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Can a Christian today perform an exorcism? What does the Bible say about casting out demons?



    
    

Clarify Share Report Asked July 01 2013 Mini Anonymous (via GotQuestions)

Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.

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1378953722 Victor Akko Johnson Supporter Senior Pastor ,The Apostolic Pentecostal Church, Ghana.
My opinion differs from that which has been offered. The Lord Jesus gave a characteristic of those who would believe in His name: Mark 16:17 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues."

Again, Luke 10:19 Jesus gave his followers "power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy..." 

At what point in time is the Christian to exercise these powers given him by The Lord? 2 Corinthians 10:4 states, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds...."
 
In our part of the world people suffer from sicknesses that are not physical but spiritual (orthodox medicine does not cure such ailments). These are taken care of by fasting and prayer and casting out of such demonic spirits.

October 31 2013 2 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Shea S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries
Exorcism (commanding demons to leave other people) was practiced by various people in the Gospels and the Book of Acts'the disciples as part of Christ's instructions (Matthew 10); others using Chri...

July 01 2013 2 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Mini darrell grimes Supporter
I have personally cast out demons in the mighty name of Jesus. A believer must first be a believer in the power and authority of the WORD OF GOD AND THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT LIVING IN HIM. We as born again believers must adhere strictly to the Word and not add or subtract anything from it. The bible is clear in his name, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess His Lordship. There are many demons possessing people and bringing sicknesses and mental and unholy actions in their lives, it is only the power of God that can set them free. We are the body of Christ. He said these things I do even greater things shall you do! Let us believe and not doubt or assume let's just have faith in GOD!

October 31 2013 1 response Vote Up Share Report


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Photo Anthony Clinton Supporter Teacher in China
Jesus talked about casting out demons and it was a sure proof that the devil's kingdom was being overthrown. Imagine a demoniac like the madman at Gadaraenes there would be absolutely no help for that man if he did not get delivered by Christ. Jesus delivered him because of His great compassion. there are people with all kinds of demon Spirits and there is no hope without a disciple casting them out in the name of Jesus. 

For us to expect God to throw us the completed Bible and say,"Ok you've got the completed Bible now, there will be no more miracle ministries!" It absolutely absurd. The Scriptures teach us that there would be groups of people that will have a form of religion but deny the POWER OF IT. The word in Greek for power is the Word, "dunamis" a word we derive dynamite from. It was also used for "mighty works" of God. It was promised to all that were Baptized in the Holy Spirit. 

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

Mat 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 

There are many that are in this category. I was witnessing in Australia in a busy market street when a person coming towards me suddenly had both eyes go up in his head. He fell on the floor and began to writhe like a wounded snake my friend, a Christian brother and myself put our hands on his head and commaded the demon to leave. He was instantly delivered of the demon and stood and prayed the sinner's prayer with us. He is still continuing in the faith today due to that glorious miracle. after talking with him he told me as he walked towards me he heard a voice saying, "don't go near him" referring to me. Thank God for His enduring miracle powers poured out abundantly through the Holy Spirit.

October 31 2013 4 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Mini Mark Galinsky Supporter
There are those that will tell you that part of Spiritual Warfare should be directly rebuking Satan. As if you could be face to face and able to speak to him. Since Satan is not omnipresent, or omniscient, the chances you could even get his undivided attention is close to zero. He does however have a legion of demons ready to pounce on you given the chance. What you probably don't realize is, that they are more powerful than you and I can imagine. 
The verse people use to justify this is Mark 16:17. 

17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; (Mark 16:17 ESV)

The difficulty with using this verse is this. Most Bible scholars agree that Mark 16:9-20 were not written by Mark, but added later in an attempt to finish his Gospel. So then what we must do is interpret Mark 16:17 with the whole of Scripture. Every other verse citing casting out of demons was for the Apostles and not for those after the Apostolic age. 
So what are we to do? How do we respond, Biblically, when evil tempts us? We are told to look to the Lord in order to resist. 

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 ESV)

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 ESV)

Let Him do the work we were not called to do. 

2 And the Lord said to Satan, "The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?" (Zechariah 3:2 ESV)

And, like I said before, the demons are more powerful than we are. Scripture warns us. 

15 But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. (Acts 19:15, 16 ESV

November 01 2013 1 response Vote Up Share Report


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Q jcryle001 JD Abshire Supporter
Jude 1:9 "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee."

October 31 2013 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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2013 09 15 08 57 49 546 Dorcas Sitali Supporter Miss Dorcas sitali
Demons are powers or principalities that are responsible for most suffering we see around us and in people's lives as we see in mark 9 the story of a boy who was healed by Jesus his problem was caused by a demon. Luke 13:16, the woman was bound over by satan. Mark 5:3 the Jesus healed the man with demons.

Jesus ascending back to the Father declared that these signs shall follow those that believe in My Name the shall cast out devils..mark 16:17. Jesus the Head of the body the church said so.

For those people in Acts 19:11 who went to cast out devils in the Name of Jesus whom Paul preached, did so because they saw and heard Paul preach Jesus with signs and wonders following him.

October 31 2013 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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1459673450 Felix De Evangelist Itsuokor Supporter A preacher of the gospel.
There is absolute Power in the Name of Jesus Christ which we preach. "But as many as received Him (Born again believers), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name." John 1:12. As believers we have the power to cast out evil spirits or demons. 

Secondly, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my Name shall they cast out Devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark 16:17,18. Again I tell you something that there is power in the Name of Jesus to cast out Devils by the believers. 

Angels do not use the Name of Jesus and Jesus Christ did not die for angels. Jesus Christ is God who took human flesh, humbled Himself, came into this world to die for you and I to deliver us from this present evil world. According to the will of God. Gal 1:4. The human born again believers have been given the power to cast out Devils, heal the sick, raise the dead and all manner of afflictions the devil is spreading all over the place. There is power in the Name of Jesus Christ.

The believers are more powerful than the devil because the same Spirit that raised up Jesus Christ dwelleth in us. God exalted Jesus Christ and given Him a Name which is above every name; that at the mention of the Name of Jesus, devils or demons flee, scatter, their plans destroyed, their gatherings brought to a halt and every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord. Philippians 2:9-11. 

This is not a thing to argue about, it is the whole truth that the born again believers have the power to cast out devils in the Name of Jesus. Go and cast out devils that oppresses your family members, your friends and many other people that are being afflicted.

As far as you are a born again Christian, you have been given the power of the Holy Ghost to cast out demons through the Name of Jesus Christ. The Name of Jesus is the power that destroys the kingdom of darkness. God bless.

May 31 2016 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Mini Mathew Anderson Supporter
It's worrisome to say the least that I did not read one individual here remind everyone of something that seems to be a serious problem and reoccurring theme among those who "do" without knowing the specifics, rules, and regulations. Life should never be a seat of the pants on a whim affair. Exceedingly more so what your approach to the Bible should never be. Casual approaches, cherry picking, out of context affairs are some things that plague the efforts to share and understand the Bible. 

In my experience and certainly in accordance with the Bible, knowledge, wisdom, and guidance are all gits from the Holy Spirit, These alone should make those things easy. 

I digress.

“Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” A verse most seem to be unaware of.

When you receive Christ the Holy Spirit enters you. Your "house" is occupied. This is why true believers cannot be possessed. Both God and evil cannot occupy the same space.

You must NOT exorcise anyone that is not going to receive Christ as Lord and Savior. In Jesus's time and the 12 that did this, it had a different purpose. Jesus had not been sacrificed yet. Please understand: you do 7 times the damage to them that they had before you.

You not only did not help, you are responsible for making it very worse. In my opinion, anyone that argues what I've said argue the Bible, and therefore is a false teacher and blasphemer.

These are JESUS's words:
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none; but when a man speaketh against the Holy Ghost, then he saith, ‘I will return into my house from whence I came out’; and when he is come, he findeth him empty, swept and garnished; for the good spirit leaveth him unto himself.

“Then goeth the evil spirit, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last end of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”

Ignorance and carelessness are dangerous. It is your responsibility to be infallible with the infallible word of GOD. That is also Biblical.

November 04 2022 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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