Demon possession takes many forms and results from a myriad of practices. The danger is that the practice may not have been with the permission of the one who is afflicted (as is the case in Luke 9, where the “child” was under his father’s authority). If the demonization occurs at an early age, the victim may not ever recall the events that brought them this spiritual inhabitant. The Luke 9 incident strikes a parallel in an account related by Dr. Koch:

While on a lecture tour of Brazil a few years ago, a young man of 31 came up to me after one of the meetings. He told me that he suffered from severe attacks every four weeks, in fact during the nights of the full moon. His doctor had tried treating him for epilepsy but there had been no improvement at all in his condition. However, what troubled him most was not so much his strange illness but rather the fact that he found it almost impossible to exercise faith and to pray. After talking with him at considerable length I discovered that both his mother and grandmother had been active charmers…. Further questioning revealed that my story-teller had once been charmed as a boy against an illness. As a result of this counseling session the young Brazilian confessed his sins, and in prayer renounced the occult practices of his ancestors. Following this, by the graces of God he was wonderfully healed, or rather delivered.

Other times, the demonization can be welcomed by the individual, as is common in occult practices. There is evidence of such a practice in Luke 21.3: “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the twelve.” The Greek word translated entered is eishlqen, which connotes to bring in, or welcome in. The implication is that Satan did not enter into an unwilling apostolic agent, rather that Judas entered into a welcome agreement with Satan to betray the Messiah. Montague Summers records (Montague Summers, The History of Witchcraft, © 1925) many “pacts” which have been made throughout the middle ages:

In Guernsey, in 1617, Isabel Becquet went to Rocquaine Castle, “the usual place where the Devil kept his Sabbath: where the Devil came to her… and then made her express detestation of the eternal in these words: I renounce God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost; and then caused her to worship and invoke himself….” In a very full confession made by Louis Gaudfridi on the second of April, 1611… he revealed the formula of his abjuration of the Catholic faith. It ran thus: “I Louis Gaudfridi, renounce all good, both spiritual as well as temporal, which may be bestowed upon me by God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, all the Saints of Heaven, particularly my patron S. John-Baptist, as also S. Peter, S. Paul, and S. Francis, and I give myself both body and soul to Lucifer, before whom I stand, together with every good that I may ever possess…. And according to the tenure of these terms have I signed and sealed.”

Judas was not the first to enter such an agreement, nor was Louis Gaudfridi the last. Throughout time past and present men are enticed by the offerings of Lucifer, and many others will fall into his snare and commit the vilest atrocities.

There is no better preparation against the demonic realm than to have placed all trust in Jesus Christ for both this life and the next, to know God’s holy Word, and to pray. The best way to prepare oneself to recognize a counterfeit, is to know the real McCoy. The best way to recognize a lie is to know the truth. I close with the words of Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator:

Friend, there is a war going on, and it is a war for the souls of men. As we move toward the Day of the Lord, and the Second Coming of Christ, the Bible warns these things will increase and become more deceitful…. Make sure your life is not enmeshed in, or starting to embrace things which God says are “forbidden.” The end result is always judgment. May you truly be found on that day of the Lord’s triumphant return, as a child of God, living in the light of His truth and goodness as found in the Scriptures alone. But, if you have been involved in any of these things, then right now repent and confess them to God, call upon Christ to forgive you, and ask for His power to cleanse and keep you from it in the days ahead. Then be sure to rid yourself of all the materials, books, and things that are of the occult. The Lord promises to draw near to everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord. May God add His blessings to these words to your heart today for Jesus sake.