M401: Lesson 10; The Ministry of Deliverance

E. Keith Hassell

Ministry 401 • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

Matthew 10:1

Deliverance

Exorcist of Demons

0 ratings

· 203 views

Grace Fellowship in Rusk, Texas Sunday, December 5, at 6:00 PM

Notes

Transcript

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

The Ministry of Deliverance

Key Verse: “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.” Matthew 10:1 (NKJV)

Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to help the disciple understand and be equipped for the ministry of deliverance.

The believer’s struggle is not against human beings but against SPIRITUAL enemies.

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

The ministry of Jesus and His disciples included casting out DEMONS.

Mark 1:34 (NKJV) “Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.”

Matthew 10:1 (NKJV) “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.”

What are “demons”?

The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for “demon” is sa’ir (Strong’s #H8163) that refers to a he-goat or buck (satyr). The Greek word in the New Testament for “demon” is daimonion (Strong’s #G1140) that refers to an evil spirit who is a messenger or minister of the devil. Although there are different views regarding the origin of demons, the most common biblical view is that they were originally created by God among the holy angels of heaven. Because they joined in Lucifer's (Satan's) rebellion, they were banished to the earth (Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:4). Demons are spiritual beings with personalities but without material or physical bodies. They are regarded as evil or unclean spirits under Satan's control. They are enemies of the God of heaven and human beings whom He loves. They desire to influence and indwell human beings to manifest their evil nature on earth. They are motivated by a desire to rob God of worship and to deceive and destroy human beings who are created in the image and likeness of God. Demons are often referred to as unclean spirits (Matthew 12:43; Mark 1:23; 9:25; Luke 4:33; 6:18; 9:42); deceiving spirits (1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 16:14); spirit of Infirmity (Luke 13:11); spirit of deafness and muteness (Mk 9:25); spirit of muteness (Matthew 9:32-33; Luke 11:14; Mark 9:17); spirit of blindness and muteness (Matthew 12:22); familiar spirit (Leviticus 20:6; 2 Kings 23:24); angel (Matthew 25:41; 2 Corinthians 11:14; Revelation 12:7, 9); lying spirit (1 Kings 22:22-23; 2 Chronicles 18:21-22; John 8:44); spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7); spirit of the world (1 Corinthians 2:12); spirit of divination (Acts 16:16); foul spirit (Revelation 18:2); perverse spirit (Isaiah 19:14); unclean and hated bird (Revelation 18:2), and distressing spirit (1 Samuel 16:14, 15, 16, 23; 18:10; 19:9).

Scriptural Signs of Demonization

Demons can manifest themselves in many ways that are abnormal, evil, and oppressive. Evidences revealed in Scripture include epilepsy (Matthew 17:14; Luke 9:42); severe pain (Matthew 17:15); suicide and self-destructive behavior (Matthew 17:15; Luke 4:35; 9:42; John 10:10); indecent exposure and nakedness (Luke 8:27); unclean environment (Luke 8:27); cutting of the body (Mark 5:5); binding or bondage (Luke 13:16; Romans 8:15); convulsions (Mark 1:26; 9:20); speaking out through the victim (Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34); crying out with a loud voice (Mark 1:26); supernatural strength and bizarre behavior (Mark 5:1-18; Luke 8:27-29); severe demon control (Matthew 15:22); hardened deception through involvement with idol worship and false religion (Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 32:17; 2 Chronicles 11:15; Psalm 106:37; 1 Corinthians 10:20; Revelation 9:20), sorcery (Re 18:23), false doctrines (Jeremiah 10:8; Ephesians 4:14; 1 Timothy 4:1), error (1 John 4:1-6; 1 Timothy 4:1), and heresies (2 Timothy 1:7); sickness and disease (Matthew 4:23-24; Acts 10:38); wickedness (Matthew 12:45; Luke 11:26); betrayal (John 13:2; 1 Kings 22:22-23); oppression (Acts 10:38); lies (John 8:44); murder (John 8:44); sin (1 John 3:8); mockery (Acts 16:17); persecution (Revelation 2:10); destruction (1 Peter 5:8); distress (1 Samuel 16:14; 18:8-10). Self-destructive behaviors can include obsessions and addictions to the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).

Demons attach themselves to images, idols, and items of FALSE WORSHIP.

2 Chronicles 11:15 (NKJV) “Then he appointed for himself priests for the high places, for the demons, and the calf idols which he had made.”

1 Corinthians 10:20–21 (NKJV) “Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.”

Involvement with idols or any false worship and their temples, festivals, sacrifices, images, symbols, fetishes, practices, superstitions, incantations, worship materials, and rituals opens the door to the demonic personality, influence, and deception behind it.

Psalm 115:8 (NKJV) “Those who make them [idols] are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them.”

Acts 19:18–19 (NKJV) “And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

Demons can indwell HUMANS and ANIMALS.

Luke 8:27, 31–33 (NKJV) “And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs…And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. 32 Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. 33 Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.”

Individuals can be indwelt by MULTIPLE demons at one time.

Mark 5:9 (NKJV) “Then He asked him, ‘What is your name?’ And he answered, saying, ‘My name is Legion; for we are many.’”

Mark 16:9 (NKJV) “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.”

Although a person may be demonized by multiple demons, there is one who is regarded as the “strongman”. It may not be the most powerful demon, but it is the one who first gained access.

Matthew 12:29 (NKJV) “Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.”

Matthew 12:43–45 (NKJV) “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

Demons often manifest in EPISODES.

1 Samuel 16:23 (NKJV) “And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.”

Matthew 17:15 (NKJV) “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.”

Progression of Demonization[1]

1. Regression: Reversion to earlier behavior patterns; to go backward. (Regress in spiritual power and force)

1. Repression: To restrain. To squeeze. To prevent natural expression. To keep down. To hold back. (Destroy natural expression and joy)

3. Suppression: To press under. Keep back, conceal. An exclusion of desire and feeling. (To hid or conceal feeling, desire, or unction.)

4. Depression: Low spirits, gloominess, dejection, sadness. A decrease in force or activity. An emotional condition, either neurotic or psychotic, characterized by feelings of hopelessness or inadequacy. (Broken spirit, Proverbs 17:22; Loss of hope, Psalm 42:5)

5. Oppression: Pressure to crush, to smother, to overpower, to overwhelm, to harass, to ravish or rape. (Overloaded and fearfully tormented.)

6. Obsession: To besiege, to haunt as of evil spirits, to be fixed on a single idea to an unreasonable degree. (A persistent and inescapable preoccupation—control of will power)

7. Possession: To inhabit, to occupy, to control, to hold as a property, to dominate, to activate, to rule by extraneous forces.

The first three—Regression, Repression, and Suppression involve the relinquishing of the Spirit’s control. Suppression also involves the invasion of the soul by demonic influence. Depression involves an invasion of the emotions. Oppression involves an invasion of the mind. Obsession involves an invasion of the will. Possession refers to the demonization of the entire soul and body of man (hijacking the entire personality and body, Acts 19:16).

God’s people can be DISTRESSED or BOUND by demons.

1 Samuel 16:14 (NKJV) “But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him.”

Luke 13:16 (NKJV) “So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”

Can Christians be Demon “Possessed”?

