DEALING WITH DEMONS
Demons: evil spirits, angelic beings who joined with Satan
in his rebellion against God in the kingdom of heaven (Rev.
12:4)
Demon oppression: mild to severe harassment by evil
spirit(s) resulting from the opening of some door(s) to
Satan’s influence.
Demon possession: the condition in which one or more evil
spirits inhabit the body of a human being, taking complete
control of it at will and expressing his (or their)
personality through that body.
Symptoms of demon oppression (caution: some of these may
simply be the result of unconfessed sin or unconquered sin
habits in the life of the believer)
1. abnormal, irrational fear
2. abnormal, irrational anxiety
3. abnormal, irrational loneliness
4. severe and/or persistent depression that is not physiologically
induced
5. lack of self-control
6. aimlessness; the feeling that life is void of any purpose or
meaning
7. conflicts with authority figures
8. violent, reckless behavior
9. loss of the fear of God
10. outbursts of hatred
11. selfish ambition, especially an appetite for power
12. irrationality; inability to detect or correct contradictions
or other fallacious reasoning
Open doors to demon oppression:
1. indulgence in occultic music, literature, art, dancing, etc.
2. possession ( known or unknown) of occultic records, tapes,
books, pictures, charms, tools, games, etc.
3. grudges against God and others
4. poor self-image
5. rebellion against authority
6. dating relationships or close friendships with demon oppressed
or possessed people
7. sexual immorality with demon oppressed or possessed people
8. authority figures acceptance of Satanic influence
9. seeking or giving consent to occultic power or occultic
revelation
10. fascination with occultic power, occultic revelation, or
psychic phenomena, in general
11. rejection of what is know and understood to be true
12. participation in false religions or cults
13. wrong use of drugs and/or alcohol
14. wrong use of herbs
15. escapism through thrill- seeking ,science fiction, soap operas,
or some other addicting hobby/activity
16. hedonism; an absorbing pursuit of entertainment and/or body
pleasure
17. fascination with violence, especially violence devoid of
justice; sadism and/or masochism
18. prolonged or persistent jealousy
19. bad temper or stubbornness
20. pornography
21. fascination with UFO phenomena; attempts to contact
extraterrestrial beings
22. prolonged sleeplessness
23. meditation on anything other than God’s revealed truth
24. chanting or other cultic/occultic forms of worship
25. any contact with demon oppressed or possessed people that
threatens the demon(s)
Symptoms of demon possession:
1. intense, maniacal delight in wielding power
2. total incapability of submitting to any but demonic authority
3. filthy, uncontrolled swearing without provocation, even toward
total strangers*
4. irreverent, vile, lewd comments about members of the Godhead;
comments attributing gross sexual immorality to Jesus*
5. sustained supernatural strength or intelligence beyond that
which might come from adrenalin or some other physiological
source*
6. irrationality to the degree that even the simplest spiritual
truths are beyond comprehension
7. intense, highly disturbed reaction to the mentions of Jesus’
name and Jesus’ blood shed on the cross for man’s sin*
8. possession of supernatural, occultic power(s) e.g. ability to
foretell future events, to levitate tables or other objects, or
to travel outside the body, etc.
9. wild, unnatural facial contortions
10. presence of two or more distinguishable, coherent
personalities, personalities capable of expressing themselves
simultaneously (may include emergence of strange voices, dual
or multiple voices, and/or unnatural conversations)*
11. unexplainable, uncontrollable terror especially in the presence
of Christians whose faith is strong* (this terror arises either
from the demon’s fear of being cast out or from the possessed
person’s fear upon being cruelly threatened by the demon(s)
12. extreme violent, reckless behavior, e.g. throwing knives,
playing with poisonous snakes, etc.**
13. severe, persistent depression, despondency and/or temptations
to commit suicide**
14. total lack of self- restraint, especially in sexual behavior;
uncontrolled sexual advances
15. extreme disregard for physical appearance and/or physical
well-being**
16. intense loneliness, even in the midst of warm, compassionate
fellowship* conclusive evidence of possession **
The demon’s goal is to get the possessed person to kill
himself and/or others before he or they act on the
opportunity to be saved and become Christ’s “captives.
