Most of you don’t even know that Jesus didn’t simply give instruction to go out and preach the gospel, but to cast out demons and heal the sick and raise the dead while we’re at it!!!.. God’s Word makes it clear that we are to go fourth preaching the gospel…Yet we are to also be actively healing the sick and casting out demons as well!

Matthew 10:7-8

“And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

This concept of casting out demons being integrated with our proclaiming the gospel is something that Jesus demonstrated to us in His own ministry:

Mark 1:21,23-25

“And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught… And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.”

Here’s another example of how Jesus was teaching, and halted His sermon to set a person free from the grip of a demonic spirit:

Luke 13:10-12

“And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 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. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.”

God’s Word tells us clearly that casting out devils was a very real and important part of Jesus’ preaching the gospel!

Mark 1:39

“And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.”

Jesus’ disciples even followed this same pattern!…Not only did Jesus set the example.

His disciples were actively following in His footsteps…

Mark 3:14-15

“And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:”

Here again, we see preaching followed up with casting out demons!…So what happened in those disciples’ ministries?

Mark 6:12-13

“And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.”

It didn’t stop with the 12…Jesus also had the 70 going fourth preaching and driving out unclean spirits…

Luke 10:1

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come…”

And look what happened…

Luke 10:17

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.”

And It didn’t end there…As Jesus’ Heavenly Father hath sent Him fourth, so He also sends us fourth…

John 20:21

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”

In other words, we are to be carrying out the same work that Jesus was carrying out when He was here on earth!…We are Christ’s ambassadors; we are His representatives here on earth today…

2 Corinthians 5:20

“Now then we are ambassadors (that is, representatives) for Christ…”

Jesus made it clear that those who believe upon Him will be following in His footsteps, doing the same things that He was doing…

John 14:12

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

What works did Jesus go about doing?…He went about healing the sick and casting out devils, raising the dead loving on the lost! If we believe upon Him, then we are quite capable of doing those same things!…This concept is written in Red when Jesus said…

Mark 16:15,17-18

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature… And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall bind up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

You are fully capable of driving out demons today…and as you go fourth and preach the gospel, I encourage you to make yourself available as the Lord places people in your path who need healing and deliverance.