The house of one delivered needs to be “filled.” With what? Filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18); the fruits of righteousness (Phil. 1:11); joy (1 Tim. 1:4); the fullness of God (Eph. 3:19); goodness and knowledge (Rom 15:14). Being delivered from demons is about more than what you stop doing. It’s also about what you should start doing: A daily walk in the Word. Faithfulness in church. The fellowship of the saints. Service in the body of Christ. Demons seek to return and inhabit a dwelling which was emptied but never fully occupied by the presence of Christ, the wisdom of His Word, and the fruits of the Spirit. Have you had demons cast out? Then, don’t repeat the sins that led to your bondage. But more importantly, adopt positive patterns of biblical behavior that will keep the doorway for demons you once opened from revolving into an even worse possession later. As we say, GET FREE, STAY FREE, LIVE FREE!
The Gospel of Luke, chapter 11, contains one of the most misunderstood scriptures concerning demons. This confusion is exploited by those who refuse to accept, or deny and denigrate, the reality of exorcism in our age. Here is the passage in question: When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first (Luke 11:24-26 NKJV).
Let’s focus on the reference to the expelled spirit returning with seven more demons worse than him. I’ve heard deliverance ministers sternly warn those who’ve been liberated that they must be careful not to go back to the sins that allowed their possession to occur in the first place. Good advice. But that’s not what Christ is emphasizing. Luke 11 isn’t primarily about the exorcised demon returning with seven worse companions. The problem emphasized by these verses is what the individual DOESN’T do. Namely, he doesn’t fill the house which has been emptied.
When a demon is cast out, the person’s soul, their “house” is cleansed. The disorder is ordered. Chaos is replaced with peace. Those set free from demons often exclaim, “I feel light. A burden is lifted. I can think more clearly. The confusion is gone. I’m not tormented anymore.” Their house is clean. But they need to fill the newly vacated soul so there isn’t room for evil to return. Instead, they are often prodded by well-meaning ministers to stay away from what was wrong; okay, but they also need to be encouraged to pursue that which is right. Just having a clean house, being delivered, won’t keep the devil away.
