| Physical Illness and Demon Possession (Part 1) by Don Esposito (Carteret, New Jersey) |
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| There have been many misconceptions about mental illness and demon possession. As a matter of fact, there have been many misconceptions about healing in general. I want to, in this article, clear up from scripture some of these misnomers. First of all, it is naive and wrong to assume that every person with mental health problems has a demon. I have personally been blessed by Yahweh to cast out demons from people over the years of my ministry on numerous occasions. I have also experienced and counseled different people with mental illness, and there is a difference. This does not mean that someone with mental illness may not have a demon. But to say that all people with a mental illness are demon possessed is pure prejudice. Many times, mental illness such as manic depression is caused from an unnatural chemical imbalance in the brain. Today, through advances in science, many of these cases can be treated with a simple treatment, and many of these people can live a normal life. Other people have mental illness from a hormonal imbalance that again can be treated with a safe and natural remedy. Well, how do we know the difference? It may sound over simplified, but in most cases the Holy Spirit will convict you one way or the other, if we are letting it lead our lives. The problem is most people are not. They are being led by emotions or feelings, or even worse their own human conscience (heart, mind) which is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jer.17:9). Once when at a prayer meeting, a woman started speaking in gibberish that she claimed was a tongue prayer. The spirit in me not only rejected it, but also literally was pressing against my chest almost lifting me off the floor. (Phi. 14:7) States: “And the peace of Yahweh that surpasses all understanding, shall keep your hearts and mind through Yahshua Messiah.” Through discernment of the Holy Spirit, I will know almost immediately when a demon is present. But what if one does not have this gift of discernment? How will he know the difference? Let us look at some biblical examples for the answer. The first thing a believer must understand is the difference of being led by an evil spirit and being possessed by an evil spirit. James 4: 2-12 tells us that we are drawn away from Yahweh when we lust after the things of the world. All good things come from Yahweh; all evil comes from Satan. What we must realize is every time we give in to lust, greed, anger, or any other fruit of the flesh we are being led by evil spirits. 1 Kg. 22:22-23 tells us Yahweh sent a lying spirit out in the mouth of the prophets to deceive Ahab the King of Israel. Ahab was allowed to be deceived because he was given over to lust, greed, and murder. If he had been obedient to the law of Yahweh and had stayed under the protection of the everlasting Covenant he would never have been allowed to be deceived by the lying spirit. (Ja. 4:5) “Do you think that the scripture says in vain, The Spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy?” This is speaking of our human spirit. (1 Cor. 15:42-43) tells us we are sown in corruption, and dishonor. That is why we must put our grace on daily. When we are not humbly asking for and putting on our grace daily, we are risking giving ourselves over to the influence of evil spirits. And there are all kinds of them. There are lying spirits, there are angry spirits, and there are silly spirits, sexual ones, and also spirits of lust, greed, and covetousness. Many will look at a handicapped person because he may look different, and think oh, he has a demon, but will never look at their own self-righteous judgmental gossiping self, to see that it is Satan and his demons who are bringing and tempting all these evil traits that we give in to. Brethren, we need to take the plank out of our own eye, before we can take the speck out of someone else’s. Many times, what handicapped people need more than condemnation is love, and moral support. Also, prayer for healing. (Jn. 9: 1- 7) When asked who sinned that this person was born blind, Yahshua ‘s answer was “that neither the man or his parents sinned, but that the works of Yahweh might be manifested in him.” Maybe someone is handicapped so hands can be laid on for healing and Yahweh can be glorified. Or maybe Yahweh is more glorified in the person’s weakness and infirmity. Paul stated in (1 Cor. 12:10), “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Messiah’s sake: FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG.” We know of a wonderful little 15-year-old handicapped girl in Israel. If you look at her you may think that she has Down syndrome, but she does not. She has had many spinal operations and is in severe pain most of the time. She also has the mind of a child and cannot speak. But she is always happy, and never complains, and has been baptized and is led by Yahweh’s spirit. She is so overjoyed when a new believer is baptized, or when we worship Yahweh and Yahshua. And it is interesting that she cannot speak, but when she prays, I can hear the words in my mind. She also has the gift of discernment that when a person with an evil spirit comes in, she knows right away. Now I ask as in John 9, who sinned that this girl was born this way? As Yahshua answered, neither her nor her parents sinned but that the works of Yahweh should be manifest in her. She has several beautiful spirit filled sisters, but no one is writing or talking about them. They are all amazed at Patricia, who was told at birth that she would be a love child. That she is, Praise Yahweh. (1 Cor. 1: 27) But Yahweh has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and Yahweh has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty.” I do not argue with the fact that all sickness does come from sin ultimately. Whether our own or Adam and Eves. But we must watch not to judge a sick or handicapped individual, always assuming they must have done something wrong to be that way. Sometimes they are that way to show the glory of Yahweh in their life. It takes a very courageous and strong of faith person to be able to glorify Yahweh each and every day through a health problem. Instead of judging these people we need to be more supportive. Was Nebuchanezzer demon possessed when he ate grass like a wild animal for 7 years? No, he wasn’t, but again it was to show the supremacy of Yahweh over the whole earth. Was the woman in Lk. 13:16, who was bound by Satan, and hunched over for 18 years demon possessed? There is no indication of that in scripture, yet the demon was able to keep her hunched over but did not possess her. I would now like to discuss what actual demon possession is, and how it comes about. (This article has been updated and re-printed from “The Church of God Messenger” November/December 2001—Issue No. 6) |
