Saturday Song: David Byrne and Brian Eno, " The Jezebel Spirit"

The horror movie, The Exorcist, popularized the casting out of demons back in 1973 but this has been done as early as the first century. Of course most of these exorcisms have been faked by spiritual con artists.

David Byrne and Brian Eno examined the topic of religions in their album, "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" which they recorded in 1981. One track featured an exorcist on a radio broadcast. Listen to it here.

According to the Bible, Only Jesus and his disciples were able to cast out demons. We read one encounter in Mark 5:6 and 7 (BBE) where many wicked spirits dwelt in a man, tormenting him relentlessly. "And when he saw Jesus from far off, he went quickly to him and gave him worship; And crying out with a loud voice he said, 'What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God's name, do not be cruel to me'"

We also read where the devils knew exactly who Christ was. One example is in Luke 4:41 (BBE). "And evil spirits came out of a number of them, crying out and saying, 'You are the Son of God.' But he gave them sharp orders not to say a word, because they had knowledge that he was the Christ."

Demons also knew who followed Christ. Acts 16:16 and 17 (BBE) tells of a demon-possessed woman from whom Paul cast out a devil. "And when we were going to the place of prayer, we came across a girl with a spirit which gave knowledge of the future, whose masters made great profit from her power. She came after Paul and us, crying out and saying, 'These men are the servants of the Most High God, who are giving you news of the way of salvation.'"

But we read of one exorcism gone horribly wrong in Acts 19:14 and 15 (BBE) when fake exorcists tried their witch doctor act on a possessed man. "And there were seven sons of a man named Sceva, a Jew and a chief priest, who did this. And the evil spirit, answering, said to them, 'I have knowledge of Jesus, and of Paul, but who are you?'" Then he beat them up and tore off their clothes, sending them away naked.

People who call themselves deliverance ministers ply their trade today. Folks with mental issues or habitual sins are their prey. But as I experienced, nobody was ever freed from what they should have repented of. Week after week, these victims were prayed over and non existent demons were rebuked.

On Monday, if Christ hasn't returned, I plan on publishing about what spiritual warfare really is.