Over the years as a Christian, I have pondered Romans 7:15,
15 For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity].
What I failed to understand was that I was in bondage which allowed the enemy of my soul to influence me. I had to deal with anger, pride and much more. There are many Christians who do not recognize nor know they are in bondage and that they have strongholds and open “gates” or “doors” which allow darkness to influence them. The scriptural admonition stated in Hosea 4:6 is still applicable today: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
Isa 5:13 says “my people are gone into captivity because they have no knowledge”.
One of Jesus’ purposes in coming to earth was to destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:9-10). He came first to “preach the gospel to the poor” (those spiritually oppressed, Luke 4:18) and to “proclaim liberty to the captives” (Luke 4:18; Is. 42:7, 49:9 and 61:1), then, second, “to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:19, Is. 61:2). The order is very important.
Scripture also tells us that Jesus came to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:4, Matt 12:28). Several other scriptures help us understand what the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is; it “not in word, but in power” (I Cor 4:20), “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you” (Luke 11:20), “the Kingdome of God is within you”(Luke 17:21) and “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom 14:17).
These suggest the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is reclaiming that which belongs to God, but has been temporarily occupied by the kingdom of darkness. Being in bondage to sin separates us from God. Bondage blinds us and keeps us from seeing and hearing the Word of God (Is. 6:9-10, 42:7-9, 42:18-20, Mat. 13:15, 2 Cor. 4:4). Bondage causes us to lose what good news we hear (see Mat. 13:13-17). In ministering to others, we first loose them from darkness so they can spiritually see and hear, then we preach the Good News to them and then they bear fruit even 30, 60 and 100-fold (Matt 13:23).
Other reasons why we should preach, teach, and minister include:
- Casting out demons was the first sign mentioned for those who believe (Mark 16:17).
- We should follow Christ’s example, wherein an estimated one-third of Christ’s ministry was demonstrated through casting out demons.
- Jesus cast out demons to bring the Kingdom of God to seekers (those seeking out Jesus; refer to Jesus’ declaration in Mat. 12:28).
- Jesus cast out demons to show that the Kingdom of God is not in word only but in power (see Mat. 6:13, 28:18, 10:1 and 12:28).
- We preach, teach, and minister to bring release to seekers, giving “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Is. 61:3).
Two Kingdoms
Scripture teaches us that before we were formed in our mother’s womb, God knew us (Jer. 1:5, Eph. 1:4-5). God even knows the number of hairs on our head (Luke 12:7). He created us in love. From the very beginning of time, God desired for us to be healthy: spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Again, the order is important, as hereinafter revealed.
God created Adam and Eve in perfect health, in His own likeness and image (Gen. 1:26); He gave them dominion over all the earth (Gen. 1:28). Sickness and disease did not exist in the Garden of Eden. From the very beginning of his creation, man was not created to be sick or to die. Therefore, we know that God’s perfect will is for us to be in spiritual and physical health. In addition, from scripture, the attributes of the Kingdom of God versus those of the Kingdom of Darkness are made evident.
The Kingdom of God:
God’s kingdom is one of love, acceptance, and forgiveness.
- He offers us mercy and grace.
- He is the God of all hope.
- He is our peace.
- He will never leave us nor forsake us.
- He is our deliverer (Rom. 11:26, Mat. 6:13), who has destroyed the “works of darkness” (ungodliness).
The Kingdom of Darkness (Corrupted Light):
Satan came, bringing disobedience, rebellion, sin, sickness, separation, pain, and torment. He is known as “the prince of this world” (John 12:31,14:30, 16:11). He is called the “God of this age” (2 Cor 4:4). ”and the whole world lieth in wickedness”. (1 John 5:19).
We know that Satan’s kingdom is one where there is no love, no joy, no peace, no acceptance, and no forgiveness; his purposes are to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).
In the Kingdom of Corrupted Light, there is only rejection, disillusionment, destruction, deceit, division, and despair.
