What are some signs of demonic oppression/possession?

[ByTheSpirit]

I'm sure there is probably no one set way on this, but how does one differentiate between demonic oppression/possession and just the flesh (aka human nature)?

I have visited a Christian group that seemed to treat everything as if it were demonic in nature, always talking about get those demons cast out of ya and I even remember one conversation where someone said they had the same demon removed multiple times in a day.

I know that seems extreme, and it doesn't seem like a legit case of demonic, but I've personally never dealt with such a thing, not to my knowledge anyway. So I'm curious from those of you who have or may have. How do you know when someone is afflicted with a demonic presence or oppression or when they are just being too fleshly?

 

[sandman]

Simple terms - Word of Knowledge from God.
Your spidey senses (holy spirit) will let you know....additionally, God will let you know if it should be cast out or not. Even if you know someone is possessed... never put your hand on someone or cast them out without acknowledgement from God.

Oppression - again... God will let you know of the presence of devil spirits and what (if anything) to do. Sometimes it is necessary to clean a room or clear a home of oppression, but .... ask God first.

People who focus on this.... as the church you were speaking of will see devil spirits in everything and everyone. You don't need to get caught up in that....Just be spiritually sharp and when you have the feeling ...ask God....Those times will most likely happen when you are speaking to the Word (witnessing)...but they could happen anytime you are around people due to the Christ in you....which agitates darkness.

 

[Sabertooth]

Simple terms - Word of Knowledge from God.

Word of Knowledge can do that, but it is more often the gift of Discerning of Spirits.

 

[Servant78]

If people were possessed by demon there is no need to fear them at all because they wont be able to steal, to kill, to rape, to rob, to lie, to deceive, to slander, to sell drugs, forgery, hoax, bullying, blackmailing, porn producing, corruption etc.

If leaders of the world are possesed that they loss consciousness and rolling on the ground there wont be any wars happen. It Will be peace world.
@sandman
@Sabertooth
@Maria Billingsley

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I'm sure there is probably no one set way on this, but how does one differentiate between demonic oppression/possession and just the flesh (aka human nature)?

I have visited a Christian group that seemed to treat everything as if it were demonic in nature, always talking about get those demons cast out of ya and I even remember one conversation where someone said they had the same demon removed multiple times in a day.

I know that seems extreme, and it doesn't seem like a legit case of demonic, but I've personally never dealt with such a thing, not to my knowledge anyway. So I'm curious from those of you who have or may have. How do you know when someone is afflicted with a demonic presence or oppression or when they are just being too fleshly?

I hate to say this but this group has put a stumbling block in your path. " Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world". Satan works through the flesh and this group revels in it. There is danger with those who are remain on milk. This type of immaturity leads to doubt. If you decide to remain you will need to bring meat to their knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The adversary has no power over a Holy Spirit filled Christian.
Blessings

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I'm sure there is probably no one set way on this, but how does one differentiate between demonic oppression/possession and just the flesh (aka human nature)?

I have visited a Christian group that seemed to treat everything as if it were demonic in nature, always talking about get those demons cast out of ya and I even remember one conversation where someone said they had the same demon removed multiple times in a day.

I know that seems extreme, and it doesn't seem like a legit case of demonic, but I've personally never dealt with such a thing, not to my knowledge anyway. So I'm curious from those of you who have or may have. How do you know when someone is afflicted with a demonic presence or oppression or when they are just being too fleshly?

Pride is a big one, you will see a pattern where there is an allusion to knowing a deeper understanding and hanging onto that deeper understanding as "their thing."

 

[com7fy8]

I'm sure there is probably no one set way on this, but how does one differentiate between demonic oppression/possession and just the flesh (aka human nature)?

There are different ideas about what the "flesh" is and how to deal with it and think about it. So, I am offering what I have learned, with some scriptures; and you are welcome to pray and see what obviously helps you.

I think there can be obvious demon possession, and maybe I have been around certain possessed people. They could talk in an inhuman way very weird and cruel sounding, and they came on filthy with no ability, really, to communicate and interact.

And ones in the oppressed category could be very able to get into anger and lust, but they are more able to talk mutually and like they are human.

