Signs and Wonders in the Early Post-Apostolic Era

 

Mark Minucius Felix, c.200

“The demons themselves confess concerning themselves as often as they are driven by us from bodies by the torments of our words and by the fires of our prayers … when renounced by the only and true God, the wretched beings unwillingly shudder in their bodies and either at once leap forth—or else vanish by degrees.” ANF 4.190

 

Notice here that fear is not an attribute that a Christian involved in deliverance should have—it is a response that demons will have to the ministry of Jesus through us. The writer emphasizes this by stating that the demons “shudder.”

Also notice that sometimes deliverance is “by degrees.” Folks who have operated in deliverance, such as Dr. Charles Kraft, Francis MacNutt, and John Wimber, have written about this in their books. Ministry to those under severe oppression may require a long time commitment on our part. If we are not willing to give the time required, we should not venture into the arena of deliverance. But if we embrace the compassion of Jesus, we will spend whatever time is required to see someone freed from the bonds of satanic slavery.

Cyprian, c.250

“Oh, if only you could hear and see them when they are adjured by us. For they are tortured with spiritual scourges and are cast out from the possessed bodies with tortures of words. Howling and growling at the voice of man and the power of God, they feel the stripes and blows and confess the judgment to come. Come and acknowledge that what we say is true.” ANF 5.462

What is relevant here is that some exorcisms will result in resistance of the demons being expelled. This is not unusual. Even Jesus experienced demonic resistance to expulsion at various times. But the resistance should not deter us from continuing the mission of authoritatively expelling the demonic invaders from someone’s life.

Cyprian also gave us a picture of why demons may resist:

“This is also done in the present day. For the devil is scourged, burned, and tortured by exorcists—by the human voice and by divine power.” ANF 5.402

The terminology of being “scourged, burned, and tortured by exorcists” may be a glimpse into the pain inflicted on demonic spirits as the name of Jesus and the power of God come to bear on a deliverance scenario.

 

Healing

Tertullian and Origen

“What is nobler than to tread under foot the gods of the nations, to exorcise evil spirits, to perform cures, to seek divine revelations, and to live to God? These are the pleasures—these are the spectacles—that befit Christian men.”
Tertullian, c. 212, 3.91

Tags: early, era, postapostolic, signs, wonders

Category: Church History, Spring 2009