To heal and deliver
Let us further explore two other assignments of God's Kingdom. Although many people say that God's Kingdom is not about healing or miracles, we often see this in the life of Jesus. Even if we look at the apostles a little further in time, we see that many people were healed. God's Kingdom is also about healing, and for God, His followers must perform this task so that Jesus is glorified through our work. In this chapter, we first look at the task of healing people and then at the task of delivering people.
And He said to them: Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (...) 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. (...) They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. (Mark 16:15-20)
Heal the sick
Looking at the gospels, we see that God's Kingdom and healing the sick are connected. One belongs to the other. When Jesus walked on Earth, He proclaimed the gospel of the Kingdom and healed the sick.
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23)
If we desire to imitate Jesus in His words and deeds, this includes looking after and healing the sick. Not only was this something Jesus could do, but He also commissioned His disciples to do the same. He not only gave them the command, but He also gave them the power to heal the sick.
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. (...) And as you go, preach, saying: The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:1-8)
According to this text, Jesus and the disciples could heal the sick, not some diseases but every disease and every condition. An explanation for this is that Jesus gave the disciples power to do so. Instead of power, we can also say a power of attorney. In other words, they could heal the sick on Jesus' behalf. It isn't their strength or power but the power of Jesus Christ. They received authority to heal people of their diseases and conditions in His name.
Now comes the best part. This text mentions a select group of 12 people, but Jesus gives these disciples an essential command in Matthew 28.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying: All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:18-19)
The Lord Jesus summoned the disciples to teach all nations what He commanded them. What did Jesus command the disciples to do? That is to preach the gospel and heal the sick. Jesus still wants to use people to heal the sick. What a great and gracious God we have! We see this in Mark 16:15-20, where Jesus says people can recognize believers by healing the sick. Jesus didn't stop healing the sick in the first century AD; Jesus continues to do so. He needs people willing to carry out this mission and perform it in faith. Jesus says in the book of John that we can do the same works as Him.
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (John 14:12)
The Lord Jesus had a fantastic ministry in which He revealed God's Kingdom. Jesus says that we can and should do all the work He accomplished. This is also about the healing and miracles Jesus had done in His life. It isn't merely about the first century's disciples but everyone who believes in Jesus. Everyone has received the power and authority from Jesus to heal the sick. The only problem is that many Christians have yet to receive revelation and need to know what they can do through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul knew this and prayed for revelation so we would realize the tremendous power given to Christians (Ephesians 1:19). This also applies to healing the sick. God has given us, through the Holy Spirit, the power to heal the sick, not some diseases, but all diseases.
How to Heal the Sick?
Let us focus on healing the sick. First, I don't want to put God in a box. We cannot limit God to a roadmap; God has free will to heal. Yet God works with some key characteristics to heal sick people through you.
First of all, faith is most important. God rewards those who seek Him in faith; the same applies to the healing ministry. If we pray for non-believers, the non-believer doesn't have faith in healing. This isn't a problem for God if you believe in a miracle. By God's grace, He wants to reveal Himself to non-believers and heal sick non-believers. Because of this, the person will realize that Jesus lives. Faith is essential to receive revelations from God. Revelations from God work beautifully. On the one hand, the Holy Spirit gives us revelations. But on the other hand, God's revelations work in a relationship. If I never pay attention to God, never read the Bible, nor pray, then I cannot receive any (or few) revelations either. If I spend a lot of time with God, then God is likely to speak more often in my life, allowing me to receive more revelations and create more faith for a healing or miracle from God in the lives of others. The moment I pray for someone, I am always taking time to listen to the Holy Spirit. I often receive words of wisdom, allowing me to know exactly what to pray for, say, or do. If we look at Jesus' life on Earth, we see that every healing is unique, and Jesus doesn't always act similarly. Therefore, the course of action to heal people may change, so it is essential to listen to the Holy Spirit and do what He tells us to do.
Secondly, it is essential to know God's will. We recognize God's will by studying the Word of God and listening to the Holy Spirit. It is necessary to realize that the Holy Spirit and the Bible are always in harmony. The Holy Spirit never says or commands anything against God's Word. When we read the Bible, we see that God wants to heal people. We see this in the ministry of Jesus and in the teachings of the prophets and apostles. In the book of Exodus, God reveals Himself as a 'Healer' and says He will not bring any disease upon us if we obey Him.
