What ARE
Demons? By KiDong Kim
Translated by The Semuon Translation Mission Center
BEREA PRESS
Pastor KiDong Kim (TH.D., S.T.D., D.Min., D.D.) * Senior Overseer, 21st Century Berea Missions Seoul Sungrak Church, Seoul, South Korea
* Honorary and Founding President, Berea International Theological Seminary, Seoul, South Korea
1st Translation and Publication: 12.12.2002 Revised edition with original material: 25.08.2015 Publisher: CHOI, Eul Sook Publishing Press: Berea Press Registration: No. 13-69 Address: 308, Dorim-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Korea Tel: 82-2-831-3851~3 Fax: 82-2-831-3854
www.bereapress.co.kr All rights reserved. No part can be reproduced or copied in any way, or by any means, without prior written permission. Š 2015 KIDONG KIM
All Scripture quotations, unless noted otherwise, are from the New King James Version (1982).
REVISED VERSION PREFACE
The spiritual issues that the Bible constantly mentions and teaches should not be left ignored. Jesus cast out demons from the day that He preached the Gospel. He also gave the authority to His disciples to overpower them. We must obey the words of the Lord when He said, “He who believes in Me… In my name they will cast out demons…” (Mark 16:16-17). Because the Bible explains much about casting out demons, this book resolutely holds to the claim above without complying to the last 45 years of much persecutions, misunderstandings and maltreatments due to our stance on this subject. There would be much spiritual catastrophe at the end if the Bible and its teachings were ignored because of compliance to theological doctrines. Demons are not conceptual, but real spiritual beings; they should not be overlooked. The words of the Lord Jesus should not be forgotten when He said, “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matt. 12:28). Saints possess the great powers of God, but they have forfeited them because of their negligence of the spiritual issues taught in the Bible. Without God’s power, it is impossible to overcome this evil world. For a much greater understanding to the readers, the omissions from the previous versions of this book were unearthed and supplemented in this version through meticulous examination of my past sermons and seminars. To complete the arduous task
and finally submit this revised version, Evangelist Ki Taek Lee has given his undying efforts to comprehensively verify and supplement the materials. There is a need for saints to become experts in the issue of demons. My desire for all readers is that they would humble read the Bible, learn, verify and execute what they learn so that they would definitely become powerful saints. I also thank Berea Press for their efforts.
July 2007 Ki Dong Kim Nom de plume Semuon
PREFACE 1
I am delighted to have released the three volumes in the Demonology Series: What is the Devil? (I), What are Deceiving Spirits? (II), and What are Demons? (III). People often use the word Devil, but not so much the word demon. However, the Bible makes many more references to the word demon than the words Devil or Satan. The operations of the Devil, deceiving spirits, and demons are all different from one another; even their identities are different. Nonetheless, many people confuse their works and fall into foolishness and ignorance. The Devil, deceiving spirits, and demons desire to hide their identities. To them, their exposure means their eradication. The Devil is the spirit that originally fell from Heaven to Hades. As the spirit that holds the authority of the air, he constantly travels (Job 1:6) between God and man to cause division (Rev. 12:9). Deceiving spirits are some of the angels that were sent to help the saints but now have turned (1 Kings 22:10-23). Demons are spirits that cause the curses and sufferings that we all experience. As Christians, rather than slandering those who know what we do not know, we should be thankful that others have discovered important truths and praise God for His great authority bestowed on us. Knowing the enemy is the road to victory. The sad reality is that rather than discerning the enemy, many are giving him the opportunities to take advantage of them. If anyone reads this book and implements the principles, the signs of the Lord will definitely follow them and the demons will
leave screaming in fear. “O Lord! Rather than slandering one another, help us to be humble and understand one another so that we may possess the power to overcome the enemy. Let your great power be upon those who read this book. Wherever the Gospel is preached, let the enemy be annihilated! Amen.�
September 1986 Ki Dong Kim Nom de plume Semuon
Translators’ Note Pastor Ki Dong Kim has written over 250 books to date. Translating these books has been a true blessing for us. We know that this book will bless you too. The following are a couple of things to note as you read this book. This book is a transcript of a training seminar that Pastor Ki Dong Kim has done in the past with the theme, What are Demons? Thus, we have tried to preserve even the way the pastor speaks. This book repeats many concepts for emphasis. They all have been preserved because Pastor Kim has spoken them by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. This book has been written for ministers and even for laypersons who want to know how to live and serve powerfully according to God’s will. Please take a good time off out of your schedule to focus as you read through this book. We pray that you will be touched and transformed! Amen. January 2013 From The Semuon Translation Mission Center
Table of Contents
11_
What is Demonology? 11 1
13_
Deceiving Spirits 67
12_
14_ 15_ 16_ 17_ 18_ 19_ 10_ 11_ 12_
The Devil and His Cohorts 45 Demons 83
Unbelief and Curses 97 Unclean Demons 115 Hades 129
Identity of Demons 149 Works of Demons 183
Factors that Lead to Invasion by Demons 211 Diagnosis of the Demon-Possessed 225
Methods of Demon Expulsion 231
13_ Questions and Answers
247
Chapter 1
What is Demonology? “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.� 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. 17
(Mark 16:17-20)
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What ARE Demons?
Resembling the Bible
The Berea Movement is a movement about taking after the Bible. Acts 17: 11–12 (NASB) tells us, Now these (Bereans) were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.
