Deliverance/Exorcism

Before one can properly come to an understanding of this area of our life, a person must be able to accept the fact that there are (normally) invisible forces at work in this thing we call life. That is to say, there is a most active realm of spirits at work.

In actuality, there is a division of those spirits. In one realm, only good exists. This is the realm of the angels, Cherubim and Seraphim, who love and worship God. They are those who can also come to humankind to aid and advise for the goodly welfare of individuals. It is in this area that we can speak of premonitions and other thoughts or ideas, that can warn us against impending dangers, and also positive directions we should take in various situations. People use different terms to describe such events, but never the less, they all equate to a supernatural experience.

On the other hand, there also exists a realm of hate, fear and destruction. This is the realm of those known as fallen angels and demons. They also are spirits who can influence or lives in a most powerful way. Unfortunately, this realm has largely been ignored or worse, denied by the majority of the Christian clergy. But now we are beginning to see a bit more investigative interest and work being done.

I believe that this has come about very slowly because the realm of evil/demonic spirits preferred to remain as hidden as possible, in order to subtly advance the agenda that would lead to an outright confrontation against the powers of Godliness. We can find support for this in virtually all religious manuscripts from every country in the world. It is then, a most serious area in peoples' lives.

Probably the most active work is in the realm of "paranormal" investigation, and it would not harm persons to do some serious, and cautious study, so as to better understand and equip themselves for their protection and welfare.

At this point I would especially urge the members of the clergy to take note of what has been happening since the inception of humankind's experiences and dealings with both these spiritual realms. It should not be left for any one Church to work in this realm. And, it is even more certainly not to be dismissed as hysteria or the work of cultures and religions that are not a part of Christianity. Whether we speak of a priest, minister, shaman, Rebbe (Rabbi) or perhaps an individual who is "gifted" in this area, there always have been and will be those individuals who show be acknowledged and sought after for help, by people who suspect that they need help and education in the need for exorcism or deliverance. Both terminologies are valid.

Two main areas

There are two main areas where problems can arise, for all practical purposes. The first is in the material world of buildings such as home and other structures. The second is in the area of people them selves. There are no limited criteria of age involved in either of these cases. Young and old alike, can be found to need cleansing or protection against the forces of negativity (evil).

However, there is, working in deliverance or exorcism, one key method that must be used - that is PRAYER. Allow me to go a step further too, so that there will be a minimum of doubt in anyone's mind about this. The main need for the person, who would pray, is doubtless faith that prayer will remove the evil. If a person, regardless of who the practioner is, has any doubt or fear about what is being done and prayed for, extreme danger can and will result.

At the end of this study, I will supply some appropriate Bible verses for you to review, and hopefully acknowledge as accurate. But for now, let us look further into each area of possibility so far as the need to perform a spiritual cleansing.

Homes or buildings can be an infected area, as can certain areas of real estate, such as burial grounds. Any number of reasons can account for this. There may have been a murder, massacre, or a practice of evil worship in the structure or area. As a result, there can be a lingering or even concentrated build up of demonic activity there. The sure sign for anyone is an uneasy feeling and also a coldness (temperature) there. In such cases, it would be good to first pray for protection against this phenomena and a hasty retreat. As a follow up it would be advisable to stay away from that area and also to seek someone who could investigate and then cleanse the area. It is also good to remember that there is safety in numbers. That is, don't ever challenge or "take on" something you are not prepared for.

People are a different matter altogether. The symptoms in people can vary a great deal, and always to be remembered is that they can also pray, speak, and yes - do bodily harm. Anyone familiar with dealing with people already will be aware of how difficult it can be to work in this area, because there are factors other than demonic activity that can also be a factor. See the list below for some help:

Alcohol, Drugs, Poisons, Mental Health problems, Anxiety, Fear, Heartbreak, Physical problems such as deformities

Each of the above could lead someone to misunderstand what the real problem is. In times past, the malformed and sick, such as "epileptics" were targeted in a manner they should not have been. It was also thought that people had such diseases as a result of parental sins. This is a possibility of course, but probably not a case for the sufferer to be in need of an exorcism or deliverance.

Two Degrees

There are two degrees of demonic activities that can befall a person. The first is "Oppression" being at work. In such cases, an above normal pressure to take over that person's life is taking place. What this means is that the person has somehow opened the door to allow demonic spirits to urge that individual to pursue activities that can lead to the second degree of demonic take-over, which is "Possession."

