Demons

²⁸ And when [Jesus] came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. ²⁹ And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” ³⁰ Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. ³¹ And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” ³² And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. (Matt. 8:28-32)

Last week we looked at angels.  This week we’ll look at their counterparts, demons.  Demons are scary for many Christians, so it’s good to get the cards on the table about demons.  Some Christians even believe we can be possessed by demons.  That’s not true as we’ll see. 

But first, what is a demon?   When Satan rebelled (Isa 14:12-15) he apparently took a third of the angels with him  (Rev. 12:4).  The dragon in this passage is Satan (Rev. 12:7-9).  So, we believe demons are fallen angels who joined Satan when he was cast out of heaven.

So, what can demons do?  From the passage above, we see demons can possess people.  Possession means the demon or demons enter a person and can take over that person’s actions even his speech.  Demons recognized Jesus and were afraid of Him.  They are in no way equals but subordinate to Him. 

As a quick side note, notice the demons identify Jesus not by His name but as the Son of God.  In John 5:18 we’re told the term “Son of God” means Jesus is equal to the Father.  These demons had much to be afraid of. 

There was a herd of pigs nearby and Jesus cast the demons into them.  This shows us a person can be possessed by many demons, that Jesus has the power to cast them out of humans, and that He can send them wherever He wants.  They must obey Him.

24 “When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 “And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. 26 “Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”  Luke 11:24-26)

When a person is possessed by a demon and that demon has been cast out, if that demon may return unless the person becomes a Christian.  Demons cannot possess Christians.  We are filled with the Holy Spirit, and He does not share His home with anyone:

for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  (2 Cor. 14b-16)

So, if anyone tells you as a Christian you can be possessed by evil spirits, they’re blowing smoke.  They have no idea what their talking about.

Why is this important?

We as Christians need to know our adversaries.

¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Eph. 6:12)

How we deal with these evil spirit beings is also laid out in Ephesians:

¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, (Eph. 6:13-18)

As a good friend of mine likes to say, we as Christians need to “get up, suit up, and show up.”  That’s a good motto for Christians for we never know when the evil world of the enemy might take notice of us.  Remember, “a sterile Christian is the next best thing to a lost person to Satan.”

To cast a demon out of a person is a very serious matter and should be undertaken by mature believers in a group if possible who are willing to take the abuse, insults, and exposed sins in their own lives for the demon(s) will expose all to get the exorcism to stop.