Casting down imaginations
and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience
of Christ ...2 Cor 10:5
Without doubt, the most
difficult of individuals that we deal with are those that have been diagnosed with mental disorders. If it was like the "spiritual
warfare" movements teach then we could just circle the mental institutions and bind all of the mind tormenting spirits.
This is a tough one for
several reasons. I am somewhat acquainted with it. My mother was diagnosed as "paranoid schizophrenic. She attempted suicide
nine times in a six-week period. She was tormented in her mind. This was before I knew about deliverance as I do now. Since
her death I have many times tried to discover what may have happened in her life that could have allowed this. I don’t
know. Her two sisters committed suicide. If they were abused as children I don’t know about it, none of my relatives
know about it. While I suspect that may have been the problem, I don’t know.
I can’t find anything
in her ancestry that helps me to answer the mystery . . . but there was a source. It was the work of demons. My friend, now
deceased, Frank Hammond, was convinced in his ministry that "rejection" is at the root of paranoia and schizophrenia. I have
had many experiences to confirm that, however, there may be multiple things that come together to bring this about. Delusion
is maximum deception. Paranoia is defined as "a mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy,
or exaggerated self-importance. It is unjustified suspicion and mistrust of others." "Exaggerated self-importance" . . . I
see this a lot in the ministry, unfortunately it also is often among those who claim to be"God-called" ministers.
The paranoia is so strong
that to the individual it is real. They see something. They hear something. Something is going on.
The question is really
not that it is caused by demons, rather it is how the demons cause it. Without doubt many people in this condition need medical
help, without doubt. Often, the individual needs both spiritual and physiological help. Sometimes the person needs some medical
attention so that they can be delivered. It is virtually always different.
When a lie has been believed
it is very difficult to deal with demons until the lie has been renounced. The problem here is that the deception is so powerful
that the individual does not perceive it to be a lie. They become so fully blinded by the lie that they are unable to see
the truth. They are convinced that the government is persecuting them or secret agents are assigned to spy and gather information
against them. They are so convinced that it is very difficult for them to confess it as a lie. They often become suspicious
of you because you don’t believe their story.
It is always the same
and never the same. It is the neighbors plotting against them, sometimes co-workers telling false stories about them, hearing
people outside of their house . . . or in the house. Witches and warlocks putting curses on them. The torment they are in
is real. There is no doubt that what they perceive is likely very real to them. So the dilemma is how to bring freedom to
those suffering from disorders of the mind.
I assure you it is more
than simply commanding demons to go in the Name of Jesus. If it was that simple, I would be at the mental hospitals right
now. I have been there, I have prayed for institutionalized people. I have spent many hours in the psychiatric wings of the
prisons, I have heard the demons react when I would walk down the halls or come by their cells. I have heard the screams down
the corridors as the sounds from the chapel services spilled into the prison. It is more than just speaking the Name of Jesus
over a mentally ill person. It is complex and until the legal rights of those demon powers have been removed (by the individual
or parents), freedom does not come.
The Name of Jesus will
stir them regardless. Demons hate and fear that Name. Some people with mental disorders cannot even read the bible for the
torment that comes. Some read it and are only able to see condemnation and judgement. The thing I know is that there is always
a root, sometimes many roots. The problem is finding it and removing permissions that demons have gained.
One of the things we
have experienced in this area is that there is a common need for attention. Sometimes it is the only way a person knows to
gain sympathy and importance. Over the years we have encountered "many" SRA victims. SRA is Satanic Ritualistic Abuse. We
have also learned that in most cases the supposed abuse never happened. The individual may "believe" it happened, generally
it is a lie. Now, I also think that there are some instances where these really happen, but not nearly to the numbers of people
claiming it happened.
We use to see of a lot
of these folks. We found limited success and also discovered that there was seldom any evidence to confirm the stories. This
became all too common. No names, no addresses, no crime reports, no way to verify any of it. A pastor of a church in a nearby
city called me one night. He was distraught. He said, "Don, maybe you can help me, we are at our end in knowing how to deal
with a young lady. We have taken her in our home to try to help her. We have tried casting out demons and it just seems to
go on and on . . . we don’t know what to do."
He began to tell me her
story and as he did, I knew I had heard it many times. It’s the "SRA story" and I don’t want to minimize what
may be a very real problem for some. As he told me her story, I said, "The reason you can’t help her is because it didn’t
happen." There was a silence on the other end of the phone. After a moment, he said, "You mean she’s lying?" Part of
her sad story was that when she stayed at a motel, that the church was paying for, her father had busted open the door and
brutally raped her. I said, "Take her to the police . . . I’m betting she won’t go."
Again there was silence,
"You’re right" he said, "we tried to take her there but once we arrived she wouldn’t go in." Of course, there
are demons involved but the demons have permission because she is believing and perpetuating the lie.
I always seem to end
these stories with the same thing. It is truth that enables us to be free. Lies empower the demon. Thanks for your prayers
and support.
Just for Jesus,
Don