casting down of demon strongholds

7/31/2019 Casting Down of Demon Strongholds

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Casting Down of Demon Strongholds

Introduction

The casting out demons or evil spirits was routinely done Jesus and His disciples. Theearliest mention of and command for the church to cast out demons may be found in theGospel of Mark:

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons;they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if theydrink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, andthey will recover" (Mark 16:15-18).

Early Church Witness

Irenaeus Against Heresies, Book II, 32:4 (190 A.D.) - "For some (Christians do certainlyand truly drive out devils, so that those who have thus been cleansed from evil spiritsfrequently both believe and join themselves to the church." DELIVERANCE is alsoimplied to be done by Christians in Book II, 31:2.

Justin Martyr, Second Apology, Ch. 8 (153 A.D.) - This apology was addressed to theRoman Senate. "And they (demons), having been shut up in eternal fire, shall suffer their

just punishment and penalty. For if they are even now overthrown by men through the Name of Jesus Christ, this is an intimation of the punishment in eternal fire which is to beinflicted on themselves and those who serve them."

Second Apology, Ch. 6 - "And now you (Roman Senate) can learn this from what is under

your own observation. For numberless demoniacs throughout the whole world, and in your city, many of our Christian men exorcising them in the Name of Jesus Christ, who wascrucified under Pontius Pilate, have healed and do heal, rendering helpless and driving thedemons out of men, though they could not be cured by all the other exorcists, and thosewho used incantations and drugs."

Justin Martyr, Dialogue With Trypho, a Jew, Ch. 30 (150 A.D.) - "For we call Him (Jesus)Helper and Redeemer, the power of whose name even the demons do fear; and at this day,when they are exorcised in the Name of Jesus Christ, they are overcome."

Dialogue With Trypho, Ch. 76 - "And now we, who believe on our Lord Jesus, who wascrucified under Pontius Pilate, when we exorcise all demons and evil spirits, have themsubjected to us."

Dialogue With Trypho, Ch. 85 - "For every demon, when exorcised in the Name of thisvery Son of God...is overcome and subdued. But though you exorcise any demon in thename of any of those who were amongst you--either kings, righteous men, or prophets or

patriarchs--it will not be subject to you. Now assuredly your (Jewish) exorcists, I have said,make use of this craft when they exorcise, even as the Gentiles do, and employ fumigationsand incantations."


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Irenaeus the bishop in Lyons, France, probably lived from 120-202 A.D. and thereforewriting roughly a half-century later than Justin demonstrated a continuing biblical view of the casting out of demons. His principle writing was A Refutation and Subversion of Knowledge Falsely So Called (Against Heresies). Against Heresies is composed of five

books, and quotes are cited with formulas such as (Haer. 2.31.2) which follows: "For they

can neither confer sight on the blind, nor hearing on the deaf, nor chase away all sorts of demons[none, indeed,] except those that are sent into others by themselves, if they caneven do so much as this. Nor can they cure the weak, or the lame, or the paralytic, or thosewho are distressed in any other part of the body as has often been done in regard to bodilyinfirmity. Wherefore, also, those who are in truth His disciples, receiving grace from Him,do in His name perform [miracles], so as to promote the welfare of other men, according tothe gift which each one has received from Him. For some do certainly and truly drive outdevils, so that those who have thus been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe[in Christ], and join themselves to the Church (Haer.2.32.4)." In the same chapter,Haer.2.32.5, Irenaeus contrasted the ministry of the Church with that of the occult orientedGnostics: "Nor does she perform anything by means of angelic invocations, or by any other

wicked curious art; but, directing her prayers to the Lord, who made all things, in a pure,sincere, and straightforward spirit, and calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, shehas been accustomed to work miracles for the advantage of mankind, and not to lead theminto error."

Tatian, Address of Tatian to the Greeks, Ch. 16 (160 A.D.) - "Sometimes they themselves(demons) disturb the habit of the body by a tempest of folly; but, being smitten by theWord of God, they depart in terror, and the sick man is healed."

