What Are Demons and What Are They Capable Of?

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The bible identifies activities that shows what demons are capable of doing. Many people think that demonsc are only capable of two things, possession and lies. But while demons are able to do both of these things, they are able to cause multiple ways of harm. A demon has the power of suffering, falsifying truths, and much more.

Sometimes it is even shown that demons unknowingly do the will of God. An example would be how God used an evil spirit to show his will through the life of Saul. Demons are also capable of creating physical disease. In the book of Matthew, Jesus freed a blind man from a demon, and he was finally able to see once again. This shows how demons who enter a person, can cloud their mind. Of course, demons are not always the ones to give pain and affliction. But it is one of the abilities they hold. Demons have also been shown to make a person mute. (Luke 11:14)

Other than physical disease, demons are also able to distribute mental diseases. There are at least two occasions where Jesus, during his ministry, treated possessions that gave the person abnormal behaviors. A young boy who was possessed would go into convulsions when he was in the presence of Jesus. (Luke 9:37-42). Those possessed were also found to have physical self-destruction and mutilation to their body. And once the demon was cast out of its victim, the mental problems the person had before would disappear.

The Bible also shows that demons try to go after the non-believers.

“Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims." Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit said to them in reply, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of the house naked and wounded (Acts 19:13-16).

Demons are beings that try to bring Catholics towards moral impurity. It is a Christian's job to try to live life lives as holy as possible. Being taught from a young age that if there is ignorance or opposition of God, this is the same as opposing the bible and its teachings. Often called unclean spirits, demons tarnish everyone and everything that they touch. They try to make the world oppose the bible and find faults; leading towards moral impurity.

Another action a demon commits is the creation of false doctrine. During the early church, there were false apostles and doctrines that had to be opposed. The bible talks about the coming of the antichrist during the Great Tribulation. But then John talks about it saying, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18). This shows that the word “anti” didn’t only mean “against Christ.” It also meant “in substitution for”. The leaders of occult groups is the result of demonic activity. It is their goal to create a false religion, one that substitutes Christ and the doctrine. Demons also try to force spiritual battle. It is a fight between Catholics and them; “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). Much of the work of demons is to do battle with Christians on a spiritual level. “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:11).

Demonic possession is an occurrence where demons take control of a person’s mind and body. Many people today claim that this is not possible, and the people are mentally ill. There are some who try to convince the world that demons do not exist, therefore possession is not possible. Those people also claim that God would only create good in the world. But what people forget is that God created everything, the good and the bad. If God created angels and goodness, a darkness had to have been created to create balance. Demonic possession is a belief that many people hold onto. There are multiple cases where much evidence is shown, and where the truth can truly be seen.

Demonic possession is a rejection of God. It is allowing the devil to come into a person’s life, and bring them towards him. Christians have a greater relationship with God when filled with the Holy Spirit. So non-christians, or those without the gift of the Holy Spirit, would have greater demonic power and presence when possessed. If someone is possessed, it shows that they do not have as close of a relationship with God as they should. In third world countries, demonic possession is more frequent and recognized (Elmer Towns, Professor and Pastor). But even though it is more heard of in those countries, demonic activity has been increasing in the western side of the world as well. Christian influence and belief has been dropping in western culture, opening up the pathway to demons. Many people today are beginning to stop believing in God, and turning to follow Satan instead. As more and more people turn to him, demonic activity will turn to grow even more.

While it is said that each Christian has their own guardian angel, some wonder if they have a demon as well. While there is no biblical support for this idea, it is an interesting topic to think about. Maybe Satan gave each person a demon to pull them towards him, just as God gave everyone one of his angels. In The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis, there is a story of a man who is being pulled towards the devil by his own personal demon, Wormwood. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-17). This quote shows that the Holy Spirit will be with Catholic’s forever, and dwell within us, as long as we stay true towards God. The Holy Spirit dwells within each Christian to protect them from demonic possession. But if that person starts to draw away from God, and the Holy Spirit begins to leave them, a new passageway is opened for demons; allowing them further access. For this reason it is important to keep a close relationship with God. The Holy Spirit can only protect someone if they allow it to do so, and keep arms open towards God. “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