It is common among Charismatics to “rebuke Satan”
or to “rebuke illness” with vain repetitions (“I bind you, Satan!”), but
the question must be asked: Do Charismatics have Biblical authority to
do so? Do Charismatics have the right to rebuke illness or even Satan? A
diligent study of the Scriptures and taking it all in proper context
gives a clear answer: No!
First, let us consider a few things: Are some sicknesses caused by
devils? Yes. An example of this is found in Luke 13: A woman had a
spirit of infirmity for eighteen years before Jesus healed her. Here,
though, he did not rebuke the spirit. He simply told her she was loosed
and laid his hands on her, and she was healed.
Luke 13:11-13, “And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.”However, not all sicknesses are of the devil. An example of this is found in Matthew 9, when a woman was healed simply by touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. If the issue of blood she had was “an attack by Satan,” as Charismatics like to claim about all afflictions, the Bible would have said so. It does not.
Matthew 9:20-22, “And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.”Notice that the woman did NOT rebuke Satan, nor did she rebuke the illness, nor did she utter silly, vain repetitions such as, “I bind you, Satan!” She simply had faith that Jesus would heal her.
There IS one example of an illness being rebuked in the scriptures. However, we MUST remember WHO did it: it was the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
Luke 4:38-39, “And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.”
We are NEVER given a command in scripture to rebuke illness, nor are we given a command to rebuke Satan for illness. In fact, the Bible tells us that even Michael the archangel did not dare rebuke Satan, instead leaving it up to God. Now, if Michael the archangel, who is greater than any man, does not have the authority to rebuke Satan, what makes the foolish Charismatic think he does?
Jude 9, “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”When Paul the apostle was afflicted with an infirmity, a thorn in the flesh, did he rebuke Satan (“I bind you, Satan; I rebuke you!”)? No, he did not! Instead, he tried to pray to God three times to be healed. However, God’s answer was no. Why? It was to keep Paul humble, and also to show him that the strength of Jesus Christ is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”This refutes the foolish heresy of Charismatics that God wants us one-hundred percent healthy one-hundred percent of the time. The above Scriptures, taken together, also refute the foolish Charismatic heresy that every single sickness and disease is a “Satanic attack.” Has it never occurred to any of them that sickness can also be a form of chastisement by God for sin?
Psalm 38:3-7, “There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.”
Acts 17:10-11, “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
1 John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
