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;
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. 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,
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,
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!"
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.
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!
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."
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?
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
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
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.'