Apropos an interview with Doreen Virtue on YT: “The truth about deliverance ministries with Jim Osman.” Read Mark 9:38-40. It seems to me that Jesus here approves of a man casting out demons in his name without belonging to the twelve apostles. Does this incidence fit with your theology that this kind of miracle was a sign exclusively reserved for the apostles, validating their true apostleships in the epoch of Jesus and the 12. Appreciate your ministry!
John said to Him "Teacher we saw someone casting out demons in Your name and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us." But Jesus said "Do not hinder him for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. "For he who is not against us is for us. - Mark 9:38-40 NASB word.ofgod.link/nasb/Mark9:38-40?partner=kootenaichurch Does Mark 9:38-40 authorize modern day exorcisms? by Pastor Jim Osman After reading Truth or Territory a couple people e-mailed me to ask how Mark 9:38-40 squares with my contention that, “the New Testament teaches that exorcisms are miracles, and miracles were done by apostles or those very closely associated with the apostles.”1 Mark 9:38-40, “John said to Him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us.’”2 (cf. Luke 9:49-503). On this occasion, it appears as if we have someone who is neither an apostle nor closely associated with the apostles performing actual exorcisms in the name of Jesus. This seems to open up the possibility that exorcisms can be performed by all believers. Observations On Mark 9 Neither Mark nor Luke give us any indication as to the identity of this “exorcist.” From the details that are recorded, I believe it is safe to draw the following conclusions. First, this unnamed “exorcist” appears to have been a believing follower of Christ. This man was not speaking against Christ (v. 39). He was not against Jesus and the disciples and was therefore firmly allied with them (v. 40). Second, he was doing genuine exorcisms. Jesus did not dispute John’s claim that the man was performing real exorcisms. These were genuine signs done in the name of Jesus by a genuine believer. These were not fake exorcisms done by an unbeliever as in Matthew 7:21-23 and Acts 19:11-20. Third, John’s issue appears to be solely the fact that this man was doing works in the name of Jesus while not being openly and officially one of the band of disciples. Neither John nor Jesus question the faith of the unnamed “exorcist,” the legitimacy of the exorcisms, nor the power behind his miraculous deeds. Fourth, there is a lot about this man and his activities that we do not know. Given that this is the case, we should not make sweeping assumptions regarding his abilities or the implications of that for us today. We do not know how many times this man performed exorcisms. We do not know if this was a singular one-time event or if this was something he did for years even long after the death and resurrection of our Lord. It is dangerously bad hermeneutics to take a single incident of scant detail and build a doctrine from it, especially in light of the clear teaching of Scripture on this subject. What Does This Incident Teach Us? Given that this man was a believer performing exorcisms in the name of Jesus, it is safe to conclude that he was only able to do so by the power and authority of Jesus himself. There certainly nothing magical in the “name of Jesus” that would give someone authority in themselves to perform such a miracle. “In the name of Jesus” is not a magical mantra that grants us power to perform miracles. This man could not have exercised a single demon if Jesus had not known of it, and had not permitted it. Why Jesus permitted this man to do this miracle is not clear. John MacArthur, in his commentary on the parallel account in Luke’s gospel, suggests this man may have been among the 70 who were given such power in the very next chapter of Luke’s gospel.4 The 70 disciples sent out in Luke 10 were given power and authority to perform miraculous healings (10:9). When they return to Jesus (10:17), they said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in the Your name.” Jesus confirmed that this authority had come from Him (10:19-20). If it is true that this singular individual of Mark 9:38-40 was one of the 70 believers sent out with miraculous powers in Luke 10, then what we have is an individual directly commissioned by Jesus (similar to the disciples/apostles) performing a miraculous sign. I grant this connection cannot be proven but it is most certainly possible given the similarities between this man and the 70. Further, Luke records both incidents. Whatever the case, both the commissioning of the 70 as well as the lone exorcist are unique historical incidences of a believer in Jesus being given authority to exercise