Twenty-First Century Demons

Satan Loves It When We Don’t Believe In Him

When did demons become extinct? What I mean is, we read about them in Scripture and accept that they were part and parcel of Jesus’ war on Satan to bring Planet Earth back under the Creator’s dominion, but we think and act as if they don’t exist in twenty-first century America. We have medical and psychological explanations for everything that ails us these days, and either a pill or a professional to help us cope with our “disorders”. But if Jesus faced them—sometimes even in church—then demonic forces are alive and well in people’s lives today, wreaking all kinds of havoc. And if Jesus took authority over them and drove them out with just a word—and if he passed that authority on to us—then perhaps we ought to learn to discern the presence of demons today and boldly use Jesus’ authority to boot them out of town just like he did. I do recall reading some place that Jesus said driving out demons was a sign that we believe.

The Journey: Mark 1:23-26

Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit began shouting, “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One sent from God!” Jesus cut him short. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.

When did demons become extinct? What I mean is, we read about them in Scripture and accept that they were part and parcel of Jesus’ war on Satan to bring Planet Earth back under the Creator’s dominion, but we think and act as if they don’t exist in twenty-first century America. We have medical and psychological explanations for everything that ails us these days, and either a pill or a professional to help us cope with our “disorders”. But I get the sense when I read the Gospels that some of today’s disorders are, to a greater or lesser degree, nothing more that demonic influences in disguise.

Now please, please, please, don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I am not looking to find a devil under every rock. Don’t go flushing your meds down the drain or calling your counselor an kook. Let’s stay balanced and Biblical as we explore the possibility of demonic activity in your world and mind. As C.S. Lewis warned in the preface to his book, The Screwtape Letters,

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.

Let’s not be guilty of either of those errors! Having said that, I agree with what a twentieth-century English theologian by the name of Ronald Knox said, “It is so stupid of modern civilization to have given up believing in the devil when he is the only explanation of it.” If you didn’t get that, here’s how Martin Luther said it,

Idiots, the lame, the blind, the dumb, are men in whom the devils have established themselves: and all the physicians who heal these infirmities, as though they proceed from natural causes, are ignorant blockheads.

Look, I’m not saying the devil is the cause of every headache you get, or every cussword that slips from your lips, or every nasty thought that ricochets around your brain. Nor am I trying to create fear in you there are demons under your bed and they’re going to get you tonight while you sleep. What I am saying is that if Jesus faced them—sometimes even in church—then demonic forces are alive and well in people’s lives today, wreaking all kinds of havoc. And if Jesus took authority over them and drove them out with just a word—and if he passed that authority on to us—then perhaps we ought to learn to discern the presence of demons today and boldly use Jesus’ authority to boot them out of town just like he did.

I do recall reading some place that Jesus said driving out demons was a sign that we believe.

There is obviously a great deal of competing information today on demons and demonic activity that feed the two extremes Lewis warned about: disbelief in their existence and unhealthy, excessive interest in them. To learn more—which every Christian should, since Jesus said the demons had to submit to us—let me suggest the following plan:

  1. Study the Scriptures—especially the Gospels—to gain a foundational understanding of the devil, his demons, how they operate, and how Jesus dealt with them and how Jesus didn’t deal with them. Never go beyond what the Bible says in forming your theology.
  2. I would encourage you to download and read the position paper entitled “Can Born-Again Christians Be Demon Possessed?” You can find the pdf file at http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/index.cfm
  3. Let me suggest this book to help fill in some of the details regarding the subject of demons: “Sense & Nonsense About Angels & Demons”.

Finally, I will say again what Jesus said more than once: we have authority over all the works of the Evil One. And that authority is first and foremost exercised through faith and prayer (see Mark 9:14-29. As Guy H. King said, “No one is a firmer believer in the power of prayer than the devil, not that he practices it, but he suffers from it.”

A Simple Prayer To Be More Like Jesus:

God, since you have given me authority through your Son and by the power of the Holy Spirit to defeat the work of the Enemy, then starting today, develop me into a holy warrior over all that is of the devil in my life and in the lives of those I love.

