Was "Re: Exorcism?"

[James]

Re: Exorcism?
In reading Luke 11:24-26 there are some unexpected words from Jesus.
Apparently sometimes when a demon is exorcised from a person it later
returns to the same person, or even comes back with some demon
friends. This notwithstanding I have often found exorcisms to be kind
of a weak miracle anyways (assuming that a possessed person in the
Bible is somewhat similar to a mentally ill person of today). After
all, even the most far gone of mentally ill people can have brief
lapses of sanity. One might assume a lapse of sanity might take place
when being the focal center of a ritual. Yet demon exorcisms are
commonly referred to by many modern preachers as one of the most
amazing examples of Jesus's healing powers.
But my question is, why didn't Jesus simply forbid the unclean
spirit(s) to return to the person? There doesn't seem to be any
obvious reason why he couldn't do this. Is there any explanation? I
have seen some Catholic Bibles suggest he is referring (in the above
passage) to the 'exorcism of Israel' or something prophetic,
political, and symbolic. But even if this were the case, it would
seem difficult to rule out a literal reading as well. And the literal
reading is that exorcism just plain doesn't work very well.
Sincerely,
Matt

Hello Matt,

Based on Lu 11:24-27, apparently if the person has gotten rid of the
demon, it can come back (and bring more) if that person does not fill
that void with things of God etc. Because the disciple James says at
Jas 4:7,

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you." (NIV)

Evidently Jesus was discussing a situation here in Luke, where the
person did not resist the devil and evil spirits, nor fill that void
with strong spiritual things. So the demon came back with his
friends.

I hope this has helped.

Sincerely, James

If you wish to have a discussion with me, please use email since I do
not follow all conversations in ng threads


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Post by James

Re: Exorcism?
In reading Luke 11:24-26 there are some unexpected words from Jesus.
Apparently sometimes when a demon is exorcised from a person it later
returns to the same person, or even comes back with some demon
friends. =A0This notwithstanding I have often found exorcisms to be kind
of a weak miracle anyways (assuming that a possessed person in the
Bible is somewhat similar to a mentally ill person of today). =A0After
all, even the most far gone of mentally ill people can have brief
lapses of sanity. =A0One might assume a lapse of sanity might take place
when being the focal center of a ritual. =A0Yet demon exorcisms are
commonly referred to by many modern preachers as one of the most
amazing examples of Jesus's healing powers.
But my question is, why didn't Jesus simply forbid the unclean
spirit(s) to return to the person? =A0There doesn't seem to be any
obvious reason why he couldn't do this. =A0Is there any explanation? =A0=

I

Post by James

have seen some Catholic Bibles suggest he is referring (in the above
passage) to the 'exorcism of Israel' or something prophetic,
political, and symbolic. =A0But even if this were the case, it would
seem difficult to rule out a literal reading as well. =A0And the literal
reading is that exorcism just plain doesn't work very well.
Sincerely,
Matt

Hello Matt,
Based on Lu 11:24-27, apparently if the person has gotten rid of the
demon, it can come back (and bring more) if that person does not fill
that void with things of God etc.

No, not "with things of God" but with God Himself by the indwelling
Person of the Spirit.

Post by James
Because the disciple James says at
Jas 4:7,
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you." (NIV)
Evidently Jesus was discussing a situation here in Luke, where the
person did not resist the devil and evil spirits, nor fill that void
with strong spiritual things. So the demon came back with his
friends.

In an unbeliever. This is why, during counseling, one must speak
to the individual him/herself by silencing the demon, to find out if
the prerequisite has been achieved - is the counselee truly born
again, a true child of God or not. If not, then no exorcism is to
be performed. Why? It offers no hope. But for the one who is
a believer "in Christ" then true liberation is not only achievable,
but
sustainable.

But your system of faith is little different than that of Jews of
Christ's day. For you do not have the Spirit. In fact, you don't
have Christ because you only allow him to be some modification
of an angel. And if you have not the Spirit, then you are none
of Christ's which means you also have not the Father and yet
remain in your sin and under His wrath. You would cast out a
demon in very much the same way a 1st C Jew would.