Binding and Loosing

Matthew 16:19, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom
of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound
in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven."

Jesus referred to binding and loosing as the keys to the kingdom,

which means we ought know and use these keys, don't you think?

Binding

Binding is like a temporary spiritual handcuffing. You can bind a

demon spirit, much like tying something up with rope or chains.
You cannot bind a person's free will, but you can bind the demons
affecting or influencing that person. Binding is NOT the same
practice as casting out demons , casting out demons brings fourth
lasting results, whereas binding is only to tie them down for a
period of time. If you are trying to talk to or minister to somebody,
and they seem impossible to get through to it can be helpful to
bind up the spirits inside that person, which will handcuff the
enemy so you can directly and effectively minister to that person
without having them continually held back by the enemy's
interference. Another good time to bind is when the person isn't
ready for a deliverance and you are not willing to put up with their
demonic personality. I have a friend who bound demon spirits
which were in her teacher, who was a lesbian, and she stopped
giving her any troubles since then! Was the teacher ready to be
delivered? Highly unlikely. But that doesn't mean you must live
with her demonic personality, simply bind it whenever you are
around that person, and it handcuffs the enemy from doing his
work around you. Another good time to bind, is when you are half
way into a deliverance (let's say you got 20 out of 40 demons out)
and you need your rest, like say it's 2am and you have to work the
next day. You could simply bind the demons overnight, and finish
the deliverance the next day.

What does it mean to bind on earth? It refers to your physical

location; right now, you are here on earth. Jesus is saying that the
authority to bind and loose are provided for us to use right here on
earth.
What does it mean for something to be bound in heaven?  If
you look up the word 'heaven' in the Greek, you'll find another
word called 'air', which is where the spirits dwell. The Bible also
says that we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. This isn't
referring to heaven as in the place we go after we die, but rather a
realm. The Bible tells us that we are seated in the heavenly realm
with Christ (Ephesians 2:6). We, as humans, were below the angels
and demons, but as believers, we are now seated above the angelic
realm and seated with Christ! So the word 'heaven' here is
referring to the spiritual realm, the air, where the spirits dwell and
operate. In Ephesians 2:2, Satan is known as the 'prince of the
power of the air'.

Therefore, when you bind something here on earth, it will be bound

in the spiritual realm as well. This gives us the ability to bind
demons, because they dwell within the spiritual realm.

Binding is a powerful witnessing tool: What keeps a person

from accepting Jesus? The god of this world, which is Satan
(working through his army of demons) has blinded their minds from
the light of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). Jesus taught us to bind
the strong man, then we can plunder his house (Mark 3:27). If you
have been trying to witness to somebody, and seem to be getting
nowhere, try binding the spirits of darkness that are preventing
that person from seeing the light in the gospel. You cannot bind a
person's will or force them to accept the gospel, but you can do
something about the demons which are holding the person back.
Once you take the demons out of the picture, you will be able to
talk directly to that person without demons whispering in their ears
and trying to combat what you are telling them.

Loosing

Loosing, like binding, can be done here on earth, and takes effect
in the spiritual realm. Loosing however, refers to the loosing of a
captive or person in bondage. You bind demons, and you loose the
captives. When Jesus set free the woman with the issue of blood,
He said unto her, "Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity."
(Luke 13:12)

Other common theology on loosing: Many people believe that

loosing refers to the act of loosing good things into a person's life,
such as blessings or God's love. My opinion is that God's love is not
bound in the first place, therefore there is no reason to loose it. I
have never seen any Biblical backing for the concept of loosing
good things into a person's life. But if you look at Luke 13:12, it
gives us an example of when Jesus loosed a captive, "And when
Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman,
thou art loosed from thine infirmity."

The Ministry of Deliverance

This article is directed towards pastors, ministers, and anybody

who is interested in entering the ministry of deliverance. It will give
you a brief overview of what you should know before entering this
ministry, and how to effectively prepare yourself for this ministry.

Many people enter this ministry with barely any knowledge of what
they are doing, and it's given the ministry of deliverance a bad
name in many people's eyes, because of failed deliverances,
unsuccessful ministering, and people walking away still in bondage,
because the minister didn't really understand what the root of the
problem was in that person's life

The purpose of this article is to point you in the right direction and
to prepare you for this ministry, so you will be ready to help and
minister to a wide variety of people, in a wide variety of bondages,
and bring them into complete freedom in Christ! This article alone
is by no means a complete manual, it was never intended to be,
but it will give you an overview of what you will need to learn
before entering this ministry.

The purpose of ministering deliverance

Guess what? This ministry isn't about demons! That's right! It's
about guiding and helping our brothers and sisters come into the
victory that Christ died to give them! The purpose of ministering
deliverance is to set free those who are in bondage. As Jesus was
sent fourth to preach deliverance to the captives (Luke 4:18, "The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to...
preach deliverance to the captives..."), so we are also sent out
(John 20:21, "Then said Jesus to them... as my Father hath sent
me, even so send I you.") to do the works He did (John 14:12, "He
that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also..."), and
this includes casting out of devils (Matthew 10:8).
The ministry of deliverance is about bringing spiritual victory and
freedom to those who are in bondage. It doesn't matter what you
call it (demonized, possessed, oppressed, etc.), if they are in
demonic bondage, whether they need to tear down a stronghold,
break up a legal ground, cast a demon out, or all three... it's still
deliverance, because it's setting the captives free. Casting out
demons, is just part of the overall ministry of deliverance.

Four important elements of this ministry

This is where I see some deliverance ministries miss the mark.

They think it's as simple as commanding the demon to come out,
and there's nothing more they can do. This is a grave mistake that
causes a lot of people to walk away from a deliverance still in
bondage. There is more to it than simply casting out demons. In
Luke 9:42, we are told a story of how Jesus not only rebuked
demons in a boy who was mentally affected by evil spirits, but also
is said to have healed the boy. There is no mention of the boy
needing physical healing, but if you look up the word healed in this
passage, one of the meanings is, "to free from errors and sins...",
which is likely what Jesus did with the boy, Jesus removed the
boy's legal grounds (sins) and freed him from errors (strongholds).
This case of deliverance required more then just rebuking demons!

There have been times when I have successfully helped people out
of their demonic bondages, without even having to cast out
demons! Sometimes all that is needed is the pulling down of a
stronghold, or a breaking up of a legal right. Other times, all three
areas need to be addressed to bring the person into complete
freedom.

A educated deliverance minister should be knowledgeable with all

three of these very important elements, and be prepared to
address them without hesitation:

Inner healing: Many times when a person has been abused,

rejected, wounded, or hurt in some way, there is an emotional
wound that needs to be healed. Demons will use these wounds and
weaknesses against the person, as leverage to hold them in
bondage and get them to re-open doors so that they can re-enter.
Inner healing is a vital step in the overall restoration process that
needs to take place in the lives of many who are seeking
deliverance. There is more information on this process in the
teaching Steps to Inner Healing .
Tearing down strongholds: Strongholds are incorrect thinking
patterns that people develop over time, and are often set up and
nurtured by demons through lies and deception. Demons thrive on
strongholds, and use them to hang around a person and torment
them. I recommend reading the teaching on Strongholds  for a clear
insight into exactly what a stronghold is, and how to go about
tearing them down. Failing to tear down strongholds can hold up a
deliverance and prevent us from walking in complete spiritual
freedom.

Removing legal rights: Legal rights are things that give demons

permission to enter and remain in our lives. Before demons can
often be cast out, it is important to address and remove these legal
rights. The teaching on Legal Rights  lists the most common legal
rights and how you can go about removing them. Failing to remove
legal rights can hold up a deliverance very easily.

Casting out the demons: This requires two basic elements:

knowledge of your authority in Christ Jesus over the powers of the
enemy, and faith in that authority. Demons are cast out with a
simple spoken command, such as, "I command the spirit of fear to
come out in the name of Jesus!" You can learn more about your
authority and how it works from the teaching on Spiritual Authority .

I believe it is usually a good idea to give the person requesting

deliverance a Deliverance Questionnaire  that will give you an
overview of their background, the bondages they are facing, the
root or source of their problem, as well as legal grounds,
strongholds and any particular spirits that need to be addressed.
Then begin to work with them to receive inner healing, break up
any legal grounds, and tear down any strongholds you see in their
life and of course, cast out any demons that need to go.

It is always helpful to have a general idea of what the different

common demons are, what they do and how they enter, how they
usually operate, etc. For example, the Bible speaks of spirits that
cause physical health problems such as the spirit of infirmity,
blindness, deafness, etc. along with spirits that cause fear and
depression (King Saul), mental illness, etc. The teaching on  Demon
Possession  is a good place to start and will help you begin to
understand how demons affect us, and what it really means to be
'possessed with a demon'. I don't necessarily recommend reading
occult books or books on demons that were not written by solid
Christian ministers, because that can cause you to pick up demons
yourself! Whatever you do, don't wander into the dark world to
learn about it! The best place to learn about demons, is from the
Bible itself! Whatever you can't find in the Bible, you can learn
from other solid Christian ministers such as Derek Prince, Frank
Hammond, or Doris Wagner.

Don't lose insight on what really matters

Do you know what bothers me? When I see people placing so much
of their focus on demons, curses, and what the enemy is up to,
that they lose their focus on Jesus and what the true purpose of
this ministry is all about. It is important not to lose sight of what
Jesus has done for us, the goodness of God, and what the true
purpose of this ministry is all about. It's not about the demons at
all, it's all about what Jesus has done for us on the cross, and
helping fellow brothers and sisters in Christ come into and walk in
that freedom in their lives.

Fear-driven ministries: One thing that I like to watch out for, is

fear-driven ministries. I call them fear-driven, because they often
put a lot of fear into people that is NOT from God, and is
completely unnecessary. They don't show you the love of Christ
and build you up, instead they are good at giving you warnings and
telling you how serious of a condition you are in, or how badly you
messed up and how serious your sin is, etc. They tell you that if
you aren't careful, the demons will return and you'll be worse off
the second time than the first (which is true if you are a sinner, but
that doesn't apply to believers). They give you the impression that
you're in serious danger and if you don't follow their instructions to
the tee, you aren't going to be set free. They overall speak a lot of
fear and condemnation to you, which can set you on the edge of
your seat sometimes. By the time you are done, you could be
worse off than before, because of all the false lies and deception
they feed people who are in bondage. I do not affiliate myself with
these kinds of ministries, and I don't support them. I like to keep
95% of my attention on God's goodness, and 5% on kicking the
enemy out. I myself have experienced "bad ministering" before, so
I know what it's like. I walked away worse off than I came. The
more I began to see through their tactics (and some of the areas
they were WAY off), the better I felt. But I didn't let that stop me
from receiving TRUE deliverance ministry, and thank God... true
deliverance ministry is well worth the wait!
Always remember this important point: It's not about the
demons... it's about the children of God receiving and walking in
the freedom that Christ died to give them!

Recommended reading

Free in Christ by Pablo Bottari

They Shall Expel Demons by Derek Prince

Unbound by Neal Lozano

Free at Last by Larry Huch

Breaking Generational Curses & Pulling Down Strongholds by Vito

Rallo

Demons & Deliverance by H. A. Maxwell Whyte

Pigs in the Parlor by Frank & Ida Mae Hammond

How to Cast out Demons by Doris M. Wagner

Seductions Exposed - The spiritual dynamics of relationships by Dr.

Gary L. Greenwald

Blessing or Curse: You can choose by Derek Prince

The basic deliverance process

A rough step by step guide

Now before you read this, I want to tell you that not all good
ministers will follow these exact steps. It really doesn't matter as
long as the person is being truly getting set free and is able to
maintain their freedom afterwards. There are times when these
rules need to be bent as the Holy Spirit leads the deliverance
session. Sometimes demons must be cast out before the inner
healing process can take place, for example. This is just to give you
an idea of how I like to go about a typical deliverance process.

The most important part of the deliverance process is finding out

what their bondages are, how the devil is operating in those
bondages, and what we need to do in order to get them set free.
Without that knowledge, we are going into the deliverance setting
blindfolded. The Holy Spirit plays a very real and important role in
this step of the process. I like to educate the person that I am
ministering to for a few reasons. I can ask them questions all day
long, but if I teach them how the basic areas of bondage work,
they will be likely to recognize how that applies to their situation
themselves. This allows both of us to better understand what is
going on in their situation. I like to give them a basic
understanding of soul ties, word curses (which they, their parents,
others, etc. may have spoken over them), strongholds, emotional
wounds, traumas, etc. Describing how these things work to the
person will open their eyes to see how they need help dealing with
those things in their own situation. Best of all, it helps the person I
am ministering to feel very comfortable with both me and the
process that I am taking them through. Of course, deliverance
questionnaires are very helpful as well in these interviewing stage,
and I encourage using them to uncover additional areas of
bondage. Throughout the process, the Holy Spirit may be revealing
or bringing to memory the things which need to be addressed.
Throughout this step of the process, have a clipboard handy and
make notes of anything that comes up which needs to be repented
of, broken, strongholds torn down, traumas, emotional wounds,
etc. It is always a good idea to ask the person about their family
history to reveal possible generational bondages. If the person you
are ministering to has a bondage to sexual perversion, and all of
their siblings have the same bondage, then that's a good indication
that you're dealing with a generational bondage.

The next step in the process is going through and begin breaking
up legal grounds though repentance of sins (which opened the door
to the enemy), renouncing ungodly vows, breaking soul ties,
renouncing word curses, breaking generational curses, etc. During
this stage, it is quite common to have alters (in cases of
disassociation) as well as spirits surface and manifest, so be
prepared to bind and cast if needed at this stage, but also be
careful not to treat alters (hurt or wounded parts) as demons, as
you can do even more damage to an already hurting part and lose
it's trust (which is very important). Keep an eye out for the times
when the spirits come up, for example, if a spirit surfaces while the
person is breaking a soul tie, then you can be pretty sure that it is
hanging onto that soul tie and is upset that you're breaking it. If
you pay attention to what steps the person it taking when the
spirits come up, it clues you into what kind of spirit you're dealing
with. It is also helpful to stop once in a while and ask how the
person feels, if they feel pressure, confusion, pain, etc., it can
indicate a spirit that is manifesting. The person should also be able
to tell when something has left them, as they usually feel lighter,
happier, cleaner. Sometimes spirits can manifest and try to disrupt
the process, and in such cases you might have to bind them and
command the spirit(s) to go down while you speak and work with
the person. You can always call that spirit back up later on and deal
with it.

The next step that we must address at sometime here is behavioral

issues. Some of these issues include self-hate, self-unforgiveness,
false guilt, strongholds, unforgiveness, rejection (based on false
identities), fabricated personalities (when a person becomes
somebody they aren't to please or be accepted by others), etc. If
the person has experienced traumas, it is important to lead them to
a place of emotional healing. This is the Holy Spirit's job, but since
He doesn't go where He isn't welcome, we can easily put up walls
which will block His efforts to heal our wounds. These blocks can be
in place through fear as a result of guilt, for example. This is why it
is important to deal with any issues of guilt, fear, self-rejection,
etc. The person needs to come to a place where they see
themselves as who they are in Christ (what God's Word says about
them), clean, forgiven, washed with the Blood, and they also need
to see God as a loving and kind heavenly Father as opposed to a
cruel and distant taskmaster. They also need to come to a place of
forgiving those who have wronged or hurt them. Another important
thing to do is bring them to a place of honoring their parents. Now
for those who have suffered abuse and terrible childhoods, we are
not asking them to honor their parents in things which are
dishonorable. We honor our parents to the extent that they honor
the Lord. If all we can do is thank God and give them honor for
using them to bring us into this world, then it is important that
they do just that, which makes it much easier to forgive them.
There are a lot of issues that can be addressed in this step of the
process, but it plays an irreplaceable role in getting the person set
free and healed of emotional wounds, traumas, abuse, etc.

By now, you should have a legal pad full of notes, which clues you
into what spirits that need to be bound and cast out. Taking
authority in Jesus' name, you can begin to bind a spirit to all of it's
kind in the person (this allows you to cast out an entire nest of
demons instead of one at a time), and cast them out of every part
(this covers the possibility of a related spirit hiding out in an alter).
This is of course a very rough and over simplified guide to the basic
deliverance process that I choose to use in deliverance sessions.
Other ministers will use different steps, or put things in different
order, and that is perfectly acceptable as long as the person is
being set free and is able to maintain their freedom afterwards. I
also stay open to the Holy Spirit, because sometimes these steps
need to be altered in order to effectively deal with the situation at
hand. It also is helpful to give the person some post-deliverance
advise, such as cautioning them about how demons can try to
deceive you into thinking that they have returned, and what to do
in such situations, etc.

Some of Satan's favorite bondages

Knowing who you are in Christ is vital to your spiritual growth,

healing, and deliverance. One of the essential things that I look for
in a person to whom I am ministering, is their self-image. If they
have a problem in this area of their life, then the process of inner
healing and deliverance can be hindered. Overcoming this
roadblock is essential to moving forward smoothly and efficiently in
working with the other bondages in a person's life.

Bob Larson, a well respected name in deliverance ministry, has a

video training program that addresses the six strongholds of Satan.
Bob goes to explain that it's not Satanism, witchcraft, and those
heavier areas that Satan is found, as much as in issues of self-
hate, rejection, abuse, and those more common things in people's
lives. I have to agree with Bob on that! Now of course, we're not
saying that Satan and evil spirits don't run rapid in witchcraft,
Satanism, and so forth, but do you know why people get involved
in many of those things? Rejection, for example, is one of the main
forces that push our youth right into Satanism. Rebellion and
insecurity are among the forces that push people into witchcraft
(power and manipulation, control, etc.). If you take away the
doorways (rejection, insecurity, rebellion, self-hate, unforgiveness,
and so forth), then I have to seriously question if Satanism,
witchcraft and the 'heavier' things would even have a chance!

Henry Wright, who I consider highly knowledgeable and gifted in

the area of physical and emotional healing, considers anti-self
(self-unforgiveness, self-resentment, self-hate, self-rejection, etc.)
issues as one of the major sources of many physical and mental
health problems. Lupus for example, is a condition where the
body's white corpuscles turn and attack living tissue in the person's
body as a result of the person attacking themselves spiritually
through extreme self-hated, self-bitterness, and self-rejection. In
Henry Wright's book A More Excellent Way, he writes the following
concerning Lupus, Crohn's, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and MS:

"The body attacks they body because the person is attacking

themselves spiritually in self-rejection, self-hatred, and self-
bitterness. There is a spiritual dynamic that comes in which
the white corpuscles are invisibly redirected to attack living
tissue while ignoring the true enemy which is bacteria and
viruses."

(A More Excellent Way, page 161)

What is your identity based upon? Is it your job? Your

relationships? Other's acceptance of you? Is it what others think
about you? Is it what your parents said about you while growing
up? Is it what you think about you? What should you base your
identity upon? We need to base our identity upon what God thinks
about us.  Even what you think about yourself can be wrong, and
usually is. What God thinks about you is the only accurate
perception of who you really are. After all, He made you and knows
the very hairs on your head!

But  even the very hairs of your head are all numbered . Fear
not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Luke 12:7

I can assure you that there is nobody on the face of this earth, that
pays more attention to you, or cares for you, more than your
heavenly Father. He even knows which hair #4,382 is, and the day
it will fall (or be pulled) out. If anybody is capable of setting the
record strait about self-worth, it's Him! So how do we find out what
God thinks of us? We dive into His Word, where it talks about us. I
have another teaching titled Who We REALLY Are which contains a
scriptural look into the person that God has made within us. I also
highly recommend taking yourself through the Blessing
Confessions, verbally confessing them to yourself daily. That in
itself is a powerful tool to tear down the anti-self strongholds.
God made you, and He wanted you here! How we know that
God wanted a child here, even if he or she came into this world
through rape or incest? One day the Holy Spirit revealed to me
that only God is the one who creates life, or the human spirit . Mere
human beings cannot do that. A man and woman can lie together,
and create the environment for the egg to be conceived, but it is
God and only Him alone that creates the human spirit which is
attached to that egg in the womb. God's word tells us that He
formed us in our mother's womb:

For thou hast possessed my reins:  thou hast covered me in

my mother's womb . I will praise thee; for  I am fearfully and
wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works ; and that my
soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee,
when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the
lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance,
yet being unperfect; and  in thy book all my members were
written , which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet
there was none of them.  How precious also are thy thoughts
unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!   If I should
count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I
awake, I am still with thee.

Psalms 139:13-18

Seeing yourself as a child of the King, is not prideful or boastful,

but rather aligning your thinking with what God's Word has to say
about you, and a pure and simple acceptance of what Christ has
done for you on the cross. If God calls you pure, clean, and a
member of the royal family, yet you continue to go around claiming
that you're just an old sinner saved by grace, then do you know
what you're actually doing? You're denying what Christ has done
for you!  Christ made you a new creature when you accepted Him,
and that new creature is no longer in bondage to sin. A sinner is
defined in the dictionary as somebody who is still in bondage to sin.
We may sin once in a while, but that's because we're saints who
sin, not sinners (who's nature is to sin). I have a good teaching on
this subject called Forgiven Sinner or Saint. It may not sound like
much of a difference at first, but it makes a huge impact on your
identity!

If God were a painter, would you love His artwork?  Or would
you stand before a mirror, look at His prized creation, and think to
yourself, "Yuck! Who made this?" One day the Holy Spirit spoke to
me very clearly and said, "I want you to love and appreciate the
work of my hands, and that includes you, for you were made in my
image! " It is important for us to enjoy and appreciate what God has
created and artistically designed. When we love ourselves, we are
loving the painting and artwork of God.  I have a whole teaching
just on loving ourselves which is titled, "It's vital to love yourself."
This is not a worldly, stuck-up, or prideful way of loving yourself,
but rather a humble acceptance and thankfulness for the person
that God has created within you.

Satan wants us to hate ourselves. In the ministry of deliverance,

self-hate is HUGE. Not only is it very popular, but it is also  very
destructive spiritually . We cannot truly love others, unless we truly
love ourselves and if we fail to love others, then we are not keeping
the commandments of Jesus to love one another. Satan wants our
thinking to be in complete disagreement with God's thinking about
us. What causes low self-worth identity strongholds? When we
listen to what Satan tells us about ourselves. He will use guilt, false
humility, and dead religious thinking to cause us to look down upon
ourselves. I would like to ask the questions, "Have you been
listening to the devil? Have you been basing your identity upon
what He's been telling you?"

It is absolutely essential to know that you're forgiven, because as

long as you question your status with God, the healing process is
being held back. Did you know that false guilt and self-
unforgiveness are a team that Satan uses against us? The reason
why so many cannot seem to break free from guilt, is because they
have failed to forgive themselves.  When we forgive ourselves, as
God has forgiven us, the guilt that Satan's been pushing on us
disappears like a vapor! However, when we fail to forgive
ourselves, self-unforgiveness turns into self-hate and the bondage
is like a snowball going down a hill. I have an entire teaching just
on Forgiving Yourself that is a must-read for anybody who
struggles with guilt, shame, or any of the anti-self bondages (self-
hate, self-resentment, self-unforgiveness, self-rejection, etc.).

Both self-unforgiveness and false guilt deny the work that Christ
has done for us on the cross. Therefore, learning how to forgive
yourself so that you can break free from false guilt is vital to
becoming the person that Christ created you to be. If you're
wondering if God has forgiven you, or if your sin is too great to be
forgiven, then you need to read The Forgiveness of Sins and
also The Blood is Enough. There is no sin that you can take to the
Lord, and not be forgiven of.

Did you know that many marriages and relationships are destroyed
because of self-hate? When a person does not respect them self,
they will lose respect for others and ultimately, God Himself. Henry
Wright introduced me to the truth that we can only genuinely love
others, when we first love ourselves . The entire quality of one's life
is downgraded when a person fails to love them self and appreciate
the person that God has made within them. The negative effects of
anti-self bondages is staggering, which is why this is such an
important bondage to address when ministering to people!

Tear down anti-self strongholds! While anti-self bondages can

and often do involve demonic spirits, there is a demonic house that
must be removed in order to bring true and lasting freedom. I have
a teaching on Removing Demonic Homes that I highly recommend
reading. The homes that demons are holding onto are usually
strongholds and often inner wounds. There are many teachings on
this web site that address the tearing down of strongholds, and
also emotional or inner healing. I highly recommend spending some
time going through these teachings to gain an understanding of
how these bondages work, and how to minister or find freedom
from them.

Your life has meaning and a purpose! You have a powerful

calling that that God has for you. I recommend reading a teaching
that God has given me titled Ambassadors for Christ, which goes on
to show you the responsibility that we have, as the Body of Christ,
to carry out the work and ministry of Christ here on earth today.
Properly perceiving ourselves will greatly affect our ability to carry
out the mission that God has called us to. Having an intimate and
passionate love relationship with God is another powerful key to
walk in the anointing that God has called you to. Be sure to read
my teaching on A Love Relationship with Jesus for a powerful
revelation of the kind of relationship that God wants to have with
His bride (you and I!).

The big key in solving identity issues (the anti-self bondages), is to

first learn what Gods' Word says about us (that we've been
redeemed, washed with the Blood, seated with Christ in terms of
spiritual authority, loved as much as Jesus was loved by the Father
[see John 7:23], and so forth), and then aligning our thoughts with
God's thoughts concerning who we really are.
Radical Deliverance Practices

One thing I have came to realize is that not all deliverance

ministries are not the same. Not every church that claims to
function in the area of deliverance is not necessarily casting out
demons. Other deliverance ministries will tell demons to leave, but
refuses to get involved with the messy manifestations that often
accompany a true exorcism ministry session. Often, the minister
will say something along the lines of, "I don't allow demons to
manifest when I'm ministering." My response to that is, "So you
have found a way to do this that is superior to the deliverance
ministry of Jesus Himself? You have found a way to do things that
is better than the way that Jesus did things?" What I've found is
that these types of ministers often look down upon those of us who
practice deliverance in a way that allows the demons to manifest.

Am I looking for a violent manifestation? Absolutely not! As a

matter of fact, I prefer that they don't manifest violently, for the
sake of the person being ministered to as well as everybody else
present. It is never my desire for anybody to get hurt. I prefer
demons to manifest, but just not in a way to which could cause
anybody present physical harm. However, there are times when
violent manifestations cannot be avoided, so the best we can do is
forbid them to manifest in a way that could harm those present and
then have a couple decent sized people there to hold them down so
that nobody gets hurt. When I say that I like to have the demons
up and manifesting, I am looking for any sign that the spirit is "up"
and that I'm not just trying to deal with something that could be
hiding deep within the person. I look for things such as eyelids that
will not open, an evil presence in their eyes, shaking, body
twitching, etc. I prefer the mild manifestations when possible
unless it is in a public setting where others would benefit from
seeing the demon manifest as well. I believe one of the the reasons
that Jesus let demons scream and throw people around in public, is
so that everybody could witness what was really going on and had
no doubts as to the genuineness of the situation.

Not all deliverances are going to produce a manifestation.  Many

times they manifest in a mild fashion (yawn, burp, cough, body
twitch, shaking, an evil look in their eyes, etc.) while other times
they manifest by screaming or even a violent manifestation where
the person must be held down. I do not require a manifestation in
order to claim victory, but I like to at very least have the person
tell me that they felt a release. This teaching is addressing those
deliverances where the demons come up to manifest in some way
or another. In the case of public exorcisms, it is more helpful when
the spirits manifest in such a way that those present are able to
see what is truly going on. My favorite is when they come out
screaming in an ear-piercing evil scream that nobody has any
doubt is a spirit. Of course, that isn't always the best manifestation
if it's not done in the right environment (and the police show up).

Let's take a closer look at the primary example we find in scripture

where Jesus forbid a demon from speaking:

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the

sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And
they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as
one that had authority, and not as the scribes. And there was
in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried
out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou
Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee
who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him,
saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the
unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he
came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that
they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is
this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority
commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey
him. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all
the region round about Galilee.

Mark 1:21-28 KJV

Notice that even after Jesus forbid it to speak, the spirit STILL

manifested violently and screamed as it came out!  Jesus did not
forbid the spirit from manifesting, He only forbid it to speak.
Sometimes it is appropriate to forbid a spirit from manifesting, and
in Jesus' case, there were times when He would forbid them from
speaking because they were making a scene because He was the
Christ (Luke 4:41). If you want to get technical, that reason does
not apply to us. Although I will say, there are times when it is
appropriate for us to forbid a spirit from speaking. I just don't do it
all the time, nor do I forbid them from manifesting in most cases.
This is consistent with the ministry that Jesus modeled for us.
Let me make this very clear: I do not try to get demons to
manifest for entertainment purposes. I minister deliverance, and
manifestations are just a part of what takes place during our
ministry sessions. My heart is to get people set free and healed,
and if I have to be spit on, screamed at, and hold down a
manifesting body, then so be it! It's the nature of this type of
ministry. This is what Jesus had to endure, but He did it because
He genuinely wanted people to be set free.

It is my intent to do the work of Jesus, the way that He did

it. Most of the time, He allowed the demons to manifest.  He even
did public deliverances , where He would minister to somebody
before a whole crowd of people, so that all could see the power of
God setting that person free. Now, that is very much a personal
choice by the person receiving deliverance, if they are willing to do
that. I do not encourage dragging somebody who is battling an
sensitive issue (lust, porn, etc.) up front and embarrass them
before the world. If they are dealing with a spirit of anger, for
example, they may be more than happy to be delivered in public so
that others might learn. Again, I believe it is a choice that is best
left to the person being ministered to.

I actually prefer to see the demons come up and

manifest. Why is that? Because it usually makes them much more
cooperative and a lot easier to deal with. The nature of a demon is
to operate in darkness, where they are not seen or exposed. When
they are exposed and brought out into the light, as the Holy Spirit
did numerous times in Jesus' ministry, they are weakened and
therefore have good reasons to tremble in the presence of the man
of God who knows His authority and is about to cast them out.

To forbid a demon from manifestation, in my opinion, gives them

permission to hide, which makes it more difficult to get them out. I
have nothing against forbidding a spirit to manifest violently. I
want them to manifest so that they are easier to deal with, but I
don't want anybody to get hurt.

Another reason why manifestations are beneficial is in public

exorcisms. The thing with public exorcisms, which is an important
part of the evangelism calling (at least it was in the early church
and Jesus' ministry), is that if the demons don't manifest, the
people don't get to see the power of God tread down the kingdom
of darkness in a visible and tangible way before the eyes of people.
Seeing the power of God displayed in the driving out of evil spirits,
was an important key to the evangelistic ministries of Jesus and the
early church. As a matter of fact, this is the type of evangelism
ministry that Jesus called us to carry out:

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at

hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast
out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Matthew 10:7-8 KJV

Notice in Philip's ministry, MANY saw him doing public deliverances

and as a result, they came to believe in Christ !

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached

Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed
unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the
miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud
voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and
many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
And there was great joy in that city.

Acts 8:5-8 KJV

I believe that part of the calling of an evangelist, is to drive out

spirits in a public setting. Jesus gave the commission to go forth
and drive out spirits and heal the sick while we're preaching the
gospel of Christ ! We think it's radical to do a public exorcism in a
church setting, where there is a room full of believers (which is
great, because it is a good learning experience!), but do you know
that what Jesus and Philip were doing, was in a truly PUBLIC
setting where there were non-believers watching what was going
on? Why isn't the church today doing this? Then we wonder why
we're not getting the same results as the early church got.  We
have brought the commission that Jesus gave us, down to
our level. We'll go forth and preach the gospel, but we won't cast
out demons while we're up there preaching so that people can see
the manifest power of God in action.

There are many lost people today that would never accept Jesus
based on somebody merely bringing them the gospel, but if they
see the manifestation of the Spirit, the casting out of demons and
the healing of the sick, they will come running to Christ! There will
be MANY people in hell because nobody came to them with POWER
along with the Word!
 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in
power...

1 Thessalonians 1:5 KJV

Jesus made it clear when He commissioned the disciples (including

us today!) to go forth and preach, not just to preach, but to
demonstrate the power of God in conjunction with our preaching! I
believe this is one of the powerful keys that brought the results we
read of in the early church. They did what Jesus told them to do,
not just preach, but also demonstrate the power of God to the
world around them. This was Jesus' whole ministry, was
demonstrating the power of God along side teaching and
preaching!!

Then there are those who have softened their approach in order to
make it "seeker friendly" so that is less offending to others. These
are the ministries that point their fingers at those of us who
welcome manifestations, as if we are out of order. They try to
separate themselves from us radicals who take God at His Word
and do what we were commissioned to do. I believe in such cases,
there is a pride issue at work because they are not only belittling
our ministries, they are belittling Jesus' own ministry!  What a
shame to look down upon deliverance ministries that let
demons manifest, when Jesus' own ministry is among
them. It is sad when Jesus' ministry methods is looked down upon
as being "out of order".

After all, who do you think caused those spirits to scream out while
Jesus was teaching amongst the people? It was the Holy Spirit
who CAUSED the demons to manifest! Unlike the demons, who's
nature is to hide in darkness so they are not seen or cast out, the
Holy Spirit wanted the demons to come out in the open where they
were the the light, and many that were present would have the
opportunity to see the power of God set somebody free! The Holy
Spirit completely humiliated those demons, by dragging them out
into the open, so that Jesus could go about demonstrating the
power of God by casting them out in front of a whole group of
people! Yet today, we have a "problem" with demons manifesting,
and wouldn't even think of allowing demons to manifest in front of
a group of people, much less non-believers! Then we wonder why
we our churches are so much different than what we read about in
the early church.
It's as simple as this: if we want the results that the early church
saw, then we need to do what Jesus told us to do . We need to
demonstrate power along with the Word that we're preaching.

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at

hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast
out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Matthew 10:7-8 KJV

Disclaimer: I am not against anybody who casts out demons in

Jesus' name, even if they use a softer approach and try to avoid
manifestations. If people are being set free, then praise God!
However, I do have my concerns about those who ultimately look
down at those of us who don't mind the manifestations as if we
were out of order. Anytime you look down on such ministries, you
are looking down and belittling Jesus' own ministry. I believe that
to get the ultimate result, and operate in the capacity that Jesus
has called us to, then we need to do what He did, the way that He
did it. I don't soften up deliverance ministry so that it is more
socially acceptable. I don't have a problem with demons
manifesting. I want the people set free.

Removing Demonic Homes: To bring lasting freedom

What exactly is a demonic home? A demonic home is a fleshly

environment by which gives it access and ability to live in a person.
This is not a physical home, but a spiritual home. A root of
bitterness for example, will create an environment or place in that
person's life by which demonic spirits can enter and dwell among.
God's Word tells us not to give Satan a foothold or as the KJV says,
"a place to the devil."
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your
wrath:  Neither give place to the devil .

Ephesians 4:26-27

If we go about casting out demons, but fail to remove the "place"

that we've given to the devil (or his demons), then they still have a
home within us. Jesus described a demon as a strongman who is
armored and keeps his home, but by removing his armor (and take
away his home), we can spoil his goods (the area of the person's
life that was once held in bondage). Jesus went on to tell us that
demons like to return to their homes:

When a strong man armed  keepeth his palace [or home] , his
goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come
upon him, and overcome him, he  taketh from him all his
armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.... When
the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through
dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith,   I will
return unto my house whence I came out . And when he
cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he,
and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than
himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state
of that man is worse than the first.

Luke 11:21-22,24-26

Demons cannot just come back and reenter a person without

having a home there. That is why it is so important that we
minister to the whole person, and figure out what is the root to
their bondage, then minister to the root so that the demon has no
home to return to.

While there are definitely spirits of lust, anger, and so forth, there
are also fleshly homes that are created by which they dwell. A spirit
of bitterness cannot enter and dwell by itself, it must have a fleshly
'hook' or 'home' by which it dwells.

Examples of demonic homes

Please understand that these are only examples, and not every
case is the same. Some bondages may be different than the
examples below even though the same demons may be at work.
These examples are only here to give you an idea of how demon
homes work.

Example of a bondage to lust and pornography

Pornography and lust are known to be rooted in a lack of love. If a

person grows up not feeling loved, then there's a good chance they
will turn to pornography or lust to fulfill that need which was never
met by their parents or family. Let's say that we're about to cast
out a demon of lust in somebody; let's first look at the flow of
bondage here:

An unmet need to be loved and appreciated  CREATED  a fleshly

bondage to pornography  WHICH IS  a demonic home  THAT
CONTAINS  a nest of demons (lust, pornography, perversion, etc.).

First we need to minister to the root cause to the fleshly problem,

then we need to clean up the fleshly problem itself (which is the
demonic house), and then cast out the demons. The person must
come to learn how they are loved, accepted, and appreciated by
their heavenly Father. Then they need to repent and renounce their
bondage to pornography, lust, and so forth. Then it is time to begin
casting out the demons that have been holding the person in
bondage.

Example of bondage to rejection

Next, let's take a young man by the name Joe. Joe has been
rejected as a child by his peers, and today has a terrible bondage
to rejection, thus making it difficult to create meaningful
relationships with others. Joe feels all alone, and even when others
aren't rejecting him, he perceives even a simple "no" as a form of
rejection. Joe has difficulty receiving correction because he
perceives it as an attack on him personally. As a result of feeling
rejected, Joe naturally fell into a bondage to rebellion, which set
him up for further rejection. Those are just a few of the things that
Joe struggles with. We could go about casting out the demon of
rejection, or we could minister to the root of Joe's problem. With
Joe's situation, the flow of bondage looks something like this:

A deep wound that was created when others rejected

him  CREATED  a fleshly bondage where Joe felt worthless and
worthy to be rejected  WHICH BUILTa stronghold of self-hate,
self-rejection, and so forth  WHICH WAS  a demonic home  THAT
CONTAINED  a nest of demons (rejection, rebellion, self-hate,
etc.).

A similar flow of bondage may look something like this:

A deep wound that was created when others rejected

him  CREATED  a fleshly need to be accepted and a stronghold of
rejection (or a way of perceiving yourself as rejected)  WHICH
WAS  a demonic home  THAT CONTAINED  the demons of
rebellion, rejection, and so forth.

Example of bondage to bitterness

Let's take a woman by the name Susan who was molested by her
father when she was a young girl. Ever since then, she's had a
terrible time feeling clean inside, and establishing genuine and
meaningful relationships. Such a bondage plays havoc with
marriages all the time, as it makes it very difficult for the wife to
truly bond and enjoy physical and emotional intimacy with her
husband. We could start out by casting out the demons which
entered in through the molestation, OR, we could minister to her in
such a way that brings true and lasting freedom. Susan's flow of
bondage might look something like this:

A deep wound and feeling "used" that was created because of the
molestation  CREATED  a feeling of unforgiveness and hatred
towards her father (and often men in general)   WHICH IS  a
demonic home  THAT CONTAINS  spirits of hate, anger,
resentment, and so forth.

Our first step is to deal with the wound, and let Susan know that
she had a right to hate and be angry with her father for the terrible
thing which was done to her. It is a right that God gives us, but He
also asks us to yield that right to Him. God's Word tells us to let
God avenge wrath (see Romans 12:19), for when we give Him that
right, He says that He will repay. Much of the problem with
unforgiveness is that we don't really believe that God will bring
justice to that situation. Susan must realize that although her
father is off of her hook, he's still accountable to God for his
actions. Susan has also lost sight of what Jesus has done for her,
and what a steep and terrible price that Jesus paid for her own
sins. Dealing with the unforgiveness root will tear down the demon
house, so that when the demons are cast out, they have nowhere
to return to.

Exceptions to the rule

Sometimes you cast out demons first, depending on what the Holy
Spirit leads. There are valid situations where it is best to get rid of
the demonic factor first so that you can more clearly deal with the
root issues. Sometimes demons must be cast out before the person
can freely receive healing to their damaged emotions. However,
use caution when going after the demons up front, as the they love
to return when their fleshly house still exists. This is why I
generally like to take the safe route (laid out in this teaching) as a
default method, unless the Holy Spirit prompts me otherwise.
However, be prepared for the Holy Spirit to lead otherwise, because
there are times when I believe it is necessary.

In any case, when you're finished with the deliverance process,

then both the root should be cleaned up as well as the demons cast
out. Whatever steps are taken to get there may vary, but that
should always be our goal when ministering deliverance and inner
healing.

The importance of understanding bondages

Whenever you find yourself casting out the same demons from the
same person over and over again, then there's a good chance there
is a demonic home which the demon keeps returning to. I like how
Charles Kraft describes demons as rats which feed off of garbage in
our barn. We can keep on casting the rats out, but unless we clean
up the garbage by which they are feeding, then they will keep
coming back. Balanced deliverance ministry is typically focused on
cleaning up the garbage even more than casting out the demons,
because it is the key to ministering true and lasting freedom. I'm
not saying that casting out the demons isn't important (it is VERY
important!), but if we keep on casting out the same demons and
they keep coming back, what good are we doing?

This is why I highly encourage every deliverance minister to take

the time to study and learn the roots of the popular spiritual
bondages. Make it your mission to understand what brings on
various bondages to lust and pornography, anger problems, and so
forth. Yes, there are demons involved in most of these situations,
but there are also fleshly roots that we need to minister to, so that
when we cast out the demons, they do not return. It is vital for
deliverance ministers to take the time to learn and understand the
bondages that are plaguing many people today so that we can
effectively minister genuine and lasting freedom.
Moral Frailty Demons: Don't write off sex demons so fast!

It is easy to convince somebody of the demons which we find in the

Bible (divination, infirmity, fear, deaf and dumb, and so forth). But
sometimes, people wonder how we can go about casting out spirits
of lust, perversion, anger, and so forth. Are we seeking to avoid
personal responsibility of our sins, by blaming them on demons? If
you read my teaching on Flesh and Demons , it will show you how
this is not true at all. We can't go around blaming demons for our
failures. However, having a spirit of lust or perversion, can make it
miserable on the person to resist those types of sins because of the
intense pressure that is put upon them. This is the purpose of
casting out such spirits, it is to relieve the person from such
pressure or tendency to sin. People who have been delivered of
such spirits will likely tell you that there is a big difference between
being tempted from the outside and being driven pressured from
the inside.

Often, a person who has a spirit of lust or perversion, for example,

will feel an unusually strong draw towards those weaknesses.
Somebody who has a spirit of addiction will often find it very hard
to break off from whatever they are addicted to, and if they do
break off, they will soon become addicted to something else
(exchange a bondage to smoking, for an eating disorder). On the
other hand, there are cases that are much more severe. I've
worked with women who had what is called a spirit of incubus
(some call it a spirit husband). It is a sex demon that will stimulate
the woman sexually at night, as if it were a man. These women will
often tell of how this thing appears to them at night, holds them
down in bed, and rapes them!

How can a demon hold a person down physically and stimulate their
body? Well, we see cases in the Bible where demons are known to
take control of the physical body, cause it to foam at the mouth,
and all sorts of things (see Mark 9:17-18). We also see God's holy
angel (who are without a physical body), physically wrestling with
Jacob (see Genesis 32:24-26 & Hosea 12:4).

Where does the Bible clue us in on these demons?

While the gospels were too brief to cover many stories of healing
and deliverance, it makes it clear that deliverance and healing
ministry were taking place at alarming rates:
 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought
unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases
and torments, and those which were possessed with devils,
and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy;
and he healed them.

Matthew 4:24

But we don't hear much detail on what types of sicknesses, or what

types of spirits that were dealt with. We do know that there are
numerous demons out there, and the Bible is clear about a demonic
hierarchy. That is an entire teaching by itself. We do know that one
man that Jesus ministered to, had a legion (which is several
thousand) demons in him. I think it would be insane and
impractical to claim that the demons he had were all the same
types of demons. If demons could cause the things that we
see in the Bible (epilepsy, blindness, muteness, self-harm,
divination, anger, etc.), then how many other cases of
demonization did Jesus tackle, which affected the people in
other ways or areas of their bodies, minds, or lives?  It is a
Biblical fact that Jesus did scores of deliverances and healings
during His few years of earthly ministry, and we only know about a
small handful of those stories , and the ones that we know are all
unique. How many other deliverances did Jesus do, that was
unique?

Near the ending of the gospel of John, we find that the book was
never meant to be a detailed manual, but rather enough stories for
us to believe in Jesus, the Son of God:

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his
disciples, which are not written in this book:   But these are
written, that ye might believe   that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his
name.

John 20:30-31

Later on, in the final chapter of John, he tells us that the vast
number of miracles which Jesus did, were enormous. Jesus healed
so many sick people, cast out so many demons, and did so many
miraculous things, that recording them all would have been an
enormous undertaking:
 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the
which, if they should be written every one, I suppose
that  even the world itself could not contain the books that
should be written . Amen.

John 21:25

So with that said, we are naturally going to encounter sicknesses

that were never mentioned in the Bible, and also evil spirits that
were never mentioned either. I mentioned above the spirit of
incubus... is it any less genuine evil spirit, even though it wasn't
mentioned in the Bible? Not at all! There are many spiritual things
which take place in the occult, that it would have been impossible
to include it all in the Bible. Abortions are not found in the Bible,
but that doesn't mean it's acceptable (considering other scriptures
which tells us that life begins in the womb). The Bible doesn't tell
us accounts of people's hair falling out, but I'm sure it happened
back then, just as it does today.

We have to remember the goals of Satan and evil spirits. Jesus told
us plainly what the devil was here to do:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to
destroy : I am come that they might have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

Whatever way that the devil can find to kill us, steal from us, and
destroy us, you can bet he is interested in. I think most any
believer will agree that Satan is actively tempting men to commit
adultery, fornication, and so forth. Those are sexual related
temptations, and they come from evil spirits. I have a teaching
entitled Our Direct Enemy , which goes on to explain how it is not
Satan who goes around tempting or harassing us, but his demons,
for he is not able to be in more than one place at a time. It is,
therefore, evil spirits that tempt men and women to commit
adultery and fornication. God's Word tells us that if we are married,
not to give Satan (who uses evil spirits as his messengers) an
advantage by withholding sex from our spouse:

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a

time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and
come together again,  that Satan [by means of evil spirits]
 tempt you not for your incontinency .

1 Corinthians 7:5

If you read my Our Direct Enemy teaching , you will see that it is
not Satan, but Satan's messengers (evil spirits, or demons) who
are doing the tempting. Therefore, I believe it clear that God's
Word tells us that evil spirits are very much interested in
destroying a person's life by means of sexual weaknesses.  Demons
are very much active in the realm of sex, and God's Word supports
this fact.

Now Paul made it clear that when a person sacrifices unto an idol,
it is sacrificed unto a demon behind that idol. The idols themselves
are nothing, but the demons behind those idols are very real and
powerful evil spirits.

What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is
offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that   the
things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils ,
and not to God: and I would not that ye should have
fellowship with devils.

1 Corinthians 10:19-20

With that said, we can learn a lot from researching the false gods
that are mentioned in the Bible. I just want to point out a couple
here though, to give you an idea of what demons are involved in.
You'll find that demons are very much involved with ungodly sexual
activity and bondage. If we look into the Old Testament, we all
know that Jezebel was an active Baal worshiper. Do you know what
the idol Baal looked like? It stood strait up, and had the shape of a
male's sexual organ. Baal was a sex god (demon) to the core, and
there's not a Bible scholar in the world that would argue with
that!  There are other examples found in the Bible as well, such as
the Assyrian goddess of sexuality referred to as the "queen of
heaven" in Jeremiah.
The Bible speaks of a fertility goddess by the name Ashtoreth,
which in the Greek means, "the Phoenician goddess of love (and
increase)."

For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the

Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the
Ammonites.

1 Kings 11:5

The Zidonians were worshiping a god of sexual fertility, and the

Bible makes clear, this was done unto demons. In the deliverance
ministry, it should be no surprise when we encounter a spirit of
Ashtoreth possessing a person. It is not unreasonable to say that
Satan and evil spirits will use sex as a means to carry out their
John 10:10 mission, to kill, steal, and destroy people's lives.

The spirit of whoredom in Hosea

We find a really good example of a spirit of whoredom (meaning

adultery or idolatry), which led God's people astray. A demon spirit
caused (as they gave it access into their lives) them to turn away
from God!

My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff

declareth unto them:  for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused
them to err , and they have gone a whoring from under their
God.

Hosea 4:12

What about spirits of anger, hate, rage, and so forth?

We don't have to look far to find that demons are known to cause
uncontrollable anger-related weaknesses in a person. King Saul was
a prime example; once the evil spirit entered him, he became fierce
and even tried to kill David by throwing something at him.

Another example of anger problems is found in the story of the

man at the tombs. Consider this verse:
 And when he was come to the other side into the country of
the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils,
coming out of the tombs,  exceeding fierce, so that no man
might pass by that way .

Matthew 8:28

Yes, it is possible to have a demon behind a person's uncontrollable

anger weakness. A person who has been abused or raped can have
spirits such as hate, anger, etc. which has to be cast out. God's
Word warns us not to get Satan get an advantage in the area of our
emotions through unforgiveness:

To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave

any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in
the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of
us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11

Where do you get the idea of Moral Frailty Demons from?

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that
were possessed with devils: and  he cast out the spirits with
his word , and healed all that were sick: That it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet,
saying,  Himself took our infirmities , and bare our sicknesses.

Matthew 8:16-17

In the above passage, we find Jesus casting out demons to

demonstrate how He took our infirmities. If you look up the word
infirmities in the NT Greek, it gives us the word astheneia, which
means, "feebleness (of body or mind) ; by implication
malady; moral frailty : - disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness ."
(Source: The Strong's Concordance)

With that said, Jesus was addressing demons in people which were
causing infirmities in their lives. These infirmities can come in the
form of physical infirmities, diseases, moral frailties, and so forth,
but are rooted, or caused by evil spirits which Jesus went about
casting out. We see Jesus dealing with one woman, who had a
demon behind her physical infirmity in Luke 13, whom Jesus said
that Satan hath bound.
Let's not forget what Jesus told us about the thief and what he
does here on earth:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to
destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

Do we see demons running around with clubs, murdering people?

Of course not! But that doesn't mean what Jesus said is untrue; it's
all in properly understanding what Jesus was really saying. Jesus
was telling us that the work of Satan, who's workers are evil
spirits, desire to steal from us, destroy our things (relationships,
our joy, families, etc.), and yes, even kill us. Did you know that
cancer is almost always demonic? And it's one of the leading causes
of death in this country! Could Jesus' words be a little more true
than we give them credit?

What solid believer in Christ wouldn't admit that pornography

addictions destroy people's lives, marriages, and families? Is there
anything that says that Satan can't work through an evil spirit
within a person, with the intent to destroy their life through
pornography? What about masturbation (which brings waves of
guilt and shame upon the person)? What about unnatural sexual
desires that God's Word says are not natural?

It is not reasonable to say that Satan, who works through

evil spirits, will not use sex as a means to carry out their
John 10:10 mission, to kill, steal, and destroy people's lives?

We are NOT avoiding responsibility

We cannot blame our sins and failures on demons. They are only
there to pressure us and entice us to give in. Having a demon of
lust sets a person up for horrible pressure to fail in that area of
their life. This is far beyond the normal level of temptation that we
can always expect to experience. If there's a driving force within
you that does not leave, even after it has been resisted and you've
drawn near to God, then it's quite possible that an unclean spirit
needs to be cast out.

Therefore, our goal in casting out a spirit of anger is never to get

the person off the hook for their failures (by blaming the demons
for their sins), but to relieve the severe pressure that they are
feeling which is trying to make them angry. Traditional pastors in
the church today will make the person's flesh the whipping boy in
cases where demons should have been cast out, and the poor
people walk away with no real help or relief. They continue to
struggle and live a defeated Christian life because the root of their
problem was never really dealt with. It is not normal to have an
ongoing bondage to porn or anger. God's Word tells us that if we
resist the devil and draw neigh to God, the devil will flee, BUT that
chapter in God's Word (James 4) is speaking of normal temptation
that comes from the outside, it is not talking about internal
bondages which involve demons that need to be cast out. I have a
teaching on this entitled, "Resist the devil and he'll flee: Exposing a
misinterpretation " which puts the light on how badly this passage
has been taken out of context and misinterpreted.

Traditional pastors point the finger at us, claiming that we're trying
to avoid personal responsibility for people's weaknesses. Those of
us who are involved in balanced deliverance ministry know that
such a claim is as far from the truth as it can get. We're here trying
to help those to whom those pastors are unable to help. On top of
that, what we're doing WORKS. When the root issues in the
people's lives are dealt with, and the demons cast out, true and
lasting freedom is a reality.

Anti-deliverance questions

Serious questions that we need to be asking!

There are a lot of misunderstandings about whom the deliverance

ministry is meant for. This teaching rises some very important
questions that cannot be realistically overlooked. I want you to
consider these questions and keep in mind that Jesus referred to
deliverance ministry as children's bread.

Matthew 15:26, "But he answered and said, It is not meet to

take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs."

How are you supposed to cast a demon out of somebody who

is spiritually defiled? When a person involves themselves in evil
practices, it defiles them spiritually and makes them vulnerable to
receive unclean spirits. When removing demons, it is vital to first
remove their legal rights, then preceed to drive out the demons.
The truth is that unless a person has accepted Christ and repented
of their sins, they are spiritually defiled and the demons have a
right to be there. This is why Jesus said that if we cast demons out
of the wicked generation, they will return with 7 more even worse
evil spirits. The Bible tells us clearly that it is through the
forgiveness of sins that our legal grounds are removed and the
demons are disarmed. Of course this also means that if a person
does not receive that forgiveness, then the demons are not
disarmed. You are going into a situation where the enemy has a
right to operate in their life.

Colossians 2:13-15, "And you, being dead in your sins and

the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together
with him,  having forgiven you all trespasses ; Blotting out the
handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his
cross; And  having spoiled principalities and powers , he made
a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

Why would you cast a demon out of somebody, who will

receive 7 more even worse demons when it returns?  When we
cast demons out of non-believers, we are setting them up for
disaster because the demons have a right to be there. They can
freely return as they please, because the person is still defiled.
Why would you ever want to set somebody up for something like
this?

Luke 11:24-26, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a

man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and
finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I
came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and
garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other
spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and
dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the
first."

Why cast a demon out of somebody who refuses to accept

Jesus as their Lord and savior? If a person comes to you,
wishing to remove a demon, but refuses to accept Jesus as their
Lord and savior, then the purpose of such a deliverance would be
to simply fix a problem in their life. They aren't interested in Jesus,
they just want their problem solved. The truth is that you aren't
really helping them, because the root of their problem has not been
addressed, and therefore no lasting results will be achieved. The
demon can return before they even get to their car, because it has
full rights to that person's life!

Why did Jesus call deliverance the Children's bread, if it was

not meant for those in covenant with God? This is a good
question. Jesus referred to the casting out of demons as Children's
bread, referring to those who are in covenant with God. Those who
have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and savior, are not children
of God, and have no covenant with Him.

Matthew 15:26, "But he answered and said, It is not meet to

take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs."

If light cannot dwell with darkness, and all darkness leaves a

believer's life when they become a Christian, then why do we
still have evil thoughts, desires, feelings, and bondages to
lust, pornography, anger, etc. long after we accept
Jesus? This is a very good question. Is there anywhere in the Bible
which tells us that some darkness can remain, while other types of
darkness is automatically shed at the time of salvation? No, it does
not. If light could not dwell with darkness, then Paul couldn't have
had both the Holy Spirit, and evil present in him at the same time,
as we can see in this passage:

Romans 7:20,21, "Now if I do that I would not, it is no more

I that do it, but  sin that dwelleth in me . I find then a law,
that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."

Why is authority required to cast out demons, if they leave

on their own the moment their legal rights are removed?  It is
through our authority in Christ, that we are able to drive out
demons. Why did God give us this authority, if what we should
really be doing is simply winning souls for Jesus?

Mark 1:27, "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they
questioned among themselves saying, What thing is this?
what new doctrine is this? for  with authority commandeth he
even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him ."

Why did Jesus drive out demons, when He had the power on
earth to forgive sins? If Jesus could forgive sins while He was
here on earth, and if all it took was removal of the demon's legal
grounds in order to send them to flight, then why did Jesus go
about casting out demons? The Bible is clear that He had power
here on earth to remove the demon's legal grounds through the
forgiveness of sins:

Matthew 9:2-6, "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick

of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said
unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be
forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within
themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their
thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For
whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to
say, Arise, and walk? But that  ye may know that the Son of
man hath power on earth to forgive sins , (then saith he to
the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto
thine house."

If all you had to do was get a person saved and their demons
went away automatically, then what is the point in casting
out demons at all? After all, are we trying to bypass salvation and
just apply a patch to that person's problem or bondage? What is
the point of going through a messy deliverance session where you
have to confront demons face to face and drive them out, when all
you have to do is get the person saved, and all the demons go
without a whim?

The truth is that this belief that Christians cannot have demons,
completely undermines the whole point of casting out demons. The
reason the church today does not practice deliverance is because
they don't really see the purpose of it... they think it all happens
automatically, and that's why most pastors have never cast out a
demon in their life!

Does Jesus' warning about spiritual defilement not apply to

us Christians? Jesus made it clear that there are things which
defile a man, meaning, they make the man unclean spiritually. Do
we dare say that a Christian can do such things, and not have
Jesus' words apply to them?

Matthew 15:18-20, "But those things which proceed out of

the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the
man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with
unwashen hands defileth not a man."

Apparently, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to warn the believers that
through bitterness, they can become spiritually defiled:

Hebrews 12:15, "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the

grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble
you, and thereby many be defiled."

When Jesus shed His blood for our spiritual freedom and
physical healing, does this apply to believers or those who
reject Christ? In Matthew chapter eight, Jesus was demonstrating
what was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah when He went about
casting out demons. At the same time, He was demonstrating the
healing that was purchased for us through His work on the cross.
Do we dare say that these things were intended to be received by
those who reject Jesus?

Matthew 8:16-17, "When the even was come, they brought

unto him many that were possessed with devils: and  he cast
out the spirits with his word , and healed all that were
sick:  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the
prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities , and bare our
sicknesses."

If casting out demons was only valid while Jesus was here
on earth, then why did Jesus appear to His disciples after He
rose from the dead, and told them that His children will be
casting out demons as well? Also, why did the early church go
about casting out demons as well? The fact is that the early church
went about casting out demons, long after Jesus went on to be with
the Father.

Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe;
In my name shall they cast out devils..."
Acts 8:6-7, "And the people with one accord gave heed unto
those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the
miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud
voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and
many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed."

Is deliverance not needed today, like it was back then?  The

fact is that for every 2-3 healings, there was a deliverance that
took place in the New Testament. I am convinced that the
percentage is higher than that, but let's just say it was a 1-3 ratio.
If there is such a need today for healing, then why don't we also
see such a need for deliverance? Could it be because we don't see
these problems as demonic, but rather fleshly or physical
nowadays?

Jesus sent fourth 70 disciples to preach the gospel and cast out
demons, and they returned full of joy as they could see that this
was a very real and important ministry. Now for Jesus to send out
70 men and they came back with praise reports of deliverances...
that tells us that even though they were on foot, there were plenty
of people in their area that needed deliverance!

Luke 10:17, "And the seventy returned again with joy,

saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy
name."

Is it possible that we just aren't seeing the need for

deliverance, because we don't know how to diagnose a
demon in a person's life? I honestly wonder how many people in
today's churches that Jesus, His disciples, the early church and
those 70 disciples would find in need of deliverance. I have to say
that many times, today's pastors would not agree with me about a
person having a demon until I actually get it manifesting during a
deliverance and the person is set free. Many times, you would
never know the person has an unclean spirit until it is confronted
and brought to the surface to be dealt with! For example, when I
had a spirit of fear (as many people today do), all I knew was that
I was fearful, but once it was confronted and dealt with in a
deliverance session, I vomited out black slime! Another time, I was
doing deliverance on an older woman, and she was spitting up a
yellowish phlegm as the spirits were coming out, but when I
suddenly confronted insecurity, she suddenly vomited out pure jet
black slime (and no, she hasn't smoked in decades!)... now you tell
me how that works! Most pastors today would never think such a
woman was suffering from insecurity caused by an evil spirit, and
would tell her that she needs to simply meditate on scriptures
about how God will never leave or forsake you. I would like to see
those who oppose this ministry, give me a solid answer as to why
she went from yellowish slime to jet black slime right after one of
our ministers got a Word from God that a spirit of insecurity was
present and I began to confront and drive it out! This woman said
she never coughed up black slime like that in her life! There was no
sickness present, she felt just fine before we began her
deliverance; there was absolutely no physical reason for such
happening. Same goes for the time when a demon was confronted
in me, and it felt like my stomach physically turned upside down all
of a sudden, when I've never had that happen to me in my life! And
why do so many receive drastic breakthroughs and freedom as they
go through the deliverance process? All this needs to be explained
by those who oppose this area of ministry, just like the deliverance
stories that took place in the Bible.

Is is possible that we are diagnosing spiritual problems as

mere physical health issues? Jesus diagnosed the woman who
had a spinal disorder as having a spirit of infirmity (see Luke 13),
and a man who couldn't talk was healed when a demon was driven
out (see Luke 11:14). Jesus also dealt with an evil spirit in a young
boy who was having seizers in his brain (see Matthew 17:15-18),
and when the demon left, the boy was restored and normal again.
King Saul was said to have a demon, which tormented him with
severe depression and fear (see 1 Samuel 16:14). Job was said to
have boils all over his body, which were caused by evil spirits that
Satan had sent to torment him (see Job 2:7). King David was
tormented by evil spirits, which made him feel hopeless and his
heart felt desolate (see Psalms 143:3-4). Could it be possible, that
today we are diagnosing spiritual bondages, which are manifesting
as physical infirmities, as mere health problems that are completely
natural?

Could we be praying for a healing, when we really ought to

be casting a demon out? What if we encountered one of the
cases mentioned above, where a woman had a physical
bone/muscle problem as a direct result of a spirit of infirmity, or a
person was unable to speak because there was an unclean spirit
hindering him; would we merely pray for a healing when there is a
demon involved which needs to be driven out? Is it possible that we
are praying for healings when sometimes a healing is not what is
needed, but rather liberating from an unclean spirit? I believe this
is the very reason why many times our prayers for healing go
unanswered. We are asking God to do something, while we are
neglecting what He told us to do (which is to cast out demons - see
Matthew 10:8). A friend of mine who does deliverance ministry
almost every week, told me that even though he doesn't feel he is
gifted in the area of healing, he has seen numerous healings take
place immediately in the bodies of those whom he is casting
demons out of!
Could we be ignoring one of the most important and popular
(according to the NT) areas of ministry of the gospel of Jesus
Christ?Could we be writing off a very important area of ministry
that Jesus intended for us today to be operating in, so that the
power of God could be displayed, and the captives liberated for the
glory of God? Do these passages and commands no longer apply to
those of us who are following Christ and proclaiming the gospel
today?

Matthew 10:7-8, "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom

of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise
the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely
give."
Mark 16:15,17, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every creature. And these
signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they
cast out devils..."
John 14:12, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth
on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater
works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

Just as Jesus was sent forth to destroy the works of the devil (see
Acts 10:38), so also are we sent forth. The works that He did,
which included liberating those who are tormented by evil spirits,
we are also supposed to be doing.

Acts 10:38, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the

Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and
healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with
him."
Mark 1:39, "And he preached in their synagogues throughout
all Galilee, and cast out devils."
John 20:21, "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto
you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
Religious spirits

First, what is a religious spirit? A religious spirit is a demon that

wages war against the grace of God in our lives and acceptance of
Jesus' work as true fulfillment of God's covenant between God and
man. The Pharisees were obvious examples of people who have
religious spirits, but many times those of us with religious spirits do
not come close to their behavior. Having had religious spirits
myself, I must say that they are very destructive to our intimate
relationships with God. If you want a true intimate relationship with
your heavenly Father, then you definitely don't want religious
spirits!

It is said that religion and relationship don't get along, and this is
why religious spirits will work diligently to hinder true meaningful
relationships between God and His children.

Religious spirits can manifest in different ways for different people,

depending on Satan's plan for that person's life. For example, one
person may be plagued with feelings of never being good enough
for God, while the next person may be infected with self-
righteousness and false holiness.

What are some of the common religious spirits?

Religious spirits, like many other types of demons, have relatives

or similar demons in their groupings. This is a basic list of demons
that you might find in somebody who has a religious spirit:

 judgementalism
 self-righteousness
 religious pride
 criticism
 legalism
 perfectionism
 division
 error (doctrinal falsehood)
 unbelief
 doubt
 confusion
 argumentism
 false holiness
  salvation by works
 guilt
 condemnation
 fear of losing salvation
 fear of God (unhealthy, scared feeling)
 intolerance

Some of the common symptoms of religious spirits

Often, people who have religious spirits will find it hard to believe
that salvation comes through the grace of God apart from works of
the law. They may find it easy to judge others or criticize them
over petty issues. There is usually a sense of 'earning' your status
or good standing with God. Legalism is a popular bondage today
where a person feels that they have to adhere to a strict set of
rules (laws) before they can be made right with God. People who
never feel good enough for a relationship with God, but are
continually condemned or have a guilty feeling hovering over them
may have a religious spirit(s) operating in their mind.  The feeling
of 'never being good enough' is a dead giveaway , because it shows
that the person is trying to make things right with God themselves
and not relying on the work of Christ, which already paid their debt
in full.

If you think of yourself as more important than others, then you

almost certainly have a self-righteous or false holiness spirit. Other
things you might look for are feelings that you're always right and
everybody else is wrong, or a weakness with being outspoken.
Somebody who comes across as a know-it-all may also have
religious spirits.

Thinking that you can do things apart from God is another dead-
giveaway. Jesus made it very clear that apart from Him, you can do
nothing:

John 15:5, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in
me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for   without
me ye can do nothing ."

These are just some examples of what you may look for.

Biblical examples of judgementalism and self-righteousness

Luke 18:9-14, "And he spake this parable unto certain which
trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised
others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a
Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed
thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men
are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I
fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the
publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes
unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to
me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified
rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be
abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

As we can see, somebody who sees themselves as superior to

others is often in bondage to a religious spirit(s) of some kind. This
Pharisee felt that he had earned his good standing with God, and
that the sinner had not, therefore he had reason to boast before
the Lord. The Bible makes it clear that our salvation is an
undeserved gift from God, lest any man boast:

Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and

that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any
man should boast ."

The Pharisees were always looking down upon others, as if they

were superior to everyone else. Look at this passage where they
criticized Jesus for hanging out with tax collectors:

Luke 5:30, "But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his
disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and
sinners?"

Another example of this is where a woman poured expensive

perfume over Jesus' feet, and washed them with her tears and her
hair. The Pharisees had to put in their 2 cents over this woman:

Luke 7:39, "Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it,
he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet,
would have known who and what manner of woman this is that
toucheth him: for she is a sinner."

People with religious spirits are often judging and criticizing others
in their thought-lives. They see themselves as holy, righteous, and
favored by God, but look down upon others.
Religious spirits are more interested in judgment than
forgiveness

Somebody who has religious spirits will often be more interested in

seeing somebody 'pay' or be punished for their wrongdoing, than
they are in seeing the person repent and receive the forgiveness
and grace of God. A good example of this is found in John chapter
8:

John 8:3-11, "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a
woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in
the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such
should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting
him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down,
and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them
not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and
said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast
a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the
ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own
conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even
unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in
the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the
woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers?
hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus
said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

The Pharisees were known for laying heavy burdens (spiritually

speaking) on others, yet omit the more important matters such as
justice, mercy and faith:

Matthew 23:4, 23, "For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to
be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders ; but they themselves
will not move them with one of their fingers... Woe unto you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and
anise and cummin, and have  omitted the weightier matters of the
law, judgment [referring to justice], mercy, and faith : these ought
ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

Jesus said that if you are heavy laden, to come unto Him and He
will give you rest, for His yoke is light:

Matthew 11:28-30, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn
of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest
unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Salvation apart from works does not settle well with

religious spirits

People who have spirits of religion, legalism, etc. find it hard to

accept the fact that their sins have been paid for on the cross, and
that there is nothing that they can do but accept the gift that God
has given them. Religion likes to 'earn' status with God, whereas
relationship accepts the gift that Christ has given.

Luke 7:29-30, "And all the people that heard him, and the
publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of
John.  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God
against themselves, being not baptized of him. "

Matthew 21:32, "For John came unto you in the way of

righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the
harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not
afterward, that ye might believe him."

In the above verses, we can see that the Pharisees felt too proud
or self-righteous to accept a free gift from God; they felt they were
already holy or felt they could earn their right standing
themselves. Religious spirits will often hold your past against you ,
because they deny the work of Christ on the cross and the way of
righteousness through faith in Christ (see Romans 3:22).  Grace
refers to something that we don't deserve, but is given to us
because of God's great love and mercy.  Religious spirits have little
or no room in their theology for grace!

God's Word makes it clear that if we try to gain salvation through

works, then we have fallen from grace and the work of Christ is of
no effect to us:

Galatians 5:4, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever

of you are justified by the law ; ye are fallen from grace."

When Jesus would freely forgive a person's sins, it made the

Pharisees irate, because it didn't settle well with their self-
righteous spirits. The concept of grace was an abomination to their
doctrine of legalism!
Mark 2:5-7, "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of
the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of
the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth
this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God
only?"

Here Jesus just forgave a man of his sins, and as proof that He was
sent from God... He healed the man while He was at it! But the
religious mindset in those scribes overlooked the miraculous
healing and was quick to judge Jesus for gracefully forgiving the
man's sins.

Religious spirits are easy prey to unforgiveness

Do you feel like you've been wronged, and that person deserves
justice for what they've done to you? This may very well be the
workings of a religious spirit. Remember,  religious spirits are more
interested in justice and punishment than mercy and forgiveness .

Feeling this way is actually a form of pride, because it holds you up

on a righteous pedestal while it sees the other person as a sinner
who deserves to be repaid for the wrong they've done. There is no
concept of mercy or forgiveness for the other person, nor is there
any remembrance of how they themselves needed mercy in their
own life at some time or another. They are only interested in
seeing that person who wronged them repaid and receive judgment
for their wrong. Beware, this can often be a dead-giveaway of a
religious spirit at work!

Concluding thoughts

Religious spirits are very popular today. If you have religious

spirits, please do not hesitate to seek deliverance from them. They
are out to wage war against your intimate relationship with God.
They can make you feel distant from God, because no matter what
you do, it will never be enough, or they can set you up for spiritual
disaster through pride and self-righteousness. Either way, their
goal is to nullify the work of Christ in your life, and make it to no
effect for you. Being set free from religious spirits can bring major
spiritual freedom and breakthrough in your relationship with God!

For further reading on religious spirits and how they operate, I

highly recommend a book entitled, "30 Pieces of Silver" by Jonas
Clark.
Deliverance Prep 101: What you can expect!

Preparing somebody to receive and maintain their deliverance is

very important. This is a basic list of things that you might explain
to somebody before you walk them through deliverance. I always
like to make sure they understand what is going on, and not feel
confused or in darkness over the process of deliverance.

Deliverance is often a process

While deliverance can be a one-time event, it can also be a

process. If you don't receive all your freedom at once, don't be
discouraged! Sometimes it takes time to dig out all the junk in our
souls. One session you may address one area of your life, while in
another, you may address bondages in another. Or sometimes you
may have several sessions to address issues in one area of your
life. Either way, don't be discouraged. Many times it takes multiple
sessions before a person is completely delivered. Sessions can
range from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the
bondage that must be sorted out and worked through.

Never be discouraged , but keep pressing forward to receive what

Jesus purchased for you with His blood on the cross! Sometimes it
may even take more than one minister to bring that freedom, as
different ministers may be more knowledgeable in various areas of
deliverance.

The goal of deliverance is wholeness

It is easy to think of the deliverance ministry as a quick-fix...

simply casting out demons takes away all of a person's bondages.
The ministry of deliverance is often a process which involves more
than simply driving out the demons. There are usually strongholds
to be torn down. Since strongholds are incorrect thinking patterns,
this is done through the renewing of your mind according to the
Word of God. There is often inner healing that needs to take place
as well. I cannot stress how important it is to pursue an intimate
relationship with the Lord once you have been delivered. If you
neglect your relationship with God, the enemy would be more than
happy to begin finding ways to cause you to lose your newfound
freedom.
The purpose of deliverance  is to receive freedom from any
hindrances in your life that would keep you from walking in the
fullness of God's plan for your life and your relationship with Him.

The four elements of deliverance ministry

Deliverance ministry can be generally broken down into 4 groups of

ministry:

Legal grounds , as many of us call them, are basically things in a

person's life which are giving or have given a demon the right to
enter or remain in the person. Unconfessed sins, ungodly soul ties,
unforgiveness, holding cursed possessions (occult rings, etc.) and
so fourth can give demons a right to inhabit and torment a person.
These legal grounds are removed through repentance, renunciation,
extending forgiveness, etc.

Strongholds  are basically incorrect thinking patterns in your mind.

If you think God is angry with you, then you will feel like He is
(when nothing could be further from the truth). If you think you
are worthless, then you will feel worthless. Strongholds are torn
down as you meditate as specific areas of God's Word which
reprograms your mind to think differently. If God sees you as a
precious child of His, and you begin to realize and believe that... it
will change the way you see yourself for example.

Inner healing  is often required when ministering to somebody who

has been abused, raped or has been exposed to a traumatic
experience. Inner healing is a working of the Holy Spirit and is
received as a person releases the inner hurt and pain from past
experiences and allows the Holy Spirit to come in and heal those
wounds. Forgiveness often plays a part in this releasing process
and is done by faith (even if you don't feel like you could ever
forgive somebody for the damage they've done). Oftentimes, self-
forgiveness needs to be received as the person is holding things
against themself which must be released.

Casting out demons  is where the demons are confronted in Jesus'
name and driven out of the person. This step is where the actual
demons are expelled from the person and cannot be overlooked in
most cases. Even if you do feel a measure of freedom after tearing
down strongholds and breaking up legal grounds, demons may still
be present and need to be cast out.
What you can expect during a deliverance

Sometimes you may manifest a demon, other times it seems like

nothing happens when they are being expelled.

Mild manifestations  often involve coughing, spitting up phlegm,

burping, deep yawning or sighing, pressure or pain in areas of your
body, shaking, screaming, etc. If you feel these things coming at
you, don't resist them... let the demons manifest and come fourth.
Demons may use your vocal system to speak through you to the
minister.

Stronger manifestations  are usually found in cases where a person

is being delivered from severe oppression, deliverance from occult
involvement or Satanism. You are often not conscience when these
spirits manifest. They can cause your body to levitate, physically
struggle with those present for the deliverance, cause a demonic
convulsion, and so fourth. If you have been involved in energy
healing, new age practices, false religions, witchcraft, occult,
Satanism or other deeper demonic practices, then it doesn't hurt to
let your minister know in advanced so he or she can have
additional support present during the deliverance session.

Feelings or emotions  will often rise up as spirits are confronted. For

example, if we are dealing with a spirit of grief, the person may
experience deep levels of grief as it is manifesting and being driven
out.

You may experience loss of consciousness  or partial loss of

consciousness. As the spirits manifest, some will suppress your
conscious as they manifest. Sometimes you feel drownded out but
are still aware of what is happening. Other times nothing happens
along these lines and you are fully conscience. If you do feel
yourself falling into a deep sleep stage, I wouldn't try to stop it... it
is recommended to allow the demon to come to the surface where
we can deal with it.

Demons may speak through you  at times to the minister.

Sometimes they will simply take control of your mouth and speak.
You may or may not be aware of this when it happens, but don't try
to prevent it. If you hear yourself spewing out curses and foul
language towards your minister, don't be ashamed... it happens!
Sometimes spirits can be stubborn and require persistence to drive
them out. If the minister repeatedly confronts the same spirit,
don't worry... I often have to spend a little time just trying to get
the demon to come to the surface so I can deal with it. Demons can
resist our authority and therefore they require persistent pressure
before they cooperate.

Things not to do during deliverance

The enemy can try to bombard you with doubt, fear and make you
feel like you will never be set free. I advise to fight those feelings
as much as you can. Saying to yourself, "I will never be set free!"
is doubting the work that God is trying to for you and wages war
against your faith. You might find it helpful to say to yourself
something along the lines of, "I resist those feelings and believe in
the work that Jesus is doing in my life!"

It is important not to be afraid of the demons. God is much more

powerful, and His angels are here to assist! We may encounter
some strong spirits that will resist our authority (that is why we
need to be persistent), but your freedom has been paid for by the
precious Blood of Christ, and we need to stand on that as we
confront and battle the spirits at hand.

When demons are manifesting or being driven out of you, it is

usually best not to do much talking. Spirits often leave through the
person's mouth, and it is true that we can hold them back from
coming out if we obstruct their passageway. If you feel something
evil coming up your throat, don't try to stop it from coming out...
let it come fourth!

Hanging on to your bondage can literally keep you from being

delivered. It is important to LET GO and allow the demons to be
released. Trying to remove a spirit of fear while you're choosing in
your mind to agree with it (being fearful) is not an easy task. You
need to be determined to have faith in Jesus, which is the opposite
of fear. Let those demons come out... let them come to the surface
and be expelled... don't hold them back!

Keep your minister informed on what is going on

Before your deliverance, while filling out the questionnaire, do you

experience any uncomfortable feelings, nervousness, shaking, etc.
while trying to answer certain questions? If so, let the minister
know what the questions were because it is likely arousing a spirit
in you that doesn't want those legal grounds to be broken.

Throughout the deliverance session, the Holy Spirit may bring to

your remembrance a past sin or situation that may have opened
the door to demons... tell your minister about this right away so
they can help you remove any legal grounds to the spirits. If you
feel the Holy Spirit sharing anything with you during your
deliverance, don't hesitate to share it with your minister.

You are often going to experience things that your minister cannot
perceive or know about. For example, physical pain in an area of
your body indicates a spirit manifesting. If the minister knows
where it is, he or she may place a Bible over that area of your body
and confront the spirit. If you feel any discomfort, pain or pressure
in your body or confusion, headache, racing thoughts, irrational
emotions, etc. rising up in your mind, then it can be very helpful to
let the minister know what is going on. If you feel release from a
spirit or feel something leave you... let the minister know. If you
experience any feelings of anger, hate, rage, rebellion, the desire
to run out of the room, etc., I recommend telling the minister
about what is happening. Always try to keep him or her posted on
what is going on inside you, unless they are right in the middle of
casting it out and you feel it is coming out of your mouth (I
mentioned above not to talk or obstruct your airways as the
demons are being expelled).

YOU are often the best person to determine whether the spirit has
left. Did you feel a release or relief as if something has left you?
Let the minister know! Sometimes they can go into hiding (to trick
you into thinking they are gone) and other times there are
additional spirits to be driven out, but keeping your minister
updated on what is happening is helpful. Normally speaking though,
when you feel a release, it means that spirit(s) had departed.

Have questions? Don't hesitate to ask!

It is important to communicate with your minister while doing

deliverance; if there's something you don't understand, don't
hesitate to ask him or her. We may not have all the answers, but I
believe it is important to help you understand the best we can.

If demons return, don't hesitate to seek freedom again

Every once in a while, a person may re-open doors to the demons
which they were delivered from. When this happens, if the person
has repented for any sins committed, then there is no reason to
hesitate seeking that freedom again. Sometimes a person can feel
embarrassed or condemned for messing up again or allowing the
spirits to re-enter them. This is a tactic of the enemy to keep them
from re-seeking that freedom. I do not judge or condemn those
who re-seek that freedom, but rather encourage you to do so... it's
your freedom... don't let the devil re-claim that area of your life!

The Flesh and Demons: They work together!

Many who criticize the deliverance ministry will claim that we tend
to blame everything on demons to avoid personal responsibility.
That is simply not true in most cases in this type of ministry. I do
not intend on ignoring the flesh or overemphasizing the demonic,
but I would like to clearly explain how the two work together to
carry out Satan's plan in our lives.

The flesh is the gateway to the demonic. Many times (unless it

is generational, etc.), it is through the flesh that demons gain
entrance into a person's life. We are first tempted by demons (the
enemy works through his army of fallen angels) because they are
seeking to gain entrance into our lives or carry out a plan to kill,
steal or destroy us (see John 10:10), then once we give in, they
become welcomed into our lives, and once they enter, they will
serve as bad friends who will constantly seek to negatively
influence us. Having a spirit of lust will be like working in an adult
bookstore... it will work to wear you down and get you to give in.
Without having that spirit, it is much easier to resist the
temptation. But wait a minute, what about plain old temptation that
is thrown our way on regular bases? We are not immune from that,
are we? No, unfortunately we will probably be tempted to a certain
degree until we leave this earth. But let me illustrate the difference
between normal temptation and having a demon which is
pressuring you to sin: When you drive down the road and see an
adult bookstore alongside the road, you can easily resist thinking
about what is inside that store... that is temptation. Now let's say
that you had to work in such a store, and have sex videos playing
on the TV screens all day long... that is what it's like to have a
spirit of lust. There is a VERY big difference! If you simply feel a
little temptation once in a while and find it very easy to resist, then
you are likely experiencing simple temptation from the enemy and
your goal is to resist it and move on. However, if you feel driven to
lust or pornography (or other sinful behavior such as anger, hate,
rage, etc.), then you likely have a spirit that must be driven out.

As I said earlier, the flesh is the gateway to the demonic. Demons

cannot simply walk up to us and enter... they must be welcomed,
and our flesh is their tool to get the job done. If they can tempt us
to sin, and our flesh opens the door, then they will have
'permission' to access our souls and/or bodies. This is why you
cannot effectively minister to a person who is not ready to let go of
their bondage. If somebody is not willing to give up lust, then even
if you do get them delivered (by casting out all spirits of lust,
addiction, etc.), that person will likely (without even knowing it) re-
open that door all over again and the demons can come right back.

Sin is a work of the flesh

Is it possible for a demon to take complete control over a person,

and cause them to murder, rape, etc.? Yes! But in most situations,
that is not the case.

Unless the demon takes complete control over the person, it

is the flesh that commits the sin. Take for example a person
who has a spirit of lust and then commits adultery... it is their flesh
that has sinned, but it was coaxed along (or pressured) by the
spirit of lust (or similar spirits). Having a spirit of lust can pressure
us to sin, but it cannot force us to sin. This is why the Bible still
refers to various sinful acts as 'works of the flesh':

Galatians 5:19-21, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which
are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,
and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you
in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the
kingdom of God."

Demons are like bad friends

So what if you have a spirit of rage, and you are driven to

violence? Wouldn't at least some of it be the demon's fault if you
fell into that type of sin? Having a demon is like having a bad friend
who has access to your mind and can sit there and inject thoughts
or feelings in your system day after day. If you hang around bad
friends all the time, what happens? You begin to become like
them... they will wear off on you! That is what happens when a
person has a demon; the demon's ways will wear on that person's
flesh and break it down... making it hard to resist temptation and
sin!

Can a demon take control over a person and use their body to
commit gruesome acts of murder, etc.? While it can happen, it is
rarely the case. Demons are great at working the flesh up to the
point of sin and putting pressure on them that can be very hard to
resist. This is usually how they do their dirty work in our lives.

Conclusion

The flesh is the open door to the enemy, and the demons are here
to ruin our lives. The two work together to carry out Satan's plan to
destroy us!

The flesh must be crucified (or consider ourselves dead to sin - see
Romans 6:11), and demons must be cast out. If we try to crucify
the demon or cast out the flesh... we are wasting our time! It is
vital that we accomplish two things when seeking deliverance:

A) Make sure that our flesh is not joining hands with the demon or
giving it any permission

B) Get rid of any unclean spirits that may be working against us

It is pointless to constantly discipline the flesh yet allow the

demons to remain, and it is also useless to cast out the demons,
but allow the flesh to re-open the doors to them again.

Touching dead bodies and spiritual defilement

Have you ever touched or kissed a dead body of a family member

or friend at their funeral? I have seen people come under great
bondage simply by touching the deceased body of a loved one.
God's Word warns us that touching a dead body can defile us
spiritually:
Numbers 19:13, "Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man
that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of
the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the
water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be
unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him."

Numbers 9:6, "And there were certain men, who were defiled by
the dead body of a man..."

I just spoke with somebody the other day who touched a dead body
when he was a child, and at that moment something very evil and
scary entered him, and he was never the same since. I believe it
was that night when he was sleeping, he awoke to see red velvet
walls around him, as if he was inside a casket. Today I just spoke
with another person who experienced something similar after
touching a dead body... she started having horrible nightmares
about the person who had died.

Grave yards and funeral homes are often crawling with demons. I
know of somebody who lived in funeral home and could testify to
the haunting they experienced there... doors slamming at night,
strange noises, etc. How does this happen? When a person dies,
the demons that have been inhabiting them are left hanging onto
the body, and can remain around that body for years before they
find a new home.

I remember one person telling how they had nothing but problems
in their new home... it was as if the place was cursed! Come to find
out, their property was an old Indian graveyard and the land was
defiled and haunted by demons. Land can be defiled just like
people as we can see in Leviticus:

Leviticus 18:25, "And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the

iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her
inhabitants."

Touching or kissing a dead body can be very dangerous spiritually,

because not only do you become defiled but you are literally
allowing the demons that are hanging onto that body to practically
jump over on you. I know people who have done this, and right
afterwards began to experience spiritual torment in their lives... it
is nothing to play around with!
How do you deal with such a bondage? First I believe we should
repent for touching the dead body, then I would break any ungodly
soul ties with that person, break the curse of death in your life, and
then begin to cast out any spirits that have entered in through that
open door.

Praying out demons: CAST them out instead!

There are many today who will attempt to pray over a person who
is obviously in demonic bondage, but they don't even consider the
thought of casting out the demon spirit behind the bondage. What
is the usual result? The person remains in bondage and the prayer
does little or no good.

God has given us authority over demon spirits, and along with
authority comes responsibility. We were not given authority over
demon spirits and told to cast them out for no reason!  When we
pray over a person who has a demon, asking the Lord to
remove it, we are basically asking Him to do something that
He told us to do:

Matthew 10:7-8, "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of

heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the
dead,  cast out devils : freely ye have received, freely give."

Now some might ask, "What about the verse where Jesus tells His
disciples that this kind can come forth by prayer and fasting only"?
In that scenario, an unusually strong demon was involved and
Jesus clearly told His disciples that their faith levels weren't high
enough to cast it out, and that they needed to spend more time in
prayer and fasting before they could drive this particular demon
out:

Matthew 17:19-21, "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and

said,  Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them,
Because of your unbelief : for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith
as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain,
Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing
shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but
by prayer and fasting."
Let me ask you this question, did Jesus pray and ask His heavenly
Father to remove the demon? No, He commanded it to come forth
like any other demon spirit:

Matthew 17:18, "And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out
of him: and the child was cured from that very hour."

Jesus was considered the son of Man while He was here on earth...
Why? Because He was our example, and as our example, He went
about doing the works that He intended us to do as well:

John 14:12, "Verily, verily, I say unto you,   He that believeth on

me, the works that I do shall he do also ; and greater works than
these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

Are we not given authority over ALL powers of the devil? If so, why
couldn't the disciples tackle the stronger-than-usual demon and
cast it out freely? They could have, if they had spent more time in
prayer and fasting. Jesus made it abundantly clear that the reason
they were unable to cast it out, was because of their lack of faith:

Matthew 17:19-20, "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and

said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto
them,  Because of your unbelief ..."

We don't see Jesus and His disciples going about praying for
demons to come out, do we? Where did we get this concept of
praying out demons? Let's stop praying for demons to come out,
and start acting on our God-given authority and do as Jesus
commanded of us... let's cast them out!

Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my
name shall they  cast out devils ..."

Haunted Homes & Land: Demons inhabiting property

The Bible tells us that just as individuals can become spiritually

defiled, homes and property can also be defiled:

Leviticus 18:24,25, "Defile not ye yourselves in any of these

things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out
before you: And  the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity
thereof upon it , and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants."

There are some people with the gift of spiritual discernment who
when traveling to certain countries today, can not get off the plane
and take a breath of air without picking up on the demonic bondage
in that country. In the book of Revelations, the Bible speaks of how
a country or land can become inhabited with unclean spirits:

Revelations 18:2, "And he cried mightily with a strong voice,

saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is   become the
habitation of devils , and  the hold of every foul spirit , and a cage of
every unclean and hateful bird."

Likewise, land, homes and even buildings can become habitations

of demonic spirits. In this area of the state, there is an old mental
hospital that is loaded with unclean spirits. From what I hear, even
a group of those involved with the demonic won't go near this place
on devils' night, because it is so haunted. If you look online for
pictures of this place, I'm pretty sure you'll find real photos of
ghosts appearing in the building. This is not a joke... my great
grandparents were spiritualists, and took many photos like this that
would show heads of people that have been dead for years!

One person who lived in an old funeral home said that place was
possessed, which was evident by strange happenings, opening and
slamming doors, and so forth. My father was friends with a
deliverance minister who would have a lot of fun driving out spirits
from homes, and he would have demons screaming at him as he
drove them out!

What are some of the symptoms of a haunted house?

There are many signs we can look for in a possessed home or

building. Some of the things a person can look for are doors
slamming when nobody is there, strange noises, reputation for
calamities (people being pushed down stairs, finances always being
drained, etc.), the air seems heavy (making it harder to breathe),
animals acting fearful or weird (dogs barking like mad for no
reason), and so forth. Often somebody with spiritual discernment
will often pick up on a spiritual presence that doesn't feel right. It's
not uncommon to visit a home and pick up on demonic presence
before even finding out that there was demonic activity that's taken
place there. I've picked up on something demonic before even
entering a home before... just standing on the property is enough
to sense out an unclean presence.

How do homes and land become haunted?

Sins of the inhabitants: One of the ways which a place can

become defiled is through the deeds of its inhabitants. If things
such as seances, voodoo, adultery, or incest have been practiced in
a home, then demonic spirits may inhabit there. The Word of God
tells us that the deeds of its inhabitants can defile even the land on
which it is practiced:

Leviticus 18:24-25,27, "Defile not ye yourselves in any of these

things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out
before you: And  the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity
thereof upon it , and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants...
(For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which
[were] before you, and the land is defiled;)"

Jeremiah 3:9, "And it came to pass through the lightness of her

whoredom, that  she defiled the land , and committed adultery with
stones and with stocks."

Ezekiel 36:17, "Son of man,  when the house of Israel dwelt in their
own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings :
their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman."

Jeremiah 2:7, "And  I brought you into a plentiful country , to eat

the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof;  but when ye entered,
ye defiled my land , and made mine heritage an abomination."

Possession of cursed things: Another means by which a home

can be defiled is through the possession of cursed items, such as
idols, occult books, rings, satanic symbols, and so forth. The Word
of God gives us a good indication that possessing idols can pollute
the land and bring a curse upon it:

Ezekiel 36:18, "Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the

blood that they had shed upon the land, and for  their idols
wherewith they had polluted it ."

Jeremiah 50:38, "A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be
dried up: for it is the land of graven images , and they are mad
upon their idols."
Demons can actually draw power (and legal right) from nearby
cursed objects, such as idols, occult items, satanic rings, and even
demonic photos. It is vital to rid a home or land from such items
before dedicating it to the Lord and driving out the unclean spirits.
The Bible lets us know clearly that physical items can indeed carry
spiritual value:

Deuteronomy 7:26, "Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into

thine house , lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt
utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for   it is a cursed
thing ."

How do you cleanse a home or land?

The first step to cleansing a home, building, church or property, is

to get rid of any cursed items that it is possessing. If there are
occult books, Ouija boards, crystal balls, new age drawings, dream
catchers or other items used to glorify Satan hanging around, then
they need to go. Just like we need to break up legal grounds in a
person before casting out their demons, it is also vital to break up
legal grounds in our homes, buildings, churches and land before
driving out the demons. It is very helpful to pray and ask the Lord
to reveal any unclean items that must be taken out. The Holy Spirit
is great at revealing things that we would never think of! Here are
a few examples of items that usually carry accursed value: occult
books, pornography, satanic symbols, demonic/occult rings, skulls,
frogs, owls, new age drawings, items used for divination, Ouija
boards, etc.

The next step is to go through each room, and pray over it,
dedicating it to the Lord. I would even pray over a glass of water,
and ask the Lord that the water represent the Blood of Christ
Jesus, then take the water around the house and sprinkle the water
in each room and closet, etc.

Finally, it is time to begin taking authority over the spirits in that

home, and command them to leave in Jesus' name. Go through
each room, closet, nook and cranny, and command the unclean
spirits residing there to come out in Jesus' name and to leave the
property.

Just remember that you, as a believer in Christ, have the authority

needed to drive those spirits out... don't let them walk all over you!
Ready for deliverance? What to look for

As ministers, it is important to be able to recognize situations

where a person is not prepared to receive deliverance. Here are
some important guidelines to keep in mind when seeing if they are
ready to receive and maintain their deliverance:

#1 Are they a Christian?

If they are not a Christian, do not even think of a deliverance

session unless the Holy Spirit specifically tells you otherwise.
Casting demons out of non-believers is unwise as those spirits can
come back 7 times worse.

#2 Are they prepared to give up anything necessary to

receive and maintain their deliverance?

Every now and then, we see people who are simply seeking
deliverance so that their problems will go away, but they are not
willing to give up ungodly things in their life to receive and
maintain their deliverance. For example, one person came to me
asking for help, but was not willing to stop living a lifestyle of
fornication. If they are not willing to give up things in their life that
are giving demonic spirits legal grounds, then they are not worthy
of or prepared to receive the children's bread (deliverance). Those
demons have a right to be there, and many times we will be unable
to get those spirits to budge. Even if we do cast them out, they can
come right back because they have permission to be there.

#3 Are they willing to seek a close walk with the Lord and
spend time with Him each day after their deliverance, so that
they can maintain their deliverance?

After a person receives deliverance, it is important to note that

demons often like to re-approach that person, and if they are not
on their guard, those spirits would love to coax the person to let
them back in. If they aren't spending time with God and cultivating
their relationship with Him, they will give in much easier (either
knowingly or unknowingly) and those spirits could re-gain their
access.
#4 Are they prepared to meditate on Bible verses and work
hard to keep strongholds torn down?

In many cases, it is vital for that person to renew their mind

(including tearing down strongholds) before they are able to walk
in complete freedom. This can take time out of their daily lives, and
they must be willing to follow through with this if they want to
make the most of their deliverance. Demons not only work to build
strongholds in our minds, but they also thrive on them and even
use them to re-enter people! Strongholds are very powerful and are
a tool in the enemy's weaponry... we must be ready to take this
tool out of his hands!

#5 Are they willing to communicate everything in their past

with their minister so that he can identify any issues that
must be worked on in order for that person's deliverance to
be effective?

Sometimes people are unwilling to tell anybody about something

they've done in their past because it is so embarrassing. This is a
trap that the devil uses to keep a person from breaking free. It is
important to be able to trust the minister with whom you are
sharing your past, but on the other hand it is also a very important
step in the deliverance process. There are many things that a
knowledgeable minister can pick up on when they hear a person's
past. That is how we usually discover strongholds, legal grounds
and even the type of demons or demon groupings that are present.
Knowing this helps us effectively go forth and minister to that
person.

#6 They must be ready to let go of their demon(s).

Some people like holding onto their demons because of the

pleasure that spirit(s) may bring them. For example, incubus may
bring a woman much sexual pleasure at night, and therefore she
does not want to give it up, yet she wants delivered from the
problems that it is causing in her life. If a person is not willing to
give up a spirit, then there is little we can do to help them.

I must also caution that though a person is struggling in an area of

their life, it does not mean they are not sincere and ready to
receive deliverance. It is important to discern whether they are
prepared to receive deliverance or not, as there will be times when
a person cannot stop masturbating or cannot stop lusting, and yet
they want so badly to be set free from those bondages. Just
because they cannot stop falling in that area, does not mean they
are not sincere. It can mean that the spirit has such a grip on them
that they are put under so much pressure to give in, that they can
barely keep themselves from giving in.

Take for example a spirit of rebellion. It will cause a person to take

up a very rebellious personality. On the other hand, if they are
wanting to be set free from that, then they are most likely ready
for deliverance, but if they enjoy their rebellion and refuse to give
it up, then I question whether or not they are ready. The same is
true with spirits of lust, addiction, etc., if they realize the bondage
they are in and want to be set free, then I would move forward
with the deliverance. But if they tell me that they enjoy their
addiction and lusting and are not willing to give it up, then it's not
time to move forward (unless the Holy Spirit directs otherwise).

Don't take this to an extreme

Although it is not a common problem, I have seen where some

deliverance ministers can blame the person for not being ready to
receive deliverance when they cannot seem to cast a demon out of
them (unsuccessful deliverance), or when they would rather not
deal with the person or the demons in them. When a deliverance
fails, while it can be the person's fault sometimes, it can also be
several reasons that are beyond the knowledge or understanding of
the minister (not all legal grounds were removed, not all
strongholds were addressed, etc.). However, some ministers use
the excuse "you're not sincere" or "you're not ready to receive
deliverance". This is heartbreaking, because they are blaming the
person in bondage, possibly creating an even worse situation and
feelings of failure and unworthiness. It is a shame to see a person
who is ready for deliverance be denied and told that they are not
ready to receive it. It is important that we be able to discern
whether or not the person is prepared to receive deliverance so
that we do not fall into this trap.

Deliverance Prayers

Below are some sample deliverance and bondage breaking prayers.

Please understand that there may be other factors involved in any
given bondage, such as if you are trying to break a soul tie with a
rock group, but refuse to get rid of any CD's that you have from
them. If you're suffering from a deep bondage in these areas, it
may be a good idea to have a strong fellow believer present incase
the demons begin to manifest.

Breaking soul ties

Heavenly Father, I confess and repent of the sin of ___________

(name the sin which caused the evil soul tie, such as adultery or
fornication), and I ask that you forgive me of this sin.

[Now is a good time to destroy or get rid of any physical gifts or

other objects that could hold the soul tie together, such as a gift
given in an adultery, etc. Anything that could hold the bond
together between you and that person.]

In the name of Jesus, and by the power of His blood, I now

renounce, break and sever all unholy soul ties formed between
___________ (name the person) and myself, through the sin of
____________ (name the sin which caused the evil soul tie, such
as adultery or fornication).

I now command any evil spirits which have taken advantage of this
unholy soul tie to leave me now in the name of Jesus!

(Repeat this prayer if you have more then one evil soul tie to
break)

Renouncing ungodly vows

Heavenly Father, I repent and renounce the vow I made to

____________ (name the demon or person, or even God, that you
made the vow to) to preform ______________ (describe what the
vow entailed). I realize this was foolish and rash on my behalf, and
I ask that you will forgive me and release me from the bondage
that this vow has brought me under.

In the name of Jesus, and by the power of His blood, I now

renounce, break and nullify the vow to ________________ to
preform ___________, and I confess that I am released from this
vow and it's bondage in Jesus' name.

I now command any evil spirits which have taken advantage of this
unholy vow to leave me now in the name of Jesus!
(Repeat this prayer if you have more then one unholy vow to
break)

Renounce involvement with unhealthy (demonic) music

Heavenly Father, I confess that I used to listen to unhealthy

demonic music. I ask that you will forgive and cleanse me from this
sin.

In the name of Jesus, and through the power of His blood, I now
renounce, break and sever all soul ties that have been formed
between myself and the unhealthy music (name specific songs and
artists/groups if possible) I used to listen to and enjoy, as well as
any soul ties formed between myself and the artists and groups
(name them specifically if possible) and demonic influences that
have produced these unhealthy songs and music.

In Jesus' name, I also renounce, break and nullify any curses that I
may have come under as a result of listening to the unhealthy
music I used to listen to and enjoy.

In the name of Jesus, I now command all evil spirits to leave me

that have taken advantage of these soul ties I have just renounced.
In the name of Jesus, I also renounce and command any evil spirits
that have taken advantage of any curses that I have come under as
a result of listening to unhealthy music to leave me now in Jesus'
name! I also renounce and command any evil spirits that have
entered me through my listening to this unhealthy music to leave
me now in the name of Jesus'!

