Are Christian Supposed To Cast Demons Out, Prophesy, and Heal the Sick?

1. Are Christians Supposed to Cast Out Demons?

   We are when needed, but I’ve always learned that we don’t go in to pick a fight. For instance, remember when Paul was walking through town and that girl who was possessed by a demon was mocking him? Paul didn’t cast her out until she attempted to hinder the spread of the Gospel. Before then though, he didn’t bother.
   Another example is when Jesus was in the synagogue (beginning of Mark), and the man who was possessed manifested himself. Notice though, Jesus obviously knew he was there and that the guy was possessed, but He didn’t cast it out of the guy until it began to attempt to hinder His message (and it didn’t manifest itself until people began to respond to Jesus’ message).
   I have a friend who once suggested wanting to check out haunted areas, and figured that if i was with him, he’d be safer. But I told him that’s not how it works – I don’t go in picking a fight. Instead, it should be treated like a martial art – you don’t go walking on the south side of Chicago looking to pick a fight with an armed thug, right? But now, if you’re walking there and one jumps you, and you are able to defend yourself, it would be best to do so, right? That’s sort of how it is with casting out demons.

2. Are Christians Supposed to Prophesy?

   Some, but not all. In the Old Testament, there were communities of prophets, but not everybody who obeyed God was a prophet. Also, in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul talks about this some by explaining that not everybody has that gift. Some have the gift of teaching, some the gift of healing, some the gift of tongues, some the gift of service…so if prophecy isn’t your gift, then it’s obvious that you won’t be prophesying. Now, there are many of us who have dreams that come true often. Does that mean we’re prophets? Maybe, for several of the prophets in the Old Testament didn’t see visions when they were awake, but only while sleeping (which could be one of the reasons they were brushed off?). But those such dreams back then were considered visions, not dreams, and again, the Lord doesn’t communicate through them with everybody.

3. Are Christians Supposed To Heal the Sick?

   Like with prophesying, not everybody has that gift. I mean, it’s not like we’re doing the healing ourselves, but God through us. That not only means that we’re not the ones doing the healing, but also that we can’t decide who will be healed and who won’t. For instance, for seminary, I needed to serve one summer as a hospital chaplain. Now, the Lord had healed people through me before, so I was hoping that now, since I’m currently in a place with people who are there are there because they’re sick or dying, that He would heal everybody I prayed with, through me. But He didn’t. I mean, there were a few who were expected to die, but instead walked out the next morning, but most everybody died (or as we said, “were healed completely”). So again, it’s not the person who does the healing, but God through somebody serving Him and who’s open to serving Him that way.
   I’ve also heard stories of people who went on mission trips and would pray for healing, and the person would be healed, but when they returned home to the States, no longer had that gift. The reason we understood is because that gift was needed for where they were, for whatever reason, but not so much when they returned. So God will often give people gifts (or work miracles through people) based on their location or mission field, even if temporary.

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