Freedom from Demonization: Identifying Roots, Healing Wounds & Casting Out
This is part four of our spiritual warfare series. For the complete discussion of this topic, watch the episode on YouTubeor listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
For the past several weeks, we’ve been teaching on demonization — what it is, how it happens, and why so many believers unknowingly live with spiritual bondage. Today’s focus is one of the most important parts of the entire series: how to gain freedom from demonization.
This topic matters deeply to us because the modern church often overlooks it and because of our personal testimony. Many believers avoid it or misunderstand it and live bound by the demonic.
Gaining freedom from demonization is not the central focus of our Christian life, but it can be an important component of becoming more like Christ, healing the heart, and closing doors the enemy has used to influence our lives.
The information below outlines steps you can take to gain freedom.
Freedom Begins With Belief
Before we talk about steps to freedom, we must talk about belief. If we don’t believe freedom is possible or needed, we won’t pursue it. And unbelief is one of the biggest barriers to breaking free from demonization.
Many Christians carry ungodly beliefs such as:
“Nothing spiritual is happening. All supernatural language in Scripture is symbolic.”
“Whatever happens in life is God’s will — I just have to accept it.”
“Jesus saved me from hell, but freedom from things on earth isn’t part of the Christian life.”
Scripture confronts these beliefs head‑on.
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” — Galatians 5:1. Jesus didn’t just pay for salvation — He paid for freedom.
“He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives… to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” — Luke 4:18. Freedom from the demonic was central to Jesus’ ministry.
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!” — Luke 10:17. This was a quote from the 72 that Jesus sent out to proclaim the good news, showing that authority over demons is given to more than just the 12 apostles.
And Jesus commanded believers to continue everything He taught and modeled: “Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you… I am with you always, to the end of the age.” — Matthew 28:20
If Jesus freed people from demons everywhere He went, and He told His followers to operate as He did, then freedom from the demonic is still part of the Christian life today.
Freedom is available.
Authority is available.
Breakthrough is available.
But we must believe it.
Step 1: Identifying the Root
Demonization is often subtle. The enemy prefers influence without detection. Many believers don’t realize demonic activity is present until something triggers it — stress, trauma, conflict, transition, or even the presence of God- but even then it will often show up as a symptom that looks natural:
Anger
Fear
Addictions
Lust
Passivity
Perfectionism
Apathy
Shame
Chronic patterns of sin
Emotional reactions that feel “automatic”
But symptoms are not the root.
Treating symptoms without addressing the root is like mowing weeds — they always grow back.
Common Roots of Demonization
Trauma
Abuse
Childhood wounds
Ungodly beliefs
Unrepentant sin
Generational curses
Words spoken over us.
Moments of deep pain or betrayal
Many roots begin in childhood. Children cannot process trauma as well as adults, so they hide emotionally to protect themselves. That hiding becomes fertile ground for the enemy and can open the door. As adults, people often say, “This is just who I am,” not realizing a demonic foothold was established decades earlier. Childhood is often a prime time for the enemy to attack because children are less aware of what’s actually going on. The enemy knows that if he can get someone young to start believing lies, it will be much harder for them to recognize it in their older-age self because they’ll likely take it on as their identity. We have to remember that Satan plays the long game, and he has his own plan just like God.
This is why discernment is essential.
This is why prayer is essential.
This is why the Holy Spirit must lead the process. We must identify if what we are facing is spiritual or natural.
Sample Prayer: Identifying the Root
“Holy Spirit, reveal the root of FILL IN THE BLANK. Show me what I’ve accepted as normal that is not from You. Show me where the enemy gained access — through trauma, sin, lies, or generational patterns. Bring memories, moments, and truth to the surface. Expose what has been hidden. Amen.”
Step 2: Inner Healing (Not Always Needed)
Inner healing is the process of inviting Jesus into the places and memories where trauma, pain, betrayal, or fear entered our hearts.
Sometimes demonization is tied directly to a wound.
Sometimes the wound must be healed before the demonic can be uprooted.
Sometimes Jesus needs to speak truth into a moment where lies took root.
Inner healing is not reliving trauma — it is letting Jesus rewrite the moment with His presence.
It is recommended to seek a Spirit-led Christian counselor for help with this if there is serious trauma or abuse that has occurred.
Sample Prayer: Inner Healing
“Jesus, come into this memory. Come into this wound. Show me where You were. Speak truth where lies took root. Heal the broken places in my heart. Restore what was damaged. Make me whole. Amen.”
Step 3: Repentance
Repentance is almost always needed to gain freedom from demonization.
Repentance is more than remorse (feeling sorry or guilty about doing something). It means fully changing not only one's actions but also one's mind and beliefs. This is where a lot of people get hung up, because they believe remorse = repentance, which is not true. We really need to understand the original meaning of the word repentance in Greek:
Metanoeo - to think differently and to change. Three steps.
New knowledge.
Regret for previous course and displeasure with self.
A change of action.
This requires us to be transformed by the renewing of the mind so that our desires become God's desires. This is why scripture takes such a strong stance on taking every thought captive and renewing our mind. Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Repentance:
Breaks agreement with sin
Shuts doors the enemy used to enter
Aligns us with God’s truth
The need for repentance is not only personal but can be generational if sin patterns have existed generationally. If sin patterns repeat across generations, you may need to close a generational door.
Sample Prayer: Repentance
“Father God, I repent for the sin of FILL IN THE BLANK and ask that you forgive me for the times and ways I have participated in this. I choose to align my thoughts, actions, and life with your word, and I completely turn away from FILL IN THE BLANK and choose to follow you.”
Step 4: Forgiveness (Not Always Needed)
Unforgiveness is one of the enemy’s strongest footholds. And it can be a block to freedom and allow demonization to continue. There must be true forgiveness from the heart, which will remove the legal right for the enemy to operate.
Forgiveness does not:
Excuse what happened
Minimize pain
Require reconciliation
Forgiveness releases the person from your judgment, releases you from bondage, and causes the demonic to lose its grip.
Sample Prayer: Forgiveness
“Father God, I come to you and ask you to cleanse my heart. I choose to forgive NAME for doing FILL IN THE BLANK. I release them in my heart, and I choose to give my pain to you, and I ask for healing.”
Step 5: Renouncing
Renouncing is verbally breaking agreement with the enemy and declaring that you reject any belief, sin, generational issues, and any blessings/curses you may have received as part of your participation.
It sounds like
“I renounce the spirit of fear.”
“I renounce the lie that I am unworthy.”
“I renounce every generational curse of addiction.”
“I renounce every spirit connected to childhood trauma.”
Renouncing is legal language in the spiritual realm.
It cancels contracts.
It breaks covenants.
It severs ties.
An important point to remember. We cannot gain freedom from something we identify with or benefit from. Example... If someone has a spirit of anger/rage that has allowed them to manipulate and control others or protect themselves, they cannot agree with or find identity in the anger/rage if they
want to gain freedom. They must renounce it, even if it appears to have a positive benefit.
Sample Declaration: Renouncing
“I renounce the sin of FILL IN THE BLANK that my ancestors may have committed and that I, in any way, have participated in this, and I reject it and all its practices. I renounce any benefits, blessings, and curses that I have received or may be operating in my life as a result of this sin.”
Step 6: Commanding and Casting Out
This is the part that makes some believers uncomfortable, but Scripture is clear: deliverance involves commanding the demonic to come out and not come off.
Jesus did it.
The disciples did it.
The seventy‑two did it.
The early church did it.
Believers today do it.
It is not dramatic.
It is not emotional.
It is simply exercising authority in Jesus' name.
A good reminder is the saying “You can't crucify a demon, and you can't cast out the flesh." This is why it is so important to seek Holy Spirit's discernment to understand whether something is spiritual or flesh at its root.
It is a good idea to have someone do this with you, but you can do it yourself if you feel led by Holy Spirit.
When a demonic entity leaves, there may be different manifestations or feelings such as:
Yawning
Shaking
Feeling lighter
Feeling like a weight is lifted
Coughing
Vomitting
Body trembles or shakes
Eye fluttering
Something to remember. Some demonic entities may leave easily, but others can be stubborn and may take time. An example would be the story of the demoniac in Mark 5:7-10. These verses show that Jesus had been commanding the demons to come out, but they were digging their heels in to stay as long as they could.
Generally, spirits related to deeply entrenched sin patterns or issues in someone's life will take longer because they are "the strongest" in someone's life. If something feels stuck, ask Holy Spirit to reveal what the block is. Sometimes an entity is stronger than others. Often, something else may need to be repented of or addressed first. For example, someone may feel a spirit of anger holding on and not wanting to leave. If that spirit gained access through unforgiveness, the individual most likely will need to forgive whoever they need to for the demon to leave. Otherwise, it may try to hold on because it has some legal ground to stay.
Sample Command: Commanding and Casting Out
“Spirit of FILL IN THE BLANK, I command you to come out of me in the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of his blood. You have no right to be a part of my life, and you must leave me.”
Step 7: Walking Out Your Freedom
Super important point here. Getting rid of the demonic in your life is not the finish line — it is often the starting point.
Once freedom comes, believers must:
Pursue holiness
Guard their hearts
Renew their minds
Stay rooted in Scripture.
Maintain accountability
Close old doors
Build new habits
Walk in the Spirit daily.
Freedom must be stewarded.
If we return to old patterns, old agreements, or old environments, we can reopen the door to demons coming back, as the Bible says in Matthew 12:43-45: “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, "I will return to my house from which I came," And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first.
Final Thoughts: Freedom Is For You
Jesus paid for your salvation.
Jesus paid for your healing.
Jesus paid for your freedom.
Jesus gave you authority.
You were not created to live bound.
You were not created to live tormented.
You were not created to live stuck in patterns that don’t reflect Christ.
You were created to walk in the fullness of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit, and the freedom of the Spirit.
If you see patterns in your life that don’t reflect Jesus:
Don’t ignore them.
Don’t accept them.
Don’t justify them.
Don’t call them “personality.”
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the root.
Invite Jesus into the wound.
Repent.
Forgive.
Renounce.
Command.
Walk out your freedom.
This is the life Christ paid for.
Prayer: Father God, we come to you right now, and we thank you so much for the freedom that you've given us. Father, help us all to sit and meditate and reflect on your word and who you say we are as your children, uniquely created and thought of before time began. Father, we know that our enemy prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, but we stand in boldness and confidence that the blood of Jesus conquers all and the authority of the name of Jesus and his blood conquers all. Father, we choose to walk in that power and authority. We ask, Father, that you show and highlight any demonization that's occurring or anything in our flesh that should not be there. Highlight the root to us, Father. Highlight what it is that's going on in our hearts that's allowing something to continue, allowing something to operate, allowing an open door. Father, we pray for complete, total healing, freedom, and deliverance. Take us deeper with you. We command, declare, and decree that any demonic affliction will leave because your word is true. Your word says that you've given us power and authority over the works of darkness. We stand firm on that. And we ask that you heal our hearts and make us more like you. The goal, Father, is deeper intimacy with you and fulfilling the plans you have for us. We love you, we praise you, and we thank you so much. In Jesus' name. Amen.
