GO FORTH! CONFRONT & CAST OUT DEVILS!
"The destruction of the devil's power is wrought by the Spirit of God...The casting out of devils is a certain introduction to the kingdom of God. If the devil's interest in a soul be not only checked by custom or external restraints, but sunk and broken by the Spirit of God, as a Sanctifier, no doubt but the kingdom of God is come to that soul, the kingdom of grace, a blessed earnest of the kingdom of the glory." - Matthew Henry
"His greatest and most mighty works were wrought by his Spirit; but, if the Spirit in this work is said to be the finger of the Lord, it perhaps may intimate how easily Christ did and could conquer Satan, even with the finger of God, the exerting of the divine power in a less and lower degree than in many other instances. He needed not make bare his everlasting arm; that roaring lion, when he pleases, is crushed, like a moth, with a touch of a finger." - Matthew Henry
"The design of the gospel was to conquer the devil and to cure the world." - Matthew Henry
Matthew 4:24 says - "And His fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto Him...those which were possessed with devils... and He healed them."
Matthew 8:16 says - "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 He healed all that were sick."
Matthew 9:34 says - "But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils."
Matthew 12:28 says - "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you."
Luke 11:20 says - "But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come unto you."
Jesus' fame spread throughout because of His power to work miracles. How did He work miracles? By the Spirit of God - the hand of God.
In case you might be thinking that it took the exposure of His mighty "arm" to wrestle with the devil over the souls of men, you are sorely mistaken! He "cast out devils" with His "finger." This "finger" figuratively represented the power...the Spirit of God... the hand of God. When this "finger"...Spirit of God...or hand of God was displayed, there was no doubt about it - Satan's kingdom was destroyed and the Kingdom of God was set up in its place.
Barnes' Notes confirmed this idea by saying - "If God expels Satan from his dominion over people, then His reign has come."
The destruction of Satan's kingdom plainly implies the setting up of the kingdom of God. There is no doubt about it!
The Scripture says that there were "many that were possessed with devils." Dr. Lightfoot gives two reasons why Judea at this time abounded with demoniacs. They had advanced to an extreme height of impiety. Also, the people were strongly addicted to magic which invited evil spirits to gain control.
The Scripture also says that Jesus "cast out the spirits with His Word." He simply gave the command or order, and they were obligated to leave their "dwellings" - even though extremely unwilling to do so.
It must be understood by all that one of the main purposes for Jesus coming into the world was to disarm and dispossess Satan...break his power...and destroy his works. 1 John 3:8 confirms this when it says - "...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil."
People everywhere were marveling at the display of Jesus' miraculous power. In order to diminish these miracles, the Pharisees - in their desperation - sought to discredit the work of God by fathering these works upon the devil. They couldn't gainsay the convincing evidence of the miracles so they sought to discredit them by trying to connect Jesus with the devil himself.
Believe it or not - as followers of Jesus, we are called by God to do the same miraculous works by the same means - the "finger" of God... Spirit of God...hand of God. When we do so, the Kingdom of God will evidently have "come." These works will be done through our word or command - the spoken word as given and anointed by God. And the reaction of the people will be the same as with Jesus - some will marvel, while others will accuse us of working alongside the devil.
We must understand one thing - we are all called to confront Satan's kingdom as Jesus did! If you deny this fact, then you are not His disciple!
Adam Clarke made this comment - "To call persons to the ministry belongs only to Him Who can give them power to cast out unclean spirits. He, whose ministry is not accompanied with healing to diseased souls, was never called of God."
What do the Scriptures say?
Read on and see for yourself!
Matthew 10:1 says - "And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out..."
Mark 3:14-15 says - "And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils."
Mark 6:7 says - "And He called unto Him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits."
Luke 9:1 says - "Then He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils..."
Mark 16:17 says - "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils..."
Please note - the first call to Christian ministry was to confront "unclean spirits" and to "cast them out." Knowing this, we need to ask some questions of those who claim to be called by God - Are you "casting out unclean spirits"? Are you displaying such power as Jesus did?
It was very usual for the Jews to call a demon an "unclean spirit" because the devils in themselves were by nature unclean and were the cause and means of defiling others. These spirits delighted in impure persons, places, and things.
Jesus made it very clear that the business of a minster of the Gospel - one whom He called - was to wage war with the devil and to destroy his kingdom. He commissioned and empowered His servant to attack the devil's kingdom. He qualified and authorized him to cast demons out - even though they were numerous, fierce, subtle, or obstinate. It was through His power and authority - by calling upon and making use of His Name - that His minister would destroy Satan's kingdom in men's hearts and lives.
There is demonic activity going on in our midst - just as in the days of Jesus.
Matthew 15:22 says - "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil."
Matthew 17:15 & 18 says - "Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water...And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that same hour."
Mark 5:2-5 says - "...immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones."
Luke 4:33-35 says - "And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone...And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not."
Whether it be in the "church house" or the "graveyard"...it involves a relative or a total stronger...or it be found in the young or the old - demonic activity is going on in our midst.
Do you consider yourself to be "called" by God for service? Then what are you doing about it?
Daily you pray for God's kingdom to come, and that is good. However, one of the ways we know that His kingdom has come is when Satan's kingdom is dispelled from people's hearts and lives.
"But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you."
"But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come unto you."
Do you hears the cries of the lost, bound, and fettered? What are you doing about it? Do you care?
The Word of God says - "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils..."
Are you a believer?
Then do what you were called and commissioned by God to do - confront Satan's kingdom head-on - by the "finger" of God...the Spirit of God...the hand of God.
