By: B. B. Caldwell

DEMONS: WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY DO

I. What are demon spirits?

1. Evil spirits. See Judg. 9:23; I Sam. 16:14-15; 18:10; 19:9; Lk. 7:21; 8:2; Acts 19:13-16. Scripture says nothing of "good" demons.

2. Part of wicked hosts of Satan. Satan is a king with kingdom. Demons are part of Satan's organized kingdom. See Matt. 4:8; 12:26; Eph. 2:2; 2 Cor. 4:4; John 14:30; Matt. 25:41.

3. Disembodied spirits of the pre-Adamic race. See Gen. 1:2; 1:28; 9:1, Isa. 14:17.

4. Intelligent beings. See Jas. 2:19; Matt. 8:29.

II. What is nature of demon spirits?

1. Spirit-Beings.

2. Unclean spirits. 3. Now serve Satan. 4. They never die.

5. In rebellion against God.

6. They are confirmed in wickedness.

7. They have amazing strength - Mark 5:3-4.

8. They are lying spirits - I Kings 22:22.

9. They continually seek embodiment. When once they have gained control over a human body they can come and go at will. Matt. 12:43-45; 2 Tim. 2:24-26.

III. What is the work of demon spirits?

1. Blind people - 2 Cor. 4:3-4.

2. Bind people - Lk. 13:16.

3. Indwell people - Matt. 4:24; 8:28; 12:45.

4. Produce moral impurity - Matt. 10:1.

5. Produce false doctrines. See I Tim. 4:1; 2 Pe 2:1,

2 Cor. 11:4.

6. Lead people to worship Devil. See Deut. 32:17; Psa. 106:37; I Cor. 10:20; Rev. 13:3-4; 14:9-11.

IV. How to be delivered from demon spirits?

Demons must be cast out and Christ must be enthroned for a person to be saved and to have permanent relief from demon spirits.

1. Demon spirits are cast out by the Word. See Psa. 107:20 with

Matt. 8:16; Mark 16:15-17; Acts 8:4-8; 19:13-20.

2. Demon spirits are cast out by Christ. Matt. 8:16;

Mark 9:25.

3. The Christian has a responsibility to cooperate with the third person of the Trinity.

See I John 4:4; John 14:16-17; 14:23; 2 Tim. 1:14.

EIGHT DEMONS OF HELL

Matt. 12:45.

I. Seducing spirits.

Word "seduce" means to entice; to corrupt; to win over; to lead astray. See I Tim. 4:1-3.

II. Unclean spirits.

Word "unclean" means to make impure; to make common; to make offensive; to make naked. See Luke 8:27.

III. Lying spirits.

Word "lie" means to deceive; to be deceitful; to speak falsely or utter untruth; to make false statements with intent to deceive. I Kings 22:22; John 8:44 1 John 2:22; Rev. 21:8; "And all liars".

IV. Deaf spirits.

Work of "Deaf" spirits is:

1. To stop up ear of soul, 2. To stop up understanding.

3. To stop up reasoning of men.

4. To stop up mind of men. See Matt. 13:15; Eph. 4:18.

V. Dumb spirits.

1. Rebellion brings a dumb spirit. Isa 1:2-3.

2. Unbelief brings a dumb spirit. Luke 1:20; Mark 9:25 with Luke 1:62-67.

VI. Foul spirits.

Word "foul" means dirty; filthy; noisome; foul smell. See Mark 9:25; Rev. 18:2.

VII. Familiar spirits.

This means a divining demon; one who communicates with spirit- world; one well-acquainted; thoroughly conversant; speak through medium. This is condemned in word. See Lev. 20:27; I Sam. 28:7; Deut. 18:10-12.

VIII. Evil spirits.

Word "evil" means to cause harm; to cause injury; to cause wickedness; to cause trouble. See I Sam. 16:15; Luke 8:2.

HOW PEOPLE GET DEMON POSSESSED

Matt. 8:28.

I. Demons Do Exist.

1. Prophets recognized demons. See Lev. 17:7; Deut. 32:17; 2 Chron. 11:15; Word "devils" means demons. Psa. 106:37. 2. Christ recognized demons. See Matt. 4:24; 8:16;10:1;

Luke 9:1.

3. Apostles recognized demons. See Luke 10:17; Eph. 6:11-12.

II. Demons Do Possess People.

1. Every individual born into this world is under the power and dominion of Satan and demons. See Eph. 2:1-2; Col. 1:12-14.

2. Every man from his birth is accompanied by a special demon. See Eph. 2:3; Study three words here. "all"; "lusts"; "nature".

3. Every unsaved person is exposed to demon invasion. See Matt. 4:24; 8:28; 2 Tim. 2:26.

4. Demons drive their victims over the brink of destruction. The human will is overwhelmed by an irresistible power, as in the case of an alcoholic, libertine, or suicide. They must be delivered or be destroyed. Luke 8:26-39.

