Anointed to Destroy the Works of the Devil

One of the strongest Scriptures on healing is Romans 8:11, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." This refers to physical healing. This is the Holy Spirit taking the life of Jesus and manifesting it in our physical bodies releasing in it health, strength and life. The same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-23) is now working in our mortal bodies, making them free from sin and sickness. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John tells us, "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8) 

Jesus did His part of destroying the works of the devil. After the resurrection when He left the earth to return to heaven, He gave us the Holy Spirit, (John 16:7), His Word (the Bible) and the ability to use His Name (Mark 16:17) that we, His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) here on the earth, might go on destroying the works of the devil. The reason why sin, sickness, disease and poverty are in the church today, is because of our not taking our legal place in Christ. They exist simply due to a lack of training to do the work that Jesus said we were to do. (John 14:12) Our work should be the continuation of His earthly ministry and that of the early church, destroying the works of the devil. 

The weapon we are to use is found in the next two verses in the gospel of John, "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:13-14) The word "ask" in these verses means, to demand something due. The name of Jesus is to be used in the way we see it used by Peter who spoke to the lame man at the gate of the temple, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6) This is not prayer. This is casting out demons in Jesus' name. This is not demanding God to do anything, but simply demanding something due that Jesus has provided through His death and resurrection. It is like going to the bank where you have a thousand dollars in an account and you want to withdraw five hundred dollar from the account. You are not making a demand on the bank teller, per se, but simply making a demand that which is already yours.  

There is healing for the sick in His Name, there is power to break disease and sickness in the hearts and lives of all people in His Name. Can the Name of Jesus keep us from sickness? Can it keep us from want? Can it keep us from fear, and dread? Can His Name be used today just as He suggested in Mark 16:17-18? "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they 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." If  Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and we are His ambassadors, His instruments to do His work, then yes, we too are to destroy the works of the devil in His Name. 

The fact that Jesus bore our sin by sacrificing Himself and that He provided the remission of all sin, that is, He has taken away every bit of sin as though it never was, proves that we should not be in bondage to sin or sickness, because they come from the same source, the devil. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14) "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2) Every believer in Christ is free from sin, free from disease and free from condemnation. 

Therefore, if sin cannot lord itself over the believer, then disease cannot lord itself over the believer either, because, again, they come from the same source. The nature and life of God that has come into you will give you life and health. "With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation." (Psalm 91:16) Salvation means; deliverance, help, prosperity, save, security, victory, made whole, healing. This puts us into the realm of the supernatural because we are linked with Christ, "I am the vine, you are the branches..." (John 15:5) The life in the Vine is in the branch. As soon as the branch is wounded, the Vine pours life into it, so it can continue to bearing fruit. 

Therefore, Jesus' very life is poured into His body, healing the members of sickness, disease, and want, so they can go on bearing fruit to the glory of God. So, let us arise, take our place, and go out and carry this message of deliverance and victory to others.