The Truth

"Never think God is allowing devils to work sickness, disease, mental affliction, or any torment."

DEMONS DO NOT tremble at your name, at your loud voice, or even because you scream Scriptures at them. They tremble at the name of Jesus, but not initially and not unless the Spirit decides to be authoritative. He is often present where they are at, and they have no idea.

You’re looking at me funny, so I’ll explain. It’s in the Word. First, He can work in ungodly men, who don’t believe in Him. There’s Pharaoh, for starts. Long story short. Pharaoh turned away from the Hebrew God, yet did His perfect will. Then there’s Caiaphas the High Priest. He prophesied Jesus’ death and the reason for it we are told. Yet, He hated Jesus (John 11:51). Third, there’s the devil. It was the Spirit who led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Luke 4:1). Satan didn’t understand who Jesus was nor what would happen when He hung on the cross. He caused his own defeat, according to the much prophesied plan of God.

Second, the Spirit is in all locations, yet some beings there are empty of Him. Psalm 139:8 tells us He is in hell. 1 Peter tells us Jesus, after death, preached to the spirits imprisoned there (1 Peter 3:19). John’s Revelation says Jesus has the keys of hell and death (Revelation 1:18). No place is exempt from Him. He was in Philistia when they left the ark in the temple of Dagon, and that didn’t work out. For Dagon or the Philistines (1 Samuel 5). All words spoken are heard by Him. All of them. Prayers to false gods, the deception and disgustingness of devils. Darkness and light are the same to Him (Psalm 139:12).

Why would God be silent and not show authority whenever He is near devils? Why does the Word say they tremble at Jesus’ name, yet they don’t listen when we say it? To the first question, God is all wisdom. He knows all things. He is precise and specific and always good. We can’t forget these Truths. Never think God is allowing devils to work sickness, disease, mental affliction, or any torment. That goes against His nature. We must always assume we don’t know something that will help us to fully understand things, and then we should ask Him for clarity and peace.

To the other question, the answer involves our relationship and spiritual maturity. The apostle Paul called the church at Corinth infants, still in need of milk. They weren’t able to walk in the weightier things of God. We are all at different levels. This isn’t a statement of arrogance, but that however much time you spend in His Presence, in His Word, in conversation with Him, He will reveal greater things to you. How important is He to you? Never settle where you are at. Never think you know all of a subject. God is infinite. We will be learning for all of eternity.

We must know that devils are angels who sinned. It is their rebellion against the obedience to God that puts them where they are at, in the condition they’re in. So they will disobey the name of Jesus, even from Jesus. Until the Spirit flexes His arm, that is, and it doesn’t take much. But their disobedience is always prevalent. They will not flee if it can be avoided. Even to Jesus’ faith, they continued to cause hurt and injury. We see this in those which possessed the Gadarene. They refused to leave and asked to go into the pigs, only when forced (Mark 5:12). There is the father who sought healing for his son, as well. That devil regularly cast the boy in the water and in the fire to kill him. Then when Jesus rebuked him, he caused the man’s son to shout and writhe and make a scene (Mark 9:22). The soothsayer who followed the apostle Paul cried out, “These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation,” until Paul turned and commanded the unclean spirit to leave her (Acts 16:18). Why would an unclean spirit make such a statement in the face of the Holy Spirit? Well, that’s why they are devils and not angels. Satan, a fallen angel, misquoted a Scripture about the legitimate work of angels, to God who made angels, in that moment, not recognizing Him (Luke 4:11).

We are not to be afraid of devils. We must know Truth, however, and be close to Jesus for His name on our tongue to hold weight. We cannot assume, even then, they will see us and go running. Men did this in Acts 19 and ended up naked and wounded (Acts 19:16). I remember Minister Lance Wallnau talking about a young man who came to him for deliverance from an unclean spirit. The young man told him he’d had several well-known men lay hands on him, yet the spirit remained. Minister Wallnau’s advice was to go deeper in the Word. Three weeks later, he found out the young man was free. In that case, it was relationship that set him free and not the devil in him being rebuked publicly.

We can’t be flippant in our self-confidence, nor should we neglect someone who is seeking freedom because we “don’t know what else to do.” There are those who will not be free until someone in the church takes hold of Jesus’ garment and refuses to let go. And understanding is needed, revelation is needed, so that we approach like Jesus and not an overfed, untaught member of the church. God’s heart is freedom. The Spirit is in us and upon us to bring freedom. Our own. And other people’s.

For our forgiveness Jesus died. To give us heaven, He rose again. We must take our part in it.

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” (Psalm 91:4)


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com