What The Bible Says About Demon Possession

(Text: Romans 8:9)
By: Barry L. Cameron


* Demon possession is a Biblical term. The idea of demonic control is a well-known fact among those familiar with spiritual warfare (Matthew 15:22; Ephesians 6:12).

* The New Testament has a great deal to say about demonic influences and demon possession (Matthew 12:22-23; 28-29; Acts 2:22; 10:38).

* The Apostles and evangelists of the early church gave further validity to the casting out of demons (Acts 5:16; 8:7; 16:16-18; 19:12).

What Is Demon Possession?
“It is a condition in which one or more evil spirits or demons inhabit the body of a human being and can take control of their victim at will.” (C. Fred Dickason, Angels, Elect & Evil, Moody)

What Is Demon Oppression?
Unger says, “Demonic oppression in its most severe forms does not manifest the same abject domination by evil spirits that so saliently characterizes actual possession. There is no blacking out of consciousness, no demonized state, no usurpation of the body as a mere tool of the inhabiting demon, no speaking with another voice and the projection of another personality through the victim.”

So, what’s the difference? In possession, the personality of the demon eclipses the personality of the possessed and the demon displays his personality through the means of the victim’s body (Mark 5:9, 12).

* In demonic oppression there is just a strong, evil influence that dominates a person who is weak spiritually.

The question is: Can A Genuine Believer Be Possessed By A Demon?

Two things to consider:
1. The Personal Indwelling Of The Holy Spirit.
- Every genuine believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 6:19-20)
- But, to say that the presence of the Holy Spirit excludes the presence of any evil influence within the believer is to forget that the sin nature, entrenchantly evil, remains in the believer (Romans 7:14-24) and the Spirit’s presence is required just to control it (Galatians 5:16-17).

- If anyone says that your sin nature has been judged and rendered inoperative (Romans 6:6), just remind them that Satan and his demons were judged by the same instrument—the cross of Christ. (John 12:31; Colossians 2:15)

- Victory over our sinful natures comes from the yielding of our lives to the Spirit and His control of our lives (Romans 8:4; Galatians 5:16-17, 25; Ephesians 5:18; Romans 6:11-14).

2. The Personal Identity With Jesus Christ.
- Some people argue that if we are “in Christ,” we can’t be indwelt by Satan.
- Children of God are secure (Romans 5:1-10; Ephesians 1:4, 13-14; 4:30).
- No demon or demonic force can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).

BUT . . . Can Demons Temporarily Inhabit And Control A Believer?

* If sin can control and dominate the believer’s practice so as to cause carnality, falling away and ultimate chastisement unto death (I Corinthians 3:1-4; 5:1-5; I Timothy 1:19-20), then, just because we have “position” in Christ doesn’t guarantee spiritual living.

* It’s a matter of who we yield our lives to. Who becomes our Master?

Conclusion:
Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 6:20. Believers can’t be demon possessed. Satan can’t have what belongs to Jesus. Believers can be demon oppressed. Satan can harass and hinder us from enjoying who we are and what we have in Jesus . . . if we allow him.

* The Devil doesn’t mind if you believe that there’s a God...that JESUS was who He said He was and did what God says He did...a literal, infallible book called the Bible...the person, power and presence of the Holy Spirit... or even if you believe in a place called Heaven.

- All that’s fine. Just as long as you don’t believe that he actually exists.

* The tragic reality is that our world has so trivialized the devil, demons and the existence of a real, literal Hell, that people think the devil is a clown in a red-rubber suit, demons are a figment of some moviemaker’s imagination, Halloween is a harmless holiday and the chances of a real lake of fire called Hell where people will spend eternity is nothing more than a punch-line to a joke.

* Well, you need to know that the devil is real. Demons are here. And Hell is a real place of eternal anguish and torment.

(1) THE DEVIL (I Peter 5:8)
(a) Three irrefutable witnesses:

1. The Old Testament.
* O.T. takes for granted the existence of God and the devil.
* Gen. 3. The whole plot to the book of Genesis revolves around the reality of the devil.
* Job is based on the battle between God and the devil (Job 1 & 2)
* Psalm 106:36-37; 109:6 says that demons are behind idolatry.

2. The New Testament.
* The devil’s existence is recognized by every N.T. writer.
* 19 of the 27 books mention the devil by name.
* 4 of the other 8 imply his existence by the mention of demons or evil angels.

3. Jesus Christ.
* In the gospels, there are 29 references to the devil.
* In 25 of those, it’s Jesus who speaks of the devil as a person.
* Matthew 4, Jesus deals with the devil face-to-face.

