why Are Christians Afraid of the Supernatural
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This is an interesting subject. I think you may be conflating fear with approval. Many Christians are convicted about dabbling with anything that may be remotely considered the occult, such as reading the Harry Potter books. This is a question of conscience. I would say most Christians are not afraid of the supernatural, because "Greater is He that is within thee than he that is within the world." Since we know nothing can come to us without first going through God's Hand, there is no need to fear. God has given us the gift of a sound mind and no fear. If a demon possessed person chooses to kill us, well, it would have to be within God's will.
I am personally not afraid of demons or anything like that because I know that I can not be demon posessed. I am fearful for the unsaved. There is an app that I believe is demonic, called Blue Whale that tries to get kids to kill themselves. This is supernatural and evil, I believe. I know I could not be influenced by this, but kids could be.
I am personally not afraid of demons or anything like that because I know that I can not be demon posessed. I am fearful for the unsaved. There is an app that I believe is demonic, called Blue Whale that tries to get kids to kill themselves. This is supernatural and evil, I believe. I know I could not be influenced by this, but kids could be.
Have you noticed? All the armor of God that He gave you protects your front. Your back is not covered by the armor. That means you HAVE TO face your enemy!
Your reaction to this thread is a fear reaction. If you even trusted God a little bit, you would see that He has been talking to us about this for a long time. And His army runs away. Everything that God has done is supernatural. EVERYTHING! And you don't even see it. The enemy is not natural. He too is supernatural....And you! YOU ARE A SPIRIT YOU HAVE A SOUL AND YOU LIVE IN A BODY. But guess what? You too are a supernatural being...You live in this world but you are not of this world. Your world is a spiritual world. The supernatural is our natural habitat. You are not blind. So look around at who you really are. and stop running.
Your reaction to this thread is a fear reaction. If you even trusted God a little bit, you would see that He has been talking to us about this for a long time. And His army runs away. Everything that God has done is supernatural. EVERYTHING! And you don't even see it. The enemy is not natural. He too is supernatural....And you! YOU ARE A SPIRIT YOU HAVE A SOUL AND YOU LIVE IN A BODY. But guess what? You too are a supernatural being...You live in this world but you are not of this world. Your world is a spiritual world. The supernatural is our natural habitat. You are not blind. So look around at who you really are. and stop running.
This Christian is not afraid. In fact, the supernatural is afraid of me. Why? Read, with understanding the following verse.
[h=2]Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.[/h]
In the Greek text, it is "Behold I have given you the power..." The enemy is Satan, the one that will "fall as lightning from heaven onto the earth". The serpents are the Kenites, the children of Satan, through his son Cain from the garden of Eden. The Scorpions are the fallen angels, that will be booted out of heaven onto the earth right along with Satan.
Revelation 12:9 "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
This next time takes place at the sixth trump, and we will see these fallen angels of Satan here on earth in our generation.
Remember in the prior verses Jesus had stated that "I send you out as sheep among the wolves." Yet God will give those lambs that He sends out, power over all the wolves that come against them, but they must know how to attain that power and authority. It isn't valuable to them until the know how to use that power.
Jesus gave His lambs "power over all your enemies." then Jesus said; "And nothing shall by any means hurt you." If you say you're a Christian, and Jesus gave you a promise like that, how can you have any fear of any enemy that is on this earth?
We will see in Luke 21 that "not one hair on your head can be hurt", and just because you will be delivered up to death, which is the devil, to give an account of yourself, doesn't mean that you will die.
But you will be given the opportunity to witness to the world and have the Holy Spirit of God be placing the words in your mouth and the thoughts in your mind.
There hasn't been one soul or spirit that has died yet, for that time of death comes at the end of judgment day.
Satan is not after your physical body, but your soul and spirit, and he will try to deceive you, or buy it at his price. What is your soul worth? Is there a price that you would sell out to Satan? It is time to wake up spiritually and open our eyes and ears to the truth. Stop and think on this: Satan's power and that of his angels are limited. in
Revelation 9:4 we see that it goes; "...only to those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."
If you have studied the Word and know the truths that we will face from Satan, there is no fear or deception that can sway you.
