January 2

New Life Daily Declaration — Casting Out Unclean Spirits

Pastor Yongliu Jiang

“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”
— Matthew 10:7–8 (NKJV)

As children of God, we must understand how influential the devil is in this world. We must also recognize that Jesus Himself spoke openly about the devil, identifying him as a fallen angel and the father of lies. Jesus Christ confronted the devil face to face and was tempted by him. When the devil claimed that all the kingdoms of the world were under his authority, Jesus did not dispute the extent of his earthly domain. This reveals the vast scope of Satan’s influence in the present age.

We must understand that what the devil brings is destruction and death. He seeks to inhabit human bodies, to manipulate human minds, and to plant evil thoughts—lustful thoughts, thoughts of theft, deception, and corruption—thereby bringing ruin into human life. As children of God, we must not permit the devil to continue harming humanity. We must not allow him to wreak havoc in our homes or in our bodies.

The devil delights in hiding behind idols to receive worship. He seeks to occupy households, sowing discord within families, resulting in broken relationships and even sickness. Throughout the world he raises up worshipers who advance his influence, often amplified through media. In this era of short-form digital media, he exploits ignorance to deceive hearts across nations, contributing to the spread of depression, cancer, addiction, sexual confusion, and occult practices. Meanwhile, Christians fail to manifest the power of Christ’s life—what a cause for shame.

Through Jesus Christ, we understand that the so-called gods of the nations are, in truth, demonic spirits. At times they disguise themselves as angels of light, appearing beneficial while cultivating pride, folly, and arrogance, ultimately bringing calamity upon the world.

When Jesus Christ came, He did not avoid speaking about the devil. He came precisely to destroy the works of the devil. He went about healing the sick, casting out demons, and setting free those bound by evil spirits. Moreover, He instructed His disciples to heal the sick and cast out unclean spirits. If demons are not driven out, they will remain; they do not willingly relinquish territory they have occupied. Jesus also taught the necessity of fasting, bringing oneself into deeper alignment with the Holy Spirit and relying upon His power to cast out demons. Some unclean spirits are particularly stubborn and require a greater manifestation of the Spirit’s authority.

As children of God, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and called to live out the life of Christ. Before us, the devil is a defeated foe. Christ—the Anointed One of God—dwells within us. Since we have received His life, we must not permit the devil to act freely or destroy life.

You and I must understand that we have entered a battle—a battle already won. It is a battle fought in partnership with Christ, a battle that depends upon the mighty power of God’s Spirit to destroy the works of the devil. Many Christians avoid speaking about the devil because they do not understand the mystery of Christ’s life or how to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. In doing so, they leave room for the enemy and sometimes even become targets of his attacks.

We must recognize that the spiritual realm is the ultimate reality, and Christ Himself has become our life. We must clearly discern the nature of this world and the nature of the Christ who dwells within us. We are to obey the exhortation of James:

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
— James 4:7 (NKJV)

We must actively resist the devil and bring his works to an end.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.