UPROOT TOXIC EMOTIONS

 Proverbs 18:14 ESV  A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?

Trauma is not limited to physical incidents such as accidents, war, sickness, or murder. It includes painful social experiences that can be equally distressing, such as:

• Abandonment
• Betrayal
• Fear and terror
• Humiliation
• Isolation
• Neglect
• Rejection
• Shame
• Not being forgiven etc.

Emotional pain from distressing social experiences can even feel like physical pain. This is because the areas of our brain related to physical pain are also triggered by emotional trauma. The Bible says that the sting of someone’s rash and unkind words can feel like “sword thrusts”. Anyone who has been through a painful breakup or betrayal will know what it is like to feel as if we had been literally stabbed in the chest.

Proverbs 12:18 ESV  There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Whether we like it or not, such toxic emotions never go away. They only get stored in our brains and bodies until we ask God to cleanse us and set us free.

Signs of trapped toxic emotions

Some of us may find that just talking about our past can stir up uncomfortable feelings. This is one sure sign that there are still toxic emotions trapped inside us.

Here are some other possible signs of trapped emotions:

• Lack of the fruit of the Holy Spirit – We feel no joy, love, or peace. We carry a sense of heaviness and lethargy. Life feels empty.
• Aches, pain, and tension – There are dull aches and pains in our bodies, starting from our heads and shoulders, down to our stomachs. Our body muscles tend to tense up and we find it hard to relax. We don’t sleep very well.
• Bitterness – We tend to be pessimistic, suspicious, and/or depressed. We feel as like the world has been and will always be unfair towards us.
• Wrath and anger – We have such intense emotions towards certain triggers that we can’t help but overreact in response. We have to work hard at keeping our anger under control.

Trapped emotions have a way to bubble over, no matter how hard we try to keep them in check. We will inadvertently hurt those closest to us as a result. Our trapped toxic emotions will poison our relationships.

We grieve the Holy Spirit when we hold on to toxic emotions

The fruit of the Holy Spirit comprises three primary emotions; love, joy, and peace.

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV …  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

When we continue to hold on to toxic emotions (consciously or subconsciously) that are contrary to the fruit of the Holy Spirit, we grieve the Holy Spirit and defile His temple.

Ephesians 4:30-31 ESV  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Toxic emotions block us from experiencing the love that the Holy Spirit is pouring into us. This is one reason why we may intellectually know that God is loving, but we can’t seem to feel His love in our hearts. We can then be easily misled by Satan into thinking that God has forgotten or abandoned us. Such thoughts are based on our misguided feelings, not on the truth.

Romans 5:5 NIV  … God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Ephesians 4:30-31 explicitly states that toxic emotions such as bitterness, wrath, and anger grieve the Holy Spirit.

These emotions do not operate on their own.

Bitterness usually comes together with other toxic emotions such as jealousy, resentment, anger, (self) victimisation, self-righteousness, and so forth etc.

Wrath and anger, on the other hand, are known as secondary emotions because they are driven by a whole variety of other primary emotions. These range from feeling abused, betrayed, forsaken, and abandoned to feeling snubbed, overlooked, neglected, isolated, and forgotten.

Our trapped emotions make us easy prey for Satan

Every decision we make is influenced by our memories, past experiences, and current feelings. Sometimes the trapped toxic emotions that are linked to our memories and past experiences can confuse us about what we are really feeling currently.

Let’s illustrate this with a real-life example.

A leader at church found himself throwing objects at his wife whenever they had heated debates, in an effort to stop her from talking further. He could not control his anger, even though he loved God and his wife, and wanted to be a godly role model for his family.

Feeling grieved and guilty about his own behaviour, he initially thought that his over-reaction might have been triggered by the lack of respect he felt from his wife. Nonetheless, he humbled himself and decided to ask the Holy Spirit to search his heart and lead him to the truth.

Psalm 139:23-24 NIV  Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

John 16:13 ESV  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

God then brought back a memory from his teenage years where he was publicly reprimanded by his father in front of all his friends during sports practice over 20 years ago. At that time, he felt extremely humiliated, betrayed, and ashamed but could not say anything. Because he did not know how to express his feelings at that point in time, either immediately or subsequently, his toxic emotions remained stuck inside him.

As a result of consulting the Holy Spirit, the leader realised that it was not his wife’s disrespect that triggered his wrath but rather, it was her body gestures that subconsciously reminded him of his dad’s mannerisms on that awful day. He had lost control because he carried unresolved emotions for more than two decades.

