Demon Possession and Deliverance in Clinical Practice
Willliam P. Wilson, MDDistinguished Professor of Counseling
Houston Graduate School of Theology (NC)Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry Duke University
Medical Center
Demonization
Christianity as a moral force has lost its influence.
Heresy and apostasy are rifePeople are worshiping false godsThe authority of the Bible has been compromised Universalism has become a common beliefThe supernatural is rejectedThe reality of personified evil is rejected
SupernaturalismCosmology
Norbert Wiener and others have stated that there are 7 dimensions of existence. Three of these are supernatural Thinking about thinking provides evidence of the supernatural in our lives Jesus= resurrection was a supernatural eventJesus could appear and disappear in a supernatural way after his resurrectionHis wounds could be seen and feltHe could eat foodHe ascended into heaven
Supernaturalism Continued
Jesus apperared to Paul after he had ascended into heaven
In his commissioning of Paul he told him he was to turn people from the devil to God
Paul was taken up to the third heaven and witnessed inexspressible things
Satan and the SupernaturalEvil
Evil exists and man has always wanted to control it.
Most nations have tried to control it. There are universal taboosModern society has thought it could control it by joining forces with itThe Bible is clear in its statement that evil entered the world through Satan.But few people today believe that Satan exists. This is true of the theological and mental health professionsTherefore, there is no spiritual warfare
EvidenceBiblical exegetes
There are a number of prominent theologians who have written extensively about him.
BarnhouseUngerKochPentecostDavies All have carefully exegeted the biblical evidence related to Satan.
Mental Health Attitudes
Most theologians, pastors, and secular mental health professionals do not believe that Satan exists.
Most Christian mental health professionals equivocate or do not speak of Satan because they do not want to suffer the derision or rejection of their unregenerate colleagues
Some do take Satan seriously
Satan=s Strategy He convinces people he does not exist He convinces people that God does not
exist. He tells us we we can be like God.We are hardwired to seek a god He then offers us false gods
He convinces people that the Bible has no authority
He gets people to become so preoccupied with Demons that his reality appears foolish
Satan=s Strategy
Barnhouse quotes Baudelaire and De Rougemont as saying his cleverest stratagem is to convince the world he does not exist.
The Bible speaks about him and his works in many places.
Satan=s StrategyContinued
He spreads false knowledge. Myths (Kraft)Christians cannot be demonized (false)Many people are possessed by demons (few)Demonization is really all psychological (J. White)All emotional problems are are caused by demons (false)Demonization is uncommon in the US (False)Only persons with special gifting can cast out demons (false)Deliverance always entails a big fight (rarely)
Satan=s StratgegyContinued
The demonized speak in different voices (only those who are truly possessed)
The Truth About Satan
An evil supernatural person really exists. Jesus said so, and the Bible is explicit in speaking of his existence from beginning to end
He has supernatural followers that are organizedRulers-over countriesPrincipalities-over states and citiesPowers-over areasDemons-foot soldiers
The Truth About SatanContinued
Satan is a created beingHis troops are created beingsGod and his son Jesus have power over them and they can do nothing without his permission
Satan has personality characteristicsHe is a murdererHe is a liarHe is the author of temptationHe is a great imitator
The Truth about SatanContinued
He is the ruler of the worldHe rules the lives of unregenerate peopleHe seeks to destroy all people because we are created in the image of GodHe is an evangelist. He wants all people to worship him
Nosology of Demonization
Demon Possession Oppression Obsession (fanaticism) Satanic possession
Portals of Entry They may be invited in They may enter when a person in a state
of rebellion pays satanically contrived games
They gain entry and influence through strongholdsAny habitual way of thinking or behaving that is contrary to God=s law. It may be personal or cultural
Belonging to occult groups Attendance at occult ceremonies
Other ViewsAttributing too much to Satan
Hammonds:Emotional problemsMental problemsSpeech problemsSex problemsAddictionsPhysical infirmitiesReligious errorBobgans list over 200 demons
Other Views Recent more temperate views
Don Basham agreed essentially with NeviusMcNuttUngerWilsonKochCharles KraftNeil Anderson
Criteria for DemonizationPossession According to Nevius
There is an automatic presentation of a new personality in the victim both cognitively and behaviorallyThey have namesThey have attributes that harmonize with their nameFacial expressions Body posture and movements
PossessionContinued
The personality possesses supernatural knowledge and intellectual power
