Month: January 2023

The devil is in the details. You’ve heard the old saying. It’s not in the Bible. It was a proverb attributed in the 20^th Century by Ludwig Mies vander Rohe, a German/American Architect. It meant that something which seems simple may not be. The phrase is actually derived earlier in the 1800s in Germany and was originally stated as, “The good God is in the details,” “Der liebe Gott steckt im Detail.” It refers to anything which has hair-splitting attention to precision and complexity. I apply it to demonic possession. 

First Kings 6:38 speaks of the building of Solomon’s temple and says, “The house was finished in all its detail and according to its plans.” Today, the body of a Christian is to be the dwelling place of God, a sacred temple set apart. First Corinthians 6:19 says so: “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.” The passage in First Kings I just mentioned describes the minute attention paid to precision in building Solomon’s Temple. In like manner, our lives are a detailed spiritual architecture of either good or evil.

As an exorcist, I know that, generally speaking, casting out evil spirits isn’t the simple, shout-it-out process some portray it to be. There are many details in exorcism such as:

• Investigating generational evils, starting with what the victim of the devil knows about the serious sins of family members.
• Evaluating the effects that various traumas have had on the demon’s host to determine what doors were opened by such things as sexual abuse.
• Listing all the witchcraft practices of divination, New Age, spiritualism, the occult, and experimentation with pagan religions.
• Identifying the emotional strongholds of an individual, often caused by a dysfunctional family, such as rejection, abandonment, word curses, and spiritual neglect.

During a successful exorcism we are constantly looking for legal rights that demons use to possess the person. That can sometimes take a while, many minutes, even hours and days to uncover all the ways Satan gained entry. Sometimes the most important issue concerning spiritual bondage isn’t what seems obvious, but what the Bible calls ensnaring sins as it says in Hebrews 12:1: “Lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (NKJV). If you want deliverance from Satan’s grasp, by all means make note of the big sins in your life that you need to confess and turn away from. But be on guard. The Song of Solomon (2:15) warns that sometimes, “The little foxes spoil the vines.” What’s really holding you in Satan’s grasp may not be the more obvious bondages in your life. Remember, the devil sometimes really is in the details.

I have a serious warning for those seeking freedom from demonic attacks. Beware deliverance ministers doing the devil’s work. Let me be clear about what I AM NOT disparaging—those doing deliverance who are unwise or inexperienced. I may cringe at some of their tactics and things that they say, but they aren’t working for the devil. Lack of wisdom, experience, or training is not the same as deliberately deceiving innocent people. Second Corinthians 4:2 addresses THIS spiritual error with these words:  Not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God (KJV). The Amplified Version states it this way: Not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God.

This matter came to my attention recently when a virtual encounter client who was a new Christian described his unfortunate contact with a “deliverance ministry” that he found online. A seasoned follower of Christ might have caught the inconsistences on this ministry’s web site, but a tormented new Christian could easily be tricked. The site was called Christ’s Favor Ministry. It offered relief from “paranormal terror” and listed symptoms consistent with demonic possession. But the word demon is never used, just references to “darkness.” Though the terms “deliverance” and “exorcism” are referred to, there is no mention of casting out demons. Help is offered to anyone of any “belief, color, creed, lifestyle, and religion.” No need of a Christian confession to get delivered. Once a person is “free” and on the “other side of the door” they will experience “Christ-like evolution and the Unity of One.” All “negative energy/dark forces” will be banished. All New Age gobbledygook.

But there are other deceptions you need to be aware of. I speak of those who fly the banner of “deliverance” but commit one of several errors:

#1—They don’t have a clue about what they are doing. They are riding the current wave of interest in the demonic supernatural and the so-called “paranormal.” These individuals have a very confused theology about what demons are, usually referring to them as disembodied entities not having passed over to the “other side.” They try to convince these beings to move on and thus relieve the oppression of those to whom they are attached. That’s the error of the web site I’ve just described.

#2—They lack spiritual depth and adopt tactics which have the opposite effect of setting people free. An example would be someone who incorporates astrology or numerology into their methodology. Yes, there are proclaimed Christians who do this and even consult “star signs” to tell people what demons are attacking them. They mix practices of divination with Christian thinking and declare they are being “prophetic.”

#3—They came out of witchcraft and experienced an encounter of some kind with Christ, but their epistemology is distorted. Some such individuals still have demons themselves and end up putting more demons on the people they minister to. This can be true with some self-declared “prophets” and “apostles” who may mean well but transfer some of their own demons by the laying on of hands. I’ve dealt with many cases of this.

