I recall the first time I witnessed someone publicly challenge an evil spirit. It took place in the late 70’s at Faith Center, our home church in Eugene, Oregon. Jan and I had been attending the services for only a short time.

Before the service began, our pastor, Roy Hicks, Jr., was walking through the doors into the sanctuary and passed a man I had not seen before. Roy abruptly turned back to the man and said these words: “You cannot be here. Leave now!” The ushers escorted the man out of the sanctuary. 

What I was witnessing was a demonstration of apostolic authority. Roy was not just dealing with human brokenness. He discerned the spirit motivating this man and rebuked his plan of perversion before it could be demonstrated. 

We often read about such interactions with spirits of darkness in Scripture. In Acts 13:7-12, Paul and Barnabas’ visit to Paphos records their encounter with a false prophet who had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus. Wanting to hear the word of God, the governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him. 

But Elymas, the sorcerer, interfered, urging the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul looked the sorcerer in the eye and said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time. Instantly, mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around, begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.”

This false prophet had a mission to pervert the ways of the Lord. The word “pervert” means to distort the truth. It was a sly, deceptive way of speaking that would turn a person away from the work of the Lord and lead them to believe a lie.

“When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord” (vs.12). The word “astonished” means to strike out against something that is revealed to be a lie. It’s an astonishment that will confront and drive out the influence of a lie.

What the governor needed to hear and see would not come from the native intelligence for which he was known. It had to come by a demonstration of God’s power.  

Being directed by God to rebuke and forbid demonic spirits sent to deceive people and pervert the ways of the Lord is part of the Church’s mission. It might seem a bit too insensitive, unloving, or even harsh. But salvation, deliverance, and healing are at stake. We will see belief released through a demonstration of the Spirit, causing those under the influence of deception to reject its offer and believe God’s truth.