17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." - Mark 16:17-18
Casting out demons is an assignment for all believers; laying hands on the sick is as well. When we actively engage in God's will we are afforded the ability to demonstrate the word of God with power.
I have been in the ministry of healing and deliverance for the past twelve years or so. I believe that God still heals and delivers today and that it is a benefit of being a child of God through Jesus Christ. However, I do not think casting demons out of a person should give more attention to the enemy than necessary. While it is true that Jesus cast a spirit out of a young boy and it convulsed him when coming out, it is also true that Jesus forbid demons to speak (Mark 1:41; Luke 4:41) and steal the show. Jesus is the all-star when it comes to deliverance, not the demons and not the minister casting it out. With that said, the one being delivered does not need to be demonstrative either.
Too much time is wasted on demonstrations of fleshly and demonic behavior when we need to demonstrate the gospel and its power through the Holy Spirit! Every person and situation is unique; there is no cookie-cutter deliverance. Although some have methods and techniques to do ministry, every person's healing is unique to the way Jesus touches them.
Look at a couple of instances of deliverances that Jesus did. A man living in the tombs was possessed and tormented by demons. Day and night he cried out while cutting himself. Nobody could tame him, which tells us some tried, and he broke the chains every time he was bound.
6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." 8 For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" 9 Then He asked him, "What [is] your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name [is] Legion; for we are many." 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. - Mar 5:6-10 NKJV
Jesus never did anything without kingdom purpose, and we know this because He said He only spoke and did as the Father permitted. So, we know there was a reason Jesus asked the demon what its name was. It is very doubtful Jesus cared what the demon's name was; He wanted to show us something. Jesus often did things so that the crowd would see the power of God demonstrated through Him, so this was not an unusual occurrence. There were many demonic spirits in this man, and it would take a miracle to deliver him. As a result of this man's deliverance, a multitude came to believe in Christ because after he was healed, he went into several cities testifying of God's compassion on him (Mark 5:20).
While Jesus did ask the demon a question, He did not engage the demon in further conversation. There was no need for Jesus to converse with the demon. After Jesus cast these spirits out of the man, His point was made. He had authority over legions of demons!
On another occasion, Jesus raised a girl from the dead. One of the rulers of the synagogue named Jairus came to Jesus for help for his daughter. And when he saw Jesus, the Bible tells us that he fell at His feet and begged Him to lay hands on his dying daughter so that she may be healed and live (Mar 5:22-23). On the way to this man's house, a woman who had been sick with a bleeding issue for many years touched Jesus' garment, and He felt power leave Him. During which time, He stopped on His journey to the little girl and spoke with the woman. She was healed because she had the faith to squeeze through a crowd and touch Jesus believing she would be healed if she did so. After this, Jesus went back on His journey to the little girl at which time He was told to forget it the girl died.
36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe." 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. - Mar 5:36-38 NKJV
Jesus told the crowd that the girl was only sleeping and not dead, but they ridiculed Him, so He put them all out except those He allowed to go in with Him and the girl's parents. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." - Mar 5:41 Immediately this twelve-year child arose, and everyone was overcome with amazement. Jesus told them not to tell anyone. Jesus demonstrated the Kingdom power over the spirit of death. While the scriptures do not tell us that He bound the spirit of death and loosed life, we know He did because He demonstrated binding and loosing principles. Death was bound and no longer effective over this child, and life was loosed, raising her from the dead!
Imagine what it must have felt like to share in this resurrected child's testimony but be forbidden to tell of it! Not many of us could keep such an incredible secret.
22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking." 25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. 26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying, "Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town." – Mk 8:22-26
Jesus did not tell this man to go and tell everyone what He did; instead, he said the opposite. Hopefully, you notice that every case is different; sometimes He told them to tell, and for others He told them not to. Sometimes He allowed many to witness what He did, and other times He did His work privately.
Another time a woman came begging for Jesus to cast a demon out of her daughter. After much discussion as to Jesus' purpose, He told her to go because her great faith caused her request to be answered. Her daughter was delivered and healed from that moment.
Jesus did not draw attention to Himself when healing and delivering people unless the situation warranted others to know. Many times He simply told people to go and be free in their healing. Of course, there are theological reasons for many of these instances, but Jesus was always humble.
Today, many ministers think that the person being delivered must have major manifestations to prove they are being set free. Sometimes we cannot stop the demons from manifesting through a person as they show themselves in rebellion or leave trying to hurt the person on their way out. However, it is best to forbid demons from ripping and tearing on its way out.
At times Jesus forbid the demon to speak, yet some ministers get their knowledge from demonic spirits and believe that the demon speaking tells them the truth. I do not want to get my information from a lying demon when the Bible tells me that Holy Spirit will guide me in all truth. The Holy Spirit is my counselor and will direct my way prophetically when working with a person who needs deliverance. Satan is a liar, thief, and murder. He is the father of lies (Jn 8:44), and every demon under his rule is a liar. It is a foolish thing to allow demons to channel through humans and think we are in control.