Jesus listed a number of signs that would follow believers. One of them is this: In His name we shall cast out devils. Of course, we first have to discern which devils need to be cast out. That’s what the Apostle Paul did when he cast out a spirit of divination from a slave girl in Acts 16.

We see a contrast between two women. There was Lydia from Thyatira whose heart the Holy Spirit opened to receive the message of salvation. On the other hand, we see a young slave girl who was prophesying over Paul and his fellow laborers:

“As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination [claiming to foretell future events and to discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling.

She kept following Paul and [the rest of] us, shouting loudly, These men are the servants of the Most High God! They announce to you the way of salvation!

And she did this for many days” (Acts 16:16-18 AMP).

I could go on a bunny trail here about how the girl was prophesying accurately, but by a demonic spirit. I could also go on about how Paul took time to make sure he accurately discerned the devil before casting it out. Subjects for another time.

What I want to point out is this: After the Apostle Paul cast the devil out of the woman, he met with retaliation. The Message Bible gives the account in verses 19-22 in a colorful way:

“When her owners saw that their lucrative little business was suddenly bankrupt, they went after Paul and Silas, roughed them up and dragged them into the market square. Then the police arrested them and pulled them into a court with the accusation, ‘These men are disturbing the peace—dangerous Jewish agitators subverting our Roman law and order.’ By this time the crowd had turned into a restless mob out for blood.

“The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas’s clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating. After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jailkeeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape. He did just that—threw them into the maximum security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them.”

Why was Paul beaten and thrown in jail with ripped clothing and shackled feet? It was retaliation for casting out a devil.

What about you, deliverance ministers? Can you testify as to the retaliation (in terms of spiritual warfare) of casting out devils. Sometimes the warfare is raging while you are casting the devil out. Other times, like in the case of Paul, it’s afterward.

That retaliation can manifest itself in any number of ways. I’m not saying there’s always retaliation, but I can say I’ve been on the receiving end of the assignment of an angry devil after the Lord delivered people. Usually it’s in the form of imaginations.

There’s also warfare that comes against the one whom Jesus set free. Maybe we’ll talk about that tomorrow.

Just keep this in mind: In casting out devils we rely on the Holy Ghost. Well,  it’s that same Holy Ghost we rely on if retaliation should come against us after we minister deliverance. As the Spirit what is coming against you, then bind it in Jesus name.

Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world – or he that is oppressing someone who God has sent you to set free with His Word and by His Spirit.