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Chapter 13: Advice for Structuring an Exorcism Ministry

The following outline contains general ideas and advice for structuring an exorcism ministry based on my own experiences as a demoniac. These are not ideas that have been put to the test in real world scenarios. Rather, these ideas are included to spur additional thinking among churches who wish to start an exorcism ministry but are unsure where to begin. Designing something new is not always easy. A church that prayerfully determines it should establish an exorcism ministry is free to adopt this advice as is, change the recommendations to suit its purposes, or disregard the advice entirely. The important factors to consider are where God is leading that church and what kind of ministry will best serve the needs of its congregation.

But regardless of the format a local exorcism ministry may adopt, its ministers do well to follow the advice God gave to Joshua before he set about conquering the Promised Land: “[B]e strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may achieve success wherever you go” (Josh 1:7 NASB). There are certain parallels between conquering the Promised Land and working to free a demoniac from tormenting demons. Like Joshua, Christian exorcists must be strong and courageous, never turning aside to unbiblical methods, and always trusting that God will help both the minister and the demoniac achieve progress toward good spiritual health. To do that, “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Eph 6:10 NASB). God is always in control of the situation. An exorcist must trust in Him above all else, not in personal strength, knowledge, training, or experience. These are nice to have, yet God is the one and only answer behind everything that happens (or does not happen) in this ministry.

Finally, an exorcism ministry should approach its work with discretion. Spiritual warfare can become a very familiar topic to those who serve as a Christian exorcist, but it might be truly frightening to other people who have spent far less time thinking about it. Exorcists should demonstrate self-control, measuring their words carefully when discussing the subject with people outside the ministry. Furthermore, much like doctor-patient confidentiality exists in the secular world, an exorcism ministry should operate with the same expectation of privacy for the sake of the demoniacs it counsels. This is a ministry that works with highly vulnerable people who discuss very personal matters. Unless a minister has a civil obligation to report something to the authorities, anything discussed behind closed doors should be considered confidential. Some roles within the body of Christ require tender mercy and careful discretion from its workers (1 Cor 12:22–26). This is one of them.

Ministering to Demonized Children​

Demonization is not a spiritual condition unique to adults. Unfortunately, children can also become demonized (Matt 15:21–28; 17:14–20; Mark 7:24–30; 9:14–29; Luke 9:37–43), so although the following outline assumes an adult demoniac, that will not always be the case. Ministering to children will look different than ministering to adults. The solution, however, is identical: Jesus Christ. More specifically, the child must endeavor to express faith, trust, and righteous obedience while the exorcist should pray over the child. How an exorcism ministry wishes to serve the needs of children will necessarily include the child’s parents. If the church providing an exorcism ministry also retains a children’s minister, it may be wise to consult that person in these discussions.

First Contact​

The first contact between an exorcism minister and a potentially demonized individual is important. This is likely to happen over the phone. Because people and their exact circumstances will be unique, the minister will need to calmly triage the situation with this person, providing recommendations to address particular needs that surface during the conversation. Here are a few guidelines to structure this discussion:

Determine the severity of the symptoms. What exactly is happening? Is there a risk of self-inflicted physical harm? Is anyone else at risk? Is the individual panicking? Or are the symptoms merely unpleasant? Medical triage often codes patients according to the severity of their symptoms using colors such as red, yellow, and green. An exorcism ministry may choose to code suffering individuals in the same way. Red might represent someone who is uncontrollable and causing personal injury whereas green might represent a person who is simply having ongoing, realistic nightmares. Color-coding creates the basis for a priority queue when the roster of available exorcists who can see an individual is limited. If the situation seems critical, make arrangements for a ministry team to meet with that individual as soon as possible. It may also be wise in some contexts to advise this person to call the local emergency services hotline for additional help. Hospitals and police departments exist for very good reasons.

Pray with that person. Prayer is one of the foundational principles of an exorcism ministry. Ask that God would surround the individual with His mercy, love, peace, and protection. Pray for whatever else seems appropriate. If the ministry is affiliated with a local church, determine if the individual would like to be placed on that church’s prayer list—then make the appropriate arrangements once this initial conversation has concluded. It is a good idea to leave the individual’s name on the prayer list until further notice since demonization can, at times, last longer than we would prefer.

Provide immediate recommendations. Remind the individual that God is in control. This person will need to start (or continue) praying. An individual in this situation should also recruit every available friend and family member to pray on his or her behalf. If the individual is not already reading Scripture, suggest reading the psalms listed above as well as any other verses that speak to the situation. Ask if the individual has questions. Answer those questions if possible, or be sure to follow up later with appropriate answers. The exorcist might also refer the individual to this book—though never as a substitute for reading Scripture!

Schedule an appointment. The individual will probably want to meet in person as soon as possible. This may or may not be feasible for the ministry team. After the initial conversation, discuss the situation with the other ministers and coordinate a time to meet with the individual. Contact this individual with a suggested meeting time as soon as possible because a situation that may not seem urgent to the ministers—particularly if they are busy with other areas of church administration—may appear excruciatingly dire to the individual. Furthermore, keep in mind that an exorcism may require multiple meetings.

Make notes. Once the conversation has ended, the exorcist may wish to make notes. This can be useful for keeping track of the individual’s history, specific topics that were discussed, unresolved questions to follow up, and concerns that the ministers will want to address. These notes should be considered confidential. For the sake of the person, ask permission before sharing these notes with anyone outside of the ministry team, and if this individual wants to see these notes, show them to that person.

First Session​

Meeting at a local church during off hours might be the best and safest option for everyone. Alternatively, if the individual is a congregant at a local church—which ideally indicates this person has an existing relationship with Jesus Christ—meeting at that person’s home may also be a suitable option. The ministry team will need to determine which meeting location will best promote personal safety, privacy, and convenience for everyone involved. The need for restroom breaks is likely, and vomiting may occasionally occur during some sessions, so further consider whether the meeting location offers easy access to a restroom with running water.

The individual may wish to invite family and friends to this meeting. However, one of the considerations here is whether this individual will feel free to discuss private sins and intensely personal moments with loved ones present in the same room. This will be very difficult for some individuals but not for others. Since one of the purposes for this meeting is probing into personal matters that the individual may wish to keep private, extra attendees are unhelpful when they inhibit what the individual feels free to discuss. Additionally, there may be other valid reasons for discouraging extra attendees such as local health regulations, meeting space restrictions, privacy concerns, safety concerns, and so forth. Whatever the ministers and the individual decide about having loved ones in attendance, family and friends can always provide prayer support at any distance. Loved ones who accompany the individual but who are asked not to attend the session can wait nearby and simply pray. This can make a tremendous impact (Luke 18:1–8).

Meanwhile, in this session, there will ideally be more than one Christian exorcist present (cf. Jas 5:14). Ministers should discuss how to work together. For example, one person might take notes while the other leads the discussion. Or perhaps the team wants the discussion to be highly collaborative where everyone contributes different points. The people involved are best positioned to know what will work in any given context. Here is a meeting agenda the ministers may wish to follow:

Prepare for the session. The ministers should begin praying before ever meeting with the individual. If the ministers themselves have any unconfessed sins, they are wise to seek forgiveness from God before counseling the individual to do the same. A minister should enter into the session with a keen awareness of the situation. Safety precautions—such as having physically strong people present with the minister—may be necessary depending on the context. The best way to know what precautions to take is to ask the Lord in advance for advice!

Begin with prayer. Once everyone has gathered at the meeting spot, ask that God would guide the discussion and reveal His desires for the people involved. Pray for the health and wellbeing of the individual as well as protection for those who are present.

Review the situation. The ministers should go over what they understood from the initial discussion to confirm its accuracy. This may spur additional comments that provide segways into a productive conversation.

Review biblical truths. This might begin by asking the individual a question like, “Do you think your situation could be the result of an evil spirit?” Discuss what the Bible says about Satan and his demons. Determine if the individual is a Christian. If not, ask the individual to consider what he or she hopes to accomplish with a Christian exorcist—this may lead to a fruitful conversation resulting in a new believer. If the individual is already a Christian, ask the individual to confirm whether he or she personally accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Saving faith in Jesus should be an expectation in nearly every Christian exorcism.

Probe deeper into the situation. An exorcist may wish to prompt the individual with a question such as, “Why do you think this is happening to you?” The individual may have some ideas the ministers can address. Pray with the individual, leading that person to ask forgiveness for any unrepented sins. Ask the individual to confirm whether he or she renounces any sin and wickedness that may not have been addressed up to that point. Finally, it may also be helpful to review the reasons for adversity discussed earlier in this chapter.