We know that before man inhabited the earth Lucifer was expelled from heaven to the earth. On earth Satan continued his rebellion against God by tempting man to disobey God. Man sinned and became alienated from his Creator. Man then became vulnerable to Satan and the supernatural beings under Satan’s control, known as fallen angels, demons or evil spirits. Satan has a plan for your life, which is to steal, to kill, and to destroy. (John 10:10)
He first wants to keep us from believing in God and Jesus, if he fails in this, then he wants to keep us from knowing Jesus Christ personally, and if that fails, he wants to keep us from serving Jesus Christ effectively.
The Kingdom of God and the kingdom of corrupted light are engaged in a fierce conflict one against the other for the souls, spirits and bodies of men and women on earth. But God, not willing to allow His creation to come under the influence of darkness, prepared a way of escape (salvation) for mankind and sent His own Son, Jesus to earth to show us the way. It is through the message of Jesus and His works on the cross giving us power over the darkness that we are redeemed and set free.
Authority Given Us by God
You must be totally convinced of the absolute victory of the completed work of Jesus, of His absolute victory over darkness. (Rom 8:38-39). God gave Adam a measure of authority over the earth (Gen 1:26) Eve, through deception and Adam, through rebellion gave Satan their authority and subjected all mankind to demonic control (Luke 4:6, Romans 5:12-14, Eph 2:1,2, 2 Cor 4:3,4,1 John 5:19).
Satan offered his authority to Jesus in exchange for worship of Satan. Jesus declined (Luke 4:7) When Jesus die, rose and ascended, He totally and completely stripped Satan’s authority over any child of God (Col 2:13-15, Heb 2:14, 1 John 3:8).
The Scriptures tell us that Jesus has absolute authority in heaven and in earth.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matt 28:18)
“Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church”. (Eph 1:21-22)
“And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it”. (Col 2:15)
Jesus gave this power and authority to the 12 apostles, (Matt 10:1) then to the 70 (Luke 10:9,19) and finally to us. (Mark 16:17-18) Those who belong to Jesus come out from under Satan’s authority, influence and control and move into God’s domain and are given the authority over Satan and his demons. (Rom 8:37-39, Col 1:13, 1 John 4:4, 5:18) The only authority the darkness has is what you or someone else gives them. Whatever you come into agreement with, you empower.
We are one In Christ. He is with us and in us. This principle of unification with Christ took place when you received salvation (asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life). You and Christ are one. (see Rom 6, 8, Eph 2, 4, Gal 2:20). We need to be assured of who we are, and who’s we are In Christ, and that we have absolute authority over darkness given us by Jesus Christ.
Remember that demons aren’t being made anymore. There’s the same number wandering around the planet today as there were in Jesus’ day, yet the population of people has increased into the billions. On top of that we all know from Scripture that there are two angels for every demon.
And since Jesus has ALL authority, (Matt 28:18) that leaves none for the devil. The “All” has been handed over to us. The devil only has the power and authority we give him.
Some authors have observed that not all believers can cast out demons (Mark 16:17); therefore, they make the case that while all believers have authority from Jesus Christ to do so, most believers do not yet have the power to do so.
The example given is the policemen standing at the corner under a speed limit sign. The policemen’s authority comes from the governmental jurisdiction, but the “power” comes from the court system. We know he has authority, but we probably would not slow down unless we knew he also had the “power” from the courts to uphold the law. Spiritual power comes from a closeness to Jesus, an anointing by the Holy Spirit, faith, education and experience.
Prayer For Authority
So let us take our places in the heavens, repeat this prayer with me….
I am a child of the King, I am a co-heir with Jesus the Christ. All that Jesus bought and paid for is my inheritance.
I am united with Jesus; I have been crucified with Christ. I died with Him, I am buried with Him, I was raised with Him, I am seated with Him in the heavenlies far above all rule, all power, all authority, and above every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. Therefore, I carry the authority of Christ.
I have authority over sickness, over sin, over demons, and over the world. I am the salt of the earth. I am the light of the world. I will displace the darkness. I have the full armor of God. I put on the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the helmet of salvation, the sandals of peace, I take up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, for the weapons of my warfare are not carnal.