Theophilus, Theophilus to Autolycus, Book II. 8 (160-180 A.D.) - Theophilus is refutingthe false teachings of Homer and Hesiod who were famous Greek poets. "...And thisclearly appears from the fact, that even to this day the demonized are sometimes exorcised

in the Name of the living and true God and these spirits of error themselves confess thatthey are demons who also formerly inspired these writers (Homer and Hesiod)."

Tertullian, Apology, Ch. 23 (197 A.D.) - "Let a person be brought before your tribunals;who is plainly under demonic possession. The wicked spirit, BIDDEN TO SPEAK by afollower of Christ, will as readily make the truthful confession that he is a demon, aselsewhere he has falsely asserted that he is a god."

Tertullian, Apology, Ch. 37 - "Who would save you (Roman Rulers), I mean, from theattacks of those spirits of evil, which without reward or hire we (Christians) exorcise?"

Tertullian, To Scapula, Ch. 4 - "The clerk of one of the courts who was liable to be thrownupon the ground by an evil spirit, was set free from his affliction (by Christians); as wasalso the relative of another, and the little boy of a third. How many men of rank (to saynothing of common people) have been DELIVERED from demons, and healed of diseases?"

Minucius Felix, The Octavious of Minucius Felix (210 A.D.) - "A great many, even someof your own people, know all those things that the demons themselves confess concerningthemselves, as often as they are driven by us (Christians) from bodies by the torments of


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our words and by the fires of our prayer." (The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. IV, p. 190).

Origen, Against Celsus, Book I, 46 (230-254) A.D.) - "And there are still preserved amongChristians traces of that Holy Spirit which appeared in the form of a dove. The Christiansexpel evil spirits, and perform many cures, and foresee certain events, according to the willof the Logos."

Against Celsus, Book I, 67 - "And the Name of Jesus can still remove distractions from theminds of men, and expel demons, and also take away diseases and produce a completechange of character..."

Lactentius, The Divine Institutes, Book II, 16 (250-320 A.D.) - "But they (demons) fear therighteous, that is, the worshipers of God, adjured by whose name they depart from the

bodies (of people); for being lashed by the Christians' words, they not only confess to bedemons, but even utter their own names." Also DELIVERANCE is mentioned in Book V.,22, and in The Epitome of the Divine Institutes, Ch. 51. Cyril of Jerusalem, CatecheticalLecturer, 16:12 (350-375 A.D.) - "For He (Holy Spirit) employs the tongue of one man for

wisdom; the soul of another He enlightens by prophecy, to another He gives power to driveaway demons..."

The Divine Institutes, Book V, 22 - "For these (demons), as long as there is peace amongthe people of God, flee from the righteous, and fear them; and when they seize upon the

bodies of men, and house their souls, they are adjured by the Christians, and at the Name of the true God are put to flight. For when the demons hear of this name they tremble, cry out,and assert that they are branded and beaten; and being asked who they are, whence they arecome, and how they have insinuated themselves INTO a man, confess it. Thus, beingtortured and excruciated by the power of the Divine Name, they come out of the man."

The Nature of Demons

Demons are the spiritual agents involved in all idolatry. They are associated with idolswhich induces idolatry and along with it worship and sacrifices: 1 Corinthians 10:20-21,Revelations 9:20, Deuteronomy 32:17, Isaiah 13:21, 34:14, 65:3, 11. Demons twist and

pervert the word of God among men and do all they can to seduce believers, 1 Timothy4:1. Demons deceive men to believe that by summoning them they can have them bring upand talk to the dead which are only familiar spirits imitating dead people supposedlysummoned, Leviticus 20:6, 27. Scripture emphatically forbids this practice: Leviticus19:31, Deuteronomy 18:11, Isaiah 8:19. Demons tremble before the one true God, James2:19; they recognized Christ as Lord and as their future Judge, Matthew 8:29; Luke 4:41.Jesus cast them out of men in many occasions, Matthew 8:28-32. through Jesus name His

disciples also cast out demons on many occasions, Matthew 17:20.Demons Defined

Demon definitions are as what follows. Greek Words: daivmwn, daimovnion (1140, 1142)

Daivmwn Defined:

Strongs: an evil spirit.