| Demon Possession and How it Comes About! (Part 2) by Don Esposito (Carteret, New Jersey) |
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| I have stated previously that all bad acts and sin ultimately come from sin and Satan. We sin when we are drawn away by our lust and are led by evil spirits. All of us are led away into sin from time to time. But what I would like to discuss now is all out demon possession and how it comes about, and how to get rid of it. A demon cannot literally enter a person unless he of his own free will allows that to happen. Yahweh will allow demons to temp us, to ultimately draw us closer to him, and to teach us valuable lessons in our spiritual walk. Job the 1st chapter verses 6-12 is a perfect example of this. Look at verses 8-12 “And Yahweh said unto Satan, hast, thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in all the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that fears Yahweh, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, Does Job fear Yahweh for nothing? Has thou not made a hedge around him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? Thou has blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And Yahweh said unto Satan, behold, all that he has is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So, Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh.” What many people seem to forget is the simple fact that Satan is powerless over us. That he can only do what Yahweh allows. That he was defeated by Yahshua at Calvary 2,000 years ago, and he only has the power that we give him by not being close to Yahweh and living to the lust of this world. (Ja. 4:7) “Submit yourselves therefore to Yahweh. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (Lk. 10: 19) “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Demons have no power over a human being as long as he is in the will of our heavenly Father. What I have personally experienced is that most demon possessed people have given their soul over to demons by some sort of either witchcraft or some mind-altering substance such as drugs, or alcohol. Even pornography can be mind altering and give an in, to demons. The erroneous tales of demons just taking over anyone they wish is Hollywood. It is impossible as we read in James for a demon to enter a person against his or her will. It is only when someone has lost control of his will or senses through some avenue as drugs that the demon will enter. Remember, evil spirits lead us all astray when we give in to our own lusts and sin, but that is not demon possession. Demon possession is where the demon is actually dwelling inside the person. Besides mind-altering substances, any form of witchcraft such as tarot cards, fortune tellers, Jewish Cabala reading can bring demon possession. In this world today horoscopes and Palm readers are looked at as harmless vices, but I am telling you from firsthand experience they are not. Many of these people are being controlled by demons, and Yahweh’s peoples should stay completely away from them. (1 Sam. 28:3-23) Tells the whole story of King Saul who went to the witch of Endor, and his imminent demise. He literally had the Kingdom ripped out of his hand for going to this fortune teller. This was such a heinous act that (Ex. 22:18) tells us “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live”. Today this is looked upon with scorn. Many people are involved in Wicca, and say it is harmless, but it is giving an avenue for evil spirits to dwell. Most people in this wicked age that we live in give their minds over daily to hours of pure ungodliness on TV, and watch every form of soap opera, and horror movies to give the adversary an edge. We have to guard our minds from the wicked pollutions that Satan has in his world to tempt us away from Yahweh. It must be taken seriously. Many even in the body of believers, are so numb to the ungodliness of this evil age that they don’t even know the difference any longer. We have to, as the body of believers, put on the mind of Yahshua Messiah, and live holy lives acceptable to Yahweh. If someone is possessed by a demon, how does he get rid of it? First of all, you must realize that it is not your power to cast out the demon, but our King of Kings Yahshua Messiah. (Acts 19:15-16) “And the evil spirit said Yahshua I know, and Paul I know but who are you? And the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of the house naked and wounded.” We must never go on our own power. If the demon asks your name, tell him “You come in the name of Yahshua Messiah.” Your name is not important. Then you use the authority that Yahshua gave you (If you have been given that authority) to cast the demon out in his name. You must believe totally in the one who sent you (Yahshua). If you lack faith, it will not leave. Then after the demon is gone, you must explain to the person who had the demon that he must keep his house clean lest 7 more come back with the first one, and the end of that person will be worse than the beginning. The person must repent of the sin, revoke the act that brought the demon and replace the act with a positive deed. That is the only way to stay clean. I will say that although demons are rampant in this world today, all out demon possession is rare. But it is getting more and more common as we are getting closer to the end. We as the people of Yahweh more than ever need to be praying for the gift of judgment and discernment. Judgment is nothing more than knowing right from wrong. Yet is so lacking in the body today. There is such a spirit of immaturity. We are getting close to the great tribulation, and the return to earth of our Savior Yahshua. If ever there was a time to wake up, and start maturing like never before, it is now. There is real spiritual warfare out there, and it is only going to get worse. We must as the body of believers be able to discern a poor handi-capped person who needs love and encouragement from a sick demon possessed person. The only way to do so is by much prayer, and fasting, and putting on true Holiness, that without you will not see Yahweh (Heb. 12; 14). (This article has been updated and re-printed from “The Church of God Messenger” November/December 2001—Issue No. 6) |
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