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While searching the Internet for information about demons, she happened to locate, through one of the search engines, a somewhat-related study on Daily Bible Study that I had written during the previous year and wrote to me asking for help. Although I'm not a doctor, I strongly suspected, at least at first, that the lady was suffering from some sort of mental illness. However, I really couldn't be sure, nor am I to this day (although I have become more convinced that she really did have a demon), but since she asked me specifically from the Biblical perspective, I replied to explain, according to the Bible, how it is that demons are able to have power over people, and how that power can be overcome. I've never been troubled by a demon, nor have I ever encountered one, but if I ever did, I know, based on the Bible, exactly what I would do and say to rid myself of it, and I know, based on the Bible, that it would be gone.
Spiritual "Vacuum"
There is a saying that "nature hates a vacuum," in that when something is "empty," there is always something that naturally wants to fill it. The same seems to be true of how demons are able to prey on humans.
In The Bible there are numerous examples of people who were possessed or troubled by demons, but no where in the Bible will you find a person with the Holy Spirit of God possessed or troubled by demons. People with the Holy Spirit encountered demons, but the demons were always overcome and driven away, not by the people themselves, since no human alone has that power, but by the Holy Spirit of God. Demons are powerless against the Holy Spirit - like water displacing the air out of an "empty" glass, the Holy Spirit will always displace an evil spirit from someone who is troubled by a demon.
"And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the Synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their Synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, "What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth [see Nazarene]? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching! With authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." (Mark 1:21-27 RSV)
"And He called The Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal." (Luke 9:1-2 RSV)
"The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name!" And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:17-20 RSV)
"Repent, and be baptized [see Baptism] every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to Him." (Acts 2:38-39 RSV)
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7 RSV)
Fact Finder: Will demons be very active in the time just prior to The Return Of Jesus Christ? For example, will they be directly involved with the Beast and the Great False Prophet (see Revelation 13) and the gathering of forces at Armageddon?
Revelation 16:13-16