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Vines: an evil spirit.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the N.T.; William Arndt: demon, evil spirit

An Intermediate Greek English Lexicon; H.G. Liddell: an evil spirit, a demon, devil

Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Somatic Domains; Johannes P.Louw. An evil supernatural being or spirit, demon.

Strongs states that the word is derived from daivw meaning to distribute fortunes; however Vines states that it is more probably derived from a similar root meaning to know andtherefore means a knowing one.

Daimovnion Defined:

Strongs: a spirit, a being inferior to God, superior to men; evil spirits or the messengers andministers of the devil

Vines: demons, familiar spiritsA Greek-English Lexicon of the N.T.; William Arndt: demon, evil spirit, of independent

beings who occupy a position somewhere between the human and the divine

An Intermediate Greek English Lexicon; H.G. Liddell: a demon evil spirit

Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Somatic Domains; Johannes P.Louw. A evil supernatural being or spirit, demon.

Evidence of Demon Activity in Scripture

A "wizard" (that is, a soothsayer or a necromancer) has a "familiar spirit" (Leviticus20:27). A "spirit of jealousy" seeks to stir up human emotions" (Numbers 5:14). God sent"An evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem;" (Judges 9:23), indicating thateven the forces of darkness must take orders from God. The witch at Endor was said to bein contact with a "familiar spirit" (1 Samuel 28:7). King Ahab of Israel was judicially givenup by God to succumb to a "lying spirit" of false prophecy (1 Kings 22:22-23). AncientEgypt was under the influence of a "perverse spirit, " or, in the Hebrew, a "spirit of

perversities" (Isaiah 19:14). God says "the spirit of harlotry" caused His people Israel to err (Hosea 4:12; 5:4). God promises to cleanse the Land of "the unclean spirit" (Zechariah13:2). In the New Testament, the Messiah encountered several demons and "uncleanspirits" during the course of His ministry (for example, see Matthew 12:22-32; Mark 1:21-28). A "spirit of infirmity" is associated with some diseases and illnesses (Luke 13: 1 1).The Apostles encountered demonic opposition in the days of the early church (Acts 16:16-24; 19:13-17). Paul mentions "the spirit of the world" who sets himself in opposition to"the Spirit which is from God" (I Cor. 2:12). We are admonished to believe not every spirit,

but try the spirits whether they are of God. (1 John 4: 1). This world is torn between a"spirit of truth" and a "spirit of error" (I John 4:6).

Scriptures on Demons


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Scriptures show us that demons are subject to the kingdom of God by the power or authority and name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Demons Fallen Angels Ruled by Satan

Mark 3:22 "And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, He is possessed by Beelzebul, and He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons."

Luke 10:17-19 "And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons aresubject to us in Your name. And he said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heavenlike lightning. Behold, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy and totread upon serpents and scorpions, and nothing shall injure you.

Luke 11:15 "But some of them said, He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of thedemons."

Jesus Taught That Demons Are Evil Spirits

Matthew 8:16 "And when evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon- possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill."

Matthew 12:43-45 "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes throughwaterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it said, I will return to my housefrom which I came; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order.Then it goes, and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and theygo in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first."

Acts 19:13-16 "But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place,attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, Iadjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches. And seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief

priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, I recognize Jesus,and I know about Paul, but who are you? And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leapedon them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that housenaked and wounded."

Jesus Casted Out Demons

Matthew 8:16 "And when evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon- possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill."

Matthew 17:18 "And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy wascured at once."

