Demonization and Deliverance

1. Demonization and Deliverance William P. Wilson, MD

2. Demonization • Christianity as a moral force has lost it influence • Heresy and apostasy are rife • People are worshiping false gods • The authority of the Bible is compromised • Universalism has become a popular belief • The existence of the supernatural is rejected • And the reality of personified evil is rejected

3. Supernatualism • Cosmology • There is a general consensus among mathematicians that there are 11 dimensions of existence. Seven of these are supernatural • There is one aspect of our being that is supernatural. It is our mind. If we think about thinking we will realize that thinking is supernatural

4. Supernaturalism • It is also true that Jesus’ resurrection was a supernatural event. After it • Jesus could appear and disappear in a supernatural way. • He could eat food. • His wounds could be seen and felt

5. Supernaturalism • Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus after he had ascended to heaven • He told him he was going to turn people from the Devil to God • He took Paul up to the third heaven

6. Satan and the Supernatural • Evil exists and man has always wanted to control it • Most cultures have taboos that are found to be almost universal • Modern society has thought that it could control it by joining forces with it • The Bible is clear that evil entered the world through Satan

7. Satan and the Supernatural • One of the problems that exists today is that few people believe that Satan exists • This is especially true of medicine and the mental health professions • Therefore, there is little spiritual warfare

8. Evidence for his existence • There are a number of prominent exegetes who have written about Satan and his works • Barnhouse • Unger • Pentecost • Koch • and Davies • They have provided the biblical evidence for his existence and works

9. Mental Health Attitudes • Most theologians, pastors, and secular mental health professionals do not believe that Satan exists • Even Christian mental health professionals equivocate because they do not want to suffer the derision or rejection of their unregenerate colleagues • Some do take Satan seriously

10. Satan’s Strategies • He convinces people he does not exist • He convinces people that God does not exist • Or he tells us that we can be like God • Even so we are hardwired to seek a god so he offers us other gods

11. Satan’s Strategies • He also convinces people that the Bible has no authority • Or he gets people to become so preoccupied with demons that the whole idea of their existence seems foolish

12. Satan’s Strategies • Barnhouse quotes Baudelaire and DeRougemont as saying that his cleverest strategy is to convince the world that he does not exist • The Bible speaks about him in many places

13. Satan’s Strategies • He spreads false knowledge • Myths (From Charles Kraft) • Christians cannot be demonized (false) • Many people are demonized (few) • Demonization is really all psychological (false) (J. White) • All emotional problems are caused by demons (false) • Demonization in the US is uncommon • (false)

14. Satan’s Strategies • Only persons with special gifting can cast out demons (false) • Deliverance always entails a big fight (rarely) • The demonized speak with different voices (only those who are truly possessed)

15. The Truth About Satan • Satan exists! Jesus said so, and the Bible is explicit when it speaks about his existence from the beginning to the end • He has supernatural followers who are organized • Rulers-over countries • Principalities-over states and cities • Powers-Over smaller areas • Demons-Foot soldiers

16. The Truth About Satan • He is the ruler of the world • He rules the lives of unregenerate people • He seeks to destroy all men because we are made in the image of God • He is an evangelist because he wants all people to worship him

17. Nosology of Demonization • Possession • Oppression • Obsession • Satanic possession

18. Portals of Entry • They may be invited in • They may enter when a person in a state of rebellion plays satanically contrived games • They may gain entry or influence through strongholds • A stronghold is any habitual way of thinking or behaving that is contrary to God’s law. It may be personal or cultural

19. Portals of Entry • Belonging to occult groups • Attendance at occult ceremonies

20. Other Views • Hammonds • Emotional problems • Mental problems • Speech problems • Sex problems • Addictions • Physical infirmities • The Bobgans name over 200 demons

21. Other Views • More recent temperate views • Don Basham agreed with • Barnhouse • Unger • Pentecost • Wilson • Charles Kraft • Neill Anderson • Koch

22. Criteria for Demonization • Possession (According to Nevius) • There is an automatic presentation in the victim of a new personality both cognitively and behaviorally • They have names • Attributes that harmonize with their names • Facial expressions,body postures, and movements

23. Criteria for Demonization • The personality possesses supernatural knowledge and intellectual power • There is a complete change of moral character • There is hatred to God and especially to Christ

24. Case Report • Thirty year old female with “falling spells.” • Medical workup negative • Thrown to the floor violently • Turned violent when help given • Facial expression of hate • Supernatural strength • Responded to question with threatened attack on physician • Healed with deliverance

