A Supernatural Partner
Have you ever heard anyone say, “I wonder what it was like to actually walk with Jesus? It must have been wonderful to visibly see Him and hear His voice and talk to Him.” But, as believers, if we understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we already know what it’s like. Having the Holy Spirit with us is just like having Jesus right at our side!
When Jesus walked on the earth, He was the exact image of the Father. Jesus told Philip, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” By looking at Jesus we can discover the Father’s will. Jesus only did what the Father told Him to do. He only spoke what the Father told Him to say. Everything about His life was the absolute manifested will of the Father. If we see Jesus, we see the Father.
Now we take this truth one step further. Just as Jesus is the exact image of the Father, Jesus told His disciples (and eventually, every believer) that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will be exactly like Himself. The Holy Spirit perfectly represents the life and nature of Jesus. Jesus only did what Father God would do, and now the Holy Spirit will only do what Jesus would do.
Obviously, we didn’t have the pleasure of physically walking with Jesus two thousand years ago, but if we have the Holy Spirit we haven’t missed out on a thing! The physical absence of Jesus didn’t hinder the early believers from healing the sick, performing miracles, raising the dead, bringing salvation to the lost, and yes… casting out demons! Because the Holy Spirit was with them, the ministry of Jesus continued uninterrupted. And because we have access to the Holy Spirit, the heart of the Father and the heart of Jesus for healing and deliverance can continue uninterrupted. The key is to be taught how to allow the Spirit to lead and guide us in this important ministry. The Holy Spirit wants to become a supernatural Partner in our life and ministry.
In order to step out into the ministry of deliverance, partnering with the Holy Spirt, we must first learn how Jesus approached the need for deliverance. Mark 1:21-39 gives us tremendous insight into this. Those scriptures speak loud and clear regarding an average day in the life of Jesus. There are several important take-aways from those passages…
- Casting out demons was a regular occurrence in the ministry of Jesus. Deliverance was not an isolated incident.
Now at evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
Mark 1:32-34
- Casting out demons was directly associated with the preaching ministry of Jesus. Deliverance was not a separate entity done secretly in a corner. It was part of the normal public ministry of Jesus. Scripture reveals He regularly did deliverance, even in the synagogues.
And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.
Mark 1:39
Demons Go To Church!
In my early days of Christianity, one of the hardest things for me to understand was the realization that evil could reside in the church. I had been radically saved, miraculously healed, and was living a life totally surrendered to God — a 180-degree turnaround from the person I used to be. So I mistakenly thought that every one sitting in church was sanctified and holy, and fully surrendered to God. I knew first-hand evil and sin existed in the world, but I never considered people could be saved but not totally set free. The thought never occurred to me that salvation was very different from being made whole… body, soul, and spirit.
But then, when I was only four-years-old in the Lord, I came face-to-face with the demonic spirit of Jezebel… IN THE CHURCH! That’s when I learned (through a series of six God-given dreams in six months) that demons go to church. Apart from the Holy Spirit revealing that truth, I would never have thought it was possible. Those dreams were gut-wrenching. God showed me the actual demonic spirits working through the beautiful people in that assembly. I had never seen anything so vile and ugly. When I awoke, I was still shaking from the shock of it all. But the most disturbing thing to me, was that the Christians themselves never even knew these demons had taken up residency. They didn’t know they were being used as pawns by the devil. Fighting that spiritual battle was the most traumatic experience in my entire Christian walk.
Apart from the Holy Spirit’s intervention, I likely would have died in that dreadful place. I had never been taught that demons go to church. I erroneously thought church was my “safe place,” so I was not prepared for that spiritual battle. I watched person after person, family upon family, be destroyed in that place — a beautiful place with stained glass windows and a steeple on top.
Do you know how good the devil can look? Did you know the devil and his cohorts can transform into an angel of light? Hubby and I got out of there right before its complete collapse, but it took me years to receive inner healing from that emotional abuse and trauma (chronicled in my testimony, The Bride Wore Black). The plans God had for me were nearly aborted, because I was untaught and untrained in spiritual warfare and demonology. Child of God… WE HAVE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO RECOGNIZE EVIL SPIRITS, HOW THEY OPERATE, AND HOW TO CAST THEM OUT!
