It’s time we exercise our authority to bring hope, healing and deliverance for those who deserve it.
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27
All around us are people who are desperate: lonely, lost, ill and some are in deep bondage
We can’t believe in the God of the bible without believing in, longing after and, in faith, praying for deliverance. We can’t be the disciples of Jesus we are called to be without believing in, longing after and, in faith, praying for deliverance.
…as is our prayer team willing to help you and should not be entered into with a cavalier manner – you may need help and our pastors are complicated 3. We must realize that deliverance can be
. And, can exercise some measure of prayer and faith themselves. WANTS to be delivered 2. Success is much more likely when the person who is under the influence of spiritual forces
possess this innate authority – only those who have surrendered to Jesus and are indwelt by is spirit have conferred authority. Only the children of God 1.
Three important caveats:
o “in the name of Jesus leave this home”
o “in the name of Jesus, be gone”
· Keep it simple and strong – “in the name of Jesus come out of him/her”
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; …they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." Mark 16:17-18
Authority expressed in the name of Jesus
.Mark 9:29"This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer"
Prayer
…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. Matthew 17:20
Faith
Deliverance has three key elements:
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them (evil spirits), because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
Reminder: Every follower of Jesus has the capacity and authority to do this.
How do we do it? how do we practice deliverance?
o they might be feeling the effects of the evil one in this world but not actually demonized.
· A person is not necessarily under the influence of a demon if they simply feel “under attack”. I hear that a lot.
o sometimes this kind of struggle includes revulsion at spiritual things – the bible, worship, prayer, talk of God
o sometimes a person is plagued because of decisions and agreements they have made
o or…they have a strong unexplainable feelings that overpower them at times – maybe even hear voices telling them to do things
o they don’t know why they are doing what they do…like they can’t say no
· The key defining description of a person who has a demon is that they are in bondage
How do we know if a person is demonized?
· drive out demons
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, Luke 9:1
Exercise our authority
What are we supposed to do about it?
For our struggle is not against flesh 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. Ephesians 6:10-12 Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
The early church leaders anticipated we’d deal with it which is why they left us these instructions:
· But…I will add demonization may not be as prevalent here as in the developing world because it is less necessary to the devil. We have allowed ourselves to be in bondage to the sin patterns of our culture so much that demonization is unnecessary. But it still happens.
§ All delivered – ALL healed
o middle aged man unable to stop destructive sin patterns that had been going on for generations
o young woman both mentally ill, multiple personalities and influenced by demons
o young man who was suicidal and had made agreements with the devil
· Yes. stories:
Does demonization happen here today?
I want to replace fear, confusion and scorn with courage, clarity and conviction.
We can’t believe in the God of the bible without believing in, longing after and, in faith, praying for deliverance. We can’t be the disciples of Jesus we are called to be without believing in, longing after and, in faith, praying for deliverance.
Now…what does this say to us, what does it do for us…how does this affect us?
And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.37 All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" 36
and then we have the classic understatement of the scirptures…
boom! – done – healed o
· “threw the man down before them all”…probably not a picture of violent physical activity but an acquiescence … he gave up…let the man go…and the man was not injured
o no hocus pocus – no magic
o note there is not a ritual – no holy water, no cross, no incantation, no dialogue with the demon
· Note the authority and the simplicity of the deliverance
"Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.35
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. Colossians 1:16
…far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:21
o reminder that this is the key – Jesus had authority
I know who you are – the holy one of God - · Here is that key again
o speaking for multiple demons oppressing this man – there is precedence for this…the demons sent into the pigs
o speaking for all demons everywhere
o the spirit and the human
· who is “us”?
· The demon has the ability to recognize Jesus as he is. (although humans don’t)
· The demon speaks through the human’s voice
"Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"34
o Many times those who are under that influence are normal looking but internally tormented people
o Demonization does not often manifest in strange ways like the movies…writhing lunatics who go Linda Blair on people.