After he repented for his outburst before God and forgave his father for that incident in Jesus’ name, this brother-in-Christ has been able to keep his emotions in check and work on his marriage in a God-honouring manner. This is how he began to bear good fruit as he humbled himself before God and submitted to the Holy Spirit’s guidance on his feelings.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Matthew 3:8 ESV  Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

From this example, we can observe that:

• The real emotions driving this man’s outbursts were not rooted in the present but in the past.
• A person’s trapped bitterness, wrath, and anger can not only be triggered by words but also by one’s sense of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. In this case, it was triggered by what the man saw.
• The man had become so accustomed to his fleshly desire to defend himself (as a result of feeling very defenceless as a teenager) that he was no longer consciously aware of it. It was embedded as a subconscious reflex. He probably also lived by an inner vow such as, “I must protect myself from being humiliated again.” Such were the “sinful passions” that made him easy prey for Satan to manipulate and control.
• Satan waits for our sinful passions to be triggered before he attacks because he knows this is when we are least sober-minded or conscious.
• The devil will tempt us to sin (attack one’s wife) by targeting what feels like a legitimate emotional desire (defend oneself) and distract us with lies (because the wife is being disrespectful).
• After we fall for Satan’s lies and sin against God, the devil then returns to accuse and torment us with guilt and condemnation for the “bad fruit” of our lives. This is how he “devours” us.
• As believers, we must turn over our subconscious inner worlds to God for Him to renew. This is why God’s Word says we need to love Him with all our mind – that includes both the conscious and the subconscious parts of our mind.
• If we find that we are unable to respond to someone in a calm, respectful and gentle manner, it is a signal that our inner subconscious worlds are not aligned with the Holy Spirit. When our subconscious is right with God, we will experience love, peace and joy.

1 Peter 5:8 NIV  Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Mark 12:30 ESV  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

1 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV  … For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

For another real-life example of trapped emotions, please refer to this testimony: Jesus reveals root of anxieties and eczema to prayer counsellor.

Also, see Inner vows must be revoked

Re-visit our memories, release our trapped emotions, and extend forgiveness

Trapped toxic emotions make us spiritually unhealthy and less able to stand up against Satan’s temptations, deceptions, and accusations. To become healthy again, we need to flush out those trapped emotions.

The good news is that even if we have forgotten the events that first triggered our sinful passions, the Holy Spirit knows what they were. He has been with us since our inception at birth and He is committed to renewing and regenerating us. We simply need to ask Him to search our hearts and show us the anxious feelings and thoughts that drive our sinful passions.

Titus 3:5 ESV  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Healing and freedom will come when we can finally acknowledge and express our trapped toxic emotions, repent of our fleshly passions, and forgive those who have been the source of our emotional distress.

A sample prayer

Here is an example of how we can invite the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and lead us to the truth so that we can be set free.

Galatians 5:16-17,24-25 ESV  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

• Holy Spirit, I am not feeling at peace, joyful or loving towards others. Is there something in my subconscious that needs Your healing and deliverance?
• What are the subconscious sinful passions that are driving me? Please search my heart and show me where they come from. When did they first develop? (Please wait for the Holy Spirit to bring back any memory. Take this time to confess all the painful emotions from that period of time or that specific event.)
• What were the subsequent thoughts or lies that I believed? Are there any inner vows or negative self-beliefs that I need to renounce and replace with the truth? (Please renounce them and declare the truth about God’s goodness over our souls. In the example above, the man might have said, “I do not need to defend myself because God is my Protector, He will lead me to safety. He will never betray or humiliate me, He is a good God.”)
• Did I judge or sin against anybody? (Please repent and ask God for forgiveness.)
• Who do I need to forgive? (Please forgive and bless them in Jesus’ name.)
• Do I need to forgive myself for anything? Unforgiveness towards oneself often leads to a spirit of performance and perfectionism. (Please forgive yourself and repent of trying to make things right on our own strength.)
• What did I believe about You and Your character? Did I wrongly accuse You and blaspheme Your holy name? (Please repent and ask God for forgiveness.)
• Holy Spirit, please renew my mind, my heart, and my spirit in Jesus’ name.

John 8:31-32 SV  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Luke 6:27-28 ESV  “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Also, see The importance of emotional healing 

Some quick clarifications

There are a few things to keep in mind as we begin a journey of recognising and confessing our trapped subconscious emotions.