We must diligently read and resemble the Bible like the Bereans. The Berea Movement does not introduce nor advocate a specific doctrine. The pursuit of the Berea Movement involves reading, obeying, and practicing the Bible as it is. Then, the power of God would not be restricted. Nowadays, the power of God is not manifested through Christians because they keep trying to add to or subtract from God’s word according to their own interpretations. The word of God is perfect and does not need the addition or subtraction of anything. It just needs to be believed as it is. If the Bible says that Jesus is the Son of God, then we must believe that He is the Son of God. If it says that He died and rose again from the dead, then we must believe that He died and rose again from the dead. If the Bible tells us that Jesus has given us authority, then we must believe that we have been given this authority. If it tells us that God is our Father, then we must believe Him as our Father. If the Bible commands us to cast out demons, then we must take this command as our right and privilege and do so accordingly. So far, I have cast out demons from more than 400,000 people. Among them, the number of people with twisted, crippled legs who were healed was fifty-nine. This power was not given to
1. What is Demonology? 13
me exclusively, but the Lord has promised it to all who believe in Him (Mark 16:17–18). Nonetheless, people do not use this precious power given by the Lord and moreover, they persecute those who use it. Though we might be ridiculed and persecuted, we must do what the Lord Jesus has commanded. Jesus called fishermen to be His disciples and quickly sent them out to different places before they could even get rid of the fishy smell from their hands. What did the Lord Jesus take from His disciples and what did He give them instead? He first disarmed them of their fleshly resources. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. (Matt. 10:9-10) 9
The Lord commanded them not to take any money, clothes, bags, or even a staff. He took from them all the resources that are useful in the flesh. Instead, He gave them an amazing authority. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Matt. 10:8)
And when you go into a household, greet it. 13If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. (Matt. 10:12-13) 12
Jesus disarmed the disciples of everything that would be helpful to the flesh and instead He armed them heavily with spiritual authority and power before sending them out to preach the Gospel. However, those who have been sent out by God today
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What ARE Demons?
dare to reject this spiritual armament. Just imagine what great difficulty they would face since they are exposed to a fierce spiritual battle while they refuse to receive the armor of God. Even if millions of soldiers are sent to battle, they could be crushed by a small contingent of troops if they do not have the proper equipment. John the Baptist sent his disciples to Jesus to find out if He was the One whom Israel was waiting for. Actually when John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, he already knew that Jesus was the Savior. Yet, he wanted to confirm it once more. What was it that Jesus mentioned at that time in order to confirm that He was the Messiah? It was His powers. Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” (Matt. 11:4-5) 4
Christ’s Signs and Wonders in My Life
I began to read the Bible diligently the day after believing in Jesus. I could not afford a Bible at the time and had to borrow one from someone else. Since it was borrowed, I could not keep it for very long. I finished reading the whole Bible in one week and return it to the owner the next Lord’s Day. Then I borrowed a Bible from another person the following week and again finished reading it in one week. In this way, I read the Bible 44 times in one year and a total of 75 times over five years as a lay believer. Though I read the Bible so many times, I still could not understand what it was trying to convey. Then one day, after reading the Bible for the seventy-fifth time, I suddenly came to understand the will of God in the Bible by His amazing grace.
1. What is Demonology? 15
That moment became a major turning point in my life. The day I understood the will of God, a pastor asked me to go with him to pray for a sick person. When we entered the room where the patient was lying, suddenly the person stood up from the bed. He said that the moment I stepped into the room, a dark presence went out of him and he was completely healed! From that day, patients who heard about this news began coming to see me. Three days later, I held onto a patient with a big tumor on his neck and prayed for him, and the tumor disappeared completely. The next day, a middle-aged woman brought her child who could not walk because of polio. I held onto the child and told the mother to call for him. The mother called out, “Come here!� and the child began walking towards her by himself! These signs and wonders are promises that God has given to all believers! If anyone immerses himself in the promises of God, these signs and wonders will surely be manifested. I have been subjected to fierce persecutions for casting out demons and exercising the power of God. But it was not from the beginning of my ministry that such persecutions came. I started casting out demons in 1962, and no one criticized me at the time. However some pastors started to slander me when laypersons in the church began to exercise the power of God since the 1980s on account of me. Why was that? The pastors felt humiliated that they did not have any power whereas the laypersons were casting out demons. Moreover, while some pastors were struggling with their own sicknesses, lay Christians were telling them that sicknesses are caused by demons. The pastors felt that this undermined their authority. As a result, many pastors protested and demanded me to restrict the laity from exercising God’s power. Some other people said that the power I exercised was a special gift from God, endowed only to me. However, I endlessly assert that the authority and power of God are given to all believers without exception. Please think about it. Why is there a
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What ARE Demons?
need to reject this amazing authority and power of the Lord by stubbornly denying that the endowment God’s power is for all believers? Of course before Jesus was crucified, only a few special people had power. At that time, God exclusively chose and used a small number of people to lead the Israelites. However Jesus Christ has universally given His power to all who believe in Him. We are different from the Old Testament believers because we have received the grace of Jesus Christ. Why are you constantly going beyond Jesus? Why are you trying to make the promised power of God as something that only a small number of special people can possess?
The Need for Berea Academy
There were two main historical reasons behind why I started to teach the Berea Academy1 in the 1960s. The first was the blatant misuse of spiritual gifts by Christians at the time, and the second was the distortion of the Gospel. I was very thankful to God that He not only allowed me to read the Bible many times, but also to have various spiritual experiences of signs and wonders. The Lord used me to raise people from the dead many times. One time, I prayed for a child who had been dead for 18 hours. He immediately came back to life after prayer. Similar incidents happened numerous times. Furthermore, the lame walked, the
1
The author started to teach Berea Academy from 1973 with the purpose of taking after the faith of the Bereans in Acts 17:11-12. Berea Academy is a Godcentered, Biblical teaching that encourages three stages in Christian life: 1) to have the “Proper Lens to View the Bible,” 2) to understand “The Picture of God’s Will,” and 3) to live in “Mediation of the Gospel.” Berea Academy testifies that the work of the Holy Spirit and power follow all believers.
