Walking in the Spirit & Overcoming the Demonic (Part 4)

This is the fourth article on walking in the Spirit dealing with the specific topic of demonic activity. We have covered a lot of ground and yet the subject of the demonic is so vast I have just scratched the surface. In this article, the last in the series, I intend to talk about how we can challenge demonic spirits, which the Bible calls evil spirits. There are many books on deliverance and this article is not intended to be exhaustive. It is meant to highlight the main struggles when trying to set people free from the demonic.

First, let me address questions about whether Christians can have demonic activities going on in their lives. If believers are struggling with sickness the demonic can be behind such struggles. If believers are struggling with depression, worry, lack of faith or any number of issues the demonic can, and often are, the cause of such problems. The issue for some believers is not whether a person is struggling with the demonic, but their theology. Christians get sick. To deny the possibility of the demonic being the cause is to deny the facts. I am always amazed how some Christians, probably because of bad teaching, believe it is impossible for Christians with the Holy Spirit to have such problems. As a result believers are forced to accept spiritual bondage because they don’t believe they can fight back.

Take the passage in the book of John where Jesus is teaching those who believed in him that “THEY” could be in bondage. These disciples got angry with Jesus and started to argue with him that they had “NEVER” been in bondage, but the fact was they were in bondage to the Roman’s. 

John 8:31-33  Christians & The Demonic

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

This passage is almost always misquoted about knowing the truth and truth will set us free. The whole passage is conditional about “First” continuing in his word which they already understood and agreed with. The truth does not set us free if we don’t walk in what we know. If we don’t continue to follow Jesus and his word the truth stops producing in us the freedom we desire.

Second, if we set people free from the demonic and Jesus is not the Lord of their lives we go through deliverance with them for nothing, and actually make things worse. Just because we recognize a person is being held in some bondage doesn’t mean we should set them free. Look at what Jesus said about deliverance without Lordship, and realize that getting people born again is first and foremost for their deliverance. 

Matthew 12:43-45  Delivering People without the Lordship of Christ 

“Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. “Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. “Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

Third, If a believer is trapped in unforgiveness and bitterness that produces an open door in their life for the demonic to captivate them. For a demonic spirit to  captivate some area of a person’s life a spiritual door had to be open. Either they were exposed to some spiritual darkness or they embraced some sin of unforgiveness.

 All one has to do is look at the Middle East and see what hatred and bitterness does to a people. The Jews universally are among the most hated people in the world. I believe this is a tactic of Satan because of God’s calling on their lives.   For Christians, Satan has no greater “TOOL” than to provoke unforgiveness and bitterness in our hearts because it hinders our intimacy with God and ruins relationships with others.

Ephesians 4:31 Strength of Sin

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 

Hebrews 12:15 Hindering Grace

See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; 

In my mind unforgiveness is the biggest door believers open for spiritual captivity. It hinders our relationship with God to the point that God said if we continue to hold onto it he will stop forgiving us of our sin. This is the only sin I am aware of where Jesus spoke of it while teaching on the beatitudes.

Matthew 6:15  Unforgiveness

“But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. 

With these things in mind I will list some basic steps we can take with a person that may be in bondage or being tormented by the demonic. Remember one thing: when we challenge a demon hurting a person we need to be aware that there may be more than one demon latching on to a person physically, mentally or spiritually. In the various places were Jesus encountered demons there were various amounts in a persons life. Let me list a few:

Matthew 9:33  One Demon for Sickness

After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 

Luke 8:2  Mary Magdalene had 7 demons

Also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 

Matthew 8:31  Two men had a “HERD” of demons 

 The demons began to entreat Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” 

Mark 5:9  Legion was 4-6 Thousand

And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 

Here is a list of things to confirm in the person seeking deliverance and for which we should require them to acknowledge and accept. These steps can be used over your own life or when praying for others. 

My suggestion is deliverance should not, if at all possible, be done alone but with the help of other believers. You must use caution because you don’t know the strength of the demons or the number who are tormenting the person.

STEPS FOR DELIVERANCE

1. Confirm their faith in Jesus Christ
2. Confirm they are humbling themselves to Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Humility is a decision not a feeling.
3. Have them confer any sin in their lives especially if they are aware of one that brought about their torment or bondage. Have them Confess & Repent
4. Confirm they are forgiving anyone they have unforgiveness towards.
5. Confess an occult or false religion and have them reject them.
6. Confirm they desire to be set free from any demonic curses.
7. Confirm once again the Lordship of Christ and his death & resurrection
8. Rebuke the enemy and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

I highly recommend books by Derek Prince. He spent years dealing with the demonic as well as ministering to people who needed freedom.

Questions:

1) Are there areas in your own life that you can’t overcome or for which you can’t figure out why you have certain issues like sickness or mental problems? Find a pastor or elders in your church that understand deliverance and seek their help and advice.

2)   Is there a person you care about that you feel might struggle because of the demonic? Encourage them that freedom can be theirs if it is a demonic issue. Seek out the counsel and prayer from those who have demonstrated authority in Jesus.

I hope this four part series has helped you clarify your understanding of just one part in walking in the Spirit,

Pastor Dale