Demons

I have never cast out a demon nor seen it done... BUT

I have driven out a demon in a dream, and I have gotten haunting lustful thoughts to leave me alone by commanding them to leave me alone in the name of Jesus Christ my Savior. Works great when you finally get up enough faith to do it Trust me on that!!!

But never cast a demon of someone else or anything.... I fully believe it could happen because Jesus could then and He can today. Maybe someday I will see it happen... or do it by the power of God myself (cause God would do it not me) Have a great da!

3rd April 2003 at 10:43 PM JesusServant said this in Post #8

I went from pot smoking, alcohol drinking, cigarette fiending to nothing but Jesus after having people lay hands on me and praying for me, and once I confessed that Jesus is Lord, my life was never the same. I believe that I was under the powers of darkness and was freed. Glory to God!

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What an awesome God we serve! 

Demonic Influence is real. I believe that you must be constantly praying and seeking an incredible closeness to God to minister in these realms. A gift of discernment is essential.

I carried scars for years that only by the Grace of Jesus Christ they have been healed from a counsellor in a church insisting I had a demon and trying to deliver it in a prayer tent one night back in my teen years. I now after years of struggle(10yrs) walk in peace and see the Child of God I was really meant to be. At the time I was a vulnerable teen new to the Lord and looking for anything that would help me learn. However I believe God redeemed the experience to help me in my ministry today. God never wastes a thing. I love teenagers and see the special worth they are to the Father. However use your discernment as top priority so a brother doesn't stumble.

Yes I have seen a real deliverance since and God used a wonderful Spirit Filled pastor to acomplish His work. Such beauty to see someone truly set free.

So I agree we shouldn't go looking for demons but they are real and God will guide us if we are willing.

I have some concerns about Deliverance Ministries. I saw a show on Larsen and it seemed fake like a show. I do believe people can be possessed but that it is rare and that a born again-saved Christian can NOT have a demon indwelling. We can be tempted by the Devil and his henchmen but not have them enter where the Holy Spirit already dwells. Also many mentally ill people can fall victim to this stuff. I think it could concievably affect a schizophrenic or others very terribly to be told they have a demon inside them.

My church would cast a demon out if the rare instant happened that one was in someone. But it hasnt happened yet.

I question churches where there is a focus on casting demons out of people on a daily basis.

Anyone ever read "Lord Foul Grins Letters?" It's a knock off of the Screwtape letters but for our time.

Today at 06:20 AM Budge said this in Post #24

I have some concerns about Deliverance Ministries. I saw a show on Larsen and it seemed fake like a show. I do believe people can be possessed but that it is rare and that a born again-saved Christian can NOT have a demon indwelling. We can be tempted by the Devil and his henchmen but not have them enter where the Holy Spirit already dwells. Also many mentally ill people can fall victim to this stuff. I think it could concievably affect a schizophrenic or others very terribly to be told they have a demon inside them.

My church would cast a demon out if the rare instant happened that one was in someone. But it hasnt happened yet.

I question churches where there is a focus on casting demons out of people on a daily basis.

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I can't believe it. I think I hear a very hot place where I'm not ever going freezing over. . .I actually agree with you on this.

As for Bob Larson, PLEASE don't get into his stuff. I posted a thread on him a long while back, and I'm considering posting it again to show that the man has very mercenary intent for his "ministry." Also, some serious ethical questions have been raised about staged exorcisms, extramarital liasons, and other "not-quite-kosher" behavior surrounding him.

Today at 08:25 AM Gideon4God said this in Post #25

Anyone ever read "Lord Foul Grins Letters?" It's a knock off of the Screwtape letters but for our time.

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Why no, I haven't.

I personally believe spiritual warfare to be the struggle with ourselves, against our sin nature and against sin in general, and occasionally resisting a tempting thought or situation posed by a demon or the devil.

(In that latter case, I will give an example: I'm a writer. Let's say I stumbled upon a site offering people money for writing lemon fanfiction. That would be a "temptation," because I could definitely use some more money, I want to be noticed as a writer, and I could probably do that if I wanted to (I don't). Nevertheless, I would reject it because I know from whom it comes, because I don't want to be identified with that kind of writing, and because it's wrong. I don't have to pray a prayer renouncing the site or go and yell at the devil for causing it to show up in my search-I just have to leave it at once and never return.)

