Facing Issues and Questions
There are some things about demons and deliverance
that one would be unwise to be dogmatic about. There
are some questions for which no complete answers can
be found. There are honest differences of opinion
between persons who are recognized authorities in the
field. Rather than completely ignore these issues and
questions I will mention several that are prominent in
my own thinking, and make a few comments.
1. Aren’t we less effective than fesus?
It may be argued, and I believe rightly so, that the New
Testament evidence is that Jesus delivered persons
from demon spirits with greater authority and dispatch
than we are witnessing today. Let us not shrink away
from this ministry because we cannot do it perfectly,
and wait until we can match the example of Jesus. This
is like a person who does not know how to swim
deciding not to enter the water until he can do so as an
Olympic champion!
I have seen what I believe to be a serious mistake in this
area. When results are not immediate some have
declared knowingly that it is all a matter of faith.
Consequently, they make a practice of commanding all
demons to leave a person and rest on “faith” that it is
accomplished. But presumption is not faith. When the
person is not delivered as a consequence of this so-
called faith, then it should be admitted that something
went awry.
Some who were supposedly delivered in that fashion
have come to my attention. They were suffering from
delusion and disappointment. They had been told that
they were delivered, but nothing had changed. Was the
deliverance minister really honest? Was he unwilling to
take the necessary time to see an effective ministry?
Was he seeking a short-cut to effectiveness? How can
we judge?
One day another minister and I were discussing this
thorny question. While we were talking, the Holy Spirit
spoke to my heart and said that the church would
eventually come into greater power in deliverance. The
Spirit said He would give me a preview of what lay
ahead.
The other minister’s wife was in the room with us and
had requested deliverance ministry. I was directed by
the Spirit to give one command for the troubling
demons to leave her. None of us moved from our seats.
I pointed my finger at the woman across the room and
commanded the demons to leave her. There was a
minute of silence and then she exploded into coughing.
When she realized that she had been delivered, she
stood up and lifted her hands in praise to God. She
immediately fell to the floor under the power of the
anointing that was upon her.
I am not satisfied with the anointing that I have
experienced or witnessed generally in the ministry of
others. I am believing God for a better day.
Nevertheless, I have definitely experienced some
growth in authority. Where spiritual battles formerly
required hours, they now require minutes. The demons
definitely recognize increased authority and respond
more readily and with fewer and less prolonged
demonstrations. In a few instances demons in persons
in the same room with us have cried out from simply
recognizing we were a danger and a threat to them.
This seems to parallel the experience of Jesus when He
went into the synagogue and an unclean spirit in a man
cried out. (See Mark 1:23,26). Let us remain open to the
Spirit’s teaching. Undoubtedly the problem lies with
man and not with God!
2. How can a Christian have demons?
How can a demon spirit indwell the same body at the
same time as the Holy Spirit does? It seems logical to
assume that this cannot be possible, but all logic is not
truth, and some logic is based on a false premise.
We have taken the position in this writing that
Christians can be and are indwelt by demons. The
explanation of how this is possible is based primarily,
so far as I have determine, on a clear understanding of
the difference between soul and spirit. The New
Testament word for “spirit’ is “pneuma”. In
contradistinction from the natural or “soulish’ the spirit
is that part of man which has the ability to grasp and
perceive things.
But the natural (i.e. soulish) man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto
him: neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. 2:14
The word for “soul’ is “psyche”. This world defines the
self life - the emotions, the intellect and the w ill. Paul
shows us hows us that man is a three-fold being
And the very God of peace sanctify wholly; and I pray
God your whole SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be
preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ. I Thess. 5:23
The scripture teaches that prior to salvation a man is
“dead in trespasses and sins” (See Eph. 2:1). Such a man
is not dead physically - his heart is still beating. He is
dead spiritually he has no communication with God; he
has no perception of divine mysteries. The new birth
(salvation) remedies the condition of a man’s spirit- His
spirit is quickened - made alive. It is quickened by the
Divine presence coming in. Jesus comes into the human
spirit and brings in His life
And this is the record, that God hath given us eternal
life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath
life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. I
John 5:11,12
From this we see that the Divine Spirit indwells the
human spirit at the time of salvation. Demon spirits are
confined to the soul and body of a believer. Demons
afflict the emotions, the mind, and the will and the
physical body not the spirit of a Christian.