And said: If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you. (Exodus 15:26)
This demonstrates God's will. God doesn't take pleasure in sickness and misery but in health and obedience. We see this in the blessing and curse in the book of Deuteronomy. Sickness is a curse and not a blessing. God wants us to live in blessing and not under a curse (Deuteronomy 28). God is a God who does great miracles and signs. God wants it and does it.
You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. (Psalm 77:14-15)
God has and will continue to do great wonders and signs. God's goodness did not stop in the first century of Christ, and His goodness endures forever.
Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah (Psalm 77:7-9)
Of course, the answer to this Psalm's question is no. God remains eternally good and always does what He promises.
Third, we must go out and do what Jesus asks of us. At first, it may be challenging to pray for the sick, and we may sometimes get disappointed because little or almost nothing happens. Please refrain from letting this discourage you, but seek God, read the Bible, and build faith. We may grow in our ministries and tasks on earth, and if we proceed with the right desire, God will help us grow.
Cast out demons
Jesus commands us to cast out demons. As Jesus says in the book of Matthew, casting out demons and God's Kingdom go hand in hand.
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the Kingdom of God has come upon you. (Matthew 12:28)
The Lord Jesus cast out demons, and so did the seventy disciples. They had received power from Jesus to cast out demons and were under Jesus' authority.
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying: Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. (Luke 10:17)
Here, we see that demons must listen to the Name of Jesus. If we stand in Jesus' authority, we have received the power and strength to cast them out of people. This applies not only to the time period of the disciples but also to today.
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons (…). (Mark 16:17)
Also, this doesn't just apply to pastors, elders, and the pastoral team; it applies to every believer.
First, let us look at how to spot demonism in people. It is essential to learn to distinguish spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10). In this case, the Holy Spirit tells you that someone is suffering from demonism or demonic influences, or you identify evil spirits. This may be a certain feeling, revelation, or the voice of the Holy Spirit. Demons can also be recognized by some nasty character traits in people. In Chapter 13, we read about what demons can do to people and how we can spot them by their strange behavior. During deliverance prayers or praying in tongues, specific complaints or negative characteristics may worsen in the person. We call these demonic manifestations, and because of this, we know for sure that someone is influenced by demons. Another form of manifestation is the changing of the eyes. During the deliverance prayer, the eyes can change to very dark or evil eyes. In your mind, you can see the demons sitting in the eyes, as it were. This helps us see a clash between God's Kingdom and the Kingdom of Darkness. It is critical not to stop when we see such manifestations but rather to send the demons out of the person. For example, if a person has a foul spirit, it can worsen during prayer. When the demon reveals itself, that is the perfect time to send it away and not the time to stop the deliverance.
How to Cast out Demons?
So, how do I cast out demons in other people? In Chapter 8, we read how we can be freed from demons ourselves. It works similarly; only now you teach someone else how to become free. At its core, Jesus' command is straightforward. After all, Jesus says: 'Cast out demons; I have given you the authority.' We don't find lengthy walkthroughs in the Bible with hundreds of steps to follow first. If we look at some ministries, every demon requires special treatment, and it is challenging to remember it all correctly. Sometimes, trajectories can take months or years. Even though some of these have good results, and I don't want to be pessimistic about these ministries, it should be possible to simplify things. Indeed, in Jesus's life, He was never in a long discussion with a demon, and the demons flew out within seconds. Jesus didn't have a questionnaire, but He had faith and authority. I long for this, and I believe it is possible. Jesus has given this power to all His followers. The following points are significant for being in the deliverance ministry.
Be Under the Authority of Jesus Yourself
It is essential to be under the authority of Jesus and a believer before you can cast out demons. Casting out demons isn't a particular ritual or formula that anyone can do. It involves authority and faith. In the Bible, we find a story where people copied Paul in casting out demons without being under the authority of Jesus. They mentioned the name of Jesus and Paul's name, but the name of Jesus only helps if you are under the authority of Jesus. It can be dangerous if you do this without the authority of Jesus.
Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying: We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches. Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said: Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you? 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. (Acts 19:13-16)
So, it is essential to be in Christ and have His authority. If we have His authority, we won't have to fear because we know that the One who is in us is greater than the one in the world (1 John 4:4). This applies to the prayer and the receiver. The receiver needs to realize that Jesus delivers him and that you do not deliver him. Here, you can ask that person to put their faith in Jesus.
