11/12/2023 When I reflect on the idea of demons, and see that there are many stories, blogs, articles, and tv shows on spiritual phenomena (not very many times associated with Jesus), I am often seeing what I think it is people do believe about ghosts. I would say, and I haven’t looked up definitions on this, but would say that I believe ghosts/among other characteristics can fall into categories like these: People who believe there’s a ghost, and so they think it’s a departed relative come back for “unfinished business” -good or bad. Other people might would see a ghost like inhabiting an old house as a haunting spirit that is harmless, or a haunting spirit that intends evil. Movies and books usually portray them as monstrous, and indeed they can be! These are very general definitions, but I do think that this is common regard for ghosts.
My husband said a quote today that I thought was good: “If you destroy the idea of hell, then it could be more probable that you believe in ghosts.” And this was the idea that if you don’t believe in hell and that there are demons in hell, and sometimes demons on earth, you could easily detach the idea of ghosts from demons in your mind. So little is taught on this, compared to what is talked about around this idea of the paranormal, that its quite scary.
I have reflected on a phrase before and it has rolled around in my mind and I used to ponder what it meant. Abraham made a statement in one of Jesus’ parables about a chasm being fixed in place: “a great chasm has been fixed between us” and it hit me today that this chasm was about the separation in the spirit realm of departed souls that are in hell, and their ability to come back up from hell. If they are unable to cross the chasm in the spirit realm, that means they cannot come back to earth from hell as a “departed spirit” – what I would say 99% of the time, people today would just call a “ghost”. I will try to explain.
The Beggar Lazarus Parable Jesus Used
In the Bible when Jesus spoke a parable (Luke 16 in the New Testament) about a rich man dressed in fine purple and linen, and also the beggar Lazarus that begged him daily to let him eat the crumbs from his table as he was very rich. The rich man had all he could have except consideration of the poor man, and the guy needed so much help, that dogs licked the sores on his body. Then the poor man died and went into Abraham’s bosom/heaven. Also, the rich man died, but went to hell and was in agony, wanting even just one drop of water from the rich man Lazarus up in heaven. Or at least if he could not get a drop of water, to see if he could get someone from the dead to come up from the dead, maybe even himself go up and warn his brothers while on earth. Abraham said the rich man now wretched, poor and tormented, could not have a drop of water and could not warn his brothers either. Abraham’s reasoning was that they had their chance on earth listening to Moses and prophets, and these people around Jesus at his time had Jesus, and they still would not believe. Therefore, Abraham said no to the used-to-be rich man, now perishing.
Here are the verses that help me to know that the “chasm” Jesus referred to, “chasm” aka like a deep fissure in the earth, or like a gorge or canyon (but in the spirit realm, I believe), is made between the separation of hell and earth and separation of hell and heaven, so that those who make it to hell don’t ever get out, and those who make it to heaven can’t help the people in hell. The main thing I’m trying to discuss though is the thought that a person from hell cannot come up as a departed spirit to wonder around as a ghost. Sorry, Charles Dickens. Departed Jacob Marley cannot bother Scrooge anymore.
Verses about ghosts cannot be departed spirits:
Luke 16:26 “And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
Luke 16:30 “`No, father Abraham,’ he (tormented used-to-be rich guy now as a soul in hell) said, `but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'”
Luke 16 may in general be vague about the idea “Do ghosts come back from the dead and haunt people”, but verse 30 makes it very clear that the sufferer in agony in hell was asking about sending someone from the dead to earth to warn his brothers still alive, and Jesus referred to the fixed chasm!
How to Cast out Demons!…
Cast out Demons In Jesus’ Name!
So, though this idea is very delicate because the spirit realm can be delicate, and otherworldly, and not something we have control of, (but without Jesus, would demand control of us) it has to be respected. God Sovereign does have control over it, Jesus as king and Lord of the universe, having delegated the authorities and powers where they may go. If we see chaos, we have to ask the Lord Jesus to bring peace, because no one else is going to bring it but Him :).
Jesus Won All the Power
Jesus has conquered death because of his dying on the cross, and so also acknowledging His name and casting out a demon that haunts with a single phrase is something our king would give us to do now. We can at least do that! What I mean is this, if you have a demon that you are aware of haunting you, or a spirit planting “bugs” in your thinking and thoughts, causing you distress: say “in Jesus Name, Spirit of —–(name the spirit), I cast you out” and that demon has to flee! (Ephesians 6:12; Mark 16:17; Matthew 7:22; Luke 10:17; Acts 19:13 and Matthew 12:27) Glory to God!
https://www.esv.org/Mark+16:17;Matthew+7:22;Luke+10:17;Acts+19:13;Matthew+12:27/
Name That Demon and then Cast It Out!
If you don’t have the specific name of the demon or spirit bothering you, don’t fret it at all! Simply name the spirit by whatever its activity is, like if its a demon twist a door knob and opening a door, then call it that, sometimes they don’t reveal their names: “Spirit that’s-twisting-the-door-knob-and-opening-the-door-by-itself”, I cast you out in Jesus’ name. And you better do it being sure in your heart of Christ, because that demon doesn’t lack any assurance, but its submits to the name of Jesus and must flee. This method sounds laughable, but the spirit realm knows what you mean, and if you are specific and pray fervently and In Jesus’ Name, then that demon doesn’t stand a chance in the atmosphere you’re in. If it’s like a thought of profanity that you didn’t initiate in your mind, maybe you heard it in the night (when spiritual activity seems to peak), just say “Spirit of profanity – I cast you in Jesus’ Name” and pray with every fiber in your heart by the Holy Spirit who is our helper. If you hear a knock or a “shift in the house” – say “Spirit of knocking” or “Spirit of going-bump-in-the-night” I cast you out in Jesus’ Name! I’M SERIOUS – THIS STUFF WORKS! If tormented with bad pictures, pray “Spirit of sexual immoral pictures” or “spirit of nude pictures of women” or if its lust in general you could say “Spirit of impure emotions/spirit of lust” I cast you out in Jesus’ name. Dreams can be notorious places for us to get weighed down by sick pictures that we didn’t put there, or filthy language that gets picked up from somewhere. If its the f word you heard and bothered “Spirit of cursing vulgar – I cast you out in Jesus’ name” or if its a craving to get drunk at the time – pray for yourself until the things is gone “Spirit of alchoholism, I cast you off of me in Jesus’ Name, Be gone from me” And then play worship music, the demons don’t do well with that either.
Praise the Lord God we have a way to win and even to clean up where we can!
Rebekah's Reflections 