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Ghosts, Spirits and Demons

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Your word is a lamp
that gives light
wherever I walk.
– Psalm 119:105   
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

What we know from Scripture about …other dimensions… angels, Satan, demons, spirits and ghosts

You’ve been there, right? …walking in the dark, hearing sounds in the crannies of the corners, seeing things “move” over there, seeing shadows, imagining frightening things — ghosts, voices, hints of demons, evil lurking, shadows in the dark.  It is natural to fear what we cannot see, what we cannot explain away.  Doubts take over and fear grips tightly.  Soon there’s an aura of fear of demons and ghosts.

So, what does the Bible tell us of these unseen forces?  Are our fears warranted?  Should we be afraid?

Know you are indwelt by God Himself!  From the very moment that we turn to God and are born again, we begin to live a new life “in the Spirit”.  The Spirit of God enters us.  Our body becomes a temple for God to reside in us at all times.  We are given “life and peace”:

5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so…. – Romans 8: verses 5-7.

In Christ we no longer have to give-in to fear.  Our trust is in God.  He takes us out of fear.

“15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”” – Romans 8: verse 15.

Why fear when the God of the Universe has chosen to indwell our very body!  Who can stand against Him?  Who could make me afraid when God is in me and I am surrounded by His angels of light?

Because He is in me, wherever I am, or wherever I may go, I am always walking with God.  That is God’s promise to those who accept His free gift of forgiveness and salvation.  He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

“…He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” 6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say,

“The Lord is my Helper [in time of need], I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”  – Hebrews 13:5-6    Amplified Bible (AMP)

The Message version puts the verse this way:

Since God assured us,
“I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,”
we can boldly quote,

God is there, ready to help;
I’m fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?  – Hebrews 13:5-6   The Message (MSG)

The spirits of the dead are “departed spirits”, no longer here.  And, they are confined and not “out there” in the dark wandering around.  We need not fear them.  They will one day rise again, but not now.

Isaiah 26:19
Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.
Our position with God, forgiven and filled by Him, gives us authority over evil.  As Jesus left earth, He said, ““All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth….” (Matthew 28:18-20)  There is no power that can trump His power.  And there are a lot of powers in the universe, as the Apostle Paul shares:
“31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? …in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  – Romans 8:31-39  
Here Paul reveals the many levels of power in the world and in His creation.  Neither “angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing” will ever be able to stop God.  And He has made us His children!  Some day we will live and rule with Him – forever.
We were created specifically for His Kingdom.  Creator God wanted His heaven to be filled with us, His created beings.  He did not create us because of a need for us.  He is complete and needs nothing.  He created us because He wanted us.  He wants us in His presence, living and moving in His heaven because that was His desire.  He desires us!
His promise to each of us who now have the right to be called “the child of God”, is totally amazing:
  1. He will finish what He started in you
  2. He is currently at work in you
  3. He is making you strong and capable – to do His will
Philippians 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:13
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Hebrews 13:21
equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Believe God.  Don’t talk yourself into fear.  You are a child of the King!  You are “the friend of God.”
and the Scripture was fulfilled which says,
“And Abraham believed God,
and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,”
and he was called
the friend of God.
– James 2:23

Why Christians Should Not Fear

  • What are we to fear? (only God who can cast our soul into eternal darkness)
  • Who are we to fear? (not those who can only kill our bodies; whereas God has us in His hands)

God is there, ready to help;
I’m fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me? 
– Hebrews 13:5-6   The Message (MSG)

 

If God is for us,
who can win against us? 
– Romans 8:3-39

There is no need to fear people.  All they can do is kill your body.  But God is the one to fear (“respect”).  He alone “is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Matthew 10:28
Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

God watches over the sparrows.  How much more intensely does He watch over you?
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two [a]cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Angels of God
Angels are send of God to watch over us, protect us, and serve us.  They stand-up against the powers of evil and circumstance.

Hebrews 1:13-14   Amplified Bible (AMP)
13 But to which of the angels has the Father ever said,

“Sit at My right hand [together with me in royal dignity],
Until I make your enemies
A footstool for your feet [in triumphant conquest]”?

14 Are not all the angels ministering spirits sent out [by God] to serve (accompany, protect) those who will inherit salvation? [Of course they are!]

 

John wrote the book of Revelations, and speaks about angels and their role as fellow servants sent to help us: Revelation 22:6-12

6 And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.

7 “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who [e]heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”

8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things.

9 But he *said to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who [f -keep]heed the words of this book. Worship God.”

Do you “keep the words of this book”?  If so, then you should be encouraged and strengthened in your “inner man” (2 Corinthians 4:16) to know that angels are all around us in their invisible realm, watching over us, literally.  They are there, according to Scripture.  We can’t see them, but they are there.  Angels are sent by God to serve our best interests.

That does not mean nothing bad can happen to us.  Bad things do happen to His folk.  However, nothing can happen to us without God’s mysterious will allowing it to happen.  Our trust must be in God: NOT in our own understanding, NOT in our strength, NOT in our wealth or power or any person or circumstances.  Circumstances should not cause us to doubt God.  Trust in God.

