Page Suggestions: Deliverance Prayers, Demons
Casting Out Demons - Performing Excorcisms
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In primitive cultures, demons are often believed to be the source of illness, spells, and bad luck. Pagans consort with witch doctors who brew potions and perform spells designed to appease or oppose unseen entities. Certain voodoo ceremonies are designed to expel evil spirits through consorting with "good" spirits. In many cases the clients of such occultists seem to experience phenomena similar to that resembling Christian exorcism. They also achieve a measure of relief from torment. But the demons have tricked them and will usually revisit their victims when they are out of the limelight.
When the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of the devils, Jesus pointed out that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12:25
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.Matthew 12 verse 25).
So what is happening when witchcraft is employed to expel an evil spirit? Since Romans 12:21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.Romans 12 verse 21 declares that evil can only be overcome with good, we know that evil cannot truly cast out evil. What appears to be a legitimate exorcism may only be the unclean spirit temporarily vacating his human residence to give the impression he is gone. As an alternative, the demon may stay but cease certain actions of torment, giving the impression the pagan exorcism was successful. In either case, no true deliverance has occurred.
Where Does a Demon Go When He is Cast Out?
I have cast out hundreds of demons, commanding every one of them to go to the pit. Every time I have cast demons to the pit, they have pleaded not to be sent there. I've confronted demons that screamed, writhed and begged to avoid the pit. As a practical matter, any place a demon doesn't want to go is where I want to send them.(It is also safe to say "May Jesus do as He wishes with you.")
Can a demon be sent elsewhere? The demons in the demoniac of Gadara were sent into a herd of swine. In another instance Christ commanded unclean spirits to leave and never return again (Mark 9:25When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, [Thou] dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.Mark 9 verse 25).
It might be argued that these demons were implicitly sent to the pit, and that they knew these demons were implicitly sent to the pit, and that they knew their place of doom with a specific command from Christ. It is also clear from Scripture that some demons, which are now bound in the pit, will be loosed again during the Tribulation period (Revelation 9:1-3(verse 1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
(verse 2) And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
(verse 3) And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.Revelation 9 verses 1-3).