Below I have listed some of such activities:

Telling lies as a matter of course, heavy drinking and/or drug use, pornography as a pastime for pleasure, playing dangerous games that involve demons, delving into occult areas such as witchcraft and divination, reading books on magic, incantations and spells, delving into the paranormal without proper help or supervision

How can we tell if we ourselves or someone we know is becoming afflicted? My personal first step is to look into the person's eyes. Not everyone can do this of course, and the best method I have found is to do so very cautiously and if possible, in an abstracted manner. People do not like to be stared at do they?

Next will come a number of personal experiences.

As a very young child, my family moved into a large home in Hackettstown N.J. where we would live until I was nine years of age. My sister, three years my senior were investigating as children do, and entered the room which would become our bedroom. We were amazed to see a young, perhaps early middle aged women walk from a closet area on the left, to the right side of the room area only to disappear from sight. She had looked at us in passing, and seemed to be more or less indifferent, perhaps annoyed or surprised to our presence. My sister and I looked at each other for a second, and beat a hasty but not frightened retreat. We went to our mother, who then went into the room with us. The lady did not reappear then or at any other time.

Later in life, armed with maturity. I did personal study and took some tests concerning the paranormal area and learned that I am sensitive. I am also a Christian and went on to study and am presently an ordained minister.

In the course of the earliest years of ministry, but not yet a full fledged "Full Gospel" practioner, a remarkable event took place. I was considering remarriage at the time, and supporting my son and I by delivering newspapers. I was told by one of the customers who became a friend, that I should look into a church building in a near by village. I was also informed that it was know as a "haunted" church and that no one would go near it after dark I wondered about that and decided to at least do a drive by. I did so, during an afternoon, and felt sad that it was not in use. Later that evening, a remarkable thing took place. It was not a vision, but a deep impression came upon me that I should visit that Church for seven days, and pray for a spiritual cleansing for the church and the lingering spirits. And so, for the first of the seven days, I took my nine year old son, parked across the street from that church, and prayed as instructed. Nothing special seemed to take place.

Just after that, I became quite involved with women who had two children of her own, and since she was also a Christian of similar persuasion, I related about the situation. I recall going to the church as I had been impressed to do, both with my son on ensuing nights, and finally, on a Sunday afternoon, with the three children and the woman.

That Sunday was a very cool autumn day. But the events of that day were different by far. While I parked in the usual place, the children remained in the car, while we grownups proceeded onto the church property. At the rear of that fieldstone edifice was a broken window. I hoisted myself up into that window and stuck my head inside. I saw the alter area, and also the layout of the interior. It was all set at a diagonal, rather than the straight front to back arrangement that is so common toady. The place was filthy from pigeon dung and what not that had come through the roof and broken windows, but the most significant thing was the overwhelming feeling of cold and sadness at the alter area, behind the pulpit. Uncontrollable tears flowed during that final payer for a peaceful release of spirits.

At that point a most amazing event occurred. There was strong, and narrow path of wind that blew over and through that building. It was witnessed by all of us. When it had passed from west to east, I went to the front steps of the church and prayed thanks. The stones my hands rested on were absolutely warm. Sometime later, as a curiosity, I returned and knocked on the door of the house next to the church. After a short conversation, the man agreed to allow us to see the inside of the church. He had already granted permission for me to pray over it previously.

What an amazing experience followed. We went in and even the man showed a new interest in the building and us. In the downstairs was the kitchen area - complete with clean dishes and silverware. But to me, what was most remarkable was in the sanctuary. Halfway down the room, alongside a broken window, sat an old upright piano. I tried a chord - it was in tune. The man then said he would go about a restoration of that building but that it could not be used as a church as long as he lived. What we learned was that there had been a near Shakespearian love story that involved opposing families who both were member of that church. I child from each family wanted to marry, and in the end, committed suicide on the altar, behind the pulpit. What had I done? I prayed in obedience, and still marvel.

The next event of experiencing a haunted building tool place some time later. It was and still is questionable to me. It involves a lady who became a casual friend to us, and women who had been a classmate. She had married, and later, lost her only son due to a motorcycle accident. He had been involved in the occult and the martial arts. While on a motorcycle ride, he was involved in an accident and killed. I was taken to "his room" which was being maintained as a shrine. It was unique to say the least. The only lighting per se was a black light. The rest of the room was painted and decorated in kind including some symbols of various natures. My classmate handed me shoe box. While holding it I was informed that it contained his ashes.

