A People Robbed and Plundered
July 2009 Newsletter
Jess Parker TDS Ministries
Jesus said in Matthew 12:43-45,
“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it wanders in dry places seeking rest and finding none, it says, ‘I will return to the house from which I came.’ And when it arrives it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself and they go and live there. And the final condition of the man is worse than the first.”
There are many spiritual truths to be learned from this passage of scripture. The most obvious and by far, the most important one is that it is unwise to cast a demon out of an unbeliever. Casting a demon out of the unbeliever can leave them unprotected and vulnerable to an attack by more powerful demons than they had before.
However, if we heed the warning found in Matthew 12:43 and refrain from this dangerous practice of casting demons out of the unbeliever, we are immediately faced with a dilemma. It is recorded in Mark 16:15 as Jesus’ last instruction to his followers, just before He ascended to heaven.
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel… And these signs will follow those who believe… In My name… they will cast out demons.”
If casting demons out of one who is not a Christian is unwise and dangerous, who then is Jesus sending us into the world to cast them out of? There can only be one answer; Christians.
This truth becomes evident when we compare the verse in Luke 4:18 where Christ first introduces His mission and ministry, with Mark 16:15 where He gives final instructions to His disciples.
Notice the sequence Christ lays out for his disciples in Mark 16:15. It is modeled after His own ministry, recorded in Luke 4:18;
1. First present the gospel;
Luke 4:18 “He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.”
Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.”
In both these passages, there is first a presentation of the gospel and an opportunity for every hearer to receive the message. In Luke the term “poor” is used, meaning those who have never had the opportunity to partake of God’s rich blessing of eternal life. In Mark the term “world” is used and again refers to every person who will ever hear the gospel message.
Whenever there is a presentation of the gospel, the hearer(s) are immediately faced with making a choice; receive or reject the gospel message.
Mark 16:16 records the results of the decision.
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, Whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Those who reject the gospel message have now edited themselves from any further influence, blessing or benefit described in the following statements in each of these passages.
Listen closely, everything spoken from this point on, in both Luke 4:18 and Mark 16:15 is directed toward those who have chosen to believe and receive the gospel message and are now a born again follower of Christ.
When Christ says in Luke 4:18 “He will set the captive free,” He is not referring to the person who in the previous sentence was presented with the gospel message and rejected it. That person has already removed themselves from any further ministry of the one they have rejected. No! He is now addressing those who have received the first blessing of His ministry; the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. They will now become the recipient of further benefits of His ministry; deliverance from their captors.
When He says in Mark 16:17, “In My name they will cast out demons,” He is not referring to the one who refused to believe and now stands condemned. No! He is referring to one who believed and was baptized and now needs the ministry of deliverance to be rid of the demons that are tormenting them.
There is nothing confusing about these passages. Both refer to one who has believed the gospel message and accepted Christ as their Savior, and now needs the further ministry Christ offers including healing and freedom from demons that are tormenting them.
Christians everywhere are being tormented physically, mentally and emotionally. Still many of their Pastors and Christian leaders refuse to acknowledge it might be the work of demons. They have no answers for the casualties of broken confused people who are all around them. The toll taken on the church is staggering.
God’s people are being ravished by the enemy. And because of the stronghold of doubt and unbelief of spiritual leaders, they are being forbidden to get the help that is available through the deliverance ministry. They are forced to suffer in silence. If they disclose their inner struggles to their leaders, they are referred to a secular therapist for a mental disorder.
Isaiah accurately describes the Church today when he says in Isaiah 42:22,
“But this is a people robbed and plundered. All of them are trapped in prisons and snared in holes They are being ravished by predators and no one is rescuing them. They are being robbed by enemies and no one is saying ‘give it back.”
The mission of Tearing Down Strongholds Ministries is to release God’s people from the prisons and snares the enemy has forced them to live in and say to the enemy, “Give back every thing you have looted and plundered from the people of God.”
The greatest obstacle those in the deliverance ministry face is the Christian leaders who will not allow their congregations to hear the message of deliverance that can set them free.
Praise God for the opportunity He has given us through means such as a website that cannot be silenced. I will use this website in every way I can to teach Christians they can be free of the demons tormenting them.
Each month I will be addressing a particular truth regarding Deliverance and Healing for the whole person. Jesus said in John 8:32, “You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.”
I would like to encourage you to allow the truths found in these teachings to help you appropriate the freedom Christ promises you which He paid for with His precious blood.
Along with the News Letter, we will be offering a teaching of the month which can be downloaded. My prayer is that each teaching will be just the truth you need to defeat the enemies in your life.
I will be sending out the monthly newsletter to everyone on our email list. If you know of someone who would like to be added to the list, please have them email us. We will make sure they receive the newsletter the following month.
I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to the TDS School of Deliverance which runs from August 24-26. The School has been shortened from five days to three but will still consist of 15 classes. You can register on line. Just go to tdsministries.org and that will take you right to the site. Hope to see you there.
We appreciate all of you who desire to partner with this ministry through contributions and prayer support. Get your free mp3 message for July.
Be free in Jesus name,
Jess
