DEMON POSSESSION (CONQUERED & CONTROLLED BY EVIL SPIRITS)

DEMON POSSESSION(CONQUERED & CONTROLLED BY EVIL SPIRITS)

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Identity of Demonso not mythical creatures

o believed in God (Jas. 2:19)o spoke and understood

“torment” and the “abyss” (Lk. 8:26-31)

o not departed souls of wicked men (Lk. 16:19ff)o remained in Hadeso could not leaveo didn’t want to hurt anyone


Identity of Demons

COMPARE ACTS 5:15, 16

o not figurative for human sickness/sufferingo demon possession was

distinguished from sicknesso “So his fame spread

throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them” (Matt. 4:24, RSV)

o not figurative for human sickness/sufferingo demon possession was

distinguished from sicknesso “So his fame spread

throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them” (Matt. 4:24, RSV)DEMONIACS

NOT THE SAME AS


Identity of Demonsopossible fallen angels

o“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels’” (Matt. 25:41)oSatan has “angels”oSatan has “demons” (Matt. 12:24-26)oa future torment for Satan’s angels existsoa future torment for demons exists (Matt. 8:28, 29)


Origin of Demonso God created everything

through Christ:“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Col. 1:16)


CHRIST CREATEDoSATANSATAN

o BUT SATAN “SINNED” FROM THE BEGINNING

o 1John 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.”

o THAT SATAN COULD “SIN” SHOWS THAT HE WAS CREATED GOOD, GIVEN LAW AND HAD THE POWER OF CHOICE!o***“SIN IS LAWLESSNESS” (1 JOHN 3:4)


CHRIST CREATED

oSATANSATANoANGELSANGELS

o BUT SOME ANGELS HAVE “SINNED”o 2Peter 2:4, “For if God did not spare

the angels who sinned. . .”o THAT ANGELS COULD SIN SHOWS THAT

THEY WERE CREATED GOOD, GIVEN LAW AND HAD THE POWER OF CHOICE!


A THOUGHTo IF DEMONS ARE NOT “ANGELS

WHO SINNED,” THEN WE MUST STILL CONCLUDE THAT GOD HAD ORIGINALLY MADE THEM GOOD AND THAT THEY HAD FALLEN FROM THE LAW GIVEN TO THEM

o JAMES 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

CAN DEMON POSSESSION

HAPPEN TODAY?


ZECHARIAH 13:1

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.


“By this water we have to understand not only grace in general, but the spiritual sprinkling-water, which is prepared through the sacrificial death of Christ, through the blood that He shed for sin, and which is sprinkled upon us for the cleansing away of sin in the gracious water of baptism. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin (1 john i. 7; compare v. 6)” (Keil-Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol. 10, Zechariah, p. 392)

“By this water we have to understand not only grace in general, but the spiritual sprinkling-water, which is prepared through the sacrificial death of Christ, through the blood that He shed for sin, and which is sprinkled upon us for the cleansing away of sin in the gracious water of baptism. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin (1 john i. 7; compare v. 6)” (Keil-Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol. 10, Zechariah, p. 392)


ZECHARIAH 13:1

o THAT THIS IS THE TIME OF CHRIST IS ESTABLISHED BY THE CONTEXT: SEE ZECHARIAH 12:10-14o POURING OF HOLY SPIRIT (v. 10; cf. Acts

2:1FF)o PIERCING OF CHRIST (v. 10; cf. Jn. 20:25-27)o MOURNING “IN THAT DAY” (v. 11; cf. Lk.

24:17; Acts 2:37)




ZECHARIAH 13:1

o THAT THIS IS THE TIME OF CHRIST IS ESTABLISHED BY THE CONTEXT: SEE ZECHARIAH 13:7o “STRIKE THE SHEPHERD” (PERTAINING

TO EVENTS SURROUNDING CRUCIFIXION. FULFILLED IN MATT. 26:31, 56)




ZECHARIAH 13:1, 2

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.


IN THAT DAY (TIME) WHEN CHRIST WOULD PROVIDE A FOUNTAIN TO WASH SIN AWAY IS WHEN PROPHECY AND UNCLEAN SPIRITS WOULD DEPART FROM THE LAND!


OBSERVATIONSo PROPHETS WOULD DWELL

TEMPORARILY o UNCLEAN SPIRITS WERE

PERMITTED TO DWELL ON EARTH TEMPORARILYo AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT IS A

DEMON


MARK 51 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.


MARK 56 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 Hewould not send them out of the country.

“I will also cause

the. . .unclean spirit to depart from

the land” (ZECH. 13:2)


MARK 511 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.

14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.

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.


ZECHARIAH 13:1, 2



TO SUGGEST THAT PROPHESY AND DEMON POSSESSION EXISTS 2000 YEARS AFTER THE “DAY” THE “FOUNTAIN FOR SIN” WAS OPENED MAKES ZECHARIAH A FALSE PROPHET!


ZECHARIAH 13:2

o EITHER DEMONS WERE ‘CAUSED’ TO DEPART FROM THE LAND ‘IN THAT DAY’ OR NOT!

o DO YOU BELIEVE THE PROPHET ZECHARIAH OR SOME MODERN DAY PREACHER WHO THINKS DEMON-POSSESSION STILL EXISTS?

I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land.


DEMONS EXISTEDo WHEN CHRIST WAS HERE

(MK. 5:1ff; ETC.)o WHEN THE APOSTLES WERE

HERE (ACTS 5:15, 16; 16:16-18; ETC.)

o AND POSSIBLY THROUGH THE NEXT GENERATION WHO WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE SPIRITUAL GIFTS FROM THE APOSTLES’ HANDS (PHILIP: ACTS 8:7, 17, 18)


IF DEMONS EXIST ON EARTH TODAY:

o THERE WOULD BE NO DEBATE o SUCH WOULD BE WELL

ESTABLISHED IN THE MINDS OF ALL MEN

o THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF BODILY HARM INFLICTED UPON MODERN DAY “EXORCISTS”


ACTS 19:13-1513 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." 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"

13 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." 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"

o SOUGHT TO CAST OUT DEMONS BY MERELY CALLING “JESUS” OVER THEM



13 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." 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"

o SOUGHT TO CAST OUT DEMONS BY MERELY CALLING “JESUS” OVER THEM

o WANTED THE SUCCESS PAUL HAD



13 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." 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"o SOUGHT TO CAST OUT DEMONS BY

MERELY CALLING “JESUS” OVER THEMo WANTED THE SUCCESS PAUL HADo BUT WERE NOT ACCEPTED BY JESUS

(OR EVEN THIS DEMON) AS PAUL WAS


ACTS 19:16-17 (THE EFFECT)

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. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

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. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.o THE DEMON DIDN’T HAVE

TO SUBMIT TO THEIR COMMAND BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T SUBMIT TO CHRIST’S


ACTS 19:16-17 (THE EFFECT)

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. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

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. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.o THE DEMON DIDN’T HAVE

TO SUBMIT TO THEIR COMMAND BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T SUBMIT TO CHRIST’S

o EVENTS WERE PUBLISHED FAR AND WIDE


THOSE WHO ‘PRACTICE’ EXORCISMS TODAY:

o ARE LIKE THE SEVEN SONS OF SCEVAo THEY KNOW WHO JESUS AND PAUL ARE

BUT ARE NOT LEGITIMATE MINISTERS OF CHRISTo E.I., TEACH FALSE DOCTRINE REGARDING

SALVATION, THE CHURCH, ETC.

o WILL USE SIMILAR DECEPTIVE TACTICS TO FOOL THEIR AUDIENCE

o YET, THEY WILL NOT BE OVERCOME BY A DEMON. . .BECAUSE THERE ARE NONE IN THE LAND TO OVERCOME THEM!!!!


o SHOWED JESUS POWER OVER SATAN

25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 "If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? . . . 28 "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 "Or how can one enter a strong man‘s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

MATTHEW 12:25-29



o IDENTIFIED THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

28 "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

MATTHEW 12:28


J. W. MCGARVEY“Jesus here draws a conclusion from the two arguments presented. Since he does not cast out by Satan, he must cast out by the power of God, and therefore his actions demonstrated the potential arrival of the kingdom of God. . . . the steady, daily conquests of Christ over the powers of evil presented to the people the triumphant progress of an invading kingdom.”

(THE FOUR FOLD GOSPEL, P. 302)



o IDENTIFIED THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

o SERVED AS A SIGN TO CONFIRM THE WORD AND THE SPEAKER AS TRUE (MK. 16:17-20; ACTS 19:11-17)


“DOCTRINES OF DEMONS”o DEMONS DO NOT POSSESS

BODIESo THEY ARE STILL AT WORK TO

POSSESS THE MIND THROUGH FALSE DOCTRINE


“DOCTRINES OF DEMONS”1 TIMOTHY 4:1-5

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,

2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;

5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.


BEWAREo WHAT YOU TEACHo WHAT YOU BELIEVE

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 JN. 4:1)

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DEMON POSSESSION (CONQUERED & CONTROLLED BY EVIL SPIRITS)