The aim of deliverance is to remove the trespassing
demon spirits from the soul and body in ordered that
Jesus can reign over these areas as well. Jesus has made
adequate provision for the whole man, but part of the
responsibility now rests upon us as is shown in the
following scripture:
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to
do of his good pleasure. Phil. 2:12b,13
Of the believer it is said that God is at work “in you,”
but the salvation spoken of is not completed. It needs to
be “worked out”. The word for “salvation” in this
passage is soteria. Thayers Lexicon gives as the primary
meaning of this word “deliverance from the
molestation of enemies”. The picture becomes clear.
Jesus has delivered our SPIRIT from the power of Satan;
now He says to us, “Work out your own deliverance
from the molestation of enemies until you have freed
both SOUL and BODY.”
3. Can a non-Christian be delivered?
The obvious answer to this question is yes. Demons
must obey those who exercise the authority of the
name of Jesus. I have never ministered deliverance in
behalf of an unbeliever, but I do not doubt that demons
would respond and obey. Nevertheless, I doubt
seriously the wisdom of such a deliverance for two
reasons. First, what hope would there be of keeping the
demons out? Would they not soon return? One must
personally resist the devil, and he has no ground for
doing this unless he is submitted unto the Lord. Sin
opens the door for the demons to come in, and an
unconverted sinner who has not repented of his sins is
open prey for the devil. Second, according to scripture,
you could do him more harm than good. According to
Matthew 12:43-45, when an unclean spirit is cast out he
will seek to return. If nothing of God replaces the void
the unclean spirit can come back and bring other and
more wicked spirits than himself so that “the last state
of the man is worse than the first”.
I see no ground for administering deliverance to an
unbeliever other than a direct word from the Lord.
Only God knows the future and whether he would
accept Christ as his Saviour. Besides, what motive
would an unbeliever have for wanting deliverance? As
long as he remained in his unbelief his motive could
not be for the glory of God. His motive would be
completely selfish. Deliverance is not a game. It is
serious business. It is for those who mean business
with God. The question, then, is not CAN a non-
Christian be delivered, but SHOULD he be delivered?
Normally, his spirit should be delivered first, and that is
by the new birth.
4. What happens to demons that are cast out?
The Bible does not have an abundance to say on this
subject. Our primary reference is Matt. 12:43. We read:
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he
walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth
none.
Our problem is in knowing how literal an
interpretation to give to this verse. Since demons are
spirit beings, how would they be affected by a literal
wilderness or desert country. Perhaps the words are
intended as figurative. Thus, it pictures the demons
walking or roaming in a place apart from human
habitation. The demon is restless and discontent
outside of a human body, for it is only by indwelling
and controlling the human life that a demon is able to
perpetrate his evil desires.
There is an interesting passage in Job which is most
descriptive of those who wander in dry places. Since
the book of Job is about a man who was under the
attack of Satan, the description is made more
meaningful. During deliverances I have used this
passage against the demons. I reminded them that they
are about to go into dry places. Demons have definitely
been tormented by hearing the passage read. They
seem to understand better than we that it describes
what they are facing. The reader should examine the
entire thirtieth chapter of Job from which we quote a
few verses.
They are gaunt with want and famine; they gnaw the
dry and barren ground, or flee into the wilderness, into
the gloom of wasteness and desolation. They pluck
saltwort and mallows among the bushes, and roots of
the broom for their food or to warm them. They are
driven from among men, who shout after them as after
a thief. They must dwell in the clefts of frightful valleys
[gullies made by torrents], and in holes of the earth and
of the rocks. Among the bushes they bray and howl
[like wild animals]; beneath the prickly scrub they fling
themselves and huddle together. Sons of the worthless
and nameless, they have been scourged and crushed
out of the land. Job 30:3-8 (Amplified)
5. Can we tell demons where to go?
This question is related to the previous one. Outside of
telling us that expelled demons “walk through dry
places” there is no suggestion as to what happens to
them. It is never reported that Jesus or the disciples
ever imposed any judgment on demons by sending
them to hell, the pit, or any such place. The demons
evidently understand that their final judgment is yet
future. They indicated this when they spoke through
the Gadarene demoniac.
