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Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
DEDICATION
Jesus, thank You for laying down Your life for me and giving me authority over the enemy. I pray that I honor You with my faith and do even greater things than You did as You have said in John 14:12-‐14. I adore You.
Holy Spirit, thank You for directing my every word in this book. May it inspire all who read it to cast out demons in the name of Jesus. May it accomplish all that You intended.
To all my family, near and far, I trust that you will all know how deep is God’s love for you. I pray for God’s protection over all of you.
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CONTENT
Introduction 41 – Stop Being Timid and Be Bold 52 – The Truth About Demons 83 – Demons Have Nothing on You 194 – Getting Started 235 – Be Ready for a Fight 256 – Don’t Take the Credit 297 – Don’t Dilute the Word if You Lack Faith to Cast Out Demons 318 – Is Deliverance for All? 339 – Is the Evil Spirit Gone? 3410 – Is Satan Afraid of You? 3611 – What to Expect When You Cast out Demons 3812 – Arm Yourself for the Backlash 39Conclusion 40
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INTRODUCTION
For most of the world’s population casting out demons is foolishness. Sadly, this comment applies to Christians too! Why would Jesus have mentioned casting out demons if He didn’t want us to do it or if demons didn’t exist? The enemy has blinded the world to his existence. This allows him to operate freely and without a cight. Just look at the destruction, protests, anger, frustration, economy and even the level of discontent everywhere. How many credit the enemy for this upheaval? I’ve heard people call natural disasters ‘acts of God’ but never have I heard, except from some pulpits, that these acts have been perpetrated on God’s creation by the devil.
If Christians want to see God’s glory then we will have to be bold and courageous and stir up our faith. We will need to understand the enemy and take our stand. We will have to cast out demons in the name of Jesus. Just as Jesus sent His disciples so He is sending you and I to cast out demons and heal the sick. Stop the excuses. You have been given authority over the enemy, if you have made Jesus your Lord and Savior. Now is not the time to hide your head in the sand. Commit today to take your head out of the sand and admit that the enemy exists. That’s the cirst step. This book will help you with the next steps. Let Holy Spirit reveal the truth to your heart and spirit. Let Him lead you to a deeper understanding of what Jesus has called you to do in His name.
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CHAPTER 1
STOP BEING TIMID AND BE BOLD
Ignorance is bliss, at least that’s what we’ve been told. We may want to hide under a blanket in the hopes that the enemy will go away but that won’t happen. On the contrary, we should be arming ourselves for battle. We need to stop being timid in the face of the enemy and be bold. Do you know the story of the Promised Land and how it took forty years for the Israelites to claim it instead of the days it should have taken them (Deuteronomy 1:2-‐3)? Joshua and Caleb knew that they could overpower the occupants of the land with God’s help while all the others could see was how big the men were (Numbers 13:27-‐33; 14:6-‐9). They were completely defeated by what they saw yet they had witnessed God’s mighty hand at work separating the Red Sea, defeating the Egyptians, feeding them morning and evening, giving them water, etc. Why are we so timid when Jesus conquered the enemy? I hate to say it, but the enemy has blinded us to his tricks and schemes and has kept us in bondage. God is calling us to be like Joshua and Caleb and see the enemy as they did. God wants us to be bold.
David was a man after God’s own heart and he defeated the Philistine giant named Goliath (1 Samuel 17). Obviously God was with David and ensured his victory. If you read about David’s life you will see that he inquired of the Lord often. He listened to what God said and was successful. David was bold. He was emboldened by the certainty that God was with him and that God was more powerful than anyone. When was the last time you stared a problem in the eye and acted as boldly as David did in front of Goliath? David said to Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:45-‐47: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have de>ied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your heart. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
Boldness isn’t pride and it does not boast. Proverbs 16:18 states: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” As 1 Corinthians 1:31 states: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” Watch that you don’t take credit for God’s mighty work through you, as this allows the enemy to have his way with you. You have every reason to be bold when you are led by Holy Spirit to do something. You will be
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successful if you follow God’s direction, and believe with all your might that God will do what He says. When you defeat your Goliath, don’t boast but praise God in the name of Jesus.
Do you think you could be as bold as David was with Goliath? How about Daniel? Would you be as bold as him and pray to God three times a day in deciance of the king’s decree that would land you in the lions’ den (Daniel 6)? This is the level of boldness we must have to defeat the enemy. We must be bold for God. We must cirst recognize the enemy, if we are to defeat him. If there is a problem or dissension in your life, the enemy is at work. If you have unforgiveness, pride, jealousy, fear, anxiety, health issues, cinancial issues, broken or strained relationships, guilt, anger, addiction, etc. then recognize the enemy in all those circumstances. Once you recognize the enemy’s work then you can be honest with yourself and take a stand.
Now that you know what the enemy does, you need to understand the authority Jesus gave you to defeat the enemy. You need to recognize that you have authority. Jesus said in Luke 10:19: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” The enemy tries to intimidate you in the hopes that you will run for cover in fear. Christians should realize that they have been given authority over the enemy. He has already been defeated. We should stare the enemy boldly and rebuke him in the name of Jesus. To be effective for the kingdom of God, you will have to learn to stare down the enemy with God by your side and the power of Jesus and Holy Spirit in you. Imagine yourself taking a stand before Goliath, lions or bears, but know that God is the one with the power. You can do nothing apart from Jesus (John 15:5).
Are you as bold as Paul, as described in 2 Corinthians 11:23-‐33? Paul was in prison, clogged severely, and exposed to death again and again yet he continued to praise God and to teach the Gentiles about Jesus. What would you have done? What do you do today? Are you timid about letting others know about your faith? Are you uncomfortable about sharing your faith? I’m not saying ramming Jesus down their throat, just sharing God’s compassion with your family and friends. The enemy has some of us tied up in knots about sharing our faith. We make every kind of excuse. We are timid. We need to be bold, not forceful or disrespectful. Our goal is to bring the lost to God, not scare them away.
Being bold is not always as easy as it seems, at least not when it counts. Take a look at Peter. He cirst said he would lay down his life for Jesus (John 13:37), then he denied knowing Jesus three times (John 18:15-‐18; 25-‐27). What would you have done? When the going gets tough, do you take shelter? Thankfully, like Peter, God
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forgives our timidity but He expects us to become bold. 2 Timothy 1:7 states: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” Peter, who had denied Christ, stood up in front of thousands on the day of Pentecost to tell them about Jesus (Acts 2:14-‐41). He had been endowed with Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of power. Don’t be bold in your own power, as it would lead to selcish gains. Rely on the power that is in you—Jesus—and observe the mighty hand of God at work. Peter amazed the Sanhedrin, the Jewish leaders, when he was explaining how he had healed a crippled beggar (Acts 4:1-‐4). The Word says that the Sanhedrin was astonished because of Peter and John’s courage, as they were unschooled, ordinary men. What the Sanhedrin didn’t understand is that they were cilled with Holy Spirit. Praise God, so are you, if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Boldness has nothing to do with your personality, so don’t think of excuses why you can’t be bold. This isn’t about you; it’s about the power living inside you. Holy Spirit will give you the boldness you need and the words you need when the time comes. All you have to do is let Holy Spirit lead, and surrender to Him. The Lord said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is suf>icient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” It doesn’t matter who you are, you can be bold for Christ. Remember that God used unschooled, ordinary men to do extraordinary things. Why not you?
