Part 1, Casting Our Unclean Spirits
CASTING OUT UNCLEAN SPIRITS: Spiritual Pest Control
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Matthew 10:1 ESV And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
Whenever the work of God is heightened the enemy also goes into overdrive.
It is necessary for us to identify the countermeasures of unclean spirits.
Matthew 10:1 ESV And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
Matthew 10:1 NIV Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Many are concerned with disease and affliction. These are the results of the activities of unclean spirits. We seek healing and deliverance, but we must not ignore the source of the problem. Many want to be rescued from the effects of demonic activity while they want to keep on living the lifestyle that
Nota Bien: Not all diseases and afflictions are caused by demonic spirits.
There are many reasons behind sicknesses… biological, viral, bacterial and lifestyle, and spiritual. Whatever the cause, unclean/impure spirits are opportunistic. They will move in and take advantage of any opening, any weakness. Either they cause the problem or they sustain it for longer than it should last.
When unclean/impure spirits move in, sicknesses are protracted.
They are made to appear incurable.
Affliction repeats many times over and starts following certain patterns.
We can safely conclude that the bigger problem is not disease or affliction but demonic activity, hence Jesus first gave us authority to cast out demons before healing diseases.
Christians fall into one of three groups.
The first group believes a little too much in demons. Everything wrong is ascribed to demonic activity. They believe the power of God is sufficient to cast out devils, yet they keep needing deliverance. They seek deliverance every week and fail to see that their constant pursuit of deliverance is proof of some form of ignorance.
Next, we have those who do not believe in demonic activity. They believe once you become. Christian, demons will leave you alone. This is an extreme view I used to subscribe to. This group also operates in ignorance.
There is a third group… This group actually fears demons and spirits of the underworld. This group adds unbelief to ignorance.
Luke 10:19 ESV Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
Who are the unclean/impure spirits and what do they represent?
Uncleans spirits are demons, fallen angels.
They are usually represented in the scriptures as causing all kinds of suffering, like disease, sickness, violent afflictions like possession and mental oppression.
They are called unclean or impure to differentiate them from the Holy Spirit.
They promote unclean thoughts, impure motives and unholy action. They make one feel all kinds of negative things and make the mind comfortable with ungodliness. They root for the bad guy, the criminal is their hero, and the dark sinister character is idolized.
They start by hiding in darkness, making one feel ashamed but over time, they come out of the closet and normalize bad behavior. They end up redefining good and evil and turn them on their heads.
Isaiah 5:20 ESV Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Matthew 12:43-45 ESV "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. [44] Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. [45] Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation."
How do unclean/impure spirits operate?
With great cunning. They come in looking innocent and even cute, while hiding their venom. Even after they do their damage, they often stay hidden.
If you tolerate any impurity in your life, you're creating a conducive environment for unclean spirits. There are some seemingly innocent acts that lay out a red carpet for demons. The same actions grieve the Holy Spirit and make Him quiet or worse actually withdraw.
One cannot always see the connection between the open door policy for demons and the painful consequences one is facing in life.
Ignorance and Deception
In a perfect world, (the Garden of Eden,) there was no sickness, disease or affliction. The first tool of the devil was deception.
Man’s ignorance creates room for the devil’s deception.
John 16:2 NLT For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God.
1 Timothy 1:13 ESV though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,
Romans 1:22 ESV Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
There is no greater fool than the man who is wise in his own eyes.
Unbelief and Fear
Mark 5:36 ESV
But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."
Man’s unbelief provides a fertile soil for the devil’s fear tactics.
Romans 10:17 KJ21
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
The word of God produces faith. The word of the devil produces fear. Anytime I am afraid, I need to ask myself, "To whom am I listening?
Unclean spirits operate like pests.
Demons do not walk alone. One tolerated pests invites many others until there is a full blown infestation.
Matthew 12:43-45 NLT
"When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. [44] Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. [45] Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation."
That your innocent peccadillo, that looks innocent and harmless is priming you for trouble.
Authority to cast out, drive out unclean/impure spirits.
Matthew 10:1 NIV
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Casting out devils is called deliverance but that is only half of the story.
It is important to know how to cast out unclean spirits, but it is more important to learn how to keep them out. They must be kept out otherwise a person's life will become a revolving door. When the devil is cast out, deliverance has only begun. Deliverance is complete only after the devil returns and does not get welcome or access.
Matthew 12:43-45 ESV
"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. [44] Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. [45] Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation."
Why drive them out? Why not judge or destroy or kill them?
God has an appointed time for the devil and his cohorts.
Matthew 8:29 ESV
And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"
Matthew 8:29 NLT
They began screaming at him, "Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God's appointed time?"
Before the appointed time, demonic spirits need physical bodies to host them.
How to exercise authority unclean/impure spirits.
Exercising authority over unclean spirits is like engaging in pest control…
Pest control needs both curative and preventative methods: physical, cultural, biological and chemical.
https://www.google.com/search?q=pest+control+methods&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari
Effective pest control requires cooperation between the pest control expert and the homeowner.
Eradicate, sanitize, remove attraction and prevent access.
