Mark 16:17-18 (NKJV) And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
All believers in Jesus Christ are called to preach the gospel and to minister to people through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also promised that if we obey in faith, He will accompany our obedience to His Word with signs and wonders! In the passage above, Jesus went on to say, “In My name they will cast out demons”. Here, many Christians will say, “Me? Seriously?”
Ephesians 1:20-21(NKJV) which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
As Christians, we need to know we are seated in the heavenly places, so we can stand before the foe in victory and authority. We are in Christ; we are part of His body and in union with Him. The devil is not on a par with Christ, and because we are in Christ, our position is also above the devil, whose rightful place should be under the feet of every believer!
To clear up a common misunderstanding, Jesus never asked us to cast out the spirits of those who have died, because once a person passes from this life, they cannot return. Instead, Jesus is referring to demons—fallen angels who rebelled with Satan. What He calls us to do is to set free those who are oppressed or possessed by these evil spirits, using the authority of His name.
Demons are spirit beings that roam the earth, seeking somewhere to dwell—in people or places. They are drawn to strongholds created through practices of darkness, such as spirit houses, idol worship, sacrifices, spiritism, fortune-telling, consulting mediums, new-age practices, Ouija boards, crystal gazing, drug abuse, alcoholism, and prostitution.
At times, demons may manifest through individuals. At other times, a believer may simply discern their presence through the gift of discerning of spirits—one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Some Christians also fear that when they cast out demons from someone, the demonic spirits might enter them instead. Believers cannot be demon-possessed because the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts. The defeated foe can never overcome the Holy Spirit within us, nor can it cohabit with the Holy Spirit in our hearts.
The devil has no more power over us because we are no longer in the kingdom of darkness but in the Kingdom of Light, and we should enforce the victory from the position of being seated with Christ in the heavenly places.
Reflection: How does knowing your position of victory and authority in Christ motivate you to step out of your comfort zone and minister to others by the power of the Holy Spirit?
Sermon Series：Jesus Ministers Through His Body After the Resurrection
在基督里的得胜与权柄
马可福音16:17-18 信的人必有神迹随着他们，就是：奉我的名赶鬼；说新方言；手能拿蛇；若喝了什么毒物，也必不受害；手按病人，病人就必好了。”
所有信靠耶稣基督的人，都蒙召去传扬福音，并借着圣灵的大能服事人。耶稣也应许我们：当我们凭信心顺服祂的话语时，祂必以神迹奇事伴随我们对祂的顺服。在以上经文中，耶稣继续说道：“奉我的名赶鬼。” 听到这里，许多基督徒也许会说：“我？真的吗？”
以弗所书1:20-21 就是照他在基督身上所运行的大能大力，使他从死里复活，叫他在天上坐在自己的右边， 远超过一切执政的、掌权的、有能的、主治的和一切有名的，不但是今世的，连来世的也都超过了；
为了澄清一个常见的误解，耶稣从未吩咐我们去赶逐死人的灵魂，因为人离开今生以后，就不能再回来。耶稣所指的是鬼魔——那些随着撒但一同悖逆神的堕落天使。祂呼召我们，是要奉祂名的权柄，释放那些被邪灵压制或辖制的人。
鬼魔是灵界的存在，在地上游荡，寻找可以居住之处——无论是在人身上，或是在某些地方。凡是借着黑暗权势所建立的坚固营垒，都会吸引它们，例如：灵屋、偶像崇拜、献祭、交鬼、算命、求问灵媒、新纪元实践、通灵板、水晶占卜、毒品滥用、酗酒，以及淫乱等。
有时，鬼魔会借着人显现出来；有时，信徒则可能借着圣灵所赐“辨别诸灵”的恩赐，察觉它们的存在。
哥林多前书3:16 岂不知你们是神的殿，神的灵住在你们里头吗？
有些基督徒也会担心，当他们把鬼从别人身上赶出去时，那些邪灵会不会转而进入自己里面。事实上，信徒不可能被鬼附，因为圣灵住在我们心里。已经被击败的仇敌绝不能胜过住在我们里面的圣灵，也绝不可能与圣灵同住在我们的心中。
魔鬼对我们已经再没有权势，因为我们已经不再属于黑暗的国度，而是属于光明的国度。我们应当站在与基督一同坐在天上的地位上，去执行并彰显祂已经为我们赢得的胜利。
默想：
当你知道自己在基督里已经拥有得胜与权柄，这如何激励你走出舒适圈，靠着圣灵的大能去服事他人？
讲章系列：复活后，耶稣借着祂的身体继续服事