(All scripture citations are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible)
“We think caged birds sing when, indeed, they cry.” – John Webster
The enemies of God like to “kill, steal, and destroy.” (John 10:10) In my last post, I wrote about the freedom that Christ Jesus has given to his followers and explained how to experience and hang on to that freedom through strong faith in the promises and truths found in the scriptures. But some people find that even after coming to Christ and putting their faith in Him, they still feel as if they are under attack: depressed, anxious, angry, and stuck. Why is this? Often, it is because of unresolved trauma and deception from their past, which I believe was the case for me.
I am going to share my own very personal story of deliverance, knowing that it will likely bring much criticism, because I believe that true stories are powerful. I want others to experience the freedom and joy in the Lord that I have come to know. I want you to know that if you love Jesus, you do not have to live your life in continual struggle and defeat. There is freedom to be had right now, not sometime in the future.
After leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses and giving my life to Christ, I finally began to feel safe. I finally felt some measure of peace. But it wasn’t long before I started having episodes of deep depression. The intensity of these episodes did not make sense. They seemed to suddenly come out of nowhere. One day I got some clarity about this when I got fed up with what I was feeling and shouted, “get off me, Satan!” By the next day, I felt as if a massive weight had been lifted. The depression and heaviness disappeared, poof! It was replaced by a sense lightness and peace.
I wish I could say that that was the end of my battle, but it was just the beginning. The night that it was announced at the local Kingdom Hall that I was “no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses,” the spiritual warfare I had been experiencing intensified greatly. The enemy does not like to lose people, and he will fight tooth and nail when someone begins to escape his grasp.
Involvement with false religion is a major open door to demons. As a Jehovah’s Witness, I thought I had been serving the God of the Bible by serving the Watchtower organization. I was completely ignorant of the fact that I had been deceived by “doctrines of demons.” (1 Timothy 4:1) I thought that by my involvement with the organization, I had total protection from demons. But in fact, it was quite the opposite. Just like many occultists, I was not conscious of any overt demonic opposition while I was in the organization, although I was experiencing an enormous amount of anxiety and depression. It was not until I tried to leave and serve Christ that the wheels fell off and I was able to see the truth.
The warfare intensified even further when I started going to church. I had been taught as a JW that all Christian churches were demonic. Although that was something I no longer believed, the demons used that indoctrination to try to deceive me into believing that going to church was making me demonized. Saturday nights, I would often not be able to sleep at all so that it was extremely difficult to drag myself to church the next day. Sunday nights after church, I would wake up at around 3 AM and experience a barrage of negative, fearful thoughts. I would also sometimes hear knocks and taps in my room. For a short time, the deception worked, and I quit going to church thinking that it was making God angry.
What helped me was to hear the stories of other Christians who had experienced similar warfare after coming to Christ. Often, they had a background in the New Age, witchcraft, or in a false religion similar to the one I left. (See the testimony of Naela Rose) I started to realize that now, just as was the case after I officially left JWs, my experiences were not evidence that I was angering God, but that I was angering the demons.
That knowledge gave me the strength to fight hard. I decided that no matter what, I would not allow the demons to stop me from meeting with other Christians. But they were not giving up. I experienced all manner of attack – the nighttime attacks continued, my car broke down in multiple and bizarre ways, and I got hurt over and over in ways that made no sense. All of these things can be chalked up to coincidence if you take each incidence on its own, but taken together, it formed a bizarre pattern that could not possibly be blamed on chance.
Gradually, the Lord clearly showed me the path to freedom. He began to make me aware of the reality of demonization and how to find deliverance. I repented of anything I could think of that I had done that was related to occultism. I got rid of books that I had that were related to New Age practices such as meditation and yoga. I also got rid of crystals that I had used for healing. After that, I thought I was done purging. But there was one more health practice that the Lord himself had to warn me of personally, since I had not even considered that it could be dangerous.
One night, I had a vivid dream that woke me up to a pitfall I had been unaware of before. In the dream, I was being followed around by a big, ugly, scary-looking man. I came up to a bookcase and pulled out a familiar-looking book about homeopathy that I had used for years to help me prescribe remedies. I told the ugly man that I knew a lot about that book. Immediately, he attacked me, and then I woke up. I knew the dream was from God and that it meant something. As soon as I began to ponder the dream, in my mind I heard God say, “Get rid of all of your homeopathy books. Burn them!” I could hardly believe it! I had begun to understand that I had been involved in some ungodly health practices, but I was shocked to find out that homeopathy was one of them. I asked the Lord for confirmation, and I found it in this video. So, I took everything I had that was related to homeopathy, hundreds of dollars’ worth of books and remedies, and got rid of them. I tried burning a few of the books, but they were difficult to burn, and I ended up trashing most of it. After that, the knocking and tapping in my room stopped for a time, but I still had a long way to go.
One night, I prayed for help and relief and for God to provide someone to teach me about deliverance. The very next evening after I said that prayer, I was at church and a group of loving brothers and sisters surrounded me and prayed for me. I began to cry intensely and uncontrollably. I was feeling deep guilt and shame for the way I had raised my children. I was also in a lot of pain. One brother mentioned that he thought I might need deliverance. I realized in that moment that God had answered my prayer.
Although ultimately that couple did not feel able to directly help me with deliverance, they gave me a book and directed me to a church where I could find help. That book was Break Free by Vlad Savchuk, and the church was his church, Hungry Generation in Pasco, Washington. I knew about pastor Vlad, but I was afraid to go to his church. I had heard scary things about Pentecostals and about Hungry Generation in particular. My friend tried to reassure me, but I was not yet ready for something like that.
I knew I needed to find help, though, and although I was not ready for Hungry Generation, I thought maybe I could find some Christians to help me privately. Through Torben Sondergaard’s ministry, The Last Reformation, I found two ladies who were willing to take me through some deliverance prayers privately. The day that they prayed for me, I do not believe I experienced any true deliverance, although the process I went through may have set me up for what happened three days later.
For weeks, I had been slowly throwing away all of my old JW literature. I had an enormous amount of it, and I had been gradually adding it to the outdoor trash can week by week. The day that I went to those ladies for prayer, I had not yet been able to get rid of all of it. In fact, that day was trash day. When I returned home, the outside bin had been emptied, and I was ready to toss the rest of my literature. As I was throwing things in the bin, I hesitated when I came to my old New World Translation Bibles. I figured it would be fine to keep them since they’re just Bibles. But as I pulled them out of the box, I distinctly heard in my mind, “NO!” But even then, I doubted that the NO could have come from God. I convinced myself that it was okay to keep them.
That night, I woke up from a nightmare at 3 AM feeling sick and anxious. I was under attack again. I was so frustrated that this was still happening after I tried so hard to get delivered. I asked God to show me why he was allowing this attack to happen to me. In my mind, I saw the Bibles. I saw myself receiving one of them at the first annual meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses that we had been able to attend in our Kingdom Halls via video link. I saw how worshipful I had felt about the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses and about the newly revised Bible that we called the “Silver Sword.” The Lord was showing me that the organization had been my idol and that those Bibles represented my idol. I also knew by that time that the NWT is a very bad translation. There are many problems with it, but probably the most serious issue is that the translators made terrible translation decisions that reflect their denial of the deity of Christ. (Click here for a playlist of videos on the problems with the NWT.)
I was completely aghast. I actually argued with God, “But they’re BIBLES, Lord!” All I heard from him was “NO!” So that morning, I dutifully marched those Bibles out to the trash bin and threw them in. It was a little painful, if I were to be honest. Just a couple hours later as I was sitting in on a Zoom Bible study, I started to feel very nauseated. Soon, I was in the bathroom throwing up. This didn’t feel like a normal illness. I had not eaten anything that could have given me food poisoning and I did not have a fever. I felt sort of panicky as everything came out. Sitting totally drained on the bottom of my shower, I started to form a question in my mind about what had just happened. Immediately I clearly heard in my mind, “this is your deliverance.” Again, it was hard for me to believe that it was the Lord speaking. I had expected someone to lay their hands on me and I would maybe manifest a little and then be free. But this happened at home in my bathroom, completely spontaneously, apparently in response to my intense desire to be free and probably even more, to my willingness to rid myself of all vestiges of the bondage to idolatry and false religion in which I had lived my entire life. I thanked the Lord. I think my exact words were, “if this is really deliverance, thank you Jesus!” He said to me, “Never again follow anyone but me!”
I experienced quite a lot of relief from demonic attack after that experience. But soon, the Lord started to speak to me about going to Hungry Generation. For about 4 months, he never stopped trying to get through to me. I continued to resist out of fear and because I felt very happy and comfortable in my church. I didn’t want to have to start over in a new church, 45 minutes away from where I lived. I had already been rejected and shunned by my entire family and all my JW friends. I was just barely getting established in a new life and feeling like I had been given a new family. I just could not believe God would uproot me again. But when I said, “Lord, don’t you want me to go to my church?” He gave me a firm NO.
