Archive for the ‘diagnosing demonization’ Category
Posted by owner on
March 15, 2010
Follow-up Teaching
The demons are gone.
They’ve been cast out in the name of Jesus. And the person who has been freed feels a wonderful sense of release. A lightness. A bubbly joy,
But our ministry isn’t complete. It’s important to realize this, and to follow up with individuals from whom demons have been expelled. Satan hasn’t given up, and he and his demons will try to make a comeback. We need to equip those who have been freed with the spiritual resources they’ll need to remain free.
What should be involved in follow up? I think the following.
(1) A sure defense.
(2) A support group.
(3) Divine armor.
A sure defense
The Bible says, “resist the devil and he will flee from you.” When the demons seek to return, command them in Jesus’ name to depart. Those who belong to Jesus have been given authority, and to paraphrase Martin Luther, demons may fly around your head, but you don’t need to let them build a nest in your hair.
This basic equipment should be provided as soon as an exorcism takes place.
A support group
The longer demons have had a grip on an individual the more that person will be tempted to fall back into old patterns of thought and action. A person in this situation needs a support group where his or her struggles can be shared, and where he or she will receive concentrated prayer support. In truth, every Christian needs supportive relationships with other believers. But a person freed from demonic attachments is likely to need participation in such a group for at least a year.
Divine Armor
Paul in the Book of Ephesians describes armor that God has provided for those engaged in spiritual warfare. And, as Satan prowls seeking those he can destroy, every Christian needs to understand and wear that armor.
I’ve written about the Armor of God earlier on this blog, and as you know, developed a Friday evening/Saturday FREEDOM WORKSHOP that’s designed to help those who attend not just understand the armor, but put it on. This teaching is so vital that I’m going to summarize again what the armor is and why it’s important.
The helmet of salvation (Eph 1)
Satan is intent on making Christians ineffectual as well as miserable. He uses the sins others commit against us to distort our understanding of who we are. Ephesians 1 affirms our identity as those saved by the intervention of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. That intervention not only provided us with salvation but affirms that we have been chosen, forgiven, sealed and adopted into God’s family. We are Jesus’ people, and Jesus has been exalted far above every power in the material and spiritual universe. Knowing who we are and who Jesus is, we are no longer vulnerable to Satan’s lies, no longer weak or helpless.
The shield of faith
Ephesians 2 affirms faith as the gift of God, not a work but his work in and for us. Because God is trustworthy no circumstances or difficulties Satan may create can thwart our advance toward the good works he has planned for us beforehand. Satan may throw up obstacles, but we trust, and face each new day with confidence.
Sandals of peace
In the cross God decisively judged sin, taking our punishment on himself and demonstrating that justice will prevail. The cross frees us from the burden of pursuing judgment against those who sin against us. We leave justice to God, confident he repays every violation. Thus freed we forgive those who hurt and harm us, enabling us to be at peace with others, with God, and with ourselves. Satan whispers that we must punish evildoers. God frees us to forgive and tells us to leave judgment to him.
The helmet of righteousness
As Gods people know, assured of his love and furnished with the gift of faith, we reject sin and choose to live righteous lives. Satan entices us with the pleasures of sin. God calls us to the joy of holiness, and to freedom from sin’s bondage.
The belt of truth
In the light of God’s word we recognize reality for what it is. We are no longer blinded by the warped desires, values and passions of a world system shaped by Satan to appeal to the corrupt nature of sinful humanity. We exchange a life dedicated to the pursuit of the meaningless for a life that is meaningful and fulfilling,.
As the newly delivered understand and choose the way of life revealed in Ephesians, they are equipped to stand against the Devil and avoid his most subtle schemes.
The role of the local church
Ideally, all that I’ve covered in this series will take place in the local church. Leaders will teach and preach on spiritual warfare. They will take the spirit world seriously, and be open to prayer for healing and deliverance. And they will gear the church’s life not only to free captives, but to nurture every member to maturity in Christ.
Posted by owner on
March 8, 2010
The Exorcism Itself
So far in this series we’ve looked at symptoms that suggest possible demonization. We’ve looked at the kinds of questions we need answered to help us identify possible sources of demonization. We’ve noted that often we need to seek healing for the person from the trauma associated with the events which gave the demon access to the personality. Now we come to the exorcism itself; to the casting out of demons who have attached themselves to victims.
