22 Facing Issues and Questions : Pigs in the Parlor

Chapter 22: Facing Issues and Questions

There are some things about demons and deliverance that one would be unwise to be dogmatic about. There are some questions for which no complete answers can be found. There are honest differences of opinion between persons who are recognized authorities in the field. Rather than completely ignore these issues and questions I will mention several that are prominent in my own thinking, and make a few comments.

1. Aren't we less effective than Jesus?

It may be argued, and I believe rightly so, that the New Testament evidence is that Jesus delivered persons from demon spirits with greater authority and dispatch than we are witnessing today. Let us not shrink away from this ministry because we cannot do it perfectly, and wait until we can match the example of Jesus. This is like a person who does not know how to swim deciding not to enter the water until he can do so as an Olympic champion!

I have seen what I believe to be a serious mistake in this area. When results are not immediate some have declared knowingly that it is all a matter of faith.

Consequently, they make a practice of commanding all demons to leave a person and rest on "faith" that it is accomplished. But presumption is not faith. When theperson is not delivered as a consequence of this socalled faith, then it should be admitted that something went awry.

Some who were supposedly delivered in that fashion have come to my attention. They were suffering from delusion and disappointment. They had been told that they were delivered, but nothing had changed. Was the deliverance minister really honest? Was he unwilling to take the necessary time to see an effective ministry?

Was he seeking a short-cut to effectiveness? How can we judge?

One day another minister and I were discussing this thorny question. While we were talking, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said that the church would eventually come into greater power in deliverance. The Spirit said He would give me a preview of what lay ahead.

The other minister's wife was in the room with us and had requested deliverance ministry. I was directed by the Spirit to give one command for the troubling demons to leave her. None of us moved from our seats.

I pointed my finger at the woman across the room and commanded the demons to leave her. There was a minute of silence and then she exploded into coughing.

When she realized that she had been delivered, she stood up and lifted her hands in praise to God. She immediately fell to the floor under the power of the anointing that was upon her.I am not satisfied with the anointing that I have experienced or witnessed generally in the ministry of others. I am believing God for a better day.

Nevertheless, I have definitely experienced some growth in authority. Where spiritual battles formerly required hours, they now require minutes. The demons definitely recognize increased authority and respond more readily and with fewer and less prolonged demonstrations. In a few instances demons in persons in the same room with us have cried out from simply recognizing we were a danger and a threat to them.

This seems to parallel the experience of Jesus when He went into the synagogue and an unclean spirit in a man cried out. (See Mark 1:23,26). Let us remain open to the Spirit's teaching. Undoubtedly the problem lies with man and not with God!

2. How can a Christian have demons?

How can a demon spirit indwell the same body at the same time as the Holy Spirit does? It seems logical to assume that this cannot be possible, but all logic is not truth, and some logic is based on a false premise.

We have taken the position in this writing that Christians can be and are indwelt by demons. The explanation of how this is possible is based primarily, so far as I have determine, on a clear understanding of the difference between soul and spirit. The New Testament word for "spirit' is "pneuma". In contradistinction from the natural or "soulish' the spiritis that part of man which has the ability to grasp and perceive things.

But the natural (I.e. soulish) man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14 The word for "soul' is "psyche". This world defines the self life - the emotions, the intellect and the will. Paul shows us hows us that man is a three-fold being And the very God of peace sanctify wholly; and I pray God your whole SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 5:23 The Scripture teaches that prior to salvation a man is "dead in trespasses and sins" (See Ephesians 2:1). Such a man is not dead physically - his heart is still beating. He is dead spiritually he has no communication with God; he has no perception of divine mysteries. The new birth (salvation) remedies the condition of a man's spiritHis spirit is quickened - made alive. It is quickened by the Divine presence coming in. Jesus comes into the human spirit and brings in His life And this is the record, that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. I John 5:11, 12From this we see that the Divine Spirit indwells the human spirit at the time of salvation. Demon spirits are confined to the soul and body of a believer. Demons afflict the emotions, the mind, and the will and the physical body not the spirit of a Christian.

The aim of deliverance is to remove the trespassing demon spirits from the soul and body in ordered that Jesus can reign over these areas as well. Jesus has made adequate provision for the whole man, but part of the responsibility now rests upon us as is shown in the following Scripture:

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2: 12b,13 Of the believer it is said that God is at work "in you," but the salvation spoken of is not completed. It needs to be "worked out". The word for "salvation" in this passage is soteria. Thayers Lexicon gives as the primary meaning of this word "deliverance from the molestation of enemies". The picture becomes clear.

Jesus has delivered our SPIRIT from the power of satan; now He says to us, "Work out your own deliverance from the molestation of enemies until you have freed both SOUL and BODY."