Breaking generational curses

In the name of Jesus, I confess the sins and iniquities of my

parents (name specific sins if known), grandparents (name specific
sins if known), and all other ancestors.

In the name of Jesus, and by the power of His blood, I now

renounce, break and sever all cords of iniquity and generational
curses I have inherited from my parents, grandparents and all
other ancestors and break and sever all unholy soul ties formed
between myself and my parents, grandparents and all other
ancestors.
In the name of Jesus, I now loose myself and my future
generations from any bondages passed down to me from my
ancestors and I command any evil spirits which have taken
advantage of these cords of iniquity, generational curses and
unholy soul ties to leave me now in the name of Jesus!

Preaching the FULL gospel: Incl. casting out demons!

Did you know that Jesus didn't simply give instruction to go out and
preach the gospel, but also to cast out demons and heal the sick
while we're at it? God's Word makes it clear that we are to go
fourth preaching the gospel... but we are to also be actively healing
the sick and casting out demons as well!

Matthew 10:7-8, "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of

heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the
dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."

This concept of casting out demons being integrated with our

proclaiming the gospel is something that Jesus demonstrated to us
in His own ministry:

Mark 1:21,23-25, "And they went into Capernaum; and straightway

on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught...
And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and
he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee,
thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee
who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying,
Hold thy peace, and come out of him."

Here's another example of how Jesus was teaching, and halted His
sermon to set a person free from the grip of a demonic spirit:

Luke 13:10-12, "And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on

the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of
infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no
wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him,
and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity."

God's Word tells us clearly that casting out devils was a very real
and important part of Jesus' preaching the gospel!
Mark 1:39, "And he preached in their synagogues throughout all
Galilee, and cast out devils."

Jesus' disciples followed this same pattern!

Not only did Jesus set the example, but His disciples were actively
following in His footsteps...

Mark 3:14-15, "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with

him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have
power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:"

Here again, we see preaching followed up with casting out demons!

So what happened in those disciples' ministries?

Mark 6:12-13, "And they went out, and preached that men should
repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many
that were sick, and healed them."

It didn't stop with the 12... Jesus also had the 70 going fourth
preaching and driving out unclean spirits...

Luke 10:1, "After these things the Lord appointed other seventy
also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and
place, whither he himself would come..."

And what happened??

Luke 10:17, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying,
Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."

It didn't end there...

As Jesus' Heavenly Father hath sent Him fourth, so He also sends

us fourth...

John 20:21, "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you:   as
my Father hath sent me, even so send I you ."

In other words, we are to be carrying out the same work that Jesus
was carrying out when He was here on earth! We are Christ's
ambassadors; we are His representatives here on earth today...
2 Corinthians 5:20, "Now then we are ambassadors (that is,
representatives) for Christ..."

Jesus made it clear that those who believe upon Him will be
following in His footsteps, doing the same things that He was
doing...

John 14:12, "Verily, verily,  I say unto you, He that believeth on

me, the works that I do shall he do also ; and greater works than
these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

What works did Jesus go about doing? He went about healing the
sick and casting out devils! If we believe upon Him, then we are
quite capable of doing those same things! This concept is written in
black and white when Jesus said...

Mark 16:15,17-18, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the

world, and preach the gospel to every creature... And   these signs
shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out
devils ; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up
serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

You and I are fully capable of driving out demons today... and as
we go fourth and preach the gospel, I encourage you to make
yourself available as the Lord places people in your path who need
deliverance. If you aren't educated on this type of ministry, please
spend some time on this Web site as there are many solid Biblical
teachings on casting out demons, tearing down strongholds and so
fourth. I also highly recommend picking up some solid Christian
books on the subject. Here are a few good ones I would
recommend:

- They shall expel demons by Derek Prince

- Unbound by Neil Lazano

- Free in Christ by Pablo Bottari

Using the name of Jesus

It's true that every believer has authority to cast out evil spirits,
but it's also necessary to understand the importance of using the
name of Jesus when driving out unclean spirits. I heard of one
evangelist who was preaching in an area where their predominate
god was Mohammad, and he did a demonstration up on stage... he
took a woman who clearly had an evil spirit and a man who clearly
had a need for physical healing. He said to them that he's going to
first try to use the name of Mohammad to cast out the spirit and
heal the man, then he'll use the name of Jesus and see which one
works. He tried it with the name of Mohammad, and as you can
guess, nothing happened. But when he used the name of Jesus,
the evil spirit departed and the man was healed!

Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe;   In my
name shall they cast out devils ; they shall speak with new
tongues."

Notice how Jesus makes it clear that we are to cast out the spirits
using His name. Now if we look into the early church, we see Paul
using Jesus' name to drive an evil spirit out of a woman:

Acts 16:18, "And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved,
turned and said to the spirit,  I command thee in the name of Jesus
Christ to come out of her.   And he came out the same hour."

Not only did the early church drive out evil spirits with Jesus'
name, but many were also healed using the name of Jesus:

Acts 4:30, "By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs
and wonders may be done  by the name of thy holy child Jesus ."

The disciples even found somebody who was not a disciple, that
was using Jesus' name to cast out evil spirits:

Mark 9:38-39, "And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw

one  casting out devils in thy name , and he followeth not us: and
we forbade him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said,
Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall   do a miracle in my
name , that can lightly speak evil of me."

One time I was casting some spirits out of somebody, when I

commanded the spirit to look me into the eyes (they hate that),
but the spirit refused even after I repeated the command a few
times. Then I remembered that I wasn't using Jesus' name when
issuing those commands, so I said, "In the name of Jesus, I
command you to look me in the eyes!" and ZAP... here comes that
head up and the thing stares me in the eyes!!  There is power in
the name of Jesus!

Emotional buildup: Easily offended? Irritable?

Today I was in a restaurant, and looked out the window to see a

river. The Lord said to me, "Do you see the rough surface of that
water? That is because there is turmoil under the surface. The
same is true with people who are rough around the edges and are
easily triggered to things such as pain, anger, hurt, etc."

Have you ever seen somebody who is tense, where it is easy to get
on their nerves? Do they always seem irritable? Does this describe
how you feel? Have you ever wondered why a person is like that? It
is certainly not part of God's design for us, for His Word is clear
that we are given a sound clear mind:

2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Turmoil in one's system is usually caused by emotional buildup

(things in the past that were never let go of) or unclean spirits. If
something is bothering us, we need to make the choice to release
our concerns to the Lord. Whether it be bitterness, fear, hurt
feelings, emotional damage, feelings of rejection or abandonment,
those feelings are devastating to our spiritual health and must be
released from our systems. God's Word clearly tells us to cast our
cares upon Him, for He cares for us:

1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for
you."

God wants us to release our emotional buildup, hurt feelings, etc.

and give those things to Him. Why did God tell us to do this?
Because He knew the devastating effects that such negative
buildup can have on our systems. If we don't fail to follow God's
command, and allow an emotional buildup in our systems, we then
make ourselves available for spirits of anger, hate, bitterness,
rejection, etc. Once that happens, those spirits can lay under the
surface, and continually remind us of why we are hurt or angry. It's
like a record playing in your mind over and over again, continually
escalating you to higher levels of bondage and turmoil. If this has
happened, the first step is to release the negative buildup to the
Lord, stop listening to all the reasons as to why you are upset, etc.,
and if the problem seems to linger... seek deliverance from those
spirits! It is not normal for our rivers to be rough from
turmoil that has been brewing under our surfaces!

The deadly side of hurt feelings

Hurt feelings are a sign of an underlying struggle with forgiving

those who have hurt us. What you may not know is that
unforgiveness can send a person to grave if they die without
resolving those issues in their life. The Bible makes it clear that if
we are going to be unforgiving, we not only become spiritually
defiled (Hebrews 12:15) and turned over to tormenting evil spirits
(see Matthew 18:23-35), but our unforgiveness actually blocks
God's forgiveness towards us concerning our own sins:

Matthew 6:15, "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither

will your Father forgive your trespasses."

That means if you are an unforgiving or bitter person, then you are
not clean to stand before God. You're sins are still hanging over
your head, if you fail to release others for what they have done to
you.

In the Spiritual Warfare Series, there is a powerful two-part

teaching on how exactly to go about forgiving those who have
wronged us, and releasing those hurt feelings from our system:
See Unforgiveness and forgiving others

Opening demonic doors - Even with your thoughts!

Did you know that a person can welcome an evil spirit into their
soul without even knowing it? It is not an uncommon scene when a
person actually welcomes unclean spirits without having to do
anything on the outside -- your thought-life is quite capable of
opening doors all by itself! What happens is the enemy (working
through unclean spirits) approaches a person at a time of need in
their life, and gets the person to agree with the demon's bait. This
bait can be very appealing to the person and it can even seem
harmless and beneficial at that point and time. The enemy is known
to disguise himself as an angel of light, as to deceive people into
giving him access into their lives:

2 Corinthians 11:14, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is

transformed into an angel of light."

I feel it is important to understand how the enemy works, so that

we can equip ourselves to stand against him schemes. Paul said
that they were not ignorant of Satan's devices... this is something
that many in the church today cannot claim:

2 Corinthians 2:11, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for

we are not ignorant of his devices."

The thing I've found with unclean spirits, is that they almost always
offer some kind of 'sweet reward' to get a person to grant them
access into their life. It could be forbidden sexual pleasure,
supernatural power or knowledge of some kind (mind control,
fortune telling, etc.), even healing (through occult powers) and
physical defense (martial arts). Jesus made it clear that even evil
thoughts can defile us (make us vulnerable for spiritual infection):

Matthew 15:19-20, "For  out of the heart proceed evil thoughts ,

murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies:  These are the things which defile a man ..."

When we yield ourselves, whether it be our thoughts, actions and

so fourth to the enemy, we are giving him access to our souls
(mind, will and emotions). Here is a brief list of some popular
spirits and how they often make themselves appealing:

Spirits of rebellion - The spirit seems to take the person's side

and whisper to them, "I will stand up for you... I will stand up for
YOUR rights!" The spirit is looking for the person to say, "Yeah, I
need that!"

Spirits of divination (fortune telling spirit) - The spirit offers the

person supernatural secrets into the future that others do not have
access to. If the person begins to seek this sort of power, they are
letting the demons know that they are welcome.

This is why I cringe every time that somebody tells me how their
child is reading Harry Potter books... that child is letting the occult
spirits (demons) know that they are interested in what the occult
has to offer, and this gives them the right to move right in on that
child! I have seen AWFUL things happen to children who have been
involved in Harry Potter, yet so many parents are ignorant and
convinced that it is a harmless storybook.

Automatic writing - This type of spirit offers beautiful 'out of this

world' writings to the person that they wouldn't otherwise be able
to produce. However, let's never forget that demonic power is very
expensive and lands the person in bondage. Again, when a person
begins to seek this forbidden power / ability, they are making
themselves available for the spirits to enter.

New age spirits (including Yoga) - Energy healing along with

better mental and physical health are offered to the person, when
in reality it's only bait to land them in bondage. Again, when a
person partakes in Yoga, or seeks energy healing, they are opening
themselves up to these spirits.

Spirits behind Karate (including spirits of mind control) - The

person is offered an 'out of this world' means of defending them
self that the average person does not have. When a person begins
to seek this power found in martial arts, they are welcoming spirits
of mind control and such to come in and make themselves at home.

When a person breaks a board with their hand, there is an evil

spirit that goes ahead of their hand and breaks the board  before
their skin even touches the board ! If you take a macro slow motion
video of a young boy breaking a 2x4 in half, you will eye-witness
this fact. The same spirits will cause a person to be able to strike a
seriously harmful blow to somebody else's body, and do far more
than more than a mere physical blow would do the person. That is
because evil spirits are involved. One time a man came to Christ
after earning a high level ranking in karate, and not long
afterwards, his karate instructor said to him, "You have lost the
spirit of karate!"

Spirits of lust / perversion - The person is enticed to enter a

world of forbidden pleasure. If the person begins to seek such
pleasure, they are letting the spirit realm know that it's okay to
feed them more pleasure in that area of their life. Once the person
has a spirit in them such as lust or sexual perversion, it can
become very difficult to resist the strong pull that the spirit has on
that person.
Spirits of addiction - These spirits often promise a world of
escapism from reality for the person who is trying to cope with life.
When a person turns to escapism, it can open them up to addiction
which grows into a bondage where spirits of addiction are involved
and it seems nearly impossible to break free (without deliverance
that is).

Spirits behind cancer - The spirit offers the person a pleasurable

'they will pay' feeling that comes from bitterness and
unforgiveness. Let's be honest, it can feel good to hold a grudge...
but it will block God's forgiveness for your own sins! (See Matthew
6:15) When a person turns bitter, it invites an evil spirit into their
system which will aggravate the cells in their body, which will cause
abnormal growths, tumors and such.

Witchcraft & warlock spirits - These spirits offer supernatural

power to 'get even' to an offended person. This can be very
appealing to somebody who has been rejected or hurt in this world.
When a person begins placing curses or seeking to learn about
witchcraft, or even seeks to have a witch place a curse for them, it
lets the spirits know that they are welcome in that person's life.
God's Word tells us not even to seek somebody with occult power,
lest we become defiled ourselves:

Leviticus 19:31, "Regard not them that have familiar spirits,

neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD
your God."

Occult spirits - The lure of supernatural power and knowledge of

the unknown. When a person seeks such occult power and
knowledge, they are making themselves available to those spirits.

Spirits of bondage - A person may think it's best to make a vow,

in order to help them stay motivated to do or not do something,
however, the Bible is clear that oaths can bind the soul (see
Numbers 30), and it's not uncommon to find scenarios where a
person has unclean spirits that entered in through vows that they
have made in the past. Rash vows can be forgiven (Leviticus 5:4-
11), and must be renounced (taken back) verbally. I also
recommend verbally breaking the vow in Jesus' name and declaring
it void by the power of the Blood of Jesus.

Spirits of self-pity, etc. - The spirit whispers to the person, "You

poor thing! You deserve much better than that!" When a person
agrees with such thinking, they are welcoming such spirits into
their souls (mind, will and emotions). After all, it can feel good
when "SOMEBODY" agrees with that person's pity party!

And the list goes on! These are just a few of the ways that demons
make themselves appealing to a person's fleshly desires. When we
leave the Word of God behind and seek to satisfy our own fleshly
appetites, it can give unclean spirits access into our lives.  Most
people do not even realize what they are getting themselves
into, and then they wonder why they have lost control in that
area of their lives afterwards!

Example of demons at work

This is a very common scene where a person gets involved in

sexual perversion, and winds up in very real spiritual bondage.
Let's take a person by the name of Andy, who was a very happy
young Christian man who just happen to get curious about
bestiality (sexual relations with an animal) and decided to give it a
try with the family pet. At first it feels good, but then guilt begins
to sweep over him. He now is addicted to bestiality (spirits of
sexual perversion/bestiality and addiction are now on the scene),
and is overtaken by guilt (a spirit of guilt  begins to harass and
remind Andy of his failure). He begins to turn in on himself, feeling
ashamed of his dirty habit which he keeps falling into. Furthermore,
the problem is drastically compounded because of the waves of
guilt that keep hammering Andy about his bondage. This constant
beating-down by the spirit of guilt brings a shame-based identity to
Andy's mind (the demon spirit of guilt just installed a stronghold of
shame in Andy's mind). Andy begins to see himself as a failure who
is in bondage to a gross and embarrassing sin. Next, Andy begins
to take on a beat-yourself-up mentality, where he begins to hate
himself (which is a form of unforgiveness and defiles him even
more!). This opens him up to spirits of infirmity, such as those
behind many auto-immune diseases. If this isn't enough, the
enemy has also been telling Andy that God is mad at him for living
such a lifestyle, and that he will never win God's favor because of
his failure. This caused Andy to see his heavenly Father as a
distant, cold and angry God instead of a loving and forgiving
heavenly Father. A new stronghold (where Andy sees God
incorrectly) begins to take hold, and coupled with the beat-
yourself-up mentality this makes for a breeding ground for mental
illnesses such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD  to take
hold. Andy could take on a whole array of troubles at this point,
from mental illness to lukemia.

Years go on as this process eats away at Andy's life, and carries

out Satan's mission to KILL (lukemia), STEAL (Andy's ability to
enjoy life) and DESTROY (Andy's relationship with his heavenly
Father).

John 10:10, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and
to destroy : I am come that they might have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly."

How does the devil (Satan) carry out these goals in our lives?
Through his army of evil spirits! For more information on the work
of evil spirits in the world today, be sure to read the article
entitled Our Direct Enemy - Is it Satan? Or his demons? .

How cases like this are usually addressed

Andy may turn to his church for prayer to be healed of lukemia and
his mental illness. The pastor does his best to pray over Andy for
his healing, but with no results (because the root of the problem
was never addressed... only the symptoms). Andy has no choice
but to undergo medical surgery, which is also unsuccessful. Andy
winds up in the hospital with medical bills driving him into debt,
and taking pills that are further harming his body and costing Andy
a fortune. Andy then begins to become depressed and feels
hopeless over his physical condition.

Mentally, Andy is no better off... being tormented by each minute

of agony that goes by thanks to his struggle against OCD. Because
his pastor cannot seem to help in this area either, Andy decides to
seek secular therapist concerning his OCD, but after hours of
secular counseling, the therapist gives up and diagnoses Andy with
OCD and gives him some pills to take that will help drug him up
and suppress his so-called mental illness. The problem is far from
being solved, as now Andy is taking pills that are causing more
harm than good, while the mental torment is still there... the
problem was never truly solved.

Andy may also turn to his church for help in the area of bestiality,
but his pastor doesn't know what they can do about it besides
repent and try hard not to give back in to it. Andy repents, but
keeps falling back into the sin. His pastor may wonder if he's not
sincere about his repentance, but Andy knows that there is a
driving force within him that keeps pushing him compulsively into
his sin. Andy then begins to beat up on himself even more, driving
him to possibly suicide from feeling like such a failure (struggle
with awful bondages to guilt and shame, suffering from likely
mental illness and maybe even lukemia... what has Andy got to live
for anyways?). Andy has enough and pronounces doom over
himself by saying, "I wish I could just DIE! I would be better of
DEAD!", thus opening him to spirits of death and suicide (See
Proverbs 6:2, Proverbs 21:23 and Matthew 15:18). Now, as if
things weren't bad enough, Andy now feels compulsively driven to
take his life. Many people in Andy's shoes do end up taking their
life, or continuing to live in misery and bondage... unable to enjoy
life, they may turn to drugs or alcohol to suppress their problems,
which in turn opens him up to even more bondages. Instead of
living his life for the Lord in joy and freedom... telling others about
Jesus and enjoying the life that Jesus gave him... he's living in
misery and defeat.

Let's say his pastor had a good understanding of strongholds, and

was able to help Andy tear down some of his strongholds. The
problem is, those strongholds were put in place by the constant
nagging of evil spirit(s), therefore unless the demons are cast out,
Andy can spend months tearing down strongholds, and feel some
definite relief, but the minute he backs down from his battle, those
strongholds quickly re-form because the spirits which are building
those strongholds were never dealt with. The only way Andy can
continue to enjoy even a little bit of freedom is to wage spiritual
warfare against those strongholds for the rest of his life.. but the
minute he relaxes, the strongholds come right back. Not to
mention, the other problems in his life are still not being
addressed, such as lukemia, his mental illness, or his struggle with
bestiality.

This story is not unreasonable, and is true in the lives of many

across this country and world! Those of us in this type of
ministry see these kinds of stories on regular bases!

Fighting the wrong enemy

Acts 10:38, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all
that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
How did Jesus go about healing (restoring - Luke 8:2, "And certain
women, which had been  healed of evil spirits and infirmities , Mary
called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils.") all who were
being harassed by the devil? He got to the root of the
problem... He prescribed the perfect medicine... deliverance!  The
church today doesn't always prescribe the correct medicine,
because they are not looking at the root of a problem, but at the
symptoms. If a person has lukemia, we often pray for them to be
healed, then ship them off to the hospital... not even considering
what the root of their problem may be !

Paul said in 2 Corinthians that "We are not ignorant of Satan's

devices"... how many of us today can make such a claim? Do many
of us today realize that spiritual issues are usually the roots to
physical infirmities? Do we realize that bitterness defiles a man
(Hebrews 12:15) and put him into the hands of tormenting spirits
(Matthew 18:23-35)? Or are we ignorant of Satan's devices?

2 Corinthians 2:11, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for

we are not ignorant of his devices."

If somebody shot a bullet into your home one day to attempt to kill
your family... would you go rushing after each bullet trying to stop
it? Or would you grab your gun and kill the guy who's doing the
shooting? Which would be wiser? We need to stop fighting Satan's
bullets, and begin to attack the spirits who are holding the guns! If
your basement kept flooding, would you keep mopping up the
water, week after week, or would you dig deeper to find the reason
as to why the basement was getting flooded in the first place? It
would be rather pointless to keep addressing the symptoms,
without looking at where the problem is coming from, wouldn't it?
That same principal is true in the spiritual realm as well.  If we
have a spiritual problem, let's find the root of that problem
and treat the root. Once the root is cleaned up, the problem
won't be returning and causing more problems!

You will never solve the root of the problem by treating the
symptom!

How the problem can be truly solved

In Andy's situation, he needs to go through both spiritual warfare

(the renewing of his mind, and the tearing down of strongholds),
and also deliverance where unclean spirits are cast out in Jesus'
name. Repentance is a must. The sexual relations with the animal
must be repented of before the Lord, along with any other sins that
need to be repented of. I also recommend that the person also
verbally renounces and breaks any unclean ties in Jesus' name that
were formed between them and the animal through unclean sexual
relations. Andy needs to realize that the blood of Christ has then
removed his sins, so the next step is for Andy to make a choice to
forgive himself for his past failures. Andy needs to know that he is
loved by his heavenly Father, and that he should forgive himself of
his past. These can often be strongholds that Andy needs to tear
down, which take place as Andy renews his mind with the Word of
God. If God's Word says that Andy is forgiven, and that God has
even chosen to forget his sins... therefore Andy needs to stop
holding his past against himself. Self-forgiveness is a must in a
situation like this!

The enemy has painted a bad picture of God in Andy's mind,

through constantly telling Andy that God hates him for the sin
which he has done. This means there is a stronghold in Andy's
mind, that causes him to see his heavenly Father as a cruel, distant
and angry God, instead of a loving and forgiving heavenly Father.
It's like seeing things through a dark pair of glasses... strongholds
will distort your vision/perception. Therefore, Andy needs to tear
down that stronghold as well. Andy needs to feed his mind on the
goodness of God, which can be done through meditating daily on
Bible verses that show us the goodness and forgiving nature of our
heavenly Father. Andy would also do good to read some good
books such as Blessed Beyond Measure by Gloria Copeland, which
will show him what the true nature of his heavenly Father.

The person ministering to Andy needs to take authority in Jesus'

name over the unclean spirits in Andy, and began commanding
them to come out. Spirits such as sexual perversion, bestiality,
guilt, fear (which entered when Andy began to see God as an angry
God), self-hate, etc. need to be addressed.

Of course, it is also very important to pray before the deliverance,

asking the Holy Spirit to reveal anything that needs to be revealed,
and guide them through this process. It is important to be sensitive
to the Holy Spirit when driving out unclean spirits, because He may
lead you to cast out some before others, stop and talk with the
person about something, etc.
When Andy walks away after being ministered to properly, and all
the strongholds and spirits were addressed... he will be able to
walk out the door glowing with freedom and joy over his newfound
life. Many who go through deliverance like this will find that it
makes such a positive impact on their system that when they go
outside, the grass looks greener, the sky is bluer, and the air is
fresher! Those who go through this type of deliverance and find
freedom as Andy... will walk away being able to enjoy life for a
change... they will be happy to be alive!

The next step is for Andy to cultivate his relationship with his
heavenly Father, and not to go back into the world. I would even
pray that he receives the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, which will set
them afire for Christ!

Abortion and spiritual bondage

Abortion is known to bring emotional torment in it's aftermath, yet

few understand this as being demonic and spiritual bondage.
Abortion, as far as the Bible is concerned, is nothing less than the
murder of an innocent person which God has created, and is a
source for great spiritual bondage.

What makes abortion murder?

The token that the pro-choice use, is that the fetus (unborn child)
is not a person yet, but only a mass of tissue. (For that matter,
many today also believe that we evolved from apes, and are
nothing more than a mass of tissue ourselves!) If the fetus were
simply a mass of tissue without a human spirit, then I think we
could justify abortion. However, the fetus is not simply a mass of
tissue, but rather a person to whom God is knitting together their
physical body in the mother's womb.

If the fetus was simply a useless mass of tissue , then abortion

may be excusable.

But if the fetus happens to be a real person, who's body is

being knit together in it's mother's womb, then abortion is nothing
less than murder of an innocent life. Just because somebody's body
is still being knit together, does not mean that they are not yet a
human being. Children are not fully developed until age 18 or so,
but we would never consider them any less than a human being!

At what point does the spirit join with the body?

At what point does the baby (whether born or unborn) actually

become a human being possessing a spirit? Does this happen when
the child is 18 years old, and is said to be an adult? Does this
happen when the child says it's first words? How do we know when
this happens? We could assume it takes place at the age 18, which
would make it seem ok to kill anybody under 18. That would be
silly, wouldn't it? Who is to say that the baby isn't a real human
until it leaves the womb?  This is what the pro-choice argue, but do
they have any proof of this? Can it be backed with scripture?
Absolutely not! It is nothing more than an assumption, at which,
they are not capable of backing with any real proof!

Nowhere in the entire Bible does it give us even a hint that

the child does not become a human being with a spirit until
it leaves the womb!

Luke 2:21, "And when eight days were accomplished for the
circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so
named of the angel  before he was conceived in the womb ."

2 Kings 4:17, "And the woman  conceived , and bore a son at that
season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life."

If you take the word 'conceive' in the above verse and look it up in
it's Hebrew roots, we are given the Hebrew word harah, which
interprets to: "A primitive root; to be (or become) pregnant,
conceive (literally of figuratively): - been, be with child , conceive,
progenitor." For a woman to conceive, it literally means that she is
now WITH A CHILD. What do the pro-choice tell us? That it's not
really a child, but just a mass of tissue! Sounds like those who
believe we came from apes, and are still just a mass of tissue
ourselves!

An unborn child is still a person in the eyes of God : The Bible

is clear that God formed us in our mother's womb, and He knew us
before we were even CONCEIVED!

Genesis 25:23, "And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in
thy womb , and two manner of people shall be separated from thy
bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other
people; and the elder shall serve the younger."

God is saying that there are two persons living in this woman's
womb, and each of them will bring fourth a nation.

Isaiah 49:1, "Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people,

from far;  The LORD hath called me from the womb ..."

Here we see the Lord calling somebody from the womb... clearly,
the person was there, or God would have been calling nothing from
the womb. The Bible is also clear that He knew us from the womb:

Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee ; and
before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I
ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."

Also notice in the above verse how God sanctified and ordained
somebody before they were even born! How could this take
place if there was not a real human being present in the
womb?

Here's another verse that helps show us how God brought David
out of his mother's womb...

Psalms 22:9, "But  thou art he that took me out of the womb : thou
didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts."

Can a mass of tissue be filled with the Holy Ghost? Can a mass of
tissue leap for joy? Apparently, John the Baptist was much more
than tissue, as we can see in the following verses...

Luke 1:15, "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall
drink neither wine nor strong drink; and  he shall be filled with the
Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb ."

Luke 1:44, "For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded
in mine ears,  the babe leaped in my womb for joy ."

What abortion clinics don't want you to know... The Silent

Scream

Fetus' have feelings... as we can see in Luke 1:44, John the Baptist
leaped for joy when he heard Mary's voice. During an abortion, it is
true that the fetus can feel the pain and reacts to the danger. The
silent scream is where a baby is being killed, and the child
expresses unspeakable terror just moments before being killed.
Since the Silent Scream is a subject all in itself, I am going to point
you to a Web site, where they go into much more detail on the
Silent Scream, and even show a video of an abortion in action
where you can clearly see the Silent Scream taking place... a word
of warning, this film is very graphic and not recommended for
children to view! After all, abortion is not a pretty scene, and is
nothing short of gruesome murder of an innocent and helpless
child! Click on the link below for more information on The Silent
Scream:

SilentScream.org

Abortion's aftermath is proof alone that abortion is indeed spiritual!

Jesus made it clear that murder is a source of spiritual defilement:

Matthew 15:18-20, "But those things which proceed out of the

mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out
of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:  These are the
things which defile a man ..."

Some women may not seem to be tormented so badly by abortion's

aftermath, but that is if their conscience has been sheered as by a
hot branding iron:

1 Timothy 4:2, "Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience

seared with a hot iron."

Satan is not a dummy when it comes to deceiving the world (isn't

he known for his clever deception?). There are some women who
experience little or no torment after having abortions, but I believe
they are simply 'spared' as to deceive the rest of us that it's okay
to have abortions and not all women will be tormented afterwards.
Wouldn't it make sense if Satan keeps 3% of those women who
have abortions to be examples of how not all women are tormented
after having an abortion, so that they could tell the rest of us how
they have not been negatively affected by their abortion? Don't fall
for Satan's clever deception.

If a fetus (unborn child) was simply a mass of tissue, then it

would be impossible for any woman who believes such a lie
to experience such awful mental torment and shame after
having an abortion.

The truth is, abortion is a source for enormous spiritual and mental
bondage and torment. It is a means for spiritual defilement, just as
cold-blooded murder is, and opens a person up to unclean spirits
(demons) to enter and harass the person. Studies have shown that
abortion is also linked to suicide because of such torment and
bondage... many women feel it's better that they weren't even born
if they have to face such torment. Nobody knows what it's like to
be in bondage, until they are the ones facing it in their own lives,
and the sad truth is that many women today don't realize what
they are getting themselves into until it is too late, and the damage
is already done.

Women who have had abortions are almost always said to

experience some or many of the following symptoms:

- Bondage to shame and guilt

- Nightmares relating to the abortion

- Feeling that God would never forgive them

- Depression which can lead to suicide (Studies show that abortion

is linked to suicide)

- Self-hatred for allowing themselves to do such a thing

- Sleep disorders - finding it hard to get to sleep at night

- Flashbacks and even hearing sounds of children crying

- Desire to have another baby to replace the aborted baby

- Inability to form a true loving bond with her other children

- And many many more...

The list of side affects from an abortion are long. Jesus made it
clear that murder is a means for defilement, and defilement is an
open door to unclean spirits to come in and play havoc in a
person's life. I believe behind almost every (if not every) case of
suicide, is a spirit... a demon that drives the person to take their
own life to end the pain they are facing. People who have came
close to suicide will often admit that there was a force that was
'driving' them to take their own life. It often tells them that they
could end all of their problems by pulling the plug.

The linkage between abortions and suicide

Abortion is nothing less than murder, and opens the door to spirits
that will drive a person into the ground. Depression is a common
side effect that is experienced by those who have had an abortion.
It is not uncommon for this depression to affect the person so
badly that they are driven to suicide. Suicide is almost always, if
not always caused by a demon... how does a spirit of suicide enter
these women? They have been defiled through murder, which
opens them up to a murder-related spirit of suicide!

In 1986, the University of Minnesota did a study and reported that

a teenage girl who has had an abortion within the past 6 months, is
10 times more likely to commit suicide than a teenage girl who
hasn't had an abortion! In 1987 a study revealed that 28% of
women who have had an abortion attempted suicide later on. An 18
year old girl admitted that two days after her abortion, she wrote a
suicide note to her parents and boyfriend, then went down stairs
and found her dad's gun and put it to her head.

When running somebody through a deliverance, it is a good idea to

keep an eye out for a spirit of murder or suicide. When a person
defiles themselves through murder, they have opened legal
grounds for related spirits to enter them. Many women who have
had abortions have picked up spirits of suicide, as a result of being
defiled through murder.

Who is behind the pro-choice movement?

As the Bible tells us, we do not wage war against flesh and blood,
but against various ranks of evil spirits (demons):

Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Those who have had a decent amount of experience in the ministry

of deliverance, usually have came across quite a few spirits that go
by the name Jezebel. The Jezebel spirits are what was behind the
evil queen in the Bible which went by the name Jezebel, and are
alive and well in many women today. Jezebel is accurately said to
be Satan's woman.  I personally believe that the women's rights
movement is fueled by ruling spirits of Jezebel. The goal of Jezebel
is to usurp the woman's authority over the man in the household.
The spirit of Jezebel is said to be known as 'extreme selfishness',
and is the cause of many working mothers today, which can afford
to stay at home with their children, but refuse to do so for the sole
purpose of driving a better car and living in a better home. This
same spirit tells America that the unborn child can be a hindrance
to woman's rights, and that it is more important that the woman
can choose to abort the hassle rather than preserving the child's
life.

Let me ask you this, if abortion is the murdering of innocent

children (which it is!), then would you put it past "Satan's woman"
to be behind such a horrific mass-killing in the world today?

I didn't want to go into much detail on this (the spirit of Jezebel

can be a teaching all in itself), but I did want to give you a brief
understanding of the demonic force that we are up against in this
battle against abortion.

Deliverance from abortion's aftermath

The good news for those who have had an abortion is that they can
be forgiven, and set free from the aftermath of it. It is almost
always necessary that such individuals go through a deliverance to
rid themselves of any unclean spirits that they have picked up, tear
down strongholds that have come on the scene, receive quality
post-deliverance discipleship and maintain a healthy relationship
with God so that they can receive and hold on to their freedom. It
may be possible to receive a measure of freedom without a
deliverance, but I would never bypass this step if I had an abortion
(murder) in my background. It's possible to experience a certain
amount of freedom, without dealing with the root, but in such cases
they will still remain in bondage in some way or another and it just
doesn't go away. If unclean spirits are involved, then the partial
freedom that they find will be continued to be challenged, and
fought for as the spirits continue to work on the person to pull
them down and torment them. After complete deliverance, the
person may still need post-deliverance discipleship, but the
problems will go away and the person will not have to continually
fight against the negative 'pull' in their system.
If the person has allowed guilt and shame to overtake them for a
measure of time, then it is vital to tear down strongholds as well.
True repentance of such a sin is an absolute necessity, and without
which, true deliverance cannot be attempted. Abortion must be
repented of for what it really is, and that is murder of an innocent
child. The person must learn to forgive themselves as well for what
they have done, and learn to love and accept themselves as Jesus
loves and accepts them. They also need to believe and accept the
forgiveness that Jesus has for them (have Bible verses handy to
assure them of God's forgiveness). It is also important to be sure
that any bad soul ties (sex outside marriage) is broken, and the sin
of fornication (or adultery) needs to be brought before the Lord in
repentance as well before the deliverance process begins. After
true repentance has happened and legal grounds have been broken
up (bad soul ties broken, etc.), then it's time to move on to tearing
down any strongholds that are present and begin casting out the
spirits that have entered the person.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD

OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is known to bring about

racing thoughts in a person's mind. Those thoughts can be
completely against the real person's personality, and though they
bitterly hate the thoughts being there, they continue to pop up in
their mind and compulsively force themselves through. The person
often feels very fearful or shameful about thinking such things,
when it is not even them thinking along those lines in the first
place, although it seems like it. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder,
commonly referred to as OCD, is not a mental disorder or disease...
it is a spiritually rooted bondage  in the person's mind that needs to
be uprooted.

What is OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? Obsessive

Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is basically demonic torment brought
on by a person's bondages to fear and shame. The person affected
may experience thoughts being 'pushed' through their mind that
they would normally never think (completely against their true
nature), or they may experience a strong pulling on their thoughts
in a certain direction. They may even hear voices inside their mind
or in some other way sense that something isn't right. A great way
to describe it, is to imagine a magnet in your mind that is pulling
your thoughts a certain direction, despite the fact that the real you
hates those thoughts. It feels like you're sharing your mind with
another spirit that you totally disagree with! These 'voices' or
compulsive thoughts are NOT caused because of a chemical
imbalance (which the secular world cannot explain anyways); they
are there because of a spiritual bondage in the person's life. I
suffered from AWFUL bondage to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder,
and there's NO way anybody can convince me that a downright evil
spirit wasn't behind those thoughts that were rushing through my
mind. I would experience compulsive blasphemous thoughts against
the Holy Spirit, then fear would sweep over me as the demon(s)
would work on making me feel as if I've just committed the
unpardonable sin. The torment was unspeakable, it has to be one
of the single worse feelings a person can experience.

It is not an uncommon scenario when a person experiences

blasphemous thoughts against the Holy Spirit, then the demons
work to convince the person that they've committed the
unpardonable sin. They continually plant 'what if' questions into the
person's mind, and try diligently to make the person feel absolutely
hopeless and convinced that they've lost all hope. Furthermore,
they make the person feel all alone in the matter, as if they are the
only person in the world that such a thing has happened to. The
truth is that there is almost a countless number of cases of this
type of torment taking place around the world today. Anybody who
has been in the ministry of deliverance for a length of time will
agree that there are many out there being tormented over the
fears of the unpardonable sin.

If you have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), you will have

likely been asking yourself these questions: "Why can't I stop
thinking like this? Where are these thoughts coming from? What
has happened to my mind? Can't I think for myself for a change??"
If this sounds like you, then keep reading!

For the most part, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is

generally caused by two things...

- A shameful identity; usually stemming from something shameful

or a certain sin in the person's past

- Bondage to fear; quite possibly caused by a spirit of fear

A shameful identity
Shame plays a big role in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
When a person has done something embarrassing or shameful in
their past, and they choose to meditate (or think often upon) what
they have done, it programs their minds with a shameful identity.
Guilt, when meditated upon, brings shame. Guilt is when you see
the problem, but shame is when you feel as if you are the
problem. Shame causes a person to beat themselves up
mentally, and this can be an open door for tormenting
spirits. Shame is when a person hasn't forgiven themselves, and is
a symptom of unforgiveness. Unforgiveness is an open door to
demonic tormenting spirits:

Matthew 18:34-35, "And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to
the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So
likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your
hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

Just as it's important for us to forgive others, it's also just as

important that we forgive ourselves. Both types of unforgiveness
can attract tormenting spirits. I found in my own struggle against
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that the more I thought
about shameful things in my past, the stronger and worse the
compulsive thinking came upon me. It was a clear pattern that I've
seen in action many times before I was set free.

Shame brings a 'beat yourself up' mentality, which the enemy

(working through demons) utilizes to bring an OCD patient much
torment. Shame is a spiritual root that needs to be uprooted before
the person will be able to experience complete spiritual freedom.

Bondage to fear

Fear is the motivating bully behind Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

(OCD). The person fears that they are thinking such things, or
begin asking themselves, "What if that was me who thought such a
thing? Would I be guilty of the unpardonable sin?" Such thinking
stems from fear, and fear is an open door to mental torment.

1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out
fear: because  fear hath torment . He that feareth is not made
perfect in love."
In the Bible, we find that having a sound mind (the opposite of
OCD) is the enemy of fear, and visa versa... the two do not mix
and are opposites of each other:

2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Fear can cause a person to eventually become a lunatic because it

drives them 'out of their mind'. Fear, combined with shame,
creates a favorable environment to spawn Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and racing thinking patterns.

Curing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Generally speaking, there are a few basic things that need to be

addressed when bringing a person out of Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder (OCD), they include:

Deal with any strongholds that exist. Behind shame is a stronghold.

The person is not perceiving themselves correctly if they have
repented of the sins in their past, and are still seeing themselves
through the eyes of shame. See teachings on Dealing With
Guilt , Defeating Guilt and Shame  and Tearing Down Strongholds  for
more information.

There are some great books that I highly recommend for tearing
down strongholds; here are two of them:

Victory over Darkness by Neil T. Anderson (Learn of who you are in

Christ)

Blessed Beyond Measure by Gloria Copeland (Learn of what a good

God we have)

Dealing with underlying fears. One common concern with an OCD

patient, is that they are petrified that they are the source of such
evil or absurd thoughts. If a person truly hates the thought(s), and
they run contrary to the person's true personality, then it is clear
that they are not the source of such a thought. I would experience
horrible blasphemous thoughts rushing through my mind, yet the
real me would never ever in a million years even THINK of such
things! It is important that the person realizes that they are not
thinking such things, and that it is a demonic spirit that is pushing
such garbage at them. There are often other fears that need to be
addressed as well. Fears are usually caused by strongholds, and
many times demons at found working under the scene to either fuel
strongholds and/or directly cause the person to be fearful. When a
fear is gripping and very hard to overcome, then it's usually a
combination of both strongholds and demons at work.

When a person sees God as a cruel taskmaster, it causes them to

have a very unhealthy fear of God, which causes them to go crazy
over topics such as the unpardonable sin. Reading books such as
Blessed Beyond Measure by Gloria Copeland is one of the best ways
to quickly break down such strongholds. They need to stop
worrying about God being "after them", and start to meditate on
His goodness and His loving nature towards them. It is also quite
possible for a person to have a spirit of fear which needs to be
driven out before they will be set free. More information on
strongholds can be found in the teaching Tearing Down
Strongholds .

It is 100% vital that (a) the person learns of the goodness of God,
and what a loving and merciful Heavenly Father that they really
have - they cannot see Him as a cruel taskmaster, and (b) they
must learn of who they truly are in Christ Jesus. They must know in
their heart that their pasts have been washed away (providing they
have repented of their sins), and no longer a part of them. I
usually find one or both of these strongholds affecting those with
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Either or both of these strongholds
must be dealt with before the person can enjoy complete and
lasting freedom from OCD.

It is very important not to overlook any underlying spiritual

bondages when ministering to somebody with OCD. I would look
into the person's family heritage for generational bondages/spirits
that were handed down and I would not overlook the casting out of
demons. Casting out demons can play a very important role in
setting a person completely free from Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder and this step should never be overlooked. Some of
the spirits I would look for is fear, shame, guilt, etc. I like to tackle
the strongholds and legal rights (if any) first and then go after the
spirits.

Bad soul ties also need to be broken in certain cases. Many times a
person first becomes worried about the unpardonable sin after
breaking their virginity outside marriage. Bad soul ties, especially
with people who struggle with fear or are involved in the occult can
bring a tremendous amount of spiritual torment to a person. I've
ministered to people being physically visited by demons at night,
all because of an ungodly soul tie with somebody involved in the
occult!

The good news is, there is a working cure for OCD, and it's
deliverance in Jesus Christ combined with the tearing down of
strongholds in spiritual warfare! God does NOT want His people
mentally unstable! He has made available unto us freedom and
wholeness in every area of our lives, but it's upto us to take hold of
it! God's Word clearly states that it is not Him who gives or wants
us to have an unsound mind:

2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Our Direct Enemy - Satan? Or demons?

So many in the church today believe that it's Satan who tempts
God's children and lures them into sin. They believe that Satan is
behind their spiritual problems and that they are directly struggling
with the devil himself. The truth is, they are not wrestling against
Satan, but rather his network of demons. Even when a child is
tempted to sin, that temptation doesn't come from Satan directly,
but through Satan's army of fallen angels (demons). It's as if we
believe there's an imaginary evil being out there that comes to our
door each day to tempt us, when in reality, we are being
approached by evil spirits! It seems that  everybody wants to
think it's Satan tempting or oppressing them, but nobody
wants to think it's an evil spirit or demon.

Angels are NOT omnipresent, and cannot be everywhere at once.

There is ample proof of this fact in scripture, but one clear example
is found in Daniel chapter 10, where an angel was dispatched to
answer the prayer of Daniel, but was withheld by a demonic spirit
(the prince of Persia):

Daniel 10:13, "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood

me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes,
came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia."
This angel was held back and could not immediately attend to those
prayers because an evil spirit held him up from reaching Daniel!
Angels, including demons, cannot be more than one place at
once. Satan, being a demon himself and the leader in his
kingdom, is unable to be more than one place at the same
time.

The odds of a person actually getting attacked or oppressed by

Satan is extremely remote. There are very strong and evil demons
which can make it seem like Satan himself is involved, but it is
rarely the case. Satan is merely the leader of his kingdom, and
uses the evil spirits under him to carry out his plans  in this
fallen world.

Putting things into perspective

Let's stop for a moment and picture yourself in a war against

another country. You realize that your country is fighting Country
X, but should your attention be focused on the king of Country X?
Or the troop that's standing 50 yards from you with a gun in his
hand ready to kill you? Far too often, we as Christians point our
fingers at Satan, but completely ignore the troops the enemy has
sent out against us. It's about time we guard ourselves
against the messengers that Satan has set against us, lest
we become vulnerable of the plans Satan has against us.

It's time that we recognize the messengers that were sent to

directly oppose us. Satan indirectly oppresses God's children,
but it's the various ranks of troops under Satan that carry
out the actual battle plan and directly oppose the children of
God. Ephesians 6 isn't saying that we struggle against Satan
himself, but against the various ranks of demons that are under the
lordship of Satan:

Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against  principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world , against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Let's not wash Satan clean here by putting everything on the

demons, but let's also not forget who's standing 50 yards from us
who would love to put a bullet through our skulls!

Your enemy would love for you to approach the war with your eyes
on the evil leader and ignore the troops / messengers coming
towards you. If you did such a thing in a physical war, wouldn't
that put you at a very vulnerable position? You wouldn't last 10
minutes on the battle field before getting struck down! The same is
true in the spiritual realm. It's only wise to keep your eyes on the
direct enemies in any war.

Don't get me wrong, we aren't to see demons so much that it's all
that we're looking at. I am a strong advocator of keeping our minds
and hearts on the Lord Jesus Christ, and on positive things that
uplift us and keep our eyes on the Lord. But on the same token, it's
never wise to ignore a messenger that Satan has sent to destroy
us. Paul himself made it clear that it's never wise to be ignorant of
Satan's devices:

2 Corinthians 2:11, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for

we are not ignorant of his devices."

Demonic Hierarchy

Satan dictates or rules a host of evil spirits in a well organized

demonic hierarchy. There is proof of this demonic structure in
scripture. A good example is found in Daniel where an angel had to
fight the prince of Persia, which is clearly not a human being, but
an evil spirit that was placed in charge of the kingdom of Persia to
carry out Satan's plans there:

Daniel 10:13, "But  the prince of the kingdom of Persia   withstood

me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes,
came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia."

Further insight into this hierarchy and how Satan oppresses people,
is found in the book of Acts:

Acts 10:38, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing   all
that were oppressed of the devil ; for God was with him."

If you look up the word for oppressed in this verse, you will find
the Greek word katadunasteuo, which means, "to exercise dominion
against, that is, oppress." The word dominion here does not refer
to ownership of a person (it's God who owns every soul, see Ezekiel
18:4), but rather an army that is under your rule. Satan exercises
his army of fallen angels (his dominion) against us.
Now if you look up the word dominion in the the 2006 Merriam-
Webster dictionary, under definition #3 it speaks of an order of
angels, referencing to Celestial Hierarchy, which speaks of a host of
angelic beings, including principalities, powers, etc. In Ephesians 6,
we find that the powers of darkness come in different ranks and
powers:

Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against  principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world , against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Satan's kingdom is made up of an army of fallen angels. When

Satan was cast out of heaven, he drew with him a third of the
angels, which are now fallen and known as demons or devils:

Revelations 12:4, "And  his tail drew the third part of the stars of
heaven, and did cast them to the earth : and the dragon stood
before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour
her child as soon as it was born."

Revelations 16:14, "For  they are the spirits of devils , working

miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the
whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God
Almighty."

Satan is known as the lord of the flies (Beelzebub), because there

are so many evil spirits that are under his rule in the kingdom of
darkness:

Matthew 12:24, "But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This
fellow doth not cast out devils, but by  Beelzebub the prince of the
devils ."

Satan is the leader, and a host of fallen angels are under his rule
carrying out his evil plans.

How Satan oppresses

When a person is said to be turned over into the hands of the

tormenters (Matthew 18:23-35), they are not directly tormented by
Satan, but by the army of evil spirits in his kingdom. Satan may
issue a command in his army to oppress a person or to carry out a
certain task, but he himself rarely gets involved because he's only
one spirit and cannot be everywhere at once. When we hear of
Satan oppressing a person, it is actually a demonic spirit within his
kingdom that is doing the dirty work according to Satan's rule and
leadership. For example, if you look at Luke 13:11, we find the
woman with the spirit of infirmity. It clearly tells us that she was
bound by Satan, but who was carrying out the actual dirty work? A
spirit of infirmity!

Luke 13:11,16, "And, behold, there was  a woman which had a

spirit of infirmity   eighteen years, and was bowed together, and
could in no wise lift up herself... And ought not this woman, being
a daughter of Abraham,  whom Satan hath bound , lo, these
eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?"

Our enemy is obviously Satan, but it's not him that we directly
struggle against, it's against the demonic army of evil spirits that is
under his rule. It is important that we learn who our enemy is and
how he carries out his plans, so we can effectively wage spiritual
war against them.

Root of Bitterness

Bitterness is known in the Bible as spiritual poison and a means by

which many are defiled (Hebrews 12:15). It is the source of
countless spiritual and physical problems in millions of lives today.
The Bible tells us that MANY are defiled by the means of bitterness.
Bitterness can be tricky to recognize because it's not a symptom or
visible on the surface like anger usually is. Many claim that they
aren't an angry or hateful person, but that's not what bitterness is
all about. Bitterness is an underlying problem that doesn't always
manifest on the outside, but dwells in that person's system.

Bitterness is a root!

Hebrews 12:15, "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of
God; lest any  root of bitterness   springing up trouble you, and
thereby many be defiled."

What is a root? A root is a source, or a bubbling fountain that is

laying under the surface. Roots do not directly manifest or make
themselves known, but are a source of nutrition or fuel for other
elements that are on the surface. You don't usually see a plant
showing off it's root system, but if the plant didn't have a root
system it wouldn't survive. A root's job is not to manifest on the
surface, but to brew under the surface and fuel things that are on
the surface.