1. What is Demonology? 17
blind received their sight, and the deaf received their hearing. I am not a special person. I am not any more godly or righteous than others. I am just an average man from the countryside of Korea. I am utterly incompetent when it comes to knowledge and even character. If God’s power is manifested even through someone like me, why would signs and wonders not manifest through you who possess greater character and faith than me? We must desire the spiritual gifts of God. At the same time, we must be very cautious. If we start overemphasizing spiritual gifts, we may suddenly fall into the temptation of overstepping the Bible. Though we welcome spiritual gifts, we must be firmly grounded on the Bible. In the 1960s, so-called “divine visitations” and “shaking” were popular for a while. People at the time believed them to be very spiritual experiences, but considerable harm was actually done as a result. Because I knew very clearly about the work of demons, I could not just watch and do nothing. So, on the basis of the Bible and my own experiences, I began clearing up the misunderstandings people had about spiritual gifts. Once when I led a revival in Busan, 21 people who were experiencing the so-called divine visitations came to the revival. When I called out to them, “Come out demon!” demons were cast out from all of them. Some demons angrily said, “You b-----! I deceived you for this long, but now you’re driving me out!” Those people with divine visitations would often lie down and give “prophecies.” But they themselves complained of frequently suffering from irritation and anxiety. When demons are commanded to come out of them, they cry out in bitterness and leave immediately. During that time, revivalists used to stir up the crowds saying, “Receive the gift of shaking!” However, when I confronted the demons from those who had previously received the so-called gift of shaking, demons came out of them most of the time. Many of
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What ARE Demons?
these people had actually complained of migraines and dull headaches. Many of the revivalists were displeased with what I did because, when those who had received the gift of shaking through them came to my revivals, demons came out of them trembling. Hence the revivalists were very embarrassed and deeply resented me for this. Furthermore, although the revivalists back then also emphasized that people should receive the Holy Spirit, they often cried out, “Receive fire! Receive fire!” And to that the people responded, “Amen! Amen!” However, to receive fire actually means the same as to be cursed. Many people think that the fire is the Holy Spirit and often use the phrase, “the fire of the Holy Spirit.” But what it says in the Bible is not “the fire of the Holy Spirit,” but “the Holy Spirit and fire”. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matt. 3:11-12) 11
The Lord also said,
I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! (Luke 12:49)
To send fire on the earth means that He came to judge the world. Jesus came to the world to bring judgment. Man’s salvation is the grace of the Lord offered to the world before He punishes
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the condemned. “How I wish it were already kindled” means “if the judgment is already accomplished, what more would I desire?” Jesus was deeply troubled because He knew He had to face the suffering on the cross in order to judge the Devil. Fire is not referring to the Holy Spirit but to judgment. Nevertheless, some revivalists in those days emphasized receiving the Holy Spirit by crying out, “Receive fire! Receive fire!” Leaders must thoroughly understand the Bible so that they do not commit these types of errors. If leaders do not know the Bible, not only will they themselves fall into many hardships but they will also lead others down that path. There are many spirits in the world. If we do not have a proper understanding of the Bible and aimlessly pursue spiritual experiences, we may become vulnerable to other spirits rather than the Holy Spirit. We need to precisely know the Spirit we believe in. In order to listen to the radio, we must be in the right channel to receive a clear signal. Similarly, we are able to receive God’s help when we have the correct understanding of the Bible and pray accordingly. Pursuing spiritual experiences without having the correct understanding of the Bible can give other spirits the opportunity to operate rather than the Holy Spirit. So we must be grounded firmly on the Bible when we seek spiritual experiences. The second reason I started Berea Academy had got to do with the fact that the Gospel was significantly distorted during the 1960s. At that time, many pastors were paying no attention to teaching about God’s grace but excessively emphasized Christian morality. As they were neglecting the grace of Jesus Christ and emphasizing deeds, later there were even claims that a person has to love in order to be saved, or have good deeds to be saved. Quite a number of people actually believed that anyone could be saved just through love and acts of charity, without believing in Jesus. We need to have a proper understanding about the Gospel. What is the truth? The Bible does not teach that the Law is the
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What ARE Demons?