They are divinely powerful to tear down the strongholds of darkness. I can do all things through Christ, because greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. (credit to Rodney Hogue) Amen
How Darkness Gets In
Adam and Eve listened to Satan’s lies and allowed sin to enter God’s beautiful world, thus causing all mankind to inherit the effects of sin, including sickness and death. Because God knew we would be born into a world whose prince (Satan) is evil, He created a spiritual “hedge” (as illustrated in Job 1:10) around us to shield us from the influences of the evil one (Job 1:10 and 2:4-6).
Even so, God provides spiritual armor for our protection (Eph. 6:13-18). Also,
God’s angels camp round about us to preserve and to protect us (Ps. 34:7 and 91:10-12).
All of us are born with a spiritual hedge like Job’s, but because of the original sin of Adam and Eve (and subsequent sins), we have doors or gates open in our hedge that allow Satan to inflict us, as Satan inflicted Job. Eccl: 10:8 says “. . . .whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.”
These open doors have many causes; here are the most common causes:
- Our own sins (lying, stealing, cheating, pride, etc.)
- Unforgiveness (bitterness)
- Participation in or exposure to the occult,
- Sexual sins (adultery)
- Abortion (deliberate termination of a human)
- Divorce (separate or dissociate (something) from something else.)
- Curses (utter offensive words in anger or annoyance)
- Inherited or Generational Sin: See Exodus 20:5 regarding the iniquities of the fathers being passed on to the children of the third and fourth generations.
- Objects & Places
- Secret societies (Free Mansions, Bones & Skulls)
- Involuntary exposure to darkness
- Trauma (Car Accidents, near death experiences)
- Words, Lies
- Vows and death wishes (dedicate to someone or something, especially a deity-desire for someone’s death / especially an unconscious desire for one’s own death)
- Hurts, Emotions and Memories, Wounds and hurts deep within our spirit
- Sins of others against us (physical, verbal, or sexual abuse, rejection, etc.)
- Verbal Abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse
- Rejection (the dismissing or refusing of a proposal, idea, etc)
- Our Image of God (God is punishing God)
How It All Works
Sin opens doors or gates in our spiritual hedge of protection, thus allowing spiritual pollution to enter, which causes spiritual as well as physical problems. Sin can actually make us sick—spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. There is no “safe dabbling” or “demon free zone” when it comes to associations with the powers of darkness.
The Good News is that God loves us and wants to restore us to His Kingdom, so much so that he sent His Son Jesus to earth that we may be forgiven, saved, healed, and delivered (Is. 53:5 and 61:1-3) from the works of darkness. The Good News is that God wants to restore us to Himself that we might walk in the peace and protection of His will.
Sins, wounds, and hurts are always barriers which separate us from approaching God or from feeling connected to Him. These dark influences in our lives (at times resulting in bondage) hinder or prevent us from being restored to our rightful relationship with the Lord, from hearing His voice and knowing His will for our lives.
Dark influences severely restrict our ministry; they keep us in bondage and prevent God’s healing power from working in us. Nonetheless, know that God wants whatever is separating us from Him to be healed. He wants to close the open gates in our spiritual hedge and to set us free from the influences of darkness.
He wants to remove all the chains (or ropes) binding people in the different areas of their lives. The Good News is that God’s love can heal us, can rebuild our hedge and restore our spirit, our emotions and our body to wholeness, and can transform us to allow us to experience and live the abundant life promised through Christ. Again, God wants us to be restored to Him in the purity and innocence that Adam first had in the beginning.
But most Christians don’t believe they can have these open gates and dark or binding influences—because they have experienced baptism. Even though baptism provides forgiveness for our sins if we repent, it does not necessarily take away the consequences of our sins or of those of our ancestors. These consequences (passed on through the generations as spoken of in Exodus 20:5, as well as in other scriptures) are called “iniquities.” Plainly stated, sin is the cause and iniquity is the result, consequences, or effect of the sin.