But when, after a period of time of feeling relatively free, I had a vile nightmare, I realized that maybe I wasn’t really done with deliverance. I also noticed that I was having a very difficult time being respectful to my husband. Then, I caught two severe viruses in a row and was sick for two months straight. So, I finally gave in and decided to go to Hungry Generation, not to the Sunday service, but to the deliverance service that they hold once a month, hoping that if I went just once and got some more deliverance, that I would be able to stay at my old church.
On the drive to Pasco, I felt the Holy Spirit on me, showing me that I was doing the right thing. I really did not believe that anything was going to happen to me. But as I stood in that prayer line, I asked God to show me why He had me there. When the minister came and laid his hand on my head, I immediately started shaking uncontrollably. It felt as if my bones were going to come out of their joints. When he demanded that the demon inside of me speak out and answer his questions, I felt as if I was receiving clear answers in my mind, so I spoke out. It said that its name was Jezebel and that it had been in me since I was a baby. It said that it had ruined my health and my life. I don’t know if it was telling the truth about any of that, but what I do know is that something evil was in me and that that night it came out. It wasn’t long before I felt all the strength leave my legs and I fell down. I was declared free and sent into a room for counseling. (If this sounds bizarre, just remember the account where Jesus interrogated the demon who called himself Legion at Mark 5:9)
As you can imagine, I was very shaken by that experience. Afterwards, I felt like I’d drunk an entire pot of coffee. On the drive home, I asked the Lord, “Am I done now?”, and he said “no!” I asked him how much involvement he wanted me to have in that church, and he responded, “Total.” Even then, I thought maybe I could try going to both churches. But in the end, I had to obey the Lord and devote my time and energy to Hungry Generation.
For some people, deliverance seems to happen gradually, like peeling layers off of an onion. I have been one of those people. I think the reason for this is because demons hang on to us through mental strongholds, ways of thinking that are not in agreement with God’s truth. As we heal and bring our thoughts into agreement with truth, this removes whatever hold the demons have had, and they have to leave upon command. I had a lot of mental blocks which could only be dismantled through the process of renewing my mind. (Romans 12:2)
After my experience at prayer line, I actually experienced increased spiritual warfare for a time. The demons that I had given place to and which had not yet left me were angry and restless, likely knowing that I was on a journey that would ultimately lead to their ousting.
The friend and teacher that I had prayed for months earlier appeared the day that I stood up in church and shared my testimony. Ann Chojnacki is a mighty woman of God who answers the telephone prayer line for Hungry Generation. She has a passion for bringing people to Christ, praying for them, and building them up in the faith. She asked me to visit her in her home so that she could help me spiritually. This she did, praying for me, letting me talk, and helping me to understand my position in Christ. This considerably accelerated my spiritual growth. I also received more freedom through her prayers.
I enrolled in Hungry Generation’s Life Class, which is a 6-week-long discipleship program that ends in a three-day retreat where we received additional instruction, encouragement, inner healing, and deliverance. My experience there was beautiful. I received another deliverance when a friend laid hands on me and prayed that ungodly soul ties would be cut. Since I had received deliverance prayer the night before and nothing had happened, I assumed I was not in need of any more deliverance. But this illustrates the importance of pinpointing issues. As soon as she started praying, I instantly started to shake and cry and lose strength in my legs. Later, I got filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues for the first time. I can’t even describe the joy of that moment! The only thing that comes close is the joy a mother feels when she holds her baby for the first time. It is pure love!
Many have objections to the idea that a Christian could have demons. My question for those people would be this: since Jesus commanded his followers to cast out demons, from whom, then, do you cast demons out? I would submit that a Christian can have whatever they open themselves up to. It would be pointless if not dangerous to try to cast demons out of unbelievers unless they were willing to accept Christ before or immediately after deliverance because the demons are usually unwilling to leave a person who has given them permission to stay, and if they do leave, they will often come right back. It’s like a revolving door. But those who disagree feel that their objections to the ministry of deliverance are scriptural, ignoring or recategorizing the lived experience of Christians who have been through demonization and deliverance. I want to take a close look at two of those objections and scrutinize them in the light of scripture.
