Dealing With Demonic Power1

DEALING WITH DEMONIC POWERS

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing

all that were oppressed of the Devil; for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38)

INTRODUCTION

For too long the work of demons has been dismissed by many as a curious practice in heathen cultures. It has not been considered as a problem which invades lives, homes,

churches, and nations.

Demons are an organized force of powers against which believers wrestle (Ephesians 6:12). Demons are the agents through which Satan works to accomplish his purposes in the world. The following summarizes demons and their

realms of operation:

Seducing Spirits- Unclean Spirits- Spirits Of Infirmity,

Affect The Spirit Of Man- Affect The Soul Of ManAffect The Body Of Man.

These Spirits Can Oppress--Possess--Obsess!!

If you are to wage effective warfare, you must learn how to deal with demonic powers that obsess, oppress, or possess the body, soul, and spirit. There are people all around you who are tormented, troubled, and even

possessed by the powers of darkness known as demons. This message presents guidelines for ministering to those

affected by demonic powers.

JESUS AND DEMONS

The teaching and ministry of Jesus demonstrated that demonic spirits are a real force of evil. What Jesus taught about demons and how He dealt with them yields valuable

information about the strategies of Satan.

Jesus accepted the fact that satan is the ruler of a host of demons. He taught of the reality and power of demons. He said that the casting out of demonic powers was one of

the signs that the Kingdom of God had come. Read Matthew 12:22-30, Mark 3:22-27, and Luke 11:14-23 for

a summary of what Jesus taught concerning demons.

A large portion of the ministry of Jesus involved dealing with demons. It is the example of Jesus and the authority of His name that provides the Scriptural basis for dealing

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with demonic powers. Jesus ministered to "all" who came with demonic problems. Peter said of Jesus:

... God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing

all that were oppressed of the devil.

(Acts 10:38)

In the "Tactical Maneuvers" section of this message you can study further on specific cases recorded in the Bible

where Jesus dealt with demonic powers.

HOW DEMONS OPERATE

As you have learned, demons are used by satan to oppose God, His plan and purposes, and His people. They also war against unbelievers to keep them from the truth of the Gospel. Demons control specific territories (principalities) such as the prince of Persia mentioned in Daniel 10:1213. Demons also work through personalities, through men and women, to accomplish satanic objectives in the

world.

Opposition to God's will is satan's main objective. The word "satan" means "adversary." Satan is primarily

God's adversary (Job 1:6; Matthew 13:39). He is secondarily, man's adversary (Zechariah 3:1; I Peter 5:8).

Demons have different natures or personalities. Remember that one demon identified himself in I Kings 22:23 as a "lying spirit." A "deaf and dumb" spirit is

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identified in Mark 9:25. Demons of various natures operate as spirits of infirmity, seducing spirits, and unclean spirits. Satan uses them to war against man in

body, soul, and spirit:

SPIRITS OF INFIRMITY:

These are spirits that can afflict the bodies of believers as well as unbelievers. Read Luke 13:10-17. This woman

was afflicted with a spirit of infirmity. She was present in the Sabbath services and Jesus called her "a daughter of Abraham." Both of these facts indicate she probably was

a follower of God, yet her body had been afflicted by Satan for eighteen years.

For other examples of demonic powers afflicting the body see Matthew 12:22; 17:15-18; Acts 10:38; II Corinthians

12:7.

SEDUCING SPIRITS:

These spirits afflict the spirit of man, seducing him to believe doctrinal lies and be condemned to eternal

punishment. They are the spirits of false doctrine, cults, false christs, and false teachers:

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing

spirits, and doctrines of devils.

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(I Timothy 4:1)

These seducing spirits are deceptive. They actually work miracles which lead some to believe they are of God:

For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole

world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 16:14)

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all powers and signs and lying wonders.

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

(II Thessalonians 2:9-10)

Seducing spirits include the "spirit of divination" mentioned in Acts:

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which

brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. (Acts 16:16)

Such spirits of divination or "familiar spirits" operate in fortune tellers, witches, and palm, crystal ball, and tea

leaf readers. Through unscriptural methods the spirits of divination foretell the future or discover knowledge which is naturally unknown. Warnings against familiar spirits

are given in Leviticus 19:31; 20:6; Deuteronomy 5:9; 18:10; Leviticus 20:27; and I Samuel 28:3.

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