DISCERNING

OF SPIRITS
and
CASTING OUT
DEMONS

Dale M. Sides

© 2008 by Liberating Ministries for Christ International, Inc., PO Box 38, Bedford, VA 24523-0038. All rights reserved. No part of this
syllabus may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. Originally published as
Discerning of Spirits and Spiritual Warfare, © 1995 by Liberating Ministries for Christ International, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Contents

Session 1 Discerning of Spirits and Preparing for the Battle 4

Session 2 The Evil Kingdom Exposed 5

Session 3 Functions of Evil Spirits and How They Demonize 7

Session 4 Casting Out Demons 10

Session 5 Winning the War 12

 Session 1

Discerning of Spirits and Preparing for the Battle

Discerning of Spirits
Discerning of spirits is listed seventh in 1 Corinthians 12:9.
The number 7 indicates spiritual perfection.
The subject matter of discerning of spirits is not optional.

Discerning of spirits means to critically examine spirits.

It is done by revelation, not by strong spiritual suspicion.
It is revelation of kinds of spirits (good or bad; angels or demons).

Discerning of spirits is spiritual information concerning spiritual warfare.

It is the information you need to enforce the kingdom of heaven.
You get your information in worship.
You will know the plans of the enemy if you stay on your knees.

Preparing for the Battle

This is spiritual warfare.
You are at war (2 Timothy 2:3–5).
“Lord of hosts” means “Lord of war.”
The kingdom of heaven is taken with violence (Matthew 11:12).
We already have the victory (Colossians 2:15; Luke 10:19).
Satan is a deceiver and gives misinformation.

The first aspect of spiritual warfare is to have the proper attitude.

Stand up and face the enemy (Ephesians 6:13–14).
We are on a rescue mission (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19).

Four bullet holes in the armor of spiritual warfare

Sin—Ephesians 6:14–17a protects the soul.
Fear—there is no armor for the back, therefore face the opponent and fear not!
Ignorance—2 Corinthians 2:11 is why we have discerning of spirits.
Pride—Satan’s stronghold
Manifests as selfishness
Look for envy.
 Session 2

The Evil Kingdom Exposed

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places. Ephesians 6:11–12

The Devil
A singular entity (Isaiah 14:11–16) also known as Lucifer (the glorious, lightened one) or Satan
(the accuser)
Is a created spirit being with free will
Head over 1/3 of the angels (Revelation 12:4)
Wanted head-ship of all angels
Fallen from heaven to earth (see Job 1)
Cast down because of attempted mutiny in heaven

Ezekiel 28:12
Perfect in the day created
Iniquity found in him (pride)
Created to praise God
Pipes to sing
Tabrets to play music

A thief (John 10:10)

A deceiver (Genesis 3:1; Revelation 12:9, 20:10)

The accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10)

Principalities
Highest level of authority

Greek word arche, meaning “first”

The number 1 stands for commencement and unity—in this case, commencement of the
devil’s nature and unity of the evil kingdom

Liken to archangels in structure of angels (e.g., Michael, Gabriel, etc.)

Can be governmental (Daniel 10)
Communism, etc.
Will demonize authoritative people

Powers (Authorities)
Second level of authority (works under prinicipalities)

Greek work exousia, meaning “authorities”

Usually assigned to God-recognized systems of authority, e.g., the family and the church

Higher ranking powers that attack Christian leaders (Revelation 2:20 and 24; 2 Corinthians 12:7)

Rulers of Darkness
Third level of authority in the evil kingdom
The number 3 stands for completeness—in this case, of the evil kingdom.

Greek word kosmokrator, meaning “world rulers” of darkness

Demons in sons of the devil (Luke 4:6)

Sons of Belial, e.g., Elymas in Acts 13 or the Pharisees in John 8

These can be found in religion, politics, music (entertainment), financial, educational, and
environmental realms, for example.

Not just flesh and blood

Initiators of doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1; Ephesians 4:14)

Wicked Spirits in the Heavenlies

Fourth level of authority
The number 4 is the number that moves things in the world.

