How To Steal What is Yours

Why did Jesus cast out demons? According to Matthew 12:29, Jesus cast out demons so that He could take their possessions and give them back to men for whom He made them. Jesus tied up the strong man so He could reclaim our sight, hearing, speech, joy, peace, etc. Consider how often the Gospels put casting out demons and healing together:

"...they brought to Him many people who were possessed by demons. He cast out the spirits with a word of command, and healed everyone who was sick."

Matthew 8:16

"...people brought to Jesus a demon-possessed man who couldn't speak. Jesus cast out the demon and the man spoke." Matthew 9:32-33

"Jesus called His twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal every disease and every sickness." Matthew 10:1

"They brought to Jesus a man who was possessed by a demon who made him unable to see or speak. Jesus healed him so that he was able to see and speak." Matthew 12:22

Casting out demons and healing go together. Healing flows from spiritual deliverance and emotional healing.

You can have demons in your life without being "possessed" by demons. The apostle Paul warned the Ephesians saying, "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Ephesians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Who hasn't gotten angry? Who hasn't given the devil a foothold?

A "foothold" is an area of our lives left exposed to the enemy, which gets exploited. When the devil has a foothold, he can afflict us in many ways, including but not limited to sickness and disease. The key to healing is to let Jesus tie up the strong man and remove the foothold.

We do the world, our families, and ourselves a tremendous favor when we let Jesus tie up our strong man. Healing and revival will follow.