Dealing With Demons - Part 3

Dealing With Demons - Part 3

Satan - An Angel of Light

An honest look at the Scriptures one must come away and declare, "Demons are Real".

Mark 1:32-39 (NLT) 32 That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus….34 So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak….39 So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.

Mark 3:14-15 (NKJV) 14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:

Luke 4:33,35,41 (NKJV) 33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, …35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. …41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.

Check out these verses all dealing demons or evil spirits. Matthew 4:24; 7:22; 8:16, 28, 31, 33; 9:32, 33, 34; 10:8; 11:18; 12:22,24,27,28; 15:22; 17:18. Mark 3:22; 5:12,15, 16, 18; 6:13; 7:26, 29, 30; 9:38; 16:9, 17. Luke 7:33; 8:2, 27, 29, 30, 33, 35, 36, 38; 9:1, 42, 49; 10:17, 11:14, 15, 18, 19, 20; 13:32. John 7:20, 8:48, 49, 52; 10:20, 21. 1 Corinthians 10:20,21; 1 Timothy 4:1; James 2:19; 3:15; Revelation 9:20; 16:14; 18:2.

If all Scripture is profitable (2 Timothy 3:16) and Christ is our perfect example, why did the Holy Spirit move upon the authors of this sacred manuscript to allow such enormous coverage of this special ministry? The Apostle Paul gives the answer, "That the man of God may be perfect [complete], thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:17). These Scriptures are the sounding of an alarm that demons were active in the ministry of Jesus Christ and will be active in the latter days of the church.

Prophetic Evidence.  Is there additional Scriptural support that demons will be active in the last days? Jesus said to the Pharisees, " . . . Behold, I cast out devils [demons], and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected" (Luke 13:32). The time measurement of "a day" is used here. How long is that day? The Apostle Peter reflects the length of God's day by stating, "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). Therefore, the length of a day could be interpreted as a thousand years. With that in mind, what was Jesus really saying in Luke 13:32? He was emphatically declaring that "I cast out devils, . . . to day and to morrow" (or for the next two thousand years), and on the third day (the millennial reign) I shall be perfected. Jesus was saying that the church in the twentieth century would still find it necessary to cast out demons, a fact we have judiciously ignored. Could it be that the established church has erred, not knowing the Scripture (Mark 12:24)?[1]

---

[1] Adapted from Invasion of Demons by John Hagee

Dealing with Demons Part 2

Dealing with Demons Part 2

Spiritual Warfare in Prayer. We are in a spiritual conflict. It is imperative that we understand this, for to seek to wage battle against the enemy in the strength of the flesh is to court certain defeat. We do well to remember the words of our Lord to Peter: "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (Mark 14:38). "Body" (Gk. sarx) alludes to earthly life. Our battles are not fought on an earthly battleground, or with earthly instruments of war. They are waged with weapons of another sort-weapons made effective through God's might. Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive very thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLT) 3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

Even though the believer's weapons 'are numerous as listed in Ephesians 6:14-17 (NLT) 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Prayer is not named among them, it is at least the means whereby the weapons are employed as Paul states in Eph. 6: 18 (NLT) Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere..

Through the enablement of prayer arguments and pretensions are demolished, as well as every high and mighty opposition to the knowledge of God. Arguments against the gospel Involve imagination and purely human reasoning. Through prayer and study of the Word of God, the Holy Spirit gives wisdom to demolish them. "We take captive every thought" (10:5).

The believers' warfare involves bringing our entire thought life into conformity with Christ's will. The mind itself is a battleground. Some of our unholy thoughts originate with us; some are planted by Satan; and others are thrown at us by our environment.  We therefore wrestle against our own sinful nature and against active forces of evil. We must firmly resist evil and unwholesome thoughts, seeking rather that the mind of Christ might dwell in us Philippians 2:5 (NLT) You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Philippians 4:8 (NLT) And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ¹

[1] The Spirit Helps us Pray – R.L. Brandt and Zenas J. Bicket

"Dealing with Demons"

"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.

The Word is Holiness – Part 6

The Word is Holiness – Part 6

Pursue…holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: …For the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.  Hebrews 12:14; Micah 4:4; Matthew 5:18;

The NATURE Of True Practical Holiness.

Allow me to show what true practical holiness is — what sort of people whom God calls holy?

A holy man will follow after temperance and self-denial. He will labor . . .to mortify the desires of his body, to crucify his flesh with his affections and lusts, to curb his passions,
to restrain his carnal inclinations — lest at any time they break loose.

Oh, what a word is that of the Lord Jesus to the apostles: "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life — and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap!" (Luke 21:34); and that of the apostle Paul: "I beat my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize!" (1 Corinthians 9:27).

A holy man will follow after love and brotherly kindness. He will endeavor to observe the 'golden rule' of doing as he would have men do to him — and speaking as he would have men speak to him. He will be full of affection towards his brethren, towards their bodies, their property, their characters, their feelings, their souls. "He who loves another," says Paul, "has fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8). He will abhor all lying, slandering, backbiting, cheating, dishonesty and unfair dealing — even in the least things. He will strive to adorn his religion by all his outward demeanor, and to make it lovely and beautiful in the eyes of all around him.