– he was in church, he was a normal person, Note: “in the synagogue” ·
o Many times it leads to self-destructive behavior. Suicidal thoughts are common among those under the influence of a demon.
o it can also lead to extraordinary physical strength and occasionally other physical manifestations such a changed voice and appearance
§ not easy to tell at times
§ some people who are mentally ill also are under the influence of a demon but not all … and some under the influence of a demon are not mentally ill at all
o mental illness might be related and it might distinct
o physical illness might be related and it might distinct
· How does this affect a person?
of the big two concepts I don’t want you to forget: 1) authority 2) bondage …to which we will return… nd this is the 2
, Luke 4:18 release the oppressed and recovery of sight for the blind, to freedom for the prisoners You might remember when Jesus described his mission he used these words: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim
o being tied up, imprisoned, influenced to do, think and act in immoral, unhealthy or ungodly ways
o a key factor in being under the influence of a demon is a certain loss of personal control … or being under what feels like bondage
§ not necessarily possession
o lit. “had a demon”…”demonized”
· What does it mean to be “possessed by a demon”
o they are inferior to God and to the children of God
o created beings, by God, that were given free will to choose and they chose to follow one of their own in rebellion against God
o they have been called “evil spirits” “fallen angels”
Demon - a real, personal, bodiless being residing in the unseen realm that has the ability to have an influence on the material world
o 80 times in the NT / 23 times in Luke – most of them in this period of Jesus ministry in Galilee
o We have very little even in the Bible that describes origin, nature, characteristics or habits of demons. We do see a lot about their influence.
· What IS a demon?
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit33
· This is a crucial distinction on this subject of deliverance because he is not the only one with jurisdiction or conferred authority
o with Jesus it was clear he had a special jurisdiction
§ but mostly we’d move because of his jurisdiction – represented by his badge.
§ authority of voice or the fact he is carrying a weapon
o IL – a policeman who walks into the room and tells us all to exit.
or conferred authority or official power, delegated influence jurisdictionthat means crucial wordAuthority – ·
– intense continuous amazementAmazed ·
They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.32
– major Galilean city on the north shore of Sea of Galilee built around agriculture and fishing. It became Jesus headquarters Capernaum ·
And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. Luke 4:31-3737 All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" 36 "Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. 35 "Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" 34 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 33 They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. 32 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. 31
…and took that one step further to spiritual healing…
o began aggressively physically healing people
o pressed them to move past their old faith – new wine of the kingdom
o re-called disciples and for them re-clarified his mission
· Review of where we have been – Galilean period of Jesus 3 year ministry
Luke 4:31-37
Deliverance - the rescue and release of a person who has been under the influence of a demon
People need to be set free. And they won’t be if we persist in running from this crucial topic of deliverance.
We can’t believe in the God of the bible without believing in, longing after and, in faith, praying for deliverance. We can’t be the disciples of Jesus we are called to be without believing in, longing after and, in faith, praying for deliverance.
This week – same big idea but with a tweak
We can’t believe in the God of the bible without believing in, longing after and, in faith, praying for physical healing. We can’t be the disciples of Jesus we are called to be without believing in, longing after and, in faith, praying for physical healing.
Last week Steve said this about physical healing:
That’s why today, on this topic of spiritual warfare, I want to replace fear, confusion and scorn with courage, clarity and conviction.
· And I have participated in incredible moments of deliverance in which human beings were set free.
· I have seen with my own eyes men and women, both older and younger who have been bound and in deep turmoil because of the influence of unseen forces.
What’s tragic is that the fear, disbelief, confusion and cynicism has left people, who are sincerely bound by spiritual forces, to wallow in unnecessary pain and torment.
o due to a church background that either ignored it or blew it way out of proportion (people who see demons under every rock)
o due to the arts - music, books, movies that have caricaturized the topic.
· fear, disbelief, confusion, cynicism, scorn
Demon possession. Could I say out loud two words that are more chilling than those? Immediately I’m sure they elicit conflicting feelings and opinions in all who hear them.