover himself for the will has not been totally surrendered at this point.

4. Those in an obsessed state are considered "taken captive." Their obsession causes them to carry out the devil's will. They compulsively obey the demons, thinking in their own mind that they have no ability to resist. While the ability to resist is almost destroyed, the person is still not involuntarily controlled, which is the case with possession.

Deliverance is absolute in cases of obsession. But it must be coupled with genuine repentance. The individual must submit himself to God, either in salvation or rededication, and resist the devil along with those who are ministering deliverance.   Oppressive strongholds must be torn down. The individual must renounce all involvement with pornography, cultic or occultic material, homosexual thought or deed, drugs or any other bondage, as the case may be.

In Acts chapter 19, after the seven sons of Sceva were defeated by demon power, great fear came upon the Christians that were playing games with God. Acts 19:18 says, “Many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds." When a person understands the reality of spiritual warfare and its consequences, it is a wakeup call. These New Testament believers, converts of Paul, were practicing magic. They all brought their occultic books and burned them. The value of those books added up to 50,000 pieces of silver! That's a lot of bondage! What was the direct result? "So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed" (Acts 19:20).

You don't have to be a slave to anything! God created man to have dominion over all the earth, including every growing thing.  All drugs and alcohol and tobacco come from plants, plants man was to have dominion over. Satan brings a person so low in debasement that he becomes a slave to a plant!   If compulsive   behavior  patterns   are controlling your life, seek for help today.

7. Possession

The seventh and final level of demonic involvement is that of possession. Possession means: “Outright ownership and total control; to enter in to the human spirit and take possession; to take over a person's faculties and will; the position of the human is that of slave; demons now consider that body their home.”

Genuine Christians cannot be demon possessed. As I have said, God owns the Christian and the Holy  Spirit  inhabits  the  human  spirit,  thus removing  the  remotest  possibility  of  demon possession.  However, backsliders and former Christians who renounce God can become possessed. II Peter chapter two speaks of such turning back:

2 Peter 2:20-22

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they  are  again entangled in them `and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."

When a Christian turns his back on God and becomes entangled again in the pollutions of the world, he is overcome and taken captive to his sin. That slavery to sin re-opens any doors which previously may have been open to demon power. Actually, their condition becomes worse for them than the beginning. God's umbrella of protection is removed from their life. They are subject to the demonic element through their own rebellion. The young man at the Corinthian church who was sleeping with his father's wife was delivered over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh (I Cor. 5:5). God's aim with this man was that his spirit might be saved, as it is with all who fall into sin. He was eventually restored through this harsh discipline (II Cor. 2). But we know, as with Judas, that all do not repent, and ultimately their spirit as well as their flesh is destroyed by demonic power.

Backsliders will go through every level of demonic involvement and be completely away from God before being open to this level. It is not a matter of falling into sin. That sin has to be harbored and not repented of. Willful rejection of God's forgiveness has to be accomplished. This is not a process that goes without God's merciful intervention, but ultimately the will of the individual will dictate.

The sinner, however, can be rapidly possessed by demons. Through opening one's self up to the occult and the worship of Satan, instant possession can occur. There is a great fascination among today's youth with Satanism. If they could only understand the destruction that waits for them. Satan has the ability to appear as an "angel of light" (II Cor. 11:14). Ezekiel 28:14-18 lists some of the attributes of Lucifer before his fall from heaven, including: anointed, perfect, beautiful and wise.  Of course these  attributes  have  been corrupted within him, but they are still operational in the realm of darkness. Satan lures people into Satanism by showing them the "beautiful" side of darkness. To dabble with Satanism is like saying, "I'm just fooling around with this rattlesnake."

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:2 that angels have the ability to appear in human form. That we even come into contact with them, thinking they are humans. Demons are fallen angels, the one-third that fell with Lucifer (Rev. 12:4). They are not disembodied spirits from some race of men prior to Adam; that teaching is absurd. Fallen angels also possessed this ability to appear in human form at one time, or any other form such as the serpent in the garden. For full manifestation, demons need a body in which to operate through. This is why they seek to possess human bodies. But what happened to their ability to manifest bodily?

