A Christian can become a devil—master at once by receiving a clear understanding of the work of demons, and of their legal defeat at Calvary. Once you understand how totally powerless demons are against believers, you will never be afraid of demons or the devil again. Every believer can have authority over the devil and demons. Two great powers are engaged in a life - and - death struggle over human beings. Peter then described them, he said in 1 Peter 5 vs 8,“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” But John said, 1 John 3 vs 8b, “…. for this purpose the son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” Jesus calls us to join Him in His work of destroying the works of the devil. Before we describe demons, it will be helpful if we understand a little about Satan.
A. Who is Satan?
Satan is the god of this world. 2 Corinthians 4 vs 4,“...whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” He was the prince of nations. Mathew 4 vs 8-9, Vs 8, “Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.” Vs9, ‘And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." He is the author of all our miseries and sorrows, of our diseases and pains, of death itself. He is the king and ruler of all demon spirits. He rules the dark hosts of hell. His chief desire and design is to destroy human life and therefore try and bring sorrow to the heart of God.
B. Names given to satan in the Bible.
1. “The wicked one.”
Mathew 13 vs 19, "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.” In Mathew 13 vs 39, he is called” “the enemy” and “the devil.” Mathew 13 vs 39, The wicked one is the devil who snatches the seed of God’s word sown in men’s hearts.
2. The accuser
In Revelation 12 vs 10, he is called ‘the accuser of believers.” Revelation 12 vs 10,“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”
3. The adversary.
In 1 Peter 5 vs 8, he is called “the adversary” and is compared to “a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Vs 8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
4. The dragon.
In Revelation 20 vs 2 , he is described as “the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil and satan.” (He is not young... he has been around for some while).
5. The father of lies.
In John 8 vs 44, he is called by Jesus “a murderer, a liar, and the father of lies.” John 8 vs 44,"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
6. The tempter.
In Mathew 4 vs 3, he is called “the tempter.” Vs 3, Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."
7. The prince of the devils.
In Mathew 12 vs 24, he is called “the prince of the devils.”
8 The prince of the power of the air.
In Ephesians 2 vs 2, “the prince of the power of the air.”
9. The prince of this world.
In John 14 vs 30, “the prince of this world.”
10. The corrupter of minds.
In 2 Corinthians 11 vs 3, “the corrupter of minds.”
C. Who are demon spirits?
Demon spirits are personalities, just like human spirits are personalities.Demons are spirits without bodies. Our spirits are from God. Demon spirits serve satan and are sent from him.
1. Demon spirits belong to the devil.
Demons belong to satan, who is the ruler of the demons. Jesus speaks of them in Mathew 25 vs 41 as “… the devil and his angels.” The Greek word for devil is diabolos, meaning “accuser” or “slanderer.”
2. Demon spirits are fallen angels.
Jude 1 vs 6,“ And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day…” When they were created, they were perfect and were given the power of choice. Demons are angels who chose to disobey God and do the will of satan.
3. Demons are spirits without bodies with which to express themselves in this world.
Since they have no bodies of their own, they must wander through the land, seeking a body into which they can enter and find expression to carry out their mission of evil. Mathew 12 vs 43,"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.” No spirit is legally allowed in this earth without a body (that’s why Jesus had to have a body). Since demon spirits are actual personalities, they manifest their own personalities in the person whom they enter (a liar, murderer, prostitute, anger, thief, etc…).
D. What is Satan like?
a. Satan is your adversary.
Demons are your enemies. They resent your legal rights over them and are jealous of your heritage.
b. Satan is evil.
His works have always been evil. John 10vs 10, “… to steal, kill and destroy…”
c. He, the devil, opposes God and His family.
Satan always leads an open rebellion against God and His family. But Jesus Christ (I John 3 vs 8), “was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
E. What are demons like?
1. Demons talk.
They talk through a person’s mental and speech faculties in the same way that your spirit (the real you) talks through your own tongue and vocal cords. Mark 3 vs 10 - 11, “For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him. “And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God." Luke 4 vs 40 - 41, “When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.
Mark 1 vs 22 - 25, Vs 22, ‘And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.’ Vs 23, ‘Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out…’ Vs 24, “...saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" Vs 25, But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"
2. Demons know their future.
Jesus met two demon possessed men coming from among the tombs. When He was about to cast them out, they cried out… Mathew 8 vs 29, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?" Of what time were they speaking? Demons know that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. Revelation 20 vs 10, “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
3. Demons resist surrender.
Luke 8 and Mark 5. The legion of demons which possessed the maniac were forced out of their human possession, and the next best place to settle would be the herd of swine. Demons resent surrendering their place of possession.
4. Demons may call for reinforcements.
Mathew 12 vs 43 - 45, Vs 43, "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.” Vs 44, "Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.” Vs 45, "Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation."
It is possible for demons, which have been cast out, to call other demons for re-enforcement and to re-enter the person out of whom they have been cast out. This happens when the person delivered fails to fully consecrate his life to Christ. Therefore demons call other spirits, more wicked than themselves and they enter. “… and the last state of that person becomes worse than the first.” Jesus said to the crippled man who had been healed… John 5 vs 14, “Sin no more, lest a worse things comes to you.”
