How to Rebuke Demons and Diseases

This article is addressed to those who are born again through faith in Christ Jesus and, as a result, have authority over the devil and his works (John 1:12, Mark 16:17-18).

Many people have tried rebuking demons and diseases but claim it hasn't worked. Here, two critical factors come into play: faith and the proper way to rebuke.

What is a Rebuke?

Many people misunderstand this concept. Often, we hear people say, “I rebuke you, cancer” or “I rebuke you, devil” but this is akin to saying, “I scold you” without saying anything else.

Imagine you’re angry at someone named Tom and merely say, “Tom, I scold you.” Did you actually scold them? That doesn’t convey much meaning. Similarly, simply declaring, “I rebuke you,” without any directive, doesn’t constitute a true rebuke.

It is essential to grasp the definition of a "rebuke". The Greek word for rebuke, epitimao (Strong’s G2008) - means to tax upon, censure, or admonish, and by implication, to forbid, charge, or rebuke. In simpler terms, to rebuke means to scold or give a stern directive.

Jesus' Example of Rebuking

Let’s look at how Jesus did it to understand how to rebuke effectively. Jesus didn’t just say, “I rebuke you”; He followed through with specific commands. Let’s examine a few examples from the Bible:

Mar 8:33  But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Jesus didn’t say I rebuke you Peter; He issued a specific command: “Get behind Me, Satan! ... ” He addressed the problem directly, instructing what needs to be done.

Mar 1:25  And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

The rebuke was not just a statement but a command to the demon 'be quiet and come out'.

Mar 9:25  When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

Jesus directly addressed the spirit, commanding it to leave and not return. He was explicit and authoritative in His rebuke.

Luk_4:39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

If you follow the methodology Jesus spoke and told the fever to leave and it left. Hallelujah!

In these examples, Jesus didn’t merely express displeasure; He commanded action. His rebukes were firm, direct, and spoken with authority. And we have been given authority in Jesus' name.

The Importance of Intent and Faith

When rebuking, your words should align with the intention of your heart. The power of rebuke comes from the authority behind your words, rooted in your faith.

Mat 8:9-10 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Jesus equated great faith with an understanding of authority. As a Christian, you need to understand that All authority is in the name of Jesus and the exercise of that great authority is committed to His Church.

Php 2:9-11  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus taught that faith is crucial for seeing results. By understanding the above verse—that there is nothing that will not bow its knee to the Most Exalted name of the Lord Jesus—you can have faith and issue an authoritative command regarding the issue at hand.

Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 

The principle is clear: when you speak, believe that it will come to pass. This belief stems from knowing who you are in Christ and understanding the authority God has given you.

Applying This Understanding

If you’re facing a situation—whether it’s sickness, disease, financial trouble, or spiritual oppression—don’t just say, “I rebuke you.” Instead, speak directly to the issue with authority and command it to align with God’s will.

For example: If you’re dealing with pain, command it, “Pain, I command you to go and not return in Jesus’ name.”

"Cancer, be gone and enter no more

'Tumor, dissolve peacefully out of the body and do not return'

Once, you give the command of faith, believe you receive, relying on the truth that there is nothing that will not obey the name of Jesus.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

This is exactly how Jesus operated. He humbled Himself to be a man (Php 2:5-8), relied on the authority that comes from God (John 5:27) and lived by faith as a lifestyle.

Let me clarify this with scriptural examples:

When Jesus cursed the fig tree, it did not wither because Jesus was God. Jesus explained that it was due to His faith-filled words. He further explains this in Mark 11:23-24, illustrating how it was done.

When the father of an epileptic boy asked Jesus if it was possible to cast out a demon that His disciples could not, Jesus rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith and remarked, "All things are possible to him who believes," referring to Himself as the one who had faith. He then proceeded to cast out the demon and heal the child (Mark 9:23).

When the disciples asked why they could not cast out the demon, Jesus responded, "Because of your unbelief," and added, "For verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, 'Remove hence to yonder place'; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Matthew 17:20).

Note: The references to prayer and fasting in Matthew 17:21 and Mark 9:29 seem to be later additions and are not supported by the context. Jesus indicated that His disciples would not fast while He, the bridegroom, was with them (Luke 5:33-34). Therefore, He could not have criticized them for something that would require fasting to accomplish.

By aligning your words with your faith and intention, you’re more likely to see the desired results.

Conclusion

Small changes in our approach can lead to significant improvements in our ministry’s effectiveness. By understanding how to rebuke correctly and coupling it with unwavering faith, we can tap into the power of God more fully.

If this message has blessed you, please share it with others. I believe these truths will empower you to minister with greater authority and see the power of God manifest in your life.

Blessings to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Any infirmity in your body, I command it to be cast out right now in Jesus’ name. Be set free from head to toe 'by His stripes—you were healed' (1 Peter 2:24). Amen.