Healing and Demon Possession Q&A
Scripture
Sermon Description
Have you considered the questions of prayer, gifts of the spirit, faith healing, supernatural revelations, or demon possession? Listen in to the sermon on healing and demon possession as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks to Scripture to answer questions on each of these topics. Is it right for a Christian to ask for gifts; especially the gift of healing? Here, we look at the example of Corinth to learn from their jealousy for such gifts. How should we understand healing with illnesses that are not getting better? The prayer of faith has a great certainty about it, we must recognize this uncommonness. Is the supernatural something that can ever be understood, or is it something that we will eventually be able to understand with the growth of knowledge? What about understanding the work of the Devil and demon possession? Different illustrations are used in Scripture to help us understand these matters, but the danger is that we literalize them. Follow as we learn about true intimacy with the Spirit, not to abandon critical faculties and be exposed to evil spirits, but to go on in the fight of faith.
Sermon Breakdown
- The questioner asks if quantity and persistence in prayer is a sign of faith or if a single prayer of faith is sufficient. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says both views are too extreme. We should pray in faith according to the leading of the Spirit.
- The questioner asks if it is right to ask for spiritual gifts, especially the gift of healing. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says we should desire gifts to serve God and the church, not for ourselves. We should seek to glorify God in how he has gifted us.
- The questioner asks how to define the supernatural. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says we must be careful not to define it only as what we can't currently explain. The supernatural involves God's direct action in a way that inspires wonder and gives him glory.
- The questioner asks if there is first-hand evidence from the first century of miraculous healings and exorcisms. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says there is little from the late first century, but more from the second century as apologists defended the faith. The lack of evidence does not prove nothing happened.
- The questioner asks about discerning between medical and spiritual problems. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says it requires spiritual discernment that is hard to define but involves sensing another personality or strange speech, reaction to Jesus' name, etc. Spiritual people welcome comfort from God's word.
- The questioner asks if Christians can be demon-possessed, how to diagnose it, and how to treat it. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says yes, Christians can open themselves to evil spirits. Diagnosis involves sensing another personality and reaction to Jesus' name. Treatment involves commanding the spirits to leave in Jesus' name and claiming God's protection.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes that we need the deep work of the Spirit, regeneration not just decision. We need to understand the spiritual conflict we're in and stay sensitive to the Spirit's leading.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the possibility of Christians becoming demon-possessed?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Christians can indeed become demon-possessed, contrary to what many believe. He addresses the theological fallacy that assumes since Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit, demons cannot enter them. He clarifies that being "filled with the Spirit" is not about a material or liquid-like occupation of a person, but rather about a personal relationship and communion with the Spirit. Christians who grieve or quench the Spirit, or who abandon themselves to unseen forces without applying biblical tests, can open themselves to demonic influence or even possession. He cites examples including a Christian who reverted to drug use, which lowered her critical faculties and provided an entry point for demonic possession, though she was later delivered.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones differentiate between demon possession and mental illness?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones acknowledges this is extremely difficult but offers several diagnostic indicators:
- An impression of another personality being present - not merely a variation in the normal personality but something strange, new, and often unpleasant
- Speech that is unusual for the person - typically higher pitched and monotonous
- The ability to speak languages unknown to the person
- A violent negative reaction to the mention of Jesus Christ's name or blood
- Unlike mentally ill patients who often don't fully engage with help offered, the spiritually oppressed person is usually eager for deliverance and receptive to biblical comfort
He emphasizes that while he believes he's been able to make this distinction in many cases, there can be difficult borderline situations that require discernment.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about exorcism and deliverance ministry?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that believers do have authority to cast out demons, but he issues important cautions:
- We must be protected by the blood of Christ before attempting exorcism
- We are entering a realm of powerful spiritual forces - "principalities and powers"
- After casting out a demon, command it to go to "the abyss where it belongs"
- The person performing exorcism without proper spiritual protection may themselves become oppressed
He cites the example of a missionary who became paralyzed after exorcising a demon without taking proper spiritual precautions. He emphasizes that the power for deliverance comes from Christ, not our own strength, and the results of proper treatment should be complete deliverance.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe is the ultimate solution to spiritual problems including addiction?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that regeneration, not merely decision-making, is the ultimate solution. He states that asking addicts to simply "make a decision for Christ" is insufficient - they need a deep work of the Holy Spirit that brings radical transformation. He quotes 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 where Paul describes how the Corinthians had been washed, sanctified and justified despite their former lives. Lloyd-Jones concludes that only the power of the Spirit can truly deliver addicts and others from spiritual bondage in an ultimate sense, and Christians should ensure they understand regeneration properly before attempting to apply spiritual solutions.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones view the relationship between spiritual warfare and the devil's primary strategies?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones rejects the notion that focusing on demon possession distracts from the devil's main work of causing doubt and disobedience. He argues this creates a false dichotomy - the devil works in multiple ways simultaneously. While acknowledging some have gone to excess in seeing demons everywhere, he warns that the answer to excess is not to ignore the reality of demonic activity altogether. He believes demon possession is increasing in Western countries as Christian influence wanes, and Christians must be aware of this reality while maintaining a balanced view. He characterizes spiritual conflict as a "cosmic" battle requiring believers to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance and to be "clothed with the whole armor of God."
Itinerant Preaching
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.