Before we begin
First, however, I should note that exorcism is a cooperative process. At a minimum the person seeking help should (1) want to be rid of hid demons, (2) be willing to forgive those whose actions may have open the door to his demonization, and (3) be committed to turning away an sins associated with the demonization. While demons can be exorcised from non-Christians, anyone without a personal relationship with Christ has no defense against re-infestation. So encouraging an unsaved person to accept Christ is an important element. We want to explain to such a person that the power of Jesus which enables us to cast out demons is available to protect the delivered person who establishes a personal relationship with him as Savior.
While the ministry of exorcism is especially for believers, we should not refuse it to those who are not Christians, in honor of the God who makes his sun shine on the wicked as well as on the good.
It’s best to gain agreement to the three commitments above before proceeding with an exorcism. If the person is unwilling to be free of demons, to forgive, or to decisively reject associated sins, suggest he or she return when he or she is ready.
A look at the process
J characterized exorcism as a cooperative process. Ideally as we talk with an individual and identify the root of his or her symptoms, we will pray with him or her for inner healing.
For example, a person comes to you who says he loses control when angry and fears he’ll harm his wife or children. In talking with him we discover that he was the victim of his father’s rages as a child. We realize that a spirit of anger and a spirit of violence entered his life through his father’s instrumentality. We ask him to choose to forgive his father for this sin against him. If the man is also angry at God for permitting his father to abuse him, we encourage him to forgive the Lord as well, assuring him that God does love him and has always loved him, but does not overrule human choices. We assure him that God hurt with him as he was abused. Even so, the man must take responsibility for any resentment and anger against his father, confess those sins, and accept God’s forgiveness, just as he confesses and accepts responsibility for his own abuse of his wife and/or children.
With this step of inner healing completed we can address the spirit of anger and the spirit of violence, and any other spirits we sense may be present. By forgiving his father and confessing his own sin the man has removed what some call the “legal basis”* for the demon’s attachment to his personality. We can now command the demons in Jesus’ name to leave the man, and never return to him or to his family.
[In this example I’m ignoring the possibility that the demons were inherited from the father. The question of familial spirits,[evil spirits who follow a family from generation to generation, is an issue I’ll take up in a future post.]
With the spirits of rage and violence cast out, we bless the man with calm and with patience as we continue praying for him.
Then we may go on to deal with other issues, such as an addiction to pornography, etc. We focus on spirits of lust and addiction, and follow the same process. We seek to identify events which may have given the evil spirits access, such as early sexual abuse, or perhaps repeated sampling pornography or sexual promiscuity. Again we help the victim deal with the damage through forgiveness, confession, and repudiation of the underlying sin, and minister forgiveness of the guilt and shame he feels.
At this point we command these evil spirits to leave, casting them out in Jesus’ name, using the authority God has given to his people. We then pray and bless the man with purity, and with the joy of sex within marriage which is God’s gift to human beings.
Summing up
Note that the process I’ve described has four vital elements. (1) We need to identify the root problem and its sources. (2) We need to deal with those root problems spiritually, with our focus on forgiveness, confession, and repudiation. (3) We need to cast out the demons in Jesus’ name. (4) We need to bless the individual with the opposite trait of that energized by the demons.
With this said, I need to underline an important point. I’ve referred to “spirits of violence” and “spirits of lust,” etc. This language may give the impression that all we are really doing is psychological manipulation. This is not the case.
These “spirits of” are demons: discrete, self-aware, self-motivated, evil individual beings. They are persons, despite the fact that they are spirit beings. In this era they go by the names of the torments they inflict on humans, and each individual demon seems to have a specialized job or function. So when I write of a spirit of rage, or a spirit of violence, or a spirit of infirmity, I’m not using psychological jargon or describing a state of mind. I’m referring to real entities, spirit beings, demons, who attach themselves to human beings and delight in amplifying rage or lust or other sins, and who delight in exacerbating illnesses and infirmities.
The Apostle Paul is very clear when he says that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, and when he describes our struggle as against principalities, powers and rulers in the heavenly realms.
The truth is that God has given us spiritual weapons for this warfare. Weapons like forgiveness, confession, repentance and repudiation. And the greatest weapon of all, the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and with that Name the authority to cast out demons.
Posted by owner on
February 15, 2010
Challenging Demons
Demons are slippery creatures. They much prefer we not be aware of their existence. For those who trust Scripture and believe they exist, demons adopt a number of masking strategies. Here are a few of the falsehoods Satan spreads.
1. Demons may have been active in Bible times, but not today.
2. Demons may be active today in more primitive cultures, but not here in
the “enlightened” West.
3. Christians can’t be demonized because the Holy Spirit is present in them.
The Holy Spirit and demons just don’t mix.
