Exorcism is a topic that raises questions about spiritual authority and God’s power over evil. The Bible includes examples of Jesus casting out demons. Today, we’ll see what Scripture teaches about spiritual warfare and deliverance.
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What Does The Bible Say About Exorcism
Mark 16:17
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;”
This verse highlights the power of believers to drive out demons in Jesus’ name. It emphasizes the authority entrusted to followers of Christ to combat spiritual forces of evil.
By invoking the name of Jesus, believers have the ability to confront and expel demonic forces, demonstrating their faith and the supernatural power of God.
James 4:7
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
This verse encourages believers to submit themselves to God and actively resist the devil. It implies that by aligning with God and standing against the devil, believers can overcome and drive away demonic influences.
By maintaining a strong relationship with God, believers can gain the strength and authority to resist the devil’s temptations and ultimately experience victory over spiritual battles.
Acts 19:11-12
“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured, and the evil spirits left them.”
This verse highlights the extraordinary power of God working through Paul. It shows that even items that had been in contact with Paul could be used as instruments of healing and deliverance from evil spirits.
God’s power transcends physical objects and can be manifested in miraculous ways to bring about healing and freedom from demonic oppression.
Matthew 10:1
“Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
In this verse, Jesus empowers his disciples to release people from the clutches of impure spirits and heal various diseases and sicknesses. It demonstrates the authority and power granted by Jesus to confront spiritual forces of evil.
Jesus’ disciples were endowed with the ability to combat the supernatural realm, offering physical and spiritual healing through divine intervention.
Luke 10:19
“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
This verse emphasizes the authority and protection given by Jesus to his followers. It speaks of the ability to triumph over the power of the enemy, assuring believers that they have nothing to fear.
With Jesus’ authority, believers possess the capability to confront and overcome spiritual attack, knowing that they are shielded from harm.
Acts 8:7
“For impure spirits came out of many, shouting loudly. And many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.”
This verse describes the powerful effects of exorcism performed by Philip. It illustrates how impure spirits were expelled with great turmoil while many others were healed from their physical afflictions.
The act of exorcism not only frees individuals from the grip of demonic oppression but also brings forth physical restoration and miraculous healings.
1 John 4:4
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
This verse assures believers of their victory over demonic forces, emphasizing that the indwelling presence of God within them is more powerful than any evil present in the world.
Through the Holy Spirit, believers possess the strength and authority to successfully combat spiritual opposition, knowing that God’s power surpasses anything they may face.
Matthew 7:22-23
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'”
This verse warns against the dangers of relying solely on the performance of miracles and deliverance as a measure of spiritual authenticity. It emphasizes the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus.
Miracles and exorcisms can be performed, but genuine faith and relationship with Christ are crucial for acceptance into His Kingdom.
Mark 5:19
“Jesus did not let him, but said, ‘Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.'”
After freeing a man from a multitude of evil spirits, Jesus instructs him to share his testimony and the mercy he experienced. This verse highlights the importance of testifying to God’s deliverance.
Personal testimonies serve as powerful tools to glorify God and inspire others to seek freedom from demonic oppression through Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 4:1
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
This verse warns of the prevalence of deceiving spirits and demonic teachings that will tempt believers to abandon their faith. It highlights the need for discernment and steadfastness in faith.
Disciples of Christ must remain rooted in the truth, being vigilant against the influences of false doctrines and demonic deceptions that may compromise their faith.
Acts 16:18
“She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.”
In this verse, Paul exorcises a spirit from a possessed girl by commanding it to leave in the name of Jesus Christ. It demonstrates the authority believers have to cast out spirits.
Through the power of Jesus’ name, believers can confront and expel evil spirits, trusting in the effectiveness of their deliverance through the authority bestowed upon them by Christ.
Mark 9:29
“He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.””
When Jesus’ disciples struggle to cast out a particularly stubborn spirit, Jesus advises them that such cases require prayer and fasting. It emphasizes the importance of spiritual disciplines in combating demonic influences.
