“Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me.” – Psalms 40:13
“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” – Luke 10:19
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils…” – Mark 16:17
When you are freed from demonization, you can feel relief in a variety of ways. After deliverance, you may experience immediate realizations or sensations. Obviously, if you have evil spirits expelled you’re going to be in an overall better condition since the function and mission of demons is to confuse, tempt, pressure, oppose, control, harass, afflict, defile, kill, and destroy people. Absolutely nothing good comes from satan’s kingdom.
If you have signs and symptoms of demonization, it won’t hurt to pray for self-deliverance or have someone pray for deliverance for you. If you were involved in heavy drugs, witchcraft, the occult or New Age, etc., then I would say you likely have the indwelling of demons as such things are huge demonic door openers.
I have met many people who were demonized for many years, even for decades from their childhood, but never directly dealt with it because they were unaware their issue(s) were attributed to demons. Some thought their issues were just normal because they never experienced anything different. But something like compulsive and/or irrational behavior, which is against the will of God or which constantly defeats the witness and integrity of Christians, is almost always evidence of either demonic harassment (external) or demonization (internal). Among such “normal” and accepted issues may be fear, rage, anger, pride, confusion of the mind, extreme lust, homosexuality, bad temper, gluttony, depression, infirmity, inferiority complex, reoccurring nightmares, etc.
Some were very skeptical about deliverance, but when they received prayer for deliverance, the demons inside them manifested. They would be startled and astonished about the occurrence, and experience physical or psychological restoration, to some degree at least.
Sadly, many churches in the West neglect the practice of expelling demons when it was commonly practiced in the early church. One reason may be that in the West there is a prevalent belief that it is impossible for a Christian to be demonized. There have been people who contacted me just to argue with me that a Christian can’t be demonized, being very adamant in their position! In their doctrine, all the demons inside every person are automatically cast out once he/she becomes a Christian. Truthfully, that is not always the case. Take it from someone who tries to stay as objective as possible, and who has prayed for numerous people over a span of many years, there is absolutely no doubt Christians can be demonized! And in many cases, the demons need to be directly confronted and cast out.
One of the biggest deceptions of the enemy, I believe, is the idea that a Christian can’t be demonized. The enemy can be very subtle and would rather operate in a person’s life underneath the surface undetected. That may be another reason why deliverance is not commonly practiced in a lot of churches in the West — they don’t discern the underlying issue with some people can be demonic.
That said, deliverance is not a panacea, it doesn’t mean all the problems in your life will disappear after demons are expelled. However, the vast majority of people do overall feel better, some drastically so. And it doesn’t mean a certain issue you have is attributed to demons. Discernment should be exercised. But again, it doesn’t hurt to receive prayer for deliverance, especially if you have any symptoms of demonization – you possibly have something to gain, but nothing to lose.
I have compiled a list of benefits people have related to me after they have been delivered or have received some degree of deliverance. This is after praying for deliverance for hundreds or even thousands of people at this point. Note that the following is not exhaustive of the benefits.
1. A Feeling of Lightness and Freedom
It is common for people when they feel demons leave to feel a sense of lightness as if a heavy weight was lifted off them. Such feelings people report having after vomiting, spitting, burping, coughing, yawning, etc., which a lot of times are manifestations of the demon(s) leaving. Some feel they are bound as if they are restricted and feel freedom when the demons are cast out. Some feel peace and the love of God.
2. Loss of Occult Powers
Say “bye-bye” to your psychic, mediumship, or energy “healing” abilities or powers.
Supernatural powers or abilities given by demonic entities can suddenly disappear when the demons are expelled.
Kurt Koch (1913-87), a Christian author who counseled thousands who were involved in the occult, wrote an interesting testimony about a man who before his conversion:
…had possessed some very strong mediumistic and suggestive powers. He thought that these ungodly endowments would disappear when he became a Christian, and yet to his astonishment, he found that his mediumistic abilities reappeared while he was working together with Moody…
He also noticed that he was able to bring the large audiences at Moody’s meetings under his hypnotic influence. He recognized at once that these powers would only hinder the actual working of the Holy Spirit, and he therefore pleaded with the Lord to take them away from him. Drummond was completely delivered.
Occult Bondage and Deliverance, p. 56
The loss of occult powers upon the expulsion of demons is in accordance with the biblical record (read Acts 16:17-19).
3. Relief from Voices in the Head and Involuntary Body Movements
I have prayed for deliverance for people where the tormenting voices and/or movements in their bodies (telltale signs of demonization) ceased when the evil spirits were cast out. The voices could be blaspheming God or more specifically the Holy Spirit. The involuntary body movements could be twitching or jerking of the body. Some people, they may receive some degree of improvement as deliverance can be a process in some cases.
4. Deliverance From Immobilization
People who have been delivered from demonization will testify to freedom of things that immobilizes them such as crippling fear, temptation, depression, doubt, and lust. They may feel freer to live the life God intended for him/her to live.
5. Deliverance From Mental and Moral Disturbances
Demons use mind control and are unclean spirits, therefore they promote mental and moral problems. Christians may hate the evil thoughts that come to their mind and want to get rid of the bad moral problems, habits, and addictions they are plagued with. The spiritual problems could be extreme lust or sexual perversion, compulsive masturbation, pride, arrogance, depression, anxiety, doubt, lying, rage, gluttony, and so on. When the demons are expelled, many of these issues are remedied.
