  What are Evil Spirits?
The many accounts of evil spirits in Scripture affirm the reality of powerful spiritual forces of wickedness. Evil spirits (also known as demons or devils) are depraved spirits which are familiar with human weaknesses and desires. Some are more vile than others.
The Bible has many names for these spirits:
Evil spirits can enter into and possess people, causing all kinds of sicknesses, diseases, and terrible manifestations. The Bible records many occasions when Jesus healed those who were tormented by these spirits (see Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 1:23-27, Luke 9:37-42, and Acts 19:13-16). "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick" (Matthew 8:16).
Where Did Evil Spirits Come From? An evil spirit (or demon) is not the same as a fallen angel; it is actually the offspring of a fallen angel. When fallen angels took to themselves human wives (Genesis 6:1-2), the children borne to them became mighty giants, corrupting the human race and accelerating wickedness to such a degree that God saw it necessary to destroy all flesh with a Great Flood, saving only the righteous man Noah and his family.
When the mortal bodies of these angel-human hybrids died, their immortal spirits roamed the earth seeking human bodies to harass and indwell. The male ones are malevolent spirits and the female ones are seductive spirits. These continue to afflict the human race even now. They know the weaknesses and desires of mankind, for they once experienced a human body. Unlike fallen angels, who can appear in bodily form, evil spirits must inhabit a body (either human or animal). An example of this is when Jesus cast out the legion of demons from a man and sent them into a herd of pigs (Luke 8:27-35). Both fallen angels and evil spirits serve their master Satan in the kingdom of darkness. What is Demon Possession? Demon possession is the control of an individual's personality so that actions are influenced by an evil demonic spirit. The signs of demonic possession in the New Testament include: deafness (Mark 9:25), blindness (Matthew 12:22), speechlessness (Matthew 9:33), convulsions (Mark 1:26), unusual strength (Mark 5:4), suicidal attempts (Matthew 17:15), and foaming of the mouth (Luke 9:39). Although these ailments are not necessarily caused by evil spirits, they are among the many possible effects of demonic activity.
One of those Jesus healed was Mary Magdalene, "out of whom he had cast seven devils" (Mark 16:9). The apostles cast out spirits as well, by the power of the Holy Spirit: "For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed" (Acts 8:7). Jesus commanded evil spirits with His word, and "devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, 'Thou art Christ the Son of God.' And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ" (Luke 4:41). The powers of darkness, including Satan, can go no further than the bounds God has set for them (see Job 1:6-12). They will always leave when He casts them out and must comply when He gives them an order. "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him" (Mark 1:27; also see Luke 4:36). Yes, evil spirits know Who is ultimately in charge! "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19). They will always be subject to Jesus: "And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God" (Mark 3:11). The powers of darkness are used for the purposes of God. "He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them" (Psalm 78:49). Scripture records several times when the Lord sent an evil spirit for a specific and sovereign purpose. "Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech" (Judges 9:23). It could also be said that when God withdraws his protection, evil rushes in to fill the void. Those who give place to the Devil are opening a door for demonic influence. When King Saul rejected the word of the Lord, "the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him" (I Samuel 16:14). An evil spirit can be cast out of a person through the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. When an evil spirit leaves a person, it is extremely important that the void within them is filled with the Holy Spirit, lest the evil spirit return and bring with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself (Luke 11:24-26). Can a Christian Be Possessed by a Demon?
A person who has been born again has the Holy Spirit within him (I Corinthians 2:12). To a Christian, the Bible says, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" (I Corinthians 3:16-17).
This person has been joined to Christ's body (I Corinthians 6:17-20) and has been translated from the kingdom of darkness to which he was born into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, to which he was born again (Colossians 1:13)! Those who are now in Christ were at one time under the kingdom of darkness, under the rule of the god of this world (Satan): "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). But through Jesus Christ, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (I Corinthians 2:12). The children of God are partakers in Christ's inheritance (see Colossians 3:24 and I Peter 1:4). A Christian cannot be possessed with an evil spirit (also known as a demon or a devil), for "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (I John 4:4). Both the Lord and devils cannot dwell in the same temple (I Corinthians 10:21). However, a Christian can be harassed or oppressed by an evil spirit. This is why we are expressly warned in Scripture, "Neither give place [ground] to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27). How Do We Avoid Being Led Astray By Evil Spirits? The fourth chapter of Genesis records history's first murder. Cain allowed the footholds of jealousy, hatred, and rage to come in and then he killed his brother. God even warned him ahead of time: "If thou doest well, shalt 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 rule over him"
(Genesis 4:7). Evil was crouching at his door, and it was Cain's choice to open that door. He gave place to the Devil. Many in these days will be tricked and led astray by evil spirits. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron" (I Timothy 4:1-2). When given opportunity, evil spirits can torment those they cling to with illness, depression, suicidal tendencies, anxiety, nightmares, addictions, perversions, fear, violence, and the like. The only way to avoid being led astray by seducing spirits is to maintain a good conscience toward God (I Timothy 1:5) and to not open any door or give any legal right to Satan (Ephesians 4:27)! But first, a person must be born again, otherwise he or she is still under Satan's dominion. Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Every person born into this world is under the rule of darkness (I John 5:19). Adam gave his right to rule (territory) to Satan when he sinned. But God has purchased mankind back from Satan's rule with the precious blood of Christ (I Peter 1:18-19). Jesus said, "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:31; also see John 14:30). The light of the gospel is this: "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God" (Acts 26:18). How Do You Test the Spirits? The Bible says we are to test the spirits to see if they are of God. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world" (I John 4:1-3).
Conclusion The spiritual powers of wickedness are very real and very strong. But they were defeated through the blood of Jesus at the cross. Jesus "spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it"
(Colossians 2:15). There is, however, a battle that rages on in the spiritual realm. The Christian Counter |