truth. The Law was given through Moses whereas grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). The Law is not the truth. The truth never changes, but the Law is obsolete and outdated, and soon disappearing (Heb. 8:13). When someone said, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You,” did Jesus not answer and say, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” (Matt. 12:47-48). The truth is one and only. There can be no personal feelings of man involved in the truth. No creation and certainly no man-made doctrine or theology can ever be fused with the truth. Only Jesus is the truth and life. However in the 60s, Christian churches in Korea were adding things other than the works of Christ which led to the subtle denial of Jesus Christ. People keep putting forth their own ideas and arguments instead of adhering to the Bible. As a result, they become ignorant of God’s word. Berea Academy serves to teach the proper way of looking at the Bible, not a new doctrine or the ideology of Ki Dong Kim. I have never even individually met with students of Berea Academy. That is because Berea Academy is not about nurturing disciples of Ki Dong Kim but disciples of Jesus. Some people associate casting out demons with the word Berea. However, demonology takes up only one-fortieth of the entire contents of Berea Academy lectures. The purpose of Berea Academy is not in knowing about demons, but knowing the Bible. Once you know the Bible, power will automatically follow. There was an incident that happened after a person studied about demonology. He was on a bus when he noticed that a man who was sitting was trembling all over. “Why are you shaking?” the student asked. “I don’t know why but I started to shake when I saw you,” answered the person. “Go! Get out of him.” And the demon left him. Similar incidents on buses took place from time to time. Once
1. What is Demonology? 21
I was riding on a train when I saw a group of people dragging a mentally disturbed man through the aisle. As they were passing me, the man suddenly went into a convulsion. I initially ignored him by looking out the window, but soon felt that something had to be done. So I commanded, “Get out!” The demon screamed, “I’m going!” The demon caused the man to fall backwards and then left him. On another occasion, I was on my way to lead a revival in the city of Naju in South Jeolla province. As I stepped out of the train, a stranger came running toward me and bowed down. He said, “Oh, I am surely dead. Why did you come all the way out here?” Then he fell backward, and the demon left him. In another area called Hongseong, there was a mental patient who was having a seizure. When he saw me he immediately knelt down and begged for forgiveness and eventually came back to his right mind. Later I learned from his family that he had been suffering from mental illness for twelve years. In the same way, demons cannot help but reveal their true identities and leave before the authority of Jesus. After studying demonology, if you acknowledge the authority and power the Lord has given you, then the power of God will definitely manifest through you also. It does not mean that this authority and power has been given to you only just now. God has already given authority and power to all those who believe. It is only that many of you have been suppressed with mental, theological, doctrinal and situational rationalizations. If you know the truth of the spiritual world and acknowledge the authority and power the Lord has given, then the power of God will automatically manifest through you.
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What ARE Demons?
Introduction to Demonology
When the Lord commanded the disciples to preach, He stripped them of their dependency on the flesh and equipped them with spiritual authority and power. So if we are the ones truly sent by God, then such authority and power should certainly manifest through us. Why did Jesus call the disciples? Mark 3:14-15 state three reasons. The first was that the disciples may be with him; second was that He might send them out to preach; and third was to give them the authority to cast out demons. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons. (Mark 3:14-15) 14
And with three days remaining until His crucifixion Jesus said, “Go, tell that fox, behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” (Luke 13:32)
If a person knows when he will die, he would probably do the most important things like visiting his parents and relatives back home. But Jesus said that He would cast out demons today and tomorrow and finally complete the judgment of the enemy on the third day. The remaining three days before His death were like a model of his three years of public ministry. Then what was the Lord’s public ministry? Some of the readers may find the contents of this book unfamiliar, but please think about it for a moment. What is the point of studying if you already understand everything? Some people persecute me because I teach a knowledge that they are not
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aware of. More specifically, they accuse me of being a heretic because I consider demons to be the spirits of dead unbelievers. What does the Bible say about heresy? Heretics are those who claim to be the Christ. Who is the antichrist? The antichrist is anyone who denies Jesus Christ coming in the flesh. If anyone has studied theology, he should not rashly call someone a heretic just because he has a different knowledge. A person’s faith may be called into question if he has false knowledge about the Creator; however it is not warranted to condemn someone as a heretic for the reason that his knowledge concerning creations is different. A person with a wrong knowledge about the Creator could be said to have a problem in his faith; however, having a different knowledge about creation does not warrant heresy incrimination. Putting these matters aside, I honestly do not understand why people are so upset when I say that demons are the spirits of dead unbelievers. Did unbelievers support the church in any way while they were alive? Did they ever give offering to God? Did they ever evangelize? Are they not the ones who gnashed their teeth when they heard the name of Jesus? Did they not fiercely criticize the church for building large worship centers in their town? Even though the Lord shed His blood for them, are they not the enemies of God who incessantly opposed and rejected the Lord and eventually lost their chance to repent? How are their actions any different to what demons do? For what reason do they vehemently defend those who were enemies of God until their death? Did they receive bribes from demons? Did they receive bribes from the spirit of dead unbelievers? What if I argued that dead unbelievers have 12 horns? Or what if I say that they have 25 tails? If I had said such things about believers, then I can understand why they are against me. However, what is the reason to be so outrages for calling the enemies of God as demons? How can these “servants of the Lord� who feed their own
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What ARE Demons?
children with the financial support of grateful church members, be so zealous in defending demons, the disembodied spirits of unbelievers? In my lifetime, I will never sympathize with the spirits of dead unbelievers. I do not even hold annual memorial services for my late father. Though he was my father, I do not bow down before him because he died without believing in God. One time, my mother fell from the loft and severely hurt her back. I returned from a revival when she was just about to pass away. I loudly rebuked the demon from her, “Demon, get out!” “Do you know who I am? How dare you do this!” the demon said. “Who are you?” “This is my daughter. This wicked child does not even recognize her own father. Why I’ll just…” Just because it was the spirit of my grandfather, would I warmly say, “Oh, grandpa! How are you?” Instead, I sharply rebuked him, “You filthy demon, get out!” “What! How did you end up having a child like him, you b---and treat me like this? The demon cried loudly in anguish and left. The moment he left, my mother’s back was completely healed. Why do people defend the spirits of dead unbelievers who are complete strangers to them when even an ancestral spirit should be cast out in this way without mercy? Whoever defends the spirits of those who lived as enemies of Jesus all their life, are definitely spiritually abnormal. The Lord said to His disciples that unbelieving family members would be their enemies. He even referred to one of His disciples as “Satan” because he was concerned only about the things of man rather than the things of God. So, why should there be such antipathy towards people for calling the spirits of dead unbelievers as demons when in fact, those demons lived as enemies of God throughout their lifetime and died without ever repenting?