Defeating Demons

Reflect:
Mark 5:1-30

“When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him…When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!’ For Jesus had said to him, ‘Come out of this man, you impure spirit!’” ~Mark 5:1,6-8

It’s amazing to me that we acknowledge the existence of demons in Jesus’ day, and perhaps we are open to the possibility that they are “alive and well” in some remote places in the third world, but we pretty much act like they are extinct in the good old US of A in our day.

George Barna, a Christian researcher and pollster, once asked people to respond to this statement in a national survey: “Satan, is not a living being, but is a symbol of evil.” Among those who claimed to be born again, 32% agreed strongly, 11% agreed somewhat and 5% didn’t know. So of the total number responding, 48% either agreed that Satan is only symbolic or weren’t sure!

His findings would suggest that around fifty percent of believers reading this blog, in spite of what the Bible clearly teaches, think of the devil as a boogie-man from a spiritual fairy tale, not a real being bent on destroying you.

Here is the Biblical reality: Satan and his demonic legions are indeed, alive and well on Planet Earth. Satan is the enemy of God, he opposes every good work, and because he can’t do anything to God, he chooses to attack what is precious to God: You and me.

We’re in a war, friend, and it is high time we wake up, wise up, armor up, and “man up” to the devil and his demonic hordes. Rather than acting like demons don’t exist, how about we start taking a stand where we discern their influence, and begin to kick their sorry tails the heck out of Dodge—just like Jesus did wherever he encountered them.

You might say, “I’d rather not…I don’t think I want to personally take on the Prince of Darkness, thank you very much!” Listen, you were created to be actively involved in the ultimate conflict between good and evil, between the forces of God and Satan. You were made for this conflict, born again for the battle—that is who you are! And your spiritual identity not only demands that you take sides in this fight, it ensures you will be victorious. You have both the authority and the power—given by Jesus himself. In Mark 16:9, the very first sign Jesus said would follow those who believe: “In my name they will drive out demons…” So why not join the fight you were guaranteed to win!

So if you are interested, here is what can you do to engage in the defeat of demons:

Recognize that Jesus promised you as a true believer authority over the power of Satan and his demons.

Ask for an understanding heart as to what it means to operate in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:14-19)

Declare war against Satanic darkness wherever it exists and you discern it in your world and begin to take the offensive. (Luke 4:14-19)

Take authority—enter Satan’s place of stronghold and opposition to disarm him through the power of the Holy Spirit, with the weapon of prayer (Acts 6:4; Ephesians 6:18) by the authority of the Name and Word of Jesus (Luke 11:20-22, Acts 16:16-18, Ephesians 6:17) and plunder the devil’s possessions, delivering those who have been captured by him (trophies) and returning them (spoils of war) to the Lord. (Luke 11:22)

Now I know that sounds like a lot, and you may not be battle ready—yet. But you can be. So pray, learn and get ready. At some point, you can take God’s authority to execute God’s will in God’s power! And the great news is, your victory is guaranteed, because you are actually battling in the victory Christ has already won.

I like a fight I know I’ll win! Don’t you?

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight. ~C.S. Lewis

Reflect and Apply: Take some time to reflect on the following verses and pray over the accompanying steps for being battle-ready: One—ask for discernment to recognize the spiritual nature of this war. (Ephesians 6:12) Two—live an upright and committed life before God. (Romans 12:1-2) Three—ask for faith to oppose the enemy effectively and specifically. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) Four—proclaim the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 6:15; Acts 1:8) Five—challenge Satanic opposition through the power of the name of Jesus (Acts 16:16-18), the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17), pray in the Spirit (Acts 6:4; Ephesians 6:18), and fasting (Matthew 6:16). Six—pray for and desire the manifestation of the Holy Spirit through gifts of healings, tongues, miracles, signs and wonders. (I Corinthians 12:7-11; Acts 4:29-31) And seven—begin to take God’s authority and execute His will in His power! (Matthew 16:18-19)

Defeating Demons

Essential 100—Read:
Mark 5:1-30

“When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him…When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!’ For Jesus had said to him, ‘Come out of this man, you impure spirit!’” ~Mark 5:1,6-8

It’s amazing to me that we acknowledge the existence of demons in Jesus’ day, and perhaps we are open to the possibility that they are “alive and well” in some remote places in the third world, but we pretty much act like they are extinct in the good old US of A in our day.

