As He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for over 18 years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called out to her, “Woman, you are free of your disability.” Then He laid His hands on her, and instantly she was restored and began to glorify God… But the Lord answered… “Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for 18 years — shouldn’t she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?” (Luke 13:10-16 — Holman Christian Standard Bible)
This true story shows the stark contrast between the work of God and the work of Satan. Demons had attacked this woman’s spine causing such severe curvature that she could not stand up straight for 18 years— imagine the limitations that this disability must have caused her. In those times preparing food and washing clothes was a full time job for a woman because there were no appliances, no machinery, no refrigeration, and no stores with ready-made food. Everything was done by hand. She may even been single because no man wanted to marry her. But whatever the case, her life was hell for those 18 years all because an evil spirit decided to make her suffer.
Why do demons attack people? What benefit do they derive from it? The Bible doesn’t give many explanations, but one thing we do know is that Satan asked for permission to attack Job simply to turn him against God. Demons attack because they enjoy seeing people suffer — they feed off of suffering — but they also enjoy hurting God by trying to drive a wedge between Him and people. But amazingly, the woman in this story was found in a synagogue where we assume she came to pray to and worship God in spite of her suffering, and Jesus used a term for her that is not recorded anywhere else in the Bible: daughter of Abraham. By saying this He meant that she was a true woman of faith, since Abraham is the father of faith.
How could she be oppressed by a demon and be a child of Abraham? How could a faithful member of a synagogue (then) or church (today) be possessed by a demon? The fact is, it happened then and it happens today. Believing in God and attending church does not guarantee a perfect life or even freedom from demons and Satan. We have to put on the full armor of God and fight the good fight if we want to defeat demons and be immune from their attacks. When we don’t, the unnatural circumstance of being a possessed believer can and will occur. Clearly, from Jesus response, “Woman, you are free from your disability”, this is not God’s will. God’s power is available, we just have to use it.
Don’t make the dangerous mistake of thinking that this doesn’t happen today. It does. Demons are attacking people just like in the time of Jesus (30% of His miracles involved casting out demons), and we have the same authority that Jesus had. If we speak the same way, and have the same faith, we will get the same results as the Lord Jesus. And when we choose not to follow Jesus’ example, we find ourselves in the miserable inconsistency of believing in a big God but not seeing His power in our lives. Unless we cast out demons like our Lord did, our lives will always be limited.
Take a stand and use your authority.
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