Let's take a closer look at a plants root system... where does the
roots dwell? Under the surface of the soil. Can everybody see it's
root system? No, because it's hidden under the soil or surface. The
same is true with bitterness in a person's soul. It is a hidden
element that lies under the surface, and out of it springs up anger
and other negative emotions against others and against the
circumstances around us. People who have a root of bitterness find
it easy to get upset over things that other's are doing around them.
It's like a brewing fountain that lies beneath the surface, waiting to
fuel something that is on the surface.

Bitterness can be kept to one's self

Countless women who are raped develop awful emotional and

spiritual bondage. It's not because they were raped, but because
they allowed the trauma to get to them. Many women are in
bondage today because they became bitter under the surface about
what was done to them years ago. I believe Clinton Clark once said
that from his observation, it seemed that boys who are molested by
older men and forgave the molester and forgot about it right away,
walked away without picking up unclean homosexual spirits, but
those who allowed the trauma to bother them walked away with
homosexual spirits and other bondages. That's how the demonic
spirits gain access into a person's life through rape and abuse. It's
not the abuse or rape, but the bitterness and unhealthy feelings
that build up within a person who has been taken advantage of.
Demons thrive on bitterness and unforgiveness, and it's a wide
open door for them to move right in on a person and develop many
spiritual, mental and even physical bondages.

Now many of these people who have been hurt, don't express it on
the outside, but rather hold the hurt and bitter feelings inside
where they fester and grow. I know women who have been raped,
and they are kind and gentle and loving people, but inside they are
bound up because of what was done to them many years ago. Just
because they aren't angry or outrageous individuals, does not
mean they are free from the root of bitterness. As I said earlier,
bitterness is a root, and roots are not always visible on the surface.
They may promote ungodly anger and other emotions on the
surface but bitterness itself works under the surface.
Bitterness is a root, thereby making it harder to identify and
expose than many surface issues, but none the less it's a deadly
poison that needs to be released. If left alone, it will grow and
fester, and it has the ability to spring up many surface issues such
as irritability, anger, hatred, etc. Individuals who have a root of
bitterness will often find it easy to become upset over little things
that go on around them. It is easy for them to look at the
circumstances around them as the source of their problems, rather
than seeing how they are handling those circumstances. Instead of
letting it go and forgiving, they let it get to them, and it devours
them alive. This is a very common route by which demons enter
people today.

Whether bitterness is manifest on the outside or not does

not matter.Due to the nature of bottled up feelings and emotions,
they are not always made noticeable on the surface, but that by no
means discounts the fact that they are there. If there is a root of
bitterness, it needs to be cut off at the root and removed from
one's soul. We need to make a choice to release all hurt and
bottled up feelings inside our systems, and repent for holding that
poison in our hearts. Turn from those feelings and forsake them,
and allow the Lord's love to minister to your soul!

Further reading

Bitterness is a deadly poison that needs to be brought into the light

and addressed in order to bring many people out of spiritual,
emotional and even physical bondage. Bitterness is a means for
defilement and countless sickness and diseases are a result of
bitterness. I have more on bitterness in my teaching
titled, Unforgiveness: Spiritual Poison . I also have a teaching on
how you can help overcome bitterness and unforgiveness in my
teaching titled, Unforgiveness and How to Forgive Others .

Spiritual Roadblocks: The most common blockages

Not willing or ready - As elementary as this sounds, many

deliverances are unsuccessful because the person was not ready or
willing to be truly delivered. They were merely looking for a quick
fix for their problem, and were not willing to take the necessary
steps to receive and maintain their deliverance.
Unforgiveness - Bitterness is a very popular source of spiritual
defilement (Hebrews 12:14). If you don't forgive others, God will
not forgive you (Matthew 6:15). Unforgiveness puts us in the hands
of tormenters (Matthew 18:23-35), which are demonic spirits.

Strongholds - Strongholds are incorrect thinking patterns in our

minds that we see things through. Many people see themselves as
failures, so they feel like failures. Others see God as a cruel and
dictating taskmaster, which causes them to feel distant and
unloved by their heavenly Father. If you have a hard time feeling
God's love, you can cast out all the demons in the world, but if you
don't see God as a loving God who loves you, it's going to be very
difficult to feel and receive His love.

Unconfessed sins - If we confess and repent of our sins, God is

faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:9). But if we choose rather
to keep our sins hidden and to ourselves, we cannot expect God's
forgiveness. There is also power in confessing our faults to one
another, as James 5:16 tells us, "Confess your faults one to
another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The
effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

Soul ties - Having a soul tie with somebody means your soul is
joined with theirs (1 Corinthians 6:16). Being joined to another
person with an unclean soul tie can allow the transference of spirits
and bondage between the persons. It is vital to break of all bad
soul ties from unhealthy past relationships so that the enemy
cannot use them against us.

Cursed objects - The Bible gives us a clear pattern of destroying

false gods, idols, and so-called cursed objects. God warns us that
bringing a cursed object into our home can bring a curse upon us
as well (Deuteronomy 7:26).

Lack of faith - Not understanding or believing God's will or the

truth about your situation can keep you in bondage as well. If you
don't realize the authority and freedom you have in Christ, it can
be very hard to walk in it and eat of it's fruit. Knowledge of the
truth is indeed an important tool in our spiritual toolkit.

Un-renounced vows - Vows and oaths bind the soul (Numbers

30:2). The way to break free from any ungodly vows is to repent of
it and renounce it verbally in Jesus' name.
Unbroken curses - Both ancestral curses and curses encountered
in one's own life must be broken. I believe ancestral sin curses are
automatically broken so long as we have accepted Christ, and do
not take part in our ancestor's wickedness, but other types of
curses must be broken before complete deliverance can be
obtained and kept.

Residing spirits - Demons often need to be cast out of a person

before they are able to fully overcome many persistent bondages.
Demons are often found behind many issues such as fear,
depression, physical infirmities (arthritis, cancer, deafness, etc.),
mental illnesses, etc. and need to be driven out as Jesus and the
early church went about doing.

The dangers of rebellion

Rebellion is an open door to demonic bondage

Rebellion is an open door to the demonic in a person's life. The

Bible strictly warns us against rebellion, and it's consequences are
not to be taken lightly. God's Word tells us that rebellion is in the
same category of sin as witchcraft itself:

1 Samuel 15:23, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft..."

The word witchcraft above is translated back to the Greek word

qesem, which not only includes literal witchcraft itself, but also
divination. Both of these practices are highly demonic. I believe it
is clear in the following verse that those who practice true
divination have a demonic spirit:

Acts 16:16, "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain

damsel  possessed with a spirit of divination   met us, which brought
her masters much gain by soothsaying."

Now let me ask you this: Is witchcraft an open door to the demonic
in a person's life? If so, why wouldn't rebellion also be an open
door, being that God put both of them in the same category?

God's Word even comes out more clearly and tells us that a cruel
messenger will be sent against the rebellious:
Proverbs 17:11, "An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore   a
cruel messenger shall be sent   against him."

Who is this cruel messenger? I believe it's the same kind of

messenger that is spoken of in Matthew 18:34-35 when speaking of
turning the unforgiving person over to tormenters:

Matthew 18:34-35, "And his lord was wroth, and   delivered him to
the tormentors , till he should pay all that was due unto him. So
likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your
hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

Rebellion cuts a person off from God

God's Word is clear that rebellion is a great way to find yourself in

dry land spiritually:

Psalms 68:6, "...the rebellious dwell in a dry land."

It is bad enough to be rebellious, but anybody who curses their

father or mother shall come under a curse, and find themselves in
obscure darkness:

Proverbs 20:20, "Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp
shall be put out in obscure darkness."

The Bible is clear that a man who is rebellious, is a man who's

heart is not right with God:

Psalms 78:8, "And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and

rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright,
and whose spirit was not steadfast with God."

God's Word is clear that judgment will come upon the rebellious:

Ezekiel 3:26, "And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy
mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a
reprover: for they are a rebellious house."

This reminds me of the demons that Jesus cast out of people which
caused them to be dumb (unable to speak)!

God has also shown me that rebellion shuts a person's ears from
being able to hear God when He tries to speak to them. The
following verse also makes this clear:
Ezekiel 12:2, "Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a
rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not;  they have
ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house ."

In the above verse, it is important to notice how it also emphasizes

that rebellious house has eyes, but cannot see. Rebellion allows the
god of this world (which is Satan, whom works through his network
of demonic spirits) to blind our spiritual eyes. When our spiritual
eyesight is blinded, our discernment suffers greatly. This is a
dangerous position for anybody to be in.

2 Corinthians 4:4, "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the
minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

Isaiah 30 addresses rebellion

1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel,
but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit,
that they may add sin to sin:

2  That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my

mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and
to trust in the shadow of Egypt!   (The rebellious run to the ungodly
for advise, counseling and support)

3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the

trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

4 For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to

Hanes.

5 They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them,
nor be a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

6  The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble
and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper
and fiery flying serpent , they will carry their riches upon the
shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of
camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore

have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book,
that it may be for the time to come forever and ever:

9 That  this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will

not hear the law of the LORD :

10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy
not unto us right things,  speak unto us smooth things, prophesy
deceits :

11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the
Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise

this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay
thereon:

13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall,

swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an
instant.

14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potter's vessel that

is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be
found in the bursting of it a shard to take fire from the hearth, or
to take water withal out of the pit.

15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In
returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence
shall be your strength: and ye would not.

16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye
flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that
pursue you be swift.

17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of

five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a
mountain, and as an ensign on a hill.

Forsake rebellion today!

If you have been rebellious, then stop! Forsake your rebellion and
turn to the Lord. Repent of thy ways, that ye shall receive mercy.
Rebellion is an open door to demonic spirits in a person's life. God's
Word warns us that rebellion darkens your spiritual eyesight
(discernment), and it deafens your ears to hear God's voice.

The Soul Versus The Spirit

Many find it hard to believe that a born again believer can have a
demonic spirit simply they don't understand the difference between
the soul and the spirit of a man. They believe everything is made
new the moment a person accepts Jesus (which is true for the
man's spirit), but they naturally accept the fact that a person can
be born again yet they can still be in bondage to sin (darkness or
evil).

The soul and the spirit are not the same

Even though our Bible uses the words soul and spirit
interchangeably, there is a very distinct difference that we cannot
ignore. These passages in God's Word that make a very clear
distinction between the soul and the spirit:

Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and
sharper than any two-edged sword,  piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit , and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

1 Thessalonians 5:23, "And the very God of peace sanctify you

wholly; and I pray God your whole  spirit and soul and body   be
preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

So what is the difference between the soul and the spirit?

We are a spirit being, we live in a body and we possess a soul. The

real person inside of us is our spirit. Our soul consists of our mind,
will and emotions. Our bodies are obviously what we live in while
we are here on earth. How did demonic spirits vex and possess
(control) people in the Bible? It was through their souls (minds, as
in mental illness and insanity), and their bodies (as in the woman
who had the spirit of infirmity).

Example of physical (bodily) demonic affliction:  Luke 13:11,

"And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity
eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift
up herself."

Example of mental (soul) demonic affliction:   Matthew

17:15,18, "Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore
vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water...
And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the
child was cured from that very hour."

Our spirits ARE born again!

The moment we accept Christ, our spirits become brand new. We

are a completely new person, we are born of God, and we are made
alive with God:

2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore  if any man be in Christ, he is a new

creature : old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new."

This is speaking of our spirits, which are instantly made new the
moment we accept Christ.

The Bible even tells us that the old man in us has died with Christ,
and that we are raised to new life through Christ's resurrection:

Romans 6:2-6, "God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live
any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were
baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ
was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we
also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted
together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the
likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that  our old man is
crucified with him   (our spirits that were alive to sin),  that the body
of sin might be destroyed   (speaking of the evil in our souls), that
henceforth we should not serve sin."

Even though we have died to sin, and been raised to new life
through Christ Jesus, our souls (that is, our minds) still need to be
transformed and purified by the washing of the Word:

Ephesians 5:26, "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the

washing of water by the word."
Our souls are NOT born again!

The Bible is clear that even though our spirits are born of
incorruptible seed, our minds (souls) still need to be purified, that
is, cleansed:

1 Peter 1:22-23, "Seeing ye have  purified your souls   in obeying

the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren,
see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:   Being
born again , not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the
word of God, which liveth and abideth forever."

Our spirit is instantly reborn and made new the moment we accept
Christ, but the soul is not born again. Our souls are transformed by
the renewing of our minds:

Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world: but  be ye

transformed by the renewing of your mind , that ye may prove what
is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Some closing thoughts

Our spirits are made right with God, and raised to new life the
moment we accept Jesus, but our souls (minds) can carry much
spiritual grime and dirt over from our past lifestyles. Our souls are
transformed by the renewing of our minds and by the washing of
the Word, as the Bible makes clear. This is why so many believers
can continue to struggle with sin even after accepting Christ. Their
souls still contain grime and dirt that needs to be removed and
washed clean.

Demonic spirits can also remain in our souls, and must be driven
out as Jesus and the early church went about doing. If all a person
had to do was accept Jesus and all their unclean spirits departed,
then what would be the point in casting demons out of anybody? If
all we would had to do was get people saved and their demons
would automatically shed, then casting out demons would be sort
of pointless, wouldn't it? However, the practice of casting out
demons didn't end when Jesus ascended into heaven. It was a
popular ministry that was carried right into the early church, and is
still in full swing today. After all, before Jesus went to sit at the
right hand of the Father, He made it clear that them who believe
will be casting out demons!
Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my
name shall they cast out devils..."

There is a very real need for the ministry of deliverance. I have

seen lives practically flipped upside-down through deliverance!
Many tears of joy and freedom are shed, and people walk away
never to be the same again!

Returning Curses: It's Biblically forbidden

There are people who practice something known as returning

curses. They send back evil curses to the people who originally sent
them. I do not support, nor encourage this practice. We are told to
bless them who curse us, not to return the evil back to them:

Matthew 5:44, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

Romans 12:14, "Bless them which persecute you:  bless, and curse
not ."

Is sending demonic curses back to those people, a blessing? Is that

how Jesus told us to treat those who do us wrong?

Matthew 5:38,39,43,44, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An

eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye
resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek,
turn to him the other also... Ye have heard that it hath been said,
Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto
you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to
them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you,
and persecute you."

Returning evil for evil may have passed in the Old Testament, but
Jesus came to do away with the old law, and bring about a new
law, which is to love one another... even those who do us evil!
God's Word tells us clearly not to take vengeance into our own
hands, but to let Him repay those who do us wrong:

Romans 12:19, "Dearly beloved,  avenge not yourselves , but rather

give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will
repay, saith the Lord."

If we take matters into our own hands, whether we realize it or

not, we are actually not giving place for God to bring wrath, as the
above verse states. We need to let God do the judging, and when
He does, He'll do a far better job than we ever could!

1 Thessalonians 5:15, "See that none render evil for evil unto any
man ; but ever follow that which is good,  both among yourselves,
and to all men ."

Regardless if somebody has cursed you or not, sending them a

curse is wrong, and I believe it can actually open you up to spirits
of witchcraft. Sending evil to another person via a curse is
witchcraft. Returning a curse is basically having demonic spirits to
go back and bring that evil upon that person. Regardless if you've
dreamed up the curse, or somebody else has, it's still an evil curse,
and by returning that curse, you're actually having demonic spirits
to go back to that person and do that evil unto them.

Keys to Biblical Faith

Faith is trusting in God. Lack of faith is doubting God. The Lord has
shown me three things concerning Biblical faith. When you combine
these three elements, we can operate in mountain moving faith!

In Mark 9, there was a boy that had an unclean spirit, such a

strong unclean spirit that even Jesus' disciples couldn't cast him
out. They were regular deliverance pastors going about casting out
demons on regular bases, but for some reason, when they reached
this case, they were unable to cast it out:

Mark 9:17-18, "And one of the multitude answered and said,

Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb
spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he
foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I
spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they
could not."

Now Jesus had given His disciples authority over all powers of the
enemy, so they clearly did not lack authority to drive out that
unclean spirit:

Luke 10:19, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents

and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing
shall by any means hurt you."

So what did these disciples lack? Clearly they didn't lack authority!
What they lacked was faith in their authority:

Mark 9:19, "He answereth him, and saith,  O faithless generation ,

how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him
unto me."

Now in Matthew 17, this story is also told, and when they asked
Jesus why they were unable to cast out the spirit, He told them flat
out... they lacked faith!

Matthew 17:19-20, "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and

said,  Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them,
Because of your unbelief : for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith
as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain,
Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing
shall be impossible unto you."

We need to stop wavering and start taking God for His Word and
lay hold of His promises! If He said we shall cast out demons, then
it means He's given us the ability to drive out those evil spirits! If
He's said we have a right to be healed in Jesus' name, then we
have that right, and we ought to start trusting Him and believing it!

Christian faith is basically taking God for His Word and

believing the promises He's made.

Faith key #1: Knowledge brings faith

Knowledge of the truth (in God's Word) brings faith. Faith is

believing something, thus requiring something to believe. The new
age movement believes that we can 'believe things into existence',
which is not the same kind of faith that us believers should have.
Our faith is based upon the truth in God's Word. Thus, knowing
what God's Word has to say about something gives us the ability to
believe it. Our faith should be based upon God's Word.

Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by

the word of God."

For example, how can you have faith to pray for a healing,
believing that He will heal you, if you didn't know it was God's will
for your healing? This is why Satan works so hard to tell the church
today that it may not be God's will for them to be healed! Why?
Because it casts doubt, the opposite of faith, upon the hearts of
God's children! How can you lay hold of the promises of God, if you
don't know what they are? We must first know the truth, then
believe it. That's Biblical faith!

Mark 9:23, "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things
are possible to him that believeth."

In the verse above, the word believeth means to trust. Jesus was in
essence telling His disciples that all things (referring to the
promises of God) are possible for them who will trust God for them
(believe).

How can you believe something that nobody told you? You can't.
That's why it's important to know what the Word of God has to say,
so that we can believe it. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing
God's Word:

Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by

the word of God."

Faith key #2: Faith and a pure conscience

One time the Lord spoke to me about the connection between a

clean conscience and faith. He told me clearly that you must KNOW
you are clean spiritually, because your faith depends on it. How can
you confidently approach God, when your conscience is dirty? The
truth is, you can't!

Hebrews 10:22, "Let us draw near with  a true heart in full

assurance of faith , having our hearts  sprinkled from an evil
conscience , and our bodies washed with pure water."
We need to have a true heart of full assurance of faith and washed
clean from an evil conscience.

If you struggle with a guilty conscience, then you owe it to yourself

to read the teaching on Dealing with Guilt .

Faith key #3: Faith works through love

The third key to operating in faith is to be rooted and grounded in

love so that your faith will operate through love. The Bible tells us
clearly that all believers should be rooted and grounded in the love
of Christ, if we want to experience the fullness of God, who is able
to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. When
we are grounded in the love of Christ,

Ephesians 3:16-20, "That he would grant you, according to the

riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in
the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that
ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend
with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and
height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him
that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that worketh in us."

We are told to put on the breastplate of faith and love... the two go
together like hand and glove!

1 Thessalonians 5:8, "But let us, who are of the day, be sober,
putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the
hope of salvation."

As we walk in the Spirit, the love of Christ will begin to flow

through us, and will give birth to much faith. Among the fruit of the
Spirit, we find both faith and love:

Galatians 5:22-33, "But  the fruit of the Spirit is love , joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,  faith , Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law."

When the love of Christ is flowing through us, it brings fourth much
faith. God's Word tells us clearly that faith works through love.
Galatians 5:6, "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any
thing, nor uncircumcision; but  faith which worketh by love ."

A great hindrance to faith

One of the greatest hindrances to faith is strongholds. If we see

something wrongly, we can have a very difficult time believing God
for something. For example, if you see God has a cruel and distant
God who wants you to be sick and poor, how can you believe that
it's His will to heal and bless you? Strongholds can be devastating
to our faith! You can learn more about strongholds in the following
teachings:

Strongholds

Spiritual Warfare and Strongholds

Demonic Oppression - Is it NOT God's will

It is very disappointing when I see many who are being harassed

by evil spirits being told that it is normal for God's children to be
oppressed. What a lie from the pits of hell! They are actually
preaching a very weak version of the gospel ! The Jesus that I serve
came to set the captives free, and heal ALL who were oppressed,
clearly showing us that oppression is NOT God's will:

Acts 10:38, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and   healing all
that were oppressed of the devil ; for God was with him."

I do not serve a Jesus that wants His people to be harassed or

oppressed by demons. My heavenly Father wants His children set
free! Does this theology work in the real world? Yes! I have seen
people who are oppressed SET FREE as demons and their legal
rights and strongholds were dealt with ... not simply resisted or
ignored!
"Isn't resisting the devil the answer to oppression?"

Many use James 4:7 to establish a doctrine that if we resist the

devil and draw near to God, the devil will flee; thus solving the
problem of demonic oppression. This is true when interpreted in the
context of James 4, which is speaking of temptations that is thrown
at us in the world today. What James 4 is not talking about is
demonic oppression, vexation, possession and harassment. This
verse was taken out of context to say something that it never really
said! I have a teaching just on this verse that you may like to
read: Resist the devil and he'll flee (Exposing a misinterpretation)

How Jesus did NOT handle oppression

Many people today believe that us Christians are to handle

oppression simply by drawing near to God, resisting the devil, and
their demons will go away. Sounds great... but that's not how Jesus
helped to those who were oppressed .

Acts 10:38, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all
that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."

Jesus did NOT tell the people, "You should be drawing near to God
and resisting those things... they'll leave you alone!"... did He?
No, He did something about their oppression ... He didn't tell them
to deal with it themselves by resisting those demons and drawing
near to God.

Demonic oppression and vexation

Oppression in the NT Greek is referring to a person having a host of

fallen angels (Satan's army or 'domain' if you want to get Greek
savvy) exercised against a person. To be vexed with a demon
means to be harassed, tormented or troubled by an evil spirit. The
meanings of these two words are virtually saying the same thing.

If you have a demon(s) exercised against you (oppressed of the

devil), you will be tormented, troubled or harassed by evil spirits.

Matthew 15:22, "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the

same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O
Lord, thou son of David;  my daughter is grievously vexed with a
devil ."
If you look up the phrase 'vexed with a devil' in the NT Greek, we
find the word daimonizomai, which is the same word used behind
the phrase 'possessed with a devil'. This Greek word has several
meanings. It can mean a person is under the demon's power,
harassed, troubled, tormented by evil spirits or simply to have an
unclean spirit.

How did Jesus 'heal' (make whole or cure) those with

unclean spirits?

When people that try to tell me that it is normal to be oppressed, it

is usually coming from individuals who have little or no experience
with casting out of demons. In Matthew 12:22, we are told of a
man who Jesus healed from an unclean spirit.

"Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and
dumb: and  he healed him , insomuch that the blind and dumb both
spake and saw."

If we look down the page a few verses, we find out how Jesus
healed this man:

"But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not
cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils." (v.24)

The word healed means to be made whole or cured of something.

When Jesus healed those with unclean spirits, He was making them
whole and curing (restoring) them by removing those unclean
spirits. What means did He cure (restore) the man's eyesight
above? By casting out the unclean spirit behind his blindness!

How did the early church handle oppression?

Not surprisingly, this pattern of 'healing all that were oppressed'

was carried right into the early church.

Acts 5:16, "There came also a multitude out of the cities round
about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and  them which were
vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one ."

Notice that everyone who was vexed (harassed, tormented or

troubled) by evil spirits were healed - that is - made whole or cured
(restored). People came to the early church that were oppressed,
and they were gloriously set free... not some... but EVERY ONE of
them!

How do you minister to the oppressed?

If somebody is being harassed by an evil spirit, I believe there is

always a reason for it. What they are experiencing is the symptoms
on the surface of an underlying spiritual problem. It could be as
simple as a stronghold that the demon is using as a means to
harass the person. There could be a legal right he's using as an
excuse to trouble the person. I usually like to address these two
first, and if the person is still harassed, I believe it is time to walk
them through a deliverance and go after the spirit(s) that are
troubling them.

The truth is, without the casting out of demons, a minister will turn
away many who are oppressed without ministering complete
freedom to them. They will walk away still oppressed and harassed
when they could have been set free. Balanced deliverance
ministering requires three key elements: the tearing down of
strongholds, the breaking up of legal grounds and the casting out
of demons. If you attempt the operate in a deliverance ministry
and address only 1 or 2 of those areas, you will turn many away
without completely setting them free. They may feel a change from
your ministering, and some may be completely set free, but there
will be those who will walk away still in a measure of bondage, and
some that you will be unable to help at all. You wouldn't dare try to
make a pizza with the dough and the sauce but omit the cheese,
would you? You wouldn't attempt to use your computer with a
keyboard and mouse but no monitor, would you? Why attempt to
run a deliverance ministry and omit one of the three major areas
where ministering is required? I believe it is important to be
balanced and complete in this ministry.

Is there such a thing as spiritual warfare? YES! But it's not the
same as oppression! There is also a teaching that will show you  the
difference between spiritual warfare and oppression . Beyond the
teachings on this site on spiritual warfare, I also have a special
Spiritual Warfare Series that is packed with helpful teachings on
this subject.

Demonic Oppression - Is it NOT God's will

It is very disappointing when I see many who are being harassed
by evil spirits being told that it is normal for God's children to be
oppressed. What a lie from the pits of hell! They are actually
preaching a very weak version of the gospel ! The Jesus that I serve
came to set the captives free, and heal ALL who were oppressed,
clearly showing us that oppression is NOT God's will:

Acts 10:38, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and   healing all
that were oppressed of the devil ; for God was with him."

I do not serve a Jesus that wants His people to be harassed or

oppressed by demons. My heavenly Father wants His children set
free! Does this theology work in the real world? Yes! I have seen
people who are oppressed SET FREE as demons and their legal
rights and strongholds were dealt with ... not simply resisted or
ignored!

"Isn't resisting the devil the answer to oppression?"

Many use James 4:7 to establish a doctrine that if we resist the

devil and draw near to God, the devil will flee; thus solving the
problem of demonic oppression. This is true when interpreted in the
context of James 4, which is speaking of temptations that is thrown
at us in the world today. What James 4 is not talking about is
demonic oppression, vexation, possession and harassment. This
verse was taken out of context to say something that it never really
said! I have a teaching just on this verse that you may like to
read: Resist the devil and he'll flee (Exposing a misinterpretation)

How Jesus did NOT handle oppression

Many people today believe that us Christians are to handle

oppression simply by drawing near to God, resisting the devil, and
their demons will go away. Sounds great... but that's not how Jesus
helped to those who were oppressed .

Acts 10:38, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all
that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."

Jesus did NOT tell the people, "You should be drawing near to God
and resisting those things... they'll leave you alone!"... did He?
No, He did something about their oppression ... He didn't tell them
to deal with it themselves by resisting those demons and drawing
near to God.

Demonic oppression and vexation

Oppression in the NT Greek is referring to a person having a host of

fallen angels (Satan's army or 'domain' if you want to get Greek
savvy) exercised against a person. To be vexed with a demon
means to be harassed, tormented or troubled by an evil spirit. The
meanings of these two words are virtually saying the same thing.

If you have a demon(s) exercised against you (oppressed of the

devil), you will be tormented, troubled or harassed by evil spirits.

Matthew 15:22, "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the

same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O
Lord, thou son of David;  my daughter is grievously vexed with a
devil ."

If you look up the phrase 'vexed with a devil' in the NT Greek, we

find the word daimonizomai, which is the same word used behind
the phrase 'possessed with a devil'. This Greek word has several
meanings. It can mean a person is under the demon's power,
harassed, troubled, tormented by evil spirits or simply to have an
unclean spirit.

How did Jesus 'heal' (make whole or cure) those with

unclean spirits?

When people that try to tell me that it is normal to be oppressed, it

is usually coming from individuals who have little or no experience
with casting out of demons. In Matthew 12:22, we are told of a
man who Jesus healed from an unclean spirit.

"Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and
dumb: and  he healed him , insomuch that the blind and dumb both
spake and saw."

If we look down the page a few verses, we find out how Jesus
healed this man:

"But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not
cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils." (v.24)
The word healed means to be made whole or cured of something.
When Jesus healed those with unclean spirits, He was making them
whole and curing (restoring) them by removing those unclean
spirits. What means did He cure (restore) the man's eyesight
above? By casting out the unclean spirit behind his blindness!

How did the early church handle oppression?

Not surprisingly, this pattern of 'healing all that were oppressed'

was carried right into the early church.

Acts 5:16, "There came also a multitude out of the cities round
about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and  them which were
vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one ."

Notice that everyone who was vexed (harassed, tormented or

troubled) by evil spirits were healed - that is - made whole or cured
(restored). People came to the early church that were oppressed,
and they were gloriously set free... not some... but EVERY ONE of
them!

How do you minister to the oppressed?

If somebody is being harassed by an evil spirit, I believe there is

always a reason for it. What they are experiencing is the symptoms
on the surface of an underlying spiritual problem. It could be as
simple as a stronghold that the demon is using as a means to
harass the person. There could be a legal right he's using as an
excuse to trouble the person. I usually like to address these two
first, and if the person is still harassed, I believe it is time to walk
them through a deliverance and go after the spirit(s) that are
troubling them.

The truth is, without the casting out of demons, a minister will turn
away many who are oppressed without ministering complete
freedom to them. They will walk away still oppressed and harassed
when they could have been set free. Balanced deliverance
ministering requires three key elements: the tearing down of
strongholds, the breaking up of legal grounds and the casting out
of demons. If you attempt the operate in a deliverance ministry
and address only 1 or 2 of those areas, you will turn many away
without completely setting them free. They may feel a change from
your ministering, and some may be completely set free, but there
will be those who will walk away still in a measure of bondage, and
some that you will be unable to help at all. You wouldn't dare try to
make a pizza with the dough and the sauce but omit the cheese,
would you? You wouldn't attempt to use your computer with a
keyboard and mouse but no monitor, would you? Why attempt to
run a deliverance ministry and omit one of the three major areas
where ministering is required? I believe it is important to be
balanced and complete in this ministry.

Is there such a thing as spiritual warfare? YES! But it's not the
same as oppression! There is also a teaching that will show you  the
difference between spiritual warfare and oppression . Beyond the
teachings on this site on spiritual warfare, I also have a special
Spiritual Warfare Series that is packed with helpful teachings on
this subject.

Symbolic Representations (Symbolics)

One of the things various people have tried to say about those of
us in the deliverance ministry, is that we practice unbiblical or
extra-biblical principals when ministering deliverance or coming up
against evil spirits. The more I understand God's Word on these
matters, the more I can confidently say that they are the ones who
don't really know their Bibles!

Did you know that there is spiritual value in using symbolism, and
it is a perfectly sound principal found in the Bible? For example,
when you anoint a person with oil (which is found in the Bible), it
symbolically represents the Holy Spirit. One tactic that I've seen in
action, is when a minister holds the Bible upto somebody's body,
and uses it to symbolically represent the Sword of the Spirit
(Ephesians 6:17) against the demonic spirits. I've seen demons
take off screaming and go ballistic when the Bible is used to
symbolically represent the Sword of the Spirit, and is touched
against that person's body in faith! I love to watch as unspeakable
terror rips across the person's face, as the demon manifests and
responds to the Word of God as it is used against them! Does this
mean we aren't to speak the Word against them? Not at all! But
this is one tactic I've seen that has been very effective in driving
out stubborn evil spirits.
You might say, "That sounds great, but where does the Bible speak
of taking something physical, and using it to symbolically represent
something spiritual? There are many cases of this in the Bible that
we find in both the old and new testaments.

Biblical examples of demonic symbolic representation

An idol is basically a symbolic representation of a demonic spirit.

The Bible tells us that when a person worships and sacrifices to an
idol (a physical object used to represent something spiritual), they
are actually offering their sacrifice to a demon:

1 Corinthians 10:19-20, "What say I then? that the idol is any

thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But
I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to
devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have
fellowship with devils."

I have actually heard that many idols meant to be worshiped will

have a small hole in the back of them where the spirits come in
when a person worships them and leaves when they are done.

God didn't want those symbolic idols even in the land of Israel at
all, because they represented demonic spirits, and they were
cursed objects... they carried demonic spiritual value:

Deuteronomy 7:25-26, "The graven images of their gods shall ye

burn with fire : thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on
them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an
abomination to the LORD thy God.  Neither shalt thou bring an
abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it :
but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it;   for
it is a cursed thing ."

Did you know that even water can carry a curse? It's true. Even
something like water can have the ability to hold spiritual value and
actually carry a curse with it. It was actually used to determine
whether a woman was defiled in the OT:

Numbers 5:27-28, "And when he hath made her to drink the water,
then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done
trespass against her husband, that  the water that causeth the
curse   shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall
swell, and her thigh shall rot: and  the woman shall be a
curse   among her people. And if the woman be not defiled, but be
clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed."

Biblical examples of holy symbolic representation

Perhaps one of the most well-known practices of symbolism is

water baptism. Does the water itself cleanse the person of their
sins? No, it is an outward sign of an inward change. Water baptism
of symbolic of what is taking place in that person's heart.

Mark 1:5, "And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and
they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of
Jordan, confessing their sins."

Acts 8:38, "And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they
went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he
baptized him."

In the Old Testament, there was a very strong and obvious use of
symbolics to represent spiritual cleansing, as we can see here in
Leviticus:

Leviticus 14:49-53, "And he shall take to cleanse the house two

birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: And he shall kill
the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water: And
he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and
the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in
the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times: And he
shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the
running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood,
and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet: But he shall let go the
living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an
atonement for the house: and it shall be clean."

For the Passover, God spoke clearly to His people to put the blood
of a lamb upon their door posts, as it will be a symbol or signal that
the angel of death would recognize and pass over their home and
not kill the firstborn therein:

Exodus 12:7-13, "And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on
the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses,
wherein they shall eat it... And the blood shall be to you for a
token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I
will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy
you, when I smite the land of Egypt."

The angel of death recognized the blood on the door posts and did
not enter those homes!

In the OT, oil was used as a symbolic representation that was used
to anoint people and places:

Exodus 29:7, "Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it
upon his head, and anoint him."

Exodus 40:9, "And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the
tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the
vessels thereof: and it shall be holy."

In the NT, there are various symbolic representations used as well.

For example, when praying over a person, it was a common
practice to anoint the person with oil as a symbolic representation
of the Holy Spirit:

James 5:14, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of
the church; and let them pray over him,   anointing him with oil   in
the name of the Lord."

Then there's also communion, where Jesus' body is symbolically

represented with bread, and His blood is symbolically represented
by wine (or juice):

1 Corinthians 11:24-30, "And when he had given thanks, he broke

it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you:
this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took
the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new
testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in
remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink
this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore
whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord,
unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But
let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and
drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily,
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's
body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and
many sleep."
This passage clearly shows us that many today are sick because
they did not properly take communion as the Bible prescribes.
There's a tremendous amount of value in symbolic representation,
and the Bible is not shy to admit it.

I have a friend in the ministry who found that during sincere

communion, people present began to actually manifest demons!
They couldn't handle the power of the Holy Ghost that the people
were coming into as they practiced communion as the early church
used to. This person ended up teaching on communion and how
many today are not practicing it as the early church practiced it.
This same friend encountered demons during deliverances, and
they have told him how much they bitterly hate communion when it
is practiced as the early church practiced it!

Did you also know that pieces of cloth were used to aid in

deliverances  and healings in the early church? It is true! Paul was
praying over handkerchiefs and aprons and sending them out to
those who had demons and needed healings, and the demons
departed and the people were healed!

Acts 19:12, "So that from his body were brought unto the sick
handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them,
and  the evil spirits went out of them ."

If mere pieces of cloth can be used to aid in deliverances and

healings, then how much more can we use the Bible to represent
the Sword of the Spirit to aid in driving out unclean spirits? If I
didn't see it work with my own two eyes, I wouldn't be here telling
you this today!

Some closing thoughts

I have seen people pray over water, ask the Lord to bless it to
symbolize the blood of Jesus, then sprinkle it around a room to
cleanse it. Why not? Oil was sprinkled around the tabernacle in the
OT to cleanse it! Oil was used in the early church to anoint people
for prayer! A friend of mine in the ministry told me that fiery heat
was felt as anointing oil was placed upon some heads in his
ministry! One time water that was prayed over was sprinkled on
somebody I knew, and they said they instantly felt the power and
presence of God come all over them!
One time earlier this year, I was in a deliverance with a friend, and
the two of us men stood there fiddling with a little bottle of
anointing oil, because we could NOT get the oil to come out so we
could put it on this person for prayer! We could see plenty of oil in
there, but no matter how hard we tried to get it out, it wasn't
budging! I take it those demons didn't want us to use physical oil
to symbolically represent the Holy Spirit when anointing a person
for prayer.

One time there was a minister who was praying over a young girl
who came out of I believe Satanism, and when the pastor tried to
take a ring off the girl's finger, the demon spirit cried out and
screamed because it represented a covenant between the young
girl and Satan!

A relative of mine one time shared a story with me about somebody

he knew in the army that had a Ouija board. When the man tried to
get rid of it, it kept coming back....it kept showing up in the man's
closet regardless of what they tried to do with it! They tried
burning it, throwing it in the trash, and cutting it into pieces!

There's definitely spiritual value in symbolics, the Bible is very

clear about this matter. If we have any occult rings, idols, false
religion artifacts, or even books, then I recommend getting rid of
them and cleaning our homes from such pollution! This isn't a new
concept, not only was it practiced in the OT, but this same kind of
housecleaning was practiced in the early church as well:

Acts 19:18-19, "And many that believed came, and confessed, and
showed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts
brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and
they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces
of silver."

We can use symbolic representation to bring glory to God as well!

We can anoint people with oil before praying over them, we can use
the Bible (the Word of God, which is the Sword of the Spirit -
Ephesians 6:17) to aid in deliverances, we can pray over water and
ask the Lord to allow the water to symbolically represent the blood
of Jesus... I've seen these things in action, and it's beautiful!

Disclaimer: Before anybody misunderstands me, I'm not trying to

worship the water, the oil or any physical object for that matter,
but I'm merely pointing out how God honors our efforts when we
use physical things to represent spiritual things. Such as using oil
to represent the Holy Spirit while praying over somebody. Occultist
are well aware of the power of symbolic representations, and there
are millions of demonic symbols used in the occult world. The Bible
also speaks clearly about how physical things can represent
spiritual things and can be used for both good and bad purposes.

Resist the devil and he'll flee? Context please!

Resist the devil and he'll flee (Exposing a misinterpretation)

James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you."

A lot of people claim that this is proof that a Christian never needs
a deliverance. They claim that all we have to do is draw near to
God and resist the devil and he's quickly on his way.

What an ear tickling message to say the least. So  why isn't it

working  with so many countless believers who are being tormented
and harassed by demonic spirits? They can try to resist the devil
and draw near to God with everything they've got, and still the
harassment and torment doesn't stop. Many pastors are known
for writing the people off and saying that they aren't trying hard
enough , but these people can try with everything they've got and
still have no progress! What's wrong?

Quite frankly, James chapter 4 is not speaking of demonic

harassment or torment ... no, it's speaking of how to deal with the
temptation that the devil sends our way!

This verse has been taken out of context to  make it say

something that it never said .

It's like the saying goes, "Never read a verse in the Bible again,
always read a chapter!"

Furthermore, it's not telling us that the devil will come out of us,
it's telling us that the devil will flee, which gives us a good
indication that this is speaking of spiritual warfare where we are
resisting the temptations of the devil from the outside.
Now let's take a look at some stories found in the Bible on how to
deal with demonic torment or harassment.

An example of how demonic problems were addressed:

In Luke 13:11, there stood a woman with a spirit of infirmity:

"And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity

eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift
up herself."

How did Jesus handle her? Did He walk upto her and say, "Thou
woman, you aren't resisting the devil and drawing near to God! If
you would just do that, your demon would depart from you!"

No, that's not what happened. Jesus gave us a clear indication that
she was a precious and sincere child of God when He said...

Luke 13:16, "And ought not this woman, being a daughter of

Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be
loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?"

Obviously this women didn't need to draw near to God and resist
the devil, she needed to be set free from her demonic bondage!
That's exactly how Jesus did for her in verse 12:

"And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her,
Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity."

For those who insist that this woman was not a believer, I
encourage you to read the following teaching, which will present an
irrefutable case that she was indeed a believer, and she indeed had
a demon: The Daughtor of Abraham

Another example of how demonic problems were addressed:

In Acts 19:12, we find where Paul was sending out prayer cloths to
those in need of healings and deliverances.

"So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or
aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits
went out of them."

Now Paul was known for teaching and guiding the believers in the
ways of the Lord. After all, he wrote a very large percentage of the
New Testament! He was continually instructing them on how to
grow in the Lord. Now if those requesting prayer cloths could have
solved their problems by simply drawing near to God and resisting
the devil; why would Paul have been trying to give them a quick fix
to get rid of their demons?

It makes no sense! After all, he was the one who was so diligent in
teaching them the ways of the Lord and how to successfully do
spiritual battle!

Let me put it bluntly, if all we had to do was resist the devil, then
honestly, what would be the point in casting out demons? Would
that not be a quick fix so we wouldn't have to draw near to God
and resist the devil?

Did you know that Jesus never told us to fight or struggle

against demonic oppression?

How was demonic oppression solved in the Bible? It was certainly

not something the people did on their own, it was something that
Jesus did for them as they came to Him. Acts 10:38 tells us...

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with
power: who went about doing good, and  healing all that were
oppressed of the devil ; for God was with him."

The word healed means to make a person whole. There were other
times when Jesus was said to heal a person of an unclean spirit,
which involved casting it out. A good example of this is found in
Matthew 12:22...

"Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and
dumb: and  he healed him , insomuch that the blind and dumb both
spake and saw."

What do we find just a couple verses down the page? We find out
how Jesus healed the man...

"But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth
not  cast out devils , but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils."
(v.24)

So if all the people had to do was draw near to God and resist the
devil, why would Jesus be going around taking so many 'shortcuts'?
Why wasn't Jesus teaching them to draw near to God and resist the
devil? I'm sure these people would have done ANYTHING to be
freed from their condition!

In a nutshell

I encourage you to go read James 4, then tell me, is it speaking

about dealing with demonic harassment, possession, bondages and
being vexed by demons? Is it speaking of getting people set free
from demons? No, it is not! It's telling you how to overcome the
temptations that the devil throws our way in this world!

The Bible is also clear on how we are to go about handling demons

that need to be driven out:

Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the
dead,  cast out devils : freely ye have received, freely give."

Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my
name shall they  cast out devils ..."

Now if all we had to do was draw near to God and resist the devil,
there would be no point in casting out demons, would
there? Would not Jesus and His disciples have been wasting
their time, along with the early church? Would they have not
been giving people 'quick fixes' to problems that they ought
to be drawing near to God and resisting the devil to solve?

While it is true that we should always resist the devil and draw near
to God, it is not the Biblical solution to solving problems that are
demonic in a person's life.

Do I have a demon? (Common Biblical symptoms)

This is a brief list of some of the common Biblical symptoms a

person may manifest when they have a demon. This list is only a
general guideline, and not every symptom is a guaranteed demonic
bondage, nor is this a complete list of manifestations.

Compulsive sinning against your will: Satan caused Judas to

dishonestly gain money at the cost of Jesus' death. There were two
men who were possessed with demons who were said to have
uncontrollable anger problems (Matthew 8:28), so much that
nobody could get near them they were so fierce. King Saul also
became very angry after he picked up an unclean spirit, and even
tried to murder David (1 Samuel 19:9-10)! Babylon was known as a
habitation of devils (Revelations 18:2) and it was well known for
sins of every kind, indicating that demons can and do promote sin
in a person's life. Canaan is also known to be a cursed nation, and
was known for their problems with sin as well. Notice it was the
curse that came, THEN the problem with sin and not the other way
around.

Self-mutilation is a sin because it's harming our bodies which are

temples of the Holy Ghost, and we find the man with the legion
roaming the tombs cutting himself uncontrollably. Compulsive
behavior is known to be demonic.

Mark 5:2,5, "And when he was come out of the ship, immediately
there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit... And
always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs,
crying, and cutting himself with stones."

In the ministry of deliverance, many people are set free from all
kinds of compulsive sinning, even pornography addictions and
compulsive masturbation. If it's compulsive and you've tried
everything to stop, but you can't... there seems to be a compulsive
force 'driving' you to sin, then there may very well be a demon that
needs to be driven out. It is true that we have been set free from
the bondage of sin, but there's a big difference between the
bondage of sin, and being in bondage to demons and their way of
affecting you is driving you to sin.

Fear and depression - irrational heaviness in the soul:  King

Saul was tormented with fear and depression by an evil spirit. 1
Samuel 16:14, "Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the
LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and
fear." (NLT) The Bible also speaks of a spirit of heaviness in Isaiah
61:1,3, where it's speaking of how Jesus came to preach
deliverance from such a spirit and give us a garment of praise in
exchange. There are a lot of people today who suffer from irrational
fears, depression, headaches, nightmares, etc. from demon spirits
and after a successful deliverance they are set free.

Unhealthy obsessions: Obsessions with things such as death like

the man in Mark 5:3 had ("Who had his dwelling among the
tombs") clearly demonstrates a demonic bondage. Usually
obsessions with items of darkness, death, occult, demons, etc. is a
sign that something is wrong.

Compulsive cutting or self-mutilation: The man with the legion

of demons was said to have been cutting himself with stones (Mark
5:5). Obviously, back then he didn't have knives available to do the
job with, so he was finding sharp stones and using them to cut
himself.

Constant calamities in one's life: Job is a good example of what

the demonic kingdom can do in a person's life. He had an almost
endless list of calamities take place in his life due to an unclean
spirit. Job greatly feared such calamities coming upon him (Job
3:25), and did not trust God to protect Him in those areas. This is
why I believe God allowed Satan to enter into his life and play
havoc on everything he owned, including his own body. Why would
a loving God cause His servant to go through so much, just for the
sake of 'proving' something to Satan? I don't think it really lines up
with God's loving nature towards His people. In Deuteronomy 27,
there's a list of things that can cause a person to come under a
curse, and in chapter 28, it tells us what kind of problems a curse
can cause in a person's life. Not every time a person is under a
curse means they have to have demons driven out, but it's
certainly something to look into and get freed from.

Physical health problems: The woman with the spirit of infirmity,

for example, was bound by a spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11) and as
a result, she couldn't lift herself up, she was crippled over. Arthritis
is found to be demonic by many ministers today. Job suffered
physical affliction from evil spirits by means of boils all over his
body (Job 2:7). Matthew 9:32-33 speaks of a man who was
possessed with an unclean spirit that caused him to be unable to
speak. Matthew 9:25 also speaks of a deaf spirit, "When Jesus saw
that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit,
saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come
out of him, and enter no more into him."

Mental health problems and insanity: In Matthew 17:15, a boy

is said to be a lunatic as a result of indwelling demons. The NT
Greek word for lunatic is sele.niazomai and means the person is
moon struck (mentally not well) or crazy. Mental problems are
clearly shown in other parts in the Bible as well, including the man
with the legion in Matthew 5:2-5, "And when he was come out of
the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with
an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no
man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been
often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been
plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither
could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the
mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with
stones." Does that sound like somebody who's in their right mind to
you? What would somebody in their right mind be doing roaming
the tombs? This tells me that there was a spirit of death involved,
which gave him exceeding interest in the dead. Who in their right
mind would be roaming the tombs day and night crying and cutting
themselves with stones? When Jesus cast those demons out, the
man was said to have been "in his right mind" once again (verse
15).

Luke 8:27, "And when he went forth to land, there met him out of
the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no
clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs." What kind
of a person in their right mind would go running around in the
tombs naked?

Matthew 9:17-18, "And one of the multitude answered and said,

Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb
spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he
foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I
spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could
not."

Supernatural strength or abilities: The girl with the spirit of

divination was able to foretell the future through an evil spirit in
Acts 16:16. It is pretty solid proof a person has a demon if they
have magical powers, such as the magicians who laid out their
staffs and they turned into snakes before Moses in Exodus 7:12.
The man with the legion of spirits was known to have superhuman
strength in Matthew 5:2-4: "No man could bind him, no, not with
chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and
chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the
fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him."

Racing compulsive thoughts and mental torment: As you can

see from the list above, demons can affect a lot of areas in a
person's life. One of the ways it works is through our thought lives
to cause fear, depression and torment is through our thoughts. The
Bible also uses the term 'vexed with a devil', which means to be
tormented, harassed or troubled by an evil spirit. It is not
uncommon for a person with a demon to testify to racing thoughts
that are completely against their will. When I was vexed with
demons, I remember a distinct personality in my mind, it felt as if I
was sharing my mind with another person or spiritual being. I
would experience racing thoughts, irrational desires, compulsion to
think and say things I would never normally even think about, etc.
I was not alone either, there are a LOT of people who are being
affected just like I was. It is not uncommon in this ministry to see
people's minds or thoughts being influenced or controlled by evil
spirits.

Psalms 143 is a powerful passage speaking of Kind David when he

was being tormented by evil spirits. In verses 3 and 4 we read,
"For the enemy hath persecuted my soul (mind); he hath smitten
my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness,
as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit
overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate." In verses
11 and 12, we read, "Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake:
for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul (mind) out of trouble.
And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that
afflict my soul (obviously not physical enemies, but spiritual): for I
am thy servant."

Casting out demons

What is needed to cast out demons? One word... authority! Who

has such authority? God's children... the believers! How do we
exercise our authority? Through a spoken command in faith
directed at the unclean spirits. The more faith we have, the more
authority we can exercise.

Spiritual authority

Jesus sent us fourth into the world as He was sent fourth (John
20:21), to do the works He did (John 14:12), and He gave us the
authority to do the work at hand (Mark 13:34).

What does it take to drive out demons? Authority! As we can see in

Mark 1:27, "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they
questioned among themselves saying, What thing is this? what new
doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the
unclean spirits , and they do obey him." As we can see in Luke
4:35, Jesus was not afraid to exercise His authority either,
"And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of
him . And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out
of him, and hurt him not."

