Given the fact that the majority of folks tend to remain ‘carnally minded’, this idea of a ‘spiritual’ world where actual ‘spirits’ exist and operate in and through people’s lives is a bit…’out there’. I get it. We all do. But just because we might choose to not believe in them does not negate the reality that they exist.
I bet you have heard ‘non-believing-types’ refer to some tormented person they knew of and make reference to that person’s ‘demons’ they wrestled with. Granted, they’d be the first to tell you it is more of a ‘figure of speech’ or ‘poetic language’, but there is still something in them that openly acknowledges the existence of ‘demons’. If only they knew it was more than poetic, figurative language they used. (And how can they be certain they don’t exist?)
Then there are those church folks who would scoff at the idea of a faithful church member having any ‘unclean spirits’ working in them, given they were baptized and taught an adult Sunday School class….yet, have no problem observing that ‘Sister So-N-So’ seems to have such a ‘critical spirit’ about her. ‘Spirit’, you say? Interesting. And what woman has not experienced at some time in her life, including church-life, where she had that uneasy feeling anytime she was around a certain church member or leader, perhaps, where she sensed a ‘lustful spirit’ leering at her. “Spirit”, you say? You mean church membership and the stained glass might not keep them out? And what did Jesus say about those in ‘sheep’s clothing but inwardly are …’wolves’? (Matt. 7:15) (NOT the four-legged hairy ones I’m guessing here)
How many times have you read in the gospels where Jesus stayed busy, not only preaching the gospel of the kingdom, along with healing all manner of diseases and sickness, but He also was casting out demon spirits left and right of people. (Matt. 4:24; Acts 10:38). The question that deserves some attention along with answers is…When did demon spirits stop tormenting people and when did Jesus stop delivering folks of them? (Answer- They didn’t and He hasn’t!)
When Jesus sent out His disciples, did He not command them to ‘preach, heal, cleanse, and cast out demons’? (Matt. 10:8). You might be quick to point out that was for the twelve apostles only. Really, I read in Luke 10:17-20 where there were seventy disciples who returned from doing what Jesus sent them out to do and they were all excited because ‘even the demons were subject to them through His name.” He then told them that He was giving them authority over all the power of the enemy (yes, demons have more power than an unbelieving person) and that those spirits would be subject to them and not harm them. You might go verify this in your bible real quick.
I can also point out in your bible where Jesus made this announcement: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do because I go to My father.” (John 14:12). Soooo….if Jesus stayed busy ‘casting out unclean spirits’ from folks…and He says that those who believe in Him will do not only similar works as He did but even ‘greater’ works…might that suggest there are still folks out there needing spiritual help and…being set free?
Again, I’m not here to debate with folks on their personal theological beliefs. I just feel compelled to point out multiple passages in the bible, verses that we might need to revisit and give further study to…if not…see them for the first time. It might answer a lot of questions so many sincere believers have had for years. Lots of church members have been led to believe that while there may be a spiritual foe out there, that they are immune, for some reason to having any demonic activity working in them because they made a ‘profession of faith’.
Yet…look at that poor woman in Luke 13:11 who had been bound up by a ‘spirit of infirmity’ where she could not straighten up for something like 18 years. And Jesus, referring to her as a ‘daughter of Abraham’, delivered or loosed her from that spirit and she was healed. As a ‘daughter of Abraham’, she was an heir of God’s promises. This was not some ‘horrible Gentile heathen’ out there who was on the ‘outside’ of God’s covenant promises.
In fact, speaking of those outside the covenant, may I point you to the story of the woman from Canaan who came to Jesus pleading that He would deliver her daughter of an evil spirit. You might read up on this in Matt. 15:21-28. She was told by Jesus, in a manner of speaking, that healing and deliverance (from evil spirits) was what He referred to as ‘the children’s bread’. (26)
In other words, Jesus came to set free those who were heirs to the promise of the covenant God made with Abraham. Guess what, Paul makes it know that to those who are in Christ, they too are ’heirs to the same covenant promises’. (Gal. 3:29). Yet, this desperate woman persisted in her faith wanting her daughter healed and delivered…and reminds Jesus that even the ‘dogs’ (a type of those unbelievers outside the covenant) still eat the crumbs that fall from the children’s table. Jesus was impressed, and the woman’s daughter was delivered of that unclean spirit that day.