You've got the POWER - in the Name of Jesus!!!
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved
Subscribe to Daily Bible Messages at - connie@walkingintruth.org .
Walking In Truth Ministry | P.O. Box 383016 | Duncanville | TX | 75138
"His greatest and most mighty works were wrought by his Spirit; but, if the Spirit in this work is said to be the finger of the Lord, it perhaps may intimate how easily Christ did and could conquer Satan, even with the finger of God, the exerting of the divine power in a less and lower degree than in many other instances. He needed not make bare his everlasting arm; that roaring lion, when he pleases, is crushed, like a moth, with a touch of a finger." - Matthew Henry
"The design of the gospel was to conquer the devil and to cure the world." - Matthew Henry
Matthew 4:24 says - "And His fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto Him...those which were possessed with devils... and He healed them."
Matthew 8:16 says - "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 He healed all that were sick."
Matthew 9:34 says - "But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils."
Matthew 12:28 says - "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you."
Luke 11:20 says - "But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come unto you."
Jesus' fame spread throughout because of His power to work miracles. How did He work miracles? By the Spirit of God - the hand of God.
In case you might be thinking that it took the exposure of His mighty "arm" to wrestle with the devil over the souls of men, you are sorely mistaken! He "cast out devils" with His "finger." This "finger" figuratively represented the power...the Spirit of God... the hand of God. When this "finger"...Spirit of God...or hand of God was displayed, there was no doubt about it - Satan's kingdom was destroyed and the Kingdom of God was set up in its place.
Barnes' Notes confirmed this idea by saying - "If God expels Satan from his dominion over people, then His reign has come."
The destruction of Satan's kingdom plainly implies the setting up of the kingdom of God. There is no doubt about it!
The Scripture says that there were "many that were possessed with devils." Dr. Lightfoot gives two reasons why Judea at this time abounded with demoniacs. They had advanced to an extreme height of impiety. Also, the people were strongly addicted to magic which invited evil spirits to gain control.
The Scripture also says that Jesus "cast out the spirits with His Word." He simply gave the command or order, and they were obligated to leave their "dwellings" - even though extremely unwilling to do so.
It must be understood by all that one of the main purposes for Jesus coming into the world was to disarm and dispossess Satan...break his power...and destroy his works. 1 John 3:8 confirms this when it says - "...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil."
People everywhere were marveling at the display of Jesus' miraculous power. In order to diminish these miracles, the Pharisees - in their desperation - sought to discredit the work of God by fathering these works upon the devil. They couldn't gainsay the convincing evidence of the miracles so they sought to discredit them by trying to connect Jesus with the devil himself.
Believe it or not - as followers of Jesus, we are called by God to do the same miraculous works by the same means - the "finger" of God... Spirit of God...hand of God. When we do so, the Kingdom of God will evidently have "come." These works will be done through our word or command - the spoken word as given and anointed by God. And the reaction of the people will be the same as with Jesus - some will marvel, while others will accuse us of working alongside the devil.
We must understand one thing - we are all called to confront Satan's kingdom as Jesus did! If you deny this fact, then you are not His disciple!
Adam Clarke made this comment - "To call persons to the ministry belongs only to Him Who can give them power to cast out unclean spirits. He, whose ministry is not accompanied with healing to diseased souls, was never called of God."
What do the Scriptures say?
Read on and see for yourself!
Matthew 10:1 says - "And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out..."
Mark 3:14-15 says - "And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils."
Mark 6:7 says - "And He called unto Him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits."
Luke 9:1 says - "Then He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils..."
Mark 16:17 says - "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils..."
Please note - the first call to Christian ministry was to confront "unclean spirits" and to "cast them out." Knowing this, we need to ask some questions of those who claim to be called by God - Are you "casting out unclean spirits"? Are you displaying such power as Jesus did?
It was very usual for the Jews to call a demon an "unclean spirit" because the devils in themselves were by nature unclean and were the cause and means of defiling others. These spirits delighted in impure persons, places, and things.
Jesus made it very clear that the business of a minster of the Gospel - one whom He called - was to wage war with the devil and to destroy his kingdom. He commissioned and empowered His servant to attack the devil's kingdom. He qualified and authorized him to cast demons out - even though they were numerous, fierce, subtle, or obstinate. It was through His power and authority - by calling upon and making use of His Name - that His minister would destroy Satan's kingdom in men's hearts and lives.
There is demonic activity going on in our midst - just as in the days of Jesus.
Matthew 15:22 says - "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil."
Matthew 17:15 & 18 says - "Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water...And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that same hour."
Mark 5:2-5 says - "...immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones."
Luke 4:33-35 says - "And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone...And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not."
Whether it be in the "church house" or the "graveyard"...it involves a relative or a total stronger...or it be found in the young or the old - demonic activity is going on in our midst.
Do you consider yourself to be "called" by God for service? Then what are you doing about it?
Daily you pray for God's kingdom to come, and that is good. However, one of the ways we know that His kingdom has come is when Satan's kingdom is dispelled from people's hearts and lives.
"But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you."
"But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come unto you."
Do you hears the cries of the lost, bound, and fettered? What are you doing about it? Do you care?
The Word of God says - "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils..."
Are you a believer?
Then do what you were called and commissioned by God to do - confront Satan's kingdom head-on - by the "finger" of God...the Spirit of God...the hand of God.
You've got the POWER - in the Name of Jesus!!!
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved
Subscribe to Daily Bible Messages at - connie@walkingintruth.org .
Walking In Truth Ministry | P.O. Box 383016 | Duncanville | TX | 75138
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