Luke 10:17-19, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying,
Lord, even the devils are subject unto us  through thy name. And he
said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Behold, I give unto you power (translates to AUTHORITY)  to tread
on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:
and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

Does every believer have authority over demons?  Yes! We are

all seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Eph 2:6), which
means we are above the demons in rank of authority! Mark 13:34
also tells us how we are given authority to carry out the work that
is laid before us. Mark 16:17 tells us that them who believe will be
casting out demons.

There is a teaching specifically on Your Spiritual Authority  that will

deepen your understanding even more on this subject.

The importance of "In the name of Jesus"

How did Jesus' disciples go about casting out

demons? Through His name. Luke 10:17 tells us, "And the seventy
returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject
unto us through thy name ."

How did the early church go about casting out

demons? Through His name. Acts 16:18 tells us a story where
Paul, "turned and said to the spirit, I command thee  in the name of
Jesus Christ  to come out of her. And he came out the same hour."

How are the believers today supposed to be casting out

demons?Through His name. As we can see in Mark 16:17, "these
signs shall follow them that believe; In my name  shall they cast out
devils."

Authority is exercised through faith

Matthew 17:19-20, "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and
said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them,
Because of your unbelief..." Obviously they had the authority, but
they weren't able to use it because their level of faith wasn't high
enough to access the level of authority that needed to be exercised
to drive out that particular kind of unclean spirit. Some evil spirits
are stronger and harder to drive out, and sometimes prayer and
fasting is necessary to build our faith up so we can drive them out,
as we can see in the next verse (21), "Howbeit this kind goeth not
out but by prayer and fasting."

Conclusion

As believers, we have been given authority in Jesus' name to drive

out demons. We access our authority through faith and exercise
our authority with a spoken command directed at the unclean
spirit. As Paul clearly demonstrates in Acts 16:18, "Paul, being
grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name
of Jesus Christ to come out of her . And he came out the same
hour."

How does all this apply to us today? Mark 16:17 tells us, "These
signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out
devils."

Top ten questions to ask

When trying to locate the source or root of a bondage, these top

ten questions can be very helpful and save a lot of time. Think of
this as a miniature deliverance questionnaire.

1. What kind of bondage are you facing? (Fears, depression,

voices in your mind, mental illness, physical illness, mental
torment, spiritual torment, etc.)

It's always important to clearly identify the problem, so you know

exactly what you are dealing with.

2. Do you remember when the bondage started? What was

happening around the time this bondage started?
Many bondages can be easily traced back to a particular experience
in one's life. If you can get the person to remember when exactly
their bondage started, they will likely remember what happened
that 'triggered' the problem in the first place.

3. Can you see any 'open doors' where the bondage may
have entered through?

Give the person you are ministering to a chance to see if they can
come up with anything. They may not be able to come up with
anything, or they may be completely wrong, but it's definitely
worth a try.

4. Have you or your ancestors been involved in the occult or

any false religions? Including secret societies such as
Freemasonry and also seeking occult power or knowledge
from others, such as having a fortune told, etc.

Countless bondages are rooted in some sort of occult involvement,

either by the person or by their ancestors. False religions are a red
flag as well. Freemasonry is well known for bringing people under
demonic bondage.

5. Do you have ancestors or family members who have

suffered from a similar kind of bondage?

This is a good way to begin looking into the possibility of a spirit

being handed down through a generational curse or iniquity.

6. How do you see yourself? (Do you feel guilty, low self-
esteem, confident, etc.)

This can help reveal problems with guilt, strongholds, rejection,

self-rejection, etc.

7. Is there anything in your life that has been or is currently

troubling you?

This is a great conversation starter to help them open up about

what's on their mind, and can be a great way to reveal the
struggles they are facing mentally and spiritually.

8. Do you feel truly loved by God for who you are? (Be
honest!)
This is a great way to identify a very common stronghold. Many
people don't see God as a loving Father, and it hinders them from
feeling God's love in their life, which gives the devil a lot of room to
play havoc.

9. What things have negatively impacted your life?

(Traumatic experiences, deeper sins, bad relationships, etc.)

Finding out what things have negatively affected a person's life can
reveal many doors that the devil has gained into their lives. Bad
relationships can cause bitterness and cause people to become
emotionally built up inside. Unforgiveness is a known way for a
person to become defiled, which is an open door to the devil.
Deeper sins may or may not have been put to rest in the person's
mind. If the person still continues to beat themselves up for it,
then they would do good to confess the sin, forsake it, and receive
God's forgiveness of it, as well as forgive themselves for it. A clean
conscience is important to a person's spiritual freedom, but if a
person is unwilling to forgive themselves, they hinder their
conscience from being cleansed.

10. What was your relationship with your parents like when
you were growing up?

Many bondages begin in childhood, because a child is much more

sensitive and easily damaged than adults. If a person has had a
rough upbringing, it can result in a lot of unresolved problems later
on in life. Any hurt feelings towards ones parents must be brought
out into the open, confessed, then forgiven.

Why cast out demons?

Why cast out demons? They don't leave automatically!

It's vital to understand the importance of casting out demons.

Some believers assume that demons will automatically leave on
their own accord once the legal grounds are removed, but that
simply isn't true. I believe there are many times when they do,
simply because the demon chooses not to hang around where he
has no 'hold' or 'right' to a person, but that is by no means true in
every case.
Removing legal grounds isn't always enough

If demons left automatically when their legal grounds were

removed, why didn't Jesus simply tell those who were possessed
with demons that their sins were forgiven, as He did with others
(Matthew 9:2)? Instead He rebuked demons and commanded them
to come out and they often made a big scene when they came out!
Wouldn't it be easier to tell them that their sins were forgiven? One
time Jesus even said, "For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be
forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?" (Matthew 9:5) If you
ask me, it would be a LOT easier to say "thy sins be forgiven", than
to rebuke demons and have them throw the person to the ground
in convulsions, foam at the mouth, scream to the top of a person's
lungs, etc. There's a clear purpose in casting out demons, and
Jesus' life here on earth was an example for us to learn from (John
14:12, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do
also."), and a large part of His ministry was casting out demons.

We may be cleansed from legal grounds in our lives, but

unwelcome guests (evil spirits) may still need to be told to leave.
Let's say that you lived in an apartment and had a roommate, but
one day you chose to have the place to yourself, so you started
paying the full rent for your apartment (so you have full legal
rights to live there alone), but where your problem lies is that your
stubborn roommate (who no longer has a legal right to live there)
refuses to leave. The same principal applies in the spiritual realm
when dealing with demons. This is why Jesus gave us authority
over demon spirits to cast them out. If demons left on their own
accord once their legal grounds are broken, there would be
no need to cast them out!  But Jesus made it clear that them who
believe will be casting out demons (Mark 16:17).

Mark 9:29 also makes it clear that some demons, regardless if their
legal grounds are removed or not, require prayer and fasting to
drive out, "And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by
nothing , but by prayer and fasting." Jesus was perfectly capable
of forgiving a person's sins when He was here on earth (Luke
7:47), so for Him to tell us that some demons require prayer
and fasting to drive out, tells us that demons simply don't
leave the moment their legal grounds are removed.

The nature of demons

It's vital to learn of the nature of demons, because when you
realize that they are stubborn and rebellious beings that often need
to be TOLD to leave, you'll understand why it's important to cast
them out. Let's take a look at some of the tantrums they threw as
Jesus cast them out:

In Mark 9:20, we find a story of when a demon was so upset that

he had to leave, that he took control over the boy and threw him
into a convulsion with foam coming out of his mouth, "And they
brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit
tore him (took control over the boy and threw him into a
convulsion); and he fell on the ground, and wallowed (rolled
around) foaming (foam was coming out of his mouth)."

In Luke 9:39, we find another story where a demon threw an awful

tantrum as he was driven out, "And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he
suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him (threw the person into a
convulsion) that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly
(harshly bruising him physically) departeth from him."

Perhaps one of the most common manifestations mentioned in the

Bible is found in Mark 1:26, "And when the unclean spirit had torn
him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him." Properly
interpreted, the word cried here actually refers to screaming. The
demon didn't go out quietly, it went out screaming and thew the
boy into a convulsion on it's way out!

If demons throw such fits as JESUS Himself cast them out, what
makes us think they will peacefully leave on their own accord?
What amazes me, is how people expect demons to play nice and
leave automatically, but they would never expect a criminal to
willfully give up his lifestyle without the authority of policemen
stepping in and forcing the man to either change or be cast into
prison.

Deliverance was not available in the OT

Back in the OT, once a person picked up a demon, they had to

pretty much live with it. The casting out of demons only came on
the scene when Jesus arrived on earth and had the authority to
cast them out.

In Mark 1:27, we find that the people around Jesus were shocked
when they saw Him exercise His authority over evil spirits because
they had never seen this happen before, nor was it ever mentioned
in all of history, "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they
questioned among themselves saying, What thing is this? what new
doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the
unclean spirits, and they do obey him ."

Purpose of authority

In NT Greek, the authority to cast out demons translates back to

the Greek word exousia, and means, "From G1832 (in the sense of
ability); privilege, that is, (subjectively) force , capacity,
competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely
magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated
influence: - authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength."

To have authority means to have the ability to force another person

(or spirit) to subject itself to you and obey you. Our authority is
accessed by faith, as Jesus gave His disciples the authority to cast
out demons (Luke 9:1, Luke 10:17), but in Matthew 17:14-21, they
were unable to cast out a particular kind of demon that was
apparently much stronger then usual, simply because they lacked
faith (see verses 19-20). They didn't lack authority; they lacked
the faith that was necessary to exercise their authority.

How did Jesus use His authority to cast out demons? By speaking
fourth a command, or as Matthew 8:16 tells us, by His Word He
drove out demon spirits, "When the even was come, they brought
unto him many that were possessed with devils: and  he cast out
the spirits with his word , and healed all that were sick:"

With authority, Jesus drove demons out of people, as we can see in

Mark 9:25, "When Jesus saw that the people came running
together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him,  Thou dumb
and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him , and enter no more
into him."

With authority, those in the early church were also casting out evil
spirits, as we can see in Acts 16:18, "But Paul, being grieved,
turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus
Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour."

This same authority belongs to you and I as believers, as we are

seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6), and as
Jesus clearly pointed out, those who believe can cast out demons in
Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my
name shall they cast out devils ."

A misinterpreted verse exposed

I've seen ministers use Acts 8:5-7 as so-called proof that demons
are automatically expelled from people, simply because it doesn't
say 'as clearly' who drove them out, such as "Paul rebuked the
spirit..." If we take a close look at this verse, I believe it becomes
very clear that it was Philip who was casting the spirits out:

Acts 8:5-7, "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and
preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave
heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the
miracles WHICH HE DID . For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice,
came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken
with palsies, and that were lame, were healed."

People were listening to Philip teach and taking heed  because they
saw the miracles that HE was doing . People were being healed,
demons were being driven out, etc. Those demons didn't just
decide to come out on their own, no more than people were 'auto-
healed'. If such a verse could be used to argue that demons auto-
shed from people when they accept Christ, then it could also be
used to prove that when people 'truly' accept Jesus (they say that
those who have demons haven't *truly* accepted Jesus), they will
be physically healed as well. Oh the power of twisted scriptures!! :)

Basic Biblical Demonology

This teaching will give you a basic look into the world of demons
according to the Bible. As you know, the Bible is the safest and
most reliable book to turn to when seeking knowledge on the
spiritual realm.

Various functions of demons

There's different spirits that cause different kinds of problems in a

persons life, some affecting the person physically while others
mentally and some give people special occult powers or abilities.
Example of physical influence: Luke 13:11,16, "And, behold,
there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity  eighteen years,
and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself... And
ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan
hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on
the sabbath day?" Also see Matthew 9:33, "And  when the devil was
cast out, the dumb spake : and the multitudes marveled, saying, It
was never so seen in Israel."

Example of mental (including soulish, spiritual, etc.)

influence: Luke 8:27,35, "And when he went forth to land, there
met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time,
and wore no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the
tombs... Then they went out to see what was done; and came to
Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed,
sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind : and they
were afraid." Also see Matthew 17:15,18, "Lord, have mercy on my
son: for he is lunatic , and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into
the fire, and oft into the water... And Jesus rebuked the devil ; and
he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very
hour." The word lunatic here translates from the NT Greek word
seleniazomai and means to be crazy or moonstruck (mentally ill).

Example of torment from evil spirits: In 1 Samuel 16:14 we

find that King Saul was tormented mentally by evil spirit(s), "Now
the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a
tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear." (NLT)
Also see Matthew 15:22, "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came
out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on
me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed
with a devil." To be vexed means to be tormented, troubled or
shaken by an evil spirit.

Example of occult spirits: In Acts 16:16, we are told of a young

girl who had a spirit that allowed her to tell fortunes, "And it came
to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a
spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by
soothsaying:" Soothsaying refers to fortune telling. Also see
Deuteronomy 18:11, "Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar
spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer." and Leviticus 19:31,
"Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after
wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God."
There's also other kinds of spirits in the demonic kingdom as well,
including rulers, principalities, etc.

Demons have different names

The Bible also refers to demons with specific names that relate to
their function, for example, in Luke 13:11 we are told of a spirit of
infirmity who caused a woman to be bent over, and in Acts 16:16
we are told of a young girl who had a spirit of divination that
allowed her to tell fortunes.

Various strengths of demons

Some demons require more than simply a command to drive

them out: Matthew 17:14-21, "And when they were come to the
multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him,
and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore
vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation,
how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him
hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of
him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the
disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief : for verily I say
unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say
unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall
remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit  THIS
KIND   goeth not out but by prayer and fasting ."

Now Jesus' disciples were regular deliverance ministers, and had

cast out many demons (Mark 6:13), but when they reached 'this
kind', they were unable to cast it out because of their lack of faith.
Jesus clearly staked out this kind of demon and told us that more
than just commanding this kind to leave is needed. Even if it were
just prayer that was needed... nowhere else that I am aware of in
the NT are we told to 'pray' before a normal deliverance. Jesus
however made it clear that you'd better be prayed up before trying
to cast 'this kind' of demon out. Apparently, this demon had
properties (strength or stubbornness) that required something
more (prayer/fasting/faith) than the average demon to drive out.

Varying wickedness of demons

As Matthew 12:45 points out, demons can clearly vary in
wickedness too, "Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven
other spirits more wicked than himself , and they enter in and dwell
there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even
so shall it be also unto this wicked generation."

Hierarchy of demons

As stated above, there is obviously different strengths of demons

that we can encounter during a deliverance. There's also evidence
of demon hierarchy (ranks of demons) in the Bible as well.

Acts 10:38, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all
that were oppressed of the devil ; for God was with him."

Properly translated from NT Greek to modern English, it is actually

telling us that to be oppressed of the devil is to have an order of
demons (Merriam-Webster dictionary refers us to celestial
hierarchy) exercised against us. If we look up celestial hierarchy, it
comes flat out and tells us that this is speaking of a traditional
hierarchy.

Ephesians 6:12 also speaks of this hierarchy when it tells us, "For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities ,
against powers , against the rulers of the darkness  of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Multiple demons in the same person

It is not uncommon for a person to have more than one demon

when they are possessed.

Mark 16:9, "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the
week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom  he had
cast seven devils ."

Luke 11:24,26, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he

walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he
saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.... Then goeth
he, and taketh to him seven other spirits  more wicked than
himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of
that man is worse than the first."
Mark 5:9, "And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered,
saying, My name is Legion: for we are many ."

Demons work together

Luke 11:24,26, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he

walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he
saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.... Then goeth
he, and taketh to him seven other spirits  more wicked than
himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of
that man is worse than the first."

As we can see, demons can and do communicate with one another

and can call in more evil spirits into action as well.

Mark 5:9, "And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered,
saying, My name is Legion (which meant between 6,000 and
7,000): for we are many."

It also seems that they work in harmony together. Even though

there was several thousands spirits in the man at the time, notice
that there was no confusion among them when Jesus approached
them. One of them took the role as the leader and spoke for the
rest of them and the rest of them followed the leader's plan to
enter the pigs. When the leading spirit answered 'we', it gives us a
good indication that they were working together.

Anybody who is experienced in this ministry will tell you that it is

not uncommon to find a leader spirit and then a series of weaker
spirits hiding out under their leader.

Demons often manifest when they are driven out

In the Bible, there were several times when demons manifested as

they were driven out of a person. Here are a few examples:

Crying out (screaming) with a loud voice: Mark 1:26, "And

when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice,
he came out of him." Properly interpreted, the word cried here
actually refers to screaming.

Cause the person to go into a convulsion: Luke 9:42, "And as

he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tore him. And
Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and
delivered him again to his father." The NT Greek for tore actually
means to 'convulse with epilepsy.'

Foaming at the mouth: Mark 9:20, "And they brought him unto

him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tore him; and he
fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming."

The Bible doesn't give us a complete list of all the things demons
may do when they come out, not does it claim to, but it gives us
some great examples to get us started and give us an idea of what
we can expect. The Bible is somewhat like a storybook that shows
us hands-on what it's like to cast out demons, and we can learn a
lot from the stories told in the Bible. However, we can't expect to
duplicate a Bible story every time a person has a demon cast out
either. I personally manifested in a way that I don't think could be
found in the Bible when a demon was being cast out of me one
time, and I know of many other things that demons do as they
come out that I haven't found in the Bible. None the less, they
happen and cannot be denied, and the Bible never claims to be a
complete instruction manual that covers everything that demons
can do as they come out. The Bible is more like a story book, and
by the stories told in the Bible, we can learn much, but there's a lot
that goes on in the demonic realm that is not spoken of in the
Bible.

Myths about deliverance

Demons must be 'welcomed' to enter a person and dwell

there: Many people believe that you must 'welcome' the demon
wilfully before it can enter you. This theory sounds nice, but
scripture actually states otherwise. In Matthew 12:45, we find a
story that Jesus told of an unclean spirit that left and came back
with 7 even worse spirits, and they all enter the man and dwell
there. Clearly the first spirit that was cast out and the other 7
worse spirits were not 'invited' but rather bluntly entered in at their
own free will because there was a 'legal ground' that hadn't been
cleaned up. This warning is clearly directed towards non-believers
as Jesus referred to them as the 'wicked generation' at the end of
the verse. If a person is a non-believer, their legal grounds cannot
possibly be cleaned up because they have no access to the blood of
Christ, which allows the 'legal grounds' to be removed. Another
good verse to look at is Luke 13:11,16, "And, behold, there was a
woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was
bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself... And ought
not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath
bound , lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the
sabbath day?" I believe if Satan had bound her, then it gives us a
clear indication that it was against her will. When a person is bound
by another, it's a forceful act against the person's will. Besides, do
you think the woman honestly 'wanted' a spirit of infirmity? I
wouldn't think so. Neither would the man who was deaf, thanks to
an evil spirit (Matthew 9:32-33).

Demonic possession is rare: This myth that is ear tickling, but

doesn't hold up in scripture. One of the most common things that
Jesus did in His ministry was go around casting out demons... it
seems like every time He turned around He was ministering
deliverance. There are several verses that tell us that many (which
translates to large amounts of people in NT Greek) came to Him
and had demons cast out. Mark 1:34, "...cast out many devils ..."
Luke 4:41, "...devils also came out of many ..." Acts 8:7, "For
unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many  that were
possessed with them..." Mark 6:13, "...they cast out many
devils..." Matthew 8:16, "...they brought unto him  many that were
possessed with devils ..." To give you an idea of what 'many' can
mean in NT Greek, look at the man with a legion of demons... he
was said to have 'many' demons, and NT Greek tells us that the
term legion meant almost 7,000... so almost 7,000 evil spirits came
out of that man!

Demons can own (possess) a person: This is misunderstood

because the word possessed makes us think of ownership, but
that's not how it's properly interpreted from NT Greek. To be
possessed with a demon means to be under the power of one, have
one or to be vexed (tormented / troubled) by one. Demons cannot
own people because in Ezekiel 18:4, God says clearly, "Behold, all
souls are mine..."

Possession means 'full control' or ownership: This man-

inspired idea has no backing in scripture. The phrase 'possessed
with a devil' takes us back to the NT Greek word daimonizomai and
literally translates to being vexed (troubled or tormented) by a
demon, being under the power of a demon (if you have a spirit of
fear, you'll be fearful, a spirit of infirmity will give you a physical
infirmity, etc.), to be exercised by a daemon (demon), or to simply
have a demon. There were people in the Bible who were possessed
with demons, and the demon only affected them in one or two
ways, such as physical blindness or muteness. Matthew 12:22 tells
us of a perfectly sane man who was simply unable to speak or see
because he was possessed with an evil spirit, "Then was brought
unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he
healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and
saw."

A person cannot be fully controlled by a demon: Luke 8:29,

"For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of
him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he
was shackled with chains, he simply broke them and rushed out
into the wilderness, completely under the demon's power ." (NLT)

Believers can't be possessed: This is completely untrue, and has

absolutely no scriptural backing. This is such a popular and
destructive myth, that there are a few teachings that address this
subject in more detail: Can a Christian have a Demon?, Deliverance
is for Believers and The Daughter of Abraham.

Deliverance is about casting out demons... nothing

more: This is also untrue. There's also strongholds and legal
grounds that need to be addressed in many deliverance sessions.
Matthew 12:22 shows us where Jesus healed the demon possessed
man, "Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil,
blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and
dumb both spake and saw." The term healed here in NT Greek also
includes freeing a person from errors (strongholds) and sins (legal
rights). In Luke 9:42, we find another instance where Jesus both
rebuked a demon(s), and 'healed' (Greek word iaomai which means
to make whole or restore) a boy who wasn't said to have any need
for physical healing (which is addressed with the Greek word
therapeuo. - not the same as iaomai) the boy: "And as he was yet
a coming, the devil threw him down, and tore him. And
Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed (NT Greek word
iaomai) the child , and delivered him again to his father."

Demons only cause mental problems, never physical:  Wrong

again. There are many cases of demonic physical infirmities. One
good example is the woman with the spirit of infirmity in Luke
13:11, "And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of
infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no
wise lift up herself." Later on in Luke 13, Jesus tells us that she
was bound by Satan, clearly making her situation demonic. There's
also stories such as Mark 9:25, "When Jesus saw that the people
came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him,
Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and
enter no more into him."

All demons are the same: Some spirits are stronger and harder
to drive out, therefore Jesus said in Mark 9:29 that "This kind can
come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting." There's also
different spirits that cause different kinds of problems in a persons
life, some affecting the person physically (Luke 13:11), while
others mentally (Luke 8:27-36).

All demons manifest when they leave: This is also untrue. The

woman who was bound and crippled by a spirit of infirmity in Luke
13:11 showed no manifestations as the demon left her.

A demonic manifestation is a sign of a successful

deliverance: This is not true because I know that during a
deliverance, if it's not done correctly, the person can manifest
demons, and the demons just quite down and remain in the person.
If the bondage remains, then keep going after the demons, because
they are known to poke their head out and just go back into
'hiding' in the person. Acts 19:13-16 tells us of a story where some
non-believers tried to cast out a demon (which is dangerous), but it
manifested and stripped the men naked, beat them and they went
running out of the house naked and wounded. Obviously a demon
can manifest without actually coming out. I know of times when
even a believer tried to cast out a demon and it manifested but
didn't budge. It didn't cause any harm like the story in the Bible
with the non-believers (non-believer should never attempt a
deliverance like that), but still it didn't come out even after
manifesting.

If a demon manifests and refuses to budge, there's often a reason

why he's holding on, it could be a stronghold or a legal right, but
either way I recommend trying to figure it out (you could ask the
demon how he entered, what he's holding onto in that person's life
or stop and counsel with the person about it, and of course it's
always a good idea to ask God to reveal the root of the problem)
and get any roadblocks removed, then proceed to cast him out.

Only certain people can cast out demons: I think Mark

16:15,17 exposes this myth fairly easy: "And he said unto them,
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature...
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall
they cast out devils..."

Demons leave people the moment they accept Christ: There is

no scriptural backing to this theory either. If they auto-shed their
demons at the time of salvation, then what would be the point in
casting out demons at all? Just lead people to Christ, and their
demon problems would be automatically handled.

Deliverance is a one-time 5 second experience: Some people

can go in for a deliverance and come out completely free, while
others may need to engage some offensive spiritual warfare and
tear down strongholds in their minds or break up legal grounds
before they can be completely liberated. Complete deliverance is
often more then a 10 minute task, but it's well worth it! In Acts
10:38, we are told that Jesus went about "healing all that were
oppressed of the devil." The word heal here refers to making a
person whole, which includes the casting out of demons, the
releasing from sins (legal grounds), and errors (strongholds). There
were times when Jesus rebuked or cast out a demon, and it is said
that He 'healed' them (Luke 8:29, 36 & Luke 9:42). Healing here is
not referring to a mere physical level but a restoration of the
person's body and/or soul (mind) and includes expelling demons.
Jesus was able to bring about complete freedom in a person's life
rather quickly, because He understood what the root of their
problem was, and was able to get right to the point. Many
deliverance ministers, unless the Lord gives them a word of
knowledge, they can spend hours trying to get to the root of a
person's problem. It doesn't mean the minister isn't worth his
weight in gold, it just means it takes more time and understanding
to figure things out in that particular person's life. I have seen a
LOT of people set free through this ministry, and in my own life it
wasn't a quick and easy 5 second deal, but I can tell you this... it's
WELL worth the hassle!! The freedom a person comes into through
a complete deliverance is absolutely priceless and often life-
changing!

Breaking our hedge (Defilement explained)

Understanding how demons enter helps us identify how and where

our bondage(s) started, and helps us guard ourselves against
opening any doors in our lives to the enemy. This teaching takes a
closer look at defilement, perhaps the #1 door to demonic
bondage. Biblical demonology is a great topic to understand,
because it reveals to Satan's devices by which he gains access into
our lives. Paul was well aware of Satan's devices, as he states in 1
Corinthians 2:11, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for
we are not ignorant of his devices."

The purpose of this teaching is not to list all the ways by which we
can be defiled, but to give you a general idea of how defilement
can open a person up for demonic bondage.

Breaking the hedge

Ecclesiastes 10:8, "He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it;
and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him ." There is a
natural hedge of protection around God's people (Job 1:10), but if
there's a hole punched in that hedge, it is an open door to the
enemy and we can get bitten by serpents (evil spirits). Look at
what happened to Job when the hedge around him was removed!
Demons affected many things in his life, including his body... which
was covered with sores that were caused by demonic spirits!

The first thing that people try to tell me about this verse, is that
it's a physical snake and not a spiritual snake. This is as silly as
saying that the Bible is a gardening and home improvement book.
Here are some very good reasons to believe that this is a spiritual
snake:

- If you look at the first part of this verse, it tells us that if you dig
a pit, you'll fall into it (which in the physical realm is RARELY true).
The first part of Proverbs 26:27 also tells us this, "Whoso diggeth a
pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon
him." Not only does the second half of this verse in Proverbs make
no sense in the physical realm, but the contextual verses give a
100% spiritual context to what is being said. Verse 26 tells us,
"Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed
before the whole congregation." and verse 28 tells us, "A lying
tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth
worketh ruin." There's no way you can tell me the context of this
verse isn't spiritual.

- This "digging a pit" concept is also covered in Psalms 7:15-16,

"He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he
made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent
dealing shall come down upon his own pate." This verse is very
clear that it is talking about spiritual mischief, not physical things.

- If we go back to Ecclesiastes 10 and look at verse 5, it tells us,

"There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error
which proceedeth from the ruler:" This is obviously not speaking of
the physical realm but the spiritual realm.

- In verse 9 (the following verse), it tells us that if you remove

stones, you'll get hurt. Physically speaking, this is untrue roughly
99.99% of the time. Apparently, it's not speaking of the physical
realm at all here: "Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith."

- Verse 11 doesn't tell us that the serpent 'may' bite us, it says
that it WILL bite us without enchantment: "Surely the serpent will
bite without enchantment." If it were a physical snake, then how
can the Bible make such a statement when it would be untrue 99%
of the time? For one thing, many times when people tear down old
walls, there are no snakes there at all!

- If this were a physical snake, then is the Bible warning us not to

tear down any hedges because snakes WILL bite us? How does the
Bible know that we will be bitten? Many times when people break
hedges, there are no snakes even there to bite anybody at all!

- This verse is not telling us to be careful not to get bitten, it is

telling us that if we tear down a hedge, we WILL be bitten. In other
words, it's telling us NOT to break down hedges!

The Bible isn't a home improvement book, it's a spiritual guidebook

that tells us how to live our lives for the glory of God. It makes no
sense to claim that our Bible is warning us not to tear down
physical hedges because we are going to be bitten by physical
snakes. The context of this verse makes it very clear that it is
speaking of spiritual serpents.

Defilement: A door for the devil

The Greek and Hebrew both agree that the term defiled means to
be made unclean or polluted. If you cut your hand, and let it get
dirty (defiled), it would make you vulnerable to infection, wouldn't
it? In the spiritual realm, the same is true, except the germs are
spiritual (unclean spirits).
Defilement linked with giving Satan an advantage:  2
Corinthians 2:10-11 tells us, "To whom ye forgive any thing, I
forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for
your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should
get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." In
a nutshell, it's telling us that through unforgiveness, Satan (who
operates through demon spirits) is given an advantage over us .
Hebrews 12:14-15 tells us that many are defiled through
bitterness, which is the fruit of unforgiveness: Hebrews 12:14-15,
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man
shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace
of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and
thereby many be defiled;" Unforgiveness (which produces
bitterness) is known to both defile a man, and give Satan
advantage in our lives. Matthew 18:23-35 also tells us that if we
are unforgiving, we will be turned over into the hands of the
tormenters (demons).

Some examples of defilement

Seeking others with occult power: We are told not to seek out
those with familiar spirits, or we can become defiled by them in
Leviticus 19:31, "Regard not them that have familiar spirits,
neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD
your God." Seeking demonic knowledge or power whether directly
or through somebody else (a medium, etc.) is grounds for
defilement.

Idol worship: Ezekiel 20:7, "Then said I unto them, Cast ye away

every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves
with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." Ezekiel 22:4 also
tells us, "Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed;
and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made..."

Cursed objects: The Bible is clear that physical objects can be

cursed, and that bringing such a cursed object in your home can
bring a curse upon you as well. Deuteronomy 7:26, "Neither shalt
thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed
thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly
abhor it; for it is a cursed thing." (The context of this passage is
speaking of idols, which are known to defile a man.)
Bestiality (sex with animals): Leviticus 18:23, "Neither shalt
thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any
woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion."

Sex outside the scope of Godly marriage (fornication,

adultery, homosexuality, etc.): Genesis 34:2, "And when
Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw
her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her." Matthew
15:19-20 clearly agrees that sins such as fornication and adultery
are things which defile a person. 1 Timothy 1:10 tells us that
homosexuality can defile a man, "For whoremongers, for them that
defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for
perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to
sound doctrine."

The power of the tongue: Proverbs 18:21 tells us that the power

of life and death is in the tongue, "Death and life are in the power
of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Our
spoken word has the power to bring salvation (Romans 10:9), bless
others (Genesis 14:19 and James 3:10) and curse (Genesis 9:25
and James 3:10). James 3:6 clearly tells us that the tongue is
capable of defiling the whole body, "And the tongue is a fire, a
world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it
defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature;
and it is set on fire of hell." Matthew 15:11 also warns us that the
tongue is capable of defiling us, "Not that which goeth into the
mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this
defileth a man."

Land and homes can become defiled

It's Biblical for land and property to become defiled just as people
can become defiled. Property, homes and land can be defiled
through the sins of it's inhabitants. Isaiah 24:5 tells us that, "The
earth (land) also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because
they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken
the everlasting covenant." Leviticus 18:25 also tells us that land
can become defiled, "And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit
the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her
inhabitants." Jeremiah 3:9 is an example of somebody defiling the
land through adultery, "And it came to pass through the lightness
of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery
with stones and with stocks."
The solution to defilement

How can a person become clean again? When they turn from

their wicked ways, repent of their sins and turn to Jesus, 1 John
1:7 tells us that, "...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son  cleanseth
us  from all sin." 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to  cleanse us  from all
unrighteousness." If you have physical objects that are cursed, it is
important to get rid of them. In Deuteronomy 7:25 it speaks of
burning idols (cursed objects) with fire (which completely destroys
them), "The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire."
and Acts 19:19 tells us of new converts who came out of the occult
and burned their demonic books, "Many of them also which used
curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before
all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty
thousand pieces of silver." Another verse is Micah 1:7, "And all the
graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires
thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I
lay desolate..." Another thing that may need to be addressed is
remaining ungodly soul ties; if there was sexual immortality in your
past, then ungodly soul ties should be broken as well. The teaching
on Soul Ties  will walk you through this.

When we involve ourselves in things that defile us, it gives the

devil advantage in our lives; it gives him access into our lives. If
we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John
1:9), but if we have picked up demons between the time we defile
ourself and the time we repent (become clean), those demons
usually remain and must be driven out.

We may be clean, but unwelcome guests (evil spirits) may still

need to be told to leave. Let's say that you lived in an apartment
and had a roommate, but one day you chose to have the place to
yourself, so you started paying the full rent for your apartment (so
you have full legal rights to live there alone), but where your
problem lies is that your stubborn roommate (who no longer has a
legal right to live there) refuses to leave. The same principal
applies in the spiritual realm when dealing with demons. This is
why Jesus gave us authority over demon spirits to cast them out. If
they left on their own, there would be no need to cast out demons!
But Jesus made it clear that them who believe will be casting out
demons (Mark 16:17).
The Lord showed me something... if demons left automatically
when their legal grounds were removed, why didn't Jesus simply
tell those who were possessed with demons that their sins were
forgiven, as He did with others? Instead He rebuked demons and
commanded them to come out and they often made a big scene
when they came out! Wouldn't it be easier to tell them that their
sins were forgiven? One time Jesus even said, "For whether is
easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and
walk?" (Matthew 9:5) If you ask me, it would be a LOT easier to
say "thy sins be forgiven", than to rebuke demons and have them
throw the person to the ground, foam at the mouth, scream to the
top of a person's lungs, etc. There's a clear purpose in casting out
demons, and Jesus' life here on earth was an example for us to
learn from (John 14:12, "He that believeth on me, the works that I
do shall he do also."), and a large part of His ministry was casting
out demons.

Generational Curses

Have you ever seen a family where the father has a problem with
uncontrollable anger, his son seems to have been 'handed it', and
the grandpa had the same problem? Or have you noticed that not
only do you suffer from something such as persistent irrational
fears or depression, but your mother and her father also suffered
from it as well? There are many people today who are living under
bondage that the sins of their forefathers has brought them under.

Exodus 34:7, "Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and

transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty;
visiting (punishing) the iniquity of the fathers upon the children,
and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth
generation."

Lamentations 5:7, "Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we
have borne (been punished for) their iniquities."
This is beyond learned behavior; many children learn to be messy if
their parents are messy. This is a spiritual bondage that is passed
down from one generation to another. Some symptoms of a
generational curse is a continual negative pattern of something
being handed down from generation to generation. Often people
who are adopted end up with the same characteristics as their birth
parents, not because they were around their birth parents to learn
how they behaved, but because they inherited their spiritual
bondage. Some common symptoms of generational curses are
family illnesses that seem to just walk from one person down to the
next (cancer is a common physical manifestation of a spiritual
bondage), continual financial difficulties (they continually hit
roadblocks in their finances), mental problems, persistent irrational
fears and depression. Anything that seems to be a persistent
struggle or problem that was handed down from one generation to
another may very well be a generational curse.

The purpose of a generational curse

I believe the reason God would punish the future generations with
the sins of their fathers, is because of God's bitter hatred for sin.
He would require somebody who practiced witchcraft to be put to
death (Exodus 22:18). He knows that one of the most prized
possessions you have, is your children, and therefore it makes sin a
lot harder to commit when you realize that you are not the only
one that is being punished for it, but also your own children are
going to pay the price for your foolishness. That's what I believe is
the reason behind generational curses. The whole human race fell
thanks to Adam's sin for that matter.

The price for generational curses has been paid!

The good news is that once you accept Jesus, the transference of
bondage stops from your ancestors by means of generational
curses. You can no longer receive spiritual bondages in this manner
from your parents once you accept Jesus!

Christ was made a curse, so we can be freed from the curses that
sin (both our sins and those of our forefathers) has brought us.
Galatians 3:13, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the
law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every
one that hangeth on a tree:"
Once you become a child of God, no longer will the sins of your
forefathers cause curses to transfer into your life: Jeremiah 31:29-
30, "In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten
a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. But every
one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour
grape, his teeth shall be set on edge."

So why are there so many believers who seem to be living under a

generational curse? This has puzzled me before I understood how it
works too. What may need to be dealt with though, is any bondage
that was already passed down to you before you came into
covenant with God. The legal grounds are certainly paid for on the
cross and therefore broken. The only thing left to do is cast out any
spirits that have gained entrance before you accepted Jesus.

Non-believers are still affected

Even after Jeremiah 31:29-30 makes it clear that believers are

redeemed from generational curses, the next chapter in Jeremiah
(32:18) clearly says, "Thou shewest lovingkindness unto
thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the
bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the
LORD of hosts, is his name." Apparently, generational curses are
still in effect, but for who is the big question.

Ezekiel 18:2-3 tells us, "What mean ye, that ye use this proverb
concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour
grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith
the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this
proverb in Israel." (Note the keywords "in Israel"... this is referring
to those who are in covenant with God, which are us believers, not
the rest of the world.)

Obviously, generational curses are alive and well in the lives of

those who are outside the new covenant with God (non-believers).

'Triggering' the effects of a generational curse

It is possible for demons to enter a child before he accepts Jesus,

then remain dormant or hidden in that child's life until some time
later in his or her life when it manifests (or makes itself known).
Sometimes when a person heads for the ministry, it seems like the
devil kicks up his ugly heels and causes havoc for that person.
Other times, a line of fear runs in the family tree, but isn't
manifested in a person's life until they get themselves involved in
something fearful, such as watching a demonic movie. All of a
sudden, the spirits in that person's life "come alive" so to speak,
and make themselves known. They were there all along, but just
now they have come out into the open. The solution is to cast them
out.

If you have involved yourself in any sin or opened any doors in

your own life while 'awaking' or triggering the spirits, then it's
important that you clear up any legal grounds (or strongholds) that
you gave the enemy in your own life relating to the bondage. For
example, if you have went to see a demonic movie, and it seemed
to have triggered spirits of fear in your life that were handed down
to you, then it's important to repent for going to see such a movie
before trying to cast out any spirits. It's also possible that you
picked up the spirits from such a movie without them even being
there in the first place, and/or added to spirits that were already
inside you. It's always a good idea to clear up any legal grounds or
strongholds in your own life before casting spirits out.

I believe unforgiveness is a great way to 'trigger' generational

spirits, so I would be on the lookout for any bitterness or
unforgiveness in your heart as well. A common sight is when a
spirit of cancer is running down the family tree, and I believe
bitterness is a great way to trigger those spirits. Unforgiveness is a
serious sin that blocks the forgiveness of your own sins (Matthew
6:15), which creates ample legal grounds for the enemy in your
life. Unforgiveness in itself puts us into the enemy's hands
(Matthew 18:23-35), say nothing about awaking any evil spirits in
us already!

The curse may be canceled, but the demons may remain

Just as other demons don't automatically leave at the time of

salvation... neither do the demons that you get from your
ancestors automatically leave you either.

Let's say that you accept Jesus at age 15. Because you were born a
sinner and outside of God's covenant, you were still living under
the curses handed down to you and demons can enter you through
those curses. Once you've accepted Jesus, those curses are broken
automatically, but often the demons that entered in before you
accepted Jesus still need to be cast out. In other words, the curse
is already broken, and there's no need for you to break any
generational curses. But the demons who entered into you through
those curses before you accepted Jesus may still need to be cast
out. That's why it seems so many believers are living under
generational curses, when the Bible makes it clear that we have
been freed from any curses handed down from our forefathers!

My parents have almost perfect health well into their 60's, while it
seems the family tree has many health problems that have been
handed down from the forefathers. My parents seem almost
immune from the health problems in the family tree! Sure, they
take care of their bodies, but they also believe that they have been
freed from the curses handed down in the family tree, and since no
demons have entered them to take advantage of those old curses,
they were freed from the effects simply by standing on what Jesus
had done for them on the cross!

On the other hand, if demons have entered you through curses

handed down to you before you became a Christian, then those
demons may need to be cast out. Demons often don't leave on
their own accord, and when they don't, the remedy to get rid of
them is by casting them out.

There's a neat story in Mark 9:17-27, where Jesus deals with what
is almost certainly a generational curse (verse 21). Notice that
Jesus didn't have the boy confess the sins or iniquities of his
ancestors, He cast out the demons that entered in through the
curse. That's how I believe we are to deal with the affects of a
generational curse; since the curse has been broken, all there is
left to do is just cast the demons out that entered into that
person's life back before they became a Christian (before the curse
was broken).

Confess what is rightfully yours!

We know that our generational curses have been broken in Jesus'

name, but I still like to verbally confess what is going on and what
is rightfully ours anyways, because there's power in our verbal
confessions, and helps us to realize that we are set free, and also
lets the enemy know that he's in trouble! Here's a great sample
confession prayer you can use to do just that:

In the name of Jesus, I confess the sins and iniquities of my

parents (name specific sins if known), grandparents (name specific
sins if known), and all other ancestors. I declare that by the blood
of Jesus, these sins have been forgiven and Satan and his demons
can no longer use these sins as legal grounds in my life!

In the name of Jesus, and by the power of His blood, I now declare
that all generational curses have been renounced, broken and
severed, and that I am no longer under their bondage!

In the name of Jesus, I declare myself and my future generations

loosed from any bondages passed down to me from my ancestors.
AMEN!

Another factor to consider

There are other things that can 'seem' like generational curses, but
aren't. Perhaps the most common is if there is an ungodly soul tie
formed between you and one of your ancestors, that can also allow
for the transferring of spirits. There is more to learn on this subject
in the teaching on Soul Ties .

Ignorance: Another source of bondage!

I also believe that some people can live under what SEEMS like a
generational curse, simply because they believe it's still in affect!
We need to know that it is NO LONGER in affect, and we have been
FREED from any generational curses we used to live under! Jesus
makes it very clear that we can be held in bondage to sin through
ignorance (John 8:31-36), and I believe the same is true with
bondage to generational curses.

In a nutshell

To wrap it up in a nutshell, I don't believe Christians can live under

generational curses... but I do believe they can be affected by
spirits that have entered through those curses before they accepted
Jesus. Just like many people's past actions before they came to
Christ have landed them in demonic bondage and caused them to
pick up demons. Those demons are not automatically shed at the
time of salvation, they often need to be cast out. The same is true
with demons that enter in through generational curses (a doorway
to demons).

How you deal with a spirit that has entered through a generational
curse is very simple: Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow
them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils..." Learn
of the Spiritual Authority  that Jesus has given you over demon
spirits, and by faith, you can command those spirits to leave you in
Jesus' name! If you can't seem to get them out, try prayer and
fasting, as Jesus clearly stated, some demons won't come out
unless you have a higher level of faith that only prayer and fasting
can bring you into (Matthew 17:19-21). If you are facing heavier
bondages, it is recommended to seek deliverance through a man or
woman of God who is knowledgeable and working in the ministry of
deliverance. Before seeking out a deliverance through another
person or minister, I recommend reading the teaching on  Seeking a
Deliverance .

Another type of generational curse

The type of curses handed down as a result of an ancestors sin is

automatically atoned for on the cross, providing we don't hide the
sins of our forefathers in our hearts (holding sin in our hearts is
never a good idea - whether its ours of the sins of our ancestors).
But there's another kind of generational curse that is handed down,
and it's a spoken curse that takes a toll on future generations as
well. We can see this kind of curse in action in Genesis 9:24-25,
"And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son
had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of
servants shall he be unto his brethren." As the Bible goes on to
say, this curse ended up affecting an entire nation! I believe these
kinds of curses may need to be renounced and broken. If you are
unsure of whether a curse should be broken, I recommend breaking
it anyways, just so you know it's broken. It doesn't hurt to break a
curse that's already been broken. Here's a sample prayer you can
pray that you can use to break yourself free from spoken
generational curses:

In the name of Jesus, and by the power of His blood, I now

renounce, break and sever all curses that have been handed down
to me from my ancestors. In the name of Jesus, I now loose myself
and my future generations from any bondages passed down to me
from my ancestors!

Again, if a curse has landed on you and has been broken, it still
doesn't mean you are delivered from the spirits that entered in
through that curse. You may still need further deliverance to have
the spirits cast out that took advantage of the curses handed to
you.
The Daughter of Abraham

In Luke 13, there's a story of a daughter of Abraham, who was

more then a mere physical Jew, but a full blown believer who was
bound by Satan and had a spirit (demon) of infirmity. This is one of
my favorite stories in the Bible where a believer is delivered from
demonic bondage.

Luke 13:10-16, "And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on

the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of
infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no
wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him,
and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made
straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue
answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the
sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which
men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not
on the sabbath day. The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou
hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or
his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought
not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath
bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the
sabbath day?"

Was she a true believer?

This I believe is made clear by the way to which Jesus handled both
physical Jews and spiritual Jews. Jesus openly rebuked the
Pharisees (who were physical Jews) and made it clear that their
father was not Abraham. Then Jesus took somebody who was most
likely not a physical Jew at all (Zaccheus, who was an established
resident of Jericho with a high ranking governmental position), and
said very clearly that he was a child of Abraham because he
believed upon Jesus (Luke 19:9). Romans 2:28-29 also makes it
clear who a child of Abraham really is, "For you are not a true Jew
just because you were born of Jewish parents  or because you have
gone through the Jewish ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew
is one whose heart is right with God.  And true circumcision is not a
cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God's Spirit.
Whoever has that kind of change seeks praise from God, not from
people." (NLT)
In John 8 verses 37 and 56 you'll find the ONLY two times where
Jesus did refer to mere physical Jews (the Pharisees) as seed or
children of Abraham, but in the same breath, He was making it
very clear that they were not true children of Abraham, only
physical Jews, which meant absolutely nothing to Jesus (John 8:39-
40)! Clearly, the one day Jesus did call them 'seed or children of
Abraham', it was a mere rebuke for being physical descendants of
Abraham and not true children of Abraham. Jesus made it very
clear that simply being a physical Jew was NOT enough to be called
a child of Abraham (John 8:39-40). Even John the Baptist made it
very clear that physical Jews are not necessarily children of
Abraham (Matthew 3:9 & Luke 3:8).

John 8:39, "They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our
father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye
would do the works of Abraham ." (Jesus was speaking to non-
believing physical Jews here when He said this.)

After Jesus said that, I would expect every person that Jesus
considered a child of Abraham to be doing the works of Abraham
(which was believing God - Romans 4:3)! Outside of John 8 (where
Jesus let them know that they were only physical Jews), Jesus
never even used the term "child of Abraham" without the person
being a full blown believer.

A challenge for the critics: Whenever somebody refuses to

accept the fact that she was a true daughter of Abraham (a
believer), I ask them to explain what Jesus meant when He said
what He did in John 8:39, "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would
do the works of Abraham." In other words, Jesus made it very clear
that being a mere physical Jew does not make you a child of
Abraham. Throughout the rest of the four gospels, Jesus never
considered anybody a child of Abraham unless they were an
obvious believer.

Did she indeed have a demonic bondage?

If she wasn't affected by a demon, then what was it? It says she
had a "spirit" of infirmity, and she was "bound by Satan". If this
doesn't indicate a demonic bondage, I don't know what does. Satan
himself is only one demon, and he can't be everywhere at once, so
he works through a network of demons to carry out his tasks.
Therefore if somebody is said to be bound by Satan, it's clear that
one of Satan's workers is involved. Therefore it is obvious that she
was in demonic bondage.

In the NT Greek, the phrase 'possessed with a demon' means to be

under the power of a demon or to have a demon. Clearly when it
says she was bound by Satan, it refers to her being under his
power. In Matthew 12:22, there's a story of a man who had a spirit
which caused a different kind of physical infirmity. With the
daughter of Abraham, it was keeping her from standing up, but in
this man's situation, it was keeping him from seeing or talking (he
had a blind and dumb spirit). In this passage in Matthew, it states
clearly that Jesus healed (made whole) the man who was said to be
"possessed with a devil".

Why didn't Jesus 'cast the demon out'? Not every deliverance

was handled the same way in the Bible. Sometimes Jesus would
command the spirit to come out (Mark 5:8), but other times He
would simply rebuke the spirit (Matthew 17:18), then there's times
when He was said to have 'healed' those who were possessed
(Matthew 12:22), and in this case, Jesus spoke "be loosed from
thine infirmity!" Paul was even praying over prayer clothes and
when they touched those possessed with demons, the demons
came out of them! So there's a variety of ways which demons were
driven out in the Bible. But one thing is for sure, she was bound (in
bondage, or under the power of) by a demon, and she was released
(loosed) from it and she was made whole!

A challenge for the critics: As Luke 13:10 puts it, "There was a
woman which had a spirit (demon) of infirmity." And Luke 13:16
says, "Whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed
from this bond on the sabbath day?" How can you say she didn't
have a demon when the Bible says it right before our eyes? You can
get some pretty desperate and silly arguments like this from folks
who try to twist God's Word to make it suit their fancy!

In a nutshell

How do we know this woman was a believer?  Jesus made it

VERY clear that merely being a physical Jew was NOT enough to be
a child of Abraham in John 8:39. Jesus NEVER considered
somebody a true child of Abraham unless they were an obvious
believer (like Zaccheus).
How do we know she had a demonic bondage? As Luke
13:11,16 puts it, "Behold, there was a woman which had a  spirit of
infirmity  eighteen years... whom Satan hath bound , lo, these
eighteen years, be loosed from this bond  on the sabbath day?"