It is also vital that it is in a confidential environment. This means that the information and events are not shared with everyone. Of course, discussing specific details with a pastor or elders or asking for advice is good, but gossiping about it with other people is not the intention.
Have Certain Sins Confessed
Demons don't enter a person without a reason. A significant cause through which demons can enter is serious sins or repeated sins. It is essential that the person first confesses his sin(s) before the demons are cast out. This is because the demons have been given the 'right' to operate in a person because the person has let them in—through action. The perfect way to remove this foundation is to confess the sin and ask for forgiveness from God. As a result, there is no more legal ground, and the demon cannot cling to anything. Being honest about sins is very important, and creating an atmosphere of trust is good.
He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)
Let the Person Break Away from Occult Matters
The person must break away from occultic activities. This could include Buddha sculptures, dream catchers, certain music, videos, games, and objects of other religions. All these must be discarded, destroyed, or burnt, and the person must have nothing more to do with them. We can also consider certain curses or religions this person has acquired or practiced. The person should also dissociate himself from these curses and religions and ask Jesus to take them away from him. For example, a person must repent from all occultism and all spiritual traditions practiced in the family. If a person is set free and does not repent, the chances are high that the demons will return and reinforce their oppression.
Let the Person Forgive Everyone
It matters that the person has forgiven everyone in their life. We already read that God can only forgive us if we forgive others. Without forgiveness, a spiritual obstruction is present, which can stop deliverance. For this reason, it is important to forgive everyone, regardless of what has happened. If there is sincere forgiveness, the demon no longer has power over one's life and is set free (Luke 6:37).
Send Away the Demon
After this is done, it is time to send the demon away. You can do this simply by addressing the demon and telling it to get out in Jesus' name. Usually, you experience immediately that something happens or the atmosphere changes. Now is also a proper time to listen to the Holy Spirit, so you may also have moments to listen to the Holy Spirit's voice. The Holy Spirit will tell you what to do and when you are done praying. Deliverance prayer doesn't always have to be a session of hours; it can last just a few minutes. While praying, you can ask what the person is feeling. This can help you pray more deeply and know what is happening. If you have never done this, walk with a brother or sister who has experience. They can explain how to do certain things, and you can see how it works. In addition, deliverance service is a learning process. More and more, you learn to understand the voice of the Holy Spirit and know what to do.
Don't Fear Manifestations
During deliverance prayers, demons may begin to manifest in a person. This may manifest, for example, in screaming, frothing, rolling on the ground, aggression, and fear. This is what they do to intimidate, deceive, or distract us. Through the deliverance prayer, they notice they must leave a person. In their last minutes in a person, they try to make us anxious, causing us to stop praying and allowing them to stay in the person a little longer. This is something we shouldn't be afraid of. In the name of Jesus, we have been given all authority and power.
Don't Put Too Much Pressure on It
A delivery service may sound super intense and can cause anxiety for many people. This isn't meant to be. So don't put extra pressure on it, don't start shouting at demons, and always keep the peace and tranquility of God. From this peace, we may operate, and we may deliver people. Sometimes, a person is still not wholly delivered after the deliverance service. Then give homework and say, for example, what this person can do in the coming week to progress. This could include fasting, studying the Word, praying, or stopping certain sins. Also, be aware that you are not the deliverer but Jesus. Only some people want to be honest, and some, for example, don't confess essential sins. This prevents them from being set free, and it is crucial to put in some time so they can grow with Jesus.
Summary
This chapter deals with two supernatural commands of God's Kingdom that apply to every believer. The first command is to heal the sick. In Jesus' ministry, we preach the kingdom and heal the sick—simultaneously. Everywhere Jesus went, the sick was healed. Jesus' apostles continued this pattern, and we also see many healings and miracles in their lives. In Jesus' teaching, we see that healing the sick was not just for the first century AD but applies to every believer. It is key to build faith and to know God's will well. Then, we may learn and grow by doing it. The second command is to cast out demons and set people free. This task also goes together with preaching the kingdom, which the Lord Jesus often did. The disciples, too, had to deal with this many times, and we can see from Jesus' teaching that this command also applies today. Jesus' command is straightforward. Namely, Jesus says, "cast out demons." Important concepts surrounding this command are repentance, forgiving people, and stopping occultism.