Performing an exorcism

[dms1972]

View attachment 239357

Sorry for the double post but the pic was not showing up ...

Didn't quite have that sort of plane in mind, haha. More plane as in realm, domain.

 

[dms1972]

Or that we should all just wade in.

Even I, for example, know that the first rule of deliverance ministry is "never attempt it alone."

Which is why in scripture we have the Archangel Michael saying : "The LORD rebuke you!" to the Devil.

We must never say it as though coming from ourselves.

https://www.biblehub.com/jude/1-9.htm

https://biblehub.com/zechariah/3-2.htm

Not saying anyone should wade in, but if I was feeling oppressed spiritually as I occasionally have felt, I think I need to be able to respond with spiritual weapons.

 

[dms1972]

As a "retired" Charismatic (now a Presbyterian), I have seen the public deliverance ministry. What I think is that the demons like display and advertisement and so they put on a performance for the onlookers. This is the trap that some public deliverance ministries fall into. There are two really good books that gave me much wisdom and these are, "The Handbook of Spiritual Warfare" by Dr Ed. Murphy, and "The Bondage Breaker" by Neil Anderson. Both these books use the private counselling approach, and do not deal with any demons unless they manifest during the counselling process.

Dr Murphy will tell a manifesting demon to shut up and get into the background. Then he will go through with the client to deal with anything that would invite the demon in, ie: occult activity, traumatic event, serious sin. Once that has been dealt with, he will tell the demon to come to the fore and tell it to get out. Most times the demon will say, "Oh, well, I have to go now. I have no choice." Dr Murphy's approach is that like an infestation of rats where they feed on garbage, demons are the same. Get rid of the garbage and the demon has nothing more to feed on.

Neil Anderson uses the same private counselling approach. He will take the client through a comprehensive questionnaire dealing with all the areas in which a wrong spirit can be invited in. Then he will get the client to read back the whole list of where he stands in Christ. Often, there is no manifestation, but a new sense of freedom connected with love, peace and joy. The need for exorcism is overruled and does not actually happen.

The problem with public exorcism is that people try to cast out demons before getting rid of the garbage that has opened the way for them to enter. This is why there is such a struggle. If the person has invited the wrong spirit in through his actions, then the demon thinks, quite rightly, that it has a right to be there. But get rid of the garbage, and the demon is basically "starved" out and has to go somewhere where there is garbage to feed on.

I trust that this is informative as an alternative to the "cowboys".

I agree and some of the tele-evangelist sorts of ministers I'd say are exploiting the encounter to enhance their image as a mighty man of God.

Neil Anderson focuses his ministry on Truth encounter, not power encounter. I agree with that. I had not heard of your other writer, I'll look it up.

The following is also interesting:

http://issuesetcarchive.org/issues_site/resource/journals/luther.htm

 

[dms1972]

Self deliverance is not dumb. It should be part of every believer's arsenal.

Co-opting someone else to help in self deliverance is great from a discernment point of view, but your own words of command are the greatest of all weapons.

I don't think someone seriously oppressed, would always be able to deliver themselves. And also if they are depressed they would need ministry from others.

Some writers see a progression from oppression, to demonization, to possession. In the later stages I don't think one can deliver oneself. Nevertheless, the "Name of the Jehovah is as a strong tower, the righteous run into it, and are safe." (Proverbs 18:10)

 

[dms1972]

There is a manual for priests by Earle H. Maddux, complementary to the Book of Common Prayer, which contains various blessings of water, salt etc. Some of these are reproduced in Leanne Payne's book mentioned earlier in the thread. Some can also be found online.

 

[AlexDTX]

I would shorten that to "All born again believers." Period.

However, just because we all have that authority does not mean we are especially gifted in this type of ministry.

I understand your point. However, taking authority over demons means having a faith that is convinced of that authority. When the disciples could not cast one out Jesus said it was because of their unbelief. The baptism of the Holy Spirit strengthens faith. Yes, being simply born again is enough authority, but many who are born again without the baptism of the Spirit have too much carnal thinking that undermines their faith.

However, just because we all have that authority does not mean we are especially gifted in this type of ministry.

