The Bible mentions a “spirit of infirmity” in Luke 13:11, which states “And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.” This refers to a spiritual affliction or demonic presence that caused the woman’s physical infirmity of being hunched over and unable to stand up straight.
Several key points can be drawn from this passage about spirits of infirmity:
- A spirit of infirmity is a demonic spirit that afflicts someone physically.
- This spirit caused the woman to be crippled in her body for 18 years.
- Jesus healed the woman by laying hands on her, showing His authority over evil spirits.
- The woman’s physical infirmity was healed immediately when the spirit left her body.
- Spirits of infirmity demonstrate the link between spiritual oppression and physical ailments.
Some other examples of spirits of infirmity include:
- The boy who was mute due to a demonic spirit (Matthew 9:32-33).
- The blind and mute man possessed by a demon (Matthew 12:22).
- The woman crippled by a spirit for 18 years (Luke 13:11).
- The girl with a disabling spirit that caused her to be hunched over (Luke 13:11).
Based on these biblical accounts, a spirit of infirmity refers to an affliction caused by a demonic presence that results in some form of physical limitation, inability or sickness. This could manifest as muteness, blindness, paralysis, epilepsy, mental disorders, chronic weaknesses or any number of debilitating conditions.
The primary source of evidence for spirits of infirmity comes from the four Gospels, where Jesus frequently encounters and heals people tormented by evil spirits that caused them to be physically disabled in some way. Some key examples include:
The Blind and Mute Man (Matthew 12:22)
A man who was demon-possessed, blind and mute was brought to Jesus. Jesus healed the man so that he could both speak and see. When the Pharisees accused Jesus of using Satan’s power to heal the man, Jesus replied, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand” (Matthew 12:25). Jesus attested that it was by the Spirit of God that He cast out the demon.
The Epileptic Boy (Matthew 17:14-18)
A man brought his son who was an epileptic and suffered terribly to Jesus’ disciples for healing. They could not heal the boy, but when Jesus arrived He rebuked the demon and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. When the disciples asked why they couldn’t drive it out, Jesus replied it required prayer and fasting.
The Crippled Woman (Luke 13:10-17)
Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath when He saw a woman who had been crippled by a spirit for 18 years. She was bent over and could not stand up straight. Jesus called her over and said, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” He laid His hands on her, and she was healed and began glorifying God. The synagogue rulers were indignant that Jesus healed on the Sabbath.
The Man in the Tombs (Mark 5:1-20)
When Jesus arrived in the country of the Gerasenes, He encountered a wild man possessed by demons who lived naked among the tombs. The man fell before Jesus and cried out, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” Jesus asked the demon’s name, and it replied “Legion, for we are many.” Jesus cast the legion of demons out into a herd of pigs, and the man was freed and put on clothes and was healed.
In all of these accounts, evil spirits are shown to be the direct cause of physical infirmities, debilitating conditions and health disorders. The afflicted individuals were only healed when the demonic spirits were cast out in Jesus’ name. This demonstrates Jesus’ absolute power and authority over spiritual forces of darkness that manifest in physical ways to destroy people’s lives.
There are some key characteristics of spirits of infirmity that can be summarized:
- They are demonic spirits or forces opposed to God’s purposes.
- They debilitate people’s physical bodies in some way.
- This causes weakness, inability, paralysis, sickness, pain and oppression.
- Those afflicted require deliverance by the power of Jesus Christ.
- Healing comes when the spirit is rebuked or cast out in Jesus’ name.
- Freedom glorifies God and testifies to Christ’s authority and power.
There are also some myths and misconceptions about spirits of infirmity that should be noted:
- Myth: Sin or unbelief always causes these spirits. Truth: Scripture does not definitively make this connection.
- Myth: Mentally ill people are possessed. Truth: Mental illness has physical causes that require treatment.
- Myth: All sickness is caused by demons. Truth: Illness has natural physiological causes that should be treated by doctors.
- Myth: Christians cannot be affected by spirits of infirmity. Truth: Even godly people can be afflicted and need deliverance.
- Myth: People must vocally rebuke spirits in Jesus’ name. Truth: Prayer for healing can take many biblical forms.
In conclusion, the Bible teaches that spirits of infirmity are demonic presences or attacks that manifest physically through some debilitating condition or health disorder. However, caution must be exercised against seeing demons as the cause of all maladies, which could lead to avoiding medical treatment or blaming individuals. Discernment is needed to determine when an apparent infirmity stems from spiritual oppression, in which case prayer for deliverance and healing is warranted. With Jesus all things are possible, and His power and authority over evil spirits can still set captives free today when there is true faith.