How Jesus Dealt With Demons
Mark 1:21-28 is the account of Jesus dealing with an evil spirit in the church (synagogue).
Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Mark 1:21-22
Verses 21-22 tells us the very first thing Jesus did in the synagogue was teach. In a healing and deliverance ministry, it’s always helpful to teach the people first. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Ministering God’s Word helps to instill faith into the lives of those needing healing or deliverance. It prepares them for what God is about to do. On more than one occasion, while preaching to entire congregations, people testified to receiving their healing while I was still speaking, prior to any altar call. Preaching, teaching, or sharing your testimony (like we talked about previously) makes the act of deliverance a whole lot easier. We see this principle over and over again in the life of Jesus.
Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, ‘Let us alone! What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!’
Mark 1:23-24
So here we see a man in the synagogue (the equivalent of church, a believer). And this man becomes agitated when Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, is teaching. The evil spirit within the man knew immediately who Jesus was… the Destroyer! Remember: the spirit world sees things as they are — we see things as they appear to be. A person may appear to have his life all together, but in the spirit world he is seen for who he really is. We can go to church religiously, put on a holier-than-thou persona, but be controlled by the devil in various aspects of our life. We can attempt to hide things, but the spiritual realm (God and demons) sees everything!
Then the evil spirit began speaking through the man. He cried out with a loud voice. At this point the man was no longer in control. The man would be aware that someone is talking through him, but he has no control or power to deal with it. The hidden demonic spirit that tormented him was now in full manifestation. Notice the spirit said, “Let us alone.” The demonic spirit used the words “us” and “we” multiple times, so it’s likely there was more than one evil spirit in this man. That’s not unusual. Once a spirit enters a person, it will try to bring others in so there will be a cluster of them, which makes the problem worse.
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be quiet, and come out of him!’
Mark 1:25
- Jesus asserted His God-given authority
- Jesus spoke directly to the demonic spirit, not to the man
- Jesus spoke a verbal command
- Jesus had faith the demon would come out
It’s important to note that Jesus never held lengthy conversations with evil spirits. I don’t recommend it either. It’s a dangerous practice that may lead to consulting them, which may lead to witchcraft (just like speaking to a medium). Guard yourself in this area. Do not have a morbid fascination to this kind of supernatural experience. Jesus quickly commanded the demon to be quiet. The term “Be quiet” literally translates to “be muzzled.” Jesus swiftly put a muzzle on the demon’s mouth! Even though the demon knew who Jesus was, Jesus never sought testimony from demons.
And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.
Mark 1:26
Notice the scripture uses the word “he” when referring to the demonic spirit. Always remember we are dealing with a real live entity… persons without bodies, as we discussed previously.
The demon manifested as he came out. He was crying out loudly and convulsed the man (these are a few of the characteristics of demons we learned about in our last lesson). Convulsed means: to suffer violent involuntary contraction of the muscles, producing contortion of the body or limbs. The evil spirit threw the man on the ground, and the man got mightily delivered. Although the demon exited in a physically spectacular way, he did not hurt the man, or Jesus. He simply left the scene! Demons tend to leave very quickly — so fast that you can hardly see them.
The Believer’s Authority
Notice that Jesus never touched the man. He simply exercised His power and authority. Authority is the legal right to speak and act on behalf of someone else. Jesus acted on behalf of the Father. We also have authority as a believer joined to Jesus. We, too, represent the government of God. Jesus never used His own physical strength to contend with demons. He used only spiritual power!