4. All these symptoms fit physical or mental illnesses, so there’s no reason
to probe for demons.
5. If you don’t look for demons [and don’t look, because they’re scary!]
demons won’t bother you.
6. If a pastor should teach about demons he’d opens a can or worms.
Ignore demons, and they won’t trouble good, church-going folks.
These and other fictions have helped keep Christians ignorant regarding demons and how they operate.
I’ve attended various churches as an adult for over 60 years now, and I can’t recall even one sermon on Satan or demons. So Satan’s “let’s pretend demons aren’t around” campaign seems to have worked pretty well.
Trouble Right Here in River City
The trouble, of course, is that the whole time we’ve ignored demons they’ve been free to operate unopposed; troubling individuals, sowing dissension in our congregations, and blocking the spread of the gospel in many different ways.
But even where a belief in demons exists, demons remain slippery. In most causes demons mask their presence in those they demonize, and mask their influence as well.
In earlier posts in this series I looked at possible symptoms of demonization, provided a questionnaire one might use to help identify demonic entry points and continuing activity, and suggested that healing the damage that provided demons with entry often should precede any attempt at exorcism.
But after all these steps have been taken, it’s very likely that even a person experienced in dealing with the demonic won’t be sure demons are present. And this is just what demons want. They will be intent on remaining hidden. And they will hide their presence as long as possible.
So, challenge them
When we have reason to suspect that demons are active in a person we’re counseling or who has come to us for prayer, we need to be sure they are present before taking any other action.
About the only way to do this is to explain to the person we suspect may be demonized something of how demons operate, exacerbating existing problems such as depression or a chronic physical illness, etc. Ask the person permission to test to see if demons are involved. If the person refuses permission, respect his choice. But encourage him or her to return if he changes his mind.
If the person gives permission, challenge the demon to reveal itself. In the name and authority of Jesus Command any demon present to reveal himself. This may take the form of an action, but normally the demon will reveal itself by speaking through the person who is demonized.
As I noted, demons are intent on remaining hidden. So this command may need to be repeated several times. It’s also helpful if you suspect that a demon is causing a specific symptom to command the demon by the name of the symptom. Say, “Demon of despair [or anger, or lust, or whatever the presenting problem may be], “I command you in Jesus’ name, reveal your self,” or perhaps, “tspeak to me.”
A word about demons’ names
Demons are individuals, with their own names and personalities. In ancient times demons took the name of the deities people worshipped. Demons also had personal names, such as Lilith, Beelzebub, etc. As I’ve noted in the series on Principalities and Powers, the way in which people have spoken about spirit beings, and the names given to them, have experienced several transitions.
What’s important to understand is that in the present time, as in the Gospels era, demons take on the name of the problem that they cause. Thus Jesus once commanded, “Deaf and mute spirit, come out of him” (Mark 9:25).
We follow that example in dealing with demonization today, and identify evil spirits by their function. The experience of many in deliverance ministry suggests that each demon has a primary function and is known by that function. Thus when challenging a demon to reveal itself, it’s wise to use the name of the symptom we suspect the demon may be causing when we command the demon to reveal itself and speak to us.
Demonic responses to challenges
It’s important to remember that confrontations with demons involve a power struggle, and that the power is on our side. We speak in Jesus name, with an authority he has given believers. As Paul writes in Philippians, Jesus has been exalted with the intent that “every knee should bow” to him. A demon commanded in the name of Jesus to reveal its presence in a person bows to Christ’s authority, not willingly, but because it has to, comes forward.
As noted, demonic responses may take a physical form, such as causing the person to fall down, fall into an apparent seizure, even fall on the floor and slither as would a snake. This is further evidence of demonic presence.
But the ultimate response, and the one we seek, is for the demon to speak to us. Again, the experience of experienced exorcists confirms that even though the demon uses the demonized person’s speech organs, there will be an easily distinguished difference in the voice and often in a person’s features when the demon speaks.
When the demon finally speaks to us, the exorcism can begin. And that is the subject of the next post in this series: the exorcism itself.
Posted by owner on
January 30, 2010
Deep Healing
The first post in this series discussed symptoms that suggest a person could be demonized. Often a person experiencing the symptoms discussed will seek help for his or her problems without any idea that evil spirits might be involved. Sometimes the person who is troubled by demons will sense their presence. Frequently a loved one will be troubled by the demonized person’s behavior and encourage him or her to seek help.
Almost always the first step taken will be to see a medical doctor, counselor, or psychiatrist. Only when these prove unable to help to will a person consider seeking help from a pastor or other Christian. Tragically, most pastors will refer a demonized person back to one of the helping professions, never considering the possibility of demonic oppression.