Are you letting your past disqualify you from being bold for God? Are you afraid that someone will remind you of your sins, if you step out in faith? Is someone telling you that you are not worthy of your spiritual gifts and limiting your growth? Are you feeling unworthy of the calling on your life? We are all unworthy of God’s love, but thankfully His grace abounds. Satan will often use guilt and fear to paralyze us, even by using Christians to do his dirty work. That’s when you need to be bold and take a leap of faith. God sees your heart. If your motives are selcish, you will reap what you sow. If your motives are pure, God will honor you (Psalms 112:1-‐9). Ask Holy Spirit what you need to do for God, and do it. Be bold and courageous.
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CHAPTER 2
THE TRUTH ABOUT DEMONS
Most of our concepts of demons have been created from TV shows or movies. In fact, we have too often let entertainment dictate what we know about evil spirits. Most think of demons as the plot to a movie rather than a force that seeks to steal, kill and destroy. Many Christians think of demons as spirits inhabiting the non-‐believers. This foolishness is courtesy of Satan himself. If we are blind to his actions then we won’t do anything to counter him.
The cirst thing Christians must know about demons is that they are real, are led by Satan and they keep Christians and non-‐believers in bondage. In Luke 13:10-‐16, Jesus heals a crippled woman in a synagogue. In verse 16, Jesus says: “Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” Jesus calls her a daughter of Abraham. All who call on the name of Jesus are children of Abraham. The Word says that a spirit kept the woman bent and she could not straighten up. How many in your church are visibly in bondage? Are you one of them? If you wear glasses or corrective lens, you are in bondage. For the most part, bondage is not seen and it can take many forms: health issues, including cancer, depression, allergies, arthritis, and insomnia; emotional issues, such as fear, guilt, anger, rage, anxiety, worry and pride; and prosperity issues, such as lack of clarity or success in your career, cinancial hardship, and failure in the work you undertake. When you understand that God wants only great things for you and that He gives good and perfect gifts (James 1:17) then you realize that all that is not good is from the devil. Your lack of faith allows the devil to have his way in your life. Satan has blinded us to his schemes. Don’t take offense at what I’m saying. I’m guilty of letting Satan have his way in certain areas of my life and being blinded by him. The only way to counter demons is to cirst acknowledge their existence and then understand how they work.
James 2:19 states: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” You believe in God and so do demons. 2 Corinthians 4:4 states: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” I do not want to add a word to the Bible, in keeping with the instructions given to us in Revelations 22:18. I do believe that the god of this age is Satan. I also believe that
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not only has he blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they don’t know Christ but also the minds of believers so that they don’t understand all that is available to them through Christ. By keeping us ignorant of God’s promises, Satan blinds us. We are much less effective than we should be.
What do you see when you see someone wearing glasses? Do you see bondage, a regular occurrence that you give no thought to, an act of God, a sign of heredity, hope of God’s deliverance, etc.? If you see anything else than Satan’s bondage and the promise of Christ’s healing power then you have been blinded by the god of this age. We need to wake up to the realization that the enemy is out to mess up our lives. If Satan can make the world believe that being a Christian has no benecits and we suffer like everyone else then he wins and we lose. Ephesians 6:11-‐13 talks about the enemy. It states: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against >lesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Paul goes on to say in Ephesians 6:16: “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the >laming arrows of the evil one.” These Scriptures are important to our understanding of the enemy. He schemes and uses people (clesh and blood) to confuse us. He uses television to desensitize us to the plights of people around the world. Hallelujah if you are moved by compassion and to action whenever you see people in need. For most, a natural disaster is just another story. This is one way the enemy schemes against us. We have become indifferent in the face of need or disaster. While it is true that we don’t all have unlimited resources to help everyone in need we do have the power of the Almighty God through prayer. Do you at least pray for those in need when you see hopelessness on the news? We are called to have God’s compassion, but Satan keeps us so busy and has clooded us with so many images of suffering that we are mostly unaffected by what we see on TV. There are some that are moved by compassion and send money but that’s the limit of their engagement. Throwing money at the problem rather than praying for a miracle is also part of Satan’s plan. Don’t stop giving, but also pray for a miracle.
How many people realize that Satan is mentioned in the prayer taught to us by Jesus? In Matthew 6:13, Jesus said: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” How many times have you recited this prayer without giving a single thought to the enemy? By ignoring the enemy, we also ignore what he’s doing to mess up our lives. We unknowingly wave the white clag in surrender to his
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schemes by not paying attention. How sad is that! Ignorance when left unattended becomes defeat.
In Romans 16:19, Paul says: “Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.” Innocent of evil is not ignorant of evil. Paul wants us to have nothing to do with evil but we need to recognize it. In 2 Timothy 2:22, Paul tells Timothy: “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” In verses 25 and 26, Paul goes on to say: “Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” Paul is hoping that the lost will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap. If Paul were alive today, would he not include Christians in this Scripture, in the hope that they came to their senses and see the devil at work in their lives? In 2 Timothy 3:1-‐9, Paul writes: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.” How close is this world to the picture Paul gave us of the last days? Let us not be blind to what is going on around us!
One of Satan’s greatest ploys is to keep us busy and distracted. How many Christians read their Bible on a daily basis? How many read it to understand it? How many meditate on what they read? Satan wants you so busy that you don’t have time to think. If you had time, you might understand that God promised you peace, prosperity, health, abundance and much more, if you obey Him and abide in Him. When you don’t take time to be with God, Satan will keep you busy by messing up your life. It’s your choice. Sadly, you can even be too busy doing godly things that you don’t even have time for God.
Are you easily distracted, especially when talking to God? Are you talking to God and the next thing you know you’re thinking of a problem or work or someone
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you should be praying for? If that’s you, you are not alone. I don’t know how many times I’ve apologized to God for my wandering mind. I can just imagine what I would do or say if He did the same to me. I would likely not be very happy. Yes, we need self-‐discipline but we also need to recognize that distraction is used by Satan to get us off track. This is especially true when we deepen our relationship with God, Jesus and Holy Spirit. Satan knows that if we grow our faith we will step into God’s promises and authority and that’s the last thing he wants. When you take a step of faith and do what God wants you to do, expect Satan to distract you with all kinds of issues. He will even use Christians to distract you from your purpose. My only advice is to pray for God’s protection for you and your family, as soon as you take that step of faith. This step of faith can include committing to read your Bible daily, memorizing Scripture, taking one step closer to your calling, resolving to be more compassionate, engaging in your church, stepping into your spiritual gifts, etc. Be aware of the devil’s schemes.
Do you know that worrying is ungodly? If you think about it, worrying is equivalent to not trusting God to resolve your situation. Philippians 4:4-‐7 states: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The Word is clear…do not worry about anything. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25-‐27: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 10:19-‐20: “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” That is exactly what happened to Peter and John when they were brought before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4:8-‐14. Proverbs 12:25 states: “An anxious heart weighs a man down” and Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Satan knows if you are worried or anxious about someone or something you are not focusing on God’s promises and power. Train yourself to cast your worries on God the instant you realize it and let Him resolve the situation. If you doubt God then you will reap what you believe. If you trust Him wholeheartedly then you will not worry.
