A monitoring spirit is a term used by some Christians to refer to demonic spirits that are assigned by Satan to monitor and influence a specific person’s life. The concept derives from passages in Scripture that speak of spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms that oppose God and seek to accuser believers.
Biblical mentions
Several verses in the Bible hint at the idea of spirits that monitor and accuse humans:
- Revelation 12:10 – “For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.” This verse refers to Satan as “the accuser” who accuses believers before God.
- Zechariah 3:1 – “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.” This depicts Satan ready to accuse Joshua the high priest before the angel of the Lord.
- Job 1:6-12 – When the angels (sons of God) present themselves to God, Satan comes along and God asks if he has considered Job. Satan replies that Job only serves God because he is protected, so God allows Satan to test Job.
- Job 2:1-8 – A similar scene happens again, with Satan again given permission to test Job further.
These passages indicate Satan’s role as an accuser who brings charges against humans before God. Some interpret this to mean that Satan has spirits who monitor and accuse specific individuals.
Views on monitoring spirits
There are differing views among Christians regarding monitoring spirits:
They are assigned to accuse specific people
Some believe that Satan assigns demons to monitor each person and record their sins and faults to use as accusations. These monitoring spirits continually watch for opportunities to cause people to stumble and then testify against them before God’s throne.
In this view, each person has a dedicated spirit who works full time to monitor and accuse them. These spirits may also function as familiar spirits, impersonating departed loved ones or inspiring spiritism and occult practices to deceive people.
They keep track of sins to deploy other demons
Another perspective is that monitoring spirits keep records of an individual’s weaknesses and tendencies. Their role is to report back to Satan on how to strategically deploy other demons to tempt people in their susceptible areas and lay traps tailored to their specific faults.
Rather than personally engaging with and accusing an individual, monitoring spirits act more like military intelligence gathering data to equip demonic commanders with information useful for spiritual warfare. Their monitoring provides reconnaissance for deploying assaults.
General spirit opposition not targeted monitoring
Some reject the idea of monitoring spirits assigned to individuals. They point out that the Bible does not specifically mention demons being appointed to monitor specific people. Instead, Satan’s forces oppose believers in general but not through dedicated monitoring spirits for each person.
In this view, while Satan accuses believers, his forces are not as personally focused on monitoring individuals. Demonic opposition is general harassment rather than targeted surveillance and accusation.
It can lead to unhealthy focus on demonic
Certain cautions are raised about an unhealthy focus on monitoring spirits:
- It can shift focus away from Christ. Dwelling on demonic monitoring can distract from relying on Christ’s protection.
- It can feed anxiety, fear and paranoia if taken to an unhealthy extreme.
- Scripture’s emphasis is on resisting the devil (James 4:7), not obsessively researching his hierarchy and tactics.
- Believers have victory in Christ (Colossians 2:15) through Spirit-led intentional resistance, not demonstrations of power over demons.
So the concept requires balanced biblical discernment.
Practical steps regardless of view
Despite the different perspectives on monitoring spirits, believers can take certain practical steps:
- Recognize the reality of spiritual warfare – there is a spiritual battle with demonic forces seeking whom they may devour (1 Peter 5:8).
- Be alert, resist the devil, stand firm in faith (1 Peter 5:9, James 4:7). Don’t give Satan an opportunity (Ephesians 4:27).
- Put on the full armor of God for protection and stand firm (Ephesians 6:10-18). Rely on the Spirit’s help.
- Fill your mind with Christ and Scripture so there is no room for demonic influence or accusation (Philippians 4:8).
- Consciously reject temptations, don’t open doors for demonic oppression through willfully persisting in sin (Ephesians 4:26-27).
- Ask other believers to pray for protection and victory when facing spiritual attack (Matthew 18:19-20).
- Use Christ’s authority to cast out demons influencing your life (Luke 10:17, Mark 16:17).
- Stay close to Jesus – abide in Christ (John 15:1-11), fixing your eyes on Him (Hebrews 12:2), contemplating His victory on the cross (Colossians 2:15).
