Casting Out Devils
Establish that you have the authority; Luke 10:19 says “behold, I give to you power to
tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing
shall by any means hurt you”, then exercise it. Jesus said “bind the strongman then
spoil his goods” (Matthew 12:29). The Bible tells that “for the weapons of our warfare
are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Casting
down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God
and bringing every thought to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:4-5). Paul told
the Ephesians “for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).
Jesus gave instructions for His disciples to cast out devils, many times (Matthews 10:5-
8) and Mark 16:17a “and these signs shall follow them that believe. In My name shall
they cast out devils”.
When you see that you are not fighting against the people, but against the principalities
that are using that person, it becomes easier to pray for that person. Remember Jesus
told us to pray for those that use us,(Matthew 5:44). And what we pray should be that
in the name of Jesus that strongman would come out of them. The strongmen are
demons. There are 12 controlling strongmen listed in the Bible: 1) Jealousy (Numbers
5:11-14, Proverbs 6;34) a person who stays angry. 2) Lying spirit (Proverbs 6:17) a
person who lies, a religious spirit comes under this strongman. 3) Familiar spirit
(Deuteronomy 18:10-12, I Samuel 28:7) a medium, consulter of the dead. 4) Perverse
spirit (Proverb 23:33) same sex relationships. 5) Spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3) a
person who is down all the time, hopeless. 6) Spirit of whoredom (Hosea 4:12) a person
unfaithful to their mate. 7) Spirit of infirmity – all sickness and diseases (Luke 13:11).
8) Deaf & dumb spirit (Mark 9:17-25) a person with seers. 9) Spirit of fear – the Bible
tells us that “for God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and
of a sound mind”. 10) Spirit of pride (Proverbs 16:18). 11) Spirit of bondage (Romans
8:15) a person feeling trapped some habit. 12) The spirit of antichrist – a person
denying Jesus Christ (I John 2:22, 4:3, II John 7).
The Bible says “He sent His word and healed them” (Psalms 107:20). Jesus said
“verily, verily, I say to you, he that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also,
and greater works than these shall he do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:12).
We can speak God’s word over people even, if they are not present before us. There
is no distance in the spirit. Psalms 82 tells us to arise, judge the earth, for we shall
inherit all nations in verse 8.
Look at the examples His disciples did in the first century church. Peter and John and
the lame man at the gate beautiful (Acts 3:1-10). Paul and the girl slave who told
fortunes (Acts 16: 16-21).
We have been predestined (Romans 8:29) “for whom He did foreknow, He also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn
among many brethren”.
Remember, Jesus said “Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believes not shall
be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe. In My name shall they cast
out devils, they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents and if they
drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick, and they
shall recover” (Mark 16:15-19).
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: Sept 8, 2006