Spirit of Death

What is the Spirit of Death? 

Sitting across from someone and seeing the hopelessness on their face is something that is seen way too often in freedom ministry. The spirit of death is tormenting, painful, and destructive. There is, however, freedom from its grip!

Although death of the body is usually associated with the spirit of death, it can manifest in finances, marriage, relationships, calling, career, and emotions. What makes it difficult to pinpoint is because of its wide range of effects.

Derek Prince states that death is not just a condition, but a personality. Death is present anywhere there is no life!

What does the spirit of death feel like?

Regrettably, the spirit of death’s manifestations can be felt by the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. According to the book of Proverbs, the power of life and death is in the tongue. It’s important how we think and what we say when we begin feeling the intrusion of lifeless thoughts.

We don’t want to come into agreement with any unclean spirit. Below is a list of symptoms that may be felt by a person under the influence of the spirit of death:

• Feeling like the sides of life are closing in with every breath
• Breathing is painful
• Speaking takes way too much energy
• Unbearable pain with thoughts that death is the only escape
• Hopelessness  
• Absence of Life  
• Fatigue – “done”  
• The end.  
• Feeling broken 
• Feeling numb 
• Sickness 
• Hatred for life 

In my book, Spirit of Death, I share how to recognize this spirit and deal with it effectively. For this article, I want to share what this spirit is, how it can be felt, and how it may have gained access. If you find that you are bound by this assignment from darkness, do not give up hope! Press in to Christ Jesus for the freedom He already has prepared for those who follow Him!

Intrusive Thoughts

Intrusive thoughts of death are linger when this spirit is at work. Thoughts like,

• “What if I wreck and die?”
• “I think I will die of a heart attack”
• “I should just kill myself.”
• “It would be better for others if I were gone.”
• “Nothing works out for me.”
• “There’s no use in living. Death would be better.”

While the thoughts of death are unwanted, they hang like a cloud. Moreover, there are those who also experience rage, visualizing blood, or dream about death. Not everyone who has an issue with this spirit has extreme mindsets, but typically they do have thoughts that would surprise those who care about them.

Pastor the emotions and into daily life

A person can feel like all areas of their lives have dried up. Death extends its reach past the physical and can impact:

• Finances
• Relationships
• Children living in sin
• Career (work can be unbearable)
• Dread for each day
• Alienation due to thoughts of death, murder, or violence
• Mental health
• Physical health

When something so devious is felt in the body, the mind, the soul, and in every area of life, it can be all-consuming and overwhelming.

How does the spirit of death gain access? 

The enemy can’t help himself to attack

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 10:10 ESV

According to the book of Luke in the Bible, Satan asked to sift Simon like wheat. Satan was looking for an access point. Although Simon was certain that he would not fail the test, he allowed access through his doubt and the lies he believed. Sometimes we do not realize we have opened ourselves up for the enemy and allowed him access to our soul.

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. ³²But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” ³³But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” ³⁴Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

Luke 22:31-34 NKJV

Open Doors

An open door is an access point by which an intruder can come in and take advantage. Access “open doors” typically involve sin, trauma, or areas where we have come into agreement with the lies of the enemy. Some of the open doors that the spirit of death may enter could be:

• A traumatic death experience 
• Premature death of a loved one or family history of suicide  
• Believing lies about sicknesses, disease or early death  
• Personal near-death experience(s) 
• Accidents 
• Trauma 
• Touching a dead body 
• Having an abortion or threat of abortion
• Prolonged/life-threatening sickness 
• A death wish 
• Fascination with death 
• Occult involvement 
• Un-repented sin 
• Hatred, bitterness 
• Unforgiveness 
• Movies, video games (eye gate)  
• Music 
• Coming into agreement in regards to words spoken about death (for example: doctor giving a death sentence through a diagnosis) 
• These spirits may linger in areas like hospitals, funeral homes, etc

Eviction Processes

Did you know you can’t just kick someone out of your home if you allowed them to be there in the first place? I had a family member who allowed their adult child to move home with some verbal agreements as to what was expected. The son did not hold up his end of the agreement and quickly began using drugs and stealing from his parents.

When the parents tried to enforce their rules, he refused to leave. They ended up having to get the law involved. However, since his belongings were in the home, and he had been allowed to live there, they had to start an eviction process to get their unwanted guest to leave.

Had the young man been a squatter sneaking onto the property and setting up camp, they could have called the police and gotten him out of there. This analogy plays an important roll of getting spiritual squatters out of our lives as well!

Our Authority

The name of Jesus is the authority and is the law! A squatter is a spirit who has no right or invitation to be present. It has no legal grounds and can be evicted without notice or extra legal steps.

However, if a spirit is not truly a squatter but has come in through an access point, then the legal grounds by which it is there but be revoked. Since the power of life and death is in the tongue, this process is done with our voices. We can simply renounce our agreement, submit our whole lives to God. After that, we can resist and command the enemy to go for our freedom!

Processing Traumatic Events

When we fail to process traumatic events in our lives or deal with things that have plagued us, we inadvertently provide an access points for the enemy to sift us. In the book How to be Happily Single, the author describes trauma by stating,

“Trauma was an abusive boyfriend I let take up residence in my heart and mind. For as long as I wasn’t ready to kick him out, he’d linger around, making snide remarks about how I was never good enough, how I didn’t deserve love, or how being single proved that I was worthless.”

How to be Happily Single by Kirstie Kolbie

Undealt with trauma appears to bring a host of unwanted demonic friends led by the spirit of death. Often the result of the enemy’s interference is as tormenting to the person as the initial traumatic event.

If you know someone who is tormented with what may be the spirit of death, there is hope! Isolating the open doors and getting healing will be monumental in freedom.