Among the Faithful!

Luk_18:8  … Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

We just talked about faith and prayer quite a bit but we need to talk about it more. Let's focus a little on the above verse-  When our Savior returns will He find faith in this world?  We want to answer with an emphatic yes, but should we? I don't think we should without considering why this verse even exists. If faith is guaranteed to exist for all Christ followers then we are really asking if Christ will find any real followers on earth when He returns. You can't be a real follower of Christ without faith, right? We HAVE to think about this stuff, we have to get right down into the dirt of it all and not stay where it's all happy and light. Think a moment about that verse that weighs heavily upon me quite often as anyone who reads these studies knows-

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

WHY does this verse exist?? WHY?! It's a warning to US! Both of these verses are warnings to us! We HAVE to HEED THESE WARNINGS! I envision myself jumping up and down on a large soap box while waving a large sign as I shout out for people to TAKE HEED and shouting out these verses! 

We can't answer YES to the question- shall Jesus find faith on earth when He returns, without comprehending what it truly means. It is so much more than the idea that I simply say I believe and think I believe. I have to ask myself is it a heart aching, gut wrenching, mind absorbing belief?  Is it an unwavering faith? Or do I catch myself often with teeny tiny, miniscule doubts? Is there a flutter of wavering in my belief?  We tell people it's normal, it's acceptable to have doubts- but is it? Should we say it's normal and pacify people gently so they don't lose hope? We have to right, but is it encouraging acceptance so that we doubt more knowing we can fall back on the comfort pillow of endless forgiveness? What happens if we are so comfortable in doubting- especially when troubles and tribulations arise- and we die during the doubt?  I know, I'm being morbid, and maybe overly dramatic but this is eternal life we are talking about!!!! The question was raised- will Jesus find faith on earth when He returns, and it truly is SO easy to just say yes, of course, there is a lot of faith on earth, tons of faith-me my friends, my church, my online groups we have so much faith in Jesus that He's going to find heaps and heaps of it when He returns. We have to dare to dig deep. Not ALL faith is truly in Jesus. Above in verse Matthew 7:22,23 we are TOLD that many will believe they are saved, MANY are going to believe they are of the faithful that Jesus will find, and they ARE NOT! This is SCARY, this should be scary, it should be horrifying to us!

To have real faith or fake faith- how do you know which is which?  If you are among those who truly believe they are God's and have the faith our Savior will be looking for, are you among the deceived? God forbid, I do NOT want to believe I am known by the Lord only to be told He doesn't know me at all.

We are going to continue to study faith, and by the will of our LORD we will HAVE the faith He will find on earth when He returns.  We will rise to meet Him in the air because HE WILL KNOW US.

All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! NOW and FOREVER!!!!!!!

Prayer and Faith

Jas 5:13  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 

Jas 5:14  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 

Jas 5:15  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

Jas 5:17  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 

Jas 5:18  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. 

Afflicted? Pray.

Merry? Sing psalms.

Sick? Receive prayer and anointing.

Confess, pray, be healed.

Fervent prayer-righteous- gets results.

However- our prayers have to be in accordance with the will of God, not ours.  We mistake our wants, our needs, our desperate desires for the will of God and we pray for things as if they must be answered as we desire. If our prayer of faith goes seemingly unanswered, is it because our imagined idea of the best answer isn't God's way? Our heart aches for the things that we go through, fair and unfair. Circumstances beyond our control often cause us pain. And sometimes we do things wrong and regret the wrong when consequences come to pass. We cry out for help from God and when nothing changes and bad things still come to pass, and things get worse and worse we can't figure out why our prayers go unanswered.

We read about prayers being answered- 'the prayer of faith shall save the sick'  and yet we pray, and pray, and pray and our loved one- be it a baby, a child, a teenager, a young adult, or any loved one or friend, even strangers- remain sick, we doubt our faith. We lament our failings, we are dismayed by our inability to have the faith in this verse that tells us 'the prayer of faith shall save the sick'. 

Is it always our lack of faith that keeps the sick from being saved? Did none die when Jesus walked the earth during His ministering years? We know Lazarus died and was brought back, but we don't read that no one died at all during the three years He went about healing. We do know people beyond number were healed, and surely He kept people from dying, a lot of people. But something as sensational as no one dying during Jesus' ministry would be remarked upon.  Not all had faith. Jesus asked more than one person before healing them if they had faith.

