One day your or someone in your family has a seizure. They are rushed to the emergency room and after many hours of waiting and several tests they are being referred to a neurologist for specialized treatment as an epileptic. After a few more seizure attacks the neurologist places them on a regiment of strong drugs to control the epileptic activity. Still after more seizures you come to realize nothing is getting better.
Why can't the doctors give answers that work?! What can be done?!
The problem might not only be a neurological problem.
It might be something more than the medical world is willing to admit.
This could be a demonic attack that manifests in the form of a seizure.
In Mark 9:14-29 we have the story where Jesus healed a man's son who had a "mute spirit".
The symptoms this son had when he was being attacked are described in verse 18 which says, ". .wherever it seizes him." He was experiencing seizures while he was under attack by the demonic spirit. He would "foam at the mouth, gnash his teeth and become rigid." In verse 20 he was convulsing and in verse 21 the father said his son had been thrown into the water and fire by this evil spirit since he was a little child. All these symptoms are the same as described in tonic clonic seizures which you can read about below under the Types of Seizures. The point is, the attacks by this deaf and dumb spirit (verse 15) are manifesting as seizures. This lets us know there is a good possibility people enduring seizures could be misdiagnosed and may need spiritual healing instead of neurological treatment.
The more information you are exposed to concerning a subject, the better you are able to conduct yourself with wisdom and work toward answers and solutions. Let's look at some information available about epilepsy and demonic attacks so you can walk in wisdom and understanding.
Facts about Epilepsy
Epilepsy is defined by the Mayo Clinic as:
. . .a central nervous system disorder (neurological disorder) in which nerve cell activity in the brain becomes disrupted, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations and sometimes loss of consciousness. Seizure symptoms can vary widely. Some people with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while others repeatedly twitch their arms or legs. While a single seizure doesn't mean you have epilepsy, at least two unprovoked seizures are generally required for an epilepsy diagnosis. Even mild seizures may require treatment because they can be dangerous during activities such as driving or swimming. Treatment with medications or sometimes surgery can control seizures for about 80 percent of people with epilepsy. Some children with epilepsy may also outgrow their condition with age. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/epilepsy/home/ovc-20117206
To help you understand the many different types of seizures the Epilepsy Society published these simple facts:
Focal Partial Seizures
The seizure starts in, and affects, just part of the brain sometimes called the 'focus' of the seizures. It might affect a large part of one hemisphere or just a small area in one of the lobes.
Simple Focal Seizures
Also called "SFS" a small part of one of the lobes of the brain is affected. The person is conscious (aware and alert) and will usually know that something is happening and will remember the seizure afterwards.
Complex Focal Seizures
Also called "CFS" affect a bigger part of one hemisphere (side) of the brain than a simple focal seizure. The person’s consciousness is affected, they may be confused and make strange movements called automatisms.
Generalized or Grand Mal Seizures
Generalized seizures affect both sides of the brain at once and can happen without warning. The person will be unconscious (except in myoclonic seizures), even if just for a few seconds. Afterwards they will not remember what happened during the seizure.
Secondarily Generalized Seizures
Sometimes focal seizures spread from one side (hemisphere) to both sides of the brain. This is called a secondarily generalized seizure because it starts as a focal seizure and then becomes generalized. When this happens the person becomes unconscious and will usually have a tonic clonic ('convulsive' or shaking) seizure. If this happens very quickly, they may not be aware that it started as a focal seizure.
Absences or Petit Mal Seizures
Absence seizures, or petit mal seizures, are more common in children than adults and can happen very frequently. During an absence a person becomes unconscious for a short time. They might not remember what happened during the seizure.
Tonic Seizures
The person’s muscles suddenly become stiff. If they are standing they often fall, usually backwards, and may injure the back of their head. Tonic seizures tend to be very brief and happen without warning.
Atonic Seizures
Also called 'drop attack', the person’s muscles suddenly relax and they become floppy. If they are standing they often fall, usually forwards, and may injure the front of their head or face.
