Possession and
Oppression by demons
Man is a
triune being, consisting of spirit, soul and body. Seducing demons
affect the spirit of man, unclean demons affect the soul and demons
of infirmity the body.
The sins of parents can
affect the children, allowing demons to possess
them.
"Do not bow down to any idol or worship
it, because I am the LORD your God and I tolerate no rivals. I
bring punishment on those who hate me and on their descendants down
to the third and fourth generation." (Exo 20:5 GNB)
"I keep my promise for thousands of
generations and forgive evil and sin; but I will not fail to punish
children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for
the sins of their parents." (Exo 34:7 GNB)
"Do not bow down to any idol or worship
it, for I am the LORD your God and I tolerate no rivals. I bring
punishment on those who hate me and on their descendants down to
the third and fourth generation." (Deu 5:9 GNB)
This accounts for
possession of children by demons, as in the following
example.
A woman, whose daughter
had an evil spirit in her, heard about Jesus and came to him at
once and fell at his feet. The woman was a Gentile, born in the
region of Phoenicia in Syria. She begged Jesus to drive the demon
out of her daughter. But Jesus answered, "Let us first feed the
children. It isn't right to take the children's food and throw it
to the dogs." "Sir," she answered, "even the dogs under the table
eat the children's leftovers!" So Jesus said to her, "Because of
that answer, go back home, where you will find that the demon has
gone out of your daughter!" She went home and found her child lying
on the bed; the demon had indeed gone out of her. (Mar 7:25-30
GNB)
Detecting the presence of demons
To overcome possession and
oppression by demons, it is important to be able to recognize the
presence and tactics of demons. The Holy Spirit has provided the
gift called "discerning of spirits" for this purpose.
"The Spirit gives one person the power to
work miracles; to another, the gift of speaking God's message; and
to yet another, the ability to tell the difference between gifts
that come from the Spirit and those that do not. To one person he
gives the ability to speak in strange tongues, and to another he
gives the ability to explain what is said." (1Co 12:10
GNB)
To discern means "to
discover, evaluate, and make a distinction between. The gift of
discerning of spirits is of utmost importance when dealing with
possession by demons. It permits him to discover, evaluate, and
identify demons or evil spirits. It enables believers to
immediately discern whether or not a person is affected by demon
possession, obsession or oppression and it prevents deception by
seducing or lying demons. With this gift believers can recognize
the evil motives, tactics and practices of demons.
Discernment also enables believers to determine the cause behind
the specific condition.
Not all believers have the
same skill in the use of this special spiritual gift of discerning
of spirits, but it can be honed through practice and by getting to
know the symptoms of possession by demons. When the Canaanite woman
came to Jesus requesting that He cast out demons from her daughter,
she said "My daughter has a demon." She knew by the symptoms that
her child was afflicted by demons.
A Canaanite woman who lived in that
region came to him. "Son of David!" she cried out. "Have mercy on
me, sir! My daughter has a demon and is in a terrible
condition." (Mat 15:22 GNB)
The following may indicate demon possession, oppression
or obsession
-
Persistent emotions of anxiety,
fear, depression, hatred, rage, jealousy, pride and
bitterness.
-
Strong compulsions; including
various eating disorders, suicidal tendencies, self-mutilation and
violent behavior.
-
Obsessive and compulsive sexual
behavior, especially pornography, adultery, fornication,
masturbation and homosexuality.
-
Addictions or substance abuse,
which may include tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.
-
Trances, visions, and
meditations which are contrary
-
not focused on or from the one
true God.
Oppression by demons
Demons can oppress a person.
To oppress means to bear down, come against, or bind from the
outside. This oppression is accomplished by evil spirits in various
ways. They cause depression, create negative circumstances, and
insert wrong thoughts into the mind such as thoughts of suicide,
immorality, unbelief, fear, etc. Demons creates Satanic
circumstances and situations which tempt a person to
sin:
"God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about
doing good, and healing all those who were oppressed by the Devil,
for God was with Him."
(Act 10:38 MKJV)
Oppression
by demons can be recognized by the following
signs:
Oppression by demons can cause physical
symptoms. "And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of
infirmity eighteen years, and she was bowed together and was not
able to be completely erect. And when Jesus saw her, He called and
said to her, Woman, you are delivered from your infirmity."
(Luk 13:11-12 MKJV)
Oppression by demons can cause
chronic sickness. Illnesses can have many causes. Some
illnesses are caused by violation of natural laws, such as
not eating properly or drinking bad water. Illness can even be
chastisement.
Oppression by demons can cause
mental oppression such as confusion, doubt, forgetfulness,
restlessness and abnormal talkativeness or reserve. All mental
problems are not caused by Satan, many can have medical or social
causes. God is able to heal mental problems and illnesses
irrespective of their causes. Sometimes a small change in
diet or lifestyle an aleviate a problem.
Oppression by demons can cause
emotional problems. Persistent or recurring emotional
disturbances such as resentment, hatred, anger, fear, rejection,
self-pity, jealousy, depression, worry, insecurity, inferiority,
etc. may have spiritual causes.
Oppression by demons can cause
spiritual problems including great difficulties in
overcoming sin, including sinful habits to the point of
impossibility. These people will often reject spiritual solutions
to their problems. Any types of doctrinal error or deception are
also strong indicators of demon oppression.
