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A Quick Study On Demons
A Quick Study On Demons
We covered Luke 4:31-37 last night in our Bible class - wish you all were there. This is the first of many encounters with demons that Jesus has as recorded by Luke (cp. 4:41; 6:18; 8:2, 27-38; 9:1, 42f, 49; 10:17; 11:14-24; 13:32).
Where did the come from? The Bible does not reveal that directly but we conclude they were created by God. All things other than God himself exist by the creation of God.
What are they? They are evil spirits. Spirits are creatures of God that do not have flesh and bone (Luke 24:39). They are like the angels in that angels are said to be ministering spirits (Heb. 1:14). However, these are evil and in rebellion to God. All that we read of their doing is harmful to man.
Three thoughts concerning what they are:
1. Some have said they are the spirits of dead people who are trying to reunite with a body. In reading Luke 16 and the parable of Lazarus, I don't believe this is a valid answer.
2. Some have suggested they are the 'sons of God' that sinned with the 'daughters of men' in Genesis 6. An easier understanding of that scripture is that the sons of God were the godly line of humanity and the daughters of men were the ungodly line of humanity.
3. I believe they are "angels [that] sinned, and were cast them into hell by God and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment". For a short while they were allowed this 'freedom' and ability to take over / possess various people. (2Pet. 2:4).
What did they know? They knew that Jesus was Jesus of Nazareth (born in the flesh of Mary), the Christ, the son of God who would destroy them (Luke 4:34-35, 41, Matt. 8:28-29).
How did they respond to Jesus? They obeyed his word (Luke 4:36).
What will be their end? They will be cast into eternal hell and punished along with Satan (Matt. 25:41).
Jesus is said to be king of king and lord of lords (Rev. 17:14). He is the son of God with all authority in heaven and earth (John 20:30-31, Matt. 28:18). He is seated on God's right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come" (Eph. 1:20-21). Thus He was said to have "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them" (Col. 2:15).
We see his authority in THIS material realm in which we live by the signs and wonders that He did. His power over the natural world is seen in the stilling of the storm and the cursing of the fig tree. His power over the elements of life is seen by his healing the sick and blind. We even see his power over death as he raised the dead. How can we be assured of his power over heavenly beings? He demonstrated it openly with the authority he held over such evil spirits. "Be silent and come out of him!"… "and he came out" (Luke 4:35). "And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” (Luke 4:36).
Because of Jesus we have nothing to fear from either men or heavenly beings. "Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world" (1John 4:4). In Him we are more than conquerors (Rom. 8:37).
Hugh DeLong