Clonic seizures
Clonic seizures are convulsive seizures but the person's body does not go stiff at the start.
Myoclonic Seizures
Myoclonic means ‘muscle jerk’. Muscle jerks are not always due to epilepsy. Some people have them as they fall asleep. Myoclonic seizures are brief but can happen in clusters.
Tonic Clonic Seizures
At the start of the seizure the person becomes unconscious, their body goes stiff, and if they are standing up they usually fall backwards. During the seizure they jerk and shake (convulse) as their muscles relax and tighten rhythmically.
A person may be experiencing seizures that show symptoms in multiple types of seizures at the same time. Seizures can affect an individual's memory, causing loss of time during the seizure and other blocks of time not related to the seizure.
Facts about Demonic Attacks
The demonic attack mentioned above is told in three placed in the Bible:
Matt 17:14 Mark 9:14 Luke 9:37
The fact that people have experienced oppression and attacks from demonic beings is not something that should be ignored. Demonic activity has been misguided under the realm of superstition for generations though this activity has never ceased nor has it ever slowed down. Jesus wants us to be aware of this activity and was so specific about this need he said in Mark 16:17 ". .these signs will follow those who believe; in my name they will cast out demons. . ."
Some will refer to this activity as being "demonic possession" because the symptoms generally associated with possession are the same as most of the neurological diagnosis's interpreted by medical and psychiatric professionals. But whether someone is actually possessed or just under attach, the symptoms and results are the same, people enduring seizure activity that can cripple them from living a normal life to causing physical trauma that can cause death.
We know that Satan wants to destroy everything about our lives to include kill us (John 10:10).
He tried to destroy Job in the Book of Job and he wants to bring disease, hardship, and destruction upon everyone in the human race.
The greatest thing Satan wants to do is keep all people from praising, loving and worshiping God.
Seizure activity attacks the very source inside a human that generates our desire to worship God.
I posted another study in this free online library that teaches how our desire to understand and know God comes from our worship of God. A study from three major medical institutes, John Hopkins School of Medicine being one of them, has uncovered how a part of our brain is the "seat of spirituality" for all humans.
The following is an excerpt of my study, "Immortalized Worship" under the subject Worship in the Manthano Library located in our website. Here is the link to the entire study:
The temporal lobe is shown here, which is the spot where spiritually is generated in the human existence. As you will see from the excerpt of the study, this is the same place that is affected by seizure activity.
Temporal Lobe: The God Spot
Neurologists believe they've found the sweet spot for spiritual experience in the temporal lobe. Some scientists say the temporal lobe, which is associated with emotion and memory, is the seat of spirituality. It's also where epileptic activity takes place. If Satan can destroy the ability of the temporal lobe with the sickness of epilepsy, spirituality can become unstable. If worship seats God's authority over this part of your mind, epilepsy is overthrown as God has a place where our emotions are enthroned by worship.
It is in moments like this, when we reach peaks of worship that connect us to God through the Spirit, and we can experience miraculous acts of healing to our bodies. While involved in worship on this level the following is taking place:
1. Our brain-stem is touching God through the spirit.
2. God seats himself in us, connecting with us in the spirit through our temporal lobe.
3. This activity heightens the senses in our parietal lobe and we hear God in our spirit as we connect and understand God more perfectly. In the parietal lobe we start gaining wisdom and knowledge of who God is and how we connect to him.
4. Then in the frontal lobe, all the brain activity is brought together as the worship experience. It is here we begin experiencing spiritual concept and learning to accept the reality of the worship experience.
In truth, our brains help us to process God because he created the brain with chemicals that respond to high levels of spiritual activity. These chemicals trigger the body to respond with corrective measures that actually result in healing and regeneration. Worship activates these chemicals causing us the ability to be healed of all diseases and sickness.
Physical symptoms that can indicate there is possibly a demonic attack:
When CT scan does not show any epileptic activity.
When EKG does not show any trauma to the heart.
When the medical field is unable to give you specifics that are causing the seizures.
