Authority Over Demons and Disease
165
the third time I said, ‘You foul spirit that oppresses this man’s body! I command you to
come out of him in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ!’”
A whole lot of so-called educated people would think this is foolishness. “Well, the man has a
physical condition. It’s been clinically diagnosed.” I wonder what you could have said about all
of the people to whom Jesus ministered. The woman with the issue of blood had spent every
dime she had on doctors, and nothing against the doctors, but they just couldn’t help her. Don’t
you suppose they had all kinds of reports and diagnoses and prognoses? You can choose to live
only in the natural and be oblivious to the sources, causes, and roots of things. Or you can get in
the ditch on the other side and be afraid whenever anyone says something about a demon or an
evil spirit. Or you can get in the middle of the high road and realize the devil is behind
everything that steals, kills, and destroys. But never fear. You’ve been given power and authority
over all unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of
disease, and you can use it.
A person might say, “I tried that. I tried it.” Well, he did, too. Jesus’ own disciples tried it one
time, with the man with the lunatic son. When Jesus got him set free, and the disciples asked,
“Why couldn’t we cast him out,” He said, “Because of your unbelief.” (Matthew 17:19,20) Now
other places say, “This kind comes out by prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29) Fasting doesn’t give
you more authority, it just helps you get out of the flesh and get in the Spirit.
Some say, “I tried that, and it didn’t work.” No, it tried you, and you failed. That doesn’t change
the fact that you still have authority. Don’t look back. Stir yourself up and say, “This time I’m
going to do it in faith. This time I’m going to do it with confidence. This time I’m not going to
waver.”
After commanding the foul spirit a third time, Brother Hagin spoke to the man again.
“Now see
if
you can stoop over. See
if
you can bend down.” He couldn’t, of course.
I gave up and I went on to pray for the next person. The man walked back down the
aisle.”
Now, does this mean it wasn’t God’s will to heal this man? No, it absolutely does not.
“I was standing on the platform about three feet to the right of the pulpit. As the next
person stepped up to be prayed for, I looked over to my left for some unknown reason,
and I saw Jesus standing there as plainly as any man I had ever seen in my life! I thought
everyone saw Him, but, I learned later that no one in the congregation saw or heard Him
except me. The congregation heard what I said, but they didn’t see or hear anyone else.
Jesus was standing beside the pulpit. I could have reached out and touched him. He
pointed His finger at me and said, ‘I said that in My Name the demon or demons will
leave.’