Satan knew that the Messiah, the Seed of the woman, was going to come and crush his head (Gen. 3:15), so he set forth on a mission to corrupt that seed. Genesis 6:2-4 records the event of angels going in to the daughters of men. These were fallen angels. The term "sons of God" is used. All five times that phrase is used in the Old Testament it refers to angels. The offspring of these unions were ungodly giants (v 4). God destroyed the earth through the flood and saved Noah's family, the pure line of the Seed was preserved. At some time after the flood, God judged the offending fallen angels and cast them into Tartarus, a special section of hell:

2 Peter 2:4

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell [Gr. tartarus] and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment.

This can be clearly seen in Jude verses 6 and 7:

And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for judgment of the great day ... having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh

This trespass of leaving their own habitation and going into the daughters of men violated God's creative order. The fallen angels that were not directly involved were stripped of their ability to appear in human form. This is why fallen angels or demons seek to possess a human body to express themselves through.

The clearest example of full demon possession in the Word of God is the demoniac from Gadara, possessed with Legion. Mark chapter five gives us the story:

Mark 5:2-5

And when [Jesus] had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man  with  an  unclean  spirit,  who  had  his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

In these four verses we see what deep possession by demon spirits does to a person. The first thing we should note is that Jesus didn't go looking for him. Jesus never sought out demons to cast out. There are plenty to deal with without advertising! I have great concern over someone that builds their entire ministry around deliverance and casting out demons. Jesus seemed to warn against this in Luke 10:20. There are those that believe every Christian has some sort of demon to be cast out. They perform mass deliverances in churches all across the land. This is heresy! Stay away from those who talk more about demons than Jesus!

This man could not be bound and he possessed super-human strength. Demons empower a person to do things beyond their strength and intelligence. I once ministered deliverance to a four-year-old girl that could lift an 11-year-old boy. Not only that, when taken to a psychologist, the doctor told the mother to never bring her back; she was playing mind games with the psychologist, telling him things that she had no ability to know. She had been abused physically and sexually, and she had performed acts of violence. Without leading her in any way, I asked her if anyone was telling her to do the terrible things she was doing. Without hesitation, she said, "The devil." She told me that demon spirits actually told her what to do and gave her the super-human strength to carry it out.

Even shackles and chains could not contain this man possessed with Legion. The man was crying out and cutting himself day and night. When demons possess a person, it is usually accompanied with the promise or feeling of power and control. That is the furthest thing from the truth.  A life of self-torment awaits the individual. There is no remedy within a person for this tragedy. Only the power of Jesus Christ can set a tormented person free! But when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion: for we are many."

This man wanted help. When he saw Jesus afar of he ran to Him. This was his humanity crying out. You cannot help someone that does not want to be helped. At that point, the demons began to speak through him (v 7). They knew who Jesus was. He was their Master in every way. If He said "Go!" they had no choice. The same is true for all believers who cast out demons in Jesus' name! That is the power of attorney. By the revelation of the ruling spirit's   name, the Strongman had been identified and could be cast out (see Matt. 12:29).

After the demons had been cast out (a legion is between three to six thousand), Mark 5:15 tells us of his condition:

Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind.

I once heard a preacher say that a woman came into his church cussing and blaspheming and kicking over chairs. They prayed for her, and she left cussing, blaspheming and kicking over chairs. But he said, "She was delivered by faith." That is foolishness! When a person is delivered, there will be dramatic changes. They may not receive all of their deliverance at once, but there will be noticeable differences each time.

Possession from a Demon's Point Of View

There is a place in the Bible that gives us a demon's point of view when entering and leaving a man. This is found in Luke 11:24-26:

When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest;  and finding none, he says, "I will return to my house from which I came." And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Several key truths can be gleaned from this passage of Scripture:

Demons (lower level principalities and powers) have no rest without the habitation of a human body. They actively and strategically pursue this goal.

Demons always seek to return to the individual that was once their house. People should never be delivered then left to themselves to figure out what to do next. Demons will always seek to regain the control that was broken. The person delivered needs discipled.

The individual in this story did not take the time to fill up his house (mind and spirit) with the Word of God. Passivity is a revolving door for demons. The mind must be renewed with the Word (Rom. 12:2), and the person must be taught his authority in Christ.

The ruling spirit brought with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself. The Greek word for "other" in this verse means "another of a different kind." This person not only had his previous problems, but new ones.

