Earmarks of Possession
John 8:44 warn sinners, “You are
of your father the devil, and the
desires of your father you want to
do. He was a murderer from the
beginning, and does not stand in the
truth, because there is no truth in
hum. When he speaks a lie, he speaks
from his own resources, for he is a
liar and the father of it.”
Can we easily recognize a person who
is demon possessed? Obviously, it
would be hard for a person to hide
possession by six thousand demons.
However, it makes me shudder to
consider how many people we might
encounter, day after day, who are
possessed by one or two or even a
dozen demons-all the while managing
to blend undiagnosed right into
common society.
There are some telltale signs of
which we can be wary. Often, those
who are struggling with demon
possession carry with them a dark,
depressing cloud that contaminates
all those around them. You can almost
tell when they enter a room; it is as
though their gloomy atmosphere is
contagious. But there are several
more-tangible indicators and the
demoniac in our story features many
of these prominent characteristics.
Radical personality change. The
‘before and after” of the
demoniacs life reveals that he was
once a totally different person. This
shows that his very identity and
individuality were swallowed up by
the demons within him.
Those who have witnessed demon
possession often report that each
demon seems to have its own distinct
personality and that the individual
possessed often manifests the various
personalities of the demons or demons
possessing them. The demoniac must
have demonstrated a wide array of the
ghoulish personalities that were
striving for the mastery of his
senses.
Antisocial behavior. The
conduct of the pathetic lunatic was
obviously antisocial, which explains
why he was living in the remote
solitude of the tombs. Clearly, he
lacked all social skills. In many
cases, this symptom of demon
possession might include lewd or
sexually explicit behavior. (“He
wore no clothes.”)
Spiritual insight. The
possessed man also showed an unusual
depth of spiritual insight. He
recognized Jesus to be God even
before Jesus spoke. This insight was
obviously beyond any human spiritual
capacity. Demons also have an
intuitive knowledge of their
impending doom. (“Have You come
here to torment us before the
time?”)
Supernatural strength. Norman
means of human confinement could not
control the demoniac. No chain was
strong enough-he snapped shackles as
if they were strings. Other places in
the Scriptures also associate
superhuman strength with demon
possession (Acts 19:16).
Torment. The price tag
of possession is very high; those who
fall victim of demons often suffer
constant torment. Such was the case
of the demoniac (see Mark 5:5). His
animalistic shrieks horrified the
locals. Those possessed by demons
might also babble incoherently.
(“He was crying out.”)
Tendency toward
self-destruction. Another
indicator of demonic possession is
the desire to harm one’s self.
(“Cutting himself with
stones.”) Often demoniacs
described in Scripture were bent on
self-destruction, often accompanied
by fits and convulsions (see Mark
9:17-29). The drowning of the swine
dramatically demonstrates the
self-destructive desires of the
demons. We also see this played
out in Judas’s end. (Remember,
Scripture says that at the Last
Supper, Satan entered him-see Luke
22:3.) “Then he threw down the
pieces of silver in the temple and
departed, and went and hanged
himself” (Matthew 27:5).
A preoccupation with death. The
demon-possessed frequently have a
morbid preoccupation with death and
it’s trapping. The demoniac
chose to live in a cemetery.
Likewise, in our culture today, young
people easily become addicted to rock
music with suicidal themes. They
frequently dress in black clothing
and highlight themselves with
black-colored lipstick and fingernail
polish.
They also wear jewelry or sport
tattoos that depict skulls and other
graveyard images.
Casting Out Stubborn
Spirits
After televangelist Jimmy Swaggart
was caught in a moral scandal, he
defied the orders of the Assemblies
of God to refrain from preaching for
a year and undergo counseling.
Instead, he assured the public that
he was free of moral defect. He said
Oral Roberts had already cast the
demons from his body over the phone.
