Possession & Exorcism

Introduction

As Christians familiar with the Bible, most of us are well aware of the concept of demonic possession.

For the unfamiliar, demonic possession is an event where an evil entity, known as a “demon” or “false god”, which is a spirit or fallen angel of Heaven who is in Satan’s service (Deuteronomy 32:16-17, Psalms 96:5, Revelation 12:7), enters an individual, taking over their body, mind, or both.

Demonic possession is something incredibly evil, and always causes grief and suffering for the victim, capable of causing physical illness or even loss of sanity in some.

However, victims of demons were not left to their fates in scripture. As we see accounts of Yeshua (Jesus), the Apostles, and others with faith, expel these evil entities from the victims they inhabited through faith and power.

Whilst demonism shouldn’t be the typical topic of conversation for Christians as to not pay too much attention to the acts of such evil spirits or be involved in their business, it is an important thing to understand the subject of.

This is not a subject of fun or entertainment, but one of serious and mature undertaking.

Scriptural Examination of Possession & Exorcism

To grasp possession and exorcism, we should look first and foremost to scripture, to cite examples of Christian exorcism, and understand their circumstances and contexts.

Authority to Command

In scripture, we see that Yeshua (Jesus), and his Apostles, were granted the power of God to directly command and expel (or exorcise) demons from individuals or places they had inhabited.

• “Then later that evening, people started bringing him many of the demon-possessed. So he cast out the spirits with [just] a word…” – Matthew 8:16
• “Then [Yeshua] walked up a mountain, where he called for those whom he’d chosen, and he formed a [special] group from these twelve that he started calling Apostles (Sent Ones), that were to stay with him. Thereafter, he also sent them out to preach, and he gave them the power to cast out demons“. – Mark 3:13-15
• “And [the spirits] repeatedly begged [Yeshua] not to drive them out of those fields. Well at the time, there was a large group of pigs feeding on the mountain. So [the demons] begged Yeshua to send them into the pigs, and he gave them permission. So the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs, then they all ran down a steep drop-off and fell into the sea, drowning about two-thousand of them”. – Mark 5:10-13

We see this was a very specific authority to be able to command demons to leave others with a mere word, and those who did not have this authority, or did not truly have faith in Yeshua as a real follower of him, received bad results:

• “However, there were some travelling Judean exorcists that also started using the name of the Lord Yeshua against wicked spirits, saying:‘I order you in the name of Yeshua, the one whom Paul preaches…’ Well, Sceva (a Judean Chief Priest) had seven sons that were doing this. However, one of the wicked spirits said to them: ‘I know Yeshua, and I’m familiar with Paul, but just who are you?’ And with that, the man who was possessed by a wicked spirit jumped on them, overpowered each one, and beat them up – so they had to run from the house naked and injured!” – Acts 19:13-16

So we see, that if we do not have the authority, or true faith in Yeshua, and are merely using his name as a “talisman” or “magical word”, things will not fair well for us in trying to expel demons.

However, this does not mean that those who have genuine faith in God and Yeshua are powerless to act against demons. For we are told by Yeshua himself, that nobody should stop a man from expelling demons and doing works in his name if they truly believe in him:

• “John said to him: ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he isn’t following us!’ But Yeshua told him: ‘Don’t try to stop him, because those who do powerful deeds in my name won’t be too quick to say bad things about me… For those who aren’t against us are for us”. – Mark 9:38-40

Prayer

We also see that not all demons can be commanded out, either due to a certain type of possession, or because merely we may not have been given the true authority. But we are told by Yeshua, that prayer is an affective tool for us to make use of to expel a demon.

• “Well after that, [Yeshua] went back into the house, and his disciples went in with him. But they asked him in private why they couldn’t cast it out. And [Yeshua] told them: ‘This is the kind that will only come out through prayer‘”. – Mark 9:28-29

Dealing With and Expelling Demons

In our own lives as Christians, there may come a time that we ourselves may encounter an individual who is genuinely demon possessed and requires aid, or we ourselves may believe we are being directly harassed. In such a case, it’s important to know how to determine a genuine case, and how to act upon it.

Of course, we must first determine whether if a case is a “genuine” possession, or just a case of normal sickness or even mental illness.

As mentioned in that linked article, when it comes to demonic attack, we should only make such an assumption as a ‘last resort’ after other options have been exhausted.

If one truly believes and has tangible evidence that what they experience of is demonic activity, then they should move to try and expel the demon.

Understanding the Cause

Moving to address demonism, requires on the most part, faith in God in Yeshua’s name. However, it also is important to address not only the ‘symptom’ of the problem, but the cause.