What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God?
art thou come hither to torment us BEFORE THE TIME?
Matt. 8:29
The scripture does not authorize us to impose
premature torment upon the demons. That time is fixed
by the counsel of God.
Then, can we send them to another country or locality?
The demon that identified himself as “Legion” pleaded
with Jesus that He not send them to another place.
And he (Legion) besought him much that he would not
send them away out of the country. Mark 5:10
From this it appears that demons can be sent to other
parts of the world. Should this be done in every
instance or only in certain instances?
There have been times when I was directed of the Holy
Spirit to command demons to go to specific countries of
the world. In such instances I have heard the demons
speak in violent protest. One demon begged not to be
sent to Africa, complaining it was too hot there. For
some reason they obviously prefer to stay in one
locality.
Why did the demons in the Gadarene ask to go into the
swine, and why did Jesus grant such permission? Surely
Jesus was not in any kind of sympathy with the demons.
His reason must have been based on the welfare of the
demonized man. It is my own theory that the man
would have been severely torn by a legion of spirits
resisting being cast out. (Jesus never prevented demons
from tearing a person as they came out). Since the
demons were allowed a sure place to go they would not
put up resistance. As it turned out, the swine soon met
with destruction and the demons were again without a
“home”.
Demons prefer to indwell humans. Their second choice
is an animal. It does not do much for my pride to
realize that if a demon cannot indwell me his second
choice is a pig! Demons can and do indwell animals.
6. Can we forbid demons to re-enter a person?
On only one occasion are we told that Jesus forbade a
demon to return. This was the case of a boy possessed
by a dumb and deaf spirit who was brought to Jesus by
his father.
When Jesus saw that the people came running together,
he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb
and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and
ENTER NO MORE INTO HIM. Mark 9:25
This seems to be an exceptional procedure. As we have
seen from Matt. 12: 43-45, a demon will attempt to
return and will succeed in doing so unless the delivered
person does what is necessary to keep him out. In the
case of children, parents are the spiritual guardians.
The father in the case in question showed a weakness
in faith, saying, “I believe, help thou mine unbelief.”
Jesus was encouraging the man’s faith when they were
interrupted by a crowd gathering. It may have been
that Jesus acted sovereignly in behalf of a child who did
not have adequate spiritual protection from his father.
In this case, one example does not seem sufficient
evidence upon which to build a precedent. If we had
the authority in all cases to forbid the demons to
return, it would simplify deliverance, but it would
eliminate the effort to stay free which serves to
strengthen the believer. Surely the Lord will give us
direction in any situation where He purposes to limit
the activity of a demon by denying it further access to a
person. God IS able to limit Satan’s power against a
person. Satan had to get permission from God before he
could come against Job.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine
hand; but save his life. Job 2:6
If God, through a word of knowledge, shows that a
demon is prohibited from ever indwelling a person
again, one can say to the demon, “Upon the authority of
the Lord Jesus Christ, enter no more into him.”
7. Should houses be cleansed of evil spirits?
Due to my involvement with demons through
deliverance I have heard many reports of unusual
demon activities in connection with houses and objects.
Frequently I am requested to drive demons out of
houses. Books and objects identified with anything
related to Satan’s kingdom have been known to attract
demons. Sinful activities on the part of former residents
account for some houses needing to be cleansed. Many
have told of hearing voices or sounds in their houses.
Such manifestations are sometimes called “poltergeist’,
a German word meaning “knocking or noisy ghosts”.
While ministering to a nine year old girl, the mother
told us that the girl awakened every night in the middle
of the night. She would be very frightened. They could
not account for this.
