15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18, ESV
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. Acts 5:16, KJV
It’s no wonder why there is an _absence_ of God’s power in the church and in our lives today when we have ignored, camouflaged, medicated and excused demonic strongholds, oppression and spiritual vexation.
Only two sources of the supernatural- _God and Satan_.
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1, ESV
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:13-14, ESV
How do we test the spirits?
1. Assume you can be fooled and therefore must test the source.
How do we test the spirits? 2. Evaluate the experience and content in the light of God’s truth (scripture).
How do we test the spirits? 3. Pray. Ask Jesus who is our _mediator_. (1 Timothy 2:5)
How do we test the spirits? 4. Trust God to guide you. (wait on Him)
How do we test the spirits? 5. Step out in faith while observing the _fruit_ of our labor (fruits of the Spirit).
The good, bad and ugly of the ministry of deliverance.
11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 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. Acts 19:11-12, ESV
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. Acts 19: 13-14, ESV
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. Acts 19:15-16, ESV
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. Acts 19:17-18, ESV
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. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. Acts 19:19-20, ESV
Break free from Demonic activity:
1. Affirm your faith and submission in Christ.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11, ESV
Break free from Demonic activity: 2. _Humble_ yourself.
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:6-7, ESV
Break free from Demonic activity: 3. _Repent_ of all sins.
43 And there you shall remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, and you shall loathe yourselves for all the evils that you have committed. Ezekiel 20:43, ESV
Break free from Demonic activity: 4. Forgiveness
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15, ESV
Break free from Demonic activity: 5. Sever all bad soulish relationships and satanic strongholds.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. Matthew 3:7-8, ESV
18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. Acts 19:18-19, ESV
Break free from Demonic activity: 6. Be _baptized_ in water.