Mat_9:22  But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Mat_9:29  Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you

Mar_2:5  When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Mar_5:34  And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Mar 9:23  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 

Mar 9:24  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 

Mar 9:25  When 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. 

Mar 9:26  And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. 

Mar 9:27  But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. 

Mat_9:28  And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

Luk 8:49  While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. 

Luk 8:50  But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. 

Having faith, having belief is paramount, but knowing God's will is what we are having faith in is so important.  Our belief is in God, our belief is in our Savior, our belief isn't in our own faith or our ability to have faith. Remember what was written above- the father said- 'help thou my unbelief'.   We do believe, but we can't trust our belief, we need to trust in God.

God's will be done first and foremost. God's will.

We know this--

Luk_18:8  … Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

More on this tomorrow by the will, and the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Prayer of Faith

Firstly, my week long study (approximately an hour or more each day- not timed- could be less or more) on possession by evil, unclean spirits, demons, devils has truly not revealed any outright answers about figuring out if someone is possessed.  There are facts-

1. Unclean spirits, evil spirits, demons and devils are all names for the evil angels that chose to align with Lucifer when he chose to separate himself from God. One third of all the angels in existence decided to separate themselves from God -the Heavenly Father, God- the declared Son of the Father, Jesus Christ, and God- the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

2. All evil spirits (under any name used for them) are Satan's to control and use for the sole purpose of influencing human beings to separate from, or keep from ever aligning themselves to God ( all three of them- Father, Son, & Holy Spirit).

3. Evil spirits can take possession of a human being.

4. Evil spirit possession can be exhibited by different kinds of possession. Examples: deaf and dumb spirits, talkative spirits, a whole legion of spirits in one person, spirits that cause sicknesses that don't have to solely be caused by them, but can be. Spirits can cause rage, fighting, beating up others, hurting the human they possess, trying to kill the human they possess, and more.

5. Evil spirits have been cast out of human beings by Jesus Christ Himself, by the Apostles Jesus left behind, by disciples of Jesus and by those called to be healers.

6. Evil spirits sometimes won't leave a person unless the healer has prayed extensively and fasted while praying- the time limit on how long is unknown.

7. When Jesus returns for His people to take them to heaven many people are going to say to Him that they cast out evil spirits in His name- and Jesus is going to tell them to get away from Him, that He never knew them.  This leaves us the conclusion that there will be many who think they are doing Jesus' will but are really doing Satan's bidding. They will seemingly cast out evil spirits from people- the people will appear cured after their casting out- using Jesus' name- and yet it is Satan who has called the evil spirit to leave the person in order to deceive the person casting out who believes they are doing Jesus' work when they are not.

8. In the last days as Satan's days of deceiving grow shorter he will be working harder and will even do miracles attributed to Jesus by others. Miracles will be performed so wonderfully all but the VERY elect will be deceived.

9. Not all evil spirit possession occurs through inviting the evil spirits to take possession as some do when they choose a life void of God. Possession can be allowed for reasons we cannot comprehend, but ultimately for the glory of God to be revealed.

10. This life no matter how torturous in any aspect from birth to death is a temporary life compared to eternity's life for those who choose Jesus Christ as their Savior, no longer allowing themselves to be separated from God, by His grace.

11. God allows much tribulation to befall those who love Him and those tribulations are equated to gold being tried in fire- purifying, refining fires.

12. We who believe in God know the following to be truth- that ALL things will work together for GOOD to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.  We TRUST that even the horrors of our life or the lives of our loved ones, or anyone else are allowed for reasons beyond our ability to fully comprehend. The secret things belong to God, not us. We are looking through a dark glass right now, but one day will see clearly. Faith, believing in what we cannot see, yet hoping without sight, without all the answers, without all the knowledge - the whys and wherefores of the greatest of life's tragedies- yet always HOPING in Jesus Christ, believing in Him.

These are some of the facts we've come across in this study.

We know we are to pray for the sick, the afflicted-

Jas 5:13  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 

Jas 5:14  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 

Jas 5:15  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 

Truthfully we could consider anyone who was suspected in the slightest to be possessed of an evil spirit - afflicted, right? We may not know the exact affliction, but we know there is a person troubled and suffering extensively in some manner. 

We are told to pray.

