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Controlling evil spirits, the basics



A.     Before we get into the meat of this lesson we need to establish a few facts. First, Jesus defeated the devil and as His child, His true believer, He has given us authority over the devil and all of the Satanic horde. Jesus is the only spiritual leader in the world to proclaim that He has defeated the devil.

Acts 4: (Jesus is the only way to God)


12. And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved. Also John 10: all

Colossians 2: (NIV)

(Jesus defeated the Devil and has given, only, His believers authority over the Devil.)
13. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
14.having cancelled the written code (the old Jewish Law), with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
15. And having disarmed the powers and authorities (the Devil and friends), he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (John 11: 25-26)

Matthew 16: 13 - 19

(You believers in Christ have the authority to change this world, change it with wisdom. Only the believers in Jesus Christ have complete authority over the devil.)
19. And I will give unto thee (you believers) the keys of the kingdom of heaven (which is the understanding and authority to operate in and with the Spirit of God): and whatsoever thou (you) shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Mark 11:

22.And Jesus replying said to them (believers), Have faith in God (constantly).
23.Truly, I tell you, whoever says to this mountain (a real mountain or a mountain of a problem), Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! And does not doubt at all in his heart, but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.
24.For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe - trust and be confident - that it is granted to you, and you will (get it).
25.And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26.But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

     In general, there are no limits on binding, oppressing, or possessing spirits but the casting out of spirits is much trickier. You should understand that the person that is being oppressed or possessed can invite the devil back. You can bind spirits from doing all kinds of things like making people in your family do ungodly things. You can bind spirits from attacking your finances and your health. You can even bind spirits from attacking peace on earth, or from causing hunger, poverty, wars, heartache, loneliness, and turmoil in the world. Anything that the devil does should be bound because the devil only does ungodly things. But, you should understand that while you are trying to control evil spirits, in some situations, other people may be releasing them with their actions.

John 10:

10.The thief (Satan) comes only in order that he may steal and may kill and may destroy. I (Jesus) came that they (you) may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance -to the full, till it overflows. (“MAY” means that you have to give him permission by something that you do, sin, or say, in order for him to do it.)
11. I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd risks and lays down his (own) life for the sheep (you).

     Satan "May" steal, kill and destroy only if you give him permission. You give Satan permission by living in the flesh. You make the decision and with that decision you open the door to his attack.

I can't even begin to tell you how important it is to pray for wisdom! You should pray for wisdom every day!

James 1: 5 - 8,

(Ampl.) 5. If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to every one liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or fault finding, and it will be given him.
6. Only it must be in faith that he asks, with no wavering - no hesitation, no doubting. For the one who wavers (hesitated, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea, that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.
7. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord,
8. [For being as he is] a man of two minds - hesitating, dubious, irresolute - [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything (he thinks, feels, decides)

Romans 8: 9 - 17


9. But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the (Holy) Spirit of God (really) dwells within you - directs and controls you, But if any one does not possess the (Holy) Spirit of Christ, he is none of His - he does not belong to Christ (is not truly a child of God)
11. And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.
12. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.
13. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
14. because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, abba, Father.
16. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
17. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may share in his glory.

James 2:19

19. You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe, and shudders.

Mark 16: (Jesus speaking) Ampl

15. And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature (of the whole human race).
16. He who believes - [that is,] who adheres to and trust in and relies on the Gospel and Him whom it sets forth - and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe - who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him whom it sets forth - will be condemned.
17. And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;

(Note that God’s authority and creative force is in spoken words. You present and proclaim God’s authority over the Devil and his horde through the words that you say. And that is why you should use verses when you take authority over the Devil and his horde. You want the Devil to know that you know the Word and you will not be tricked.)

18. They will pick up serpents, and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well. (My confession is that the Devil and his horde have no authority over and he can’t hurt anyone. I am a child of the living God and I have all of God’s authority and I bind the Devil in all ways. And I deliver him to the Living God to do with as He pleases.)