Diagnose the individual. Are the symptoms of demonic oppression readily apparent? Skip this step. Otherwise, review the demonization indicators presented earlier in this chapter with the individual. Does this person exhibit enough of these indicators to suggest demons are the culprit? Pray that God would reveal any spiritual evil causing this individual harm. If it seems at this point that demons are not directly responsible, be gentle but honest.

If demons are involved, attempt to drive them out. Pray that God would reveal anything the demoniac must do to be in good standing with the Lord. If something comes up at that moment, discuss it with the demoniac. When the demoniac has affirmed his or her relationship with Christ, repented of any outstanding sins, and addressed whatever the Lord might reveal during this discussion, the ministers may proceed. Pray that the Lord would drive out all demons oppressing this person. The minister may wish to refer to the psalms or prayers listed earlier as examples. Remember, the Lord may or may not act in this moment—it is entirely His choice. If the exorcist has asked the Lord to intervene but He has chosen not to do so, His answer is clear: not yet. And as previously stated, there is never a long and protracted struggle to yank a demon out of a demoniac when the Lord gets involved. It happens or it does not. If it does not, there may be more work the demoniac needs to do.

Take breaks as needed. Driving out demons can exert a tremendous physical toll on the demoniac. An exorcist should not be so focused on the end goal that he or she forgets to pay attention to the physical stability of the demoniac. Physical health is important, so carefully observe the stamina of everyone gathered. This is even more important when someone present is either a senior or a child.

Conclude the first meeting. Advise the individual based on whatever happened during this meeting. Provide a biblical reading list. And if—but only if—it seems appropriate, invite the individual to see a medical doctor or a licensed counselor. Schedule a follow-up meeting with the individual. Finally, close with a prayer, thanking God for what He has done, asking for clarification as needed, and requesting that He help and protect the individual.

Make notes. The ministers may wish to make additional notes based on this session. Again, consider these notes to be confidential. They only exist to make subsequent exorcism sessions more productive.

Additional Sessions​

To provide the Christian support and mentorship a demoniac needs, it may be necessary for an exorcism minister to regularly meet with that individual until this person is well enough to function in everyday life. Additional exorcism sessions can be patterned on the first session outlined above. Continue to probe and ask questions, continue to pray for God to remove the demons from this individual. Be a Christian mentor to this person, strengthening his or her faith in God and teaching important Christian doctrines. With time and prayer—as well as effort on the part of the demoniac—the individual should grow into deeper faith and no longer need to rely on the exorcist to be a “Christianity expert.”

Eventually, regardless of whether the Lord has entirely removed the demons from the individual, this person will be able to live independently from the exorcism ministry as a Christian of strong faith. And if the individual is earnestly seeking God and trying to be obedient to what he or she understands that God requires, it is surely only a matter of time before the Lord removes any remaining demons from this person. Know that it may happen bit by bit rather than all at once if there are multiple demons involved; however, a demoniac who places trust in Jesus Christ can take comfort in being one of the Lord’s adopted children. The Lord is always faithful to those He calls His own.

What to Advise a Demoniac​

Those who know beyond a doubt that demons are responsible for the suffering they experience are likely to have many questions. Hopefully, the preceding chapters have answered most of them, but there are other points to discuss in preparation for the road ahead—things like the reality of living with demons and persevering through the adversity they bring. However, before discussing any of those topics, here is the advice I would offer from the perspective of a former (FIXME) demoniac:

The road ahead is going to be difficult. There is no way around it. If God has permitted this particular trial in your life, then He is almost certainly using it to get your attention. Are you listening? God can use a gentle whisper (1 Kgs 19:11–13), but when He needs to shout, the very mountains shake and tremble (Nah 1:3–6). Right now, He is shouting. Demonization does not just happen. God has decreed it, and you are now experiencing it. How is your relationship with God? It may or may not be as good as you think. You are going to have to learn to trust Him like you have never trusted Him before. There is a way through this, and His name is Jesus. I understand that answer can seem trite, like something Christians say when they are at a loss for what the real answer is. But this is not one of those times. Although “follow Jesus” is a simple answer, successfully living into that reality can prove extremely challenging. That is exactly why He said, “For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt 7:14 NASB). Make sure you are one of the people who follow Jesus into this new life; the invitation is still open if you have not already accepted it.