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I have already written the first two volumes of Demonology: What is the Devil? and What are Deceiving Spirits? The book that you are holding is dealing with demons in particular. There are also other books on similar topics. All of these will help you in grasping the spiritual truth. We have to know our enemies in order to win the battle. Pastors encounter many spiritual problems in their ministry. If they are ignorant of the spiritual world, they will surely face great difficulties in their ministry.
The Imperative Need for Experience
There is a certain book called Theory of Spiritual Gifts which talks about 31 types of spiritual gifts. In it the author writes that dizziness is due to a particular spiritual gift, the dimming of eye sight is due to another spiritual gift, and so on. In my view, most of these conditions are the works of demons. Nowadays, many people misconstrue the work of demons as the work of the Holy Spirit. This error arises because they have no knowledge of demons even though they have heard about the Holy Spirit. If they clearly know about the Holy Spirit and demons, they would be able to differentiate the works of the Holy Spirit and demons. Nevertheless, because people know nothing about demons, they assume any unusual phenomena to be the gifts of the Holy Spirit. When we know exactly about the work of the enemy, we would also have a good understanding about the authority of the Lord, and that which the believers possess. If we know just how cruel and vicious the work of demons is, we would have a greater appreciation for the authority and power the Lord has given us. Today, most of those who deny the existence and work of demons are being afflicted by demons, both physically and spiritually. It is possible for the demons to help their flesh to go well and gain wealth. Did not the psychic demon in the slave girl that Apostle
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Paul cast out, bring much profit to her master? Even so, would you want a “profit-making” demon to come inside you? To properly handle demonology, experience is necessary. I have compiled statistical data from the results of 8,000 demon expulsions. There has not been much information about demons in Christian history because of the lack of experience of overcoming them. Many articles that have been written about Satan these days show that the writers are not even able to differentiate the terms Devil, Satan, demons and deceiving spirits. This is because they lack the experiences to support the spiritual knowledge taught in the Bible. Present day Christians are influenced by Western theology and they impute spiritual issues to psychology and psychiatry. They define demon possession as schizophrenia or neurasthenia and neglect their responsibilities to set the demon-possessed free. They turn over all the responsibility to doctors and psychologists. Some people even ask literary writers about questions relating to demons. “Christianity has recently been exploring questions about demons. What is your view on this professor?” “In the world of literature, the issue of demons has been dealt with from a while back. The conclusion was that demons are only visualizations of the fear that people have inside, figments of imagination.” What is it to us whether the literary world has dealt with this issue for long time or not? Theologians, psychologists and literary scholars have their own personal views. Their views do not align with the Bible or with reality for that matter. Theologians, psychologists, and literary scholars may all have profound knowledge in their field of studies, but they are ignorant of demons. They have never cast out demons or spoken to them. When some people hear the word demon, they somehow relate it to shamanism in Korea. Some theologians say that casting out demons is a proof that Christianity is being influenced by shamanic faith. Yet, Jesus already used the word demon two
1. What is Demonology? 27
thousand years ago, before any shaman used the terminology. Not only did He talk about them, Jesus also cast them out. Today, many theologians criticize the casting out of demons in Jesus’ name. Nevertheless, we cannot go along with their views on spiritual matters just to suit them, because this issue of demons is a critical matter that Jesus has already dealt with even before any shamans in Korea touched on the subject. What did Jesus do when He came to the earth? Since He always cast out demons, are people going to criticize that His faith was not sound either? It is clear even from looking at the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, just how significant casting out demons was in Jesus’ ministry. Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” (Mark 1:23-27) 23
At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demonpossessed. 33And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, 32
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because they knew Him. (Mark 1:32–34)
But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” 39And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. (Mark 1:38–39) 38
Jesus was an expert in driving out demons and evangelizing. But people still criticize that casting out demons is from shamanism. We need to be well aware of the fact that shamans cannot actually cast out demons but only appease them. In their rituals, the shamans offer food to the dead to please the demons. When these shamanic rituals are performed, the demons would not leave but only stay in the person’s body longer. Korean shamans appease the demons through their rituals, but Jesus did the work of casting them out two thousand years ago. Thus when they hear about demons, true Christians would think of how Jesus drove them out rather than about shamanic rituals.
The Real Healer
A person once said, “Are churches hospitals? Healing the sick in the church is a violation of Medical Practices Act and should be prosecuted.” People have the tendency to blindly trust medicine. We must know that even doctors are not perfectly clear about the main causes of diseases. Even the most advanced medical science has still not identified the cause of the virus that triggers the common cold. Many medical researchers have tried for so long but unsuccessfully to discover the cure for the common cold. In fact “a perfect cure” or “a perfect treatment” does not actually exist in the field of medicine. A so-called “cure” is supposed to be a delay of symptoms and the speedy restoration of
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normal bodily functions. The term treatment room used in hospitals is nothing more than a commercial term. One of the most common word used in the medical field is neurogenic. It is often used to describe various types of medical conditions such as neurogastritis and nervous headache. The term neurogenic ultimately means that it is not possible to identify the cause of diseases or make a cure for them. For I am the Lord who heals you. (Ex. 15:26)
Only God is our healer. Some people argue that medicine can also heal us. Medicine cannot cure the root causes of disease. For example, if there were ten units of germs in a body, then one hundred units of medicine would be injected in order to fight the ten units of germs. Though the ten units of germs die, one hundred units of medicine would now still linger in the body. To the demons, it is not a loss for them though there is a temporary improvement for the patient because they have now gained a hundred units of medicine in the body. A relapse would mean that the one hundred units of medicine still residing in the body were ineffective. Thus, one thousand units of medicine would be administered to exterminate the same germs. So even if one hundred units of germs were exterminated, one thousand units of medicine would now lay dormant in the body. Some ignorant medical practitioners prescribe one thousand units of medicine right at the beginning to combat only ten units of germs. This is like using an atomic bomb to kill a bedbug. Although they have treated the disease with a single shot, when a relapse happens, no further prescription can be given. Doctors who have been properly educated are very careful with their prescriptions. “How did you feel after taking the last prescription?” “No obvious improvement.”
