The clue to suspecting whether you are under demonic control is when you have compulsive behaviour and you cannot help yourself against it, especially if you are a believer. You try hard, but your efforts do not yield the desired result.
When demons take control of an aspect of a person’s life, the victim, [who can be said to be ‘demonized’ and not necessarily possessed], is abnormal and extreme in the bad behaviour or condition that the demons promote.
Please understand that some demons are stronger and stubborn than others. Others are more wicked than some – Lk. 11:25-26. Some cannot be expelled except by fasting and prayer in the life of the one expelling them – Matt.17:21. Let us now start discussing the specific activities of demons in the emotional aspect of people’s life.
Emotional influences
Every negative emotion or attitude like fear, envy, apathy, pride etc can open the way to corresponding demons ‘who’ usually operate in gangs – Lk.11:26. So, there are demons of self-pity, loneliness, rejection, misery, depression, despair, suicide, fear, hopelessness, distress, fantasies etc.
Some demons come in, not necessarily because you have an inviting tendency or trait, but to make you become that; e.g. the demon of suicide doesn’t come because you have killed yourself, but to drive you beyond your control to do so.
Other emotional demons are anger, hatred, rebellion, witchcraft, violence, murder etc. Demons can suppress the emotions of people including believers if they so allow it.
Mental influences
The mind of a person can be influenced and or controlled by demons of doubt, confusion, forgetfulness, indecision, unbelief, compromise, insanity, inferiority, superiority, foolishness etc.
The human mind is one of the main targets of demons. This is because the mind controls a person to a large extent. It is a battle-ground the enemy likes to fight on and build his strongholds – 2 Cor. 10:3-5.
The ‘highest’ extent of demonic influences on the mind of believers and unbelievers is known as an obsession. Demons cannot possess a believer’s spirit but can obsess the mind of believers, if they permit it.
Speech influences
Demons that can control the tongue or speech of people include lying spirits, who can make you a compulsive liar – 1 kgs. 22:22. Other’s are spirits of exaggeration, gossip, criticism, slander, flattery, murmuring, complaining etc.
Sexual influences
Sexual habits like masturbation, pornography, fornication, adultery, harlotry, homosexuality, lesbianism etc can be influenced and controlled in people by demons.
Physical influences
Demon’s that influence and or control physical lives include the spirits of gluttony and various sicknesses. Sickness is an oppression of the body. It can be brought about by demons – Acts 10:38.
There are also demons of drinking unwholesome drinks, eating unwholesome objects, sleeping, laziness etc.
Spiritual influences
The main demon that seeks to influence and or control the spiritual lives of people is the religious spirit and the seducing or deluding spirits etc.
