Last
week we looked at the power we have been given, and we saw that there are two
kinds of power given to those evangelizing, exousia, and dunamis. At first, those evangelizing, sent out by
Jesus, were not Christians as Christ had not been crucified and risen yet. They were Disciples of Christ and had been
given exousia. On the day of Pentecost
the Disciples of Christ received dunamis, an inner power, but only a token or
down payment of what is to come. This
was the great mystery that was hidden in God.
None of the angels knew it, that from before the earth and stars were
formed God’s plan to annihilate the devil was set. In doing so, man was created
to subdue and have dominion over the devil.
Man lost dominion and the devil has now been fulfilling man’s lease on
this planet, having dominion over the age.
However God’s plan was to send a savior to rescue us, and in so doing,
knowing that the devil would crucify him, God was able to give us this token,
dunamis, when the Holy Spirit would come.
This plan was not written in the stars.
All through the heavens we see the declaration of a savior being born of
a virgin, coming to subdue the serpent.
We see the promise of redemption, and we see the greater and lesser
sheepfolds, but we do not see the sending of the Holy Spirit. We do not see
God’s people clothed with power, we do not see that it would be Christ in us
the hope of glory. Had the devil known
these things he would never have crucified the Lord of glory.
1
Cor 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it,
they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.KJV
We
have to make a distinction between demons and other spiritual beings. If we remember that in the days of Jared
through the days of Noah, angels left their first estate to cohabitate with
earthly women. They produced a race of
beings called the Nephilim. The Nephilim
were known as mighty men of renown. When
these beings died there was no place for their spirits to go so they roamed the
earth. Genetically they were different
than humans, and the mixing of the spirit of angels and spirit of man made a
spirit that was unlike anything on earth.
Their spirits were not like the sons of God, and not like man, their
spirits were now partially earthly, and possibly earth bound. Known as evil spirits, we also in our modern
day call them demons. We have seen from
Jubilees that Noah petitioned God to get rid of the demons or else his children
would be overtaken. Satan petitioned God
to leave some under his command for his purposes. God agreed to leave ten percent.
Jude
6 And the angels which kept not their
first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting
chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.KJV
Jubilees X:3-9 Let Thy grace be lift up upon my sons, And let not wicked spirits rule over them Lest they should destroy them from the earth.4. But do Thou bless me and my sons, that we may increase and multiply and replenish the earth. 5. And Thou knowest how Thy Watchers, the fathers of these spirits, acted in my day: and as for these spirits which are living, imprison them and hold them fast in the place of condemnation, and let them not bring destruction on the sons of thy servant, my God; for these are malignant, and created in order to destroy. 6. And let them not rule over the spirits of the living; for Thou alone canst exercise dominion over them. And let them not have power over the sons of the righteous from henceforth and for evermore." 7. And the Lord our God bade us to bind all. 8. And the chief of the spirits, Mastêmâ, came and said: "Lord, Creator, let some of them remain before me, and let them hearken to my voice, and do all that I shall say unto them; for if some of them are not left to me, I shall not be able to execute the power of my will on the sons of men; for these are for corruption and leading astray before my judgment, for great is the wickedness of the sons of men." 9. And He said: "Let the tenth part of them remain before him, and let nine parts descend into the place of condemnation."
Gen
6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that,
when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children
to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.KJV
Nephilim OT:5303 nephiyl
(nef-eel'); or nephil (nef-eel'); from OT:5307; properly, a feller, i.e. a
bully or tyrant: KJV - giant.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Num
13:31-33 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up
against the people; for they are stronger than we.32 And they brought up an
evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel,
saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that
eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men
of a great stature.33 And there we saw the giants [Nephilim], the sons
of Anak, which come of the giants[Nephilim]: and we were in our own
sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.KJV
Another
group of beings that we should look at were very tall warriors known as the
Rephaim. Many groups made up these
people such as the Canaanites and the Amorites.
These beings may or may not be descendants of fallen angels breeding
with earth women. These beings were the
enemies of Israel and Joshua was told to eliminate them all. In fact we saw
that Abraham knew that the giants of the land would be killed off so he told
his six sons with Keturah, the Canaanite, to move south to avoid the certain
destruction. Abraham lived among all
these giants but was never bothered by them.
RephaimOT:7497 rapha'
(raw-faw'); or raphah (raw-faw'); from OT:7495 in the sense of invigorating; a
giant: KJV - giant, Rapha, Rephaim (-s). See also OT:1051.(Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
Gen
14:5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with
him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham,
and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,KJV
2
Sam 21:20-22 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great
stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four
and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.[Rephaim] 21 And
when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew
him.22 These four were born to the giant [Rephaim] in Gath, and fell by
the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.KJV
This
group of beings are not necessarily the same as the Nephilim, and we cannot
find anywhere that their spirits (the Rephaim) end up roaming the earth after
they die. These people could have descended from the Nephilim the first
descendants of the angels and humans but we cannot see that from scripture or
in any other historical documentation. We
do see that the sons of Anak were Nephilim; this could have been another time
of an angel who cohabitated with a human or somehow a few of the Nephilim
survived. All we know is that there were
Nephilim on the earth before and after the flood and all flesh had been
corrupted, man and beast.
