Acts 16:16-18. Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
Despite the impressive advancements in modern medicine, the world seems to be getting sicker. Millions suffer from incurable physical ailments and severe mental illnesses. To understand why, we must look at the spiritual blueprint of humanity. Scripture teaches that God created mankind as spiritual beings, where the mind and body are intrinsically connected to the spirit. Consequently, the mind and body cannot remain stable if the spirit is broken.
The Bible explains that every person is born spiritually dead because of original sin, completely cut off from the glory of God, who is the source of all life (Ephesians 2:1). In this state, humanity is driven by the “ruler of the kingdom of the air”—the devil (Ephesians 2:2). This separation creates a permanent vacuum filled by fear and insecurity, which eventually manifests as mental and physical illnesses (Ephesians 2:3).
This downward spiral began when the first man and woman fell into the devil’s trap and broke their covenant with God (Genesis 3:1-6; Hosea 6:7). It was at this moment that suffering and disease entered human history. God described the consequences clearly: severe pain in childbearing, painful toil in working the ground, and the ultimate return to the dust of the earth (Genesis 3:16-19). Since the time of Adam, every person has been born into this spiritual “family” of the devil, often living lives that unconsciously please him (John 8:44).
We see the extreme end of this spiritual oppression in the account of the Gerasene man, who was overpowered by a “Legion” of evil spirits (Mark 5:1-20). No human strength or social restraint could set him free. While God may allow certain “thorns in the flesh” to keep us humble—as He did with Paul’s “messenger of Satan” (2 Corinthians 12:7)—the root of all suffering is found in the work of the enemy. Without the engagement of the devil, spiritual and mental illnesses would not be able to take root so deeply.
Scripture reveals that this spiritual disease follows a developmental path. It is rooted at birth, deepens during toddlerhood, and often begins to surface during the primary years. By adolescence, these hidden problems cause visible affliction, and by young adulthood, the mind can be completely overtaken by these long-standing spiritual roots. Scars from the past, if left unhealed by the gospel, become instruments the devil uses to destroy a life. The enemy continues to prowl, seeking to devour people (1 Peter 5:7-8) by causing anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7), building footholds in the mind (Ephesians 4:20-27), blinding spiritual sight (2 Corinthians 4:4-5), and bringing powerful delusions (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11).
Because the root is spiritual, human effort alone cannot achieve true healing. Restoration is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. One must first recognize that the devil’s singular mission is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Then, one must realize why God sent the Christ. Jesus is the True Priest who carried our burdens of sin and disease on the cross. He is the True King who destroyed the enemy’s power. He is the True Prophet who paved a new and living way back to God.
Therefore, an encounter with Jesus changes everything. Just as He overpowered the spirits controlling the man in the tombs (Mark 5:6-13), and just as the evil spirit departed the slave girl at the name of Jesus Christ invoked by Paul (Acts 16:16-18), that same name brings freedom today. If you are struggling with illness, try to see it through the lens of the gospel. These challenges can be God-ordained opportunities to display His work. When you discover your mission within your suffering, God can use your life to save others facing similar battles.
Stay prepared by putting on the full armor of God: the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, and the shoes of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:10-17). Engage in spiritual battle through prayer on all occasions (Ephesians 6:18). As you turn your problems into reasons for thanksgiving—a powerful weapon against the enemy—rest in the promise that the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (Romans 16:20).
Prayer. Father, use my life to bring Your healing and restoration to a world that desperately needs the gospel. Help me to see the spiritual reality of those around me and proclaim the light of Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.