Spirits that “roam” the heavens, looking for a home

Ones you must “pray through.”
Those that demonize anyone in any area of weakness
 Session 3

Functions of Evil Spirits and How They Demonize

Functions of Evil Spirits

All of their efforts are directed to distract from the one true God.
To steal, kill, and destroy
Demons are spirit persons—they are disembodied spirits looking for a body to live in.
Ephesians 6:12

How They Demonize

To be “possessed of a demon” means to be completely owned.
This is not available for a Christian.
A Christian may be “demonized.”
To be demonized means to be captured or seized in a particular area of the mind
or body.
It does not mean that the person is evil—the demon is evil, not the person.
Certain areas are demonized; the whole person is not possessed.
Proverbs 25:28 (e.g., Judas)
Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8)

The body and soul is manipulated for demonization to the end that the “will” is violated.
The Greek word for “demonized” is diamonizomai.
Matthew 4:24, 8:16, 8:28, 8:33, 9:32, 12:22, 15:22
Mark 1:32, 5:15–16, 5:18
Luke 8:36
John 10:21
The Greek word echo means “held against the will” (Acts 8:7, 16:16).
Preparation—the body marks the boundary
Exorcists—one who calls over the line

This is spiritual warfare.

The greater the threat that you are to Satan, the higher the ranking of the spirit that is
assigned (2 Corinthians 12:7)
Demonization happens in areas of weakness.
Doctrines of demons or physical weaknesses are areas of attack.
The place where weakness is exploited is where a stronghold is built.
A strong man takes up residence in a stronghold.
The strong man (the evil spirit) must be expelled by one stronger.
Evil spirits are life of themselves.
 They are persons.
You are in a fight with an evil person that has been assigned to steal, kill, and
destroy you.
An evil spirit may have an actual name in the spiritual kingdom, but it is identified
according to the stronghold in which it occupies.

People are demonized either in spirit, soul, or body.

The key to understanding the demonization is to look at the preparation.
In the spirit, it is by free will invitation.
In the soul, it is through deception.
The body is prepared by weakness in the body.

Demonization in the Spirit of Man

Spirit is free will.

Demonized in the spirit is when the person, by the freedom of their will, asks or invites spirits in
(Deuteronomy 18:10–12; Acts 16:16).

Individuals try to get from demons what they should be getting from God.
In 1 Samuel 28, it cost Saul his life to go to a fortune teller.

Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1–10)

Invited a demon into the spirit of man even after giving it to the Holy Spirit
Tempting the Spirit of the Lord by being a double agent
Satan filled the heart (spirit) to lie to the Holy Spirit

Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9–25)

Verse 22 happened after Simon was born again.
Must be repented of
“If perhaps” means “maybe,” therefore the person could die “unforgiven”

Often when people get born again, the spirits leave the spirit and go into the soul or body, still
tormenting the person until they are cast out.

Demonization in the Soul (Mind)

Soul includes intellect, imagination, and emotions.

People are seduced into forfeiting a portion of their free will for the demon to gain access to an
area of the soul.
The seduction is done through seducing spirits (1 Timothy 4:1) to lure people away
from God.
Demons talk to people in the spirit of man through suggestion.
 That portion of the free will is forfeited and the soul is prepared for the demon
when an action allows entry.
This is preparation for the abode of demons by mental conditioning.

Doctrines of demons (self pity and resentment are the basic causes of most deception)
Education of acceptance
Examples are anger in parents, lust in friends, divorce or homosexuality in role
models, etc.
Doctrines moved through children of the devil
Systematized error (Ephesians 4:14)
Mind is prepared for lusts of the flesh, eyes, and mind (Ephesians 2:2–3; 1 John 2:16).
Deception is subtle (2 Corinthians 11:4; Revelation 20:10)
Done through culture, music, religion, and spirit influence of teachers
Doctrines of demons can be seen in every area of children of the devil.
Examples are communism, false religions, homosexuality, riches of the
world, etc.

Demonization in the Body

Physical preparation exploits weakness.
Body must be prepared
“Garnished” in Matthew 12:44 and Luke 11:25 is the Greek word kosmeo,
meaning “to set in order; empathy; ready for occupancy.”
Spirits of infirmity (Luke 13:11)
“Infirmity” is the Greek word astheneia, meaning “weakness; without strength.”
Infirmity can come through genetics, injury, habits (control consumption),
viruses, old age, etc.
 Session 4

Casting Out Demons

Breaking Principalities
Take up serpents (Mark 16:18)
Pictured in the heavens by the constellation Ophiuchus
Territorial spirits are not cast out—they are displaced.
Matthew 16:16–18; Ephesians 6:17–18
When prayer is offered, angels show up.

Casting out demons

To “cast out” means to “throw out” an uninvited intruder.
Demons must be cast out by someone stronger than them (Luke 11:20–22, Luke 10:19).
Most records of deliverance from demons are in Mark, the book that shows Jesus as the
Servant to deliver God’s people.
We have the authority to cast out demons that occupy sections of the spirit, soul,
and body.
To get delivered, the person must want the demon out.

Two methods of casting out demons

Can be done by another person using a greater authority than the demon
This is the most commonly known way of dealing with casting out demons.
First done by Jesus Christ (e.g., Matthew 8:16; Mark 1:25, Mark 5:1–13).
Can be done by one claiming the authority and expelling the demon through the power of
the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ
Mark 16:17
The Greek word ekballo means “to expel; throw out; cast out.”
The Word of God says to cast out demons, not ask out.
As the spirit, soul, and body was prepared for the abode of evil spirits, so they must be
prepared to cast them out.
People must be taught how to not oppose themselves when they are taken captive
by the devil because of forfeiting his or her own will (2 Timothy 2:25).

Binding the Strongman

Bind the hands
Remove all charms from body and remove all occult articles from the home.
Be freed from curses.
Jesus frees but the devil tries to enforce what has been forgiven.
Bind the feet
 Repent of sins
Declare war against the sin and change the exercise of the mind.
Forgive all others and remove bitterness (the fertile ground where demons thrive).

Expel (throw out) the demon.

In Mark 16:17, “cast out” is the Greek word exballo, meaning “to expel.”
Evil spirit = evil breath
Exhale the spirit person.
Do not suppress the expulsion.

Meeting the conditions

If the demons are bound, they will leave.
If the spirits do not leave, there is a reason why they can hold on: the conditions have not
been met.
It may be the person’s lack of repentance, honesty, or even knowledge.
People must stay free by their own will.

Maintaining the Proper Perspective

When Jesus sent out the 70, the disciples returned with joy that “even the demons are subject to
us in Your name (Luke 10:17).” However, Jesus exhorted them with the proper perspective of
spiritual warriors:

Do not rejoice that evil spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are
written in heaven (Luke 10:20).
 Session 5

Winning the War

Winning Implements
To win, you must have the proper attitude and take the proper actions.
Proper attitude is to stand (Ephesians 6:13–14).
Proper actions
Defense (Ephesians 6:15–17a)
Offense (Ephesians 6:17b–18)

“Win” is the Greek word nike, meaning “to overcome.”

To overcome in the spiritual arena, you must be on offense and advance against
the enemy.
To the victors go the spoils.

Promises of Victory
Examples of the many promises given in the Word of God for victory
Life in Paradise (Revelation 2:7)
Life in the new heavens and earth (Revelation 2:11)
To worship in the temple during the millennial kingdom (Revelation 2:17)
Authority of rulership in the millennial kingdom (Revelation 2:26)
Marriage supper of the Lamb; army of the Lord (Revelation 3:5)
Access into the heavenly Jerusalem in the new heavens and earth (Revelation 3:12)
To sit on the judgment throne with Jesus and God (Revelation 3:21)

The Verse of Victory: Revelation 12:11

“And they word of their

overcame testimony,
him (Satan) and they
by the blood did not love
of the Lamb, their lives
and by the to the death.”
Parallel truths in Ephesians 6:13–17 and Revelation 12:11
Attitude
Stand (Ephesians 6:13–14)
Love not their lives to the death (Revelation 12:11)
Action
Defense
Armor of God to guard the soul (Ephesians 6:15–17a)
Blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11)
Offense
Sword (rhema) of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17b)
Word of their testimony (Revelation 12:11)

Use Your Rhema Rifle

To win in the spirit realm, you must be vocal.

What comes out of your mouth will determine your eternal fate.

Your words are a two-edged sword.

One edge is a praise to God and blessings to people.
Other edge is a curse to demons.

Use your rhema rifle and shoot.

Use your rhema rifle for spiritual warfare.
Do not shoot other people or yourself.

To win in the spiritual arena, you must be vocal and attack!