Tag: cast out demons
Day 3–Power to Assist the Hurting
Scripture reading for February 18: Matthew 10:5-8 “These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.” You received without paying; give without pay.”
Each time a call for help comes in over ‘911’, responders are dispatched to go and help. Their training and equipment and authority from their position enables them to go and deal with whatever problem is needing assistance. We are not to show favoritism towards any nationality or social status, but help whoever is in need. As volunteers, we don’t do what we do for money and that is true of the vast majority of those receiving a salary. We are there to help because of a calling on our lives and have freely given of our time and effort. We go to those in need with ‘good news’ that someone in the community cares about them and is there to help.
Jesus sent out the twelve first disciples giving them specific instructions that were for them at that time. They were to go only to the house of Israel, not to Samaritans or other Gentile peoples. Their assignment was to proclaim the kingdom of heaven to those who had been prepared by their calling and training through Scripture. As a demonstration of the kingdom, Jesus empowered them with authority to heal those who were sick or afflicted. They were empowered to raise the dead and to cleanse those with the destructive disease of leprosy. Finally, they were given authority to cast out demons. The kingdom of heaven present meant that the old order of darkness and death must go. The results amazed everyone, including the disciples!
As a ‘faith’ responder, are you aware of the authority and calling that God has given you as a disciple of Jesus Christ? If you are also a first responder, do you seek guidance from the Holy Spirit for your response to each incident?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your people out to reach others who are hurting, and now to every nationality or background or age. Give me new boldness to apply Your Word to each incident and seek to bring the kingdom of heaven near to each person in their need. Amen.
Jesus rebukes unbelief!
Scripture reading for March 3: Mark 16
“Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My Name the will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:14-18
In our permissive and spoiled culture we tend to let each person believe as they want and accept their attitudes and actions. But Jesus had a different assessment of His own disciples who had been given the opportunity to walk with Him for three years. They had watched and then participated in healings, deliverances from demons, and even raising the dead. They had witnessed Jesus teaching and demonstrating His authority and the Father’s compassion. They had been plainly told on numerous occasions about Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. He had patiently appeared to many of them on numerous occasions after His resurrection and eye witnesses had shared, but they had refused to believe and had hardened hearts.
After Jesus’ loving rebuke, He charged them with a clear mission of doing what He had taught them to do and preaching the Gospel to all. He emphasized that those who would believe and baptized would be saved. Those who hardened their hearts and refused to believe would be condemned. By faith God would work with them and through them to continue Jesus’ ministry of compassion and spoiling Satan’s kingdom of demonic oppression, sickness, and withstanding Satan’s attempts to destroy them. Their faith would move them forward to go, preach and obey in response to Jesus’ powerful Word.
Have you ever mocked or rejected a believer in Jesus who sought to witness to you? Have you responded to the Gospel message of Jesus and His followers? What does Jesus’ rebuke to His disciples say to you and your current life direction?
Prayer: Loving Father, thank You for Your life-giving rebuke for those who follow Jesus and harden their hearts. I have been there and done that. Thank You for the clear instructions on how to walk in faith and fulfill the Great Commission to preach the Gospel and proclaim Satan’s defeat. Use me today! Amen.
Unforgiveable sin
Scripture reading for January 16: Matthew 12
“But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will never be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or the age to come.” Matthew 12:28-32
Jesus Christ was filled with the Holy Spirit and did ministry in the power of the Spirit. He was in a spiritual conflict against unseen defeated demonic forces. The religious leaders of His day accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus knew what they were thinking and saying about Him, and told them that if He was doing that, Satan’s kingdom would be divided and could not stand. But He was casting out demons by the Spirit of God as the Strong Son of Man. This demonstrated the presence of God’s kingdom and King directly to them.
Jesus warned these religious leaders about unforgivable sin: accusing the Spirit of God as being the power of Satan. They could speak against Him and be forgiven, but not against a clear revelation of God by the Spirit. Their hard hearts and stubborn refusal to acknowledge Jesus and the kingdom of God would cause them to be eternally damned. Willful rejection of the Holy Spirit’s revelation and a decision against Jesus would have eternal consequences.
Have you ever seen or heard someone who has blasphemed God or the work of the Holy Spirit? How would you characterize your relationship with Jesus? Are you gathering with Him as a result of choosing His salvation and receiving the Gift of God’s Holy Spirit?
Prayer: Father, thank You for the Gift of Your Spirit and His work in my on my behalf. Fill me with the Holy Spirit afresh today that I may participate in the gathering of souls into Your kingdom. Demonstrate the kingdom of God through my life and witness. Amen.
Who are you?
Scripture reading for May 10th: 1st Samuel 28-29, 1st Chronicles 9, Acts 19
Acts 19: 13-17 “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the Name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus Whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell on them all and the Name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.”
God was doing extraordinary miracles through Paul in Ephesus, many were being healed and delivered from evil spirits just through contact with aprons or handkerchiefs that had touched Paul’s body. Some sons of a chief priest named Sceva observed Paul’s use of the Name of Jesus and the resulting miracles. They tried to imitate Paul’s “formula” for success. The demonic spirit spoke to them in rebuke, the spirit knew Jesus, and recognized Paul the Apostle, but who were they? It is one thing to know about the Name of Jesus, but another to have authority to use Jesus’ Name in ministry to the afflicted and demonically oppressed! These impostors paid a price for their failure to know Jesus and received a beating to remember! Do the forces of Satan know who you are?