1. A tender heart is a reflection of God, not a sign of weakness

This world does not value a tender heart. In fact, it ridicules those who show compassion, kindness, and mercy as being weak and sensitive. Yet the Bible calls us to be tenderhearted because a tender heart can be moved by the Holy Spirit to do what is right in God’s eyes. A hardened heart tends to rebel against God.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

1 Peter 3:8 ESV  Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

We worship a God who is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” – all these are emotional words. As His followers, we should not be aware of our “soft” emotions because a tender heart reflects the character of God Himself.

Psalm 86:15 ESV   But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

2. Emotional self-control does not suppress how we feel

Part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is self-control. That does not mean we should suppress how we feel. Rather, we should cast all anxious feelings to God and invite the Holy Spirit to renew our emotions so we can practice love and self-control.

Controlling our emotions using our own strength is very exhausting and usually fruitless. We will still be misled by our own deceiving hearts. No one can fully understand powerful human emotions better than God who created them in the first place. He can help guide us if we ask Him for wisdom.

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

James 1:5 ESV  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him

3. Learning to recognise unfamiliar feelings

Those of us who have practiced “fight or flight” from our emotions since young may not know how to name our different feelings.

Some studies say that we have 27 basic emotions but most of us only know five – happiness, fear, anger, love, or hatred – because these are the emotions that society tells us are safe to express. It can be a struggle to identify shame, sadness, grief, confusion, and so forth.

Having a name for our emotions is helpful because it allows us to express how we truly feel exactly. Thankfully, this is a skill we can pick up and also ask the Holy Spirit to teach us.

Also, see Vocabulary to unplug buried emotions and receive God’s healing 

4. Beware new age healing for our emotions

There are many new-age methodologies to release trapped emotions. While these can certainly appear to be helpful, we need to keep in mind that only the Holy Spirit gives us new life. God is the only One who is capable of cleansing and regenerating our spirits. Anytime we turn to another source of emotional healing outside of God, there is a danger of idolatry and being misled by Satan, who can also disguise himself as an “angel of light” who brings (false) hope and help.

Titus 3:5 ESV  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

2 Corinthians 11:14-15    And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

5. Healing emotionally can also lead to physical healing

It is now widely accepted that enduring emotional distress over long periods of time can lead to chronic health problems, such as digestive problems, diabetes, heart diseases, cancers, mental sicknesses, skin disorders, and so forth. Casting our trapped toxic emotions to God and repenting of our sinful passions often bears the unexpected good fruit of healing from our physical ailments too.

Proverbs 17:22  A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Matthew 3:8   Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Even in the midst of blessings, people can have recurrent fits of depression. It comes in like a dark, heavy cloud. We pray, fast, or make resolutions, only to find it getting worse. That is because this cloud of depression is not mental; it is spiritual. It is called the spirit of heaviness.

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3

It is an evil spirit—a personality that studies us, knows our weaknesses, and knows how and when to attack. Recognizing the identity of an enemy is a tremendous first step, but then it must be fought.

It shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered. Joel 2:32

Meditate on scriptures like the one above and pray: “God, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ – according to Your Word – I’m asking you to deliver me from this spirit of heaviness in Jesus Name.”

The pressure will lift, but it is one thing to be delivered; it is another thing to stay delivered. It is now up to us to reprogram our minds – to cultivate a different outlook and way of thinking. Before deliverance, we are not able to do it, but now after deliverance, it is our responsibility to do it.

The problem is our mind. The devil reaches people through their minds. The more we trust in our mind, the more Satan is able to use it against us. It is up to us to make our mind realize that it is our servant, not our master. Our minds are affected by our thoughts, so we must take charge of what we think.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but [b]divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, II Corinthians 10:3-5

Generational Chains of Iniquity

Some people suffer under a curse that has come down upon them, not as a direct result of their own involvement in evil but because their parents or grandparents were partakers in such things.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me…Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.  Exodus 20:3, 5-6

Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name,  Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings: Jeremiah 32:18-19

From these verses we see that a “chain of iniquity” comes down upon us from our forefathers who have sinned. On the positive side, we receive unmerited blessings if our fathers obeyed and walked in the Lord’s ways. We see this on a national scale; the United States has reaped the blessings that our forefathers procured by faith and prayer. Many are not living for God today, yet are blessed with freedom and safety because of God’s promise to show mercy to thousands. We see the opposite of this in foreign lands where the people worship heathen gods and idols and where the curses of poverty, sickness, filth and ignorance are rampant.  Even so in our personal lives we inherit the blessing or the curse, dependent upon our parents’ relationship with God.