If any are sick… are told call an upstanding member of God's people to pray over that person, to anoint that person with oil in the name of the Lord.

A PRAYER OF FAITH will save the sick.

Does this mean that everyone prayed for will be healed? OR does it mean ultimately they'll be saved in the only way that most truly matters, eternally? We know people pray for their sick loved ones all the time, and even for sick strangers. But we also know they are NOT always healed. However the healing prayer could truly go deeper than temporary healing of our corruptible flesh. Some are healed, others are not, but it is all to God's glory, or His will that goes beyond our comprehension.

*******

We must pray- Have mercy on us, Jesus, Son of God, we beseech Thee, needing Your forgiveness for ALL our sins. We do not want to be as those who pray in Your holy name as those who claim You but don't know You and are not known by You.  We are desperately in need of Your help. To the one afflicted- we don't know if it's possession by an evil spirit that afflicts you, or a sickness in your brain, or some other illness. If it is an evil spirit, we command thee in the name of Jesus to come out of the afflicted! In Jesus' name we charge thee, come out of the afflicted and enter no more into the afflicted. We cast out the spirit or spirits with the holy word of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we do this in faith, nothing wavering! Let this be our prayer, for our most precious afflicted one. Bless them and keep them in You all though God the Father, by the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!!!!!!!!

*******

Good and Evil Spirits.

Evil surrounds all of us. We are living in a world of unseen spirits- evil and good.  Evil spirits are those who sided with Satan and his lies and were cast from heaven. Good spirits are angels and these are God's ministering spirits.  These two opposing forces, no matter how much they've been fictionalize on tv, movie screens, and in books are real.  Not only are they real, they are powerful. The things the evil spirits can do to someone are horrific. Job is well known for Satan bringing down upon him all sorts of evil all in the hopes Job would curse God, that he would lay the blame for all his tribulation upon God. We know that God doesn't want us involved in any way with the evil spirts. The Bible talks of witches, sorcerers, soothsayers and so on- as REALLY EXISTING. This brings me around again to what I started off saying- evil surrounds all of us.

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

We WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD.

We WRESTLE AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, POWERS, RULERS OF DARKNESS IN THIS WORLD, SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES.

We wrestle.   We are in a fight, a battle and it's spiritual. 

It's foolish of us to believe that evil spirits leave us alone. They will try everything to get us from the love of Jesus, everything. If they've got us from the love of Jesus they don't need to bother us too much, except maybe to torment us for their amusement, or to use us to influence others away from Jesus.

What is the purpose of spirit possession?  To torment. To viciously, evilly torture the one possessed and those loved ones around them. 

In today's world we watch our loved ones suffer and we seek all sorts of solace for them usually by going to doctor after doctor, trying treatment after treatment. We dare not mentioned demon possession because that's just crazy talk, and maybe we are the ones needing a doctor and treatment. Yet if you are a Christian then you have to believe in possession by evil spirits.

When children are involved in demon possession, as we've studied already, we have to know that they are being tormented and their loved ones are being tormented as well and the reasons why and wherefores are most likely unknown to us. It's surely not the child's fault- to say the child opened the door to an evil spirit willfully would be wrong.  Adults can most assuredly open doors to evil spirits and invite them in, but not young children- this doesn't stop them from being possessed as our Bible tells us.  I have to believe the Bible allows us to realize this for a reason. If it has happened then it has, and Jesus had to cast evil spirits out of children, and his disciples were told they needed to fast and pray (more than a short casting out) for certain spirts that don't readily leave a child.

We need to follow suit.  Seriously, if we as Christians believe someone may be possessed by an evil spirit are we to ignore it and hope it goes away on its own? Maybe we are to pray silently, separately, but if no relief is revealed after a period of time perhaps we need to pray directly to the one possibly possessed- asking our Father in Heaven to guide us every single step of the way, praying for forgiveness of all our sins, seeking spiritual cleansing from the LORD, for only He can take our filthy rags and make them white in His blood.  We may need to command the evil spirit to leave- not asking any names or such things, not seeking any sort of communication whatsoever with the evil spirit, there is no precedence for that. Jesus didn't want to converse with the spirits, He rebuked them. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can release the demon from someone, all through the love of our Savior and the love of our Father God in heaven. Jesus did nothing on earth that wasn't of the Father, and likewise the Holy Spirit does nothing that isn't of the Father and Jesus.

