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Frequently Asked Questions

What is meant by demon possession? 
New Oxford American Dictionary states “from Latin: possess-‘occupied, held’.” 2 (usu. be possessed) (of a demon or spirit, esp. an evil one) have complete power over (someone) and are manifested through their speech or actions: she was possessed by the Devil. The problem with the definition above is that scripture does not equate the word demon possession with complete control of the individual.
 

The Greek word “Daimonizomai” translated as “demon-possessed” in scripture is best described, as “to have a demon, to be demonized or be under the control of a demon.” In my experience, demon possession or being under the control of a demon can be on a sliding scale of say, 1 to 10. Number one, being the least control, to number 10 being absolute control. I believe a more accurate definition of demon possession is a person who is to various degrees, occupied and controlled by evil spirits.

The Bible has different examples of demon possession; the demoniac who had a legion of demons (a legion of Roman soldiers at full strength was around 10,000 soldiers) was probably a 10 on the scale of possession as opposed to a demon-possessed man who was mute or deaf (obviously a lesser number on the scale). It is clear in the scriptures, mankind has the capacity to be indwelled by another spirit.
 

1. We receive the Holy Spirit in us when we are born again (1 John 4:13, John 3:1-8).
2. We can be filled with the Spirit to the point of appearing drunk (Acts 2:1-3, 15).
3. An evil spirit may enter into a person, such as Satan entered Judas (Luke 22:2-4, John 13:27). 4. An evil spirit entered Saul (1 Sam. 16:14 &23).

Who can get an evil spirit? 
Anyone who opens a door to sin or has an open door to darkness can potentially be afflicted. Evil spirits afflict many people, Christians, and non-Christians. As our culture becomes more involved in occult activities, drugs, false religions, depravity, habitual sins, and being abusive to one another, the more there will be a need for deliverance. For those who were taught that evil spirits could not gain, due to hurt, pride and jealousy, opened a door to being possessed or controlled by evil spirits, which drove them to murder, and infest a Christian, my experience is quite to the contrary. Sin doesn’t discriminate between Christians and non-Christians. If you open the door to the devil by sin, evil will come in and take residence. “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it” (Genesis. 4:7). In this passage sin, sounds like an intelligent being with a will and emotions, and I believe it is! Demons can also enter due to no fault of the afflicted person by means of generational sin and victimization.


Can a Christian have demons?
The answer is yes. Access points for Christians and non-Christians are the same. As Christians, we still have free will and can still sin and rebel even though we have the Holy Spirit. I believe full possession of Christians is not possible because when we come to Christ, our spirits become alive and the Holy Spirit dwells with our spirits. We are triune creatures made up of a physical body, spirit, and soul (1 Thessalonians 5:23). However, I have ministered to hundreds of Christians who have had demons in their house (soul and/or body). I believe demons can live and dwell in Christians and have seen it many times. There are spiritual laws that are as certain as physical laws (like gravity), which, if violated or ignored, are detrimental to our lives. These are cause and effect principles, where God says don’t go there; don’t do that, because if you do, evil consequences will follow you and your ancestors.
 

Though there is no scripture that directly and clearly states a Christian cannot have an evil spirit dwelling in him some question how the Holy Spirit and a demon can both dwell in the same body. This seems to be a logical argument, but logic can be flawed and logic is not scripture. Proponents of this theory wrongly quote; how can darkness and light dwell together, taking 2 Corinthians 6:14 completely out of context. This scripture is dealing with believers marrying unbelievers. Paul says this should not be, but not that it is impossible to do. We see believers and non-believers marry today, even though it is not the Lord’s will. This scripture is not talking about demonization.
 

Everyone I know personally or those who have written about their involvement in the deliverance ministry believes that demons indeed afflict Christians. However some Christian ministers, to accommodate their own doctrines, believe that a demon cannot enter into a Christian yet somehow can afflict them physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually from the outside. Jesus, however, taught that evil spirits dwell in men. He said to cast out spirits, not somehow cast off spirits. He also taught that deliverance was first for God’s people, not for the unbeliever. The non-Jewish Phoenician woman is an example of this. Deliverance is the children’s bread (Mark 7:24-30).
 