Timothy in the New Testament received the blessing of faith from his mother and grandmother because they were devoted Christians. When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also (2 Timothy 1:5).

Some children are born under a generational curse (Exodus 20:3-5) and have demons that cause their erratic behavior. Parents are in ignorance as to why some children beat their heads on the floor in rages, scream and yell uncontrollably, bite themselves, or have continual nightmares.  Many children do have demons and need to be set free. There is an account of this in Mark 9:20-21, And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him?  And he said, Of a child.

Demons can attack with no sin involved on the victims’ part as in the case of children. The sins of the fathers bring a curse, and there is a “chain of iniquity” that needs to be broken.  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments (Exodus 20:5-6).  Additional Scripture talking about the “chains of iniquity” is found in Jeremiah 32:18, Thou showest loving-kindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them; the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name.  Also Jeremiah 16:19 and Isaiah 14:20-22 show how we can inherit spiritual curses because of our father’s or ancestor’s evil deeds.

We do not have a problem understanding how we inherit physical and emotional traits from our parents and grandparents, but some people cannot believe we inherit spiritual traits although the Word teaches otherwise. In the natural, if a father should have weak kidneys, many times the children will have this same problem.  If the parents are highly nervous and fearful, the children will, many times, have these same characteristics. Should a parent have an addictive personality, the children can inherit that trait also. Spiritually we encounter the same kind of situation. As a child of God, we do not have to keep those things that are detrimental to our lives, because we have a new Father. We now can receive the Heavenly Father’s traits, His healings and His blessings.

We no longer inherit the curse. We must, however, appropriate the blessings. They are not automatic. We should ask the Lord in prayer to break every “chain of iniquity” over our lives and disinherit the evil things from our earthly parents so as to receive the blessings promised to those that love God.

Sins of Commission

The “chain of iniquity” is not the only kind of curse that must be overcome. There are times when curses are spoken against people by those who practice witchcraft. As children of God we need not be afraid of these affecting us since Satan has no power to bring evil upon us unless we are practicing sin and are living out of the will of God. Those, however, who are outside of Christ and His protection, can suffer terrible effects from these evil practices.  A satanic curse is designed as a stumbling block to cause Christians to fall, thus leading to their destruction.  False prophets, sorcerers, witches and other emissaries of the devil cast spells and place curses on people. This was spoken of in the Bible as we are told of their diabolical ways.

Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 2 Peter 2:14-17

In this Scripture we see that unstable souls and those who have forsaken following the Lord are affected by a curse pronounced against them.

Balaam was the son of a soothsayer (one who practices witchcraft, Joshua 13:22). God hates this practice now as much as He did then. Balaam began as a prophet of God but ended up as a false prophet. One of the reasons was probably because of the chain of iniquity from his father’s participation in witchcraft. Balaam yielded to sin and false doctrine (Numbers 22, 23, 24, & 31:16).

Demons are invited in by persons who yield to sin continually, or are involved in activities that have a satanic nature behind it like listening to rock music.  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness (Romans 6:16)?  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin (John 8:34).  The demon personality is compatible with the particular sin the person is entertaining.  Demons drive and compel people towards the same evil things and they find they cannot stop doing it freely.  One of the areas where many people are most conscious of this is in the area of sexual lust often beginning with what seems harmless such as pornography or x-rated movies.  Unfortunately we have heard of cases where this so called “harmless” activity lead to adultery, child sexual abuse, homosexuality, involvement with prostitution and sex trafficking, and even death when people have been afflicted with AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases.    If the Lord is not sought to set the person free, one demon will invite others and the person will be possessed, even as Mary Magdalene was with seven demons.  And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, our of whom went seven devils (Luke 8:2).

Idols and Cursed Objects

Any object associated with idolatry can bring demons into a person’s life.  Some of these items could be objects that were used in cult and occult practices, whether purchased by yourself, by someone else, or handed down.  These objects represent Satan and therefore we need to cleanse our home of them.  We can unknowingly have ornamental objects, books or ornaments (idols) that pertain to false religions, cults, the occult and anything pertaining to Satan’s kingdom, CD’s, records, books, etc in our homes that we are not aware of that can bring in a curse and open the door to demonic attacks.  We are commanded to have nothing to do with these kind of things in Scripture.  Deuteronomy 7:25-26 states, “The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an  abomination to the Lord thy God. Neither shalt thou bring an  abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but  thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.”

