The Extent of Demonism
The extent of demonism goes far beyond what most Christians- and even Christian leaders - have ever imagined.
In regard to non-Christians, the Bible says: . . . The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel. . . (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan blinds the minds of the unbelieving through an inward operation. 2 Corinthians 3:13-16 speaks of a veil upon the minds of unbelievers that is taken away only through turning to Christ. When the Lord appeared to Nul on the Damascus road and called him into service, He told Paul he was to go to the Gentiles to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God... (Acts 26:18).
In writing to the Ephesians, Paul, speaking of the state of the believers before they turned to Christ, says: And you were dead an your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:1-2).
In regard to Christians, I believe that at this time in the history of the church few believers are completely free of all demonic bondage. No doubt many readers will be amazed at this statement and some will find it difficult to accept.
I am not saying that most Christians are problem centered or without great measures of victory and joy. I believe, however, that God sees a need for further release and cleansing within many Christians - even many who are being greatly used by God and who are experiencing powerful anointings of the Holy Spirit. Many dear saints bravely press on in their Christian walk and service, expressing outwardly every evidence of victory, although within they are desperate for answers for personal needs. Others continually suppress memories of past negative experiences, believing that to have victory they have to forget the past, not face it. God wants us to be able to look back over our lives, even to the most traumatic experiences, and find ourselves free from any pain or reaction to them. This is true victory.
In my own testimony, I have no doubt whatsoever that I was both a Christian and demonized. I had tried every other way to overcome my personal problems; but it was not until I recognized the sources as demonic and dealt with them in scriptural ways, that victory came. Satan will do all he can to prevent us knowing that we are in any measure demonized. He works in the dark, and he likes his agents to stay hidden. He does not want his works revealed.
In the early years of my Christian life, when I sought help from various ministries, one minister did suggest that my problems could be demonic. A time was arranged to go to his home for prayer. With him was an evangelist from Scotland who was known for his ability to cast out demons. For about thirty minutes they prayed earnestly commanding demons to manifest and come out; but nothing happened. Although open to their ministry, I was unaffected by it. There was not a stirring inside me. Because there were no manifestations, they concluded that I had no demons. Afterwards I chuckled to myself, "Fancy thinking I had demons!" What a victory it was for the enemy! He won simply by lying concealed.
I have met other Christians who have had similar experiences. They have had prayer for deliverance, but because there were no manifestations, it was concluded they did not need deliverance. Months or years later, it was found that they were indeed demonized. The demons had stayed hidden. How we need in the church the gift of discernings of spirits!
We need to get away from the idea that the only people bound by demons are mentally deranged madmen. Unfortunately, for too long we have accepted ourselves with our problems. We excuse ourselves by saying I'm this temperament or that; it's in the family; dad was like it, and so am I. All the time the enemy lies securely hidden.
The Bible warns Christians to give no place to the devil: Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil AV (Ephesians 4:26-27 )KJB
The word "place" in the Greek is topos from which we derive English words such as "topic" and "topography." The word is used of a region, or locality, or a place which a person or thing occupies. The verse, therefore, is saying that Christians can give a place in their lives for the devil to occupy. We are warned not to do it.
In 1 John 5:18-19 we read: We know that whosoever is born of Gad sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness (AV). The word "touch" in Greek is haptomai which means primarily "to fasten to, to cling to, to attach oneself to." If we become careless and yield to the power of sin, we give the enemy a legal right to fasten to us. This is a clear description of how demons work: they fasten to areas. I have been through countless personal deliverances where spirits leaving my life had to be, as it were, pulled off, unclutched -gripping to the end, when suddenly they would have to let go as authority was exercised over them.
When Jesus summoned His disciples, the first thing He did was give them authority over unclean spirits: And having summoned His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness (Matthew 10:1).
Jesus then sent the twelve out and instructed them:. .. "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel . And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give" (Matthew 10:5-8). Notice that they were not to go to the Gentiles, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. It was not just an occasional person out of whom demons were cast, but many people: And when evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill (Matthew 8:16).
After the resurrection when Jesus was commissioning the disciples to preach the gospel in all the world, He said: "And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons (Mark 16:17).
Some say Christians cannot be demon-possessed. If this is the case, then Jesus has commanded us to go to unbelievers and cast out demons. I cannot see that this could be so; and I have not yet met a Christian who felt he had a ministry of casting demons out of un-believers. True, there are times when receiving deliverance is the means of bringing someone to Christ, but apart from this, there is no point in bringing deliverance to unbelievers. They are mostly not in a place to want it; or to be able to receive it; or if they are delivered, to be able to maintain it. Deliverance is primarily for believers.
In the early church it was so important and necessary for evil spirits to be driven out, that in Mark 16 it was mentioned first in the list of signs to follow those who believe. But what has happened today? Most churches never cast out demons. To a large degree, we have disobeyed the commission of Jesus and we are reaping the results in our church life. Every leader, every believer, should know how to cast out demons. Not all will major on it, but all can and should know how. By and large we have preached a gospel that is less than the gospel. Many evangelists preach an easy believism: no repentance, no yielding to Christ as Lord, no necessity for water baptism, no casting out of demons, no infilling of the Holy Spirit. Many have been encouraged to come into the kingdom of God under a please-come-to-Jesus call.
Even those who have wholeheartedly come to Jesus have often not been joined to churches with leaders equipped with spiritual understanding to release them from their bondages. That which should have happened at or subsequent to conversion has never happened. God cannot be blamed. His Word is clear. We need to recognize what the enemy has done, and rise up and deal with him. This a new day. Our heavenly Father wants His children to be clean and free. In the restoration of truth to His church, the truth of deliverance must find its place. As with any truth, there will be some who will reject it; but praise God many have, and many will, welcome new light and come into new liberty.