Spiritual Warfare · Life in Holiness
What is a demon-possessed person? Demons?
6 min read, approximately
Ephesians 6:12 (Demons)
“Finally, my brothers and sisters, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his strength. Put on the whole armor of God so that you can stand firm against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God so that you can resist on the evil day and, having done everything, stand firm.”
A demon-possessed person is someone who has been partially or completely subjugated by demons. Demons influence the possessed person to the point of causing problems, loss of the senses, illness, and suicidal thoughts, taking control of their will and leading them toward their purpose, which is always the same: to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10a).
The possessed man of the Gadarenes
God’s Word records several stories of what demons can do in a possessed person. We will focus, however, on one story that brings together several points: the possessed man of the Gadarenes. Let us look:
“They arrived in the land of the Gadarenes, on the opposite shore from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, a man from the city met him who had been possessed by demons for a long time. He wore no clothes and lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out loudly, fell at his feet, and shouted: What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me. For Jesus was commanding the unclean spirit to leave the man; it had held him for a long time. He was bound with chains and shackles, but he broke the chains and was driven by the demon into deserted places. Jesus asked him: What is your name? He answered: Legion, because many demons had entered him. They begged him not to command them to go into the abyss.
A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged him to let them enter the pigs, and he gave permission. The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs; the herd rushed down a steep slope into the lake and drowned. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and reported it in the city and countryside. People came out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had departed sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.” (Luke 8:26-35)
\1. He had been in that condition for a long time
“…possessed by demons for a long time…”
\2. It was not one… there were many!
“Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits worse than itself, and they enter and live there; the person’s final condition becomes worse than the first.” (Matthew 12:45a)
\3. The demons drove this man to break chains and shackles and led him into deserted places
“…but he broke the chains and was driven by the demon into deserted places…”
\4. They recognize authority… They begged Jesus not to send them into the abyss!
“The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and finding none, he saith, I will turn back unto my house whence I came out.” (Luke 11:24)
\5. After they were expelled, the man returned to his right mind
“They found the man from whom the demons had departed sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind”
But can someone who has accepted Christ as Lord and Savior be possessed by demons?
After we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us:
“But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Romans 8:9-11)
“Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
So what should we do?
Whenever we make room for disobedience, immorality, the occult, and everything that displeases God, it is like sending a formal invitation to demons. Therefore, we must:
“Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8)
And we must:
“Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.” (James 4:7-8)
“[My] little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous: he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is begotten of God.” (1 John 3:7-9)
Will we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and allow God’s Holy Spirit to take control of our lives?
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May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!