John 9:31 (Jesus gave us access to God)

31. We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if any one is God-fearing and a worshipper of Him and does His will, He listens to him.

( No Joke, you must walk the walk, not just talk the talk!)

B.  Second, everyone is a free will being, and everyone has control over what a spirit can do through them. We each decide our own spiritual life and destiny. The devil may try to get us to do evil things but we are the ones that actually decide to give into that influence or pressure (oppression).

Romans 6: 16

16. Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servant to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

     People open themselves to satanic oppression and possession and don't even realize it. Are you operating in the flesh (the world) or in the spirit of the living God? Everything that you do in the world or in the flesh can open a door through which Satan can attack you. Things like using Tarot cards, horoscopes, Ouija boards, fortune-telling, psychic stuff and the like are all direct demonic doors. But even things like scary movies, and Halloween can open the door for Satan. In fact, anything that is not Godly can be used by Satan to attack you.


1 Corinthians 2:

(Amplified Bible) 12. Now we have not received the spirit (that belongs to the world, but the (Holy) Spirit Who is from God, (given to us) that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts (of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly) bestowed on us by God.
13. And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the (Holy) Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language (to those who possess the (Holy) Spirit. (talking about speaking in tongues)
14. But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them - of progressively recognizing, understanding and becoming better acquainted with them - because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

C.      Third, only true walking the walk, and operating in love, believers have the authority to control the actions of spirits, good or evil, outside of ourselves.

Galatians 5: 14 - 26

16. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would.
(In order to grow up spiritually you must recognize that the walk we have with God draws us away from our flesh and continually deeper into a completely spiritual life. If your walk with God keeps you in the flesh, you need to change churches.)
18. But if you be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery (immorality), fornication (impurity, sex before or outside of marriage), uncleaness, lasciviousness (indecency),
20. Idolatry, witchcraft (sorcery), hatred, variance, emulation (jealousy), wrath(ill temper), strife, seditions (selfishness), heresies (divisions[dissensionbs], party spirit [factions, sects with pecular opinions, heresies]),
21. Envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings (carousing), and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is (agape) love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lust.
25. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
(Love is Longsuffering, gentleness, etc.; Romans 5: 5, & 13: 8-10, & 1 Cor. 8: 1-3)

D.     Why spend a lot of time filling yourself with the Word of God? Because Satan will attack you and only the strong uncompromised Word will help you survive.

Mark 4:

14. The sower soweth the word.
15. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17. And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction (Ampl: trouble) or persecution ariseth for the Words's sake, immediately they are offended (stumble).
18. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches (Ampl: distractions of the age), and the lust of other things (Ampl: pleasure and delight and false glamout) entering in choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

     The people that really love God fill themselves with the Word and produce fruit, not because they have to but because they want to. As soon as anyone receives the Word of God Satan immediately attacks them through one of these five areas.


Affliction (Ampl: trouble)

Persecution

The cares of this world

The deceitfulness of riches (Ampl: distractions of the age)

The lust of other things (Ample: pleasure and delight and false glamout)


E.

      We are taking this lesson from Luke 11: 14 - 26

Luke 11: 14 - 26

You have power over the Devil (Amplified)
14. Now Jesus was driving out a demon that was dumb, and it occurred that when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the crowds marveled.
15. But some of them said, He drives out demons [because He is in league with, and] by Beelzebub (Satan), the prince of demons;
16. While others, to try and test and tempt Him, demanded a sign of Him from heaven.
17. But He (Jesus), [well] aware of their intent and purpose, said to them, Every kingdom split up against itself is doomed and bought to desolation, and so house falls upon house. - The disunited household will collapse.
18. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom last? For you say that I expel demons with the help of and by Beelzebub (Satan).
19.Now if I expel demons with the help of and by Beelzebub (Satan), with whose help and by whom do your sons drive them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.
20. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has (already) come upon you.
21. When the strong man, fully armed, (from his courtyard) guards his own dwelling, his belongings are undisturbed - his property is at peace (secure).
22. But when one stronger than he attacks him and conguers him, he robs him of his whole armor on which he had relied, and divides up and distributes all his goods as plunder.
23. He who is not with Me - siding and believing with Me - is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me (engage in My interest), scatters.
24. When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, he roams through waterless places in search [of a place of rest] and finding none he says, I will go back to my house from which I came.
25. And when he arrives, he finds [the place] swept and put in order and furnished and decorated. (it is inviting, it looks good and comfortable)
26. And he goes and brings other spirits, seven (of them), more evil than himself, and they enter in, settle down and dwell there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.

