DEMON OPPRESSION

A church goer would be deeply offended if you suggest that their bad behavior could be caused by demon oppression.

Is there something in our personality not yet given over to the control of the Holy Spirit? The spirit of anger, the spirit of pride, lust, lying, gossiping. Addictions such as gambling, porn, online gaming. If these behaviors are still with us after many years as a Christian, we are oppressed by an evil spirit. There is a solution! Click here Baptism Holy Spirit

Mark 1:23 and Luke 4:33 describe a man in church with an unclean spirit. The evil spirit is in the man. The man is in the church. The spirit knew who Jesus was. Jesus muzzles the spirit and commands it to come out. Jesus didn't put the man out of the church. He put the demon out of the man. Most churches today would've removed him - with the demon still in him.

Jesus wasn't dealing with the man but with the spirit inside the man. Those who saw the scene unfold questioned what they thought was a new doctrine. (Mark 1:27; Luke 4:36). Don’t be tempted to do that too.

Jesus became known as one who expels evil spirits (Mark 1:39; Matthew 8:16). Casting out demons was one of Jesus' first miracles. In the New Testament ‘demon', ‘unclean spirit’, and 'evil spirit' all mean the same.

demon oppression in christians

Jesus sent nobody to preach the gospel without first equipping them to deal with evil spirits. (Matthew 10:1; Luke 10:17). Jesus gave His disciples and 70 others the authority to cast out demons to physically demonstrate that the Kingdom of God is here. Where is the value in talking about the power of Jesus if it can't be demonstrated?

The first sign in those who believe in Jesus is the ability to cast out demons. (Mark 16:15-20).

But confidence to cast out demons is rare today because we’ve shifted Jesus' original model to something else, such as doctrinal argument. Jesus began His ministry by casting out demons, and ended it on the same note. He never changed it.

"If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the Kingdom of God has come to you". (Matthew 12:28).

If we hesitate to believe this and to do it, could it be that we’re oppressed by an evil spirit ourselves? The spirit of doubt, the spirit of fear, the spirit of unbelief, the spirit of pride. Until we’re released from these, we can’t fulfill the gospel commission. Let's test ourselves: You are asked to help someone who is behaving demonically. Do you go forward confident in the Lord that you can cast out the unclean spirit in Jesus’ name - or do you shrink back, unsure and afraid you may embarrass yourself if nothing happens? How you answer reveals much about yourself.

casting out demons

All of Christ’s miracles except one are also in the Old Testament: raising the dead, healing the sick, feeding the multitude, miraculous provision etc. But casting out demons is not mentioned in the Old Testament because it’s the distinctive sign that Jesus introduced the kingdom of God.

The world today has become a demon-possessed place. As believers we are not demon possessed because we belong to Jesus. But we can be demon oppressed if parts of our personalities are still angry, vindictive, hostile, lustful, vain, and accusatory. Our house was swept and clean some time ago, but by sheer neglect seven extra evil spirits worse than before re-enter us, and our last state is worse than before. (Matthew 12:45)

GIVING SATAN A FOOTHOLD

The weakest area in our character is where an evil spirit will easily enter us. We may sin out of weakness without a demon entering in, but if we persist in the same sin we are inviting Satan in.

We choose to move onto Satan's ground when we visit a gambling venue, a nightclub, a drinking establishment, a brothel, a swingers party, a music fest awash with drugs, or watch an erotic movie or a violent movie. We choose to move onto Satan's ground when we habitually engage in cruel gossip and unfairly judge others. Intentional acts such as this invite Satan in, because we are giving him the legal right to possess us by moving onto his territory.

We become bolder when we get away with it without being struck down. Our spiritual decline escalates. Prayer and Bible reading is neglected, and within just a few days we are swept out in a rip that rips us.

The deceitfulness of sin from the master deceiver very easily traps any Christian who is not daily baptised in the Holy Spirit. The Christian life is an intense battleground, not a lazy playground. It’s a spiritual battle between the Holy Spirit and evil spirits, and without the Holy Spirit we will be overcome in an instant.

A demon oppressed person is not yet wholly given over to the Holy Spirit. A demon possessed person is wholly given over to Satan.