This is another form of unbelief. It is not a gift, it is a matter of use. If your faith is undermined with unbelief, you will not use your authority.

 

[Dave-W]

This is another form of unbelief. It is not a gift, it is a matter of use. If your faith is undermined with unbelief, you will not use your authority.

Not really. One of the charismatic gifts of 1 Cor 12 is specific to the deliverance ministry: discerning of spirits. Without it you are driving blind.

 

[Francis Drake]

Not really. One of the charismatic gifts of 1 Cor 12 is specific to the deliverance ministry: discerning of spirits. Without it you are driving blind.

Discerning of spirits is a great help of course, but many times the spirit can easily be discerned by its outworking or manifestations. ie. If a person's life is always subject to deception, whether caused by him, or done upon him, then a spirit of deception is invariably resident.

Many a time I have commanded a demon with, "You spirit that's making...……. (or doing.....) xyz to him, come out of him immediately."

The father below didn't need discernment to know his son had a dumb spirit. Mark9v17And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

 

[Dave-W]

Discerning of spirits is a great help of course, but many times the spirit can easily be discerned by its outworking or manifestations. ie. If a person's life is always subject to deception, whether caused by him, or done upon him, then a spirit of deception is invariably resident.

Many a time I have commanded a demon with, "You spirit that's making...……. (or doing.....) xyz to him, come out of him immediately."

And how do you know whether that thing has actually left; or only faked its exit and then went into hiding somewhere?

How do you know if that thing is the "strong man" or if there is another that actually is the head honcho?

 

[Francis Drake]

And how do you know whether that thing has actually left; or only faked its exit and then went into hiding somewhere?

By the fruits of a changed life.​

How do you know if that thing is the "strong man" or if there is another that actually is the head honcho?

Simple answer is you don't always.
My main point being that we should be prepared to put the fear factor away and get on with doing what Jesus commanded.

When I started doing deliverance 40 odd years back, I was as green as could be.
I was just put on the spot and had little choice but get on with it.
Like all aspects of faith, it grew and my discernment sharpened up the more I did it. I had no training other than on that battlefield, and nobody held my hand as I did it.



I don't expect everything to be uncovered and dealt with in one session

 

[Dave-W]

By the fruits of a changed life.

No. I mean during the deliverance session.

 

[Francis Drake]

Hehe Dave, I think we are both modifying our posts as we go along, both our posts changed as we answered.
I'll try to answer further but have to go out now.

 

[AlexDTX]

Not really. One of the charismatic gifts of 1 Cor 12 is specific to the deliverance ministry: discerning of spirits. Without it you are driving blind.

The gift is the Holy Spirit. How the Holy Spirit may operate through a believer will vary depending on the natural gifts of the individual. All may prophesy, but not all are prophets. Prophets are born prophets, such as Jeremiah was in the womb. Discernment is given to all, according to John (we have an unction from the Holy One and know all things is in context of discernment), but a prophet will move more readily in discernment.

So I both understand and agree that there are some who are better suited than others, but all have the same authority and can use it if they need to do so.

 

[Francis Drake]

No. I mean during the deliverance session.

Simple answer is that we don't always know if we've got it right.

Discernment is invaluable in deliverance, but don't let anyone claim that the gift of discernment comes "fully charged" on the first day.
Like any gift, discernment grows with practice.
Thus a man's first foray into deliverance might be a little clumsy and ham fisted, and he might not score a deep victory. That should not discourage him from returning to the fray.

As previously stated, I consider it the utmost importance that those being prayed for are encouraged to participate and take responsibility to grow in spiritual warfare themselves. The deliverance ministry was never meant to be the exclusive domain of specialists, and over the course of 40 odd years, I have taught countless people to just get on and do it.

In house groups I have led in that time, almost everyone would be able to do it, or at least participate in doing it with others.

 

[Francis Drake]

Decades ago my wife and I were asked if we would host a dinner party by someone who didn't have the space to do it. She would help with the food, and issue invitations which included people we'd never met, about ten of us in total.

On the evening as the meal progressed, I got into conversation about spiritual warfare and deliverance with one couple who were clearly believers.