Note the different states or conditions of Demonic attack. Verses 14 – 20, Denial: I can’t cast out or control demons and you can’t either, and if you do it’s because you are doing the devils work. But God says it’s as easy as flicking a speck off of your shoulder.
If you would only learn the truth.

Verse 21, a person that is strong in the Word is safe because he knows the Word and knows how to use it. The Word is a strong defense and offense.
Verse 22 - 23, a person that is weak in the Word leaves themselves open to be robbed in every way, mentally, physically, financially, spiritually and in all other ways. If you are not for God, He says you are against Him.
Verses 24 – 26, When a demonic spirit is cast out of someone, to that demon, it is like roaming through a dry waterless place. It cannot find peace unless it is causing death, sickness, destruction, and chaos. It will not stop looking for someone to oppress or possess. If it can’t find someone to possess or oppress, after a while it will come back to the person that it was cast out of. That unsaved person is like a new clean home to the demon. It's very inviting. But the demon also knows that it was cast out once and it might be cast out again. The demon brings more help the second time, seven more demons to make it more difficult to cast them out the next time. God and the devil cannot live in the same person at the same time. One way to stop this is to get this person saved. Saved people cannot be possessed but they can be oppressed (attacked from outside). A possess person actually has a demon living in them. An oppressed person is attacked from outside of their body.

Condition #1, Denial, explained in more detail

     About 400 years before Jesus came, the Old Testament priesthood, from the tribe of Levi, lost all of it's God given power because they had become so full of sin that God turned them over to their sin and took away their power. While they were still doing the rituals when Jesus came, they had no power or authority to do miracles. The Pharisees were jealous and were looking for any excuse to discredit Jesus. Actually if anyone was doing the Devil's work, it was the Pharisees. Jesus did a miracle that they could not do , in the verses leading up to these verses, and yet they demanded a sign from heaven. Jesus offers that same power and authority to all of His true believers that walk in love, Mark 16: 14-18. Those believers that truly walk the walk, not just talk the talk, have the authority and the right to command and bind evil spirits based on their salvation. Binding and getting rid of evil spirits is like popping a speck of dust off of your shoulder to God, just a flick of the finger (verse 20).      In addition to the rights that come with salvation, one of the sets of tools that God has given us is the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are not mandatory in dealing with evil spirits (Possession or oppression) but they are very helpful when dealing with evil spirits in any situation. Many evil spirits can be bound and cast out with the simple God given authority that comes with salvation to all believers.      The powers of the Holy Spirit are given to believers in 1 Cor. 12: 1 - 31. There is a great book out by Dr. Kenneth Hagin called The Holy Spirit and His Gifts, go buy it. We are not going to get into the gifts in detail but you do need to know some of the basics. All of the Gifts of the Spirit are Supernatural God anointed. You cannot read a book or take a lesson and operate in the Gifts of the Spirit. God anoints them on people as they are needed. The nine gifts of the Spirit are organizes like this.


There are 3 Revelation gifts

1. Word of Wisdom: The supernatural revelation by the Holy Spirit of certain facts in the mind and will of God about things in the future.
2. The word of knowledge: The supernatural revelation by the Holy Spirit of certain facts in the mind and will of God about things past or present.
3. Discerning of spirits: The discerning of (all) spirits gives supernatural revelation and insight into the spirit world, both good and evil.