Oppression by demons can cause averse
circumstances. These circumstances usually involve confusion
and negative thoughts and can be identified as demon because God is
not a God of disorder and turmoil, but of harmony and peace.
"God does not want us to be in disorder but in harmony and
peace." (1Co 14:33 GNB)
Obsession with demons
An obsession with demons is a
condition where one becomes obsessed by an interest in or
preoccupation with the powers of demons. It is an unusual interest
in the occult, demons, and Satan which controls interests and
pursuits in a dictating manner. Such obsession with the powers of
demons can eventually lead to possession by demons.
An obsession with demons is
recognized by an uncontrollable and unusual preoccupation with
demons, Satan, or the occult. Such a person may dabble in occult
practices, constantly credit everything to Satan or a demon, or be
preoccupied with the study of demons and Satan.
Possession by demons
Possession by demons is a
condition in which one or more demons inhabit the body of a human
being and take control of their victim at will. Possession by
demons does not mean a person is not responsible for his own sin.
His responsibility lies with the actions that led to his
possession. Possession can happen willingly - a person may desire
to be possessed by demons in order to secure some or other
supernatural power. Possession can also occur unwilling. Through
sinful thoughts and actions, or through contact with the occult he
or she opens up spiritual doors through which possession by demons
can result.
Possession by demons can be recognized by the following
signs:
Having unclean spirits or
demons:
This is demonstrated by a
basic moral uncleanness and filthiness.
It often includes the desire to go without clothing.
"As Jesus stepped ashore,
he was met by a man from the town who had demons in him. For a long
time this man had gone without clothes and would not stay at home,
but spent his time in the burial caves." (Luk 8:27
GNB)
"And He going out onto
land, He met a certain man out of the city, who had had demons a
long time, and put on no clothes, nor stayed in a house, but among
the tombs." (Luk 8:27 MKJV)
Unusual physical
strength:
"As soon as Jesus got out
of the boat, he was met by a man who came out of the burial caves
there. This man had an evil spirit in him and lived among the
tombs. Nobody could keep him tied with chains any more; many times
his feet and his hands had been tied, but every time he broke the
chains and smashed the irons on his feet. He was too strong for
anyone to control him." (Mar 5:2-4 GNB)
Fits of rage, often
accompanied by foaming at the mouth.
A man in the crowd
answered, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, because he has an evil
spirit in him and cannot talk. Whenever the spirit attacks him, it
throws him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth, grits his
teeth, and becomes stiff all over. I asked your disciples to drive
the spirit out, but they could not." (Mar 9:17-18
GNB)
"They brought him to
Jesus. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into a
fit, so that he fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at
the mouth." (Mar 9:20 GNB)
Resistance to spiritual
things:
Fear of the name of Jesus,
prayer, and the Word are all symptoms of demon possession.
Excessive blasphemy may be noted or contorted physical features and
abrupt behavior
changes when spiritual things are mentioned.
"Just then a man with an
evil spirit came into the synagogue and screamed, "What do you want
with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you here to destroy us? I know who
you are---you are God's holy messenger!" Jesus ordered the spirit,
"Be quiet, and come out of the man!" The evil spirit shook the man
hard, gave a loud scream, and came out of him." (Mar 1:23-26
GNB)
Changes in personality
and/or voice:
Actions as well as
appearance may be affected. A person who is normally shy may become
aggressive or violent. Moral character and intelligence may change.
Voice may be altered.
"He was some distance away
when he saw Jesus; so he ran, fell on his knees before him, and
screamed in a loud voice, "Jesus, Son of the Most High God! What do
you want with me? For God's sake, I beg you, don't punish me!" (He
said this because Jesus was saying, "Evil spirit, come out of this
man!") So Jesus asked him, "What is your name!" The man answered,
"My name is 'Mob'---there are so many of us!" And he kept begging
Jesus not to send the evil spirits out of that region." (Mar
5:6-10 GNB)
Accompanying physical
afflictions:
In cases of possession by
demons, these appear most commonly to be afflictions of the nervous
system.
"As the men were leaving,
some people brought to Jesus a man who could not talk because he
had a demon. But as soon as the demon was driven out, the man
started talking, and everyone was amazed." (Mat 9:32-33
GNB)
"Then some people brought
to Jesus a man who was blind and could not talk because he had a
demon. Jesus healed the man, so that he was able to talk and
see." (Mat 12:22 GNB)
Self-inflicted physical
injury:
"Lord, have mercy on my
son, for he is a lunatic and grievously vexed; for oftentimes he
falls into the fire, and often into the water." (Mat 17:15
MKJV)
"Day and night he wandered
among the tombs and through the hills, screaming and cutting
himself with stones." (Mar 5:5 GNB)
Terrible fear, anguish and
inner torment
"And seeing Jesus, he
cried out and fell down before Him and said with a loud voice, What
is to me and to You, Jesus, Son of God the Most High? I beseech
You, Do not torment me!"
(Luk 8:28 MKJV)
Isolating himself from
other people:
This man could not live in
society but lived in the tombs of the cemetery.
"And He going out onto
land, He met a certain man out of the city, who had had demons a
long time, and put on no clothes, nor stayed in a house, but among
the tombs." (Luk 8:27 MKJV)
The ability to foretell
the future or discover the unknown through unscriptural
methods.
"And as we went to prayer,
it happened that a certain girl possessed with a spirit of
divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by
divining." (Act 16:16 MKJV)
Demons may be able to possess
you, but only if Jesus doesn't.
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