This is part of our Deliverance from Evil Spirits study; Previous page: Deliverance Follow-up

The Bible features many examples of deliverance ministry. We can glean many helpful points about deliverance from studying these examples.

  • Luke 4:33-36; Mark 1:25-26 In Capernaum, a man with a demon cried out at Jesus. Jesus rebuked it, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” The demon then convulsed the man and cried out with a loud voice. It threw the man down and came out of him.
  • Mark 1:34 Jesus cast out many demons; He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
  • Mark 3:10-12 Jesus sternly warned the unclean spirits that they should not make his identity known
  • Luke 4:38-39 Jesus rebuked the fever in Peter’s mother-in-law and it left immediately
  • Luke 4:40-41 Jesus laid hands on many people and the demons cried out and came out of them. Jesus rebuked them and did not let them speak.
  • Luke 9:37-42; Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29 The demon-possessed boy is delivered: This story has many interesting features. The evil spirit was able to seize the boy, cry out in a loud voice, convulse him, bruise him and cause him to foam at the mouth. The disciples were unable to cast the demon out, but Jesus was able to do so. Jesus said, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” (Mark 9:25). Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the child (Luke 9:39-42). Jesus later explained to the disciples that their unbelief kept them from being able to cast the demon out. Jesus also said that type of demon would not go out except by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:20-21; Mark 9:29).
  • Luke 9:49-50 Man casting out demons in Jesus’ name
  • Luke 11:14-15; Matthew 12:22-23 Jesus casts out a mute demon
  • Luke13:10-16 Jesus looses woman from a spirit of infirmity: She had been afflicted for 18 years and was bent over permanently. Jesus called her to him and said, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her and immediately she was made straight. Jesus mentioned that Satan had bound the woman (Luke 13:16).
  • Matthew 8:28-32; Luke 8:26-33; Mark 5:1-20 Gaderenes (or Gerasenes) demoniacs: These men were exceedingly fierce. They cried out at Jesus, and begged him to permit them to go into the swine. Jesus said, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” (Mark 5:1-20). He also said “Go” (Matthew 8:32). Apparently the spirits didn’t leave immediately, because Jesus then asked “What is your name?” (Mark 5:1-20). They told him their name was “Legion” and begged him to send them into the swine. Finally the spirits left the demoniac(s) and went into the swine.
  • Acts 19:11-12 Exorcism via handkerchiefs that touched Paul’s body
  • Acts 19: 13-16 Jewish exorcists attempt deliverance without faith in Jesus: These exorcists were likely spiritists/conjurers who used spells & oaths to bind spirits (see Strong’s #1845). They invoked Jesus’ name without believing in Jesus nor having a relationship with him. The demons recognized the exorcist’s lack of authority, jumped on them and beat them up!
  • Acts 8:6-7 Philip preached in Samaria to the multitudes. They heeded his teaching. Unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed.
  • Acts 16:16-18 Paul casts out spirit of divination from slave girl: The girl met Paul’s team as they went to prayer. The spirit harassed Paul for days. Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” The spirit came out that hour.

References for the Christian’s Authority over evil spirits

  • Matthew 10:1,7-8; Mark 3:15 Jesus gave the twelve disciples power to cast out evil spirits and to heal all kinds of disease, weakness and infirmity. Jesus sent the disciples out to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out demons.
  • Luke 10:17 The 70 disciples returned with joy, confirming that the demons were subject to them in Jesus’ name
  • Luke 10:19-20  Jesus gave his disciples authority over all evil: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  (NIV)
  • Mark 16:15-18 Jesus gives Christians authority over evil spirits: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons…they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (NKJV excerpt).

Power principles for deliverance: There are many interesting “power principles” regarding deliverance ministry. The main principle is that God’s Kingdom is superior to Satan’s kingdom. Here are a few other examples:

  • Every kingdom divided against itself cannot stand (Luke 11:17-18)
    Jesus cast demons out by the finger of God (Luke 11:20). As adopted children of God, with the Holy Spirit residing in us (Romans 8:15-17), we too may cast demons out by the finger of God.
  • A fully armed “strong man” guards his palace. When a stronger man comes and overpowers him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoils (Luke 11:21-22). In Christ, we are the stronger man that overpowers demons and takes their spoils from them (men’s souls).
  • You must first bind the strong man before you can plunder his house. In Christ, we have authority to bind things in heaven and on earth (Matthew 12:29; 16:19; 18:18-19; Mark 3:27). (see Binding Prayers)
  • He who is not with Jesus is against Jesus. He who does not gather with Jesus scatters (Luke 11:23).
  • Following deliverance, an unclean (evil) spirit will go through dry places seeking rest and will find none. It will try to return to the person it left and take with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself. If they enter and dwell in the man, the last state of the man will be worse than the first (Luke 11:24-26; Matthew 12:43-45). This underscores the need for the freed person to walk closely with Jesus after deliverance sessions.

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