Demons

The following post is my 2nd presentation in Round Table.

1. What are demons? How do you know?
There are several different views on what demons actually are. The only thing the Scripture specifically states is that they are unclean spirits or evil spirits(Matt 8:16 ; 17:18, Mark 9:25). In Matthew 12:24 Satan is called the prince of demons. Therefore if he is the prince of demons he is one of them, He is their leader. We know from Ezekiel 28 that Satan is a fallen angel. 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude v. 6 speak of other fallen angels. Therefore, we conclude that demons are the other angels that fell. If Satan is a fallen angel and the “prince of demons” it would be logical that demons are also fallen angels. (2 Pet. 2:4 , Jude 6).

Other evidence is Matthew 25:41 – “The devil and his angels”.

2. Tell the Nature of Demons.
Ryrie gives 4 parts to Demons nature.

First Demons are Personal in Nature.
1. Demons exist. They are not forces or concepts that our minds have created. We know this from a number of characteristics they posses. They have intelligence (Matt. 8:29, Mark 1:24, James 2:19), emotions (Luke 8:28, James 2:19), wills (Luke 8:32), and personality (Luke 8:27-30). While demons are persons they do not have bodies like humans. They are spirit beings (Eph. 6:12)

Second Demons are Intellectual in Nature.
2. Demons have high intelligence. They know who Jesus is (Mark 1:24). They know there is only one God (James 2:19). They know their own eventual doom (Matthew 8:29). They have their own system of doctrine (1 Tim. 4:1-3).

Third Demons are Immoral in Nature.
3. Scripture gives us many references of demons being immoral. They are called “unclean spirits” (Matt. 10:1), “evil spirits” (Luke 7:21), “the spirit of an unclean demon” (Luke 4:33), and “spiritual forces of wickedness” (Eph. 6:12). Demons are led by Satan and we know that they carry out his goals. Many of these can be seen in Satan’s many names, characteristics, and activities. Adversary, accuser, tempter, liar, murderer, deceiver, Evil one, Opposer. All of these are evil characteristics. This is also very clear from the stories in the Bible we have of Satan and how he works (Job, Temptation of Christ)

Fourth Demons are Powerful in Nature.
4. The scripture describes many accounts of demons working through humans. Often times their strength is superhuman (Mark 5:3, Acts 19:16). As I already said, Demons are also very intelligent. This is due to them being created as a high order of being and their experience of having been around since the beginning of the world. Demons are not infinite like God. They are limited creatures. They are not present everywhere, yet they are not limited by normal barriers as humans are.
Ryrie sums it up as “Demons are not human; neither are they God. But they are superhuman with superior intelligence, experience and powers.

3. What do Demons do?
Demons do a number of things. They relate to the world in a number of ways. Satan is the ruler of this world, and therefore his demons have great power in affecting this world (John 12:31, 16:11). Demons ultimately carry out Satan’s purpose to thwart God’s plan. They do this by promoting idolatry (1 Cor. 10:20), promoting false religion (1 John 4:1-4; 1 Tim. 3:16 -4:3), and in end times they will bring leaders to war against God (Rev. 16:13-16). In direct relation to people demons can bring affliction in the form of disease (Matt. 9:3, 12:22, 17:15-18), cause mental disorders (Mark5:4-5), and in some cases can be involved in death (Rev. 9:14-19). Ultimately demons mode of operation is the same as Satan’s. They seek to deceive. This is how Satan attempts to thwart God’s plan. All of the things they do are their attempts to deceive men to believe in something other than God. But it is important never to forget that God is sovereign and he is even in ultimate control of Satan and his demons. There are a number of instances in the Scripture where God even uses demons to carry out his purposes (judges 9:23, 1 Sam 16:14, 1 Kings 22:22, 2 Cor. 12:7).

4. Can a Christian be demon-possessed?
First I feel it is necessary to define “possessed”. Ryrie defines demon possession as “the direct control by demon(s) of an individual by residing in him”. It conveys the meaning of “control” or “ownership”. It is definitely true that all people whether a believer or unbeliever are affected even influenced by demons. We as believers are commanded to “resist the devil” (1 Pet. 5:8-9 , James 4:7), and “Put on the whole armor of God that you may resist the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). The devil and his demons do attack believers. We are engaged in spiritual warfare (Eph 6:12). But this does not mean we can be “directly controlled” by Satan or a demon. There is not one clear example of a believer being demon possessed in the Scripture. Believers are never warned in the New Testament to watch out for being demon possessed. The epistles never instruct believers to cast out demons. Colossians 1:13 we have been “delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son”. 1 John 2:13 we have overcome the evil one and in 4:4 the Holy Spirit that indwells us is greater than Satan. 1 John 5:18 “the evil one does not touch him”. 1 Peter 1:5 when Christ reigns in a persons life, that person is kept by God’s power. In conclusion, with no evidence in Scripture of a believer being demon possessed, no warning against demon possession, the truth that the Holy Spirit that indwells the believer is greater than the evil one, the truths that those who are of God are kept by his power that no one can snatch him from his hand, then a genuine believer could never be “owned”, completely “controlled” or possessed by Satan or one of his demons.