It is better for a person to not be delivered than to suffer re-possession. His condition becomes seven times worse. For this reason, deliverance should not be entered into hastily. Many times, the ones wanting the deliverance are the friends and family and not the individual.  The only biblical grounds for deliverance is a desire to serve Christ. Wanting relief from torment is not sufficient grounds.

In the Great Commission (Mark 16:15-20), Jesus commanded believers to cast out demons. This is part of the job description of every Christian. This book is not for curiosity purposes, but for practical ministry.

How Demon Possession Occurs

Four Main Avenues of Possession

In studying how demon possession occurs, it can be seen that there are four main avenues in which a person becomes possessed by demons. Certainly there are other ways, but these are the most prominent:

1. Involvement with the Occult

2. A Passive State of Mind or an Altered State of Consciousness

3. Excessive Sin

4. Traumatic Experiences

The Occult

This is the main avenue of genuine possession. The occult is spreading rapidly into the mainstream, ignoring socioeconomic barriers.  The New Age movement has given more attractive terminology to the occult, and by doing so, drawn in millions of followers. One of our recent Presidents was involved with Astrology. Some get involved, not understanding  the  power  of Satan's  clutches. Because they don't actually use the word "Satan," some think that their powers are from God. Jean Dixon wrote a book about her "powers," she termed them as the "gift of prophecy from God." All forms of the occult are evil and are an abomination to God.

Involvement with the occult removes the divine protection of God off of an individual. Even if the person has had no background with Christianity, there is still the protective force of the God-given will. When yielding to the occult, the will forfeits its protective ability.  This opens a person to unclean spirits, often disguised as spirit guides or angels. They are, in fact, demon powers sent to deceive and destroy.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 outlines eight abominable practices of the occult:

1. Divination: fortune telling

2. Observer of Times: to foretell by omens and signs (astrology)

3. Enchanter: practice of magical arts

4. Witchcraft: practice of dealing with evil spirits

5. Charmer: to place spells upon

6. Consulter of familiar spirits

7. Wizard: a male witch

8. Necromancer: communication with the dead

Verse 12 says: "For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD." God strictly forbid His people, Israel, from involvement with the occultic practices of the nations around them. Today's occult and new age practices are nothing new at all, they have been around for thousands of years. Satan has no new tricks, just old ones with new names.

In association with the above list, we must add to it the following occultic practices. Involvement withany of these practices may lead to demon possession:

1. False Religions: groups classified as cults; all idolatry is demon worship (I Cor. 10:19-20).

2. Role Playing Games: games such as Dungeons and Dragons and others.

3. Psychic readings: including tarot cards, ouija boards, horoscopes, palm reading, etc.

4. Channeling spirits: "ancient spirit guides."

5. Astral Projection: out of body travels and experiences.

6. Any and all Satan worship: including dabbling with fringe Satanism, and heavy metal rock music.

A Passive State of Mind or an Altered State of Consciousness

A passive state of mind, or an altered state of consciousness is an open door for demonization. Man is given by God the complete control of his faculties. This entails man's will and his self- consciousness.  These are two areas that are overcome through the state of a passive mind. Satan wants to get in through the subconscious part of the mind. Each of us, every day, is affected on some level by the influences upon the subconscious I our environment dictates that. This is why the mind needs renewed on a daily basis. However, in the manner of which we are speaking, this complete domination of the subconscious can only take place if we allow it consciously.

There are primarily two ways to arrive at a passive state of mind and/or an  altered  state  of consciousness:

1. Trances or Meditation: the mind becomes neutral, open and vulnerable.

2. Through induced states:  such as from hallucinogenic drug use or hypnosis.

Man's will is his protective wall; when it is willingly opened, demon spirits will move in. Many people do not understand the danger of things such as Transcendental Meditation. TM is something that appears harmless. It is viewed as a form of relaxation. However, in this passive state, demon power seizes the vacancy and moves in unchecked.

Hypnosis is another trick of the devil. Under the guise of psycho-therapy, hypnosis is performed on unsuspecting patients. Many come out of this passive state with so-called "Multiple Personalities." As Bible believing Christians we know that multiple personalities are demon powers masquerading as alter personalities. I am not denying that these patients' pain from trauma is quite real. We will discuss how demonization occurs in such cases under the heading of "Traumatic Experiences."