For example, if you are driving drunk, hit a pedestrian and put him in the hospital, and this person then has a permanent disability; will the Lord forgive your sin? Yes, if you repent.
Yes He provided for our forgiveness on the Cross; but will He immediately remove the consequences of that sin? No. The sin (the cause) is on the head of the driver but the result or consequences (iniquities) of that sin is borne by the pedestrian.
Christians can be totally repentant and still unknowingly be under the influence of darkness in parts of their spirit as a result of the consequences of previous sin. The problem is one of awareness. Again, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). “Where there is no counsel, the people fall” (Prov 11:14). “My people are gone into captivity because they have no knowledge” (Isa 5:13-14).
A person who is sick and doesn’t know they are sick will never go to a doctor. A Christian who is crippled on the inside, but who thinks his life is normal, will never ask God for healing; and “we have not because we ask not” (Jas. 4:2).
Many Christians struggle with major issues in their lives but are ignorant of the fact that the victory Jesus won for them on the cross not only assures them of eternal salvation but also provides the keys to healing (Is. 53:5, Mal. 4:2). Unfortunately many Christians believe that because they have been saved and born again they are protected from darkness. Satan loves such spiritual blindness and false beliefs. To think that salvation and baptism shields us from darkness is one of Satan’s biggest deceptions.
As an example, look at the Apostle Peter. Peter was obedient, he followed Jesus (Matt 4:19), he had power to cast out demons and heal the sick (Matt 10:1), he had faith to walk on water (Matt 14:29), he was a part of the miracles of feeding the 5000 (Matt 14:21), and the 4000 (Matt 15:38), and he was prophetic when he knew who Jesus was (Matt 16:16).
But when he was rebuking Jesus about going to Jerusalem, Jesus said unto Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan” (Matt 16:23). Many believe Peter had a demon; else Jesus would have spoken to Peter, not Satan.
Look at the struggle Apostle Paul had. In Romans chapter 6 & 7 Paul talks about his fight against sin, “I do what I hate” (Rom 7:15), “evil is present in me” (Rom 7:21) and says “Oh wretched Man I Am” (Rom 7:24-25). He mentions the word “I” over 40 times. But in chapter 8 he admits he can do nothing and needs the Holy Spirit. He mentions the Holy Spirit 16 times.
Healing of the Spirit involves the applications of the cross, the blood of our Lord Jesus, and the resurrection life and light of Jesus—to whatever is in the person’s spirit that has not yet been redeemed.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, the Lord is asked to walk through our spiritual house, to cleanse it of all defilements and of every deposit of evil and sin. Many times physical healing comes, as well as inner spirit healings. God’s promises of healing, and the inherited rights of the believer given to us by Jesus’ death on the cross, are for those who have accepted Jesus into their hearts, have been baptized, and have a desire to follow Him. Before we address a number of the more common open gates in our spirits, and how to close them, we need to review four types of healing, and the scriptures relating to them.
Scriptures Concerning Healing
Let’s read Luke 4:18-19 to review the six aspects for which Jesus was anointed: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me (you), because he hath anointed me (you) to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me (you). So let’s brake it down:
- to heal the brokenhearted,
- to proclaim liberty to the captives,
- and recovery of sight to the blind,
- to set at liberty them that are bruised,
- to proclaim the acceptable year of Lord
Healing Journey
Close your eyes and see yourself going into the cross. On the other side of the cross see yourself on an ancient path. As you begin going down this path, see yourself walking with Jesus…. invite Jesus to go with you into your spiritual house. Ask Jesus to cleanse your house of all defilements, of every deposit of evil and sin. Ask Him to cleanse and close every gate and door which has been opened to the world and the enemy. Ask Him to help you remove any obstacles which are prohibiting the Father from entering through your first love gate………
Dealing With Repentance and Forgiveness
In Isaiah 61:1-2: we see 6 things which a born-again Christian can do while In Christ.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me (you) to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me (you) to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
- “preach the gospel to the poor” [in spirit]) (Also see Matt 5:3 It is the first Beatitude)
Healing, forgiveness, and repentance are interconnected.