Deut
3:11 For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants [Rephaim];
behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the
children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the
breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.KJV
Josh
13:12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei,
who remained of the remnant of the giants [Rephaim]: for these did Moses
smite, and cast them out.KJV
We
have Nephilim and we have Rephaim, the Nephilim were tyrants and may be tall
but not all Rephaim who were tallmay be tyrannical. That would explain why
Abraham was able to live among the Rephaim. These beings are different than the
principalities powers and rulers of darkness that defected along with
Lucifer. They followed Lucifer at the
time of Lucifer’s rebellion, they were not cohabitating with earth women. Those
that did take wives from the earth were locked in prison, while principalities,
powers, and rulers rebelled long before the days of Noah. Ten percent of the disembodied spirits of the
Nephilim roam the earth looking for bodies to inhabit.
Luke
11:24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry
places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house
whence I came out.KJV
This
tells us that it can think, it can move about the earth, that the places it
goes are considered dry as compared to earthly bodies that are comprised with
water. It gets tired, it wants to rest,
it keeps looking, then it rationalizes that it should go back where it came
from. It considers the body it inhabits
a house. Let’s go on.
Luke
11:25-26 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.26 Then goeth
he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they
enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the
first. KJV
When
it gets back to the body it was cast out of, it sees that the place has been
cleaned and decorated. It then invites
other spirits to inhabit this home. When
the other spirits come they enter in and live there as well. Jesus says the last estate is worse than the
first, meaning now the host body has more demons than it started out with. That is quite depressing. Why does Jesus make that point? Jesus is
telling us that casting a demon out can lead to more demonic inhabitation. What is the answer? We will see more next week but let’s read the
context.
Luke
11:14-28 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass,
when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.15 But
some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the
devils.
They
believed Jesus’ power was from the chief of devils yet a person who never spoke
could now speak. Why would the devil want to heal humans?
Luke
11:16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.17 But he,
knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is
brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.18 If Satan
also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say
that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out
devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your
judges.
What
was interesting is that they thought that the power they and their son’s used
to cast out devils was Godly while the power Jesus used was demonic. Jesus points out that the devil’s reign is
set up like a kingdom, this infers that there are rulers over different aspects
of the kingdom, maybe principalities, powers and rulers of darkness.
Luke11:20
But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is
come upon you.
If
Jesus ejects devils with the finger of God then the kingdom of God is upon
them. This is the kingdom of God being exposed to the masses.
Luke11:21
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:22 But when
a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him
all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.23 He that is not
with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
Here
is a great analogy, if one who is greater wants to, he can overtake a strong
man, and then take his stuff. Jesus also
brings up another good point, if you are not with him, casting out devils with
him, you are against him and scattering the sheepfold. So then how is it that someone who is not
with Jesus could be casting out devils? The answer may lie in Psalm 8:5
Ps 8:5 For thou hast made him [man] but
little lower than God, and crownest him with glory and honor.ASV
Another clue could be this: Acts 19:13-16
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them
which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by
Jesus whom Paul preacheth.14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and
chief of the priests, which did so.15 And the evil spirit answered and said,
Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?16 And the man in whom the evil
spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so
that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. KJV
In
that day there were wandering Jewish exorcists, exorcising demons with exousia,
but not with dunamis. The seven sons of Sceva had accidently exposed that
police type authority was not as authoritative as dunamis. They were not believers in Christ but they
tried to use his name as a “magic” word, they were Jews, not Christians. That
must have been a funny sight, watching a demon beat up these seven guys who
somehow ended up naked and ran out of the house. Back to Jesus’ story.
Luke11:24
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places,
seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I
came out.25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.26 Then goeth
he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they
enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the
first.27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the
company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare
thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed
are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. KJV
Jesus
said that more blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it rather
than his mother Mary, the one who gave birth to him and nurtured him. It is not enough to just hear of Jesus but
one has to keep the word of God. Keep in
mind the church had not been born yet, in order for the church to be born and
be clothed with power from on high Jesus had to be crucified. Once Jesus was crucified Jesus’ name has been
exalted.
Phil 2:8-11 And being found in fashion as a
man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the
cross.9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which
is above every name:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11 And that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.KJV
Now
Jesus’ name has power but not for the unbeliever as we saw with Scevas’
sons’. We have the “police authority”
power over demons, and we have miraculous power over demons. Remember that this internal power is not for
anything else except for setting captives free, to the end that people are
evangelized.
What
are demons, evil spirits, or devils?