In the state of hypnosis, the individual is not in control of his faculties as God intended. He has left himself open and vulnerable to the direction of another who may be unscrupulous, and under demon power himself. Never let anyone put you in a position of being in an altered state of consciousness. This violates the protective wall that God built into you. For this purpose, I recommend that people stay away from all subliminal type recordings, whether advertised as "Christian" or not.

Hallucinogenic drugs also open the door of the subconscious for demonization. The Greek word used for "witchcraft" in the New Testament (Gal. 5:20) is "pharmakeia," the word from which we get pharmacy; it literally means "drugs." Satan is heavily involved  in  the drug culture, addicting and enslaving millions. Crack cocaine is one of the most devilish, hellish drugs to hit the streets. One use and a person is addicted! It removes from their brain that which gives a person their sense of emotional and mental balance. It drives its slaves to acts of crime and random violence.

Drugs, with the deadly combination of heavy metal rock music, is destroying the lives of multiple millions in this nation alone. Many of the song lyrics contain graphic description of Satanic rituals, including human sacrifices. Many of the songwriters and musicians are demon possessed. Anyone who gives themselves over to that type of music is open for demonization.

Excessive Sin

When a person gives himself over to sin, demon possession can occur. I am referring to giving the center of one's life over to that sin. The type of sin I am referring to is rebellious and excessive in nature. When a person willingly rebels against God's laws, either God’s written Law or God’s laws of nature, the protective wall is destroyed. Sins of a sexual nature can open the door for demonization more often than others. I know some want to say that all sin is the same and none worse than others. This is true in the sense of God's forgiveness. But when one is living outside of God's forgiveness, there are some sins that leave a more devastating effect. Consider the following Scriptures:

Proverbs 6:32-33: Whoever commits adultery… lacks understanding; he who does so destroys his own soul. Wounds and dishonor he will get, and his reproach will not be wiped away.

I Corinthians 6:18: Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

Romans 1:26-27: For this reason God gave them up to vile passions [reprobate mind]… Men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

I am not suggesting for one moment that these types of sins cannot be forgiven by God, just as fully as others. The Blood cleanses as white as snow. What I am saying is, a person living outside of the grace of God, in a state of open rebellion, is going to suffer greatly and demonically from this type of sexual sin. All sin is transgression of God's law, but as Paul wrote, sexual immorality is sinning against one's body. Remember what I said about the built-in protective will of man? I believe this is what is being destroyed when one sins against his body.

Homosexuality is possibly the hardest bondage for an individual to overcome. Deliverance of some kind is always necessary where the homosexual lifestyle has been fully engaged.  I believe that homosexual orientation is a process, consisting ofoppression, obsession, and finally, in many cases,  possession. Normally, through a lack of same-sex bonding as a child, the person takes on an abnormal desire for affection from the same sex. There are exceptions of course, but this is the common avenue for Satan to ensnare. It begins as oppression in the mind, that is mind battles coming against the person. By the way, there are Christians, though having never acted on them, who suffer from these oppressive thoughts of homosexuality.  They have never confronted the root cause and commanded the oppression to be broken.

Through dwelling on the oppressive thoughts, obsession with homosexual acts takes over. It drives the individual into pornography and fantasy. Though condemnation follows, eventually this compulsion, this obsession, drives the individual into homosexual acts.  At this point, Romans chapter one says that the person is given over to a reprobate mind. In such a state, demon possession can occur.

In addition to deliverance, the homosexual must go through extensive discipling and renewing of the mind.  All ties must be broken from the homosexual past.

Some have contended that the homosexual orientation comes genetically and is from God at birth. To associate God with this wickedness is blasphemous.  Recently, there have been several large studies of twins where at least one is gay.  Identical twins have the same genes or DNA. They are nurtured in equal prenatal conditions.  If homosexuality is caused by genetics or prenatal conditions and one twin is gay, the co-twin should also be gay. However, the results showed that only 7 to 11% (depending on the study) of the other twins were gay.  This disproves the “born gay” claim, even from a scientific standpoint.

Whether sexual sin or any other, when a person gives the center of his or her life over to any type of sin, in rebellion to God's laws, that person is subject to demonization, including possession.

Traumatic Experiences

One thing 'is for certain: the devil doesn't play fair! He capitalizes on the pain and suffering of humanity, for we are made in God's image. In this sin-cursed earth, much sin and evil is perpetrated on the innocent. Think of the millions of innocent babies that are slaughtered in "abortuaries" every year. Evil in the hearts of men grows exceedingly worse as time runs down. The devil has great wrath, for he knows that his time is short (Rev. 12:12).

