Step 7: Casting Out Demons

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Permalink Reply by Gloria on August 3, 2010 at 5:26pm

We hosted a "How To Hear God's Voice" class at our church using the DVDs. We had good attendance & response to that. However a church elder who attended the class disagrees with a Mark Virkler viewpoint of demons being "in" Christians. We're willing to host the series again for others who have not yet been able to attend but want to. Perhaps you've dealt with this before?

Permalink Reply by Mark Virkler on August 17, 2010 at 10:48pm

Go with the phraseology that the demon is harassing the person, and they need to be set free... this avoids the question as to whether the demon is hanging on the inside or the outside of the person.

Permalink Reply by Betty on August 27, 2010 at 11:11am

This makes good sense and fits what the Lord has been speaking to us.

Permalink Reply by Betty on August 4, 2010 at 1:19pm

This is an interesting question and I'm curious to know what others have to say in response as well. I have found that the terminology can be a turn off to some people and esp. younger people who have fearful thoughts and ideas about what a demon is. I personally prefer to use the term 'stronghold' instead of demon. I also think 'evil spirit' is more acceptable and less laiden with wrong interpretations--ie. a spirit of something evil influencing my life. So it is not some ugly beastly 'being' that somehow literally got in me, but a spiritual influence that needs to be uprooted. Some friends and I have been pursuing the Lord for more understanding of these things and appropriate explanations and terminology because I, like you, have had people respond negatively to the concept of demon possession. It's a bit off the topic but I could share some of that journaling here if you are interested. Hopefully others will join this discussion and share as well. And Gloria, if you'd rather I start a new thread with my slightly different topic, just let me know and I'll move it.

Permalink Reply by Gloria on August 5, 2010 at 1:22am

Thanks for your reply Betty. I think Patty is in charge here, so let's continue here and be willing to move if Patty thinks that's best. With the elder at our church, a demon being "in" Christians is not a matter of whether we call the demon a stronghold or evil spirit etc. The question for the elder is a matter of Bible truth. As he put it, when the Holy Spirit is "in" a person, a demon cannot also be "in" that person. While that may be an important point of truth, I'm concerned about people not being able to have the opportunity to learn "How to Hear God's Voice" because of this question. I haven't relistened to all the "How to Hear God's Voice" DVDs but recall only passing mentions of this.

Beyond this, a natural follow up to the "How to Hear God's Voice" classes is the "Prayers That Heal the Heart" series. In it the demons being "in" Christians is pretty central. To me, whether demons are "in" or "at" or "against" Christians, they need deliverance and I want them to receive it!

Permalink Reply by Gloria on August 5, 2010 at 1:28am

Forgot to mention, Betty, that I'd be interested in the journaling you spoke of.

Permalink Reply by Betty on August 15, 2010 at 11:14pm

I agree with you, terminology isn't the important thing, getting free is, yet people trip over terminology. I'm not sure what would be the best way to deal with the question the elder has raised but it's one that's raised a lot.

As for the vision and insight from the Lord....this is collected bits from what the Lord showed three of us in prayer when we sough Him for understand about demons and demonic strongholds. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, the....the demonic is another way that is not My way." He also said something to the effect of being protected because He is behind and before and on all sides and explained that a 'demonic stronghold' involves an area of a person's life that is not fully surrendered to Him. I saw a vision of these little wimpy beings chattering and making a big fuss around my feet, they seemed to lack physical substance, however, they were an annoying distraction. I thought it was significant that they were at my feet, ie trying to effect my walk. I was also reminded of a previous vision of Jesus, my body guard, who was massive and stood very tall beside me...so tall that I had to reach my arm straight up to hold His hand. The contrast was stark.

I have come to see demons as things that seek to influence me in ways that are 'other than' God's way. A stronghold is when these things have a grip on us and we need to be delivered of that strong hold the enemy has on that aspect of our life. Maybe an explanation of terminology would help some people understand...I really don't know. All I know is the process works no matter what my understanding or terminology is. :D

I hope you can discern from the Lord what to do about this issue with the elder.

Permalink Reply by VJ on August 18, 2010 at 7:59am

I agree with the term stronghold Jesus refered to it in the bible "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.

Fallen angels are not Demons. Fallen Angels cant be cast out, they can only be rebuked (Jude) they don`t seek a body they have their bodies since the day they have been cast out of heaven.

Demons are fallen pre Adamic races (where evolution got there theory from) Isa 24:1 Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.(What made God so angry) This did not occur during Noah`s flood.
more demons joined these others. (Genesis 6) Good info to study. Jesus said from the Cross in Psalm 22 Many bulls have circled around Me; strong bulls of Bashan have surrounded Me.Who are the bulls of Bashan? remember Caleb, this is the country that Caleb took from the Giants.

Fallen Angels rule in the second heaven (Ephesians 6) they are the prince of the air. Demons are on the earth they are the son of the fallen angels the seed of the serpent in genesis 3 they are under the leadership of the fallen angels

You will find that what I am saying a bit strange because this is not preached from the pulpit. We Christian don` know who is Our enemy , how they operate, how they fight. If we do we will have victory after victory.

We can all learn from the USA army how to fight in the natural and apply it in the Spiritual.

VJ

Permalink Reply by Adaline Kumar's Corner on August 18, 2011 at 3:09pm

I have attended SOZO and other Theophostic workshops. Please remember our beings are divided into body, mind and soul. Yes, a beleiving Christian can be "oppressed" (mentally and physically) by a demon(s). A person can be a "prisoner" (inside), when a demon can indwell in them (oppression) or a "captive" (outside), when a person is "under the demonic influence". Either way they need to be delivered as they go through the same truamatic experiences in their lives. Apart from all these a person has to go through inner healing in their hearts which totally sets them free.