Deliver us from Evil
One day, as I sat quietly at my computer in the loft of our cabin in the woods,
I heard a soft, almost undetectable “zinging” sound.
Zing… Zing… Zing.
Over and over it went. There were no other sounds in the house as my wife
was at work in town.
Zing… Zing… Zing.
Gradually, I became aware of how close that sound was to me. Slowly, I turned
my head and looked toward the air vent on the floor where the sound was
coming from. Unbelievably, there was a snake - about 3 feet long - pulling itself
through the tiny slits in the vent…and I’m on the second floor! Most of the critter
was already out of the vent, it’s long body was slithering in the shadows along
the baseboard by the time I got over to it. I began moving things as the snake
raced along the floor. Finally, the snake threw itself over the edge of the loft
and onto a clothes rack below.
Ugh.
Great.
I went through almost every garment until, finally, I found it, curled up like a
cinnamon roll in one of my jacket pockets. Needless to say, I carried the
jacket - heavy with its reptilian hobo - outside and dumped it.
In other words, I “cast it out” of my house.
My point is, there was something in my house that day; something that didn’t
belong there. It got in through an opening…a very small opening. Where
demon spirits in our lives are concerned, that’s really quite an analogy.
EXORCISM!
People are fascinated by the subject of exorcism. Whether it’s movies like
“The Exorcist” or shows like PrimeTime, Dateline and 20/20, people “wanna
watch.”
Back in the Summer of 2006, CBS gave a pilot commitment to an exorcism-
themed drama from “Joan of Arcadia” creator Barbara Hall and producer Joe
Roth. The project, from CBS Paramount Network Television and studio-
based Joe Roth Television, is inspired by the real-life experiences of Bob
Larson, an expert on cults, the occult and supernatural phenomena. In 2005,
The Exorcism of Emily Rose, was released, a movie about the true story of
an exorcism in Germany. MSNBC Investigates Exorcism: Tom Brown
Ministries and the History Channel’s “Hell: The Devil’s Domain” have also
done shows on exorcisms (Pastor Tom Brown, charismatic church in El Paso,
Texas) where an actual exorcism was taped and the film played on the program
(SEE: http://www.tbm.org/real_video
you’ll see that, more and more, God is using the world to expose the reality
of the devil.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT
Sadly, however, and almost unbelievably, over half of America’s pastors do
not acknowledge the existence of literal devils. Jesus Christ certainly
believed in Satan and referred to him as the ruler, or Prince, of this world,
John.14:30. Of course, He also referred to him as a liar, the father of lies and
a murderer, John 8:44. In Revelation 12:9, he is called the deceiver of the
whole world. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, he is called the god, or king, of this whole
world. John 10:10 says he came to kill, steal and destroy.
That doesn’t sound like a mere “symbol” of evil to me. I believe Satan’s
greatest deception is that he’s caused multitudes to NOT believe he exists.
I have ministered deliverance many, many times over the past 13 years.
I’ve seen all kinds of manifestations, from a Christian woman who
hissed like a cat in a Charismatic church to a Baptist minister who swayed
like a cobra and shouted, in a gravely voice, “I hate you! I hate this church!
I hate him and I hate her!” I’ve been spoken to by strange voices that came
out of otherwise sweet, gentle Christian men and women. I’ve smelled
sulphur during ministry sessions and have had a teen-aged witch scream,
“It will burn me!” when I opened my Bible before her in a Methodist church.
I’ve seen bite marks with saliva around them and have seen people lose the
ability to open their mouths until I commanded the devil to loose their tongue.
Scary stuff? Only the first time. After that, it only makes me mad that these
demons are tormenting God’s people. It ALSO makes me mad that so many
ministers aren’t interested in learning how to minister to their congregations,
many of whom are bound by demons in this way. Whose side are they on
anyway? While speaking in a local coffee bat several years ago, a pretty college
student interrupted my teaching on spiritual warfare and said, “Excuse me but
when was my pastor going to get around to telling me all this?” It seems that,
as long as folks attend services, look good and smell good, say ‘amen’ at the
right time and learn how to tithe, in most cases, the average preacher is fairly
content.
A CHRISTIAN THING
For those who think this is a Pentecostal thing, it’s not. It’s a Christian thing.
Are we going to settle for status quo? Are we going to allow ourselves and
our people to be trained? Are we motivated by compassion to see people
released from demonic oppression? Are we going to seek deliverance for our
SELVES before we step out and wind up naked and bleeding like the Seven
Sons of Sceva?
Pray about it. Do what God would have you to do. I’ve written a series that I’d
be happy to broadcast to anyone who’s interested. It might help. Read it and
please don’t hesitate to ask questions. In addition, there’s all kinds of
information on this subject available on the web for whosoever will.
“These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will cast out
demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their
hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will
place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:17-18).
Remember, Jesus sent his disciples to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, to
cast out devils, to heal the sick (Matthew10:1,8, Luke 9:1, 10:9, 17-18,
Mark16:17-18, John 1412-13). He made a great and almost unbelievable promise:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that
I do; and greater works than these will he do,” (Jn.14:12).
You had better BELIEVE IT! You, as a Christian, are empowered by the Holy
Spirit and, as a result, are well able to cast out demons, too.
The disciples, men just like us, did what Jesus did. The Book of Acts is full of
wonders and miracles… of “actions” (that’s why it is called “Acts”), not just
words; first Peter and John (Acts 4, 5:12-17, 9:33, 40, 12:5-9) then Stephen (6:8),
Phillip (8:6-8), Paul (9, 14:8-20, 16:16,25-26, 19:11-12, 28:9). The Book of Acts
is STILL being written today…and WE are in it!
LET’S CLEAN HOUSE
Jesus didn’t say, “I am come that they might have MEETINGS, and that they
might have MEETINGS more abundantly.” NO! He said He came that we
might have LIFE more abundantly. For some of us, that means kicking some
devil’s backside out of our lives, just the way we’d chase any other
unwanted critter from our home.
By the way, a few nights ago, as I was working quietly at my computer, I
heard some paper rustling nearby.
A little mouse!
Ugh.
He’s gone, too. On two occasions, before my very eyes, I’ve witnessed frogs
squeezing their way under my front door.
Ah, wilderness!
Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo
A servant of God
www.YourTown4Jesus.com
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