Exorcism in the New Testament Church
Exorcism
in the New Testament Church
I heard a well-known TV and radio preacher say, “Jesus, the apostles, and the disciples in scripture cast out demons, but we do not do that today.” This man loves the Lord and believes the Bible to be true, but he is deceived in this area. The Gospels and the book of Acts give many examples of the early Christians casting out demons. There is no foundation to the proposition that the practice is not necessary today. The spiritual realm as described in the Bible is real. If we observe and follow the examples given by the early Christians in the Book of Acts we will experience a balanced and proper approach to the subject of exorcism. But still, it is difficult to make it palatable to those who reject the Bible or the reality of the spiritual realm.
The Girl with a Demon
A young girl was involved with a fellow who practiced Satan worship. She had decided to leave home and run away with him. One of her friends, however, brought her to Laurel and me, hoping we could persuade the girl to change her mind. As we sat in our living room, I addressed the girl with these words:
“We are living in a day in which there is much spiritual activity. God is pouring out His Holy Spirit, and we are witnessing a visitation of God’s presence and a revival in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the supernatural presence of Jesus Christ in His Church. But there is also intensification in the realm of darkness which is trying to counterfeit the working of the Holy Spirit. This counterfeit is seen in the surge of demonic activity in the areas of psychic, occult, and New Age activity.”
I proceeded to tell the young lady that this rise in spiritual stirrings had created a great hunger in the youth of her generation and that she was faced with a choice. She could turn to the Lord and experience the treasures He is making available, or she could follow her boyfriend in Satan worship and enter the bondage and deception of demonic activity.
At that point in the conversation, an unusual thing began to occur unexpectedly. As I spoke to her, she began to twitch and tremble, and her eyes began to turn up in their sockets. Laurel and I looked at each other, knowing that the Lord’s presence had stirred up a demon in the girl. I then told the girl,
“What you are experiencing right now is an evil spirit that entered you as a result of your involvement with your boyfriend in Satan-worship. We are going to cast it out.”
The girl immediately held up both hands with clenched fists and, with a very angry and threatening expression on her face, said, “Don’t bother me. There is
no telling what I might do!”
I was surprised by this unexpected response. As I paused for a second, Laurel immediately spoke to the spirit, saying, “We are not afraid of you. Come out of this girl now!”
The threatening and intimidating expression on the girl’s face immediately changed from anger to fear and grief. She began to cry as she actually slithered out of the chair and onto the floor. The demon came out of her with groans and cries.
The spirit in the girl first tried to intimidate and frighten us. But it came out of her when faced with the reality of Jesus’ presence and our knowledge of the authority we have in His name.
A Superstitious Couple
A few years ago, I was talking with a husband and wife who were beginning to delve into witchcraft and thought they had received communications from dead relatives. I shared the gospel with them, pointing them to Jesus and telling them that the Bible forbids involvement in these occult activities because witchcraft is of the devil, and ghosts are not dead people but are, in fact, demons or evil spirits pretending to be dead people.
The enemy was angry that I had shared the truth of the gospel with this couple. Later on that day, I was in my motel room, working at my computer when, all of a sudden, a couple of cans of tuna sitting on the microwave were thrown across the room and onto the floor. It was a spirit trying to frighten me and intimidate me into not sharing the gospel with this couple. I was not afraid but felt the power of the Holy Spirit and the righteous indignation of the Lord rise up within me. I immediately stood to my feet and commanded the spirit to depart, leave, and not come back.
I immediately felt the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit. I took a few minutes to praise the Lord for the truth of His Word, for the efficacy of the blood of Jesus, and for the power and joy of His presence. I then went back to my computer and finished my work.
No Fear
As believers, we need not fear. Christ has delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into His kingdom. He defeated Satan at Calvary and stripped him of his power. Our power lies in the power of the Holy Spirit, the cross, the blood of Jesus, the name of Jesus, and the great commission in which Jesus said, “In my name they shall cast out demons.” The demons tremble; we should not fear.
Satan can rule only over those who choose to serve him and follow him and his ways. To gain advantage and control over Christians, he must use fear, discouragement, deception, accusation, and enticements to sin. Fear and discouragement lead to unbelief and disobedience. Fear paralyses us. Deception leads people astray into error, accusation produces guilt which hinders faith and confidence, and sin causes people to turn away from God.
The enemy also uses our ignorance, which is basically our lack of knowledge. A shallow walk with Jesus and a shallow knowledge of the Bible causes many Christians to be weak, fearful, ineffective, and ill-equipped for spiritual warfare.
But when confronted head-on and in the open by Christians who know their place and authority in Christ, the enemy knows he is defeated. He may try to bluff his way by appearing strong and threatening, but he knows he is defeated. He knows that we, as followers of Jesus, are victorious in our God. The main point I want to emphasize is that we need to know it. “Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.”
