Note 3 at Mk. 1:32: There are 10 different times recorded in the gospels where Jesus cast devils (or demons) out of people. (Mt. 4:24; 8:16,28-34; 9:32-33; 12:22; 15:22-28; Mk. 16:9; Lk. 4:33-35; 9:38-42; 13:11-13). Of these times, demons caused dumbness (Mt. 9:32-33; Lk. 11:14), blindness and dumbness (Mt. 12:22), lunacy (or insanity), seizures, attempted suicide, foaming at the mouth, gnashing of the teeth, screaming (Mt. 17:14-21; Mk 9:14-29; Lk. 9:38-42), being bowed over (possibly curvature of the spine -- Lk. 13:11-13), and other sicknesses and diseases (Mt. 4:23-24; Acts 10:38). Jesus sent His disciples out with the command to preach the gospel and cast out devils (Mt. 10:1,7-8), and they exercised that authority over them (Lk. 10:17).

Many battles have been fought over whether or not a Christian can be demon possessed. The Greek word for "possessed" is "daimonizomai" and literally means "to be demonized." The Bible makes no clear distinction between degrees of demon activity (such as oppressed, depressed, possessed, etc.), but simply refers to people as being "demonized." All Christians are fighting against spiritual powers (Eph. 6:12), and if we don't take unto us the whole armor of God, Satan can certainly affect us or even control us.

When a person has allowed a demon to gain entrance into his life to the point that the demon is controlling him, he oftentimes needs the aid of a Spirit-filled believer who knows his authority (power) in Jesus in order to take authority over the demon and cast it out. The person receiving the deliverance must be resisting the demon also. Failure of the person receiving deliverance to sincerely want to be set free will either stop the deliverance or produce the sad situation Jesus described in Matthew 12:43- 45.

The best way to administer deliverance is through God's Word (Ps. 107:20; Mt. 8:16; Jn. 8:31-33; 15:3; 17:17). As a person receives the Word, it will set him free and also help guard against this situation where the demon tries to come back in with seven other spirits. In severe cases of being demonized though, the individual clearly needs the help of a believer, and that's the reason for Jesus equipping all believers with authority over evil spirits (Mt. 10:1; Mk. 16:17).

Anointed praise and worship will also drive off evil spirits (1 Sam. 16:23--see note 4 at Mt. 4:9, p. 38 with Mt. 21:16 and Ps. 8:2). For a person who knows God and is unmovable in his relationship with Him, there is no problem casting out devils. However, as illustrated in Acts 19:13- 17, a person who doesn't really "know" Jesus should not attempt a deliverance.