The ministry for the girl turned up nothing that was
suspect. We asked that we might inspect the girl’s
bedroom. Three things were found in the room which
we had discovered could attract evil spirits. There was
a book about a witch - secured through the public
school. Then there was a big, stuffed toy frog, and over
the girl’s bed was a mobile from which dangled half a
dozen little owl images that glowed in the dark.
The family agreed to remove these objects and destroy
them. We commanded all demons hiding in the room
to leave immediately in the name of Jesus, and pled the
covering of the blood of Jesus over the girl. The girl has
slept peacefully ever since.
What about the owls and frogs? These are classified
among the creatures mentioned in Deut. 14:7-19 as
being unclean and abominable. They are types of
demon spirits. My ministry has taken me into many
homes, and I have become aware of how many of these
unclean creatures are being made into art objects and
used for decorations.
This is especially true of owls and frogs. It is more than
coincidence that both of these are creatures of
darkness. They come out at night and hunt their prey.
Demons are also creatures of darkness. They cannot
operate in the light!
In another home we found a twelve year old boy who
was having trouble sleeping. He was very nervous and
fearful. The home was filled with many objects that had
been brought from the mission fields of Africa. There
was a witch’s mask, and fetishes used by witch doctors
and in heathen worship. Sometimes the economic or
sentimental value of such objects mean more to persons
than the welfare of the family. Hear what God told His
people, Israel, about such things:
The graven images of their gods you shall burn with
fire; you shall not desire the silver or gold that is on
them, nor take it for yourself, lest you be ensnared by
it; for IT IS AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD YOUR
GOD. Neither shall you bring an abomination (an idol)
into your house, lest you be ensnared by it; FOR IT IS
AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD YOUR GOD. Deut.
7:25,26 (Amplified)
Demons are definitely attracted to houses by objects
and literature that pertain to false religions, cults, the
occult and spiritism. All such materials should be
burned or otherwise destroyed. Houses or buildings
which are suspect of demon infestation should be
cleansed by the authority of the name of Jesus. Those
who live in such places should stand on the provisions
of the blood of Christ.
8. Is it necessary to call demons out by specific
names?
Some interesting things arise in the course of
deliverance ministry in regard to names or
designations for demons. There are times when
demons will come out without being designated. Such a
deliverance can continue for an hour without any
specific spirits being called for. In other situations the
very opposite is true. No demon will come out until it is
called by name.
In one deliverance I had called out a demon of
rejection. Later on a fear of rejection was discerned. I
asked, “Why are you still there? Why didn't you come
out when I called for rejection?” The demon responded,
“Because you didn’t call for me by my name. I am not
‘rejection” I' am fear of rejection’.”
Demons will usually respond to a description of what
they are causing. For example, “You demon that is
causing this person to have those bad dreams at night.”
Most demons will accept this approach in lieu of a
specific title, and will come out.
I am personally of the opinion that a demon’s insistence
upon being called by a particular designation is a
delaying tactic. I have had demons balk at coming out
by declaring, “But that’s not my name.” In such cases I
usually say, “Well, you have to come out anyhow.” And
they come out.
The main value in knowing the names or designations
of the demons is in enabling the one delivered to know
what was accomplished. When any of the demons try to
come back, it is important to know which ones were
cast out. In this way the person can be on the alert and
can also deal with that area in the flesh so as to close
the door against demons re-entering.
Some demons are very boastful. They seem to enjoy
telling their names. One such demon spoke loftily, “I be
only he left,” thus claiming he was the last demon to be
cast out. He continued, “I be the pride. All pride come
through me.”
The devil wants to bring glory to himself by persuading believers to appear to manifest demons in their soul/body. The truth that we believers are working FROM deliverance, not TOWARDS deliverance, will set us believers free.
RichardAnna Boyce
The devil wants to bring glory to himself by persuading believers to appear to manifest demons in their soul/body. The truth that we believers are working FROM deliverance, not TOWARDS deliverance, will set us believers free.