Freeing the Captives

Intro

Luke 4:16–21 ESV

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Finding Deliverance in the Synoptic Gospels

Scriptures in the Synoptic Gospels

Matt 10:1 (NKJV) - And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out.

Mark 6:7 (NKJV) - And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.

Luke 9:1 (NKJV) - Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons.

Synoptic Gospels

In the Synoptic Gospels, there are two dozen accounts of exorcism.

In the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, one-third of the chapters contain instances or references to supernatural experiences and demonic encounters.

In the Gospel of Matthew, seven of 28 chapters include references to demonic activity, including chapters 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, and 17.

And in the Gospel of Luke, eight of the 24 chapters of Luke contain accounts of demonic encounters, including 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 -- 33%.

The Number of Exorcisms in The Gospel of Mark

1. Mark mentions exorcism early in his Gospel in verse 1:39.

2. Mark 6:7 contains the command of this Gospel to cast out demons in the name. of Jesus.

3. Seven of the 16 chapters of Mark, 44% of the chapters, deal with demonic encounters. These chapters include chapters 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 16.

4. Mark’s Gospel contains the Great Commission in verse 16:15, which explicitly states the sign of the Commission’s effectiveness will be an exorcism.

The primary difference between the synoptic gospels and the gospel of John

As Twelftree notes, “In the Synoptic Gospels the defeat of Satan is linked with Jesus’ exorcisms. In John the defeat of Satan is linked with the cross (Jn 14:30; 16:11).

Exorcism in early Church History

NEW TESTAMENT TIMES: Jesus was an exorcist. His disciples cast out demons.

FIRST CENTURY/SILENCE OF JOHN’S GOSPEL AND PAUL’S EPISTLES: There was little said about exorcism because it was common in the first century.

SECOND CENTURY: The influence of the apostle’s teachings was still prevalent.

THIRD CENTURY: The need for teaching exorcism grew in importance as the church moved farther from the influence of the apostles.

Justin Martyr, 2nd-century apologist

“For numberless demoniacs throughout the whole world, and in your city, many of our Christian men exorcising them in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, have healed and do heal, rendering helpless and driving the possessing devils out of the men, though they could not be cured by all the other exorcists, and those who used incantations and drugs.” - Justin Martyr

St. Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem

“Divine exorcisms, borrowed from the Scripture, purify the soul.” - St. Cyril

Jesus, the Exorcist

Twelftree notes, “In pre-Christian literature there is the expectation that the Messiah would do battle with Satan, but Jesus is the first to make a specific connection between the relatively ordinary events of exorcism and the defeat of Satan, between exorcism and eschatology.”

The Mission of Christ

Luke 4:18 ESV

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

The Definition of Captive

Isaiah 58:6 ESV

6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

Aphesis– The act of liberating someone or something (from slavery, imprisonment, or other bondage.

John 8:34–36 ESV

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Eleutheroo – To set free. Or to set someone or something free.

1 John 3:8 ESV

8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

The Origin of Evil

The Original Rebel

“The original rebel of Eden is a recurring focus in New Testament theology. New Testament writers follow the Second Temple Jewish understanding of Satan’s character, authority, domain, and final destiny in transparent ways, embracing the theological mosaic assembled from disparate data points in the Old Testament.” – Dr. Michael Heiser

Genesis 3:14–15 ESV

14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Demonic Origins

Powerpoint - (Expound)

“Demons, appear to be earthbound creatures. Demons, as I have encountered them, display a wide range of character traits. Some are vicious, violent, and supernaturally strong. Others are weak, cowering, even ridiculous—characteristics one would not expect to find in angels, even when they are fallen.” – Derek Prince

The Book of Enoch

A handful of important early Christian writers such as Tertullian, Irenaeus, Origen, and Clement either advocated 1 Enoch as worthy of canonical status or considered it authoritative on certain matters of truth and doctrine. The book was assigned full canonical recognition only in the Ethiopian Church.

“A book that isn’t considered inspired by most of Christianity, many are told, isn’t valuable for biblical understanding. Consequently, unlike Peter and Jude, whose New Testament contributions show a close knowledge of 1 Enoch, many Christians not only never read 1 Enoch, but are discouraged from doing so. I don’t consider the book of 1 Enoch to be inspired and canonical, but that is no excuse for neglecting it in the study of Scripture. Frankly, this entire book is testimony to the folly of this inattention. The assumption that uninspired ancient books aren’t valuable for understanding Scripture is deeply flawed.”– Dr. Michael Heiser

A Demonic Conspiracy

“This is the Book of Enoch, which was removed by the early church father Julius Africanus simply because he did not believe the text. Even though Jesus Himself is quoted from the Book of Enoch, it is no longer found in our Bibles. (That’s a demonic conspiracy to dumb down the church and remove its authority...) Non-canonical writings can be helpful aids in research and are no different than Bible dictionaries and commentaries.” - Dr. John Pelizzari

The Prophet - Powerpoint (Expound)

Genesis 6:1–4 draws on the Mesopotamian tale of the apkallu. Most Bible students and even scholars will never have heard of them. This is because it has only been since 2010 that a concerted effort was undertaken to revisit the familiar Mesopotamian flood stories with an eye toward the elements of Genesis 6:1–4. Prior to that time, virtually no mention of the apkallu can be found in an English commentary on Genesis. Before 2010 only two scholarly essays specifically pursued the apkallu story as having an important relationship to Genesis 6:1–4.” – Dr. Michael S. Heiser

Who Were the apkallu?

The apkallu were “culture-heroes who brought the arts of civilization to the ancient world.

They were divine beings who taught supernatural-hidden knowledge to humankind, including omens and magic by sharing with humanity the knowledge of all the secrets of the angels” (1 En 65:6).

Powerpoint...

Philippians 2:8–11 ESV

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Differences between Devils and unclean spirits

Acts 10:38 ESV

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Diabolos - slanderer, devil.

The term devil, which is the Greek word daimon. This word is defined as a defied spirit, to make a god of, to exalt to the rank of god, to adore or regard as a deity. – Dr. John Pelizzari

Deuteronomy 32:17 (KJV) - They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

According to Greek mythology, the two main orders of “gods” dwell in the “heavenly realms.” The higher is called theos(plural theoi), and the lower order is called daimon.

Powerpoint - Unclean Spirits Section

Matthew 12:28 ESV

28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

What’s the difference between demonic attacks and spiritual attacks?

1. Demonic attacks come from inside an individual. This occurs because there is a legal right that gives a demon permission to attack the person.

2. Spiritual attacks come from spirits attacking from the outside of an individual. There doesn’t need to be a legal right for this kind of attack. These attacks primarily come from principalities, powers, witchcraft, and satanic assignments.

3. The two methods of attack can work together, affirming the distinction between devils and unclean spirits.

7 ways unclean Spirits attack humanity

Enoch 15:11-12 (powerpoint)

7 ways unclean Spirits attack people

1. Afflict

2. Oppress

3. Destroy

4. Attack

5. Battle

6. Create Destruction on the Earth

7. Cause Trouble

Affliction - inner turmoil, thoughts, and negative feelings.

Unclean spirits are the source of pain and suffering. Unclean spirit’s affliction causes you to doubt God’s Word. They plan to harass you so much as to weaken your faith and ultimately knock you down.

“When fatigue walks in, faith walks out.” – Dr. John Pelizzari

Oppression - to feel distressed or anxious, to press against, and to produce hardship.

Powerpoint...

John 10:10 ESV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Attack - “to take aggressive action against.”

How do unclean spirits attack people?

1. This is usually manifest when a person is having tremendous difficulty with a person or group.

2. Unclean Spirits attack humanity by influencing people to act harmfully or to criticize or oppose fiercely and publicly.

3. Unclean Spirits also attack people with a sudden short bout of an illness.

“This happens seasonally as a mass assault comes when everyone gets sick in any given area despite what the doctors diagnose. An unexpected, ‘it came out of nowhere sickness or disease is evidence of unclean spirits working their destruction. In addition, they will use familiar avenues such as springtime allergies, and winter colds. They are responsible for outbreaks and epidemics. As the world advertises on television that the “flu season is upon us”, we unknowingly set ourselves in agreeance with these unclean spirits, thus permitting them to operate.” – Dr. John Pelizzari

Unclean spirits like to battle with lengthy and extraneous struggles and trials that are designed to weaken a person’s faith. The purpose of the battle is to wear you out by going through such a long ordeal that you will finally throw your hands in the air and declare, “I quit!” If that happens and we give in and accept the circumstances, we lose spiritual battles. They work overtime to traumatize people to convince them God can’t or won’t do what He promised. When this occurs, we never openly admit it, but the poison surges through our veins and races through our thoughts.

Powerpoint...

Trouble - worry or inconvenience, to incur punishment or blame, to cause unrest or disorder, to cause distress, pain, or inconvenience.

“Unclean Spirits cause things to go wrong, and they work hard to convince others that you are the one to blame for your problems. This results in unrest as you lose sleep. It fosters fears and concerns that can result in mental torment or physically manifest as migraines, neck and shoulder tensions, stomach ailments, and ulcers.” – Dr. John Pelizzari

Deuteronomy 24:19 (KJV) - When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.

Powerpoint

Matthew 18:7 ESV

7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!

The Purpose for Freedom

Colossians 2:13–15 ESV

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Why We Need Freedom

1. To remove every hindrance of Satan in your life so you can fulfill your calling and destiny.

2. To walk in dominion by breaking demonic bondages over your life. That’s how you overcome the enemy in your life.

3. To leave a legacy to your children by breaking curses, stopping generational sins, and displaying what it looks like to live for God by walking in victory, freedom, and wholeness. That’s how generational blessings are passed down.

4. To live the way God intended you to by being set free from torment, affliction, mental illness, trauma, soul wounds, and demonic oppression.

5. So, you can set the captives free!