Spiritual Warfare: The Bad Guys – Demons, Unclean & Evil Spirits

Spiritual Warfare: The Bad Guys –
Demons, Unclean & Evil Spirits

Introduction & Review:

1. We are Skeptical of the Supernatural.
2. The Spiritual Realm Consists of Good Guys & Bad Guys…
3. Good Guys include the One True God & Other Spiritual Beings Created by God.
4. These Other Spiritual Beings have Free Will and Can Sin. Some have Sinned.
5. Bad Guys: There have been at Least Three Rebellions.
6. Last Week We Discussed the First Rebellion of the Serpent in the Garden (Genesis 3). Satan and His Descriptions.
7. This Week We will Discuss the Second Rebellion (Genesis 6) and how it Led to the Creation of Demons and Unclean Spirits.

More Bad Guys

1. The NT Affirms the Existence of Demons & Evil Spirits.
   1. Eight Times They are Called “Evil” Spirits (Matthew 12:45; Luke 7:21; Luke 8:2; Luke 11:26; Acts 19:12-13; Acts 19:15–16).
   2. Over Twenty Times they are Called “Unclean” Spirits (Matthew 10:1; Matthew 12:43; Mark 1:23, Mark 1:26–27; Mark 3:11, Mark 3:30; Mark 5:2, Mark 5:8, Mark 5:13; Mark 6:7; Mark 7:25; Mark 9:25; Luke 4:33, Luke 4:36; Luke 6:18; Luke 8:29; Luke 9:42; Luke 11:24; Acts 5:16; Acts 8:7; Revelation 16:13; Revelation 18:2).
   3. Thirty-three times Evil Spirits are Called “Demons” . The verb form “demon possessed” is used 11 times.
   4. However, the Terms are Used Interchangeably.
2. What Do these Demons Do?
   1. They Do the Devil’s Work (Matthew 9:34).
   2. They Inhabit Humans (Matthew 12:43-45).
   3. They Exert Some Degree of Control over those they Inhabit (Mark 5:1-15; Acts 19:15-16).
   4. Cause Disease/Disease Like Symptoms (Matthew 9:32-33; Mark 9:17-27; Luke 9:42). However, the Bible also makes it clear that Jesus Healed Sicknesses NOT Related to Demon Possession (Luke 6:18).
   5. They Demonize/Torment Humans (Matthew 9:32-38); the purpose of demonic possession is to distort and destroy the image of God in man.
3. The Origin of Demons: The Second Rebellion—Genesis 6:1-5
   Bad Guys# 2 –Evil Spirits & Fallen Angels
   1. The Sons of God Wanted to Procreate in their Image.
   2. The Nephilim, their Offspring, Further Corrupted the Ancient World Precipitating the Flood.
   3. These Angels Were Confined in Chains of Darkness.
   4. These Nephilim Were Killed in the Flood.
   5. Apparently this Happened Again Post Flood.
   6. Our Modern Minds Have Trouble with this Narrative
      1. Supernatural Factor – Weird. Haven’t Heard of it Before.
      2. We Get Hung up on Angel Reproduction & Hybrid Humans.
   7. It is the Best Supported View
      1. The Old Testament (“sons of God” are angels)
      2. The New Testament (2 Peter 2:4-6; Jude 5-6; “unclean”)
      3. Ancient Jews Through NT Period
      4. 2nd Temple Literature
      5. Pagan Parallels

Conclusion:

1. Does Demon Possession Still Occur Today?
2. Can Christians be Possessed by Demons? No (Colossians 1:13-14)
3. Can Christians be Harmed/Influenced by Demons? Yes (2 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Romans 6:12-14; Ephesians 4:27).
4. The Work of Christ has Freed Us from Demonic Control (Colossians 2:15; Colossians 1:13-14; Romans 6:17-18; Matthew 28:19-20).