DEMONS CAST OUT

A Murderer's Threat -- Demons Cast Out -- Sin of Father Affects Child -- The Devil Professes Religion.

He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness. Matt. 10:1.

     While Holy Writ declares that Jesus Christ is the "same yesterday, and today, and forever," the same can be said of Satan. He possesses and controls human beings just as he did in the time of Christ.

     There is a difference between demon-possession and demon-oppression. Many people are oppressed by demons who were at one time possessed. These demons are familiar with their former home and now with fiendish hate torment the same one whose heart was once their abode. Then there are other people who are depressed, who never were possessed, but for some reason-physical, mental or spiritual-they are easy subjects for Satan's attacks.

     We are accustomed to speak of it in polite terms as "fits," "spasms," "convulsions," etc., but the fact is, in many instances it is nothing more nor less than demon-possession. Much of the insanity so prevalent is nothing but devil-possession. He assumes different forms as "a dumb spirit," "an unclean spirit," "a lying spirit," etc. Doubtless this is why those who are thus possessed are given to licentiousness, lying, or suicide. God wants to offset this by empowering His ministers to cast them out according to His word.

     One day I was walking along the street in Greensburg, Pa., and met a burly-looking man, accompanied by several other like characters. He stopped me and in a fit of rage said, "I will be one of twelve men to ride you out of town on a rail and tar and feather you. I would just like to cut your heart out and erect it on a pole." I remembered seeing him under such deep conviction that he turned pale and trembled, but promised to yield at another time. He was told then that he would either yield to God, or turn against Him and His people.

     After his wife was blessedly saved we were invited to their home to pray for their little thirteen-year-old daughter who had "fits." It was a case similar to that recorded in Mark 9:14-29. As soon as we entered the house she came running to us, clapping her hands against each side of her head and gnashing her teeth. Then she fell and "wallowed, foaming." We knelt and in Jesus' name rebuked the foul spirit and for seven days she was free from those awful spasms; previously she was accustomed to having several each day. The seventh night this wicked father began cursing in her presence and declared God had nothing to do in curing his little girl, but that it was simply a natural change. While he was thus blaspheming, she took another spasm. Then he raved and tore, choked his wife and threatened to kill her if she went another time to those meetings. She went and he waited for her outside the door with a huge club and, raising it, declared he would be as good as his word, but God held his murderous hand so that he did not have the power to strike her.

     He now saw that he must employ different tactics, so attended a sham revival at his church, professed religion and shouted. The next morning it was reported that they had the most remarkable conversion the previous night that they had had for years. When I heard of it I said, "If it is genuine, doubtless he will be around asking pardon for wanting to cut my heart out." He never came, however, but said to his wife, "Now since I want to do better, you ought to help me and go with me to the church of my choice." Well, there seemed to be a great change, so they compromised the matter and he suggested that she go one Sabbath with him and he go the next Sabbath with her. Very well; she went her day with him, but the next Sabbath he had the headache so could not go anywhere. When his day came again he was able to go and of course took her along, but the next Sabbath was very ill and desired that she remain at home and care for him.

     Finally he made one more proposition, viz., "Tell those boys I will give them thirty days to heal my little girl and if so, I will then go along with you and join their church, but if not, you must go with me and join where I belong." When the eager wife spoke to me, I replied that we did not make contracts with the devil, and were not fishing for members, but at any rate would set a day of fasting and prayer for the little girl. We did, and again she was miraculously delivered from the tormenting spirit and for twenty-nine beautiful days the child was restored.

     But this demon-possessed father saw that his thirty days were about completed and accordingly came home the night of the twenty-ninth and began to curse, saying, "I see there is no use in my trying to do right, for you will not go with me to my church and I can't go with you to the other place." At this the poor child was again taken with convulsions. Why God should permit such a thing I do not know, but sometimes He recognizes the faith and obedience of parents for the healing of their children. From this incident, as well as many others, I have learned that the devil can profess religion, shout and become very pious when it is to his interest to do so. Read our sermon on "Demon Possession." This, with ten other sermons, also a brief sketch of the author's life, can he had in book form for $1.00. Title of book, "Plain Preaching for Practical People."