Part way through that conversation, another lady, Alice, who had been listening intently, interrupted and asked me, "Excuse me for butting in, but what are these demons you are talking about?"

I'd never met her, and wasn't sure where she stood spiritually, so I did a very quick resume of the subject starting at God's creation of the heavenly and earthly realms, Satan's and his angels rebellion and fall, man's rebellion and fall etc, and how it all plays out in human life today.
When I had finished she looked at me and said, "Thank you, thank you, that explains a lot."
I was puzzled and asked what she meant, she replied "It explains what's going on in my family!"

The meal continued, with fruitful conversations that wandered all over the place. At the end, one couple asked if we could pray for them over some family problems they were facing. As our intention had been to move out of the dining room into the lounge for coffee etc, I suggested we would pray in there.

The dinner plates etc were loaded into the dishwasher by some of the ladies and I made the coffee and led people through to the other room.

We didn't exactly know the source of the couple's problems, and not wanting to rush in with bland platitudes, so with a very simple explanation, I asked that we could wait silently for a short while and listen for what the Holy Spirit might reveal, encouraging them to give even the smallest whisper they might hear.

Quite soon, Alice, the lady who had quizzed me about demons hesitantly said that she had a word "going around her head", which she revealed when asked. Her word also matched what the Lord had given me, and the couple we were praying for immediately acknowledged the word was correct.
These simple words of knowledge enabled to do the necessary deliverance.

At the end of the evening when everybody had left, my wife said to me, "Are you aware that Alice only gave her heart to the Lord in the kitchen as we were filling the dishwasher?

I had wondered why they were a little slow coming through. My wife and one of the other ladies had chatted and then prayed with her. It just shows how the Lord can use the least of us when we are willing to listen.

Over the months that followed she matured very quickly, probably helped by the fact that the power of God in deliverance and spiritual warfare was so evident from the very beginning.

 

[Francis Drake]

Duplicate post

 

[Francis Drake]

Duplicate post

 

[dms1972]

I think its worth noting Martin Luther's thinking on this. In his view casting out of demons was one of the 'signs companying' the preaching of Gospel, but because in his day the Gospel was no longer a new doctrine, and had been sufficiently confirmed, he believed anyone who wants to cast out demons in way done in the days of the apostles and shortly thereafter tempts God.

There is a case of a young women with a demon being brought to Luther (see link) which is very interesting:

Luther on dealing with demon possession

Of course there are parts of the world were the Gospel still has to reach.

 

[Natsumi Lam]

I want to ask why it seems so few pastors today would know how

Fear

 

[TheDaniël]

I am not an exorcist. But i have been forced to perform several exorcisms recently. I have found a method that works very well. But i can't find any information on it anywhere. My question is if you guys have some sort of Catholic Scripture that deals with different kinds of exorcism methods. I would appreciate it. I want to search for the method i discovered and better understand it.

Greetings.

 

[YeshuaFan]

I want to ask why it seems so few pastors today would know how to do this? I admit that's my perception and it may be wrong - I speak from my experience only which is limited to the churches I have been in. Notable exceptions that come to mind: Michael Green (CoE) author of I believe in Satan's Downfall, Rev. Neil Smith (CoE) a priest in the UK who had performed over 2000 exorcisms. The Anglican tradition seems to still retain some degree of awareness of this pastoral need, other churches that do: Pentecostal fellowships, the Roman Catholic Church, I'd guess some other evangelists (Kurt E. Koch for instance). Not sure were Methodists stand on this?

But I get an impression that some pastors think they can simply teach, and hopefully God will deal with anything directly or hopefully there might be someone in their congregation who can deal with it. Again I know it is by the finger of God that Jesus cast out unclean spirits, not by reading a ritual. I am sure it doesn't always need to be done dramatically and that God does work through anointed teaching, and in quiet ways, but still I'd prefer to go to a church were the Pastor or Elders are spiritually mature and equipped/trained to perform this sort of ministry if its needed.

This UK documentary was recorded back in 1973, so in minor respects it seems dated, but I still found it interesting and includes footage of Rev. Neil Smith performing an exorcism.

My pastor was only onvolved in one time doing that activity, and rarely talks about it, as he sees it as being something unique, but not to be seeking out!