Demons in the Church House

Even Church Folk Need Help Sometimes

by Pastor John Hamel

“And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.  And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.  And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,  Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.  

"And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.  And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.  And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.  And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.” (Mark 1:21-28)

This is the first record we have of Jesus performing a miracle in Capernaum.  He had just arrived from Galilee and headed immediately for the synagogue.  He began teaching with such wisdom and power that the people who heard were absolutely astonished at what He had to say.  They had never before heard anyone speak by the power of God.  They were accustomed to the dry, wordy, powerless rhetoric of the Scribes.  

The Scribes Were Unfamiliar with the Power of God

The Scribes were men who copied the Scriptures by hand.  They had much of God’s Word committed to memory from writing it over and over.  They also merely repeated the traditions they had learned from their elders.  They were actually little more than echoes of the law to the people.  

They never had a fresh revelation from God nor were they accustomed to God confirming what they said with healings, signs and wonders.  They had no power to set people free from demon powers.  If they had, there never would have been people sitting in their congregations so comfortably, yet so full of evil spirits. 

This is true of too many “Christian” churches today.  Satan himself is not threatened by too many of today’s Preachers. 

The Apostle Paul said that this would happen in the Last Days.  He warned against Preachers who come on religiously but say things like, “There are no demons anymore.  They all left when Jesus did.” “The days of miracles have passed.” and other unscriptural nonsense.  Paul said to come away from preachers like that.

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: From such turn away.” (2Timothy 3:5)

People all across America are sitting comfortably in some churches.  Yet those very same people are full of demon spirits.  The Pastor would not dare try to set them free for many reasons that we will not go into.  But I will say this.  

Satan and demon powers know exactly where they can go to church and whom they can control.  But they start squirming and crying out for mercy when a true man of God comes to town.

Satan & Demons Recognize the Anointing of God

That is why the spirits in that man began crying out for Jesus to leave them alone.  Jesus never even addressed them.  They just started squirming and screaming because He preached the Word with authority.  They knew that anybody who spoke with authority the way that Jesus did was probably about to clobber them at any moment.  They were terrified of Him. 

Yes, Jesus referred to the Law of Moses and even approved of some tradition.  But beyond that, He had miracles of deliverance to back up everything He taught.  The Scribes and the Pharisees did not.  

Jesus always taught the people truth to stir up their faith for miracles, and then He allowed His Father to perform the miracles through Him. (John 14:10)  This happened everywhere Jesus went.

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” (Matthew 9:35)

Miracles should not be unusual today.  Miracles are not a violation of the will of God.  Miracles are a restoration of the will of God.  God never intended for anyone to be sick or to be controlled by demon powers against their will. 

Jesus is present wherever you are today to restore your life to its natural order, if only you will reach out to Him by faith. 

Demon Powers Still Fear the Anointing of God

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: The devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19)  

Demon spirits live in absolute fear of an anointed man or woman of God coming along with satanic discernment.  They are tormented by anointed Ministers who could not care less about what some skeptic might say about their casting out demons by the power of God.  They still recognize Jesus as their superior.  They still know Jesus as Creator God in the flesh and easily recognize when Jesus confronts them through a human being. 

These demons screamed in the presence of Jesus.  He just told them to shut up.  He never allowed demons to talk to Him unless He was asking the questions.  He did not allow them to vomit on Him, or to crawl across the carpet with slime coming out of their ears and noses.  He did not allow demonic manifestations and neither do we.  

As soon as they begin to manifest, we take authority in Jesus’ Name and out they go.  We allow Holy Spirit manifestations only. 

In the presence of Jesus Christ, demon spirits are dominated and humanity is delivered by the supernatural power of the Most High God. 

Now it would not be right and I would not be honest if I closed without emphasizing one final fact from our text Scripture.

