Four Levels of Demonic Influence

Dr. Brian Chilton writes about four levels of demonic influence and how a person can avoid attacks from the enemy.

Source: Four Levels of Demonic Influence

By: Brian G. Chilton, Ph.D. | May 5, 2023

Everyone realizes that humanity is caught in a spiritual battle. If not, then a person should. Paul exhorts believers that they should “Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:10–11).[1] The apostle fully realized that the fight was not a physical one, but rather, it was a spiritual one. The enemy forces of darkness are constantly attempting to undermine and attack God’s plans and his people. Yet the enemy is limited by what he can do to God’s people. A lot of what he can do depends on a person’s reliance on God and God’s permissive will. Scripture indicates that a person can experience four levels of demonic influence.

First Level of Demonic Influence: Social Influence

The first level of demonic influence may seem counterintuitive because it does not necessarily originate from demonic forces. However, the enemy can manipulate a person’s thinking through social influences, emotional insecurities, and from a person’s own innate sinful desires. While the enemy is not directly involved, that does not mean that social or innate influences are any less threatening.

Scripture often speaks of the untrustworthy nature of the human heart. Jeremiah asserted that “the heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9). Jesus also noted that all kinds of evil originate from the human heart (Mk. 7:21–23). James spoke of the deadly nature of the human heart and how it ultimately leads to death (Jms. 1:14–15).

Even though social and cultural influences along with the issues of the human heart can lead one away from the leadership and purposes of God, the good news is that the Holy Spirit (God’s presence with us) comes alongside those who are redeemed, to offer help, encouragement, conviction, and education for those receptive to his call (Jn. 14:25–26). Without the Holy Spirit’s assistance and resistance to societal and emotional pressures, a person becomes like a ship with no rudder or a leaf blowing in the wind. In other words, a person finds oneself without any foundation. The enemy has a way of using such influences to cause a person to enter a proverbial house of mirrors in which the world and reality are viewed much differently than they actually exist.

Second Level of Demonic Influence: Demonic Temptation

The second category of demonic influence includes temptation. This occurs when the enemy tries to lead a person down a path that opposes the will and direction of God. Temptations not only include immoral behaviors, but they also could include dissuading a person from following God’s leadership, direction, and will. For instance, Satan attempted to thwart God’s plan in the life of Jesus (Matt. 4:1–11). He did so by offering Jesus an easier road without sacrifice, popularity and fame with little work, and selfishness over a life of service.

Satan also tempted Ananias to lie in Acts 5:3, and he led David to take a census of which God did not approve (1 Chron. 21:1). Most assuredly, Satan and his minions tempted Judas to betray Jesus. Other instances of demonic temptation include that of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:6–7), Esau (Gen. 25:29–34), Achan (Josh. 7:21), Samson (Judg. 14:16–17), Solomon (1 Kgs. 11:1, 4), and Peter (Matt. 26:69–75). In other words, everyone will face temptation sooner or later. The question is what a person does when temptation comes their way. As avowed in the Baker Encylopedia of Psychology and Counseling, “Yielding to sinful temptations arising from one’s own nature may make one increasingly susceptible to demonic temptation.”[2] Anyone who succumbs to temptation may find it increasingly difficult to resist (see Jn. 8:34).

Third Level of Demonic Influence: Demonic Oppression

When one continuously gives way to temptation in one’s life, the door to the third level of demonic influence may be opened—the door of demonic oppression. Oppression occurs when a demonic entity exerts “considerable influence over a person’s life short of actual possession.”[3] Unger discovered four effects of demonic oppression in Scripture. First, oppression often leads to the hardness of the heart toward the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4). Second, oppression could lead one toward apostasy and doctrinal corruption (1 Tim. 4:1). Third, it can also lead one to accept and adopt sinful behaviors into one’s life (2 Pet. 2:1–12). Finally, demonic oppression can lead to forms of physical illness (Lk. 13:10–16). As a caveat, not all physical illnesses are the result of demonic oppression.

Four Areas

How does oppression enter a person’s life? It has been suggested that four areas could open the door to oppression: 1) the involvement in the occult, 2) allowing one’s heart to grow bitter and full of hate, 3) indulgences, and 4) ministry activities that dilute the authority of God.[4]

Sometimes, oppression could stem from continued opposition where the enemy blocks ministry opportunities. In this case, a person of God did not do anything to invite oppression, but it could come from another person or region that is oppressed. In this case, a supernatural intervention from God is necessary to break the strongholds in that area. One such biblical case is found in the life of the apostle Paul. The apostle spoke of certain instances where he was not permitted to visit the Thessalonians due to the prevention of Satan (1 Thess. 2:18). We are not told exactly what happened but only that the enemy prevented Paul from doing what he wished. Here again, we must exercise caution because some opportunities are not allowed. After all, it does not cohere with the will and purpose of the Lord (Rom. 15:22; Acts 16:6–7).