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We have seen that Satan uses ignorance, indifference, busyness, distraction and worry as ploys to undermine God’s power in our lives. He also uses fear. There are all kinds of fear and sadly many have been given specicic names. Examples of fear include: heights, losing hair, failure, insects, tests, clying and sickness. There is only one legitimate fear and that is the fear of the Lord, not to drive you away but out of reverence to Him. Psalms 91:1-‐4 tells us that, if we dwell in the shelter of God, He will cover us with His feathers and under His wings we will cind refuge. Verses 5 through 8 tells us about other benecits of abiding in God: “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that >lies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.” Have you appropriated these benecits for your life? How about those in Psalms 23:4, which reads: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Likely, most Christians believe that they do not fear evil but they fail to realize that every fear but the fear of God is evil.
Psalms 19:9 states: “The fear of the Lord is pure” while Psalms 111:10 tells us: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. When you put those two Scriptures together you cind that the fear of the Lord is pure wisdom. In Psalms 34:4, David says: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” David faced Goliath. He fought many battles, he had many foes, he was responsible for the tribe of Judah, and even responsible for the Ark of the Covenant. Even with all his responsibilities, God delivered him from all his fears. David likely realized early on that fear did not honor God and did not come from God. Psalms 34 is all about God delivering us from fear. Read it and meditate on it, so that you understand that if you put your trust in God and do not fear you will be rewarded. Verses 9 and 10 state: “Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” Don’t let Satan blind you to this truth. Any fear but fear of the Lord is ungodly, and only speaks of your distrust in God’s power.
Have you forgiven everyone who has done you wrong? Are you still angry about something that happened years, if not decades, ago? Does the smallest irritation set you off in a cit of rage? Do you want to take revenge every time someone does you wrong or offends you? Sometimes we hang on to unforgiveness, anger, rage or revenge of our own free will, not recognizing these as the poisons they are. At times, they are schemes of the devil to keep us from being productive for God and good ambassadors for Christ. The Word is clear on forgiveness. Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-‐15: “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly
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Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” In Mark 11:25, Jesus said: “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Colossians 3:13 states: “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” When you don’t forgive someone, you allow the person to have control over you. This also has the effect of acting as an umbrella declecting God’s precious blessings on your life. If all Christians understood the negative consequences of unforgiveness, we would all rush to forgive.
Proverbs 29:11 states: “A fool gives full vent to his anger but a wise man keeps himself under control.” The Word even warns us in Proverbs 22:24-‐25: “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.” James 1:19-‐21 states: “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral >ilth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” In Ephesians 4, Paul calls us to be children of light. In verses 26 and 27, he says: “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” When we hold on to anger, we allow the devil to have his way in the situation. Paul goes on to say in verses 31 and 32: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” In Romans 12:17-‐21, Paul says: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” As children of God we need to adhere to His Word. If we deliberately ignore His Word and let the devil have his way with us we are asking for trouble, major trouble.
Did you know that Satan uses strife, envy, malicious talk, suspicions and friction between people to distract them from God? When you have an argument with someone it can take over your peace, if you let it. It also has the possibility of coloring all other aspects of your life, if you don’t stop it immediately. If we realized that Satan creates these negative tensions to get us to focus on other things than God, we would at least have a chance. Even when we know the real source of the tension, it is hard to not see the person hurting us as the perpetrator. It takes
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discipline and training to see the enemy at work in our lives. We are never quite objective about ourselves and our behavior. We always see ourselves in the most positive of lights and the object of our tension in the most negative. We often think we are speaking clearly and with an even tone during a discussion but more often than not we are passionately presenting our arguments. We saw earlier in Ephesians 6:12 that our struggle is not against clesh and blood (people) but the powers of this dark world. Remember that the next time someone wants to disagree with you. Shut the door to Satan before he can even come in. You may not like it but it will be much easier than the pain and stress of adding fuel to the cire, even if you are totally innocent. Don’t take the blame for something you did not do, but extinguish the claming arrows of the enemy, as soon as you notice them.
Guilt is one of Satan’s most effective tools. Guilt paralyzes us, and we don’t even know it. At times it will make us feel unworthy of serving God in the church by thinking ‘if they knew what I had done they would not accept me’. To that I respond ‘Let he who is without sin cast the cirst stone’. If you have repented of your sin then God forgave you. His children are called to do the same, no matter what you have done. Satan will want to keep you in that guilt as long as he can so you don’t become an effective worker for God and don’t grow your faith. Guilt also paralyzes your faith. When you are too busy thinking about what you did you have little time for God or the time you spend with God is cilled with self-‐reproach and limits your worship. Hebrews 10:22 states: “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
Another tool in Satan’s arsenal is pride. Earlier we saw that pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18). Often we are too blind to see that we are full of pride. It is hard to distinguish at times. When you don’t do as well as you expected, do you feel shame, or do you want to hide the fact from your loves ones? Do you justify not doing as well as you had hoped for? Are you using the excuse ‘God must have wanted it this way’ to explain your performance? Look closer and see if pride isn’t at the heart of your excuses. Pride has the ability to keep you from serving God effectively. The church might need an usher but you see yourself as a leader and therefore don’t offer your services. Pride or arrogance can also result in looking down on people of lesser faith than you or not wanting to associate with them. Understand that God will use you in small ways, and when you have completed your tasks successfully He will give you greater things to do.
All negative emotions, from selcishness to jealousy to pride, are instruments used by Satan to keep us in bondage. Knowing the source of the problem does not
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absolve you from the emotion. You can’t look at someone and say ‘It wasn’t my fault, it was Satan’. When you abide in God, He has all the armor and weapons you need to see the claming arrows of the enemy and defeat him. One of our greatest weapons is casting out demons in the name of Jesus. The goal is to recognize the enemy before he strikes. Until your faith is at that level, recognize the enemy as soon as he strikes and defeat him in his tracks. Don’t let him get a foothold.
Financial hardship of any kind is a form of bondage from the enemy. As God’s children, we should not lack. As a matter of fact, we should be sowing generously always as 2 Corinthians 9:11 states: “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” It is God who gives us the ability to create wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). God promised that we would be blessed (Deuteronomy 28:1-‐14) if we obey Him and follow all His commands. Satan uses poverty to keep unbelievers away from God. He perpetrated a lie on Christians that made them think they needed to be poor to be Christ-‐like. This has the effect of keeping Christians in poverty and keeping non-‐believers far from that curse. You are to be rich, not be greedy, and give generously on every occasion. You should have no qualms about parting with the money your Father gave you. That distinguishes us from that rich young man Jesus was talking to in Matthew 19:16-‐22. Money is like a TV or a computer…we should be willing to let go of them. Jesus states it well in Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” To have money is not a sin but to love it is. This is also true of anything you own or that captures your attention—social media, electronic games, sports, cars, jewels, antiques, etc.
The most obvious form of bondage in the Bible is related to health. We read about the crippled woman whom Satan had kept in bondage for eighteen years in Luke 13:10-‐17. In Matthew 8:16, we read: “many who were demon-possessed were brought to him (Jesus), and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.” Jesus healed two violent, demon-‐possessed men in Matthew 8:28-‐32, healed a demon-‐possessed man who could not talk in Matthew 9:32-‐33, etc. When Jesus sent out His twelve disciples, he gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness (Matthew 10:1). In Matthew 10:8-‐9, Jesus told his disciples: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” Jesus gave us the same instructions in Mark 16:15-‐18: “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
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in 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.”