So if Paul says we are to ‘give no place to the devil’ (Eph. 4:27) whether you choose to ignore or dismiss this idea or not, it is clear…we can open the door to allowing unclean spiritual activity in to our hearts. Truth be told, there is probably more activity in people today sitting on church pews than one would dare imagine or admit. And ignoring the problem does not solve it.
For those who are at least open to admitting there struggles may be ‘spiritual’ in nature, the next question that needs to be addressed is one Jesus asked a lame man in John 5:6. He looked at him and asked: “Do you want to be made well?”
That’s another question I think we need to be challenged with on a regular basis. I only say this because many people…actually…Don’t want to be made well. Go figure, but you know I’m right. Jesus Himself said many refuse to come to the light because they love the darkness (and their evil deeds) more than the light. (John 3:19-20)
Again, let’s revisit Matt. 12:43-45 where Jesus explains what happens when an ‘unclean spirit goes out of a man’. I actually have a good hunch this conversation explains why many people have unanswered prayer request along these lines in seeking ‘deliverance’. It’s not that Jesus does not want to heal and deliver and set people free of various torments and compulsions and afflictions. On the contrary, His not answering those prayers might be an act of mercy, in my opinion. Here’s why I say this: For the most part, the ‘church at large’ has not really wanted to address such topics given they are maybe ‘too spiritual’ for our liking. We might ‘touch on it’ from time to time, but addressing the core problem that affects so many of God’s sheep today might make folks uncomfortable and goodness gracious…we don’t want people leaving our weekly church services feeling confused and uneasy now, do we?
So if we have chosen to ignore or bypass such topics, is it any wonder that we leave people vulnerable to spiritual attacks by the enemy? (And I can assure you this would be by design)
Let’s suppose a person who had been actively involved in a church for years in various capacities has struggled with a ‘spirit of anger’ or ‘depression’ or ‘lust’ and never been able to overcome it. There’s good reason to believe they are not even aware what the root issues is…a ‘demon’. Maybe they have been told they can’t ‘have demons’; or maybe reassured that they are not perfect, so just hang in there because they are saved and one day they won’t have to struggle with those ‘things’ anymore.
And imagine what might happen if they had gone to that altar and begged God for deliverance from their personal ‘demons’…and Jesus indeed set them free…IF they have not been properly taught what all was happening, and how to stand and defend their hearts/souls when that spirit returned, what will their condition be in the end? (according to Jesus’s words there in Matt. 12:45)
Trust me, I realize how problematic a scenario like that might sound to some. It leads to questions as to the spiritual condition of that believer. If indeed they have some kind of ‘unholy spirit’ doing what Jesus said they do (steal, kill, destroy John 10:10) then what is the final outcome for their soul? Were they ‘saved’ or not? And while I leave that all up to God (way above my pay-grade) - I do see in scripture where Paul talks about church members being ‘handed over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that their spirit might be saved’. (1 Cor. 5:5).
In chapter 3 of this same letter, Paul mentions talk about ‘going through or being tested by fire’, and while their ‘work’ goes up in flames, they will be saved. This can get a little confusing but I am comfortable with sharing this…lots of sincere folks, ‘destroyed for a lack of knowledge’ (Hosea 4:6) can go through horrific suffering and loss…needlessly and even prematurely. But during that time, they also experience a truly genuine refining process of purifying and repentance. I have watched people I know experience such things. I also believe that many will learn one day that the suffering they experienced was needless.
One last thought to give some consideration to. We hear often of the growing problem of ‘mental illness’ in this country. So much of mental illness is often ‘treated’ with medicine and pills. (Not healed, simply ‘treated’ as in enabling them to ‘cope with their challenge.). Just what if the root problem was ‘spiritual’ in nature? Makes sense that you could not fix that with drugs. Go take a look at Mark 5:1-20 sometime, and read where this man who was clearly demonized and tormented by unclean spirits was set free by Jesus. Interesting how we read there that when the local townspeople came and saw him afterwards, we are told he was sitting there fully clothed and …in “his right mind”. No drugs, no treatment, no therapy. Just a genuine encounter with Jesus.
But Shhhh! (We are not supposed to talk of such things)
Yet, here we are today…in a time where God is wanting to shine some light on His word and awaken ‘sleeping believers’. There is work yet to be done, hearts in need of purifying (2 Cor. 7:1; 1 John 3:3). People are still being tormented and demonized by a spiritual enemy.
And Jesus still sets captives free.
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