a demon. Both these instances happened during the earthly ministry of our Lord, and appear to be uniquely connected to His encounters with the demonic and His presentation of the Kingdom (Luke 10:11). The book of Acts contains three exceptions to the rule that it was the apostles who performed miraculous signs: Stephan (Acts 6:8), Philip (acts 8:6-7), and Barnabas (acts 14:3). In each of these three instances, the miracles were closely associated with the apostles and apostolic ministries. In both of the instances recorded in the Gospels, the men were given power by Jesus to perform those miraculous signs of exorcisms. These appear to be men intentionally commissioned by Jesus to do so. The lone exorcist of Mark 9 does not make the case that all believers can do exorcisms. Nor does it make the case that exorcisms are for today. 1Jim Osman, Truth or Territory: A Biblical Approach to Spiritual Warfare (Kootenai: Kootenai Church Publishing, 2015), p. 169. Please consider the entire argument that I presented in that chapter titled, “What about Exorcisms?”. 2New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update. 3Luke’s record of this incident is much shorter than Mark’s: Luke 9:49-50, “John answered and said, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.’” 4John F. MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Luke 6-10 (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2011), p. 304. For more depth on this and more I recommend: Truth or Territory By Jim Osman jimosman.com/books/truth-or-territory/ Foreword by Justin Peters What is it and how do we wage it? Many “experts” on spiritual warfare teach a methodology for battling demons, taking territory, and canceling curses that sounds like something you would expect to find in a Harry Potter novel. Practices such as binding and rebuking Satan, canceling generational curses, and spiritual mapping are popular in many Christian circles and taught in many non-charismatic conservative churches. But are they biblical?
@@KootenaiChurch Thanks for your answer! What is your assessment of “How I came to grips with demons” (1:2) by Derek Prince? Derek Prince might be a base rhetorician (Thomas Szasz) but I don’t think he deliberately sets out to deceive his audience -?
👍
👍👍
It's interesting that you met David hunt as God used him to draw me to salvation. Now I am reformed! What to make of Hunt?
Thank you for sharing.
Apropos an interview with Doreen Virtue on YT:
“The truth about deliverance ministries with Jim Osman.”
Read Mark 9:38-40.
It seems to me that Jesus here approves of a man casting out demons in his name without belonging to the twelve apostles. Does this incidence fit with your theology that this kind of miracle was a sign exclusively reserved for the apostles, validating their true apostleships in the epoch of Jesus and the 12.
Appreciate your ministry!
John said to Him "Teacher we saw someone casting out demons in Your name and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us." But Jesus said "Do not hinder him for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. "For he who is not against us is for us. - Mark 9:38-40 NASB
word.ofgod.link/nasb/Mark9:38-40?partner=kootenaichurch
Does Mark 9:38-40 authorize modern day exorcisms? by Pastor Jim Osman
After reading Truth or Territory a couple people e-mailed me to ask how Mark 9:38-40 squares with
my contention that, “the New Testament teaches that exorcisms are miracles, and miracles were done by
apostles or those very closely associated with the apostles.”1
Mark 9:38-40, “John said to Him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and
we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not hinder him, for there is
no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he
who is not against us is for us.’”2 (cf. Luke 9:49-503).
On this occasion, it appears as if we have someone who is neither an apostle nor closely associated
with the apostles performing actual exorcisms in the name of Jesus. This seems to open up the possibility
that exorcisms can be performed by all believers.
Observations On Mark 9
Neither Mark nor Luke give us any indication as to the identity of this “exorcist.” From the details that
are recorded, I believe it is safe to draw the following conclusions.
First, this unnamed “exorcist” appears to have been a believing follower of Christ. This man was not
speaking against Christ (v. 39). He was not against Jesus and the disciples and was therefore firmly allied
with them (v. 40).
Second, he was doing genuine exorcisms. Jesus did not dispute John’s claim that the man was
performing real exorcisms. These were genuine signs done in the name of Jesus by a genuine believer.
These were not fake exorcisms done by an unbeliever as in Matthew 7:21-23 and Acts 19:11-20.