Now is the time to reflect on your life, your choices, your attitudes, your beliefs, and your relationships. If there is anything in your life that you know is sinful or contrary to what you understand from Scripture, you are going to have to stop it. Ask God for forgiveness, forgive yourself, and resolve never to do it again. It is all too easy to go through life sidelining God or downplaying the seriousness of what Scripture teaches. Even those who do not believe in God collect intellectual trivia about who He is and what He expects, but when that knowledge never makes its way to the heart, it is like looking into a mirror and then promptly forgetting what we saw in the reflection (Jas 1:22–25). Knowing the Lord in your heart rather than your head is an altogether different experience. Following Jesus is how you are going to get through this. And you will get through this if you trust where He is leading you.

The path ahead may look frightening right now. Demons embody the textbook definition of evil. These unclean spirits can be loud, disruptive, blasphemous, powerful, and terrifying. I get it. I really do. I have been where you are now. But you must never forget that when you place your trust in Jesus, He is going to help you. When you place your trust in Jesus, He is not going to allow these demons to overcome you. He is Almighty God! He knows you by name, He loves you, and He has absolute sovereignty over the demons who are making your life miserable. Your job at this point is to work on your relationship with Jesus. Try to understand what the Lord could be using this trial to show you because you are in the best position to know for certain. Be obedient to whatever He says. If the Lord wants you to make changes in your life, He is not going to hide that from you. He has no problem making your situation crystal clear in a way that you will not miss. But know that He will do it on His terms and in His timing.

Your life will change from here on out. It will look different on the other side of this trial, but if you are successful in following Jesus, you will look back on this time and appreciate how much your faith has matured. The author of Hebrews writes, “For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Heb 12:11 NASB; cf. Isa 38:15–17). God may be disciplining you now, but He gives relief; if He wounds, then He also heals (Job 5:18). Remember: faith, trust, and obedience. That is the way forward. Persevering in this situation may be one of the most difficult things you have ever done, but you can do it. Faith, trust, and obedience. The answer to your problem is as simple and as challenging as that. May God bless and comfort you as you begin the hard work necessary to rebuild your life on the solid foundation that Jesus alone can provide (Matt 7:24–27; Phil 3:7–11).

Facing the Storm​

The reality of demonization can be intense as well as frightening. The good news is that none of us are required to bear that burden alone. God the Father has rescued Christians “from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13–14 NASB). Christians, even demonized Christians, are under God’s protection. It may seem as if God has forgotten us when the storms of demonic oppression are raging all around us, but the Lord never forgets how fragile we are (Pss 78:39; 103:14–16; Isa 41:13; 49:15; Zeph 3:17; Eph 3:19).

One of the most tragic stories of demonization found in Scripture is that of the Gerasene demoniac (Matt 8:28–34; Mark 5:1–20; Luke 8:26–39). His demons tormented him mercilessly. Not only did he live naked in the nearby tombs, he wandered the hills cutting himself with stones and felt compelled to violently reject all offers of help from the people he knew. This man lived in the Decapolis, a Gentile region that was anything but Jewish. He had probably heard of the Jewish God, but given where he lived, it is unlikely that he worshipped the Jewish God. It is far more likely that he either worshipped Roman gods or the various other gods that had been popular in the ancient Near East for many years.

This man was lost. He was hurting, he was broken, and he had no idea how to be free from his spiritual bondage. As far as he knew, the horrible reality he lived every day of his life was going to remain the same waking nightmare until the day he died. There was no reason to hope. Furthermore, this demoniac must surely have touched dead bodies, which meant that according to Mosaic Law, he was unclean and could make other people unclean (Num 19:11–22). Most Jews of the day would have made it a point to avoid this man entirely. He was probably a Gentile. He was not in his right mind. And he was unclean. There was no part of his situation they wanted to experience. His situation seemed hopeless. Truly hopeless. But something wonderful happened. One day, Jesus—a Jewish rabbi—decided to visit him (Matt 8:28; Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26). Jesus did not have any other business in the area at that time, and we know this because He soon departed without ever venturing further into the region (Matt 8:34; Mark 5:17–18; Luke 8:37).

Despite the inconvenience, despite the detour into a Gentile region, despite the man’s ritual uncleanness, and despite the man’s frightening condition, Jesus made a special trip across the Sea of Galilee specifically to seek out the Gerasene demoniac. Our Lord’s entire purpose for this trip was to help this man—along with the other man who suffered just like him (Matt 8:28). That is how much Jesus loves us! This tremendous act of compassion clearly underscores the love He has for humanity and the mercy He shows to the afflicted. God takes notice of those in distress and is merciful to those who call on Him. He also shows mercy to those who have not yet called on Him.

Peter later said, “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38 NASB). Peter was there with Jesus when He ministered to the Gerasene demoniac. In fact, Peter may have had this story in mind when He said Jesus healed all those who were oppressed by the devil. Although Jesus is not still wandering around Israel with His twelve disciples, that does not mean He is no longer with us. He just receives His mail at a different address. So if we ever begin to think that Jesus will abandon us to demons who want nothing more than to destroy us, remember the compassion He showed toward the Gerasene demoniac. He will do no less for us!

Yet in spite of all that, there might be times when the symptoms of demonization inspire great fear. Those who suffer from demon problems may live in terror every moment of every day while still trusting that the Lord’s help will come and clinging tightly to the hope that God will provide healing. This fear is understandable. Coming up against a fallen angel for the first time can be terrifying. People in this situation may have never encountered anything supernatural, let alone an unseen evil spirit intent on destruction. The first days, weeks, or even months of a demonized condition can be excruciating—but they can also lead to tremendous growth. We must take our cue from King David who writes, “I sought the Lord and He answered me, / And rescued me from all my fears” (Ps 34:4 NASB). And when a terrified father worried sick about his daughter pleaded for Jesus to help her, Jesus responded, “Do not be afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:36 NASB). That is always good advice!

We feel fear from time to time as part of being human in a fallen world. Even the heroes of Christian faith like the apostle Paul occasionally felt fear during his missionary journeys (2 Cor 7:5). Yet God can and does give us peace. He “is our refuge and strength, / A very ready help in trouble. / Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes / And the mountains slip into the heart of the sea” (Ps 46:1–2 NASB). Nothing escapes the notice of the Lord, and He takes particular care with those who love Him and wait for His help (Ps 33:18). Moreover, the Lord loves His people so much that the “angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, / And rescues them” (Ps 34:7 NASB), which may mean that God regularly sends His angels to protect His faithful people.1

So, as Paul writes, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil 4:6 NASB). He is faithful, and His love endures forever (Ps 118:1–4). Even death itself holds no power over a Christian because Jesus broke its hold over His people (Heb 2:14–15). Unbelievers who do not know the Savior may fear death because, for them, it is a tragedy. But for Christians, death represents freedom from pain and a wonderful eternal life with Christ. So if death is the worst outcome that can happen to us—and death is a highly unlikely outcome for the Christian demoniac2—Christians have nothing to fear (Phil 1:21)!

Resisting Satan and His Demons​

When we submit ourselves in obedience to God and resist the devil, Satan will flee (Jas 4:7). Submitting ourselves to godly wisdom, trusting in the Lord, and obeying His commands disarms the enemy. With the Holy Spirit’s power, we can resist the temptations and attacks Satan directs at us, ensuring they will eventually stop. Satan is a defeated enemy for all those who claim Christ and can never snatch a Christian away from the love of our Lord. Nevertheless, we have an active role to play whenever we encounter the kingdom of darkness.

Satan makes his way, and secures his triumphs, rather by art, cunning, deception, and threatenings, than by true courage; and when [bravely opposed], he flies. The true way of meeting him is by direct resistance, rather than by argument; by steadfastly refusing to yield in the slightest degree, rather than by a belief that we can either convince him that he is wrong, or can return to virtue when we have gone a certain length in complying with his demands. No one is safe who yields in the least to the suggestions of the tempter; there is no one who is not safe if he does not yield.3

Resisting demonic forces has much in common with obeying godly commandments. We may have to resist for more than a passing moment, but this is how the Bible says to resist the schemes of the kingdom of darkness. This is part of perseverance. And we need perseverance because Satan is persistent. The interactions between Jesus and Satan in the wilderness not only show that Christians might encounter demonic trials but also show that satanic opposition is not a “once and done” situation. Although Jesus successfully resisted Satan, Satan simply “left Him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13 NASB) before returning later to try again. He is “a relentless foe. He will stop at nothing to tempt us into doubting the Word of God and his promises. Just as he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden (Ge 3), he will whisper words of doubt saying the Lord cannot be trusted or that what he has said is not the whole truth.”4 But Satan and his demons lie by nature whereas God always tells the truth (Heb 6:18; John 14:6; 16:13; 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16–17). This is how we know that we can stake our very lives on what Scripture teaches. God inspired it, created it for our benefit, and expects that we strive to be obedient to the righteous wisdom it contains.