#4—They know what they are doing and are deliberately deceptive. They use Christian terminology and concepts to put curses on uninformed Christians. They have studied deliverance ministries and know all the buzzwords. They mix New Age ideas like energy manipulation and meditation to induce states of apparent calmness. Unfortunately, the momentary relief of the seeking individual is followed later by even greater spiritual torment.

As the deliverance movement continues to gain attention and traction, deceptions will also proliferate. So, before someone takes you through deliverance, require these basic things:

1. A detailed statement of faith.
2. A list of books they’ve written disseminated by a reputable publisher.
3. Published position papers supporting the biblical basis for their methodology.
4. A list of spiritual leaders to whom are they accountable theologically.
5. Information regarding their educational background, theological training, and spiritual affiliations.

Beware deliverance ministers who do the devil’s work. In your quest to get rid of your demons, you might get even more evil spirits.

For days the world has been transfixed on Prince Harry’s new book “Spare.” (The title refers to his whiny role as a supposed back-up heir to the throne of England, secondary to his older brother William.) It’s the number one selling book worldwide. I haven’t bought a copy, and I hope you haven’t either. If like me you’re sick of their self-serving, blathering egotism, there is something you may have missed.

In the book Harry reveals how he lost his virginity and the time his genitals were frostbitten.  From press reports, it’s clear that the details are disgusting and pornographic. Do we really care about these salacious revelations or their constant preening before the press? But there is something more to all this than the hype and money. Here’s what is spiritually important about Harry and Meghan being the occult vanguard of the New Religion of the Left.

Meghan’s mother is a yoga instructor of Vinyasa yoga, a demonically dangerous form of this Hindu practice. She is passionate about this demonic practice and teaches it with fervor.  Meghan also does these same yoga routines daily. In addition, Harry and Meghan constantly spout New Age ideas. They are the Gen X Oprah prototypes. They have tinsel-town spiritualism down pat and are the darlings of the irreligious media.

In the book “Spare” Harry asks of his self-inflicted [my opinion] trials and tribulations, “What was the universe trying to say to me?” Who is the universe, Harry? What religious ambiguity is he talking about? He certainly isn’t referring to a transcendent, Holy Creator-God who gave His Son to die on a cross. Believing in “the universe” is a form of witchcraft. Sorcery worth of another grown-up Harry — Harry Potter. Harry needs to get off his Hollywood high horse, repent, and get serious therapeutic and spiritual help for his demonic, self-indulgence. The same for Meghan who has led him down this road of paganism. Both are the spiritually blind leading the willingly ignorant to demonic destruction. Don’t be deceived. If you follow their ideas and miss the opportunity for eternal life through Christ, there won’t be a “spare” opportunity to try life over again.

It sounds too good to be true—do this and you’ll never get a demon! Is there really something you can do to avoid an evil spirit entering you? There are three basic classes of people reacting to this statement.

#1—Atheists, unbelievers, and skeptics who don’t believe that things such as demons even exist. They’re not worried about getting a demon since, in their worldview, demons are boogey-men invented by Christians to scare people into the church.

#2—Christians, mainly hyper-Calvinists, Reformed theologians, and Fundamentalist for whom talk of demons is irrelevant since they think that no true Christian can ever be invaded by a demon. 

#3—Those who believe in demons and deliverance and want to do everything possible to avoid being attacked, oppressed, or even invaded by an evil spirit. 

It is for this latter group that I direct my message on what to do so that you’ll never get a demon. I’ll list the simple qualifications:

1) Be born into this world with no one in your bloodlines, either mother or father, who has been a wicked individual. No murderers, idolaters, fornicators, witches, thieves, liars, perverts, or abusers among your ancestors.

2) Never indulged in alcohol abuse, recreational drugs of any kind, (that includes weed), and never engaged in sexual promiscuity, or experimented with the occult or New Age. 

3) Declare that you have never been a victim of molestation, incest, rape, or any kind of sexual behavior which is unbiblical. 

4) Acknowledge that you were raised in a loving, affirming, two-parent home with Christian parents who were never verbally or physically abusive and always morally consistent. 

5) Confess that you became a Christian as child and have never strayed significantly into sin and have always been faithful to a biblical lifestyle. 

There you have it: five factors that will reduce to almost zero your chances of getting a demon.

Everyone who qualifies for all these standards, raise your hand. Hmmm. I don’t seem to be getting much a response. In fact, I’m not certain that anyone I’m speaking to can meet these standards. Get my point? In a backhanded way I’ve proven that very few people in our world today are demon-free. I’ve listed more than a dozen qualifiers for living without demonic intrusion of some kind, and few can affirm that they fit the necessary personal profile. 

