The Cure for Demonic Oppression

Following on from a previous column about demons, we now go back to Chip Ingram (Living on the Edge) to discuss the cure for demonic oppression.

Things to remember

Recall that Ingram has had plenty of experience as a pastor in Santa Cruz, a place in which Pagan Wicca and Satanism thrives. The first thing he suggests is to make sure of our general understanding of the gospel. See below.

When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Col 2:15

Ingram reminds us that, “Victory is always through the cross of Christ.” He (Christ) disarmed the powers and authorities; we should review the above verse often. There is also power in Jesus’ name (Matt 10:1; Acts 5:16).

As an unsaved New Ager I invoked Jesus’ name when feeling a dark dread one night. He graciously heard me. How much more will He respond to a Christian’s plea for relief?

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

What is the gospel?

According to Got Questions,

The key to understanding the gospel is to know why it’s good news. To do that, we must start with the bad news. The Old Testament Law was given to Israel during the time of Moses (Deuteronomy 5:1). The Law can be thought of as a measuring stick, and sin is anything that falls short of “perfect” according to that standard…continue reading.

Steps to deliverance

Ingram provides a check-list of ten things to do. Some of the following will be obvious, perhaps others not so much. Due to space and time restrictions (and Copyright) I won’t elaborate on them—instead, I recommend reading and studying his book.

1) Accept Christ (see Got Questions above); in doing so we become Children of God and have the protection of the Holy Spirit. See John 1:12, and entire chapter of Romans 8.

2) Repent of known sin. Read the entirety of John’s first epistle. Check out David Guzik’s commentary.

3) Renounce the works of the devil (2 Cor 4:2). Christ is our Lord, not Satan.

4) Destroy any occult objects in your household (2 Chron 14:2-5, 23:17; Acts 19:17-20). Get rid of pagan statues, books on astrology, Ouija Boards etc.

5) Break unholy friendships with people who dabble in the occult (2 Cor 6:15-16). There is a right way to remain neutral and still witness to friends caught up in demonic practices. Again, I recommend Ingram’s book for more on this.

6) Rest in Christ’s deliverance.

For He delivered us 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

7) Resist the devil. Ingram gives us a picture of repentance and resistance in James 4:1-10. Note also Psalm 51:16-17 and Ephesians 6:10-18.

8) Renew your mind. Fill it with heavenly things. Read the Word; meditate and apply it (Matt 4:4, 7, 10 and Eph 6:17).

9) Pray with others. Consider joining a solidly biblical prayer group which engages in weekly meetings.

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.” Mat 18:19-20

10) If necessary exorcise. According to Ingram only a humble person empowered by the Holy Spirit ought to attempt this. He has several warnings and guidelines regarding this, and I again suggest reading his book.

While this last point involves extreme cases needing special attention, following the first nine should go a long way to protect the Christian from getting to this stage.

Maranatha!