Years ago I used to answer incoming calls to the pastoral care center at a church. One day a woman called and immediately said, “Don’t hang up!” She informed me that her husband, a new believer, was acting strange and seemed to be filled with a demonic spirit. I rushed over and saw firsthand a man go from talking normal, to barking like a dog, and then back to reading the Scriptures. What was I supposed to do and/or say in such a situation?

Being born-again into the family of God squares us off against the demonic realm. Our fight is not against people; it is against them. But what does this fight entail? Can demons harm Christians? Can demons harass Christians? What about possession? Can demons take control of believers like those poor souls we see in the Gospels? Scripture guides us.

Demons Are Real and Active

Scripture warns the church today that there are deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons which cause people to fall astray from the truth of Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 4:1); unbelievers have been taken captive by the snare of the devil to do his will (2 Tim. 2:26). The devil and his demons masquerade deceptively as angels of light and righteousness (2 Cor. 11:14) and introduce different Jesus’, Spirits, and Gospels (1 Cor. 11:4; Gal. 1:8). Thus, demons are real, active in spiritual deceit, and seek a foothold in human fleshly conduct (Eph. 4:26). However, God has given us spiritual armor to stand against their lies, weapons of righteousness to destroy their strongholds (2 Cor. 10:3–4), and the call to resist the devil (James 4:7–8).

We remember that the devil has no power over Jesus (John 14:30) and that Jesus is far above every demonic power (Eph. 1:20–21).

Demons Do Not Possess Christians

While demon-possession was seen and exorcised clearly in the Gospel accounts, it fades drastically into Acts and is absent from the New Testament letters. John MacArthur states, “The New Testament Epistles never warn believers about the possibility of demon inhabitation, even though Satan and demons are discussed rather frequently. Nor do the New Testament Epistles ever instruct believers about how to cast out demons from either a believer or an unbeliever. It is biblically inconceivable that a true believer could be indwelt by demons when the Bible presents no clear historical example and gives no warnings or instructions for such a serious spiritual experience.”¹ Rather, the New Testament letters draw the churches attention to focus on Christ (Col. 1), to live in Christ (Col. 2–3), and to put on Christ (Eph. 4; Col. 3).

Christians are encouraged to explicitly stand against the wiles of the devil (Eph. 6:10–11), but not instructed in regard to casting out minions of the devil. Beeke and Smalley state, “[E]xorcism is not listed among the spiritual gifts given to the apostolic church (cf. 1 Cor. 12:8–10). Neither do the Epistles of the New Testament give instructions for exorcism. Therefore, it is best to view exorcism as a special ministry of the apostles and evangelists directly appointed by Christ.”²

Thus, true believers never need worry that a demon is in them and causing them to sin or to lose control. As temples of the Holy Spirit, no demon dwells within us (2 Cor. 6:14–18). As believers we have been brought from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (Col. 1:13). As children we have overcome the evil one (1 John 2:13–14); we have overcome because greater is He who dwells within us rather than the one who dwells within the world (1 John 4:4).

Demons Are Not The Same as The Flesh

As Christians struggle to progress in holiness or cast off their past struggles, they may wonder if the answer isn’t a demon possessing them or oppressing them from without. We know demons don’t possess Christians, but can they oppress? Demons can influence unbelievers still and use them to propagate lies and inflict violence on others; that may be seen as a form of oppression. One might think of Saul persecuting the churches as an instrument of Satan (Acts 8:3). Saul was not demon-possessed, but was under the influence of Satan’s lies. Now as a Christian and Apostle of Jesus, Paul was later given a thorn in the flesh, which included oppression from a messenger of Satan (2 Cor. 12:7). The exact oppression is a mystery, but we do know it was given by God to keep Paul from becoming conceited after amazing revelations. Furthermore, Satan afflicted Job with painful sores from his head to his feet (Job 2:7). Based on these examples, demons can have a measure of oppression in the life of God’s people.

However, let us be careful how fast we apply these examples to ourselves. Paul’s thorn and Job’s sores are very unique examples where God was doing a very specific work in redemptive history. Unique examples speak of possibility, but not necessary likeliness for everyone else. In Paul and Job’s situation God was leading the situation and allowing the demonic oppression amidst a greater work He was doing. Concerning Paul, God was keeping him humble and in regard to Job, God was making a bigger point regarding the worshipful attitude of man in suffering.

Going back to Saul’s example of being under the influence of demonic lies and persecuting the church is an instance that we find further evidence of in Scripture. Thus, this one can be considered under the category of normative oppression Christians may encounter. As for demons coming into our bedrooms or our lives and personally hitting/moving us as Christians, or psychologically inserting themselves into our brains and forcing themselves upon us, I would say we need not worry.

It is better to follow the New Testament Apostolic teachings and focus on standing against the outside lies/persecutions of the devil and dealing with the internal struggles of our own flesh. There is much to renew in our minds/hearts and heal from our past lives as rejectors of Christ Jesus. There is damage from false beliefs, others, and even trauma that may need healing. While demons are real, don’t focus on them (standing against is different than obsession). Rather, contemplate the glory and majesty of the Lord in your mind and be changed as you think upon His greatness (2 Cor. 3:18). Follow Jesus who paved the way for us to walk and live a victorious life by His grace (Heb. 12:1–2). Put off the flesh (the old sinful thoughts and habits) and walk in the Spirit experiencing the joy of a new life in Christ (Gal 5:16–25). This is where Scripture continually draws our attention.

Demon Recognition

How do we begin to recognize demonic presence or influence? Wayne Grudem offers three helpful ways.³ First, the words being used. The cursing of Jesus may signify demonic influence while the heartfelt confession of Jesus as Lord would indicate the presence of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3). Second, false teaching. Declaring that Jesus has not come in the flesh (1 John 4:3–2), or that He is not the Son of God (John 5:23), or that He is not God (John 1:1) are all indications of a spirit not from God (1 John 4:1). Third, spiritual gifts. God has given some the spiritual gift to discern spirits. Some Christians will have, as Grudem says, “[A] special ability to recognize the influence of the Holy Spirit or of demonic spirits in a person.”⁴

Demon Talk

Should we talk directly to demons? Some conclude from Jude 9 that there may be instances where we ought to verbally rebuke Satan and/or his minions. Jude writes, “But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you.’” This verse does not warrant demon talk in my opinion. First, the context is inappropriate blasphemous judgments made by unbelievers against glorious ones. Not even Michael the archangel engages in such behavior. Second, the subjects talking here are one angelic being to another. Third, Michael, although speaking to the devil, leaves it in the Lord’s hands to rebuke him.

Therefore, it seems best to speak to God concerning demons, rather than speaking directly to them. In the New Testament letters, we are never given instruction to speak to demonic spirits; instead, we are told to pray in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18). In arguably the most direct New Testament teaching about spiritual warfare, Christians are told to stand against the devil in the armor of God and to pray in the Spirit (Eph. 6:10–18). Even if confronted by a demonic spirit in someone or some kind of demonic influence, I think it best we talk to the Lord. He is the one who has power over demons.⁵

Demon Failure

Above all, remember the victory of Jesus over the devil, who through death has destroyed the power of fear that the devil held sway (Heb. 2:14). And remember the power of the Lord over the devil in every area of creation (Eph. 1:21). “Samuel Rutherford (1600–1661) said that Christ holds the Devil on the ‘chain of omnipotency.’”⁶

Sources

Beeke, Joel R. & Paul Smalley, Reformed Systematic Theology, Vol. 1: Revelation and God. Crossway: Wheaton, Illinois, 2019.

Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1994.

MacArthur, John & Richard Mayhue, Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth. Crossway: Wheaton, Illinois, 2017.