- Mat. 9:2
- Mark 2:5
- Luke 5:20 and 7:47
- Jas. 5:15
- Forgiveness and repentance are required to complete the healing process.
- Mat. 3:2 and 4:17
- Mat. 6:15,12
- Mat. 18:35
- Mark 11:26
- Luke 13:3, 5
- Jas. 5:9
Healing the Wounded Spirit
- “heal the brokenhearted” – Deals with inner healing of emotions, wounds, and hurts.
- Prov. 20:27
- Is. 61:1-3
- John 13:21
- Ps. 30:5, 11 and 45:7
- Ezek. 11:19 and 18:31
- 1 Cor. 6:20
- Ps. 51:10 and 92:10
- Ezek. 36:26-27
- 2 Cor. 4:16
- Ps. 35:18 and 41:4
- Mat. 6:22-23
Healing from the Powers of Darkness
- “to proclaim liberty to the captives” – Dealing with release from bondages)
Matthew Mark Luke Acts
8:16 1:23-26 4:33-35 5:16
8:28-33 1:32, 34 4:41 8:7
10:1, 8 3:10-12 6:18 16:16-18
12:22 3:14-15 7:21 19:12
12:27-28 3:22 8:2 19:13-16
15:22, 28 3:30 8:27-37
17:15 5:1-14 9:1
6:13 9:28-42
7:25 13:11-13
9:17-26
Healing of the Body:
4. “recovering of sight to the blind”
Matthew Mark Luke Acts
4:23 1:31-32, 41-42 4:39-40 3:1-7
8:13, 15-16 2:5-9 5:12-13, 17-18 5:16
9:6, 28-29, 36 5:23, 29, 41-42 6:8, 19 9:33-34, 40
10:1 6:5, 13, 56 7:14-15 14:10
11:5 7:34, 37 8:47, 55 19:12
12:11 8:25 9:1 28:8
14:14 10:46-52 14:4
15:28 18:42-43
20:34 22:51
John 1 Pet. 2:24
4:50 Is. 53:5
5:5-8
9:6-7
- “set at liberty them that are bruised”)
- only then did he “proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord”
It is interesting that most people who come for prayer come for # the 4 healing of their bodies. This is their # 1 priority. However, God’s highest priority is healing of the spirit (thru repentance). We the church seem to have the priorities backwards.
Peter Wagner and others have classified “spiritual warfare” into three separate levels:
- Ground or Personal Level:
This is where the casting out of demons from an individual (commonly called deliverance) is practiced. This procedure is more thoroughly covered in a separate section entitled “Healing from Influences of Darkness.”
- Occult Level:
This deals with demonic activity occurring in objects, such as is practiced in Satanism, witchcraft, shamanism, curandero, and freemasonry (as discussed in several other sections within this material).
- Territorial Level:
This level deals with powerful principalities and powers over houses, neighborhoods, city, territories, regions, and nations (and is likewise discussed in the section on “Setting Your Church Free”).