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“Really? Then, I’ll give you a stronger dosage this time. Take this and see how you feel.” “Isn’t there any medicine that could work with one dosage?” “Yes, but you should still take it in this way.” Well-trained doctors would gradually raise the dosage. In fact, some pharmacists do not give certain antibiotics to their own children. Antibiotics do not cure sicknesses; taking them is actually no different from injecting more of the disease. Bluntly speaking, medicine does not cure sicknesses. Only God can heal. The Bible records of a woman who suffered from a flow of blood for a long time and was fooled by doctors and medicine. She met the Lord at the edge of despair and was completely healed. The healing power of the Lord cannot be explained even with the most advanced medical science of today. The so-called “medical treatments” just expedite the recovery time. It only shortens the time a patient suffers under the sickness. True healing comes from God alone. Today, one of the reasons God’s power has almost lost its foothold even among Christians is the documentation of the oral tradition of the Gospel. When the Gospel was orally communicated, the power of God was emphasized. But when the Gospel was written on paper, theories were emphasized more than power. The emphasis on theories had transformed the Gospel into an academic study. Consequently, the power that naturally followed the Gospel became abnormal and discriminated against. However, if we believe the word of God as it is, then the power of God will certainly manifest through us even today. In His ministry, Jesus always evangelized and cast out demons concurrently. Not only that, Jesus gave his disciples the authority to heal and cast out demons. And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.
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(Mark 1:39)
Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons. (Mark 3:14–15) 14
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. (Matt. 10:1)
Evangelizing with Signs and Wonders
Nowadays, churches spend many resources to develop effective evangelism methods. Countless seminars and trainings are being developed as a result. “How can we revive evangelism?” is always the concern of pastors. How does the Bible answer this question? For some reason, the majority of current evangelistic programs overlook the core value of evangelism taught in the Bible. The Bible does not teach us to first find out the interests of the person we are evangelizing or ask about the family situation during pastoral visitation. The Bible tells us that news about Jesus spread everywhere through the signs and wonders He did. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, 23
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epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. (Matt. 4:23-24)
He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. 25But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26And the report of this went out into all that land. (Matt. 9:24– 26) 24
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. (Mark 1:25–28) 25
Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him. 14And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.” 15However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. (Luke 5:13–15) 13
So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. 16Then fear 15
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came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” 17And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region. (Luke 7:15–17)
The reason the church is unable to preach the Gospel is not a lack of training but because there is no news of Jesus being spread. And there is no news about Jesus because the churches are actually suppressing them. For the news to spread about Jesus, His signs and wonders must be displayed. But how can the news spread when churches are treating His signs and wonders with indifference? Having forfeited the news about Jesus, the present day churches are wandering aimlessly while seeking other humanistic methods. It is a sad reality! For news to spread about Jesus, the methods presented in the Bible must be utilized. Demons must be cast out, the sick be healed and powers be manifested in Jesus’ name. Then the news about Jesus will instantly spread. Signs and wonders done in Jesus’ name are God’s inheritance given to us. Jesus promised that those who own this inheritance can even do greater works than Him. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (John 14:12)
Jesus gave His disciples the authority to cast out demons so that they can do the same works as Him. And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to
13
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Him. 14Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons. (Mark 3:13–15)
Knowing and Acknowledging the Authority
Authority and power are two different concepts. Authority refers to a king’s right, and power refers to the strength of the army under the king’s command. Before Jesus came, people had power but no authority. Authority is only given to those who believe in Jesus’ name and have become God’s children (John 1:12). Jesus called His disciples and gave them authority. The Devil is the ruler of this world who holds its authority. The demons under the Devil’s dominion torment mankind with the authority of the world. The only authority that can conquer the authority of the world is the greater authority of Jesus. The authority of the world can be resisted with power, but the authority itself cannot be denied. But because the authority of Jesus came into the world, the authority of the world was demolished. Jesus gave the disciples this authority to conquer the demons. When some people cast out demons, they say, “Demons! Jesus can surely defeat you!” But Jesus does not fight against demons. The authority of Jesus legitimately dispossessed the authority of demons. To cast out demons, we must acknowledge the authority of Jesus in us. No matter how much power we have, the demons cannot be cast out without authority. God has given us, His children, the amazing authority to subjugate the authority of the world. God has given this authority to all who believe in Jesus without exception. Whoever acknowledges this authority can use it even now. Many people do not use this authority because they do
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not know its great value. A child who only knows how to use coins will choose coins over a paper bill even if it is offered to him because he does not know its value. In the same way, people do not attempt to use this authority because they do not know its worth. And because they have not used it, they do not know its greatness. Demons will whisper to you and say, “Ki Dong Kim is a special person. Not everyone cannot cast out demons and heal the sick. It is normal that you don’t have power. Remember that Ki Dong Kim is a special figure.” You must resist such deception. The Lord first gave authority to the twelve disciples (Mark 3:13–15), and then to the seventy disciples (Luke 10:1–9). After He had judged the ruler of this world through His crucifixion and resurrection, He gave to all believers this authority to drive out demons and heal the sick (Mark 16:17–18). Jesus judged the ruler of the world through His crucifixion and resurrection. The demon-possessed who lived among the tombs asked Jesus, “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” In other words, there was still a little time left before Jesus officially judged the ruler of this world through His crucifixion and resurrection. Nevertheless, the authority of Jesus was already taking effect even before the appointed time. When Jesus endowed the seventy disciples with His authority, its effect was already being displayed. Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” (Luke 10:17)
