Years ago when I was a student in a boarding school, a fellow student described for me a night of terror. All night long in his dormitory room, he had felt tormented by evil spirits. Previously, he had been around someone involved in satanism, and now the dark side was bent on claiming another victim.

My friend felt as though he was being beaten and strangled. He fought for his life, breaking out in a sweat and repeating over and over, "Jesus!" Hour after hour he was assailed, until with morning, he found release.

We are all under general attack from the forces of hell, but sometimes an individual comes under direct and specific attack. This was true during Jesus' ministry on Earth, and it remains true today. Direct attack is usually the result of poor decisions by which people make themselves nakedly vulnerable to the enemy.

Without clear and obvious evidence, however, we should be slow to conclude that someone is under direct attack and "has a demon". Evil is present enough in the ordinary course of living our lives—given our desperately wicked hearts and a completely fallen world.

If I do find myself or others around me under direct attack from the dark side, how can I respond? Note these five important lines of approach. . . .

First, treat the attack seriously and meet it with every spiritual weapon. A casual, presumptive approach will fail, illustrated by the inability of Jesus' disciples to free a child from demon possession. Mark 9:17–29. The child found release through Jesus when his father asserted: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" This is the "shield of faith," one of several weapons in the armour of God with which we must be fully clothed. Ephesians 6:10–18. Christ's righteousness, the Spirit, the Word, and earnest prayer are especially significant.

Second, find a team of spiritual warriors who will stand by your side. Never enter such warfare alone! Jesus warned us about this. "I am sending you out like lambs among wolves." For this reason, he commissioned his disciples in pairs. Luke 10:1, 3. And, when Jesus promised Heaven would ratify the requests of the church on Earth, he included a condition—that two or three come together and agree on these things. Matthew 18:18–20.

Third, use the Word of God to assert Heaven's authority with boldness. Jesus said to his disciples, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. . . . I have given you authority . . . to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." Luke 10:17–19. Our promise is clear: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7. Claiming God's Word in faith, we may give the same joyful report as the disciples: "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."Luke 10:17.

Fourth, by God's power change whatever needs to be changed in order to grant the devil no further foothold. Scripture tells us not merely to avoid evil but to flee from it. Put distance between yourself and the enemy! A dangerous friendship may have to be given up; a particular location might have to be shunned; some types of literature, music and artefacts will need to be discarded; and certain kinds of internet sites and entertainment must be forever out of bounds. Those under attack must solidly engage this type of decisionmaking and discipline.

Fifth, utilise God-given, sanctified ritual to solidify the victory. When appropriate, baptism can be one such ritual. I know of serious cases of satanic assault that came to a complete stop through earnest prayer associated with baptism. Another powerful ritual is anointing with oil—unique in that it was ordained by God under both the Old and the New Covenants. With other prayer warriors, come together to anoint individuals and—when appropriate—material objects, or structures such as doorways. Anointing is not "magic". It is agreement with the Word of God and a tangible symbol of the Holy Spirit's perfect power over spirits of evil.

An important footnote. . . . Jesus warned us that evil spirits love "a house swept clean". Luke 11:24–26. For this reason, it is good to include in our praying a requirement that the evil spirit not only leave but "never enter again". Mark 9:25. Fill your life and your home with the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and protecting angels, and there will be no room for the enemy's return.