Often, we allow Satan to take us into bondage by allowing diseases and illness and crediting them to old age. We let Satan have his way with us and we never even take out our sword. It’s not that we don’t have faith for healing, it’s that we have been brainwashed for so long to think of some sickness or illness as hereditary, acceptable, old-‐age related, or not that much of a nuisance. Glasses or corrective lenses are a perfect example of that. Lets see illness and disease for what they really are…bondage from the enemy. Every good and perfect gift is from God (James 1:17) so don’t credit Him for any imperfection you have or you see around you. Satan has convinced some Christians that God gets glory when they suffer well or that diseases are good as it allows God to heal them. If Christians were full of health would not unbelievers see it and want it?
Most health-‐related bondage is invisible. This includes depression, cancer, Alzheimer, allergies, etc. Satan uses these diseases to dishonor God. If we only realized that these were the work of Satan we could use the authority Jesus gave us in Luke 10:19 to defeat him: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” The truth is that Satan has no power over you and over your body, if you have the knowledge, understanding and faith to overcome. Satan knows our weaknesses. He will use them to tempt us. He knows what button to push, if you are quick to get angry. He will tempt you with making a quick buck dishonestly if he sees you struggle cinancially. Just as he tempted Jesus in the desert for forty days (Matthew 4:1-‐11), he will do his utmost to tempt you. Whatever your addiction, if any, he will tempt you. Know that he has no authority over you. God does. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul writes: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” We are equipped with the Word of God, so whenever you see Satan at work in your life use the Word against him. Arm yourself with the Word before Satan does anything; don’t wait until he strikes to do something about it.
Are you in limbo or struggling to understand your choice of career, your purpose for God or just which job God wants you to have to fulcill His will? Satan is usually complicit in this lack of clarity. He either keeps us blind to the fact that we
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should have clarity from God if we seek Him earnestly. If you have never asked Holy Spirit for guidance in these areas then you only have to look in the mirror for the reason for your indecision. If you have earnestly and sincerely sought Holy Spirit’s guidance and you don’t have unforgiveness in your life and you are not being deliberately disobedient to God’s Word then the enemy might just be the reason for the fogginess. Persevere and spend more time with Holy Spirit. Ask Him what is God’s perfect plan for your career, job or calling.
Did you know that one of the most active cigures in the church is Satan? He causes dissension, disagreements, distrust and displeasure, which all contribute to disunity in the Body of Christ. Satan understands how critical it is for God’s children to be united and what a powerful force we are as a united body. You just have to look at how many religions there are within Christianity to understand what the results of Satan’s schemes can do. Worst of all, he’s got us cighting each other. How stupid is that! We should all have one guide and it is the Word of God—the Bible.
Just look at the news to cind out how busy Satan and his demons are. Natural disasters are frequent. Think about it…how many cloods, cires, earthquakes, tornados, destructive winds, hurricanes, tsunamis, and volcano eruptions have you seen on the news in the last few years? How much hardship is being caused by the economic collapse of banks, investment cirms, and now countries? Satan is the instigator of chaos. The worst part of it is that he somehow manages to have disasters called ‘Acts of God’ and because of it people don’t want to have anything to do with God or question God’s goodness. He’ll keep on messing with us and with the world until we put our foot down collectively as the Body of Christ.
Another form of disaster is slander, gossip, cursing and even speaking negative words. If we only realized how Satan uses us to feed his chaos, we would stop it! Whether at work or in the church, have nothing to do with these acts. If you don’t contribute to gossip or slander but silently listen to it then you are giving agreement to it. Any negative word gives Satan room to act, while positive words spoken in faith allow God to act. Think about that the next time you want to criticize your boss or pastor. Romans 12:14 states: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
Christians should understand that all negative words, emotions or thoughts fuel Satan’s power. They allow him to take control, as he is the prince of darkness. Satan doesn’t play fair, so even when you say negative words in the heat of the moment repent immediately. As soon as you repent out of a sincere heart it acts as a cire extinguisher against Satan’s claming arrows. This is also true for what you see
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and hear. What you put into your body, including what you watch on TV, listen to on the radio and read has incluence on you. It feeds your mind, body and soul, so be cognizant of this fact. The enemy will use everything you do to distract you from God.
Satan also uses your kindness to trap you. Don’t let your emotions lead you but let Holy Spirit guide your steps. You may be moved to tears and to action when seeing someone in need but if you don’t consult with Holy Spirit you might be inviting the enemy to have his way with you. Have you ever done something that seems right at the time but has resulted in frustration and defeat? This can include time invested in a person whose faith is not growing, long hours of work on a church project with little result, etc. Whatever task you undertake, even if it looks like a project Jesus himself would volunteer for, ask Holy Spirit for His counsel to ensure you are doing what God wants you to do and not be distracted from your real purpose by the enemy.
Although we live in the natural, there are spiritual forces at work all around us. We cirst have to recognize that they exist if we are ever to be effective ambassadors for Christ. Satan and his demons will do everything they can to mess up your life. This is especially true when you take a step of faith or get closer to God. Don’t let that deter you, because you will be better armed once you’ve taken that step. Pray to God for His protection and take hold of the authority God has given you over the enemy. He has given you His authority through Jesus, so use it to rebuke the enemy.
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CHAPTER 3
DEMONS HAVE NOTHING ON YOU
Now that you know that demons can mess up your life, you need to realize that you have been given complete authority over them. Luke 10:19 bears repeating a third time. Jesus said: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” What you do with that authority is up to you. Most Christians have not understood the authority Jesus gave them, even though the words in Luke 10:19 are clear.
Have you ever cast out a demon? Does the idea of casting out demons frighten you? Do you think casting out demons is your pastor’s job? Do you know and understand the authority Jesus gave you to cast out demons? In Matthew 28:18, Jesus said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Just because Jesus has all authority doesn’t mean that there is no more enemy. It does mean that Jesus has authority over Satan and his demons. Jesus delegated that authority to us in Luke 10:19. He gave His disciples that same authority in Matthew 10:1 and told them in verse 8: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” When you read the instructions Jesus gave to His disciples do you not realize that they are for you also? Let there be no doubt. Jesus said in Mark 16:17-‐18: “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in 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.” Jesus was speaking about all believers. If you are a believer then you need to understand what Jesus has called you to do in His name.
Having authority is one thing, exercising it is another. Take any new job. A person has to learn what authority they have and then put it into practice until they become good at it. This is also true for the authority Jesus gave us. We have it but we need to put it into practice to become good at it. Realizing what authority you have over demons is the second critical step to casting them out. You then have to take hold of that authority. How would you exercise your authority in a new job? Would you not try to learn all you could about the environment, the people, the rules and regulations, etc.? The same applies for the authority Jesus gave you. The Bible is your guide to the environment, the people, the rules and regulations and so much more, if you open your eyes.