There is an additional nuance to resisting Satan and his demons that we must also consider: arrogance and presumptuousness have no place in the kingdom of God. We do not fully understand the intricacies of the heavenly realms. We only know for certain what God has revealed to us through Scripture and nothing more. Both Peter and Jude point out that we are not to “speak abusively of angelic majesties without trembling” because even holy angels “do not bring a demeaning judgment against them before the Lord” (2 Pet 2:10–11 NASB; cf. Jude 1:9; Zech 3:2). We are to follow this example when confronted by a demonic entity and defer to God. He alone has the sovereign authority to judge all creation, both seen and unseen; that is not a job we are qualified to do. We are not to mock demons because the Lord will be their judge. We are also wise not to take them lightly because they are evil and incredibly deceptive. We can be certain what will happen to Satan and his demons in the end, but the time for God’s final judgment has not yet arrived and cannot be hastened despite what we may wish.

How to “Take Up the Full Armor of God”​

The apostle Paul writes that our struggle against the schemes of Satan and his demons are very real. However, we are not defenseless—Christian character is our defense. The armor of God is a colorful metaphor describing the foundational attributes of sound Christian living: truthfulness, righteousness, trust in God, faith, confidence in our salvation, and an understanding of Scripture (Eph 6:10–18). “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm” (Eph 6:13 NASB).

The “evil day” comes for all believers. At one time or another, we will all be persecuted or attacked or hindered or tempted as part of Satan’s schemes to oppose God (2 Tim 3:12; John 15:19). Many of the difficulties we face when pursuing God or the work He gives us can be attributed to Satan; for “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12 NASB).

Without solid Christian character, we either fall into sin, unable to stand firm against evil, or become spiritually defeated and unable to stand at all. The kingdom of darkness is persistent; therefore, remaining alert against its many schemes is important. We never know when or from where the next assault against our faith, trust in God, or any other aspect of our Christian character will come (1 Pet 5:8–9). That is why we must “take up” our Christian armor. Here is how to do that:

Belt of Truth. We must commit ourselves to the truth of God by removing everything from our lives causing us to stumble (Eph 6:14). This conviction to follow Jesus and do what we know is right—regardless of its difficulty—prevents us from being led astray by the things of this world. We should never compromise with sin (1 Pet 1:14–16).

Breastplate of Righteousness. We must remain consistently obedient to God and submit to whatever He requires of us (Eph 6:14). This produces a habit of doing the right thing and becomes our chief protection against the schemes of the kingdom of darkness. “As believers faithfully live in obedience to and communion with Jesus Christ, His own righteousness produces in them the practical, daily righteousness that becomes their spiritual breastplate. Lack of holiness, on the other hand, leaves them vulnerable to the great enemy of their souls (cf. Is. 59:17; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Thess. 5:8).”5

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace. We must remember that we are at peace with God through our relationship with Jesus Christ (Eph 6:15; Rom 5:1–2). While that does not mean we are exempt from the consequences of our actions, it does mean that we can be confident that God loves us and supports us despite our imperfections. Christians are the Lord’s adopted children (Rom 8:14–17). We can be certain that He loves us very much and is squarely on our side against Satan and his demons. The peace God gives us enables us to stand firm and share the gospel with others.

Shield of Faith. We must trust that God has our best interests in mind, even when it comes to biblical prohibitions (Eph 6:16). Our Christian character is incomplete if we do not put our full trust in God. When satanic schemes buffet us with adversity, simple trust in God assures us that the Lord is in full control and has everything well in hand (Ps 18:30; 1 John 5:4). This puts adversity in its proper perspective. It also deflects temptations that would otherwise lead us into sin.