There are three Power gifts 1. The gift of faith: The gift of (special) faith is a supernatural gift of the Spirit to the believer that they would receive miracles.
2. The working of miracles: The working of miracles is a supernatural gift of the Spirit to the believer that they would work miracles. This gift includes the casting out of spirits in some cases.
3. The gifts of healing: The gifts of healing are for the supernatural healing of disease with out natural means of any kind. Note that we do believe in doctors and medicine because most people need to build up there faith before they can walk in supernatural health all of the time. But you just can't beat Dr. God. This gift includes the casting out of spirits in some cases.

There are three Utterance or Inspirational gifts

1. Prophecy: is a supernatural utterance in a known tongue.
2. Diverse kinds of tongues: is a supernatural utterance in divers unknown tongues.
3. Interpretation of tongues: is a supernatural showing forth by the Spirit the meaning of an utterance in an unknown tongue.

Condition #2, The Strong Person, explained in more detail


Luke 4:

36. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

John 15: 7

7. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.
("if" indicates uncertainty, do you live in Christ?)

Romans 8: 9 - 17

9. But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the (Holy)Spirit of God (really) dwells within you - directs and controls you, But if anyone does not possess the (Holy) Spirit of Christ, he is none of His - he does not belong to Christ (is not truly a child of God)
11. And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.
12. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.
13. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
14. because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, abba, Father.
16. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
17. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may share in his glory.

Romans 8: (Jesus helps us to pray) (Ampl.)

26. So too the (Holy) Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance (praying in tongues).
27. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the (Holy) Spirit - what His intent is - because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will.
28. We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor], all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

Romans 8:

31. What then shall we say to (all) this? (These things that have come against us) If God be for us, who (can be) against us? - Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?


Romans 8: 32,


32. He who did not withhold or spare (even) His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all (other) things? (including our loved ones).
37. Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through him who loved us.
38. For I am persuaded beyond doubt - am sure - that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers,
39. Nor heights, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:

8. But what does it say? The Word is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word - the message- of faith, which we preach.
9. Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in and rely on the truth) that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses - declares openly and speaks out freely his faith - and confirms (his) salvation.
11. The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him – who adheres to, relies on and trusts in Him (Jesus) – will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed. [Isa.28:16; 49:23; Jer. 17:7-8; Ps. 34: 17-22]

1 Corinthians 2:

(Amplified Bible) 12. Now we have not received the spirit (that belongs to the world, but the (Holy) Spirit Who is from God, (given to us) that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts (of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly) bestowed on us by God.
13. And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the (Holy) Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language (to those who possess the (Holy) Spirit. (talking about speaking in tongues)
14. But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them - of progressively recognizing, understanding and becoming better acquainted with them - because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

     Do you feel like you're reading something from an outer space story? Does this all seem so foreign to you? What I'm talking about is a real life in Christ, what it can be, no nonsense, straight up. But you have to be straight with God. If you're ready. If you want something real in you're life pray with me now.
     Father, I pray that you would forgive me of my sins, that you would come into my life and fill me with your Holy Spirit. Open my ears that I can hear only your voice. Strengthen me that I can over come anything that the Devil throws at me. Please lead me and guide me into a life that can only come from you, make your Word real to me. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
     The Strong Person understands that the Word is true to them and it is their authority to be and act like a child of the living God. This is not just head knowledge. This is fact to a strong believer. When they say that they are a child of the living God, it is carved in stone and you, the devil or anyone else is not going to move them. With a whisper they say the Word of God and the mountain moves. The strong believer spends real time in the Word. They are real servants of God. They love the time they spend with God and talk to Him and praise Him continually, not for a show to others but because they really love to. They do God's will out of the fullness of their heart and love for God and not because they want some glory or praise from the church. They operate in total love all of the time no matter what anyone else does.

     By the way, operating in total love does not mean that you are the kicking dog of everyone that comes along. It means that you apply the Word fairly and evenly and with compassion for everyone. Remember that God loves the sinner but hates the sin.