At that point I was asked to accompany her downstairs. With her husband also at the table, I was asked to identify the person or persons to whom certain items were associated. I did so and evidently to their satisfaction. I suggested that they bury the ashes, but that was refused. On leaving, her husband, who has a Native American bloodline, kindly opened the door and first allowed a spirit to pass through and then me. What can I say - the spirit was gentle indeed.

Sometime after that, the woman who had asked me to visit my classmate called me again. It seemed that a home with a teenage girl was having some serious problems and that it was also affecting the girl. I asked a young man, the woman who had called and my wife, to accompany me. In the home, I asked some pertinent questions of the family, whose daughter was not present. I was informed that there was a most unnerving presence, which traveled the hallway to the daughters room, and that its' shadow was often seen on the wall. They were all frightened, to the point that none in the family would go into the backyard of the property.

I advised them that I would attempt to help, and that no one should do anything but watch, and of course pray for protection. I also advised them that if they should see any strange actions or hear an unusual language, they should simple keep praying.

Having said that I felt the presence in the hall, immediately got up and literally chased down the hall, down a stairway into the garage downstairs and out into the yard.

Once in the yard, I seemed to be under a dome. It was pitch black but also contained a host of narrowed angry eyes. The feeling of hate that was present was remarkable. I ran forward and then found myself on my knees in the grass. I prayed for protection for myself and the others behind me, as a profoundly deep feeling of sorrow also brought a flood of tears. I prayed for a peaceful release of a spirit, and everything, the hate and the sorrow disappeared upon calling on the name of Jesus.

At that point I returned to the group, and found that an event had taken place there too. My wife was in prayer over the woman who had asked for help for the family. She was holding her head and crying in pain. She said she had seen a frightened child and told it to come to her. We immediately had additional prayer, and she seemed to recover. What follows is the result of that particular night.

The family was never again bothered by a presence and even claimed that they could now enjoy the backyard. We also learned that there had been a swimming pool in the exact area where I had dropped to my knees and prayed. It seems a little boy had drowned inn that pool under questionable circumstances while playing and swimming with another boy. The pool had been filled with soil and grassed over. The saddest part of this is what happened to the woman who made the first call for help, and failed to follow my instructions of remaining aloof of any activity aside from prayer. She died of a cerebral hemorrhage about 6 months later.

The final (but not last) incident I can record here is one of a young woman who came to us for help with a domestic situation. In the course of time she revealed that she was plagued/possessed by demons, which led her into some very questionable behavior. She also had a beautiful young daughter who was endangered by the conditions they lived in. The day came when she came to the business we ran, and asked for deliverance. She was fear filled, and wanted to cooperate. I immediately called an other minister from a local church who also knew how to deal with such an event. What followed was three hour exorcism in which three ministers, and inadvertently one of our sons, were participants.

In this case, I was leading the prayers, while my wife, the minister we had called, and our son fought to keep this woman from attacking us. The strength she had was amazing to say the least. Both the male minister and our son were standing and pushing down on the upraised and outstretched arms, while my wife held he in a literal leg lock. As the session progressed, I found myself naming the spirits that were coming out of her - not by name - but by their duties. All, including the woman, were completely exhausted at the end, but peace was restored. The follow up on this is sad. The woman's own words later on probably will serve to teach the best. She simply thanked us, and went on to say that she has found that it is easier to give in to the spirits and then find someone like us to cleanse her, than to resist them in the first place. We still feel a deep concern for her, and even more so, for that precious little girl.

A Stern Warning!

Never, ever doubt the reality of evil/demonic spirits. They are real and they are powerful. They can and do cause all manner of emotional and physical harm. And never ever grant a situation that can allow them to oppress or posses you. It all begins in a subtle, seemingly harmless manner. If you don't feel well physically or emotionally seek medical help as would be the normal thing to do. But if you find that your problems persist, don't fail to look into the spiritual area too. This is especially true if you have friends, or for yourself, dabbled into the occult realms and most especially into "New Age" religious practices. Wiccans and others who allude to any practice of witchcraft (as in good or white witch) mentality are headed for trouble. It may not seem so at first, but in time - a price will be paid.

What the Bible Says.

Ge 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Mr 5:9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

Mr 5:15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Lu 8:30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

Lu 8:31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

Lu 8:32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

Lu 8:33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

Mt 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

Mr 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Acts 19:14-16 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

All scriptures quotations are from the KJV of the Bible

If you would like more information on this topic, please contact me by email at gcmi@gcmi.net, and I'll gladly do my best to answer your questions.