Deliverance Series: Demon Possession - Introduction

MY STORYTime and again, I hear from Christianservice ended, the congregation milled about, talked,
people of all denominations, ministers included - menlaughed and specialized. I noticed a young man who
and women who love Jesus and are bearing muchremained seated, head bowed, elbows on his knees,
fruit as Believers - who express that they are totallyhands folded as if praying. I walked over and asked if
uninformed or just plain fearful when it comes toI could pray with him. No answer. I asked, this time, if
dealing with demons.Many years ago, I attended aI could pray FOR him. When he did not answer, I
very large church in Texas with several thousandplaced my hand on his back. At that instant, he
people on the role. Quite often I prayed that all thebolted upright, hands on his knees, elbows locked,
things Jesus wanted me to have in order to be theand began swaying back and forth like a cobra. He
most effective "Omega Warrior" I could be would bethen scooted his chair a good 15 feet backward and
entrusted to me. From speaking in tongues to healingstarted growling, "I hate this church! I hate him! I
the sick to casting out demons, I wanted a doublehate her! I hate you!"There were 30-some individuals
portion of it all!Occasionally, I found myself in theremaining and they were stunned. Some whipped out
vicinity whenever something "strange" wouldtheir cell phones and asked, "Do we call 911?" Others
manifest itself in a church service or seminar setting.asked him directly, "Do you take medication,
In one case, a man directly behind me stood shoutingbrother?"I realized that there was no faith in the
at the pastor and stormed out of the assembly.room (You may recall that even Jesus had to clear
What caused this outburst? The pastor wasthe room to get anywhere with Jairus's dead
preaching against homosexuality. A friend of minedaughter). Well, although I didn't clear the room, I did
who followed the man and ministered to him in anask the man if Jesus was his Lord. When he tried but
office off the foyer later told me the man had nocould not answer, I commanded the demon to
idea what "possessed" him to shout like that.Inrelease his tongue. I asked again, "Is Jesus your
another instance, a woman who had quite a HaitianLord?" He whispered, as if panting, "Yes." It was then
or Jamaican look about her, stood and began doing athat I leaned in closer and told him that I would help
strange, somewhat seductive dance in the aisle withhim but that I couldn't do it there. I reminded him
no music playing. I ministered to her - along withthat this experience was "it" for him as a Christian.
another woman who knew something of these"This IS your Christian life and it WILL happen again
things - the best I knew how.Another time, as I waswithout help."The young man never did seek my help.
praying for someone, I felt something down at myInstead, he disappeared from town. In the days
feet. Imagine my surprise when I looked down andahead, I was sought out and asked questions about
saw an attractive woman in a blue suit, twisted like awhat happened that day. "Why did you do this?" and
pretzel, her eyes rolled back in her head, face"Why did you do that?" I was invited to dinner and
contorted, while a mature Christian lady ministertaken to lunch. When I saw the Pastor the next day,
prayed with her. I was all ears. Afterward and fromhe responded, "Man, I'm glad you were there...they
then on, that woman was joyful, productive,don't teach that stuff in seminary."WHAT'S THE
transformed.From the woman who growled like a catPOINT?My point in sharing these stories? There are
to the high schooler with bite marks on her body, thethree. First, simply put, Christians - even ministers of
day came when I had to ask my pastor, "why is itALL denominations - aren't taught much more than
I'm always around when these demonichow to perform rituals and ceremonies in a religious
manifestations take place?" This former missionary, asetting. This renders us virtually powerless and having
seasoned veteran of the South African mission fieldno distinguishable influence upon the real needs of
during the height of Apartheid, reached for his old,society. When it comes to people like the man that
leather Bible that lay upon his desk and turned itsrecently executed a bunch of Amish girls in
well-worn pages to Mark 16:17. He read this part:Pennsylvania, as long as folks "seem nice" and even
"And these signs will follow those who believe: In Myknow the routine of church, we're fine with them.