When we examine the Gospels, we find that the Lord Yeshua himself gives us some details on the actual spiritual event of demonic possession:

• “When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it travels through [many] dry places in search of a [good] place to rest. And when it doesn’t find one, it says: ‘I’ll go back to the house that I moved from.’ Then, when he sees it swept, unoccupied, furnished and arranged, he goes back with seven more spirits that are even more wicked than him! And after they get back inside, they’ll all continue to live there. And so, the end result for that man, is worse than it was at the start.” – Luke 11:24-26, Matthew 12:43-45

We should notice that unclean spirits travel through “dry” or “waterless places”, in search of people whom are “empty” which would make a comfortable home for them.

The detail of them travelling in “waterless places” is a very interesting detail, which some believe might imply a reference to the deserts or wilderness which were barren and devoid of life, and unsuitable places to settle. If it is a reference to the harshness of the desert, then it might mean the demons appear to be striving to enter some sort of entity, as being outside of a being is akin to being in a dry or uncomfortable place…

Alternatively, it might be saying that demons can “only traverse waterless places” during their time outside of the empty beings they seek to inhabit. If this is the meaning, then it is wise to try to understand the potential meaning of a “waterless place”.

We should take note that Yeshua often referred to water as one and the same with “eternal life”, as well as the “holy spirit” (John 4:14, Acts 1:5, Titus 3:6), and thus it may also mean that demons can only travel through places which are absent of the holy spirit and the “waters of life” which are of righteousness.

We also should take note that the demons enter “homes” (a metaphore for people in this instance) that are “empty”. Of course, what “empty” means must be understood in context of the passage where Yeshua is speaking of the people who were against him, as in the latter part of Matthew 12:45, he states; “Yet, that’s how this people will be.”

This is important to consider, given that Paul tells us this in regard to those who curse or oppose Yeshua:

• “…nobody speaking through the power of God’s spirit can say that Yeshua is cursed…“. – 1 Corinthians 12:3

Many of the Jews who opposed Yeshua must have thus been absent of the holy spirit, in fact they were not just absent, but in a state of sinning against the spirit by this very rebellious course (Matthew 12:31-32, Luke 23:9-10), and hence this could be a good explanation as to why Yeshua said they were “furnished unoccupied houses” that were attractive to the demons. Thus, what we may gather from this, is that demons enter places that are “empty of righteousness” or “empty of holy spirit”.

We are told in scripture that we can “grieve” or “impede” God’s spirit away from us (Ephesians 4:30) through our sinful acts. Thus, Yeshua’s description of these people being “empty” may be something akin to being absent of the holy spirit.

This is a likely reason as to why demonic possession often seems to happen in victims who have either gotten directly involved with Satan and the demons, or are enslaved to unrepentant sin, and are thus “held in Satan’s power”.

Taking Action to Expel the Demon

The first course of action is that the individual should thus make sure they are repentant of their sins in the name of Yeshua, in order that they are not “handed over” to the power of Satan (John 5:14, Ephesians 4:30, 1 Timothy 1:20). And they should ensure they are not involved in any occultic, superstitious, false (or idolatrous) religious, or satanic practices, and that their home be rid of anything that may be tied to such activities (Acts 19:19, Deuteronomy 12:30, Exodus 23:24, 32-33).

One should then pray to God in the name of his Son Yeshua, for protection, and for the entity to be cast out from them and their home (Mark 9:29), and that a blessing be upon them (Matthew 10:12).

They should also have other brothers and sisters who are spiritually strong and righteous, without unrepentant sin, and especially those in accordance to the qualifications of a spiritual shepherd, also pray for them to expel the demon in the name of Yeshua, and for the blessing of protection be upon them and their home, as the prayers of righteous brothers and sisters are effective (James 5:16).

In the case those visting the home of the possessed individual to help them, it is also wise for those brothers and sisters to travel together in such circumstances for comfort, encouragement, and assistance if things become difficult, frightening, or even potentially dangerous (ie; if a demonised individual becomes violent – in such cases, do not attempt to fight back the victim or bring harm to them, but only make sure to do what is necessary to ensure everyone is safe and out of harm’s way).

The act also should be done in a private setting amongst the group of brothers and sisters if possible, to avoid drawing attention, making a show out of the situation, or evoking embarrassment for the victim (Matthew 6:1, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Conclusion

To conclude.

Demonism is a subject that many find discomforting to speak of, and for good reason. Demonic spirits are both evil and dangerous, and they are not a subject of entertainment or for the sake of telling “ghost stories”.

However, it’s important to understand what they are, why they possess individuals, and how to deal with them when or if they do.

When encountering such things, it is the power of God and His Son Yeshua, of which we rely upon and put faith in, and nothing else. Through prayer, faith and obedience, we are able to take our stand against such things and assist others.

“So, let’s do what God says. Resist the Opposer (Devil) and he’ll run from you! But draw closer to God and He will draw closer to you!”
James 4:7-8