Casting out Demons

[Freak]

I have spent nearly two decades ministering throughout the world as an evangelist. In my many years of ministry I have encountered countless cases of demonization. I believe God has gifted me with the gift of miracles to cast these evil spirits out. Do you believe there is a connection between the gift of miracles and the casting out of demons?

In God's Word I believe we do see a connection:

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

God gives some miraculous powers. I believe, at times, I operate in this gifting to the glory of God. In Mark 9 Jesus makes the connection of the ministry of casting out demons and miracles.

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us.

It appears Jesus sees the casting out of demons as a miracle. So, one who casts out demons performs miracles (which can be a gift to those God wills).

[Gavin]

How do you cast out demons, Freak? Do you just pray over the person, or command it to come out in the name of Jesus, or do something different everytime?

Does the demon ever refuse to come for a long time?

How do you know when a demon is in a person?

I am interested in this.

[Freak]

Gavin:
How do you cast out demons, Freak? Do you just pray over the person, or command it to come out in the name of Jesus, or do something different everytime?

Does the demon ever refuse to come for a long time?

How do you know when a demon is in a person?

I am interested in this.

Good questions. I take a strict Biblical approach to the casting out of demons. First of all one needs to realize there is not a step by step guideline to minister deliverance to someone; just as there is no step by step guide to lead someone to Christ in the Scriptures. But we can piece together some general principles from the encounters Jesus had that could help one in this ministry of casting out demons.

Jesus, when encountering the demonized man in Mark 5 asked the spirit's name. The evil spirit replied and said "Legion, for we are many"-note:the use of third person when the spirit is speaking. I first attempt to get the demon's name.

Secondly, I attempt to find the entry point of the evil spirit. Demons must be given some right to enter a body. In Acts 16, we see that the slave girl who practiced fortune telling had a spirit of divination. It is important to find the "foothold" (Ephesians 4:24). The person needs to close the door thereby closing the door for the demon to have access.

Thirdly, I command the demon out with the simple: I command you to come out in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:16-18).

My wife and I have dealt with dozens of cases this past year alone (50-60). On Christmas Eve, we dealt with a lady who had 76 demons which resulted in a 8 hour counseling session. Remember, Paul tells us we "wrestle" (Ephesians 6:12). It is a on-going battle that can last hours.

Jesus mentioned in the Book of John about the eyes being the window to the soul. When someone has a spirit (and when it manifests) it often looks out from the victim's eyes. Often the demons will speak in a distinct voice, utterly different in some cases. Often times there is a loss of consciousness as the demon takes control. There is an deep hatred/aversion to the things of God and the Bible. In rare cases, there is facial contortions, etc.

Hope this helps.

[Gavin]

Freak:

very interesting.

Jesus mentioned in the Book of John about the eyes being the window to the soul.

Do you have a reference for this?

On Christmas Eve, we dealt with a lady who had 76 demons

How did you know it was 76? I have always wondered about this.

Thanks Freak.

[spl_cadet]

What is your opinion concerning exorcisms conducted by the Catholic Church? Just curious.
Also, in your experience, have you ever come across a possessed Christian?

[Rubia Warren]

As a teenager, I messed around in the occult, as did my friends, and I actually witnessed a friend get possessed when I was 15. I don't know how biblical this is, but regarding the eyes- it is amazing the change in a person and in their eyes when they are possessed. They are the same eyes physically- I mean they don't change SHAPE or anything- but they are completely different, and the change in my friend's eyes were immediate. (I know people are going to laugh when they read what I am writing- I would never believe such things either, if I hadn't witnessed it myself). She was a small girl- and it took 3 or 4 people to hold her- it was unreal the strength she had when that was going on.
None of us were from church- going families, and we knew very little about Jesus. When it started happening, we thought it was a joke at first or something, but it quickly got totally out of control. I have often thought back and gone over it all in my head, and there's just no way it could have been imagined.
Like I said, we knew very little about Jesus or how to handle the situation at all. Most of who was there was just trying to hold her down. And all of a sudden, almost at the same time, another boy and I got the same idea to repent, and then cast it out in the name of Jesus. It just popped into our heads.(I'm not playin'- really). For a little while, it didn't work, and another thought popped into my head: BELIEVE it when you say it- and without any fear or doubt. And when we did that, it immediately left. I truly believe that Jesus had our backs that day- because we had not a clue what to do, and it wasn't until later that I went over it all in my head and I realized that I did not know about the name of Jesus- there is power in that name. It wasn't any kind of a miraculous gift we had for casting out demons or anything. We just believed and took authority, I guess. I don't know, I don't have all the answers.
As far as casting them out on a regular basis, I believe that there are those who do, although I personally have never met anyone except for Freak. I guess it could be a gift, or a niche, or something. We all have our own part in the body of Christ, and some do certain things, and others do others.
I have never had "spiritual" encounters in everyday life, but even after that happened, a while later, I got back into the occult (even Santeria- mildly {no animal sacrifices or anything like that}) and I had a couple of other experiences with demons that were very terrifying, and that was what did it for me. I was done with all that, I'd had enough playing around.

[Freak]

Gavin:
Freak:

very interesting.

Do you have a reference for this?

How did you know it was 76? I have always wondered about this.

Thanks Freak.

Gavin,

Matthew 6:22-23: The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Remember, the Scriptures speaks of Mary Magadelene having 7 demons (see Mark 16). Demons have attributes of personhood-they have emotion, wills, intellect, and even names. Mutiple demons can enter a person thereby requiring one to find all the demons out. You just don't want to cast out one if theres 5. Each demon will have a name they go. Remember, Jesus casting out a "deaf & mute spirit"? Demons go by names.

Hope this helps.

[Freak]

spl_cadet:
What is your opinion concerning exorcisms conducted by the Catholic Church? Just curious.
Also, in your experience, have you ever come across a possessed Christian?

The Catholic Church does in fact conduct exorcisms (in fact the Pope has been involved in several). Now, I do have some serious theological concerns with the Catholics but recognize there are many genuine believers in the Catholic Church (namely my mother-in-law, and other family members on my wife's side). A few genuine believers understand in the Catholic Church understand this vital ministry.

I do not believe Christians can be "possessed" by demons. Possession implies ownership. No believer in Christ can be owned by a spirit. We have been bought by a price (the blood of Jesus-First Corinthians 6). But, I do believe, Christians can be demonized (or controlled) by demons. The apostle Paul understood this reality.

He writes: I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

Paul makes mention, if you note, of some believers possibly receiving "a different spirit", this a possibly. I have dealt with scores of believers who were invaded by evil spirits.

[Freak]

La Rubia:
As a teenager, I messed around in the occult, as did my friends, and I actually witnessed a friend get possessed when I was 15. I don't know how biblical this is, but regarding the eyes- it is amazing the change in a person and in their eyes when they are possessed. They are the same eyes physically- I mean they don't change SHAPE or anything- but they are completely different, and the change in my friend's eyes were immediate. (I know people are going to laugh when they read what I am writing- I would never believe such things either, if I hadn't witnessed it myself). She was a small girl- and it took 3 or 4 people to hold her- it was unreal the strength she had when that was going on.
None of us were from church- going families, and we knew very little about Jesus. When it started happening, we thought it was a joke at first or something, but it quickly got totally out of control. I have often thought back and gone over it all in my head, and there's just no way it could have been imagined.
Like I said, we knew very little about Jesus or how to handle the situation at all. Most of who was there was just trying to hold her down. And all of a sudden, almost at the same time, another boy and I got the same idea to repent, and then cast it out in the name of Jesus. It just popped into our heads.(I'm not playin'- really). For a little while, it didn't work, and another thought popped into my head: BELIEVE it when you say it- and without any fear or doubt. And when we did that, it immediately left. I truly believe that Jesus had our backs that day- because we had not a clue what to do, and it wasn't until later that I went over it all in my head and I realized that I did not know about the name of Jesus- there is power in that name. It wasn't any kind of a miraculous gift we had for casting out demons or anything. We just believed and took authority, I guess. I don't know, I don't have all the answers.
As far as casting them out on a regular basis, I believe that there are those who do, although I personally have never met anyone except for Freak. I guess it could be a gift, or a niche, or something. We all have our own part in the body of Christ, and some do certain things, and others do others.
I have never had "spiritual" encounters in everyday life, but even after that happened, a while later, I got back into the occult (even Santeria- mildly {no animal sacrifices or anything like that}) and I had a couple of other experiences with demons that were very terrifying, and that was what did it for me. I was done with all that, I'd had enough playing around.

Thank you la rubia for sharing your story. All believers have the authority to cast out demons (though God does gift some for this ministry as you have noted) and all believers need to be about this ministry.

Santeria, is a very dangerous religion. My wife's family come from Mexico & Spain where this religion is practiced. This religion opens doors to demons. But, I'm glad to hear you have turned your back on these practices.

[Rubia Warren]

Freak, I too, am married to a hispanic. He is Puerto Rican, though. We know soooo many people who are into Santeria- it's like everyday part of life, or something for them, almost cultural. Even when I watch the news in spanish with my husband at night, they have quite often, segments about witches and "healings" and the like, and it is protrayed in a positive light, as if it were normal. Almost everyone I know (and even my mother-in-law) claims to be a christian, but they've somehow incorporated "brujeria", or some aspect of the witchcraft in with their belief. They'll do spells in Jesus' name!

