Demons, Demons, Demons

Demons do exist, but often are not recognized as such. Before reading further consider this.

There is demon obsession. These are people who become obsessed with the very idea of demons. Their imagination runs wild and they become overly involved reading, thinking, and talking about demons.

There is rare oppression. Demons rarely work to oppress a person. When this happens they can be delivered by the Lord.

There is demon possession, the rarest form of demon activity. By the power of the blood of Jesus such a person can be delivered with the aid of a trained mature agent of the Lord.

Supernatural forces often masquerade as angels of light. Their disguise is so effective that people do not recognize them for what they are.

The Bible speaks of them deceiving even “the elect,” that is, Christians. A deceived Christian acts little differently from a devout Christian. A legitimate question is, in what ways is this done? How do they mislead people?

1.  They give “wisdom” that is contrary to the wisdom of God. “This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic” (James 3: 15).

2.  They work to control the lives of people. There are individuals who assert they don’t want to establish a close relationship with Christ because they want their freedom. Supernatural power is often at work in them. “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:1, 2).

3. They afflict some people with sickness. Not all sickness is of such origin. Too many dear Christians who suffer frustration because they have heard that Satan causes sickness. He does some. Some believers go through prolonged repentance hoping it will cure them. Ask God once to forgive your sins. Once this is done it is achieved. If the sickness continues it is not of supernatural origin and should be addressed medically.   

Some, NOT ALL, sickness is caused by demonic forces. Jesus related to such a woman: “So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound; think of it; for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” (Luke 13:16) Don’t become obsessed or oppressed thinking on the subject.

4. According to II Peter 2: 1, Satan dispenses error among people and seeks to reduce believer’s effectiveness. This text speaks of false prophets. If you were going to make a counterfeit $20.00 bill, what would you make it look like? If you were Satan and were going to create an effective false prophet, what would you make him or her like? The nearer the resemblance, the more effective the deception and the more destructive the work.