Matthew 9:32-33 "And as they were going out, behold, a dumb man, demon-possessed,was brought to Him. And after the demon was cast out the dumb man spoke; and themultitudes marveled, saying, Nothing like this ever appeared in Israel."

Mark 1:39 "And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching andcasting out the demons."


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Mark 7:29 "And He said to her, Because of this answer go your way; the demon has goneout of your daughter."

Luke 11:14 "And He was casting out a demon, and it was dumb; and it came about thatwhen the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke; and the multitudes marveled."

Thousands out of One Man

Matthew 8:31-32 "And the demons1142a began to entreat Him, saying, If You are goingto cast us out, send us into the herd of swine. And He said to them, Be gone! And theycame out, and went into the swine, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters."

Seven out of Mary Magdalene

Mark 16:9 "Now after he had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared toMary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons."

Luke 8:2 "And also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Marywho was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out."

Jesus Disciples Cast Out Demons

Matthew 10:1 "And having summoned His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness."

Mark 6:13 "And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil manysick people and healing them."

Acts 5:16 "And also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were comingtogether, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits; and they were all being healed."

Acts 16:16-18 "And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certainslave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit byfortunetelling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, These men are

bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation. Andshe continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and saidto the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it cameout at that very moment."

Acts 19:11-12 "And God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, sothat handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseasesleft them and the evil spirits went out."

Demons Knew Who Jesus Was

Matthew 8:29 "And behold, they cried out, saying, What do we have to do with You Sonof God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?"


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Mark 1:34 "And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out manydemons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was."

Luke 4:33-35 "And there was a man in the synagogue possessed by the spirit of an uncleandemon, and he cried out with a loud voice, Ha! What do we have to do with You, Jesus of

Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You arethe Holy One of God!And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be quiet and come out of him! And when the demon hadthrown him down to their midst, he came out of him without doing him any harm."

Luke 4:41 "And demons also were coming out of many, crying out and saying, You arethe Son of God! And rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because theyknew Him to be the Christ."

The Nature of Demon Possession

Matthew 12:43-45 "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes throughwaterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it said, I will return to my housefrom which I came; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order.Then it goes, and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and theygo in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first."

Luke 11:24-26 "When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, I will return to my house from which Icame. And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and takes alongseven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than at first."

The Scriptures Command Christians to Cast Out Demons (Set the Captives Free)

Demonic forces of a supernatural character exist today, as they did in Bible times; and thegoal now, as then, is the subversion and destruction of men and women, wherever possible,for time and for eternity. Jesus sent us into the world as He was sent (John 20:21), to do theworks He did (John 14:12), and He gave us the authority (power) to do the work at hand(Mark 13:34).

Matthew 10:7-8 The disciples cast out demons everywhere they went.Matthew 11:4-6 We should not be offended in any work of Jesus which includesdeliverance.Matthew 18:18-20 We are to "bind, loose and agree."Matthew 28:18-20 Teaching them to observe all things, which includes deliverance.

When we obeyed the salvation message of Acts 2:38-22:16; Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:26-28 and many other Scriptures, we were set free from sin and Satan. We must go and dolikewise or act like the Lord Jesus. Freely give deliverance and salvation without cost(Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 10:8; Acts 8:20; Revelations 22:17). Salvation may be free, but itcost the Lord Jesus Christ his life (John 1:29; 3:16-18; 1 John 3:16). He died to bring us

back as friends and family members, to reconcile or set right the differences betweenmankind and God (John 14:6). He alone is the doorway to God (John 10:9) and no other will ever be enough (John 5:43), to include the trinity, Buddha or Allah (Matthew 7:21-23;


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1 Timothy 4:1-4; 2 Timothy 3:5-7; 2 Timothy 4:1-4).

Thus the Scriptures are fulfilled. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, butmighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, andevery high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivityevery thought to the obedience of Christ; And having a readiness to punish alldisobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Corithians 10:4-6)

casting down of demon strongholds

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