August 26: Free + filled

When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest, and not finding rest, it then says, “I’ll go back to my house where I came from.” And returning, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that man’s last condition is worse than the first.    (Luke 11:24-26 — Holman Christian Standard Bible)

The Lord Jesus taught that evil spirits exist and that they can inhabit people; this was not a teaching meant only for the first century, it’s a timeless concept. He cast demons out as a normal part of His work, taught His disciples to do the same, and has commanded us to do it also. If we are wise we will accept His teaching and change our own ideas and philosophies to agree with His.

Evil spirits feel a need to live inside of people, and when they’re cast out they wander through waterless places. They feed off of pain, depression, anger, hatred, grudges, pride, selfishness, addictions, and everything else that is negative and bad. When we refuse to allow them to live inside of us, and cast them out, they are deprived of that “food” and are thrown into a type of spiritual desert. They immediately start searching for a place of rest — another human body — otherwise they feel starved and deprived.

Whenever demons are cast out they will try to return to the same person. They must consider that the investment they have made over the years is too much to give up on. Besides, demons hate to obey. Whenever we cast them out and tell them never to come back, they will try to do the opposite because it’s in their nature to rebel.

One of the most important points in this passage is that it’s not enough for our lives to be clean and put in order — if our lives are clean, but empty, demons will come back. This means that no deliverance is finished until we are filled with God’s Spirit. That’s the only guarantee that we will remain free. When God’s Spirit occupies our “house” no one else can move in, but if our “house” is vacant, demons will force their way in. This means that being filled with the Holy Spirit is not an option, but a necessity. As long as we are not baptized with the Holy Spirit, we run the risk of being contaminated again, and ending up even worse than before.