25. Oppression • He robs the person of their joy • He may convince them that the essence of Christianity is to obey the Law • He instills a supernatural fear of God • He creates doubt in the mind of the believer • There is a sense of blackness around them

26. Case Report • The patient was a 24 year old Christian worker with depression • He came from a dysfunctional home • His father committed suicide when he was 9. The patient and his mother had to clean his brains off the wall

27. Case Report • Medications, cognitive behavioral therapy were of no avail • Much worse while in China • Wrote at my instruction descriptions of parents that were vile • He claimed he did not do it

28. Case Report • The Holy Spirit revealed that he was demon oppressed • He prayed and commanded the demon to depart and he did • He had not been able to get married before, but then was able • No further symptoms

29. Obsession Manifestations • Feel they cannot be saved • Cannot accept a Trinitarian view of God • View God as super wrathful • Chronic doubt • Constantly tempted • Belligerent fanaticism

30. Case Report • Fifty year old female with borderline anorexia • Unable to pray in Jesus’ name • Desperately wanted to be healed, but could not accept Christ as savior • Has a stronghold that men will dominate and control her so Satan can always come back when he is commanded to leave • Stronghold not amenable to inner healing

31. Satanic Possession • Satan himself can control a person (McCanlish Phillips) • They look evil • Born again Christians can discern evil • Strongly antichrist • Murderous • Liars • Do not meet criteria for possession

32. Case Report • A prominent layman in a mainline church • Attended a lay revival • Disruptive and encouraged people to go home • Threatened lay staff and me • Hostile and evil looking • When rebuked in the name of Jesus he left

33. Deliverance • Application • Deliverance is a spiritual intervention for all forms of demonization • All born again Christians have the ability to deliver people from Satan’s clutches • They have the same power Jesus had

34. Deliverance cont. • They first have to confront the demon or discern his presence or influence • If the demon creates a fuss or acts up he can be commanded to be quiet or still • They authoritatively command the demon in the name of Jesus to leave without fuss or bother. If he refuses inform him that Jesus blood defeated him and he has to go

35. Deliverance cont. • Some are highly resistant and it takes much prayer to get them out • If you suspect it will be difficult have prayer backup • Once they are free lead them to the Lord or have them rededicate their lives

36. Deliverance cont. • The Lord’s Prayer is a good prayer of deliverance • Instead of ending with “deliver us from evil,” end it with “deliver us from the evil one.” • Leave off the power and glory. It is a human liturgical accretion

37. Personal Characteristics • You must be a mature Christian • You must maintain your spiritual immunity • Pray regularly. If gifted pray in tongues • Remain in the Word • Celebrate the Eucharist regularly • Praise and worship God regularly • Do all things for the glory of God 1 Corinthians 10:31

38. Comments On Use • Taking Satan Seriously • I routinely have a patient accepting Christ repudiate Satan and all his works as in the early church • If I suspect a patient is possessed I will have them say Jesus is Lord • This will smoke them out

39. Comments on use • After I finish my workup of a patient I will pray that any demonic forces that may be assaulting the patient will be bound and taken to Jesus for disposition • If their faith is weak I will have them rededicate their live and then have them discipled

40. Biblical References • Old Testament • Genesis 3:1-15 Enmity—Man vs. Satan • Genesis 4:1-6, and 6:1-10 man attacked by Satan • Job 1:6-11 Job attacked with God’s permission • Psalm 95:5 Idols are demons • Deuteronomy 32:17 the same

41. Biblical References • Psalm 106:6,7 the same • Leviticus 17:7 the same • Chronicles 11:15 the same • Isaiah 13:21, 14:12, 34:14 the same

42. Biblical References • New Testament • Matthew 4:1-12 Satan’s opposition • Mark 5:1-10 same • Matthew 10:1 Jesus expelled demons • Matthew 14:22,28 Satan’s opposition again • Luke 10:17,18 same

43. Biblical References • James 2:19 speaks of demons • Revelation 9:20 same • Luke 4:33, 6:18 their nature • I Timothy 4:1 their activities • Revelation 16:14 same • Ephesians 6:20 opposition to a believer • Luke 8 :31 their abode

44. Biblical References • Revelation 9:11, Satan’s name in Greek • Matthew 25:41 Their eternal doom

45. Book References • Barnhouse, D. G. The Invisible War Grand Rapids MI: Zondervan, 1965 • Davies, T. W. Divination and Demonology, London: James Clark and Co. 1998 • Montgomery, J. W. (ed) Demon Possession, Minneapolis MN: Bethany House, 1976