Almost all the deliverances I have done have been with believers, including Spirit-filled believers. I have seen believers who have walked with the Lord for years who could not understand why they weren’t able to win victory over bad behaviors, sicknesses, depression, negative voices, or negative emotions in their lives. During ministry, these Christians are shocked to find out they have been demonized when the demons within them reacted to the power of God and were revealed, or when they suddenly felt something lift off of them and were freer and different.
 

What are some demonic clues?
These clues are common, natural signs that point to the presence of demonic activity in a person’s life. One or more of these signs listed below may indicate there is a demonic problem.
 

  1. Nightmares.

  2. Any kind of occult involvement from the most serious activities to even benign games can invite demonic influence.

  3. Strange things that happen around the house (unexplained noises, sights, and sensations).

  4. Hearing voices (malicious, or negative).

  5. Obsessing about sin (can’t stop thinking and or doing something you feel guilty about and no longer want to participate in).

  6. Self-cutting, or burning.

  7. Obsessive hatred of self or others.

  8. Thoughts of murder

  9. Violence.

  10. Violent thoughts toward animals or people.

  11. Thoughts of suicide.

  12. Depression.

  13. Uncontrollable rage.

  14. Panic attacks.

  15. Unfounded fears, phobias.

  16. Tormenting thoughts.

  17. Frequent accidents (sometimes indicates a curse and demonic activity).

  18. Can’t read the bible without feeling angry or disturbed.

  19. Uncomfortable around the church (where the Spirit of God is). Some people have to fight the urge to get up and run out of the meeting.

  20. Losing control of behaviors.

  21. Seeing dark shapes, shadows, and/or demons.

  22. Sudden onset of sleepiness.

  23. Sudden onset of confusion.

  24. Feel a sudden extreme coldness in a room.

  25. Feeling pressure on the chest or feelings of suffocation.

  26. Sudden inability to move or speak.

  27. Feeling an evil presence.

  28. Drug abuse, drinking binges, drug binges.

  29. Blackouts, can’t remember periods of time.

  30. Uncontrollable cursing. (No, Tourette syndrome is not a disease).

  31. More than one distinct personality in an individual.

  32. Chronic health problems (think of the possibility of inherited spirits if past generations had the same disease).

  33. Seizures. Some are demonic in origin; some may be physical in origin.

  34. Other chronic problems such as emotional, social, and financial problems.

  35. Generational sins can have demonic roots (grandfather, father, and son all end up as alcoholics, or violent, or suicidal, or adulterers, or are divorced, or homosexuals, etc).

  36. Sexual promiscuity, sexual perversions, or sexual frigidity.

  37. Breaks with reality. Confusion. Inability to think or act rationally.

  38. Constant guilt even after repentance.

  39. A desire to blaspheme God.

  40. Hatred and bitterness for leaders and other ethnic groups.

  41. Compulsive desires to tear others down.

  42. Becoming nauseous during prayer.

  43. Facial and physical distortions during prayer.

  44. Choking sensations during prayer.

  45. Body pains intensify or move around when the person is being prayed for.

  46. Eyes roll back during prayer (only the whites of the eyes are seen).

  47. Cannot look you in the eyes during a prayer session.

  48. Falling asleep during prayer or can not keep their eyes open.

  49. Can’t concentrate, confused, or dazed during prayer.

  50. The person has sudden thoughts of hatred or violence towards you during prayer.

  51. Constant redirection through conversation by the person receiving prayer.

  52. Sudden headaches during prayer.

  53. Eyes look different during prayer, as though something else is looking at you.

What are access points and open doors to demons?
Access points and open doors are points of entry given to the enemy through sin. These access points or open doors give rights to demonic influence and are something we want to look for. God has given us natural defenses as well as divine protection from the demonic. This divine protection is fully in effect unless we or someone else opens a sindoor and allows these spirits to enter. It’s important to look for present access points, as well as past access points. Sometimes even years later, after stopping certain sins, believers may still be afflicted by demonic activity in their lives. There are several access points I would like to examine. They include habitual sins, sexual sins, occult involvement including drug use, curses, generational sin, victimization and rejection, unforgiveness, and deception.
 