name they will cast out demons..." He looked up atThey are socially acceptable. Spiritually acceptable,too,
me and smiled, knowingly, "I'd say the Lord sees inas far as most Christians are concerned. We REALLY
you a willing heart and that He's preparing you fordon't have time or training to assist people in truly
the kind of ministry that He'd like us all to be partbecoming overcomers. As long as the outside
of."Was I ever encouraged! I was ready to chargebehavior meets church approval, those demons
Hell with a squirt gun! As the years went by, theyou're dealing with are...well, YOUR demons.My
Lord allowed me to participate in other aspects ofsecond point is that when we know that Jesus
Spiritual Warfare (request my article, "The Battle ofWANTS us to do things like casting out devils, etc.,
Caelum Moor"), showing me the right and wrongwhy is it we prefer manmade religion?When Jesus
ways to engage the enemy at this level.In time, asaid, I came as an example," why do we ignore what
couple with a great deal of experience in DeliveranceHe did and choose rituals and routines instead?When
came and attended our non-denominational,Jesus declared "I am the Way," why do we prefer
Charismatic church. An ordained Baptist minister, theymanmade doctrine and dogmas?When it is written
decided to trust Jesus to actually heal sicknesses andthat God no longer lives in building made of stone,
diseases and, as an extension of that ministry, foundwhy do we choose to hunker down in the friendly
themselves involved in Deliverance. Quite often, thisconfines of our edifices, never looking to see that
ministry included the casting out of demonic entities,example portrayed anywhere in Scripture?My final
better known as exorcisms.After several weeks ofpoint is that anyone, yourself included, is suited for
training, we who were interested in pursuing thisthis ministry. How so? Because ALL believers have
ministry were led through deliverance ourselves. Inauthority in Jesus' Name to cast out these
time, we were placed in teams and grew to love onetormenting demons and set the captives free. No
another and minister really well together. Somethinghuman being, in themselves, is any match for the
unexpected began to take place: A clipboard wasdevil. So, we must NOT resist him in our own ability,
placed in our church office and people would actuallymanmade rituals or any other name. We can't do
make appointments for Deliverance ministry. Eventhat. Remember, we are talking about authority over
people who were not part of our church would signthe devil, not power over him. We are not more
up. Our six well-trained teams of 5-6 ministers werepowerful than the devil, but we do have more
kept busy with Deliverance whether at the church orauthority as believers in Jesus Christ.Look at it this
at the afflicted people's personal homes. Many ofway: Just as a policeman has the backing of the
those who were healed and set free from theirgovernment to stop oncoming traffic merely by lifting
demonic oppressions later joined teamshis hand, so Believers have the backing of God when
themselves.My own team had its share of very odd,we stand against the devil in Jesus' Name. Romans
demonic encounters. We learned early on to forbid8:11 reveals that the same Spirit that raised Jesus
any spiritual manifestations before we ever gotfrom the grave dwells within you. God gave you all
started. Nevertheless, every so often, we'd catch aauthority and expects you to use it.Friends, this fight
glimpse of an entity that simply did not want to go.has been "fixed"!The series you're about to receive is
There was trembling, vomiting, demons hanging onbased upon my experiences and may or may not
for dear life as the afflicted person fought andjive with what you've read or been taught.
strained against the spirits they wanted to be free ofRegardless of the techniques, one thing I CAN
as we commanded them to go in Jesus' Name.THEpromise is this: Demons will NOT leave for any other
DEVIL WENT DOWN TO TEXASIn 2001, I moved toreason than that a child of God commanded them to
another town some 2 hours away. My first Easterdo so in Jesus' Name.SUBSCRIBE TO THE REST OF
service here I attended a Baptist Church locatedTHIS SERIES BY WRITING and typing "DEVIL" in the
over a bar. I was still new, walking with a cane andSUBJECT Bar.
single, though my son was with me that day. As the