Are Demons Real? What Happened When an Evangelist Exorcised a Student in Public School
In the quiet hallways of a public high school, where the sounds are usually limited to ringing bells and lockers slamming, a different kind of noise recently…
In the quiet hallways of a public high school, where the sounds are usually limited to ringing bells and lockers slamming, a different kind of noise recently shattered the peace. A viral video of evangelist Ross Johnson preaching at a California school captured a moment that few are prepared to see in broad daylight: a student manifesting what appeared to be a demonic spirit.
The clip, which has sparked a firestorm of controversy, shows a young girl shrieking and undergoing a physical transformation that defies easy explanation. While critics call it a staged performance or a mental health crisis, and the school faculty demands the video be scrubbed from the internet, a larger question looms for the Church. Are we prepared for the reality of spiritual warfare when it walks right into the town square?
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The Reality of the Manifestation
According to statements from the ministry team involved, they were simply praying for students and sharing the Gospel when the atmosphere shifted. When they began to pray for this particular student, things escalated rapidly. She later reported feeling a physical weight "leave" her body, finding peace and clarity after the intense ordeal.
Despite the positive outcome for the individual, the backlash has been fierce. The ministry is reportedly facing multiple lawsuits, and their events have been targeted by Antifa protesters and local authorities. This reaction shouldn't surprise us; when the spiritual realm becomes visible, the pushback from the world is almost instantaneous.
> "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." — Ephesians 6:12
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Jesus and the Ministry of Deliverance
For many modern Christians, the idea of demons and exorcism feels like a relic of the Middle Ages or the plot of a Hollywood horror movie. However, if we look at the life of Jesus, we see that deliverance was not a side project—it was central to His mission.
In Mark 1:34, we read that Jesus healed many who were sick and cast out many demons. He didn't treat these cases as psychological anomalies; He dealt with them as literal spiritual entities that were binding the image-bearers of God. If Jesus spent a significant portion of His earthly ministry setting people free from demonic influence, why do we assume that work ended 2,000 years ago?
The Bible describes the nature of these spirits in Matthew 12:43, explaining how they seek "rest" in a human host. To ignore this reality is to ignore a huge portion of the New Testament. Spiritual warfare is not a metaphor; it is a battle for the souls and bodies of people in our own communities.
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The Authority of the Believer
The most vital lesson we can take from these public encounters is the authority given to those who follow Christ. In Luke 10:19, Jesus tells His disciples, "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy."
This wasn't a promise reserved for a special class of "super-Christians" or the original apostles. Mark 16:17 explicitly states that these signs will follow those who believe: "In My name they will cast out demons."
When we see a young person suffering under spiritual oppression in a public school or a grocery store, our first instinct should not be fear or skepticism. Our first instinct should be to operate in the authority that Jesus purchased for us on the cross. We have been deputized by the King of Kings to bring light into the darkest places.
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A Warning Against Mockery
There is a dangerous trend in our culture—and even within some wings of the Church—to mock or dismiss deliverance as "theatrics." While we must always use discernment to ensure things are done in an orderly fashion, we must be incredibly careful not to attribute the work of the Holy Spirit to the devil.
Jesus gave a stern warning to those who saw Him casting out demons and claimed He was doing it by the power of Beelzebub. When someone is set free from a legalistic or demonic bond and their life is transformed, we should celebrate the victory of the Kingdom rather than critiquing the aesthetics of the moment.
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Walking in Victory
The world wants to relegate the supernatural to the "sanctuary," keeping God inside the four walls of a church building. But the Gospel is meant to be a disruptive force. Whether it is in a public high school or a corporate boardroom, the power of Jesus is available to break every chain.
We are in a spiritual war, but we do not fight for victory; we fight from victory. The enemy is real, and his influence is visible in the rising rates of depression, anxiety, and spiritual confusion among our youth. But greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.
As you go through your week, ask the Holy Spirit to sharpen your discernment. Do not be afraid of the darkness when it manifests. Instead, remember that you carry the light that the darkness cannot overcome. It is time for the Church to reclaim its authority and walk in the fullness of the ministry of Jesus.