We Have Powerful Weapons
The authority and power to cast out demons is part of the arsenal of tools Jesus has given to the Church. But sadly, exorcism is one area of ministry that often is either neglected and misunderstood or abused and carried to extremes. Every church leader and minister should be trained in exorcism, and should be able to stand with Biblical knowledge of the subject, keeping a healthy, balanced perspective. Every follower of Jesus who is filled with the Holy Spirit and instructed in the biblical and wise approach to the subject can experience the presence of God in seeing people delivered from the oppression of evil spirits.
One other important lesson: The examples of exorcisms in movies are perversions of truth. They teach fear and a false reality. They erroneously make it look like the ministers are helpless and the devil has overwhelming power. We do not see that in scripture. The Bible shows the power of God, Satan’s defeat, and our authority over demons. They flee when Holy Spirit-filled Christians speak in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and when the person being ministered to has surrendered to Jesus and actually wants to be free.
Then the seventy returned with joy saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you authority… over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many… and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Acts 8:5-8.
no telling what I might do!”
I was surprised by this unexpected response. As I paused for a second, Laurel immediately spoke to the spirit, saying, “We are not afraid of you. Come out of this girl now!”
The threatening and intimidating expression on the girl’s face immediately changed from anger to fear and grief. She began to cry as she actually slithered out of the chair and onto the floor. The demon came out of her with groans and cries.
The spirit in the girl first tried to intimidate and frighten us. But it came out of her when faced with the reality of Jesus’ presence and our knowledge of the authority we have in His name.
A Superstitious Couple
A few years ago, I was talking with a husband and wife who were beginning to delve into witchcraft and thought they had received communications from dead relatives. I shared the gospel with them, pointing them to Jesus and telling them that the Bible forbids involvement in these occult activities because witchcraft is of the devil, and ghosts are not dead people but are, in fact, demons or evil spirits pretending to be dead people.
The enemy was angry that I had shared the truth of the gospel with this couple. Later on that day, I was in my motel room, working at my computer when, all of a sudden, a couple of cans of tuna sitting on the microwave were thrown across the room and onto the floor. It was a spirit trying to frighten me and intimidate me into not sharing the gospel with this couple. I was not afraid but felt the power of the Holy Spirit and the righteous indignation of the Lord rise up within me. I immediately stood to my feet and commanded the spirit to depart, leave, and not come back.
I immediately felt the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit. I took a few minutes to praise the Lord for the truth of His Word, for the efficacy of the blood of Jesus, and for the power and joy of His presence. I then went back to my computer and finished my work.
No Fear
As believers, we need not fear. Christ has delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into His kingdom. He defeated Satan at Calvary and stripped him of his power. Our power lies in the power of the Holy Spirit, the cross, the blood of Jesus, the name of Jesus, and the great commission in which Jesus said, “In my name they shall cast out demons.” The demons tremble; we should not fear.
Satan can rule only over those who choose to serve him and follow him and his ways. To gain advantage and control over Christians, he must use fear, discouragement, deception, accusation, and enticements to sin. Fear and discouragement lead to unbelief and disobedience. Fear paralyses us. Deception leads people astray into error, accusation produces guilt which hinders faith and confidence, and sin causes people to turn away from God.
The enemy also uses our ignorance, which is basically our lack of knowledge. A shallow walk with Jesus and a shallow knowledge of the Bible causes many Christians to be weak, fearful, ineffective, and ill-equipped for spiritual warfare.
But when confronted head-on and in the open by Christians who know their place and authority in Christ, the enemy knows he is defeated. He may try to bluff his way by appearing strong and threatening, but he knows he is defeated. He knows that we, as followers of Jesus, are victorious in our God. The main point I want to emphasize is that we need to know it. “Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.”
We Have Powerful Weapons
The authority and power to cast out demons is part of the arsenal of tools Jesus has given to the Church. But sadly, exorcism is one area of ministry that often is either neglected and misunderstood or abused and carried to extremes. Every church leader and minister should be trained in exorcism, and should be able to stand with Biblical knowledge of the subject, keeping a healthy, balanced perspective. Every follower of Jesus who is filled with the Holy Spirit and instructed in the biblical and wise approach to the subject can experience the presence of God in seeing people delivered from the oppression of evil spirits.
One other important lesson: The examples of exorcisms in movies are perversions of truth. They teach fear and a false reality. They erroneously make it look like the ministers are helpless and the devil has overwhelming power. We do not see that in scripture. The Bible shows the power of God, Satan’s defeat, and our authority over demons. They flee when Holy Spirit-filled Christians speak in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and when the person being ministered to has surrendered to Jesus and actually wants to be free.
Then the seventy returned with joy saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you authority… over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many… and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Acts 8:5-8.
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