DEMONS

 “Demons are evil angels who sinned against God and who now continually work evil in the world.” (174)  When God created the world he “saw everything that he made, and behold, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)  Then in Genesis 3 we see the serpent tempting Eve.  Thus sometime between Genesis 1:31 and Genesis 3 there is an angelic rebellion against God. DEMONS

 New Testament on Demonic Origin  2 Peter 2:4- God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of nether gloom to be kept until the judgment.  Jude 6- the angels that did not keep their own position but left their proper dwelling have been kept by him in eternal chains in the nether gloom until the judgment of the great day.  They have been removed from the glory of God’s presence.  Their activity is restricted (eternal chains).  Their influence however has yet to be ended.  Their sin was pride.  A refusal to accept their assigned place, for they, “did not keep their own position but left their proper dwelling.” (Jude 6)  Isaiah 14 is believed to be speaking of the fall of Satan DEMONS

 "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! 13 "But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 14 'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' 15 "Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit ISAIAH 14:12-15

 Satan, as a personal name, is first used in Job 1:6- “the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.”  In this section of Job Satan is seen as an enemy of God.  He brings temptation to Job trying to get him to turn away from God.  Satan is also used in 1 Chron. 2:1- “Satan stood against Israel, and incited David to number Israel.”  David counted his men to see if he had enough to fight against Satan and his army.  By doing this he showed he did not trust God to provide the power to defeat Satan.  In essence David feared he would loose to Satan. SATAN- HEAD OF THE DEMONS

 Also in Zechariah in a vision saw, “Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse Him.” (Zec. 3:1)  Satan is a Hebrew word meaning adversary.  Satan is also used in the New Testament.  Simply borrows the name from the Old Testament.  Matthew 4:10- Be gone Satan!  Luke 10:18- I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. SATAN- HEAD OF THE DEMONS

 The Devil (only in the New Testament) Matt. 4:1; 13:39; Rev. 12:9)  The serpent (Gen. 3:1; 2 Cor. 11:3; Rev. 12:9)  Beelzebul (Matt. 10:25; 12:24)  The ruler of the world (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11)  The prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2)  The Evil One (Matt. 13:19; 1 John 2:13) OTHER NAMES IN SCRIPTURE USED FOR SATAN

 Satan was the originator of sin.  Satan sinned before any human being. He tempts Eve, implies he has already rebelled.  He is a murderer from the beginning and a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)  He has sinned from the beginning (of human history). (1 John 3:8)  Demons oppose and try to destroy every work of God.  Their tactics include everything from lies (John 8:44), deception (Rev. 12:9), murder (Ps. 106:37), and every type of evil work to destroy.  Try to blind people from the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4)  Keep people in bondage (Gal. 4:8)  “They also use temptation, doubt, guilt, fear, confusion, sickness, envy, pride, slander, or any other means possible to hinder a Christian’s witness and usefulness.” (Grudem, 415) THE ACTIVITY OF SATAN AND DEMONS

 Yet Demons are limited by God’s control and have limited power.  Job makes it clear that Satan could only do that which God permitted. (Job 1:12; 2:6)  Demons are kept in eternal chains. (Jude 6)  And demons can be resisted by Christians through the authority that Christ gives them. (James 4:7)  Demons also cannot know the future or that they can read minds or know our thoughts.  One of God’s distinctions from the false gods in the OT was that He knew the future.  Isaiah 46:9-10- I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done.”  Demons can however observe us. So they know our routines and our habitual sin. THE ACTIVITY OF SATAN AND DEMONS

 Deut 32: They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; With abominations they provoked Him to anger. They sacrificed to demons, not to God, To gods they did not know, To new gods, new arrivals. That your fathers did not fear.  Psalms 106: But they mingled with the Gentiles And learned their works; They served their idols, Which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons, And their daughters to demons…  All idol worship was really worship of Satan and his demons.  Practice of the pagan nations surrounding them. Thus fighting them was just as much a spiritual one as a physical one.  Practices that led to children sacrifice, bodily harm, and cult prostitution.  There is no clear casting out of demons in the OT.  David playing the lyre for Saul is the closest and the evil spirit comes back. DEMONIC ACTIVITY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

 Matthew 4:1-11  Satan first tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread.  Remember Jesus had been fasting for forty days and nights.  Jesus responds with scripture, “Man shall not live by bread alone.” Dt. 8:3  Satan then tries to tempt Jesus to jump off the temple for the angels would save Him.  Jesus responds again with Scripture- “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test.” Ps. 91:11,12  Satan tempts Jesus, saying he would give him all the kingdoms on earth if he would bow to Satan.  Jesus responds once again with scripture, “For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.” Dt. 6:13.  When Jesus is confronted and tempted by Satan he uses Scripture to defeat him. DEMONIC ACTIVITY IN JESUS MINISTRY

