Tag: evil spirits
Casting out evil spirits!
Scripture reading for November 12: Acts 19-20
The Apostle Paul had begun 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 twelve men who had been baptized into John’s baptism of repentance but had never heard about Jesus Christ. Paul gave them the Gospel of Jesus, told them about the Holy Spirit and then laid hands on them. The Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied! Thus the church at Ephesus was born and Paul ministered there for nearly three years. This event took place about 20 years after the first Pentecost!
Paul also spoke in the synagogue, as was his custom. He went to his own brothers, the Jews, first, and sought to win them to Jesus. This caused conflict so he left with the new disciples and went to the lecture hall of Tyrannus, and continued to preach there for two years. 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 had promised that signs will follow those who obediently preached the Gospel. (Mark 16:15-20) As Paul preached in Asia, God did extraordinary miracles through him as a help in winning the lost and confirming Jesus as the Christ. These miracles included healing and casting out evil spirits. (Acts 19:11-12) Handkerchiefs and aprons were taken from Paul and sent to the sick who were healed!
Paul’s preaching of Jesus and these extraordinary miracles 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) These seven exorcists were severely beaten by the demon possessed man! The word of this happening brought a revival of holiness. 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! We must know Jesus personally or end up like the seven. Demons know both 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!
“Who are you?”
Scripture reading for February 17th: Acts 19, Psalm 35, Proverbs 4
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 upon them all, and the Name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.”
This amazing story took place over twenty years after Pentecost. Earlier, Paul had lead twelve disciples who were only familiar with John’s baptism of repentance into the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues and prophesy. Miracles were being done with just aprons from Paul’s clothing being placed on the sick and infirmed and healing taking place. Some sons of the Jewish high priest had evidently observed Paul and other believers invoking the Name of Jesus. They tried to use the same formula, but the demon addressed them with a question: “Who are you?” These exorcists knew about Jesus that Paul preached, but they did not know Jesus! The evil spirit did know Jesus and Paul, but did not see Jesus in them! The result was a bad beating and humiliation but growth for Christ’s Church!
Psalm 35:27-28 “Let those who delight in My righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the Lord Who delights in the welfare of His servant!” Then my tongue shall tell of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.”
Prayer: Thank You Father, for the amazing stories of the Gospel spreading and the gradual unfolding of Your plan among Jew and Gentiles. The joy and delight of people healed of sickness and infirmity and delivered from evil spirits brings joy to our hearts as Your children. May evil spirits not ask the question “Who are you?” of us as we confront them in faith and the wisdom and insight of Your Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 4:7-9 “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
Dealing with deliverance!
Scripture reading for March 18: Luke 11, Psalm 55, Proverbs 24
Key Scriptures: Luke 11:24-27 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, I will return to my house from which I came. And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
Jesus instructed His disciples concerning casting out of evil spirits. He told them that they had the power in His Name to cast them out of an individuals. He told them that the evil spirit would seek another home in someone else, but would ultimately try to return. If the delivered person failed to fill his ‘house’ with the Holy Spirit, the evil spirit would return and find other even worse spirits and that man would be in worse bondage than before.
Faith Confession: Lord, give me wisdom to help those bound by evil spirits to find deliverance in Jesus’ Name and to fill their ‘house’ with Your Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 24:3-4 “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.