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Hollywood loves scary movies. They are big money makers. Horror films bring in a billion dollars annually, almost 10% of all movies. And demons are a go-to topic: “The Exorcist,” “Paranormal Activity,” “The Devil’s Advocate,” “The Devil Inside,” “Hellraiser,” “The Pope’s Exorcist,” and “The Conjuring” to name a few. But almost always, Hollywood gets it wrong! There are four basic lies that Hollywood keeps retelling about demons.

1. POSSESSED PEOPLE HAVE ONE DEMON: Wrong. Most people with demons have more than one. Seldom do I, as an exorcist, deliver someone from a single demon. They come in packs like wild animals. They swarm to a vulnerable person. Once inside, a demon welcomes others of his kind to diversify and multiply the evil. For example, a lust demon invites others like himself such as Jezebel, Perversion, Rape, Incest and so on.

2. ALL DEMONS ARE TERRIFYING AND HIDEOUS: Wrong again. Second Corinthians 11:14 tells us that Lucifer sometimes transforms himself into an “angel of light.” Yes, some demons are frighteningly gruesome. But others come as enlightenment in the New Age, peacefulness in mindful meditation, and consciousness expansion in yoga and angel cards. I have had many people describe how their demons came as a beautiful woman or a smooth-talking cult leader, far from a fearful appearance.

3. PEOPLE GET DEMONS THROUGH BIZARRE CIRCUMSTANCES: Still wrong. Some do get possessed by demons through UFO encounters, astral traveling, bad LSD trips, or near- death experiences. But most people get demons by simple things like lying, cheating, stealing, fornication, smoking weed, partying, and exploring Wiccan beliefs.

4. THE EXORCIST MAY HAVE TO SACRIFICE HIMSELF TO SET THE POSSESSED PERSON FREE. Absolutely, unequivocally wrong. Movies like “The Exorcist” and “The Pope’s Exorcist” perpetuate this lie that, by an act of self-sacrifice, by the exorcist offering his own body for demonic inhabitation, a possessed soul can be freed. That is ridiculous, trading the damnation of one soul for the martyrdom of another. That is nowhere in the Bible. Jesus overcame every demon He confronted, and we can do the same through His Name without giving the devil one soul in trade for another.

There are so many things wrong with how Hollywood depicts demons and deliverance. Those who know their Bibles can spot these errors in a moment. The challenge of those who believe in Christ’s power is to demonstrate the reality of demonic possession by overcoming all evil spirits according to the model of Luke 10:19: “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Are you cursed? Do you suspect that someone has put a spell on you? An ex-lover or ex-spouse? An in-law? A Co-worker? An Ancestor? A parent? To fight back, you must first understand how a curse operates. The biggest source of curses usually involves a generational root of evil. Many people have such unbroken curses. This should not surprise us too much. Every one of us inherited the curse of original sin from Adam and Eve. Even after we break that curse through our relationship with Jesus Christ by salvation, the spiritual effect of that original sin from our ancestors can sometimes have a limiting effect on our lives.

Every single person has individuals in his or her past who committed great evil. A renegade or pervert is perched on a branch of your family tree. You may not have to go back very far to find someone that’s evil; just show up at your next family reunion and look around. This does not mean you are eternally damned because of generational or family evil. But you can suffer needlessly in this life—until the ancestral iniquity is renounced, and its power is broken by claiming the blood of Jesus over it. This is what we call curse breaking. First, name the person and/or their deeds if you have that information. Declare yourself free from their genetically transmitted evil. Then renounce ALL the unknown evil of ALL your ancestors. Declare that henceforth you are spiritually cut off from all wickedness of your forebears.