Habitual Sins 
Any type of habitual sin can lead to demonic infestation. This becomes evident when the person would like to change but subsequently feels like they have lost control. (Example: sexual sins, drugs, alcohol, gambling, violence, lying, stealing, etc.) “Jesus answered them, Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.’” (John 8:34) A slave has no choice but to do what his master says to do.

Ungodly Soul Ties 
Sex in the bible is an act of spiritual union. “the two shall become one flesh. ‘For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Mark 10:8). Sex between individuals is not only a physical act but also a spiritual union that connects souls, which we call soul ties. God blesses sexual soul ties in marriage. Sexual soul ties outside of marriage are cursed.
 

Sex Outside Of Marriage 
Sex in the Bible is an act of spiritual union: “the two shall become one flesh. For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (Mark 10:8) Sex between individuals is not only a physical act but also a spiritual union that connects souls, which we call soul ties. God blesses sexual soul ties in marriage. Sexual soul ties outside of marriage are cursed. Sex outside of marriage Hebrews 13:4 states, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Unfortunately, sex outside of marriage is now a common practice and is accepted by many in our culture (even some believers). It is a major problem in the spirit realm. As people become one flesh in adultery, fornication, and perversions, the demons take biblical rights to afflict individuals physically, mentally, and spiritually. The Apostle Paul writes about this principle in scripture. “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in the body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” (I Corinthians 6:15-17) It seems in my experience, when two people become one during a sexual act, (if they are not married) the act of sex itself can even include the sharing of demons. “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.” (1 Corinthians. 6:16-18) Many people pick up unwanted hitchhikers (demons) this way. Disease, insanity, death, and heartache are associated in the Bible and in the medical community with sexual immorality (I Corinthians 10:6-10).
 

Occult involvement (read more below)
 

Curses, Negative Words, And Pronouncements
Curses are negative words or pronouncements made by people, God or ourselves that empower ill will to the recipient. Not every negative pronouncement spoken by others sticks to us, however, some we take to heart and own. Those in authoritative roles over us seem to have a greater ability to curse or bless (Ex. husbands, parents, pastors, teachers, and employers). These negative pronouncements can affect us for a lifetime if not recognized for what they are and rejected. The Bible says the power of life and death is in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Our words have a powerful effect on others and ourselves.

Curses may be done knowingly or unknowingly. Occult people sometimes send curses (sorcery) with blood sacrifices. These curses are formal, intentional curses directed toward an intended target for ill will and are empowered by demons.

Curses can also be judgments spoken by God in the scriptures for those participating in certain sins (Deuteronomy 27-28). This gives rights to evil spirits to afflict those marked by these curses. Curses give the right to empower our enemy to cause us or others ill will. If we walk in righteousness, we have no fear of curses because God protects us as stated in Proverbs. “A curse without a cause will not alight.” (Proverbs 26:2) Along with repentance, all curses can be broken through the cross, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and repentance.
 

Generational Sins And Curses 
Curses can be passed down through the generations. God said even the great-grandchildren of those who worship other gods, hate Him, and seek occult power would be cursed. “You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments” (Exodus 20:3-6).
 

The sins of the fathers are visited upon the children. …For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments (Exodus 20:4-6). God speaks of various generational curses in the Torah. Yes, it seems unfair that we could suffer for the sins of our ancestors, but some people do. We also receive the blessing of our ancestors as well.
 

Some Christians assume because of the new covenant of grace, by the blood of Jesus, the Old Testament laws and curses don’t apply to us. I don’t believe this is true. Jesus said none of the law would pass away (Matthew 5:17&18). The law (minus the sacrifices and the rituals) is God’s moral law (which doesn’t change as He doesn’t change). The law carries spiritual consequences as outlined in the Old Testament for all people, which includes curses for disobedience, which I believe is carried out by darkness. Obviously, keeping the whole law does not save us, as explained in Galatians 3:10-13. We walk by faith in Jesus. Yet we still have to appropriate our faith by believing, repenting, walking in obedience, and forgiveness, and bringing the Kingdom of God (including breaking generational curses and setting the captives free).
 

In one incident in the New Testament, Jesus is asked if the blindness of a man blind from birth was caused by his parent's sin. Jesus said in his case no, but for the glory of God. Notice He did not say no, that cannot happen. I believe some genetic illnesses are consequences of the sins of our fathers. I have seen genetic illnesses healed by taking authority over them. “Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him (John 9:1-3).
 

