The Bible makes a distinction between organic diseases, mental health issues, and demon possession. In grace, God has given to humanity gifted physicians to treat the body, and compassionate people to counsel those with mental health problems. What the world is not equipped to properly understand, or minister to, are the demon possessed.
One reason the world cannot help in the area of the demonic is because the world foolishly promotes the occult. Born in 1947, Stephen King is one of the most prolific writers promoting demons. His books have sold more than 350 million copies. Hollywood contributes numerous movies each year honoring the powers of darkness and horror. The world is of their father the Devil and the lusts or passions of their father they will do (John 8:44). Evil cannot cast out evil.
The Church must once more embrace its responsibility to minister to those who are afflicted in this area. To do that, Christians must believe that demons are real, and they can and will hurt you.
The term devil, is applied not only to the Arch-Enemy of God, but to those spirit beings under his sphere of influence. These lesser devils, or demons, seek to dominate the souls of men. Some demons enter into humans by invitation. People open themselves up to the demonic spirits by playing with Ouija Boards, reading and believing horoscopes, watching demonic movies, participating in a seance, becoming a witch or warlock, living in or visiting a country where the Voodoo religion is prevalent, by embracing Satanism, and by practicing black magic.
The purpose of demons in coming into the soul is to possess it. When a devil, or a demon enters into a person, there is great emotional distress, and physical danger, for devils are by nature destructive.
Demons can cause the speech to become inarticulate. “As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel” (Matt. 9:32, 33).
Demons can cause blindness. “Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw” (Matt. 12:22).
Demons cause mental and physical anguish of heart by possessing a loved one. “And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil” (Matt. 15:22).
Demons can give unusual strength. “(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness)” (Luke 8:29).
Demons can cause individuals to engage in self-mutilation. “And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father” (Luke 9:42).
Demons encourage worship of the occult. Despite being delivered from the Land of Bondage, the Exodus Generation were influenced by the gods of Egypt and worshipped them. “They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not” (Deut. 32:17).
Demons encourage child sacrifices to be made. “Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils” (Psalms 106:37).
Demons can oppress souls. Jesus of Nazareth can heal souls that are oppressed. The Church must tell others “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38).
Several demons can reside in the soul at once. “And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils” (Luke 8:2).
Despite the power of demons, they are always subject to the Sovereign, who rebuked them with the authority of His words. “And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour” (Matthew 17:18).
Some who have been set free from the darkness of demons want to follow Christ. “And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him” (Mark 5:18).
Demons can sow discord in a religious assembly. “And in the synagogue, there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. 35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. 36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out” (Luke 4:33-36).
There is authority, or power, in the name of Jesus to cast out demons, even when used by false professors. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:22).
Demons have a philosophy, or doctrine, that they articulate. “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” (1 Tim. 4:1).
Christians are forbidden to have anything to do with the worship of demons. “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils” (1 Cor. 10:20).
