Freedom from Demon Bondage

Demon bondage can be brought about when an individual is possessed, oppressed, or is in rebellion towards God. It takes God's discernment to determine which of these is producing the bondage in an individual's life.

The Bible makes it clear that there are demons, or evil spirits, in the world that interfere in people's lives (Ephesians 6:11-19CloseEphesians 6:11-19 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we* are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.* In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.* Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.* And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God's mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.* OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). Evil forces, or powers, influence and control the minds of individuals, bring sickness, and cause undesirable behavior, inability to function normally, and even suicide. As a result of these forces, people can become a danger to themselves as well as others.

What Scripture Says

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 18:10-13CloseDeuteronomy 18:10-13 For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering.* And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the LORD your God will drive them out ahead of you. But you must be blameless before the LORD your God. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12CloseEphesians 6:12 For we* are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water (Matthew 8:28-32CloseMatthew 8:28-32 When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes,* two men who were possessed by demons met him. They lived in a cemetery and were so violent that no one could go through that area. They began screaming at him, "Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God's appointed time?" There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. So the demons begged, "If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs." "All right, go!" Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed (Acts 5:16CloseActs 5:16 Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil* spirits, and they were all healed. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21CloseGalatians 5:19-21 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

Indications of Demon Activity

The following areas may help you to recognize your need for being released from demonic oppression, possession or bondages of the flesh (sin):

1. Compulsion to abuse animals or people
2. Sexual perversion and immorality (homosexuality, molestation, etc.)
3. A compulsion to abuse your body (drugs, alcohol, gluttony, abuse, or misuse of other substances, etc.)
4. Seeking spiritual knowledge through Eastern religions and other counterfeit religious groups
5. Involvement in occult practices (fortune-telling, Satanism, etc.)
6. Mental distress or oppression (anxiety, fear, disorientation, anger, etc.)
7. Psychological disorders (split and multiple personalities, paranoia, etc.)
8. Physical disorders may be demon caused (Matthew 9:32-33CloseMatthew 9:32-33 When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn't speak was brought to Jesus. So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. "Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!" they exclaimed. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )
9. Lack of freedom or joy in the Lord (spiritual bondage)
10. Inability or constant refusal to repent of sin, though you know you are sinning (rebellion).

If you are having difficulty in discerning your problem, please seek help from a local pastor, elder or Christian counselors who will help you to discern your need and can counsel and pray with you.

What Is God's Answer?

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19CloseLuke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,  for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,  that the blind will see,that the oppressed will be set free,   and that the time of the LORD's favor has come.*" OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

This prophecy concerning the Messiah was fulfilled in Christ, and the authority noted herein has been passed on to Christians (see Mark 16:17).

Jesus came to free those under demon bondage. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13CloseRomans 10:13 For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."* OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). The term "saved" or "salvation" includes your spiritual, physical, and mental health.

You need to pray sincerely to the Lord that He will forgive your sin, cleanse you, be your Saviour and Lord and baptize (fill) you with the Holy Spirit (see 1 John 1:8-9; John 1:12CloseJohn 1:12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ; Luke 11:13CloseLuke 11:13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ; Acts 1:8CloseActs 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). The Holy Spirit will give you the power to overcome demon bondage, activity, and influence. You will be free. You can experience an abundant, full, meaningful life with the joy and purpose God desires for you (John 10:10CloseJohn 10:10 The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

If you can't pray in victory, first, you need to be sure your problem is not a fleshly, willful one on your part. Take a bold, fearless inventory of yourself. You must choose whom you will serve; self and fleshly desires, Satan, or God? Repent of all sinful desires. Renounce sin and sinfulness and its ingrained habits. Commit yourself to Christ with determination and resolve. After you have repented and asked for forgiveness, accept God's assurance that you are a child of God and have been forgiven.

How You Can Stay Free

You cannot reckon an evil spirit dead nor crucify an evil spirit. Neither can you cast out the flesh. You must crucify the flesh (see Galatians 2:20CloseGalatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ.* It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ) and its desires and cast out evil spirits (see James 4:7CloseJames 4:7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). When demons or evil spirits are cast out, you need something to replace them, lest they return (see Matthew 12:43-45CloseMatthew 12:43-45 "When an evil* spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, `I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation." OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

You can be assured of victory over demons if you have received Jesus as Saviour and Lord (see John 1:12CloseJohn 1:12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ), and have received the baptism with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:8CloseActs 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). The Holy Spirit guides you into truth, empowers you, and intercedes for you. He also gives you spiritual gifts, such as discerning of spirits, for your welfare and that of others (see 1 Corinthians 12; Mark 16:9-20CloseMark 16:9-20 After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn't believe her. Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them. Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.* And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.* They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed." When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

As you receive God's nature, the traits of your fleshly nature (such as irresponsible behavior, pride, and lack of love) will be replaced by the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23CloseGalatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

Scripture is quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.