Wrestling, Not Casual Proclaiming
Why is it that we think we need to only issue one command to the devil to leave and he must leave? Think about it. We wrestle against demons (Eph 6:12). This is described as a struggle to the death (Eph 6:12, Message). The clear picture is of a process – not simply picking up your opponent and quickly throwing him down for an easy win. Perhaps this could be true if you are facing a weak, midget of a demon. It certainly would not be the case for a stronger foe, however. Not even Jesus had every demon leave after one command (Lk 8:29, Beck). In addition, 9 apostles were unable to cast a demon out of a boy (Mk 9:18) because fasting and extra prayer was needed (Mk 9:28-29). Furthermore, we are told, in the Lord’s Prayer, that we should habitually pray for deliverance from the evil one (Mt 6:13). (Here, deliverance from the evil one is representative of deliverance from all demonic power). This can certainly include the idea that deliverance from a particular demon might be a process.
Let us be even more basic, though. Didn’t Jesus tell us to keep asking so we would receive; to keep seeking so we would find; and to keep knocking so we would have the door opened to us (Mt 7:7-8; Lk 11:9-10)? In fact, right after the Lord’s Prayer in Luke, Jesus teaches about the need to persist in prayer. He does this three times – in the parable of the friend (Lk 11:5-8), in the keep asking-seeking-knocking passages (Lk 11:9-10), and in showing God’s desire to give good gifts (Mt 7:11) – such as the manifestations and gifts of the Holy Spirit – to those who keep asking Him (Lk 11:11-13, Williams). Luke then immediately has Jesus teaching on exorcism and tells of Him casting out a demon (Lk 11:14-26). Thus, the exhortation to keep praying is set in between the command to keep praying for deliverance from the demonic (in Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer) and an example of and further teaching on casting out demons. Surely, this is not accidental.
Besides all this, Saint Augustine, in his book, The City of God, says a believer is ‘impudent’ if he refuses to accept the confirmed testimony of reliable Christians about the demonic. The testimony of God’s people throughout the centuries is that demons often do not leave immediately when there is an attempt to cast them out. If our understanding of Scripture contradicts another reasonable interpretation of Scripture that is also supported by the common experience of the Lord’s people, then we would be wise to change our view.
Comforting others is costly but worth it.