Regarding generational sin, God makes another point in Ezekiel chapter 18. The people were constantly quoting a proverb over their lives that blamed the generations before them for their troubles. God goes on to say that He judges us according to our own sin or righteousness, not by our fathers. I believe we have a greater propensity to sin in the ways our forefathers sinned due to demonic influence but that does not mean we will choose to (For example alcoholism, adultery, drug addiction, and divorce may have been part of our parents’ and grandparents’ lives but not necessarily in our own lives). We can choose not to walk in our forefather’s sins even though it may be harder to resist. We ultimately reap the consequences of our own sins. If we choose to sin the same sins, I believe a familiar evil spirit is then passed down to us from our family line. Having the knowledge to recognize generational curses in our lives and taking appropriate action is, in my opinion, a vital Kingdom key given to us for freedom.
 

Sin Perpetrated On Others (Victimization) 
God has given us free will. That means we may choose to do good or evil toward others, God, and ourselves. God doesn’t want us to do evil but allows it (for now, but not without consequences). Demonization resulting from the abuse of the innocent is not fair. Example: Rejection and abuse by those who are supposed to love us (parents etc.), a person being raped, occult ritual abuse, violence, etc. can lead to demonic occupation in the victim. We can get healed and set free by the love and power of Christ. Let’s be a part of the healing process for those in our midst who have been abused and victimized by others. Forgiveness is a major key to freedom for those who have been victimized. Another key is to bring secrets out into the open. The sin of others and our own sin lose power when it is brought into the light. James 5:16 talks about confessing our sins to each other and praying so we may be healed. Hidden sin can binds us in a torment of secrecy, rejection, and sickness.

 

Can I be healed of abuse and rejection?
Dealing with a spirit of rejection (rejection falls under the category of victimization). Actually, there is no spirit of rejection, when making this reference I am referring to demons with the function or whose assignment is to cause rejection. As humans, we have a basic need to be loved, accepted, and respected. It is emotionally painful for us when we are rejected by others, especially loved ones.
 

“According to Maslow, all humans, even introverts, need to be able to give and receive affection to be psychologically healthy. Psychologists believe that simple contact or social interaction with others is not enough to fulfill this need. Instead, people have a strong motivational drive to form and maintain caring interpersonal relationships. People need both stable relationships and satisfying interactions with the people in those relationships. If either of these two ingredients is missing, people will begin to feel lonely and unhappy. Thus, rejection is a significant threat. In fact, the majority of human anxieties appear to reflect concerns over social exclusion. The experience of rejection can lead to a number of adverse psychological consequences such as loneliness, low self-esteem, aggression, and depression. It can also lead to feelings of insecurity and a heightened sensitivity to future rejection. Rejected children are likely to have lower self-esteem, and to be at greater risk for internalizing problems like depression. Some rejected children display externalizing behavior and show aggression rather than depression. The research is largely co-relational, but there is evidence of reciprocal effects. This means that children with problems are more likely to be rejected, and this rejection then leads to even greater problems for them.” (Source: Wikipedia)
 

As noted in the paragraphs above, both psychologists and doctors observe and understand the behaviors, problems, and consequences of rejection. Rejection has a natural and spiritual component. The scriptures say Jesus was despised and rejected by men. Also that Jesus was a man of sorrow yet sinless. Jesus tells us we also would be despised and rejected by men. We have and will face rejection, but we must fight rejection with the truth that God does not reject us, but loves us and is for us, and we can do all things through God in Christ Jesus. If God does not reject us, who are we to reject and punish ourselves? Or who are we to take on the rejection of others as our truth? We are to recognize that others who sin against us are themselves victims of Satan and choose to forgive them for rejecting us. We also have rational choices to make. Though we forgive others, we don’t choose to walk with those who are detrimental to us. As an African friend said to me, I may indeed forgive a man for physically hurting me but I am not going to walk down a dark alley with him as he carries a knife in his back pocket.
 

The enemy will take rejection as a weapon to put us in chains. He does this by sending evil spirits of whose assignments are to first, accuse us and second to lie to us in an effort to cause us to believe the lies. When we believe those lies and make inner agreements or vows against others and ourselves it binds us from having abundant life. When we take ownership of the negative perceptions and pronouncements of others about ourselves, we become bound in emotional chains.
 

