How to Cast Out Demons

Note: This page is intensely practical. It contains suggestions and principles for the ministry of exorcism, intended for use only by Christians truly devoted to Jesus Christ. The theological principles upon which this ministry is based can be found on this site. Read it before proceeding to read and study the information on this page.

Legal Disclaimer:

By reading further you agree that the author is not legally responsible for anything that happens to you as a result of putting any or all of the suggestions on this page into practice. You do so at your own risk. I do hereby warn you that taking on demonic forces means entering into a spiritual battle - and war is dirty. It can have consequences in every area of your life. You must live right with God and others to do this ministry. By reading on, you agree that you alone are responsible for happens as a result of putting into practice the knowledge gained by reading this page.

Read on if you belong to Jesus Christ and you believe He may be calling you to learn how to drive out demons.

If you agree to these conditions click here, otherwise back out now!

Practical Suggestions for Deliverance Ministry

Be Prepared

To be in this ministry you need to be a person of prayer. At the very least, you need to have a strong anointing from God, which you could only have received through previous faithfulness to God in prayer. However, in this ministry, more than others, we are dependent on God the Holy Spirit. Even Jesus did not drive out demons except by the Spirit of God. So keep close to God through prayer. Remember the seven sons of Sceva who were humiliated by the demons because they did not know Christ for themselves. Acts 19:13-16.

Work in A Team if at all possible

Jesus sent his disciples out two by two to heal the sick and cast out demons. It is better to work with others. In any case, never get into a counselling or deliverance situation alone with a person of the opposite sex. Satan does send people to come for counselling who later accuse ministers of sexual misconduct and other false things. If you were alone with that person and they accuse you, it is your word versus theirs. You can lose your reputation and ministry like this through false accusations.

Make sure your team relationships are in good order. Be watchful, practice humility and forgiveness so that Satan cannot gain an advantage over you. Where there is unity between brethren, Christ is present and commands His blessing.

Bind The Devil

You have effective authority over evil spirits to the extent that you submit to God and resist the devil. To use the name of Jesus Christ you must live under the authority of Jesus Christ. As the spirit leads, you should bind the devil according to Matthew 18:18 with words such as these:

"In the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, we renounce all the power of darkness which may exist in this area or in the life of [Counsellee's name] for any reason. We bind all evil spirits assigned to [Counsellee's name] and forbid you to operate in any way, in the name of Jesus Christ."

Determine if the counsellee (person needing deliverance) is a born-again Christian.

If they are not, its much better to spend time explaining the gospel to them, and leading them to a point of trust and faith in Christ. Without this basis, they cannot be properly set free from demonic influence.

Some people are too bound to respond directly to the gospel. There are too approaches you can take here.

(a) While others pray and bind the demons, patiently explain that Jesus can set them free, that Jesus can save, that Jesus paid for their sins at the cross and that Jesus rose again and is alive. Make it very simple, since demons will attempt to work overtime to confuse their minds with distractions and irrelevant considerations. Invite them to call upon Jesus for salvation first.

(b) If the anointing for faith and power is upon you, ask for permission to lay hands on them [on the head and the back are good places for this], and, then, in the name of Jesus, do so, releasing by faith the anointing and commanding the demons to get off their mind and out of their lives. This will work for long enough to get them to a point of being able to hear and understand the gospel message. You must lead them to Christ at this point before continuing ministry.

For Deliverance Ministry Aiming for Thorough Cleansing

If possible, create an atmosphere of PRAISE where Jesus Christ is honored.

God dwells in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). So acknowledge God's greatness by beginning times of deliverance ministry with songs of praise to God. This builds faith, invites the Holy Spirit to come with his anointing, and weakens the power of Satan in the area. Demons feel uncomfortable with praise directed towards God and will be more willing to leave when they feel bad in a place. Praise silences the voice of the enemy.

"Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have ordained strength, because of your enemies, that you may silence the enemy and the avenger." (Psalm 8:2). In Matthew 21:16 Jesus quoted this Scripture as follows, "Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have perfected praise". Together, these verses reveal the secret that PRAISE silences the voice of the enemy (demons). We are exhorted to "continually offer to God the sacrifice of praise" (Hebrews 13:15). The more we do this, the less problems we will have with demonic harrassment. Teach people to praise God. A lot of their problems will be solved if they learn to praise God through the difficulties until God's light starts to shine through. People can only keep deliverance by continuing to praise God.

Just before the time for the person to confess their sins and call upon the Lord, it is good to really get into praising God. Music helps here.

Be Thorough

Identify what areas of demonic influence are in a persons life (a) by listening to them (b) by asking questions (c) by listening to God and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Some things are obvious, others require revelations from God.

Do not depend on the demons themselves for information. Although Jesus once asked the demon what its name was, you generally don't need to. In any case, Jesus did not ask each of the thousands of demons in that man what its name was.

In commanding demons to go out, you don't need to know their name. They can be identified by what they promote. Thus demons of fear, lust, deception, pride, anger, violence and so on can be commanded to leave using just those names. For example, you can say, "You spirit of fear, come out in Jesus' name!" or "I command you spirit of infirmity to loose her in Jesus' name!"

It is outside the scope of this article to give a complete list of the demonic problems that may afflict people. You need to keep learning and studying. Read books by authors like Noel Gibson, Graham Powell, Bill Subritzky and others with plenty of practical experience of actually doing it. Learn from the Lord yourself through each experience.

Some Questions to Ask the Counsellee

Have you truly given your life to Jesus Christ? Would you like to?

What do you want freedom from?

When is the first time you had this trouble? (Be listening, and seek to discover through what action or event the demons got in in the first place. These doorways need to be closed through renunciation for deliverance to be lasting.)

What experience have you had of personal rejection by others?

Are there people you find it difficult to forgive? (People must forgive or God hands them over to demonic tormenters - see Matthew 18:34,35).

Are you aware of any occult history in your family or your ancestors - e.g. witchcraft, freemasonry, false religions etc? (All these must be renounced).

Procedure for Deliverance

Practical Instructions

Explain the Need for Laying on of hands

Some say that we shouldn't lay hands on those with demons, lest they come into us, but we need not fear if the power of the Holy Spirit is truly upon us. Jesus took Peter's mother-in-law's hand, rebuked the fever and it left. Demons hate the power of the Holy Spirit that comes through the laying on of hands and when hands are laid on in Jesus' name, demons are more likely to leave quickly. It is not an absolute requirement but it can be

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