Chad’s Notes
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Casting Out Demons
©Chad Sychtysz
Posted: 2/1/2010
Modern-day “exorcists” operate on a questionable basis. First, their
emphasis on money conflicts with the alleged sincerity of their work. Second, they
invoke the “name of Jesus” for exorcisms without teaching the full doctrine of Jesus.
Third, they operate under the unproved premise that there is still literal demon-possession
today, and that they can miraculously remove such demons. Demons do still exist
somewhere, but we cannot re-create the scenario in which Jesus cast out demons, for
that context no longer exists. Jesus cast out demons to prove His authority was
from God. Does He still cast out demons today?
The gospels—and Jesus—regarded demons as real entities, not as myths or
folk tales. Jesus’ presence was a “light” that had come into the darkness of the
world (John 1:4-5, 8:12). It appears that God allowed demonic activity to flourish
during Jesus’ ministry in order to magnify the intense brightness of His gospel.
By casting out demons, Jesus proved that He was able to free people from the strongest
forces of bondage and captivity known to man—i.e., the forces of darkness and evil,
including sin and guilt. He preached this message with unassailable authority and
cast out demons as a manifestation of His power over the supernatural world. It
was because of the authority of the One presenting this message that people began
listening to it (Luke 4:31-36). (This was the reason for miracles in general; Heb
2:4.) By showing His authority over spiritual beings, Jesus proved that His message
did not originate from man, but God. The Pharisees refused to accept this, but He
showed their logic to be seriously flawed (Mt 12:22-29). He turned their argument
against them and stated the inescapable conclusion: since He could truly cast out
demons by the authority of God, then the kingdom of God was truly “at hand,” just
like He preached.
Some people today believe that they are demon-possessed. We cannot discount
the power of the mind and imagination in dealing with this, for a person can choose
to believe just about anything he (or she) wants to. However, the conditions under
which demon possession manifested itself in Jesus’ day do not exist now. The kingdom
of God has been established; Jesus’ full authority has been confirmed (Mt 28:18,
Acts 2:33). Miracles or literal exorcism are not necessary to keep re-confirming
this; the written record (of the gospel) is sufficient proof for one to believe (John
20:31). Satan’s activity has been restricted from what it once was (cf. Rev 20:1-3).
However, Satan’s influence and activity have not altogether ceased by any means
(1 John 5:19). Those who deliberately reject the gospel truth are “given over” to
demonic power (Rom 1:24ff, 2 Thess 2:11-12). There is no question that people today
wrestle with personal demons. This does not describe a literal demon-possession
scenario, but refers to relinquishing the control of their mind to satanic influences.
We are to “submit to God” in order to “resist the devil” (Jas 4:7)—but not everyone
chooses (or even wants) to do this. Demonic behavior is alive and well among us
today: rebellion, jealousy, selfish ambition (Jas 3:13-15), resentment, ungodly
habits or addictions, sexual sins, pornography, ungodly anger, hatred, lies, etc.
Jesus can cast out these “demons” by His power, but only if we believe that He is
more powerful than demons (Heb 2:14-15). We must also pray for Him to do what we
are unable to do. Furthermore, we must do our part to remove ourselves from the
contexts and environments in which Satan’s activity most affects us. In other words,
casting out demons (so to speak) is not something we can do through human effort,
but Jesus will not help us without our having demonstrated trust in Him. His grace
coupled with our faith will overcome anything that threatens our spiritual success.
The fact that Christians continue to live under the control of demons does not call
Jesus’ power into question; it means that such power is not being accessed or rightly
applied.
Jesus has already proved His mastery over all those entities which
would otherwise defeat us. The question is: do you trust His promises to help you
rather than listening to Satan’s lies? Demons obey the voice of Christ; whose voice
do you obey? Christians ought to believe that Jesus is more powerful than all the
forces of wickedness that seek to control and ruin us. In whose power do you believe?
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