5. Demons recognize and obey those who have power over them.
When Jesus was met by those who were demon possessed, the demons would often cry out, “we know who you are. You are the son of God.” Acts 19 vs 13 - 16,Vs 13, ‘Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." Vs 14, “Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.” Vs 15, “And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" Vs 16, “Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”
{Don’t miss Part 2 as we discuss symptoms of demonic bondage and how to cast out demons}.
A. Who is Satan?
Satan is the god of this world. 2 Corinthians 4 vs 4,“...whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” He was the prince of nations. Mathew 4 vs 8-9, Vs 8, “Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.” Vs9, ‘And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." He is the author of all our miseries and sorrows, of our diseases and pains, of death itself. He is the king and ruler of all demon spirits. He rules the dark hosts of hell. His chief desire and design is to destroy human life and therefore try and bring sorrow to the heart of God.
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| “OPEN HEAVENS.” Casting Out Demons – Part One. By Bishop Colin Nyathi |
1. “The wicked one.”
Mathew 13 vs 19, "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.” In Mathew 13 vs 39, he is called” “the enemy” and “the devil.” Mathew 13 vs 39, The wicked one is the devil who snatches the seed of God’s word sown in men’s hearts.
2. The accuser
In Revelation 12 vs 10, he is called ‘the accuser of believers.” Revelation 12 vs 10,“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”
3. The adversary.
In 1 Peter 5 vs 8, he is called “the adversary” and is compared to “a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Vs 8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
4. The dragon.
In Revelation 20 vs 2 , he is described as “the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil and satan.” (He is not young... he has been around for some while).
5. The father of lies.
In John 8 vs 44, he is called by Jesus “a murderer, a liar, and the father of lies.” John 8 vs 44,"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
6. The tempter.
In Mathew 4 vs 3, he is called “the tempter.” Vs 3, Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."
7. The prince of the devils.
In Mathew 12 vs 24, he is called “the prince of the devils.”
8 The prince of the power of the air.
In Ephesians 2 vs 2, “the prince of the power of the air.”
9. The prince of this world.
In John 14 vs 30, “the prince of this world.”
10. The corrupter of minds.
In 2 Corinthians 11 vs 3, “the corrupter of minds.”
C. Who are demon spirits?
Demon spirits are personalities, just like human spirits are personalities.Demons are spirits without bodies. Our spirits are from God. Demon spirits serve satan and are sent from him.
1. Demon spirits belong to the devil.
Demons belong to satan, who is the ruler of the demons. Jesus speaks of them in Mathew 25 vs 41 as “… the devil and his angels.” The Greek word for devil is diabolos, meaning “accuser” or “slanderer.”
2. Demon spirits are fallen angels.
Jude 1 vs 6,“ And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day…” When they were created, they were perfect and were given the power of choice. Demons are angels who chose to disobey God and do the will of satan.
3. Demons are spirits without bodies with which to express themselves in this world.
Since they have no bodies of their own, they must wander through the land, seeking a body into which they can enter and find expression to carry out their mission of evil. Mathew 12 vs 43,"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.” No spirit is legally allowed in this earth without a body (that’s why Jesus had to have a body). Since demon spirits are actual personalities, they manifest their own personalities in the person whom they enter (a liar, murderer, prostitute, anger, thief, etc…).
D. What is Satan like?
a. Satan is your adversary.
Demons are your enemies. They resent your legal rights over them and are jealous of your heritage.
b. Satan is evil.
His works have always been evil. John 10vs 10, “… to steal, kill and destroy…”
c. He, the devil, opposes God and His family.
Satan always leads an open rebellion against God and His family. But Jesus Christ (I John 3 vs 8), “was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
E. What are demons like?
1. Demons talk.
They talk through a person’s mental and speech faculties in the same way that your spirit (the real you) talks through your own tongue and vocal cords. Mark 3 vs 10 - 11, “For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him. “And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God." Luke 4 vs 40 - 41, “When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.
Mark 1 vs 22 - 25, Vs 22, ‘And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.’ Vs 23, ‘Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out…’ Vs 24, “...saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" Vs 25, But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"
2. Demons know their future.
Jesus met two demon possessed men coming from among the tombs. When He was about to cast them out, they cried out… Mathew 8 vs 29, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?" Of what time were they speaking? Demons know that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. Revelation 20 vs 10, “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
3. Demons resist surrender.
Luke 8 and Mark 5. The legion of demons which possessed the maniac were forced out of their human possession, and the next best place to settle would be the herd of swine. Demons resent surrendering their place of possession.
4. Demons may call for reinforcements.
Mathew 12 vs 43 - 45, Vs 43, "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.” Vs 44, "Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.” Vs 45, "Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation."
It is possible for demons, which have been cast out, to call other demons for re-enforcement and to re-enter the person out of whom they have been cast out. This happens when the person delivered fails to fully consecrate his life to Christ. Therefore demons call other spirits, more wicked than themselves and they enter. “… and the last state of that person becomes worse than the first.” Jesus said to the crippled man who had been healed… John 5 vs 14, “Sin no more, lest a worse things comes to you.”
5. Demons recognize and obey those who have power over them.
When Jesus was met by those who were demon possessed, the demons would often cry out, “we know who you are. You are the son of God.” Acts 19 vs 13 - 16,Vs 13, ‘Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." Vs 14, “Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.” Vs 15, “And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" Vs 16, “Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”
{Don’t miss Part 2 as we discuss symptoms of demonic bondage and how to cast out demons}.