If you are hesitant about breaking curses, here is a word of advice. Most churches don’t preach this concept so it is understandable that you might be reluctant. But consider this. Even if you are a good person, even one of the most Christ-centered people around, don’t gauge yourself by how well you think you’re doing spiritually. Instead, focus on how much better you might be doing. One of the fallacies of the Christian life is that we judge ourselves by how well we’re getting along, not by how much more we might do for the Lord. Think about the greater freedom you might enjoy if your curses get broken. Don’t settle for less than the best. Don’t wait until it takes a crisis to force you to seek help to break curses. Take action now. Our books and the training of Bob Larson University can help. Arrange a face-to-face encounter or consult one of our associate ministers. Whatever path you take to breaking curse, get started. Don’t let one more day amplify the power of a curse that can be easily broken.

Deliverance, once relegated to purposeful obscurity, is a big deal these days. Due to social media, there is more talk than ever about evil spirits from a Christian perspective. Much of this dialogue is helpful; some is not. But despite all the information out there about demons, there are still many misconceptions. I’m going to clarify some basic aspects of spiritual warfare that most people don’t know. This isn’t a theological treatise. The biblical understanding of these points I’ll make are adequately covered in our books and Bob Larson University. My purpose here is to clear up misinformation and fallacies about a basic understanding regarding the operation of demons.

1) THERE ARE MANY DEMONS BY THE SAME NAME: The reason I keep casting out Jezebel isn’t because she keeps coming back. There are millions, perhaps billions, of demons who go by the name Jezebel. That’s because they all mimic the evil characteristics of the original Jezebel of First Kings chapters 16-21. Likewise, there are many demons that go by the name Murder, because their activities are all rooted in present and past acts of bloodshed.

2) THE NAME OF A DEMON OFTEN INDICATES WHAT HE DOES: Many demons have proper names such as Beelzebub, Leviathan, Asmodeus, or Lucifer. But others are nominally designated with their functions. Examples would be Hate, Anger, Rejection, Rebellion, Perversion, Deception, or Greed. Their name is their assignment, the evil action or emotion which they foment. Leviathan may, for example, represent the attribute of pride. But there is also a demon named Pride who specifically operates in that emotional realm.

3) DEMONS ARE OFTEN ARRANGED BY SEPARATE KINGDOMS: Satan’s conspiracy of evil is well organized. Often lessor demons are attached to a ruling spirit that supervises a certain kingdom in an individual. An example would be a person who has a kingdom of violence, with demons of Murder and Bloodshed. A marine kingdom might have Octopus and Squid demons. A religious kingdom could involve a Jezebel spirit along with demons of Antichrist and Blasphemy.

4) MOST DEMONS ARE CONNECTED TO GENERATIONAL CURSES: One of the first things that someone new to deliverance learns is that the root of demonization is almost always generational. A demon of Murder likely goes back to times of ancient wars and ritual killings. A Perversion demon may have gotten into the bloodline by a forebear who molested a child or committed incest on a family member. Fear could be rooted in some past trauma. Anger in some historical injustice.

This brief study of basic facts about waging spiritual warfare isn’t exhaustive. There is more to say, and it is all there in Bob Larson University. But for those dipping their toe into the stream of deliverance, it’s a good start to know these four basic guidelines to understanding how to set the captives free in Jesus’ Name.

Do you live in a haunted house? Do inexplicable things happen? Stairs creak. You hear footsteps in the hall. Doors, or drawers, open and close when no one is there. Shadows appear out the corner of your eyes. Figures stand at the foot of your bed. You get the sense that whatever is there isn’t friendly. I could list many other paranormal phenomena that make people think their house, apartment, or other living arrangement has an otherworldly presence. Sometimes that unknown entity seems mischievous. Other times threatening. How did your house become haunted, and what do you do about it? You are not alone. Millions of people stretching across millennia have felt like they were being stalked by a discarnate being or essence.

Dismiss the idea that ghosts are disembodied spirits with unfinished business on earth. They aren’t the departed who haven’t yet passed over to the so-called “other side.” Hebrews 9:27 says we die once and then immediately face judgment. So, whatever is hanging around you isn’t a decreased loved one or a wandering soul seeking rest, like the sprites of Dickens’ “Christmas Carol.” If it is real and not your imagination, it is a demon. That is biblically certain. But how did it get the right to haunt you? There are three main reasons why you may be oppressed by a demon that acts and looks like a ghost.

