God does do miracles through His people, and the enemy does fight back in similar fashion. How do we keep our eyes on Jesus and not get sidetracked by miracles and demonic things in our world, but be willing to be used by God however He sees fit? How do we get to a place that we are so in tune with God that we are protected against attack from the enemy?
There is a very real war happening around us. As there is forward progression on the godly side, there will be oppression from the enemy’s side
We fight the demonic by pressing into the miraculous.
GOD CAN AND DOES DO MIRACLES
Acts 19:11-12
11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
CLUSTERS OF MIRACLES in the book of Acts
- “Many wonders and signs” (2:43).
- “Many signs and wonders” (5:12).
- “The shadow of Peter” apparently healed some, and “a multitude gathered… and they were all healed” (5:15-16).
- “Stephen… did great wonders and signs” (6:8).
- “The multitudes… heeded…, hearing and seeing the miracles which Philip did” (8:6).
- “The Lord… granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands” (14:3).
- “Barnabas and Paul declared how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them” (15:12).
- “God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul… even handkerchiefs or aprons” (19:11-12).
- “The rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed” (28:9)
God’s primary purpose in performing miracles was to authenticate the ministry of the apostles, and to draw people into relationship with Him.
IT MATTERS WHO WE CALL ON
Acts 19:13-20
13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded
17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. 18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
DEMONIC OPPRESSION IS REAL
1 Peter 5:8-9
He prowls around like a lion seeking whom he may devour.
John 14:30
He is the ruler of this world
James 4:7
Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
So what IS demonic oppression?
Demonic oppression is a spiritual attack from a demonic spirit which seeks to influence a person’s thoughts, emotions, and even their actions.
Definition of Oppression:
-Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control
-Mental pressure or distress
Definition of Possession:
-The state of having, owning or controlling something
THE MAIN THING: FOCUS ON JESUS
The reality is, we fight the demonic by pressing INTO the miraculous.
How do we get to a place that we are so in tune with God that we are protected against attack from the enemy?
1. Know the Word of God
2. Be secure in your identity in Christ
3. Stay connected to community—no one fights alone