     The gifts that are most important to this discussion are: the discerning of spirits, the gift of (special) faith, the working of miracles, and the gifts of healing. The gifts of the Spirit are only operated by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. You do not have this power out of your own will or effort. They are anointed on you at the will and timing of God. You may operate in any combination of the gifts at the same time. In fact, the change from operating in one gift and switching to a different gift is so smooth that you often don't even notice that something has changed. It is all just one anointing of the Spirit. What is important to note is that God directs you through the Discerning of spirits to take action with one of the other three gifts. Operating in the spirit realm requires supernatural knowledge in the spirit realm. Just because someone acts bad does not mean that they are possessed or oppressed. People are free will beings. Some people are just bad, but no matter what they are God can fix them. As a free will being it is up to you who you give your heart to.
     A person that is possessed has given their heart to a spirit and that spirit Good (Jesus) or Bad (Satan) actually lives within them. God lives within a saved person. The devil lives in an unsaved possessed person. People that are possessed by the devil can become saved because when they give their heart to God (They ask God to come into their heart), God throws the devil out and moves in Himself. You are a free will being, neither God nor the devil ever have absolute control over you unless you allow them to. Now back to the main text.

Luke 11:21

(AMP) 21. When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his belongings are undisturbed and secure.

Condition #3, The Weak Person, explained in more detail


Luke 11: 22 - 23,

The weak person is unstable in all of their ways. One day they are a Christian and the next day they are a sinner. The devil knows that you don't have a clue went it comes to the real meaning of what Christ did for you on the cross. He also knows that you are going to stand there and let him pound you into dust. And the devil will continue to pound you into dust until you pick up your cross get serious about reading the Word and get some backbone.

James 1:
7. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.
8. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

     The strong man is someone that is strong in the Word of God and uses all of the armor of God, Ephesians 6: 1 - 18. The weak person in the Word is too weak to be affective against the Devil and they can actually be vulnerable themselves. If the Devil can defeat you, he will then try to destroy everything that you have (family, health, finances, etc.), Verses 22 - 23, explains why all of us need to be in church. There is strength in numbers and friends. There is real strength in being on God's side and being around God's strong people. They are the ones that should have the knowledge to bind evil spirits correctly.

Ephesians 6: 22 - 26,

22. But when one stronger than he attacks him and conguers him, he robs him of his whole armor on which he had relied, and divides up and distributes all his goods as plunder.
23. He who is not with Me - siding and believing with Me - is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me (engage in My interest), scatters. (This person can even be a hypocrite, a Sunday Christian. They think that they can look like they're living for Christ one day and living for the world the rest of the time. They are just sinners to God.)
24. When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, he roams through waterless places in search [of a place of rest] and finding none he says, I will go back to my house (the person) from which I came.
25. And when he arrives, he finds [the place] swept and put in order and furnished and decorated. (it is inviting, it looks good and comfortable)
26. And he goes and brings other spirits, seven (of them), more evil than himself, and they enter in, settle down and dwell there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.

Condition #4, Verses 24 – 26 The Demons, explained in more detail

DO NOT CAST OUT DEMONS UNLESS GOD TELLS YOU TO DO IT AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE GOD IS TELLING YOU TO DO IT!