“Open doors to demon possession:
1. holding on to deep-
seated grudges against God and others
2. giving consent to occultic power or revelation, e.g. going to a
fortune teller, having an astrological chart or forecast made,
etc.
3. craving and seeking after occultic power or revelation, e.g.
taking e.s.p. tests or other psychic aptitude tests
4. possessing and/or using occultic tools, charms, books,
music, souvenirs, etc.
5. having parents or other close authority figures open doors to
Satan’s influence
6. blaspheming the Holy Spirit; i.e .repeatedly and consistently
rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit as He reveals truth and
convicts of sin
7. grossly and habitually rebelling against authority 8.
habitually participating in gross sexual immorality
Closing doors to demon oppression and possession:
1. Examine you life for any and all open doors.
2. Repent of opening those doors (except in the case of #25,
p.2), and confess as sin the opening of doors by your
authority figures.
3. Take action to demonstrate repentance and to purify your life,
including the following: a.) Release resentment/grudges
against God and others, and seek for- giveness of those you
have offended by your resentment. b.) Repudiate and renounce
any and all occultic involvement; seek for- giveness of those
you have offended by it; totally destroy all books and other
objects connected with it. c.) Get back under the authority of
your parents, husband, pastor, elders, boss, teachers, and/or
others against whom you rebelled; again, seek forgiveness
wherever necessary.
4. Ask Jesus Christ to take complete control of your life– with
His will supreme, not your own. Dedicate your heart, soul,
mind, and strength to be used for His glory, for the
fulfillment of His purposes.
How to be set free from possession: With an intense
effort of your will, seek the help of God and of strong,
mature Christians. Attempt to communicate your desire to be
set free.
Casting out demons
1. Make sure the possessed person encountered truly is possessed.
Seek confirmation.
2. Exercise empathic repentance first, closing any open
doors to demon influence in your own life.
3. Get not only the consent of the possessed person, but also that
of his/her key authority figures, to cast the demon(s) out
(Luke 11:24-26).
4. Enlist the help of five or more physically and spiritually
strong Christians.
5. Do NOT lay hands on the possessed person, except as necessary
to prevent bodily harm.
6. Identify the demon (or each demon, in cases where there are
more than one) by asking him to give his name.
7. In the name of Jesus and by the power of
His shed blood, command the demon(s) to leave.
8. Watch for deception–Remember: there may be more than just one
or two.
9. In cases where a demon is particularly stubborn, engage in
group fasting and prayer (Mark 9:25-29).
10. Carefully and diligently lead the person through each step of
closing doors to demon oppression/possession (given above).
Remember that bringing the person to salvation, to the
indwelling of God’s Spirit, is the only prevention for further
demonpossession (Mark 9:25-29).
11. Stay close to the new convert and help him get involved in a
solid program of discipleship in fellowship with other
believers.
For a catalog of materials on subjects pertaining to faith,
science, and the Bible please write or call: Dr. Hugh Ross Director
of Reasons to Believe P.O. Box 5978 Pasadena, CA 91107 (818)
355-6058 Copyrighted 1988
NOTE: It is extremely important to understand that believers
in Jesus Christ can be oppressed, but not possessed by
demons. It is the teaching of some Christians (who are our
brothers) that Christians can actually become possessed by a
demon, or demons.
This is not possible, due to the fact that the Holy Spirit
takes up His abode (home) within each and every true
believer in Jesus Christ. Our bodies are the temple of the
Holy Spirit; not the temple of Satan. God will not share
His temple with Satan. (ridiculous thought)
“Greater is He that is within you, than he that is within
the world.” This scripture tells us that the only One who
dwells in us, is the Holy Spirit, NEVER Satan.
Christians can do things that open the door to demon
oppression. This happens when one strays from obedience to
the Lord Jesus Christ. If a Christian insists upon
constantly sinning, Satan can, and will take the opportunity
to oppress him further, and try to drive him away from God.
— Dr. Will Hansen, Pastor
Riverton Heights Baptist Church, Seattle, WA