First of all, it is naive and wrong to assume that every
person with mental health problems has a demon. I have personally been blessed by Yahweh to cast out demons from people over the years
of my ministry on numerous occasions. I have also experienced and counseled different people with mental illness, and there is a difference.
This does not mean that someone with mental illness may not have a demon. But to say that all people with a mental illness are demon
possessed is pure prejudice. Many times mental illness such as
manic depression is caused from an unnatural chemical imbalance in
the brain. Today, through advances in science, many of these cases can be treated with a simple treatment, and many of these people
can live a normal life. Other people have mental illness from a hormonal imbalance that again can be treated with a safe and natural
remedy.Well, how do we know the difference? It may sound over simplified, but in most cases the Holy Spirit will convict you
one way or the other, if we are letting it lead our lives. The problem is most people are not. They are being led by emotions or feelings,
or even worse their own human conscience (heart, mind) which is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jer.17:9). Once
when at a prayer meeting, a woman started speaking in gibberish that she claimed with a tongue prayer. The spirit in me not only rejected
it, but also literally was pressing against my chest almost lifting me off the floor. (Phi. 14:7) States: "And the peace of Yahweh
that surpasses all understanding, shall keep your hearts and mind through Yahshua Messiah." Through discernment of the Holy Spirit,
I will know almost immediately when a demon is present. But what if one does not have this gift of discernment? How will he know the
difference? Let us look at some biblical examples for the answer.
The first thing a believer must understand is the difference
of being led by an evil spirit and being possessed by an evil spirit. James 4: 2-12 tells us that we are drawn away from Yahweh when
we lust after the things of the world. All good things come from Yahweh; all evil comes from Satan. What we must realize is every
time we give in to lust, greed, anger, or any other fruit of the flesh we are being led by evil spirits. 1 Kg. 22:22-23, tells us
Yahweh sent a lying spirit out in the mouth of the prophets to deceive Ahab the King of Israel. Ahab was allowed to be deceived because
he was given over to lust, greed, and murder. If he had been obedient to the law of Yahweh, and had stayed under the protection of
the everlasting Covenant he would never have been allowed to be deceived by the lying spirit.
(Ja. 4:5) "Do you think that the scripture
says in vain, The Spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy?" This is speaking of our human spirit. (1 Cor. 15:42-43) tells us we are
sown in corruption, and dishonor. That is why we must put our grace on daily. When we are not humbly asking for and putting on our
grace daily, we are risking giving ourselves over to the influence of evil spirits. And there are all kinds of them. There are lying
spirits, there are angry spirits, and there are silly spirits, sexual ones, and also spirits of lust, greed, and covetousness. Many
will look at a handicapped person because he may look different, and think oh, he has a demon, but will never look at their own self-righteous
judgmental gossiping self, to see that it is Satan and his demons who are bringing and tempting all these evil traits that we give
in to. Brethren, we need to take the plank out of our own eye, before we can take the speck out of someone else's. Many times what
handicapped people need more than condemnation is love, and moral support. Also prayer for healing.
(Jn. 9: 1- 7) When asked who sinned
that this person was born blind, Yahshua 's answer was "that neither the man or his parents sinned, but that the works of Yahweh might
be manifested in him." Maybe someone is handicapped so hands can be layed on for healing and Yahweh can be glorified. Or maybe Yahweh
is more glorified in the person's weakness and infirmity.
Paul stated in (1 Cor. 12:10), “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,
in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Messiah's sake: FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG.” We know of
a wonderful little 15-year-old handicapped girl in Israel. If you look at her you may think that she has
Down syndrome, but she does
not. She has had many spinal operations, and is in severe pain most of the time. She also has the mind of a child and can not speak.
But she is always happy, and never complains, and has been baptized and is led by Yahweh's spirit. She is so overjoyed when a new
believer is baptized, or when we worship Yahweh and Yahshua. And it is interesting that she can not speak, but when she prays I can
hear the words in my mind. She also has the gift of discernment that when a person with an evil spirit comes in she knows right away.
Now I ask as in John 9, who sinned that this girl was born this way? As Yahshua answered, neither her nor her parents sinned but that
the works of Yahweh should be manifest in her. She has several beautiful spirit filled sisters, but no one is writing or talking about
them. They are all amazed at Patricia, who was told at birth that she would be a love child. That she is, Praise Yahweh. (1 Cor. 1:
27) But Yahweh has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and Yahweh has chosen the weak things of the world
to confound the things that are mighty.”