III. How do people get demon possessed?

In Biblical Demonology, by Merrill E. Unger, is an excellent statement on how people get demon possessed. On page 27 he says: "Scripture sacredly guards the dignity of human choice. No one choosing light can be invaded by the forces of darkness. It is only as the enlightenment will deliberately chooses darkness, or yields to sin, that it exposes itself to demonic power. It was certainly Saul's repeated deliberate disobedience to the divine will (1 Sam. 13:13; 15:22-23) that rendered his weakened will susceptible to demonic influence (1 Sam. 16:14). It was when Israel, enlightened by the knowledge of the true God, rejected that light, and served idols, that they sacrificed their sons and daughters unto demons (Ps. 106:37). Rejection of truth for a lie lays one open to wondering spirits and doctrines of demons(1 Tim. 4:1)." It is willingly yielding of themselves slaves to these evil agencies that they take complete possession of them. See 2 The. 2:9-12; 2 Tim. 4:3-4.

IV. How Can They Get Delivered? 1. You must hear the truth. 2. You must acknowledge truth. 3. You must repent of your sins.

4. You must receive Christ as Saviour and Lord. See 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Acts 2:36; Col. 2:6-7; 2 Cor. 10:4.

EQUIPMENT FOR DEMON WARFARE

I. You need to know who demons are.

Demons are:

1. Evil spirits.

2. Disembodied spirits.

3. Part of Satan's wicked hosts.

4. Lost and hopeless spirits seeking embodiment.

They have a keen desire to re-embody themselves on earth where they once lived. See Matt. 12:43-45.

II. You need to know what demons know. They are intelligent.

They have superhuman knowledge. 1. They know us. Acts 19:15.

2. They know Jesus. Acts 19:15; Luke 4:34.

3. They know future. Matt. 8:29.

4. They know their doom. Matt. 8:29; Isa. 14:15-17; Matt. 25:41.

III. You need to know where demon spirits dwell.

1. They dwell in human beings. Matt. 8:28; 12:45. 2. They dwell in false prophets. Matt. 7:15; 1 John 4:1; 2 Pe. 2:1; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Rev. 19:20.

3. They dwell in apostate institutions. Rev. 18:2;

"Babylon" here is apostate institutions. See Rev. 14:8; 18:4, 8; 19:1-6. Cor. 10:20; Rev. 13:3-4.

IV. You need to know what demon spirits do.

1. They disseminate false doctrines. See | Tim. 4:1; 2 Pe. 2:1; II Cor 2:17; 4:2; 11:4, 13-15.

2. They dethrone reason and take its place. See Luke 4:33-34; Mark 5:1-5.

3. They lead the people into false worship. See 1 Cor.10:20; Rev. 13:3-4.

V. You need to know how demon spirits operate.

1. They work through suggestion. Matt. 4:3,6,9.

2. They work through signs. 2 The. 2:9-10; Rev. 16:13-14; Matt. 24:24.

3. The work through pressure. Lk. 13:16; Judges 16:16.

4. They work through deception. Matt. 24:11; 2 Thes. 2:9-10; Rev. 12:9; 13:14; 19:20.

VI. You need to know how to recognize demons.

1. They produce deception.

2. They produce bondage.

3. They produce fierceness.

4. They produce a terrible strain on the heart and on the nervous system. See Matt. 8:28; Luke 21:25-26.

VII. You need to know what are our weapons of warfare. In 2 Cor. 10:4 God says our weapons "are not carnal". In Eph. 6:10-18 the different parts of our weapons are enumerated for us:

1. Girdle of truth. 14.

2. Breastplate of righteousness. 14.

3. Feet shod with preparation of the gospel of peace. 15. 4. Shield of faith. 16.

5. Helmet of salvation. 17.

6. Sword of the Spirit. 17.

7. Praying in the Spirit. 18. See Jude 1:20; Rom 8:26-27.

SEVEN FORMS OF DEMONOLOGY MENTIONED AND CONDEMNED IN THE WORD OF GOD

Divination: Gen. 44:5; Hos. 4:12.

II. Necromancy: I Sam. 28:8; 2 Chron. 33:6.

III. Prognostication: Ezek. 21:21.

IV. Magic: Gen. 41:8; Dan. 4:7.

V. Sorcery: Isa. 47:9-13; Acts 19:19; Rev: 22:15.

VI. Witchcrafts: 1 Sam. 15:23; I Chron. 10:13; Gal. 5:20.

VII. Ventriloquism: Isa. 8:19; Deut. 18:9-14. God has forbidden all these things. Ventriloquism is to make an idol talk. See Rev. 13:15. Ventriloquist is one who (apparently) speaks from the belly. It is the art or practice of speaking or of uttering sounds in such a manner that the voice appears to come, not from the speaker, but from some other source. It will greatly be used by Satan as this age closes out to deceive the people and make his idols talk.