3. Can a non-Christian be delivered?

The obvious answer to this question is yes. Demons must obey those who exercise the authority of thename of Jesus. I have never ministered deliverance in behalf of an unbeliever, but I do not doubt that demons would respond and obey. Nevertheless, I doubt seriously the wisdom of such a deliverance for two reasons. First, what hope would there be of keeping the demons out? Would they not soon return? One must personally resist the devil, and he has no ground for doing this unless he is submitted unto the Lord. Sin opens the door for the demons to come in, and an unconverted sinner who has not repented of his sins is open prey for the devil. Second, according to Scripture, you could do him more harm than good. According to Matthew 12:43-45, when an unclean spirit is cast out he will seek to return. If nothing of God replaces the void the unclean spirit can come back and bring other and more wicked spirits than himself so that "the last state of the man is worse than the first".

I see no ground for administering deliverance to an unbeliever other than a direct word from the Lord.

Only God knows the future and whether he would accept Christ as his Saviour. Besides, what motive would an unbeliever have for wanting deliverance? As long as he remained in his unbelief his motive could not be for the glory of God. His motive would be completely selfish. Deliverance is not a game. It is serious business. It is for those who mean business with God. The question, then, is not CAN a nonChristian be delivered, but SHOULD he be delivered?

Normally, his spirit should be delivered first, and that is by the new birth.4. What happens to demons that are cast out?

The Bible does not have an abundance to say on this subject. Our primary reference is Matthew 12:43. We read:

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Our problem is in knowing how literal an interpretation to give to this verse. Since demons are spirit beings, how would they be affected by a literal wilderness or desert country. Perhaps the words are intended as figurative. Thus, it pictures the demons walking or roaming in a place apart from human habitation. The demon is restless and discontent outside of a human body, for it is only by indwelling and controlling the human life that a demon is able to perpetrate his evil desires.

There is an interesting passage in Job which is most descriptive of those who wander in dry places. Since the book of Job is about a man who was under the attack of satan, the description is made more meaningful. During deliverances I have used this passage against the demons. I reminded them that they are about to go into dry places. Demons have definitely been tormented by hearing the passage read. They seem to understand better than we that it describes what they are facing. The reader should examine the entire thirtieth chapter of Job from which we quote a few verses.They are gaunt with want and famine; they gnaw the dry and barren ground, or flee into the wilderness, into the gloom of wasteness and desolation. They pluck saltwort and mallows among the bushes, and roots of the broom for their food or to warm them. They are driven from among men, who shout after them as after a thief. They must dwell in the clefts of frightful valleys [gullies made by torrents], and in holes of the earth and of the rocks. Among the bushes they bray and howl [like wild animals]; beneath the prickly scrub they fling themselves and huddle together. Sons of the worthless and nameless, they have been scourged and crushed out of the land. Job 30:3-8 (Amplified)

5. Can we tell demons where to go?

This question is related to the previous one. Outside of telling us that expelled demons "walk through dry places" there is no suggestion as to what happens to them. It is never reported that Jesus or the disciples ever imposed any judgment on demons by sending them to Hell, the pit, or any such place. The demons evidently understand that their final judgment is yet future. They indicated this when they spoke through the Gadarene demoniac.

What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us BEFORE THE TIME?

Matthew 8:29 The Scripture does not authorize us to impose premature torment upon the demons. That time is fixedby the counsel of God.

Then, can we send them to another country or locality?

The demon that identified himself as "Legion" pleaded with Jesus that He not send them to another place.

And he (Legion) besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. Mark 5:10 From this it appears that demons can be sent to other parts of the world. Should this be done in every instance or only in certain instances?

There have been times when I was directed of the Holy Spirit to command demons to go to specific countries of the world. In such instances I have heard the demons speak in violent protest. One demon begged not to be sent to Africa, complaining it was too hot there. For some reason they obviously prefer to stay in one locality.

Why did the demons in the Gadarene ask to go into the swine, and why did Jesus grant such permission? Surely Jesus was not in any kind of sympathy with the demons.

His reason must have been based on the welfare of the demonized man. It is my own theory that the man would have been severely torn by a legion of spirits resisting being cast out. (Jesus never prevented demons from tearing a person as they came out). Since the demons were allowed a sure place to go they would not put up resistance. As it turned out, the swine soon met with destruction and the demons were again without a"home".

Demons prefer to indwell humans. Their second choice is an animal. It does not do much for my pride to realize that if a demon cannot indwell me his second choice is a pig! Demons can and do indwell animals.

6. Can we forbid demons to re-enter a person?

On only one occasion are we told that Jesus forbade a demon to return. This was the case of a boy possessed by a dumb and deaf spirit who was brought to Jesus by his Father.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and ENTER NO MORE INTO HIM. Mark 9:25

This seems to be an exceptional procedure. As we have seen from Matthew 12: 43-45, a demon will attempt to return and will succeed in doing so unless the delivered person does what is necessary to keep him out. In the case of children, parents are the spiritual guardians.