Many Christians have brought idols and other works of evil into their homes without realizing the harm and curse that also comes in with them. Idols or statues that others use for worship are specifically forbidden in Scripture.  Statues of Buddha are one of the most common idols seen in homes. Satan has deceived people by presenting these as decorator items. Objects such as these should be burned or destroyed, for they open lives up to Satanic bondage and attack.  More details concerning this topic can be read in our article What the Bible Says about Spiritually Cleansing Your Home.

Sins of Omission

Sins of omission are the main reason that demons get into or back into Christians.  James 4:17 says, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”  A sin of omission is a sin that is the result of not doing something God’s Word teaches that we should do.  Many Christians believe that once they are saved there is nothing else they need to do, reasoning that we are not saved by works, but by grace.  It is true that we cannot work our way to heaven, but because we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, we will have good works – not to be saved, but because we are saved.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).  Our lives are to bring Him glory.   We are suppose to be filled and submitted to the Holy Spirit at all times, and to seek the face of God (James 4:7).  We are supposed to be vigilant to pray (Ephesians 6:18).  We should be casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).  When we are not doing this, we are living contrary to The Will of God, and Satan knows it.

Demons return to empty vessels.  The demon says, “I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.”  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation (Matthew 12:44-45).  Demons can only get back in when we are not doing what we are supposed to be doing.  Paul admonishes in Ephesians 4:27 not to give place to the devil.  We give place to the devil, when the first motions of sin are not grievous to our souls; when we consent to them; and when we repeat an evil deed. This teaches that as sin, if yielded unto, lets in the devil upon us, we are to resist it, keeping from all appearance of evil.   The accuser of the brethren takes great delight in slandering and reproaching the saints; he especially takes great delight through an unbecoming conversation, by lying and sinful anger, or by other means.

Offenses

Many of us have been deeply offended by something or someone in our past. That offense was real and should not be taken lightly. But at some point, without total true forgiveness they are going to be opened up to demons.  This is a good example of how one demon can bring with it many others; the spirit of offense is often accompanied with the spirits of resentment, rejection, anger, hatred and bitterness.  The Greek word for offend comes from the word skand which originally referred to the part of the trap to which the bait was attached.  That word signifies laying a trap in someone’s way.  The Bible reminds us that people we are close to or spend time with can offend us deeply.  The most common way we set ourselves up for offense is by setting unrealistic expectations.  Christians who have been hurt by pastors or spiritual leaders are especially vulnerable.  If this applies to you, for your own sake, forgive them, pray for them, and avoid speaking evil of them.  Although we are not told what the offense was in the story of Nabal in 1 Samuel 25, we see that we can have money, family, spiritual connections, and even people behind the scenes helping us out without us knowing it, and none of it will bring us peace as long as we are holding onto the offense.  Some physicians have even linked some types of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis to bitterness and resentment in the soul.  Many people have been healed and received answers to prayer after releasing offenses.

Sudden Shocks, Traumas and Crises

Demons can also enter when the person’s will is weakened and he is overpowered by the devil. This happens many times when a person goes through a terrible shock or experiences an incident that produces extreme fear.  These types of traumatic events open the door for a spirit of fear to enter in and that demon may have a stronghold for years afterwards.  Accident victims who are knocked unconscious due to blows on the head often are subject to demon invasion. Addicts and alcoholics eventually have demons as the drugs and alcohol suppress their wills leaving them open for attack.

Becoming Set Free

Many people desire to be free, yet continue to find themselves in bondage. Recognizing the need for deliverance is the first step to freedom. Before coming to Christ, man takes all kinds of things into his heart and spirit and one of the first works of the Holy Spirit is to begin cleaning his “spiritual house.”

A beautiful “type” of this is the incident of Jesus cleansing the temple that had been defiled by those who were wicked.

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.  Matthew 21:12-13

We are now the temple of God and when the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, He begins the same process of “casting out” those things that offend Him.  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people (2 Corinthians 6:16).

