This brings up an important question: could it be that many of the mental health issues that people struggle with today have a demonic element or a spiritual root? Based on both Scripture and years of practical experience, I certainly believe this to be the case. But Jesus addressed the spiritual root of his torment, expelled the legion of demons, and the man was made completely whole in his mind. Today, such a man would be confined in a hospital and considered severely mentally ill. He was constantly crying out and cutting himself with stones. People would try to keep him chained, but he would break through the shackles. He lived like an animal, naked and among the tombs. The term legion implies that there were thousands of demons harassing him. The most severe case of demonic torment recorded in the Bible is the man with the legion of demons, found in Mark 5:1-20. But because of the lack of understanding in the area of spiritual warfare and deliverance, or for fear of appearing crazy, people do not consider that some of their thoughts can have a demonic origin. Many times, the tormenting thoughts that people experience are from evil spirits. The enemy can plant thoughts into our hearts or minds, just as he did with Judas: “The devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him” (John 13:2). Many people do not realize that not every thought that enters their mind is their own. Overwhelming and irrational fears, disturbing and intrusive thoughts, accusations and condemnation, feelings of guilt and shame, self-hatred and compulsion toward self-harm, suicidal thoughts-these are all possible ways that evil spirits can seek to torment people. Demons that aim to torment people often target their attacks in the mind of their victims. It means to trouble, harass, vex, torment, or disturb. The word tormented in these passages is ochleo in the original Greek language. The Book of Acts records a similar event: “Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed” (Acts 5:16). Crowds of people came to Jesus from all directions to be healed of sickness and delivered from demonic torment. The Gospel of Luke describes people being set free from these types of tormenting spirits: “And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. One of the specific ways that demons seek to influence people is to torment and harass. The following excerpts are from Chapter Eight of my new book, Setting Captives Free. Is it possible that evil spirits are at the root of some of the mental health issues of our day? As the Church, we must address the spiritual side of mental health, while not becoming out of balance or extreme.
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