You are so confident in yourself that you have now assumed things about me that are not true, and you still refuse to answer the question. There is no edification to this conversation and I will not entertain your accusations further. The Roman Catholics have a long history of casting out demons with very elaborate reports of the things that can occur. The late Malachi Martin was an exorcist by trade. Based on what you have said I suspect you find the catholic church to be unbiblical, what then of the manifestations they claim to witness, which often in the end corroborate their own intepretations of the Scripture? Are you smarter than the devil?
If you have the mind of Christ then you know that even Michael would not level a railing accusation against the devil and yet you are railing against my honest question which is based also upon experience (at least 19 years of christian life, with training for the ministry in a denomination that believes in the gifts of the Spirit.) I am saved by grace as surely as you brother.
Perhaps you have a salvation of a higher order, since you regularly cast out demons. Have you ever cast the demon out of the CEO of a major corporation that leads him to consume the earth for profit? Or does destroying our own health through our lack of concern for God's creation seem a trite sin? Do you know any of the people empowered to create and manage this present darkness? Or does your theology not allow you to see that such things are evil?
My problem with statements such as you make is that they claim a confidence in intepretation of passages that are largely in dispute among the church at large. Meaning you feel you have it all figured out, but dozens of denominations all of which have fruit believe differently than you. And yet the fruit (your attitude) toward any questioning at all seems to show your peace is fragile. God did not call you to go off like a hand grenade whenever someone challenges the message *you* preach.
Patience is part of the fruit of the Spirit. I am praising God to have head your voice if the things you say are true, and I have no reason to doubt that a child of God has dominion over the demons. But you still have refused to answer the question. Does satan have the power to create storms, possess animals, move objects around in contradiction to physical laws? Show NT examples of this with a demeanor that glorifies Christ, that is testimony, that is witness.
In all of this ranting, nobody has even mentioned the swine rushing off the cliff, and that Christ allowed the demon's request. Casting out of demons is not a proof that *we* are powerful in Christ, it is a proof that Christ has defeated the devil in the life of at least one person, ourselves, that by our faith we are redeemed from the curse and are now in a favored position with God. But no demon can be cast out truly unless that exorcism serves God's purpose. Furthermore Christ also tells us that once cast out the demon gathers up seven others more powerful thatn itself and attempts to reenter that house from which it was cast. If we think that casting out a denom solves the matter it does not. The vessel must then be occupied by Christ, Who alone is strong enough to hold the ground. Religion just won't suffice. Without Christ as both Lord and Savior in the life you might as well go invite the seven others in before you cast the first one out. Often there is need for emotional healing and forgiveness, since unforgiveness opens the door for torment. In each area of the soul there might be need of special attention and ministry to build the delivered so that they might stand more strongly; demonstrations of God's love, wise counsel, and ongoing prayer and fellowship. If someone saved returns to the darkness it must not be because we failed in our part to do all that God has called the church to do, or we cannot claim as Paul did that we are free from the blood of all men.
The power of God is not a private arsenal we wield to carve out a fiefdom called a pastorate. The only evidence we have on this earth that a man of God is working with God is his testimony and his character. Neglecting the fruit of the Spirit as an evidence of salvation (when accompanied by proper doctrine) has led the American church into confusion. We have millions of households sending millions of dollars a year to TV evangelists whose conduct and character they have no way of verifying. Is this the work of God? Does it glorify God? It is a test to the faithful, and a temptation so that those with tickling ears can find the gospel that suits them.
The wrath of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. No histrionics is required to cast out a demon and there are two very different forms of exorcism extent in the world today. The godly form where a believer glorifies God by representing Christ. And the ungodly form where a false minister, or a decieved one is lead on by spirits much smarter than they are, obeying their vociferous foolishness, so as to weave their ministry into a tapistry of darkness and deception that goes much further than the 'enlightened' minister suspects.
Jesus is Lord! God is Sovereign in the affairs of all created beings. Absolutely nothing is allowed to happen in the entire univese unless it is allowed by God, and in His wisdom all things work together for the good of those who love Him. Did you know that love and the message of the gospel itself has the power to cast out devils? How then is anyone saved by the gospel if not that the message dispels the darkness, but it does so as an act of God's grace that God might be just and the one who justifies those who believe. If this is not true then I suspect you feel there are very few people in any of the churches that are actually saved. since they all were once blinded by the god of this age and were saved not by having demons cast out of them but by hearing the message of the gospel and believing it.
Recall that Paul told Timothy,
'And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.' 2 Timothy 2:24-26
Do you see, we were all under the sway of the wicked one. So what purpose does casting out demons serve? Why does it exist? Is it a calling or an evidence?
Now I will not debate with you further. I am your brother in the Lord and I am sorry if my words have upset you. The path forward is in the conduct that Paul calls Timothy to. If you care about the souls that cross your path be patient with an old fool like me.
Satan is on a leash, I agree.