Cast out with the WORD of JESUS.

Matt 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him (((JESUS))) many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick

Rebuke the evil through JESUS.

Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and HEALED the child.

Luk 9:42  And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. 

Command the evil spirit in the name of JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD to come out.

Paul commanded the spirit to come out, and that same hour he did.

Act 16:18  ...Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour

Cast out.

Rebuked.

Commanded in Jesus' name.

If we do this we must do it with FAITH.

If we do this and the evil spirit remains, if the situation is unchanged then we have to PRAY and FAST seeking the removal of the evil spirit. If the situation still is unchanged then we have to keep praying without ceasing, meaning a constant renewal of our prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving unto GOD.

I'm not sure we'll know of possession or illness, or if there is a permanent need for whatever ailment has brought about the idea of possession- only God knows and He has lessons for us that go far beyond our comprehension.  The trying of faith can take so many forms. We know that Abraham was called to sacrifice his only son, a son he'd had very, very late in his life and despaired of ever having. God did not take his son, but Abraham's faith was tested to the utmost and so will ours be.  God will NEVER ask us to sacrifice our children on a physical altar, but we may need to offer them to God for His will to be done in their lives and we must do this in faith trusting He will.

God help us, guide us, forgive us, keep us, love us, all through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!!!!!!!

The Only Worthy....

Cast out spirits and healed the sick.

Matt 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him (((JESUS))) many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick

Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and HEALED the child.

Luk 9:42  And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. 

Paul commanded the spirit to come out, and that same hour he did.

Act 16:18  ...Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour

Cast out.

Rebuked.

Commanded in Jesus' name.

For those who know that someone is possessed by an evil spirit perhaps seeking to heal the person is the right course of action. Maybe 'rebuking' the unclean spirit, and 'commanding' the unclean spirit, is what we should do.  But I don’t have the gift of discerning unclean spirits if there is such a gift. Maybe the Holy Spirit reveals to all who need to know, I have to believe this will happen if God wills us to recognize unclean spirit possession.

When we suspect but can't confirm we have to have our reasons for suspecting don't we? There have to be hints of what we imagine possession to be like.

Perhaps fits of pure rage are being exhibited. What caused the rage? Is it inexplicable? Is it triggered by unmet desires of instant gratification? Or is it bizarre behavior of another sort being shown. Maybe there are several actions that cause us to believe something other than mental illness is going on.

Do we dare try to heal someone of demon possession if they aren't possess?

We have to remember this--

Act 19:13  Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 

Act 19:14  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 

Act 19:15  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 

Act 19:16  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 

Act 19:17  And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 

The following if from a previous study we did--

Vagabond Jews- exorcists.  These men knew what Paul was doing and they- being exorcists wanted the same fame. They went to where there were those filled with evil spirits and this time they used the name of Jesus, the Jesus Paul preached hoping it would cause the evil spirits to leave.

Act 19:14  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 

Act 19:15  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 

The evil spirit ANSWERED. The evil spirit told them it knew Jesus and Paul, but not them.  The evil spirit knew that Jesus and Paul could rebuke it, that they had power, power given to them by the Father God. These men weren't known in that way, they weren't known to have the power of God, the Holy Spirit wasn't working in these men- not even the sons of the chief of the priests, Sceva.

Act 19:16  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 

The man filled with the evil spirit attacked them and they ran out of the house naked and injured.  They had no power over the evil spirits, none. If they thought using Jesus' name or Paul's name would work for them they were very wrong. FAITH is the power. TRUE BELIEF is the power.  You cannot fake truth, you cannot fake belief. God knows our hearts and He knows our truth, we may fool others, but God cannot be fooled, not ever!

Act 19:17  And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 

Act 19:18  And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 

Act 19:19  Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 

Act 19:20  So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. 

The evil spirits had power over even the sons of the chief of the priests of the Jews.  This knowledge made people realize the truth that Paul preached about Jesus. They believed, they confessed, they let their deeds be brought to light.  Not only that… MANY who used curious arts - EVIL- brought those books and burned them before everyone. They burned these books filled with evil knowledge at the price of fifty thousand pieces of silver!  Today that would be several MILLION dollars' worth of books! Several million dollars of evil knowledge destroyed by those who finally realized the evil it was as they turned their lives over to Christ, to follow Him, to love Him.

