Are Demons Real?

 Are Demons Real? - By Nathele Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com Do you believe Scripture? Any Christian who doesn’t believe God’s word from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21 can’t truly understand their faith. Every word is from God,and He doesn’t lie or deceive anybody. His truth is the only truth. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect,thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). There may be things that are hard to understand, but the fault is in us, not in Scripture. Most of us would like everything to be sunshine and roses, but Scripture preparesus to stand strong when things get tough. Satan is still the enemy. He is a created being and is pure evil, but many people don’t want to hear such things. We live in a time that many prophecies are being fulfilled.Because many Christians have turned from a strict understanding of Scripture, the Holy Spirit is ignored. Many pastors and denominations today won’t teach about the evil forces described in Scripture, but only teach about happy things that tickle ears. Bynot teaching all of Scripture, many Christians are ill-prepared for the supernatural and demonic manifestations happening. What do you believe about God? Is He a man-like being with a long white beard sitting in the heavenly realm? There is only one God, but He is three persons: God the Father,God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. God exists outside of time as we know it and is in the spiritual realm. God the Son became flesh and took on the body of a man. The Father and Holy Spirit remain spirits. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, “Godis a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). To worship God in the spirit means that outward things we do aren’t true worship. Going “to church” doesn’t mean you’re worshipping God in spirit. You may be fellowshipping there, but you may also just want people to see your car in the parking lot. Trueworship can happen anywhere and at any time. When you worship in truth, that means you worship according to the whole counsel of God’s word. You need to study Scripture in order to serve God on His terms. Taking the whole of God’s truth into consideration,we can see that there are evil spirits all around us. God has given a great effort to tell us there are demons and to save us from their power. Where did this evil begin? Clues in Genesis tell us that angels, created beings, were created before Genesis 1:1. Genesis gives us the true account of the creation of theearth and all that’s in it. In Job chapter 38, God is speaking to Job and asking him about the creation. “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding” (Job 38:4). No human was there to observe the creation, and anything contrary to Scripture is just fairytales. Since Scripture tells us God did it in 6 literal days, that’s truth. Believeit. God continued His conversation with Job; “Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof; when the morning stars sang together, and allthe sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:6-7). Here’s where it’s important to understand the original words. “Morning stars” and “sons of God” refer to angels. They were there when the earth was created, so they had tohave been created first. Scripture is about the age of man, so it doesn’t tell us about the creation of angels. Still, we know they shouted for joy at the creation. We know that when God saw His creation, He was very pleased with it. We also know that evilwas already at work. It didn’t take long for sin to enter. Sin is when God tells us how to behave, but we don’t listen to His directions. In this case, God told Adam not to eat the forbidden fruit, and Adam should have made that clear to Eve. She chose tolisten to a lying entity and eat the fruit. Scripture says the “serpent” deceived her. I encourage you to do your own study to see that this was Satan. Eve talked Adam into eating the fruit, and all of creation fell. Satan is pure evil and wants to separateall of humanity from God. After the fall, things continued to get worse. Cain murdered his brother Abel, and we can see the evil of anger. Paul wrote about anger and that a Christian shouldn’t allowanger to rule. “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27). Anger is a tool of Satan. Anger causes much evil, and it was what caused Cain to murder Abel. Cain was angry because Abel chose to offer a sacrifice that pleased God. Caingave God what was easy for him and not what honored God. Cain was angry, but God explained it to him. “If thou doest well, shall thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt ruleover him” (Genesis 4:7). Sin ruled over Cain and caused his anger to grow and to murder his brother. Satan tempted Eve to sin, and he tempted Cain to sin. You can be tempted, too. Satan is unable to be everywhere at once. Only God can do that. Satan needed minions to help corrupt humanity, and he came up with a plan. He talked some of his fellow angelsinto rebelling against God. When that happened, sin became worse. “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair, and they tookthem wives of all which they chose” (Genesis 6:1-2). Remember in Job, the “sons of God” shouted with joy at the creation? Sons of God are angels. The angels mated with humans, and a hybrid race was created called Nephilim. Thesecreatures were part human and part angel, and they weren’t at all nice creatures. Unfortunately, this truth isn’t preached from most pulpits. This leads to many false teachings. God saw that Noah and his family were genetically pure, so they were saved fromHis judgment. Enoch was also genetically pure and was raptured prior to the judgment. Scripture doesn’t tell us where demons originated, but it’s my belief that they are the spirits of the Nephilim. Their spirits aren’t welcome in Heaven and wander in searchof embodiment. Some people believe demons are the fallen angels. Study and come to your own conclusion. Either way, the fact remains demons are real and desire to possess people. How do I know demons are real