The New Testament gives graphic description of the effect of demons on people. Some of the diseases which they caused included muteness, deafness, blindness and bodily deformity. But the demons were not responsible for all physical ailments. The Gospels frequently distinguished sickness and demon possession. Sometimes a problem caused by demons appears to have another cause in another situation. - Matt. 4:24, 12:22, 15:30; Mark 1:32, 9:17,25; Luke 6:17-18, 13:10-17 -
In the New Testament times demons were also responsible for some mental problems. The ranting and raving that they produced probably should be included with mental disorders. Uncontrolled fits were another form of demonic affliction. Sometimes a demon can caused a person to behave in an antisocial manner. - Matt. 8:28; Mark 1:23-24; Luke 8:27,35, 9:37-42; John 10:20; Acts 19:13-16 -
The method of Jesus and His disciples in casting out demons differed radically from the magical methods so often used in that time. Through His simple command Jesus expelled them. His disciples simply added the authority of His name to the command. Even some people who were not His followers invoked His power. In some instances prayer was necessary before a demon could be cast out.
They reached the country of the Gerasenes on the other side of the lake and no sooner had he left the boat than a man with an unclean spirit came out from the tombs towards him. The man lived in the tombs and no one could secure him anymore, even with a chain; because he had often been secured with fetters and chains but had snapped the chains and broken the fetters and no one had the strength to control him. All night and all day, among the tombs and in the mountains, he would howl and gash himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and fell at his feet and shouted at the top of his voice. 'What do you want with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? Swear by God you will not torture me!' - For Jesus had been saying to him, 'Come out of the man, unclean spirit'. 'What is your name?' Jesus asked. 'My name is legion,' he answered 'for there are many of us.' - Mark 5:1-9 -
'If you can?' retorted Jesus. 'Everything is possible for anyone who has faith.' Immediately the father of the boy cried out, 'I do have faith. Help the little faith that I have!' And when Jesus saw how many people were pressing round him, he rebuked the unclean spirit. 'Deaf and dumb spirit,' he said 'I command you: come out of him and never enter him again.' Then throwing the boy into violent convulsion it came out shouting and the boy lay there so like a corpse that most of them said, 'He is dead.' But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him up and he was able to stand. When he had gone indoors his disciples asked privately, 'Why were we unable to cast it out?' 'This is the kind' he answered 'that can only be driven out by prayer.' - Mark 9:24-29 -
One day as we were going to prayer, we met a slave-girl who was a soothsayer and made a lot of money for her masters by telling fortunes. This girl started following Paul and the rest of us and shouting, 'Here are the servants of the Most High God; they have come to tell you how to be saved!' She did this everyday after until Paul lost his temper one day and turned round and said to the spirit, 'I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to leave that woman.' The spirit went out of her then and there. - Acts 16:16-18 -
By casting out demons, Jesus showed that the KINGDOM OF GOD - God's rule in the affairs of mankind - was a present reality. This was also a clear demonstration of His power over Satan, devils, unclean spirits and the demonic forces of sin and evil in the world.
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
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