Demons Today

I was recently asked about demon possession and dealing with demons.  I think I have had three and maybe four encounters with those I think were possibly demon possessed but that is after 47 years of ministry dealing with a wide swath of people.

While I believe there is demonic activity today, I do not believe it is overt except in certain areas and in certain times.  I remember missionaries in my childhood coming from places full of animism and very little Christian influence talking about demon encounters.  I think that there are places and peoples that invite and have demon activity.  I believe cults that deny the deity Jesus are likely infested with demons.

 So about demons? There is little talk of this in the Old Testament and actually very little in the New Testament outside of the gospels.  A few encounters by apostles in Acts: tormented by, 5:16; many demons, 8:7; a slave girl, 16:16; and evil spirits sent out using hankies, 19:12.

Then I Timothy 4:1, Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

This is not talking about demonic possession but demonic influences which question God’s word, deny God’s judgment (like Hell) and promote self-grandeur and self-wisdom (Genesis 3:6).

And I Corinthians 10:20-21, Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.

This is referring to churches that take “communion” where Jesus is not honored, exalted as God in the flesh and being the way, truth and the life by which no one comes to God (John 14:6).

Conclusion: the vast majority of Scripture is silent concerning demons except during the days of Jesus.  Here are a few reports of demon activity around Jesus:

Mark 5:2, And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit… 8-9, For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”… 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

Jesus to His 12 – He gave them empowerment so to mark them as His and to affirm Him to them.

Matthew 10:8, Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. 

Luke 10:17, Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”  It seems that Jesus allowed more demonic activity around Him in order to show His control of the spirit world, along with His rule over nature, diseases and even death.

And this about our days: Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  Matthew 7:21.

Therefore, I don’t look for a demon in every situation but I’m not ignorant that there might be such.  There are situations extra dark and different which might be demonic.  It seems to be difficult to determine if one demon possessed, of a mental deficiency, those dabbling in the occult world like with Ouija boards who thus think and act darkly, or even some playing out a learned behavior for attention or power that comes across as “possession.”

So how might we know?  The name “Jesus!”  Not Christ or God, but Jesus!  I John 4:2-3, By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.

The test?  Will they declare Jesus is real?  Jesus is God?  To deal with a demon, talk Jesus, sing Jesus, quoting Scripture and/or praying out loud to Jesus giving Him glory and noting His rule.

Be careful about directly engaging a demon!  Acts 19:13-16, Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”  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.

My focus is on Jesus (Colossians 3:1-4), not the dark (Ephesians 5:6-11, II Corinthians 6:14).  Be holy and be wise!

Remember that God is greater than and able (I John 4:4, II Peter 1:3).