There are three main categories of demons that work together to bind humans with rejection. These are spirits of rejection, (coming from others), self-rejecting spirits (blaming us for the rejection of others), and fear of rejection (these spirits cause us to reject others least they reject us, and actually cause others to reject us). The net effect is an emotionally damaged individual who craves love and acceptance but finds himself isolated from loving caring relationships and lives in a state of depression (resignation, no hope), or anger toward others for their injustice. When we see people who are angry or depressed, our natural tendency is to avoid these individuals lest we also become depressed or attacked. This leads to further isolation and rejection. In addition, there are times when spirits of infirmity will piggyback on spirits of rejection as we open the door by cursing ourselves and not forgiving others who reject us.
 

The spirit of rejection takes advantage of various situations
A spirit of rejection will sometimes take advantage due to difficult circumstances. As an example if a loved one dies, the spirit will cause the person to believe the one who died rejected them and that God did too by allowing it.
 

Many believe that in the case of unwanted pregnancies (rape, incest, uncommitted relationships, selfish desire) that a baby in the womb can sense when they are not wanted. This allows a generational spirit of rejection to enter the womb and attach to the child even before birth. In counseling, I have seen individuals express they didn’t even want to be born and are quite emotional about it only to discover they were an unwanted pregnancy.
 

Also, I have experienced individuals who have struggled with rejection even when it was a wanted pregnancy because the parents wanted a child of the opposite sex. This situation has at times even led to sexual perversion and causes the person to struggle with their sexual identity. Of course, divorce can also cause a child to feel rejected because the one they love has left them. This could also be the case for anyone who had a spouse who left or had an affair.
 

One more way in which I have seen a spirit of rejection take advantage of people’s situations has to do with how they perceive themselves. People compare themselves to others for physical beauty, attractiveness, and intelligence, including any real or perceived defects. They will often reject themselves and actually curse parts of their bodies. A spirit of rejection will run with this curse and sometimes cause further physical problems by inviting in a spirit of infirmity.


All forms of abuse are rejected by nature
Abusive behavior is using force or control against someone for the benefit of the abuser with disregard for the victim. Abuse may be of a sexual or non-sexual nature. Sexual abuse includes rape, incest, violence, and coercion. All these generally lead to demonic infestation. Rape is taking a person’s body and rejecting the person and their will. Some people during sexual abuse or other traumatic experiences have had out-of-body experiences or would disappear into a fantasy world as a partial means of escape. Unfortunately, this doesn’t help the individual in the long run, as demons are involved.


A hypothetical example of rejection: John’s Dad abandoned him at age six, started a new family, and never came to see John. John was very hurt by this, and a spirit of rejection entered John telling him he was bad, and he was the reason Dad left Mom and him. John became depressed, feeling unloved. Other kids, sensing his downcast demeanor, made fun of him, picking on him. He had few friends. Later John got into drugs and pornography seeking acceptance and any form of love he could. This behavior led to even more self-hatred and guilt especially when he got caught and ostracized. John became angry with others and became rebellious toward people in authority and got in even more trouble. John hated himself and decided to kill himself. Fortunately, one of you struck up a conversation with John at Starbucks, gave him hope in Jesus, led him to the Lord, and encouraged him to forgive himself and his Dad. John is on his way to freedom.
 

By the way, the root of many additions is rejection. Many people feel no one loves them and therefore turn to things to fill this void of love, such as masturbation, sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, adultery, drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. They seek to join any group that will accept them or anything to dull the pain of loneliness and rejection.

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Why is forgiveness key to deliverance?
Read this prayer and parable taught by Jesus and you will see the necessity for all believers to have a genuine heart of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer clear states we are to forgive. “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:9-15).

We are called to be the forgiving servant. “ Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore, fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all. ’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses” (Matthew 18:23-35). 
 

