What Do You Know About Demons?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT DEMONS?

Demons, devils, evil spirits, unclean spirits - all are the same, aren't they? And Satan is the "head demon", isn't he? People have all kinds of concepts about the wicked of the spiritual plane of existence, but the best way to really know what these are all about is to go to the book that explains them best - the Word of God.

Angels that followed Satan in his rebellion against God are written of in Matt. 25:4; "Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" These angels that belong to the devil are demons, evil spirits, and unclean spirits.

Satan is first considered in Genesis as having spoken through a serpent to deceive Eve in the garden of Eden. "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, 'Yea, hath God said, "Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"' And the woman said unto the serpent, 'We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, 'Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.' And the serpent said unto the woman, 'Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.'" (Gen. 3:1 - 5)

The first reference to devils is also found in the Pentateuch, but what is meant by devils are the goatlike gods the heathens worshipped in those days. "And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations." (Lev. 17:7) Unfortunately, it eventually became common for the Israelites to be chastised by God for a whoring after false gods, but the idols at the time were goatlike devil gods.

The first reference to an evil spirit, or demon, can be found in Judg. 9:22 - 24; "When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: that the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren." It is interesting to note that the bible says God sent it, because in doing so, this seems to include demons in the will of God, since He sent it. But this is not the only evil spirit God sent; "But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee." (1 Sam. 16:14-15) Let me give example of one more evil spirit included in the will of God; "And the LORD said, 'Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead?' And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, "I will persuade him." And the LORD said unto him, 'Wherewith?' And he said, "I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets." And He said, 'Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.' Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee." (1 Kings 22:20-23) One might find it remarkable that these spirits, evil as they are, obey God! Now if anyone wonder how I can discern that this spirit in the third instance is of evil, let us recall that no liar will inherit the kingdom of heaven; "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Rev. 21:6 - 8)

The first reference to unclean spirits is found in Zech. 13:2; "'And it shall come to pass in that day', saith the LORD of hosts, 'that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.'" The term in this case, however, refers to false prophets and false teachers, their spirits not clean for their sinfulness.

There are several places in the gospel with documentation of more than one evil or unclean spirit in the same vicinity, and they were in possession of people! The first instance is found in Mark 5:2 - 13; "And when He was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped Him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, 'What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure Thee by God, that Thou torment me not.' For He said unto him, 'Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.' And He asked him, 'What is thy name?' And he answered, saying, 'My name is Legion: for we are many.' And he besought Him much that He would not send them away out of the country. Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought Him, saying, 'Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.' And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea."

The second instance was when Jesus was driving them out of people where He had arrived; "And in that same hour He cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind He gave sight." (Luke 7:21)

Jesus spoke of unclean spirits in Matt.12:43 - 45; "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, 'I will return into my house from whence I came out'; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation." Here Jesus is teaching about demons, and how some are more wicked than others, and how they can repossess a person from whom they have been cast out.

Take note, also, that being possessed of a devil or demon can be the reason for physical problems. Consider this passage of Scripture; "As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a dumb man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, 'It was never so seen in Israel.'" (Matt. 9:32 - 33) Note that the man was unable to speak because of a demon? Men of position and education recognized that demons caused men to do strange things, such as they accused John the Baptist, as witnessed by Jesus; "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He hath a devil.'" (Matt. 11:18)

Another example of physical ramifications caused by possession by a demon is in Matt. 12:22; "Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and He healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw."

Yet another example is found again in Matthew's gospel. It doesn't tell what the physical ailment is, but there is one, nonetheless; "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him, saying, 'Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.' But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, 'Send her away; for she crieth after us.' But He answered and said, 'I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.' Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, 'Lord, help me.' But He answered and said, 'It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.' And she said, 'Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.' Then Jesus answered and said unto her, 'O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.' And her daughter was made whole from that very hour." (Matt. 15:22 - 28)

This next example is the only instance in the bible where it is written that Jesus marvelled; "And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him, And saying, 'Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.' And Jesus saith unto him, 'I will come and heal him.' The centurion answered and said, 'Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 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. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' And Jesus said unto the centurion, 'Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.' And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour." (Matt. 8:5-13)

Now this next passage of Scripture you should find quite fascinating, because Jesus does more teaching about demons. "And when they were come to the multitude, there came to Him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 'Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, 'O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to Me.' And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, 'Why could not we cast him out?' And Jesus said unto them, 'Because of your unbelief: 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. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.'" (Matt. 17:14 - 21) Here Jesus teaches His disciples that three things are necessary to drive out demons from anyone; belief, prayer, and fasting. Now this son had epilepsy, which they considered being a lunatic, so again, the physical affliction was caused by a demon.

Let's look at one more physical affliction in the Gospel of Luke; "And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him, and said unto her, 'Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.' And He laid His hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, 'There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.' The Lord then answered him, and said, 'Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?'" Luke 13:11-16

There has been a reason I have made points of all these demonic physical afflictions. We have these afflictions today, and who is to say the doctors do not misdiagnose these same maladies? Would not a doctor take this woman bent over 18 years and diagnose her as having severe osteoporosis? Do we not even today have doctors routinely diagnose people as having epilepsy and palsy? And we still have people dumb and blind, just as doctors diagnose, but has there ever been one who attributed it to a demon or evil spirit? Now let me expand on this; what's to say that new afflictions such as ADHD are not a demonic result? Certainly I give you food for thought!

Paul also spoke of being able to defend yourself from the devil and his demons: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" (Eph. 6:10 - 18) Note that protection from these demons of varying degrees of wickedness and power for evil is made effective once again with prayer. Note also the term, "be strong in the Lord"; believe in Him!

Now with all this enlightenment from the Word in demonology, what a different view we should have of people with physical afflictions, and what praises we should have to our benevolent God, that He has blessed us with no afflictions, those of us who have none! But for those who do have afflictions, look for other believers to lay hands upon you, pray, fast, and believe in Him, and be rewarded with healing by His power for your faith!