"Dealing with
Demons"
Matthew 4:23-24 (NLT) 23 Jesus traveled throughout the region
of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the
Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 24 News about him
spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were
sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon-possessed
or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all.
As
an Assemblies of God ordained minister I have witnessed missionary films
displaying the work of demonic influence in Africa, India, South America, Asia
and the far-flung regions of the world. Not many of the American church had
ever seen the likes of the missions’ films.
America
is discovering an onslaught of demon power unparalleled in our history. This
can best be understood and realized in the area of crime, most crime today is
demonic in origin. How many times have heard that a grocery store operator was
held up and without provocation was murdered. The perpetrator of the crime
would say, “I don’t know what came over me.” John
10:10 (NLT) The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. Jesus
makes a very revealing statement. The thief, i.e. Satan, has a goal that is to
kill, destroy and steal from the believing Christian. The Apostle Paul tells us clearly in Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) For we are not fighting against
flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen
world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in
the heavenly places.
America is rushing down a wide highway to occultism, Satanism,
demonism and destruction. The force that
stands in its way is the "Glorious Church" of the Lord Jesus Christ
and we are a part of that church.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 (NLT) For this lawlessness is already at
work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back
steps out of the way. The restraining force here mentioned is the
Glorious Church empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus
talked more about devils and evil spirits than anything other subject except for
money. He spoke more about hell than He did about heaven. The reason and
purpose of this game plan is to warn people and to give them the truth.
Matthew 7:22 (NLT) On judgment day many will say to me,
‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and
performed many miracles in your name.’
Matthew 8:16 (NLT) That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to
Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all
the sick.
Matthew 8:28,31,33
(NLT) When Jesus
arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men
who were possessed by demons met him. They lived in a cemetery and were so
violent that no one could go through that area…. 31 So the demons begged, “If
you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”… 33 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town telling everyone what
happened to the demon-possessed men.
Matthew 9:32-34 (NLT) 32 When they left, a demon-possessed
man who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus. 33 So Jesus cast out
the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing
like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed. 34 But the
Pharisees said, “He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of
demons.”
In addition to these verses there
are 58 more references in the NT relating to evil spirits and devils. Demons
and evil spirits are real and becoming more and more a spiritual problem in
which the American church must acknowledge and challenge.
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