Tag: authority over evil spirits
Authority over evil spirits!
Scripture reading for November 13th: Acts 19-20
The Apostle Paul started his third missionary journey to reach those in the province of Asia. (Acts 18:23) He ended up in Ephesus where he found a group of disciples gathered. These twelve men had been baptized into John’s baptism of repentance but had never heard about Jesus Christ. Paul gave them the Gospel and told them about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied! Thus the church at Ephesus was born. This event took place about 20 years after the first Pentecost!
Following this, Paul spoke in the synagogue. He went to his own brothers, the Jews, and sought to win them to Jesus. This caused a conflict so he left with the new disciples and went to the lecture hall of Tyrannus. His ministry was so effective that all the Jews and Greeks in the whole province of Asia heard the word of the Lord! (Acts 19:10)
The Lord has promised that signs will follow those who obediently preach the Gospel. (Mark 16:15-20) As Paul preached in Asia, God did extraordinary miracles through him, winning the lost and confirming Jesus as the Christ. These miracles included supernatural healing and casting out evil spirits. (Acts 19:11-12) Even handkerchiefs and aprons taken from Paul were sent to the sick and they were healed and delivered!
Paul’s preaching of Jesus caused some Jewish exorcists to imitate Paul’s methods. They tried to cast out a demon from a possessed man “in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches.” The demon spoke to them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” (Acts 19:13-15) The result was that these seven exorcists were severely beaten by the demon possessed man! Fear seized the populace and they confessed their evil deeds, sorcery, and witchcraft. They publicly burned their books and charms and the word of God spread and grew in power!
God’s power is no match against the powers of the Devil! Jesus told us that in His Name, we would cast out devils! Demons recognize Jesus and those who have Him as Lord! In His name, extraordinary miracles will follow the preaching of the Gospel and the ministry of those who obediently go! Be bold as you enter your mission field today!
Multiplying ministry!
Scripture reading for February 22nd: Mark 6:1-29, Psalms 39:1-13, Proverbs 10:10
“Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to Him, He sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.” (Mark 6:6b-7)
Jesus had a plan to take the Gospel of the kingdom to the entire world. He was not in a hurry, but had only a limited time to set this plan in place. After preaching in His home town and seeing few results, He called the Twelve together and organized them into evangelism teams. He knew that two would be more effective than one in this work. Two people have power in prayer and can encourage one another. Two people provide some protection and friendship when hostility arises. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) This work that they would be engaged in was like warfare against the kingdom of Satan. Jesus gave them authority over these powers of darkness and had demonstrated how to cast them out.
Jesus sent them out two by two and told them to take nothing with them for provision except their staff. This staff represented some protection but also the authority that He had given them. They were to rely on finding people who would welcome them. If no one welcomed them, they were to shake the dust from their feet as a witness against that town. God would provide for them on their mission.(Mark 6:8-11)
“They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”(Mark 6:12-13)
The message that these disciples took was a call to repentance. They did not tell people how much their lives would be improved by the kingdom. They did not list benefits and try to sell a product. They called for repentance, a change of mind and actions, from selfishness to humble confession and faith. As they went, they used the authority given them by Jesus to deliver those bound by evil spirits and heal sick people. The simply did what Jesus had taught them to do and God worked with them! Jesus now had multiplied ministry through these men. They would in turn raise up more who would follow Jesus and do the same things! This was Jesus’ amazing plan to reach the world and it is still working today! Have you joined His team?