The atmosphere of this deliverance

I would also like to point out the atmosphere in which she was
delivered. This woman was a churchgoer, she was there in church
listening to Jesus teach on the Sabbath, but when He saw her, He
stopped what He was doing, and He called her up front where He
was teaching and as He laid His hands on her, she was set free and
made whole, right before the whole congregation! In a tone of
honor Jesus said that she was a daughter of Abraham. She was
much more then a mere physical Jew in Jesus' eyes... He
considered her worthy to be called a 'child of Abraham'!

Self-Deliverance

Preparations and precautions

This is a basic step by step outline of how to go about a self

deliverance. This is not a complete set of instructions that will work
for everybody, and if you need to be freed from heavier bondages,
you may be better off consulting with an actual deliverance
minister if you are able to locate one. These instructions will give
you a good idea of how to drive demons out of yourself. It is
recommended that you read up further on this subject before
attempting to run yourself through a deliverance.

The limits of self-deliverance: Self deliverance is very helpful in

many situations where a deliverance minister isn't available to
minister to you, and you can be set free from many bondages
simply by running yourself through a self deliverance. However, it
can be limited if compared to a regular deliverance session.
Precaution: If you have come out of heavy or active involvement
in the occult or Satanism, you would be better off seeing somebody
else to minister deliverance to you (an experienced deliverance
minister), because the demons encountered in those situations are
usually much stronger, and are best off handled by somebody else.

If you begin to feel like you are losing control as a demon

manifests, then stop, and seek help from an experienced
deliverance minister.

Pre-deliverance prayer: As with any deliverance, it is good to

pray that the Holy Spirit will show you what the roots to the
problem are, and what needs to be done. Pray for His continual
guidance and strength during the deliverance session. It is often
helpful to ask God to send angels to assist in the deliverance. They
can play a powerful role in helping you flush the demons out.

Warning to non-believers: Deliverance is for believers (Matthew

15:22-28), and is not fit for unbelievers (those who are outside the
covenant). If you aren't a Christian, I wouldn't even attempt a
deliverance, because it's like stirring up a hornet's nest. First
accept Jesus, then seek deliverance. This way, you can prevent the
demons from returning with several more even worse evil spirits as
Jesus warns in Matthew 12:43-45. If you aren't a believer, I
wouldn't even try to cast a demon out of anybody; as we can see in
Acts 19:13-16, it's not wise to cast demons out if you aren't a child
of God! They did not have authority in Jesus because they were
unbelievers and 7 men got thrown out of the house naked and
beaten by the demon. As you can see, it's not wise or safe to
attempt a deliverance without Jesus in your life!

Prayer and fasting: Prayer and fasting always helps in preparing

you for a deliverance. Jesus said that some kinds of demons will
only come fourth through prayer and fasting. Prayer and fasting
builds your faith to the higher levels that is required to cast some
demons out.

1. Knowing what is rightfully yours

If you don't believe what is rightfully yours, it's going to be hard to

claim it. Some of the things you need to have down pat are
knowing that your sins are forgiven, knowing that you are a child of
God, and knowing that you have authority over the demons.
You need to understand who you are in Christ.  This sounds
simple, and is often overlooked, but is VITAL to your deliverance. If
you don't really believe you are who you are, then you won't have
the faith to stand on who you are and claim what is rightfully
yours. If you don't really know that your a child of King, you won't
feel like a prince, and you won't act like a prince. And how are you
supposed to defeat the enemy when you don't think like a child of
God should think? If you struggle with this, you need to tear down
one or more strongholds.

You need to know that your sins are forgiven.  If you have guilt
hanging over your head, then it will greatly hinder your ability to
stand up to the enemy with a clear conscience and stand up for
what is rightfully yours. Guilt is a door opener and keeper, and the
enemy often uses it as a base to launch all sorts of attacks against
God's children. You need to understand the nature of God, and how
freely Jesus wants to forgive you of ALL your sins. Luke 7:47 is one
of my favorite verses the Lord showed me one time when I needed
to learn this principal. It tells of how freely Jesus forgave a very
sinful woman from all her sins without hesitation! Another good
story on the forgiveness of our sins when we turn to God in
repentance is found in Luke 15. If you struggle with obsessive guilt
even after repenting of your sins and turning from them, then you
need to tear down one or more strongholds.

You need to have a correct perception of God and your

relationship with Him. If you see God incorrectly, your going to
be an easy target for the enemy. If you see God as a cruel
taskmaster, you'll act like He's a cruel taskmaster, and you will put
up walls that will block you from feeling God's love. Furthermore,
the enemy moves in with the power of suggestion (little things he
whispers into your thought-life), and can terrorize the daylights out
of you. If you think of anybody (husband, wife, boss, etc.) as a
cruel mean taskmaster, it puts up a wall and you see that person
differently, don't you? Even though you could be completely wrong
in your perception of them, to you, they are a taskmaster in your
eyes, and therefore you shut them out of your heart. This is what
we do to God when we see Him as a cruel and distant taskmaster.
We cut ourselves off from experiencing and feeling His love. If you
don't feel God loves you, then you need to back up and take a
moment to review how you are perceiving Him. Many people
struggle with this, and it is a stronghold that needs to be torn
down.
You need to know the authority you have been given by God
over the enemy. You, as a believer, have been given authority
over all powers of the enemy, and have been given the authority to
bind and loose in the spiritual realm. You exercise your authority
through a spoken word in faith, just as Jesus cast demons out with
His word, you can also cast demons out with your word, which is
backed by the authority that Jesus gave us as believers. You have
the authority whether your feel like it not, as long as you are a
believer. It is important to know that that your authority is
accessed through faith, and therefore the more you believe in your
authority, the more of it you will be able to exercise. Mark 16:17
tells us that them who believe will be casting out demons in His
name! There's a great teaching just on your Spiritual Authority  that
you may want to check out.

As I mentioned above several times, there's often the need to tear

down strongholds in our lives. There's an excellent teaching just
on Strongholds that you may want to go through before attempting
a self-deliverance if you sense that there's any strongholds that
need to be torn down.

2. Find the open doors and break off any legal grounds

I believe this is one of the most important parts of the deliverance

process. It is important to find out what opened the door to the
enemy, so that we can close it and void their legal right to bother
us. There are a number of ways he can gain access, through sins,
ancestral sins (which causes ancestral curses), unforgiving heart
(which blocks God's forgiveness toward us), dabbling in the occult,
demonic vows, fear, etc. Rather then including a more complete list
in this outline, there is a whole separate teaching just on  Legal
Rights , and how to go about breaking them up.

3. Identify the areas of bondage in your life

It's important to know what areas of your life are in bondage, and
an good idea of exactly what you are seeking to be set free from.
Make a list of the things you want to be freed from. Know exactly
what you want to be set free from. Then try to identify the 'open
door' that allowed the enemy to move into that area of your life.
When did it start? If you had it your entire life, and your parents or
grandparents struggled with the same or similar problem, then it
was likely generational. Often you can locate what opened up the
bondage, if you look back around the time in your life when it
started. It's always a good idea to become familiar with the various
ways the enemy can gain access into our lives. A good
understanding of Legal Rights  and Strongholds  is always helpful.
There is a Deliverance Questionnaire  posted on this site to help
knowledgeable ministers identify areas of bondage in a person's
life. This can be helpful to even an unexperienced person who has a
general understanding of legal rights and strongholds.

It's always a good idea to make some lists pertaining to your

bondage. A list of legal rights is good, and can help you keep track
as you are going through the list and breaking up those legal
grounds. A list of the areas of bondage in your life is always a good
idea. A list of strongholds is also a good idea to keep track of. If
you need further deliverance from another minister or need more
deliverance in the future (not all bondages are broken in one
session - it often takes multiple sessions to completely set a person
free), it can be very helpful to keep track of what is going on. If
you seek further ministering from an experienced minister,
presenting those lists to him or her can give them a good quick
look into your situation and can save them time trying to uncover
the areas of bondage in your life.

4. Casting the demons out

Take authority over the demon spirits within you by issuing a

command such as, "In the name of Jesus, I now take authority over
every evil spirit present within me, and I command each and every
one to submit to the authority invested in me by Jesus Christ!"

If you can address the demons by name (lust, anger, suicide, hate,
fear, etc.) you will often find them submitting to your authority
easier because it makes it harder on them to write you off as if you
weren't talking to them. If somebody yelled "hey you!" in a crowd,
you probably wouldn't pay any attention to them, but if they yelled
out your name, you would be a lot quicker to respond. The same is
true with demons, if you address them by name, they are a lot
easier to get their attention. Notice how many times Jesus
addressed the demons by name, such as deaf and dumb spirits,
etc.

Not every deliverance session requires you to refer to the demons

by name, but it sure helps when you are able to get ahold of their
names, either through remembering your previous involvement
with evil spirits (if you accepted a spirit guide by the name of
Daemon, then obviously Daemon needs to go), another way to get
the name is by the symptoms they are causing, for example,
extreme guilt feelings are often caused by a spirit by the name of
guilt, and other ways to get their names are by a word of
knowledge from the Holy Spirit, or from the demons themselves
(ask them for their name and listen for their response).

If I have a demon's name handy, I often like to use it. If not, I just
proceed without it.

Using your authority in Jesus, command the evil spirits (by name if
possible) to come out of you in Jesus' name! Don't be alarmed if
you find yourself throwing up all of a sudden, or coughing
uncontrollably, screaming, etc. It's a good sign, it usually means
they are on their way out! If you want to minimize manifestations,
you can forbid them to manifest in Jesus' name. I usually like them
to manifest, because it exposes them even more, and somehow
weakens their power and 'cocky attitude' when they are hauled out
in the open where you can recognize them.

5. Encountering groupings of demons

Demons often work in teams, and if you identify the strongman, it

will help you in figuring out their game plan, and give you a better
idea of how to go about casting out certain demons first and
unraveling their scheme. This is important, because this strongman
is usually the big guy that you are going after. Once you cast him
out, the lesser demons usually follow suite much easier. However,
sometimes it's better to cast out the lesser demons, and then deal
with their leader after they are all gone and he can no longer play
games or hide behind them.

Since demons communicate with other demons both within and

outside of you, I like to forbid and shut down their communication
between each other. I like to issue a command like this, "I now
shut down and forbid all lines of communication between the evil
spirits within me, between themselves, and with those outside of
me in Jesus' name!"

6. Binding and loosing

Binding is a temporary spiritual handcuffing. If you get worn out

and need to continue a deliverance the next day, you could simply
bind the remaining demons, and continue the deliverance later on.
Binding is also helpful when ministering to somebody else. You can
bind and forbid the demons to interfere with the person as you
work with them to tear down strongholds, break up legal grounds,
etc.

Loosing is referring to loosing a captive from a bondage. Jesus

loosed the woman from a spirit of infirmity in Luke 13:12. You
might say something like, "I loose myself from the spirit of fear in
the name of Jesus! Spirit of fear, I command you to COME OUT in
the name of Jesus!"

7. Checking to see if you are free

You should feel a noticeable relief when the demon(s) have left.
However, they may just be hiding, and trying to trick you into
calling it a success, only to rear up their heads later on. Pray and
ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if there are any demons
remaining that need to be cast out, or whether the deliverance was
successful. The long term effect after a deliverance is usually your
best indicator, but when there have been symptoms of the demon
(such as fear, anger, suicidal urges, etc.), then I would expect
those to be gone when the deliverance has been successful.

Don't forget to consider that in many cases, deliverance is a

process and not just one session. If strongholds need to be torn
down that the demons are hanging onto, they can usually take time
as you tear them down. When the spirits leave you though, you
should feel the difference and be able to freely walk in your
newfound freedom.

8. Post deliverance instructions

I don't walk in constant fear of demons returning, but yet I also

advise not to dabble in the things which opened you up to demons
in the first place either. Keep your relationship with God cultivated,
and don't let the enemy tempt you to let him back in.

If you are unsuccessful

Seek further knowledge on the ministry of deliverance, and

consider seeking the help of an experienced deliverance minister.
Don't forget to consider that in many cases, deliverance is a
process and not just one session. If strongholds need to be torn
down that the demons are hanging onto, they can usually take time
as you tear them down. If you try your best and are getting
nowhere, then I would seek help from an experienced minister.

Your Spiritual Authority

A solid understanding of spiritual authority is vital to build your

faith when casting out demons, healing the sick, and exercising
your authority over the powers of darkness.

When we have been given authority to cast out demons, but

instead we pray that God brings the demon out instead, we are
basically asking God to do something that He gave US the tools to
do ourselves! Jesus told US to cast out demons! Nowhere in the
Bible does it tell us to ask God to cast out demons!

Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey,
who left his house, and gave authority to his servants , and to every
man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."

How authority works

Authority doesn't beg; authority doesn't ask; authority commands!

We are not told to ask God to cast out demons, we are told to do it
ourselves! We are not told to beg demons to come out, we are told
to CAST them out!

Matthew 8:8-9, 13, "The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am

not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the
word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under
authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and
he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my
servant, Do this, and he doeth it... And Jesus said unto the
centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done
unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour."

Authority is exercised through our spoken word. The power of life

and death are in the spoken word: Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life
are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the
fruit thereof."

Jesus' own authority

One thing that made it clear that Jesus was the son of God, is
because He exercised authority that nobody else had access to in
history!

He cast out demons using His authority: Mark 1:27, "And they

were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among
themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this?
for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and
they do obey him."

He cast out demons with His spoken word: Matthew 8:16,

"When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were
possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word..."

He healed the sick with His spoken word: Luke 7:7, "Wherefore

neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a
word, and my servant shall be healed." Also John 5:8, "Jesus saith
unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."

Jesus has been given authority over everything: Matthew

28:18, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is
given unto me in heaven and in earth."

Authority to heal

Jesus said to, "Heal the sick"! Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick,
cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have
received, freely give." I think it's interesting how Jesus didn't tell
us to pray and ask God to heal the sick, He told US to heal the
sick!

I have never seen where Jesus prayed, "Father, please heal this
person!" Instead, we see that Jesus healed people with His spoken
Word! In John 5:8, Jesus told the man to, "...Rise, take up thy bed,
and walk."

The early church healed people in this same manner. In Acts 3:6,
"...Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give
I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
Notice in Luke 9:1 that He not only gave His disciples authority
over all devils, but also to cure diseases: "Then he called his twelve
disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all
devils, and to cure diseases."

Authority is exercised when there is a RIGHT to exercise it. They

weren't praying and asking God to heal people, they had the
authority to heal, and they were exercising it with a spoken word,
just as Jesus did!

I want to clarify that I'm not saying that prayer can't heal people...
because it can (James 5:14-15)... I'm just saying that we are
taught to heal the sick using the authority that Jesus gave us! I
have seen and heard of many healings that took place through
prayer, so I'm not saying not to pray, or that prayer doesn't work.
I'm simply saying that we have authority over sickness, and
therefore we can exercise our authority to bring about healing in
another person's life!

I also think it's interesting how Mark 16:17-18 tells us that healing
can come through the laying on of hands: "And these signs shall
follow them that believe... they shall lay hands on the sick, and
they shall recover." The laying on of hands can encourage the
transferring of power from us into the person and heal them, just
like the woman who felt power flow from Jesus when she touched
the hem of His garment (Mark 5:30)! Jesus said that those who
believe will have the Holy Ghost flowing out of their innermost
being (John 7:38-39), and even Peter's shadow healed people (Acts
5:15)!

Authority to cast out demons

Notice that we are never told to beg or coax the demons to come
out, neither are we told to pray and ask God to remove them, but
we ARE told to cast them out! Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick,
cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have
received, freely give." And also look at Mark 16:17, "And these
signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out
devils..."

Luke 9:1, "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave
them power and authority over all devils..."
Luke 10:17, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying,
Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."

Jesus distributes His authority

Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey,
who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every
man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."

Jesus is given authority: Matthew 28:18, "And Jesus came and

spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and
in earth."

Authority given to Jesus' 12 disciples: Luke 9:1, "Then he

called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and
authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."

Authority given to Jesus' 70 disciples: Luke 10:17, "And the

seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are
subject unto us through thy name."

Through Jesus' name

Notice that the authority Jesus gives His people is not to be used in
their name, but Jesus' name:

Luke 10:17, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying,
Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."

Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my
name shall they cast out devils..."

Acts 3:6, "...Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I
have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up
and walk."

To use somebody's authority through their name is quite an honor!

It's like being able to go to the bank and draw out a million dollars
on behalf of a wealthy businessman!

Authority has been given to "Them who believe"

Jesus gave His disciples authority to carry out His will here on
earth, but they weren't the only ones. He also gave ALL believers
authority to heal the sick and cast out devils as well! (Mark 16:17-
18)

Authority to cast out demons: Mark 16:17, "And these signs

shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out
devils..."

Authority to heal the sick: Mark 16:17-18, "And these signs shall

follow them that believe...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they
shall recover."

Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey,
who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every
man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."

Authority is accessed through faith

It is also helpful to point out that our spiritual authority is accessed

by faith. There is a lot to be learned from the story told in Mark
9:17-29 about how faith allows us to access our authority. When
the disciples came across an unusually strong demon that wouldn't
budge (verse 18), Jesus made it clear that they lacked faith by
calling them faithless (verse 19). He also made it clear that some
demons are so strong that a higher than usual level of faith is
required to cast them out (verses 28 and 29), and that we can gain
that higher level of faith through prayer and fasting (verse 29).

Matthew 17:20, "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your

unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of
mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to
yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible
unto you."

Deliverance Questionnaire

Uncovering open doors to the demonic in a Christian's life

This questionnaire is meant to be used by a knowledgeable

deliverance pastor or minister, because the reasons for each of
these questions is not explained in this questionnaire. A
knowledgeable deliverance minister should know the reasons
behind each of these questions, and should be able to discern
obvious bondages that these questions will reveal.

Each and every question does not necessarily indicate a bondage,

but will help give a bigger picture to the person ministering
deliverance, and can be helpful in locating obvious bondages in a
person's life. These questions can reveal strongholds, demonic
bondages and legal grounds that may need to be addressed.

Part I: The bondage

1. When did this bondage start?

2. Was there any unusual things that took place (or you did) when
this bondage started?

3. If this bondage started when you were a child: Do you have

ancestors who have suffered from a similar kind of bondage?

4. What kind of bondage are you facing? (Fears, depression, voices

in your mind, mental illness, physical illness, mental torment,
spiritual torment, etc.. Please be as detailed as possible.)

5. What are all the things that have impacted your life? (Parent's
death, trauma, a certain situation that changed your life, anything
that 'changed' you.)

Part II: Your ancestor's background

1. Do you have ancestors who have struggled with similar problems

or bondages?

2. Did your bondage start as a child and appear to have no reason

to be there?

3. Do you have siblings who suffer from similar bondages or

oppression?

Part III: Soul ties

1. Have you been involved with extramarital sex? Are you attracted
to an ex-lover? Is he or she a good/godly influence for you?

2. Have you been divorced?

3. Do you feel an unusual attraction to a past boyfriend, girlfriend
or lover (who is obviously not right for you)?

4. Do you let anybody dominate, control, or make your choices

you?

5. Have you ever formed a blood covenant with another person?

(Blood brothers, etc.)

6. Have you ever made vows or agreements with somebody in

effort to strengthen the relationship or commit yourself to each
other?

7. Do you see any ungodly relationships in your past where gifts

were exchanged? (Are you holding onto something that was given
to you from somebody you had an adultery with, etc.)

8. Have you ever had ungodly relations with an animal?

9. Do you have any pictures in your possession of somebody whom

you may have an ungodly soul tie with? (A picture of you with
somebody you had an adultery with, etc.)

Part IV: Relationship with parents

1. What do you think of your parents?

2. How would you explain your childhood?

3. Where you close to your parents while growing up? If not, why?

4. How would you explain your relationship with your parents? Was
it good, bad or very cold?

5. Did you feel rejection from your parents?

6. Was either of your parents overly passive or controlling?

7. Has either of your parents been divorced? Remarried? Are your

parents divorced?

8. How would you describe your relationship with your siblings

growing up?

Part V: Rejection and abuse

1. Were your parents married when you were conceived? Were you
the right sex? Did your parents not want you, or want you to be
different (gender, etc.) in any way? If so, explain.

2. Did you feel rejected as a child? As an adult? If so, by whom?

Explain.

3. Did you face abuse? What kind (emotional, physical, sexual,

etc.) and by whom?

4. Have you faced rejection from your peers, classmates, friends or

those around you?

5. Have you ever been put down, belittled, or made fun of? If so,
by whom? Explain.

6. If you have faced rejection or abuse, how did you respond? Do

you feel you are still paying a price for it? If so, how?

7. How do you respond to rejection right now?

8. Do you reject yourself (self-rejection)? If so, why and in what

ways?

Part VI: Unforgiveness or bitterness

1. Is there anybody you feel edgy around? (Don't like them, feel
anything in your heart against them, etc.)

2. Do you have anything against anybody? In other words, is there

anybody that you have a hard time demonstrating the love of
Christ to?

3. Has anybody wronged you that you haven't forgiven from your
heart (thoughts, feelings, emotions, etc.)?

4. How do your view your siblings, parents, coworkers, etc.? Do

you have any hard feelings against them?

5. Do you make a habit of blaming yourself for everything? Do you

obsess over your mistakes and feel unusually guilty for them?

6. Do you deeply regret things that you've done in your past? Could
you kick yourself over something you've done in your past? If so,
explain.
Part VII: Personality

1. Are you a very positive or negative person?

2. Do you feel confident in yourself? If so, why?

3. Do you have a low self esteem? If so, why?

4. Are you domineering or controlling? If so, to whom, and in what

ways? Why?

5. Are you an achiever? (A go-getter) If so, in what ways?

6. Do you feel that you are always right and that if everybody did
everything your way, this world would be a better place to live?

7. How do you treat your children? Husband? Are you controlling,

passive, etc.?

8. Do you like people to 'look at you' (as in receive attention)?

Part VIII: Emotional health

1. Do you strive to feel accepted? If so, how does this affect your
lifestyle? By whom do you want to feel accepted?

2. Are you always stressed out? If so, why?

3. Do you feel hurt? If so, by whom/what and why?

4. Do you feel good about yourself? If not, why?

5. Do you feel depressed? If so, why? When did it start? Did your
parents or grandparents struggle with depression? If so, then do
you know when it started and why? Do you have siblings who are
also struggling? Do you feel your depression is rational or
irrational?

6. Do you struggle with fears? If so, what is it that you fear? (Fear
of heights, dying, being hopeless, failure, never marrying, etc.)

7. Do you worry about things? What things do you worry about?

Why?

8. Do you struggle with anger? Do you have a short temper?

9. Do you have any insecurities? If so, explain.

10. Do you feel any self-pity or feel sorry for yourself? Have you
ever felt this? If so, why?

11. Do you find it easy to hate people? If so, over what kinds of
things would a person have to do to make you hate them?

12. Do you have any irrational feelings? If so, what are they?

13. Do you feel like something is wrong with you?

14. Do you feel excessively guilty over anything? Is this a continual

problem?

15. Are you very confused and forgetful? (Beyond the normal)

16. Are you aware of any emotional wounds that have affected
you?

17. Have you ever been deeply embarrassed over something? What
was it?

18. Have you been in or are currently experiencing very difficult

(depressing) circumstances which may cause you to feel hopeless
or depressed?

Part IX: Who are you in Christ? And how do you see God?

1. How do you explain your relationship with God?

2. Do you feel you aren't good enough to meet His standards?

3. Do you see Him as a loving father, or a dictator?

4. Do you believe that it's only by the Blood of Jesus that your sins
are forgiven? Or do you feel you need to earn your forgiveness in
any way?

5. Do you feel God's love in your life?

6. Do you feel like your sins are forgiven? Or do you feel guilty?

7. Do you feel excessively guilty in everyday life?

8. Do you feel that doing good things, you earn God's love and
acceptance?

9. Do you feel that God is angry or upset with you?

Part X: Spoken curses, vows & oaths

1. Have you ever spoken something negative about yourself that

has came to past? For example: "I'm sick and tired..." or "If I don't
quit typing, I'm going to get arthritis!"

2. Has your parents, or those in authority over you spoken out a

curse over you? For example: "You'll never amount to anything!" or
"You'll never get out of debt" or "You're so dumb"

3. Have you ever made a vow out of anger? If so, what? For
example: "I'll never let anybody push me around again!" or "I'm
never going to be hurt again!"

4. Have you ever wished to die? Have you ever said it?

5. If you have made any vows or oaths, what are they?

Part XI: Relationships

1. Do you have many friends? What kind of people are they?

2. Do you have a hard time trying to meet new people or make

friends?

3. Are you socially outgoing or shy? If so, why?

4. How would you define your relationship with your spouse?

Part XII: Sexuality

1. Have you ever had unholy sex? What kind? (Fornication,

adultery, sodomy, bestiality, with a child, etc.)

2. Have you struggled with lust, fantasy or unholy sexual thoughts?

If so, what kind?

3. Have you been attracted to pornography?

4. Do you have homosexual thoughts and desires? If so, have you
acted upon those feelings?

5. How do you feel about your sexuality? (Do you feel dirty about
it, or do you feel it's a wonderful blessing that God's given you?)

6. Do you withhold sex from your spouse or are you fidgety? Do

you enjoy a healthy relationship with your spouse sexually? How
does he or she react?

7. Have you ever been raped or sexually abused?

8. Have you ever woke up and felt a sexual presence with you?
There are demons that imitate male and female functions, and
stimulate their host (a person) sexually (beyond the normal 'wet
dream').

9. Do you struggle or have you struggled with masturbation?

10. Do you struggle or have you struggled with any other sexual
related thoughts, desires, or bondages?

11. Is there anything sexually that you are ashamed of?

Part XIII: Addictions

1. Do you have any addictions? If so, what kind? (Drugs, alcohol,

smoking, eating, sex, TV, etc.) When did they start?

2. Did anybody else in your family (siblings, ancestors, etc.) have a

struggle with any addictions? If so, what? Who?

3. Have you ever had, or currently have any sort of obsession over
anything? If so, what?

Part XIV: False religions

Examples of false religions: Buddhism, Hindu, Jehovah Witness,

Mormonism, Christian Scientists, eastern religions, etc.

1. Have you ever been involved with any false religions? If so, why,
when and how long? How do you feel about those beliefs now?

2. Have you ever been involved in any secret societies such as

Freemasonry? If so, how deep were you involved?
Part XV: The occult & Satanism

1. Have you ever shown interest in the occult? If so, in what ways?
(Read up on it, dabbled in it, etc.)

2. Do you still feel drawn or attracted to the occult?

3. Have you had any interest in horror or thriller style movies or

novels? Are you still attracted to these things?

4. Have you ever made a vow with the devil? If so, what?

5. Married Satan?

6. Worshipped a demon or Satan?

7. Have you ever put a curse or spell on somebody?

8. Are you aware of any curses or spells placed on you? If so,

what? Who did it?

9. Dabbled with an Ouija board? If so, why?

10. Ever been a member of a coven (group of 13 witches)? Explain.

11. Communicated with the dead? Explain.

12. Told somebody's fortune or went to see a fortune teller?

Explain.

13. Ever read your horoscope?

14. Watched or been involved in a s�ance? Explain.

15. Been involved or a victim of Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA)?

Explain.

16. Been baptized into a false religion or any other evil baptism? If
so, what were you baptized into? When?

17. Have you ever had a spirit guide?

18. Have you ever been involved with meditation, yoga, karate, or
related activities?
19. Were you or anybody in your family superstitious? If so, who?

20. Ever been involved in astral travel? (Out of body)

21. If you have made any vows or oaths, what are they? Were
there any sacrifices or rituals that was accompanied with them?

22. Have you ever made a blood pact before? If so, with whom
(including persons, demons and Satan) and for what purpose?

23. Have you ever partaken in automatic writing, automatic

drawing or automatic painting?

24. Have you ever been involved in Yoga, transcendental

meditation, or similar activities?

25. Have you ever sought healing from a spiritual source other than
Jesus Christ? (New age healing, energy healing, etc.)

26. Any other involvement in the occult? Explain.

Part XVI: Un-confessed sins

1. Are there any un-confessed sins that you have not repented of?
(Usually something you've done, that you know is wrong, but won't
admit to it. An abortion, stealing, etc. are some examples.)

2. Is there anything you've been hiding inside that you haven't

confessed?

3. Do you feel excessively guilty over some thing(s) you've done in

the past? If so, what?

Part XVII: Cursed objects

1. Do you have any idols, occult rings, or anything that could hold
evil spiritual value in your home? If so, what? Any objects that hold
evil spiritual value must be destroyed.

2. Do you have any gifts saved from sinful relationships? If so,

explain. For example, if a man gives a woman a personal gift
during an adultery, that needs to be sold or destroyed.

Part XVIII: Severe trauma, abuse & disassociation

1. Have you ever been exposed to extreme abuse or a traumatic
experience? Did it have a drastic effect on your emotional or
mental system? If so, what happen? How did it affect you?

2. Have you ever disassociated or been diagnosed with Dissociative

Identity Disorder (DID) or Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD)?

3. Are you aware of any alters (other personalities) that you may
have? (If so, tell me about them)

4. Do you have a memory gap where you cannot remember a

certain time of your life?

5. Do you have false memories of things that really didn't take

place?

6. Have you ever been in a car accident or other traumatic

situation? Have you ever witnessed a tragedy in real life?

Part XIX: Weaknesses

1. Do you struggle with any habitual sins? If so, what? Do you want
to break those bad habits?

2. Do you struggle with any weaknesses such as lust, anger, hate,

etc.? If so, what? Do you know where they came from or how they
got started? Do you want to break free from those weaknesses?

Part XX: Pregnancy issues

1. Have you ever said something along the lines of, "I will never
have children"?

2. Have you ever had an abortion or attempted one?

3. Have you ever had incest or ungodly sexual relations with

somebody related to you? (See Leviticus 20:19-21, as this can
cause a curse to land upon you which needs to be broken)

Part XXI: Other things to look for

1. Have you ever tried drugs? If so, how much, and how did it
affect you? Why did you try drugs?

2. Have you ever thought about or attempted suicide?

3. Do you have any physical or mental disabilities, diseases or
illnesses? Explain.

4. Do you want, and are willing to be delivered? Are you willing to

give up those demon spirits and maybe make some lifestyle
changes in order to keep your deliverance?

5. Do you experience unusual confusion settle upon you as you try

to pray and read the Bible?

6. What kind of music do you like? (Please list all styles of music
you currently enjoy, and give examples in each category you list,
such as some names of artists and songs)

7. Have you previously enjoyed hard rock, metal, acid, alternative,

rap, new age, or any other kind of worldly music? (Please provide
some examples of artists and songs from each genre (type/style) of
music you list)

8. Have you had any nightmares or weird experiences at night

while supposedly sleeping?

9. Have you ever been in a trance or had an out of body

experience?

10. Have you ever noticed time slipped right out from under you?
For example, you look at your watch and it's 7:00pm, then you look
again what seemed like 15 minutes later and it's 2:00am. This is a
sign of a trance.

11. Have you ever touched or kissed a dead body? If so, explain
whom and why and what happened afterwards.

12. Do you feel that you somehow have to earn your forgiveness?
Do you 'wonder' if your sins are truly forgiven -- all of them? Are
you aware of any signs of legalism or religious spirits operating in
your mind?

13. Do you have any physical infirmities, sickness or diseases? If

so, please list them.

14. Are you on any medications? If so, please explain.

15. Are you entertained by movies or tv shows which glorify death,

murder, pain or suffering of others? Please explain.
16. Have you ever had any other kind of weird encounter with the
spiritual realm?

Strongholds

The process of deliverance often consists of three main parts:

Tearing down strongholds, removing legal rights and then casting
out the remaining demons. If you try to cast out demons without
taking away the strongholds or legal rights that they are holding
onto, then you can't really expect to achieve a complete successful
deliverance. Removing these two blockages is vital in going about a
complete and successful deliverance.

There is a teaching specifically on Legal Rights  too that you may

want to go through as well.

What is a stronghold?

A stronghold is a faulty thinking pattern based on lies and

deception. Deception is one of the primary weapons of the devil,
because it is the building blocks for a stronghold. What strongholds
can do is cause us to think in ways which block us from God's best.
For example, if you think you have to confess all your sins to
everybody you've ever wronged, you'll feel just awful and guilty
until you do all that, and even then, you'll probably feel guilty,
because you probably forgot many people that you didn't confess
your sins to. All unnecessary, and a waste of time, all because you
were deceived and thought that you had to do something that you
really didn't have to do.

An example of a stronghold at work: A common scene is

somebody who is scared of God, and has a hard time feeling His
love and presence. They view Him as a cruel taskmaster, and not
as the God that is really is to them, and therefore, they put up
there own wall which makes it hard for them to receive God's love,
presence and draw close in their relationship with Him. If you saw
your spouse as a rude and cruel dictator, you probably wouldn't be
as apt to snuggle upto Him and love him as you would if you saw
him as a loving and kind person who loves you and cares for you. If
you see somebody as mean, it's hard to receive their love, isn't it?
That's how our perception of God can hinder us from feeling His
love and presence in our lives. It is VERY important to have a
correct perception of God if we want to live victorious lives in Christ
Jesus!

Two very destructive and common strongholds

The first one, where you see God incorrectly:  One of the most
popular and devastating strongholds to have, is an incorrect image
in your mind of who God is, and how He sees us. People who see
God as a taskmaster, live their lives with an unhealthy fear of God.
There's a good kind of fear of God, which is more like a holy
respect for Him, but there's another kind of fear that is very
unhealthy that the enemy wants us to have, and it's the kind of
fear where we see God as a taskmaster, cruel, cold, distant,
uncaring and would snap the whip at us the moment we step out of
line. People who are afraid they've committed the unpardonable sin
are almost guaranteed to have this stronghold. People who find it
hard to feel God's love and presence, often have this stronghold
too. If you feel God is distant and cold, or question if God loves
you, then you need to get this stronghold torn down.

One awesome book that will help you break down this stronghold is
Blessed Beyond Measure by Gloria Copeland. It talks about the
goodness of God, and it's impossible to read that book and be the
same person when your done seeing the love and goodness that
God wants to bless us with!

The second one, where you see yourself incorrectly:  People

who suffer from this have a hard time seeing the new person that
they are now in Christ Jesus, and often suffer from low self-esteem.
They don't understand what Christ did for them, and how it applies
to their own life. Common symptoms of this stronghold are guilt
feelings (questioning if you've really been forgiven of your sin(s)),
low spiritual esteem (they feel like sinners, not saints), they lack
spiritual confidence that we are supposed to have in Christ Jesus,
they may still struggle with sin (Jesus said that if you keep in His
Word, which tears down strongholds, you will be free from the
power sin has over you - John 8:31-34), and overall you don't feel
'worthy' spiritually and lack the joy of the Lord in your life. If you
even remotely struggle with this stronghold, the teaching  Forgiven
sinner or saint?  is an absolute must-read!

One of the best books I've seen for tearing down this stronghold is
Victory over Darkness by Neil T. Anderson. It will teach you of the
new person you are now in Christ Jesus, and help you be victorious
over the darkness through an understanding of your identity in
Christ.

I mention common other strongholds over on the Three Stages of

Bondage teaching.

How to tear down a stronghold

2 Corinthians 10:4, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ."

Strongholds are birthed and dwell in deception (which are lies and
false beliefs), so naturally the cure is to bring the truth in God's
Word on the scene. You debunk the lies of the enemy, with the
truth, which is in the Word of God! The Bible says that our weapons
are mighty for the tearing down of strongholds (2 Cor 10:4, "For
the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strong holds."). What is our primary
offensive weapon? The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of
God (Eph 6:17, "...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God."). Truth dispels deception and lies, and therefore the more
truth you bring into a situation, the more the darkness must flee.
This is where it's important to grow in God's Word, is because it is
your primary weapon for tearing down the strongholds of deception
that the enemy has been feeding you.

In John 8:31-36, Jesus tells us that we can be held in bondage due

to strongholds in our lives. And His solution was to, "continue in my
word... and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free." (v. 32-32) Strongholds are torn down as we meditate on
God's Word, which is truth!

A great list of Bible verses you can meditate on, which will help you
tear down strongholds in your life can be found on the anti-
stronghold Bible verses
page: http://www.greatbiblestudy.com/bible_verses.php

Another great list of anti-stronghold confessions can be found in

the Blessing Confessions  list.

Seeking a Deliverance
Finding a qualified minister

A balanced minister: If a minister is quick to say that all your

problems are demonic, without knowing anything about your
situation, then I would be cautious. Some people see a demon
under every rock, but I am careful not to blame everything on the
demonic. On the other hand, I am not one to write everything off
as non-demonic problems either. If there's a demon, I'd certainly
like to see it, so I can get it out!

A knowledgeable minister: A complete deliverance ministry

should be knowledgeable and work in three main areas of ministry:
Strongholds (tearing down incorrect thinking patterns), legal
grounds (taking away the enemy's right to bother you) and then
the casting out part (which requires faith and is exercised by
commanding the demons to come out).

A trained minister? If you can find a minister who has come

through a training program such as Bob Larson's Doing What Jesus
Did (DWJD), or a member of a deliverance group of ministers such
as The Apostolic Roundtable of Deliverance Ministers (ARDM), you
will have a better chance of reaching somebody who is trained,
experienced, and educated in this ministry. However, there are
many who haven't been through these programs that are very good
and effective in this ministry, so this is by no means a requirement
in my eyes to be certified or trained, but it can certainly help. I
know there are a LOT of very qualified ministers who have never
been trained or been involved in a group of ministers at all.

A good question to ask: "Can a Christian have a demon?" If he

answers no, then you want to keep looking, because it's an obvious
sign that he's not in the ministry of deliverance as the Bible
preaches and I can almost guarantee you that he's never really
cast any demons out himself. Jesus said that deliverance is
children's bread and it's not fit to cast before dogs (those outside
God's covenant). They can try to throw at you many convincing
theologies and verses, but each one of them, if looked at with a
magnifying glass can be taken apart. Trust me, I can show you a
long list of verses that look like solid proof, until they are taken
apart. Some of them have to be looked up in the Hebrew or Greek
to take apart. Whether Christians can have demons is beyond the
scope of this teaching, so I refer you to a teaching that will help
educate you on why Christians can have
demons: http://www.greatbiblestudy.com/deliverance_believers.ph
p

Preparing for your deliverance

Is prayer and fasting a good idea? Absolutely! It's obvious that

prayer and fasting brings our faith levels up and helps us to cast
out demons. Jesus said that some demons are so strong that
prayer and fasting is required because a higher level of faith is
required to cast them out, which is obtained through prayer and
fasting.

Tear down any known strongholds ahead of time: Believe it or

not, deliverances can be held up simply by incorrect thinking
patterns. I personally had a deliverance held up due to a
stronghold! If you see God as anything less then a loving Father
who loves you, or if you don't feel like a victorious Christian, then
you most likely have one or more strongholds to tear down. More
information can be found in the Strongholds  teaching.

Rip up any known legal grounds ahead of time: This will be

addressed in your deliverance session, so why not clear the brush
ahead of time? Legal grounds are things in our lives that have
given or are giving the demons the 'permission' to bother us.
Things like unforgiveness (Matthew 18:23-35), unconfessed sins (1
John 1:9), soul ties (1 Corinthians 6:16), etc. can give demons the
'permission' to influence and gain power over us. You can break up
these legal grounds by repentance, renunciation, destroying cursed
items, etc. There are times when this is best addressed in the
presence of a deliverance ministry, simply because you may meet
demonic resistance while trying to renounce or repent or break
legal grounds. If you have been involved in Satanism, or have
some heavy duty bondages to be delivered from, then you might
best break the legal grounds with your deliverance minister nearby.
One time I was just TELLING an ex-Satanist how to break up some
of her legal grounds, and the demons got so ticked, they
manifested right then and there! More information can be found in
the Legal Rights teaching.

Become educated: This will set your mind at ease, and safeguard

you against ministers who aren't experienced or educated
themselves in this ministry, and end up causing more harm then
good (like putting fears in people that are wrong, false and
unnecessary). Some really good books I highly recommend are
Unbound by Neil Lozano and Free in Christ by Pablo Bottari. You
will be much better equipped for ministry in this area if you first
read one or both of those books.

Deliverance questionnaires

Sometimes a deliverance questionnaire can be very helpful in

getting an idea of what to look for in a deliverance session.

My own deliverance
questionnaire: http://www.greatbiblestudy.com/deliverance_questi
onnaire.php

Doris Wagner has a nice questionnaire that can be helpful in

preparing for a
deliverance: http://www.globalharvest.org/pdf/Questionaire.pdf

Even if you go through and break off all the legal grounds and tear
down all the strongholds you can find, this does not mean you can
hide those things from your minister when seeking a deliverance. It
is still important that you communicate all the things you find with
your minister. If he can see how you got into bondage and what
doors were opened, he will be in a much better position to help you
get out of it. If he knows what doors were opened, he will often be
able to tell you what spirits would take advantage of those doors,
and therefore he knows which ones to go after and cast out.

Watching out for the pitfalls

Although the deliverance ministry has helped countless people be

set free from problems this world cannot solve, there are of course,
some people walk away from deliverance sessions discouraged,
confused and still in chains. Some people have actually felt hurt by
people in the deliverance ministry. One reason for this is because
some people simply do not minister in love and compassion, and
end up creating unnecessary fears that are based on lies and false
teachings. Deliverance ministers, like any other kind of minister,
are still people, and some of them don't minister the way they
should.

Fear-driven ministries: One thing that I like to watch out for, is

fear-driven ministries. I call them fear-driven, because they often
put a lot of fear into people that is NOT from God, and is
completely unnecessary. They don't show you the love of Christ
and build you up, instead they are good at giving you warnings and
telling you how serious of a condition you are in, or how badly you
messed up and how serious your sin is, etc. They tell you that if
you aren't careful, the demons will return and you'll be worse off
the second time then the first (which is true if you are an
unbeliever, but that doesn't apply to believers). They give you the
impression that your in serious danger and if you don't follow their
instructions to the tee, you aren't going to be set free. They overall
speak a lot of fear and condemnation to you, which can set you on
the edge of your seat sometimes. By the time you are done, you
could be worse off then before, because of all the false lies and
deception they feed people who are in bondage. I do not affiliate
myself with these kinds of ministries, and I don't support them. I
like to keep 95% of my attention on God's goodness, and 5% on
kicking the enemy out. I myself have experienced "bad ministering"
before, so I know what it's like. I walked away worse off then I
came. The more I begin to see through their tactics (and some of
the areas they were WAY off), the better I felt. But I didn't let that
stop me from receiving TRUE deliverance ministry, and thank
God... true deliverance ministry is well worth the wait!

Some ministers like to begin by rebuking demons, and completely

ignoring the legal grounds and strongholds. Demons can manifest,
go back under, and the person ends up confused, and doesn't know
what to think. It's an emotional shock that can leave the person
confused if they don't understand what is going on or what
happened. I believe that either we should start out with prayer
(which brings things to the surface), or start out by uncovering
legal rights and strongholds through deliverance counseling, but
not start out by rebuking demons (unless that's what the Lord
specifically tells us to do that).

If you are educated yourself in this ministry, you will know what is
going on, and be on guard for those few ministers who don't
minister correctly, and would normally cause more harm then good.
I am very confident that if you have a handle on things ahead of
time, it will change the whole atmosphere and make you as calm as
a cucumber when being ministered to, and put you in a position
where you could encounter a would-be confusing situation, and
come out laughing and taking things with a grain of salt. So my
advice is to get educated! Read those books I mentioned earlier! :)

Different deliverance models

There are different ways in which people will minister deliverance.
Some people will begin simply by laying hands on you and praying
over you. Demons often manifest, and the minister will likely ask
for their name and how they got there. Then the demons are
commanded to go back down, so that the minister can speak with
you concerning the strongholds or legal grounds that the demon
revealed which needs to be dealt with. Once the legal grounds are
broken and the strongholds are torn down, the minister will
command the demons to leave in Jesus' name. My preferred
method of deliverance ministering is to first try to learn of any
strongholds or legal grounds that needs to be addressed, tear down
the strongholds, break up the legal grounds, and command the
demons to come out. I know there are successful deliverances that
take place either way, so I am not against one method or another.

I usually promote the breaking of legal grounds and the tearing

down of strongholds before attempting to cast out demons. This is
a very effective way of ministering a smooth deliverance, and many
new ministers in this field can easily minister deliverance this way
once they have an understanding of strongholds and legal grounds.

What to expect and not to expect

More then one demon: It is not very common that a person only
needs deliverance from just one demon. There's often a nest of
them working together, such as murder, suicide and hate all in the
same package. It is not uncommon for the minister to deal with
one, and another one surfaces. The minister should continue
casting out the spirits until the whole nest is cleaned out.

More then one deliverance session: Do not expect a complete

100% deliverance in one session. It may happen, and it's not
uncommon, but it's also common to go through multiple
deliverance sessions before the person is completely set free. Don't
expect one deliverance session to solve all your problems. And
don't expect every minister to have the faith to cast out every
demon, because some of Jesus' own disciples ran into demons they
couldn't cast out either. Sometimes it may be a heavy enough
situation where the minister himself may need to prepare with
prayer and fasting before casting the demons out.

Demonic manifestations: Some deliverances will involve the

demons manifesting, while other sessions may not include any
manifestations at all. Whether or not a demon manifests is not a
sign of a successful deliverance, because in one deliverance session
there may be no manifestations, and the person walks away free,
and in other deliverance session there may be several
manifestations, and yet the person walks away still in bondage. Do
not expect manifestations. They may come, they may not, but
that's not a sign of a successful deliverance.

Demonic resistance: Another thing that is common in this

ministry, is to see demons try to fight the deliverance by telling the
person that the deliverance minister doesn't really care about
them, they are going to be hurt, they won't really get set free, etc.
One person I know of told me that the demons told her that
somebody was going to kill her on the train that she was going to
get on to seek her deliverance. While seeking my own deliverance,
I had demons telling me that it wasn't going to be successful and
that I was wasting my time. You can expect the enemy to put up
smoke like this before you when seeking your deliverance... don't
pay any attention to it!

How to tell if your deliverance was successful

If a demon manifests during your deliverance, that's a good sign,

but it never can be used to say whether or not the deliverance was
successful. If you feel the difference afterwards, that's what you
are supposed to look for as an indicator of a truly successful
deliverance. Let's say you were struggling with suicide urges... if
you walk away from your deliverance, and you're still struggling
with no difference then before, then you need to continue seeking
deliverance.

What to do after your deliverance

Don't be foolish and re-open the doors to the enemy that landed
you in bondage in the first place. If you got burned by watching
demonic films such as the Exorcist, then use common sense and
don't go back and begin watching those sort of films again. If you
got burned by reading ghost stories, then please, don't read them
anymore! Use your head! :)

Continue to grow in your relationship with your heavenly Father. He

loves you! Get out your Bible each day and spend time in prayer
and Bible reading each day to keep yourself built up. This will help
safeguard you against the enemy when he tries to rebuild
strongholds in your life. Continue to feed yourself on God's Word,
and strongholds will have an awfully hard time trying to go up.
Strongholds are one of the enemy's entry points into our lives, so
feeding on God's Word can prevent these strongholds from being
built in the first place.

Demonic legal rights

The process of deliverance often consists of three main parts:

Tearing down strongholds, removing legal rights and then casting
out the remaining demons. If you try to cast out demons without
taking away the strongholds or legal rights that they are holding
onto, then you can't really expect to achieve a complete successful
deliverance. Removing these two blockages is vital in going about a
complete and successful deliverance.

There is a teaching specifically on Strongholds  too that you may

want to go through as well.

What are legal rights?

A legal right is something that can give demons an opportunity to

enter or harass us, or gives them the right to remain in us even
when we try to cast them out. Some of the most common legal
rights that are faced when ministering deliverance are:

Sins (especially willful sins): When we commit sin, it gives the

enemy a legal right to affect or bother us in one way or another.
The deeper the sin, the bigger the door that is opened to the devil.
When a person allows unholy thoughts to enter their mind, it can
open the door to a demon of lust, which eventually causes the
person to commit adultery and the matter is compounded. It starts
when the enemy tempts us to think the wrong thing, then when we
accept it and make it a habit, it opens the door for the enemy to
move in further, then behind the bad habit which can be formed,
lies a demonic compulsion that isn't easily resisted. If the person
continues down this path, he continues to open more doors to the
enemy, and eventually that person finds himself committing
adultery, rape, etc. because the feelings and desires the demons
push on that person are irresistible. Once he commits those sins,
mega doors are then opened, and the problem is like a snowball
going down the hill. Sin opens the door to demons, which push us
in the direction to more sins, which open us wider to more demons,
etc.

The remedy? Repentance! Verbally confess and repent of your sins

that have given the enemy legal rights in your life. If you recognize
a particular sin or sins that has opened the door to the bondage
you are seeking deliverance from, it helps to specifically repent of
that sin. Any larger or gross sins you can remember are always
good to repent of specifically.

1 John 1:9 tells us to confess our sins. If we don't confess our sins
and instead we hide them from God, it leaves that sin remaining in
our lives. We need to confess our sins in order to be forgiven.

Soul ties: It is possible for two persons to share spiritual ties (like
spiritual bridges that connect the two persons). Some of the most
popular and destructive soul ties are formed during an adultery or
fornication. 1 Corinthians 6:16 warns us not to have sexual
relations with a prostitute because we become one flesh (flesh as in
soul realm kind of flesh, not a physical flesh) with that person. This
ungodly soul tie is like a rope between two persons that demons
can use to their advantage to cross from one person to another. If
that person had demons tormenting them, and you had sex with
them, it unites the two persons, and therefore a soul tie is created,
and the demons tormenting that person can also have rights to
torment you. This does not apply to married couples, because there
is no unhealthy soul tie created from sex within marriage. The Bible
says that the marriage bed is un-defiled, and defilement is required
to create an evil soul tie.

The remedy? Repentance, renunciation and breaking of soul ties!

