Demonic Possession: Stages of Demonic Possession
Demonic possession, the very phrase can send chills up and down your spine! But most people don’t know is that there are levels of possession. Why is it important to know these levels? Because to be able to identify the stages and levels of possession may help to ward off a full blown possession by getting help in the very early stages! Now, I don’t promise this to be conclusive, but more of a general summary.

The five levels of possession in order of their appearance are: manifestation, infestation, oppression, possession, and death.

Understand these are how I label them and the examples of what you might experience are from my experience. There are levels within these five as each progress themselves before moving to the next stage.\r\n

Manifestation
This stage simply is the beginning presence of the demon(s). Most times, they have been ‘invited’ of sorts. Whether it be playing spiritualist games without a full understanding, playing ouija boards, seances, and more. A door is opened and sometimes is shut back, and the lay person who is not trained in these things may invite unwanted guests, to say the least. At this time, some weird experiences may be felt and/or seen, but the main objective of a demon at this stage is to find its target. Those who are emotionally, physically, and spiritually weak will be obvious targets.

Infestation
This is the stage where things are starting to pick up and fast. Often times, a demon may start recruiting help, and more will cross through this doorway that was opened up. More physical experiences may start. Some of those experiences will be cold spots, voices, lights, shadows, you name it. Manifestation bleeds into infestation very quickly once the target(s) have been chosen.

Oppression
Once the infestation has started, it will immediately go into oppression. The reason it seems to start slower and build its aggression is that the infestation is still going on. More demons are attracted and adding their energy/power to the assault. Usually there will be one main demon that is focused on the target while others are ‘outside’ causing havoc. The purpose of oppression is to isolate the target. To isolate the target, they simply play mind games. They may even cause depression because of some of the experiences and even by what the ‘voices’ are telling them. It’s all done to harm the target as much as possible on a spiritual, mental, and even physical level. The more harm done and the faster it is done, the quicker to the next stage. The target may become violent, so great care should be taken around the person oppressed. Their sense will be a great disdain to God and anything Holy.

Possession
Also known as full possession. The demon at one level will actually possess and control the target. The person may or may not ‘come out of it’ at different times. The demon will want control as much as possible, but there are lapses. Don’t be fooled, the demon is still in control! It will relinquish control at times either to rest or in an effort to trick those around the target that nothing is wrong. The demon has an ultimate goal, which is the next and final stage, if not dealt with. Some things that would be seen of the target would be a reaction to the Bible, liturgies, holy relics (even when hidden under clothes), and a definite disdain for God and all that follow Him. This stage is where the possessed is extremely dangers to him/herself and those around, especially physically.

Death
All demons have only one purpose in all stages of possession. They seek to destroy and kill God’s creation. The more pain they cause, the better for them. The more they can destroy, like relationships, marriages, etc., they are happier still. But the ultimate goal is to definitely kill the possessed target and if they can take another with the target so much the better.

Please, understand this is a very brief explanation and there really is a lot more to it than this. Exorcisms should be done only by those qualified, and not done in a light manner. If you are Catholic, of course a Priest would handle this under the direction of a Bishop. Protestants usually refer to their local pastor, and hopefully they get help and second, possibly third opinions as well. While I believe it is rare for full possession to take place, I believe it happens more often than it gets credit, and is rarely dealt with properly. Even after a confirmed possession and ‘authorized’ exorcism, many of the afflicted carry a burden for the rest of their lives, some don’t make it through it, and some are irreparably harmed mentally, so please allow those trained to handle the exorcism and offer any help you can.

As someone who has been on a Pentecostal pew since birth or so, I’ve seen a lot of “revivals.” I grew up attending the church pastored by Bro. Jerry Dillon, which meant that at least two weeks out of the month, you would be attending revival services. It was a great way to live, and it taught me a thing or two about what revival really is – I lived it, saw it, and witnessed the changing power of God flow out on many lives. As a result, I think I am also familiar with what revival is NOT. There are some “revivals” that Satan won’t stop – in fact he will encourage them – because they fit quite nicely within his purpose: keeping the Church as a body from reaching the lost.

“My what a service we had!”

“Did the power of God fall?”

“That was an awesome move of the Holy Ghost!”

“You weren’t even IN church if you weren’t at MY church last night.”

OK, so we’ve all said those things. And most of the time they are meant to convey that the presence of the Lord was in a service. What concerns me, however, is a growing tendency I’ve seen among some churches. As long as there are “good services” where “God moves” and people “feel the power”, they think everything is great in their assemblies. And yet . . . hearts are not changed, the lost are not won; outward appearances may line up, but there is no true victory in the lives of the people who are attending these regularly “powerful” services. They attended Holy Ghost blow-out after Holy Ghost hoe-down, and yet when the smallest problem came into their life, they were distraught and giving up on God. And their lives are not impacting the lives of the lost and the hurting around them. I asked myself, “What is going on?” That didn’t do much good, so I asked God. And this is what I got.

Satan doesn’t care about our “powerful services” . . . he doesn’t care if we “shout the walls down” . . . he doesn’t care if you can’t see the carpet for the hairpins . . . IF those powerful services are just that. If they don’t lead us to greater dedication, deeper commitment, a more burning desire to help others. If we are unchanged, if we don’t impact our world, Satan is perfectly content to let us dance all over church on Sunday, because he knows that when we leave the building, it’s over.

You’ve seen these churches. You’ve probably been envious when they’ve talked about how the power falls. Especially when you compare their experiences to your own (not a good idea, but difficult to avoid) – their lives don’t experience much trouble, and yet it is a Pentecostal Power Hour every time they show up. What gives?