I don't believe anointed pillows for nightmare protection, fear of symbols that could "possibly draw demons," and the general superstitious nonsense surrounding much of modern "warfare teaching" to be of any value. I may be too cynical, but I see most if not all such things at best as the power of suggestion and at worst as a scam perpetrated on the gullible in the name of faith.

I can't believe it. I think I hear a very hot place where I'm not ever going freezing over. . .I actually agree with you on this.

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Hey it was bound to happen eventually Susan

I posted a thread on him a long while back, and I'm considering posting it again to show that the man has very mercenary intent for his "ministry." Also, some serious ethical questions have been raised about staged exorcisms, extramarital liasons, and other "not-quite-kosher" behavior surrounding him.

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He doesnt seem legitamate. On the TLC show there was too much showmanship. It does bother me when people abuse Christianity to make money or deceive people. I think people like this will have a lot to face when they are before God one day.

This thread was initially started for those who have the experience of casting demons out to share their experiences.

Please. . .let it get back on track. . .thank you.

Perhaps God has a plan if he allows a demon to "bother" a person who is a believer... both for the person possessed or the person doing the "exorcising."

Me, I had had several run-ins already with demons by the time I actually cast one out in Jesus' name. First of all, as you all know, it is evident to keep Christ in the center of everything, and when all else fails, just pray, and praise the name of the Lord.

Here's my story. It was the spring of 1997 in Tours, France. I was praying before Mass at the Basilica of St. Martin, and there was, in the catacomb (near St. Martin's tomb) below, a charismatic group from Sri Lanka singing and worshiping there. I was encouraged to hear there songs (they were English-speaking).

Anyway, at one point, right after communion, one of the women began moaning and wailing in great agony. I was concerned. I asked the Lord what that was, and the Holy Spirit replied right away, "Demonic possession." Wow...

So I made my way downstairs. The majority of their group was dispersed, but the woman was being attended to by some women and their priest (a man who radiated the love and joy of Jesus in his eyes and smile), all concerned for her as she moaned, convulsed, and sweated profusely.

I did not approach. I went over to a remote corner of the crypt, knelt and prayed to the Lord for her, in French, murmuring. As I did this (there's no way the woman could ever have heard me) the demons (there were two, I discerned) were screaming out of her in English, "NO! Stop him! Not that name! Make him stop!" And that made me do so harder. But the priest came over to me and asked, "are you a priest?" and asked for my assistance. I layed my hands on her, as the demons protested. Eventually she was OK, able to stand up but she was still visibly shaken. So we talked. I new I'd suppressed the demons but not gotten rid of them. All the while my prayer was for God to take control, and I would merely be His instrument.

She and I spoke. She was like in her early 30s, demon-possessed since she was 5, when these pagans "made me eat something" as she put it. Clearly ritually sacrificied food. But I discovered her own guilt was what kept her from being healed. She'd been to exorcists and "healers" of every Christian denomination but no one had succeeded to expel them.

She felt like it was HER FAULT that the demons were in her, that she was guilty for something she did, coerced to do at age 5. I told her that THAT was the obstacle to her freedom. So I asked her to pray with me and confess her sins to the Lord, as we prayed for God's healing for her, and that she remember and trust in the Lord's grace and forgiveness. (I'm skimming over a lot for the sake of brevity.)

They had to get going, as their tour bus was going to leave but I refused to let her go without this being resolved. Already the event caused quite a ruckus. I began to murmur a prayer again (inaudible) and she began to violently convulse and scream and cry, and a guy in the group tried to stop me from praying since it was "upsetting" her. I asked him, "Do you prefer that this happen again in EVERY church you enter?" (as it had been happening in every church prior)

So I sat her down and got FIRM with the demons and in the name of JESUS commanded them out with a passion that had consumed me. It was clearly not myself in command!

Suddenly, her whole demeanor changed. Before, when I'd calmed her, she was still shaken, still had the residue of sweat on her brow, but this time she was "glowing" with a great peace, sat up, was calm, was truly, truly free... and she felt it. And her whole posture, voice, body, and soul showed it. All the sweat that had been on her was evaporated as if there never had been any, she was not shaking from nervousness, she was totally calm.

I never saw her again but that was the first of many other exorcisms to come.