6. Relief From Suicidal Tendencies or Ideation
Demons often inject suicidal thoughts in attempts to lead a person to destroy himself/herself; they can be behind the strong compulsion to commit suicide. Many people have contacted me in a state of panic because of hearing voices in their heads saying to go commit suicide. This is a blatant sign of demonization. Constant raging in the mind can drive one to distraction and ultimately destruction. After deliverance, the evil voices and/or compulsion to commit suicide are gone. Extreme constant depression or hopelessness can also be demonic and can be relieved by deliverance.
7. Physical Problems Remedied
Yes, demons can be the cause of infirmities or sicknesses, which is supported in the Bible. People have revealed to me they were delivered from various infirmities after the expulsion of the demon(s). It is quite remarkable. I have read and heard many testimonies of people receiving drastic changes to their physical well-being after being delivered. I have witnessed such awesome work of God praying for deliverance for people.
8. Freedom For Spiritual Growth
Demons can put pressure on people to be addicted or in bondage to sin, such as with pornography or drugs. After being delivered, some people may grow more in the Lord as they are no longer weighed down by the sin that kept them in bondage. Being in bondage to sin will indeed mess up a person’s walk with Jesus Christ, and quench the Holy Spirit. That is what the enemy wants! Some people also say it is easier to read and understand the Bible after receiving deliverance. They report feeling relief from a cloudy mind, thus their mind is clearer. Some report more sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.
9. Establishment of True Identity
As evil as it is, demons will seek to substitute their identity for the human’s, confusing the person’s thoughts and emotions with theirs. A demonic spirit (or spirits) can act as an ‘alternate ego‘ and claim to be the person but then talk about the human in the grammatical third person, saying that he hates the human and would confuse and destroy him. After the demons are cast out, people feel like their true selves.
10. Ability to Make Decisions
Demons often cause such confusion that decisions are very difficult; and a sense of frustration, failure, and guilt will often follow. They want to keep a Christian from being effective in his/her life and ministry. I have actually come across demons that confessed, under the pressure of prayer, that their name was confusion. When the person is delivered they are no longer beset by confusion.
11. Improvement of Marriage Relationship
Not surprisingly, the enemy is behind the breakup of a lot of marriages. I can recall praying for deliverance for a woman where the demon lashed out of her mouth and admitted that its function and purpose was to break up her marriage. Interestingly, her marriage was really on the rocks. Some couples whose marriages were upset not only by the human factors involved but also by demonic influence. Often one or both of them were demonized. Demons will often use the weaknesses in one partner to aggravate the weaknesses in the other. Sometimes I can discern when couples get into heated back-and-forth arguments that there is a demonic influence behind it. Their design is to make both parties miserable, cause strife, and ultimately break up the marriage. They hate true love and attack Christian marriages. In this way, they may carry out their desire for the destruction of life and testimony.
I know people personally who I discerned to have demons, and I have no doubt demons have wrecked their marriage(s). One woman I know has been married three times. The woman has a very domineering, controlling, argumentative personality, and that spirit in her has moved her to ruin her marriages. Compare such an attitude with the conduct the Bible reads a woman should have, which is to be meek and quiet (1 Peter 3:4).
12. Greater Awareness and Hatred For Evil
After deliverance, some people begin to hate the enemy and be more serious about cutting off the sin in their own lives. They may become knowledgeable about the serious consequences of sin and how much God hates it. They recognize the demons’ hatred of Jesus and of them and gain a better insight into how the enemy operates. Most people, even Christians, don’t even recognize they are being misled or tormented by evil spirits. Christians blatantly discover their real enemy when they have firsthand experience of being delivered.
13. Greater Thankfulness and Amazement Toward the Lord
I’ve seen people who were once delivered have great thankfulness towards the Lord. They rejoice in the fact God had mercy on them, setting them free from the demon(s). This is consistent with what is found in scripture. For example, the woman who was bound by satan but made erect by Jesus began “glorifying God” (Luke 13:13). There was praise from her mouth to God. When the demoniac in the tombs was once delivered by Jesus, “…he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel” (Mk. 5:20).
I have seen people amazed about not only having demons they were unaware they had but also amazed that by prayer in the name and authority of Jesus, the demons were cast out. This is also consistent with scripture. When Jesus cast out a dumb spirit enabling the man to speak, “…the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel” (Matt. 9:33). When Jesus freed a young boy of his demonic convulsions, the multitude “were all amazed at the mighty power of God” (Lk. 9:43).
14. More Belief and Builds Faith
The Bible reads “...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” (Eph. 6:12). However, sad to say, according to a study, most American Christians think satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil,” or at least “agree somewhat” with that perspective. It’s hard to deny the reality of satan’s kingdom when demons manifest blatantly when prayed against with deliverance prayers. What the Bible reveals is indeed true.
Also, deliverance builds faith for the one delivered and for the deliverance minister because the power and authority of Jesus over the enemy is witnessed. Jesus didn’t lie when He said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy…” (Lk. 10:19). Who wouldn’t have more trust in God after witnessing such a miracle?
* Lord willing, I plan to update this page as I learn and gain more experience.
Jesus Truth Deliverance 