[h=2]Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.[/h]
In the Greek text, it is "Behold I have given you the power..." The enemy is Satan, the one that will "fall as lightning from heaven onto the earth". The serpents are the Kenites, the children of Satan, through his son Cain from the garden of Eden. The Scorpions are the fallen angels, that will be booted out of heaven onto the earth right along with Satan.
Revelation 12:9 "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
This next time takes place at the sixth trump, and we will see these fallen angels of Satan here on earth in our generation.
Remember in the prior verses Jesus had stated that "I send you out as sheep among the wolves." Yet God will give those lambs that He sends out, power over all the wolves that come against them, but they must know how to attain that power and authority. It isn't valuable to them until the know how to use that power.
Jesus gave His lambs "power over all your enemies." then Jesus said; "And nothing shall by any means hurt you." If you say you're a Christian, and Jesus gave you a promise like that, how can you have any fear of any enemy that is on this earth?
We will see in Luke 21 that "not one hair on your head can be hurt", and just because you will be delivered up to death, which is the devil, to give an account of yourself, doesn't mean that you will die.
But you will be given the opportunity to witness to the world and have the Holy Spirit of God be placing the words in your mouth and the thoughts in your mind.
There hasn't been one soul or spirit that has died yet, for that time of death comes at the end of judgment day.
Satan is not after your physical body, but your soul and spirit, and he will try to deceive you, or buy it at his price. What is your soul worth? Is there a price that you would sell out to Satan? It is time to wake up spiritually and open our eyes and ears to the truth. Stop and think on this: Satan's power and that of his angels are limited. in
Revelation 9:4 we see that it goes; "...only to those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."
If you have studied the Word and know the truths that we will face from Satan, there is no fear or deception that can sway you.
Come on denadii why are your threads and even you post so negative? I mean you paint everybody with a broad brush just like here by saying "why are all Christians afraid of the supernatural etc." Then you end up calling zen here a blockhead (even though you said I don't want to say it etc" wink wink.
You act like your the only one that knows anything just like you told me not to long ago, "Who gave you the authority of the Holy Spirit that you can confront people by naming names of their heretical theologies?" Why are Christians scared" and you telling zen to grow up? The following guy reminds me of you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIf5XvFrBFo
IN GOD THE SON,
bluto
You act like your the only one that knows anything just like you told me not to long ago, "Who gave you the authority of the Holy Spirit that you can confront people by naming names of their heretical theologies?" Why are Christians scared" and you telling zen to grow up? The following guy reminds me of you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIf5XvFrBFo IN GOD THE SON,
bluto
LOL Well you are right there. I believe the supernatural is very active..For reasons I stated above...The things we see are not the real things and the things we do not see are the real. This is a fact. Everything we see and touch now will pass away, leaving only the real thing. Supernatural and occult are not the same thing. Supernatural simply means 'above natural' something that science cannot quantify. Occult relates to astrology, magic or anything to do with the dark side of the supernatural. This we stay out of.
Here we disagree my friend. If Christians actually believed the love of God for them, they would stand solid against the wiles of he enemy. Instead they let him run roughshod over them and their families. Do they realize that with a word, they can send the enemy scurrying like rats in to the darkness? No. They do not. They would rather have nothing to do with it and deny its existence.
Here we disagree my friend. If Christians actually believed the love of God for them, they would stand solid against the wiles of he enemy. Instead they let him run roughshod over them and their families. Do they realize that with a word, they can send the enemy scurrying like rats in to the darkness? No. They do not. They would rather have nothing to do with it and deny its existence.
I do not know of what supernatural things occur,other than God,and what do the occultists do,and what witchcraft do they perform,none,but one day they will do great wonders,when it is the time for God to give the world their way,and rebel against Him so He can put them down,but then the Bible says they are lying wonders,not true,fabricated,for it will be trickery making it look like it is real.
The occultists sure cannot do anything,for if they could they would not be waiting for the New Age Christ to appear to restore all the hidden mysteries of the past,and they can get back the occult powers mankind used to have,but when they get to that point they are going to find out there was no power to receive,but they took the mark of the beast,and now have the nature of a devil,with no place to go,and cannot turn to God.