What a person in spiritual leadership should do, however, is be open to the possibility of demonic oppression, especially in situations where a person has sought help from doctors or counselors without being helped. When a person suffers chronic illnesses that do not respond to medical treatment, or has other problems not resolved by counseling, we should be open to the possibility of a spiritual source of a person’s problems.
Taking a history
The second post in this series provided a questionnaire that can be used to take the history of a person who is looking help. The items in the questionnaire are designed to expose possible sources of the problems troubling the person seeking help.
For instance, the root of a person’s problems may lie in a childhood experience of abandonment, or physical or sexual abuse, etc. Or it may lie in some earlier involvement in the occult. I refer to these root experiences as “events,” even though an “event” may take the form of repeated experiences. Answers given to the items on the questionnaire point to issues that should be explored further when talking with the individual seeking help.
As we begin to sense the events that are possible roots of a person’s problems we’ll better understand what spiritual help we can provide.
Spiritual Help
It’s helpful to look at persons from three different viewpoints. We can look at them as physical beings, with bodies that are subject to physical ills. We can look at them as psychological beings, with thoughts, emotions, and volition that can be corrupted. We can look at them as spiritual beings, with an inner relationship with the self and with God that can become distorted. At the same time, we have to remember that we human beings are a unity. Our various aspects are not isolated from each other.
That means, for instance, that our psychological state can and does have an impact on our physical wellbeing. And that sickness can and does have an impact on our emotions. And that our spiritual state has implications for the way we think and feel about life as well as our physical well-being..
When we discover an event that is a possible source of a person’s troubles, we need to remember that event may have a multiple impact, affecting the person physically, psychologically, and spiritually.
Medical doctors, including psychiatrists, treat physical consequences of events using medicines, drugs, surgery, etc. Counselors treat psychological consequences of events, typically seeking to reorient thinking. Few understand how to treat a person’s problems spiritually.
To provide the spiritual help that deals with the root of a person’s problems it’s important to understand what Charles Kraft calls “Deep Healing,” and what others in deliverance ministry call “Prayer Healing.”
It’s also important to understand that there may be demonic involvement in a person’s physical, psychological and spiritual problems.
A look at Deep Healing
Briefly, in Deep Healing an individual identifies an event which is the root of current problems. He or she invites Jesus into that event. As the person “reimagines” the event [under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit], what Jesus says or does transforms its significance. For many, healing results. In the case of occult involvement, that involvement is renounced, confessed, and forgiven by God. The negative physical, psychological and spiritual consequences of the event that have impacted the person’s life are healed, and the person is delivered from those consequences.
For an outstanding book on this subject, see Charles Kraft’s “Deep Wounds, Deep Healing,” reviewed earlier on this blog.
Demonic Involvement
What is important to understand is that events that cause a person problems not only have physical, psychological and spiritual consequences. Such events also can serve as “entry points” for demons. That is, the same event that impacts a person’s life in negative physical, psychological, or spiritual ways also provide a platform within the person from which demons can exercise a pernicious influence. Typically this influence involves exacerbating or exaggerating the negative impact of the event on the person’s life.
In most cases for complete and permanent deliverance, there must be both a casting out of the demon and spiritual healing of the root problem.
And in general, as long as the person is cooperative, it’s easier to undertake the Deep Healing first. Removing the platform on which the demon took its stand seems to weaken the demon and make it easier to cast out.
In our next Diagnosing Demonization, we’ll consider the next step: Challenging the demon.
Posted by owner on
January 25, 2010
Taking a History
In this series I’m treating “deliverance” as more that casting out demons. Deliverance also involves identifying the roots of an individuals problems, and praying for inner healing of those problems which provided any demons with a foothold within the personality. This is the basic reason that we need to have information that only the person himself or herself can provide that will help diagnose the source of an individual’s problems.
Why take a history?
Medical doctors do it. Psychiatrists do it. And, one way or another, those in deliverance ministry seek to understand the person seeking help.
Some effective deliverance ministers simply deal with those seeking deliverance “on the spot,” whether the spot happens to be at a chance meeting, following a service, or at an arranged appointment. They expect the Holy Spirit to take charge of the session and bring the necessary healing or the casting out of demons.
Others take a different approach, asking a person seeking deliverance to complete a questionnaire. They believe that taking a thorough history helps in the diagnosis of demonization, takes less of the deliverance minister’s time, and helps avoid overlooking significant issues that should be dealt with.
