we have the authority to Cast out Demons

 

When God created the World, he gave man dominion over the environment and all the creatures in it

When man listened to Satan and disobeyed God, man gave his authority to Satan

We are a slave to those we obey

Thus, we became a slave to the Devil

Jesus came to redeem us back from the Devil

By His death upon the cross, Jesus brought us back from the Devil and gave us back the Authority over Satan

All believers now have the Authority to Cast out Demons

 

 

THE CASTING OUT OF DEMONS IS A NEW TESTAMENT PHENOMENA THAT WAS INTRODUCED AND MADE POSSIBLE BY JESUS

Mat 9:32-34 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."

Matt 12:22-29 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "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? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.

The casting out of Demons was new to the Children of Israel.

Nothing like this had ever been seen in Israel!

While evil spirits were recognized in the Old Testament, nobody knew how to cast them out and nobody had the authority to cast them out.

Only Jesus had the power ane the authority to cast out demons.

As the Demons seemed to obey Jesus, the Pharisees thought that Jesus was their commander.

As the devil and his angels (messengers) are in rebellion against God, it seems paradoxical that the demons would obey Jesus.

It is the HOST who decides who lives in his / her house (HEART). When we obey evil spirits, they can come and live within us.

We must decide who we will trust our hearts to and which voices we will listent to; the voices of angels or the voices of demons.

When a person (the HOST) comes to Jesus and asks for cleansing or healing, he / she is inviting Jesus to cast out or fix whatever is wrong (which he has the power and authority to do).

Jesus has authority over evil spirits. Just as light dispells darkness, truth defeats lies.

If we give our lives to Jesus, Jesus will sweap them clean.

If you have faith in Jesus, you do not need to understand why something is right or wrong, you just have to trust and obey him.

The demons objective is to control and possess a person. Anybody who casts them out cannot be on their side.

Jesus is the Light of the World. He exposes demons and enables us to see them for what they are. When we come into the light, Jesus exposes them and forces them to leave.

Angels and demons are in opposition to one another.  One wants to free us, the other wants to enslave us. 

Only opposing forces try to cast each other out.  Satan would not try to cast out himself.

The Holy Spirit and Demons both want to inhabit a person but they cannot live in the same house together. One will eventually have to leave. They fight for the right to occupy a person.  The host gives them the right to enter and stay by believing them. When there is a conflict, the host must decide which one has to go. There will be no peace within a house until one has left.

If you want to have inward peace, you will have to decide who you want to follow. You cannot have it both ways. You cannot sit on the fence with God.

There will always be external conflicts, whatever choice you make. If you try to keep everybody happy, you will loose your self and have no peace.

Some choices have serious consequences regarding Salvation and your Destiny. Often, it is possible to change your mind if you have made the wrong choice. The consequences of bad choices, however, can be long lasting.

JESUS HAS BOUND THE STRONG MAN (SATAN) - SO HE CAN ENTER HIS KINGDOM - (THE WORLD) AND CARRY OFF HIS POSSESSIONS (US)

Matt 12:25-29 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "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? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.

Jesus has bound the strong man in Satan's Kingdom by his death upon the cross.

Now he can enter Satan's Kingdom and carry off his possessions - those he possesses.

The Kingdom of God has come upon us when we choose to live in God's Light and believe in His Word.

 

JESUS HAS AUTHORITY OVER EVIL SPIRITS

Mark 1:24-28 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Mark 3:11 Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God."

Luke 4:36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!"

Jesus is the light of the world. His light disperses the darkness of demons. His truth defeats the demon's lies.

There is no point letting demons speak; they will only tell you lies.

Jesus had not yet died upon the cross but the demons were afraid of him.

 

JESUS CAST OUT DEMONS BY SPEAKING TO THEM: HE TOLD THEM TO GO AND THEY WENT

Mat 8:16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.

Jesus cast demons out by Speaking to them.  The demons recognized his authority.  They already knew what he stood for.  All he had to do was tell them to leave.

 

DEMONS NEED PERMISSION TO ENTER AND TO STAY

Mat 8:31-32 The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs." He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.

Mark 5:12-13 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

Demons need permission to enter. They need permission to stay too.

Demons can live in animals. Jesus allowed the demons to enter the pigs, perhaps to show the disciples what happens when demons get what they want.

If we are not careful, when we cast a demon out, they may enter an innocent bystander.

 

 

JESUS GAVE HIS DISCIPLES AUTHORITY TO CAST OUT DEMONS AND TO HEAL DISEASES

Mat 10:1-16 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep. "Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Preaching the Gospel, Healing the sick, Raising the dead, Cleansing lepers and Driving out demons are not the same although, sometimes there may be some overlap.

Jesus anointed his disciples to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, to raise the dead, to cleanse those with leprosy and to cast out demons.

He told them to do this without charge (for free).

He told them to go to the lost sheep of Israel.

It had not yet been revealed that the Gospel was for the Samaritans and the Gentiles.

The Gospel was to be preached first to the Jews, then to the Samaritans and finally to the Gentiles.

He told them not to take provisions but to use whatever was provided.

He told them to search for a worthy person and stay with them when they entered a town. (Somebody who could continue the ministry when they left - similarly, Paul told Titus to appoint elders in every town; people who could sort out what ever was left unfinished Titus 1:5)

If a home they entered was worthy or deserving, they were to let their peace rest on it. If any body did not welcome them and listen to their words, they were to shake the dust off their feet as a sign that that home or town had rejected the Gospel.

