CASTING OUT DEMONS

Casting Out Demons
By Alice Smith

The plane trip from the States to South Africa had been long and tiring. With
only a few hours to rest, I would be the first speaker at the meetings to be held in a large, racially diverse Cape Town church. When I walked into the packed auditorium, the assembly was completely caught up in worship. As I waited my turn, I bowed my head and asked the Lord to use me to touch these Christians. Later, when I gave the altar call, many came forward for personal ministry. Despite my exhaustion that night, I knew the Lord was my strength.

One pretty Polynesian girl came to the altar and stood rigid with fear. Then, as I approached her, she hissed at me, and the calm atmosphere immediately changed. Without warning, the demonized girl, flung herself to the floor and shouted, "The strongmen say for you to leave!" "We've had her for a long time, get away now! Leave us alone." The spirits
furious at being uncovered growled from inside her.

After casting out demons for thirty-five years, I knew this wild-eyed girl was indwelt with a spirit of witchcraft. I immediately bound the strongman, and then commanded the demons attached to the strongman to leave. As they resisted, she glared at me, coughing and hissing; but the spirits knew they couldn't continue to victimize her. With calm authority, I continued the ministry of deliverance until she was set free. Finally, she peacefully relaxed on the floor. Following the intense warfare between demonic and divine
power, she tenderly wept, praising God for her new freedom.

Yes, this really happens in the twenty-first century. Satan's goal is to steal God's Word from your heart, kill any desire you have to worship or obey Him, and to destroy you. (See John 10:10.) Do you realize that Satan promises the best but pays with the worst; promises honor and pays with disgrace; promises pleasure and pays with pain; promises profit and pays with loss; promises life and pays with death?

Deliverance from demonic spirits is a significant ministry taught in the New Testament and practiced by Jesus and His disciples. Yet it is almost entirely missing in the church today. Many Christians either ignore or reason away the need for deliverance. Nevertheless, this is a clear command from Jesus to us, the church--that where they are present, "drive out demons" (Matt. 10:8; Mark 16:17). Deliverance ministry, therefore, involves

• breaking demonic plans and curses,
• casting out demons, and
• releasing an individual from demonic oppression and influence."
Is the ministry of deliverance for a specialized few or is it the responsibility of us all? Mark 16:17 says, "And these signs shall follow them that believe. 'In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.'" The question isn't whether this ministry is valid and necessary, but
rather,how do we apply it, and to whom? Power ministry should be one of a true Christian's credentials, and yet sadly we have delegated deliverance to a "specialized" few. Christians need to be equipped with the credentials to do the works of Jesus, whether for yourself or for others.

Are we to cast devils out of a lost person only? Not at all. Jesus said in that case the house will be empty and their estate will be far worse than the start. (Matt. 12:44-45.)

Some say, "'When God saves us, he draws a bloodline around us over which demons can't pass." True, there is a bloodline, but this is drawn around our spirit; a Christian's soul (mind, will, emotions) and body can still be susceptible to demonic power where any door to darkness hasn't been closed (see chapter 4). This is one reason we believers are not to "give
place to the devil." (See Eph. 4:27.) Though we belong to God, if we refuse or fail to take responsibility for, and authority over our lives, Satan will still have an entry point to attack and torment us. Our churches are filled with
tormented people who are saved, yet not free. They are living lives as victims, not overcomers.
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