40 DEMON ACTIVITY
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12
INTRODUCTION
Several years ago, an author produced a best-selling book dealing with the works of Satan and his demons. The book was heavily documented with evidence of demon activity in our contemporary society. One of the surprising facts brought out by the author was that demons are worshiped. Beyond that it is evident that demons are at work today not only in primitive and superstitious societies, but also among the upper echelons of highly civilized Western Europe and North America. From astrology to witches and their sciences, the author concluded Satan Is Alive and Well on Planet Earth.
Everything God created performs a function. Even after sin has infected the creation of God, everything still has a purpose, so that God works his will indirectly. Not recognizing this principle, many Christians picture demons with their red suits, horns, and pitchforks sitting around a party table celebrating the progress of sin in the world. C. S. Lewis may have been more accurate in his fictional account of The Screwtape Letters as he described the efforts of one demon in hindering a person in his walk with God.
Demons are certainly busy today. Despite the clear instructions of the Word of God, some Christians are engaged in occult practices. Oftentimes a person may not be fully aware of what he is doing. Unsaved individuals involved in such activities leave themselves open to the dangerous possibility of demon possession. Those who have studied the biblical doctrine of demons and are aware of contemporary trends in society share this conclusion.
Understanding the works of demons is important to every Christian who desires to live for God. The Christian who knows and is able to recognize demonic activity around him will be better able to engage in spiritual battle for God. THE WORK OF DEMONS
Several activities are identified in the Bible in which demons may be involved. Sometimes they are responsible for physical disease or mental suffering. While not all mental disorders are demonic in origin, some apparently are. Demons are also credited with tempting people to engage in immoral practices. They are the originators and propagators of the false doctrines taught by heretical religious grouPsa The Bible also teaches that some people were possessed by demons. Demons are committed to evil, yet God will use them to accomplish his plan during the end of the world.
Physical disease. There are many reasons why a person may experience physical illness. Sometimes it is the result of God’s judgment for sin (1 Corinthians 11:30). On other occasions the same sickness may come as a result of breaking some health law and exposing oneself to germs or viruses. It may come from God as his means of ending a person’s life in a natural way. On other occasions, demons may be the reason a person experiences physical suffering.
Several specific physical afflictions are attributed to demons in the Bible. Jesus cast a demon out of a dumb man who immediately began to speak (Matthew 9:32-33). On another occasion, a blind man began to see when the demon out of him (Matthew 12:22). Job was afflicted physically boils covering his body, the result of satanic activity (Job 2:1-10). Demons may have been the messengers that carried out Satan’s commands to smite job. Of course, afflictions are not always symptoms of demon activity, but demons are capable of and do occasionally cause physical pain and suffering.
Mental disease. Various forms of mental diseases can also i„ related to demons. In at least two cases of demon possession treated by Jesus during his ministry, the demons had so affected the minds of the victims to cause abnormal behavior One man lived among tombs and created a disturbance day and night (Mark 5:4-5). A young boy possessed with a demon involuntarily went into an apparent convulsion when he en countered the presence of Jesus (Luke 9:37-42). In both in stances, the victims engaged in some form of self-destruction and physical mutilation of the body. After the demon was cast out of the person, the apparent mental problem disappeared.
Moral impurity. For the Christian, our final moral code of ethics is the Bible. Those who oppose God would also oppose, the morality of the Bible. Demons are instrumental in leading both the saved and unsaved into moral compromise. One of the often-used names for demons in the Bible is "unclean spirit," an appropriate name, as they tarnish everything they influence. When Israel left Egypt, God gave them the land of Canaan. One of the reasons God wanted them in a separate land was that the heathen nations had given themselves over to unclean spirits and had become: corrupted (Leviticus 18:1-30; Deuteronomy 18:1-22).
False doctrine. Paul discussed one main work of demons when he warned young Timothy of conditions` "in the latter times." "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:1). Demons are the source of many organized doctrines of the false cults. Even in the early church, there were false apostles (Revelation 2:2) and false doctrines (Revelation 2:14) that had to be opposed. The Bible teaches the coming of an antichrist during the Great Tribulation but, by the end of the first century, John wrote, "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time" (1 John 2:18). The word "anti" had a twofold designation; first it meant "against" Christ, but the secondary meaning was the most evident, it meant "in substitution for," or "instead of," Christ. The existence of "antichrist" leaders throughout the church age is the result of demon activity. Their main activity is to foster a "substitute religion" in place of Christ and his doctrine.
Spiritual battle. One of the chief difficulties of living for God today is not the social pressures or inconvenience of life; it is the spiritual battle in which we are engaged. Our enemies are demons. Paul observed, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). The phrase "principalities ... powers ... rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness" refers to demons and their activities. Part of the work of demons, particularly as it relates to the Christian life, is doing battle with Christians on the spiritual level. This condition is the reason behind the apostolic imperative, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). Without spiritual help from God, the Christian is unable to win the battle against demons.
Demon possession. "Demon possession" is not a biblical expression, yet the idea of demon control is more than simply a carry-over of ancient superstitions. Demon possession, as we understand it, occurs when God permits demons to possess a person and control his mind or body. On many occasions demon possession resulted in mental derangement. In most cases recorded in Scripture, the person possessed was apparently responsible for being possessed.
