What We Believe and Why We Believe It
Concerning Demons: Part 1
A Three Part Sermon Series
by Alan Walker
Church of Christ, Springfield, OR
James 2:19 "Are there still among you some who hold that "only believing" is enough? Believing in one God? Well, remember that the demons believe this too--so strongly that they tremble in terror!" (TLB)
D.L. Moody - "I believe Satan to exist for two reasons: first, the Bible says so; and second, I've done business with him."
Demons! We don't talk much about them. They prefer it that way. It pleases their boss when we do not talk about them, and inform you of the dangers they present.
Angels minister to us - demons are saboteurs! Angels worship the Lord - demons devastate the Lord's created.
James 2:19 is evidence there are really demons! They are as real as angels. It would be a grave mistake to think otherwise.
Over the next few weeks I plan to preach three messages from Mark 5 on demonism. I would appreciate your prayers as I prepare these messages because Satan does not enjoy being exposed. He will do all he can to undermine anyone who attempts to put him in his proper light.
In Mark 5 Jesus confronts the problem of demonism. As we read these first 5 verses, it is almost like watching an Alfred Hitchcock or Steven King thriller.
Jesus has crossed the lake to the Eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. This area was not heavily populated, but there were 10 cities called the Decapolis. When he got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.
"Missionaries in many parts of the world can tell graphic, incredible accounts of the stories of the powers of demons. In the last 10 to 15 years, more of these characteristics are showing up in America than in all our history before. Wherever there is a strong presence of the Word of God, demons do not prevail. In a pagan orientation, these characteristics, appear." [H. Hendricks]]
Let me share with you 4 characteristics of demonism here in Mark chapter 5...
I. The First Characteristic of Demonism is Uncleanness.
"He had an unclean spirit."
They are evil & filthy, both physically and morally. It is no accident that wherever you see demonism you see filth, rubbish and dirt.
One can only imagine the condition of this man from the tombs!
I see a connection rather than a coincidence between the rise of Satanism and the Occult in the U.S.A. and the following...
By the way did you know...
Occult Explosion -- Today the occult is in and is growing geometrically. There are over 200,000 registered witches in the U.S. and many more are not registered. In fact, the famous witch, Sybil Leek, who now resides in Melourne Beach, FL., said in the NY Times that there are over 8 million witches in the world today. [The End Times, April 1988.]
#1. Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Did you now...
Over 60% of the world's illegal drugs are consumed in the United States. There are over 5,000 new cocaine users every single day in the United States. An estimated 10% to 23% of workers use drugs on the job. Federal agencies estimate that substance abuse costs nearly $100 billion in lost productivity each year.
The new study shows: New York State has 434,000 cocaine addicts, the USA's highest. Experts say the true figure is probably higher. Washington, D.C. is the per capita leader: 32.0 addicts per 1,000. Experts say that figure should also be higher. South Dakota has the fewest hard-core cocaine addicts, 800, and the lowest per capita total, 1.1 per 1,000 residents. 1 out of every 5 people arrested for any crime is a hard-core cocaine addict. * Homeless people are five times more likely than average to be cocaine addicts. [Jack Kelley, USA Today, 5-10-90]
Statistics indicate the average television viewer will see 90,000 incidents of drinking on TV by age 21, and 100,000 beer commercials by age 18. This occurs while 25,000 are killed in drunk driving accidents annually, [AFA Journal, Sept 1989]
#2. Pornography
Nearly 1 out of 3 men (31%) saw an X-rated movie last year and so did 17% of women responding to a recent survey by Psychology Today (June 92)
Pornography in the US grosses over $10 billion every year (with 85% of that going to organized crime). Nationwide, there are 3 times as many outlets for hard porn as there are McDonald's restaurants.
Every week Americans purchase 2 million tickets to X-rated movies. 1 Out of every 5 videos sold here is an X-rated film. There are over 350 child pornography magazines. [Interest, May 1994]
According to a George Barna poll, 16% of churches young people admit having seen an X- rated film in the previous 3 months. [Leadership 1994]
Courts in the State of Oregon have expanded freedom of speech guarantees to include adult obscenity, a child pornography, and sex business that are illegal elsewhere in the United States. As a result, the city of Portland, with a population of only 500,000, has 20 times more nude entertainment businesses as L.A., which has a population of 3 million. [Morality in Media,Jul/Aug 1995]
#3. Sexual Perversion
Homosexuality, once an unspeakable topic now have churches ordaining them to ministry, and several churches catering to them. No, I do not hate or even dislike homosexuals, nor should you. However, they are practicing a type of sin God has always punished severely.
#4. Violence
Mass graves discovered! New words for our vocabulary such as "Ethnic Cleansing" Serial killers are increasing faster than the networks can idolize them in made for television movies.
Parents are killing their children at an alarming rate, faster than we can count in abortions.
Children are now turning it around and killing their parents. [Menendez] The increase in these area's indicate Satan and his demons are very active and they have a large audience.
II. The Second Characteristic of Demonism is Isolation.
This man possessed of demons lived alone! His home was the tombs! Whether he had withdrawn from society, or they had withdrawn from him, He was cut off from others.
A few weeks ago as we looked at 1 Peter 5:8-9, a passage describing Satan as a roaring lion, we pointed out that this roaring lion seldom attacks the flock outright. He generally prowls near the perimeter, waiting and watching, hopeful that sooner or later one of the sheep will isolate themselves from the rest of the flock. Then it is supper time!
Nature provides a fitting illustration of Satan's tactics. Observers tell us that in the spring of the year the cuckoo bird can be seen mimicking the flight of the sparrow hawk. Flapping, gliding, and soaring like a natural predator, this imposter frightens songbirds and distracts them to the point they leave their nests unattended. She then moves in and devours an unguarded egg, leaving one of her own in its place.
We are never strong enough that we can afford an extended period of time out of fellowship with God or his people. If we do, we will be the prey of Satan and his demons, and perhaps, even victimized. I do not know if Satan is omnipresent, but I imagine his demons are always around he corner, alert to our condition, always gauging our susceptibility
III. The Third Characteristic of Demonism is Super-human Strength.
When you hear a missionary tell a story of one possessed by a demon exhibiting supernatural strength, before you write them off, re-read this passage.
No one could bind him... Not even with chains... He had been chained but tore the chains apart... No one was strong enough to subdue him...
Not for lack of human effort, but for lack of human ability!
IV. Tht Fourth Characteristic of Demonism is Self-destruction.
Night and day...he would cry out and cut himself with stones!
Edwin Lutzer - No matter how many pleasures Satan offers you, his ultimate intention is to ruin you. Your destruction is his highest priority!
Americans seem to be on a collision course with self-destruction!
I find it both interesting and startling to compare the rise of Satan's influence in our Country and the rise in the rate of suicide.
Today suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the general population, and the suicide rate is on the rise in groups ranging from teenagers to the elderly. [The morality of suicide: issues & options" by J. Moreland, Bibliotheca Sacra., Spr 1992. Pgs 214-230]
In the U.S. 1) 70% of high schoolers have tired marijuana; 2) 60% of 16-18 year old's have had sex. 3) The average teen spends only 5 minutes alone with Dad and only 40 minutes with Mom each week. 4) 1.1 million girls will become pregnant this year; about 400,000 will abort their babies. 5) 62% of teens believe drinking is bad, but continue to drink. 6) 500,000 teens will attempt suicide this year.
A Seminary prof shares this story: I know a student with an IQ of 160 who by his own testimony was moving in the direction of demon possession. His stories could absolutely compel me to throw up. He had repeatedly tried to take his own life. One day he told me, "Prof, I went to every human source I knew to rid me of the forces that were controlling me. I was only when Jesus Christ entered my life that I was delivered from these self-destructive forces." [H. Hendricks]
Satan would rather destroy a person than to take the chance they might some day surrender to Christ.
V. Personal Application.
I am concerned as a parent, a married man, a Christian, and as a minister of the gospel to see the rise of Satan's influence in our nation.
Where there is strong presence of the Word of God, demons do not prevail.
If this is true, and I have no reason to question it, what does this say about us as a nation, as a people, as Christians?
There are 4 things I hope I have accomplished in this first message:
#1. To convince you Satan is real, & demons do exist!
They are no laughing matter. They are real. They are here! They are finding a larger audience daily.
#2. To make us aware of the goals of Satan & his demons!
That is, to destroy not only our lives, but our eternity!
He has more tricks at his disposal than 20 sermons could identify. But mark this down! One of them is to: Isolate you & take you out!
If the demons can isolate us from God and His family, our source of strength and encouragement, we are then at least fair game, and perhaps even victims.
#3. To encourage you to make choices for yourself and your family to promote Christ & the Church, while being aware of Satan's and his demons attempt to discourage you.
The Church must once again be important. Jesus must again be the Lord. The Word of God must permeate our world, our homes, our lives! Where these are priorities, the demons do not prevail!
I do not want to be misunderstood here. I have 2 T.V.'s. We enjoy them. However, I feel compelled to say this: For too many families, the T.V., has not only become the center of our living rooms, but the center of our living. In such cases, the Word of God cannot be the center of our homes, and frankly, it seems we are asking for trouble for ourselves and our children.
The Word of God must have it's proper place in our homes.
#4. To share with you the good news that Jesus Christ is greater than Satan and his demons!
1 John 4:4 ~ read it from whatever translation or paraphrase you prefer. But, read it. By all means, believe it! We are meant to be victors!
However, mark this down: Just because He is greater, does not mean there will be no battles to fight.
Ephesians 6 prepares us for such battles by offering the armor of God. We are meant to win in Jesus.
To win means we can never withdraw from him, but always be in fellowship, growing daily in him.
Alan Walker is editor of The Preacher's Corner and Minister of Evangelism at the Mt. Vernon Church of Christ in Springfield, OR. He may be reached at adwalker@pond.net.