DEMONS

1. DEMONS

2. Strongs defines it this way “a spirit, a being inferior to God, superior to men. Evil spirits or the messengers and ministers of the devil” Origin of demons 1. Some believe demons are fallen angels 2 Peter 2:4 For if God di d not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;Jude 1:6 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;

3. 4 reasons why the angel theory is possible 1. Both are described as spirits Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? 2. They could be good or bad 3. The devil had angels Revelation 12:9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Also Mat. 25:41)

4. 4. Angels would know who Jesus was. 2. Demons are the departed soul of a sinner. 1. Both the Greek and the Jews thought this. 2. The word “demon” during their time was always used in reference to the departed spirit of a wicked person. Demon Characteristics Matthew 8:16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,

5. Luke 24:39 "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.“ Luke 8:2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities -- Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, Mark 5:1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains,

6. 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." 8 For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!"

7. 9 Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many." 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. 11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them." 13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. See also Mat. 8:28-34, Luke 8:26-39.

8. 1. Jesus had power of the demons 2. The demons showed the emotion of fear James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and tremble!

9. Matthew 12:43 " When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 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. 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."

10. Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" 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. What was their purpose?

11. 1 Samuel 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him. 15 And Saul's servants said to him, "Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. 16 "Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well." 1. Demons don’t come from God 2. It only took a harp to make him feel better

12. The evil spirit which afflicted Saul was not a living demon sent by God, but rather a sinister attitude brought on by his rejection of God. 1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Hebrews 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage

13. John 5:36 "But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish -- the very works that I do -- bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 1. He showed that he could heal diseases and physical deformities (Mat. 9:20-22, John 4:46-54) 2. He showed that he could control nature by calming a storm (Mat. 8:23-37). 3. He showed that he power to multiply food (Mat. 14: 15-21) 4. He had power over gravity as he walked across the water (Mat. 14:22-23) 5. He showed he power over death as he raised some from the dead (Mat. 9:18-26, John 11)

14. Jesus also showed his power over the spiritual world by casting out demons. Mark 16:17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.

15. 1Cor 13: 8-10 Since miracles would cease at the completed revelation of God’s Word. It makes logical sense that demon possession would cease as well. Is demon possession here today? 1. God would not allow demon possession to continue and take away our only way to get rid of them. 2. No modern day cases of supposed demon possession compare to the characteristics of demons in the 1st century.

16. 3. God would not allow our free will to violated. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

17. Zechariah 13:1 "In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. 2 " It shall be in that day," says the LORD of hosts, "that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land. 3 "It shall come to pass that if anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother who begot him will say to him, 'You shall not live, because you have spoken lies in the name of the LORD.' And his father and mother who begot him shall thrust him through when he prophesies. 4 " And it shall be in that day that every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they will not wear a robe of coarse hair to deceive. 5 "But he will say, 'I am no prophet, I am a farmer; for a man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.'