 Jesus comes on the scene casting out demons with authority.  Meant the ushering of the Kingdom of God.  Matthew 12: But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.  “Strong Man” is Satan and Jesus has bound him.  Jesus has freed His people in the house. DEMONIC ACTIVITY IN JESUS MINISTRY

 Disciples were given power and authority over demons by Jesus. (Matt. 10:8; Mark 3:15; Luke 10:17)  Disciples had authority over unclean spirits extended into Acts.  Millennium- the future thousand year reign of Christ.  Satan and demons will be further restricted.  No longer able to have influence on the earth (humans will still suffer from the sin in their hearts)  Satan will be loosed from his prison and lead an army against Christ.  Final Judgment  Satan will be decisively defeated.  Thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur.  Judgment will be complete at this point. DEMONIC ACTIVITY IN THE CHURCH AGE, MILLENNIUM, AND FINAL JUDGMENT

 Are demons still active today?  Yes, even though we may not perceive it.  Never need to doubt their existence and influence all around the world.  Not all evil and sin is from Satan and Demons, but some is  Scripture calls us to confront our sin, not to rebuke a spirit of sin.  Paul calls those in Corinth to be united, not to rebuke a spirit of dissension.  Paul calls them to end incest in the church, not to rebuke a spirit of incest.  Demons can influence people, but responsibility needs to be taken on behalf of the sinner.  Emphasis is placed in the NT on a person’s sin, not a demon bringing that sin about. Implies that our sin is often our own doing, even with demonic influence involved. OUR RELATIONSHIP TO DEMONS

 Can a Christian be demon possessed?  Greek Text never uses the term demon possession.  It is an English translation of what the Greek text speaks of one who has a demon or influenced by a demon.  Problem with this term it gives demons a lot of power they just do not have. Suggesting people have no choice to succumb to it.  Those who cannot are more of the extreme cases like the Gerasene demoniac.  So to answer the question we have to define what demon possession means.  If used to mean someone who has lost all control and fully succumb to demonic activity, then certainly no.  Sin no longer has dominion over you. OUR RELATIONSHIP TO DEMONS

 Can a Christian be demon possessed?(cont.)  If meant come under demonic attack than yes.  Daughter of Abraham- Satan bound for 18yrs, could not straighten herself. (Luke 13:16)  We do, however, have power from the Holy Spirit against demonic attacks.  Often though we do not ask for help or do not understand the power of our help.  So how much are we influenced or attacked by demons?  It is difficult to answer, “How much are you still dominated by sin?”  What must be understood that it is abnormal.  There are varying degree depending on where we are in our relationship with God.  Are we close to him or distant? OUR RELATIONSHIP TO DEMONS

 Sometimes it is a hostile response to the gospel  Unclean spirit in the synagogue (Mark 1:23-24)  Jesus coming down from the Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:17- 18,20,22; young man seizures and tried to kill him)  Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5:2-5)  Other cases, blatant false doctrinal statements  Disguised servants of Satan (2 Cor. 11:13-15  Some have a sense of detecting it as a spiritual ability.  1 Cor. 12:10  This gift is greater in some than others.  Personally we can sometimes feel it.  Be careful we make mistakes. RECOGNIZING DEMONIC INFLUENCE

 First, must understand that Christ’s work on the cross is the ultimate basis for authority over demons.  Any power we have is because Jesus has given it to us through His victory.  At the cross God, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Col. 2:15)  Second, our membership as children in God’s family is the firm spiritual position from which we engage in spiritual warfare.  We need not fear demons. Remember 1 John 4:4, You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  Have faith, the opposite of fear. CHRISTIAN’S POWER OVER DEMONS

 Why should we rebuke an evil spirit than just pray for God to do so?  God has given us an active role in advancement of the kingdom of God.  Just like we are told to share the gospel not only pray for someone to receive it.  Actual practice:  Sometimes a brief command in the name of Jesus will be enough.  Other times may be helpful to quote Scripture in the process of commanding an evil spirit to leave.  We must understand we are in a battle, but we have been given the tools to succeed.  We also need to be careful to not become overly interested in the things of evil. CHRISTIAN’S POWER OVER DEMONS

 When the gospel is preached the demons pour out in attack.  But 1 John 3:8 reminds us, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”  Stand strong on the Gospel! BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL OVER SATAN