There are countless demons, one that corresponds to every sin. In the book entitled “Pigs in The Parlor” it lists over 250 demons. Characteristics of unclean spirits mentioned in the scriptures include:
- Continues to tempt people to sin (Gen. 3:1-6)
- Afflicts and destroys (Job 2:3-6)
- Opposes God’s angels (Zech. 3:1)
- Speaks, cries out (Mat. 8:29-31, Luke 4:41)
- Indwells humans and animals (Mat. 8:28-32)
- Steals truth from our minds (Mat. 13:19)
- Tries to express their nature (Mat. 17:15)
- Throws people (Luke 4:35)
- Torments people (Luke 6:18)
- Steals the Word of God from the hearts of the people (Luke 8:12)
- Breaks chains (Luke 8:29)
- Drives people into the wilderness (Luke 8:29)
- Recognized Jesus and Paul (Luke 9:38)
- Causes people to foam at the mouth (Luke 9:39)
- Bruises people (Luke 9:39)
- Binds physically (Luke 13:16)
- Opposes, harasses, and hinders the work of God’s servants (Luke 22:31, 2 Cor. 12:7)
- Tempts God’s people to sin (Luke 22:31)
- Steals, kills & destroys (John 10:10)
- Places wicked thoughts and plans into the minds of people (John 13:2, Acts 5:3)
- Enters and controls a person—as when Satan entered Judas (John 13:27)
- Lies (Acts 5:3)
- Counterfeits the genuine (Acts 8:9-11)
- Causes sickness and suffering (Luke 13:11)
- Attacks physically (Acts 19:16)
- Tempts believers to engage in immorality (1 Cor. 7:5)
- Blinds people’s minds to the truth of the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4)
- Transforms himself into an angle of light (2 Cor 10:4)
- Takes advantage of weaknesses (2 Cor. 2:11)
- Orchestrates the work of demons (Eph. 6:11-12)
- Hinders the spread of the gospel (2 Thes. 2:1-10)
- Sets traps and snares to cause believers to fall into sin (1 Tim. 3:7)
- Encourages false religions and spirituality by doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1-3)
- Attacks viciously (1 Pet. 5:8)
- Incites persecution against believers (Rev. 2:10)
- Deceives all men (Rev. 12:9)
- Accuses and slanders believers (Rev. 12:10)
Symptoms of the Possible Demonic Habitation
Note: A true believer can only be influenced by a demon, but not possessed. Why, because it is the Holy Spirit resides within the true believer. Through the revelation concerning the Court of Mercy, we know deal with these demons in the Courts of Mercy.
Here they are in Ascending Order according to the Degree of Influence
- Restlessness exhibited during worship services
- Tried everything else
- Sleep disturbances
- Feels compulsions for little or no reason
- Extreme behavior
- Commands to do something unrealistic
- Chronic fear, anxiety, or hatred—for no apparent reason
- Heaviness in the chest
- Feels conditional forgiveness
- Unrealistic suggestions
- Dislike revealed for anything associated with religion and/or Christianity
- Not reading the Scriptures or praying (at all)
- Not going to church
- Can’t read the Scriptures for any length of time
- Withdraws from church people
- Can’t pray
- Can’t say the name of Jesus
- Feels something is inside of them, controlling their actions and/or their speech
- Hearing voices in their mind speaking to them
- Exhibiting counterfeit spiritual gifts
- Having suicidal thoughts
- Attempting suicide
- Cutting themselves
- Having glazed eyes or a vacant stare
- When their speech is not their own; there’s evidence of a change of voice (or multiple voices or animal sounds
- Sudden appearance of marks on the body
- Having conversation with unseen beings
- Unusual behavior: animal-like movements, the inability to sit still, unusual postures or gestures, including nearly-impossible contortions of the body
- Their eyes becoming white, unearthly, and vile; a stench or bad odor exists
- Object begin to come out of the nose or mouth
- An unseen force throws the person
- Uncontrollable fits and foaming at the mouth
Definitions
Much has been written about words to define or classify the degree to which a person is influenced by demons, such as demonized, influenced, oppressed, or possessed. Jesus did not use any of these words. Nor does the Bible define them, and uses “possessed” or “had” most often.
Because there is no agreement on the definitions of these terms, and because we believe that rather than levels of influence it is a matter of degree of influence, a continuum, from being mildly to severely influenced, with no distinct categories, we will not use these terms here. Some may feel the words describing demonic activity such as oppressed, demonized, possessed, devils, evil spirits are important, we don’t.
Even the different versions of the Bible don’t agree. It truly does a disservice to the seeker to describe them either within their hearing, or elsewhere using one or more of these inconsistent terms.
Why do we have to use definitions at all?
In this series, we have chosen to use terms such as “Healing of the Spirit”, and “influenced by darkness”, which are much more kind to seekers, and much more acceptable in many congregations. When some hear the word “deliverance”, or “demonized”, they think of “The Exorcist” movie. They become anxious and fearful. It is possible to provide ministry to those influenced by darkness without using any of the more common terms. We need to put the seeker first in our considerations.