     A new believer and anyone that does not easily operate in the gifts of the Spirit should not take on a possessed person by casting the demon out. The timing for casting a demon out is critical. A demon must be cast out at the moment when the person they are living in is ready to give their heart to Christ or the demons will come back stronger. When you look at other sets of verses that talk about Jesus casting out devils, in each case the person immediately changed their ways and followed Jesus. Knowing that moment takes direct supernatural wisdom and knowledge from God through the Holy Spirit. The person is cleansed of the demon and immediately saved so the demon can not return and create a worse situation by the demon bringing seven of his friends. When a demon is cast out of a person, that person needs to be armed, and strengthened with a flood of the Word so that they can defend themselves. The Word needs to become real and personal to that person and everyone. Our attitude needs to become “The Word is God talking to ME”. “I AM A CHILD OF THE LIVING GOD!” Baby Christians should be watched over and protected until they are strong enough to defend themselves. Baby Christians should not be casting demons out of people! If you love them enough to want them to be delivered from the devil's possession, love them and yourself enough to do it correctly. Do not make things worse. Understand that just because you cast a demon out of someone that does not mean that the person is saved or that they will even act any better. It is far better to bind the evil spirit, from having any influence, and have that spirit left in place then to cast the spirit out, especially if the possessed person does not have good spiritual support and you don't know the correct timing. The bound spirit then becomes an inactive spiritual placeholder. They have no power or control. Then give the possessed person all of the Word that you can get into them. Understand that the possessed person is still operating in the flesh (unsaved) so that may not be easy, and it may take a long time. And you still have to make sure that the possessed person doesn't reactivate the evil spirit, which they can at anytime by doing their old evil deeds again. I am not telling you that this is easy. It is very hard and that is why you need to be lead by the Spirit of God to do it. You may have to bind the spirit several times a day, but you will see progress over time, maybe years. Little by little the evil spirit will have less influence and the possessed person will draw closer to God. At the right time the possessed person will throw the evil spirit out themselves and accept God. Jesus only did the things that God told Him to do! And that is exactly what I am telling you to do. It really helps to be in a church that understands the spirit world and has a very active church prayer list. There is no limit on binding spirits (go get'em).

An Example of how many people bind spirits:

Satan I (we) bind you from attacking and using (their name) in any manner. All evil spirits are bound from entering into this person. Father, I thank you for filling this person with your Word and strengthening them in your Word that this entire family will walk in victory over the devil in everything that we do. Matt. 16: 19 (Please feel free to use as many scriptures as you wish)

In Jesus Name

A better example of how to bind spirits (Matt. 18: 18-20; 16: 19):

Thank you father for your Supernatural wisdom, knowledge, and skill in every thing that I do. Father I thank you for moving in the hearts of all of the children of God that we would all lift our voices in unison. We joined together in Jesus name and we bind Satan and all of his horde everywhere. Satan we bind your voice and your actions everywhere. Satan, you have no authority or control over anyone. We are the children of God and God has given us authority over everything. Jesus defeated you Satan two thousand years ago and now we are in charge. Father, we thank you for saving all of the lost people, for filling all people with your Word and strengthening them that all people will walk in victory over the devil in everything that we do. (Please feel free to use as many scriptures as you wish)

In Jesus Name

An example of Jesus binding an evil spirit can be found in Mark 9: 20 – 29.

20 They brought the boy to Him. When the [demonic] spirit saw Him, immediately it threw the boy into a convulsion, and falling to the ground he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he answered, “Since childhood.
22 The demon has often thrown him both into fire and into water, intending to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”
23 Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!”
24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out [with a desperate, piercing cry], saying, “I do believe; help [me overcome] my unbelief.”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering [around them], He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again!”
26 After screaming out and throwing him into a terrible convulsion, it came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse [so still and pale] that many [of the spectators] said, “He is dead!”
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he stood up.
28 When He had gone indoors, His disciples began asking Him privately, “Why were we unable to drive it out?”
29 He replied to them, “This kind [of unclean spirit] cannot come out by anything but prayer [to the Father].”

Ephesians 6: 14 - 18

(the armor of God) 14. Stand therefore - hold your ground - having tightened the belt of truth around your loins, and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God;
15. And having shod your feet in preparation (to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness and the readiness produced by the good news) of the Gospel of peace.
16. Lift up over all the shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked one (Satan).
17. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
18. Pray at all times - on every occasion, in every season - in the Spirit, with all (manner of) prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people)

     Oppressed people are in a better condition than possessed people. A person that is oppressed is simply under pressure to do something wrong. The devil does not live within them. The devil simply attempts to influences them from outside. You still have a free will. Peer pressure is a form of oppression. It is pressure to get you to do something that you normally would not do. Almost everyone, saved and unsaved, are oppressed, either by people, or the devil, or the devil working through other people, at one time or the other. People and demons can both try to oppress you. Jesus was oppresses many times but Jesus did not give into the oppression. After Jesus fasted for forty day He was tempted (oppressed) by the devil but never gave in and defeated the devil with His knowledge of and by saying the Word. (Matt. 4: 1 - 11)

     Now we need to apply this knowledge to our lives. As we saw earlier, possessed people are a special, trickier, case and we need to be led by the Spirit of God when we deal with them. But Oppressing spirits are fair game and we do not have to put up with that nonsense at all. When Jesus was talking to Peter he commanded the devil that was oppressing Peter (Mark 8: 32 - 33) to get into its proper place of submission to God. One of the earmarks of oppression is sudden changes in a person's personality. Peter changed from a mild mannered person to someone that was rebuking Jesus. One minute they can do something and the next they cannot. One minute they are easy to talk to and the next minute they are throwing a fit about nothing.

(( DO NOT CONFRONT THESE PEOPLE IN THE PHYSICAL REALM ))

******** IMPORTANT *******

Ephesians 6: 10 - 12, Don't leave home without it!!!!!!

10. In conclusion, be strong in the Lord - be empowered through your union with Him (Jesus); draw strength which His (boundless) might provide.
11. Put on God's whole armor- the armor of a heavy-armed soldiers, which God supplies that you may be able successfully to stand up against (all) the strategies and deceits of the devil. (The oppression or influence of the Devil)
12. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood - contending only with physical opponents - but against the despotisms, against the powers, against (the master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
(This is truly a spiritual war, not a physical war)

     DO NOT TURN A SPIRITUAL WAR into a PHYSICAL WAR AND A SPIRITUAL WAR.

IT IS A VERY DUMB THING TO DO!!! One of the worst things anyone can do (especially a beginner), is march up to your spouse, lay hands on them and command the devil to come out of them. YES, I KNOW JESUS DID IT!! ** BUT ** Jesus only did what the Father told Him to do and you didn’t! When you do this you may actually cast the devil out, BUT you offend them in the flesh, and that starts a new war in the flesh! Demonic spirits are spirits. You do not have to touch them. You couldn't touch them if you had to. They are spirits. When you touch a person that is demon possessed (or for any other reason), you do it to help strengthen that person, but it has nothing to do with casting out the spirit. And in fact it is not mandatory to touch anyone even when you are praying for a healing. The power is in the Word and in your faith in the Word! By the way, please stop using all of those bone crushing arm twisting grips that you see some people use when they lay hands on people. It just makes the truth of God's power look fake, and that embarrasses you. A very soft touch is all you need when you lay hands on someone to pray for them. God never wrenched anyone's arm out of joint!
     So this is what I recommend. Always pray for wisdom in everything that you do, and understand that what I'm about to tell you is based on the fact that the person in question is really oppressed, not possessed. If they are not oppressed or possessed than you need to settle into what maybe long term intercession prayer for them. If they are oppressed, this may sound too easy to believe, but try it. It is always good to get wisdom from God about any situation but oppressing spirits are so common that you may just want to do this.

     This is controlling oppressing spirits with wisdom. If you are in the middle of a big argument, break it off. It is doing nothing but getting the kids up set. And besides that, you have argued lots of times before and it hasn't helped yet, so try something new. 1) Break off the fight, go to the bathroom, go for a walk, whatever. The important thing is that you are alone and no one can hear you. 2) Calm down and repent of the sinful things that you said, be honest, God knows what happened. 3) Get into a state of prayer and worship, I know that you don't feel like it but do it anyway. If you are still mad you are in the flesh and you will not see God's power in action. Satan wants to keep you mad so that you cannot draw power from God. The more you do this the easier it gets. 4) Use the Word of God on the Devil. You do not have to scream. Some people think that the louder you scream the more power the Word has. This is not true. There is no place in the Bible that says that Jesus, or anyone else, screamed the Word. It does say that the Word was used with faith and authority. The Word is power, but it needs to be said with faith. A whisper in faith has as more power then a scream. If you are in the bathroom screaming as loud as you can, SATAN, I COMMAND YOU TO COME OUT OF HIM. Don't you think that your spouse will hear it in the next room. That's as bad as facing them face to face with a bone crushing death grip that some people call "Laying on of hands". Use wisdom, don't let the devil talk you into to doing something stupid that just makes the situation worse, because that is just another form of demonic oppression.
     Now, what verses to use. There are lots of verses in this lesson and I will add some more on the end that may help. Or, you can go onto the Internet. There are lots of sites that have confessional verses like Apple Sauce Kids (https://applesaucekids.com). Just go to the list of confessional verses and hi light the ones that you want and paste them into a word processing document for yourself. Or, you can try something like this.
     Father, I pray that you would forgive me of my sins and that you would fill my heart with you and your supernatural wisdom and favor. I come before you, a child of the living God. I thank you for your Word and all of the things that you have done in my life and I stand on your Word.(Please feel free to use as many scriptures as you wish)

In Jesus Name

Matthew 16: 13 - 19

19.And I will give unto thee (you) the keys of the kingdom of heaven (which is the understanding and authority to operate in and with the Spirit of God): and whatsoever thou (you) shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou (you) shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

     Father, I take the authority that you have given me in your Word and bind the evil spirits that have come against (their name). Father I pick up the Living sword that is the living Word and all of the authority that you have given me in your Word and I command Satan and all of his horde to be bound and to release (their name) and my family and home (and whatever else you want to list). Father I bind these evil spirits from having any influence over anyone in Jesus name and I give them to you Father to do with as you wish. Father, I thank you for fill this person and my entire family with your Word and strengthening us in your Word that my entire family will walk in victory over the devil in everything that we do.
In Jesus Name

     There are a few final things that you need to know. Some people expect some really wild things to happen when you bind spirits. They expect very noticeable changes in people. That is often not the case, sometimes the changes are small, you may notice that they are not as moody. They may be more reasonable to talk to. Oppressing spirits can be picked up anywhere. They are like dust. They may be on you, whispering in your ear, and you may not even realize it. It is a good practice to clean your spiritual house often.
     The main reason why youth ministry is so important is that children are empty vessels. Many of them have not given themselves completely to the devil or God and they have not hardened their hearts to either side. Young people are much easier to get saved than adults. They are empty vessels waiting to be filled.
     It is helpful to pray over your loved ones everyday to keep evil spirits from attacking them or using them. You can always pray for wisdom, there are no limits on wisdom. There are no limits on prayer in general, so please feel free to go to God about anything. In all cases, be sure to give your loved ones all of the Word that you can get into them. It may be hard to give them the Word but every bit helps.
     I want all of you to understand that this is a beginning lesson in dealing with evil spirits. If you want more skill in this topic, you need to spend time with God in lots of prayer and fasting. Fasting breaks the hold of your flesh over what you can receive from God. It puts your flesh in subjection to His Spirit. It is also important to understand that this lesson is aimed at beginners. There is no substitute for walking in the continual anointing and leading of God that comes from staying in God's Word.
Additional verses: Eph. 3: 15 -19; Eph. 5: 1 - 2; Acts 16: 31
Apple Sauce Kids

(English Only)

Notes from the author: This lesson was written and distributed by: Apple Sauce Kids on the Internet at https://applesaucekids.com. or we can be E-mailed at aplsauce@applesaucekids.com Please feel free to use this lesson: copy, teach, translate into other languages, place on the Internet and electronic Bulletin Boards, and distribute for non profit personal ministry reasons, as often as you wish. Yes, you can copy this lesson and use it on your web site, but please leave these "Notes from the author" with the lesson. Freely you have received this lesson, and freely you should give it to someone else. (written Nov 27, 2005) ©2005 Apple Sauce Kids. All rights reserved.