There are certain traumatic experiences that open the door, or pave the way for demonic takeover. Some of these experiences may be:

Molestation

Incest

Rape

Physical Abuse

Emotional or Mental Torture

Other types of traumatic experiences may also open the door. Most of this type of activity happens during childhood, the formative years. Certain generational curses can come into play in this area. Parents can open the door for children to be  demonically oppressed, obsessed, or even possessed. Don't ever try to deliver a child without first consulting the parents and getting their approval and cooperation. Parents are spiritual guardians; if not in cooperation, the parents will let the spirits come back to a worse degree.

As mentioned earlier, Multiple Personalities Disorder is a symptom of demon possession. When someone cannot cope with the pain they are suffering, demon spirits masquerade as alter personalities offering an escape from dealing with the pain. Some people are known to have up to 50 of these "alter personalities." This is demon possession.Yes there is a psychological aspect to it, but the root is demon spirits. The personality splinters under the control of demon power. Secular psychology tries to get the 50 personalities to get along with one another. Christianity casts out the 50 demons and helps the person find their true identity in Christ.

In cases of demon possession through traumatic experiences, fear plays a large role. The spirit of fear opens the door for worse spirits to enter. It is important that parents have an open relationship with their children. If the child has been abused or molested in some way, it is imperative that it is not suppressed. Suppression is a level of demonic involvement and can lead to further demonic control if left unchecked. The parents should pray for healing over the child's mind and bind the devil from any further activity.

If you were abused in any way as a child and still carry great pain from that experience, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do I have trouble maintaining healthy relationships?

2. Do I have a poor self-esteem?

3. Do I experience rejection more than most people I know?

4. Do I still carry bitterness and anger toward the person that abused me?

5. Does my anger sometimes seem out of control?

6. Do I have a split personality?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, God wants to deliver you. I am not saying that you are demon possessed. You are more than likely at a stage of oppression, but this is more than God wants. He has total freedom for your life. Some that have gone into deep sin as a result of their abuse are indeed possessed by demons, but freedom is just as available to them through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

There are, of course, other ways for demon possession to occur than the four ways listed above. What is more important than how they got in is to know how to get them out!

How to Cast Out Demons

The greatest manual on how to cast out demons is the Bible. For this reason, the student should thoroughly examine all passages of Scripture dealing with deliverance ministry. I have provided below, a complete reference list of Scriptures where actual deliverance took place in the New Testament:

The Ministry of Jesus:

1. The man with the unclean spirit in Capernaum (Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37).

2. The blind and the dumb demoniac (Mark 3:22; Matt. 12:22-29; Luke 11:14-22).

3. The demoniac from Gadara (Matt. 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39).

4. The Syrophenician woman's daughter (Matt. 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30).

5. The boy with the demon that feigned epilepsy (Matt. 17:14-2 1; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-43).

6. The woman with the spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:10-17).

7. Other references to the deliverance ministry of Jesus: Matt. 4:24; 8:16; Mark 1:34, 39; Luke 4:41; 8:2.

The Disciples:

8. The Twelve:  “And they cast out many demons..." (Mark 6:13).

9. The Seventy: "Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name" (Luke 10:17).

10. Peter brought deliverance to all that were tormented by evil spirits (Acts 5:16).

11. Philip in Samaria: evil spirits came out of many (Acts 8:4-7).

12. Paul in Macedonia: casting the spirit of divination out of the girl who followed him (Acts 16:16-18).

13. Many demons were cast out through the anointed handkerchiefs and aprons of Paul (Acts 19:12).

When ministering deliverance to someone, it is a good practice to have one or more counseling sessions with the individual. At such time, the four areas through which demon possession most occurs (previous chapter) should be probed. It is especially important to know if the person has a background in the occult. The following other information should also be gathered:

1. What, if any, background does the candidate have with Christianity?

2. Why does the candidate believe his problems are demonic; what are the symptoms?

3. What involvement has the candidate had with the four main avenues of demon possession?

4. What changes is the candidate willing to make in his life to further his freedom?

5. Does the candidate just want relief or does he want to serve Jesus?

6. Is the candidate possessed, obsessed or just oppressed?

These and other similar questions should be asked of the candidate for deliverance. If the counselor feels the answers are inappropriate, deliverance should not be pursued at that time. It is often discovered that the individual does not want deliverance, but a family member talked them into coming. This is not a proper basis for deliverance ministry.

