Demons always say three things to me:
- I’M NOT LEAVING.
- I HAVE A RIGHT TO STAY.
- HE/SHE WANTS/NEEDS ME.
Before I explain the logic behind this countering of what demons say, let’s first deal with the issue of vocal, demonic manifestations. Among those who practice deliverance there are differences of opinion. Some follow what I call “old school” deliverance which taught that you should never allow a demon to speak. If it does utter something, the deliverance minister should tell the demon to keep quiet and come out. We instruct the opposite in Bob Larson University. I don’t have time in this blog to develop the entire thesis behind commanding demons to speak. In Bob Larson University I back up this position scripturally and emphasize the importance of pressuring indwelling demons to vocally confirm their presence. This happened with the demon possessed man in the synagogue, referenced in Mark chapter 1, and spirit of Legion in Mark Chapter 5.
One more thought. This blog presumes that Christians can be demonized, and the manifesting demon is an illegitimate squatter, where he doesn’t belong. He’s just a holdover from the host’s pre-conversion condition.
In addition to the scriptural paradigm of deliverance set forth in the gospels there are practical considerations concerning demonic utterances. Having demons manifest and subsequently interrogated in a proper way reveals what can’t be known objectively through any other process. By forcing demons to reveal how and when they entered, and their current stronghold in the life of the host, the deliverance minister has a factual basis upon which to proceed. My experience with many thousands of documented exorcisms gives clear evidence that knowing the time and place of demonic entry can be crucial to a successful deliverance process. Much more information about this approach to deliverance is available on our streaming platform XDUNAMIS.
Having said this let me now refer to the three most common things demons say to me when they are interrogated.
I’M NOT LEAVING: I don’t ever recall a case of deliverance when a demon started responding by saying, “Now that you found me, I’m ready to leave.” The nature of evil spirits is obstinance and rebellion. They may also contend, “I’ve been here too long.” Whatever the exact words, demons don’t give up without a fight. They do not start the deliverance process by raising the white flag and surrendering to the power of Christ. The response to satanic stubbornness should always be the same: “You are leaving in the name of Jesus and you will be cast out to the Pit.”
I HAVE A RIGHT TO STAY: The second thing demons claim is the right to remain in the host. This must immediately be challenged by demanding that the evil spirit declares what right he has. On occasion the demon may speak truthfully and have some kind of right which the host must then cancel by renunciation; however, usually this is a false boast. For example, the demon may say, “I have a right because of the ungodly life this person lived.” That would immediately be countered by reminding the demon that the person seeking help is a child of God and has repented of their past. Having failed the first attempt to claim a right, demons usually move on to a second or third reason. It’s obvious they are trying to bargain and have no legitimate means to stay. In the rare case where the demon does have a right which hasn’t been cancelled by the blood of Christ, the deliverance minister simply needs to lead the supplicant in prayers to nullify that right.
HE OR SHE WANTS OR NEEDS ME: Having failed to establish a legal right and admitting that their boast of remaining has no logical grounds, a desperate demon will then try to claim they can stay because the host wants or needs them. I have heard demons argue on this basis in several different ways. The evil spirit may say, “This person is so damaged and weak they can’t survive without me giving them strength.” Or the demon may argue. “He or she has never known life without me. I have been there since birth manipulating their decisions and emotions and they are incapable a surviving on their own.” Such arguments are easily countered by scriptures such as 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – “When I am weak, then I am strong” because the grace of Christ is “sufficient” (verse 9).
To summarize, Christians can be demonized. Their demons may try to cleverly avoid expulsion by disingenuous and unbiblical reasoning. Quickly countering the false claims of evil spirits undercuts their reasoning and falsely claimed rights. Remember, demons are liars. Jesus explained in John 8:44 that the devil “was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
