People don’t wake up overnight and become demon possessed. There are a series of events and stages of personal spiritual decline that leads a person deeper into darkness. Here the steps towards demonic possession.
1. Regression: retreat, decrease or regress. Revert to a previous level, reverse a trend, or switch to a lower state. (Revelation 3:16)
To understand regression, we need to take a look at the opposite word: progression. If you’re not moving forward, you’re probably going backwards. If you’re not making progress, you’re probably going backwards.
They were progressing spiritually, reading their Bibles, praying, and spending time with the Lord. But one day they were too tired to study the Bible, they didn’t bother to pray the next day, and before they knew it, they weren’t spending any time with God. They soon began to lose the progress they had made. Their spirit muscles began to atrophy and become limp, and they became easy prey for demonic power.
To understand regression, we need to take a look at the opposite word: progression. If you’re not moving forward, you’re probably going backwards. If you’re not making progress, you’re probably going backwards.
2. Repression: diminished and dull expression…joyless, lifeless, pathetic.
Repression is the outward sign that a regression is taking place within.
Some people have problems with repression because they grew up in a home where they were never allowed to show their feelings. They might even be the kind of people who wait to see what other people think before telling you what they think about something. It is important that we understand repression not only when we see it in ourselves, but also when we see it in others.
Sometimes all it takes to turn things around is to go to that sad person, give them a hug, and tell them that you appreciate or love them. Maybe all they need is someone to talk to. Just having a friend can make a big difference in someone’s life, and can keep them from falling into oppression and demon possession. If you don’t express your feelings for her, the feelings will eventually start to fade.
3. Suppression: abnormally tighten, hide, suppress information, feelings and desires.
Suppression is primarily something we do to ourselves for various reasons. Repression, on the other hand, is something that comes from outside of us. It is the beginning of demonic inroads being made in a person’s life, and it needs to be broken by the power of God. Suppression cannot be defeated through willpower or trying harder. It can only be defeated and broken by direct action, taking authority over it in the name of Jesus and then in faith obeying what God has put on your heart to do.
4. Depression: a psychotic or neurotic condition characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, and feelings of extreme sadness, dejection, and hopelessness.
Depression is a broken spirit. A person who is depressed has been pressured to the point where his spirit is crushed. Depression can be triggered by other forms of loss or problems.
5. Oppression – like depression taken to the nth degree. To oppress someone means to load him with a load that he is not capable of carrying. The dictionary describes it as subduing one through the harsh and unfair use of force or authority.
Some people are being oppressed today by demons who condemn them, burden them with a fake quilt and whisper, “You’re no good.” If you are burdened by your past sins and failures, you are being oppressed. People who have serious long-term illness are often extremely downtrodden.
6. Obsession – Obsession is not always bad. Some people are obsessed with the things of God, and that’s a good thing. The evil form of obsession, however, can be a terrible and cruel taskmaster. A person who is obsessed is one who is preoccupied with an idea, feeling, or emotion that cannot be broken by natural means. It is a persistent, inescapable and compulsive worry.
The obsession can start when you believe a lie. An improper step can be followed by another until you have deviated from the right path. Don’t be fooled by any of the devil’s lies. Instead, look to the Holy Spirit for guidance in every situation. Obsession can start when you give in to jealousy. Hate can open the door to obsession.
The obsession can come from being involved in some kind of sin. This means giving yourself over to something you know is wrong to the point where your willpower is gone completely. An old Chinese proverb says: “A journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step.” That’s true of any journey, including the journey into the bondage of obsession. If you want to keep your freedom, never take that first small step away from what you know is right.
7. Possession – in which the devil captures the immortal soul, to be under absolute and total control of the devil. Your willpower is the property of the spirit that lives in you.
There are people possessed by demons all over the world, but most people who are bothered by demons fall into one of the other six categories discussed. In some of the other cases discussed, the demons may have been involved in the mind and body, but not in the spirit. The person who is possessed has a demon or demons living within their spirit.
To free yourself from demons, repent and forsake your sins, pray and invite Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit into your heart, worship God regularly and read your Bible daily.
Pray with me now to consecrate your life and free yourself from demonic influences:
“Dear Jesus, I give you my life. Forgive me for my willful sin and rebellion. Cleanse me with your holy blood shed on the cross for me. Thank you for dying for me, Jesus. Please come into my heart by the power of your Holy Spirit who rose from the dead. Come blessed Holy Spirit and live in me great. Cast out all demons so that I can be free. Do what you want in me and make my life what it should be so that I can glorify you. The name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”
