Many of the sufferings we endure are for the purpose of sanctifying us. Experienced Christians of our day are discovering that the Lord is causing the evil in their flesh to be exposed. Behaviors that for many years have been held down by prayer and self-control seem to be raising their heads.

Why is this? It is because the spirit of judgment and burning, the baptism of fire, is causing sin and rebellion to be revealed. God is judging the evil in us. He is shaking us so everything that is not of Him will be removed.

What do we do when we find there is evil in us? We confess it. We call it by name. We repent of it. We ask God to forgive us and cleanse us (I John 1:9).

Sometimes it is sufficient for us to confess our sins to God. On other occasions it is helpful to confess our sins to our wife, or husband, or to another Christian of the same sex as ourselves who is mature enough to help us without stumbling himself and without gossiping.

We can help one another by casting out the devil. Every Christian is authorized to cast out devils. Casting out devils is the first sign to follow the believer.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; (Mark 16:17)

Let us say a brother or sister is bound by violent outbursts of anger, or the lust of the eyes, or some aspect of the occult. Let him name the spirit troubling him, or describe the behavior as accurately as he can. Then let one or two Christians of the same sex as himself or herself name the spirits causing the problem and cast them out in the name of the Lord Jesus.

We stand in the cross of Christ. We do not pray in our own name or by our own authority. We pray in Jesus' name and by His authority. We command the devils to leave our brother or sister. They indeed shall leave him or her.

Where do we send the demons? We cast them away from us and away from our families. We remove them from the people who are of concern to us.

To the writer's knowledge, the demons have not as yet been assigned to the bottomless pit. In fact, it appears the demons are entering the earth in increasing numbers, especially coming into the wealthy nations that are giving themselves over to immorality.

If we cast out the demons from an individual, it is that person's responsibility to live henceforth unto the Lord Jesus so the demons do not return.

We are in a fierce battle. We are in an hour when the spiritual atmosphere is becoming thick with the demons. At the same time the Lord Jesus is issuing authority to us so we can bind the demons and cast them out.

Do not be afraid. Do not become introspective or filled with gloom. Do not look for devils, pay attention to them, or otherwise make them the focus of your salvation.

Keep your eyes steadily on the Lord Jesus. You are a soldier of Christ. March forward in victory in His name without condemning yourself.

To be continued.