Simply this: it is possible to bask in the presence of the Lord, enjoy the “feel good” that His anointing allows, and leave completely and utterly unchanged. A lot of people like a church like that. They feel good while they are there, but they feel absolutely no compunction to change anything about their lives or share Jesus with others. They simply use God’s presence as an anti-depressant – they get just enough of a “fix” to make it to the next service – but they don’t allow the changing power of His spirit to penetrate their hearts and lives. As a result, they cannot handle difficulties, and they don’t reach out to the lost.

Why would Satan object? As long as he lets them be comfortable, complacent – sleeping, really – he has little to worry about. They’ll continue feeling good in church. But they won’t spread the word. (Somebody might sit on their pew or, God forbid, take their solo.) They’ll show up faithfully to every service. But they will leave unchanged. (That would require sacrifice and searching themselves for sins that are not quite as obvious as others.) It’s a quarantined virus, in Satan’s eyes, and I’m convinced he allows it, encourages it, and hopes other churches will emulate it. Gives him freedom to take the rest of the city to hell while that congregation of 30, 50, or 150 gets their “fix” and moves on to another week. And then later, when they don’t expect it, he can hit them with a big problem, and it will destroy what faith they have. This kind of revival is a win-win for him.

Think I’m talking out of school? Check God’s word:

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Matthew 13:20-21

12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. . . . And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? 18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. 20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. 21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
Mark 8:10-21

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
II Timothy 3:1-9

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
James 1: 22-24

It is vital that we understand that we must have a relationship with Christ that goes beyond feeling good, shouting, and worshiping. Those things are good; they are vital. But if you are not seeing the fruit of the spirit in your church, in your life – it’s time for an inventory. You are either a weapon in the kingdom, or you have been given your pacifier (Hebrews 5:12-13). Good services where you feel the power are not enough. If souls are not being born into the kingdom, are you really fulfilling your purpose? If not, whose purpose are you fulfilling? Dangerous question, if you dare to ask it.

Tags: Alesha Noelle Leveritt

This entry is found at the following address:

Adventures in Motherhood
Please be sure and check out this site, it is wonderfully done and very intelligently written.

“A Father Forgets”

By: Livingston Larned

comments and “My Prayer” By: Jeffery Moore

Listen, son: I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw crumpled under your cheek and blond curls stickily wet on your damp forehead. I have stolen into your room alone. Just a few minutes ago, as I sat reading my paper in the library, a stifling wave of remorse swept over me. Guiltily, I came to your bedside.

These are the things I was thinking, son: I had been cross to you. I scolded you as you were dressing for school because you gave your face merely a dab with a towel. I took you to task for not cleaning your shoes. I called out angrily when you threw some of your things on the floor.

***I’m Sorry***
At breakfast I found fault too. You spilled things. You gulped down your food. You put your elbows on the table. You spread butter too thick on your bread. And as you started off to play and I made for my train, you turned and waved a hand and called, “Good-bye, Daddy!” and I frowned, and said in reply, “Hold your shoulders back!”

Then it began all over again in the late afternoon. As I came up the road I spied you, down on your knees, playing marbles. There were holes in your socks. I humiliated you before your friends by marching you ahead of me to the house. Socks were expensive, and if you had to buy them you would be more careful! Imagine that, son, son, from a father!

***Spontaneous Love***
Do you remember, later, when I was reading in the library, how you came in, timidly, with a sort of hurt look in your eyes? When I glanced up over my paper, impatient at the interruption, you hesitated at the door. “What is it you want?” I snapped. You said nothing, but ran across in one tempestuous plunge, and threw your arms around my neck and kissed me, and your small arms tightened with an affection that God had set blooming in your heart and which even neglect could not wither…and then you were gone, pattering up the stairs.

***Wrong Measuring Stick***
Well, son, it was shortly afterward that my paper slipped from my hands and a terrible sickening fear came over me. What has habit been doing to me? The habit of finding fault, reprimanding-this was my reward to you for being a boy. It was not that I did not love you; it was that I expected too much of youth. It was measuring you by the yardstick of my own years. And there was so much that was good and fine and true in your character. The little heart of you was as big as the dawn itself over the wide hills. This was shown by your spontaneous impulse to rush in and kiss me good night. Nothing else matters tonight, son. I have come to your bedside in the darkness, and I have knelt here, ashamed!

***I Will***
It is a feeble atonement; I know you would not understand these things if I told them to you during your waking hours. But tomorrow I will be a real daddy. I will chum with you, suffer when you suffer, and laugh when you laugh. I will bite my tongue when impatient words come. I will keep saying as if it were a ritual, “He is nothing but a boy, a little boy!”

I am afraid I have visualized you as a man. Yet as I see you now, son, crumpled and weary in your bed, I see that you are still a little boy. Yesterday you were in your mother’s arms, your head on her shoulder. I have asked too much, too much.

***Jeffery’s comments***
When I first read this, tears welled up in my eyes. How many times have I taken my own boys and their youthfulness for granted. Often, especially because of the rush of everything like work, paying bills, doing this and doing that, we often forget that our children, our gifts from God, are young and learning, and can’t possibly know what we do. In their youth they are learning and experiencing what we have already learned and experienced, and our role, our duty, as their parent, is to teach them life’s lessons in a manner that teaches them truth revealed by our undying love. Only through truth and love can we ever hope to be successful in teaching them.

**My Prayer**
Heavenly Father, I give you the Glory and Praise for being the perfect Father and giving me the only role model worth following. As I nurture and watch over my children, I proclaim you are their ultimate Father, and I am only their Daddy, their keeper to bring them up in honor of you. Father give me the strength to teach my little ones to love and honor and respect and follow you completely. Give me the ability to bring them up in love and truth so they may grow up and become successful men of God, serving you rather than men. Father pour out your Spirit on me and my little ones, so we may be like mirrors, a reflection of you. Give me the wisdom and courage to do these things.

In Jesus name, Amen.

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