Who has authority over evil spirits? I am writing a series of posts about the spirit world through Jesus’ eyes. Today’s post is about how only Jesus has authority over spirits and gives that power and authority to His disciples. In my first post, you learned the difference between a demon and evil spirits. In my second post, you learned the difference between spirit oppression and demon-possession. The Bible is clear that demons, Satan, and the devil exist and how destructive they are. When you look around our current world, you see the evidence of demonic and Satanic destructive influence on mankind.
Luke 9:1-2 states, “And he (Jesus)called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.” Matthew 10:1 states, “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits (NIV; evil spirits), to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.”
Observation:
- Jesus gives his twelve disciples power and authority over all demons (unclean and evil spirits), to cast them out of people and cure their diseases.
- Jesus also gave them power and authority to preach about the Kingdom of God and to heal every sickness and affliction.
Interpretation:
- Jesus is God and has all authority over evil spirits.
- These spirits still exist and continue to afflict people.
- People still need deliverance to be free of diseases and afflictions.
Application:
- We have power and authority through the Holy Spirit -Jesus within us to cast out demons.
- Have you invited Jesus into your heart and received forgiveness of your sins?
- If you have, then you have the authority to do what the disciples did. Read, “Four Reasons for Authority in Prayer.”
Luke 10:1 states, “After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.” Luke 10:17-20 “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’ 18And he said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’”
Observation:
- Jesus sent two people out to preach and minister to people.
- Jesus gave many others the power and authority over demonic spirits using His name.
- He gave them authority over all the power of the enemy, and the enemy will not hurt them.
- Jesus saw the effect of their prayers when Satan fell from heaven. Jesus said in Matthew 16:19, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” See my web-book to learn how I do this.
- The 72 men were amazed that the demons were subject to them.
Interpretation:
- Jesus uses us to prepare people’s hearts to receive Him.
- Jesus refers to demons as serpents and scorpions. Also read Ps. 91:13.
- Satan continued to have access to heaven to bring destruction to people’s lives. See the story of Job as an example.
- The men Jesus gave power and authority to believed in Him as their names were written in heaven, which I believe refers to the Book of Life.
Application:
- We, too, have been given power and authority over demonic spirits in His name when we believe in Him.
- We, too, can intercede for people and destroy the devil’s work in their lives.
- We, too, can tread on the enemy and suffer no harm. 2Thessalonians 3:3 states, “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”
So, can anyone cast out a demon? You will learn what happens to those who do not have authority over demons in the following Scripture passage in Acts 19:11-19.
11-12) And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
13) Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”
14) Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.
15) But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”
16) And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them, and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17) And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.
18) Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.
19) And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Observation:
- God has power and authority over all the spirits and healing. Even the Apostle Paul’s handkerchiefs that touched the sick healed them, and evil spirits came out.
- God is almighty in power and has no limits.
- The demons (evil, unclean spirits) know the name of Jesus has power.
- The demons will speak through the person they are possessing.
- Demons can hurt those who do not have the protection of Jesus Christ.
- Sorcery and magic arts were practiced even among the believers.
Interpretation:
- It appears from verse 12 that evil spirits are often involved with human diseases and sickness. We learned that from my last post, when Jesus healed the sick girl by delivering her from a demon through her mother’s faith. There are many other scriptures with the same correlation.
- Only those whose names are written in heaven have the power and authority to cast out demons.
- When the people saw how the evil spirit through one man took on seven and beat them up, they became fearful. They then confessed their sins and burned their books on magic.
Application:
If you have any occult images, games, or books concerning magic or curses, even innocent ones like a Buddha or any Hindu figures, you need to destroy them immediately.
Also, if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you have the authority to break all curses from your ancestry. See my web-book for more details.
Conclusion:
The only people who can pray and cast out demons in Jesus’ name are believers whose names are written in heaven. When the Holy Spirit resides in you, you have the power not only to preach the gospel but also to cast out demons and heal people’s diseases. Next time you or your family feel uneasy or agitated, consider praying and commanding any intruding spirits to leave your home in Jesus’ name. When I feel depressed or really tired for no reason, that could be oppression from an evil spirit. I take authority over any spirit attacks on my mind or body, and command the spirits to be gone in Jesus’ name. I feel immediate relief.
Blessings.
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