What is Demon Oppression?

Do you sometimes feel burdened by life’s hardships or feel heavy in your spirit? Is there anyone you know who is constantly struggling? I know many people who struggle their whole life with one setback after another. What is going on? This is a good time to remind you that we are spirit beings in physical bodies, living in a spirit world within the physical world. Our spirits are influenced by the spirit world, which affects our physical and mental health. Even Christians are afflicted by oppressive spirits when their minds are focused on the physical world and not the heavenly realm.  

Oppression is feeling overwhelmed as if carrying a heavy burden. It can be a mental, physical, or spiritual burden. Last year, I addressed mental oppression, such as depression, anxiety, resentment, fear, stress, sadness, loneliness, and so on. You can read those posts here. This post will show how demons cause physical oppression related to illness and physical impairments. The following scriptures show how oppressive spirits, which are also demons, cause illnesses. 

Matthew 8:16 states, “That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.” Also, Acts 5:16 states, “The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” 

Can Demons Cause Illnesses? 

Many Scriptures combine casting out spirits and healing. Here is a good example. Mark 9:20-26 tells us, “And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21) And Jesus asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. 22) And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’ 23) And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24) Immediately, the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ 25) And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.’ 26) And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’” 

Observation: There is so much to unpack in this passage. 

• The boy had an oppressive spirit since childhood.  

• When the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy down and convulsed him.  

• The spirit tries to kill the child. 

• The father begged Jesus to have compassion and help the child. 

• All things are possible for those who believe. 

• The father asked Jesus to help his unbelief. 

• Jesus calls the spirits by name and commanded the deaf and mute spirit to leave and never return 

• The spirit cried out but obeyed, and left the boy unconscious, but he wasn’t dead. 

Interpretation: 

• How did the boy get the oppressive spirit? 

• When we believe, it releases the power of God to heal. 

• Remember, nothing is impossible for God. 

• If we lack belief, we can ask God to help us with our unbelief and to have compassion. 

• We serve a compassionate God.  

• When a spirit leaves a person, it usually cries out and throws the person to the ground. 

Application: 

• I have known children who have epilepsy with the same symptoms as the boy in this Scripture passage. Modern medicine cannot help them. But in Jesus’ day, they were healed by rebuking the spirit causing the seizures. 

• Every illness is not the result of a demon, but many are. If you have a condition that the doctors cannot help, it may be because of a curse or an oppressive demon.  

• I get painful leg cramps at times. When I rebuke the oppressive demon causing the leg cramps, they go away. I know many people who suffer from leg cramps. 

• There are times I get a migraine, and I realize it is from a demonic attack. When I rebuke the spirit, it leaves, and so does the migraine. 

• Before going to the doctor, try rebuking the spirit causing the condition and ask God to have compassion on you and heal you. You will be amazed by what happens. 

Disabling Spirit Affliction. 

Luke 13:11-13 tells us, “And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12) When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, ‘Woman, you are freed from your disability.’ 13) And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.”  13:16 also explains, “And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 

Observation:  

• A woman suffered for 18 years with a disabling spirit. 

• Jesus said that she was bound by Satan. 

• Jesus had compassion on her and called her over. 

• He spoke and set her free from the spirit of disability and laid His hands on her. 

• She was healed. 

Interpretation: 

• Jesus sees you and the spirits afflicting you.  

• He wants to heal you. You can be free from the disabling spirit and from being bound by Satan. 

• The woman had to obey Jesus and go to Him when He called. 

Application: 

• Since Jesus is in heaven, He has given those who believe the authority and power over all evil and disabling spirits. 

• We need to obey His calling to us and draw near to Him so He can heal us when we believe. 

Conclusion 

When you or someone you know is afflicted with an illness that medicine can’t help, consider a disabling or oppressive spirit. You have the authority and power through the spirit of God in you to command it to leave and never return in Jesus’ name. See my post titled, Can anyone cast out a demon? Acts 10:38 explains that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” When you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and receive forgiveness for your sins and receive Him into your heart, you receive divine power through the Holy Spirit. 

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My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of promises relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.  

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts. 

Additionally, consider my book Fighting Unseen Battles, which describes the many unhealthy beliefs that control our lives and the truths behind them. To learn more about this book, read the post How to Fight Unseen Battles.  

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