Bastoune, that's an awesome story!!

Anyone ever read "Lord Foul Grins Letters?" It's a knock off of the Screwtape letters but for our time.

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I've read it - I loved it. I'd recommend it to anyone. I bawled like a baby at the end.

I have a story, but it's not of a possession, but of a visitation (2). I don't want to hijack the thread, so I'll leave it at that unless I get permission to share from the original poster.

Thank you didaskalos for allowing me to share. Here's my story;

I became a full-fledged Jesus believing Christian almost 6 years ago. As is with most new Chritians, I had a fire and passion for Him that is indescribable. Isn't He incredible?

I got involved in a neighborhood women's bible study, which is really how I came to the Lord in the first place - the seeds were planted and reaped at the right time, Praise God! I was so thirsty for His Word, and wanted to know everything there was to know about my Jesus, that I delved deeply, and became "His ambassador" to His grace and mercy.

I had been a Christian for only a couple of months, and my husband was working swingshift on Wedensday nights. On a particular Wednesday night when Paul was at work I was sleeping deeply, as were my 3 other children (at the time). At 1:15am, I woke up from a dead-sleep, and felt a presence in our bedroom. It was so tangible, that all of my senses were on high alert. I know to this day that it was the guardians of our Lord that awoke me to this aweful presense. I thought at first that it was an intruder in our home - that seems logical, right? Right. I laid there for what seemed like an eternity but what was actually a few seconds, deciding what I should do. Since I was facing the door, that was opened about a foot, I could see a black, yet transluscent figure standing in the doorway.

It's difficult to describe what I saw; it characterized a male in stature, it was black, yet it wasn't solid like a real person. It was almost "see through", yet it wasn't. "He" had a "mans" body, and appeared to be strong, about 6' tall or so. And yes, I remember these details. There wasn't an actual face to speak of, since he was in the shadows. I thought for a minute that I was hallucinating, and told myself to blink a few times. I did, and it was still there. I tried to talk to myself logically, and decided that at the count of three, I'd roll over quickly to my husbands side of the bed and turn on the light. I had nothing to lose at this point! I counted to three, turned it on, and it was gone.

But what I felt during that time, and after that, was the most sickening feeling I've ever felt in my entire life. I've done some horrible things in my life, especially as a pre-Christian, and nothing compared for the utter desolation that was prevalent in my room and my body at that time. I felt such an utter evil presence in that room that it had me shaking, and not just from the possibility of someone being in my home. Attached to those feelings were despair, hopelessness, emptiness, sorrow and oppression. It was doing its best to keep my soul in a state of oppression - it wanted my soul and I swear it felt threatened by the work I will be doing for the Lord. It makes me weep just thinking about it.

I went out to the kitchen, and by that time I knew what I had encountered. I called my husband on the phone who was on the way home by that time and said to him, "where are you! Get home!!" My then 10 yr old daughter came upstairs from her bedroom and asked me what I was doing up. I told her I was getting a drink of water and calling daddy to see when he was going to be home. She said to me, "mom, I had the freakiest thing happen in my room". My heart sunk like a brick. I asked her, "what happened honey?". She told me in detail that she had a "visitation" of the same exact "person", but it was tailored to her height. She too was a new Christian, and she denounced it in the name of Jesus Christ, by the blood of the Lamb. It went spiralling through the wall. That wasn't the last occurance for her. The last time it happened for Cassie was a couple of months ago.

When hubby came home, I told him all about it. He was blown away, because he had never come across anyone who had had this experience before. Some women from my neighborhood bible study came over the next day and we prayed over the house, and our van, which was to take us halfway across the country to visit relatives the next day.

We did leave the next day, in which I felt rather anxious. But, there's a further story on that. I swear that I met an angel of God at the hotel pool to ease my mind and the anxiousness that I felt. If you want to hear it, I'll be happy to tell.

But I will tell you this; that I am a firm believer in putting on the armour of Christ. He has told me time and time again to put it on, and I willfully obey Him. Nothing can protect us as much as Him, His incredible Word engraved on our hearts and minds and souls. After that experience, he quickened my heart to learn about the armour - He has never failed me. The only reason why the enemy attacks me and my family, is because our Lord has big plans for us! Praise God! He has never left us, nor forsaken us, and for that I praise His Almighty Name. Amen.