Roberts confirmed the report,
insisting that his friend had demons
that had embedded their claws deeply
in his flesh. Now that the rascals
were gone, Swaggart and Roberts
asserted, the televangelist could get
on with preparing the way for
Christ’s return. But only a few
months later, according to media
reports, Swaggart was caught in Palm
Springs with a prostitute in his car,
which was strewn with pornographic
magazines.
I need to tread softly as I venture
on the important topic of the casting
out of demons. I do not want to leave
you with the impression that there is
some simple, three-step formula. It
would be nice if a doctor could
prescribe a pill that would eliminate
all of the demons within like
medicine that kills worms in a dog.
However, the casting out of devils is
not something to be taken lightly. It
certainly involves more than speaking
a few mystical words over the phone.
I am very suspicious of Christians
who claim to have a special exorcism
ministry, because I find no evidence
in the Bible that one of the gifts of
the Spirit is casting out of demons.
However, the Bible plainly teaches
that in cases of demon possession,
God’s servants can, through His
power, cast demons out. We are no
match for these spiritual enemies;
but in the might of our Lord, we can
stand against even legions of them.
“Heal the sick, cleanse the
lepers, raise the dead, cast of
demons. Freely you have received,
freely give” (Matthew 10:8).
Still, God’s Word cautions that
the devil does not go easily. And
casting out demons is not a business
to be executed with a flippant
attitude. Earlier, I alluded to a
story in the book of Acts that
illustrates just this point. Some
presumptuous young men attempted to
cast out a demon using some canned
formula they thought the apostle Paul
was using. Their plan backfired
terribly. Let us take look at the
whole story:
Some of the itinerant Jewish
exorcists took it upon themselves to
call the name of the Lord Jesus over
those who had evil spirits, saying,
“We exorcise you by the name
that Paul preaches.” In
addition, there were seven sons of
Sceva, a Jewish priest, who did so.
And the evil spirit answered and
said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I
know, but who are you?” Then the
man whom the evil spirit was leaped
on them, overpowered them, and
prevailed against them, so they fled
out of the house naked and wounded
(Acts 19: 13-16).
Satan clings tenaciously to his
victims. The story of the Exodus
tells us that Moses, like Jesus, came
to save his people from slavery. The
pharaoh, like Satan, fiercely
resisted freeing them from their
bondage, even though it meant the
destruction of his kingdom. Indeed,
new birth always has the element of
pain and blood. Freedom from tyranny
often requires sacrifice and
struggle-whether it is the birth of
the nation or of a single soul as it
is being liberated from the shackles
of sin.
What Can We Do?
Cite Scripture. When
Jesus battled with the devil in the
wilderness, He quoted Scripture. It
is our most powerful weapon. We must
plunge the sword of God’s Word
directly into the temptations of the
deceiver. It was frequently in the
context of preaching that Jesus cast
out devils: “He was preaching in
their synagogues throughout all
Galilee, and casting out demons”
(Mark 1:39). Encourage those who are
afflicted to read the Bible, and, if
they can, to attend services where
the Word is proclaimed. You might
even read Scripture aloud to them.
Pray and fast. Once, a
father brought his son to Jesus and
complained about a demon that
possessed his boy: “Whenever it
seizes him, it throws him down and he
foams at the mouth, gnashes his
teeth, and become rigid. So I spoke
to your disciples, that they should
cast him out, but they could
not” (Mark 9:18).
Jesus responded, “This kind can
come out by nothing but prayer and
fasting” (Mark 9:29). It might
require several sessions, or even
days, of special prayer and fasting
to see a soul delivered. Do not give
up easily; you can be sure the devil
will not.
Believe. We must pray
in faith that God will liberate those
who are tormented. Jesus said,
“If you can believe, all things
are possible to him that
believes” (Mark 9:23).
Prepare your own heart. Those
involved in praying should reach
their own souls and confess and
forsake their sins. “Brethren,
if a man is overtaken in any
trespass, you who are spiritual
restore such a one in a spirit of
gentleness, considering yourself lest
you also be tempted” (Galatians
6:1).