In this way, they anointed people to continue the ministry when they left a town.

Jesus said that he was sending the disciples out like sheep among wolves. They would need to be as shrewd as snakes but as innocent as doves.

 

Mark 3:14-15 He appointed twelve--designating them apostles --that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.

Mark 6:7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.

Jesus gave the disciples authority to cast out demons.

He sent them out two by two. Where ever possible, it is best to work with other believers when we cast out demons (for our own protection).

Luke 9:1-6 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: "Take nothing for the journey--no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

In this passage, Jesus gives his disciples authority to cast out demons and to cure diseases. The objective was to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

This passage shows that demonization and diseases are not the same. 

Diseases are physical disorders or sicknesses.

Demons are spiritual forces or beings that oppose the work of the Gospel. They want to keep people in Bondage and Torment them.

The purpose of the Gospel is to save men; body, soul and spirit.

Angels are messengers that bring the Gospel to us. They set us free from sin and lead us to God.

Diseases need to be healed, demons need to be cast out.

Illness can be physical or spiritual or both.

Mental illness often results from demonization; sometimes there is a physical (or biochemical) deficiency that allows the demon to enter and may be made worse by the demon.

The gift of casting out demons is to work out what the demon is saying to produce the manifestation and to confront it.

 

 

CASTING OUT DEMONS IS A SIGN OF BELIEVERS : ALL BELIEVERS HAVE AUTHORITY TO CAST OUT DEMONS

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

The authority to cast out demons was passed on to all believers.

To those who believe and are born again, Jesus gives authority to cast out demons.

If you are not a believer, you do not have the authority to cast out demons in Jesus's Name.

 

THE WEAPONS WE USE HAVE DEVINE POWER TO DEMOLISH STRONGHOLDS

2Cor 10:3-6 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

Casting out demons involves the demolition of arguments and pretensions that set themselves up against the knowledge of God. It involves taking every thought captive to Christ and punishing every act of disobedience - (at least once our own obedience is complete).

We are required to demolish strongholds (black spots where the light does not shine). We can demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. We do this whenever we preach the Gospel.

Evolution is a pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. When we tear down evolution, we are tearing down strongholds and casting out demons. (see creation science evangelism; the facts actually point to creation.)

 

 

WHEN WE SUBMIT TO JESUS, HE MAKES THE DEMONS SUBMIT TO US

Lk 10:1-24 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Jesus sent the disciples out two by two as lambs amongst wolves.

He sent the disciples ahead of him. He told them not to take money, sandals or a bag and not to speak to anybody on the way.

"When you enter a house, declare peace to that house and eat and drink what ever they give you."

He told them to stay in the house that welcomes them and not to move around.

"When you are welcomed by a town, eat whatever is set before you."

He told them to heal the sick and preach the Kingdom of God is near.

“He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’

 

CASTING OUT DEMONS IS A GOOD WORK - BUT GOOD WORKS (THEMSELVES) WILL NOT SAVE YOU

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'

We are not saved by our works but by faith in Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice.  God knows our heart.  God is more concerned with our inward condition than our outward works.  This does not mean that works are not important; God will reward believers according to their works.  In fact, faith without works is dead.

 

DO NOT BLASPHEME AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT

Mark 3:20-30 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub ! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.”

A house divided against itself cannot stand.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable. This is equivalent to calling Jesus evil.

 

THE DISCIPLES DROVE OUT MANY DEMONS

Mark 6:6-13 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. These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.” They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Even while Jesus was with them, the disciples went out and cast out many demons and healed many sick people.

 

NON-CHRISTIANS CAN CAST OUT DEMONS

Mark 9:38-40 "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."  "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us.

Luke 9:49-50 "Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us."  "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."

Psychologists, counselors and psychiatrists try to cast out demons buy correcting false beliefs (cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy and psychoanalysis).

Psychologists and worldly counselors are powerless when it comes to guilt. Many demons cannot be cast out without the power of the cross because it is impossible to confront the demon's lie without convicting the person of sin. (Without the cross, this would produce guilt and condemnation.)

Psychologists and counsellors may say "that was not your fault" or "that is not wrong" (so that the patient does not feel guilty) but this may not be what is required to cast out a demon.

If we convict people of sin without giving them the answer, we condemn them. Jesus did not come into the world to condemn it but to save it.

While the lies of some demons can be confronted without producing guilt, the truth is that we are sinners and when we confront some lies we realize that we have sinned and the result is guilt. People cannot deal with this reality without knowing that Jesus has paid the price for them.

Psychologists and psychiatrists have no weapons for dealing with guilt (unless they themselves are saved). Psychologists and psychiatrists are powerless to confront sin and the demons that keep people in bondage.

 

ONLY BELIEVERS CAN USE THE NAME OF JESUS TO CAST OUT DEMONS

Acts 19:13-16 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

Non believers do not have the same authority as a believer. 

They do not have the power or the authority to do God's work as they are deceived themselves.

 

 

DEMONS CAN TRY TO COME BACK AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN CAST OUT

Luke 11:14-28 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. But some of them said, “By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils. “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters. “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.” As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

When a demon is cast out, it tries to find a place of rest but does not find it. It often tries to re-enter the person from whom it was cast out.

When we cast a demon out we need to be ready if it tries to come back.

 

DEMONS CANNOT SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Demons cannot separate true believers from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus.