The Spirit of Infirmity

Luke 13:11 KJV 1900

11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

Review

Those that have greater effectiveness in Spiritual Warfare:

Able to look beyond the traits that are being manifest and identify the predominant Spirit that is causing the issue.

Be skilled in how to deal with it

The desire to be free from it

3 battlefields of spiritual warfare:

Obsession - This is where most of our spiritual warfare starts, and it happens when the adversary strives to  consume  your  mind 

Oppression - This is where it goes beyond obsession in your mind, and your  life  starts to be affected.

Oppression - This is where it goes beyond obsession in your mind, and your  life  starts to be affected.

Possession - This takes place when the individual has  accepted  the obsession as normal. Their  resolve  has been weakened by oppression to the space that they are being controlled by the spirits that torment them

The spirit of Infirmity

Luke 13:11 KJV 1900

11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

The word infirmity comes from the Greek word astheneia, meaning “incapacitated due to sickness, disease or weakness.”

It goes without saying that since we are human flesh, we are susceptible to disease, viruses, infections, syndromes, disabilities, or weakness. Most of us know someone who is suffering from a physical malady. Physical ailments are often more common in the frail bodies of the aged or the very young. Babies are vulnerable to childhood diseases. Elders are generally prone to aches and pains. It is just a fact of life that human bodies have human ailments.

Common sense tells us that not every sickness that touches humanity – whether common cold or dreaded disease – is not caused by demon possession. However in studying the word of God. You will find that there is such a thing as physical battles that are spiritually induced.

There are twenty-two references in the Bible of people who had some type of infirmity. Among them or five instances in which infirmities were cast out along with demonic spirits. Even more telling are the two distinct times God acknowledges a physical ailment had gone beyond a fleshly malady and become a spiritual attack. references in the Bible of people who had some type of infirmity. Among them or five instances in which infirmities were cast out along with demonic spirits. Even more telling are the two distinct times God acknowledges a physical ailment had gone beyond a fleshly malady and become a spiritual attack.

In one instance, Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath when he encountered a woman with an infirmity.

Luke 13:11 KJV 1900

11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

Jesus was often surrounded with crowds of sick people hoping to be healed. But on this Sabbath day, the Master took one look at this woman bowed over and incapable of standing up straight, and knew immediately that her malady was more than a birth defect or some injury that never healed. In fact, it is probable someone with such a physical defect would have been restricted from even entering into the temple in Jerusalem. Thus, her physical condition would have created a critical spiritual hindrance.

Jesus, seeing her situation quickly identified her ailment as the result of a demonic spirit of infirmity. Simply put, her affliction was the result of a demonic attacks sent with the goal of creating a hindrance in her spiritual life. The scripture even reveals her reflection was the only thing standing between her and glorifying God:

Luke 13:12–13 KJV 1900

12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Again, not all infirmities are caused by demonic attacks. Sometimes we are weak or sick because we don't take care of ourselves.

In addition, God's word also label such things as the after affects of childbirth or leprosy as “infirmities."

On the other hand, there are instances in God's word where infirmities were caused by demonic attack. You should be aware there are times when your spiritual warfare will make your health or the health of someone you love a battlefield. It is called the spirit of infirmity, and the sole purpose of turning your health into a battlefield is to hinder, damage, or even destroy your walk with God.

Again, not all infirmities are caused by demonic attacks. Sometimes we are weak or sick because we don't take care of ourselves. In addition, God's word also label such things as the after affects of childbirth or leprosy as “infirmities."

Manifestations of the spirit of infirmity:

allergies, anxiety attacks, arthritis, asthma, blindness, blood disorders, cancer, chronic illness, colds, deafness, debilitating dread, diseases, disorders, dementia, epilepsy, endometriosis, feebleness, fever, hallucinations, heart attack, hives, hypochondria, infections, lingering ailments, manic episodes, menstrual issues, mental instability, mute, nausea, neurotic, nosebleeds, paralysis, paranoia, schizophrenia, senility, shingles, sinus issues, sleep disorders, viruses, weakness, wounds refusing to heal

Our first reaction to such a list is likely to identify each of these as a normal human affliction. And, you would be exactly right. Through time, all of us have seen many individuals who suffered terribly as a result of some sickness, disease, or weakness of the flash. But the point is that in light of scripture the greatest danger of the spirit of infirmity is it finds a way to Weaponized a normal human affliction for a demonically driven purpose.

Each of these manifestations have likely appeared in the lives of those even here tonight. However, these same manifestations have been used as weapons by the spirit of infirmity in an attempt to inflict damage to an individual's walk with God.

How can these things become Weaponized in the hands of a demonic spirit of infirmity? It operates by making sure certain manifestations show up at specific times in your life:

Sometimes the spirit of infirmity make sure some physical affliction shows up at church time causing you to miss church because Satan knows God has prepared a divine word capable of lifting you above some dire need in your world.

Let me add to here that while I am thankful for technology, streaming service is not a sufficient substitute for being present. There are certainly times that it can help but should not be regarded as a recurring substitute.

I would liken streaming a service to that of a snickers bar instead of a full meal. Yes, there are times when you just need that kick of energy but you can’t live off of that every day.

Sometimes the spirit of infirmity make sure some sickness appears during special services, keeping you from those services, knowing your absence robs you of the blessing awaiting you and hinders the church by wondering why beloved saint is not there.

Could I also add that your church attendance matters! First, I am aware when you were not here. My mind is working trying to figure out or reason if everything is OK, is there some sickness, are they doing OK spiritually, have they been offended, are they being influenced by the wrong voices?