Fourth Level of Demonic Influence: Demonic Possession

Finally, the last and most severe case of demonic influence involves demonic possession. Since the believer is filled with the Holy Spirit of God, demonic spirits cannot possess the child of God. A believer can be oppressed but not possessed. Thus, a believer finds added protection in their salvation through the insulated defense of God’s presence. As the psalmist notes, “The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps. 91:1). Those who do not have this protective insulation from God become sitting ducks for the possessive gunshots of the enemy.

Three Signs of Demonic Possession

It must be noted that demonic possession must not be confused with mental illnesses. A thorough mental assessment is needed before demonic possession is accepted. However, demonic possessions still occur in modern times. Yale-trained psychiatrist Dr. Richard Gallagher reports on his numerous interactions with real-life demonic possessions in his book Demonic Foes. Gallagher reports that after ruling out mental illness, three primary signs accompany genuine demonic possessions— “the ability to speak an unknown language, the awareness of hidden knowledge, and various abnormal physical signs, especially immense strength, but also humanly impossible bodily “movements,” extreme contortions, and even the rare levitation.”[5]

The Bible refers to individuals who were possessed. The Greek term daimonizomai indicates one who is under the control of a demonic entity. One such instance is with Mary Magdalene, a woman whom Jesus had delivered from the possession of seven demons (Mk. 16:9; Lk. 8:2). Luke states that Jesus had delivered a man in the synagogue who was demon-possessed (Lk. 4:33). Jesus also confronted a man who had been demon-possessed for many years. His case was so bad that he lived in tombs (Lk. 8:27–39). In all cases, when Jesus confronted the demons, the demons had no choice but to flee.

Conclusion

As we conclude this study, we must note common trends that are found in all forms of demonic involvement. In more severe cases of demonic influence, a person almost always opens the door to the intruders. As Gallagher asserts, demons are “cosmic terrorists.”[6] They want to terrorize humanity because of the divine imprint and value that God has placed on human beings. But how does one open the door to these demonic terrorists? As previously noted, practices of the occult, harboring bitterness and hate, continued immoral behavior, the hardness of one’s heart, and false forms of worship are the common threads that often lead to more intense demonic involvement. These practices open the door to demonic spirits.

Some people may claim, “This sounds like a lot of spiritual mumbo jumbo.” But consider the continued depravity of our time. Nearly every week we hear another case of a shooting. Newspapers are full of headlines involving atrocious acts of violence and immorality. The more a culture or society turns away from God, the more that culture or society can expect increasing demonic influence upon the psyche of the culture.

Solution to the Problem

However, we are not without hope. The solution to this problem is startlingly simple. The demonic realm cannot stand near the presence of God. As soon as Jesus approached them, the demons had to flee. In the book of James, we are given a simple three-step solution to demonic influence. First, a person submits to God (Jms. 4:7). That is, a person submits to the authority, power, and authority of God Most High.

Second, a person resists the devil (Jms. 4:7). A person commits oneself to Christ and then stands against the powers of the demonic realm.

If these two steps are performed, then the third naturally flows in that the devil has no choice but to flee (Jms. 4:7). The devil and his minions are formidable foes and are not to be taken lightly. However, they are no match for the awesome power and glory of our God Most High.

About the Author

Brian G. Chilton earned his Ph.D. in the Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University (with high distinction). He is the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast and the founder of Bellator Christi. Brian received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); earned a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, and plans to purse philosophical studies in the near future. He is also enrolled in Clinical Pastoral Education to better learn how to empower those around him. Brian is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Brian has served in pastoral ministry for over 20 years and currently serves as a clinical hospice chaplain as well as a pastor.

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Notes

[1] Unless otherwise noted, all quoted Scripture comes from the Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman, 2020).

[2] David G. Benner and Peter C. Hill, eds., Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology and Counseling, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1999), 327.

[3] M. F Unger, Demons in the World Today (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1971), 113.

[4] T. B. White, The Believer’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare (Ann Arbor, MI: Vine, 1990), 150.

[5] Richard Gallagher, Demonic Foes: My Twenty-Five Years as a Psychiatrist Investigating Possessions, Diabolic Attacks, and the Paranormal (New York, NY: HarperOne, 2022), 81.

[6] Gallagher, Demonic Foes, 243.