Authority over Demons

I’ve read many term papers in my day. Most of them are no more than a patchwork of quotes. That’s because college students are smart enough to know that they really can’t say much on their own authority–to make their case, they have to lean on the authority of others more learned than themselves.

That’s exactly how the scribes and Pharisee’s taught in Jesus’ day. “Rabbi Abraham says this. . . Rabbi Gamaliel says that . . .

So when a new young rabbi appears in Capernaum, this is what people expect. They are in for a surprise: he quotes no one else except God’s Word. That’s because there is no one more learned than He. In fact, he happens to be God’s Word made flesh.

But he doesn’t just speak to the humble townspeople this way. When he encounters superhuman forces that strike fear into the hearts of men, he is unruffled. There are no incantations; he does not plead. Rather than Jesus being afraid of them, the demons are afraid of him. Upon seeing Him, they shriek. He calmly commands,“shut up and get out.” A moment later all is still. A former victim is now a free man and bystanders marvel. Word easily travels fast–little Capernaum happens to be right on a caravan route from Syria to the region of Galilee and beyond.

But isn’t all this talk of demons just a relic of the mythological worldview of pre-scientific people? After all, these primitive folks don’t know about mental illness, chemical imbalance, viruses, and bacteria. Surely they just explained as supernatural what they could not understand.

That sounds very sophisticated, but it’s dead wrong. First of all, demons are not supernatural at all. Super-natural means above and beyond nature or creation–in other words, uncreated and transcendent. Only God qualifies for this label.

St. Thomas called the realm of angels and demons “preternatural” since it escapes the sensory knowledge that we can have of the rest of creation. We human beings were created by God as enfleshed spirits. But divine revelation tells us that God also created pure spiritual beings with the same freedom we have. Those who have chosen to use that freedom to serve God we call “angels” or messengers. Those who used their freedom to defy God are called demons. Pride and envy lead them to hate not only God, but also us who are made in God’s image and likeness.

So people in Jesus day had good cause to fear demons–they are hostile and powerful. Plus, their intelligence is superior to ours–note that the demon in the story, unlike the humans, instantly recognized who Jesus was.

OK, the ancients may have attributed too much to demonic influence, but moderns tend to make the opposite error. The existence of the angelic and demonic realm is part of the ordinary teaching of the Church’s Magisterium, reaffirmed clearly by Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI. In fact when we say in the Creed that we believe in the Creator of heaven and earth, “of all things visible and invisible,” the invisible things refer precisely to this world.

So why is it important to believe that such creatures exist? Because the first rule of warfare is to know your enemy. Paul tells us clearly in Ephesians 6:12 “Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers . . . the evil spirits.”

Only God has power over this world. Jesus, in commanding the demons as he later in the Gospel commands the wind and the waves, does only what God can do. Once we are joined to Christ, the enemy has no more authority or power over us. Unless, of course, we give it to him through sin. If we cling to the Lord and listen to him, we have nothing to worry about. If not, we have lots to worry about.

Once we are joined to Christ, the enemy has no more authority or power over us. Unless, of course, we give it to him through sin.

This seems contradictory to what Jesus said here:

(John 10:28,29)
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
(John 6:39)
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.

Problems everywhere.

The sins against the Holy Ghost are commonly said to be six in number: despair, presumption, impenitence, obstinacy, resisting truth, and envy of another's spiritual welfare.

Some of these are less difficult of pardon than others. Final impenitence is absolutely unpardonable.

Those, too, who from deliberate malice refuse to recognize the work of God, as the Pharisees did when they saw the miracles of Our Lord and attributed them to Beelzebub, the Prince of Devils are unpardonable.

Those who reject deliberately the means of salvation are also rarely pardoned.

“Only God has power over this world. Jesus, in commanding the demons as he later in the Gospel commands the wind and the waves, does only what God can do. Once we are joined to Christ, the enemy has no more authority or power over us. Unless, of course, we give it to him through sin. If we cling to the Lord and listen to him, we have nothing to worry about. If not, we have lots to worry about”.

This is a somewhat misleading statement, and one commonly uttered by those who can’t believe a loving God would allow so much suffering. Therefore, they chose not to believe (or are uncertain) in God.

Here’s what we know, ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE:

1 John 5:19 (1611 King James Bible)

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

This simply means Satan is in charge of the world until Jesus comes again. While God is ultimately in charge of everything to include the earth and time, Satan has a lot of power in the current age. Otherwise, the angel that attempted to communicate with Daniel wouldn’t have had any problems. The story of Daniel implies God doesn’t seek to win every battle according to anyone else’s timetable.

Rather than Jesus being afraid of them, the demons are afraid of him. Upon seeing Him, they shriek. He calmly commands,“shut up and get out.” A moment later all is still. A former victim is now a free man and bystanders marvel.

The guy has a way with words.

....” they just explained as supernatural what they could not understand”....