Could I also add that your church attendance matters! First, I am aware when you were not here. My mind is working trying to figure out or reason if everything is OK, is there some sickness, are they doing OK spiritually, have they been offended, are they being influenced by the wrong voices?

Recently, there was an article that was being circulated on Facebook (since it was posted on Facebook we know that it was true) that spoke to the fact that your attendance to church matters to your pastor. I can promise you that is the case! While I am thankful for every way that this church honors me. For every gift you gave to me at Christmas and my birthday and the many other times throughout the year… the greatest gift you could give to me is to be here every Sunday. There is not one of you that when you aren't here I don't worry and wonder what the cause of your absence is. Few and far between are the saints that still make sure to let the pastor know when and why they won't be in service.

Doug White, the author of the book from which we are taking these lessons, shared an illustration that I think is safe for me to share seeing that it was his experience and I know it would never happen here. :-)

"As a pastor, I will watched a precious lady in our church being brutalized by the spirit of infirmity. She was a mother, and almost every Sunday morning we were contacted with the same lament that one of her children was "sick again.”

The reality was that her children were indeed frequently ill, but when I would pray for them, if you things seem to stick out to me:

Her family would miss church every Sunday morning. Her family seem to always be fine on other days. Her family seldom had a glitch on "non-Dash church" events. Even worse, her family began to suffer spiritually.

When I added all those elements up, there were only two possible conclusions:

1. She was lazy and used her children as an excuse to be unfaithful to God.

2. Her family was being abused by the spirit of infirmity having Weaponized common physical maladies to keep them away from the spiritual strength available to them.

At some point I begin to assume the latter was more probable:

It only happened when it was time for righteous events.

They were recurring issues that hinder them from receiving what God has prepared for them.

Most telling, their demonically inspired hindrances were spiritually damaging the family.

Things like depression, feelings of isolation, and being carnally minded suddenly became common. Those were things that have never bothered her before. The ultimate cure was not more antibiotics or another vitamin. The true cure was to take authority over the spirit of infirmity that was a flipping both their bodies and their souls.

You owe it to your own spirituality to survey the patterns of your physical afflictions, making note of when and how those things affect your walk with God.

Obviously, none of us – especially the righteous – want to remotely think daemonic forces could be at work in our lives, but sometimes this demonic force escapes our noticed when it masquerades as a common cold.

While it is very important to realize that not everyone suffering from sickness is possessed, it is also important to remember demonic activity can operate in the realm of oppression, indicated by the fact your body can react negatively to the influence of an unholy spirit. To regard everyone who is sick as being possessed is a horrible, false doctrine; but to deny that sickness can be caused by a spirit of infirmity is spiritual ignorance. The spirit of infirmity has the ability to touch your flesh with sickness and disease, which, frankly, is why the sexual ask for prayer before they ask for a doctor.

Steps that we can take to defeat the spirit of infirmity:

Steps that we can take to defeat the spirit of infirmity:

Step 1 — Be Kind to your body.

It is disingenuous to not take care of yourself and then wonder if it is the devil who is touching your body.

Never exercising, not getting adequate sleep, continually following a terrible diet, and in General doing nothing to take care of your physical body and then trying to cast out the spirit of infirmity is self deceit.

I am aware that when I get onto the issue of physical health, it irritates and even angers some. But it equally irritates me when people cannot make it to church, have no ability to contribute to the church, and are a poor representation of Jesus Christ in the community because they don't take care of themselves.

If we don't do our part, how will we ever know if it is a spiritual attack or just a lack of physical management. If I am doing my part by exercising regularly, sleeping effectively, and eating a balanced diet, yet, I still seem to get ill every Wednesday afternoon and Saturday night, but I am healthy the other days of the week I can confidently determine the spirit that is attacking.

Step two — pay close attention to how your sickness affects your walk with God

If you find yourself with some affliction, pay particular attention to how it affects you spiritually.

One of the key proofs you are dealing with a spirit of infirmity is if it's affecting your spiritual life in a negative way.

Most that are dealing with some disease or physical maladies want God more than ever before. However, when your physical struggle becomes a spiritual struggle, you may well need to pray against the spirit of infirmity.

We heard Bro. Gallion testify Sunday of his 14 year old son that has dealt with continuous, chronic health issues…most of which Doctors have said will plague him for the rest of his life…yet, the young mans faith has been made stronger by the sickness, rather than it deflating his faith. If your sickness has led you to want to walk away from God, made you feel isolated from the body, and been accompanied by voices that God doesn’t love you, the church doesn’t care…Bind the spirit of infirmity.

Step 3 — Develop the gift of faith

Learn to lay hands on the sick, asking God not only to heal them but to teach you how to operate on that level.

By operating in the gift of faith, you can utilize both your authority over and Holy Spirit and the power of God's healing in peoples lives. God's power is just as real today as it was in the Bible days. Sadly, many miracles are left undone – and demons and challenge Dash because too many of us know far too little about developing enough faith in our lives to operate on a supernatural level. Developing our faith on this level is vital to operating in the room to which God called us.

If you believe that you are under the attack of the spirit of infirmity, begin taking authority by praying for healing in the lives of others.

This will build your faith and also make you a conduit through which healing can flow.

If water flows through a pipe that water doesn’t materialize at the other end of the pipe but it also touches and moves through the conduit through which it flows. Many times, sickness and infirmity can lead us to become very isolated and self-centered…that nobody understands what we are going through. But when we take our eyes off of our affliction and become involved in the affliction of others, healing passes through us to get to them.