So any supernatural would have to come from God,but He does not operate like that in the New Testament as He did in the Old,because it is based on faith,which is why Jesus said blessed is he that has not seen Me,but still believes,for if God did supernatural things like in the Old Testament,people would only believe because they seen,not because they have faith.
But creation testifies there is a God,and that He loves people,so the world is without excuse,and the Bible testifies of God,who said He identifies Himself as the one true God by showing the end from the beginning,which He told us the whole history of mankind.
There is no supernatural that will go on,and when it does the world is starting to rebel against God,and following a kingdom that does not believe in a God,and the false prophet will do miracles to convince the world the beast did receive power through nature,and shared this power with the false prophet,and will share this power with those that follow him,but they are lies,lying miracles,and when they follow the beast kingdom there is no power for them,but they have hoodwinked,bamboozled,and hornswoggled.
But of course healing,visions,and tongues,will occur,but less at this time on a percentage level,for there is many more people,for there is more hypocrisy than ever before,and Jesus said when He comes back will be find faith,and the supernatural can occur within the occult that involves demons causing them to do things,but not a supernatural miracles that happne in the natural apart from a person.
The occultists sure cannot do anything,for if they could they would not be waiting for the New Age Christ to appear to restore all the hidden mysteries of the past,and they can get back the occult powers mankind used to have,but when they get to that point they are going to find out there was no power to receive,but they took the mark of the beast,and now have the nature of a devil,with no place to go,and cannot turn to God.
So any supernatural would have to come from God,but He does not operate like that in the New Testament as He did in the Old,because it is based on faith,which is why Jesus said blessed is he that has not seen Me,but still believes,for if God did supernatural things like in the Old Testament,people would only believe because they seen,not because they have faith.
But creation testifies there is a God,and that He loves people,so the world is without excuse,and the Bible testifies of God,who said He identifies Himself as the one true God by showing the end from the beginning,which He told us the whole history of mankind.
There is no supernatural that will go on,and when it does the world is starting to rebel against God,and following a kingdom that does not believe in a God,and the false prophet will do miracles to convince the world the beast did receive power through nature,and shared this power with the false prophet,and will share this power with those that follow him,but they are lies,lying miracles,and when they follow the beast kingdom there is no power for them,but they have hoodwinked,bamboozled,and hornswoggled.
But of course healing,visions,and tongues,will occur,but less at this time on a percentage level,for there is many more people,for there is more hypocrisy than ever before,and Jesus said when He comes back will be find faith,and the supernatural can occur within the occult that involves demons causing them to do things,but not a supernatural miracles that happne in the natural apart from a person.
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OK....and for the record you called yourself a moron.....you are the one who responded with vitriol and a bloviated comment off the cuff in a thread that started with about 15 events that are all found in the bible....so....I thought your vitriol and response was stupid...As far as the things said in the BOLDED....I SEEN none of those thing listed IN HIS POST....so........like Woody said.....IF THE BOOT FITS.........
MY post was directed at your response to this post....
We live in a supernatural world. Yet we seem to be afraid of it. Christians seem to deny that the enemy can do stuff supernatural and if he does its a sin or something to talk about it....All things that God does is supernatural. Look..Talking donkeys, floating ax heads, people walking on water, a burning bush that is not burnt, a staff that turns into a snake, food falling out of the sky, a staff buds like a sapling, people shouting a city's walls down. Or a man being fed by ravens, the water of the Red sea being parted, The waters of the Jordan river parted, a hundred men fed with 20 loaves and 20 ears of corn, 5000 men and their families fed with 5 loaves and 3 fish......a sundial running backward, three kids in a fiery furnace....Need I go on? This is only a crumb compared to all the supernatural stuff that happens in our world
MY post was directed at your response to this post....
