Following a few links, I was intrigued to stumble across demon-slayer.org
These people (I don’t think you can find out who they are other than first names, but they have a great line in anonymous recommendations) will travel the world and use secret knowledge revealed to only 7 people to get rid of your demons, apparently.
How do you know you have demons? Well they list ‘creepy feelings,‘ or ‘feeling like someone is pressurising you to do certain acts‘ on their SYMPTOMS page. I got that off their site!
Every day now I pass a big billboard advertising the new ITV Demons programme where Philip Glenister (the guy who played Gene Hunt in Life on Mars) has some new – more other worldly opponents to take on. This stuff is on people’s minds in our culture.
Now don’t get me wrong…
1) We don’t battle against flesh and blood. When we see some of the evil in the world I don’t think many of us would think it too much of a stretch to believe the Bible’s warnings of a personal malevolent force at work, as well as a great and good God. My recent visit to Haiti confirmed that for me.
2) I think a lot of what we struggle through is because of spiritual attack. I’m grateful for the prayers of protection many pray for me and my family – we have over the years been on the receiving end of spiritual attack; it should be the norm if you’re being any kind of threat to the kingdom of darkness.
3) People often come to Christ with all kinds of oppression and torment in their backgrounds and often need prayer to walk in the full measure of freedom Christ has for them. In many parts of the world this spiritual reality is just a given, though we rationalistic westerners ignore it at our peril.
4) I have personally seen many people taken from depression and gloom to joy and freedom; destructive habits and overwhelming guilt has been defeated by simple prayer and declaration of who they are in Christ (often with Communion). I have also prayed in many homes and other places having been invited in by people in fear because of ‘ghostly goings on’ etc. There has never been any contest by the way – we have victory in Christ!
The answer is not to call in the New Age demon-slayer guys, who cobble together various religions and none to combat evil with own their goodness. By the way, they charge $15,000 for an exorcism, or $3000 to clear a room of bad smells etc., and replace it with ‘beautiful energy.’ That’s a lot of money for air freshener – and travel costs are on top. Or they’ll sell you a candle that keeps demons away for only $150 (plus shipping). They are very clear that ‘you are paying for their time and not any guaranteed results.’
Read Mark 5 and compare the Jesus method:When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. No contest!
You want freedom? It’s in Jesus. Knowing him and being known by him and walking in obedience to him. Not just knowing about him.
Acts 19:13-15 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day) the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
Want to know a real secret? 1 John 4:4
He that is IN US is greater than he that is in the world.
No contest. The key to being free (and setting others free too) is to know Who you serve now – and who you are. To help that we’re about to start an evening course by Neil Anderson which I’ve found really fantastic. Here’s what it says about itself: The Freedom in Christ Discipleship Course is designed to help every Christian grasp the truth of who they are in Christ, resolve personal and spiritual conflicts through genuine repentance, and move on to maturity.
The course is free and we give free nibbles and coffee. By the way, results are guaranteed.
