Tag: Casting out demons

Morning Reading: Luke 11:14-28 NLT – Kingdom signs

Reading: Luke 11:14-28 NLT

One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed, but some of them said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

Kingdom-of-GodHe knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive? And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe— until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.

“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”

As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!”

Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me the heart… mind… authority… and power of Kingdom citizenship. May I live in the reality of your rule and reign in this present evil age… even as I look forward to the totality of your rule and reign in the glorious age to come. Help me to be a doer of your Word… and not a hearer only. For your name’s sake. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Let Your Kingdom Come” (Hillsong YouTube)

Joy of my days, You are my strength / Here I am sheltered in Your hand / Light of the dawn, power of the sea / Deep in Your heart, You carry me

Song of my heart, breath of my soul / You are my reason and my all / Lord of the earth, fire of the stars / Jesus my life is where You are

May our worship be Your throne / For the praise of Your glory forever / In this holy place / Let Your will be done

May Your praise be lifted up / Let us join with the praises of heaven / To the ends of the earth / Let Your kingdom come

Morning Reading: Luke 9:49-50 NLT – spiritual warfare

Reading: Luke 9:49-50 NLT

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Casting out demons.
The Agape Bible Fellowship, in East Aurora, N.Y.

John said to Jesus, “Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group.”

But Jesus said, “Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.”

Prayer/Hymn: “Te, splendor et virtus” – Rabanus Maurus (c. 776-856)

The Archangel Michael defeating Satan
Guido Reni (1635)

Jesu! life-spring of the soul! / The Father’s power and glory bright! / Thee with the Angels we extol; / From thee they draw their life and light.

Thy thousand thousand hosts are spread / Embattled o’er the azure sky; / But Michael bears thy standard dread, / And lifts the mighty Cross on high.

He, in that sign, the rebel powers / Did, with their dragon prince, expel; / And hurled them from the heavens’ high towers, / Down, like a thunderbolt, to hell.

Grant us, with Michael, still, O Lord, / Against the prince of pride to fight; / So may a crown be our reward, / Before the Lamb’s pure throne of light.

To God the Father praise be done, / Who hath redeemed us through his Son; / Anoints us by the Holy Ghost, / And guards us by the Angel host. Amen.

Morning Reading: Luke 9.1-6 NLT – your turn

Reading: Luke 9.1-6 NLT

Healing Prayer
Healing Prayer

One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”

So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – We would follow the disciples’ example… to tell everyone the Good News of the Kingdom of God… and to heal the sick. Grant us your Kingdom power and authority to accomplish your Kingdom purposes in our time. We ask it for your Name’s sake. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “This Kingdom” (YouTube)

Morning Reading: Luke 8.26-39 NLT – deliverance, go and tell

Reading: Luke 8.26-39 NLT

So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town.

"HEALING OF THE GERASENE DEMONIAC"C. Malcolm Powers - Bronze Cross Panel
“HEALING OF THE GERASENE DEMONIAC”
C. Malcolm Powers – Bronze Cross Panel

As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power.

Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”

“Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.

There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs.

So Jesus gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.

When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them.

So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – we acknowledge that our struggles are not simply against “flesh and blood”… but are also against the forces of evil in the heavenlies… and the schemes of the devil who roams the earth seeking our ruin. Deliver us from evil, we pray. Lord Jesus – your death and resurrection defeated the powers of sin and death once and for ever. Shelter us in the shadow of  the Cross. Holy Spirit – equip us to fight the good fight of faith… with truth… with righteousness… with the gospel of peace… with faith… with assurance of salvation… with the Word of God… and with prayer. Make us strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might… so that we might stand firm and boldly declare the “good news” of what God has done for us. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn: “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” – Elizabeth C. Clephane (1868)

Beneath the cross of Jesus I gladly take my stand – the shadow of a mighty Rock within a weary land, a home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way, from the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see – the very dying form of One who suffered there for me; and from my smitten heart with tears two wonders I confess – the wonders of redeeming love, and my unworthiness.

I take, O cross, your shadow for my abiding place; I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of his face, content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss, my sinful self my only shame,  my glory all the cross.

 

Morning Reading: Luke 4.31-37 NLT – authority and power

Reading: Luke 4:31-37 NLT

Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority.

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Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon—an evil spirit—began shouting at Jesus, “Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

Jesus cut him short. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further.

Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!” The news about Jesus spread through every village in the entire region.

Prayer: Lord God – All authority and power come from you. Give me the wisdom and discernment to employ them as an expression of your lovingkindness. No more, no less. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “More Love, More Power” (YouTube)