Them Crazy Christians

In 1 Corinthians 1:18 Paul wrote— “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Those who are perishing are those who are spiritually dead, lost to the world. They have not yet received the “Good News,” or they are blind to the Truth because of their own ignorance. I know so many people say ignorance is bliss but is it really when there is a heavenly Father above that wants us to be a light to the world as Jesus was when he walked among us mortals?

Is it bliss to not know Christ when judgment day arrives? If we did not know and lived prodigal and hedonistic lives, worshipping Satan through self-righteousness unknowingly, we would be condemning ourselves to die the “second death.” I personally would prefer long-suffering and persecution as a Christian over eternal damnation. I am not the type to walk around holding a sign reading “The End is Nigh,” nor will I be preaching to traffic shouting at cars about the Gospel. There is that kind of crazy, that benefits no one.

The kind of crazy I speak of is written in Matthew 10:8– “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” I have referenced this passage of Scripture in many of my blogs, but it is that important. This is what Jesus did and what he calls us to do. In John 14:12 Jesus says– “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.” These works sound foolish to the lost because the supernatural is contrary to natural science. “Are you crazy? You need doctors to heal the sick!” Well, my Lord is the Great Physician as made evident in many verses such as Isaiah 53:5– “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

Jesus not only died for our sins, but we are no longer bound by the penalty of death, and this includes sickness. We have the authority given to us by the Holy Spirit that dwells in us to do what Jesus did. 1 Corinthians 6:19 reveals– “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” I do not mind if I look insane talking to my headache about God and telling all spirits of infirmity to leave my body and mind in Jesus Holy Name. My father on earth rebuked the doctor’s diagnosis when I was dying and here I am today. He believed in the impossible, and God honored that.

Cleansing the lepers means to lead others to Christ, plant the seed so God can water it, so they too can be cleaned of their sin (leprosy) by Jesus, and of course never forget that we can overwater and drown the plant. Leprosy represents sin due to the nature of the disease leading to lepers being forsaken and kept from the temples of worship. When we sin and follow the ways of the world, we are disobeying Father God. He has called us to be modern day disciples, and share the Gospel, and His love with the lost. We are to use power evangelism and be a witness to the perishing or to admonish our brothers and sisters in Christ. Through this journey, we may be hated and persecuted, we may lose friends and family, and things we like may change as our hearts and minds are transformed and renewed. This is part of sanctification.

Often people will yell “Don’t judge me, ONLY God can judge me!” Usually, it is when someone is held accountable for their sin, and they want to continue the path they are on that this is said. They may feel ashamed and are angry, whatever the case, there is Scripture to support correction. Galatians 6:1-2– “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Accountability matters, but should always be done in love.

Resurrection of the dead sounds unbelievable, yet in John 11:41-44 we see this is possible– “Then they took away the stone from where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.’ Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Loose him, and let him go.” Lazarus was dead for 4 days, and he got up out of his tomb, alive again. There are many accounts of modern-day Lazarus’ that defy the natural order of things. There are miracles happening every day that cannot always be explained by “common sense” or science.

As for the final directive, casting out demons is serious business. Deliverance is the “Children’s Bread,” and it is for everyone that wants it. Renouncing and breaking chains of generational curses, and addictions, illnesses, etc., is part of deliverance. Demons are tied to our vices, our addictions, trauma, etc. Where there is one, expect many because they are evil spirits that travel in packs. Some of the movies you see about exorcisms are exaggerated but it can be violent and more times than not it has involved screaming or vomiting. The peaceful ones I have witnessed involved crying. It seems to vary person to person based on the type of demon, and the person’s knowledge of God.

There are also differences between possession, oppression, and demonization. A Christian cannot be possessed but they can be oppressed by a spirit. Possession is a full takeover, whereas oppression is where only certain areas of a person’s life is affected, and demonized is willingly being “used” or influenced by the demon but still having control of their body and actions. “That person is screaming and falling on the ground, that preacher must be the devil!” Casting out demons is usually not pretty, but it is relief and freedom.

But always use discernment when approaching these situations because there are those that impart wicked spirits instead of driving them out in Jesus Name. Believers know or should know that once a demon is cast out it must find a new host, these spirits are always looking for they’re next prey, so remember to wear the full Armor of God and “squeeze out your sponge.” Remember, Matthew 10:1– “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.”