One thing I want to ask you, freak, I've been wanting to ask you for a long time, because you have lots of experience with people from countries that are full of witchcraft, is how in the world are they "casting out" evil and demons with their "good" spells? My husbands best friend and his wife are sooo blinded by witchcraft. They spend outrageous amounts of money every week on spells to get rid of hexes and curses that a woman "keeps putting on them". I've tried telling them what to do, but they keep looking to witchcraft as a solution to the witchcraft being done to them. It's a neverending circle: Aspell gets put on them, they look to another spell to get rid of the first one: another gets put on them: they look for yet another "bruja" that can take it away. They grew up in the catholic church, and they have pentecostal relatives, so it isn't like they've never heard of Jesus. Much of what they seek spells for, is frankly imagined. Any little thing that happens, they jump and think it's witchcraft. But my point is, that they have seen many "miracles" thru witchcraft, and have also been "healed" thru it. They have gotten terribly ill from "hexes", and have even gotten lumps and knots on their bodies, and with the help of a "good" witch, it disappeared. Therefore, because they have seen it work, they are unwilling to try out the supernatural abilities of our God. It's basically an attitude of, "Yeah, I believe in God and stuff" but they definitely have way more faith in their witch, as far as who can do what.
How do you explain these types of what SEEM to be miracles? Didn't Jesus say to the Pharisees that a kingdom divided cannot stand? And that a devil will not cast out another devil? So are these types of situations truly sick people getting healed by a satanic force? Or is it some kind of a deceptive illusion to cause them to have more faith in a false religion? I'm sure you have dealt with this before, with someone who believed in it so strongly like this, and has seen what they think is good come from it.

[Rubia Warren]

Oh, also, freak, many times possessed people are portrayed in movies in a way where they vomit, have a voice change, eyes change, they act maniacal, etc. Have you ever known of or seen a possessed individual that was able to function with some degree of normalcy in day- to- day life?
I don't know what would have become of my friend- if she would have functioned at all- like I said, it took quite a few people to hold her down, her eyes changed, and so did her voice and her demeanor. But are there those who become possessed and it is much more mild and subtle?

[Freak]

la rubia-excellent questions.

I am very famailar of what you speak of. My wife is spanish and I have traveled in places where witchcraft is prevelant.

You said concerning the use of spells:Or is it some kind of a deceptive illusion to cause them to have more faith in a false religion?

You got it. The devil will take the appearance of leaving to keep the victim in bondage. The devil is a deceiver, he is master of illusions. I hear of people going to witchdoctors all the time hoping to find cures-when in fact all it does is further bind these people to occult powers.

Hispanics now make up the largest minority in the U.S. with this comes a "culture" (as you have correctly noted) of occult powers. Most of my Anglo friends will not understand this or simply dismiss this but the fact is it is here and must be dealt with in the Name of Jesus!

[Freak]

La Rubia:
Oh, also, freak, many times possessed people are portrayed in movies in a way where they vomit, have a voice change, eyes change, they act maniacal, etc. Have you ever known of or seen a possessed individual that was able to function with some degree of normalcy in day- to- day life?
I don't know what would have become of my friend- if she would have functioned at all- like I said, it took quite a few people to hold her down, her eyes changed, and so did her voice and her demeanor. But are there those who become possessed and it is much more mild and subtle?

Most of the people we have dealt with who have demons are from the outside very normal people with good job, families, etc. but they have hidden problems that have never been dealt with.

Some of them have been abused as children and they have harbored anger, hatred, resentment, unforgiveness, bitterness, fear, etc that have opened doorways to spirits. They now wonder why they are tormented and nothing seems to work.

[Freak]

La Rubia:
Oh, also, freak, many times possessed people are portrayed in movies in a way where they vomit, have a voice change, eyes change, they act maniacal, etc. Have you ever known of or seen a possessed individual that was able to function with some degree of normalcy in day- to- day life?
I don't know what would have become of my friend- if she would have functioned at all- like I said, it took quite a few people to hold her down, her eyes changed, and so did her voice and her demeanor. But are there those who become possessed and it is much more mild and subtle?

Now, I did want to add that in some rare cases these elements do occur. I have witnessed much.

[Freak]

As I mentioned in the thread "Evil Spirits" one needs to be aware of how demons operate internally.

There are various degrees of demonic affliction or demonization (control). Since evil spirits vary in power and wickedness, their degree of depravity differs from case to case. In detecting demonic activity one may look for the following characteristics: an extreme resistance to spiritual things, unfounded fear, alteration of the voice, spells of unconsciousness, aversion to prayer and God’s Word, supernatural strength, changes in facial demeanor, epileptic-like convulsions, anesthesia to pain, catatonic symptoms (i.e. falling down), clairvoyance abilities, and the ability to speak in languages not known to the individual experiencing the demonic affliction.