We live in a supernatural world. Yet we seem to be afraid of it. Christians seem to deny that the enemy can do stuff supernatural and if he does its a sin or something to talk about it....All things that God does is supernatural. Look..Talking donkeys, floating ax heads, people walking on water, a burning bush that is not burnt, a staff that turns into a snake, food falling out of the sky, a staff buds like a sapling, people shouting a city's walls down. Or a man being fed by ravens, the water of the Red sea being parted, The waters of the Jordan river parted, a hundred men fed with 20 loaves and 20 ears of corn, 5000 men and their families fed with 5 loaves and 3 fish......a sundial running backward, three kids in a fiery furnace....Need I go on? This is only a crumb compared to all the supernatural stuff that happens in our world
It's really funny, aren't American soldiers supposed to pride themselves on bravery, yet you stuttered for a whole paragraph and will only hint about what you feel. Lol.
FYI I addressed the OP of this thread with regard to a different post of his found here http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/154218-interdimensional-portals-12.html#post3167541. But you wouldn't know that would you, so I forgive you for butting in with insults.
FYI I addressed the OP of this thread with regard to a different post of his found here http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/154218-interdimensional-portals-12.html#post3167541. But you wouldn't know that would you, so I forgive you for butting in with insults.
If it is supernatural
Is it not still natural?
There's enough of the earth to explore
With my eyes and ears they go to and fro
With youtube I can see many things
And on top of it, many hilarious hoaxes
I don't think the fear is so much of the supernatural
I think they are afraid of merely each other
And really it is no wonder
Every man's hand is against one another
Father against son and brother against brother
And at the hand of man and beast
All men's blood is required
But then the conversation changes to what they call occult
Well I wonder how is it occult if of it you know about?
No this Ponzi scheme
Of worthless puppets on a string
Is not hidden from view
History is littered with pagans being slain
And lands being lain waste in desolation
There's an almost unending stream
Of dying kings and their idiot advisors
Always calling out to their gods which are demons
And thinking to achieve some great claim
Watch as they are torn up by the roots
And fed wholly holy to the fires
And the righteous escape
From all their machinations and desires
Consider them narrowly like Solomon
And watch oh Watcher
See as they all fall down
And we shall out wait them with patience
Wait for the coming of the Rider and the saints
On the white horse with the burning tongue of power
Decreeing the end of all earth, heaven, and ages
And establishing a new Kingdom ruled forever by Jesus
Is it not still natural?
There's enough of the earth to explore
With my eyes and ears they go to and fro
With youtube I can see many things
And on top of it, many hilarious hoaxes
I don't think the fear is so much of the supernatural
I think they are afraid of merely each other
And really it is no wonder
Every man's hand is against one another
Father against son and brother against brother
And at the hand of man and beast
All men's blood is required
But then the conversation changes to what they call occult
Well I wonder how is it occult if of it you know about?
No this Ponzi scheme
Of worthless puppets on a string
Is not hidden from view
History is littered with pagans being slain
And lands being lain waste in desolation
There's an almost unending stream
Of dying kings and their idiot advisors
Always calling out to their gods which are demons
And thinking to achieve some great claim
Watch as they are torn up by the roots
And fed wholly holy to the fires
And the righteous escape
From all their machinations and desires
Consider them narrowly like Solomon
And watch oh Watcher
See as they all fall down
And we shall out wait them with patience
Wait for the coming of the Rider and the saints
On the white horse with the burning tongue of power
Decreeing the end of all earth, heaven, and ages
And establishing a new Kingdom ruled forever by Jesus
Perhaps this will help...
Titus 2:15
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
[h=1]Matthew 28:18-20 (CJB)[/h] [SUP]18 [/SUP]Yeshua came and talked with them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [SUP]19 [/SUP]Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, [SUP]20 [/SUP]and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age.”
A solid understanding of spiritual authority is vital to build your faith when casting out demons, healing the sick, and exercising your authority over the powers of darkness.
When we have been given authority to cast out demons, but instead we pray that God brings the demon out instead, we are basically asking God to do something that He gave US the tools to do ourselves! Jesus told US to cast out demons! Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to ask God to cast out demons!
Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."
[h=4]How authority works[/h] Authority doesn't beg; authority doesn't ask; authority commands! We are not told to ask God to cast out demons, we are told to do it ourselves! We are not told to beg demons to come out, we are told to CAST them out!
Matthew 8:8-9, 13, "The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it... And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour."
Authority is exercised through our spoken word. The power of life and death are in the spoken word: Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
[h=4]Jesus' own authority[/h] One thing that made it clear that Jesus was the son of God, is because He exercised authority that nobody else had access to in history!