Objection #1: A Christian cannot be possessed by a demon because he is already possessed by the Holy Spirit.
This objection seems to be based on the fact that many translations of the Bible use the phrase “demon possessed” to translate the Greek term, daimonizomai. Literally, it means “demonized.” It does not signify ownership, but partial control of an aspect of a person’s life. A Christian cannot be possessed by a demon because he is, or ought to be, possessed by the Holy Spirit. But a Christian can be demonized, which means that there is some aspect of their life that is being unduly influenced by a demon or demons. How could this be?
Paul warned fellow Christians that they should not “give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27) How might a person do that? Living a carnal life, given over to the works of the flesh, is an open invitation to demons. (Galatians 5:19-21) Some of the works of the flesh include:
- Sexual immorality, including sex before marriage, adultery, and pornography.
- Occultism, including certain New Age practices such as astrology, reiki, and yoga.
- False religions.
- Antisocial and narcissistic behaviors such as rage, jealousy, envy, and abusive speech.
- Addictions, which are a form of idolatry.
- Getting high or drunk.
- Murder, including abortion.
One of the most prevalent ways that Christians give place to the devil is through unforgiveness. Jesus was very serious when he said that we must forgive in order to be forgiven. (Matthew 6:14) Very often, when a person needs deliverance, but no progress is being made, it is because that person harbors unforgiveness in their heart towards someone. When true forgiveness is expressed, that opens the way to freedom.
Objection #2: Holy Spirit and an evil spirit cannot exist in the same vessel.
2 Corinthians 6:14 states “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” This scripture is often used to teach the idea that a Christian cannot have a demon. But is it saying that light and darkness cannot coexist? Or is it saying that it should not? Can a Christian be unequally yoked together with an unbeliever? Of course, it happens all the time. Should they? Absolutely not! So, this scripture cannot be used to defend the position that an evil spirit and the Holy Spirit cannot exist in the same vessel. They shouldn’t, but they can. If it were true that the Holy Spirit could not coexist with evil spirits, He would have to leave the earth entirely, as it is overrun with evil spirits.
Jesus made it clear that deliverance is for the children of God in his conversation with a Canaanite woman who wanted him to deliver her daughter from demons. Here is the passage:
“And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” – Matthew 15:22-28
During his ministry, Jesus considered the Jewish people the children of God. (Deuteronomy 14:1) His death and resurrection paved the way for Gentiles (non-Jews) who believe on the Lord Jesus to be grafted into the rootstock of Israel and to be called God’s children. (Romans 11:17-18) As the children of God, we are entitled to the bread of deliverance. It is “the children’s bread.”
The casting out of demons was a prominent part of Jesus’s ministry. (Mark 1:34) And he commanded his followers to do likewise. (Matthew 10:8; Luke 10:17, 19) We have ‘authority over…all the power of the enemy,’ and we are expected to use that authority.
When I was a JW, I used to wonder, if Jesus cast out so many demons, why weren’t we doing as he did? It didn’t make any sense to me to believe that demonic activity had ceased since the first century. In fact, it seemed that it had only increased. It was a major revelation to me to find out that there are modern day Christians who cast out demons just as Jesus did, and that demonization is not, in fact, rare, but just as common nowadays as it was in Jesus’s time, maybe more. Although at first the idea of seeing a demonic manifestation made me very uncomfortable, I knew that Jesus dealt with that very thing all the time, and that his willingness to deal with it resulted in freedom and sanity for the people he ministered to. (Luke 8:35)
I am no longer uncomfortable with deliverance. In fact, I often pray deliverance prayers and command demons to come out in Jesus’s name. I have seen many demons cast out. Sometimes they manifest in ugly ways, crying, screaming, or causing a person to gag, cough, or vomit. Notice in the following scriptures that it was not uncommon in Jesus’s day for demons to cause a raucous as they came out: Mark 1:23-26; 5:2-13; 9:25-27; Acts 8:7. But once the person being prayed for receives their freedom, it is a beautiful thing to behold. There is such joy and relief. It is a miracle from God. If you would like to see a striking example of what I am talking about, watch this video.
People need deliverance. It is vital that as Christians, we receive our full freedom in Christ and that we also help others to receive their freedom. In my next post I will go into greater depth on how people can become demonized, how they can close doors to the demons so that they can be fully delivered, and how, afterward, they can remain free.
Related information:
What you Need to Know About Deliverance Ministry
