Preachers/pastors Who Will Not Cast Out Devils

[Belle]

During the past year I have heard two UPC preachers make the statement that they do not cast out devils. I can't understand this. Isn't that one of the things the Bible commands preachers to do? What are they afraid of? Would like to know what others think of this.

[ddc101]

Hi Belle,
I am curious as to why you think its only preachers who should cast out devils?
Here is what the bible says:

Mark 16:17
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
(KJV)

Aren't you a believer as well?

[Belle]

Exactly, I was thinking of that scripture. I wasn't talking about preachers specifically. All believers can do this - ministers especially!!

[ufmek]

Exactly, I was thinking of that scripture. I wasn't talking about preachers specifically. All believers can do this - ministers especially!! Why the response... ministers especially!!
It should be believers especially. Point blank!!!:yeah:

[Naomi]

I think the words "ministers especially" were used because the church seems to think they are more important and more in touch with God than regular old Joe saint.

To me, no one should be put on a pedestal. The Word says after we receive the Holy Ghost, we ALL have the power to do these things.

I really don't like the attitude that the preacher is the only one that can hear from God.

How did this happen?

[Hnovilla]

His NAME is Jesus!

"Why the response... ministers especially!! "

The Ministry is chosen from among those who are mature in the faith. It stands to reason, that if a layperson has the authority to cast out denmons, the Ministry should be adept at this, also.

This bears repeating: "Any Minister who does not exercise a gift of the Spirit, or who does not have a gift of the Spirit to exercise...or who is insecure in his authority as a believer, is only a pretender to the Ministry."Brother Villa

It's the Gospel, Church!
Brother Villa

[ddc101]

AMEN AMEN Brother Villa!!!! lv sis.c

[tufluv]

I think that ANYONE can hear from GOD and should..
but will everyone respond and/or obey that what they hear from GOD??

I do think that the more mature, seasoned faithful ministers would do better to cast out spirits but I am NOT convinced that others can NOT do this..we are equipped with the HG..the devil must 'flee' from GOD's spirit working from within, if HE wants to cast that devil out right then and there, there hopefully should NOT be anything preventing HIM from such...unless its something about the individual prohibiting that work..hmmm..much to consider.

AND its not just 'casting out demons' which I believe pastors ought to be able to do..
'how bout leaving the '99 [of the proverbial "100 sheep" given him {pastor/shepard} to watch over}] to search for that one lost, misguided, or somehow injured LAMB??? :(
Don't see much of this either! :realmad: Maybe this takes more maturity than some have?

I don't think so...it should be a given, yet I've seen so-o many saints and non-saints alike..just ignored, and they slip away, virtually unnoticed. :grumble:
Inexcusable!

[Belle]

Well said Bro. Villa! No where in that post did I say that Preachers are the only ones that can hear from God or only they have authority to cast out devils. I merely stated that I can not understand why a preacher would not (not that no one else could). Boy, did that get taken out of context!

I so agree with you. Any Holy Ghost filled person who is walking with God has the right to do this. Pastors/preachers are suppose to be leading by example and when praying for people that just comes with the territory sometimes. It would be hard for me to take a minister seriously who was afraid to do this. Anyway, glad someone understood. Belle

[ufmek]

Well said Bro. Villa! No where in that post did I say that Preachers are the only ones that can hear from God or only they have authority to cast out devils. I merely stated that I can not understand why a preacher would not (not that no one else could). Boy, did that get taken out of context!

Well excuseeeeeeeeee me... next time you'll be more specific with how you word things! Nah, just kidding-Haha:cool:

You are right Belle... I did take things out of context.. and for that I apologize to you. Thanks also to Bro. Villa for wisely putting things back into perspective.:tup:

[jesusonly238]

Belle,
I cannot give their reasoning, but I can state what I believe. Anytime there is a supernatural manifestation of the awesome presense of God, you will easily expect a change. No one walks out of the presense of God the same way they walked in. You are changed. These preachers maybe afraid of the change. Conviction may come on the people, and cause them to leave the church. That is the only reason I can possibly think of for this statement.

[ddc101]

Amen to that Brother! lv sis.c

[christian]

ALL Holy filled believers can cast out devils as far as I'm concerned.
If folks want delieverance we should be able to help them.
I can't understand Holy Ghost filled preachers not wanting to help folks get deliverance from demonic oppression and possession.