He cast out demons using His authority: Mark 1:27, "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him."
He cast out demons with His spoken word: Matthew 8:16, "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word..."
He healed the sick with His spoken word: Luke 7:7, "Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed." Also John 5:8, "Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."
Jesus has been given authority over everything: Matthew 28:18, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
[h=4]Authority to heal[/h] Jesus said to, "Heal the sick"! Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." I think it's interesting how Jesus didn't tell us to pray and ask God to heal the sick, He told US to heal the sick!
I have never seen where Jesus prayed, "Father, please heal this person!" Instead, we see that Jesus healed people with His spoken Word! In John 5:8, Jesus told the man to, "...Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."
The early church healed people in this same manner. In Acts 3:6, "...Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
Notice in Luke 9:1 that He not only gave His disciples authority over all devils, but also to cure diseases: "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."
Authority is exercised when there is a RIGHT to exercise it. They weren't praying and asking God to heal people, they had the authority to heal, and they were exercising it with a spoken word, just as Jesus did!
I want to clarify that I'm not saying that prayer can't heal people... because it can (James 5:14-15)... I'm just saying that we are taught to heal the sick using the authority that Jesus gave us! I have seen and heard of many healings that took place through prayer, so I'm not saying not to pray, or that prayer doesn't work. I'm simply saying that we have authority over sickness, and therefore we can exercise our authority to bring about healing in another person's life!
I also think it's interesting how Mark 16:17-18 tells us that healing can come through the laying on of hands: "And these signs shall follow them that believe... they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." The laying on of hands can encourage the transferring of power from us into the person and heal them, just like the woman who felt power flow from Jesus when she touched the hem of His garment (Mark 5:30)! Jesus said that those who believe will have the Holy Ghost flowing out of their innermost being (John 7:38-39), and even Peter's shadow healed people (Acts 5:15)!
[h=4]Authority to cast out demons[/h] Notice that we are never told to beg or coax the demons to come out, neither are we told to pray and ask God to remove them, but we ARE told to cast them out! Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." And also look at Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils..."
Luke 9:1, "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils..."
Luke 10:17, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
[h=4]Jesus distributes His authority[/h] Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."
Jesus is given authority: Matthew 28:18, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
Authority given to Jesus' 12 disciples: Luke 9:1, "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."
Authority given to Jesus' 70 disciples: Luke 10:17, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
[h=4]Through Jesus' name[/h] Notice that the authority Jesus gives His people is not to be used in their name, but Jesus' name:
Luke 10:17, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils..."
Acts 3:6, "...Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
To use somebody's authority through their name is quite an honor! It's like being able to go to the bank and draw out a million dollars on behalf of a wealthy businessman!
[h=4]Authority has been given to "Them who believe"[/h] Jesus gave His disciples authority to carry out His will here on earth, but they weren't the only ones. He also gave ALL believers authority to heal the sick and cast out devils as well! (Mark 16:17-18)
Authority to cast out demons: Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils..."
Authority to heal the sick: Mark 16:17-18, "And these signs shall follow them that believe...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."
[h=4]Authority is accessed through faith[/h] It is also helpful to point out that our spiritual authority is accessed by faith. There is a lot to be learned from the story told in Mark 9:17-29 about how faith allows us to access our authority. When the disciples came across an unusually strong demon that wouldn't budge (verse 18), Jesus made it clear that they lacked faith by calling them faithless (verse 19). He also made it clear that some demons are so strong that a higher than usual level of faith is required to cast them out (verses 28 and 29), and that we can gain that higher level of faith through prayer and fasting (verse 29).
Matthew 17:20, "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
Titus 2:15
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
[h=1]Matthew 28:18-20 (CJB)[/h] [SUP]18 [/SUP]Yeshua came and talked with them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [SUP]19 [/SUP]Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, [SUP]20 [/SUP]and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age.”
A solid understanding of spiritual authority is vital to build your faith when casting out demons, healing the sick, and exercising your authority over the powers of darkness.
When we have been given authority to cast out demons, but instead we pray that God brings the demon out instead, we are basically asking God to do something that He gave US the tools to do ourselves! Jesus told US to cast out demons! Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to ask God to cast out demons!
Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."
[h=4]How authority works[/h] Authority doesn't beg; authority doesn't ask; authority commands! We are not told to ask God to cast out demons, we are told to do it ourselves! We are not told to beg demons to come out, we are told to CAST them out!
Matthew 8:8-9, 13, "The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it... And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour."
Authority is exercised through our spoken word. The power of life and death are in the spoken word: Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
[h=4]Jesus' own authority[/h] One thing that made it clear that Jesus was the son of God, is because He exercised authority that nobody else had access to in history!
He cast out demons using His authority: Mark 1:27, "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him."
He cast out demons with His spoken word: Matthew 8:16, "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word..."
He healed the sick with His spoken word: Luke 7:7, "Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed." Also John 5:8, "Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."
Jesus has been given authority over everything: Matthew 28:18, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
[h=4]Authority to heal[/h] Jesus said to, "Heal the sick"! Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." I think it's interesting how Jesus didn't tell us to pray and ask God to heal the sick, He told US to heal the sick!
I have never seen where Jesus prayed, "Father, please heal this person!" Instead, we see that Jesus healed people with His spoken Word! In John 5:8, Jesus told the man to, "...Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."
The early church healed people in this same manner. In Acts 3:6, "...Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
Notice in Luke 9:1 that He not only gave His disciples authority over all devils, but also to cure diseases: "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."
Authority is exercised when there is a RIGHT to exercise it. They weren't praying and asking God to heal people, they had the authority to heal, and they were exercising it with a spoken word, just as Jesus did!
I want to clarify that I'm not saying that prayer can't heal people... because it can (James 5:14-15)... I'm just saying that we are taught to heal the sick using the authority that Jesus gave us! I have seen and heard of many healings that took place through prayer, so I'm not saying not to pray, or that prayer doesn't work. I'm simply saying that we have authority over sickness, and therefore we can exercise our authority to bring about healing in another person's life!
I also think it's interesting how Mark 16:17-18 tells us that healing can come through the laying on of hands: "And these signs shall follow them that believe... they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." The laying on of hands can encourage the transferring of power from us into the person and heal them, just like the woman who felt power flow from Jesus when she touched the hem of His garment (Mark 5:30)! Jesus said that those who believe will have the Holy Ghost flowing out of their innermost being (John 7:38-39), and even Peter's shadow healed people (Acts 5:15)!
[h=4]Authority to cast out demons[/h] Notice that we are never told to beg or coax the demons to come out, neither are we told to pray and ask God to remove them, but we ARE told to cast them out! Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." And also look at Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils..."
Luke 9:1, "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils..."
Luke 10:17, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
[h=4]Jesus distributes His authority[/h] Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."
Jesus is given authority: Matthew 28:18, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
Authority given to Jesus' 12 disciples: Luke 9:1, "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."
Authority given to Jesus' 70 disciples: Luke 10:17, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
[h=4]Through Jesus' name[/h] Notice that the authority Jesus gives His people is not to be used in their name, but Jesus' name:
Luke 10:17, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils..."
Acts 3:6, "...Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
To use somebody's authority through their name is quite an honor! It's like being able to go to the bank and draw out a million dollars on behalf of a wealthy businessman!
[h=4]Authority has been given to "Them who believe"[/h] Jesus gave His disciples authority to carry out His will here on earth, but they weren't the only ones. He also gave ALL believers authority to heal the sick and cast out devils as well! (Mark 16:17-18)
Authority to cast out demons: Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils..."
Authority to heal the sick: Mark 16:17-18, "And these signs shall follow them that believe...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."
[h=4]Authority is accessed through faith[/h] It is also helpful to point out that our spiritual authority is accessed by faith. There is a lot to be learned from the story told in Mark 9:17-29 about how faith allows us to access our authority. When the disciples came across an unusually strong demon that wouldn't budge (verse 18), Jesus made it clear that they lacked faith by calling them faithless (verse 19). He also made it clear that some demons are so strong that a higher than usual level of faith is required to cast them out (verses 28 and 29), and that we can gain that higher level of faith through prayer and fasting (verse 29).
Matthew 17:20, "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."