and possess people? Scripture makes it clear. You may think demons only go after non-Christians. The Holy Spirit indwells Christians so we cannot be possessed, but we can be harassed by demons. An example is found inthe book of Acts. Paul was on a missionary journey and traveled to the city of Philippi in Macedonia. “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, and brought her masters much gain by soothsaying” (Acts 16:16). Paul and his companions were in prayer when this possessed woman began harassing them. She followed Paul and his friends around for days. “The same followed Paul and us, andcried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17). Those words were true, but from this demon-possessed woman, they were meant to mock God. Could someone like this woman be a part of your congregation? Or maybe a television preacher who sounds as if he is praising God when, in fact, he’s mocking Him by livinga lifestyle that is contrary to Scripture. Jesus warns us not to be deceived in these final days in which we live. Study Scripture so you’ll be able to discern truth from lies. Paul finally got tired of this woman following them. “And this did she many days. But Paul being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of JesusChrist to come out of her. And he came out the same hour” (Acts 16:18). The name of Jesus is powerful. There was no “holy water” used, nor any fancy words. All it took was the name of Jesus and faith. We are not at the mercy of demons but havethe mercy of God with us. This got Paul beaten and thrown in prison. What was meant for evil, God used for good. The jailer in that city came to salvation. How can a person become demon-possessed? You must open a door and invite the demon to enter. Do you play with Ouija Boards? They aren’t just toys but an invitation to a demon.Drug use is another invitation to evil. When you numb your mind, you are unable to fight a demonic attack, and possession is easy. It’s not just street drugs that can open doors. Be very careful if you take any prescriptions that affect your thinking. Another way is to live lifestyles that are opposed to God. Yoga and meditation are also ways to open yourself up demons. No Christian should practice any form of meditation,except for meditating upon Scripture. “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways” (Psalm 119:15). Keep your mind and heart turned toward Jesus. Jesus had many encounters with demons. Of course, those wicked spirits were no match for the King of kings and Lord of lords. Most people are aware of the demon-possessedman in the country of the Gadarenes. When Jesus arrived there, he was met by a man with an unclean spirit who made his home among tombs. He was a wild man who would break chains if anyone tried to bind him. “And always, night and day, he was in the mountains,and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones” (Mark 5:5). Why would anybody do anything to open themselves up to this? When this possessed man saw Jesus, the demon inside him recognized Jesus and ran and worshipped Him. Jesus wasn’t flattered by the worship of demons. “For he said unto him,Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion; for we are many” (Mark 5:8-9). The demon begged Jesus not to send him away, so Jesus allowed this legion of demons to enter a large herdof swine. These evil spirits wanted a body to dwell in, even if it was swine. Those poor pigs were so tormented that they ran down the mountain into the sea and drowned. Oddly enough, there were witnesses to this miracle, but they wanted Jesus to leave. Even though a man was healed from demon possession, they didn’t want Jesus around. Theman wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go to his home and friends and tell them what Jesus had done. Demons are real, but Jesus can set you free. There were many instances where Jesus dealt with demons. He never made a circus of it, but He spoke with authority. He is our authority. His name is powerful. Christians needto not be afraid to confront evil in the name of Jesus. Don’t let your faith waiver, but take authority in Jesus’ name. Are you prepared to confront a demon? The supernatural world is all around us. There is God, whose love and promises are so reassuring.But there’s also the evil supernatural. I hope I never have to confront this evil, but if I do, I know what I need for the spiritual battle: spiritual weapons. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness inhigh places” (Ephesians 6:12). Even if we feel as if our enemy is a human being, our fight isn’t against people, but we must fight the spiritual powers and principalities that are using the human. “Whereforetake unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13). Notice that it’s God’s armor that you need. It isn’t by your own power, but God’s power. “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I mayspeak boldly as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:14-20). It all sounds so easy, but as you study each piece of God’s armor, really think about what each piece is used for. Don’t wait until you’re deep in a spiritual battle, butpractice using the armor now. Become familiar with the gospel of peace before you face battle. How do you use the shield of faith? Figure that out before your faith is tested. Demons are real, and they will look for a hole in your armor to cause you to doubt your salvationand falter in battle. If you’re a pastor, you need to equip your flock for battle. The days are getting darker, and Christians need to be armed for battle. If your pastor doesn’t arm you for battle, arm yourself. Study Scripture and pray. Don’t wait. God willhelp you learn to fight the battle. Demons are real, so be prepared. The first step is placing your faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and being sealed with the Holy Spirit. God bless you all, Nathele Graham twotug@embarqmail.com Recommended prophecy sites: www.raptureready.com www.prophecyupdate.com www.raptureforums.com All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed. If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).