There is a complete change of moral character There is a hatred to God and especially to Christ
Case ReportPossession
Thirty year old female who had falling spell precipitated by asking her if she had made Jesus Lord of her lifeBruisedTurned violent when help offeredFacial expression of hateSupernatural strengthHer spells lasted up to 15 minutes
OppressionSymptoms
He robs a person of the joy of their salvation
He convinces them the essence of Christianity is to obey the law
He instills a supernatural fear of God He is the source of temptations He creates doubt in the mind of a believer They feel a sense of blackness around
them
Case ReportOppression
24 year old Christian worker with a complaint of depressionDysfunctional home, father committed suicide when he was 9. Patient and mother cleaned up Medications, spiritual interventions and cognitive behavioral therapy of no avail Much worse while in China Wrote vile descriptions of his parents, but claimed he did not do itHoly Spirit revealed that he was demon oppressed
ObsessionManifestations
Feel they cannot be saved Cannot accept a trinitarian view of God Instill a supernatural fear of God making
him appear super wrathful Create chronic doubt Constantly bring temptation before the
person
Satanic PossessionA question
McCanlish Phillips has proposed that Satan himself can control a personJudas had Satan enter him to cause him to betray ChristI have seen five persons who meet his criteria They are evil looking One discerns that they are evil The are violently antiChrist In many instances they are murderous And they may be liars
They do not meet the criteria for possession
Case Report Possible satanic possession
A prominent layman in a mainline church Attended a lay revival Was disruptive and encouraged the people in attendance to go home Threatened lay staff Finally threatened me Very hostile and evil looking When rebuked he finally left
DeliveranceApplication
Deliverance is to be applied to all forms of demonization and satanic possession
All born again Chistians have the capacity to deliver demonized personsThey have the same power that Jesus hadAll they have to do is to confront the demon or discern his presence or influenceIf the demon creates a fuss or acts up you can command him to be stillYou must then authoritatively command him by name (if you know it) to leave in the name of Jesus with no fuss or bother
DeliveranceApplication continued
If the demon hesitates or refuses to go you can command him to go more authoritively and he will usually go.
Some are highly resistant and you have to continue to command them to go and remind them that they were defeated at the Cross and Jesus= blood bought the victory
If you suspect it will be difficult then have some prayer backup
Once they are free, lead them to the Lord or have them rededicate their lives if they are already a Christian
Teach them to maintain their spiritual immunity The Lord=s Prayer saying, Adeliver us from the
evil one@ is a good prayer of deliverance
Personal CareWhat the counselor needs to be, know and do
You must be a mature Christian You must maintain your spiritual immunity
Regularly practice the means of GracePrayRemain in the wordCelebrate the EucharistPraise and worship God regularlyIf so gifted pray in tongues regularlyDo all things for the glory of God (1Cor:10:31)
Some Comments of UseTaking Satan seriously
I routinely have a patient who is accepting Christ repudiate Satan and all his works
If I suspect or discern demon possession I have the patient say AJesus is Lord.@ This will cause most demons to reveal themselves
After I finish my work up of a Christian patient I pray that all demonic forces be bound and taken to Jesus for disposition
Some Coments of UseContinued
If the person=s faith is weak I have them rededicate their lives to Christ
And be sure they have been discipled or will be
Scripture ReferencesOld and New Testaments
Old TestamentGenesis 3:1-15 Enmity: Man vs SatanGenesis 4:1-6, 6:1-10 Man attacked by SatanJob 38:1-7, Ezekiel, Lucifer createdPsalm 95:5, Idols are demonsDeut. 32:17, samePsalm 106:6,7, sameLeviticus 17-7, same
Scripture References# 2
Chronicles 11:15, same Isaiah 13:21, 14:12, 34:14, Same
New TestamentMatthew 4: 1-12, Satan=s oppositionMark 5: 1-10, sameMatthew 10:1, Jesus expelled demonsMatthew 14:22,28, Satan=s opposition againLuke 10:17,18, same
Scripture References# 3
James 2:19, Speaks of demons Revelation 9:20, Same Luke 4:33, 6:18, Their nature 1 Timothy 4:1, Their activities Revelation 16:14, Same Ephesians 6:10-20, Their opposition to a believer Luke 8:31, Their abode Revelation 9:11 his name in Greek and Hebrew Matthew 25:41, Their eternal doom
ReferencesThree Critical
Barnhouse, D. G. The Invisible War, Grand Rapids, MN: Zondervan 1965
Davies, T.W. Divination and Demonology, London: James Clark and company, 1998
Montgomery, J.W. (Ed) Demon Possession, Minneapolis MN: Bethany Fellowship, 1976
Dr. Wilson=s AddressesWebsite
WWW.instchristiangrowth.orgEmail [email protected]
Mailing addressInstitute of Christian GrowthBox 2347Burlington, NC27216-2347
Phone and FaxPhone 336-229-6049Fax 336-570-1392