The word “power” is the Greek word “dumamis.” It means miracle-working power. This type of power directly corresponds to the level of anointing or activity of the Holy Spirit on your life. Anointing flows from your personal walk with Jesus. That’s why even though a church may be filled with believers, we all have a different level of anointing. The “Spirit without measure” (John 3:34) that Jesus walked in is available to all Christians, but we ourselves limit the Holy Spirit through sin and disobedience. When we claim to have the Holy Ghost baptism, and yet we gossip, criticize our leaders, or fail to fully follow God’s will for our life because of fear or feelings of inferiority, we limit the anointing. That’s why it’s important to be “continually” filled with the Holy Spirit, and not just have a one-time experience.
God said in the last days He wants “to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh” (Acts 2:17). Why? So that signs and wonders can be done (Acts 2:18-19). This is a pouring out time… not a sprinkling! A bonafide Holy Ghost downpour, and God desires to use YOU! But to get the same results Jesus had in deliverance, a deliverance minister requires the same anointing that Jesus and His disciples walked in. We may see bits and pieces of deliverance, a little here and there, when we carry “a little bit” of God’s Spirit. We sometimes are successful in casting out “low level” demons (yes, there are various levels of demonic powers, which we may talk about later), but I desire to be successful in all types of deliverance. Greater anointing = greater results!
Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.’
Mark 1:27
Within the vast portfolio of everything Jesus accomplished in His earthly ministry, the synagogue attendees (church-goers, religious folk) were most impressed by His manner of deliverance. Of everything Jesus did — miracles of healing, miracles of provision, taking control over the elements, and raising the dead — casting out demons was the most spectacular and amazing thing to the witnesses. Why was that? Because all these other things, as awesome as they were, were also done by men of faith in the Old Testament.
Casting out demons had not been done this way before. The religious leaders of the day engaged in exorcisms, but this was a new way of dealing with evil spirits. Speaking to the demons directly and commanding them to come out was a completely new experience for the witnesses. They were totally blown away by the level of authority Jesus operated in. “For with authority He commands the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” Time and time again, this sentiment was heard throughout the ministry of Jesus.
Fill Up Your Tank!
Are you beginning to see the power you hold in your tongue? Word commands, spoken in faith, have the potential to set captives free! Word commands were the only way Jesus dealt with demons. Even when demons verbally challenged Him, Jesus never engaged in physical fist-fights or hours-long emotionally draining deliverance sessions as is common in some modern day Christian circles. I believe we end up striving in deliverance and creating stressful situations because we carry “a little” anointing instead of the full measure Jesus operated in. We’re running on half a tank of gas, spiritually speaking, instead of a full tank.
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit
Ephesians 5:18
The tense of the verb used in the Greek manuscript for “be filled” actually says “be being filled,” indicating continuous action. The infilling of the Holy Spirit should not be a once-and-done shot, but rather, a constant yielding to God’s Spirit. A yearning for that full measure. Be filled… and then keep on being filled, over and over again! A Spirit-filled condition does not stop with a single experience, but is maintained by continually being filled, as commanded in the above scripture.
One tank of gas in your car the day you drove it off the dealer’s lot didn’t last for as long as you had the car. You had to periodically (when you were running low) fill it back up. And it’s exactly the same with the Spirit of God. Never attempt deliverance when your spiritual tank is on empty. As Christians, we are most successful in ministry when we are so full of the Holy Ghost it overflows unto those around us. You have God’s permission to not only “top off” your [spiritual] tank, but to let it overspill! And when you do… you can cast out demons the way Jesus did… by the finger of God! That’s how Jesus dealt with demons!
But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Luke 11:20
Deliverance Series:
- Deliverance Series Part 1 – Prelude to Deliverance
- Deliverance Series Part 2 – Repentance: Vital for Deliverance Ministry
- Deliverance Series Part 3 – Deliverance: A Divine Mandate for All Believers
- Deliverance Series Part 4 – Deliverance: They Shall Cast Out Demons
- Deliverance Series Part 5 – Deliverance: How Jesus Dealt with Demons
Upcoming teachings in our series on deliverance include: How Jesus Dealt with Demons (Part 2) and Gateways for Demonic Spirits.
© Glenda Motsavage and Sozo Ministries International, 2023
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