The disciples returned to the Lord and joyfully reported nothing other than the demons submitting to them in Jesus’ name. When they went out to preach, not only did the demons leave, but the lame walked and the blind received their sight also. Moreover,
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repentance was preached as Jesus commanded. Yet, the seventy did not report about the lame walking, the blind seeing or the sinners repenting in tears. Rather, the disciples reported joyfully that the demons had submitted to them in Jesus' name. To them, the most amazing experience was when the demons trembled in their presence. However, some people use what Jesus said to them to prove that casting out demons is wrong. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20)
These words do not prove that casting out demons is wrong, but rather that demons submitting to the authority of the name of Jesus is a matter of course, not something so remarkable. The fact that the demons leave is not what we should be rejoicing at. It is only natural that the demons flee before the name of Jesus. What we really should rejoice about is that our names are recorded in Heaven and that we have authority as God’s children! Some people argue that since Jesus said He will deny knowing those who cast out demons, we should not drive out demons. Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” 23And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matt. 7:21–23) 21
If it was to forbid demon expulsion that the Lord had said
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this, then prophesying and exercising powers in the name of Jesus should also be prohibited. However if those who will later be denied by Jesus because they have nothing to do with God’s will can even cast out demons, how much more should God’s holy children cast them out? Would the Lord say, “Since you don’t cast out demons, come and sit at my right. But you who cast out demons, I never knew you”? What these verses actually mean is that no one can enter the Kingdom of Heaven unless he is born again through faith in Jesus Christ according to the Father’s will. The will of the Father is for man to receive eternal life by believing in Jesus Christ. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:39-40) 39
Even if someone cast out demons and displayed powers, those experiences cannot save him. Salvation comes only by the precious blood that Jesus has shed. To the disciples, casting out demons was the greatest wonder they had ever experienced. Even so, unless they believe in Jesus Christ and be born again according to God’s will, they cannot enter into Heaven. No one should distort the Bible or slander another in order to justify their lack of power. People should instead feel regretful of their powerlessness and repent of how they are unable to use the authority God has given to believers. Rather than trying to justify their powerlessness, they must first completely acknowledge the authority they possess. Israel is a special nation chosen as God’s people out of the Adamic race. However, they were not given the authority that we
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possess today. God gave sunlight and rain to all who are in Adam. And from them, He specially chose a people for Himself, namely Israel. Then He gave them His commandments so that they could be blessed through obedience. Despite being blessed as the people of God, Israel did not receive the same authority we have received today. God gave His authority only to the children He begot. Only those whose sins have been forgiven by the precious blood of Jesus have been given royal authority. We are the people with that authority! Even if we do not have a high standard of culture or good looks, we can exercise this royal authority by faith alone. What a great privilege! In the 60s, when I led tent revivals nationwide, I personally took care of most of the physical labor. One time, I was setting up the tent and a person asked for me. “Excuse me, where’s the speaker?” One of the deacons pointed at me and answered, “Oh, he’s right here.” “What? Oh, please. Do you know what kind of person Pastor Ki Dong Kim is? How can such a man be here doing manual labor?” “No, he is Pastor Ki Dong Kim.” “Ha! You think I don’t know Pastor Kim? Stop trying to fool me and tell me where he really is!” “But that is really him.” People judge others based on their appearances. They would not even acknowledge a pastor if he is shabby looking. However, through an ordinary person like me whom people could not even recognize as a pastor, God rendered useless seventeen pairs of crutches in that revival. What is the reason for refusing such amazing authority? If all believers display this kind of authority and the news of Jesus spread everywhere as result, who would still want to worship idols? Healing the sick and casting out demons are not performed
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by our own power. It is the Son of God who has given us this authority. All we need to do is receive in this infinite blessing and according to His word, lay hands on the sick and curse the demons in His name. Not long after I initiated the tent revivals, I had the opportunity to pray for a leper. At that time I did not know what to do, so I quickly knelt down and drew out the pus from his skin with my mouth. While others were thinking about how infectious leprosy was, I was sucking out the pus from his decaying flesh. If the Lord said the leper could only be healed if the pus is sucked out, I would do it again even now. However, the Lord did not say so but instructed us to simply lay hands on the sick. If the Lord said the sick has to be beaten in order to cast the demon out, then I would do so. But He just commanded us to place our hands on the sick. In medicine, different diagnoses lead to different prescriptions; however, the Lord only instructed us to lay hands on the sick in Jesus’ name regardless of the type of disease. Medical science has classified diseases into thousands of different types throughout history. Counting the types of diseases is like counting the number of leaves on a tree or the hairs on a person’s head. But Jesus gave a simple diagnosis of all diseases: demon possession. “That man is blind.” “He is demon-possessed” (Matt. 12:22). “This man is mute.” “He is demon-possessed” (Matt. 9:32). “Her back is bent over.” “She is demon-possessed” (Luke 13:11). To Jesus, all diseases are categorized into one. Though I have not studied medicine, I learned from the Lord the root cause of all sicknesses. So I do not consider diseases to be a very difficult matter. People tend to rely on the authority of medical science more than the authority of Jesus and the Bible. Even the servants
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of the Lord today ignore His diagnosis and acknowledge the authority of medicine, which is the same as renouncing their own authority and rejecting their role as leaders. We should not go beyond the Lord’s word. Otherwise we will not be able to receive His help. The Lord manifests His power to those who obey His words. The Lord has promised that signs would follow all who believe. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. (Mark 16:17-18) 17
Apparently there was a person who took these verses out of context and actually drank poison intentionally and died. So a person in the u.s. even suggested that this verse has to be deleted from the Bible. But the Bible warns us against testing God. Whoever drinks poison deliberately would surely die. If Jesus died when He was nailed on the cross, how much more a person who deliberately drinks poison? I actually witnessed the following situation. “Hey! Who touched the Coke bottle?” “Why? We all drank it.” “What? Oh no! That bottle was full of rat poison!” However the children who had drunk the poison were fine afterwards. If God had not eliminated the poison, the children would have surely died. But God is able to eliminate the poison. Jesus turned water into wine, so there is no reason to doubt that He can turn poison into water.