Number one, the ghost is following you because of generational evil. You are being haunted by a curse, a bloodline evil coming from an ancestor. That forebear committed a grievous sin and the consequences passed on to you, creating a vulnerability for demonic attack. In this case, you prevent the haunting by breaking the curses of your ancestors, especially any that you know who were involved in the occult. Renounce their sins of witchcraft and remove Satan’s right to send a haunting spirit.

Number two, a ghost could be haunting you because the building or residence you are in was previously inhabited by someone evil. There may have been demonic rituals in the house. The former owner/occupant could have practiced false religions, idolatry, or the New Age and did rituals in the building. I also find hauntings to be common when a prior resident committed suicide, an act of violence, or murder. Drug usage or sexual perversion also open doors to hauntings. Blessing the house with holy oil, holy water, or deliverance prayers by someone knowledgeable about deliverance ministry may banish the ghosts.

Number three, you may be the problem. The right of discarnate entities to spook you is because of demons inside your own soul. Evil spirits on the OUTSIDE acquired the right of haunting because they attached to internalized evil INSIDE your mind. You need an exorcism to cast the demons out of YOU. A competent exorcist will also demand that all the other demons tormenting you are banished.

Ghosts, hauntings, and house cleansing are topics you may to investigate further if the matter is not resolved by the advice I have given. A personal encounter with me or a ministry associate will help to further explore why you are being haunted. But know this — you do not have to dread things that go “bump in the night.” If a haunting is real, not just your fears or imagination, these unfriendly evil spirits are no match for the power of Jesus Christ. First John 4:4 declares, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Put another way when applied to the realm of ghostly hauntings, “Christ in you is greater than the unfriendly ghost in your house.”

As an exorcist I spend much of my time helping people get rid of their demons. Many individuals want to walk close to the Lord and have a successful Christian life. But they are hindered because of indwelling evil spirits. No matter how much they try or how often they go to church and read their Bible, they don’t spiritually progress as they wish. They seem to be constantly held back from achieving their freedom due to demonic impediments. Once their demons are gone, they are then able to make healthy decisions and walk in spiritual consistency. For this kind of person, they must FIRST get their demons cast out before they can know the fullness of Christ. But I want to speak to you about another set of circumstances that is the reverse of what I just described.

Instead of needing demons cast out to release their full spiritual potential, certain suffering souls need to make fundamental changes in their lives BEFORE their demons can be made to leave. I bring up this possibility because of a virtual ministry encounter that I recently did with a woman who lives half a world away. There was no question that she was under severe spiritual attack. Her demons readily manifested with facial contortions, violent shaking, and screams of, “I hate you, Bob Larson!”

As I proceeded further with ministry, I realized that this woman’s demons were not going anywhere. Why not? Her personal life was in disarray, giving the demons a stronghold to stay. As I’ve previously pointed out in our International School of Exorcism, the first department of Bob Larson University, there is a difference between a demon’s legal right to remain and its stronghold to abide in someone’s soul. The legal right is a spiritual technicality, like an unbroken curse. The stronghold is an emotional bondage in the soul, such as bitterness, unforgiveness, or rejection. In this case the stronghold was the woman’s moral lifestyle.

She loved God. She was saved. She knew she had demons and wanted to be free. But she had tragically fallen into moral sin that kept her bound by soul-tie circumstances. She had gotten illegitimately pregnant and remained in a relationship with the father of her child. They lived apart but met several times a week to have sex. She didn’t want to marry him, and he hadn’t asked her. She wasn’t sure she loved him, but she felt obligated to stay in this arrangement for the sake of the child. I told her this was wrong, dead wrong. She needed to set some boundaries until she worked out God’s will for her life. She took my advice. Because of her decision to stop living in sin and bring spiritual order to her life, the strongholds of the demons were pulled down, and they were cast out.

