Demonization
2000-12-12
The phenomenon of demonization is a reality taught by the Bible in which Jesus Christ is the only treatment. It is important to understand the sovereignty of Christ over demons before the concept of demonization in the New Testament can be studied. Christ’s encounters with demons in the New Testament not only reinforces Christ’s power over them but also teaches us about the demons themselves.
Terminology
Δαιμονιζομαι, the Greek word for ‘demonized,’ occurs the fewest number of times, mostly in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. The nouns δαιμονιον and πνευμα, meaning ‘demons’ and ‘spirits’ respectively, are the most common references to demon activity, appearing in the Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles. The word εκβαλλω which refers to the ‘casting out’ of demons, frequently appears in the Synoptic Gospels when used in the context of demons.
Legion
Jesus’ encounter with Legion in the country of the Gadarenes demonstrates usages of the four words between all of the Synoptic Gospels. There are two men that are demoniacs (δαιμονιζομαι, Matthew 8:28), of which one takes more significance than the other to be mentioned alone in Mark and Luke. The three accounts refer to Legion both as unclean spirits and demons. They recognize Jesus, and beg Him to cast them out into the swine numbering about 2000.
From this confrontation, there are many attributes that are apparent about Jesus relating to His sovereignty and also much is learned about the demons. Numbers of demons do not matter, for Jesus, with His infinite authority, cast the demons into the swine without difficulty. He is also recognized by Legion as the sovereign Lord right away (Mark 5:6). They know His power and their ultimate destiny (Matthew 8:29).
The characteristics of Legion describe in detail about the nature of demons as a whole. Demons give people extraordinary strength. Though at times the one demoniac was bound, the man broke his chains (Luke 8:29) and went out to the wilderness. Demons also seek to abuse and to destroy people, as they forced the one man to cut himself with stones (Mark 5:5). They recognize the sovereignty of Christ, and even worship Him (Mark 5:6). Demons also wish to dwell in living bodies, as they prefer to dwell in the swine than to be without bodies. Their destructive nature, however, leads them to drive the swine into the sea to drown them (Matthew 8:32). They know that they could be sent to the abyss to be in bondage (Luke 8:31), and do not want to be in such a place. They will be judged by the Lord Jesus and they know there is a time coming when that will happen (Matthew 8:29). They also desire unclean places, for they dwell in tombs (Luke 8:27). This also might be another reason why they wished to enter the swine, which were once considered unclean animals (cf. Leviticus 11:7).
Jesus’ Authority Over Demons
In the instance of the healing of the Syro-Phoenician woman’s daughter in Matthew and Mark, Jesus shows that He has sovereignty over demons even when not in their presence. In the humility and the faith of this woman, she is told to return home, for her daughter has already been healed.
Jesus exhibits His power of casting out demons by the Spirit of God, though the scribes (Mark 3:22) and others (Luke 11:15) said he cast out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of demons. Still others in their stubbornness wanted to see more miracles to prove Christ’s sovereignty (Luke 11:16). Christ then, in all three of the Synoptic accounts, explains from where His sovereignty over demons comes.
Satan would not cast out his own minions, for a divided kingdom will not stand. The demons are also not simply commanded by Beelzebub, because they do not leave willfully, but usually with screaming and in opposition. Jesus therefore executes His sovereignty through the Holy Spirit, whose mission is diametrically opposed to the mission of Satan. With this illustration Jesus also shows that blaspheming the Spirit is denying that God’s power is good, and to deny good works of God by calling them evil is an offense of stubborn unbelief that is not forgivable. One will never believe if there is denial in the midst of such blatant proof of Christ’s divinity.
Delegation of Jesus’ Authority Over Demons
The passages of the calling of the twelve apostles show how Christ also can delegate His power over sickness and demons. Though these passages are in all three Synoptic Gospels, the authority that was given to the apostles was only mentioned in Matthew and Mark. According to Matthew, Christ gave them “power against unclean spirits (πνευμα), to cast them out” (Matthew 10:1). For Mark, they had the authority to cast out (εκβαλλω) demons (δαιμονιον) (Mark 3:15). Those whom Christ calls can also do great things through faith in Him (i.e. Matthew 17:20).