Acts 19:18-20 “Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the Word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for adopting me into Your forever family and granting me the authority to ask in the Name of Jesus for needs of ministry and miraculous deliverance. I receive this authority by Your grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. Use me as You will to see Your Word increase and prevail mightily in this time to Your glory!
1st Samuel 28:5-7 “When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.”
Companionship and relationship
Scripture reading for January 5th: Genesis 6-8, Psalm 104, Mark 3
Mark 3:13-15 “And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those whom He desired, and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.”
God didn’t design us to function alone. Sin’s original lie through the serpent, “you shall be as God”, implies that we need no one else. We alone can determine what is right and what is wrong for us. We can set our own rules and call the shots. Jesus invited those who responded to His call to follow Him and to “be with Him,” to spend time in His presence. Jesus desired their companionship and used that as a primary means of discipleship. As these disciples were ‘with Jesus,’ they saw Him model for them the ministry of preaching good news, of forgiveness of sins and the spoiling of Satan’s kingdom by casting out demons. Ministry is caught, more than just ‘taught’. He then sent them out to follow His example and to win new disciples for the kingdom of Heaven, bringing them to relationship with Jesus!
Genesis 6:9 “These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.”
Genesis 8:18-19 “So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his son’s wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your desire for relationships with sinners and Your stated purpose in choosing disciples to be with Jesus, Your Son. Forgive me for forgetting my responsibility to spend time with You and to be aware that You are with Me each day. Remind me when I lack awareness of Your Presence or fail to seek guidance for reaching out to my own family and the lost. Open opportunities today to preach the Good News and to cast out spirits of demons.
Psalm 104:33-34 “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord.”
Appointed with authority!
Scripture reading for February 12th: Mark 3, Psalm 31, Proverbs 31
Key Scriptures: Mark 3:13-16 “And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those whom He desired, and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach and to have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: . . .”
Jesus had a plan to reach the lost sinners of this world. He chose and then called those that He wanted to be used to reach the lost. He appointed them as His special messengers. They were to be with Him and learn from Him. He would send them out to preach, heal, and cast out demons through the authority He would bestow on them. He chose twelve to be the first.
Faith’s confession: I believe that Jesus Christ has called me and appointed me to preach His word, heal the sick, and have authority over demonic powers. All authority has come from Jesus for the purpose of reaching lost sinners.
Proverbs 31:8-9 “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and the needy.”
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!
These signs will follow!
Scripture reading for October 18th: Mark 14-16
Mark’s Gospel told of Jesus Christ healing, casting out demons and preaching the Gospel to His own people. Jesus particularly sought out those who were lost and willing to listen. He gathered disciples who would be willing to leave all, follow Him and learn His ways. After sending them out, He would evaluate their work and encourage or correct them.
“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” …”Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it.” Mark 16:15-18, 20.
This Gospel’s closing words are a call to Jesus’ followers to continue the work of God. They were to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit who would give them the power that was needed to be His witnesses. (Acts 1:8) Then they were to go and preach. As they preached, they were to act under the authority of the name of Jesus Christ. In His name supernatural signs would accompany the preaching of the Word. Demons would be cast out and sick people would be healed. People would be baptized in the Holy Spirit and would speak with new tongues. The disciples would have supernatural protection from attacks of venomous snakes or people trying to poison them.
These first disciples obeyed by going out into all the world preaching the Gospel. As they prayed for the sick and demon possessed, the promised signs of Christ followed their ministry! If you are seeking miracles, signs and wonders, the best place to find them is when you obey God’s command to go and preach! Are you willing to act in faith and experience the supernatural following your preaching and prayer? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit!
Scripture reading for January 16th: Matthew 12:22-50, Psalm 11, Proverbs 3:13-18
Jesus healed a man who was both blind and mute so that the man could both see and talk again. This miracle brought the charge from the Pharisees that He cast out devils by the prince of devils, Beelzebub. Now this great miracle was an act of compassion and Jesus knew what they were thinking. He spoke to these Pharisees, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matthew 12:25-28)
His miraculous deliverance of this man came not by using Satan’s power, but by the Spirit of God. If Satan was casting out Satan, his kingdom could not last! There would be rebellion in the kingdom that would tear it apart from within. This principle would apply to God’s rule as well, but God rules His kingdom and no rebellion will be allowed! He has both the power and wisdom to deal with it and His team of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” are always in unity! Satan, himself, was cast down to earth because of this kind of selfish rebellion. (Isaiah14:12-15)
Jesus went on to give further truth and warning. “He who is not with Me is against Me and he who does not gather with Me scatters. And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:30-32) This warning states that falsely charging the Holy Spirit with doing Satan’s work was very dangerous ground. This sin will not be forgiven now or in the coming age! This warning should cause us to think twice about our words and heart attitude toward the works of the Holy Spirit. Let’s join with Jesus and gather souls!