Satan and his Demons

  • Satan and his demons are fallen angels who rebelled against God
  • Satan is the most dominant demon (fallen angel). He thought he could be equal to God, but God cast Him out of heaven.
  • Demons have limited capabilities in the universe
  • Hell was made for demons.  They will eventually be cast into hell (along with those who chose to follow his lies and deceptions).
  • Demonic powers are limited.
  • Demons are subject to God’s powers

Jesus specifically gave His disciples authority over demons, “unclean spirits” (Matthew 10:1; Mark 1:27; Mark 3:15; Mark 6:7; Luke 6:18; Luke 7:21).  As His followers, He has chosen us to be His disciples, and we too have been given equal authority over demons – as His twelve disciples had, for His purposes.

Matthew 10:1

Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

Mark 16:17
These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons…

The New Testament shares how some leaders tried to cast out demons but were beat-up instead.  We can’t just deal with demons flippantly, in our own power.

Mark 16:17
These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons…

Spiritual forces are only defeated by the greatest spiritual force on earth: the Spirit of God.  Only in the name of Jesus.  Only the Spirit of God.  Not by us.  Not by religious leaders of any church or cathedral.  Not by any self-important guru false teacher.

Matthew 12:28
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Mark 16:17
…in My name they will cast out demons…

Submitting our minds to false beliefs.  As followers of Christ we must teach ourselves to trust God rather than submit our mind to fears and false belief systems.  All our beliefs, all of our thinking, all of our life views which are inspired by any other source other than God’s Word (the Bible) — must be corrected, taken under control and subjected to the truths of the Bible, not vice versa.

What do you think in your mind each day?  Is what you think — what God agrees with?  Or do you think erroneous thoughts?  Does your thinking need to be corrected and aligned with God’s truths?

Why let erroneous thoughts alarm us and keep us in fear!  Keep your mind clear and alert and trained by reading the Bible and learning what it says about life.

1 Timothy 4:1
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Revelation 16:13-14
13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; 14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs….

 

There are many various false teachers out there, even now, who are spreading false beliefs.  Are you following any of them?  Do you know the Bible well enough to distinguish between true and false doctrine?  Just as it says that in the last days false prophets will spew-out falsehoods, today there are demon inspired teachers, some even “performing signs” – but they are not of Christ.

We should examine ourselves and our beliefs about everything, and make sure we are not thinking erroneously.  Why allow our thinking to believe what is not really the way it is!  Think the way it really is.  Think truth, not error. Read:

The haunting of Bishop Pike, By Robin Schumacher

What demons are like:

Demons can be extremely violent:   (Mark 9:14-29 ; Luke 9:37-43)

Matthew 8:28
When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way.

Demons can cause physical conditions and sicknesses: (but our fallen world can also, not just demons)

Matthew 9:33  (Matthew 10:1; Luke 11:14)
After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke
Mark 9:18  (Mark 9:14-29)
and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.”
Demons can possess people – even little children:  (Mark 9: verses 20-22; Luke 9:37-43)
25 But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. 26 Now the woman was a [m]Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And He was saying to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not [n]good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered and *said to Him, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” 29 And He said to her, “Because of this [o]answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30 And going back to her home, she found the child [p]lying on the bed, the demon having left.
Demons can cause situations leading to death:
20 They brought [d]the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.
Demons have varying power.  Believers must be strong in the faith to cast them out:
40 I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.” 41 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42 While he was still approaching, the demon [b]slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the [c]greatness of God.

Believe His revealed truths.  Why allow yourself to be afraid of demons, the dark, of being “alone”, when God is providing His angels to guard us at all times.  Why be afraid that “something” bad is going to happen to us?

If we believe in ghosts and demons around us (especially in the dark!), why not take the whole counsel of God’s Word — and believe His revealed truths about angels and demons.  Too often believers believe the Devil’s teachings — rather than God’s teachings!  Movies and novels are not biblical truth!

I choose to believe God:

I am not alone in the dark.  I am not alone at any time.  God resides in my body.  God watches over me, because He is my “Abba Father”.  His will for my life definitely will be accomplished – because He is in me and has promised to “continue that good work” in me. (Philippians 1:6)  I will not fear.

This is the believer’s daily call to faith:

I will believe God’s promises.  I will not fear what this day brings.  I will not give heed to the philosophies of man and demons.  I will not fear what man or Satan may do to me or do around me.  My God is greater.  God is greater than all of them, and He has me in His Hands.  He has promised to continue His work in and through me.  I will live this day as His representative here where I live on this earth.  I will live and move and have my being this day by God — in the power of His Holy Spirit within me.  I will not be afraid.

 

2 Corinthians 5: verses 6-10
6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by [c]sight— 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for [d]his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

 

FOR MORE:

Why Believe Such Stupididiotic Things?!

 

Curses, evil spells and being jinxed

Satan the Deceiver

About Satan: a series on our Enemy

Those who kill the body

The haunting of Bishop Pike, By Robin Schumacher, Exclusive Columnist with Christian Post;  Opinion |

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