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Read the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and let Jesus teach you as He did His disciples. No matter what I write in this book, it is only when you seek answers with your heart and let Holy Spirit convict you of the truth that you will see the light. The authority to cast out demons was not limited to the Twelve. In Luke 10:1, Jesus sent out seventy-‐two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. Don’t disqualify yourself because you are not one of the Twelve. Luke 10:17 states: “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Do you fully realize that you are called to cast out demons? Hallelujah, if you said yes. Exercising the authority Jesus gave us is not always as easy as we might think. Even the disciples couldn’t heal a boy with a demon, as stated in Matthew 17:14-‐20: “When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the >ire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed. The disciples then came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” There is a very good reason why Jesus sent them two by two (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1). He wanted them to fortify each other’s faith and likely keep each other grounded. In Luke 10:20, Jesus told the seventy-‐two who returned with joy from casting out demons: “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Jesus was warning them not to take pride in their authority but in His. The greatest threat to our success is pride. It has brought many great Christians to their knees. Remember, pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18).
Satan has nothing on you. Jesus said that nothing will harm you in Luke 10:19. To ensure that the enemy’s claming arrows don’t get to you, put on the full armor of God, as stated in Ephesians 6:14-‐18: “Stand >irm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet >itted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the >laming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
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Anytime you don’t understand the Word, ask Holy Spirit to teach you. Ask Him for fresh revelation every time you read the Word. We need to be armed and ready for battle to defeat the enemy. Jesus tells us in Luke 12:35-‐39 to be ready and on guard: “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master >inds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master >inds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.” Satan has come to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). He is like a thief waiting to steal all of God’s promises. Don’t let him!
Psalms 91:9-‐16 states: “If you make the Most High your dwelling—even the Lord, who is my refuge—then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Read this Scripture over and over until you understand what God has freely given to those who believe and abide in Him. To receive the full benecits of God’s promises you must rely on God completely, not just when you think about it or when it suits you. When you surrender yourself to God wholeheartedly expect that no harm will come to you because He will command His angels to protect you. Think of Jesus in the desert (Matthew 4:1-‐11). When Jesus resisted the devil, the devil left him, and angels came and attended him (Matthew 4:11). Jesus trusted His Father implicitly and was rewarded. We too will be rewarded, if we have faith.
The key to our authority and casting out demons is the name of Jesus. You may have heard the phrase “What’s in a name?” In this case, everything! Peter and John said as much when they were before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4, after Peter healed a crippled beggar in Acts 3:1-‐10. Acts 4:8-‐10 states: “Then Peter, >illed with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you cruci>ied but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.” If we lose sight of who powers our authority we will soon
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cind ourselves in peril. Don’t be foolish! As Jesus said in John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” You have no authority except that which was given to you by Jesus, if you believe in Him.
Casting out demons has nothing to do with your standing in the church but everything to do with your faith. As members of the Body of Christ, we are called to cast out demons. Some pastors or church leaders stay away from the topic. Some don’t fully understand it and cannot speak of it with authority; others don’t mention it for selcish reasons…they don’t want to lose members of their church who don’t believe in demons or don’t want to scare people away. Find out what your church leaders believe and ask Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to everyone. You should always pray for your leaders as they are under constant attack from the enemy. If Holy Spirit leads you to another church then leave your current one peacefully with God’s blessing. Do not promote dissension in the Body of Christ. We are to be united.
Your concidence in casting out demons will increase as you grow your faith. The only way to grow your faith is to get in the Word (Romans 10:17). Don’t just read it…read it to understand it. Ask Holy Spirit to teach you. Meditate on what you read. Think of the Word as God’s instruction to you and God’s promises for you. Then, resolve to do what it says and claim what is rightfully yours as a child of God. As the Word becomes alive in you, you will gain concidence not only to assume your responsibilities as a child of God but also exercising the authority He gave you to cast out demons. Knowing and doing are two different things, so resolve to know and act today!
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CHAPTER 4
GETTING STARTED
The best way to practice casting out demons is to do it in your own life. Start small. Is there an area in your life that is a little messed up? Just say “In the name of Jesus, I cast you out evil spirit. Get out and stay out.” You don’t have to shout or scream but you have to say these words with authority, fully believing that it is done and that the situation is being resolved supernaturally.
If you need deliverance in the area of health, rebuke the devil, no matter the issue. Although I recommend you start small, such as headaches or when you bang your toe, you may have a serious afcliction or illness that requires immediate attention. In those cases, I would recommend you clood your spirit with the Word and ask elders in the church or the healing ministry to cast out those demons that are keeping you in bondage. Practice whenever you have something come up—hiccups, cold, cough, skin irritation, etc. As soon as you sense the enemy trying to make you sick, rebuke him in the name of Jesus.
If you are being oppressed by the enemy in the area of cinances, and you are tithing your full ten percent, then cast out that demon. It could be that an evil spirit is blinding you to what God has promised to those who believe. Malachi 3:10 states: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the >loodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Claim God’s promises for your life and get the enemy out in the name of Jesus. Remember 2 Corinthians 9:11: “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” Ask Holy Spirit to reveal you the truth of these Scriptures and stand in faith. You are meant to be generous on every occasion. Are you?
Are disagreements weighing you down? Cast the devil out of those circumstances in the name of Jesus. Ask God to transform you, even if you believe another is in error. The devil can use a friendly gesture to start mayhem, if we let him. The instant you sense the enemy trying to steal your peace of mind by creating suspicion or distance or negative feelings for someone, including your boss or employees, invoke the name of Jesus to cast out the devil. Don’t let the devil get a foothold. Eliminate his threat immediately. The longer the devil stays in a situation the greater the level of faith to remove him.
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There are some Christians who have negative emotions—pride, envy, jealousy, fear, anger, rage, guilt, etc. If that’s you, ask God to transform you and also cast out evil spirits that are keeping you in bondage. Don’t be surprised if you hear shrieks as the evil spirit or spirits come out. When Philip went to Samaria in Acts 8:4-‐8, verse 7 states: “With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.” Some people experience coughing as the demon is being cast out; others just come out without a sound. Some may have a physical reaction, such as muscles tightening.
There is no specicic formula to cast out demons, except to do so in the name of Jesus. Paul in Acts 16:16-‐18 cast out an evil spirit by saying: “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her.” and the spirit left the girl at that moment. Spirits submit to the name of Jesus. Don’t be foolish enough to tackle the enemy without using the name of Jesus. Jesus gave us instructions in Mark 16:17: “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons…”. Heed Jesus’ instructions.
Don’t give up, if you don’t have positive results immediately. It can take time and practice to exercise the authority Jesus gave you. The only thing standing in your way is your lack of faith. Even when you believe with all your heart, mind and spirit that Jesus gave you authority to overcome the enemy it can take time to manifest itself. It’s like speaking in tongues; some have the faith to claim the gift immediately while others don’t. Make certain that you don’t have any unforgiveness or are not deliberately being disobedient to God before you start casting out demons.
Once you’ve had positive results you should begin to lay hands on others as Jesus instructed us to do. Understand that others may doubt or object to your laying hands on them if you seem to be in bondage yourself. Get your house cleaned up before you start cleaning others. Never lay your hands on someone without asking. As we saw in Paul’s example earlier there is no need to lay hands on a person to cast out demons.
You have been given authority to overcome all the powers of the enemy (Luke 10:19). Jesus himself gave you that authority. Don’t waste it!