The Father in the case in question showed a weakness in faith, saying, "I believe, help thou mine unbelief."

Jesus was encouraging the man's faith when they were interrupted by a crowd gathering. It may have been that Jesus acted sovereignly in behalf of a child who did not have adequate spiritual protection from his Father.

In this case, one example does not seem sufficientevidence upon which to build a precedent. If we had the authority in all cases to forbid the demons to return, it would simplify deliverance, but it would eliminate the effort to stay free which serves to strengthen the believer. Surely the Lord will give us direction in any situation where He purposes to limit the activity of a demon by denying it further access to a person. God IS able to limit satan's power against a person. satan had to get permission from God before he could come against Job.

And the Lord said unto satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. Job 2:6 If God, through a word of knowledge, shows that a demon is prohibited from ever indwelling a person again, one can say to the demon, "Upon the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, enter no more into him."

7. Should houses be cleansed of evil spirits?

Due to my involvement with demons through deliverance I have heard many reports of unusual demon activities in connection with houses and objects.

Frequently I am requested to drive demons out of houses. Books and objects identified with anything related to satan's kingdom have been known to attract demons. Sinful activities on the part of former residents account for some houses needing to be cleansed. Many have told of hearing voices or sounds in their houses.

Such manifestations are sometimes called "poltergeist', a German word meaning "knocking or noisy ghosts".While ministering to a nine year old girl, the mother told us that the girl awakened every night in the middle of the night. She would be very frightened. They could not account for this.

The ministry for the girl turned up nothing that was suspect. We asked that we might inspect the girl's bedroom. Three things were found in the room which we had discovered could attract evil spirits. There was a book about a witch - secured through the public school. Then there was a big, stuffed toy frog, and over the girl's bed was a mobile from which dangled half a dozen little owl images that glowed in the dark.

The family agreed to remove these objects and destroy them. We commanded all demons hiding in the room to leave immediately in the name of Jesus, and pled the covering of the blood of Jesus over the girl. The girl has slept peacefully ever since.

What about the owls and frogs? These are classified among the creatures mentioned in Deuteronomy 14:7-19 as being unclean and abominable. They are types of demon spirits. My ministry has taken me into many homes, and I have become aware of how many of these unclean creatures are being made into art objects and used for decorations.

This is especially true of owls and frogs. It is more than coincidence that both of these are creatures of darkness. They come out at night and hunt their prey.Demons are also creatures of darkness. They cannot operate in the light!

In another home we found a twelve year old boy who was having trouble sleeping. He was very nervous and fearful. The home was filled with many objects that had been brought from the mission fields of Africa. There was a witch's mask, and fetishes used by witch doctors and in heathen worship. Sometimes the economic or sentimental value of such objects mean more to persons than the welfare of the family. Hear what God told His people, Israel, about such things:

The graven images of their gods you shall burn with fire; you shall not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourself, lest you be ensnared by it; for IT IS AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD YOUR

GOD. Neither shall you bring an abomination (an idol) into your house, lest you be ensnared by it; FOR IT IS AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD YOUR GOD. Deuteronomy

7:25,26 (Amplified)

Demons are definitely attracted to houses by objects and literature that pertain to false religions, cults, the occult and spiritism. All such materials should be burned or otherwise destroyed. Houses or buildings which are suspect of demon infestation should be cleansed by the authority of the name of Jesus. Those who live in such places should stand on the provisions of the blood of Christ.8. Is it necessary to call demons out by specific names?

Some interesting things arise in the course of deliverance ministry in regard to names or designations for demons. There are times when demons will come out without being designated. Such a deliverance can continue for an hour without any specific spirits being called for. In other situations the very opposite is true. No demon will come out until it is called by name.

In one deliverance I had called out a demon of rejection. Later on a fear of rejection was discerned. I asked, "Why are you still there? Why didn't you come out when I called for rejection?" The demon responded, "Because you didn't call for me by my name. I am not 'rejection" I' am 'fear of rejection'."

Demons will usually respond to a description of what they are causing. For example, "You demon that is causing this person to have those bad dreams at night."

Most demons will accept this approach in lieu of a specific title, and will come out.

I am personally of the opinion that a demon's insistence upon being called by a particular designation is a delaying tactic. I have had demons balk at coming out by declaring, "But that's not my name." In such cases I usually say, "Well, you have to come out anyhow." And they come out.The main value in knowing the names or designations of the demons is in enabling the one delivered to know what was accomplished. When any of the demons try to come back, it is important to know which ones were cast out. In this way the person can be on the alert and can also deal with that area in the flesh so as to close the door against demons re-entering.

Some demons are very boastful. They seem to enjoy telling their names. One such demon spoke loftily, "I be only he left," thus claiming he was the last demon to be cast out. He continued, "I be the pride. All pride come through me."