What’s your situation? Do you have demons that you need to have exorcised so you can move forward for the Lord? Or do you have things in your life that need to FIRST be addressed so you can be delivered and THEN move forward. Whatever your situation, beware. Bringing spiritual order to your life may be more important than immediately trying to cast out your demons. They likely won’t leave anyway because of your moral equivocation. Get your life right with God and then the demons won’t have anything to hang on to. Don’t be like the person in the proverbial expression Jesus used in Luke 9:62 — putting your hand to the plow and looking back on the attachments of your former sins.

I’m no stranger to controversy, so I’m going to stick out my neck and say something that will upset some folks. Many people who do deliverance aren’t going to like it. But I can’t stay silent. Too many attempts at deliverance are inadequate. Most pastors, priests, and lay ministers who try to relieve people’s suffering from demonic torment mean well. They are sincere, and I don’t question that. But based on what I’ve seen in decades of deliverance, demons don’t go until they’re made to go. And they don’t leave if they don’t speak, or at least confirm their presence in some direct manner.

There’s a school of thought in some ministry circles which accept forms of “lite” deliverance, that demons don’t have to speak and provide information for the host to be free. Some go so far as to say that demons SHOULD NOT be allowed to speak, let alone forced to speak. That’s old school, and it’s not backed by either scripture or experience. I know. Any normal week I cast out more demons than the average deliverance minister will face in a month, or even a year. I don’t say that to sound self-assured. I’m just stating the facts to establish that I’ve had the opportunity to accumulate sufficient data to back up my conclusion that an exorcism is usually not complete unless demons manifest and speak.

From a biblical standpoint it’s obvious. The training from Bob Larson University (BLU) clearly establishes that fact exegetically and epistemologically. From an empirical perspective, here’s what I encounter daily—people come to me saying that they have been told their demons are gone, but they still suffer significantly. I always ask these individuals the same question, “Did the people ministering deliverance require the demons to speak?” Most say, “No.” To which I reply, “That’s why you are still suffering. The demons never left.”

As our BLU courses teach, only by a distinctively verbal interrogation can one know for certain what demons are there, how they got there, when they got there, what strongholds they are exploiting, and whether they have truly been cast out. Forensically acquired facts are the only objective way to determine if demons are gone. Skip over or ignore that and the process of deliverance will likely be incomplete.

I understand there are exceptions to most any rule, including my insistence on demonic, vocalized interrogation. Sometimes in rare cases I don’t get the full force of combative, demonic expression that I’m after. But with the majority of deliverance cases, demons can speak and will speak if forced to. Having that confirming reciprocation is one sure way to know that a person’s oppression truly is demonic. My concern is for suffering souls who want to be truly free indeed. I don’t want to see them passed over lightly by those with sincere motives but lack adequate investigation. The position I’ve stated may run counter to what many healing ministries teach, but I’ll stand by it until I’ve cast out my last demons. If demons don’t speak most likely they are still there!

Forget about the scary movies you’ve seen regarding demons and the devil. That’s fiction. From “Ghostbusters” to “The Exorcist” and all the horror movies in between, these accounts of what Satan wants from humans aren’t accurate. What do demons really want from you? What is the worst thing the devil can make you do?

In fact, the devil cannot make you do anything. So, let’s put the question a different way. What is the worst thing that the devil can tempt you to do? What DOES a demon want from you that will please the devil and drive you away from God?

Your mind likely imagines a list of the worst moral evils – murder, blasphemy, stealing, or sexual perversion. Those things are bad, and if the devil could get you to do one or more of them, he certainly would try. He would fill your mind with thoughts of lust, hate, greed, anger, and revenge. But that’s not the worst thing the devil could get you to do.