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CHAPTER 5
BE READY FOR A FIGHT
Satan does not give up easily what he has stolen. He’ll want to cight you every time. He knows that most people give up easily and quit. He’s counting on it. As indicated earlier, knowing you have the authority and exercising it are two different things. Think about it this way. Imagine a new manager, hired externally, leading a staff of 30 who have been there for years. The manager wants to change things and knows he has the authority to do it. The manager’s biggest challenge is having the backbone to assume that authority. The same is true for you as you seek to obey Jesus’ command to cast out demons. Just as the manager’s staff may resist any changes so will the devil. Don’t let him create doubt about your authority.
Are you saying to yourself… ‘I’m ready for a cight’ or ‘I’m not a cighter’? As Christians, our cight is not against people but against the spiritual realm of darkness. If you’ve got such a tender heart why would you want people to suffer? People living under Satan’s bondage are suffering, but it is nothing like what they will suffer if they haven’t confessed Jesus as their Lord and Savior on their last day. Would you not want to see them delivered completely now and for eternity? We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. Lets not leave them in the dark and under the grip of the enemy.
If you are ready for a cight, check your armor before going into battle. Here is a battle checklist:√ I know the Word of God and can use it to counter the enemy’s schemes and claming arrows.√ I believe without any doubt whatsoever that Jesus gave me the authority to overcome the enemy.√ Holy Spirit guides my every step so that I know the battle plan.√ I have no unforgiveness in my heart and am not deliberately disobeying God’s Word.√ My goal is to carry out Jesus’ instructions.√ I can do nothing on my own. I can do everything through Jesus.
Check your spiritual temperature before battling the enemy. Realize that the results will incluence someone’s faith in Jesus. Yours may be affected too, if you are not ready. If you are going into battle with the authority given to you by Jesus but
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don’t have the unwavering faith to back it up don’t risk the cight. Train yourself cirst then step into the ring.
If you are ready to step into the ring then follow Holy Spirit’s guidance. He will tell you all you need to know. Size up your opponent by cinding out what the issue is. At times it is visible to the eye when Satan has people under bondage physically. At other times it is not so obvious. Let the person you are praying for tell you what the issue is. Don’t get mired in the details. It is enough for you to know that someone is depressed to battle the enemy, you don’t need to hear all the symptoms and effects. It is enough for you to know that there is difciculty in the marriage without knowing if there was an affair. Casting out demons is not a license to pry into someone else’s life; it is delivering them from the oppression of the enemy. Be guided by Holy Spirit always.
Now that you know what the issue is or more to the point the evil spirit you are cighting, it is time to exercise your authority and cast out that demon. There are cases where there are multiple demons as was the case in Mark 5. In verse 9, Jesus asked the evil spirit in a demon-‐possessed man what his name was. “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many”. If at any time you doubt or you fear stop and get reinforcements. Your faith must be unwavering. You must be able to look the enemy in the eye and not clinch.
You’re in the ring, you’ve sized up the enemy, your trainer (praying partner) is outside the ropes waiting to help if you need it and you are ready to deliver the knockout punch. Look the enemy in the eye and say with authority “In the name of Jesus, I command you to leave”. You have just delivered the knockout punch. Don’t lose your victory by looking for signs or asking the person if they feel differently or felt anything. Neither Jesus nor his disciples asked the captives if they felt different. Some demons come out kicking while others come out quietly. Believe that the evil spirit submitted to you. Don’t start looking for signs because that is the devil at work. We are dealing with the spiritual realm. Our natural minds like to see concirmation or hear it but this path leads to failure. Trust in the name of Jesus. Trust in the authority he gave you.
So what do you do after delivering the knockout punch? Stand in faith. Ephesians 6:13 states: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Read Luke 17:11-‐19 about ten men with leprosy asking Jesus for mercy. They were cleansed or healed on their way to see the priests as instructed by Jesus. Standing in faith is easy to do in principle but what do you say
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to the expectant person in front of you? They may not know how to stand in faith or know to thank Jesus before they see signs or concirmation in the natural. Start praising the Lord for the deliverance and guide your former captive to do the same. Give them Scriptures to base their faith upon such as Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Remind them of Mark 16:17-‐18 and Ephesians 6:10-‐18.
What do you do when you are faced with a demon-‐possessed person such as the one described in Matthew 17:14-‐18, as seen earlier where the disciples could not heal him? Do like the disciples did. They asked Jesus why they couldn’t drive out the demon and He replied in verses 20-‐21: “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Ask Holy Spirit if you have the same problem and you will likely get the same answer as the disciples.
Whether you, or the captive you are praying for, lack faith it is good to remember that faith is not a feeling, it’s knowing without a doubt. Some captives know that they have been set free without seeing the evidence. Matthew 9:20-‐22 tells us of a woman who was subject to bleeding. She had an expectant heart and knew she only had to touch Jesus’ cloak to be healed. Faith is the key. How many times did Jesus say ‘Your faith has made you well’?
Even though you are cilled with compassion at seeing captives in wheelchairs, it is imperative that you not impose yourself on anyone. Let them come to you, unless Holy Spirit specicically guides you to them. Too often people of faith who are in bondage from the enemy have had their hopes raised by Christians who lacked the faith to deliver them. They should have the faith to be delivered themselves, but as we see in the Word even the disciples lacked faith so don’t be so eager to criticize others or judge their faith. The captive must be willing and receptive to be delivered. He or she might not fully or remotely understand about demons but is hoping for a miracle. A willing heart is all that is needed to set a captive free.
This chapter is called ‘Be ready for a cight’. In most cases the cight is won by the time you get to the ring, if you have the faith for it. Some evil spirits have taken residence years if not decades ago. This should not unsettle you as you have been given authority to overcome all the power of the enemy. Some spirits won’t go without a cight. What do you do then? Get ready to cight. Think about our new manager wanting to change things. Some will resist change as they have been doing their tasks the same way for years. They may complain and yell and threaten to
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strike but in the end the manager has to take authority and exercise it. So must you. Don’t scream and shout, as you’ll only manage to scare the poor captive. Authority to cast out demons is not in your tone or look or demeanor it is in the name of Jesus and nothing else. You must believe it and say it with conviction. The name of Jesus should be enough to scare even the most stubborn demons.
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CHAPTER 6
DON’T TAKE THE CREDIT
In John 15:5, Jesus says that we can do nothing without Him. It is important to remind yourself always that no matter how successful you are at casting out demons it is the name of Jesus that holds all the power. Yes your faith is key to unlocking that power but you are still nothing without Him. Be careful not to start thinking ‘my faith has made him well’ but rather remind yourself that Jesus is the power behind healing and casting out demons. Take a stand against pride before you begin to cast out demons. It’s the smart thing to do.
Don’t start looking down on people because you are walking in the authority Jesus gave you over the enemy. It is for God’s glory that we are called to service. God is not gloricied by haughty eyes or a haughty heart. Often a spirit of pride sneaks up on a person and he or she might not know it. Likely the person would vehemently deny it if confronted. Do yourself a favor and ask Holy Spirit on a regular basis whether you have an evil spirit of pride. Cast him out immediately. Remind people not to thank you but to thank Jesus. As Jesus said to the seventy-‐two in Luke 10:20: “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” I know this is a repeat of what was said before but it is critical.
Every Christian is called to cast out demons in the name of Jesus. Be grateful if you have the faith to be set free from any and all the bondage and oppression the devil throws your way. James 4:7 states: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will >lee from you.” This Scripture comes right after this one: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Keep humble before God and men.