Spiritual symptoms that can indicate there is possibly a demonic attack:
The seizures are during times of intense worship.
The seizures are during times when the person is performing in their anointing.
Personal Example
The reason I made a study on this subject is a personal one. My son, Jason Holland, started having seizures when he was in the third grade. The results from the medical professionals was not helping us find answers and his medications were not helping at all. By the time Jason was in the eighth grade we were taking him to an epileptic specialist in Memphis, Tennessee. This specialist explained after running him through all their tests and analysis, all of their medical knowledge and equipment was showing them nothing. She explained further that their research and experience level with epilepsy is capable of showing every seizure a person has had from the first to the last and that they were able to document them all, no matter how long the person had been experiencing seizures. It was her professional opinion that Jason did not have epilepsy. Jason was weened of the medication but the problem was, he was still having seizures.
We watch Jason have six to ten more serious seizures through the next four years. Then one day while he was working out a problem on the computer (which is part of his anointing) I noticed him having the same symptoms starting when he was having a seizure but this time the demon pick him up and slam him against the wall. While he was he was on the floor struggling for air, I saw hand-prints form on his throat as this demon was trying to choke the life right out of my son. I spoke out to the evil spirit and it tried to rebuke me from making him accountable. I commanded the spirit to come off of my son, go into hell and wait for its judgement. In that moment the evil spirit came off of him and Jason became fully coherent, right then. It was in that moment that I became fully aware that all these years Jason was being attacked by a demonic spirit. As he became older and started walking in his anointing, the attacks became more serious and always while he was performing his anointed giftings. This study is a result of the things I learned and was able to help my own son to become victorious over demonic spiritual attacking on him. Jason is free of all attacks today but he remains on guard because Satan is an enemy we should not take for granted.
How to Overcome Demonic Attacks
It is important that a person receive Jesus as the Lord of their life and denounce any activity that involves Satan (Romans 10:13). The a person needs to follow Jesus Christ and his teachings. If they are not involved in a local church, find one that teaches the Bible, Jesus Christ as Lord, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the world today. Have someone lay hands on you and accept the baptism of the Holy Spirit so you can use the spiritual tools we have been given by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Understand we have the Gifts of the Spirit (1Corinthians 12:1-10), the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), and the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) as spiritual tools so that we can overcome in this life. When information is present to us through revelation, if we accept it, we grow in our spirit and we learn to overcome in all things.
Until Jesus came and started sharing these type things with his disciples and they in turn started sharing with the Christian world, people did not know they could overcome in these things. People would go the to the prophets and those they knew were connected to God to get things solved. Examples are Elijah and Elisha. But once Jesus showed up, he started showing how the Kingdom of Heaven being here on the earth and being placed inside us, gives us the ability to overcome the world.
Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
He also said, "…the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John 14:12)
We do not have to live beaten up or without hope or understanding, but we can seek truth through the Word and guidance by the Holy Spirit. We can learn and know what is possible to do so that we can overcome anything coming against us. We can gain wisdom and understanding from those who have been through the same things and we can start doing something about it right now.
Things to Say and Stop the Attacks
One of the things Jason explained to me about the attacks is most of the time he always knew before it started. He would have a specific feeling he always called déjà vu, but it was most likely that he always experienced the same sensation just moments before he was fully involved in a spiritual attack that resulted in a seizure. A few times the attacks hit him before he knew what was taking place. As Jason became more familiar with these early symptoms he was able to speak against the attack and take control over the evil spirit.
For people old enough to know what is happening to them, they can say the following whenever they sense a seizure is about to happen:
"Spirit of epilepsy, you have no authority over me any longer.
I bind you in the Name of Jesus Christ.
I am free from epileptic seizures in the Name of Jesus."
You can boldly and confidently address the “spirit” of epilepsy and say,
“Epilepsy, I thought I had to live with you until now but I don't. Loose me and don’t return. I call myself healed, in Jesus’ Name.”
For those who are too young to understand what is taking place you can say the same things over them and have the same results even while the seizure is going on. Speak against the evil spirit and say: "I command you in the Name of Jesus Christ to come off (name the person), go back to hell and stay there until your judgement."
Remember after the seizures have stopped for away Satan is going to try to cause you to walk in fear as he hits you again with another spirit of epilepsy. But the Bibles teaches we can be aware of his devices (2nd Corinthians 2:11). Just say these words out loud:
“Spirit of fear, I rebuke you. I will not fear. Fear is the opposite of faith. I am a child of God and you will obey me. Go, in Jesus’ Name. Spirit of epilepsy and all seizures, I rebuke you in the Strong Name of Jesus. You have no authority over me. I am free from you in Jesus' Strong Name."
Always remember to tell the demonic spirit to: ". .go back to hell and stay there until your judgement."
This will keep the spirit from attacking anyone else.
Doors of Opening
The greatest question people want to know is how did this get started in the first place?
How does Satan get attached on or in someone?
The thing to understand about Satan is he is looking for a way to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).
When people do not understand the devil's devices, it is easy for him to attach himself or his demons to them. Because Satan is the ruler of this world (John 14:30) if there is nothing there to stop him, Satan will take it over. He will take captive what he can at his will (2Timothy 2:26). He waits to snare everyone who leaves themselves open to his deception, especially when they are not aware anything is taking place.
Superstitions, religious rhetoric and traditions, social ideologies, and fear of seeking the truth when that truth is not accepted, are just a few of the things that keep people from understanding the things Satan does to take over and control a person. Because most advanced societies ignore that demonic oppression exists, most people do not accept that demonic attacks ever take place. This arrogant attitude can open a person up to the exposure of satanic deception. Then as demonic spirits continue to expose themselves without opposition, it becomes easy for a person to fall under the captivity of satanic strongholds. Combine this with sinful or godless lifestyles and demonic attacks can go through many generations without ever being expected or recognized. This is not to say that a person is a sinful or ungodly person if they are being attached with an epileptic spirit, but one of the openings Satan uses for his demons to build strongholds is by people not living holy lives or not being committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. James 4:7 says to submit yourself to God and resist the devil. When we are not drawing closer to God and not resisting the devil, the evil spirits can quietly build up strongholds that can be difficult to overcome. One of these strongholds is epilepsy.
We can overcome these spirits by knowledge, understanding, and authority that we have because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, His blood, the power of His name, the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and experiences from people that have worked through these things. James 4:8 teaches us that if we will draw near to God he will draw near to us. If we purify our hearts by living holy, we are ensuring we close any doors that might open for satanic oppression.
Things to Always Remember
It is important that people become informed. The more you know about something the more you can conduct yourself in wisdom and truly come to intelligent conclusions. If you back this up with truths from the Word of God, not a religion or tradition, and follow the concepts taught by Jesus Christ, then you can learn ways to solve the problem or need.
Remember that the main reason demons attack through epilepsy is to take captive over a person's ability to worship God and subdue the individual's ability to perform in their anointing: that specific gifting that is given by God for the edifying of the body of Christ and ministry purpose of the individual.
Worship is the emotion generated by our brain to honor, love and show gratitude to God for who he is and what he does. When we are oppressed or subdued from doing this, our attraction to God is weakened. Epilepsy attacks the temporal lobe which is paralyzed during seizure activity, disabling a person's ability to respond and worship. Having this information educates a person so they can utilize the spiritual tools Christ has made available for all believers. So worship and worship often to combat evil spirits.
Stay Holy. Holiness is being pure as God is pure. We can become more holy daily by following God as He directs us to be, not as you choose in some form of religion. Religion is what man thinks God is being injected into society. Faith in God is not religion. Faith is God being injected into man. In faith you do things according to God and his ways. You maintain holiness by maintaining relationship with God. Holiness will resist the devil and cause him to flee because you are not threatened by his tactics.
When you are using the Gifts of the Spirit (1Corinthians 12:1-10), the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), and the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) satanic oppression and attacks will have no power over you.
As Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).