Introduction
Scattering like mice in the midnight hour, the spirits of darkness shy from the Savior’s light. Quite humoring it is to view the different responses of demons whenever our Lord Jesus appears. While demonic spirits harass humans with deafness, disability, disease, debt, mental and mute oppression, they disperse when directed by God’s Word. These roaring lions become hideous, toothless beggars.
And as they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake. Matt. 9:32-33
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed them, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. Matt. 12:22
…and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. Lk. 8:31
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. Lk. 9:42
With heads bowed low, these devils decipher who King Jesus is and the scepter He holds over them. Satan’s crews can’t find work when Christ cancels their rights to rule. Ah, to be reminded of who is in control over every wicked principality! Doesn’t this resonate revival deep within your soul?
Perhaps you too need Jesus to escort an evil workforce off your personal life today. When wicked spirits are dimming your lamps, it’s time to turn them into three blind mice. If this subject pertains to you, read on and relish in the Word of deliverance.
But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying. Ps. 70:5
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Ps. 45:6
Would Your Day Look Different…?
How would your day look different if the scepter sending swine squealing into the sea showed up in your distress? Dear friend, the day for demons to be done debilitating you has already arrived.
And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd rand violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. Lk. 8:31-33.
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 2 Cor. 6:2
The Days of Demon Power are Done
The days of demons devastating you are to be done. These minions shouldn’t be mowing in your green pastures.
That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. (Is. 49:9)
How are they cutting into your day? For a starter list they come through spirits of accusation, unresolved anger, strife, fault finding, fearfulness, lingering sadness, insecurity, inferiority, sickness, disease and disturbing dreams. Filtering into fine cracks in your heart, these demons create commotion, chaos and confusion; thus, causing you to reel in condemnation and feel judged for the evil cast on and about you. Their trickery with judgment isn’t just for making you believe you are the problem when you aren’t, but also for following your faith.
Fools, Fanatics or Faith
Venomous voices demean the definition of faith by throwing words at us like fools and fanatics. But what exactly is the difference between these three?
- FOOLS
Satan wants believers to blend in with the world. When we don’t, he accuses us of behaving foolishly. We all have been there. Faith walkers aren’t popular, polished in the world view, do things differently and dare to walk a different path. However, there is another way to view a fool. It is opposite of Satan’s classroom teaching. Why don’t we look at what Jesus says about a fool.
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Lk. 24: 26-27 (Emphasis, mine)
Fools in this sense are slow to believe the Scripture. Also, in the Pauline epistles, fools are placed in the category of following Christ. Paul is saying unbelievers just don’t understand us. We believe and act in accordance with the Word, above and beyond the words of man.
We are fools for Christ’s sake. 1 Cor. 4:10
Are we fools because of unbelief or fools because of belief? We must be careful who we align with. Believers might unknowingly be afraid to look foolish if they act on God’s Word. Perhaps their reputation overrides their faith. They want to do right but are used to operating in the arena of rational intelligence rather than the Spirit’s guidance. Don’t fret if you fall out of faith into foolishness. I am not referring to saving faith but trusting in God’s Word. Staying in Scripture will bring revelation and redirection when we are wrong. We will never be a fool in the Father’s eye if we take His Word above the world’s.
Now onto the second word the devil likes to contend with, fanatic.
2. FANATIC
This is another word that can be taken in two directions. Fanatic. The American Heritage Dictionary definition is:
Fanatic: 1. A person marked or motivated by an extreme, unreasoning enthusiasm, as for a cause. 2. A person affected by excessive enthusiasm, particularly on religious subjects; one who indulges wild and extravagant notions of religion. 3. A person who is zealously enthusiastic for some cause, especially religion.
The key word in this definition is religion. It is a marker in this meaning. Are you relying on religion or a relationship with Jesus Christ. If it is pure religious tradition or theology and you are extreme, God’s wisdom is not involved. This is fanatic for the wrong reason. If your enthusiasm and zeal is firmly founded and enflamed in the Word of God, it is bold faith.