One should use the approach with which he or she is most comfortable. But in any approach it’s normally important to gather information that will make for a more accurate diagnosis of a person’s needs, provide a clearer focus for prayer, and alert the deliverance minister to possible roots of the oppression to which a person is subject.
I’ve looked at several questionnaires used in deliverance ministries. The following “Personal History” is an adaptation of several. I share it as an example of the kinds of information that’s helpful in diagnosing demonization and in praying for a person’s inner healing.
Provide Privacy Protection
Please note that in asking a person to complete a personal history it’s important to protect the individual’s privacy. Thus the first thing that should be included is a promise:
“This personal history will be used to prepare for our deliverance prayer time. It is essential that you answer all questions honestly and fully so we will be able to shape our prayers to meet your specific needs. No copies will be made, and the questionnaire will be destroyed in your presence after our prayer time.”
Basic Information
We can then go on to gather information:
Name
Age
Status (Single Married Divorced Separated Widowed Remarried)
Occupation
Ask for written statements:
* Briefly describe what led you to seek prayer for deliverance.
* Briefly describe your relationship with Jesus Christ.
* How would you explain the way of salvation?
PART ONE: FAMILY BACKGROUND
1. Write down three words that sum up the climate of your childhood home.
2. Write down three words that describe your father.
3. Write down three words that describe your relationship with your father.
4. Write down three words that describe your mother.
5.. Write down three words that describe your relationship with your mother.
6. Write down three words that describe your parents’ relationship with each other.
7. Write down three words that describe your relationship with any siblings.
8 Circle Yes or No to answer each of the following.
A. Were you a planned [wanted] child?
B. Did your mother suffer any trauma at your birth?
C. Are your parents living?
D. Were your parents Christians?
E. Are your parents divorced?
F. Is either parent remarried?
G. Did either of your parents abuse you in any way?
PART TWO: SELF DESCRIPTION
1. Circle words that describe how you feel about yourself.
I’m special I’m attractive I’m superior
I’m competent I’m inferior I’m a success
I’m a failure I’m alone I’m insecure
I’m worthless I don’t deserve to be happy
I’m lovable I deserve to be punished
I’m ugly I like myself I don’t like myself
II. Circle words that describe ways you commonly react in daily life.
Frustration Moodiness Stubbornness
Anger Withdrawal Irritability
Hostility Rebellion Swearing
Anxiety Depression Vengefulness
Apathy Mockery Getting sick
Add any other words that describe ways your commonly react.
III. Do you have any of the following feelings toward anyone?
1. Unforgiveness? Toward whom and why?
2. Resentment? Toward whom and why?
3. Bitterness? Toward whom and why?
4. Hatred? Toward whom and why?
PART THREE. SPIRITUAL HISTORY
1. List all churches and or religious/spiritual groups you have been involved with in any way.
2. Have you ever had any involvement or contact with the following? Circle, then describe the nature of the involvement (contact).
Fortune telling Levitation Crystals Seances
Ouija boards Horoscopes Tarot cards Charms
Mediums Magick Palmistry Demons
Spirit guides Satanism Astral travel Healers
Astrology New Age Clairvoyance Witchcraft Yoga Martial Arts Masonry Covens
Transcendental Meditation Games involving demon’
3. Do you have any books or artifacts in your how associated with any of the above?
4. Aa far as you know, have either of your parents, grandparents, or great grandparents been involved in any of the activities listed in 2, above? If so, please explain.
PART FOUR: VULNERABILITIES
1. To your knowledge, has anyone ever expressed aloud any wishes that you right come to harm (such as, “I wish you’d just wither away and die)? If so, what has been said and who said it.
2. Have you ever expressed aloud any wishes or beliefs that you might come to harm (such as, “I hope I die in my sleep tonight,” or “I’ll never get married”)? If so, what have you said?
3, Have you ever had an illicit sexual relationship (fornication, adultery, incest, an affair, a one night stand, etc.) with anyone. If so write down the persons’ first name.
4. Have you been molested sexually as a child, or raped as a child or adult?
5. Are you currently in an illicit sexual relationship with anyone? If so, are ou willing to give up that relationship?
6. Do you have any addictions? Circle those that apply.
Alcohol Prescription drugs Street drugs \:
Pornography Sex Food
Exercise Internet Shopping
Other?
PART FIVE: DESIRED OUTCOMES
1. What would be the best possible outcome of this prayer time?
2. How do you see yourself changing as an outcome of this prayer time?
3. How do you see your relationships with others changing as an outcome of this prayer time?
4. How do you see your relationship with God changing as an outcome of this prayer time?