That still happens today and can often escalate to a frenzy for people in a group or crowd. Not everything mis-understood or not understood needs to put under some supernatural or demonic heading. There are many charlatans today who have learned trickery to keep people engaged with the “wonder” of what they are doing....or of an event happening.

We live in a “fallen” world...it's not perfect and sometimes things do just happen for that. Not to mention the many technology blurb's that can occur...then every one rushes to “wonder’ what was that!....Well, it was a blurp...that's it.

When we trip over our own two feet it's not because a demon stepped in front of us, or God is trying to tell us something...it's because we are by nature clumsy.... Too much effort and energy is expended in the "unknown" then focusing and acting on what God has already been revealed.

Following the scripture given by the author it
s significant to complete the train of thought....whenever the word “therefore” is mentioned in scripture people need to continue, other wise what’s the “therefore” there for?

... Therefore...... put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

... And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.

Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

.... And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.

“Too much effort and energy is expended in the “unknown” then focusing and acting on what God has already been revealed. “

Demon focus is worse than that. It gives an excuse for bad behavior in which the “victim”, in some circles, is rendered blameless. Once the demons are proclaimed to be vanquished, there is no reason to punish the individual for his acts - because according to this “demon theology” any bad act is not the fault of individual free-choice behavior.

It’s ridiculous on it’s face. The ultimate “dog-ate-my-homework” excuse.

Demons are very real persons. They are fallen angels.

They are to comply with the laws of heaven over their behavior.

There are consequences for their illegitimate behavior.

We live during a period of angelic conflict. As believers, we are given human spirits and are then through faith in Christ invisible warriors in the spiritual battle.

When we resist temptation, others around us will be spiritually targeted.

Our volition, marriages, families, and nations may all glorify God and be used in His Plan to advance His agenda.

If we fail, His Plan will still advance.

...”The ultimate “dog-ate-my-homework” excuse”....

Good way to put that....

I’ve seen many who are so caught up in the ‘excitement” or the “experiences” they have or have seen, (most BTW are can be proven their imaginations), that it’s difficult to get past that to the truth of the matter. “experiences” are tough to work around because they seem so real to the individual who wants them to be real...or at the least he’s had a “special” encounter.

“it’s difficult to get past that to the truth of the matter. “experiences” are tough to work around because they seem so real to the individual who wants them to be real...or at the least he’s had a “special” encounter.”

Charismatic Christianity seeks to indoctrinate (usually) young people through sleep deprivation and then suggestions of things they should see or dream about. It works on some. Mormons do it by rote over long periods of time during with young people in impressionable times and also social pressures where young folks are also vulnerable. Others use combinations of things.

I know Charismatic folks rely heavily on demons to manipulate - along with things like “speaking in tongues” that invokes group hysteria, with humorous results.

Some folks genuinely seek answers. There are charlatans everywhere willing to give them “AN” answer that bears no relation to Truth. Demons are just another tool a charlatan uses to get the tithe from the gullible. They also “speak to God” and utilize “prophets” or other fake supernatural practitioners.

““experiences” are tough to work around because they seem so real to the individual who wants them to be real...or at the least he’s had a “special” encounter.”

One more point.....It could be that I am specially gifted in that I can behave badly all on my own, without the assistance of any demons, real or imagined.

You’re exactly right....

Even in Evangelical churches today there are attempts to “set a mood”, candles, soft relaxing music, and comfortable chairs to position people....these “tactics” are very common with New Age and various Hindu and Buddahists. Unfortunately most people who go think it’s just an inviting and comfortable atmosphere. They could not be more wrong.

Sleep deprivation takes may forms...often with a leader speaking softly...or chanting....and even without that the participant is often being coached, as you say to invision.

This is nasty stuff and should not be within the churches...but it’s creeping in non-the-less.

I had a neighbor in the Charismatic Movement...tongue speaker as well....it was not hard to see that their faith rested in these experiences and feelings evoked....and when they don’t have their own they “ride” on the testimonies of others experiences. I ended up not allowing my sons to go there she got so “dumbstruck” and empty headed.

People do give authority to demons. Even if the person has been exorcised, the demon is still close by, trying to get in a window that the person might open.

Think about all the times that someone addicted to any substance want to quit, says they will quits, quits, and then falls off the wagon again and again.

The demon is always there.

It also destroys the whole book of Job and its teachings.

True; but I didn't want to get into righteousness, pre-Christ.
Mainly because it would get off track really quick, especially as it would allow the counter that Job wasn't sinning and therefore wasn't giving authority to Satan, instead of focusing on the important point: that whose authority you are under is not necessarily dependent on your choices.

For example, when I was in the Army I could have just left, deserted, but I still would have been under the authority of the UCMJ… and subject to judgment thereunder. In fact, there's only two ways I could have be separated from that authority: (1) death, and (2) expiration/discharge of my enlistment. (Obviously it was the latter and not the former that governed my case… unless I'm a ghost.)

Some demons are internal and invisible.

Other demons are external, but still invisible.

If you believe in angels, one must believe in demons, for they are fallen angels.

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