It is easy to get carried away by the excitement, especially at cirst. Don’t let that excitement turn to pride or boasting or it may hamper your authority over the enemy. It may affect your spiritual gifts. Read the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-‐30. A man had entrusted his property to his servants. You and I have been entrusted with the authority Jesus gave us just like the servants. What will Jesus say when He sees you: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’ or ‘You wicked, lazy servant!” If you have pride He might not say you are lazy but He might very well take the talent away from you and give it to another who uses it wisely.
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In John 14:12-‐14, Jesus says: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” We can do greater things than Jesus so that He may bring glory to the Father. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us that whatever we do, we are to do it for the glory of God. Glorify your Father always, as Jesus did. Jesus, who was God, humbled himself and became man so that we might have life. Don’t belittle what He did by taking the credit for it.
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CHAPTER 7
DON’T DILUTE THE WORD IF YOU LACK THE FAITH TO CAST OUT DEMONS
Far too many Christians don’t know about demons. Some know but fail to exercise the authority Jesus gave them over the enemy and then dilute the Word in response. The Word is clear in Mark 16:17: “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons”. There is nothing to clarify. So, if these signs don’t accompany you then you either don’t believe the Word, haven’t exercised the authority Jesus gave you or failed to have results when you did. If you are in the latter category don’t blame it on anybody else but the person looking at you in the mirror. Don’t you dare give Satan any more ground by diluting what Jesus said.
If we can’t do something we should learn to shut up. By planting doubt over the Word or the meaning of the Word we limit God’s power and fall into the enemy’s clutches. Just because someone lacks the faith to cast out demons or lay hands on the sick isn’t a reason to look down on them but it also isn’t a license for doubting the Word. Jesus gave no other prerequisites than to believe and use His name in order for the results to happen. You don’t need a title or a degree in theology. You need faith. If you don’t have the faith for it then don’t stand in the way of those who do. If you are a church leader, encourage it! Don’t hide it, promote it and see Satan fall like lightning from heaven (Luke 10:18).
When we dilute the Word of God or His promises we are in effect giving the victory to Satan. If we stand on the Word, we will be rewarded. It seems with every generation, standing in faith gets shorter and shorter. Think about it… in less than 100 years, North America has gone from mostly one store per town to shopping 24x7 on-‐line and with countless malls in most cities. Christmas used to mean something in terms of giving and receiving. Now most of us buy what we need or want as we go along and can’t think of much we ‘need’ at Christmas. This instant self-‐gratifying world has forgotten how to stand in faith. If there aren’t instant results or a positive outcome in a set period of time then we choose not to believe the promise or prophetic word or even the Word itself. We need to learn to stand in faith again.
Have you been diluting the Word of God? Have you read the Word and said this promise is not for us or these directions are for the disciples? Are you
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negatively incluencing people to dilute the Word? When you reduce the signicicance of a Scripture or downplay its benecits or interpret it as you want it you dilute the Word and limit God’s power. Your heavenly Father wants to shower you with love and gifts. Wake up to that reality.
Instead of diluting the Word, crank up your faith. The only way to do that is to spend time with God and His Word. Ask Holy Spirit to guide you to all truth and teach you the true meaning of Scripture. This doesn’t happen overnight, but as you draw closer to God he will draw closer to you (James 4:8). Learn to stand in faith and see God’s promises realized in your life and through you.
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CHAPTER 8
IS DELIVERANCE FOR ALL?
There is one Scripture that gives some Christians pause to lay hands on everyone so lets look at it now. In 1 Timothy 5:22, Paul tells Timothy: “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.” This Scripture was intended for the person acting on Jesus’ behalf and not the recipient. If you look at the Scripture that immediately precedes this warning you see that Paul also tells Timothy “do nothing out of favoritism”. In the Scripture immediately following, Paul says to Timothy: “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” Could it be that Timothy was not ready to lay hands on people? Could it be that he had not learned how to take complete authority over the enemy? Could it be that he was under constant attack because of his ministry and Paul was telling him to take a step back and regenerate?
Some Christians don’t lay hands on the sick or cast out demons out of fear of failure. This may stem from a lack of success in these areas in their lives or from their view of their own self worth. If anyone had asked Paul if he was worthy to do what he did, including healing the sick and raising the dead, he would have told them no. Thankfully, Paul wasn’t in charge. In 1 Timothy 1:12-‐16, Paul writes: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” If fear is stopping you then cast out that demon in the name of Jesus. God is calling us to action. If arrogance is your motivator then cast out that demon in the name of Jesus. Don’t be hasty to lay hands on people until your motives are pure and your faith is unshakable. The name of Jesus deserves nothing less.
Deliverance is for all who seek it. You cannot impose it on any individual. Jesus healed all who came to him. He gave us His name to do the same.
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CHAPTER 9
IS THE EVIL SPIRIT GONE?
Whether you are praying for yourself or laying hands on others, you likely look for afcirmation of the cinished work. Don’t look in the natural but in your spirit. When Jesus or His disciples healed, most healings were instantaneous. There was one occasion where Jesus asked concirmation. Mark 8:22-‐25 tells us that Jesus spit on a blind man’s eyes, put His hands on him, the man did not see clearly and once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Why did Jesus ask when He knew everything? Why did He use spit in this one case? Why was this blind man not healed instantly? Could it be that God wanted to tell us that not every healing is according to a set formula? The same is true for deliverance. The only common denominator in every healing and deliverance is the name of Jesus.
If you have an evil spirit of fear or arrogance how do you know it is gone after you have cast it out? A spirit cannot be seen in the natural so you have to be operating in the spiritual to know with certainty that the evil spirit is gone. How does a person operate in the spiritual? The same way you cirst believed in Jesus, spoke in tongues, believed in miracles, had faith to heal and move mountains and cast out demons—by Holy Spirit working in you. Let Holy Spirit be the one to tell you what to do and what to say. Let Him guide you into all truth, whether natural or spiritual. He will let you know if the evil spirit is gone. Some Christians see in the spiritual. This is not a prerequisite for casting out demons. Just be led by the Spirit.
Remember that you can do nothing apart from Jesus so don’t try to do it on your own strength. Before casting out demons or laying hands on the sick connect with Holy Spirit and ensure He is leading you. There is only one way to cast out demons and it is through the authority Jesus gave us in Luke 10:19. Holy Spirit is our Teacher, our Helper, our Counselor and our Leader. His goal is to partner with us to advance God’s kingdom and bring glory to the Father.
Train yourself to operate in the spiritual. Ask Holy Spirit to guide you. Sit with Holy Spirit and ask Him to teach you how He will lead you. Not everyone is the same or works in the same way. Find out what works best for you. Give Holy Spirit permission to reign you in when you venture out on your own. Determine with Holy Spirit the manner in which He is to reign you in and bring you back to the truth.
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Practice in other areas of your life and then apply it to casting out demons. You could ask Holy Spirit to release you when the demon has been cast out. The release can be physical or spiritual. It could mimic the release of putting a heavy object down or having a supernatural peace after the violent storm is gone. You operate spiritually, if you are led by the Spirit.