First, specifically repent of the sin which caused the soul tie to be
formed in the first place. Then you can use your authority in Jesus
to break and sever the unholy soul tie. Saying something like this
should do the job, "I now renounce, break and sever all unholy soul
ties created between myself and _____ through the act of adultery
in Jesus' name!"

There can also be soul ties between yourself and another person,
without any sexual relationship involved. Sexual relationships are
one of the best way to create a very strong soul tie, but it's not the
only way. Other soul ties can be created through unhealthy
relationships, such as being so close to a parent that you take their
advice over God's advice. Again, repentance and the breaking of
the soul ties in Jesus' name is the way to go about solving this
problem.

Another thing that could hold back the breaking of a soul tie, is a
physical object given to you from the other person, through a sinful
relationship. If you were given a ring, or bra or a love gift through
an adulterous relationship, for example, then those gift(s) can hold
the soul tie together. If the gift is valuable, and not necessarily bad
in itself, then it's best to sell the gift. If the gift is demonic or
unholy, then it's best to throw away the gift.

Demonic vows: A demonic vow can be like a spiritual signature

that the enemy uses as a legal right to gain access into our lives.
Demonic vows can be made consciously or unconsciously. Often
when a person joins a cult coven (a group of witches), they are
required to make vows with the devil. Demonic vows can be made
unconsciously just by dabbling with the occult. Just by getting
curious about the occult and reading forbidden materials (including
horoscopes) can give the enemy your spiritual signature; it tells the
enemy know that your interested. Jesus warns us not to make any
vows at all. The only vows I can see are practical and good are
those made during a marriage ceremony.

The remedy? But if we have made vows that do not glorify God,
then we should repent and renounce those vows verbally and seek
God's forgiveness. Do this verbally, because vows are made
verbally, breaking them is also done verbally.

Unforgiveness: When we don't forgive others, God won't forgive

us. When God doesn't forgive us, it leaves our sins remaining,
which can give the enemy legal rights into our lives. Read Matthew
18:23-35, and keep in mind that the tormenters they are referring
to, are demons. The legal ground the enemy may be standing on to
torment you may very well be rooted in unforgiveness! I've heard
that the single most common reason that people aren't healed, is
because they are holding unforgiveness in their hearts, and I
believe it! Forgiveness is not an option; it's a necessity! See my
study on "Unforgiveness: Poison" for a more in depth
understanding of how unforgiveness works.

The remedy? Repent for holding bitterness in your heart against

others, and make a solid choice to forgive those who have wronged
you (also confirm your choice by verbally forgiving them), and
release the bitterness and hurt from your heart against them.
Ancestral sins: When you involve yourself in the deeper sins or
the occult world, you not only open demonic doors in your own life,
but also in the lives of your children and grandchildren (Exodus
20:5). If your ancestors have committed gross sins or been
involved in the occult, then it's a good idea to confess those sins
(to the best of your ability... God knows your heart), and ask Him
for forgiveness (Leviticus 26:40-42). Even though you personally
aren't guilty of those sins, they may have caused curses in your
life, and those curses need to be broken. Common ways to tell if
ancestral sins are involved, is if your siblings or ancestors have
experienced or are experiencing the same or similar problem that
you are.

The remedy? The legal grounds have already been broken! If any
spirits are remaining, they must be cast out. For more information,
see the teaching on Generational Curses .

Childhood rejection: Much demonic bondage is caused during

childhood. For example, if a parent shows rejection toward their
child, a spirit of rejection may enter.

The remedy? If you have been rejected by either your parents or

somebody else, you must make a solid choice to forgive that
person(s), and release the hurt in your heart against them. The
spirit of rejection is usually present in this situations, and should be
renounced.

Points of weakness: When the person experiences weakness,

such as emotional shock, physical trauma, fearful experiences
during childhood, and other areas to which the natural walls of
defense in the physical, spiritual or emotional system of a person
are weakened, it leaves us vulnerable for the enemy to attach
himself to us. The same is true with drinking excessive amounts of
alcohol, and especially true with drugs, because they lower our
defenses, and since demons thrive on weakness, they love to move
right in and setup camp.

The remedy? If there was any bitterness involved (say somebody

caused the traumatic experience for you, and you are still holding it
against them), then you must forgive the person who hurt you, and
repent for harboring bitterness in your heart against them. If the
point of weakness was caused by your own sin, such as drinking or
drugs, then confess and repent of that sin. If the demons entered
solely through traumatic experience, and none of it was anybody's
fault, then the demons are 100% trespassers in this situation, and
need to be told to leave!

Spoken self-curses: The words we say have spiritual value, the

Bible says to bless and not curse, and that the tongue has the
power of life and death. If you walk around saying, "I wish I could
just die," a demon may hear you and can go to God and say, "Look,
she wants to die!" and here comes a spirit of death. There is a book
titled, "Blessing or Curse: You can choose, " by Derek Prince, which
deals with this topic of curses in much detail.

The remedy? Take back what you spoke against yourself, renounce
it! Repent for speaking such thing(s), and break the curse(s) in
Jesus' name!

Cursed objects: Physical objects can carry spiritual value, such as

idols, occult books, rings, movies, charms, etc. If you brought any
Indian or pagan religion artifacts into your home, you could be
opening the door for demons to enter and bother the people within
your home. Land can also become defiled by the sins of it's owners
(Leviticus 18:27).

The remedy? Burn, destroy or get rid of any physical objects that
you have located that could be cursed. Isaiah 2:18, "And the idols
he shall utterly abolish." It is Biblical to burn cursed objects.
Repent for bringing such objects into your home if you are
responsible for them! Land can be cleansed by prayer and
repenting of the sins of the previous owners.

Renounce demons: Renounce any known demons that have been

invited in (ex. spirit guides), and any interest or involvement in the
occult or Satanism. Also renounce any demons that you know need
to be cast out. This helps let the demons know that you are no
longer interested in having them around.

Other helpful things to look for: When did the bondage start?

Try to pinpoint how the problem started and what gave the demons
the ability to enter. Look for any involvement in the occult, sins,
vows, traumatic experiences, etc. along with any unusual
happenings emotionally, spiritually or mentally.

Basic Introduction to Soul Ties

What a soul tie is

The Bible speaks of what is today known as soul ties. In the Bible,
it doesn't use the word soul tie, but it speaks of them when it talks
about souls being knit together, becoming one flesh, etc. A soul tie
can serve many functions, but in it's simplest form, it ties two souls
together in the spiritual realm. Soul ties between married couples
draw them together like magnets, while soul ties between
fornicators can draw a beaten and abused woman to the man which
in the natural realm she would hate and run from, but instead she
runs to him even though he doesn't love her, and treats her like
dirt. In the demonic world, unholy soul ties can serve as bridges
between two people to pass demonic garbage through. I helped a
young man not too long ago break free from downright awful
visitations from demons, all due to an ungodly soul tie he had with
a witch. The man was a Christian, and the only thing that allowed
her to send demonic torment his way, is through the soul tie. Other
soul ties can do things such as allow one person to manipulate and
control another person, and the other person is unaware to what is
going on or knows what is going on, but for no real reason, allows
it to continue.

How soul ties are formed

I believe there are other ways which soul ties are formed, but here
are some that I am aware of.

Sexual relations: Godly soul ties are formed when a couple are

married (Ephesians 5:31, "For this cause shall a man leave his
father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two
shall be one flesh."), and the Godly soul tie between a husband and
the wife that God intended him to have is unbreakable by man
(Mark 10:7-9). However, when a person has ungodly sexual
relations with another person, an ungodly soul tie is then formed (1
Corinthians 6:16, "What? know ye not that he which is joined to an
harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh."). This soul
tie fragments the soul, and is destructive. People who have many
past relationships find it very difficult to 'bond' or be joined to
anybody, because their soul is fragmented.

Close relationships: King David and Jonathan had a good soul tie

as a result of a good friendship (1 Samuel 18:1, "And it came to
pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the
soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan
loved him as his own soul."), but bad soul ties can form from bad
relationships as well. Idolizing somebody can cause a bad soul tie.

I have heard too that you can create a soul tie with a rock group by
becoming obsessed with their music. Which explains the strong pull
towards certain music that seems almost irresistible.

Vows, commitments and agreements: Vows are known to bind

the soul (Numbers 30:2), marriage itself consists of vows and binds
the two people together (Ephesians 5:31), therefore I have little
reason to overlook the concept of vows or commitments as being a
means to create a soul tie.

How to break a soul tie

1. If any sins were committed to cause this soul tie, repent of

them! Fornication is perhaps one of the most common ways to
create nasty soul ties.

2. If gifts were given to you by the other person in connection with

the sin or unholy relationship, such as rings, flowers, cards, bras,
etc. I would get rid of them! Such things symbolize the ungodly
relationship, and can hold a soul tie in place. If you are still friends
or in a relationship (just now it's no longer an ungodly
relationship), like say a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, except
you've repented of and forsaken the unholy practices you used to
do in your relationship, then I don't feel it is necessary to destroy
all the gifts and things that you have been given. I would still
encourage you to get rid of anything that symbolizes the ungodly
practices in the relationship though, such as if a guy gives a girl a
bra and panties with his initials on them during fornication. I
wouldn't encourage you to hang on to such things that symbolize
sin or that are wrong to give each other before marriage. Things
such as flowers and love letters given during an adultery should be
destroyed.

3. Any rash vows or commitments made that played a part in

forming the soul tie should be renounced and repented of, and
broken in Jesus' name. Even things like "I will love you forever", or
"I could never love another man!" need to be renounced. They are
spoken commitments that need to be undone verbally. As Proverbs
21:23 tells us, "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth
his soul from troubles." The tongue has the ability to bring the soul
great troubles and bondage.
4. Forgive that person if you have anything against them.

5. Renounce the soul tie. Do this verbally, and in Jesus' name.

Example, "In Jesus' name, I now renounce any ungodly soul ties
formed between myself and ______ as a result of
_______________ (fornication, etc.)."

6. Break the soul tie in Jesus' name! Do this verbally using your
authority in Jesus. Example, "I now break and sever any ungodly
soul ties formed between myself and _________ as a result of
______________ (fornication, etc.) in Jesus' name."

Additional recommended reading

Seductions Exposed - The spiritual dynamics of relationships

(Dr. Gary L. Greenwald)
AWESOME book that takes you behind the scenes of soul ties,
transferring of spirits, and how the enemy can use various things to
gain a 'bridge' into our souls.

Deliverance FAQ

Can a demon possess (as in 'own') somebody? No! In Ezekiel

18:4, God says clearly, "Behold, all souls are mine..."

Is demon possession rare? Not according to scripture! Mark

1:34, "...cast out many  devils..." Luke 4:41, "...devils also came
out of many ..." Acts 8:7, "For unclean spirits, crying with loud
voice, came out of many  that were possessed with them..." Mark
6:13, "...they cast out many   devils..." Matthew 8:16, "...they
brought unto him many that were possessed with devils ..."

Jesus sent fourth 70 disciples to preach the gospel and cast out
demons, and they returned full of joy as they could see that this
was a very real and important ministry. Now for Jesus to send out
70 men and they come back with praise reports of deliverances...
that tells us that even though they were on foot, there were plenty
of people in their area that needed deliverance!  Luke 10:17, "And
the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils
are subject unto us through thy name."

Are there different strengths of demons? Absolutely! The Bible

speaks of different ranks of demons (Eph 6:12), and Jesus taught
His disciples that some demons were so strong that they required a
level of faith to cast them out that was only obtainable through
prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29).

Aren't all demons the same? Absolutely not; they all have their
own personalities, just like people do. There are different demons
that serve different functions, such as some people are doctors
while others are lawyers, etc. Some demons cause loss of hearing
and loss of eyesight (Mark 9:25), while others cause infirmities,
and others cause fear and depression (1 Samuel 16:14, "Now the
Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting
spirit that filled him with depression and fear." -NLT).

Do demons have names? Yes they do, just like God's holy angels
have names (Luke 1:19, Judges 1:9). Often, the name of a demon
will give you a clue as to what it does, the function it preforms, or
the role it plays. Some of the demons in the Bible are known as
deaf, dumb, infirmity, etc. (Mark 9:25, Luke 13:11).

Can demons return to the person whom they left?  Yes, but
this is mostly a concern for non-believers who have undergone a
deliverance, and haven't accepted Jesus yet. Jesus warns the
'wicked generation' (sinners) that the demon can return with 7
even worse demons. If you are a believer though, and your
deliverance has been complete (all the demons kicked out and legal
rights have been broken), then this isn't a concern to you.
However, if you go back and re-open the door(s) that let the
demon in, you are re-welcoming him back in. But if we don't go
back and re-punch that hole in our hedge again, we don't have
have to go around worrying about it returning.

Can children have a demon? Yes, children can have demons just

like adults. Anybody who is experienced in this ministry will testify
to this. Mark 9:17-21, "And one of the multitude answered and
said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb
spirit... And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came
unto him? And he said, Of a child." The word child here in NT Greek
is paidiothen and means 'from infancy', meaning the child may
have very well been born with the spirit. Literally translated, the
father was saying that his son had this spirit from infancy.

Can demons be handed down from one generation to

another? The iniquity or curse in a parent or grandparent could be
handed down, which automatically gives the demons the legal
grounds to inhabit the child or future generation, but the demons
themselves are not omnipresent and therefore cannot dwell within
two people at the same time. Similar demons of the same kind
(infirmity, fear, etc.) are usually what takes advantage of a
generational curse or iniquity.

What does it mean to be 'demon possessed'? If you look up

'possessed' in the NT Greek, it gives you the word daimonizomai,
which means to be under the power of a demon. For example, if
you are under the power of a demon of fear, you will be fearful; if
you are under the power of a deaf spirit, then you won't be able to
hear.

Are there different levels of bondage? Yes, just like if you drink

a little or a lot of alcohol, you will come more or less under it's
influence. The more you drink, the more you come under it's
influence, and likewise, the more you get involved in the demonic,
the more you come under it's power (or influence).

Aren't Christians immune from demonic bondage? This is an

unbiblical theology based on assumptions. In order to prove that
Christians can't have demons, two things need to be considered.
First, there must be an automatic shedding of demons at the time
of salvation. Second, it needs to be proven that a demon cannot
dwell within a soul (mind) or the body of a man while the Holy
Spirit is united with the spirit of the man. Neither of these things
can be proven Biblically. There are some verses that seem
convincing, and I've had to use the Greek Lexicon before to prove
that the interpretation of those verses was erred, but the bottom
line is that nobody can Biblically prove that Christians can't have
demons. I have seen from experience, that there are many
Christians who are in demonic bondage. There are many
deliverances I know of where Christians had demons cast out of
them, and it made a day and night difference in their lives. This is
a question that I could write a 20 page answer to easily, because it
is likely the single most debated issue among those debating about
this ministry. I have argued and debated with many very clever and
sharp people over this, and have never been proven wrong. The
Bible also gives plenty of proof that Christians can have demons,
and deliverance for unbelievers is easily proven an invalid ministry
according to the Bible, yet Jesus made it very clear that those who
believe will be casting out demons. Those who oppose demons
being cast out of Christians, rarely if ever do any deliverance work
themselves for anybody, whether they be believers or unbelievers.

How do demons enter? The most common ways is through open

doors (legal grounds), traumatic experiences, rejection, abuse, or
generational (passed down). Open doors consists of things such as
repeated sins, ungodly vows, curses (self-imposed, generational,
etc.), occult dabbling, ungodly soul ties, unforgiveness, etc.

Can demons leave on their own without having to be cast

out? From my experience, yes. The more you grow in the Lord, the
more lesser demons will can shed, because you bring in the light,
and it makes it uncomfortable for the demons to remain. I've seen
where people have been set free simply by breaking the demon's
legal rights. This doesn't always expel demons though, and there
are many cases where the demons need to be cast out, but for
many lesser demons, this can work.

Do demons always manifest when they are cast

out? Sometimes they do, but not always. Sometimes all the person
feels is a huge sigh of relief and a feeling like the evil spirit has left
or a black cloud was lifted from them.

Is a demonic manifestation a sign of a successful

deliverance?Unfortunately, demons can and do manifest without
coming out. Therefore, this can be deceiving and dangerous to rely
on manifestations as a sign of a successful deliverance. A
successful deliverance will provide true lasting relief for the
individual. To manifest, means to make itself known; this has
nothing to do with being set free from them. It's often a good sign
to run into a manifestation during a deliverance, but it doesn't
necessarily mark a successful deliverance. I know some people go
through a deliverance, a demon manifests, and then goes back
under (stops manifesting), and everybody rejoices thinking the
deliverance was successful, but the problem is, the demon only
manifested but didn't leave. The person then walks away confused
because they think the deliverance ministry is a weird practice that
doesn't really solve any of their problems. Therefore, it is very
important to not rely on a demonic manifestation to tell whether or
not a deliverance was successful.
Is there anything you can do to reduce the demonic
manifestations?Absolutely! Some important things to keep in
mind, is to first try to cut off the demon's legal rights before
casting him out, and also forbid them to harm anybody and tell
them to hold thy peace and come out, as Jesus did (Luke 4:35).

Does having a demon mean that the person has lost their
salvation until they are delivered? John 3:16 tells us the bases
of our salvation, NOT whether or not we have a demon! The
daughter of Abraham who was freed from a spirit of infirmity was
an example of a believer who had a demon. Jesus never positively
referred to somebody as a child of Abraham unless they were
actual believers, and He slammed the Pharisees for considering
themselves children of Abraham, because they didn't share in the
faith of Abraham, and made it clear that they were not really
children of Abraham. Therefore, if Jesus takes joy in considering
somebody a child of Abraham, it's a honor and means that they are
a true believer.

What are some of the symptoms of having a demon? Mental

problems, irrational emotional breakdowns, physical problems that
aren't easily cured by medical attention, repeated weaknesses to
things such as anger, hate, lust, unnatural desires (homosexual,
etc.) etc., irrational feelings, thoughts, desires, fears, depression,
etc., irrational obsessive worrying, compulsive behavior and many
more.

Is it good to ask a demon for it's name? It doesn't hurt a thing

and it can be very helpful. You must be aware that demons can lie
though, so you can't bank on what they tell you. But if you can get
ahold of their name, it gives you a good handle to get their
attention with. If somebody shouts "Hey you!" in a crowd, it
probably won't get your attention, but if somebody shouts, "Hey
Bob!" (providing that's your name), it will get your attention in no
time. Having the demons name also gives you an idea of what his
purpose and function is, as well as what other demons to look for in
the person.

Is deliverance for today? Absolutely, it was live and well during

the early church, and nowhere in the Bible does it say that we
aren't to be casting out demons anymore, and the need for
deliverance certainly hasn't diminished one bit.
Are we supposed to cast out demons? Yes! Jesus said that
those who believe will be doing the works He did (which was
healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out demons, etc.) and
even greater (John 14:12). Jesus also said before He went back to
be with the Father that those who believe will be casting out
demons (Mark 16:17).

Who are we supposed to cast demons out of? Although it is

possible and sometimes beneficial to cast demons out of
unbelievers, the deliverance ministry is geared towards believers
for a number of reasons. For one, it's part of the new covenant,
which does not apply to unbelievers. Second, without Christ, you
cannot remove the legal grounds the demon has in a person,
therefore the problem hasn't been solved, it's only been stirred up.
Third, Jesus warned that if you cast demons out of an unbeliever
(sinner, wicked generation), it will come back with 7 more even
worse demons and the man will be far worse then before (Matthew
12:43-45). I believe there are times when it is helpful to cast
demons out of unbelievers, but that's not the focus of this ministry,
Jesus said that this is children's bread (Matthew 15:26) and it is
geared towards setting the believers free from demonic bondage.

Don't demons automatically leave at the time of

salvation? No, this is an unbiblical assumption that nobody can
back up with scripture (unless they twist it). Nowhere in the Bible
does it say that we will automatically shed all our bondages at the
time of salvation. Many demons cause health problems, and
roughly half of the healings Jesus did in Matthew were actually
deliverances from such evil spirits, therefore, if people
automatically shed their bondages at the time of salvation, I would
expect many many healings to automatically take place the
moment they believe upon Jesus. Personally, I don't know of one of
those cases. Cancer is known to be demonic in almost every
situation, therefore, I would expect cancer to leave automatically at
the time a person accepts Jesus, if we automatically shed all our
demons when we are born again. The problem is, this is a faulty
theology which keeps people from seeking the help they need,
because it makes them believe that they can't have demons,
therefore denying the problem. This belief that demons
automatically leave at the time of salvation is what they are talking
about in 1 Timothy 4:1, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in
the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." The belief is unbiblical,
and based upon assumptions, and furthermore, experience tells me
others.

How can a demon dwell within a believer who has the Holy
Spirit?Many believe that anybody who has the Holy Spirit is
immune from demonic bondage. This theology usually stems from a
faulty belief that the soul (mind) and the spirit are the same things.
The moment we are born again, our spirits are reborn and the Holy
Spirit is united with our spirit. The soul (mind) of a man is not
instantly reborn as the spirit is, but rather we are told to be
transformed by the renewing of our minds, which doesn't happen
instantly. Our souls is where the dirt lies, and where the demons
dwell, not our spirits. Therefore, there is no reason left to believe
that a Christian is immune from demonic bondage, because their
souls are usually on the dirty side until they are renewed over time.
If the soul and the spirit were the same things, you would instantly
be a perfect person, never to sin again, once you are born again.
There would be no 'evil' left in you, no desires to do wrong, and
you would hate it bitterly because you would be perfect in your
mind/soul and united with God, therefore there would be no room
to sin. In John 8:31-34, Jesus tells us that even though they were
believers, they were held slaves to sin because they were ignorant
of the truth; this proves that Christians can be in bondage to
darkness. If a demon can affect our minds (souls), they can do an
awfully lot of damage. Look at what mental illness can do to people
through affecting the mind! They can cause the person to have
unspeakable desires, thoughts, emotions, and do unthinkable
things!

Can a person have a demon without knowing it? Yes. Two

primary reasons for this would be, (a) ignorance, as they don't
understand what is the true source of their problem, and (b) a
demon(s) may be there, but isn't really doing anything noticeable
at the time. Demons are like people in the sense that they can
choose to be manifesting themselves or not; they can choose if
they want to cause problems at the moment or not. When a person
seeks deliverance from demons, and turns to the occult for help,
the person who tries to 'deliver' them can just coax the demons to
'hide' and fake a 'deliverance', thus proving that demons can and
do 'hide' if it benefits them. Sometimes a demon can lie dormant in
a person's life, and then when that person enters the ministry, the
demon manifests because it wants to shut the minister down and
keep him out of the ministry.
Unforgiveness: Spiritual Poison

Unforgiveness is the single most popular poison that the enemy

uses against God's people, and it is one of the deadliest poisons a
person can take spiritually. It causes everything from mental
depression, to health problems such as cancer and arthritis. I'm not
saying that in every single case of cancer, it is due to
unforgiveness, but I am saying that it can cause cancer. Cancer
comes from the devil, scientist can't explain it, doctors don't
understand where it comes from; it's the symptoms of a curse. God
allowed the Israelites to face diseases and sickness when they
disobeyed Him (Deut 28:58-61), and when they would turn back to
Him, He would heal their land and take sickness from their midst
(Exodus 23:25, Deut 7:15). In the New Testament, Jesus gave us
two commandments (Matthew 22:37-40), and if we break those,
we can be opened up to curses, just as the people in the Old
Testament were. Jesus never came to abolish the law (Matthew
5:17), but He did come to set us free from the curse of the law
(Galatians 3:13), meaning, Jesus paid the price so we can be set
free from any curses we may have come under.

Two commandments given to us by God

Matthew 22:37-40, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is
like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Jesus gave us very important commandments to follow; one of

them was to love one another, as He has loved us (John 15:12).
Love is the exact opposite of unforgiveness, envy, jealousy, hate,
pride and bitterness. You can't truly love somebody and hold
bitterness or unforgiveness against him or her at the same time.

Our responsibility to forgive others

God sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins, so that we may be
reconciled to Him, without spot or blemish. He asks that we give
others the same forgiveness that paid for us. He tells a parable in
Matthew 18:23-35 that says the same thing:
"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king,
which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun
to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten
thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord
commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that
he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down,
and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I
will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with
compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the
same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which
owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took
[him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his
fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have
patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but
went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when
his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and
came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after
that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I
forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest
not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I
had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the
tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So
likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your
hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

Unforgiveness shows we don't really love Jesus

In John 15:12, Jesus commands us to love one another, as He has

loved us. True love doesn't hold bitterness or unforgiveness against
that person. If we are bitter or hold unforgiveness against
somebody, then we don't love them as Christ loved us. If we don't
keep Jesus' commandments, then it proves we don't love Him.

John 14:24, "He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings..."

Unforgiveness prevents God from forgiving our sins

Matthew 6:15, "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither

will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Unforgiveness opens us up to the tormentors (the devil)

Matthew 18:23-35, "Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened

unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And
when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which
owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to
pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children,
and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant
therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have
patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that
servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave
him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his
fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid
hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that
thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and
besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee
all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he
should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was
done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all
that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said
unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt,
because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had
compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And
his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he
should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my
heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts
forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

Unforgiveness can block God from answering our prayers

Mark 11:24, 25, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye
desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall
have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought
(something) against any: that your Father also which is in heaven
may forgive you your trespasses."

Matthew 7:7, 12, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you... Therefore all things
whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to
them..."

John 15:5, 10 tells us that if we abide in Christ, we will produce

much spiritual fruit, and the way that we abide in Christ is by
keeping His commandments. Verse 12 tells us that His
commandment is to love one another as He has loved us. Verse 7
tells us that if we abide in Him (by keeping His commandments),
and His Word in us, we can ask for anything and it will be given
onto us! The reason a lot of people's prayers go unanswered, is
because they aren't keeping the commandments that Jesus gave
us; therefore they aren't abiding in Christ's love, and if we aren't
abiding in Christ's love, how can we expect Him to hear our
prayers?

Unforgiveness can defile a person

Hebrews 12:15, "...lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble

you, and thereby many be defiled."

Notice at the end it says, "many be defiled." This is a VERY

common, if not one of the most common everyday things that
defile people! Many bondages can be shed when a person forgives
those who have wronged him or her.

Unforgiveness can give Satan an advantage

2 Corinthians 2:10-11, "To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive

also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes
forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an
advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."

Unforgiveness can keep a person out of heaven

Matthew 7:12, 21, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that

men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law
and the prophets... Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will
of my Father which is in heaven."

1 John 3:14, "We know that we have passed from death unto life,
because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother
abideth in death."

Unforgiveness can prevent us from being fruitful spiritually

John 15:5 tells us that if we abide in Christ, we will produce much

spiritual fruit, and the way that we abide in Christ is by keeping His
commandments (verse 10). Verse 12 tells us that His
commandment is that we love one another as He has loved us.
Therefore, if we don't love one another, as He has loved us, then
we do not abide in Him, and how are we suppose to produce much
spiritual fruit if we don't abide in Him? According to verse 6, the
branch that doesn't abide in the vine will be cast into the fire.
Unforgiveness can open us up to curses

When people in the Old Testament disobeyed God's

commandments, it opened them up to curses (Deut 27:26). When
people nowadays disobey God, it can do the same thing; it can
open them up to curses. Curses can cause mental and emotional
problems (Deut 28:28), physical problems (Deut 28:35, 60, 61),
financial problems (Deut 28:17, 38, 43), divorce and unfaithful
spouse (Deut 28:30, 56), emotional stress (Deut 28:34),
childlessness (Lev 20:21), and that's not all, plus those curses can
be handed down to your future generations (Exodus 20:5).

The blessings of forgiveness

When we forgive, it opens us up to God's forgiveness (Matthew

6:15), it puts us in a receiving position when we pray (Mark 11:24,
25), it helps us become spiritually fruitful (John 15:10, 12, 5), and
we will know that we have passed from spiritual death to being
reconciled with our heavenly Father when we love each other (1
John 3:14)! When we keep God's commandments and love one
another, we prove that we love Jesus (John 14:21), and we abide
in Christ's love (John 15:10)! What a magnificent blessing
forgiveness really is!!!

Deliverances is for Believers

Understanding legal rights

The first thing that must be understood is that demons almost

always have legal grounds in a person's life, usually rooted in
either the person's sins, or the sins of their ancestors (the breaking
of generational curses is only valid for those who are under the new
covenant). Before you can successfully cast a demon out of them,
that legal right must first be broken or removed.

Trying to cast a demon out of an unbeliever is like trying to kick

somebody out of their apartment when their rent is paid up; it isn't
an easy task and even if you did succeed, they are bound to come
back with several more even worse evil spirits as Jesus warned.
Matthew 12:43-45, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man,
he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out;
and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more
wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the
last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be
also unto this wicked generation."

Deliverance is part of the atonement and New Covenant

Let's take a close look at Isaiah 53:5, where it prophecies about

some of the things that Jesus will do for us, "But he was wounded
for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities  (this is for
your deliverance): the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed." Do you think this verse was
talking about things that Jesus did for unbelievers? Did He shed His
blood for the sins of unbelievers (providing they stay in their
unbelief of course)? Did His stripes pay for the healing of
unbelievers? What about the chastisement of our peace being upon
Him, was that for unbelievers? What should make us think that Him
taking on our iniquities was for the unbelievers? Where does it say
that Jesus took the iniquities of the unbelievers?

Matthew 8:16-17, "When the even was come, they brought unto
him many that were possessed with devils: and  he cast out the
spirits with his word , and healed all that were sick: That it might be
fulfilled  which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,  Himself
took our infirmities , and bare our sicknesses."

If deliverance was part of the atonement and new covenant, then

it's meant for believers! But note that even though an iniquity can
be forgiven, doesn't mean the demon automatically leaves. Jesus
still 'cast' the demon out in fulfilling the prophecy in this situation.

Notice in Matthew 8:16 that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy that He

paid for our deliverance, but also notice how He still had to 'cast
out' the demon! It didn't leave automatically.  The fulfillment of that
prophecy was demonstrated by the actual casting out of a
demon(s) !

We, as believers, are commissioned to do the same thing

concerning demons: Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them
that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils ...."
There's no excuse to cast demons out of unbelievers

Some Christians believe that we are to cast out demons out of

unbelievers to demonstrate God's power so that they may be
saved. There are some major flaws in this theory. For one, I
believe those who preach this don't practice what they preach,
because they have little or no experience at all in casting out
demons out of ANYBODY! If we go around casting out demons out
of unbelievers, what we are doing is stirring up a hornet's nest.
Even if you are successful at casting the demon(s) out, the person
is left wide open for them to return, with several more even worse
demon spirits. You could easily put somebody in a mental hospital
this way! Is this how we are to witness to love of Jesus to
unbelievers? By telling them that if they now don't accept Jesus,
they will be soon living their worse nightmare and maybe end up in
a mental hospital? That sounds like the way some cult would get
people to join their religion, by threatening them!

Matthew 12:43-45, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man,

he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out;
and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more
wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there : and the
last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be
also unto this wicked generation ."

First get the person saved, THEN cast out their demons. This way
the legal rights can be removed, which is essential to prevent the
demon(s) from returning!

Another excuse Christians try to use is to cast out the demons so

that the person may accept Jesus. Which is another concept that I
believe is not practiced by those who preach it! They usually get
this concept from 2 Corinthians 4:4, "In whom the god of this world
hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of
the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine
unto them." However, casting demons out to solve this problem is
completely unbiblical! Not only are we never told to cast demons
out of unbelievers for this purpose, there are no examples of this
method at work in the days of Jesus or the early church. I think we
are given a good idea how to handle this problem in Matthew
12:29, "Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and
spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man ? and then he
will spoil his house." My point? BIND the strong man, NOT cast him
out of unbelievers! What's the difference? Binding is like temporary
handcuffing, it ties up the enemy, which if the person still doesn't
come to Jesus, then he won't end up in a worse condition then
before, as would happen if you were to cast the demons out.

If casting out demons out of unbelievers is such a great way to win

souls, then why aren't those Christians who believe this is the
purpose of deliverance, practicing this concept themselves? Why
didn't Jesus or the early church practice this concept? On the flip
side, we are actually warned NOT to cast demons out of
unbelievers, because they will return with several more even worse
evil spirits, and threatening people to accept Jesus or else, is NOT
the way I think Jesus would proclaim the gospel!

I also think it is neat how Jesus would often tell the people, "Your
sins are forgiven" when He healed them. This meant that their
sickness or disease was due to sins they have committed, which
means they were under a curse according to the Bible. Jesus didn't
just heal them, He made sure that the legal right for that curse was
broken before he healed them, so that they were able to keep their
healing. This is something that Jesus could do, that we cannot do,
because He had the power to forgive people's sins, while we don't
have that ability. What we are commissioned to do is lead the
person to accept and believe upon Jesus, which allows them to
have their sins forgiven.

Children's bread

Jesus referred to deliverance as children's bread. This is not for

unbelievers, this is for believers!

Matthew 15:26, "But he answered and said, It is not meet to take

the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs ."

Could He of been saying that it is not right to give deliverance to

unbelievers? He referred to those outside the covenant (Gentiles at
that time were obviously outside of the covenant) as dogs. The
unsaved today are also outside the covenant... you must be a
believer in Jesus to be inside the covenant!

I also find it interesting that many times Jesus cast out demons, it
was done for the people in the synagogues. Mark 1:39, "And he
preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out
devils."

I strongly believe that deliverance is not for unbelievers, but for

believers. It is not meant to provide relief to the world's problems,
but to bring freedom to the believer who may be struggling with
demonic bondages.

How Deliverances Can Fail

The most common obstacles

Not enough faith - Jesus said that some demons only come out
after prayer and fasting, which builds your faith to the higher levels
required to cast out some of the stronger demons.

Mark 9:29, "And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by
nothing, but by prayer and fasting."

Unwillingness to be delivered or let go - if the person is not

willing to give up certain things in their life that are giving the
enemy the legal right to remain, or they are not willing to let go of
certain demons, there's little you can do to drive out those demons.

Legal rights were not broken - if you try to go about a

deliverance without first breaking off any legal grounds given to the
enemy, you will almost certainly fail, and even if you are
successful, the demons will almost certainly come back with even
more demons, making a worse mess then before.

Important steps were not taken - there are some steps that can
make a day and night difference in a deliverance session, such as
getting ahold of the demons names and commanding them by
name. If you simply command all the demons present to leave, you
will likely be ignored; it's like somebody trying to get your
attention in a crowd by yelling "Hey you!" Many times when Jesus
cast out demons, He referred to them by name, and He got their
attention in quick order. Not every deliverance session requires you
to refer to the demons by name, but it sure helps when you are
able to get ahold of their names, either through the person your
ministering to (if they accepted a spirit guide by the name of
Daemon, then they would obviously know the name of one or more
spirits that are in them), another way to get the name is by the
symptoms they are causing, for example, extreme guilt feelings are
often caused by a spirit by the name of guilt, and other ways to get
their names are by a word of knowledge from the Holy Spirit, or
from the demons themselves (if they manifest, ask them for their
name).

The person hasn't accepted Christ - trying to cast a demon out

of an unbeliever is like trying to kick somebody out of their
apartment when their rent is paid up; it isn't an easy task and even
if you did succeed, they are bound to come back with several more
even worse evil spirits as Jesus warned in Matthew 12:43-45. This
problem can be easily solved by asking the person if they would
accept Jesus, with a mouth confession as the Bible says, and
believe with their heart in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:9-11, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth
on him shall not be ashamed."

Demon Possession

Serious flaw in the phrase 'demon possession'

I think we need to drop the term "demon possessed", because

there is no such thing! NOT even in the life of a NON-BELIEVER!
You might be asking, "Here's somebody who's sold on the
deliverance ministry and he's telling us that there's no such thing
as somebody being demon possessed?" Let me explain...

The NT Greek: If you look up the term 'possessed' in the NT Greek

Lexicon, it does NOT refer to ownership, it rather means to be
under the power (influence) of a demon. There's a BIG difference!
The Bible, as far as I know, provides absolutely NO backing to the
idea that a person can be possessed (according to modern English)
by a demon!
Can a person be influenced or under the power (influence) of a
demon? Absolutely! This is what we address in the ministry of
deliverance!

Greek scholars will tell you that this was an error (or at least a
misleading impression) in the modern translations of the Bible,
including the KJV. It gives the wrong impression simply because
today's meaning to the word possessed is much different then it
was back then.

If you look up the word possessed when used in conjunction with

the word demon or devil in the NT Greek, you'll find that it means
to be under the power (influence) of a demon, not to be owned by
a demon. There is a BIG difference! Roughly half of the healings I
found Jesus perform in Matthew were actually deliverances. So if
half the sickness and diseases in the world today were demonically
rooted, then a lot of people (including Christians) are without a
doubt influenced by demons. Does that mean that the person is
owned by the demon? No way! Did the demon(s) own the man who
Jesus cast the deaf and dumb spirit out of? Of course not!!

It's also interesting that the Spanish Bible does not use a term that
refers to ownership, like our English Bibles do. Our English Bibles
have been flawed because the meaning of the word possessed has
changed, but our Bibles have not been updated to reflect this
change.

The keyword is 'influenced', not 'possessed': Another

interesting point is that if a demon truly owned a person, then you
wouldn't be able to cast a demon out of him or her, because the
person would belong to that demon. The reason you can cast
demons out of people, is because demons are intruders in their
lives. People can be under the power (influence) of demons, just as
they can be under the power or influence of alcohol. The more a
person drinks, the more it influences them. The deeper a person
gets into demonic bondage, the more it influences them. Those who
have gotten in touch with the occult and Satanism demons usually
have significant signs of demonic bondages. The deeper a person
gets into demonic bondage, the stronger of an influence the
demons will have over them.

The Bible refers to several cases of people who had demons, and
uses the word possessed, but it does not say that the person was
under total control of the demon. Actually, some passages are
obvious that the person was NOT under complete control of the
demon. Like the times when deaf and dumb spirits were cast out of
the man. All they did was cause the person to be blind or not be
able to speak... scripture does not say that they did anything else
to the man. This alone proves that the word possessed in the NT
does NOT refer to ownership!

Almost every time the NT has used the term possessed in

conjunction with demons or devils, the phrase used was "possessed
with." If you replace the word 'possessed' with 'owned' (as it could
have been written if it truly meant ownership), it doesn't sound
right at all: 'The man was owned with a demon.' Makes a lot of
sense, doesn't it?

The bottom line? To be possessed with a demon means to be

under the power (which means influence) of a demon, but it does
NOT mean that the demons owns the person. Like being under the
influence of alcohol, the more you drink (or get yourself into
bondage), the more you come under it's influence.

If you are 'possessed' by a spirit of fear, it means you are under

the power of a spirit of fear, which means you will be influenced by
the spirit of fear, and therefore you will be fearful. Same is true
with spirits of deafness, if you are under their power, you won't be
able to hear. To be possessed really means to be under the power
of that particular demon.

What does it mean to be under the power of a demon?

It means to have a demon, or to be under the power or influence of

a demon. It may not be even in the soul realm at all, it could be a
spirit of infirmity affecting your body in one way or another.

What basically happens is that either you or your ancestors have

given a certain amount of control of yourself or your body over a
demon. Some people may be lightly affected by the demonic, while
others may be more heavily affected. It all depends on what
strength of demons are involved, what doors have been opened,
and how many demons are involved, along with other factors that
will determine the amount of power or control the demons have in
a person.

A good way to illustrate this is by comparing demonic bondages to

drinking; the stronger the drink, and the more of it you have, the
more it will influence your behavior. If you drink too much of a
strong drink, it can become quite noticeable. If you take a sip of
wine, you may not even notice the effect.

Demons can affect the physical body, as well as the mind of a

person. Common ways that they affect a physical body is through
sickness and disease, such as cancer or arthritis. Common ways
they affect a person mentally is by fear, depression or even mental
illness. Demons can also hinder a person's spiritual growth.

Some common things that usually indicate demonic bondage

Compulsive cutting or self harm: Mark 5:5, "And always, night

and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying,
and cutting himself with stones ."

Physical infirmities sickness or diseases: Matthew 9:32-33, "As

they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed
with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake ..."

Matthew 9:25, "When Jesus saw that the people came running
together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou  dumb
and deaf spirit , I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more
into him."

Luke 13:11, "And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of
infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no
wise lift up herself."

Uncontrollable anger: Matthew 8:28, "And when he was come to

the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him
two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs,  exceeding
fierce, so that no man might pass by that way ."

Super-human strength: Matthew 5:2-4, "And when he was come

out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man
with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and
no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had
been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been
plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither
could any man tame him ."

Mental health problems: Matthew 5:2-5, "And when he was come

out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man
with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and
no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had
been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been
plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither
could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the
mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with
stones ." Does that sound like somebody who's in their right mind to
you? What would somebody in their right mind be doing roaming
the tombs? This tells me that there was a spirit of death involved,
which gave him exceeding interest in the dead. Who in their right
mind would be roaming the tombs day and night crying and cutting
themselves with stones? When Jesus cast those demons out, the
man was said to have been "in his right mind" once again (verse
15).

Luke 8:27, "And when he went forth to land, there met him out of
the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and  ware no
clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs ." What kind
of a person in their right mind would go running around in the
tombs naked?

Matthew 17:15, 18, "Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is

lunatick , and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and
oft into the water... And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed
out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour."

Matthew 9:17-18, "And one of the multitude answered and said,

Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb
spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he
foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away : and I
spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could
not."

Mental torment (fear, depression, etc.): 1 Samuel 16:14, "But

the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from
the LORD troubled him ." I like how the New Living Translation says
it, "Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a
tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear."

Three Stages of Bondage

There are three stages of bondage in the believer that needs to be
addressed. I highly recommend attacking stage one first, then
stage two, and then if there are still bondages left, proceed to
stage three. Even if you need deliverance from level three
bondages, attacking the first two stages will prepare you for a
successful and lasting deliverance from stage three bondages. If
you try to attack stage three without getting stage one and two
dealt with, you could be in for an unsuccessful and disappointing
deliverance session that takes you nowhere. The enemy can often
use stage one and two bondages to fuel his ability to hang a stage
three bondage over you. Stage one gets your facts and beliefs
strait, stage two cuts off any legal rights the enemy has on you,
and stage three is the work of casting him out.

Before I begin I want to make a point very clear, this is only a brief
look into the basics of how these three bondages work and how to
be freed from them. I highly recommend further reading in some of
the books I have recommended at the end of each section.
Especially before attempting the stage three of deliverance!
Deliverances can be scary, and dangerous if you go into one
without knowing what you are doing, or having God's hand guiding
you, and therefore I highly recommend reading at least a couple
good solid books on deliverance before attempting to cast out
demons, unless you know the Holy Spirit is leading you through the
whole process.

Stage One: Ignorance, strong holds and deception

The first stage of bondage is caused by ignorance, strong holds,

and the enemy's greatest weapon in this stage is deception.
Understanding a correct picture of who God is, and who we are in
Christ will dissolve a lot of cases involving stage one bondages.

The primary weapon of the devil to put a person into stage one
bondage is deception. It is extremely common and there isn't a
person alive who hasn't been deceived in one way or another. If
you keep in God's Word, which you use to pull down strong holds,
Jesus said that you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you
free. Stage one bondages are caused by deception and lies from
the devil, so the way to combat them is with the truth, which is
found in God's Word. God also says that, "My people are destroyed
by lack of knowledge." Ignorance is a nasty disease that we need
to defeat!
Your picture of God: If you see God has a taskmaster, you will
act like He's one, and you will hurt the intimacy that God wants to
have with you. You will put up a wall between yourself and God
when you don't see Him as a loving God. Is there one person in
your life that you know loves you to pieces? Maybe it's your
spouse, parent, friend or even your pet. You can feel that person's
love, and have a very special relationship with that person (or pet).
Now think if you saw that person as a cruel taskmaster with a cold
personality? Even though it's not true, it would kill your
relationship, wouldn't it? Think how God feels when you see Him as
a cold and cruel taskmaster? It kills the relationship that He gave
His son so that you could have with Him! Why did He give His son?
So that we could be reconciled with Him, like it was before Adam
sinned! Our relationship with God means so much to Him, that He
gave His son so it could be restored!

Who you are in Christ: If you think of yourself as an evil and

worthless piece of meat, you will live like it. You cannot live
contrary to what you believe. The truth is, you have died to the old
self, you are no longer associated with your past! If you have
accepted Christ, you are a whole new person! The Bible refers to us
believers are saints! We are not simply sinners who are forgiven,
we are saints! It may be true that we 'were' sinners, and that
we've been forgiven, but we are no longer sinners, we have been
washed by the blood of Jesus, and we are whiter then snow! You
are not just a servant of God, but you have been adopted into
God's royal family as a child of God!

Legalism verses the law of grace: This is a vital thing you need

to understand; it's the law of grace. Many Christians feel they must
goto church every Sunday, and keep a list of laws in order for God
to accept and love them. This is not true, God has already accepted
you just as you are, and He loved you so much while you were a
sinner, that He sent His son to die for your sins! Our good deeds
should be a result of our love for God. Scripture says that we have
died to the law, and are no longer subject to it. We are under a
new law now. It's a law of grace, and it's worked out through love.
When we realize the love God has for us, and the hate that God has
for wrong, we not only stop sinning, but develop a hatred against
that sin. This breaks the power of sin in our lives. It's not a
question of doing right, but a question of why you are doing right.
Are you doing it because you feel obligated and are trying to earn
favor with God? Then you have fallen from the law of grace and
into legalism. The reason we are to do what is right should come
out of our love for God and as we realize His love for us, we will
naturally become more like Him and do what's right because we
want to, not because we feel obligated to.

Your sins are forgiven: If you aren't sure your sins are forgiven,
you will be experiencing guilt, and a feeling of unworthiness to live
in victory. The enemy moves right in on this weakness and fault in
your belief system, and uses it against you. Guilt gives the enemy
room to move in and make you feel worthless, and therefore he
keeps you fighting from a defeated position. You must know that
your sins are forgiven so the enemy won't hang guilt over your
head! Look at Luke 7:47, where Jesus forgave that woman who
lived a very sinful life, with no strings attached! Also look at other
stories where Jesus said "Your sins are forgiven" with no strings
attached. And Paul is another great example of how he was moved
from a sinful lifestyle right into the kingdom of God without any
strings or conditions attached!

Recommended reading: The Bible, the Bible, and the Bible!! The

Word of God is the single greatest way to combat the lies and
deceptions of the devil! A great book to help you realize who you
are in Christ is Victory over Darkness by Neil T. Anderson.

Some other good books to read are on spiritual warfare and include
Basic Training by Kim Freeman, Spiritual Warfare Derek Prince,
Battlefield of the Mind Joyce Meyer, The Beginners Guide to
Spiritual Warfare Nail T. Anderson & Timothy M. Warner

Stage Two: Legal rights are involved

Stage two bondages have a root and that root could be

unforgiveness in a person's heart, un-repented sins in that person's
life (things they are hiding that they know is wrong), ties which
need to be broken (cursed objects, soul ties, etc.) and things which
may need to be renounced (vows made with Satan, spirit
guides/demons that a person has welcomed into themselves, etc.).
The goal of addressing stage two bondages is to break yourself off
from any legal grounds that the enemy has gained in your life. This
list is not a complete and detailed list, but it's goal is to give you
an idea of some of the things which can give legal grounds to the
enemy in our lives.

Unforgiveness: Unforgiveness is one of the biggest tools the devil

uses against God's people. It not only cuts us off from God's
forgiveness (Mark 6:15), but it also turns you over to the
tormenters (Matthew 18:23-35), which are demons. You give
demons legal grounds in your life when you are bitter and
unforgiving against others. Unforgiveness is a sin which can defile a
person (Hebrews 12:15). Unforgiveness in itself is a sin which
should be repented of.

Unconfessed sins: If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just

to forgive us (1 John 1:9), but if you hide your sins, you are giving
the enemy ground in your life (Proverbs 28:13). Act 3:19, "Repent
ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the
Lord."

Unholy soul ties: 1 Corinthians 6:16, "What? know ye not that he

which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be
one flesh." When two people become very close, especially though
sexual relationships, soul ties are formed. If the soul tie is unholy,
it can serve as a demonic spiritual bridge between the two persons.
This can allow the demons tormenting one person to torment the
other person. These soul ties should be renounced and broken in
Jesus' name and the sins which have caused the soul ties should be
repented of and forsaken. Also, if any gifts or objects (rings,
personal gifts, etc.) were given to you from the person whom you
may have had an adultery or committed similar sins with, they
should be sold or destroyed. Even a harmless thing like a watch can
hold a soul tie together formed from an adultery, fornication or a
similar sin.

Cursed objects: Deuteronomy 7:26, "Neither shalt thou bring an

abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it:
but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for
it is a cursed thing." Cursed objects such as idols, occult books,
rings, etc. can bring a curse upon your life and your home. Land
can also be cursed as a result of the sins of it's inhabitants
(Leviticus 18:27).

It is Biblical to burn occult or cursed objects. Deuteronomy 7:25,

"The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire... for it is
an abomination to the LORD thy God." It's also evident in the NT as
well, Acts 19:19, "Many of them also which used curious arts
brought their books together, and burned them before all men..."
Ezekiel 20:7, "Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the
abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of
Egypt: I am the LORD your God."

Spoken curses: Your words have the power of life and death

(Proverbs 18:21), and if you have said something that has bound
your soul (such as declaring, "I'll never amount to anything" or "I
want to die"), then you should repent of it and take it back
(renounce it out loud). Matthew 12:37, "For by thy words thou
shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

Generational curses: The sins of your ancestors can also attribute

to your spiritual bondages and troubles (Exodus 20:5). The remedy
to break this, is to repent on behalf of your ancestors for their sins
(Nehemiah 9:2), and to break any curses (in the name of Jesus)
that may have come upon you as a result of their actions.

Unholy vows: James 5:2, "But above all things, my brethren,

swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any
other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall
into condemnation." Any unholy vows you have made need to be
repented of (Leviticus 5:4-6), and renounced (taken back) and
broken in the name of Jesus.

There's also a teaching specifically on Legal Rights .

Recommended reading: Spiritual Housecleaning by Alice & Eddie

Smith is a great book on cleaning your home of cursed objects.
Free at Last by Larry Huch is a great book on breaking free from
generational curses. Seductions Exposed by Gary L., Dr. Greenwald
is a great book on the transferring of spirits and soul ties. How to
Cast out Demons by Doris Wagner is a great book at uncovering
the legal roots of your spiritual problems and casting out demons.
Breaking Generational Curses & Pulling Down Strongholds by Vito
Rallo is another really good book to get ahold of. The Bait of Satan
by John Bevere will show you the dangers of unforgiveness in the
spiritual realm.

Stage Three: Demons must be driven out

Stage three is when strong enough demons are encountered that

are not leaving automatically and must be driven out. Even after a
demon's legal grounds have been removed, they often do not leave
on their own. Some of the lesser demons may, but it's not that
common for a stronger demon to pack up and leave on it's own.
This is why Jesus made it clear that there is a need for the
deliverance ministry (Mark 16:17). If demons automatically left a
person when they accepted Jesus, then why did Jesus tell us to cast
out demons? The solution to demonic bondages would instead be
just to accept Jesus and the demons automatically leave. The
problem is, it doesn't work like that in real life, and that's why we
there are times when it's necessary to drive out demons. Jesus
referred to the casting out of demons as children's bread, which
means it's not even for un-believers, but for us believers.

Prayer and fasting: Some demons are so strong that not only is it

necessary to cast them out, but a higher then usual level of faith,
which is only obtained through prayer and fasting, is required when
getting them out. After the disciples tried to cast out a stronger
demon(s) and were unsuccessful, Jesus told them that there are
some demons that will come out by nothing by prayer and fasting
(which builds one's faith to the high levels that is required when
casting some demons out). Mark 9:29, "And he said unto them,
This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."

Understand your authority: As children of God, we are given

authority over all powers of the enemy. Some people wonder why
the demons seem to ignore them, sometimes it's because that
person doesn't have enough faith in their authority and the demon
is strong enough to resist what little authority that person is
exercising. The more faith in your authority you have, the more of
your authority you will be able to use. It is therefore important to
understand and stand firm on the authority that God has given you.

Binding and loosing: Binding is like spiritual handcuffing. It's

temporary and it's very useful when a demon starts manifesting
and you aren't ready to actually cast it out (let's say you are
winding down a deliverance session and you need your sleep, and
the demon(s) begin to manifest and raise their ugly heads). Or
perhaps, the demon is interfering with the deliverance and it needs
to be bound. Another good use of binding, is to bind the evil spirits
that are preventing a person from accepting Jesus.

Loosing is when a captive is loosed from something. For example,

in Luke 13:12, Jesus loosed the women who was bound by Satan
and had the issue of blood for 18 years.

Identifying the demon by it's name: If you are privileged to

know the name of the demon(s) you are facing, it is very helpful to
cast it out by it's name. For example, "Spirit of lust, come out in
the name of Jesus!" If somebody yells out "Hey you!" in a crowd,
would you respond? Likely you wouldn't even pay attention to
them. But if they yelled "Hey Bob!" (providing that was your
name), they would have your attention in no time. Same is true
when dealing with demons, which is why it is so helpful to know
their name when dealing with them.

Casting it out: Contrary to what many may think, there's nothing

magical about this step. It's a matter of standing on your authority
and commanding the evil spirit (by name if possible) to leave in the
name of Jesus.

Demon groupings: Often, demons will group, and there will be a

strong man. The strong man could be hate, while the lesser
demons could consist of anger, bitterness, jealousy, envy, etc.
Sometimes it is better to cast out the strong man first, and
therefore the lesser demons give you little or no hassle in wanting
to leave, while other times it is better to get rid of the lesser
demons first, and therefore the leader can no longer draw power
from them and it makes it easier for the leader to be cast out. This
is a more complicated area of deliverance, and is best led by the
Holy Spirit. Always pray and ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance
whenever attempting a deliverance.

Recommended reading: Free in Christ by Pablo Bottari is an

anointed book on deliverance by a Spirit filled minister who is well
versed in this ministry; his book will build you up and educated you
on how to go about a deliverance - VERY uplifting book! They Shall
Expel Demons by Derek Prince is another dynamic book on the
casting out of demons. The Believer's Authority by Kenneth E.
Hagin is a great book on our authority over the devil as believers.
Other great books on deliverance include Unbound by Neal Lozano,
Demons & Deliverance by H. A. Maxwell Whyte, and Pigs in the
Parlor by Frank & Ida Mae Hammond

Can a Christian have a demon?

Can light dwell with darkness?

First, let's expose the most common argument against believers

having demons... they say that light cannot dwell with darkness.
This is merely an assumption with no real Biblical basis. The verse
most often used to back up this theory is 2 Corinthians 6:14, and
it's speaking about believers marrying unbelievers. Is it saying that
light 'cannot' dwell with darkness? No, it's asking what communion
(partnership) light can have with darkness. In other words, is a
non-believer going to have the same spiritual goals in life as a
believer? No. How can they partner if they don't have anything in
common spiritually? Are demons and God going to work together in
a person's life? No. Can the two coexist? Yes!

Another good question is, can a Christian be in bondage to

pornography? Lust? Is a Christian capable of even committing sin
at all? If so, then how can that kind of darkness (sin), which God
absolutely repels, dwell in a body where the Holy Ghost is? Or how
can the Holy Ghost remain in a human being who is capable of
committing sin, and does so from time to time?

Another point is that the Holy Spirit covers the earth (Jeremiah
23:24), so if the Holy Spirit covers the earth, then how can
darkness (demons and sin) freely roam this earth if the Holy Spirit
is covering it? And if Satan will not approach the presence of God,
then how come did Satan tempt Jesus in the desert? And visit
heaven to talk with God concerning Job?

We are composed of three parts; a body, a mind (soul) and a

spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The spirit of a man belongs to God,
and their spirit is united with the Holy Spirit, but their bodies and
minds (souls) can still be afflicted by evil spirits. Just like you can
turn a light on in one room, and the next room in the house can be
dark, the same is true in the spirit realm.

The soul versus the spirit: The spirit of a man is where the Holy
Ghost dwells, but the soul or mind of a man is where dirt can still
remain long after he or she accepts Christ. We are told to be
transformed by the renewing of our minds (souls) through the
Word of God. Our spirits are instantly made new the moment we
are saved, but our souls can take time to renew and 'clean up'.

Where demons do their work: I do not believe a demon can

touch the spirit of a man after he's accepted Jesus, but where
demons do their work is in the soul or mind. How do you see
demons affecting people in the Bible? Through their mind (the
lunatic boy, the man with the legion, etc.), and their physical body
(the woman with the spirit of infirmity, the man who couldn't speak
because of a demon, etc.). Demons can try to get our spirits
overwhelmed, worn out, or tempt us to sin, but their way of
operating in our lives is through our minds (souls) and by troubling
our physical bodies.

Demonic bondage demystified

What do demons do to people? Many people believe that only

the extreme cases of mental problems are caused by demons, or
that you have to be heavily involved in the occult or Satanism in
order to have demons, but the Bible is clear that this is not true.
The Bible speaks of perfectly sane people who have been crippled
by demons. It is perfectly normal to have absolutely no demons
affecting your mind in any way, and still have a demon. The Bible
speaks of people who were perfectly sane, who Jesus cast spirits of
deafness or dumbness, even blindness or infirmities out of (Luke
13:11, Mark 9:25, Matthew 12:22)!

What it means to be possessed with a demon: Another

misconception is that a person who is demon possessed is owned
and fully operated by a demon. This is not true either. As I pointed
out earlier, you can be perfectly sane, and yet have a demon. The
word possessed in the NT Greek actually means to be under the
power of a demon or to have a demon. This is like being under the
power or influence of alcohol, the more you drink, the more you
come under it's power. Same is true with demonic bondage, the
more bondage you are in, the more you will come under that
demon's influence or power. The Bible makes it clear that there are
different kinds of demons that cause different problems the person
to whom they dwell. Some demons cause blindness, others cause
deafness, others cause madness (mental illness), others cause fear
and depression (King Saul), others cause epilepsy (Matthew 17:15-
21), and so fourth. Therefore, if a person is under the power of a
spirit of blindness, they won't see (Matthew 12:22), if they are
under the power of a spirit of infirmity, they will have some sort of
physical infirmity (Luke 13:11), if they are under the power of a
spirit of fear, they will be fearful, or if they are under the power of
a spirit of anger, they will have uncontrollable anger.

Can a Christian be demon possessed?

If the word 'possessed' refers to ownership, then absolutely not!

Can a Christian have a demon? Yes, but not be owned by one. I
believe the meaning to this word has changed from those days, and
the modern English version is not the correct term to use for
somebody who has a demon. A Christian can have a demon, just as
they can have a sickness or disease. Many sickness and diseases
for that matter are caused by a demon.

Derek Prince (author of They Shall Expel Demons and a Greek

scholar) does a good job at pointing out how the Greek does not
suggest that a demon can 'own' a person, but rather a person can
be under the 'influence' of a demon.

Saying that a Christian can be possessed, is like saying that a

person's body is owned by an infection on that person's finger. The
infection may "influence" the body, but it does not mean that it
"owns" the body. The same is true here: while a Christian can have
a demon and be in bondage (influenced), it does not mean that the
person is owned by the demon.

Demons can invade the soul and body of a believer (if given the
'rights' of course), but not the spirit (the real you), because the
spirit belongs to the Lord. The soul is where your thoughts,
emotions, and thinking is done. Demons can cause fear,
depression, lust, uncontrollable anger, and other iniquities in the
soul, and sickness and diseases in the body.

To answer the question in a nutshell, it doesn't matter who you are

(whether a believer or a non-believer), if you've given the enemy
rights to your soul or body, then you are up for a spiritual infection
that can result in demonic bondage. There are certain sins and
things that a person can do, which can defile (make unclean) the
person. When a person is defiled, they are unclean and therefore
vulnerable to a spiritual infection, and the 'germs' in this realm are
demons.

How do demons gain access into the believer?

Ecclesiastes 10:8, "He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it;
and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him ." There is a
hedge of protection around God's people, but if there's a hole in
that hedge, it can open the door to the enemy and we can get
bitten.

Paul warned the believers in Ephesians 4:27, "Neither give place to

the devil." Also, 2 Corinthians 2:11 tells us, "Lest Satan should get
an advantage of us : for we are not ignorant of his devices."
Either the demon(s) was there before the person came to Christ
(past lifestyle, generational curse, bondages they previously came
under, vows they made with the enemy, etc.), or it entered since
they became a Christian. If the demon came into the person's life
before they accepted Christ, then the demon is likely trespassing
because he has no real legal right to be there, and simply needs to
be cast out (as Jesus did in Matthew 8:16-17). The way demons
gain access into a believer's life, is through open doors. There are
certain sins and things we can do that will defile us (make us
unclean). For example, having unholy sex can create unholy soul
ties, which serve as demonic bridges, and can pass bondages from
one person to another. Another example is being bitter or
unforgiving; both those are closely related and can defile a person
(Hebrews 12:15).

Either way, the open door (if any) needs to be shut, and the
demons cast out. Just because the enemy may not have legal
rights, doesn't mean he always leaves immediately. Even though
Jesus paid the price for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5), doesn't mean
the demons won't want to hang around until they are actually
kicked out. If demons left automatically when their rights were
removed, then there would be no need to cast them out.
Sometimes though, they do leave without being told, but that's not
always the case. In Matthew 8:16-17, it tells us how Jesus fulfilled
the prophecy of Him taking on our iniquities/infirmities... it was by
the actual casting out of demons.

There are many verses in the NT where it talks about being defiled.
What does it mean to be defiled? It means to become unclean, to
become polluted or dirty. To become unclean means that the object
must first be clean, or you couldn't make it dirty. You could make it
more dirty, but you could not make it dirty because it was already
dirty. To be defiled means to take something that was clean, and
make it dirty. This is why Christians need to heed the warnings that
Jesus gave, not to do those things which can defile a man. It can
take a clean Christian and make him unclean, therefore vulnerable
to spiritual infections (demonic influence).

A lot of people like to believe that we cannot be touched by the

enemy, which if we keep ourselves clean and stick in God's ways,
we can be "untouchable" by the enemy, BUT if we step outside the
lines of protection and get ourselves dirty, we are practically
begging for a spiritual infection which can lead to demonic influence
and bondage.
The dangers of casting a demon out of a non-believer

Matthew 12:43-45, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man,

he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out;
and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more
wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there : and the
last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be
also unto this wicked generation ."

Jesus said that when a demon leaves a person, it likes to come

back with 7 more even worse demons, and it is permitted if that
person is part of the wicked generation (sinners/unbelievers).
Casting a demon out of an unbeliever is not a wise idea. It is wise
to first lead the person to Jesus, so that there is a protection upon
them to keep the demon(s) from coming back.

Another thing to consider, is that trying to cast a demon out when

he has 'legal rights' in that person's life can be very dangerous.
Demons can manifest and physically get very violent and cause
bodily harm to both the victim and the nearby people. It is a good
idea to cut off the demon's legal grounds in the person before
attempting to cast a demon out.

Some demons CANNOT get shed (or cast out) without prayer
and fasting

Mark 9:17-29 tells us of a story of the disciples trying to cast a

demon out of a child. They were unsuccessful, so the boy was
brought to Jesus, and He cast it out, but also told us that this kind
of demon (a very strong demon) ONLY comes out through prayer
and fasting!

Mark 9:29, "And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by
NOTHING , but by prayer and fasting."

If Jesus said that prayer and fasting is required, believe me, it ain't
coming out with a quick nudge, much less when a person simply
accepts Jesus!

Jesus was saying that it requires a lot of faith to cast these demons
out... how you get such faith is through prayer and fasting... if His
disciples didn't have enough faith to cast it out, what makes us
think the average believer has enough faith (without prayer and
fasting) to cast it out??

Deliverance is part of the atonement and New Covenant

Let's take a close look at Isaiah 53:5, where it prophecies about

some of the things that Jesus will do for us, "But he was wounded
for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities  (this is for
your deliverance): the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed." Do you think this verse was
talking about things that Jesus did for unbelievers? Did He shed His
blood for the sins of unbelievers (providing they stay in their
unbelief of course)? Did His stripes pay for the healing of
unbelievers? What about the chastisement of our peace being upon
Him, was that for unbelievers? What should make us think that Him
taking on our iniquities was for the unbelievers? Where does it say
that Jesus took the iniquities of the unbelievers?

Once in a while, it's possible to come across a non-believer who

was healed, but it was out of God's mercy that He healed them.
Believers are healed out of the covenant, and therefore have
something to hold their healing, whereas unbelievers are healed
out of mercy and can lose their healing. The same is true with
deliverance. Jesus made it clear that when a demon comes out of
an unbeliever (wicked generation), it will only return with 7 more
evil spirits even worse than itself (Matthew 12:43-45)!

Matthew 8:16-17, "When the even was come, they brought unto
him many that were possessed with devils: and  he cast out the
spirits with his word , and healed all that were sick: That it might be
fulfilled  which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,  Himself
took our infirmities , and bare our sicknesses."

If deliverance was part of the atonement and new covenant, then

it's meant for believers! But note that even though an iniquity can
be forgiven, doesn't mean the demon automatically leaves. Jesus
still 'cast' the demon out in fulfilling the prophecy in this situation.

Notice in Matthew 8:16 that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy that He

paid for our deliverance, but also notice how He still had to 'cast
out' the demon! It didn't leave automatically.  The fulfillment of that
prophecy was demonstrated by the actual casting out of a
demon(s) !
We, as believers, are commissioned to do the same thing
concerning demons: Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them
that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils ; they shall
speak with new tongues."

I strongly believe that deliverance is not for unbelievers, but for

believers. It is not meant to provide relief to the world's problems,
but to bring freedom to the believer who may be struggling with
bondages from his past.

Some major flaws in opposing theologies

There are some people who recognize the reality of the demonic
realm, and see the need for the casting out of demons, but they
don't believe that Christians can have demons. They believe that
only unbelievers need demons cast out. This sounds tickling to the
ears, but doesn't hold up in reality. Some very simple logic will
dissolve this false belief.

Demons like to return to the wicked generation

(sinners/unbelievers) with 7 more even worse demons (Matthew
12:43-45), therefore it is very risky, dangerous and unproductive
to cast a demon out of an unbeliever. The only way to be safe, is to
first lead the person to accept Jesus, then there is a layer of
protection there to help keep the demon(s) from returning.
Otherwise your just sticking your hand in a hornet's nest and
stirring up trouble. If a demon is interfering with the person coming
to Jesus, then it's time to bind the demon (Matthew 16:19),
minister to the person's need for salvation (bring them to accept
Jesus), then cast the demons out.

There is an obvious need for casting out demons (Mark 16:17,

Matthew 8:16-17), so who are we to cast them out of, if it's so
risky and unsafe to cast them out of unbelievers? Not to mention,
unproductive and detrimental if they don't come to Jesus shortly
after they are delivered! And if people shed their demons when
they became a Christian, then why worry about casting them out at
all, if they will leave automatically? If people shed their demons
when they accepted Christ, then why not just bring them to Christ?
This would defeat the whole purpose of the deliverance ministry.
Which would be saying that the early church (which was very active
in the casting out of devils) was wasting it's time, and would make
no sense that Jesus said that those who believe would 'cast out
demons'!
Deliverance and healing was paid for in the same verses (Isaiah
53:5, Matthew 8:16-17), but a lot of Christians are walking around
sick and many others are being tormented. Why? Because these
two things are received by faith! The price was paid for us to be set
free, but if we don't believe it and stand on it, we can miss out in
the fruits of what Jesus did for us! The same thing is true with
healing!

I have seen way too many Christians being demonically tormented

and in bondage, to say that it can't happen. I myself have been a
Christian since a young kid, was raised in a Godly home with two
great parents, and yet I've experienced demonic bondage too.

Biblical example of Jesus casting a demon out of a believer

Before we begin, let's take a quick look at what Jesus considers a

child of Abraham:

John 8:39-40 makes it very clear who are qualified to be called

Children of Abraham in Jesus' opinion: "They answered and said
unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them,  If ye were
Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham . But now ye
seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have
heard of God: this did not Abraham ." (In other words, if you aren't
doing the works of Abraham, then you aren't really his child. He
directly said that they were not Abraham's child because they did
not share in the faith.)

Look at what Jesus called the man who became a believer in Luke
19:9, "And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this
house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham ." To have Jesus
call somebody a child of Abraham was quite an honor! It meant
that the person was a child of Abraham by faith, which means they
were a believer.

Also look at Romans 2:28-29, "For you are not a true Jew just
because you were born of Jewish parents  or because you have gone
through the Jewish ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one
whose heart is right with God.  And true circumcision is not a
cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God's Spirit.
Whoever has that kind of change seeks praise from God, not from
people." (NLT)
Jesus said that the children of Abraham do what Abraham did (John
8:39). What did Abraham do? Galatians 3:6, "...Abraham believed
God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." To believe
God means to believe in Jesus as well, because the two cannot be
separated! If you reject the Son, you also reject the Father (1 John
2:22-23). Jesus made it clear that the true children of Abraham are
full blown believers!

Now, in Luke 13:11, 16 it says, "And, behold, there was a woman

which had a spirit of infirmity  eighteen years, and was bowed
together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And ought not this
woman, being a daughter of Abraham , whom Satan hath bound , lo,
these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath
day?"

A few things I would like to point out, first, she was in the church
hearing Jesus' teachings just moments before He loosed her. When
He called her a daughter of Abraham, He made it clear that she was
a very special person. He rebuked the Pharisees for calling
themselves children of Abraham, but He honored this woman for it.
In His opinion, she was a true daughter of Abraham, which meant
she shared in Abraham's faith. She was a believer.

Let me briefly summarize this:

(a) Jesus said that in order to be a child of Abraham, you must do

as Abraham did. (John 8:39)

(b) What did Abraham do? He believed on God. (Gal 3:6)

(c) You cannot believe on the Father and reject the Son; it is
impossible. (1 John 2:22-23)

(d) Jesus said that this woman was truly a child of Abraham. (Luke
13:16)

Jesus Himself told us of the requirements for what it takes to be a

child of Abraham, so if He didn't judge her by those requirements,
He would be contradicting Himself. Judged by His opinion (which is
not just any opinion, but a FACT and TRUTH), He labeled this
woman as a child of Abraham. To refute that she was a believer,
would be trying to argue with Jesus, because that's what He said,
and He made it very clear that those who don't believe, aren't
really children of Abraham.
Biblical example of a believer being set free from a curse

Mark 5:25-34, "And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood

twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians,
and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but
rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press
behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but
his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her
blood was dried up; and she felt in [her] body that she was healed
of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that
virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and
said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him,
Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who
touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done
this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was
done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the
truth. And he said unto her,   Daughter , thy faith hath made thee
whole ; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague (curse) ."

There was a woman who had an issue of blood as a result of a

curse (the KJV refers to it as a plague, which is the same thing as a
curse), and though she believed in Jesus, she was released from it
when she acted upon her faith and touched the hem of His
garment.

It is obvious that she didn't just believe Jesus for her

healing/deliverance, but also for her salvation, because Jesus
referred to her as a member of His family. Jesus referred to her as
a daughter, which meant that they were related. It would have
been impossible for her to physically be His daughter, because He
was never married, and Jesus made it clear that those who do the
will of the Father were members of His family (Mark 3:33-35).

Let me briefly summarize this:

(a) The woman was suffering from a curse (plague) that was
affecting her physically. (Mark 5:29)

(b) She believed that if she came in contact with Jesus, she could
be released from her curse. (Mark 5:27, 28) She was a believer in
Jesus even before she was delivered.

(c) She was released from her curse because of her faith. (Mark
5:34)
(d) Jesus referred to her as a daughter, therefore making it clear
that they were related. (Mark 5:34) This also proves that she didn't
just believe Jesus could heal/deliver her, but she was also believing
upon Him, and it made her a member of Jesus' royal family.

(e) Since it was impossible for her to be related to Him physically

(Jesus was never married, so He obviously wouldn't have any
physical daughters), the only other way she could be related to Him
was spiritually.

(f) Jesus made it clear that the true members of His family were
those who do the will of God. (Mark 3:33-35)

She did NOT just believe Jesus was a magical man with healing
powers, or Jesus wouldn't have called her a DAUGHTER. She
believed that He was the Son of God, which is what is required to
be a member of God's family!!

Questions for the skeptics:

If this was a deliverance, why did they use the word

"healed"? A lot of healings are actually deliverances. Verses such
as Matthew 12:22 and Acts 10:38 tell us that Jesus 'healed' those
who were bound by evil spirits. Healing and deliverance are very
closely related. Healing is often the word used to describe the
setting free of a demon spirit that was causing a physical infirmity.

How are you so sure that the word plague means a curse? If
you look it up in the Greek, it lists three meanings, the first two
use the word scourge, which means punishment (obviously more
then merely a physical problem), the last one directly says
misfortune or calamity, especially as a punishment. If you want to
see for yourself, please click here .

How do you know she really believed in Jesus as the Son of

God, and not just believed upon Him for her
healing/deliverance? Because Jesus called her a daughter.
Obviously, she could not have been a physical daughter, so this
means she was a spiritual daughter. Jesus made it clear that those
who do God's will are members of His true family.

This is a good example of a believer, who recognized and believed

in Jesus, but wasn't released from that curse until she engaged her
faith in Him by touching the hem of His garment. Only then did this
believer receive her deliverance!

Biblical example where believers can be under an evil spell

First of all, bewitching is no light hearted matter. It's witchcraft to

say the very least: Acts 8:9, "But there was a certain man, called
Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery,
and bewitched the people of Samaria , giving out that himself was
some great one:"

Galatians 3:1, "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you , that

ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath
been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" I like how the NLT
words it, "Oh, foolish Galatians! What magician has cast an evil
spell on you?  For you used to see the meaning of Jesus Christ's
death as clearly as though I had shown you a signboard with a
picture of Christ dying on the cross."

If you read on into verses 2, it makes it clear that these people

were Spirit filled believers: "This only would I learn of you,
Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of
faith?"

You might be asking, but how can somebody place a spell on a

Christian? If that Christian opens the door to such a thing, it can
happen. The Bible warns us that in the end times, some will pay
attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy
4:1), and therefore depart from the faith. What do you think
happens when we pay attention to seducing spirits? Why do you
think we are warned us not to do such a thing? Don't give the devil
the time of day! That's why Paul referred to them as "O foolish
Galatians," because they were giving heed to false teachings and it
opened the door for them to be tripped up.

Other Christians who had demons in the Bible

In Mark 5:1-20, a story is told of a man with a legion of demons

who saw Jesus, ran to Him and worshiped Him. Demons don't run
to Jesus and worship Him. This man recognized that Jesus was the
son of God, and therefore able to set him free, and of course, that
would mean he believed upon Jesus.
Jesus didn't go seeking demons to cast out of people. He usually
waited until people came to Him before He cast them out. If they
came to Him, then I believe it can be easily argued that they
'believed in Him'.

I find it interesting that many times Jesus cast out demons, He did
it for the people in the synagogues. Mark 1:39, "And he preached
in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils." It's
also interesting to note that Jesus didn't go 'looking' for people to
cast demons out of, He waited until they came to Him, and many (if
not all) of them referred to Him as Lord. This gives us a good
indication that they were believers. Also, those who were in the
synagogues were either hypocrites or sincere children of God.
Where did Jesus EVER cast a demon out of a hypocrite like the
Pharisees? Jesus said Himself that deliverance was children's bread,
and therefore not fit to cast before dogs!

Satan HATES the deliverance ministry

As you can see, if deliverance isn't for the unbelievers, then who is
it for? The believers! I can honestly testify from experience that
Christians can come under demonic bondage and be tormented by
demons. The reason the devil doesn't want people to think
Christians can be in bondage, is because he wants his work to go
un-exposed. This ministry is one of the most hated ministries by
the devil, because it is directly stepping on his toes and ripping up
his holds in the lives of God's children around the world.

The big test is how a minister would help a Christian who is in

heavy demonic bondage break free. The problem is, those who
bitterly oppose the idea that Christians can have demons are left
clueless when faced with true believers who really do need a
deliverance, and the bondage is undeniable. Often, demonic
bondage (torment, etc.) is written off as spiritual warfare, or
mental illness. I simply do not buy this bogus excuse to allow
demonic torment to continue in the life of a believer.  Jesus didn't
allow demons to continue tormenting people who came to
Him, did He? The Bible tells us that He healed (made whole, which
includes casting out demons) ALL who were oppressed of the
devil. This means even oppression should be dealt with, not written
off and considered normal .
Did the devil make you do it?

I know God never 'makes' us sin. That leaves two things that do
the sinning: the flesh (us and our sinful nature), a demon(s)
hanging out in that person, or a combination of both. Let me
explain...

Case #1 The enemy tempts and the flesh sins

If a child looks up at the cookie jar, and knows that there's a

goodie in there, but was told not to touch it. The enemy comes
along and says, "Oh, mom will never notice! Just go take one!" The
child goes ahead and takes a cookie. In this case, it is the old flesh
sinning. Sure it may have been the enemy who did the tempting,
but it was the flesh that actually sinned. If the enemy was
involved, it was through external tempting (he's on the outside
doing his work).

Case #2 An iniquity exists

A iniquity is a weakness, sort of like anger or lust. I believe an

iniquity can sometimes 'overwhelm' the soul into sinning. I like to
think of an iniquity as "internal temptation" (the enemy is now able
to tempt from the inside). A believe a lot of people who commit
rape would have some iniquities built up in them that would give
them such a strong urge to do such a thing. NO, I am NOT saying
that the devil makes people rape, but what I am saying is that
when an iniquity such as lust exists, and we continue to feed it, it
grows, gets stronger, and it allows the enemy to put such a strong
temptation on a person that it makes it hard on the person to resist
living out those strong urges, etc. The person who raped is guilty of
the sin, but he had been subjected to such strong temptation that
it made him hard to turn it down. The solution is to break that
iniquity, which is one of the reasons Jesus came and shed His blood
for us. He was bruised for our iniquities - Isaiah 53. An iniquity is
kind of like external temptation, except it's coming from the inside.
The enemy has access into that person's soul (thoughts, emotions,
feelings, etc. realm), and he's able to tempt us from the inside,
which makes the level of temptation MUCH stronger and more
irresistible.

Case #3 The "Devil made me do it!"

This is a more extreme thing. I read a story once of a serial killer
who said that the devil truly 'made him do it.' Something "came
over him" and he just couldn't resist killing. He murdered about
600 people, and Satan protected him from being caught. He would
sit across the street and watch as the victims were talking with the
police, and nobody would even notice him standing there! There's
also extreme situations where a person can be demon 'possessed,'
and wakes up in the middle of the night, goes to a coven (group of
13 witches) meeting, does a whole bunch of ritual stuff, worships
Satan, etc. and goes back home before the sun comes up... goes
back to sleep, and wakes up, knowing NOTHING that happened.
That is obviously outside the control of the human will or flesh.

An example of this kind of 'demon possession' activity can be found

in Luke 8:29, "For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to
come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man.
Even when he was shackled with chains, he simply broke them and
rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon's
power ." (NLT) Some other verses to look up include: Matthew 8:28,
Mark 5:5 and Mark 9:17-18.

Conclusion

My dad said that there's two men on your shoulders, and whichever
one you listen to will crowd the other one out. If you live a careless
life, and make a habit of sinning, you could open yourself up to
iniquities and therefore you give the enemy room to tempt you
from the inside, therefore the temptations can be much stronger
and more irresistible... perhaps to the point where you can barely
say no!

If you want to learn more about breaking free from iniquities,

check out Larry Huch's book titled Free at Last. It is AWESOME!

The basics of a deliverance

This is a very simple look into the world of deliverance. It is by no

means a complete manual, but I hope it helps to give a better
understanding of how this process works.

Know who you are in Christ

For one, we must understand what Christ has done for us, and
where we stand. If we are believers in Christ Jesus, then we are
seated with Him in heavenly places (Eph 2:6). This places us up
above the angelic (and demonic) realm, and right up there next to
Jesus! So instead of looking up at the demons, we can now look
down upon them, which makes a big difference when you're doing
spiritual battle.

Understand our authority over the enemy

It is also vital to understand the authority given to us over all

powers of the enemy. We have been given authority over all
powers of the enemy (Luke 10:19 & Mark 16:15-18). I believe with
authority, we are given responsibility. I don't believe we are to
pray and ask the Lord to cast the demon out, I believe that is
something we ourselves are to do. I know when it comes to binding
and loosing, there is nowhere in the NT that it tells us to pray and
ask God to bind the devil. But it does say that WE are to bind, and
WE are to loose. Matthew 16:19, "And I will give unto thee the
keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever *thou* shalt bind
on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever *thou* shalt
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Jesus gave us the keys,
but it's up to us to use them!

"Legal rights"

There are a set of 'rules' that apply in the spiritual realm. When we
violate these rules, it opens us up to the enemy. The Old
Testament is a great place to learn about these rules. For example,
if a man sleeps with his brother's wife, this can bring a curse upon
them of childlessness (Lev 20:21). Getting involved with the occult
is a big door opener, and so are sexual sins. Sometimes our
ancestors don't help matters any (Exodus 20:5). Some other
common doors include being bitter and unforgiving (Matthew
18:23-35), un-confessed sins, and holding onto cursed objects
(such an occult rings or idols).

Understanding what Jesus did for us

Jesus shed His blood to set us free from the "curse of the law."
Therefore, if we have picked up any curses (from our actions, our
family bloodline, etc.), we can be freed from them! It is important
to understand that Jesus has paid the price for our complete
(spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, etc.) freedom! If you don't
believe it, it's hard to claim it.

Closing doors and destroying legal rights

Before a demon is cast out, it is important to close the doors that

have been opened to him and any rights he may be using to stay
there. This is most often done through repentance (confessing and
turning from our sins - more serious sins may need to be confessed
by name), renouncing (this means to formally give up - do this out
loud so the enemy can hear you), taking a stand to forgive those
who have wronged you, and breaking of curses (this is done using
our authority in Jesus). If there are any physical objects that
you've been holding onto that are tied in with the occult, then
those need to be destroyed, as they can hold demonic spiritual
value.

Cast the demon(s) out!

Now stand on your authority and cast those demons out! I do

caution to read more on deliverances before attempting this,
because dealing with the demonic when you are unexperienced can
be dangerous and unless you feel God leading you to flush the
demon out of hiding, you might better grab a book such as
Unbound by Neil Lozano and get a better understanding of how this
ministry works. Once you understand it, you will feel a lot more
relaxed and know how to handle the demons as they manifest.

To put it in a nutshell:

It's important to know our 'rights' (what Jesus did for us, our
authority, etc.). It is also important to know who we are in Christ.
One of the most important steps in a deliverance, is to figure out
what opened the door to the enemy (legal rights), and close those
doors. Then it's a matter of using our authority to cast out the evil
spirits out.

Deliverance in a Nutshell

Demons can gain access to a person's life through doors, vows and
other spiritual signatures that give them legal rights to invade our
lives. Even believers can have demons, because demons most often
invade the soul, while the spirit of the person is God's property.

(1) How did they enter?

This is I believe the most important part of the deliverance. It is

important to find out what opened the door to the enemy, so that
we can close it and void their legal right to bother us. There are a
number of ways he can gain access, through sins, ancestral sins
(which causes ancestral curses), unforgiving heart (which blocks
God's forgiveness toward us), dabbling in the occult, demonic
vows, fear, etc.

Sins (especially willful sins!)

When we commit sin, it gives the enemy a legal right to affect or

bother us in one way or another. The deeper the sin, the bigger the
door that is opened to the devil. When a person allows unholy
thoughts to enter their mind, it can open the door to a demon of
lust, which eventually causes the person to commit adultery and
the matter is compounded. It starts when the enemy tempts us to
think the wrong thing, then when we accept it and make it a habit,
it opens the door for the enemy to move in further, then behind the
bad habit which can be formed, lies a demonic compulsion that isn't
easily resisted. If the person continues down this path, he
continues to open more doors to the enemy, and eventually that
person finds himself committing adultery, rape, etc. because the
feelings and desires the demons push on that person are
irresistible. Once he commits those sins, mega doors are then
opened, and the problem is like a snowball going down the hill. Sin
opens the door to demons, which push us in the direction to more
sins, which open us wider to more demons, etc.

Soul ties

It is possible for two persons to share spiritual ties (open doors).

For example, committing fornication or adultery can create an
unhealthy soul tie and result in demonic bondage. If that person
had demons tormenting them, and you had sex with them, it unites
the two persons, and therefore a soul tie is created, and the
demons tormenting that person can also have rights to torment
you. I do not believe this applies to married couples, because there
is no unhealthy soul tie created from sex within marriage.
Demonic vows

A demonic vow can be like a spiritual signature that the enemy

uses as a legal right to gain access into our lives. Demonic vows
can be made consciously or unconsciously. Often when a person
joins a cult coven (a group of witches), they are required to make
vows with the devil. Demonic vows can be made unconsciously just
by dabbling with the occult. Just by getting curious about the occult
and reading forbidden materials (including horoscopes) can give
the enemy your spiritual signature; it tells the enemy know that
your interested.

Unforgiveness
When we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us. When God
doesn't forgive us, it leaves our sins remaining, which can give the
enemy legal rights into our lives. Read Matthew 18:23-35, and
keep in mind that the tormentors they are referring to, are
demons. The legal ground the enemy may be standing on to
torment you may very well be rooted in unforgiveness! I've heard
that the single most common reason that people aren't healed, is
because they are holding unforgiveness in their hearts, and I
believe it! Forgiveness is not an option; it's a necessity! See my
sermon on Unforgiveness: Spiritual Poison  for a more in depth
understanding of how unforgiveness works.

Ancestral sins
When you involve yourself in the deeper sins or the occult world,
you not only open demonic doors in your own life, but also in the
lives of your children and grandchildren (Exodus 20:5). If your
ancestors have committed gross sins or been involved in the occult,
then you need to confess those sins (to the best of your ability...
God knows your heart) to God, and ask Him for forgiveness
(Leviticus 26:40-42). Even though you personally aren't guilty of
those sins, they may have caused curses in your life, and those
curses need to be broken.

Childhood rejection

Much demonic bondage is caused during childhood. For example, if

a parent shows rejection toward their child, a spirit of rejection
may enter. The child must forgive his/her parent, and the spirit of
rejection needs to be cast out.

Points of weakness
When the person experiences weakness, such as emotional shock,
physical trauma, fearful experiences during childhood, and other
areas to which the natural walls of defense in the physical, spiritual
or emotional system of a person are weakened.

Spoken self-curses

The words we say have spiritual value, the Bible says to bless and
not curse, and that the tongue has the power of life and death. If
you walk around saying, "I wish I could just die," a demon may
hear you and can go to God and say, "Look, she wants to die!" and
here comes a spirit of death. There is a book titled, "Blessing or
Curse: You can choose, " by Derek Prince, which deals with this
topic of curses in much detail.

(2) Shut the door on them!

If you try to cast a demon out without first closing the doors that
he used to gain access, then he probably won't leave, and your
chances of encountering a manifestation increase. It is wise to first
remove the rights that the enemy has, then cast him out!

Repent!
If you haven't already received Jesus as your savior, you must do
so before you are entitled to the freedom that Jesus died to give
you. See the sermon Why we need Jesus  for more information on
obtaining salvation. We need to take our sins to the Lord and
obtain forgiveness. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins (1 John 1:9).

If we are breaking a generational curse, I believe it is a good idea

to confess your ancestor's sins to the best of your ability to the
Lord, and ask Him for forgiveness. Even though we aren't
personally guilty for our ancestor's sins, the Bible talks about
confessing them to the Lord (Leviticus 26:40-42). I do not believe
that you need to confess every tiny thing they did, but rather the
bigger sins that could have opened doors for curses in the family
tree. Things such as adultery, fornication, occult dabbling, and
things of that nature are good examples of the deeper sins that
cause curses. If the Holy Spirit leads you to confess something,
then do it!

Forgive others!
It is 100% vital that we forgive those who have wronged us. This
allows God to forgive us (Matthew 6:14). If we hold unforgiveness
in our hearts, it blocks us from receiving God's forgiveness toward
us (Matthew 6:15). Unforgiveness is a major cause of demonic
bondage, and one of the common reasons a demon may refuse to
leave and have legal rights to stay.

When you think of somebody, how do you view him or her? Do you
see their wrongs, and immediately remember the ways they hurt
you? Or do you look upon them with love and compassion, and see
them as another person whom Christ died for? Remember, Jesus
commanded us to love one another as He has loved us (John
15:12), and if we don't love one another, then we abide in death (1
John 3:14). In 1 John 3:15 it says, "Whosoever hateth his brother
is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life
abiding in him." If you hold unforgiveness and hate within your
heart against one another, then your sins aren't forgiven (Matthew
6:15), and you don't have eternal life! He that doesn't love one
another doesn't even know God (1 John 4:8). You can't love God
and hate thy brother (1 John 4:20).

Renounce!
Closing the door is often done through renouncing whatever opened
the door and maybe the demon(s) that have entered through the
door being opened. For example, if there was a door opened
through dabbling with horoscopes, then you could renounce your
interest and reading those horoscopes, and if the 'spirit of poverty'
came upon you because of what you did, then you might renounce
the spirit of poverty. Unhealthy soul ties also need to be
renounced.

Destroy physical objects!

Often there are items that can give the enemy legal rights to
torment us. These items are things such as rings, gifts between two
persons who were involved in a sin together (adultery, fornication,
etc.), idols, false gods or anything related to the occult. Those
items that are causing spiritual bondage must be destroyed! If the
item is valuable and is not evil in itself, say a ring that was given
as a love gift from one person to another while committing
adultery, then the item may be sold. This breaks the legal grounds
that the enemy is using through those items, to torment us.

(3) Tear down strongholds

Strongholds are incorrect thinking patterns that demons use to
their advantage. The teaching on Strongholds  specifically addresses
this subject.

(4) Expel!

This is done when we take authority over the enemy, and break the
curses and/or demonic vows we've made with him. Any vows or
dabbling with the enemy needs to be renounced and the power of
those vows needs to be broken in Jesus' name. When all the doors
have been closed on the enemy, it's time to command the evil
spirits to leave in the name of Jesus. Sometimes, it is helpful to
command the spirits to name themselves, and then you can
command them to leave by their names (fear, hate, murder, etc.).

Great books to read on deliverance

I have read numerous books on the topic of deliverance and

spiritual warfare, and this is a list of my favorites, which I would
highly recommend to anybody seeking a deliverance and/or
training for the deliverance ministry.

They Shall Expel Demons (Derek Prince)

This is one of my favorite books on deliverance! Derek goes into
deliverance with a clear, sound mind and makes sense of a topic
that confuses many. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to
anybody seeking spiritual freedom or would like to become
educated on the topic of deliverance.

Free in Christ (Pablo Bottari)

VERY good book on spiritual freedom and deliverance!! This man
God called into the ministry of deliverance, and he's got an
anointing on his ministry! Definitely a favorite of mine!

The Believer's Authority (Kenneth E. Hagin)

This is a smaller book (70 pages), but is packed with good things to
know about our authority in Christ. He goes on to tell us that we
are given authority over the enemy, and we are expected to USE it,
and not always expect God to solve all our problems with the
enemy.

Breaking Generational Curses & Pulling Down Strongholds

(Vito Rallo)
AWESOME book on iniquities, curses and strongholds!! He tells it
like it is!! One of my favorite books on this subject!!

Demons & Deliverance (H. A. Maxwell Whyte)

This is another really good book on deliverance. Another one of my
favorites! He's clear and right to the point and covers things that
I've found other books missing.

Basic Training (Kim Freeman)

This is a very simple and easy to grasp book on spiritual warfare
basics. I would highly recommend it to any Christian and especially
new believers, and also to those of you who seem to be struggling
with the enemy or aren't experiencing the full freedom that Christ
died to give us. I felt refreshed and excited when I finished reading
it, because it gives a basic and simple, yet clear insight into how
the spiritual world works in our lives and how we can keep on top
of the enemy.

Unbound (Neal Lozano)

Loaded with helpful information to equip the believer with
knowledge of deliverances and the deliverance ministry. It is
definitely another one of my favorites! It's very strait forward and
doesn't beat around the bush!

Spiritual House Cleaning (Eddie & Alice Smith)

Small (93 pages) yet very powerful book that goes into detail on
how physical objects can hold spiritual value, and can cause
spiritual pollution in our homes and lives. It is true that there are
haunted houses and defiled land, and this book goes into how to
spiritual cleanse your home and remove items that defile and
pollute the atmosphere. I would highly recommend this book for
those seeking freedom and those in the ministry or looking to enter
the ministry.

Spiritual Warfare (Derek Prince)

This is a great book on spiritual warfare and how we, as Christians,
can become victorious over the enemy. The enemy tries to make us
feel guilty, and unworthy of God's blessings, and if he can get us to
believe that, we will be at a big disadvantage in trying to live the
victorious life that Jesus died to give us. The enemy tries to attack
our minds and get us to doubt, but we can fight back and become
victorious with God's Word! This book is packed with good
information that ever believer can benefit from!
Battlefield of the Mind (Joyce Meyer)
This is a great book on spiritual warfare that focuses on the
battlefield of our mind. If the enemy can overcome our thoughts,
he can overcome our lives! We need to learn how to win the battle
that is going on inside our minds and start living the victorious life
that Jesus intended for us!

Pigs in the Parlor (Frank & Ida Mae Hammond)

This is a great book on deliverance. It is a more heavy-duty kind of
book, because it goes into descriptions of some of the
manifestations that the demons often perform. It is still a great
book, but I wouldn't recommend it to children!

The Bait of Satan (John Bevere)

This is an awesome book that pretty much deals with one thing:
Unforgiveness and how devastating it is to our lives. Unforgiveness
is one of the single most important things to deal with in our lives
if we want to experience spiritual freedom! Holding bitterness
against somebody else in our hearts, opens us up to the demonic,
and causes more problems then I care to list. Many times when
demons refuse to come out because they have legal rights in that
person, it is because there is unforgiveness that needs to be dealt
with. Unforgiveness is a big tool that the enemy uses to block
deliverances. Maybe that person doesn't deserve our forgiveness,
but we certainly don't deserve God's forgiveness, and Jesus said
that if we don't forgive others, He wouldn't forgive us!
Unforgiveness BLOCKS God's forgiveness toward us!!!

How to Cast out Demons (Doris M. Wagner)

Great book on deliverance, written by a grandma! It has a lot of
helpful information and is pretty straightforward about the topic of
deliverance.

Seductions Exposed - The spiritual dynamics of relationships

(Dr. Gary L. Greenwald)
AWESOME book that takes you behind the scenes of soul ties,
transferring of spirits, and how the enemy can use various things to
gain a 'bridge' into our souls. This is another one of my favorites!!

Victory over Darkness (Neil T. Anderson)

This book is one of the best books I personally recommend to those
who are doubting God's love and acceptance for them. Knowing
your identity in Christ is one of the fundamental things that many
people must first get an understanding of, before moving in for a
deliverance. If you feel distant from God, or doubt His love and
acceptance for you, then you will love this book!

Blessing or Curse: You can choose (Derek Prince)

This book covers a topic that most Christians don't believe is a real
concern today, yet is just as real today as it was back in the Bible
days! Just as there are blessings, there are also curses, which
hinder people from reaching their full potential and cause them
problems in life that they may not think they have any control
over! Do you seem to continue hitting walls in life that keep you
back? Do you know of somebody who has an unusual high number
of car accidents that are not his/her fault, and yet they are a very
safe and careful driver?

The Beginners Guide to Spiritual Warfare (Nail T. Anderson &

Timothy M. Warner)
This is an awesome book that makes for a gentle introduction to
the topic of spiritual warfare. It's loaded with great truths that the
enemy doesn't want you to know!

Water witching and dowsing

Water witching / dowsing is full blooded demonic, and is spiritually

dangerous. This is one of Satan's 'practical devices' used to lure
people into his kingdom and gain access into their lives.

Much of the time, those who practice this will use a piece of wood,
while others will use coat hanger wires. They claim that only
certain people have the 'ability' to do it. If there was a scientific
reason, then anybody could do it! Some can only use wire, while
others can use wood but not metal, others can even use specific
kinds of wood and not others! One man may be able to use cherry
wood while another oak, but they couldn't swap sticks and still do
it.

Don't be deceived, it's occult power behind this practice, just like a
Ouija board. Even though the Bible doesn't specifically speak of an
Ouija board, doesn't mean it's a harmless toy. It's still occult, and
the Bible makes it clear we are to have nothing to do with the
occult.

"But it's practical!"

It doesn't matter if it's practical or not. Many could easily argue

that spells are practical too, because they tend to 'get the job
done'. Demonic power can fake healings, tell fortunes, etc. to get
people to take the bait. Some think it might be practical to know
their future so they can better plan for it... seems practical and
useful, right? Wrong. Such an action defiles a man and opens the
door for demonic spirits to enter. It gives them legal grounds in our
lives.

We are warned that Satan is out in full force to deceive us through

signs and wonders that seem 'practical' (how else could they
confuse the elect, if they didn't seem beneficial and practical?):

Matthew 24:24, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false
prophets, and shall  show great signs and wonders ; insomuch that,
if it were possible, they shall  deceive the very elect ."

2 Corinthians 11:13-15, "For such are false apostles, deceitful

workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And
no marvel;  for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light .
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as
the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to
their works."

Don't be fooled, Satan has given great fame and wealth to those
who have sold their soul out to him. Money seems practical, right?
Not when it costs you your soul.

It's just not scientific

If there was such a thing as 'reactions to positive/negative poles',

etc. as some believe, then we would see things flip flopping all over
the ground for no apparent reason. You would be carrying a coat
hanger out to your car, and all of a sudden, it would want to pull
down towards the ground! Children would be playing outside and
their toys would start moving on their own just because there's
water below them. How come fishermen don't have their fishing
poles going crazy when their poles are hanging over a river? Why
does one person have the ability to water witch when another
person using the same exact 'style' (excluding the spiritual ability)
could stand out there all day with no results?

If it has something to do with something being 'charged' negatively

or positively, then why do some use pieces of coat hanger wire, yet
others use Y shaped wooden sticks? On top of that, some people
can only use cherry wood, while others use oak. Why can't the
person who uses cherry use oak as well? The next person could use
oak but can't do a thing with cherry! It makes no logical or
scientific sense whatsoever.

A similar practice... occult levitation: Trying to scientifically

explain this is like trying to explain the time when I watched some
boys move a huge potted tree when NOBODY was touching it... it
was moving on it's own. Or the time when somebody was lying in
their bed, and looked out their window to see a Satanist floating in
the air... up to a window on the 2nd story of their home! It's called
levitation and it's very demonic. People use it to make their bodies
float in the air in the occult/Satanism world. Demons are not
limited to floating bodies around the air, but also objects such as
books, etc. They can even make an object seem so heavy that 5 in
shape men could not left a simple small 25lb coffee table!  Clearly
demons can lift things up or push things down .

Seeking occult power defiles you

The Bible warns us that we don't even have to be the one doing the
work... all we have to do is seek those with occult power and we
become defiled ourselves:

Leviticus 19:31, "Regard not them that have familiar

spirits,  neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them : I am the
LORD your God."

Conclusion

I had at least one person in my family tree who had occult power
(which was obvious in other areas of their life) and they had no
problem whipping out a stick and making it move above a vein of
water.

I've even heard of somebody who used to have the ability to water
witch, but after he came to Christ, the spirit left him and he was no
longer able to do it. Even though it doesn't always work like that
(the auto-shedding of evil spirits), it is quite possible for people to
'shed' spirits when they come to Jesus like that. Obviously, this
man lost the demonic spirit that was giving him the ability to watch
witch.

If something has the makings of being occult, I wouldn't touch it

with a 10 foot pole. The Bible strictly warns us against involving
ourselves with the demonic realm. It's a great way to open yourself
up for evil spirits to enter.