[ddc101]

I keep telling him to leave but he keeps showing up for church.. :icon_laug

[OriginalPraxeas]

I think the words "ministers especially" were used because the church seems to think they are more important and more in touch with God than regular old Joe saint.

To me, no one should be put on a pedestal. The Word says after we receive the Holy Ghost, we ALL have the power to do these things.

I really don't like the attitude that the preacher is the only one that can hear from God.

How did this happen?
The term Ministry is fallicious in our group. Really EVERY Christian should be a Minister. If you have been baptized in the Holy Ghost, you are annointed. You have the same Spirit Jesus had, the Apostles, your pastor etc etc. You may not have the SAME office or calling, but we are all called to Minister. The word Minister means to serve and that is what we are called to do, serve. We serve God. We serve each other. We serve when we fellowship and bring much needed spiritual unity to others. We serve when we intercede for the Lost and pray for the church to have revival. We serve when we pray for the Pastor and pray for the sick. We minister or should minister by reaching out to lost souls. We should all seek to be preachers and teachers of the word. No, not a pulpit preacher, but a REAL one.... :-)

Think about this. There are 150 or so members in your church on a Sunday night. There are 3 visitors. The preacher gets up and preaches a message aimed at the church. Who is going to reach out to those three and preach the gospel? Or perhaps that preacher preaches a gospel message meant to bring a sinner to his knees before the throne of Grace....But you live in a city of 200,000.... Ok, that's 153 subtracted from around 200,000...WHO is going to preach the gospel to the rest that are not sitting in your church? It's YOU, the "non ministry" person.

We should all be ready and willing vessels for God to use us in a church meeting and between meetings. We should be ready to minister and pray for one another (that you may be healed) and to reach someone with the gospel of salvation.

I think it is a serious blunder to use the term "The Minister" to refer to anyone who stands behind a pulpit and yells for 30 min then calls an alter call. By doing that, we have fallen into the old church mentality (The Roman) of clergy/laity where by they were nothing but dumb, uneducated sheep that were expected to just visit a church once a week, toss some change in the plate and then eat a cracker. It's a serious fallicy and it can pridefully elevate certain people to places they ought not to be, That is why we have cults of personalities in this country.

[ShiningEpistle]

totally true Original. Anybody who's born again has a responsibility to minister to the lost. As far as preachers not casting on devils, let's pray that situation is few and far inbetween. Those who don't acknowlege that operation of the Holy Ghost is really hindering the potential God wants from His people. Just my opinion.

[onesvoice]

I do not want to start a debate with anyone please. I am only responding out of curiosity to the discussion you are having on casting out devils.

In my research of this topic, I came across an article which was written by a teacher for his students, on behalf of a college bible class. In this article he indicates that at the present era in which we live, there are very few bodily demon possessions. Reading further, he takes the stand that although a person can be possessed physcially, the instances of this are now rare. He goes on to say that demon possession is now more predominate to the mind rather than the body. He states that if we keep our ears, eyes and hearts open to what is unclean, false, evil or mean, then we open ourselves up for mind demon possession.

It is my opinion that the mind is part of the body. Therefore, if someone becomes possessed by a demon it includes their body as well as their mind. I do not believe that demon possession can be separated between body and mind, as I do not find any instance where Jesus either described or dealt with two separate possessions.

What do you think?

[Truthseeker]

His NAME is Jesus!

"Why the response... ministers especially!! "

The Ministry is chosen from among those who are mature in the faith. It stands to reason, that if a layperson has the authority to cast out denmons, the Ministry should be adept at this, also.

This bears repeating: "Any Minister who does not exercise a gift of the Spirit, or who does not have a gift of the Spirit to exercise...or who is insecure in his authority as a believer, is only a pretender to the Ministry."Brother Villa

It's the Gospel, Church!
Brother Villa

Amen! No gift or spiritual authority then no ministry.

[Estrada]

I think the words "ministers especially" were used because the church seems to think they are more important and more in touch with God than regular old Joe saint.

To me, no one should be put on a pedestal. The Word says after we receive the Holy Ghost, we ALL have the power to do these things.

I really don't like the attitude that the preacher is the only one that can hear from God.

How did this happen?
really since when? The bible says we are all ministers of Jesus Christ "all"...

[Estrada]

Hello? New converts can cast out devils!