I thought it good since I am writing of experiences of spiritual warfare to present some Biblical basis and teaching. The Bible has too much information about this topic to present a complete teaching, but I will present some basics here.
In the Old Testament there are some different lists of things to not do. One of my favorites and most complete is in Deuteronomy 18:9-12. In these verses is a list of abominations to the Lord: who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD
In my stories I mention that even such a simple thing as reading horoscopes can invite demonic activity. While horoscopes are not mentioned specifically by that name in the Bible, horoscopes are attached to astrology, and in Daniel 4 and 5 astrologers are grouped together with magicians and sorcerers, which are on the forbidden list. Why are these things forbidden? I believe it is because they all seek supernatural information or power from a source other than God, that is, the demonic realms.
When we seek power or information from these sources, we are inviting partnership with the demons behind it, thus they are given access to our lives.
In the gospels, there are many stories of when Jesus cast out demons and healed the sick. Nearly always, the two are linked together. I think this is not coincidence, that there is a common connection between evil spirits (demons) and sickness, though not always.
Perhaps the most famous story is the one in Luke 8:27-35 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
In this story, it is apparent that demons are not just thoughts or ideas. They are actual beings that negotiated with Jesus, and affected a herd of pigs in such a way that destroyed the pigs.
It is also interesting to note that people were afraid, not happy, with this event. I think many today reject the idea of demons because it would change their world, and they are afraid. Others may be afraid because it would make them ‘wrong’ and they are afraid of that!
In the gospels, Jesus calls his disciples to himself and gives them power over demons.
Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Luke 9:1-2 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
He also gave the same power and instructions to sewventy followers in Luke 10.
This is to me quite amazing, because it was before Jesus was crucified and rose again, before he had earned salvation for the world! It was also before Jesus was raised into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit which he promised. Yet, these disciples did receive the power he gave them, and followed his instructions, and to their amazement, it all worked! Luke 10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
After Jesus rose into heaven, he sent the promise of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Believers who received this received power. One of my favorite stories is in Acts 16:16-19 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.
Another amazing New Testament story is in Acts 19:13-16 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
If unbelievers could invoke the name of Jesus, how much more we believers should have power over demons in the name of our Lord. These men were seeking the power and glory attached to the name, but did not understand what the name really stands for.
As Christians we need to be aware of who Jesus is, what the name stands for! James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. This passage not only talks about the reality of demons, but the importance of know what we believe, and knowing in whom we believe!
These are only a few of the many scriptures, and we have not really explored the meaning and implications contained therein, nor have we explored the many possible ramifications. This is not a complete teaching, but merely to indicate the Biblical basis for my belief that demons are real entities, perhaps to whet your appetite for more knowledge of this topic. Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
There are those who argue that power over demons was for a short season only, and is no longer needed by the church. Our experience tells this is not so, but more importantly, so do scriptures. If there is someone who has a question about this, I will answer in a future teaching.
— GBU - HWK ---
