If you don’t believe in demons or evil spirits, you must have not done much traveling or been around the general public. People in mental health care and the police have an opportunity to meet people either oppressed or possessed by demons. If you sit and watch TV all day, work at a small company, and do not deal very much with people from a service job, you may not believe that demons exist. Those of us who have been involved in street evangelism and ministry to the homeless have seen more demon posessed people.
From working at universities for the last 15 years, it can have it drawbacks. Many of us attended workshops on conflict-resolution. One professor had his car egged by a student, because of a grade. When I was working for the chancellor at Ivy Tech, there was a person who threatened violence and later this person passed away from alcoholism. As his assistant, and the college president's assistants, we had to deal with difficult/angry people at times. I worked directly with the Student Services staff director for problem students. There are procedures to deal with violence, we see this because of the Columbine High School massacre and university shootings. School officials want us to take precautions and one of those precautions is recognizing ahead of time signs of violence in a student. My grandson was attending a Christian elementary school where a child brought a weapon. I look for signs of violence in dating as far as if a man says he had anger issues with his ex-wife that is a red flag. Many students have restraining orders against former ex-significant others. I worked at a hospital where an ex shot his previous wife who was a nurse, and although she was left for dead, she survived the shooting. Saul had anger/rage problems. It is a temper tantrum of an adult. Fits of rage, discord, jealousy, are listed with witchcraft.
idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, Galatians 5:20
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. Proverbs 6:19
Ted Bundy, a serial killer, in his interview with James Dobson, believed he opened himself up to demons after looking at Playboy/Hustler magazines he found in the dumpster as a child. That does not mean that everyone will be a serial killer from reading Playboy or Hustler. It was the beginning of his going down the wrong path of life. Ted would wear his arm in a sling and pretend like he was injured to make women feel sorry for him and help him carry something to his car, and then he overpowered them and murdered them. Some serial killers prey strictly on gay male teens. It seems to be a control issue by the killer in power over women and teen men.
Former minister Lester Sumrall studied the life and biographies of serial killers. My favorite biography was one serial killer who said that his Doberman Pinscher dog told him to kill someone. He followed his dog’s advice. This man was not Dr. Dolittle. It is amazing to me that someone would accept their dog talking to them. In all my life, I’ve never had an animal speak to me so I would be very concerned if an animal started talking. Folks, if your cat or dog starts talking to you, I would pay attention that something is going on in your life. Animals can mimic our speech such as parrots, and I got my cat as a child to say hamburger, it sounded like “ramrerer.”
I find two instances in the Bible where animals spoke to people. Eve and the serpent carried on a conversation (bad) and then a donkey spoke to the prophet Balaam (good). Balaam insisted on cursing the children of Israel, when God told Abraham he was going to bless his descendents, and the donkey stopped even when Balaam kicked him. The problem with Balaam is God did not tell him to curse God’s people, and he was going to speak out of his own accord. Balaam was going to bring judgment down on himself for cursing them.
(Numbers 22:1-3) One day God came to Balaam and said, "If men come to get you, get up and go with them, but only say what I tell you to say." In the morning, Balaam got up, put a saddle on his donkey, and went with the men. This made God mad. ….Then God made the donkey talk and she said, "What did I do to you to make you hit me three times?" Balaam answered, "You teased me! I wish I had a sword so I could kill you." ….Then God let Balaam see the angel standing in the road with a sword. Balaam bowed his head and fell flat on his face. And the angel said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but only say what I tell you to say." And that's just what Balaam did.
Saul had evil spirits that tormented him and David’s music helped relieve his torment. Was Saul mentally ill from childhood or a teen/young adult? I don’t see record that Saul was born with a genetic chemical imbalance in his brain, but could have developed a problem over time like we see that some people have literally burnt many brain cells with drugs, alcoholism, and searing their conscience with evil behavior.
Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 1 Tim. 4:2
1 Sam 28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. 1 Samuel 28:7
Deu 18:10-11 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
Addictions and violent behavior can have underlying root causes. Violent behavior towards a husband/wife can be related to having a lack of control over a person and feeling a lack of control in one’s own life. Some faults are not necessary a demon. I would call these “sins of the father” as far as the behavior that was modeled by a parent. If you ever built a car model growing up than you know the car model is a replication of a real car. Some of us are a replication of our parents. A divorced man said that his first wife he married his father, and then his second wife he became his father. Child molestation and abuse when a person becomes an adult can be the result of what occurred in that person’s life in being molested or abused by a relative or adult. These sins (or spirits) can be transmitted from the adult at the time of molestation or a cheapening of a person’s self esteem occurs where you believe you deserve to be abused or contributed to being molested. I'll explain the scripture below in a further blog.
Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 1 Tim. 4:2
Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. Saul's attendants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, and you will feel better."1 Samuel 16:4
When it says the evil spirit was sent from the Lord, God does not send the evil spirit, but permits/allowed Saul to be afflicted. Any behavior where you are “driven” to do something it’s a good sign you are controlled by a spirit. Saul participated in visiting a medium and performing a seance where the medium actually raised Samuel's spirit from the dead. Several scriptures in the Bible are against that type of behavior.
1 Sam 28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. 1 Samuel 28:7
Deu 18:10-11 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
Addictions and violent behavior can have underlying root causes. Violent behavior towards a husband/wife can be related to having a lack of control over a person and feeling a lack of control in one’s own life. Some faults are not necessary a demon. I would call these “sins of the father” as far as the behavior that was modeled by a parent. If you ever built a car model growing up than you know the car model is a replication of a real car. Some of us are a replication of our parents. A divorced man said that his first wife he married his father, and then his second wife he became his father. Child molestation and abuse when a person becomes an adult can be the result of what occurred in that person’s life in being molested or abused by a relative or adult. These sins (or spirits) can be transmitted from the adult at the time of molestation or a cheapening of a person’s self esteem occurs where you believe you deserve to be abused or contributed to being molested. I'll explain the scripture below in a further blog.
“You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.” Exodus 20:5
I heard a commentary on angels, and the person believed that demons were a pre-existing race because God told Adam to replenish the earth. If Adam is replenishing the earth than who were the creatures on the earth created before Adam?
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Genesis 1:28
It is not in angels nature to desire to live in humans or animals since they are majestic, and we don’t even come close to matching an angel. Angels are curious about us:
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. 1 Peter 1:12
The Bible does not always explain everything as far as where did Cain and Abel get their wives? We assume they married their sisters since Eve gave birth to daughters.
And Adam lived 130 years and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image and called his name Seth. After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died. Genesis 5:3-5
Not every story or person is recorded in the Bible, only certain examples are recorded. I believe a good anaology to explain where demons came from is the Prodigal Son. The son was doing fine as long as he stayed in his father’s house. He left and started rioting and carrying on then ended up taking care of pigs and wanted to eat the pig’s food. This is similar to the angels in heaven that they fell from their authority in heaven and when the demons saw Jesus they wanted to be cast into the pigs. The angel's nature is fallen. If you are a CEO, and you lost your job, you may go down to cleaning toilets or waxing floors to feed your family; you fell from your position of power and authority.
And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority, but abandoned their own home--these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. Jude 1:6
The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." Mark 5:12 & Matthew 8:32
Demons believe in God. When people tell me that they believe in God, and I don’t see any evidence in their life, where it has changed them, I tell them that the devil and the demons believe in God and they tremble! Your belief in God is not the same as life changing faith, because it's not producing fruit/results in your life.
Demons believe in God. When people tell me that they believe in God, and I don’t see any evidence in their life, where it has changed them, I tell them that the devil and the demons believe in God and they tremble! Your belief in God is not the same as life changing faith, because it's not producing fruit/results in your life.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder (tremble). James 2:19
What are the demons trembling about? The name of Jesus. Every knee will bow either willingly or unwillingly. It will be like standing before a king and whether you recognize that person as your king and ruler because you are not from his country does not make a difference, you will bow your knee one day to the name of Jesus. Those atheists who made their videos mocking God on You-Tube will bow their knee. We are to have our citizenship in heaven.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philip 3:20
By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. Isaiah 45:23
It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Roman 14:11-12
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, Philip 2:10
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