Why write I so much about demons and the devil? First, we have the Old Testament warning from God that “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6). In the New Testament the apostle Paul admonishes Christians regarding the danger of being taken advantage of by the devil when we are “. . . ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:11). To put it bluntly, I speak so much about demons and the devil because others speak so little and most churches churn the topic. I have to overemphasize the realm of the satanic supernatural because it is a topic almost completely avoided in polite evangelical circles and pastor avoid the topic either they want to be politically correct or much worse the are afraid of the skeletons in their own closets.. The tragic information gap that exists regarding occult activity necessitates someone answering the call to fill that void with biblically sound facts that meet the scrutiny of serious theological review. The preeminence of the deliverance ministry in the life of Christ can’t be ignored, as portrayed in the Gospels. In Matthew we learn that believers will judge demons in the world to come (25:41; 1 Cor. 6:3), so much more so we ought to consign them to the pit in the world that now is. Indeed, we have the authority to bind them (Matt. 16:19) and demolish their kingdom (1 John 3:8). In Mark we see Christ commissioning the Twelve to cast out demons (3:14-15), an appointment also given to the Seventy (Luke 10:17-20), and to those he sent out two by two (Mark 6:7). Mark tells us that when Christ cast out demons, “the whole city was gathered together” (1:33), a strategy for mass evangelism often ignored by today’s Christians. Luke shows Christ being tempted of the devil (4:1-13) and then immediately proceeding to Capernaum to cast out demons in the synagogue (4:33-35). John records the words of Christ explaining to His followers the nature of Satan’s character, that he is and always has been a murderer and a liar (8:44). Whatever ideas you’ve had about demons, prepare to discard many of them. Consider, for example, a few common misconceptions: Christ always cast out demons immediately. Read again the account in Mark, chapter 5. A dialogue with the demon named Legion followed the command of Christ for this evil spirit to leave. Demons can always be overcome instantly. Paul declared in 1 Thessalonians 2:18 that Satan had repeatedly prevented him from completing a goal he had purposed. Christians can’t be demonized. This fallacy will be countered in detail by Scriptures such as 1 Thessalonians 5:23, which points out that part of a Christian’s life may not be fully surrendered to God and thus may be a potential dwelling place for demons. The best-kept secret of Satan’s strategy is what I call the “Salvation Settles It All Syndrome.” This is the idea that when you become a Christian, there is nothing more you need to do to ensure your safety from Satan. Wrong! What salvation settles is your positional standing with God in Christ. When you are born again, the eternal spiritual state of your spirit is determined. However, in your soul and flesh you may suffer conditional susceptibility to the devil and his demons. Your position regarding salvation is settled, but your condition concerning vulnerabilities to demons may be a matter of question, especially if you have been involved in the occult prior to your conversion. Do you need to know more about the devil and demonic activity? Absolutely! If you are to heed the whole counsel of God’s Word, you can’t ignore this important responsibility of every Christian. Furthermore, with the increased intensity of occult activity in these end times, it behooves every believer to be aware of the practices that lure unsuspecting souls into spiritual bondage. Likewise, the satanic cults and satanic systems of belief, which are glorified in popular entertainment, need to be examined from a Christian perspective. Eventually, you or someone you know will be faced with all the evil of the satanic supernatural, and when it happens it will be too late to know how to respond with scriptural forcefulness.

My name is Cesar and I’m A Voice in The Desert

www.avoiceinthedesert.net