I’m not judging or shaming you. My point is that the world in which we live is in a sorry state spiritually. And most people are victims, one way or another, of the pervasive evils of our age. Also, you need to know that having some or all these problems in your life don’t necessarily mean that you automatically have demons. But after decades of experience as an exorcist, I have learned that it takes a lot less than most people realize to get a demon. And when you have clusters of these factors that I’ve listed, it increases your likelihood that you’re afflicted by some level of demonic activity. 

That’s why I say, “Everyone needs deliverance.” Everyone needs the spiritual scrutiny of a trusted minister of deliverance who has sufficient experience to tell you what your chances are of having some level of spiritual oppression. This message is a warning to get help sooner rather than later. Schedule an in-person or virtual encounter with me or a trusted associate minister whom I have personally trained. Enroll in Bob Larson University to further assess your understanding of true spiritual warfare.  

Scripture constantly warns us against spiritual complacency. I Peter 5:8 declares the devil is constantly seeking those “whom he may devour.” Second Peter 3:17 warns Christians they need to be cautious and “beware lest you fall from your own steadfastness.” Christ warned in Matthew chapter seven that the way to eternal life is by a narrow road and a narrow gate and “there are few that find it.”  

There are no perfect Christians, and very few who are free from the inhibiting influences of evil that can open doors to demons. But you can improve on your possibilities of being demon-free. Deal with those five factors I just listed: 1) break generational curses, 2) morally clean house with any evils that hinder you, 3) seek spiritual healing and counseling for the past hurts in your life, 4) forgive your spiritually dysfunctional family and move on to a healthier life then they gave you, and 5) receive mercy and grace for your own failures as a Christian. Eventually you’ll get to the place where all your demons will have to go. Then, in the future you’ll never get another demon.

I’m going to get a jump on the New Year with some solid spiritual advice on how to live free in 2023. 2022 may have been a great year for you, or not. If not, then let’s fix it for next year. What I’m going to suggest may not point out the particular changes you need to make, but for most people, some of what I’ll say applies. I’m basing my advice on what I’ve witnessed in more than 1,000 virtual and in-person encounters this past year.

The most common problem causing people to seek our help is because they feel spiritual torment in some way. Some wonder if they have demons. Quite a few KNOW they have demons. Friends and loved ones have witnessed their aberrational behavior. Some have seen outright demonic manifestations. Here is what those seeking help want to know:

1) Why is it happening?
2) How do I stop it?
3) Is it me or is it demonic?

The most common issues that I encounter suggesting that emotional and physical problems are supernatural are these, in order of being more common:

1) Evil behavior in the bloodline. Much of your suffering may not be your fault. You could be suffering from what evil ancestors did decades ago or centuries before. Don’t try to solve it yourself.

2) Experimentation with the occult & New Age. A prayer partner needs to agree with you to break the spiritual connection of all occultism in your past. Usually, a Matthew 18 prayer of agreement is necessary to cut off the demons of witchcraft.

3) Sexual abuse and immorality. Self-deliverance won’t work here. Abuse brings trauma and that results in compartmentalized thinking that needs inner healing. You can’t do that on your own.

4) Drug use especially weed, meth, and psychedelics. Someone like me who deals with addictions regularly needs to help you identify why you got involved with drugs. What the drugs have done to your mind probably limits your use of will power to get free. You need mental healing and likely an exorcism.

5) Dysfunction in the family of origin. Most people who grew up in damaged homes are somewhat incapacitated from taking action on their own behalf. What was normal to you as a child may have been brutally damaging. To you it was normalized, even though it was horrendous. You need the prayers of someone who knows how to pray for wounded souls.

If one of more of these bondages has existed in your life, and you haven’t had effective prayers of healing and deliverance, 2023 may be a very bad year. But if you want to be free in 2023, get help now, even before you ring in the New Year. Our associate ministers and Do What Jesus Did deliverance team member are ready to intervene. I’m available for face-to-face ministry, virtually or in-person. Read our books to get started. Bob Larson University offers the educational courses you need to understand how the bad stuff got in your life and how to get free from it.

Let me give a warning. If you have one of the five factors I just mentioned, you likely won’t fix it by yourself. You can’t escape these bondages by determination from the inside out. You need an objective outsider, someone who is experienced in deliverance ministry to pray for you. Let us help. Don’t make next year worse than the last. Hasn’t your suffering gone on long enough? Determine that with the help of Jesus Christ, YOU WILL LIVE FREE IN 2023.