These scriptures illustrate forgiveness as a very important tool to heal emotional problems and bring deliverance. Jesus said we are required to forgive if we want His forgiveness. When we don’t forgive others, we find ourselves tormented in a type of prison in our mind (emotional turmoil) and/or body (infirmity). Many people who have sicknesses get well when they are finally able to forgive those who hurt them. Forgiveness is letting go of your rights to revenge and anger and letting God be their Judge. We forgive those who have wronged us because we realize we need mercy from God because of our own wrongdoing. When we choose to forgive, we take away the rights of the enemy to afflict us. Then any demons of bitterness, hatred, murder etc. can then be expelled in the name of Jesus. People need to realize that holding grudges against others does not hurt the offending person nearly as much as it hurts them.
 

When praying for others or even for yourself, it is helpful to counsel forgiveness and pinpoint who has hurt the person you are praying with and have them say something like this: “I choose, as an act of my will, to forgive John Doe for what he did to me. I choose to no longer direct hate, anger, and bitterness toward him. I choose to let it go and let God be his judge. Lord Jesus, please forgive me as I forgive others. Help me to be able to forgive completely”. Then have them say something like this. “ I command any demon of hate, murder, (whatever it is), who was empowered by my un-forgiveness to leave in Jesus name.” At that time, come into agreement with the person and command the demon to leave also in Jesus Name.

Forgiveness was never a request but a command by our Lord, Jesus. Let’s close the door and stop giving the enemy access to our lives. It’s time to walk in freedom, it’s time to forgive.

Lies, deception, and delusions
Most open doors of the enemy in our lives begin with believing lies or ignorance of the truth. If we knew the truth, we would walk with much more freedom and contentment. Satan and his demons are liars. We are told in the Bible that Satan is the father of lies. This is his main power against us. When we come into agreement with his lies, we become bound to those lies. The fruit of this bondage is fear, negative emotions, sin, and sickness. Demonic lies can be extensive at times and are tailored to the individual. Satan has a method of deceiving us that works really well. (Gen. 2:16-17, Gen. 3:1-19) As outlined in these scriptures, Satan’s first goal is to bring us from a place of unquestioning faith and obedience to God and move us into a place of determining our own truth apart from God and his Scriptures. He does this by asking us questions. These questions misrepresent the truth with false or misleading statements. (Gen. 3:21).
 

At this point, if we are ignorant of the truth we will believe Satan and be bound by him. If however, we do know the truth (as in Eve’s case) we might repeat the truth to Satan. Then Satan contradicts God’s word and implies God is not telling us the whole truth about our situation. Satan then makes an appeal to our emotions and desires, telling us God doesn’t really care or want what’s best for us. God is holding something good and desirable from us. Not only that, the consequences of disobedience (sin, rebellion) are not going to be that bad. (Gen. 3:2-6) If we determine truth by any standard apart from God’s standard we become deluded. Confusion sets in and truth becomes relevant to whatever we or the devil want it to be. We become spiritually blind and can no longer see or obey the truth. Some of us have known the truth but decided the blessings of darkness are better than light. By this we enter into willful rebellion, not understanding that severe consequences will follow us.
 

Not knowing Biblical Truth has gotten many good, sincere people in trouble. I have met people bound by demons because they didn’t know it was forbidden to experiment with occult practices or to have sex outside of marriage. It is our call to make disciples and help our friends grow in Christ that including warning them there are real consequences of sin. God’s truth always sets us free. Many people know the general truth of God’s word but are bound by various lies. Some of these lies include the belief God is not just and that the benefits of sin are better than obedience, and there are no consequences to secret sin. There are far too many lies to list. Bring the truth because the truth will set them free.
 

I find most of us believe we know the truth, and have the knowledge of who God is.  As Christians, we learn many biblical truths but somehow many never penetrate the subconscious lies we believe. Therefore, at times it’s good to have another person examine unspoken prevailing beliefs, revealing lies and countering them by revealing the truth. We have seen this take place many times in taking place in counseling sessions.
 

The best technique I know of to bring awareness of subconscious beliefs is very simple. I have a questionnaire that lists problem areas to check such as guilt, inferiority, rebellion, anger, etc. On the items that are relevant, I will simply ask the person a question. Something like this, “I feel guilty because? I don’t like myself because? I can’t forgive myself because?” Many times people don’t want to look at their problems so they will say they don’t know why. I challenge them to guess the answer. As a result, what they really believe is revealed. For example, I can’t forgive myself because I had an abortion or committed adultery. At this point, I tell the individual the truth that guilt, shame, and condemnation were taken at the cross, not just your sin. We have them repent if they need to, break any agreements with these lies and command anything demonic reinforcing these lies to leave them.  This can take some counseling and a renewing of the mind through God’s word but the result is freedom.