During this time, the candidate should also be instructed as to what will be happening during the actual deliverance. This will alleviate human fear of the unknown. If the person freezes up out of fear, little will be done. One of the greatest weapons in deliverance is a candidate that is working with you, not against. Even in possession, that part of them that wants to be free should be utilized. Teaching and instruction will help in this area.

During this pre-deliverance counseling session, the candidate should make a clear and definite decision to serve Christ. The counselor should lead the candidate in a prayer of repentance and acceptance of God's forgiveness and salvation. This should not be delayed until after the deliverance. The Biblical order from James 4:7 is:

1. Submit yourself to God

2. Then resist the devil

3. And he will flee from you

The following are some of the predominant spirits that must be cast out. A person may need delivered of all of these, or as few as one or two.  Spiritual discernment   must   be   exercised in the identification of these demons, as I John 4:1 says, "Test the spirits." Included with them are some of the manifestations of those spirits.

1. Spirit of Divination (Acts 16:16), manifest through: witchcraft, magic, rebellion, drugs.

2. Familiar Spirits (Lev. 19:31), manifest through: passive state of mind, voices, ghosts, necromancers.

3. Spirit of Jealousy (Ezek. 8:3), manifest through: strife, envy, hatred, contention, revenge.

4. Lying Spirits (I Kings 22:22), manifest through: deception, flattery, gossip, slander, false prophecy, false teaching.

5. Perverse Spirit (Isa. 19:14), manifest through: sexual perversions, homosexuality, pornography, incest, filthy mind, twisting the Word of God.

6. Spirit of Pride (Prov. 16:18), manifest through: arrogance, self-righteousness, rebellion.

7. Spirit of Heaviness (Isa. 61:3), manifest through:  depression, self-pity, rejection, grief, suicidal thoughts.

8. Spirit of Whoredom (Hos. 5:4), manifest through: prostitution of the body, soul or spirit; idolatry, unfaithfulness, love   of money, worldliness, gluttony.

9. Spirit of Infirmity (Luke 13:11), manifest through: recurring symptoms that often move throughout the body; diseases that the immune system won't resist.

10. Spirit of Bondage (Rom. 8:5), manifest through: addictions, compulsive   behavior, excessive sin, fear.

11. Spirit of Fear (II Tim. 1:7), manifest through: anxiety, torment, phobias.

12. Seducing Spirits (I Tim. 4:1), manifest   through: fascination with evil ways or false prophecy or lying signs and wonders.

13. Spirit of Antichrist (I John 4:3), manifest through: lawlessness, humanism, anti-Christian; denies the deity and/or atonement of Christ, denies the Word.

14. Spirit of Error (I John 4:6), manifest through: false   doctrines; unteachable, unsubmissive, argumentative spirit.

15. Spirit of Insanity (Deut. 28:28), manifest   through: instability, madness, loss of memory, schizophrenia.

16. Spirit of Death (Gen.2:17), manifest through: separation from God; despair, giving up the will to live.

Practical Steps to Deliverance

I will begin this section on how to minister deliverance by sharing first, how "not to" minister deliverance. There is a story in the Book of Acts which depicts a failed attempt at deliverance; from this story, we see several things not to do:

Acts 19:13, 15-16

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to, call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." ... And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

One can draw several pertinent facts as to why this attempt at deliverance failed:

1. This man never asked for deliverance. They "took it upon themselves." You cannot setanyone free that does not want to be free. God gave every person a will. God will not violate it, neither can we, even if it is for the person's own good.

2. The exorcists had no personal revelation of Jesus Christ; they were simply applying a formula that had worked for Paul. A deliverance minister must know his authority in Christ and how to use it based on personal revelation.

3. There is no indication that these exorcists were even believers. Satan cannot cast out Satan. I must also add that if you are a believer, don’t try to cast out the devil with sin in your life.

Though this attempt at deliverance ministry ended with bodily harm to the exorcists, nowhere does the Bible give a warning of physical danger to the true believer.  Jesus never warned His disciples before He sent them out. The true believer has on the whole armor of God and is protected by the blood of Jesus!  Under the proper conditions, deliverance ministry is very fruitful and rewarding. The following practical points will help the minister of deliverance – which by the way is every believer (Mark   16:17) – in successful deliverance ministry:

1. Deliverance is best ministered not alone. It is best to have two or three believers of like precious faith; however, too many can be a distraction. Only one person should be in charge; that person should be issuing the commands to the demons to come out; the others should be praying in the Spirit, and less vocally, agreeing with the commands.