George Barna, a Christian researcher and pollster, once asked people to respond to this statement in a national survey:  “Satan, is not a living being, but is a symbol of evil.” Among those who claimed to be born again, 32% agreed strongly, 11% agreed somewhat and 5% didn’t know. So of the total number responding, 48% either agreed that Satan is only symbolic or weren’t sure!

His findings would suggest that around fifty percent of believers reading this blog, in spite of what the Bible clearly teaches, think of the devil as a boogie-man from a spiritual fairy tale, not a real being bent on destroying you.

Here is the Biblical reality: Satan and his demonic legions are indeed, alive and well on Planet Earth.  Satan is the enemy of God, he opposes every good work, and because he can’t do anything to God, he chooses to attack what is precious to God: You and me.

We’re in a war, friend, and it is high time we wake up, wise up, armor up, and “man up” to the devil and his demonic hordes. Rather than acting like demons don’t exist, how about we start taking a stand where we discern their influence, and begin to kick their sorry tails the heck out of Dodge—just like Jesus did wherever he encountered them.

You might say, “I’d rather not…I don’t think I want to personally take on the Prince of Darkness, thank you very much!” Listen, you were created to be actively involved in the ultimate conflict between good and evil, between the forces of God and Satan. you were made for this conflict, born again for the battle. That is who you are!  And your spiritual identity not only demands that you take sides in this fight, it ensures you will be victorious. You have the both the authority and the power—given by Jesus himself. In Mark 16:9, the very first sign Jesus said would follow those who believe: “In my name they will drive out demons…”  So why not join the fight you were guaranteed to win!

So if you are interested, here is what can you do to engage in the defeat of demons:

Recognize that Jesus promised you as a true believer authority over the power of Satan and his demons.

Ask for an understanding heart as to what it means to operate in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:14-19)

Declare war against Satanic darkness wherever it exists and you discern it in your world and begin to take the offensive. (Luke 4:14-19)

Take authority—enter Satan’s place of stronghold and opposition to disarm him through the power of the Holy Spirit, with the weapon of prayer (Acts 6:4; Ephesians 6:18) by the authority of the Name and Word of Jesus (Luke 11:20-22, Acts 16:16-18, Ephesians 6:17) and plunder the devil’s possessions, delivering those who have been captured by him (trophies) and returning them (spoils of war) to the Lord. (Luke 11:22)

Now I know that sounds like a lot, and you may not be battle ready—yet.  But you can be.  So pray, learn and get ready.  At some point, you can take God’s authority to execute God’s will in God’s power! And the great news is, your victory is guaranteed, because you are actually battling in the victory Christ has already won.

I like a fight I know I’ll win!  Don’t you?

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight. ~C.S. Lewis

Reflect and Apply: Take some time to reflect on the following verses and pray over the accompanying steps for being battle-ready: One—ask for discernment to recognize the spiritual nature of this war. (Ephesians 6:12) Two—live an upright and committed life before God. (Romans 12:1-2) Three—ask for faith to oppose the enemy effectively and specifically. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) Four—proclaim the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 6:15; Acts 1:8) Five—challenge Satanic opposition through the power of the name of Jesus (Acts 16:16-18), the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17), pray in the Spirit (Acts 6:4; Ephesians 6:18), and fasting (Matthew 6:16). Six—pray for and desire the manifestation of the Holy Spirit through gifts of healings, tongues, miracles, signs and wonders. (I Corinthians 12:7-11; Acts 4:29-31) And seven—begin to take God’s authority and execute His will in His power! (Matthew 16:18-19)