The disciples have this power as they go out in pairs over the land to proclaim the good news and perform miracles. They are also told to go out with very little material things, not even basic necessities such as bread, so that they must live by faith alone. This is important to understand when there are times when the apostles have trouble with demons later in the Gospels. This ministry was successful, as they cast out many demons (Mark 6:13).
Jesus sends out seventy others in a similar fashion. When they return, they joyfully tell Him that the demons submit to them in Christ’s name. Christ, however, reminds them that this authority came from Him (Luke 10:19), and not to rejoice at the miracles they saw, but that they have been saved by grace (Luke 10:20). The confidence of the disciples should not be in any merit of their own (naturally, for by themselves they cannot cast out demons) lest they become filled with pride. When one relies on their own abilities to do the miracles of God, their faith dwindles and they fail. This is seen in the healing of a demon-possessed son in the Synoptic Gospels.
These passages of the healing of the spirit-possessed boy are of great significance. It also shows, as did the passages pertaining to Legion, the sovereignty of Christ over demons. However, the passages juxtapose how people without faith will fail to cast out demons with Christ’s unchallenged, perfect authority over demons.
From this incident, Christ accuses the disciples of lack of faith when he hears from the boy’s father that they could not cast out the spirit. Christ tells the demon to leave the boy and never return, and the demon does leave. The disciples ask Jesus in private what they did wrong, and He does not hesitate to tell them why they failed. Matthew documents that Jesus tells the disciples that even with the smallest amount of faith they will be able to do magnificent things such as move mountains (Matthew 17:20). Their unbelief was apparent when they could not cast out the demon. Mark records another thing that Jesus said, that the casting out of that type of demon requires prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). Both of Jesus’ comments tell them that their faith was not great enough, and that they were losing sight of God’s sovereign hand over all things, including demons.
On the other hand, there are circumstances where an unsaved individual maybe able to cast out demons in Christ’s name because His name alone is powerful. As Jesus teaches about the true way into the Kingdom of God, which is to believe on His name, He gives some examples of people that are ‘spiritual’ but do not know Christ. Among these examples, He says that there will be people that have cast out demons in His name, but will not enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 7:22). Likewise, Judas Iscariot, the traitor, was one of the twelve that did the same miracles that the others did.
Likewise, there was another exorcist that was seen casting out demons in the name of Jesus, and John tried to stop him because he did not follow them. John of course was corrected, for the man was not doing anything wrong. Jesus says further that one who does a miracle in His name can not do harm to them soon after (Mark 9:39). There are times when non-believers try to exorcise demons. For the most part, however, those who exorcise demons have been chosen by Christ as His own, as those who do not know Him will fail (Acts 19:13-16).
In Acts, after Christ had ascended to heaven, the mission of all the disciples continued, and they continued to cast out demons just as Jesus had promised they would (Mark 16:17). There are many instances of this (Acts 5:16, 8:7, 16:18). The ability to cast out demons was not limited to the apostles, but to others like Paul who had been called after the ascension of Jesus.
Jesus’ encounters with and casting out of demons, as seen in the New Testament, are unfailing, for Jesus is completely sovereign over demons. The demons fear Him, and know that He is the one who will judge Him (Matthew 8:29). He can either confront the demons in their presence, as in Legion, or He can cast out demons from afar, as He did with the Syro-Phoenician woman’s daughter. Jesus’ sovereignty over the spiritual realm is the one and only cure for demon possession.
As for the disciples, they seem to be able to cast out demons in the Lord’s name if they meet two criteria. First, they must be given the power by Christ, which is seen in the calling and sending out of the twelve and of the seventy. After the gift is received, they must also have great faith (Matthew 17:20), being in constant prayer and focusing their lives completely on the Lord and not on themselves (Mark 9:29). When both of these criteria are true, then man can cast out demons in Christ’s name.