Helmet of Salvation. We must remember that, as Christians, our salvation is assured (Eph 6:17). We need never worry that we somehow lost our salvation. If we have truly been saved and do not turn our back on God, there is nothing to fear.6 The Holy Spirit resides within Christians as a promise that God has redeemed us as His own people (Eph 1:12–14; 4:30). Our eternal future is secure.

Sword of the Spirit. We must take Scripture seriously and understand it well enough to see through false teaching and harmful philosophies (Eph 6:17; cf. Col 2:8; 1 Tim 6:20–21). By understanding and relying upon the Word of God, we “are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:5; cf. Heb 4:12). We are all responsible for what we think and believe. Scripture puts us on the right track.

Finally, continual prayer and perseverance in prayer is what strengthens our spiritual armor (Eph 6:18). We should pray for others; we should pray for ourselves. “Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need” (Heb 4:16 NASB).

Forgiveness Is Critical to Recovery​

There are many people in this world who carry around unforgiveness. This is not how Christians should live. Paul urges us to “[b]e kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph 4:32 NASB). Forgiving others and forgiving oneself is critically important. This is a biblical commandment, something God expects His adopted children to practice. Forgiveness does not downplay the seriousness of whatever happened. If something needs to be forgiven, it was probably painful, the memory may still hurt, and the actions that caused the pain might have been truly awful. But we are still called to forgive. It makes no difference if we need to forgive ourselves or someone else, and it also makes no difference if the other person has no interest in our forgiveness. We must still do it.

This is no less than what Jesus did when He took the sins of the entire world onto Himself. Dying under the crushing weight of every wrong thing humanity had ever done and ever would do was so horrifying that “darkness fell over the whole land” (Mark 15:33 NASB parr.) as Jesus suffered the excruciating pain of His crucifixion. We put those sins on Jesus. It was our wrongdoing that nailed Him to the cross. In deep anguish, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34 NASB parr.). If anyone had reason not to forgive, it was Jesus because no one hates sin more than God. And if anyone could have taken matters into his own hands, it was Jesus because He is God. There were many people who wronged him. In fact, an entire planet and everyone who has ever lived on it have wronged Him! Jesus could have hopped down from that cross, called in many thousands of angels, and razed the entire world in the blink of an eye. That is what unforgiveness might have looked like had Jesus changed His mind about humanity. Nothing would have been left but dead bodies, smoldering ruins, and charred earth. But Jesus chose a different way, a better way. And He expects us to do the same (Matt 18:21–22).

Sin does not go unpunished; however, we are not the ones who decide the consequences. Only God is qualified to do that. Forgiveness may seem difficult, but the steps are simple: give the situation over to God, release the hurt with His help, and understand that God is in full control. This becomes much easier once we understand these important principles:

  1. God alone is responsible for handing out the consequences of sinful behavior (Deut 32:35; Prov 20:22; Rom 12:19).
  2. Justice will come eventually, either in this life or when we are in front of Jesus (2 Cor 5:10; Rom 14:12; Ps 9:8–9).
  3. Because the Lord forgives us for our own sinful behavior, He requires that we also forgive others (Col 3:13; Rom 2:1–4).

Healing only comes by giving the situation over to God. He is a wise judge, perfectly capable of fairly evaluating all of creation and every action under the sun. He will take care of it in His timing and in His way; for the Lord said, “Vengeance is Mine, and retribution” (Deut 32:35 NASB). Likewise, King Solomon cautions, “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; / Wait for the Lord, and He will save you” (Prov 20:22 NASB). Again, God will take care of it in His timing and in His way. Paul repeats the same advice when he writes, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Rom 12:19 NASB). This is a very clear pattern in Scripture. When a Christian does not forgive, it is equivalent to not loving—or perhaps even hating—the offending person. One who claims Christ but stubbornly refuses to forgive does not do what is right. That person behaves like a child of Satan and demonstrates willful rebellion against God (1 John 3:10–12; 4:20).

