Home / Faith / Exposing the Spirit of Infirmity

Exposing the Spirit of Infirmity

The Bible gives us some fascinating insight into the spiritual world. It is clear from the Gospels that the work of demons is quite extensive and pervasive. In the West, we have a tendency to believe that demonic oppression is a rare occurrence. But the ministry of Jesus depicts deliverance from demons as very common.

In my last article, I showed biblical examples of how demons can compel people toward self-destructive behavior and suicide. Now I want to show that evil spirits can be the cause of physical sicknesses. It may seem primitive to our modern minds and Western thinking, but the New Testament is perfectly clear that demons can be the root cause of infirmity.

The Spirit of Infirmity

One of the main examples of a demonic spirit being the root of a physical ailment comes from
Luke 13:10-11: “Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.” The woman was crippled in her spine, unable to stand up straight. Today she might be diagnosed with a severe case of scoliosis, but the cause of her problem was clearly identified: a “spirit of infirmity.”

When the Pharisees questioned Jesus about performing this miracle on a Sabbath, He answered and said, “Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” (Luke 13:16). Jesus clearly stated that the source of the woman’s condition was Satan. And the agent the devil used was a spirit of infirmity; a literal evil spirit sent to afflict the woman’s body.

Matthew 9:32-33 provides another example: “As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke.” Here we see a man who was mute, and the clear cause of the condition was a demon. Jesus later healed a man who was both blind and mute by casting out a demon (see Matthew 12:22).

I once prayed over a young lady who was having neck pain. I addressed it like a physical infirmity and no change occurred. The following week, she asked for prayer for deliverance, having become aware that demonic spirits were influencing her. As another lady and I prayed, several demons manifested and were cast out. Amazingly, as soon as she was delivered, the pain in her neck was totally healed. Her physical pain was being caused by an evil spirit!

Have you ever considered that evil spirits can be the cause of physical sickness? I am not suggesting that every sickness is caused by a demon or that we should ignore doctors. But perhaps in our westernized mindset we have ignored this reality and allowed the spirit of infirmity to run rampant. May God give us discernment to recognize the enemy’s work, whatever form it may take!

Have you ever encountered a physical problem that was caused by an evil spirit?

 

About Jake

Jake Kail is a teacher, author, and speaker who is passionate for the kingdom of God. He was called into ministry during his college years, after a life-changing encounter with God. The focus of his ministry is on teaching and equipping believers, strengthening local churches, and seeing awakening and restoration come to the church. He also ministers often in the area of deliverance from evil spirits, seeing people set free from bondage, torment, and oppression. Jake is the author of three books: Restoring the Ministry of Jesus, Can a Christian Have a Demon?, and Abiding in the Vine. He speaks at churches, retreats, conferences, and other venues. Jake lives with his wife and family in Lancaster, PA where he serves on the pastoral team at Threshold Church. Check out Jake’s website and blog here: http://www.jakekail.com.

Check Also

God’s Superior Power: Recovering Aaron’s Rod

I wrote previously that there are two sources of supernatural power. I used the example ...

8 comments

  1. Cool experience last week, Jake…not an evil spirit cause but a sin-cause. I was having some back pain, requested ‘spiritual roots’ to investigate from a friend who is knowledgeable of such links. He said ask the Spirit to show if you have any envy/jealousy. Found that stinky sin, repented and have been moving more smoothly ever since. 🙂 Sharing this with my ‘healing team in training.’

  2. I have seen this before. Years ago, my daughter in law and son lived in an apartment complex. Next to them in an adjoining apt, lived a single woman in her 40’s. The woman had been rejected and abused by her mother as a child, she left home and became a Mormon because they helped her out. She had no car, very poor, etc.

    One day, when the woman left to go shopping with someone, my daughter in law heard the kitchen drawers being slammed shut, the ones with the cutlery especially. No one was there! She said, “Maw maw Curly, I know there are demons in that apartment! This woman needs your help!”

    Well, I only teach others how to do self deliverance but I don’t have a team to go do the full blown ministry.
    However, I did go with my daughter in law to visit her neighbor one Summer day. The woman had on shorts and a short sleeved blouse. On her inner arms from the wrists to the highest point on her arms that she could reach were terrible scars from self inflicted cutting wounds. Many dozens of them and some on her legs also!

    Now I knew that was the Demon of Cutting, that’s why the cutlery drawers were banging! The maniac in the tombs also cut himself with stones but Jesus cast out the devils and healed the man.

    So some fancy psychiatrist supposedly healed her with a new method and wrote it up in a book. My daughter in law showed me the book. I asked the woman if I could show her some verses. She agreed, I gave her the plan of salvation. As I read each verse and asked her if she believed it, she did. She was assured of going to Heaven. I was glad I went that day because I never had another chance. I had hoped to be able to work with her but my prayer partner in self deliverance would not go with me. I did not dare tackle this by myself.

    A month or so later, she cut herself again, this time she didn’t call for help in time and she bled to death in her own bed! Her bloody mattress was in the dumpster later. I have since encountered two others who did this to themselves but now I knew what to do so they could be free. I don’t know if suicide means you lose Heaven, do you?

    • Katie, I do not believe suicide is the ‘unforgiveable’ sin…with all my heart, I am confident God understands the torments. I do not believe he condemns those who have trusted Jesus in the past to hell for suicide. That final cutting was the devil’s last chance to silence her testimony…she just wasn’t strong enough in Christ yet to fight. I’m pretty sure I’ve dug scriptures to support my opinion and I will gladly find them for you if you desire.

  3. If a person is demonized like that woman and driven to suicide by devils, then that must make a difference, if they are insane, then that also must mean something regarding going to Hell. Praying for more deliverance workers, so needed today!!

  4. I want to contribute. I have seen some ones I will put like this.

    1) A woman I once saw on the street who constantly walked with her mouth opened very widely. Not like for a moment, she was like that all the time for about 20 minutes I was watching here. I am pretty sure that is a demon thing.

    2) I also had demonic attacks (and some times have at nights) don’t know the reason but I guess it is because I am a christian. I feel like being hit at nights and even shake a bit, like if I was being pulled from my feet with some strenght. It specially happens when I pray against witchery in my country (Venezuela). BTW please pray for this place, an invasion will come from the US. I love the US tough. God bless.

Leave a Reply to Kathie Luther Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *