© 05 Colin Melbourne
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How did the LORD Jesus Christ deal with demons and what does this mean for the Christian believer?
Demons Fear Christ:
Demons fear the LORD Jesus Christ; they tremble at His approach, and beg Him for mercy.
And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
Mtt. 8:29 KJV
Then they begged Him to allow them to enter the herd of swine.
They recognise that Jesus is God. The Holy Spirit reminds us:
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas. 2:19 KJV
Because demons don’t combine their faith with action, being eternally condemned, they rebel against God’s word, and fall under Judgment.
Demons have to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ:
There’s not a single case in God’s word of a demon spirit refusing to obey Christ’s commands. They have no choice because He is Lord of Heaven and Earth. When Christ says, ‘Go!‘ they have to go.
The Enemy Vanquished
Christ has defeated Satan, demons and evil spirits once and for all:
…the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Jn. 14:30, Col. 2:15 KJV
The Root of Sickness
Jesus healed people by driving out spirits of sickness and infirmity:
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
Mtt. 8:16 KJV
Notice here that God tells us evil spirits caused all the sickness He healed. This is because the source of all sickness is Satan and his spirits.
Doctors treat symptoms, but God drives out the root cause. Medics would have described the woman bent double in Luke 13 as suffering from arthritis of the spine. God says she was bound by Satan, crippled through a spirit of infirmity. He drove it out and her spine was perfectly healed.
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.
Ac. 10:38 KJV
Note that those who need healing are under the power (oppression) of the devil. Jesus releases them, and heals them, because He’s overcome Satan’s authority. Only believe!
Once delivered, Jesus warned people:
Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Jn. 5:14 KJV
The paralysed man by the pool needed to get saved and filled with God’s Spirit to prevent a recurrence. Remember, Jesus said that a demon once cast out can return with reinforcements, and if it finds the person not filled with Christ it can re-enter, and the final condition becomes much worse than before. Mtt. 12:43-45
Demons and You:
Every born again believer has already overcome Satan and every evil spirit:
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:
1 Jn. 4:4, 5:4a KJV
Faith in The Victor’s Word
This victory is by faith in The LORD Jesus Christ:
…and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 Jn. 5:4b-5 KJV
Set Free from Satan’s Power
Believers have been delivered out of Satan’s realm and brought into God’s:
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col. 1:13 KJV
Satan and demons have no hold, authority or power over Spirit-filled believers in Christ: we have been redeemed and set free:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col. 1:14 KJV
God emphasises this basic Gospel fact to new believers at Ephesus, and everywhere.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph. 1:7 KJV
Use Your Authority in Christ
Every Believer has Christ’s authority over Satan and demons:
Many Christians miss this, so follow the command chain closely…
To the first twelve:
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
Lk. 9:1 KJV
This was also given to the next 70 He sent out:
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Serpents and scorpions are symbols of demons and evil spirits.)
Lk. 10:19 KJV
In the Great Commission Christ grants this same authority to every believer:
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you
Mtt. 28:19-20 KJV
The authority comes with the word of command.
Christ has given believers authority to use His Name to drive out devils and heal the sick.
You there, take it now, and use it.
In my name shall they cast out devils; … they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Mk. 16:17-18 KJV
Satan and demons know and understand that Spirit-filled believers have Christ’s authority over them, and that this is exercised through faith. That is why he endeavours to hide this Gospel fact from them by false teaching.
Many Christians are totally ignorant of their authority in Christ, and ineffective at demonstrating Christ’s complete victory over all the works of the devil.
Once you comprehend what Christ has done, and given you, once you embrace the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and begin to exercise your authority over Satan and demons, then you will see God’s power working through you. You will drive out demons and you will heal the sick in Jesus’ Name.
You don’t need to be afraid, Christ will stand with you and teach you personally, get Spirit-filled and start today. Just as they obeyed Him, they will obey you when you command them in His Name.
Just as they fear Him, they will fear you because you know you have His authority over them.
© 05 Colin Melbourne