Anoint with oil. Often
there is a thin line between medical
and spiritual affliction, between
physiological and diabolical torment.
For this reason, it might be
appropriate to anoint the victim with
oil. “Is any one among you sick?
Let him call the elders of the
church, and let them pray over him,
anointing with oil in the name of the
Lord. And the prayer of faith will
save the sick, and the Lord will
raise him up. And if he has committed
sins, he will be forgiven”
(James 5: 14, 15).
Invoke Jesus’ name. Always
invoke the name and authority of
Jesus when venturing into spiritual
combat. “Paul, greatly annoyed,
turned and said to the spirit,
‘I command you in the name of
Jesus Christ to come out of
her.’ And he came out that very
hour.” (Acts 16:18). “These
signs will follow those who believe:
In My name they will cast out
demons” (Mark 16:17).
Does the Devil Know
Your Name?
Sports enthusiasts might know all the
names of the players on their
favorite team. But only a few
unusually gifted athletes become
household names among average
citizens-names like Michael
Jordan, Babe Ruth, Mohammed Ali, and
Tiger Woods. During
World War II, every Japanese soldier
recognized the name of General
Douglas MacArthur.
This also holds true in the spiritual
realm. Wherever Jesus went throughout
His earthy ministry, the devils He
encountered always knew who He was.
“There was a man in their
synagogue with an unclean spirit. And
he cried out, saying, ‘Let us
alone! What have we to do with You,
Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to
destroy us? I know who You are- the
Holy One of God!’” (Mark
1:23,24). Another time we learn,
“He healed many who were sick
with various diseases, and cast out
many demons; and He did not allow the
demons to speak, because they knew
Him” (Mark 1:34). This awareness
is understandable. After all, Jesus
had once been their heavenly
commander.
God, of course, is omniscient; He
knows all things, He knows even more
than just our names-He knows the very
number of hairs we have on our heads!
The devil, on the other hand, is not
all knowing. However, he is
acquainted with certain people
because he regards their godly
reputation and conduct as a threat. A
perfect example of this is Job, who
apparently was a big thorn in the
devil’s side.
Scripture recounts, “The Lord
said unto Satan, ‘Have you
considered My servant Job, that there
is none like him on the earth, a
blameless and upright man, who fears
God and shuns evil?’” (Job
1:8). The devil responded that he was
well acquainted with Job. And you can
be sure that the devil also knew the
names Moses, Noah, Daniel, and
David. And the enemies of God
knew Paul well: “The evil spirit
answered and said, ‘Jesus I
know, and Paul I know, but who are
you?’” (Acts 19:15).
Does the devil know who you are? It
is a disturbing question, but one
worth considering. I am sure it might
even make you shudder, because nobody
wants to invite the diabolical
attention of Lucifer. Still,
wouldn’t we want to live a life
that alarms the enemy?
I submit that when we consecrate our
lives to God and live that way, we
become a threat to the devil. Whether
we like it or not, we are all players
on a cosmic football field,
surrounded by the angels of God and
Satan-all watching from their stadium
seats. The angels of God certainly
cheer our victories, and the demons
obviously boo. And when we publicly
announce our faith in Christ’s
promises, our names are proclaimed
over the cosmic sound system. “I
say to you, whoever confesses Me
before men, him the Son of Man will
confess before the angels of
God” (Luke 12:8).
On the other hand, when we deny
Christ by our words and behavior,
demons cheer while God’s angels
hang their heads and fold their wings
in despair. “’He who denies
Me [Jesus] before men will be denied
before the angels of God’”
(Luke 12:9). So, fight valiantly for
victory on the field of life that
your Master may pronounce with
beaming smile, “Well done good
and faithful servant” (Matthew
25:23).
In the
next section, we will see how the
Lord will help you do all this and
more…
