Demons... They Gotta Go

October 16, 2022 Speaker: Ted Detiveaux Series: Supernatural

Topic: Spiritual Warfare Scripture: Mark 5:1– :20

Series: Supernatural

 

Title: Demons… They Gotta Go

 

In this series so far we have talked about spiritual warfare and how there is a realm in the heavenlies in which there are constant cosmic battles between forces of good and forces of darkness.  We have already established the fact that the battle we fight is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers of darkness.

 

Last week we took a closer look at the contenders representing good in this cosmic battle they are called angels.  They are created by God, they are created to worship God, make war against evil, protect and even minister to humans.  All of which serve the purposes of God bringing Him glory.

 

This week we will talk about the other opponent in this cosmic battle between good and evil.  Mainly we will be talking about demons and their role that they play in God’s grand scheme of things as well as how we can defeat them. 

 

First off let’s establish that God has created all things including angels and demons. Otherwise, we would have to say that there is another creator besides our heavenly Father.  We know that is not the case. 

 

Colossians 1:15-17

 

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

 

In this passage we learn that Jesus, who is God manifest in the flesh, has created all things including things which we can see and things we cannot see.  Furthermore, all things were created for Him in other words all things were created to bring God glory. 

 

However, it is quite difficult for us with our finite minds to comprehend that God being a good God created demons, who are the antithesis of good.  How is it that they too serve the purposes of God.

 

God is not only the creator of all things He is in control over all things including evil beings.

 

Romans 9:21-23

 

21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 

(included in vessels of wrath prepared for destruction is satan and his demons)

Matthew 25:41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.)

 

23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—

 

What we must understand is that God is God and we are not.  He is Sovereign and in control we are not.

 

How would we realize how good God is and how great is His mercy if there had not been the wicked onto which He will demonstrate His wrath. But because He will execute His wrath upon the wicked, we see how great His love,grace and mercy is towards us whom He has called unto salvation.

 

With this understanding, we can begin to understand how demons serve the purposes of God.  They can only do what God allows them to do.  Though they roam around the earth bringing calamity to mankind, God is much more glorified when a human being created in the image and likeness of God is set free from the powers of darkness.  

 

Without that conflict between good and evil how would we know God’s delivering power?

 

So back to our topic today.

 

What are demons?

 

Demons- (daimonizomai) spiritual beings which are hostile to both God and men.  They are agents of satan who afflict humans either bodily or mentally.  In the NT demons have brought about various kinds of diseases (such as paralysis, blindness, deafness, loss of speech, epilepsy, melancholy, insanity, etc.)

 

Where did demons come from?

 

Before satan came to be who he is, he was an angel, one of God’s best and most beautiful angels, known as Lucifer, or often called the morning star.  But he became jealous of God and desired to be worshipped as God is worshipped.  So, God kicked him out of heaven along with 1/3 of the angels who followed Lucifer.  Lucifer was stripped of his name and became known as satan the deceiver and these fallen angels who followed lucifer are referred to as demons.

 

Isaiah 14:12-14

 

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,
   O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,
    you who laid the nations low!
13 You said in your heart,
    ‘I will ascend to heaven;
above the stars of God
    I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
    in the far reaches of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
    I will make myself like the Most High.’

 

God was not having it. 

Isaiah 42:8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

 

Consequently, God has pronounced judgment against them.  But until that time when God’s judgement against them is complete, they roam around the earth seeking whom they may devour.  Rev 20

 

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

 

The NT gives us several examples of demon activity on the earth.  Let’s focus on just one of those examples today.

 

Mark 5:1-20

 

1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.

 

Food for thought, immediately when Jesus stepped out of the boat and onto the shore, the demons recognizedHim.  If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, I guarantee you that the demons take notice wherever you find yourself.  It is not you but the God in you that causes them to tremble.

 

3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

 

Here we see the effect the demons had on this man. 

  • He was isolated as he lived among the tombs (lonely)
  • Hopeless as no one had the ability to help him
  • He had lost all self-control and his ability to do good
  • He was not in his right mind
  • He was a menace to society
  • He was in agony as he found himself night and day crying out
  • He was cutting himself (bringing bodily harm to himself)

 

As we mentioned before, satan comes to steal, kill and destroy.  Up to this point it seems that he has accomplishedhis plans regarding this man’s life.

 

How did this man get to this place?

Though it is not mentioned in this passage, other passages allude to giving the devil a foothold or a place to work from in your life.   This occurs by constantly yielding one’s self to his temptations.

Ephesians 4:26-27

Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

 

Can anyone including Christians be possessed by demons?

We are not going too deep into the difference between oppression and possession in this sermon.  Just know that as a child of God you belong to God you are His possession and so there is no way possible for you to be possessed by a demon as you are the possession of God.  God is your owner, He is your master. 

Though you may at times you may experience demonic oppression.

How does this possession accomplish the purposes of God? How does this bring glory to God?

 

Colossians 1:16all things were created through him and for him.

 

Notice back in Mark 5:4 “No one had the strength to subdue him.”

Man’s attempt to set this demon possessed man free was a failed attempt. But God.

When man cannot, God Does!

 

6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

 

The demons were obviously speaking through the man at this point, as they recognized that they were doomed.  The Son of God appeared on the scene and immediately the demons were worried about being tormented before their time.

 

If you want to know what terrifies the demons who oppress you, it is Jesus the Son of the Living God.  Demons are used to display the glory of God, because when God shows up on the scene He is infinitely greater than any devil that you may face.  His power is revealed in such a great way when He delivers those who had once been captive. Think about Pharaoh and Moses, only God can deliver like that.

 

            Philippians 2:9-11

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.

 

Take notice of who is in charge right here.  It is not the demons as they are asking Jesus for permission to go into the pigs as they cannot do anything unless He permits it.  Clearly, Jesus is in charge.  Because all things are made through Him and for Him.  We see the same thing in Job’s story.

 

This should make you very excited, because you will only be oppressed by demons to the level that God allowsthem to do so.  You must believe that we serve a good God, and that His intentions are to do good to you and not evil.  That if you are oppressed by demons, it is just a test. It is an opportunity for God to show His delivering power.  God’s power is greater.  At the end of Job’s life he received double than what the devil stole from him.

 

Romans 8:28

 

8 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

 

14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

 

We talked about the effects that the demons had on this man, but look at the effects that the Son of God had on him. 

 

Here we see the effect the demons had on this man. 

  • He was isolated as he lived among the tombs (lonely)
    • Jesus sends him back to his friends and family.No longer isolated but brought back into community
  • Hopeless as no one had the ability to help him
    • Jesus gives him hope. He set him free
  • He had lost all self-control and his ability to do good
    • He is found clothed, and sitting
  • He was not in his right mind
    • After an encounter with Jesus he is in his right mind
  • He was a menace to society
    • Jesus sends him back as an evangelist to his community
  • He was in agony as he found himself night and day crying out
    • He was no longer in pain, but completely made whole
  • He was cutting himself (bringing bodily harm to himself)
    • He was no longer inflicting pain on himself because Jesus had given him a purpose

 

Jesus undid everything that the demons did to him.  

  • Demons, originally angels created by God who were cast down to the earth along with Lucifer.
  • They are agents of satan who afflict humans either bodily or mentally
  • They have limited power and are subject to the name of Jesus
  • Though they are vessels of dishonor they are used to bring God glory through the revealing of His greater power.

 

One last thing, Jesus delegated his authority to his disciples to go and do the same as he did

 

Matthew 10:7-8

 

 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

 

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

 

Demons… They Gotta Go (horoscopes, Ouija boards, yoga, tarot cards) Don’t give the enemy a foothold

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