This cleansing process sometimes happens automatically at the time of salvation simply due to God’s grace and our ignorance of demons even existing. However, some do not continue to walk in the freedom of God’s Spirit and therefore fall back into the world. All their old habits return to haunt them. They then try to get the victory, but find something is controlling them that is stronger than their wills. They have given place to the devil.  Ephesians 4:22-32 warns us not to give in to the “old man” thus giving place to the devil.

Symptoms of Demonic Activity

There are three main identifying marks of evil spirits. They enslave, they defile and they torment. If a person has renounced evil and committed his life to Christ but still has not found peace, the problem is very likely due to the influence of evil spirits. The sooner one recognizes this evil force and accepts God’s way of being freed, the sooner he can go on to a normal, happy life.

Demonic activity in a person’s life can manifest through the following symptoms: an uncontrollable temper, excesses of any kind, addictions to food, alcohol, tobacco, pills, drugs, rock music, obsessive urges, homosexuality, perverted sex acts, oral sex, masturbation, prostitution, evil imaginings, vile thoughts on sex, sadistic mental pictures, incest, child abuse, rape, murder, suicide, tormenting fears, terror, nightmares, insomnia, sleepwalking, talking in one’s sleep, bed wetting, extreme shyness, grinding of teeth, unusual weakness, hyperactivity, intellectual memory amplified, loss of memory, insanity, low I.Q.s, extremely high I.Q.s, unrelieved grief, continual strife, materialism, impotency, frigidity, manias and phobias of every kind. Unclean spirits of infirmity attack the body and can manifest as tumors, cancers, crippling diseases, arthritis, blindness, ulcers, migraine headaches, hay fever, asthma, allergies, epilepsy, heart problems, fevers and many other torturous diseases. Records of such cases are spoken of in the New Testament. By casting out the demons the people were freed.  Matthew 17:14-15 and 18 records a case of a boy delivered from insanity.

And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 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…And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.  Matthew 17:14-15, 18

Mark 3:10-11 tells of others being set free.  “For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.  And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.”  Deaf and dumb mutes can be delivered as this is from an evil spirit also.  “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). Another account of Jesus bringing healing by casting out devils is found in Matthew 12:22-30.

Seducing spirits are usually the spirits that influence those involved in false religions, cults and the occult. These deceiving and witchcraft spirits manifest as religious spirits and can even counterfeit the true gifts of God. They also manifest in strange supernatural happenings, such as weird sights, sounds and smells. People have been visited by apparitions (ghosts), demons impersonating dead people or U.F.O. visitors when these demons are in operation.  These visits usually happen as a direct result of involvement in cultic or occult practices. We are warned about these doctrines of devils. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (1Timothy 4:1).  To be free from the curse that comes upon those involved in such things, one needs to seek God for deliverance.

Prior to or in conjunction with unexplained illness or sickness can also be other signs that demons are attacking.  They can bring deep confusion, inability to read the Word of God without falling asleep or confusion, inability to stay awake in church, inability to hear God’s voice, losing interest in attending church and reading God’s Word, oppression, heaviness, inability to develop a prayer life, unexplained pain, unexplained fears, obsession, night torment or terror, tormenting thoughts, bad dreams, suspicion, inability to focus, out of body experiences, inability to sleep, impatience, doubt and unbelief.

The need for deliverance in Christians is common and should not be viewed as freakish or out of the ordinary.  Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, great emphasis was placed upon casting out demons.  He not only personally freed people from demons, but He commissioned His followers to do likewise and gave them the authority to use His name to achieve this miracle.

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.  And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.  And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.  And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.  And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.  Mark 1:22-27

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come…And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.  Luke 10:1,17

The problem of demons was a common one and Jesus dealt with it continually in His ministry.  And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him (Mark 1:34).

We find accounts of this same ministry in the lives of Peter, Paul and Philip.

And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.  For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.  And there was great joy in that city.  Acts 8:6-8

There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.  Acts 5:16

These people that were coming to Philip for deliverance were spoken of as “giving heed to the things he spoke.” We know Philip was an evangelist so he was speaking the salvation message and many of these people had to be saved if they were obeying what he preached. Therefore, they were Christians who needed deliverance.

If you feel you are afflicted by demonic attacks, it would be advisable to seek the counsel of a pastor of a spirit filled Christ centered church involved in the deliverance ministry. Keep in mind that you have power over all demonic principalities in the name of Jesus once you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior and are covered by His blood.

Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. Luke 10:17