- Maintain a spirit of praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4).
The strong awareness of spiritual realities like monitoring spirits can aid believers in being prepared to resist demonic opposition and accusation. But a balanced, Scripture-based approach is important.
Dangers of unhealthy focus on monitoring spirits
While awareness of spiritual warfare is biblical, an unhealthy fixation on monitoring spirits can be damaging:
- It can shift focus to demons rather than Christ. But Scriptures emphasize setting our minds on Christ and things above, not demonic powers (Colossians 3:1-3).
- It can foster excessive introspection about every stray thought being a demonic attack. But many temptations arise from our own flesh (James 1:14).
- It can lead to paranoia about demons watching every move. But the Holy Spirit in us is greater than demons (1 John 4:4).
- It can feed an unhealthy mystical fascination with the demonic. But we are told to dwell on what is good and pure (Philippians 4:8).
- It can shift blame for our own choices onto demonic spirits. But we are responsible for the choices we make (James 1:13-15).
- It can distract from proclaiming Christ. The early church focused on preaching the gospel not detailing Satan’s hierarchy.
- It can lead to viewing some people as specially demonized. But we all face spiritual warfare in need of Christ’s redemption.
So a balanced approach recognizes spiritual opposition while keeping focus on Christ’s victory and God’s promises.
Healthy responses to the reality of demonic opposition
Rather than unhealthy obsession, believers can respond to spiritual warfare in healthy ways:
- Have biblical discernment regarding spiritual realities but don’t go beyond Scripture’s authority (1 John 4:1).
- Recognize the reality of spiritual forces but don’t become preoccupied with them (Ephesians 6:12).
- Understand spiritual tactics demons may use but don’t give them undue focus (2 Corinthians 2:11).
- Take steps like prayer, God’s Word and fellowship to resist demonic influence.
- Approach deliverance prayer cautiously, keeping focus on Jesus, not power encounters with demons.
- Emphasize Christ’s victory on the cross over powers of evil (Colossians 2:15).
- Actively proclaim Christ and make disciples, advancing God’s Kingdom (Matthew 28:18-20).
- Put on compassion, humility, kindness – the fruit of the Spirit – not dark fascination with the demonic (Galatians 5:22-23).
- Keep thought life in obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), fix mind on things above (Colossians 3:2).
With balanced biblically-based discernment and Christ-focused faith, believers can overcome demonic opposition.
Cautions about techniques for identifying monitoring spirits
Some believers use techniques to try to identify what spirit is monitoring or influencing someone. But several cautions apply:
- No biblical instruction is given about techniques for discerning specific monitoring spirits.
- Trying to name and interrogate demons often leads away from focusing on Christ.
- Demons may give false information about their identities for disruptive purposes.
- Such interactions can inflate pride in one’s deliverance gifts rather than cultivating humility.
- It draws attention to the demonic over emphasizing Christ’s victory.
- Seeking out mystical experiences with evil spirits is spiritually unwise and unfruitful.
- Practicing techniques to identify demons can become a superstitious reliance on procedure rather than Spirit-led intuition.
While evil spirits are realities believers contend with, a fixation on identifying them through mystical techniques is ill-advised. Healthier approaches emphasize Scripture, prayer, godly counsel, renewing the mind, and proclaiming Christ. Discernment to overcome demonic influence should focus less on the spirits themselves and more on abiding in Christ through faith.
Conclusion
The concept of monitoring spirits remains debatable among Christians. Some view individual demons as being assigned to continually monitor and accuse specific people. Others see demonic monitoring in more general terms or reject the idea of specific targeting altogether.
Regardless of one’s position on monitoring spirits, believers can respond in healthy ways. The priority is maintaining focus on Jesus, applying His victory on the cross, living by the Spirit, and proclaiming the gospel. An unhealthy preoccupation with identifying and directly engaging monitoring spirits is spiritually unwise and unfruitful. With balanced biblical discernment, the body of Christ can walk in the authority and protection of Jesus to overcome demonic opposition and accusation.