Okay, let’s hit this thing. Why don’t we really ever talk about demons much?
Dealing with demons was an important part of Jesus’ ministry. Why does it seem we aren’t as focused on them today?
Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach.
The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
Mark 1:21-24 NLT
How was this demon-posessed man behaving before he issued a challenge to Jesus’ authority? We don’t really know. Apparently, whatever he was doing wasn’t worth writing about. As far as we can tell, this man was blending in with everyone else in the synagogue. So, what stirred him up? What “triggered” this outburst?
Should it disturb us that someone in the synagogue entered with a demon? What implication does that have for us today?
So, can a Christian be demon-possessed?
Most scholars agree that a believer cannot be possessed by a demon. Scripture is clear that God has “put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (1 Corinthians 1:22 ESV) Also, there is no question who possesses us:
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NLT
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4 (ESV)
So, while we can’t be possessed (internally controlled) by demons, we CAN be oppressed (externally influenced) by them. Does that happen often?
The Apostle Peter is a good example of this. Jesus was talking about how he was to suffer and die, but Peter didn’t want to hear it. He told Jesus to stop talking that way. Peter thought he knew better.
But Jesus did not tolerate that kind of thought process. He knew where that came from…
“Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
Matthew 16:23 NLT
How are we influenced by demons today? What is evidence of demonic oppression in our culture?
As I am typing these questions, my friend John Crawford sent me these pictures from a store entrance inside the North Point Mall.
What other evidence of demonic activity are you seeing in our culture right now?
I am going to talk about this EXTENSIVELY on this coming Sunday. This week was good foundation, but NEXT week, we will re-examine a parable that Jesus tells about demons, and uncover a secret key to understanding demons in our culture that is hidden right in front of us!
Hey, has your group planned to serve this summer? One great way to do that is to pick a day to serve lunch at Tower Road. Our Seamless Summer program happens through the months of June and July. Why don’t you pick a day or two to serve our neighbors in Jesus’ name?