Sadly, what condemning words are the thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians, and the sermon on the mount — when laid alongside the conduct of many professing Christians!

A holy man will follow after a spirit of mercy and benevolence towards others. He will strive to be useful in his day and generation, and to lessen the spiritual needs and misery around him as far as he can. Such was Dorcas: "full of good works and alms-deeds, which she did" — not merely purposed and talked about — but did. Such a one was Paul: "I will very gladly spend and be spent for you," he says, "though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved" (Acts 9:36; 2 Corinthians 12:15).

A holy man will follow after purity of heart. He will dread all immorality, and impurity of spirit, and seek to avoid all things that might draw him into it. He knows his own heart is like tinder — and will diligently keep clear of the sparks of temptation. Who shall dare to talk of their own strength — when David can fall?

A holy man will follow after the fear of God. I do not mean the fear of a slave — who only works because he is afraid of punishment and would be idle if he did not dread discovery. I mean rather the fear of a child — who wishes to live and move as if he was always before his father's face, because he loves him.

What a noble example Nehemiah gives us of this! When he became governor at Jerusalem, he could have been supported the Jews and required money from them for his sustenance. The former governors had done so. There was none to blame him, if he did. But he says, "The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God — I did not act that way!" (Neh. 5:15).

Last, but not least, A holy man will follow after faithfulness in all the duties and relations in life. He will try, not merely to fill his place as well as others who take no thought for their souls — but even better, because he has higher motives and more help than they. Those words of Paul should never be forgotten: "Whatever you do — do it heartily, as to the Lord." "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." (Colossians 3:23; Romans 12:11).

Holy people should aim at doing everything well and should be ashamed of allowing themselves to do anything poorly, if they can help it. Like Daniel, they should seek to give no "occasion" against themselves, except concerning the law of their God (Dan. 6:5). They should strive to be . . .good friends, good subjects, good in private and good in public, good in the place of business and good by their firesides.

Holiness is worth little indeed — if it does not bear this kind of fruit. The Lord Jesus puts a searching question to His people when He says, "What are you doing more than others?" (Matthew 5:47).

Adapted from J.C. Ryle insights on Holiness.

The Word is Holiness – Part 5

The Word is Holiness – Part 5

Pursue…holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: …For the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.  Hebrews 12:14; Micah 4:4; Matthew 5:18;

The NATURE Of True Practical Holiness.

First, let me try to show what true practical holiness is — what sort of people whom God calls holy?

A man may go great lengths in religion — and yet never reach true holiness.

It is not knowledge — Balaam had that.

It is not great profession — Judas Iscariot had that.

It is not doing many things — Herod had that.

It is not morality and outward respectability of conduct — the rich young ruler had that.

It is not taking pleasure in hearing preachers — the Jews in Ezekiel's time had that.

It is not keeping company with godly people — Joab and Gehazi and Demas had that.

Yet none of these were holy people! These things alone are not holiness. A man may have any one of them — and yet never see the Lord.

What then is true practical holiness? It is a hard question to answer. I do not mean that there is any lack of Scripture on the subject. But I fear lest I should give a defective view of holiness, -- or lest I should say things about it that ought not to be said, and so do harm.

Let me try to draw a picture of Biblical holiness. Please don’t forget, when I have said all, that my account is but a poor imperfect outline at the best.

Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of . . .agreeing in God's judgment, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word. He who most entirely agrees with God — he is the most holy man.

A holy man will endeavor to shun every known sin, and to keep every known commandment. He will have . . .a decided bent of mind towards God, a hearty desire to do His will, a greater fear of displeasing Him than of displeasing the world,
and a love to all His ways.

He will feel what Paul felt when he said, "I delight in the law of God after the inward man" (Romans 7:22), and what David felt when he said, "I esteem all Your precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:128)

A holy man will strive to be like our Lord Jesus Christ. He will not only live the life of faith in Him and draw from Him all his daily peace and strength — but he will also labor to have the mind that was in Him, and to be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29). It will be his aim . . .to bear with and forgive others, even as Christ forgave us; to be unselfish, even as Christ pleased not Himself; to walk in love, even as Christ loved us; to be lowly-minded and humble, even as Christ made Himself of no reputation and humbled Himself.

He will remember . . .that Christ was a faithful witness for the truth; that He came not to do His own will; that it was His food and drink to do His Father's will; that He would continually deny Himself in order to minister to others; that He was meek and patient under undeserved insults; that He thought more of godly poor men, than of kings; that He was full of love and compassion to sinners that He was bold and uncompromising in denouncing sin; that He sought not the praise of men, when He might have had it; that He went about doing good; that He was separate from worldly people; that He continued instant in prayer; that He would not let even His nearest relations stand in His way when God's work was to be done.