It is often reasoned that if a person is a Christian indwelt by the Holy Spirit, they could not be “possessed” by a demon. The point of controversy is the terminology, “demon-possessed”. It seems that the idea of “demon possession” came about by the unfortunate mistreatment of the Greek word daimonizomai, the word translated as “demon possessed” in many English versions of the Bible. Merrill F. Unger in his book, What Demons Can Do to Saints, published in 1977 by Moody Press, says that this is not the best translation of this word. He says “daimonizomai (means) ‘being demonized’, i.e., under the control of one or more demons...All demonic invasion is demonization of whatever degree of mildness or severity.” If this translation of daimonizomai is accurate, then we can stop describing people as being “demon possessed” and use the term “demonized” which only speaks of the influence of demons rather than of ownership. Dr. Timothy Warner points this out on pages 79-80 of his book, Spiritual Warfare, published in 1991 by Crossway, when he says, “We obtained our English word demon by transliterating the Greek word daimon. We should have done the same thing with the Greek word daimonizomai—a verb form from the same Greek root. It would come into English as “demonize,” and we could then speak of the degree to which a person could be demonized rather than being limited to the either-or options imposed by the “possessed” - “not possessed” view…A Christian may be attacked by demons and may be affected mentally and sometimes physically at significant levels…, but spiritual possession clearly implies ownership and would seem to include the control of one’s eternal destiny. In either case it would be impossible to be owned and controlled by Satan and have a saving relationship with Christ at the same time. So if the question is, Can a Christian be demon-possessed? The answer is clearly no.” A Christian might be, however, described as “demonized” in soul and body.

Believers who are oppressed by demons should first seek to OVERCOME.

Believers have access to spiritual weapons and resources in Christ to overcome the enemy of the soul. Deliverance is a temporary rescue. Overcoming establishes ultimate victory.

John 8:31–32 (NKJV) “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’”

Ephesians 6:10–11 (NKJV) “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (NKJV) “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”

Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

Demons gain access into the lives of human beings through doorways of:

SIN: Missing the mark of God’s standard. People can sin knowingly or unknowingly. The consequences of sin are the same. Sin opens the door for demons to infiltrate the human life.

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

DISOBEDIENCE: Willful or rebellious violation of God’s command.

Genesis 2:16–17 (NKJV) “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”

Ephesians 4:27 (NKJV) “nor give place to the devil.”

GENERATIONAL CURSES: Strongholds of iniquity. Iniquity is the “bent in character” that causes a person or family to be strongly inclined toward certain types of sin. The iniquities of one generation can predispose future generations to the same sins.

Exodus 20:4–5 (NKJV) “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,”

Iniquity is the “bent in character” that causes a person or family to be inclined toward certain types of sin. Iniquities are often passed down to the generations that follow.

FALSE WORSHIP:

Deuteronomy 32:16–17 (NKJV) “They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; With abominations they provoked Him to anger. 17 They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they did not know, to new gods, new arrivals that your fathers did not fear.”

1 Corinthians 10:20 (NKJV) “Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.”

Revelation 9:20 (NKJV) “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.”

DECEPTION and FALSE DOCTRINE:

2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 (NKJV) “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV) “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,”

Revelation 12:9 (NKJV) “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

The ministry of deliverance is evidence of the work of the HOLY SPIRIT and the presence of the KINGDOM of God.

Matthew 12:28 (NKJV) “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Mark 1:27 (NKJV) “Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”

Acts 10:38 (NKJV) “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

Because of His finished work on the Cross, Jesus dismantled the power of Satan and his demons. As a result, He has been given all authority in HEAVEN and on EARTH.

Matthew 28:18 (NKJV) “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.’”

Colossians 2:15 (NKJV) “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

1 Peter 3:22 (NKJV) “who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.”

Spiritual authority over demons is INVESTED by Christ in His disciples in His NAME.

Luke 10:17 (NKJV) “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’”

Mark 16:17 (NKJV) “And these signs will follow those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;”

Acts 16:16–18 (NKJV) “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, ‘These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.’ 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And he came out that very hour.”

Jesus endues His people with POWER or ANOINTING over demons. This power is available through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 10:27 (NKJV) “It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.”

Luke 4:18–19 (NKJV) “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Acts 10:38 (NKJV) “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

Preaching the gospel will bring encounters with people oppressed and bound by demons. The ministry of deliverance involves CASTING OUT demons.

Matthew 10:7–8 (NKJV) “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.’”

Mark 16:17 (NKJV) “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;”

Jesus cast out demons through His REBUKE or COMMAND. Believers are commissioned to do the same IN HIS NAME.

Mark 9:25 (NKJV) “When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!’”

Luke 4:36 (NKJV) “Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, ‘What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.’”

Some demons are greater in WICKEDNESS and in POWER.