From the accounts in the New Testament, there are no restraints on how Jesus can cast out demons. Being the sovereign ruler over the spiritual realm, He can either cast out the demons with a word (Matthew 8:16), with a verbal command (Mark 9:25), or even a non-spoken command from a far (Mark 7:29). Either way, He shows His infinite power over demons.
The ability for His apostles to cast out demons also went out to Paul, as he cast out many demons (Acts 19:11-12). Jesus also tells that all of those who believe in Him and in the Gospel will drive out demons (Mark 16:17).
Discerning the Spirits
The epistles look at spirits as often trying to deceive believers. This is a concern because of the number of apostates that deceive and have been deceived (1 Timothy 4:1), and the recipients of the letter are warned likewise. There is the idea of “trying spirits” and “following false spirits.” There are spirits that are out to deceive believers and to get them to turn away from the Lord (1 Timothy 4:1). John writes in his first letter to “try the spirits” (1 John 4:1). This testing of spirits is often very difficult since many have turned to apostate teachings. Paul says it is a spiritual gift to be able to discern spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10). From the epistles, demons not only try to destroy people physically, but also try to destroy them by leading them away from the truth of the Gospel.
Demonization and Illness
Demon possession and non-demon related illnesses are different things, as when Jesus is mentioned treating both cases, they are listed separately (Matthew 4:24; 8:16). Due to the destructive nature of demons, however, they often cause people to mutilate themselves, and also cause other disabilities. With the demon-possessed boy, he foams at the mouth and convulses. These things could appear to be another sickness, but it is truly a demon that is behind these symptoms. Likewise, with Legion, the bizarre behavior of the two men came from demons. Mental and physical sickness may or may not be from demons, it seems, depending on each individual case.
Battle With the Spiritual Realm
In Romans 6-8, Paul stresses that one must live by the Spirit and not by the flesh. Since the believer has been put to death in sin, but made alive in Christ, one must not return to living by the flesh, which is an ongoing battle with Paul (Romans 7:13-25). Now that he is in God’s favor there is not anything that will separate him from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).
Paul also tells the Ephesians 6:10-20 to don the full armor of God, that is, be ready for Satan’s traps and to know where they are. This goes along with the teaching from Romans that one should walk according to the Spirit, for walking in the flesh brings desire, then sin, and then death. Walking in the Spirit brings confidence in one’s standing with the Lord, and no other thing will destroy the believer.
James also says, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation” (James 1:12). Temptation is the following of one’s desires (James 1:14). From all of these passages, one can discern that sin primarily comes from the individual person, not demons, and people have a choice to follow their fleshly desires and sin or to be walking in the Spirit, wearing the armor of God. Though Paul also says not to give the devil foothold, sin comes from the hearts of humankind.
Demonization and the Believer
With these passages in mind, a believer, especially who is walking with the Lord, can by no means be separated from God to become possessed by a demon (Romans 8:38-39). A believer, it seems, that may live with sin in his life could not be possessed either. Unbelievers can be possessed by demons, but believers can only be oppressed by demons. Believers do not live in vacuums and can be affected by demons. Job is a good example, where Satan could destroy Job’s property, family, and health (Job 1:12, 2:6). Likewise, the believer is to expect persecution, and there are always demonic forces against the church. Believers can be oppressed by demons in this fashion.
In order for one to deal with one from an occult background, it is important to remember what Jesus says to the disciples after they could cast out the demon in the boy. One must have great faith, and also be walking with the Lord in prayer and fasting to help one from occult background. The New Testament teaching of demons tells us, as believers, that this is not something to be taken lightly. For those who come out of such backgrounds, it is important when sharing the Gospel to stress the sovereignty of Christ over the spirit realm, and His infinite capacity to forgive and to heal. The exact opposite is usually taught in occultist backgrounds.
The sovereignty of Christ is the most important concept to understand when looking at demonization. Even the demons themselves know this, and know they will see their destruction at a time in the future. Walking with God and always prayerfully considering the sovereignty of Christ is the way for believers to assure themselves victory over demons, because the victory over demons belongs to Christ.