Demonic Possession

After the recent study of Luke chapter 4, there has been a lot of talk about demonic activity. The Bible is filled with stories of people being demon-possessed, and continually speaks of an evil spiritual force headed by "principalities and powers." Scripture says that the battle that Christians face is not against human beings, but against these spiritual powers (see Ephesians 6:12). Over the next few days I’m going to share some of my experiences with this realm. No doubt it will stir up a few demons...

Allow me to share a couple of hair-raising experiences with you. Because I know that no liar will enter the kingdom of Heaven, the following incidents, which are only two of a num­ber of similar experiences, [except for the name of "Jane"] don’t have even a tinge of half-truth or exaggeration. They are the "gospel truth," exactly as they happened.

While I was the speaker at a church youth camp, an eighteen-year-old named John stepped into my cabin late at night and told me he was having problems.

After talking with him for a while, I told him that we would pray about his troubles (depression, a feeling of inferiority). As I began to pray, he slumped off the bunk bed on which he was sitting onto the floor. Then he groaned, rolled onto his back, arched his body, and began pushing himself backward across the floor.

In the Book of Mark, Jesus said, "These signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons," so I began to use the name of Jesus in what is called "exorcising prayer." The demons in John screamed, hissed, and manifested with such velocity that saliva from his mouth hit a chest of drawers eight or nine feet from where he lay.

With the help of God, I cast the spirit of rebellion from him, then asked a friend, who had come in to see what the noise was about, to get John a drink of water. When John came back to himself, I asked him what he had been in­volved in that got him into such a state. It turned out that he had been listening to occult-based heavy metal music and drinking blood. He and his girlfriend, under the influence of mar­ijuana, would get a cup of blood from the local butcher and drink it in a satanic rite.

The essence of Satanism is rebellion against God. Those who give their wills over to occult influences will find a compelling urge to rebel against everything wholesome and good, against everything for which the kingdom of God stands. That’s why their ceremonies include blood-drinking rituals. God says that blood is sacred, so they desecrate it. God loves little children. That’s why they have child sacrifices. God says the human body is to be covered. That’s why their ceremonies are often conducted completely naked, etc. [Adapted from, Out of the Comfort Zone, Bridge Logos Publishers].

To be continued...