But what maybe needs attention on an ongoing basis is to what is of the "flesh" and therefore we need to not give in to it inside our own selves >

"bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking, with all malice" > things to put away from us, so we love, instead > Ephesians 4:31-32. And the flesh can have drives and dominating attention to pleasure . . . being more interested in pleasure, than in loving.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

I think most of it starts in the thought life. Symptoms include intrusive thoughts. Unnatural feelings whether they be fear, lust, anger, resentment. Obsessive thoughts. Evil thoughts during prayer, praise, or Bible reading.
Distractions when you want to study or meditate on the Lord. Dreams that include places you have never been with people you do not know. Loneliness. Feelings like you are not connecting with people you have known. Resistance against the fruit of the spirit.
All designed to draw you away from communing with the Lord.
Later symptoms include strong temptation to sin. Oppressive fear, guilt, anger, resentment, and paranoia. Continual thoughts of violence against people. Irrational hate. Nightmares. The desire to hurt yourself.
Eventual health symptoms like pains, headaches, deep body pains, pains that move around. These are pains that have no medical reason or physiological source. Medicine may not help.
There are things that you do which will open doors. These include seeing and hearing things you should not. Participating in activities that are demonic. ALL occult activities should be avoided. There are people you should avoid. In this day the list of these is increasing.
After saying all this, let me back up and suggest you not see demons when all it is is your flesh. Flesh you can crucify and put under. Demons have to be dealt with with the Name and Blood of Jesus.
Realize that demons are terrified of the name of Jesus. You cast out devils in Jesus' name. They cannot help it. Jesus is Lord of all, and they flee from His name!

 

[Sorn]

I'm sure there is probably no one set way on this, but how does one differentiate between demonic oppression/possession and just the flesh (aka human nature)?

I have visited a Christian group that seemed to treat everything as if it were demonic in nature, always talking about get those demons cast out of ya and I even remember one conversation where someone said they had the same demon removed multiple times in a day.

I know that seems extreme, and it doesn't seem like a legit case of demonic, but I've personally never dealt with such a thing, not to my knowledge anyway. So I'm curious from those of you who have or may have. How do you know when someone is afflicted with a demonic presence or oppression or when they are just being too fleshly?

Can you turn your head all the way round, ie 360 degrees?

 

[Eloy Craft]

There needs to be an examination to make sure the questioned behavior isn't a psychological disorder.
There are some very strange things the mind and body does that could make one think it's a demon.

 

[Sophrosyne]

First off there is more than possession and oppression when it comes to the demonic.
Believers aren't going to be possessed but we can be oppressed and attacked. People who are more attuned (sensitive) to demons can easier discern them but can also be easier influenced by them also.
Demons can be sneaky they can influence people I believe that at times they invade your thoughts tempting you to do things that are against your normal nature.

How to discern if someone is being influenced by demons isn't easy but clues can help you figure it out.
If people are not acting/reacting normal and if people treat everyone else good but when alone are mean to you they could be influenced by demons. Demons can detect the Holy Spirit in believers and often he will irritate them and they will lash out at a Christian acting irrationally..... like the term "mean spirited" they can be almost crazy at times as the demons are trying to ruin you. People listening to demons can be tempted to act just as people who have mental illness do.

I've come across people that had their own demons in life that attacked me unreasonably I've literally had people that were very unreasonable with me from the start of a conversation like they literally knew me before they went off on me they knew some of my weak spots hitting me with things that really got to me.

To reiterate if you compare the way your treated as a Christian to someone that is not one by a person and the difference is considerable without any reason and the treatment is approaching or exceeding extreme.

 

[NBB]

There is a lot more going on behind the scenes even christians don't realize, a lot sickness, family fights etc, 'psychological' problems, difficulty quitting sins, etc etc, and lots of other trouble can be because evil spirits, also something i didn't believed before, witchcraft and sorcery has power its not a deception the witches have, they really can do a lot of harm. I am not trying to scare anyone.

We should stay firm in the faith like the bible says and communion with God etc, we can get attacked and we should be able to resist any attempts of harming us by the enemy.

 

[tturt]

The same demon removed multiple times in a day means he had legal rights to return.

So this would say deliverance is for believers unless the Holy Spirit directs deliverance for a sinner. Because normally a sinner is going to be empty, swept, and garnished and stay that way.
"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation." Matt 12:43-45

 

[Eloy Craft]

There is a lot more going on behind the scenes even christians don't realize, a lot sickness, family fights etc, 'psychological' problems, difficulty quitting sins, etc etc, and lots of other trouble can be because evil spirits, also something i didn't believed before, witchcraft and sorcery has power its not a deception the witches have, they really can do a lot of harm. I am not trying to scare anyone.

Absolutely true. All that you wrote.
There are two spiritual communities. The holy one gathered around God and the fallen one that followed Satan. That's it.

The diabolical exist in darkness so have access to faculties that operate unconsciously.
There is a war on the family, marriage, and sexual reproduction.
The Conscience is the sanctuary where God speaks to man. That is particularly under siege. Informed by the senses we construct an image of good there that has authority to judge our deeds and reward or punish accordingly. That's where Satan wants to operate too.