Effective exorcism often requires believers to intensify their spiritual devotion through prayer and fasting, seeking God’s intervention and power to overcome spiritual opposition.
Matthew 8:16
“When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.”
This verse reveals Jesus’ ability to drive out spirits and heal the sick through his spoken word. It demonstrates the authority and power of Jesus in delivering individuals from demonic oppression.
As believers exercise faith in the name of Jesus, they can confidently declare the Word of God, knowing that it possesses the power to bring deliverance to those in need.
Acts 5:16
“Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.”
This verse depicts the widespread healing and deliverance that occurred through the apostles. It illustrates the effectiveness of their ministry in setting people free from the torment of impure spirits.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers can bring hope and healing to those afflicted by evil spirits, pointing them towards the freedom found in Christ.
Ephesians 6:10-12
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
This verse urges believers to rely on the strength and power of the Lord, equipping themselves with the armor of God to resist the schemes of the devil. It emphasizes that our battle is not against humans but against spiritual forces of evil.
To effectively combat demonic oppression, believers must rely on God’s power and protection, standing firm in the truth and righteousness provided by the armor of God.
Matthew 12:43-45
“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean, and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
In this passage, Jesus explains the consequences of deliverance without true transformation. It emphasizes the importance of filling the spiritual void with the presence of God to avoid further oppression.
Merely driving out evil spirits is not enough. Believers must also pursue a genuine relationship with God, allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell within them to prevent further spiritual vulnerability.
Acts 13:9-10
“Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ‘You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?’
Employing insight from the Holy Spirit, Paul confronts Elymas, a sorcerer who opposes the truth. This verse exemplifies the confrontation of demonic opposition through spiritual discernment and boldness.
Believers can rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to identify and confront those who propagate falsehoods, standing firmly for the truth and righteousness of God.
Luke 11:20
“But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
In this verse, Jesus attributes the driving out of demons to the finger of God, signifying that the arrival of the kingdom of God is near. It emphasizes the power and authority of God’s kingdom in overcoming evil.
Exorcisms serve as evidence of the manifestation of God’s kingdom, illustrating His power to deliver individuals from the influence of evil spirits.
Acts 19:13-16
“Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, ‘In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.’ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?’ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.”
This passage illustrates the perils of attempting to perform exorcisms without a genuine relationship with Christ. It demonstrates the importance of personal faith and authority when engaging in spiritual battles.
True deliverance from evil spirits requires a sincere connection with Jesus Christ and the authority granted through a genuine relationship with Him.
Mark 1:27
“The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.'”
This verse reflects the astonished response of people witnessing Jesus’ authority in driving out impure spirits. It emphasizes the unique power and command Jesus possessed over demonic forces.
In imitation of Jesus’ example, believers can also exercise authority over evil spirits through their faith in and reliance on the name of Jesus.
Matthew 8:28-32
“When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ‘What do you want with us, Son of God?’ they shouted. ‘Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?’ Some distance from them, a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, ‘If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.’ He said to them, ‘Go!’ So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.”
In this account, Jesus encounters two demon-possessed individuals who recognize Him as the Son of God. Jesus demonstrates his authority by commanding the demons to leave the afflicted men and enter into a herd of pigs.
This passage emphasizes Jesus’ power to control and remove demonic forces, showcasing the transformative effect of His intervention.
Mark 5:1-15
“They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills, he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!’ For Jesus had said to him, ‘Come out of this man, you impure spirit!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘My name is Legion,’ he replied, ‘for we are many.’ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, ‘Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.’ He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.”
This narrative recounts Jesus encountering a man possessed by multiple impure spirits. The possessed man had been residing among the tombs and displayed uncontrollable strength.
Jesus exercises authority by expelling the legion of impure spirits from the man, allowing them to enter a nearby herd of pigs. This passage demonstrates Jesus’ dominion over evil spirits and their subsequent destruction.