The war in the mind 
My wife and I have found that many Christians have forgotten to take their thoughts captive. Some Christians don’t realize they can hear demonic thoughts. These demons are very tricky and speak in the first person as if they are the individual’s own thoughts. They do this with the purpose to deceive us so we will agree with them. It’s important to fall out of agreement with these lies and declare the truth. Sometimes these lying spirits are familiar spirits and have been with the individual since childhood. Some people will tell us it’s just their personality when in fact it’s not; it’s a familiar spirit! Depression, fear, suicide, anger, self-hatred, pride, unforgiveness, guilt, etc., maybe part of the old nature but it also can be caused or aggravated by demonic lies.

Why does any involvement in witchcraft and occult involvement require deliverance?

Seeking knowledge and power from another source 
It is an insult to God for us to seek spiritual knowledge or power from any other source than Him.“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so” (Deuteronomy 18:10-14).
 

God views idolatry as bad as we view adultery. Even done as a “joke” and a one-time occurrence can lead to demon infestation. Occult demons tend to be more powerful than most others. If you have been involved in any occult practices, repent, ask for forgiveness and ask God to cleanse you from all unrighteousness (including demonic influence). My experience in dealing with those who have opened the door to occult practices, knowingly or unknowingly, is that they have brought about curses on their lives. Premature death and sickness are one of the major curses on those involved in the occult. In my encounters with others, I have kicked out many spirits of death working to kill the people who were involved in the occult.

Why is this the case? God has placed curses in His word on those who do these detestable things. Here are some scriptures to back this up.
 

  1. “A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them” (Leviticus 20:27).

  2. “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:31). Defiled in my opinion means being demonized.

  3. “I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people” (Leviticus 20:6). This is a curse by God on those who do these things.


We are not Jews under the Mosaic Law, so our government does not give the death penalty for these things, but the curse of God stands, empowering a spirit of death and other demonic forces to afflict those who practice these things.
 

Unauthorized occult practices
What is the definition of those forbidden occult practices in Deuteronomy chapter 18:10-14? Let’s look at these practices unauthorized by God, which seek advantage over circumstances and others. (Thefreedictionary.com)
 

  1. Divination. The art, practice, or gift of discerning or discovering future events or unknown things, as though by supernatural powers.

  2. Sorcery. The art, practices, or spells of magic, especially black magic, by which it is sought to harness occult forces or evil spirits in order to produce preternatural effects in the world. (Animal/human sacrifice combined with spells).

  3. Interpreting omens. One who interprets a phenomenon supposed to portend good or evil; a prophetic sign. (Reading tea leaves, palms, horoscopes, bones, etc.)

  4. Witchcraft. Those who seek advantage in life by invoking power in the spirit realm using spells and curses.

  5. Spells. A verbal formula is considered as having magical force.

  6. Medium. A person thought to have the power to communicate with the spirits of the dead or with agents of another world or dimension. Also called psychic. (Psychics, séances)

  7. Spiritist. The belief that the dead communicate with the living; is spiritualism. (Possibly the male counterpart to median).


So this means any occult practice of seeking supernatural knowledge of present or future events, is forbidden. And any attempt to look at or change our present or future via occult means is forbidden.

Satanic rituals
White magic
Black magic
Séances Wicca
Blood pacts
New Age Hypnotism
Table Lifting
Palm Reading
Astrology
Astral Projection
Eight Ball
Ouija Board
Tarot Cards
Fortune Telling
Mind Reading
Kabala
Idol Worship
Rod and Pendulum
Psychic Healings
Reiki Healing
Yoga (Hindu meditation)
Automatic Writing
Spirit or Angel Guides
Non-Christian Religions
Martial Arts (meditation)
Guided Imagery
Drug Abuse (sorcery root words, drugs)
Transcendental Meditation
 

Dangerous Occult Activities
The following is an incomplete list of dangerous occult activities. Don’t be fooled into thinking any of these are harmless, many people have been trapped by these activities.

