DEMONS

Ø The Greek Root word for "demon"  {dahee-mon’-ee-on} (appears 63 times in the Greek New Testament) means "an evil spirit, or demon (BAG), an evil supernatural being or spirit" (SD). Demons are also called “Deceiving Spirits" (1 Tim. 4:1), “Evil Spirits” (Mt. 10:1), & “Spirits” (Mt. 8:16).

A. THE FALLENESS OF EVIL ANGELS.

1. DEMONS ARE FALLEN ANGELS (REV. 12:7).

2. SOME DEMONS ARE CONFINED (2 PET. 2:4; JUDE 6; 1 PET. 3:19) AND SOME ARE NOT (LK. 8:30-31).

3. VARY IN DEGREES OF WICKEDNESS (LK. 11:26).

B. DEMONS HAVE PERSONALITIES.

1. DEMONS ARE SPIRIT BEINGS (EPH. 6:12).

2. DEMONS HAVE NAMES (Legion LK. 8:30).

3. DEMONS HAVE INTELLIGENCE:

a. THEY KNOW WHO JESUS IS (MK. 1:24; 5:6-7).

b. THEY KNOW THEIR EVENTUAL DOOM (MT. 8:29).

c. THEY KNOW PEOPLE BY NAME (ACTS 19:15).

d. THEY CAN TEACH FALSE DOCTRINE (1 Tim. 4:1).

4. DEMONS CAN SPEAK (MT. 8:28-34; ACTS 19:15).

C. DEMONS ARE POWERFUL.

1. DEMONS CAN CAUSE MENTAL DISTURBANCE (SAUL WAS TORMENTED 1 SAM. 16:14f).

2. DEMONS CAN BE BEHIND SOME ILLNESSES.

a. BLINDNESS (MT. 12:22).

A. DEAFNESS (MK. 9:14f, esp. 17, 25).

B. SEIZURES (MT. 17:14-18).

C. CRIPPLING DISEASES (LK. 13:10-13).

3. DEMONS CAN CAUSE PEOPLE TO BECOME VIOLENT (SAUL 1 SAM. 18:10f; VIOLENT MT. 8:28).

4. DEMONS CAN DECEIVE US INTO FOLLOWING THEIR TEACHING (1 TIM. 4:1-2; 2 THESS. 2:9-10).

D. CAN PEOPLE BE POSSESSED BY DEMONS TODAY?

1. DEMONS CANNOT POSSES FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS (1 JN. 5:18).

2. DEMONS POSSESED PEOPLE IN THE FIRST CENTURY SO CHANCES ARE THEY ARE STILL DOING SO TODAY.

& (Mt. 8:28f) “Two demon-possessed men.”

& (Mk. 7:25-26) “Woman’s daughter was possessed by evil spirit.”

& (Lk. 11:24-26) “takes 7 more spirits…live there.”

E. EXPELLING OF DEMONS.

1. JESUS EXPELLED THEM (MK. 1:25, 5:8; LK. 4:35).

2. JESUS GAVE HIS DISCIPLES AUTHORITY TO DRIVE OUT DEMONS.

a. APOSTLES: MK. 6:7; LK. 10:17.

b. ALL BELIEVERS: MK. 16:17.

F. PRAYING FOR DEMONIC INFLUENCE TO LEAVE.

1. HAVE THE PERSON WHO IS BEING INFLUENCED BY DEMONS DRIVE OR CAST THEM OUT HIMSELF.

n Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, I ask you to forgive me of my sins and my rebellion against you. Please, through the blood of Jesus, set me free from the bondage of sin. I ask you in the Name of Jesus Christ to remove all demonic influence in my life. I don’t want them in my life any longer. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me live faithfully to You. All of this I ask in the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (The Bible teaches that we can ask for anything we want Mt. 21:21-22; 1 Jn. 5:14-15).

2. OR, GO TO GOD IN PRAYER AND ASK HIM TO CAST OUT OR DRIVE OUT THE DEMONIC INFLUENCE (MK. 9:18, 29).

& "She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled 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" (Acts 16:18).

& "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name” (Lk. 10:17).

a. BEFORE YOU PRAY A DEMON OUT OF SOMEONE, BE SURE THAT YOU ARE A STRONG AND DEDICATED CHRISTIAN. IF NOT THEN IT COULD BE DANGEROUS (ACTS 19:13-16).

b. IF THE DEMON IS EXPELLED, YOU MAY SEE THE INDIVIDUAL SHAKE VIOLENTLY (MK. 1:26), CRY, OR THE DEMON MAY EVEN TALK TO YOU (MT. 8:28-31).

G. KEEPING THE VICTORY.

n Demons can return if you continue to live in sin (Lk. 11:24f). Freedom must be maintained. You have won a very important battle in an ongoing war. Freedom is yours as long as you keep choosing truth, turning away from sin; & remaining faithful to the Lord.

a. STUDY YOUR BIBLE DAILY (PS. 119:11).

b. TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE (2 COR. 10:5).

c. RESIST SIN AND SATAN (JAM. 4:7; ROM. 6:2).

d. COMMIT YOURSELF TO PRAYER (1 THESS. 5:17).

H. ARGUMENT AGAINST DEMON PRESENCE (ZECH. 13:1-2).

n Some people feel that after Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, all of the unclean spirits or demons ceased to exist. However, long after Jesus ascended to heaven, demons were still in existence (Acts 16:18).