However, while we must forgive people, Scripture neither commands us to pardon nor pray for demons. Jesus did not die on the cross for the sake of fallen angels (Heb 2:14–16). Forgiveness in this context is still simply giving the situation over to God, but we already know that Jesus will one day toss every last demon “into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt 25:41 NASB; cf. Rev 20:10, 14–15). Accordingly, Jesus does not have merciful words for Satan (Matt 4:10; 16:23; Mark 8:33; Luke 10:18; John 8:44). God decided Satan’s final destination long ago and will carry out the judgment against our adversary and all who follow him (demons included) at the end of this age. Satan’s punishment is assured, and God will not go back on His decision. Therefore, because God has already judged fallen angels and Jesus did not come to pardon their sins, God does not require us to pray for demons as we would our fellow humans. Know that the “Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8; cf. Gen 3:15).

What to Advise the Family and Friends of a Demoniac​

When it first becomes obvious that a loved one has become demonized, it can be particularly difficult for close family or friends to watch the fallout. A natural instinct may be to rush in and do something—anything—to get rid of the demon, but that will not happen apart from God. Some may wonder if it is possible to take the place of the demoniac and invite the tormenting demons to leave that person in exchange for entering into whomever is bold enough to attempt a bargain. Despite the selfless motivation behind such thoughts, this course of action is very foolish for a variety of reasons.

First, the Lord has permitted this particular trial to occur in the life of the demoniac. It may be as a consequence for sin, or it may not be, but the Lord has allowed this to happen.7 The question requiring an answer is why this has happened. Is there something in the life of the demoniac that stands out as a possible reason? Now is the time to address it. Or is it a mystery? Now is the time to pray about it. The Lord will not keep this a secret. Loved ones can help the demonized individual by praying for this person as well as with this person.

Second, conversing with demons to the degree necessary to discuss a bargain is sinful.8 Is God really so distant that it seems better to ask a maliciously evil spirit for help instead of asking the benevolent, merciful, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent author of all creation? No. God invites us to ask Him for help—He is not some passive observer to our struggles! The Lord prohibits relying on the counsel of spirits for multiple reasons, but one reason is this: He does it for our protection. When it is not clear what to do next, trust God and pray persistently until He responds.

Third, demons are consummate liars.9 If someone were to invite a demon to leave a demoniac and enter into someone else, who is to say whether the result would not just be two demoniacs instead of one? Although the Lord might permit such actions to occur as a consequence for this sinful bargain, there is nothing that can force a demon to leave one person and enter into another except the Lord. Therefore, it is far better to go straight to God and ask for His help. Demons cannot be trusted, they cannot be coerced, and they cannot be made to tell the truth. Everything they say is part of a scheme to destroy anyone naive enough to listen to them.

The best support for a demoniac is unconditional love. Family and friends can express it by walking through this difficult time with the demonized individual. Listen to that person. Pray for that person. Pray with that person. Comfort that person. Sing with that person. Contact local church members who can help. Find reassuring Bible verses that can speak into the situation. Do not shame this person if, as part of the healing process, he or she confesses hidden sins. The demoniac is likely to face rejection from many people once the symptoms of demonization become apparent. Rejection may even come from trusted religious leaders. Family and friends who know the truth of the situation and love the suffering individual are in the best position to reflect the love of Christ into that person’s life. This becomes the role of the demoniac’s loved ones to the degree they are able to accept it.

Everyone involved should remember that God acts on His timetable and not ours. This may be over relatively quickly (cf. Luke 4:40–41), or it may linger for years (cf. Luke 13:11). Trust that God has a plan for the people involved. Loved ones must take this struggle one day at a time—or one second at a time if things look really bad—relying constantly on the love of Christ. He will not disappoint. They should pray constantly, invite other Christians to pray, and never forget “that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38–39 NASB).

  1. H. D. M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell, eds., The Pulpit Commentary (BibleSoft, (1909) n.d.), https://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/1.htm §Ps 34:7.↩
  2. See Chapter 7 to learn more about the limits of demonic oppression.↩
  3. Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible (Santa Cruz, CA: Internet Sacred Text Archive, (1834) n.d.), https://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/barnes/index.htm §Jas 3:7.↩
  4. Charles F. Stanley, ed., The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New International Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2017), 1342–43.↩
  5. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005), 1706.↩
  6. See Chapter 10 to read about the “unforgivable sin” which is, essentially, rejecting Jesus Christ.↩
  7. See Reasons for Adversity in this chapter for possible reasons why demonization occurs.↩
  8. See Chapter 11 to learn more about the spiritual perils of conversing with demons.↩
  9. See Chapter 6 to learn more about the nature of demons.↩