Why Demons Do Not Expel

After observing Jesus cast out a demon, which they could not, the disciples asked Him, “Why could not we cast him out?” These disciples had commanded demons to come out of people before, and it normally worked. This particular incident did not yield the expected results. Their faith was shaken and they wanted an explanation. Jesus answers, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, ‘Remove hence to yonder place;’ and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” [Read Matthew 17:14-21 & Mark 9:17-29]

Who is to blame whenever a demon does not come out? Jesus was addressing the disciples when He said, “Because of your unbelief.” So, we find that the disciples’ belief was absent in this particular incident. However, Jesus also said this to the demonized son’s father, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” The father replied, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Apparently the father was struggling to believe this, too. Belief had to be there for all concerned, or else God’s power to expel the demon might not have demonic manifestation itself. Since Jesus was there, God’s power was there, too. The demon had to go, but in the absence of God’s power he would not have had to.

Second reason demons will not come out of a person is because of bitterness and unforgiveness. If a person does not forgive his brother, then the Word says that Jesus will not forgive you. That means you will not receive deliverance and healing becasue you are separated from Christ. Christ does not separate us from Him but we separate ourselves from Him through sin and Jesus is very specific about unforgiveness. Here are some examples in scritpure:

Matthew 6:11-15 “11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Matthew 18:20-22 “20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

Sometimes, depending on the damage the other person has done, we have to continue to forgive them. You know that you have forgiven your brother when the person enters the room and you have no anger, or your try to avoid them, or when you hear their name mentioned there is no ping or anger rising up. That does not mean if they are abusive, you get back in their lives. You can love them from a distance. Every time you do get a rise or a ping, then forgive them. That is what it is meant to forgive 70 x 7.

Matthew 18:32-34 “32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.” 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”

Jesus forgave us much when we did not deserve it! If we know the word and choose not to forgive but try to get even, then we are delivered to the tormentors of our mind to torment us with thoughts and images. This will not stop until you forgive the person that hurt you.

Mark 11:25-26 “25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

We are commanded to forgive. If we forgive, then the Lord can move on their hearts but if we do not forgive, then we bind them and the Lord cannot deal with them.

Luke 6:36-37 “36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

We are not the judge of anyone. You forgive, and allow the Lord to judge them.

Luke 17:3-4 “3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”

2 Corinthians 2:9-11 “9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

We see hear that it is the devices of the enemy is to get you to not forgive so that you will be tormented by the enemy.

Whose job is it to fast and pray in order to expel certain kinds of demons? I believe it follows a similar pattern as belief in that all concerned should fast and pray. With that said, however, I think it needs broken down into certain facets which most people fail to take into account.

Fasting Both the minister and the one being ministered might have to fast.

The purposes for the fast should include… To increase the awareness of our dependance on God for all things.

To humble ourselves. Fasting is a humbling experience.

The hunger pains remind us to pray.

Prayer Both the minster and the one being ministered to need to pray. Prayer that seeks forgiveness of sin.

Prayer that petitions God for the deliverance.

Prayer that seeks revelation, wisdom and the spiritual/physical/emotional/mental strength necessary to confront and drive out the demon.

Prayer that expresses gratitude and praise to God.

Prayer that lets God know we have chosen to look at matters from the perspective of the Cross, thereby renouncing our sins and forgiving those who have hurt and abused us.

After reading the Scripture in Matthew chapter 17, it is a good idea to read Matthew chapter 18, too. In Matthew chapter 18 Jesus says, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” That’s the kind of humility fasting and prayer should seek to obtain. That is the kind of faith, acceptance and belief in Jesus required to confront and expel demons. [Read Matthew 18:1-4]

Reading further in Matthew chapter 18 we get a clearer picture as to why some demons could not come out of someone even if they wanted to. The Scripture says, “Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, ‘O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?’ And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Matthew 18:32-35 (KJV)

God may not make a demon come out of someone whom He has handed over to the tormentors (demons). Matthew chapter 18 makes this clear. This explains why unforgiving people continue having emotional, physical, mental and spiritual difficulties even though the episodes of abuse ended long ago. Even should the unforgiving person believe in Jesus, the attitude of resentment, bitterness and hatred defeat any hopes of being free. To continue commanding demons to come out in a situation like this is foolish and most of the time futile. Once it is known that this is a case of unforgiveness, focus should be shifted towards fasting, prayer and encouragement. The unforgiving person needs to learn that he or she must forgive everyone, including those who did harm and abuse.