Walking in the Spirit and Dealing With The Demonic (Part 2)

I started out the first article talking about the “Demonic Realm” for a number of reasons. Primarily because most professing Christians rarely, if ever, mention the subject when talking about spiritual matters. But Jesus capitalized on casting out demons wherever he went.

When people identified Jesus as having authority they saw that he didn’t just talk about God and the Word from an intellectual place, but from a place of application. People weren’t saying he had authority because they felt tingly all over when he spoke, but because he walked in the power of God by demonstrating he had the authority to heal the sick and cast out demons.

Most preachers today are recognized as having authority because they have a large audience or great assets for their ministry, but few are recognized as casting out demons regularly. Most pastors like to talk about Spiritual Warfare but I think few actually engage in it themselves or help their congregation do the same. Why is it we feel comfortable talking about engagement, but when it comes to walking out that belief we run and hide?

First, I think messing with demonic spirits often separates the “Boys From The Men,” if you know what I mean. Being engaged in deliverance ministry of any type is often a messy business. If you rile up the demons in a person you might just find yourself wrestling with an alligator. Demons need a human host to express themselves and they like setting up their home in a person’s soul. Mess with their home and you get them angry.

Acts 19:13-16 

But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

I remember early in my Christian walk when I knew nothing about demons. I used to think the “Exorcist” movie, which came out in the early 70s, was just a make believe horror film with no reality in it. That is, until I was involved with a pastor in challenging a demon to come out of a girl. The pastor and I were both in good shape and we both practiced karate. The pastor was a black belt so dealing with a small girl under 5 feet tall seemed easy, until she threw us both across the room. I learned very quickly then that demons are real and you better be prepared before you mess with them.

Second, when dealing with the demonic you better not do it alone, but know the Holy Spirit very well. I’m not talking about feeling the Holy Spirit, or prophesying or even speaking in tongues. I’m talking about “Walking” with the Holy Spirit daily. Moving in the Holy Spirit is not about feeling good or even feeling mature, it’s about having an ongoing relationship with the Holy Spirit and reading scripture enough to marry those two things together.  I have seen people who think they can just be filled with the Holy Spirit and move in power, but the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to guide us in that walk. It often takes a lifetime of learning and experience about those two things together that enables true wisdom and power. Youth has zeal, but age should incorporate wisdom, so if the older saints teach the younger saints then demons should have no chance to gain the upper hand in our lives.

Third, “Obedience” is key to walking in the power and authority of the Holy Spirit so you can take on demonic spirits. There are people who have an anointing, or some spiritual gift, but they often have what I call “Holes” in their walk of obedience to God. The whole idea of atonement was never just meant to cover up our sin, but to deliver us from them. Jesus came to set the captives free not just give us theology. Our captivity to the demonic is often the result of an open door caused by sin in our lives over which we have not repented. So it boils down to an area of rebellion against God’s will that becomes our stumbling block.

Let me be clear: there are all kinds of demonic activities that people experience. Satan can not be everywhere at the same time so he uses his demonic army to infiltrate our lives, to keep us away from God and captivate us with self-centeredness. This could be just a whisper enticing us toward some temptation and away from God. Satan’s demonic army can bring struggles and difficulties our way to wear us down emotionally and spiritually. It may be a physical disease, or difficulties in our bodies that we attribute to natural causes when in fact they mask a truly demonic cause.

With all this being said let’s explore how and why Jesus challenged demons to stop tormenting and controlling people.

In article one I brought up John 3:5-7 because our authority and power has to start with our being born again of the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee, had knowledge of scripture but he did not have God’s authority. He failed at the same thing at which many professing Christians fail today: trying to live the spiritual life without surrender to God. The Holy Spirit is not, and never will be, our servant. Either we are his servant and he is in charge of our walk, or he is not. Many Christians have been falsely taught that the Holy Spirit is more like a butler, wanting to answer our every desire, when he is here to “HELP” us do the Father’s will.

Have you ever considered why Jesus lived as an ordinary man for 30 years without any ministry? It was primarily to prove to everyone who wanted God in their life that you don’t have to have some ministry, or a title, to have an intimate relationship with God in which God is pleased with you. Jesus walked with his heavenly Father as a ordinary man and so can we. Remember, submission to the Father’s will is key to having authority like Jesus to cast out demons.

Mark 1:22-23 

They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out . . .

This is the first mention of Jesus using the Father’s authority and it was to cast out a demon. The authority Jesus manifested was due to his obedience, not because he was the Son of God. The apostle Paul wrote in the book of Philippians that Jesus “Emptied” himself and became a servant. That act of submission to the Father’s will opened the door to the authority of the Holy Spirit to cast out demonic spirits as a man, not God. Sometimes it is hard for us to separate the humanity of Jesus and his Son-ship to God. Reading the book of Philippians should help us to see why Jesus had authority and how we should as well.

Philippians 2:5-8 

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

I think that many well meaning believers want some gifted person to just lay hands on them so they can have the power and authority of God to confront spiritual problems, whether they be demons or something else. Real authority, like Jesus had, is available to all of us, but there is a cost. That cost is wrapped in the idea and application of servanthood under the Father’s authority. Countless other men and women throughout the centuries had God’s authority as they discovered the key of submission. We can have that same authority.

In part three I will dive deeper into Jesus’ method and ministry of authority over the demonic.

Questions:

1) Are your eyes open to the spiritual world to see the difference between good and evil? Paul challenged us in Romans 8 how to live the life God intended.

2) Do you sense that demonic spirits are involved in hindering you in your walk with God? Read carefully John 8:31-32

Seeking the authority of God through a submissive heart,

Pastor Dale