To be an active disciple of Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, also involves casting out devils. This may sound like a fairytale not unlike Harry Potter .. and it may be similar, however with the difference that this is real and not fiction. The spiritual world is as real as you reading these lines right now.

There are several kinds of exorcism. One may be deliverance from a person, another may be a haunted house, where inexplicable phenomena happen – such as sounds, objects being moved or even tossed around – also known as the presence of a ghost or a poltergeist (German: poltern “to make a noise” and Geist “ghost,” “spirit.”

When a person is oppressed or possessed, there are typically “inexplicable physical sicknesses” (such as undefinable physical sicknesses, fibromyalgia etc.), or there may be diagnosed sicknesses, or mental disorders such as fear, anxiety, uncontrollable anger and depression, schizophrenia, voices in the head and uncontrollable suicidal thoughts, etc.!
People may ask, “Are ordinary physical sicknesses really caused by a spirit?” Well, have a look in the Bible at

The Gospel of Luke chapter 13 verses 10-13:
10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her,”Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.”

In my logical human mind I would think that a bent over back very well could caused by e.g. osteoporosis. This may well be so, but what is the reason for the condition? It is quite evident that in this case it was due to a spirit living inside the woman. This however does not mean that she was under a conscious influence of the spirit on a daily basis, but it definitely destroyed her back. Jesus cast out the spirit, and immediately she straightened up. I experience a lot of healings similar to this one. A spirit is cast out and suddenly a physical sickness or mental disorder disappears. The last words Jesus said to his disciples before going back to his father, God, are very important. The fact that they were his very last words must convey great importance. It says in…

The Gospel of Mark, Chapter 16 Verses 15-18:
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.“

How is a person delivered from a demon?
It varies quite a lot. If a person is suffering from oppression it may be sufficient to lay hands on that person and pray a short prayer. But in some cases, the deliverance lasts for several hours. Sometimes the person does not feel anything during the prayer – but in some cases the demon begins manifesting itself heavily through sounds, shaking, vomiting, foaming, etc.! It is impossible to tell the reaction beforehand. Whenever the demon is gone, the person receives a feeling of lightness and freedom.

Is it impossible to have more than one spirit inside?
A plain answer is no. It is possible to have several evil spirits. Here are two short passages from the Bible with two examples:

The Gospel of Luke chapter 8 verses 1-2
“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out…”

The Gospel of Luke chapter 8 verses 26-33
26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,[b] which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. 30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him.31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

How do you respond after being delivered?
A deliverance is not to be taken lightly. You must decide what you want to do with your life. If you do not want to accept Jesus as Lord after a deliverance you may risk going “from bad to worse”….. Why do I say that? Jesus describes it very well here:

The Gospel of Luke chapter 11 verses 24-26
24 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.“

The above means that if you are set free and do not invite God / Jesus Christ into “the house” – meaning you, then there is a danger that the spirit and seven other spirits may come back, and your condition will then be worse than before. So you should seriously consider accepting Jesus Christ into your life and actively follow him!

Read about who Jesus is and how to make him Lord of your life.

Andreas Slot-Henriksen
February 2014