NT:1139
daimonizomai (dahee-mon-id'-zom-ahee); middle voice from NT:1142; to be
exercised by a daemon: KJV - have a (be vexed with, be possessed with) devil
(-s).
NT:1140
daimonion (dahee-mon'-ee-on); neuter of a derivative of NT:1142; a daemonic
being; by extension a deity: KJV - devil, god.
NT:1141
daimoniodes (dahee-mon-ee-o'-dace); from NT:1140 and NT:1142; daemon-like: KJV
- devilish.
NT:1142
daimon (dah'-ee-mown); from daio (to distribute fortunes); a daemon or
supernatural spirit (of a bad nature): KJV - devil.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators,
Inc.)
#1139 Matt 4:23-25And
Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the
gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of
disease among the people.24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they
brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and
torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which
were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.25 And there
followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and
from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.KJV
#1141 James 3:13-15 Who is
a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good
conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.14 But if ye have bitter envying
and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.15 This
wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.KJV
#1142 Matt 8:28-34 And
when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there
met him two possessed with devils,[#1139] coming out of the tombs,
exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.29 And, behold, they
cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art
thou come hither to torment us before the time?30 And there was a good way off
from them an herd of many swine feeding.31 So the devils besought him,
saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.32 And
he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of
swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place
into the sea, and perished in the waters.33 And they that kept them fled, and
went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to
the possessed of the devils.34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet
Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of
their coasts.KJV
#1140 1 Cor 10:16-22The
cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?17 For
we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one
bread.18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the
sacrifices partakers of the altar?19 What say I then? that the idol is any
thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?20 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.21
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be
partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.22 Do we
provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? KJV
If
we keep in mind that the Jews make offerings and sacrifices of animals to God
we will understand this a little better.
The Gentiles sacrificed to devils or demonic spirits, not knowing God,
and they did their sacrifices as a service to please their gods. The Jews did their own sacrifices to atone
for sin and renew fellowship with God. Jesus was our sacrifice, bringing us
into fellowship with God. Isn’t it
interesting that Paul notes that we are not to have fellowship with
devils. Paul says we cannot eat and
drink of the cup of devils and the cup of the Lord. Therefore if there is someone who attempts to
play both sides of the fence he is not a Christian.
1
Tim 4:1-4 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;2
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;3
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath
created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the
truth.4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be
received with thanksgiving: KJV
In
the latter times some will listen to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.
Seducing spirits are deceiving spirits and doctrines of devils are teachings of
devils. This tells us that devils will
deceive and teach us wrongly, intentionally, to lead us astray. Is it possible that devils influence people
in our society to mix up the truth so we fail to see God? Could devils teach us wrongly in our
churches, or schools, or influence the making of laws that keep people from
knowing God? Are those being seduced by evil spirits who departed from the
faith preaching another Jesus? If their conscience is seared can it be
un-seared? If one departs from the faith with a seared conscience do they know
they are not following the faith?
James
2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils
also believe, and tremble.KJV
Devils
are afraid of God, they believe in God and yet they try to keep people from
knowing about God. This tells us that
while they fear God, they must also fear someone or something else. If they only had fear of God they would all
behave and not cause trouble for God’s people.
However there must be a real threat here and now, maybe immediate
punishment. Is it possible that satan, who uses these demons to hinder mankind
has a punishment system for those who do not do what he wants them to?
Let’s
look at unclean spirits.
Unclean NT:169 akathartos
(ak-ath'-ar-tos); from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative
of NT:2508 (meaning cleansed); impure (ceremonially, morally [lewd] or
specially, [demonic]):KJV - foul, unclean.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Spirits NT:4151 pneuma
(pnyoo'-mah); from NT:4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze;
by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by
implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an
angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit: KJV - ghost,
life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Compare NT:5590.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
Acts
5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem,
bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and
they were healed every one.KJV
Acts
8:7-8 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that
were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were
healed.8 And there was great joy in that city.KJV
Mark
9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul
spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out
of him, and enter no more into him.KJV
Evil
spirits torment people. They also can
cry in a loud voice or talk back to the one ejecting them. What are we to do to identify a false
prophet, or false teacher, or a false preacher?
First John tells us.
1
John 4:1-3 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they
are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.2 Hereby
know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh is of God:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of
antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is
it in the world.KJV
We
are to try or test anyone or any spirit that speaks as to whether he is
speaking from God by asking if they confess Jesus has come in the flesh and is
of God, that if thou shalt confess the Lord Jesus and believe in his heart that
God raised Him from the dead thou shalt be saved. It’s not a bad question to ask is it? Some say Jesus did not rise from the dead
physically, or some say Jesus was not the Son of God. We have to be smart about who we listen to
and believe.
Demons
have a mission to torment people, they are under the command of satan but we
have power against them. We can expel demons.