 

Milder forms of Witchcraft
Here I am not talking about formal witchcraft, seeking a spiritual power other than the power of God outside of ourselves to help us, but about a milder fleshly form of witchcraft involving our own actions. Witchcraft in its milder form also seeks a means to control others and our circumstances to conform to our will in ways not approved by God. God has given us authority structures to submit to such as government, church, and family (husband, wife, and children). Any methods that are used to manipulate, or usurp our will or position over those in God’s structure of authority is also witchcraft. Witchcraft tries to dominate by manipulation and intimidation. All of us to some degree are guilty of this type of witchcraft.
 

  1. Manipulation – exerting shrewd or devious influence, especially for one’s own advantage.

  2. Intimidation – 1. To make timid; fill with fear. 2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats.

  3. An example is a wife who withholds her love and makes their spouse”s life miserable until they get their way.

  4. An example is a husband who, by verbal rage, anger, or physical violence controls his family to get his way.
     

Verbal put-downs for the purpose of controlling others are a form of witchcraft, as also is nagging and guilt trips. Important: Witchcraft (manipulation, intimidation, and/or deception) may work for you but it has a major drawback. It kills the love and the respect others have for you. People know when they are being wrongly controlled and resent it. Manipulation, intimidation, and control, in my opinion, are one of the major causes of unhappiness and divorce in marriages today. Marriages become a toxic environment instead of a loving, supportive atmosphere. It’s important to educate and confront both couples and individuals on manipulation, intimidation, and control. Have them recognize what they are doing is wrong before God and others and repent.
 

Witchcraft and Rebellion
Witchcraft has its roots in rebellion. Rebellion is an attitude that leads to witchcraft. If we put our will under submission to God’s word and institutions, we will never find ourselves involved in witchcraft. An example in scripture is King Saul who was given specific instructions by God regarding the Amalekites (I Samuel 15:1-35). Unfortunately, Saul was partially obedient to God so the prophet Samuel rebuked him for putting his own will before God’s. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king” (1Samuel 15:23).
 

When we put our own opinion of what is acceptable above what we know is right, we are in rebellion. When our idea of what is right or wrong conflicts with God’s word and what He says, we have a choice to believe Him and obey or to rebel. A rebellious person says that truth is situational to their needs and desires and uses a form of witchcraft as a way to bring about his own desires.
 

Fear of circumstances and fear of man was the underlining problem of King Saul and can be a problem for us. When we try to fix our problems outside of God’s will this too is rebellion. Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them” (1 Samuel 15:24).


Fighting witchcraft
If we don’t trust God for our needs or become fearful or impatient about our needs, we become tempted to take matters into our own hands. We must remember the words of Jesus, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). We avoid resorting to witchcraft by knowing and believing the Word of God and in His love for us despite circumstances.
 

If witchcraft is used against us, we don’t give into it or give into fear and manipulation. We take our authority in Christ and rebuke and send away the spirit of witchcraft. At times, the use of legitimate governmental authorities (police or church leadership) is needed to deal with witchcraft. As an example, if a husband were beating his wife you would go to the police.

Do I have authority over this?
If you are a Christian the answer is yes. We have delegated authority given to us through Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “ Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.” Luke 10:19 ASV.  Christ defeated the works of the devil at the cross and he has given you authority. Serpents and scorpions in this passage are a simple picture of demons.  Jesus has given us authority over all the power of the enemy.

Let me use the analogy of a police officer so you better understand what Jesus did for every believer and how delegated authority works.  A police officer has delegated authority of the government.  If he holds up his badge and commands you to stop you will usually stop.  You stop because you recognize his badge and authority.  If you do not stop and keep going he can also call the entire police force to go after you.  Like this officer, Christ has given you delegated authority over all the power of the enemy. Demons will obey you because they recognized the name of Jesus Christ and his authority given to you. They must obey when you command them to go in Jesus' name.  In this analogy, the police officer, also has a measure of personal power. If do not stop he can pull out his gun and shoot.  Just like this officer you also have power because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Believers have authority and power because of what Jesus did on the cross.  The problem is most believers don’t exercise this authority.  Take your authority delegated to you through Jesus Christ and expel demons in Jesus' name.
 

“And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20 ASV
 

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Col. 2:15 NIV

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Where can I find more training on all this? 

https://equippingthesaints.thinkific.com/pages/home

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