Truly the word of God is powerful!  The truth prevailed!

(End of previous study)

No one was surprised there were Jewish exorcists going about to work exorcisms, there was nothing strange about that. What was revealed was these particular exorcists had NO power to CALL OVER THE man possessed by the evil spirit using the name of the LORD JESUS. They said to the evil spirit-  'We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.'

Definition of adjure

adjured; adjuring

transitive verb

1 : to command solemnly under or as if under oath or penalty of a curse

2 : to urge or advise earnestly

From <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adjure>

They were commanding the evil spirit solemnly.  All they had to say is they were commanding that evil spirit and the evil spirit stopped them before they could say more.

Casting out demons is a serious thing! If someone tries to cast out evil spirits and they are not known by Jesus, then there is a chance they could be severely attacked.  No, not all false exorcists are attacked, Satan will allow what he will. If it suits him to allow an exorcism to take place falsely, he will allow it.

The point here is that it isn't something to take lightly.

May God help us as we discuss this more tomorrow, seriously contemplating how to go about performing an exorcism. 

Please, Heavenly Father, we pray to you and thank you in advance because we know you hear our prayers. Please, guide us, let us be wholly YOURS all through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR now and forever!!!!!!!!  Forgive us because we are unworthy, the only worth we have is claiming Jesus Christ as the Only worthy!

Some healers....

We are still trying to figure out how you determine whether someone is possessed by an evil spirit. I'm not sure there is an answer. We know they are real. We can't believe in Jesus without knowing there are real entities with spirit being powers. What do I mean by spirit being powers? We know spirit form can be invisible, or take on solid shape. We know spirit form in its invisible form can still interact with human beings and animals. We know spirit forms can actually make people do things- it is at this point it's possession- right? The forced action over chosen action. We can choose to follow a wrong, sinful course of action on our own, or with subtle silent nudging by evil spirits, but that doesn't make it forced. However, when an evil spirit forces a person into actions it has to be because they are possessed by that spirit, they've either yielded control or they've been allowed this possession for reasons beyond our comprehension. We know that things are allowed through no fault of a person in order for the glory of God to be revealed, but that's not always the case. Sometimes we leave ourselves open to possession don't we? Sinning opens the door. Willfully wrong doing makes us vulnerable. Being unrepentant for even our sins of ignorance is risky. When we choose not to trust in the Lord for our lives we are susceptible.

We live in a very scary world, and most people choose believe there is no such thing as evil spirits, and surely not evil spirits who can inhabit the bodies of people.

We are at a crossroads of sorts because where is the line drawn between mental illness and demon possession? How can we tell one from the other? Is it feasible to believe there are people being treated for mental illness when they should be treated for demon possession and vice versa?

If you treat someone for mental illness and they do not recover should you treat them for demon possession? If mental illness is something that needs medication to control for the rest of the person's life, could it be possible there is demon possession? Or are there brain chemicals or damage to the brain itself that make it so lifelong medication is needed? Are there definitive tests that can determine brain damage and chemical malfunctions? So very many questions. Gone are the days that people were thought demon possessed easily, though there was such a time. It had to be awful to have a mental illness and thought demon possessed.

Jesus and the apostles could tell the difference. The disciples of Jesus were given the power of the Spirit to cast out demons could tell the difference as well. We read this….

Mat 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

And this…

Mat 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

In the first instance Jesus healed the son by rebuking a devil from Him. The father of that son said his son was a lunatick, crazy. This same instance relayed in another book of the Bible says this--

Mar 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

Mar 9:18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

Obviously the father knew the son was possessed and that his lunacy was brought on by the evil spirit. Yet, in the second verse above-

Mat 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Jesus healed those which were possessed with devils AND those which were lunatick. It obviously means that those that were lunatics weren't necessarily possessed by evil spirits, yet those possessed could seem to be lunatics.

So confusing for us, and it shouldn't be, should it? If demon possession still exists and there is no Biblical reason to believe it doesn't, then we need to know how to recognize it, or do we? I say that because there is no reason to believe that everyone of Christ's followers should have this ability any more than all are to have all spiritual gifts.

1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Luk 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Luk 9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Luk 9:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

Luk 9:4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

Luk 9:5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

Luk 9:6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

Clearly there are those who can heal, and by healing that even means from demon possession, but NOT ALL are given this ability.