However, many people are pure fanatics without faith. They give God a bad name. People listen to them instead of the Word and formulate erroneous opinions. For example, there could be a clash between a person’s symptoms and Scripture. Generally, earthly fanatics rely on obvious impressions and feelings rather than the Father’s Son who sacrificed Himself for their very situation. They are symptom checkers, fully invested in the doctor’s diagnosis, willing to try every cure on earth but leery about taking God’s medicine which is His Word. While they are fanatic for natural and man-made solutions, they call the believer a fanatic if they find Jesus to heal them instead of the hospitals. Whichever way the word fanatic is used, be sure the Word is firing up your belief! Finally, there is the word faith.
3. FAITH
Faith is opposite of an earthly minded fool and fanatic. (For the purpose of this blog, we will refer to one who is slow to believe, a fool, according to Jesus. If a person is a fanatic, feelings and impressions direct their decisions.) The snare Satan uses is always trying to compromise your trust in Jesus. He tries to get God’s children to lean on the fallen world for help. Therefore, faith also can be looked upon in two ways. Faith in the world’s system or faith in Scripture. The type of faith referred to in this writing is when followers of Christ find their footing in the Word. They don’t move until the Word of God is planted firmly in their path. Faith can dwindle, die or grow. God’s people choose to chew on the Word and continue to grow closer in relationship with God the Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures. During the meditation of the Word of God, walls of belief are repaired as needed and fools or fanatics can become wise! No matter what word schemes Satan tries to trap us with, the Spirit of truth will always bring us to the light. Run to the Word often and receive repairs for the fence around your heart. We all need to keep the little foxes out of our vineyards.
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. Song. 2:15
Repair Your Fence
If you tend to fall into the spectrum of an earth-minded fool or fanatic, it’s time to repair the fence. While at it, hang no trespassing signs on the tender grass of your heart. Keep the security cameras of Christ’s Word peering straight into your mind. Send messages of God’s promises to the evil creepers crawling into your mind. They will haul out their trash in terror for the devil fears Christ in you. Demons feed on hate and God is perfect love. Love’s powerful promises repel evil into oblivion. These spirits while aggravating, are to be forgotten. That is, not to be doted upon. God deserves the worship of your mind, soul and body, not a demon. The war for your attention is real.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 Jn. 4:18
Marching Orders
Yes, this spiritual battle is fierce, but Satan is fallen. We all know, Jesus put all evil principalities under His feet. This sounds good when Jesus is doing the work, but many believers are unsure of how they are to contend with demons. Since we sit in the heavenlies with Jesus, these wicked ones are under our feet too. In God’s realm, there is no time or space. This is how all power is made available. For example, we live in the power of forgiveness and healing even though Jesus granted it to us by grace over two thousand years ago. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus grants us His authority and power over them. We share in His reign by using His name. In His name we direct a demon to leave. Jesus hasn’t left us unarmed. So, get your faith boots on the ground and start marching to the orders of His Word. Stay close to your Savior so you can hear the Spirit’s instruction.
For he hath put all things under his feet. 1 Cor. 15:27
But ye shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you. Acts 1:8
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:6
Instruction
What prevents believers from authorizing the power God has made available to them? Why are thorns embedding under the skin of their faith? Lack of instruction.
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding, And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Prov. 24:30-32 (Emphasis, mine)
Ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Col. 1:9-11
Through the Spirit of Christ illumination comes. His knowledge plucks out self-confidence, plants the seeds of faith and grows mighty power into your pasture. When you are worn out, it is a brilliant warning sign to feed where Jesus is. He wrote Himself into your Bible. He is the Word. If you aren’t mastering His Word, the world will make mulch out of you. Don’t let demon spirits throw a wrecking ball into your wall. Swing the scepter into every dreadful situation and send the evil spirits back into their dark chambers under the sea.
The entrance of your words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Ps. 119:130
Parting Thoughts
As you hold the scepter in Satan’s face, don’t get caught up in demon discussions. You worship the Father. Meditate on Him. Think on Jesus and things above. This blog is to be a reminder of who is not to be directing your day.
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 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. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Lk. 10:17-20