(b) Two Unmistakable Characteristics:

1. His Person
* There are three basic proofs that he’s a genuine person.

a. Traits of personality. (He possesses intellect, emotions and will.
1. Intellect. Scheming to deceive (II Cor. 11:3). Communicating with other people (Luke 4:1-12)
2. Emotions. Involved in his rebellion to oppose God (Isaiah 14:12-17) and in his desire to dethrone Jesus (Luke 4:1-12).
3. Will. Appeals to the will of Jesus in commands (Luke 4:3 & 9) and in his opposition against God (Revelation 20:7-9)

b. Personal Pronouns. The Bible repeatedly uses personal pronouns to refer to the devil. (Ezekiel 28:14-16; II Corinthians 11:14-15 and James 4:7)

c. Moral Responsibility. Neither impersonal animals nor forces are held morally accountable. Only persons who reflect the moral image of their Creator (Matt. 25:41; John 16:11)

* Not only do we learn who he is from HIS PERSON but we can also learn about him from:
2. His Nature (Certain key facts are very clear about the devil’s makeup)

a. Creature.
- He was created by God; wonderfully constituted and holy.
- Described in Ezekiel 28:15 and Colossians 1:16.
b. Spirit Being.
- In essence, he’s a spirit. Finite and limited.
- Isaiah 14:12-13; Matthew 25:41, Revelation 12:9
c. Cherubim Class
- Highest classification of angelic beings
- Ezekiel 28:14-16, “the anointed cherub,” “the covering cherub.”
- Cherubim always speak of God’s presence, glory, holiness and sovereignty.
d. First In Rank Among All Creatures
- Before he fell, he was the highest stationed guardian angel for God.
- Ezekiel 28:12-13. He appears to have been the top creature.
- He still retains some of the leadership qualities he had before.
- He is regarded as the “leader” of the fallen angels...and without equal (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:4 &7)
- Probably equivalent to an archangel among the demons or fallen angels.

DEADLY AND DANGEROUS
EVIL AND ENTICING
VICIOUS AND VICTIMIZING
INNOVATIVE AND INTIMIDATING
LOST AND LOSING

(2) DEMONS (Ephesians 6:12)
- The word “angel” is used 108 times in the O.T. and 165 times in the N.T.
- There are two different classifications for angels:
a. Good, Elect or Holy Angels (I Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:31)
b. Evil or Fallen Angels (Matthew 25:41; 12:26-28)
* These supernatural force “angelic armies” engage in constant warfare that far exceeds human comprehension. And what they do affects the course of nations and the world.

Five Things You Need To Know About Demons:
1. They are for real.
a. Satan’s fall. (Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isaiah 14:12-17)
- He was the highest of all angelic beings.
b. Satan’s following (Matthew 25:41)
- There were other angels who shared in his rebellion against God.

* The Mosaic Law warned the Israelites against “mediums” or “spirits” (Lev. 20:27; Deut. 32:17)
- The N.T. mentions DEMONS at least 80 times.
- All four gospels mention them. Most of the Epistles mention them.
- Jesus repeatedly dealt with people who were involved with demons
(Mark 1:21-34, 39; 3:15, 22; 5:1-20; 6:13; 16:9)
- I Timothy 4:1 and James 2:19

2. They are intelligent beings.
- Demons can speak, think, and act of their own free choice.
- Acts 19:13-16 is a good illustration of this.
- James 2:19 confirms that demons know the truth of the Bible and even tremble with fear because of it.

I Timothy 4:1ff. Perverse and false doctrines are the specialties of demons.

They are for real...they are intelligent beings...
3. They are spirit beings.
- They belong to the spiritual realm, without flesh and bone (Luke 24:39).
* Eph. 6:12 defines who the battle is against.
- Demons have no body of their own, but they can possess the body of someone else.

Demons can cause...
* Lunacy (Matthew 17:15), Dumbness (Matthew 9:32-33), Blindness (Matthew 12:22), and even Deformity (Luke 13:11).
- They often cause people to “mutilate” their own bodies:
a. Demon-possessed boy (Matthew 17:15)
b. Gadarene demoniac (Mark 5)

* Although they attack physically at times--the battle is spiritual.

4. Demons do not die.
- They do not reproduce nor are their numbers diminished by death.
- Gen. 6:4. They can possess physical bodies and reproduce.
- They will finally be punished by death.
- Hell was prepared especially for them (Matthew 25:41; Mark 1:24; Matthew 8:28-29; I John 4:4)

5. Demons have a hierarchy.
- They operate under a structured system.
- Vast numbers and large organization offset the fact that Satan is not omnipresent or omniscient.
* Jesus referred to this hierarchy as a “kingdom” (Matthew 12:25-26)

Ephesians 6:12. Demons are governing officials of an invisible kingdom of evil.

* Demons cannot possess a Christian. (Luke 11:14-28)

(3) HELL (Revelation 21:7-8)
- Five Facts About Hell:
1. Hell is going to be a place of evil associations (Revelation 21:8)
* The devil will be there (Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41)
* Ungodly people will be there (Revelation 21:8)
2. Hell is going to be a place of separation from the saints (Revelation 21:27)
* Luke 13:28 pictures that horrifying day.
3. Hell is going to be a place of eternal darkness (Matthew 8:12)
4. Hell is going to be a place of eternal dying (Revelation 20:14)
5. Hell is going to be a place of hopelessness and despair (Revelation 14:10-11)
6. Hell is going to be a place of eternal burning (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:14, 21:8)

Remember:
I John 4:4, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Colossians 2:15, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

“Satan trembles when he sees, the weakest saint upon his knees.”