This Man Was a Church-Goer

“And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out …” (Mark 1:23)

It is hard to tell how long that man had been sitting there but it had probably been for quite some time.  How long those demon spirits were inside of that man the Bible does not say.  But it is pretty clear from our text that he was apparently quite comfortable in that church.  He was just sitting there feeling good and going along for the ride until Jesus showed up.  

The anointing on Jesus’ life absolutely agitated those demon spirits, scaring the daylights out of them and spoiling all of their fun.

As I said, still today demon spirits are hanging around in some churches, possessing people, sitting there, feeling good and just going along for the ride.  That is, until someone comes along who knows their Blood-bought authority over all evil spirits.  Someone who knows that Jesus spoiled and stripped of power every level of demonic government.

“And having spoiled principalities and powers, He [Jesus] made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)

You may be a church-goer, sitting comfortably every Sunday and Wednesday, but on the remaining weekdays you are driven to do things against your will.  Dishonest things.  Immoral things.  Hateful things.  You need help and you know it.  You need the supernatural help that only God can give.  

If you are bold enough to acknowledge that you need help, Jesus is bold enough to set you free. 

Satan’s power has already been broken off of your life.  You just need to enforce his defeat.  He must obey the Spirit of God when you address him.  He knows he must obey you when you call on the Name of Jesus.  He knows he must obey you when you use the Name of Jesus.  Let’s look at something Jesus said about the power He has given you over Satan. 

“Behold, I give unto YOU power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that THE SPIRITS ARE SUBJECT UNTO YOU; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19,20)

When Jesus said “serpents and scorpions” He was speaking symbolically.  In the Bible serpents and scorpions are symbolic of Satan and demon spirits.  Jesus has given you power to tread on Satan and demon spirits.  They are subject to you.  Once you give your life to God through Jesus, they know they have no choice but to obey you.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

Can you see that?  First, you give your life to God through Jesus.  Second, resist the devil and he will flee from you.  When someone gives their life to God through Jesus, Jesus shares His power with them.  This power gives them the same authority that He has. (John 14:12)  This power enables the obedient child of God to tie Satan up, so to speak, and take back everything he took from you.  Jesus said so.

“…how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then HE will spoil his house.” (Matthew 12:29)

Did you see that?  You have power to bind the strong man.  That’s what Jesus called Satan.  “The strong man.”  You have greater strength than the strong man.  The Bible says, “Greater is He who is in you than he [Satan] who is in the world.” (1John 4:4) 

There is an anointing on the Word of God to set you free no matter where in the world you are when you read this.  That’s why you are aware of demons trembling right now.  If you are a churchgoing Christian and you’ve been tormented by compulsive human or demonic behavior, you have the authority to rise up and make it stop. 

Open your mouth and say, “Satan, this is the end of the line.  This is where you get off.  This is where your torment ends and my joy begins.  I address the rulers of the darkness of this present evil world.  I address all demonic principalities and powers.  I bind you.  I disable you now.  In Jesus’ Name I command you to cease and desist every assignment against me.  Go, go, go, in Jesus’ Name.”

Now stand up and lift your hands.  Start thanking God that you are free.  Keep thanking God that you are free.  

Do not bind the devil over and over.  Once you bind him, just remind him, “Satan, you are bound and I am free, in Jesus’ Name.”

Now get yourself into a Church by the leading of the Holy Spirit where the Pastor does not tolerate evil spirits tormenting his flock.  There are lots of good ones around.  Ask God to show you where yours is, in Jesus’ Name.  That Name not only works against Satan and evil spirits, it also works in prayer.

Possibly you have read this study and have not yet made the Prophet Jesus Lord of your life.  You need to be Born Again.  Just say, “Jesus, You’re my choice” (Romans 10:13) and you will be translated from the kingdom of darkness directly over into the Kingdom of Light. (Colossians 1:12,13)  

That is when things will stop happening TO you and start happening FOR you.

Be Blessed … John and Barbara Hamel

How to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)

How to Receive The Holy Spirit & Power

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