The worst temptation of the devil has nothing to do with moral failure or intellectual suicide. Those things are bad, but they do not represent the ultimate intention of evil. To get the answer to this question, we can simply consider the garden of Eden and the book of Genesis for the answer. Genesis 3:1 tells us what happened: “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

There you have it. The fall of mankind took place because the devil tempted Eve to question what God had said. The worst thing the devil can get you to do is to doubt God. To doubt his love. To doubt his warnings about sin. That is what the devil really wants from you. In short, to doubt the Word of God. Every other kind of sin starts with questioning God, His existence, and His moral law.

If God does not exist, or if what He says about moral disobedience is not true, then nothing else matters. If you deliberately choose to rebel and refute the warnings of God about sin and Satan, you have committed the worst evil. Once you question what God says, you have no answer for the existence of the world and the reality of human beings as unique creations of God. It all just happened, and therefore what we do with creation is a matter of presumed decency and collective moral order. But the Bible says our actions will be judged eternally based upon what God has said in His word. The worst thing the devil can get you to do is to deny the existence of God and the spiritual authority of the Bible. Do that and you are lost for all eternity. That is what demons really want from you.

Drag queens and baseball – what’s next? First, it was story hour at your local library or public school with drag queens reading sexually explicit literature to small children. Now the Los Angeles Dodgers have invited a group of drag queens to come out to the ballgame. The so-called Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (The name says it all!) is a fringe queer-group mocking Christianity. These sisters of sacrilege were invited to appear at a Los Angeles Dodgers game in recognition of gay pride month. When that caused an uproar, the faux nun drag queens were disinvited. Then woke culture took over, and the Dodgers APOLOGIZED for the cancellation and invited the queer crowd back. These are the same people who have staged, on video for all to see, a drag queen in high heels gyrating sexually around a nearly nude man depicting Jesus on the cross. This outrageous display of religious sensitivity was addressed by the Dodgers in a public statement that said, in part: “We offer our sincerest apologies to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. We are pleased that they have agreed to receive the gratitude of our collective communities for the lifesaving work that they have done tirelessly for decades.”

Most Americans take a live and let live attitude toward this sort of thing so long as it doesn’t infringe on someone else’s rights. Well, Christians, and especially Catholics, believe this egregious stunt IS a severe violation of public decency and disrespects religion. For men dolled up as nuns to stroll the bases in a major league baseball game is the height of anti-religious arrogance and blasphemy.

I grew up as a child, loving the old Brooklyn Dodgers. My heroes were Jackie Robinson, Duke Snyder, Gil Hodges, and Pee Wee Reese. What would they say about Christians being mocked like this? I imagine they would have considered such a travesty to be unthinkable. Which raises a question. If drag queens at a baseball game wasn’t acceptable to the old Dodgers-what is the next unthinkable thing on the horizon? Will polyamorous lovers dance in the outfield? Will polygamous families be celebrated in the dugout? Will third base coaches don tutus? If the line isn’t drawn here, where will it ever be drawn?

It is deeply offense that things considered sacred, especially by Catholics, are used to ridicule personal faith in a very public way. This isn’t taking place on a street corner as a protest. This is an official invitation of a major league baseball team revered by its city. A team that gets considerable tax breaks from taxpayers, millions of whom are Christians. If drag queens want to claim a month to celebrate their proclivities, it’s a free country. But it’s not free when people are buying a ticket to see baseball players exhibit their athletic skills and are instead subjected to this sort of nonsense.

I know devout Catholics with family members who have devoted themselves to a lifetime of chaste service unto the Lord by becoming a nun. This is their choice of spiritual vocation. Having it trivialized by men, dressed as women celebrating unfettered sexual indulgence is beyond the pale. One may argue that baseball fans don’t have to buy tickets to the game if they don’t want to see such things. But what about season-ticket holders who can’t get a refund? What about fans who bought tickets in advance without knowing this would happen?

This sacrilegious stunt involves more than gay pranksters having a laugh at the expense of Christianity. This is an issue offensive to all Christians. In America people may be free to reasonably do what they wish. But when the Los Angeles Dodgers take hard-earned money from fans who want to watch balls and strikes instead of poser nuns in drag, it should be strike three, you’re out.