Third, John’s issue appears to be solely the fact that this man was doing works in the name of Jesus
while not being openly and officially one of the band of disciples. Neither John nor Jesus question the
faith of the unnamed “exorcist,” the legitimacy of the exorcisms, nor the power behind his miraculous
deeds.
Fourth, there is a lot about this man and his activities that we do not know. Given that this is the
case, we should not make sweeping assumptions regarding his abilities or the implications of that for us
today. We do not know how many times this man performed exorcisms. We do not know if this was a
singular one-time event or if this was something he did for years even long after the death and
resurrection of our Lord. It is dangerously bad hermeneutics to take a single incident of scant detail and
build a doctrine from it, especially in light of the clear teaching of Scripture on this subject.
What Does This Incident Teach Us?
Given that this man was a believer performing exorcisms in the name of Jesus, it is safe to conclude
that he was only able to do so by the power and authority of Jesus himself. There certainly nothing magical
in the “name of Jesus” that would give someone authority in themselves to perform such a miracle. “In
the name of Jesus” is not a magical mantra that grants us power to perform miracles. This man could not
have exercised a single demon if Jesus had not known of it, and had not permitted it. Why Jesus permitted
this man to do this miracle is not clear.
John MacArthur, in his commentary on the parallel account in Luke’s gospel, suggests this man may
have been among the 70 who were given such power in the very next chapter of Luke’s gospel.4 The 70
disciples sent out in Luke 10 were given power and authority to perform miraculous healings (10:9). When
they return to Jesus (10:17), they said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in the Your name.” Jesus
confirmed that this authority had come from Him (10:19-20).
If it is true that this singular individual of Mark 9:38-40 was one of the 70 believers sent out with
miraculous powers in Luke 10, then what we have is an individual directly commissioned by Jesus (similar
to the disciples/apostles) performing a miraculous sign. I grant this connection cannot be proven but it is
most certainly possible given the similarities between this man and the 70. Further, Luke records both
incidents.
Whatever the case, both the commissioning of the 70 as well as the lone exorcist are unique historical
incidences of a believer in Jesus being given authority to exercise a demon. Both these instances happened
during the earthly ministry of our Lord, and appear to be uniquely connected to His encounters with the
demonic and His presentation of the Kingdom (Luke 10:11).
The book of Acts contains three exceptions to the rule that it was the apostles who performed
miraculous signs: Stephan (Acts 6:8), Philip (acts 8:6-7), and Barnabas (acts 14:3). In each of these three
instances, the miracles were closely associated with the apostles and apostolic ministries. In both of the
instances recorded in the Gospels, the men were given power by Jesus to perform those miraculous signs
of exorcisms. These appear to be men intentionally commissioned by Jesus to do so.
The lone exorcist of Mark 9 does not make the case that all believers can do exorcisms. Nor does it
make the case that exorcisms are for today.
1Jim Osman, Truth or Territory: A Biblical Approach to Spiritual Warfare (Kootenai: Kootenai Church Publishing,
2015), p. 169. Please consider the entire argument that I presented in that chapter titled, “What about Exorcisms?”.
2New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update.
3Luke’s record of this incident is much shorter than Mark’s: Luke 9:49-50, “John answered and said, ‘Master,
we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along
with us.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.’”
4John F. MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Luke 6-10 (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2011),
p. 304.
For more depth on this and more I recommend:
Truth or Territory By Jim Osman
jimosman.com/books/truth-or-territory/
Foreword by Justin Peters
What is it and how do we wage it? Many “experts” on spiritual warfare teach a methodology for battling demons, taking territory, and canceling curses that sounds like something you would expect to find in a Harry Potter novel. Practices such as binding and rebuking Satan, canceling generational curses, and spiritual mapping are popular in many Christian circles and taught in many non-charismatic conservative churches. But are they biblical?
@@KootenaiChurch Thanks for your answer!
What is your assessment of “How I came to grips with demons” (1:2) by Derek Prince?
Derek Prince might be a base rhetorician (Thomas Szasz) but
I don’t think he deliberately sets out to deceive his audience -?