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Faith vs. Self-Conviction
We must clearly distinguish between faith and self-conviction. Confusing these two could lead to a huge failure. Whether they are believers or unbelievers, everybody on earth has self-convictions. However, one’s personal convictions do not have any guarantee that they would always be fulfilled. Our faith today is about believing in the promises of God. Signs and wonders manifest when we believe and obey God’s promises, not from our own convictions. Assuring oneself by saying, “I can heal the sick! I can definitely do it!” will not bring about signs and wonders. Our faith is when we do what God has told us to do and seek what He has promised for us. God’s word is like a currency that He Himself has issued which He personally guarantees. Even if paper bills are elaborately printed, they are worthless unless they have been issued by the national bank. Faith is about possessing the promises that God has issued, not self-confidence. Self-confidence has no guarantee. A preacher once went into the mountains to fast and pray for many days. Afterward, he came down from the mountain and walked past a river. When he looked at the water, he suddenly had the burning conviction that he could walk on water like Peter did. He said that when he had repeated several times, “I believe! I believe! I believe!” he felt certain that he could walk. As he cried out, “I believe I can walk across on the water,” he put his feet on the water. He ended up falling into the river and nearly drowned! He said that since then, every time he drinks water, he remembers that incident and feels distressed at the thought that God does not hear his prayers. He came to and divulged his feelings to me. “Pastor, I certainly had no doubt that I could walk on water. I cannot understand why I fell into the water.” I answered him, “You had the faith to drown and die in the water.”
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Peter never relied on his own convictions to walk on water. Walking on water for man is impossible. But Peter believed that the impossible could become possible by the word from the Lord. Therefore, he asked the Lord, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” (Matt. 14:28)
Peter first asked for the Lord’s command and then walked on the water according to His words. So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. (Matt. 14:29)
The word of the Lord can make the impossible become possible. Peter sought the word from Jesus, and when he obeyed that word, he walked on water. In the same way, faith is about having the assurance of God, not self-confidence. If anyone jumps into the water relying on his own convictions, he will certainly drown. Casting out demons cannot be done with one’s own convictions either. Some people breathe heavily and shout loudly like a martial arts master, when they are trying to drive out demons. However that will not be able to drive out the demons. When I first started to cast out demons, I did not know what to do. The wife of someone I knew had passed away, and I was at his house praying with some of the church members. At around one o’clock in the morning, I suddenly thought about how the Lord referred to a dead man as sleeping. In another occasion, the Lord pointed out that Lazarus was not dead but asleep. He also said that Jairus’ daughter was not dead but asleep. So I removed the sheet that was covering the corpse and loudly cried,
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“Get up!” The corpse suddenly got up after letting out a horrible shriek. Just imagine how terrifying it would have been when the corpse suddenly sat up letting out an eerie shriek! Then I suddenly remembered a myth that adults used to say: if a cat sneaks into the furnace of the room where a corpse was kept, the body would sit up. As the myth goes, the corpse had to be punched and knocked down. Otherwise, the person who saw the body would die. So I hit the face of the person with all my strength and then the woman cried out, “I’m leaving!” “Who are you?” I asked. “My name is Choi. I died in the field when I was 21 years old.” Choi was a young man from the village who died from poisoning while working with pesticides several years ago. Though by then I had read the Bible dozens of times, this was the first time I realized that demons existed and with personalities. The demon started grumbling and uttering resentful cries. The young men and I were very surprised and excited because a dead person had just come back to life. We continually struck the woman’s face crying, “Get out demon!” The demon said he was leaving but would not actually leave. Then I remembered how the Lord cast out demons. When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. (Matt. 8:16)
The Bible says that Jesus drove out demons with a word. Demons could not be cast out by punches because they are spiritual beings. Spiritual beings can only be controlled by spirit. The words of Jesus are spirit, different from the words of a man
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(John 6:63). Demons do not leave by the words of man. They only submit to the words of God. “Demon! Jesus has already condemned you! Get out!” As soon as I commanded, the demon left. The demon did not budge when I depended on my own authority, hit the face of the possessed, and cried, “Go! Go!” Yet when I commanded using the Lord’s authority, the demon instantly left. This is the authority that the Lord has endowed us with. The Lord commanded us to take this authority and preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth and release those who are oppressed by the Devil. Whoever believes and welcomes the name of Jesus can exercise this authority. It is my earnest desire that through this book you will truly understand the authority the Lord has endowed us with. It is also my desire that you would clearly know the identity of demons and their works. In the name of Jesus, I pray that you use this amazing authority to powerfully subjugate demons and their works.