The wicked flee in God’s presence—that doesn’t just happen in the movies.
The Word tells us that in the name (authority) of Jesus, demons will have to flee. If demons didn’t exist, they wouldn’t have to flee in Jesus’ authority and we wouldn’t have to have been told that to begin with.
A few years back I was experiencing all the classic symptoms associated with congestive heart failure. One early Sunday morning around that time, a demon appeared to me in my bedroom as the light of dawn streamed through the translucent curtains.
He looked a little bit like Lurch from The Addams Family television series, and skinny as the proverbial 'rail'. He was at least 9 feet tall, which is what I surmised by seeing his feet on the floor and his head pressed against our 9’ ceiling. He spoke in a gravely, hoarse and monotone basso-profundo voice, utterly void of any humanity whatsoever.
“Shall we add ‘well done’ to your tombstone?”
Of course he was referring to what Jesus said when He explained how when a Christian dies, he will hear, ‘Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’
My first thought was to tell the demon, ‘Go to hell,’ but then I thought, “No, he’s already been there.” Then I thought to tell him to shut up, but then I remembered how the archangel Michael was quoted in Jude: (1:9)
Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (--NKJB--).
Finally, I came up with the right answer. With Michael as my model, I said, “In the authority of Jesus…” and that was it—I never had to say another word. I think for one moment God actually allowed me to see how fast a nanosecond is. I still can’t get my head around how dramatic and spectacular his split was. Thankfully the story doesn’t end there.
I went to church that Sunday, not where I usually go, but to a house of worship affiliated with the denomination that held my ministerial credentials. No one at the church knew me—I was there as a stranger. Before I went in, I asked the Lord to please heal me. He spoke into my mind to go to a particular woman for prayer. Finally, the opportunity came toward the end of the service as she walked up to the front to pray for people. I didn’t even tell her what I needed. She said to me, “I want to pray for you, but if you don’t mind, I want to pray to the Lord first, to ask what He wants.”
“Fine,” I said, gladly.
And then she prayed—and wept—and prayed some more, put a finger on my chest and said, “Yes, Lord, a new heart. Please give my brother a new heart.” And, like the Tin Man, I walked out of there with one—my symptoms gone.
Remember that it’s not just authority, but the relationship behind it. Look at Acts 19:
13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We[a] exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered[b] them, and prevailed against them,[c] so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. (--NKJV--)
In the Greek it reads, ‘Jesus (we’re well acquainted with) and (with) Paul (we’re very familiar), but who are you (you who refer to the authority of Jesus without possessing a relationship with Him)?
In a relationship-backed Jesus authority, not only do demons flee, but peace rushes in where fear once lived.
b(Les)sings
Psalm 68
King James Version (KJV)
1Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. 2As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
4Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
5A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
7O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
8The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
11The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
12Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
13Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
14When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
15The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
16Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.
17The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
18Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
19Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
20He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.
21But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
22The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
23That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
24They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
25The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
26Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
27There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
28Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
29Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
30Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.
31Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
32Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
33To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
34Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
35O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
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