There is much confusion about demon possession. The following will give some guidance. Demon possession is the culmination of a volitional rejection of God and a volitional acceptance of Satan and his demons. A person does not become possessed by demons on a casual basis.
Demon possession is the opposite of the filling of the Spirit just as some Christians are more effective when filled with the Holy Spirit, so some unbelievers have greater demonic power as a result of their demonic possession. The same word is used of the Holy Spirit controlling in Ephesians 5:18 as Satan’s control of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:3). Demon possession and demon activity is more commonly recognized among heathen societies. However, there is increasing evidence of demonic activity in our Western society because of its waning Christian influence. As our nation turns from God and more people worship Satan and demons, there will be more evidence of demon activity in our society.
Many have conjectured about whether or not demons can "possess" or "influence" believers. Since the Bible is silent concerning Christians being "possessed," it has much to say concerning demons’ possible influence on us and of our need to be aware of their desire to adversely affect our wall with God. The will of God. It must be frustrating to demons after they had accomplished some evil scheme to later find out that they were carrying out the will of God. Satan did not realize what God wanted to do in job’s life when he caused him physical suffering. Also, God used "an evil spirit" to accomplish his will in the life of Saul, Israel’s first king (1 Samuel 16:14). On another occasion, God used "a lying spirit" to deceive the false prophets of an evil king (1 Kings 22:22-23). At the end of the Great Tribulation, demons will be used by God to gather the nations of the world to battlefields of Armageddon (Revelation 9:16). God is able to use even demons to accomplish his will. THE WORSHIP OF DEMONS When Israel finally prepared to enter the Promised Land, God definitely instructed Israel regarding their relationship to the occult religions of Canaan. "When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations" (Deuteronomy 18:9). Despite the obvious implication that Christians should not be engaged in occult practices, some church youth gatherings have played around with such things as astrology, Ouija boards, and other games that have some relationship to "the spirits." One who recognizes biblical authority will seek to rid his life of any occult influences.
Divination. Divination was one of the specific practices named by Moses in his prohibition on occult worship (Deuteronomy 18:10). Often this practice included the killing of a chicken or some small animal, and on occasions to observe its liver to determine the state of affairs and direction of the immediate future (Ezekiel 21:21). Essentially divination is an illegitimate means of determining the will of God. This would apply to other variations of divination including palmistry, and tealeaf reading. The Christian desiring to know the will of God should consult the Scriptures, not the stars (Psalms 119:9).
Necromancy. A second occult practice of today was also banned by God. "Necromancy" is an effort to communicate with and interrogate the dead. As the Bible teaches the dead are unable to communicate with the living (Luke 15:27-31), it only stands to reason that those who claim to have this ability are lying or are themselves deceived. In either case, the necromancer was considered an abomination unto the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:11-12).
Magic. The use of magic formulas and incantations was also forbidden. Today it is popular to distinguish between white and black magic, but leading biblical scholars agree that both forms of magic find their source and strength in demon power. Those who practice magic are under certain limits as to what they can accomplish (Daniel 4:7). Even when it appears that magicians are able to duplicate the power of God, they still fall short of what God is able to accomplish (Exodus 7:11-12).
Sorcery. Closely related to magic is sorcery. Magic usually relates to accomplishing specific acts-such as rods becoming serpents-whereas sorcery relates more closely with call, upon demons to create situations around people. Thus the enchanter or sorcerer is one who uses incantations or omens. Their practices may have also included the use of mood-changing or psychedelic drugs. This has led some Bible scholars to denounce the use of such drugs because they are used as part of occult worship.
Witchcraft. Around the world today, there exists a growing number of those who call themselves witches. Witchcraft is directly opposed to God (Deuteronomy 18:10). When Saul became the first king of Israel, one of his first acts was to ban the practice of witchcraft from the kingdom (1 Samuel 28:9). The witch is one who makes use of magic and sorcery to accomplish the will of demons.
Astrology. Perhaps the most popular form of occult practiced today is astrology. Contemporary astrology is really a combination of astrological cults practiced in Babylon, Egypt, and Canaan. In Canaan, astrology centered around the bull. The worship of the golden calf, child sacrifices to Molech, and Baal worship were all part of Canaanite astrology. The Old Testament is very clear to prohibit God’s people from involvement there. In Egypt, God challenged the astrological gods of Egypt in sending ten plagues which directly attacked the authority of those gods. The highest of the Egyptian gods was Ra, the sun god. Three days of darkness was a direct indictment against the religion of Egypt.
CONCLUSION
There are many other forms of demon worship today, but the Christian has no authority to engage in any of them. Those who are practicing in the occult need to follow the Ephesian example of denouncing their involvement with demons. Apparently, some Ephesian believers were "dabbling" in the occult until an attempted exorcism backfired in their town. Then "many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds (Acts 19:18). The result of such action led to a revival in which many occult books were destroyed and the church experienced revival. Perhaps a similar abandonment of the occult will produce similar results today. In any case, every Christian needs to be properly equipped to do battle with demons.
DAILY READINGS Monday: Acts 19:11-22 Tuesday: Ephesians 6:10-20 Wednesday: Deuteronomy 18:9-22 Thursday: Leviticus 20:1-27 Friday: 1 Samuel 28:7-25 Saturday: Revelation 13:1-18 Sunday: Revelation 17:1-18