We know in the last days that Satan will be working a lot of miracles to deceive people-

Mat_24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

We know that and can't let ourselves be deceived, by the grace of God.

So, what have we learned today? Are we any closer to figuring out what we need to know about demon possession? It would be very easy to say that it's got nothing to do with us and leave it at that, but I can't right now for personal reasons.

For now, we'll leave things here and by the grace of God pick this up tomorrow. We need guidance, we need to pray for understanding, for revelation. Please, Father God in heaven whose name is holy, whose kingdom come, whose will is done on earth as it is in heaven, we need our daily nourishment- spiritual and physical, we need forgiveness and help us Lord to forgive others. Please, lead us not into temptation, please deliver us from all evil, Yours is the kingdom, Yours is the power, Yours is the glory… forever! Please, we are praying and supplicating - seeking wisdom and knowledge, let Your will be done in us as we seek to comprehend. Help us. All in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord now and forever!!!!!!!

Cast Out, Rebuked, Commanded.

Matt 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him (((JESUS))) many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick

Luk 9:42  And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. 

Act 16:18  ...Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour

Cast out.

Rebuked.

Commanded in Jesus' name.

No where do we find in our God's word long drawn out examples of exorcising demons.  We are told this--

Mar 9:17  And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 

Mar 9:18  And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. 

Mar 9:19  He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. 

Mar 9:20  And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 

Mar 9:21  And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. 

Mar 9:22  And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. 

Mar 9:23  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 

Mar 9:24  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 

Mar 9:25  When 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. 

Mar 9:26  And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. 

Mar 9:27  But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. 

Mar 9:28  And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 

Mar 9:29  And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. 

The last two verses here- the disciples wanted to know why they couldn’t cast this particular evil spirit out of the one possessed. This spirit was deaf and dumb- no talking, no speaking and we know for a fact from other passages on demon possession that some who are possessed have the demons speak through the one possessed, but not this one.  This evil spirit tried to kill the one it possessed, not all of them do. The evil spirts, the legion of them in those possessed in another instance inhabited their humans for a long time without attempting to kill them. Yes, the evil spirits caused them harm and gave them great strength and made their lives wretched, but it didn't attempt to kill them or else they would have succeeded, these were men near tombs, not under the protection of a loving father.  The boy brought to Jesus who the evil spirit tried to throw into fire and drown in the water was only saved because he was watched by his loving family and kept as safe as possible.  Evil spirits obviously can be of various sorts- various kinds.  Some are rebuked and cast out instantly, others only by prayer and fasting- the fasting indicating there is a length of time involved.

So, how does one know what kind of demon is possessing someone, if they know at all a demon is possessing someone?

Because we do not HAVE the ability to know concretely, beyond doubt if someone is possessed today due to the many scientific revelations of the numerous mental diseases that a person can have, what are we to do?  It's extremely hard to believe in demon possession over let's say- schizophrenia, or multiple personalities and the like.

We've all, or I should say, some of us have seen movies about demon possession - there is the famed movie classic that seemed to start a slew of copycats- 'The Exorcist'- and the details seeming step by step the discovery of a child possessed by a demon and her eventual release through exorcism in which a person dies as they try to free the child of the demon. It's very sensationalized. Since then there have been numerous movies, some even filmed as documentaries based on supposed true events. The horrors of one possessed, the trail and tribulation of trying to get them free from possession all depicted before cameras allowing people glimpses into something that may or may not be real.

I believe demon possession is a real thing because I believe the Bible, because I believe Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior and He believed in demon possession.

However, I don’t know how to determine true demon possession verses mental illness.

I do know this--

'Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.'

When Jesus returns for His people many are going to tell Him that they cast out devils in His name. These many will be told by Jesus that He never knew them, they will be told to depart from Jesus, they will be told they are workers of iniquity.   All the while these workers of iniquity will be under the impression they belong to Jesus, they are living a life of a lie.

Prophesying, casting out demons, doing wonderful works…. These are things we need to be leery of, because Satan would have us caught up in the sensational, caught up in the counterfeit spiritual power.

More on this tomorrow by the will of God, by the grace and mercy of our LORD and SAVIOR, all through HIS love, HIS guiding, HIS truth. Please, Father, keep me from all evil! Guide me, please! I believe, LORD, help thou mine unbelief!