Matthew 12:45 (NKJV) ‘Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

Mark 9:28–29 (NKJV) “And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ 29 So He said to them, ‘This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.’” [Note: Jesus is not saying that some demons are cast out through prayer and fasting. Jesus rebuked His disciples for the weakness of their faith in their failure to cast it out. Jesus Himself did not pray and fast to cast out the demon. Prayer and fasting strengthens the believer in their faith and confidence in Christ’s authority and power over stronger demons.]

HUMILITY and SUBMISSION before God is indispensable in resisting demonic powers.

James 4:6–7 (NKJV) “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.’”

God has given believers spiritual WEAPONS that are mighty in God.

Spiritual Weapons in the Ministry of Deliverance

There are four basic weapons that God has given us that can expose and destroy the stronghold of demons in people’s lives. These weapons are mighty in God and must be understood and utilized when enemy resistance arises. These four weapons can be likened to nuclear “warheads” that must be released through the “launching rockets” of command, prayer, praise, preaching/teaching, testimony, confession, prophesying, and blessing.

1. The WORD OF GOD: The sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17; Hebrews 4:12) Jesus used this weapon against the lies of the devil in the wilderness temptation. (Matthew 4; Luke 4)

2. The NAME OF JESUS: The name of Jesus is the single most powerful “thought” in the Word of God. Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). He is the Truth (John 14:6) At His Name, all knees will bow and confess that He is Lord. (Philippians 2:10).

3. The BLOOD OF JESUS: The saints of God overcome the devil through the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11) The blood of Jesus represents the price paid on the Cross for man’s redemption from sin’s penalty and Satan’s power. The blood of Jesus nullifies the devil’s accusation against those who come to Christ and destroys the foundation of his strongholds in their lives.

4. The CROSS OF CHRIST: The Cross is the central theme of the message of the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:17-2:8). The Cross is the power and wisdom of God. The Cross is where the charges against God’s people were abolished. The Cross is the emblem of Satan’s defeat.

Important Principles and Reminders

Maintain an intimate walk with Christ through humility, prayer, fasting, and abiding in the word of God. Keep yourself from sin. Plead the blood of Jesus over yourself and those around you. Be secure in your God-given authority and power over demons. Do not “hunt” for demons to cast out. Demonic manifestations will occur as the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus are proclaimed with authority and power. Do not minister deliverance to those who are not committed to walking in repentance, faith, and obedience toward Christ lest they end up worse in the end. Some are not committed to repentance, faith, and obedience toward Christ. They only want relief from the consequences of their sin. Don’t try to cast out demons by yourself. Jesus sent out His disciples two by two. Don’t seek to talk to demons. Command them to come out in the name of Jesus. Reinforce the command with the authority of the word of God, name of Jesus, blood of Jesus, and the cross of Christ. Maintain faith and do not give in to fear. Demons easily detect fear and unbelief that undermines authority and power. Keep commanding until there are results. If results do not come, there may be some hindrance caused by the demon’s “legal” right to remain. Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Be sensitive to the manifestation of the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, and the discerning of spirits. Have the person exercise their will through voicing prayer, confession of sin, profession of saving faith in Christ, submission to the Lordship of Christ, and confessing the truth of Scripture. Often the confession of sin, submission to Christ’s Lordship and confession of faith in God’s Truth, is enough to break the demon’s hold.

Demons RECOGNIZE those invested with spiritual authority and power and those who are not.

Luke 8:28 (NKJV) “When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, ‘What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!’”

Luke 10:17 (NKJV) “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’”

Acts 19:14–16 (NKJV) “Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

Non-believers remain under the authority and control of Satan’s kingdom and have no authority or power over him or his demonic forces. (Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 1:12-13)

Those delivered must fill their lives with Christ’s PRESENCE and walk in OBEDIENCE lest a worse thing come upon them.

Matthew 12:43–45 (NKJV) “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

[1] Adapted from Lester Sumrall, Demonology & Deliverance, (South Bend, IN: World Harvest Press, 1981)

Related Media

Related Sermons