All these things, a holy man will try to remember. By them, he will endeavor to shape his course in life. He will lay to heart the saying of John: "He who says he abides in Christ, ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked" (1 John 2:6); and the saying of Peter, that "Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow His steps" (1 Peter 2:21). Happy is he who has learned to make Christ his "all," both for salvation and example! Much time would be saved, and much sin prevented — if men would oftener ask themselves the question: "What would Jesus have said and done — if He were in my place?"

A holy man will follow after meekness, patience, gentleness, patience, kind tempers, and government of his tongue. He will bear much, forbear much, overlook much and be slow to talk of standing on his rights. We see a bright example of this in the behavior of David when Shimei cursed him, and of Moses when Aaron and Miriam spoke against him (2 Sam. 16:10; Num. 12:3).

The Word is Holiness - Part 4

The Word is Holiness  - Part 4

Hebrews 12:14 (NKJV) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

Since no sin can stand in God’s presence, Christians must—and will be—sinless when they see the Lord compare 1 John 3:2 (NKJV) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. That realization offers motivation for pursuing holiness here and now. But the author may also have had in mind the thought that one’s perception of God even now is conditioned by his real measure of holiness (cf. Matt. 5:8).

Believers must try to live in peace with everyone. Believers are to have as peaceful relations as possible with their unbelieving neighbors and associates, as well as harmonious relationships within the church. Certainly they should not be the cause of dissension. Christian fellowship should be characterized by peace and building up one another see 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NKJV) Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

In addition to seeking peace, believers must also seek to live a clean and holy life (see also Hebrews 12:10 (NKJV) For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness). “Holiness” means devoted or consecrated to God’s service. In a practical way, our holiness means honoring God in how we treat others—friends, neighbors, spouse, children, even enemies—and in how we run our businesses, finances, etc. Holiness causes the behavior, thoughts, and attitudes of Christians to be different from unbelievers. Our holiness, provided for us by the death and resurrection of Christ, will allow us to see the Lord as he really is, when we go to be with him forever.

The means used by God for our sanctification and holiness.

Chastening:

Revelation 3:18-19 (NKJV) 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

Proverbs 3:11-12 (NKJV) 11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

Pruning:

John 15:1-2 (NKJV) 1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

Romans 11:16-22 (NKJV) 16 …if the root is holy, so are the branches….21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either….22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

John 6:26-27 (NKJV) 26 Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food (meat) which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."

We MUST without fail CONTINUE in the word of TRUTH and ENDURE unto the END in order to be SAVED and inherit Eternal Life in the world to COME. So then, in order to understand what Jesus meant by laboring or working for that MEAT which will produce ETERNAL LIFE in us, then we need to know WHAT Jesus meant by the word "MEAT"? Well if we back up a couple of chapters and read John 4:32-38 we will see that one of the meanings of the word "MEAT" means to labor or to work the Will Of Almighty God.

The Word is Holiness – Part 3

The Word is Holiness – Part 3

Romans 6:22 (NKJV) But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.  

What a beautiful, beautiful insight into God’s eternal plan. Paul once again stated that slavery to sin and to righteousness are mutually exclusive (cf. vv. 13, 16). But he went on to indicate the superiority of being enslaved to righteousness and God. The benefit (this Gr. word is usually trans. “fruit”) of enslavement to sin was that it produced things that a believer is now ashamed of. But even worse, “the end of those things is death” (lit. trans.).

Responding to the gospel by faith and accepting Jesus Christ completely reverses things for an individual. He is now... set free from sin (cf. v. 18) and has been enslaved to God with the result that he has the benefit of holiness (cf. v. 19), the subject of chapters 6-8 of Romans.

The sinful life gives no benefit (6:21), but salvation gives the benefit of a holy, clean life (v. 22). Whereas the “end” (telos) or result of sin is death (v. 21), the “end” of salvation is eternal life. Paul then summarized these contrasts. The wages (the Gr. word opsōnia originally meant a soldier’s pay) of sin is death (eternal death here, in contrast with “eternal life” in v. 23b). This death is eternal separation from God in hell, in which unbelievers suffer conscious torment forever Luke 16:24-25 (NKJV) 24 Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' 25 But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.. This is the wages they have earned and deserve because of their sin (cf. Rom. 5:12; 7:13). By contrast, the gift (charisma, “grace-gift”) of God is eternal life (cf. John 3:16, 36). Eternal life is a gift that cannot be earned cf. Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5 (NKJV) not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

God in His grace saves those who believe, not because of any righteousness in them (cf. Rom. 3:21-24; Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Tim. 1:9), but because of His mercy. The three words, “kindness,” “love,” and “mercy” (Titus 3:4-5) all represent aspects of God’s grace. The dual means of grace through which He accomplished this salvation are (1) the rebirth spoken of as a washing from the filth of sin, and (2) the renewal by the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17). No mention is made here of the role of faith in the process because Paul’s entire focus was on what God has done, not on human response.