2. Remember your authority in Christ! Don't allow fear to come upon you, if it tries, resist it in Jesus' name. Fear is a tool of the enemy to hinder the deliverance of his prisoner. In all actuality, the demons are the ones in fear and trembling (James 2:19). Do not hesitate to use your spiritual weapons: The Name of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus and the Word of God.

3. Tell the candidate to look you in the eyes when ministering to them. The eyes are the windows of the soul (Matt. 6:22-23). During direct eye contact the demons have no place to hide. If the candidate refuses to look you in the eyes command the demons to do it! They will obey. Do not allow the candidate to hang his head or look in other directions.

4. Remember, you are speaking to the demons, not the candidate. Do not be timid if you have to get rough or authoritative in your demeanor. This is one of the areas to be covered in the pre-deliverance counseling session.

5. Whatever Strongman has been revealed through counseling and/or discernment should be dealt with and cast out first. Jesus explicitly taught us that we must first bind the Strongman before spoiling his house (Matt.  12:29). The Strongman will likely be tied to one of the four main avenues of possession: the occult, passive state of mind, excessive sin, traumatic experience. Be PERSISTENT! The ruling demon will not want to budge; you must come hard against the Strongman. When he is out, freedom will begin coming more rapidly.

6. Each demon does not need to be named in order to be cast out. Jesus delivered the man possessed with a legion of demons; a legion is three to six thousand. Jesus did not call them all out by name. It is important to call the Strongman by name. Call out specifically what you know and discern, then command all others to come out. The spirits will be tied to their sinful conduct. In other words, if they have a promiscuous, lifestyle, call out the demon of lust; with homosexuality, the demon of perversion, and so forth. See the above list of spirits.

7. Don't enter into lengthy dialogue with demons.They are all LIARS (John 8:44)! Tell them to shut up and come out in Jesus' name! This type of activity is simply a diversionary tactic of the demons.

8. Demons will come out through the mouth of the candidate. This can be manifest through coughing or heavy breathes. I have felt demons come out of a person's mouth in the force of a small wind. I have also seen little to no physical manifestation, but the deliverance is just as valid. I must caution at this point: do not allow the demons to put on a show. Some will encourage the candidate to vomit into a paper bag. This is excessive and nowhere found in Scripture. The minister should permit no more manifestation than necessary; for these also are often diversionary tactics to give the false appearance of deliverance.

9. The candidate's will should be engaged in resisting the demons. At Spirit-led intervals the candidate should be led in prayers that renounce involvement with specific bondage. The candidate should also be led in commands for the demons to come out of himself. This experience will be invaluable if the candidate is later attacked while alone.

10. Freedom will begin to manifest through their actions and demeanor. Peace will begin to pervade the setting. The countenance of the candidate will also begin to change. A difference will be seen in the eyes; for darkness has gone and light has come. That light will be manifest through the eyes.  It is also an often occurrence that the stomach area becomes softened. The stomach area is where the spirit of man is located (Prov. 20:27) and therefore, where possession takes place. The Holy Spirit will let the ministers know when the work is done; His peace will indicate the level of freedom.

After Deliverance

The delivered person should be led once again through the sinner's prayer and full dedication to Christ. This is also an opportune time to lead the person into the baptism with the Holy Spirit; for they will need His power in the days that lie ahead. Deliverance is not the end of the journey, it is just the beginning! Much aftercare is needed and should be provided. Romans 12:1-2 is the route to lasting freedom after deliverance:

Romans 12:1-2

I  beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

About the Author

David Chapman was saved by Jesus Christ on a street corner at two in the morning in 1983. He was delivered from alcohol and drug addictions and severe depression. Shortly thereafter, David received the call to preach the gospel. David has pastored churches in Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia and his current church in Arizona. He has a Master’s Degree in Theology and spent several years under the ministry of the late Dr. Lester Sumrall, whom many considered the world’s leading authority on the subject of demonology and deliverance.  David is joined in ministry by his wife Debbie, a veterinarian, and three children.