After you’ve laid hands on someone or cast out a demon reconnect with Holy Spirit. Ask Him if you were totally receptive to His leading and prompting. Work on ways to improve your ‘connection’. If things didn’t unfold as you expected or wanted, ask Holy Spirit for guidance. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal how you affect others. Remember you are Christ’s ambassador and you should want to be in His image. Sometimes we are forceful or passionate and it can have a negative impact on the person we are praying for. On the other hand we could be timid or seem indifferent and this can adversely affect the perception of the person being delivered. Although we know it has nothing to do with us, the person being prayed for sees us as Jesus’ representative and brings his or her own biases with them. It is a tool that Satan uses to keep them from being delivered. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal the enemy’s schemes to keep you from exercising Jesus’ directives to cast out demons in His name.
To know for certain if an evil spirit or demon, or whatever you want to call the devil’s helpers, is gone from you or the one you were praying for look to Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus knew power had gone out from Him when the sick woman touched His cloak so, we too, can be certain, when we are led by Holy Spirit.
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CHAPTER 10
IS SATAN AFRAID OF YOU?
Does the name of Jesus evoke uncontainable reverence in your heart? Is the name of Jesus synonymous with victory for you? Is the Word of God your fundamental truth? Are you led by the Spirit? When you answer yes to all of these questions you will cause the devil to tremble. When you understand what the power of the name of Jesus has given you and you put this knowledge to work through Holy Spirit’s lead then you will be a force to be reckoned with.
A word of caution!!! James 4:6 states: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Acts 19:13-‐16 states: “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.” Casting out demons is serious and is not for the curious or the arrogant or non-‐believers. It is the duty of the faithful believer to cast out demons. Be careful not to become proud, as Satan loves to use pride to trip us up. Keep Satan afraid of you by focusing on Jesus and reminding yourself that all you have and can do is by His name and by the authority He has given you. Don’t accept payment for what God has freely given you (Matthew 10:8). If someone insists on honoring God through a cinancial donation because they have been set free from the devil then let them give to a charity or your church in recognition of Jesus. Do not accept money, as it may give birth to evil.
What does Satan see when he looks at you? Does he see a warrior? Does he see a passive believer? Does he laugh or does he tremble? Make a commitment today to instill the fear of God in Satan when he sees you. Don’t go to the gym for this but to the Word. Let Holy Spirit teach you the meaning of the Word and let Him convict you of the truth. Put on the armor of God as stated in Ephesians 6:10-‐20. Once you live by this truth you will be invincible in the name of Jesus. Nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20). Evil spirits were afraid of Jesus. One example is Mark 5:6-‐8: “When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me,
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Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!” ” Once you live by faith in the truth of the Word through the Spirit, evil spirits will be afraid of you too. Remember what Jesus said in Luke 10:20: “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Don’t focus on Satan and making him afraid. Focus on God and He will take care of the rest.
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CHAPTER 11
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU CAST OUT DEMONS
Some demons leave quickly while others leave with a bang. The Word gives us a few examples of the evil spirits’ reaction. Some evil spirits wanted to be sent into a herd of pigs (Matthew 8:31), one spirit shook a man violently and came out of him with a shriek (Mark 1:26), and yet another spirit shrieked and convulsed a boy violently before coming out (Mark 9:26). Not every evil spirit reacts the same but be prepared for physical manifestations, as described in the Bible.
As you pray for the person oppressed by Satan, be alert for signs such as coughing, small shrieks, etc. At this point, encourage the person not to worry and not to resist non-‐violent manifestations. Help the person feel secure. Speak to their fear as some may hold on to the devil out of fear of the manifestation itself. Command the demon with authority but not with forcefulness or rage, as this may result in scaring the oppressed rather than Satan.
You should always pray with your spirit rather than with your mind. Don’t let the words get in your way, except for the name of Jesus. The Gospel is full of quotes where Jesus tells the sick or oppressed ‘Your faith has made you well’. It isn’t the words that are important but the heart behind it. Your faith is going to prompt Satan or his demons to move out. Do not be disturbed by shrieks, convulsions or growls. Persist in taking authority over the enemy and cast the demon out. If a person’s face or muscles contract reassure him or her and cast out the demon. Screaming at the devil or making faces at him won’t rattle him but the name of Jesus does so be aware of how you represent Jesus.
Expect to have questions from the person you are praying for and be ready to answer him or her with Scripture. Be prepared to tell them about Jesus, if they haven’t already made Him Lord and Savior of their life. Delivering a person out of Satan’s grip is a door to a relationship with Christ or to deepen an existing relationship with Christ. Let Holy Spirit guide you to God’s plan. If the person has questions you can’t answer, refer them to another who can.
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CHAPTER 12
ARM YOURSELF FOR THE BACKLASH
I once heard a pastor say when you take a step of faith expect opposition from the devil. If you don’t get opposition you may be on the wrong track. I have found that every time I start a new book or project for God the devil tries to distract me with every kind of hurdles or unpleasant distractions. At last Sunday’s service our pastor had a wonderful message to tell us, but the devil tried four times to distract the congregation. If you are doing something big for the kingdom, and casting out demons is big, then be cognizant that Satan will want to get you off track.
Please understand that Satan uses even the precious people of God to trip you or halt your progress. There are various methods he uses to distract you—conclict is one of his most effective tools but he also uses sickness and negative emotions too! Be prepared to battle Satan and don’t fall into his trap. He will set you up but if you don’t take the bait his efforts will not succeed. As soon as God puts a project or vision or task on your heart pray for protection from the enemy. It is important that you not let conclict take root so stop it as soon as it rears its ugly head. Pray for the person and ask God to transform you no matter who is in the wrong in the natural. Recognize it as what it is—Satan’s work.
Arm yourself with the Word of God to counter any arrows from the enemy. You are a child of the Almighty God and are under His protection. Just as Jesus resisted the devil in the desert so can you. Don’t let fear paralyze you or stop you from doing God’s precious work. There is no time to waste, as these are critical times. When you know what may be coming you are already one step ahead so don’t hesitate to consult Holy Spirit, who tells us what is yet to come. Seek His counsel always.
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CONCLUSION
Jesus has told us clearly that those who believe will cast out demons in His name (Mark 16:17). He is calling you to cast out demons and deliver the oppressed. It takes faith to believe that Jesus gave us the authority to overcome all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). Get into the Word and build your faith up, as the need is urgent. Wait on God’s timing before you start. You need to be ready or you may end up doing more harm than good. See results in your life before reaching out to others. You are the most important advertisement tool of God’s when you lay hands on the sick or cast out demons. You may lack credibility if you are praying for someone to see clearly and you wear glasses. Often we learn to live with our own oppression and don’t even notice it. We just mask it with glasses or pills or therapy or some other solution. We need to recognize all forms of oppression from the enemy in our own lives as well as that of others and we must act in the name of Jesus. You may cind it easier to pray for others than for yourself but understand that you are God’s calling card to the world so your person and life speak volume to those around you.
You need to be bold and courageous. Look around you at work or at church and see how many people are oppressed by the devil. Imagine what you don’t see! The truth is that they can be set free by the name of Jesus. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you have the authority to cast out demons. You have an obligation and a duty to cast out demons in His name. Wait for God’s perfect timing. There is no set formula except for the name of Jesus. When you take a step of obedience know that Satan will want to distract you and trip you but you have the power of the Almighty God in you. Don’t forget it. Holy Spirit will guide your every step. You must let Him lead in order to be victorious. What are you waiting for?