BIBLE OUTLOOK

Over recent years, there has been much controversy on whether God has given us the power to cast out evil spirits. Ministry leaders, such as Morris Cerullo and Richard Roberts, among others in the evangelical community, have been under attack, accused of heresy, and ridiculed for this type of healing practice.

Since Jesus was able to heal the sick and cast out demons, they also believe that we have been given that power through the Holy Spirit. But how can we be sure that God has anointed people with the power to heal others?

The argument people make is that Jesus only gave his twelve apostles the ability to heal the sick. When the apostles were with Jesus on earth to witness him heal people, they were taught to do the same. Scripture tells how the twelve men did drive out unclean spirits and heal people from every disease.

How wouldn’t it be even more possible for people to heal others after he ascended? That would be a point of what Jesus did through his death and resurrection, by giving people ability to drive out evil forces after his completed work. Unless his death was only done according to his plan for the next world, what authority can we acquire from him on earth?

God’s power may not be limited to the twelve apostles; they were given authority to show how others, especially those who are called, can apply the same commands. Otherwise, we would not have a way to overcome strongholds that people are burdened with.

Sometimes we just have to understand what is clearly taught in the Bible. By placing your trust in him, our struggles with sin are covered, but there can still be negative consequences of how it can impact your life. It can easily cause trouble in the world that leads to reproach, persecution, or spiritual affliction that people need cured from, such as anxiety and witchcraft.

Whether it affects our relationship with God is another issue, but simply improving ourselves is not how we inherit the land; it is obtained by his grace alone, by what he did to remove our transgressions, and it’s assured by the fruit of the spirit. Why sin keeps happening could be yielding you from turning the wrong direction. But the deeper you are into things, the worse it can cause these kinds of spiritual attacks.

Those things can obviously cause physical and mental harm, though it does not have to affect your faith. The problems it can cause are not only in your mind and body but also theological misunderstandings in your belief system. As a result, one may need a faith healer to lead them out of all kinds of spiritual warfare.

One faith leader by the name of Derek Prince (who was a British medic in North Africa during World War Two) discovered God’s healing power after going through many trials and tribulations. He wrote several books on how to overcome demonic attacks, many of which give biblical direction into God’s healing medicine, his unique method of using scripture passages.

Prince cured people from psychological, physical, and spiritual disorders of many kinds, just as Jesus and the apostles did, and just as Cerullo, Roberts, and others could, through God’s anointing power. Morris Cerullo and Richard Roberts, including others in the Pentecostal movement, are believed to have healed people from all walks of life, giving them mental, physical, and spiritual health over the enemy. According to what the Bible teaches, God can use others to release his divine healing power.

“What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out” (Luke 4:36).

What power does satan have then if we have faith over his evil design? Satan can have no control over us if we aren’t deceived and recover properly. Falling into sin doesn’t have to direct your intention against God, for he provides enough grace each day.

In order to not fall away, you don’t go astray into destruction that’s caused by unbelief, in which one becomes blameless in their own eyes. Those who think you must become blameless without sin would be what the world sees, but not what God sees to replace. Breaking free from addiction is not your only type of sin. Although addiction could harden your heart, only the love for it can, as stated in the book of John:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world; for if anyone loves this world, the truth of God is not in him. But whoever does not live according to the flesh, but according to the spirit will have life” (1 John 2:15-17).

Right now, much of the world needs help over its demonic influence — the right solution that can heal people against evil forces — from dark powers that cause despair, turmoil, and dismay. That solution can only be found through the knowledge and spirit of God, which may be released by those who activate his power.

Footnotes:

— We are not our own cure.

— To become blameless on our own is infused righteousness.

— We are imputed righteousness.

— One must know his sin.

— One can only grow in grace; he cannot turn from sin.