 

[tturt]

"...lest Satan should take advantage of us. For we are not ignorant of his devices." II Cor 2:11

If interested -
Derek Prince series on demons includes "How to Identify and Expel" youtube. Prince was a Greek scholar and knew several others languages including Hebrew. Plus he was a minister for about 50 years. Internet info at derekprince.org has sermon notes on "Deliverance and Demonology."

 

[SavedByGrace3]

"...lest Satan should take advantage of us. For we are not ignorant of his devices." II Cor 2:11

If interested -
Derek Prince's series on demons includes "How to Identify and Expel" youtube. Prince spoke several languages including Hebrew and was a Greek scholar. Plus was a minister for 50 years. Internet info at derekprince.org has sermon notes on "Deliverance and Demonology."

Yes. I saw Prince at the Pittsburgh Charismatic Conference in 1972 and followed his ministry down through the years. One of our favorite ministers. He passed away the same year as Hagin. I recommend is series on the Foundational Truths.

 

[spiritfilledjm]

I'm sure there is probably no one set way on this, but how does one differentiate between demonic oppression/possession and just the flesh (aka human nature)?

I have visited a Christian group that seemed to treat everything as if it were demonic in nature, always talking about get those demons cast out of ya and I even remember one conversation where someone said they had the same demon removed multiple times in a day.

I know that seems extreme, and it doesn't seem like a legit case of demonic, but I've personally never dealt with such a thing, not to my knowledge anyway. So I'm curious from those of you who have or may have. How do you know when someone is afflicted with a demonic presence or oppression or when they are just being too fleshly?

First, let me start off by saying that just because something is a sign doesn't mean it's a result of demonic oppression or possession. For instance, a headache can be a symptom of brain cancer...but just because one has a headache does not mean they have brain cancer.

With that said, quite literally anything and everything negative can be a symptom of demonic oppression/possession. From heightened anxiety, seizures, illnesses, even just things happening randomly but in quick succession that has a negative impact on one's life. Now, does this mean that everything is caused by a demonic attack from the enemy? No! Does this mean that we ditch medications because it's demonic in nature? No!

Honestly, engaging in spiritual warfare needlessly can do more harm than good. I believe, in my experience, that it can actually open the door for the enemy to come in and start afflicting somebody in ways that he wasn't and make whatever the situation was that one was casting the demon out of even worse. It's like, "Well, I wasn't messing with you in that way but now that you're accusing me of it...why not?"

The folks in the second half of your post seem to be addicted to the spiritual high. In this case I would stay away from them. I say this from personal experience that led me down a terrible path. If they are obsessed with the demonic and spiritual warfare, run. I actually posted about my experience with needless spiritual warfare 15 years ago...and it's still here. You can read through everything I posted when I was a dumb 20-year-old kid but the parts where I specifically talk about being forced to go through a deliverance course that I didn't want to do is closer to the bottom.

https://www.christianforums.com/threads/sfjs-life-as-a-christian-student.5177170/

To add to everything there, it was through this that a domino effect started of me becoming a quasi-cessationist, and then a judgemental, envious, jerk...and then leaving Christianity altogether for Islam for 4 years. By the grace of God, He brought me back, showed me where I was being a fool, showed me what grace truly is and forgiveness and filled me with His Holy Spirit again.

 

[lismore]

This Psalm gives one clue:

Psalm 69:4 Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me.

When people hate you, are jealous of you, try to undermine you for no obvious reason I believe this is spiritual attack. They are manipulated by demons. It can even happen in church from professing Christians, spiritual attack levelled towards you without cause. It can manifest in people wishing or praying harm on others.

Step 1 in recovery, get away from such people.

God Bless

 

[tturt]

"Needless Casualties of War" written by John Paul Jackson includes info on the backlash from the enemy when engaging in spiritual warfare towards spirit beings in the second heaven. But he does detail using Scripture on how to pray within our scope.

 

[Skye1300]

Nowadays it's hard to tell because possession looks just like mental illness and people possessed might be diagnosed as mentally ill and given medication that can tame down the effects of possession but never really deliver the person. That taming down of the effects can make it seem like it's not truly possession. So it can be hard to distinguish one from the other. But usually true mental illness runs in the family. If no one else in the family has a history of mental illness then it's possible the person who seems mentally ill is really possessed.
there are countless physical conditions that can look or seem like possession, like Tourette syndrome for one. It's almost impossible to tell one from the other just by looking at symptoms. I think looking at family history is one possible way to know. If no one else in the family has mental illness then the person acting mentally ill might be possessed.